Private college Master Weld Academy has pledged to continue its assistance for students who remain in the institution's hostels throughout the movement control order period.

Faculty chief Mohd Lokman Hamzah told Malaysiakini many of its 240 students did not receive any allowance and they required help to purchase basic necessities.

"Until now we have assisted close to 100 students. Some 95 percent of our students are from Sabah and Sarawak.

"So we need more help (to assist them) and we are trying to seek help from other agencies," Lokman told Malaysiakini.

He added that priority was now for students with no allowance.

"The allowance from the Skills Development Fund Corporation amounts to RM400 a month.

"These students did not receive the allowance because either their applications have yet to be approved or they will only complete their course at the end of this month," he said.

 Tenis David, a student from Sarawak, said meals were scarce for him and his friends before they received the aid.

"Before the college distributed aid on March 25, we only relied on money from Sarawakian friends already working here.

"Sometimes if there are visitors, they will give us things like vegetables," Tenis told Malaysiakini when contacted.

He added that he wasn't laying blame on the college administration although his allowance application has yet to be approved.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has announced that the movement control order will be extended until April 14 to flatten the curve or infection rate of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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