A Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student was found dead at the university’s Chancellor Hall yesterday morning, believed to have fallen from a height.
The body of the 23-year-old male student was discovered at around 10am by two maintenance workers who were carrying out work in the area before alerting the university’s security personnel.
Kota Kinabalu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Kasim Muda said initial investigations found the victim lying on the stage of Chancellor Hall.
A medical officer from Likas Women and Children’s Hospital later confirmed that the student had died at the scene at 11.10am.
“External examination found no suspicious injuries other than those consistent with a fall.
“Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage inside Chancellor Hall showed the victim falling at 6.09pm last Wednesday.
“So far, there are no public witnesses to the incident, and investigations indicate there was no element of criminal involvement,” he said in a media statement yesterday.
Kasim added that the Sabah police contingent headquarters forensic team was also at the scene to assist with further examinations.
“At this stage, the case has been classified as a sudden death (SDR), and further investigations are ongoing,” he said, advising the public not to speculate in a way that could interfere with the investigation.
Meanwhile, UMS Corporate Communication Centre said in a statement that the university was still awaiting the outcome of further investigations by the authorities to determine the actual cause of the incident.
“UMS is deeply saddened to confirm a death involving a male student within the UMS campus. This loss is deeply felt by the entire university community.
“UMS appeals to the public to respect the privacy of the victim’s family and to refrain from making any speculation, assumptions or unverified statements that could disrupt the investigation process and add to the grief of those affected.
“The safety, welfare and well-being of students remain UMS’ top priority. The university is committed to ensuring a safe and conducive campus environment through strict adherence to safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) and continuous monitoring,” the statement said.
UMS also expressed its deepest condolences and sympathy to the victim’s family over the loss of their loved one.
“The university will give its full cooperation to the authorities and will inform the public of any further developments if necessary,” it added.
