After female students spoke up about spot-checks that invaded their privacy, a Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) hostel courted further controversy by saying residents could move out if they were dissatisfied.

The public university’s vice-chancellor Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan later denounced the hostel’s “unprofessional” response.

He also promised that late-night spot-checks at female dormitories by men...