Universiti Malaya (UM) recently refurbished an old school bus that was used to ferry undergraduates into a room for rent.
Photo via Facebook (University of Malaya)
According to the Malay Mail, Siti Norasiah Abd Kadir, UM Master of Science student said that the idea was first thought about in 2013 by UM’s former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Faisal Rafiq Mahamad Adikan.
“The university initially wanted to dispose of the old bus in 2016 that has been stranded on campus for many years,” she said.
Who doesn’t love those vintage UM busses? Now you can sleep inside one too. #VarsitiKesayamganku #UMisOne
Posted by University of Malaya on Monday, July 6, 2020
She added that Prof Faisal knew two groups in the university’s Sustainability and Living Labs Secretariat - Water Warriors and the Rimba Project who had been advocating for sustainability initiatives within their campus.
Siti Norasiah, who is involved with Water Warriors, said Prof Faisal asked them if they would like to do something with the bus. “I suppose the university still has sentimental values for the bus and felt an idea like this could showcase the university’s sustainability effort and the creativity of University Malaya’s own internal staff.”
Photo via Facebook (University of Malaya)
Together with the university’s Development and Estate Maintenance Department (JPPHB), they started working on the project last year and was supposed to launch in April but plans had to be postponed due to the Movement Control Order.
The response on the bus has been overwhelming, since its opening earlier this month, Siti Norasiah said.
“This is certainly a unique space in the university but we did not expect so many people to be interested in it.”
The house actually looks cosy, that now we want to live in one, too!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
