UNIVERSITI Malaya (UM) students today made five demands over a lodging issue, where more than 10,000 students failed to secure a place 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 at present.

“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 today at the campus. 

Another demand made was for students to reclaim administration of the UM Students’ Union Rental House, which is a group of bungalows situated next to the campus. 

“This year, the UM bursary tried to reclaim administration (of the bungalows), and most importantly, the financial flow and management of those rental houses, citing a lack of proper auditing in recent years, 

Sharifah said the group of bungalows has been one of the sources of revenue for the operation of the student union.

“If it is taken over by the UM bursary, then cash flow (would be subject to) bureaucracy and be slow, which is a problem when dealing with ad-hoc issues.

“It will also directly affect the activities of unions, clubs and associations in UM, that is why the administration must be returned to the students,” said Sharifah. 

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

The students handed in a memorandum with their demands to the assistant registrar from the vice-chancellor’s office and deputy registrar from the Student Affairs’ Division of UM. 

When asked by reporters whether the students are afraid of disciplinary action, Davina of Demokrat Malaya said she has to do it so future students are not affected by lodging issues. 

“Being an Indian, I am a minority in this campus and am afraid, but if I don’t do this now, the problem will continue,” she said. 

UM student union secretary Naqib Al Hussaini said this issue is not only confined to UM, but other universities as well. 

“I urge the Higher Education Ministry to take this issue seriously and ensure it will stop now,” he said.

Yesterday, UM Association of New Youth (Umany) said in a statement that some 9,000 Universiti Malaya 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. 

“Umany condemns the university’s irresponsible attitude and silence. Almost 9,000 students have failed to secure a place in campus residences this year. 

“This is also the worst residence shortage in UM history,” it said. – September 5, 2022.