Selangor police chief urges creation of safer, student-only hostels following Cyberjaya off-campus murder

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan has called for stricter screening of off-campus student accommodations and stressed that such lodgings should be reserved exclusively for students.

He cautioned that sharing accommodations with members of the public could compromise student safety, particularly for female students, and urged universities to designate specific blocks or areas solely for student use.

"Universities must dedicate a block or area for students only, especially for female students," he was quoted as saying by The Star.

“If an apartment or condominium being used as off-campus housing also houses members of the public, then security cannot be guaranteed at an optimal level,” he added.

Hussein also emphasised the need for universities to install adequate security infrastructure at student accommodations, including CCTV systems, security personnel, and access card entry systems.

“These measures will significantly help in monitoring and ensuring the safety of students,” he said.

He added that police would collaborate with university managements to underscore the importance of implementing these safety protocols.

Hussein stressed that student safety must always be a top priority and should never be overlooked.

His comments come in the wake of the murder of Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara, a Bachelor of Physiotherapy student from Kuching, who was studying at the University of Cyberjaya.

She was discovered unconscious at her off-campus accommodation on Tuesday morning and was pronounced dead shortly after police arrived.

According to Sepang police, there were no signs of forced entry or sexual assault, but the victim sustained head injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.

Three individuals have since been remanded for seven days beginning Friday, as investigations continue under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.