Author: Marwan Abdul Razak

The Vehicle Unit of the Student Affairs Division, UPM, is always on standby to receive, process, and organize vehicle bookings made by students and staff. Bookings must be made through the UPM Putraliner application at least seven days before the intended date of use. Approved bookings will be informed to applicants by the secretariat three days, or at the latest one day, before the vehicle use date. Each booking must meet the specified requirements by filling in the necessary details and attaching relevant documents, such as program approval letters or activity approvals from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student and Alumni Affairs), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), or the Head of the Student Affairs Division. However, there are also ‘ad hoc’ bookings, and the readiness of the Vehicle Unit of the Student Affairs Division as the transport secretariat plays a core role in ensuring the smooth running of university activities.

At the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, several states in Peninsular Malaysia were affected by floods, resulting in damage to homes, property, crops, livestock, and disruption to daily work. Universiti Putra Malaysia is highly concerned about the floods that occur almost every year in the country. With the permission, direction, and support of the Ministry of Higher Education, public and private universities are strongly encouraged to mobilize Flood Mission Volunteers, consisting of university students. The deployment of volunteers must be approved by the flood disaster authorities who monitor the national flood situation.

Floods can be both predictable and unpredictable, and when they occur, assistance must be delivered quickly and safely. The Vehicle Unit of the Student Affairs Division received an ‘ad hoc’ vehicle booking to mobilize UPM’s Flood Disaster Relief Mission on Monday, 24 March 2025 at 12:00 a.m. from the Centre for Co-curriculum and Student Development to Pasir Gudang, Johor. This relief mission involved 60 students and 10 staff members, using two UPM campus buses. The ‘ad hoc’ flood mission vehicle arrangement had to be done carefully, ensuring that the bus drivers were well-rested before the journey to ensure safe driving. After loading the flood relief equipment and supplies onto the buses, the mission secretariat conducted a briefing and concluded with a prayer, seeking the mercy and assistance of Allah SWT for a smooth mission. At exactly 12:00 a.m., both campus buses, UPM 1699 and UPM 8699, began their journey.

The student volunteers and staff arrived safely in Pontian at 4:30 a.m. and continued with their pre-dawn meal (sahur). The blessed month of Ramadan served as a ‘booster’ for the volunteers, motivating them to work even harder in cleaning the homes of flood victims and distributing essential daily items. A reliable and safe transportation system is crucial to the smooth execution of this flood relief mission, and both UPM campus buses involved provided excellent service without any technical or logistical issues. The UPM Student Volunteer Flood Disaster Relief Mission in Pontian, Johor concluded on 26 April 2025 at 12:30 p.m., and the volunteers safely returned to UPM by 5:00 p.m.

Transportation is the lifeline for executing various tasks, and it is crucial that vehicles such as buses used are in safe condition and comply with safety guidelines set by the Land Public Transport Agency and the Land Public Transport Commission. Any disruption to a scheduled program due to poor vehicle management by the unit is highly detrimental. The time, energy, and cost allocated and spent to ensure the success of a program are the core focus of the Vehicle Unit of the Student Affairs Division, which remains ever-ready to receive, process, and coordinate bookings from UPM students and staff. The 2025 Vice-Chancellor's Address emphasizing the strengthening and implementation of UPM’s “True North” mission is a foundation and catalyst for delivering services that exceed expectations—greatly benefiting global well-being. The Student Affairs Division embraces this opportunity and responsibility to the fullest in fulfilling its trust.

Date of Input: 30/03/2025 | Updated: 28/05/2025 | nureedayu