Recollections of the Covid-19 Experience: A Perspective from Sarawak

Swee Kiong, Wong (2025) Recollections of the Covid-19 Experience: A Perspective from Sarawak. In: Crisis and Community: Covid-19 in Malaysia. Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, pp. 281-289. ISBN 9786297575476

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Abstract

Higher education is important for human capital development in the country. Like other global higher education community, Malaysia also experiences significant adverse impact brought by the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. This gives rise to pertinent question on how resilient is our higher education system in Malaysia in response to crisis particularly with respect to the Covid-19 crisis. Many have discussed on how to leverage university and government resources during the crisis through curriculum redevelopment and pedagogical development to enable effective and efficient online learning delivery system. However, not much narrative research had been carried out to capture the reality among the directly affected individuals comprising students and parents or stakeholders in general for policy implication to draw from. This chapter uses micro lenses to explore experience of students and parents as well as lecturers of higher learning institutions who reside in Sarawak, Malaysia by focusing on learning and teaching experience as well as the coping mechanism that goes beyond education dimension during and after Covid-19 crisis. Through analysis and reflection of narrative experiences of those directly or indirectly affected in this bottom-up approach, important lessons are drawn on how the local communities rebound from the disruptive effects of Covid-19. It was found that the humanitarian assistance going beyond interfaith, ethnicity and cultural diversity plays a significant role in social support systems in Sarawak particularly during and after Covid-19 crisis. Strategies were made by various parties on developing and strengthening the capability of mitigating future shocks. Recommendations are also made on crisis coping mechanism or crisis management to enhance resiliency level or preparedness local communities in general in response to uncertainty and challenges faced in future crisis to ensure that no one is left behind to achieve the ultimate aim of enhancing well-being of all members of the society and particularly those involved in higher education in Malaysia.

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