The student representative council of Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) Sungai Long campus has issued a statement questioning whether the university had conducted a comprehensive risk assessment for internships, following a gas explosion that claimed the life of a student.
In its statement today, the council expressed its deepest condolences to the family of the student who was killed in the incident.
The council said that the tragedy raises serious concerns about the nature of internship arrangements, stressing that internships should prioritise learning and skill development. It questioned whether students were placed in high-risk work environments without adequate experience or sufficient safety safeguards.
“We raise a legitimate concern as to whether the specific job scope and potential risks faced by students during their internships were properly and thoroughly assessed by the university,” the statement said.
The council emphasised that when interns are exposed to high-risk tasks, particularly involving the maintenance of high-voltage equipment, universities must ensure students are clearly informed of and allowed to exercise their right to refuse such work.
It added that existing internship supervision and evaluation mechanisms should be strengthened, noting that assessments should not focus solely on performance scores or employer feedback but must also consider the nature and safety of the work assigned to students.
The council stressed that its concerns were not directed at any individual, but aimed at encouraging improvements in safety and oversight mechanisms.
It said it would continue to monitor developments in the case and urged the university to clarify how it plans to review and improve its internship policies to ensure better protection for students in future placements.
The council also called on the university to provide full assistance to the victim’s family and requested that, once investigations are completed, the institution disclose details of the incident and any policy changes to students, while respecting privacy considerations.
The fatal incident occurred yesterday following a kitchen gas explosion at a cafeteria at a private university campus in Damansara, which also left several others injured.
