I am a student currently studying at Universiti Malaya, otherwise known as Malaysia's premier university. I write on behalf of many students to express our frustrations and disappointment at the way certain things are run here.
UM claims to be a smoke-free campus. Numerous signs have been put up indicating that smokers will be fined. However, even the security guards smoke on campus.
Even the campus hospital staff smoke within the hospital grounds. Will no one enforce this ‘no smoking' rule? Or is it just something nice to have?
The treasury department of UM, otherwise known as Bendahari UM is also very difficult to deal with. Companies have refused purchase orders from UM student projects simply because it takes a long time for the money to come through.
The system that allows students to claim money for projects is also very burdensome. It takes ages for any claim to be approved successfully.
The water coolers in UM are also not serviced properly. This may seem like a small issue but many of the water filters are turning brown while some have algae growing on them. This is a danger to the students' health.
The water cooler filter issue is three years old. Numerous letters have been written to the maintenance department of UM (Jabatan Pembangunan dan Penyelenggaran Harta Benda) but there has been no response whatsoever.
Who do we turn to then? As a college warden said, decentralisation is necessary as we cannot put the burden of the campus' maintenance on just one organisation.
UM has this slogan, ‘UM environment, I care'. Students are encouraged not to drive but to walk and cycle. However, there are hardly any metal bars or places to lock bicycles to.
Drain covers and their grill covers run parallel to the road making it extremely difficult to cycle around. Covered walkways are only found only in certain areas of the campus. There are no covered walkways leading to the main library at all.
Bus services are way below par as the buses do not arrive on time. The ‘schedule' is not followed closely and students have all but lost confidence in the system.
After so many years, the wireless Internet access is still inadequate for student use. Upon questioning a representative from the wireless network provider, we realised that the bandwidth for Internet usage is only sufficient for 600 students.
This for a campus that has thousands accessing the Internet. Students have no confidence in the system and end up subscribing to other providers such as Izzi, Celcom, Digi, Maxis, etc. and as such have to pay from their own pockets.
The Internet is vital for online research, journals and so on. Why is it so difficult for the country's best university to have an adequate wireless Internet access service? Isn't this a basic necessity? One that is found in nearly all fast food chains in the Klang Valley?
We are tired of hearing empty promises. We write this not to shame the university but we have given up writing letters to them or going through the student council, etc.
We hope that prompt action will be taken by the administration for the good of all in the university.
