On 5 January 2021, the OUM community lost one of our learners to the dreaded Covid-19. Mohd Marzuki Mohd Mokhtar, 43, who was not only a learner but had been a valued staff of the University, died from complications related to the disease. The late Marzuki was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction with Covid-19 pneumonia, and subsequently passed away.
Marzuki had been in the final leg of his Bachelor of Occupational Safety and Health Management programme when he fell victim to the virus. At the time of his sickness, Marzuki had completed 95% of his coursework and had been in the midst of making minor corrections to his final-year project report. Due to his good academic standing, the University has agreed to award him with a posthumous degree.
The General Manager (Operation and Learner Experience) and Registrar Prof Dr Siti Aishah Hashim Ali presented the certificate to Marzuki’s wife at a small ceremony at Shah Alam Learning Centre on 16 January 2022.
It was a touching moment when Marzuki’s wife and sister revealed how excited and hopeful Marzuki had been when he informed family members that he was about to complete his degree. His family, close friends, and colleagues will deeply miss Marzuki as they remembered him as a caring individual whose goodwill and humour touched all who interacted with him.
The death of someone you know is always difficult. In the midst of a pandemic that has engendered incredible loss in many different ways for so many individuals, it may bring additional distress. On behalf of the University, we extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of the late Marzuki. All of us at OUM hope that this small gesture will bring some measure of comfort to his grieving family.