State deputy education minister Annuar Rapaee said the committee, which was set up two weeks ago, would work on details such as where students would be allowed to rent accommodation.
Among factors that will be considered is the accommodation’s proximity to the campus, reported The Borneo Post.
Annuar stressed that the accommodation must be safe and clean.
He said personnel from the universities, alongside health officers and local authorities, would inspect the premises to determine its suitability for students.
The Sarawak government will offer free higher education to all Sarawakians from next year, along with stipends. A portion of these stipends will help students with the cost of renting off-campus housing.
“Students are permitted to live off-campus, but they cannot rent accommodation freely as they wish. The property owner can rent out to students, but they cannot do so directly,” said Annuar.
“They must coordinate with the university and obtain approval to determine if their property can be rented out to students.”
Annuar said there were plans to require landlords to register with the university student accommodation units at the four universities.
They are Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), and i-CATS University College.
Annuar stressed that factors such as safety, location, and overcrowding needed to be taken into account when students choose off-campus housing.
He said some local council rules prohibit the rental of certain shoplots for residential purposes.
Annuar also noted there are guidelines stating that if shoplots are rented out for residential use, the space should not be overcrowded.
“Institutions should be aware of these regulations and must keep a record of where students reside off-campus. This is to prevent any untoward incident. Students may choose overcrowded places due to lower rental costs.”
He also extended his condolences to the family of the late Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara, a 20-year-old University of Cyberjaya student who was found dead in her condominium unit by a friend.
Maniishapriet, who hailed from Kuching, was found in the unit with injuries on her body.
Three suspects arrested in connection with her murder have been remanded for seven days until July 3.