3. The fire safety

Most laboratories in universities do not have proper fire safety system. The fire safety here is not have several fire-extinguishers attached on the wall only. The fire safety here is have a whole fire fighting system included fire-extinguishers, fire fighting blanket, smoke alarm, fire alarm, fire door, sprinklers, emergency evacuation alarm, and emergency evacuation plan. Take note here, the electrical abuse (plug multiple extension cords into another) is a fire hazard too. However, to be frank it is normal practice in many laboratories.

The university administration might say that is expensive. Well, take one laboratory near to my former laboratory as example.

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2. The clean water supply

You are aware that the water tariffs in Klang Valley will go up again. However, what about the water quality we will get?

In my former university, the tape water is yellowy like Chinese tea. I think you also aware that many houses in Malaysia have installed water filter device outside their house. You know the reason too.

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RM100mil for varsities
PENANG: The four local universities designated as research universities will receive at least an additional RM100mil each for research, development and commercialisation activities.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the allocation, to be disbursed early next year, would also fund the universities’ research grants and postgraduate scholarships.
The four universities are Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

提升水平争取世界排名 4大学列为研究大学
(槟城讯)高等教育部长拿督斯里慕斯达法宣布，教育部已把4所大学列为研究大学，以提升学术的水平，目标是争取名列世界100之内的最佳大学。
他坦言，大学学术水平尚未臻世界级的标准，迫切需要提升，而把4所大学，即马来西亚理科大学、马来亚大学、国大及博大，列为研究大学地位，有助达到目标。
他说，这所大学必须符合政府所列下8项学术准则，注重学术研究，以迎合世界大学的学术水平。此外，还须设有研究及开发部门，以配合社会发展的需求，参与经济的发展。

I have 2 cents to share about the four universities had been designated as research universities under the 9th Malaysia Plan. I have pursued my Master of Science degree at one of local public universities before. These suggestions already proposed to the University administration several years ago while I still in university for my MSc. However, when I left the university 4 years later the situation still not much improve. Perhaps, the theory “I just play for 10 minutes only” is applying well. If they are serious to develop universities to become research universities, perhaps they should consider about these.

1.The electrical supply

I dare to tell most laboratories in the universities do not have back up electrical supply. Why it so important?

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