PETALING JAYA:
New local and foreign students were separated during orientation week at Universiti Malaya because of the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic.
The move disappointed some international students who had wanted to mingle with local students and get to know more about Malaysians.
“It’s disappointing because orientation is all about getting to know each other and bonding,” said 19-year-old Harold Latiff from Brunei when interviewed at the Ungku Aziz Residential College in the university.
He is among students from the Middle East, Africa and other parts of Asia who joined the college last week.
Tareq Hassan, a member of the International Student Centre’s student union which organised the orientation activities, said: “The separation was a last-minute decision; it was a shock to us.”
However, activities in the college have started to warm up after the initial orientation.
“I’m having a lot of fun now with the other international students. We’re doing a lot games and sports,” said Melissa Ansari, an Iranian student who has been living in Malaysia for the past one-and-a-half years.
Tareq said both foreign and local students would perform together at the Dewan Tunku Canselor Universiti Malaya on Saturday for the final night of the orientation.
موضوع: Flu hits UM orientation week 
23.07.09 5:43
