UNIVERSITI Malaya’s accommodation shortage is causing its students to pay more for private lodgings and transport.

Muhammad Ajay Raul, 22, is among the undergraduates forced to live off-campus.

“I already hold various odd jobs, including coaching high school debaters and writing articles for firms, to support myself,” Ajay told The Malaysian Insight.

“However that won’t be enough now due to the high rent outside campus. Food has become even more expensive because I will not be able to eat on campus.

“Transport issues will also arise as I will need to spend more on e-hailing services. I will also need to pay for internet access.

He said this will affect his academic performance.

“I will not be able to discuss and work on projects with my group mates,” he said.

Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) had reported that some 9,000 students have failed to secure lodgings on campus this yeatr/

The student body slammed the university for failing to address the lodging issue, adding that many high achieving students from the B40 group have not secured accommodation.

“This is the worst housing shortage in UM history,” it said.

Umany blamed the scarcity of rooms on the university taking in too many students this year.

Nur Diana Amelia, 22, said the situation is especially hard on B40 students.

“This is because some of the students do not have scholarships or study loans. Some students will need to work part-time to pay rent.

“I already have a part-time job to pay the tuition fees but now I need to work more to pay my rent,” she said.

Another student who wished to be known as Sham said it is expensive to live in the city.

“My family’s net income is around RM700 or less so I don’t know how I’ll be able to afford a place outside campus.

“The tenancy contract is a burden to students like me,” said Sham.

He said he has had no choice but to find a part-time job.

“I always find odd jobs to work during semester breaks but now with this lodging issue, I have no choice but to work during the semester as well.

“This will drain me physically and mentally and make it harder for me to concentrate on my studies,” he said.

Sharifah I’Nur Habib Idris, 21, said landlords require three months’ rent in advance.

“A large number of seniors, including myself, are in the midst of paying the semester fees.

“We are hoping our residential college applications will be accepted,” said Sharifah.

UM student union president Guo Shen said it is not feasible for the students to defer a semester until university accommodations are sorted.

“Deferring the semester doesn’t solve the issue. There still won’t be enough accommodation moving forward if structural issues are not solved.”

He said the accommodation issue is a persistent one that has grown more obvious this year.

“This is mainly because the intake this year is super huge.

“Also, for the past few years, classes were online and students were not on campus. This year, many seniors, maybe more than 10,000 of them, have failed to get accommodation when they return to campus,” he said.

He said the student body will be submitting a memorandum to the Higher Education and Finance Ministries over the accommodation shortage. – September 6, 2022.