PUTRAJAYA:Institutions of higher learning under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) can operate during the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) as previously announced, whereby international students, except for those from the United Kingdom, will be allowed to be on campus as early as Jan 1, while local students can return by March 1.

The ministry, in a statement today, said special authorisation letters would be issued by the institutions to enable affected students to apply for permission from the authorities for inter-state or inter-district travels to return to campus.

"All students who are already on campus must remain there and follow hybrid learning. For other students, lessons for all courses will continue with online learning until the MCO ends," the statement read.

On Monday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government decided to enforce MCO in six states - Penang, Selangor, the Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan), Melaka, Johor and Sabah - from Wednesday until Jan 26.

While Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan will fall under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), Perlis and Sarawak will be placed under the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) for the same period.

The ministry said all research activities involving laboratory facilities would be allowed, subject to approval from the department heads and in adherence to tight standard operating procedures (SOPs).

"Off-campus students who conduct research activities need to apply for a permission letter to enter and exit the campus from their universities," the statement said.

According to the ministry, international and professional body examinations are allowed to be conducted on campus, and students are also allowed to undergo clinical and practical training and use university facilities such as labs and studios.

"The ministry urges that academic activities on campus be conducted in compliance with the SOP and that safety measures and new norms are adopted," the statement read.

-- BERNAMA