The Dewan Rakyat was informed yesterday that a total of 37 student deaths occurred at public universities across Malaysia between 2021 and 2025. Higher Education Deputy Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said the fatalities were primarily due to accidents or sudden deaths, with no criminal involvement reported.
Responding to a question from Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut), Adam noted that while the number is small relative to the overall student population, the ministry takes the matter seriously. “If we compare it with the overall number of students over the five-year period, the number of cases is relatively small. However, we aim to prevent any incidents from occurring,” he said.
Of the 37 deaths, 18 were accidents, while 19 were classified as sudden deaths. Adam highlighted that the ministry is actively implementing measures to improve student safety. These include official directives to both public and private higher education institutions for holistic and periodic safety inspections, covering CCTV systems, access control, lighting of safety routes, and overall campus security.
The ministry is also reviewing emergency SOPs, including hostel visitor management and emergency response readiness. A reference manual on the use of non-university vehicles has been developed in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia and the Public University Student Welfare Task Force to ensure proper management and compliance with safety, financial, and governance standards.
Adam confirmed that cooperation with police and local authorities has been strengthened to enhance security presence both on campuses and in surrounding areas. “All these measures are part of our ongoing efforts to ensure short, medium, and long-term student safety, keeping campus communities secure,” he said.
