by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 26: The murder of a 20-year-old university student from Kuching in a condominium unit at Mutiara Ville, Cyberjaya has sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny over the lack of security measures at student accommodations across the country.
According to reports by Scoop, CCTV cameras were not installed along the condominium corridors, and the elevator鈥檚 CCTV system was found to be faulty and non-functional.
It has also been reported that Mutiara Ville, along with The Arc and Edusphere condominiums in Cyberjaya, have long been the subject of safety concerns, particularly for female university students.
In response, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii urged the Ministry of Higher Education to conduct an urgent and comprehensive review of existing student accommodation safety protocols nationwide, and to work closely with educational institutions to enhance their security measures at student accommodations nationwide.
鈥淔or years, there were repeated warnings regarding the lack of proper security systems for the students, from broken CCTVs to dark walkways, which were all ignored and not addressed.
鈥淭he heinous crime that followed paints the outcome of a failed system to protect the safety of the students, which should have always been the priority of any educational institution,鈥 he said in a statement.
He stressed that educational institutions and hostel management must take proactive steps to ensure that all students are provided with a safe living environment, including secure dorm access functioning CCTV, emergency reporting systems, and close coordination with local police.
鈥淐ampus safety cannot be treated as an afterthought or a box-ticking exercise. The safety of students must be embedded as a core institutional responsibility. Prevention must take priority, necessary improvements must be made without waiting for another tragedy to occur.鈥
Parti Bangsa Malaysia deputy information chief Krishna Govinth also took to Facebook to demand accountability from relevant authorities over the incident.
鈥淚ssues involving the safety and wellbeing of students, especially when it involves possible criminal elements must never be brushed aside!
鈥淚 demand the Ministry of Education, the Home Ministry, and the institution involved to address the public honestly. Silence only breeds fear, confusion, and speculation. This is not what people expect from today鈥檚 government,鈥 he stated.
The victim, a university student originally from Kuching, was found murdered in her condominium unit yesterday morning. Police investigations revealed that her suspected killer had used her ATM card to withdraw cash after her death.
A manhunt is currently underway to locate a male suspect, who is believed to be the main perpetrator.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. 鈥 DayakDaily