Sharp hike in UM medical tuitions risks shutting out qualified B40 students, says Dr Wee
KUALA LUMPUR: The sharp hike in Universiti Malaya's (UM) medical tuition fees risks shutting out academically qualified B40 students from pursuing degrees in medicine and other critical fields, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said the party is deeply concerned about recent developments in Malaysia's higher education landscape, especially policies that appear to marginalise children from low-income households.
He said these include the dual admission pathway at public universities and the rising costs associated with direct-entry programmes.
'It is disheartening to note that public universities are being seen as increasingly selective towards students from high-income families. This raises serious questions about the fairness of the meritocracy we claim to uphold,' he said at a press conference at Wisma MCA on Tuesday (June 24).
He was referring to Universiti Malaya's recent fee structure, which shows that tuition fees for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme soared to RM500,000 for the 2025/2026 intake under the university's direct channel, known as Saluran Terbuka Universiti Malaya (Satu).
This marks a 67.1% jump from RM299,200 in the 2024/2025 session.
In stark contrast, students who secure a place via the UPU channel — the centralised government admission platform — are charged only RM15,000 for the same five-year programme, as their places are government subsidised, said Dr Wee.
He questioned whether such a drastic disparity in fees sends the wrong message to students from the B40 and M40 income brackets.
'Are we now saying that children from less privileged backgrounds do not deserve to become doctors or pursue critical fields? Is the medical profession now reserved exclusively for the wealthy?' he asked.
He warned that academic results alone may no longer guarantee a place at public universities if wealth becomes the new gatekeeper.
Referring to Universiti Malaya's annual reports, Dr Wee pointed out that enrolments through Satu have risen sharply — from just 142 in 2018 to 399 in 2022 — signalling a trend that prioritises financial capacity over academic merit.
Citing data from the Higher Education Ministry, he added that nearly 60% of applicants to public universities in 2022 came from B40 households.
'What kind of message are we sending to this majority? That unless you can pay half a million ringgit, you have no future in medicine?' he asked.
Dr Wee also echoed concerns raised by former Universiti Utara Malaysia vice-chancellor Professor Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah, who warned in December last year that the open or commercial channels for university entry could entrench systemic inequality.
Prof Haim had argued that such models risk marginalising STPM students and those without the financial means to self-fund their studies.
The tuition fees for the MBBS programme at Universiti Malaya are set to rise sharply from RM299,107 in 2023 and RM299,200 in 2024 to RM500,000 in 2025 — a 67.1% jump, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.3%.
Fees for related programmes are also increasing. The Bachelor of Biomedical Science sees a rise from RM102,919 in 2023 to RM103,000 in 2024, and RM136,800 in 2025. Similarly, the Bachelor of Nursing Science increases from RM112,237 in 2023 to RM112,300 in 2024, and RM136,800 in 2025.
Critics warn that these hikes will place public medical education out of reach for most STPM and matriculation students who are unable to secure places through UPU or lack financial means — effectively reserving medical seats for the wealthy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Op Adun: Two Sabah assemblymen, businessman to be charged tomorrow
KOTA KINABALU: Two state assemblymen and a businessman, hauled up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under Op Adun, are scheduled to be charged tomorrow. In a media invitation, the Sabah MACC said the trio are expected to be charged at the Special Corruption Court here at about 9am. They will face a total of four charges under the MACC Act 2009. Two of the charges will be brought under Section 16(b)(A) of the Act for offering bribes, while the other two will be under Section 16(a)(A) for accepting bribes. Op Adun is an investigation into the involvement of Sabah assemblymen in the issuance of mining licences. Authorities began their probe following the publication of a series of edited videos by a news portal in November last year. It was reported earlier this week that the MACC had arrested another Sabah assemblyman on suspicion of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to about RM150,000 in connection with mining licences in the state. The suspect, who serves as an assistant to a minister, was detained when he turned up to provide his statement at the Sabah MACC office at 9.30am on June 23. The man, in his 40s, is the third state assemblyman arrested by the MACC to date in connection with the corruption investigation. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had previously said that the commission is expected to charge three individuals under the ongoing Op Adun probe. He was reported as saying that the trio, comprising two assemblymen and a civilian, were expected to be charged by the end of this month.
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Concerns over admission process remains unanswered, Dr Wee tells UM
KUALA LUMPUR: The explanation given by Universiti Malaya (UM) Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman about the Satu (Open Channel) route for MBBS admissions is inadequate, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. 'The Vice-Chancellor's response completely sidesteps the key issue — how financial ability seems to override merit in the MBBS admissions under Satu. 'Instead of answering questions, he has raised even more troubling ones,' said the MCA president on Facebook on Sunday (June 29). Dr Wee's criticism follows the VC's June 27 statement dismissing MCA's concerns as 'misleading'. Dr Noor Azuan had said the dual channel approach was a strategic response for growing demand for limited placements in critical programmes such as medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. On the recent fee hikes for students under the Satu channel, he said the adjustments were necessary to reflect the actual cost of providing high-quality medical education, particularly clinical training, and the maintenance of teaching hospital facilities. According to Dr Wee, the university failed to provide any data or evidence to refute MCA's claims, particularly on whether academically qualified students are being turned away under the UPU (centralised) route and then offered MBBS seats through Satu — if they can afford the RM300,000 fee. 'How many academically qualified STPM students were denied under UPU but later admitted via Satu simply because they could pay? He said at end it only benefits those with deep pockets. "This is the crux of the matter and it remains unanswered,' he said. He then called on UM to publicly disclose the number of STPM students accepted into the MBBS programme via UPU and Satu since 2018 and whether the academic entry requirements are truly the same for both routes. Dr Wee also said that UM must also disclose the number of students rejected under UPU who later received Satu offers. Citing one specific case, Dr Wee revealed that a top student with excellent academic results was denied admission under UPU despite appeals but later offered the same MBBS seat via Satu — provided he could pay RM300,000. "This is something out of reach for B40 and M40 families. 'This is not an isolated incident. MCA has evidence of multiple cases. "Such situations show how the system discriminates against students from B40 and M40 families who cannot afford such fees,' said Dr Wee. He further argued that comparing Satu to international models like UCAS in the UK or Australia's university system was misleading. 'Those systems offer financial aid and transparent data. "Malaysia's Satu offers none of these protections. It's just pay — or be excluded. 'MCA never objected to having two admission pathways but we strongly oppose the structural discrimination that effectively excludes deserving students simply because they cannot pay RM300,000. "That's not meritocracy but more of financial means which becomes the deciding factor,' he said. Dr Wee reiterated MCA's call for the 2025/2026 MBBS intake through Satu to be suspended immediately and urged the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to conduct a thorough and transparent review of public university admission systems. 'In short, the Vice-Chancellor failed to counter MCA's core argument and only proved why this issue demands public scrutiny,' he said.
Borneo Post
4 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Baram MP urges parents to ensure children complete tertiary education
Anyi (front row, fifth left) cuts the ribbon to symbolically launch PKLA's Family Day event at the Miri City Council field, Jalan Padang, on Saturday. Also seen are Boyce (fourth left), Raymond (sixth left) and other distinguished guests. MIRI (June 29): Parents must play a proactive role in ensuring their children complete their education up to tertiary level for a better future, said Baram MP Datuk Anyi Ngau. He stressed that parents should not simply give in to their children's wishes if they choose to drop out of school, but instead guide and encourage them to stay the course. 'There were instances where I met parents who said their children no longer wanted to attend school, and they just followed what the children wanted. 'Parents must take the lead. They must ensure their children continue their studies and, if possible, go on to obtain a degree,' he said when officiating the Kenyah Lepo Aga Miri Association's (PKLA) Family Day at the Miri City Council field here yesterday. Anyi pointed out that, unlike the past, there are now many educational opportunities made available by the government, especially the Sarawak government, including free tertiary education for Sarawakian students, which will start next year. 'Today's parents are in a much better position. There are more opportunities and awareness of the importance of education. It is up to us to make sure our children make the most of what is available,' he said. He therefore called on all parents to seize the opportunities and encourage their children to pursue education to at least degree level. At the same time, Anyi touched on the importance of community associations in safeguarding the welfare of their members, including supporting the educational pursuits of their children. 'In the past few weeks, I have attended programmes organised by various associations that gave incentives to children who performed well in school. 'I hope the PKLA can follow this example and consider giving incentives to outstanding students among its members as encouragement and motivation,' he said. Regarding the family day event, Anyi described the programme as a good initiative to be held annually as it helps strengthen unity and solidarity among members. 'It is not only a platform to foster closer ties among members but also serves to bring together the wider Kenyah Lepo Aga community. 'The association should strive for consistency by making this an annual event to preserve our culture and collective spirit,' he said. Anyi also commended the organising committee led by Long Selawan this year for successfully gathering members from four Lepo Aga villages — Long Jeeh, Long Selawan, Long Silat and Long Teran Kanan B — for the event. Approximately 1,000 members attended the one-day programme. During the event, Anyi announced a RM15,000 grant for the organising committee as a show of support for the annual gathering. Among those present were organising chairman Boyce Ngau Anyi and PKLA chairman Cr Raymond Apoi. anyi ngau Kenyah Lepo Aga Miri Association's Family Day lead
