A statement by UKM’s corporation communications centre said the university will always prioritise having a safe environment in place for their students.

It said Nur Fitri, a PhD student at UKM’s school of mathematical science, is monitored regularly and periodically by members of its counselling unit as well as faculty staff.

“UKM’s counselling unit has referred the student to the psychiatry department at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, UKM, to check on the status of the student’s latest mental health,” the statement read.

One-on-one counselling was also carried out to help Nur Fitri, a 27-year-old from Perak, it said, adding that a psychological report and update on his mental health was provided to the university after every session.

Apart from this, UKM said it was cooperating with the relevant agencies such as the police to supervise him while at the university. It said they were also in talks with Nur Fitri’s family in this regard.

UKM said it believed education can help a person by giving him or her a second chance in life to achieve success.

But it warned that it would not compromise with any illegal acts and breaking of university rules by any student.

Nur Fitri was sentenced to five years’ jail in 2015 after he pleaded guilty in a London court for keeping over 30,000 images and videos of child pornography.

He was extradited to Malaysia after serving a reduced jail sentence from 18 months to nine.

He is currently not on the government’s official list of sexual offenders in Malaysia.

Nur Fitri joined UKM as an undergraduate in 2016. He later took on a Master’s course and was quickly promoted to a PhD course.