FLOODED FOUR TIMES SINCE ESTABLISHMENT, UNIPSAS RISES TO SAFEGUARD EDUCATION

KUANTAN, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- Universiti Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah (UniPSAS) has endured flood disasters on four occasions since its establishment, yet the repeated ordeals have not dampened the university’s resolve to rise and ensure the continuity of education for its students.

The floods caused extensive damage to campus infrastructure, equipment and furniture, with losses estimated to run into millions of ringgit.

 UniPSAS registrar Mohd Faizul Abdul Hadi Nor said the university management has responded proactively by carrying out restoration works in stages as soon as floodwaters recede.

He said repeated experiences with flood disasters have also driven UniPSAS to strengthen its risk management framework and disaster preparedness planning for the future.

“The university has been affected by floods in 2003, 2014, 2021 and most recently this week, with each incident submerging the entire campus and causing losses estimated at between RM500,000 and RM1 million,” he said.

“However, what matters most to us is restoring the campus as quickly as possible so that staff and students can return to working and studying in a safe and comfortable environment,” he told reporters when met at UniPSAS here today.

Mohd Faizul added that the recurring flooding at the university is believed to be linked to drainage issues from surrounding residential areas, which have contributed to the rapid overflow during periods of heavy rain.

He said that for the time being, all university students have been allowed to return home and continue their studies online before resuming on-campus learning next February.

Commenting on the current clean-up efforts, Mohd Faizul said the operation was also supported by volunteers from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), expressing his appreciation to all parties involved in helping restore the university to normalcy.

“The clean-up work began yesterday and continued today with the assistance of volunteers, who were divided into 15 zones to ensure the process was carried out in an orderly and efficient manner,” he said.

Previously, the media reported that 135 UniPSAS students residing in campus hostels were evacuated after the area was flooded following several days of continuous rain in Pahang.

-- BERNAMA