TANJUNG MALIM: Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir stated that the Higher Education Ministry will have conversations with all Higher Education Institutions (IPT) nationwide to pinpoint universities that need solutions for student accommodation issues. He mentioned that the ministry’s top management has brought to his attention the urgency of solving this issue at several universities, although he did not disclose specific numbers or names of the universities.
He informed reporters that he has already spoken to the highest management to identify universities requiring immediate resolution of the student accommodation issues.
Following a visit to the Ungku Omar Residential College at the Sultan Azlan Shah Campus, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) on Saturday (Dec 16), he disclosed this information to the media. During his visit to UPSI, Zambry said he focused on learning about the concerns and problems faced by students in relation to their accommodation within the university.
Zambry went on to mention that the current accommodation capacity at the campus is only at 40%, but UPSI has plans to increase it to 70%.
“Currently, about 7,000 students are residing on campus, and we aim to increase the capacity to 14,000 by October next year. However, I also raised concerns about the comfort of the students,” he said.
He stressed that he visited several units on the campus and talked to the students, and overall, they are comfortable. Even as the capacity is increased, the students’ comfort must be taken into consideration.
Addressing the students’ needs, Zambry stated that factors such as high living costs, expensive rental rates, and limited rental housing outside the campus are taken into consideration to help the students.
As for the Covid-19 situation in the Higher Education Institutions, Zambry said that it is under control at the moment, and the ministry will continue to seek guidance from the Ministry of Health to prevent its spread.
He emphasized the importance of all parties, including students and the campus community, taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in their respective campus areas.
As of Dec 13, the number of Covid-19 cases in the country had risen to 12,757 cases in the 49th Epidemiological Week, from Dec 3 to 9, as compared to 6,796 cases in the previous week. – Bernama
