Uproar after UMS postpones convocation due to Sabah polls

Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s (UMS) move to postpone its convocation ceremony to an unspecified date due to the upcoming state election has left many students fuming.

In a statement uploaded on its Facebook page yesterday, the university said it is reviewing and coordinating a suitable new date for its 27th convocation ceremony, which was initially slated to take place for four days beginning Nov 29 - the same day as the state polls.

It added that the decision was made to provide space for the university’s community, graduates, and the public to fulfil their responsibilities as voters.

However, the explanation did little to appease would-be graduates, many of whom flooded the comment section to express frustration over the last-minute change.

Some questioned why the university had not anticipated a possible clash with the election date, while others lamented the financial and logistical setbacks caused by the postponement, including non-refundable flight tickets and hotel bookings.

One commenter from Peninsular Malaysia lamented having spent nearly RM5,000 on flights and hotel bookings, expressing doubt over whether the university would provide compensation for such losses.

Another said that 27 of their family members had already bought flight tickets and paid deposits for lodging and transport services, highlighting that rescheduling the arrangements for such a large group would be extremely costly.

In urging the university to consider their plight, many students also stressed that they do not come from a high-income background, with several Sabahan students pointing out that their family members had taken time off from work to see them don their robes.

DPM’s assurance

UMS’ statement on the postponement also came hours after Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi assured that the convocation ceremony would not interfere with voting for the state election.

The BN chairperson said the EC had considered all relevant factors before setting the election date, including ensuring the university’s halls would not be used as polling stations and accommodating the upcoming SPM examination starting Nov 3.

“Parents attending the convocation are not solely from Sabah. UMS students come from all over Malaysia, so I do not foresee any issue arising from this,” Bernama quoted him as saying in reference to voter turnout.

The EC has also set Nov 15 for nominations, with early voting scheduled for Nov 25.

The campaigning period is set at 14 days, beginning from the nomination day until Nov 28 (11.59pm).

Sabah heads to polls on Nov 29

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