Cases resulted from accidents and other causes, with no criminal elements involved: Higher Education deputy minister
PETALING JAYA: A total of 37 student deaths were recorded at public universities nationwide over the past five years, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.
Higher Education Deputy Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim (pic) said the incidents, occurring between 2021 and 2025, were largely due to accidents and sudden deaths, with no criminal elements involved.
In reply to a question from Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut), he said the figure is small compared with the overall student population, but the ministry does not take the matter lightly.
“If we compare it with the overall number of students over the five-year period, the number of cases is relatively small. However, of course, if possible, we do not want any incidents to occur at all.”
Adam added that 18 deaths were accidental while 19 were sudden deaths.
“For future improvements, we are continuously strengthening new measures, including issuing official instructions to public and private higher education institutions to implement holistic and periodic safety inspections, covering reviews of safety systems on campus and in student residences.
“This includes the effectiveness of CCTV access control, installation of CCTV cameras and ensuring safety routes are well lit and secure.”
Adam said the ministry is reviewing security and emergency SOP, including hostel visitor management and emergency response readiness.
A reference manual on the use of non-university vehicles has been developed with Universiti Putra Malaysia and the Public University Student Welfare Task Force to ensure vehicle use is properly managed and compliant with safety, financial and governance standards.
“We are ensuring close cooperation with police and local authorities to enhance the presence of community police and security patrols around higher education institution areas, not limited to within campuses but also the surrounding areas. All these measures are efforts to ensure short, medium and long term student safety continues to be protected and our campus communities remain safe.”
