14/07/2026

TUESDAY | JULY 14, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

COMMENT by Koong Haw Shin, Muhammad Yasyri and Dr Mohd Salim Mohamed The campus commute conundrum E VERY morning, thousands of students and staff across Malaysian universities begin their day in much the same make buses a less attractive option compared with driving.

about replacing our dedicated teachers or counsellors; it is about reinforcing them. True school safety cannot be built on higher fences, stricter rules or harsher punishments alone. Lasting security is cultivated through early risk identification, meaningful relationships, active family engagement and accessible professional care. This recent tragedy must serve as Malaysia’s wake-up call. If we are genuinely committed to protecting the next generation, professional school social workers should no longer be viewed as an optional luxury. They must be recognised as an essential pillar of a modern, compassionate and resilient education system. Thanaselan Punichelvana Desa Petaling laboratories for sustainable mobility. By improving public transport, encouraging active travel, such as walking and cycling, and investing in low-carbon transport solutions, campuses can contribute not only to SDG 11 but also to SDG 13 (climate action) through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and SDG 3 (good health and well-being) by promoting healthier lifestyles. Beyond reducing congestion, sustainable mobility can improve air quality, strengthen social inclusion and create more vibrant and people centred campuses. These outcomes demonstrate how transportation is not merely an operational issue but also an important component of sustainable development. The road ahead The future of campus transportation may not depend on convincing people to abandon their cars. Instead, it may depend on creating alternatives so effective that driving becomes the less attractive option. For universities seeking to become greener, inclusive and sustainable, the challenge is clear: Transport systems must be designed not only for efficiency and convenience but also for environmental responsibility and social well-being. After all, the most successful transport system is not necessarily the one with the fewest vehicles; it is the one that enables people to move safely, efficiently, equitably and sustainably while leaving a lighter footprint on the planet. Koong Haw Shin, Muhammad Yasyri and Dr Mohd Salim Mohamed are from the Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

Those who choose to walk are not exempt from difficulties either. On large campuses, travelling between faculties can take considerable time, particularly under Malaysia’s hot and unpredictable weather conditions. As a result, many students continue to view private vehicles as the most practical option despite recognising the environmental consequences. Convenience versus sustainability The popularity of private vehicles is easy to understand. Cars and motorcycles offer flexibility, comfort and greater control over daily schedules. For students with back-to-back classes or staff attending multiple meetings across campus, personal transport often appears to be the most efficient choice. Yet, the collective impact of thousands of individual decisions is becoming increasingly visible. Traffic congestion contributes to air pollution, noise, greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption. More vehicles also place greater pressure on parking infrastructure and reduce the effectiveness of efforts to create greener, more pedestrian friendly campuses. This creates a dilemma that many universities now face: While sustainable transportation is widely supported in principle, it often struggles to compete with the convenience of private vehicles. Why people still drive Interviews conducted as part of the study revealed a consistent message from both students and academic staff. Many respondents expressed support for sustainability initiatives but felt that existing alternatives were

way – sitting in traffic. Long queues campus entrances, crowded parking spaces, delayed buses and lengthy walks between buildings have become familiar frustrations for many. While universities increasingly promote sustainability and environmental responsibility, transportation remains one of the most difficult challenges to address. The problem is not unique to any single institution. As student populations grow and private vehicle ownership continues to rise, universities across the country are grappling with a difficult question: How can campuses reduce congestion and carbon emissions without compromising convenience and accessibility? A recent case study conducted at Universiti Malaya (UM) under the UM Living Labs Towards Just Net Zero Programme offers insight into the complex realities behind sustainable transportation policies. It also highlights why many students and staff remain dependent on private vehicles despite growing environmental concerns. The daily commute dilemma For many students, getting to class is often more stressful than the class itself. Traffic congestion during peak hours can result in missed lectures, delayed arrivals and increased stress levels. Parking shortages add another layer of frustration, with some students spending valuable time searching for available spaces before classes begin. Students who rely on public transport face a different set of challenges. Delays, overcrowding and inconsistent schedules often at

The transportation debate reflects a wider challenge facing cities and communities throughout Malaysia. – BERNAMAPIC

shuttle buses, improved service reliability, safer cycling infrastructure, shaded pedestrian walkways, electric vehicle charging facilities and better integration between public transport and campus transport systems. Many also supported carpooling initiatives and the gradual introduction of cleaner transport technologies, such as electric buses. Such measures could reduce dependence on private vehicles. A sustainability challenge beyond universities The transportation debate reflects a wider challenge facing cities and communities throughout Malaysia. As the country pursues its sustainability and climate commitments, reducing emissions from transportation will become increasingly important. This aligns closely with the aspirations of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, which calls for safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all. Universities have a unique opportunity to serve as living

measures, professional social workers are trained to look beneath the surface. They operate on a fundamental understanding that a student’s actions are heavily dictated by their ecosystem, their family dynamics, peer influences and socio economic realities. A student displaying sudden aggression may be reacting to domestic abuse or severe emotional distress at home. A student with chronic absenteeism may be trapped in a cycle of poverty or acting as an underage caregiver. Addressing the behaviour without treating the underlying trauma achieves nothing. Social workers do not just react to a crisis; they prevent it. They are uniquely equipped to conduct psychosocial assessments, implement early intervention not yet reliable enough to replace private vehicles. Lecturers noted that busy schedules often require travelling quickly between different locations on campus. Students similarly reported that inconsistent bus services and long waiting times made alternative transportation options less appealing. Importantly, respondents did not reject sustainable transportation. Instead, they argued that sustainable options must first become practical, reliable, affordable and convenient before stricter restrictions on vehicle use can be introduced. In other words, behavioural change requires viable alternatives. Building a campus that moves better Experts increasingly argue that solving congestion requires more than simply limiting parking spaces or discouraging car use. A successful transition towards sustainable mobility requires investment in attractive alternatives. Among the solutions proposed by respondents were more frequent

LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com

Classrooms in crisis: The missing link in school safety THE recent school stabbing incident that shocked the nation did more than shatter the peace of a classroom; it exposed the fragile underbelly of our student support systems. stubbornly punitive. We look at a troubled child and see a disciplinary problem to be corrected with suspension, detention or public shaming. In doing so, we treat the outward symptom while completely ignoring the underlying disease. workers become indispensable. Unlike traditional disciplinary programmes, perform home visits and bridge the gap between vulnerable families and community resources.

Global precedents show us the way. In the United States, school social workers have been embedded for decades to spearhead crisis response. In the United Kingdom, a rigorous child-safeguarding model seamlessly connects schools with social care professionals. Our neighbour, Singapore, utilises a tightly knit ecosystem where schools, healthcare providers and community agencies share collective responsibility for student welfare. These models highlight a universal truth: Safeguarding children requires a multi-disciplinary coalition. It takes a village but that village must be backed by professional expertise. Introducing professional social workers to Malaysian schools is not

While authorities investigate the tragedy, society faces a deeper mandate. We must confront an uncomfortable truth: Our schools are not equipped to rescue vulnerable youth before they reach a breaking point. Today’s classrooms do not exist in a vacuum. They mirror broader societal fractures, reflecting modern crises like severe bullying, broken homes, mental health struggles, cyber risks and child neglect. When children carry these heavy emotional burdens into school, the trauma inevitably manifests as behavioural volatility or flashpoints of aggression. Yet, our institutional reflex remains

Teachers remain the bedrock of our education system but it is unfair and unrealistic to expect them to moonlight as mental health practitioners, family interventionists or child protection experts. They are already drowning in administrative duties and curriculum demands. Similarly, while school counsellors play a vital role, they are frequently overwhelmed by staggering student to-counsellor ratios. When a system relies solely on strict rules and overburdened staff, vulnerable students inevitably slip through the cracks. This is where professional social