GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has deployed 30 students to flood-hit Pulau Pangkor to assist with post-flood clean-up and distribute 30 boxes of dry food supplies.
The volunteers, accompanied by three officers, departed from the university's main campus yesterday for the post-flood relief mission organised by USM's Student Development and Alumni Affairs Division (BHEPA) through its AUSM Awesome Volunteer Secretariat.
Mission coordinator Ahmad Heidey Iskandar Mohd Rayhan said the team would focus on cleaning affected areas, community clean-up activities, post-flood recovery and providing assistance according to needs on the ground.
He said the volunteers hoped to speed up clean-up efforts and ease residents' burden as they restored their homes and resumed their daily routines.
"Besides contributing manpower, USM is also distributing 30 boxes of dry food supplies to help meet the basic needs of affected residents," he said, adding that the initiative received support from the USM Alumni Association (PAUSM).
PAUSM also contributed dry food supplies for distribution, reflecting alumni members' solidarity and commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts while strengthening ties between students, alumni and the community.
USM deputy vice-chancellor for Student Development and Alumni Affairs Professor Dr Wan Ahmad Jaafar Wan Yahaya said the initiative, themed "Together Rebuilding Hope", aligned with the university's aspiration to "Build Hope, Generate Sustainability."
"This mission is not merely about cleaning mud, but about rebuilding hope and showing that USM students stand with the people during times of hardship," he said.
He said the initiative demonstrated students' role as volunteers who contributed to recovery efforts while engaging with communities and helping ease the impact of disasters.
The USM initiative is part of the Mega Volunteer Mission @ Pangkor, which brought together 778 volunteers from 18 public universities nationwide.
The mission, initiated by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, involved 625 students and 153 staff members, with contributions including 520 food baskets, mattresses and pillows.
Flash floods hit Pulau Pangkor on Sunday following continuous heavy rain for about two hours from 4am.
Floodwaters reportedly rose to waist level and entered residents' homes before receding between 9am and 10am.
Nine areas were identified as badly affected.
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