USM Edu Community

PENANG: While not many in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) are taking the stories of an orang minyak (oily man) preying on female students seriously, some of them have begun taking extra safety precautions on their own.

The main campus has been abuzz over the last few days with talk that an oily man had broken into several hostels and raped female students.

USM acting vice-chancellor Prof Ahmad Syukri Mustapa Kamal said so far, the authorities had yet to receive any reports of rape or sightings by students.
“USM is working closely with the police to ensure the security of the campus. We appeal for people to refrain from spreading rumours about rape cases that have been found to be baseless,” he said in a press statement.

Security has been stepped up at the entrances with closed-circuit TV camera surveillance and 24-hour patrols conducted by guards and hostel authorities.

Female students are taking better care of themselves.

“Students are saying that the orang minyak is raping girls to improve his prowess in black magic, but whatever the reason, we are very concerned,” said second-year communications student Nur Farahiyah Mhd Taib, 21, who stays in a hostel on campus.

She said the girls were now staying together in big groups at their hostels or when walking back from meetings at night.

Course mate V. Kumutha, 22, said the girls in her hostel also had a meeting with the hostel committee.

“They advised us to keep safe and also taught some of the girls prayers to deter the oily man,” she said.

Some students had gone to the extent of vacating the campus hostels during the night.

“For the last two days, many people have been sleeping over with friends who live off campus,” said second-year management student C.P. Teng, 22. - The Star