PETALING JAYA: Educational institutions in Malaysia need to build a system where safety protocols, from staff vigilance to student awareness, are embedded into daily routines, says criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy.

“University campuses are supposed to be secure sanctuaries for intellectual growth, self-discovery and personal safety.

“While universities often claim to have around-the-clock security and restricted access, many students report a different reality,” said the former lecturer, who has headed Universiti Sains Malaysia’s security department and other universities overseas in the past.

Weak enforcement of visitor logs, under-trained guards, malfunctioning CCTV systems and the absence of emergency protocols appear to be common across Malaysian campuses, he added.

“If a perpetrator could enter, remain undetected and commit murder in a hostel room, then it raises profound questions.

“Was there no control to access? Were there no security patrols? Was the CCTV system functioning or was one even installed? Where was the supervisory framework?

“Security is not just about equipment and technology. It’s about culture.

“Many institutions still treat security as an afterthought rather than a core responsibility. At a minimum, hostels must have access control mechanisms such as digital key cards, biometrics and automated logs that track entries and exits,” he said.

Sundramoorthy also said there should be female security officers in female hostels and trained emergency responders who can act swiftly in case of threats.

“Student hostels are not commercial buildings but living spaces filled with young people in their most formative years.

“It is not enough to merely offer education. Universities or colleges must guarantee protection, dignity and peace of mind for their students,” he said.

Noting that there are currently no binding national standards governing hostel safety across Malaysian universities, he called on the Higher Education Ministry to promptly establish such a framework complete with enforceable protocols, independent audits, operator licensing and student complaint mechanisms.

He referred to security protocols in developed education institutions in the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and Singapore, where student hostels are treated as high-risk zones requiring professional security systems and management. 

He noted that Nanyang Tech­nological University in Singapore has facial recognition-based access and that in many US universities, campus-wide emer­gency alert systems are linked to local police stations and campus security.

Some Australian and European education institutions provide mandatory night-time security audits and female-only floor protocols, Sundramoorthy added.

Security in areas such as hostels and dorms, especially those housing female residents, can be enhanced with advanced technology, said Datuk J. Narasingarao, who has worked in the security industry for 35 years.

The owner of Reeliance Security Services was asked to comment on the safety of women hostels, which has been an issue after the brutal murder of 20-year-old Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara in her hostel room at a private university in Cyberjaya on June 24.

“With the equipment and facilities available today, we can install another level of checkpoint without compromising the freedom and privacy for residents.

“A proper CCTV system combined with the latest technology is available at reasonable prices and can be installed at the main pathways to curb intruders.

“This should be accompanied with notifications in strategic places to remind people that they are being watched, along with a proper control room with scheduled maintenance and supervision.

“There should also be a back-up security system and random checks on movements, as sometimes these touch-and-go applications can be transferred to other people, and visitor registers might not be checked,” he said.

For students, he added, the orientation they get before they enter dorms and hostels is important. There must be strict, regimented deterrents.

“While we believe in the freedom of the residents, their safety is the top priority for those hired to handle the security,” he said.

He said his firm has managed residential hostels and dorms of private universities, but the cost is high as the risks and obligations are higher than normal.

This article first appeared on The Star.