The top management of University Utara Malaysia (UUM) has today come forward and apologised to the family of the late S Vinosiny, the 20-year-old accounting student who died on May 21.
The university's vice-chancellor Haim Hilman Abdullah said the university would be willing to offer any assistance and vowed full cooperation with the family to find out the truth.
“I apologise and I am together with you and your family, to know what the cause (of death) is.
“This is the reason I came over today, to ask you, my brother, what can I help, what can the university help?
“I do not want you to feel that this university is trying to cover up or hiding something,” said Haim to the deceased father, R Sivakumar Rajoo during a meeting with the family at their house in Klang this afternoon.
Eight UUM management officers were present in the meeting, which lasted for about 40 minutes, including the principal of the student’s hostel Inapsis Sime Darby, Mohd Fairus Abd Majid.
Haim said the university had already handed over RM1,500 in compensation to the family and is in the process to handle the student's insurance claims.
During the visit, Haim repeatedly expressed his condolences and apology to the family as he was also saddened by Vinosiny’s death.
When asked about the progress of the post-mortem report, Haim said the police are still waiting for the full report and that would probably take a few weeks.
“I’m not sure about the exact date, but I met with the Kedah police chief (Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad) yesterday and he told me that this case is a top priority.
“Rest assured, I also want the report to be released as soon as possible. As a father, I also hoped that the report can unravel everything,” he said.
Maintenance work
Meanwhile, Haim stated that the facilities maintenance work at the university was being carried out on schedule amid the accusations of negligence.
He stressed that despite the campus being closed for two years during the Covid-19 pandemic, the facilities were still maintained properly. Therefore, the issue of abandoned hostel buildings did not arise.
“The Energy Commission also came for inspection and found everything in good condition,” he said.
However, Haim said he could not reveal the outcome of the inspection as the official report from the commission has not been released yet.
“In terms of the safety aspect, all relevant procedures are already done according to the schedule,” he reiterated.
At the same time, the vice-chancellor admitted that the gag order barring students from speaking or attending events in regard to Vinosiny was a “miscommunication”.
He acknowledged that the statement by the students’ affairs department was rather “harsh”.
He said the official statement should come from the corporate communication unit.
“I apologise for the misunderstanding and miscommunication. We have retracted the statement and the students are allowed to express themselves openly,” he clarified.
Earlier today, UUM issued a clarification, stating that solidarity events were allowed but that students should be mindful of their actions.
Vinosiny had died in her dorm room at UUM's Sintok, Kedah campus on May 21.
The accounting student was suspected to have suffered a fatal electric shock, something which the family claimed was backed up by injuries on her body and the post-mortem findings.
UUM has been accused of not being forthcoming regarding the circumstances of her death.
Her father has lodged a police report against the university, citing possible negligence. - Mkini
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