SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA: A university student who was sexually assaulted in her hostel six months ago is suing Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) for negligence.

The 21-year-old girl, a second-year Hotel and Tourism Management student, filed the suit at the Sessions Court here on Tuesday.

In her suit, she said that the university failed to prevent unauthorised persons from intruding into the hostel, and had failed to take necessary measures for the safety and security of students. She said she was not only hurt physically but emotionally too, and suffered from post-trauma stress disorder.

The student is seeking aggravated, exemplary, general and special damages.

Her counsel, Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, said the incident took place at 5am on Nov 28 when the student was taking a bath in the common bathroom of the hostel.

He said a naked man suddenly knocked and forced his way into the bathroom.

"Athough the girl screamed for help, none of the students came to her aid as they were still sleeping, and there were no security guards around too," he told a press conference called by Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad.

Mohamed Hanipa said the man pushed the girl and inserted a finger into her private parts.

He said the student managed to escape before the other students came to her aid.

Khalid said the victim's mother asked for his help on Dec 26. He said they wrote a letter to UiTM on Jan 28 on behalf of the girl to get an explanation but did not receive any reply.