JOHOR BARU, Malaysia: The woman who was found dead with her newborn baby at a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) dormitory was a dropout renting a room there.

She had failed the first semester of her fourth year last November, UTM corporate affairs department assistant registrar (media and external relations) Sabri Ahmad said.

"She had been renting a room at the dorm since May 11," he said, adding that outsiders were allowed to rent rooms at the university on a case-by-case basis.

On Monday, the unmarried woman was found dead after she had given birth to a baby boy. The infant, whose umbilical cord was still attached to his mother, was also lifeless. The bodies were discovered by a warden.

State Higher Education Committee chairman Datuk Maulizan Bujang described the incident as unfortunate and said police were investigating.

Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Ruslan Hassan said police were trying to trace the father. He said the woman died of excessive blood loss during childbirth.

ACP Ruslan urged anyone with information to call the police hotline at 07-2212999 or the nearest police station.