Umany slams UM on students' lodging issues

 

Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) has slammed Universiti Malaya (UM) over alleged lodging issues faced by its students.

The student group alleged that many high achieving B40 students failed to get placement in the varsity’s residence halls.

“Umany condemns the university’s irresponsible attitude for remaining silent on this issue. Almost 9,000 students, both male and female, failed to secure a place in the campus residences this year.

“This also makes history as the worst residence placement shortage in UM,” it said in a statement.

Umany attributed the cause of this issue to the university’s excessive intake of students this year and a lack of transparency in the university’s residential college application system.

The group added that students do not have the authority to manage the residential colleges.

“Although the Universiti of Malaya Students’ Union (UMSU) has tried many times to get the authority to manage residential colleges, the Student Affairs Office (HEP) had rejected the proposal.

“Recently, the HEP also withdrew UMSU’s rented housing, which the union managed for three years.

“Unfortunately, there was no official announcement from the HEP until the end of the semester,” it said.

UMSU also requested for the HEP to announce the conditions for the residential college selection process, Umany added.

“Therefore, UMSU has to take over the responsibility of the HEP to disseminate information to students.

“Hence, Umany demands that administrative rights be given to UMSU, and for the union’s rented housing to be returned under its administration,” it said. - Mkini