LETTER | Can our university students be more proactive?

LETTER | Since the lockdown during the movement control order (MCO) started in March 2020, thousands of our university students in major institutions have been stranded in their respective institutions all over the country. 

They are sent food and other necessary supplies as part of the exercise to ensure that they remain in their dorms. However, it is quite depressing to see them being locked up with nothing much to do while classes are mostly put on hold.

Hence would it not be refreshing if our most promising citizens can opt to assist in volunteering work during the MCO. 

They can provide the necessary assistance to the police, army or health authorities in various capacities based on their abilities and interests rather than just waiting for the MCO to end. 

As they are amongst our brightest groups of people they can be easily taught the steps of maintaining safe from contracting the virus during such operations and most of the time they would certainly be employed in the background work of these personnel and so unlikely to come into contact with others during their voluntary work.

I am certain that many of these young men and women in universities are more than willing to do their part for their country and fellow countrymen if provided with the opportunities. 

They are more proactive than we give them credit for if only we allow ourselves to let them be free to volunteer. Come on students, stand up and be counted for your country today.

The writer is the director of the Sarawak Institute for Public Affairs (Sipa).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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