THE Universiti Malaya Students’ Union (UMSU) wants the institution’s administration to return rented houses to B40 students.

The union, in a letter to the authorities, alleged that Universiti Malaya Student Affairs Division (BHEP) is insensitive to the needs of poor students.

In the letter, it is stated that BHEP would use the bungalows for university employees.

The old bungalows are located near the 9th Residential College and have been refurbished for B40 students, with rent as low as RM150 per month.

UMSU questioned why BHEP is refusing to maintain and repair these surplus houses so they can be used as residences for UM employees.

Last week, UM students made five demands over lodging issues, after more than 10,000 students failed to secure spots in campus residences this year.

Student body Demokrat Malaya coordinator Sharifah I’Nur Habib Idris said their first demand is for the upkeep of existing residential colleges and underutilised buildings in UM.

“Apart from the 13 residential colleges in and around the UM campus, there are several buildings that are not fully utilised.

“Such structures have the potential to be modified into temporary accommodation for stranded students while they wait for (outcomes on) appeals and residential college vacancies,” she said during a press conference.

Another demand made was for students to reclaim administration of the UM Students’ Union Rental House.

The other three demands were to reopen the 10th and 13th Residential Colleges, relocate foundation students to the Bachok campus, and construct new residential colleges to increase the number of rentals available.

Earlier that week, UM Association of New Youth said in a statement that some 9,000 UM students have failed to secure lodging at campus residences this year.

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. – September 11, 2022.