KUALA LUMPUR: There were 37 incidents resulting in the death of students at higher education institutions in the past five years, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said this comprised 18 accidents and 19 instances of sudden death between 2021 and 2025.
However, no incidents involved criminal elements, he added.
"The number is relatively small when compared to the total number of students during that period. However, this is not taken lightly. We don’t want any incidents at all," he said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Feb 25).
Among the measures taken to curb such incidents includes issuing an order mandating all public and private higher education institutions to conduct holistic and periodic safety screenings.
This includes safety systems on campus and in hostels, the installation of closed-circuit television systems and well-lit safety routes.
"We have also taken measures to review security SOPs, including visitor entry and exit at hostels, and to ensure a swift response in the event of emergencies," he said.
He also noted the development of a task force on student welfare to ensure the use of vehicles is done safely and complies with safety standards.
"We are also working closely with the police and local authorities to enhance the presence of police and patrols both inside and outside campuses," he said.
Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut) had asked for statistics on the number of incidents at higher education institutions resulting in students losing their lives.
Khairil Nizam also asked about the ministry’s plans to tackle this in the short, medium and long term to comprehensively enhance campus safety.
