KUALA LUMPUR: The recent tragic death of a female student from Kuching, who was believed to be murdered in her dormitory in Cyberjaya, must serve as a wake-up call to both educational institutions and authorities responsible for student welfare.
Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Yuen urge the Ministry of Higher Education to review and strengthen existing safety protocols and work closely with all educational institutions to enhance their security measures at student accommodations nationwide.
“I strongly urge the police and all relevant authorities to conduct an immediate, thorough, and transparent investigation of the murder incident.
”This tragedy raises serious concerns about student safety, especially those who are living far away from home,” he said in his recent statement.
Yii added that for 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.
“The 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.
“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.
“Campus safety cannot be treated as an afterthought or a box-ticking exercise. The safety of students must be embedded as a core institutional responsibility,” he added.
Yii also said that prevention must take priority, and necessary improvements must be made without waiting for another tragedy to occur.
”The full weight of the law must be applied without delay, and the perpetrators must be held fully accountable.
“The public deserves to know the truth, and most importantly, her family deserves justice and closure.
“No family should have to endure such devastating loss, especially under such horrifying and suspicious circumstances,” he added.
Beyond justice for the young girl, Yii said that the grief that those who are witnessing now must not be in vain.
“We must ensure that this loss leads to real, systemic change, so that no other student, and no other family, has to go through what this bright young woman and her loved ones are experiencing.
“We must send a clear signal that such heinous acts will not be tolerated, and justice must be delivered swiftly and fairly.
”May her soul rest in peace, and may her family find strength in this time of unimaginable grief,” he added.
