HOW ISMAIL SABRI, BOYCOTT CHINESE AGAIN? UM hikes dorm fees by 50%

While Putrajaya has assured that it is making efforts to curb profiteering by businesses as world oil prices continue to slump, Malaysia's oldest varsity Universiti Malaya (UM) has raised its accommodation fees by 50%, to the dismay of students.

Although the hike in fees only affects those pursuing postgraduate courses, former student leader Fahmi Zainol said it was not a reflection of the government's assurance to tackle the rising cost of living.

"It does not make sense. The 50% increase is huge. I was shocked to receive the circular from a friend, who is a student affected by this new increase," said Fahmi, who is former president of UM Undergraduates Association.

According to the circular, the university administration said the accommodation fees for post-graduate students would be increased from RM300 to RM450 for each room per month, beginning next month.

Fahmi said the university had probably increased the fees once in the last 10 years, but that it was no excuse for such a drastic hike.

“It is an old room, shared by two people and equipped with public toilets which are shared by 30 to 40 students," he said.

“That is the reality in UM. Yes, maybe this issue seems small, but this action has got us students wondering... that if ministers are now busy with their campaigns to urge businesses to lower prices, UM is busy ‘eating’ students' money.”

Fahmi, who was suspended from UM for organising a talk featuring opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on October 27 last year, said many students had expressed their dissatisfaction over the increase in fees.

"This will burden students who already have to cope with the rising cost of living despite the decreasing world oil prices, with the GST (goods and services tax) and more coming their way," he said.

UM, the country’s top-ranking varsity, recently came under fire over several of its rulings and actions that were issued to curb voices of dissent and discourage pro-opposition political activities.

It suspended Fahmi and another student leader and handed out fines and warnings to six others over the Anwar talk on the eve of the Federal Court’s appeal hearing last October over the PKR de facto leader's second sodomy conviction.

Critics, including opposition lawmakers and activists, have criticised the university for taking such harsh action against the students, who were dubbed the "UM8".

In December last year, UM issued a circular prohibiting its staff from organising any political activities, saying that it had noticed their active involvement in such events of late.

Associate professor Dr Azmi Sharom, who is also president of UM’s Academic Staff Association (PKAUM) said the order was an infringement of the rights protected under the Federal Constitution.

In January, UM courted controversy after it did not extend the contract of renowned academic deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international) professor Dr Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor, allegedly because he did not support Umno, while another deputy vice-chancellor, professor Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof, who is in charge of student affairs, is to be replaced for being too lenient with students.

Fahmi and other critics warned that the future generation of students would be the biggest losers if political interference in the running of UM continued. - TMI