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PETALING JAYA: Famous preacher and philanthropist Ebit Lew apologized for providing 20 buses to transport stranded students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) back to their hometowns after the institute said it did not have permission to do so .
Lew was one of many Malaysians who rushed to help college and university students stranded by a last-minute government decision to postpone registrations for the October academic session due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.
Some students had been left without a place to stay or without transportation home.
Several people launched fundraising efforts to pay for food, transportation and accommodation. Among them were former Education Minister Maszlee Malik and the new Muda political party formed by former Youth Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.
The Selangor state government provided transportation for Selangor residents to return home from out-of-state campuses.
Menteri Besar’s Office said that the Selangor Youth Assembly Caucus, Selangor Team and the Peninsular Malaysian Students Union (GPMS) would organize bus transportation.
Lew, a successful businessman, had hired 20 buses to take UPSI students home, but had to postpone the move. The university’s student representative council said it had to obtain permission from the university’s leadership, which in turn would need permission from the National Security Council and the Ministry of Higher Education.
On his Facebook page today, Lew said: “I apologize to the administration of UPSI, especially the Vice Chancellor, who personally contacted me so that I could issue a public apology. I also apologize to all students. My intention was to help the students based on the complaints I received.
“I used to go hungry for days and rarely went back to my kampung because I had no money.
“I apologize … I was just trying to help.”
UPSI Vice Chancellor Mohammad Shatar Sabran was quoted in media reports as having told Lew that the university learned of his plans only through social media and had not been informed. “I asked him to correct the situation and he apologized, but I told him that he had to apologize to society,” Sharat said.
The university’s student representative council expressed appreciation to Lew for his effort, but said the Covid-19 pandemic meant the preacher had to follow procedures before arranging transportation.
The council said it did not want negative incidents to occur, especially in matters related to Covid-19 and the safety of students during the trip to their respective destinations.
