With Hari Raya Aidilfitri around the corner, families nationwide are gearing up for joyful reunions and celebrations. But for students studying away from home, like those from Sabah and Sarawak, going back presents hurdles, especially with soaring airfare prices.
To address this, the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) has once again come forward with an initiative to help students travel to their hometowns in Sabah.
This initiative is a big relief for many students who might struggle with the expensive airfare otherwise.
Recently, UPNM’s efforts grabbed attention on social media, especially TikTok posted by @grlcloud, where a student shared video spotlighting the support given to their peers.
This video featured the departure of at least 11 students heading to Sabah on a flight organised by UPNM.
The students were transported aboard an Airbus A400M aircraft owned by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), departing from the Subang Air Base.
Primarily designated for carrying out RMAF operational tasks
While the aircraft is primarily designated for carrying out RMAF operational tasks, it was utilised in this instance to transport students back to their hometowns.
Speaking to WeirdKaya, the original poster of the video, Dayang Najiha, shared that the duration of the flight from Subang to Sabah took 3 hours, longer than a commercial flight.
Furthermore, Dayang assured that the service provided by UPNM is indeed free of charge for its students.
Dayang also clarified that the flight is a round trip and passengers are required to follow the set schedule without the option to withdraw.
“As passengers, we need to stick to the planned date and schedule and can’t back out after the outbound flight.”
Additionally, she mentioned that while the A400M aircraft may not be as comfortable as commercial planes due to its parachute seats, the initiative ensures students can return home comfortably for the festive season.
In light of these insights, Dayang stressed that the public should not perceive UPNM’s initiative too seriously.
“I hope people outside don’t take this UPNM initiative too seriously. We, UPNM students, are part of MINDEF collaboration, so our Vice Chancellor, YBhg. Lieutenant General Datuk Mardzuki Muhammad, officially requested aid flights for the festive season, and we hope to receive positive feedback about UPNM from others.”
Different opinions
Looking at the comment sections, many had different opinion in regards to the initiative, with some questioning resource allocation and costs.
One person asked: “Who will cover all the expenses if it’s like this?”
Another commenter jokingly stated: “I’m lucky to be an agricultural student; thankfully, the university didn’t suggest riding a tractor back to the hometown. By the way, this is impressive.”
Watch the full clip here:
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