Campus safety under review after UUM student's death
Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, said the measures are being taken to ensure such incidents do not recur.
"The ministry takes every accident involving our students very seriously.
"In this regard, the actions taken are not limited to UUM alone, but also involve other universities.
"As a result, I have instructed a comprehensive investigation to be carried out, including a review of procedures implemented by bus companies and other related aspects," he said when met by reporters during the Hari Raya celebration at the Higher Education Ministry today.
He added that UUM has also formed two committees to review existing procedures and examine all related matters to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.
On Saturday (April 19), a female UUM student was killed after being hit by a bus in a collision involving two buses in front of a bus stop within the campus.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/1204381/uum-student-dies-afte...
The victim, who sustained injuries to her body, was pronounced dead after receiving treatment for nearly 10 hours at the hospital.
UUM has since established two committees – the Accident Investigation Committee and the Campus Shuttle Bus Service Evaluation and Integrity Committee – to investigate the incident involving the student's death.
Its vice-chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan, said the committees were formed to re-evaluate the safety aspects of the campus shuttle bus service.
ENDS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Three held in hostel murder
KUALA LUMPUR: Three people have been detained over the murder of a 20-year-old university student in a case that has stunned Malaysians. It is believed that the suspects, aged 19 and 20, knew Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara, who was found dead in a students' accommodation in Cyberjaya on Thursday. Sepang OCPD Asst Comm Norhizam Bahaman said a man and two women were arrested in Johor Baru, Johor, and Gemencheh, Negri Sembilan. 'They were detained within 48 hours of a police report lodged on the case,' he said when contacted. The suspects have been remanded for seven days until July 3. As of Thursday, a total of 14 people have had their statements recorded, including the deceased's roommates and a lecturer. Maniishapriet, a physiotherapy student from Kuching, was staying with five other students but they had returned home for the holidays. She was thus alone at the hostel as she was preparing for an upcoming examination. A post-mortem revealed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. Her ATM card, a laptop, mobile phone and cash were among the belongings found missing. Police have detected five or six 'suspicious' bank transactions made in the Klang Valley shortly after she was found dead. The Higher Education Ministry, in a statement on Thursday, said that all public and private higher education institutes must abide by the SOP on security and student welfare. Compliance is imperative to ensure protection for all students under their responsibility, it said. Messages of condolences and grief have flooded social media, posted by ordinary Malaysians as well as political leaders. Some of the postings called for 'Justice for Maniisha'.
The Star
29-06-2025
- The Star
Hostel security gap raises alarm
PETALING JAYA: Educational institutions in Malaysia need to build a system where safety protocols, from staff vigilance to student awareness, are embedded into daily routines, says criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy. 'University campuses are supposed to be secure sanctuaries for intellectual growth, self-discovery and personal safety. ALSO READ: Police urge stricter checks on off-campus housing 'While universities often claim to have around-the-clock security and restricted access, many students report a different reality,' said the former lecturer, who has headed Universiti Sains Malaysia's security department and other universities overseas in the past. Weak enforcement of visitor logs, under-trained guards, malfunctioning CCTV systems and the absence of emergency protocols appear to be common across Malaysian campuses, he added. 'If a perpetrator could enter, remain undetected and commit murder in a hostel room, then it raises profound questions. 'Was there no control to access? Were there no security patrols? Was the CCTV system functioning or was one even installed? Where was the supervisory framework? 'Security is not just about equipment and technology. It's about culture. 'Many institutions still treat security as an afterthought rather than a core responsibility. At a minimum, hostels must have access control mechanisms such as digital key cards, biometrics and automated logs that track entries and exits,' he said. Sundramoorthy also said there should be female security officers in female hostels and trained emergency responders who can act swiftly in case of threats. 'Student hostels are not commercial buildings but living spaces filled with young people in their most formative years. 'It is not enough to merely offer education. Universities or colleges must guarantee protection, dignity and peace of mind for their students,' he said. Noting that there are currently no binding national standards governing hostel safety across Malaysian universities, he called on the Higher Education Ministry to promptly establish such a framework complete with enforceable protocols, independent audits, operator licensing and student complaint mechanisms. He referred to security protocols in developed education institutions in the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and Singapore, where student hostels are treated as high-risk zones requiring professional security systems and management. He noted that Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has facial recognition-based access and that in many US universities, campus-wide emergency alert systems are linked to local police stations and campus security. Some Australian and European education institutions provide mandatory night-time security audits and female-only floor protocols, Sundramoorthy added. Security in areas such as hostels and dorms, especially those housing female residents, can be enhanced with advanced technology, said Datuk J. Narasingarao, who has worked in the security industry for 35 years. The owner of Reeliance Security Services was asked to comment on the safety of women hostels, which has been an issue after the brutal murder of 20-year-old Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara in her hostel room at a private university in Cyberjaya on June 24. 'With the equipment and facilities available today, we can install another level of checkpoint without compromising the freedom and privacy for residents. 'A proper CCTV system combined with the latest technology is available at reasonable prices and can be installed at the main pathways to curb intruders. 'This should be accompanied with notifications in strategic places to remind people that they are being watched, along with a proper control room with scheduled maintenance and supervision. 'There should also be a back-up security system and random checks on movements, as sometimes these touch-and-go applications can be transferred to other people, and visitor registers might not be checked,' he said. For students, he added, the orientation they get before they enter dorms and hostels is important. There must be strict, regimented deterrents. 'While we believe in the freedom of the residents, their safety is the top priority for those hired to handle the security,' he said. He said his firm has managed residential hostels and dorms of private universities, but the cost is high as the risks and obligations are higher than normal.
New Straits Times
27-06-2025
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: A grim reminder for all varsities
IT'S a murder most sickening: the killing of 20-year-old undergraduate Maniisha is perhaps unprecedented in its nature. Her body was discovered slumped in her University of Cyberjaya dormitory room on June 24. In their murder classification, police established Maniisha's cause of death as blunt force trauma to her head. The Sarawakian was apparently alone in the hostel after her housemates left for the mid-year semester break. Some of her valuables, including a laptop, mobile phone, ATM card and cash, were missing. Multiple ATM withdrawals were made after her murder. From an outsider's perspective, it appears that Maniisha was the victim of a robbery who, in resisting her intruder (or intruders), was hit with a fatal blow to the head. As there was no sign of forced entry, it suggests that she knew her attacker (or attackers). Maniisha's murder has raised questions over the safety of University of Cyberjaya's students' accommodation. Social media is abuzz about the alleged lack of security measures there. The Higher Education Ministry has urged universities to take full responsibility in providing comprehensive student protection. Police have implored universities to screen students' housing, especially off-campus facilities, for suitability, safety and security. To be sure, most universities have security measures in place, but a murder like this will terrify parents, whose only concern should be their children's academic performance, not whether they are in grave danger. Like any establishment where people reside, work or congregate, universities must enhance surveillance, install CCTV cameras and properly manage entry. Security personnel should work with the nearest police station if rapid law enforcement support is needed. Universities should also initiate safety awareness programmes for faculty staff and students, perhaps even organise self-defence classes. Students must stay vigilant and report suspicious activities. Encourage students to care for their belongings and avoid bringing valuables to reduce risks. Get them to establish buddy systems when they are out at night or using public transport. While we won't know yet if Maniisha's murder was avoidable if there were better safety and security measures, all universities should now reevaluate their security procedures. Universities are now put on notice. If another such incident occurs, it will not be an aberration. It will be a blatant sign of negligence and a systemic failure.
