Accra:Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasized the importance of the Universiti Malaya (UM) Student Residence project as a model for clean, efficient, and leakage-free development management. He highlighted the need for this project to learn from past management failures that led to cost overruns and delayed constructions, resulting in national losses.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar urged the UM vice-chancellor to ensure the project becomes an example for other agencies. He stressed the importance of a clean, incorruptible, and dedicated approach to the project, which he considers a major responsibility requiring full dedication from all involved parties.

Anwar committed to personally overseeing the project's implementation, aiming for an expedited completion before the original 2030 schedule. He directed government machinery, including government-linked companies and investment companies, to prioritize the project to address student accommodation needs and the rising cost of rentals near universities.

The UM Student Residence Development Project supports the government's agenda to improve student accommodation infrastructure, as outlined in the 2027 Budget. Designed to accommodate 40,000 students, the project will be executed in phases, with Phase One catering to 10,000 students and Phase Two adding capacity for another 30,000 students. The development will feature four categories of air-conditioned accommodations and focus on a community living concept to enhance social interaction and character development.

Deputy Minister of Higher Education Adam Adli Abd Halim expressed hope that the initiative would provide a sustainable, long-term solution to student accommodation issues. He assured that the project would proceed smoothly with a 'fast-track' approach, maintaining integrity and established management procedures. The project will begin at UM, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), with plans to expand to other universities.

UM vice-chancellor Prof. Datuk Seri Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman emphasized the university's commitment to student welfare through the Student Residences, aiming not only to enhance academic infrastructure but also to improve students' daily lives.