Latest news with #Satu
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
UM: No 'backdoor' entry in dual admission system
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya (UM) has dismissed allegations of inequality in its dual admissions process, saying that the data cited by MCA to question the meritocracy of the system was "misleading." UM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman said the figures presented by the MCA president concerning the increase in undergraduate enrolments via the UM Open Channel (Saluran Terbuka Universiti Awam, or Satu) from 2018 to 2022 failed to take into account the full context of the university's admissions framework. His response came in the wake of remarks made by Ayer Hitam member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong in a video posted on June 24. In the video, Wee called for the suspension of UM's Satu intake for the 2025/2026 session until the higher education ministry reviews its admissions mechanism, following claims of structural inequality. This was as Wee had launched a position paper by MCA on the matter, in which the party said the apparent selectiveness in UM's student admissions raised questions about meritocracy in the process. "In fact, the number of students admitted through the main channel (UPU) remains consistent every year and continues to meet intake projections set by the Higher Education Ministry," he said. "There has been no reduction in UPU quota or displacement of UPU candidates as a result of the alternative Satu route," he said. Noor Azuan said that UM uses two separate channels to admit students into its undergraduate programmes: UPU, which is managed by the Higher Education Ministry; and Satu, which offers an alternative route for qualified applicants with the ability to self-fund their studies. He said all admissions, whether via UPU or Satu, are merit-based, and that no shortcuts or backdoor entries are allowed. "Satu is not a backdoor, but an additional door. It expands opportunities and strengthens the system without closing the path for deserving students." He said the dual-channel approach was a strategic response to growing demand for limited placements in critical programmes such as medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. "UPU is highly competitive, and many excellent students are turned away due to limited capacity. Satu creates additional seats without affecting UPU quotas." He added that the initiative also aimed to curb the outflow of local talent overseas, noting that many Malaysian students had been forced to pursue costly medical studies abroad. "With Satu, they can now study in Malaysia, closer to their families and cultural roots, reducing brain drain and enhancing the supply of local talent." Noor Azuan also pointed out that the use of alternative admission pathways was in line with global practices, citing examples from the United Kingdom, Australia, Indonesia and the United States. 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. "The revised fees apply only to Satu students and do not affect the government's subsidy for UPU students, who continue to enjoy up to 95 per cent tuition support." He acknowledged the financial concerns raised by some quarters but assured that no deserving student would be denied access to education due to financial hardship. "Scholarships, financial aid, and welfare assistance will continue to be made available and expanded." Noor Azuan said the university welcomed suggestions to expand UPU quotas for medical and other critical programmes, but said that such decisions must be approved by professional bodies such as the Malaysian Medical Council, Pharmacy Board and Dental Council. "UM remains open to engagement with these bodies to ensure national needs are met. The university is not just a centre of learning, but a place of hope for the future." He reaffirmed UM's commitment to transparency, meritocracy and social equity, adding that the university had no intention of engaging in polemics but felt compelled to correct public misconceptions.
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
MCA urges transparency, fair access to public varsities
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya should postpone its intake under its Saluran Terbuka Universiti Awam (Satu) and suspend the planned fee hike for its Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and other courses, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. Raising concerns over affordability and fairness in public medical education, Dr Wee urged the Higher Education Ministry to act to protect students from low- and middle-income families, particularly those unable to secure places through the Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU) system. (The UPU is a centralised government admission platform used by Malaysia's public universities, while Satu is an alternative pathway for students to apply directly to UM.) 'We are calling for an immediate halt to the Satu intake until all issues are clarified. The proposed RM500,000 fee for the 2025/2026 MBBS intake is alarming and must be postponed,' Dr Wee said. Other steep hikes for critical courses should also be withheld, he told a press conference at Wisma MCA yesterday. The MCA also released a paper titled 'Two Channels, One Future: Ensuring Fair Access to Universiti Malaya's Medical Programmes and Other Critical Courses' which is available online. According to student unions, tuition fees for the MBBS programme will go up to RM500,000 for the 2025/2026 intake. This is a 67% increase compared to the 2024/2025 session. Dr Wee said the rising financial burden and the lack of transparency in public university admissions are national issues affecting all Malaysians. The MCA outlined five key recommendations to the government to safeguard access for students from B40 and M40 families. First, it called for a freeze on Satu intakes and fee increases, along with an independent audit of Satu's cost structure to justify the disparities compared to other public and private institutions. The party also sought full disclosure of the rationale behind the fee hike. 'We need a clear explanation. Without transparency, medical education risks becoming a privilege for the wealthy,' Dr Wee said. Second, MCA is urging greater openness in admissions. It wants a breakdown of student intakes by qualification – such as Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), matriculation, foundation and diploma – for competitive programmes like medicine. It also called for the UPU's CGPA standardisation algorithm to be published, along with annual reports on Satu and UPU admissions and resource allocation. To address limited seats, the third recommendation called for an expansion of subsidised UPU intakes for medicine and other essential fields, with a reallocation of resources in Budget 2026 and the 13th Malaysia Plan to prioritise healthcare and education. 'Over-reliance on fee-paying students via Satu undermines the role of public universities,' Dr Wee said. Fourth, MCA proposed governance reforms for the dual admission system, including independent oversight of Satu to curb commercialisation and uphold merit-based entry. It also suggested capping fee-paying seats in flagship programmes. Lastly, Dr Wee said the UPU assessment framework must be reviewed to ensure fairness for STPM students, taking into account the academic rigours and duration of the programme. 'These students deserve fair treatment. The system should not penalise them for choosing a more demanding path,' he added.
The Star
a day ago
- Health
- The Star
Dr Wee: UM medical tuition hike a barrier for qualified B40 students
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya's medical tuition fees, which have gone up for the 2025/2026 intake, have come under fire by student unions and MCA. 'The sharp hike risks shutting out academically qualified but poor B40 students from pursuing degrees in medicine and other critical fields,' said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. '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 during a press conference yesterday. Tuition fees for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme have increased to RM500,000 for the 2025/2026 intake. This marks a jump from RM299,200 in the 2024/2025 session. These numbers were provided in a video from three months ago by Universiti Malaya Student Union (UMSU) student representative Lee Yu Dong, who is also an activist with the University Malaya Association of New Youth. Lee said that the high costs could lead to inequality in access to professional degrees. In another TikTok video posted around the same time, Jelyn Ong, who is a UMSU medical faculty student representative, said that access to public medical education is being shaped by one's ability to pay instead of academic performance. Speaking up: Dr Wee (seated, second from right) urging the government to uphold education rights for B40 children at a press conference. Also present were Chong (seated, second from left), Wong (right), and Leong (left). — LOW BOON TAT/The Star Dr Wee said yesterday that MCA was concerned about recent developments in Malaysia's higher education landscape, especially policies that appear to marginalise children from low-income families. 'It is disheartening that public universities are being seen as increasingly selective towards students from high-income families. This raises questions about the fairness of the meritocracy we claim to uphold,' he said. He also took issue with UM's admission channel known as Saluran Terbuka Universiti Malaya (Satu). According to him, students who secured a place via UPU – the centralised government admission platform – are charged only RM15,000 for the same five-year programme. The Satu channel is an alternative pathway for students to apply directly to UM, bypassing the primary UPU system used by Malaysia's public universities. It caters to students who missed the UPU deadline, were not offered a place or wished to apply with alternative qualifications like A-Levels or diplomas. The criteria for enrolment in degree programmes differ between UPU and Satu channels. For UPU, applicants need a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.00-3.80, with a higher threshold of 3.80 for competitive courses like MBBS. Accepted qualifications include Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Matriculation, Asasi UM, or equivalent such as A-Levels with AAA grades or IB with 36 points. Additionally, candidates must meet specific subject requirements, such as an A- in Biology, Chemistry and Physics/Mathematics for MBBS. Satu maintains similar academic standards but offers flexibility for non-current-year qualifications. For Malaysians applying to MBBS through Satu, a CGPA of 3.80 is required. Referring to UM's annual reports, Dr Wee pointed out that enrolment through Satu had risen from just 142 in 2018 to 399 in 2022. Citing data from the Higher Education Ministry, he said 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. He warned that academic performance alone may no longer guarantee a place at public universities if wealth becomes the new gatekeeper. Also present at yesterday's press conference were MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, Wanita MCA chairperson Datuk Wong You Fong, and committee member Datuk Leong Kok Wee.
Daily Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
MCA calls for RCI on public university dual admission channels
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: MCA president Wee Ka Siong said some public universities charge prices as high as their private counterparts for the same courses, making education even more inaccessible for the less fortunate. Kuala Lumpur: MCA has urged the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry to review and reform the admission channels of all public universities. At a press conference today, MCA president Wee Ka Siong pointed out that several public universities have followed Universiti Malaya's lead in offering two enrolment options for undergraduate students – through the UPUOnline system managed by the higher education ministry, and an alternative open channel. Wee said UM introduced the open channel in 2018 through its 'Satu' pathway as a strategy to increase revenue and strengthen its financial sustainability. He said students enrolled through the public universities' open channels are offered 'priority access', but need to pay the full tuition fees charged. Some public universities, he said, charge prices as high as their private counterparts for the same courses, making education even more inaccessible for the lower-class. 'If that's the case, then what is the point of Parliament approving the operating expenses of these public universities?' he said. Wee said many of these universities openly advertise this alternative route as an 'easier' means of admission compared to the more competitive UPUOnline system, which is unfair to B40 and M40 students who cannot afford it. About 19% to 40% of placements in public universities are now allocated to students who apply through the open channel, he said. On Tuesday, MCA called for a suspension of UM's Satu intake for the 2025/2026 session until the higher education ministry reviews its admissions mechanism, following claims of structural inequality. The party released a position paper on the matter, in which it said the apparent selectiveness in UM's student admissions raised questions about meritocracy in the process. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Much welcomed U-turn for students
PETALING JAYA: Students who sat for the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) are relieved that the A- grade has again been accepted as an entry requirement for the matriculation programme. For Leong Yung Jun, 18, from Pahang, who scored 2 A+, 1 A- and 7As, it is the news that he had been eagerly waiting for. 'On June 25, I heard that A- will also be considered as an A for entry into the matriculation programme. 'After all the frustration and disappointment, it felt that a second chance finally showed up. Hopefully, I'll be able to secure a spot in the programme that I've been working so hard for,' he said. Nadeen Amani Afizul, 18, from Kota Damansara also welcomed the Education Ministry's decision. She said the earlier straight A+ requirement was unfair to those seeking quality and affordable education. 'I think it is fine if the Education Ministry wants to filter the best students but leaving out those who obtained all As is rather odd. 'Students opt for matriculation because it has the reputation to be a good start for university courses. So I think it is unfair to those who couldn't achieve straight A+,' she said. However, due to the earlier restriction, Nadeen, who obtained 9As consisting of A+ and A- in SPM, had opted to apply for a YTP Mara scholarship. Alternatively, she is looking to enrol into Kolej Yayasan UEM or International Islamic University of Malaysia. For Amanda Khan Nazim Khan, 18, allowing entry for students who scored A- will enable those who turned down the matriculation programme to give their spot to others. The teenager from Kuala Lumpur, who scored 9A+ for SPM, turned down the offer and intends to further her studies via the Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU) system or Satu. (UPU is a centralised government admission platform used by Malaysia's public universities, while Satu is an alternative pathway for students to apply directly to Universiti Malaya.) On May 30, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong criticised the ministry's revised entry criteria for no longer recognising A- as equivalent to an A. The Ayer Hitam MP said students had prepared based on last year's criteria only to find the goalposts had been shifted, a move he described as unfair. He added that MCA has received hundreds of appeals from students and parents who were confused and disheartened by the change. Last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said all students who scored 10As, regardless of race, would be accepted. However, a circular issued on April 30 stipulated that only those with 10 straight As, comprising only A+ and A grades, qualify automatically. Meanwhile, National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Fouzi Singon said it should not matter whether students obtained A+ or A- to pursue the matriculation programme. 'Most importantly, whether there are enough placements for students. If they have the capacity, even those who obtained Bs should be allowed entry. 'To me the U-turn on the A- has to do with timing, capability and availability of the ministry in offering the course. This is because not everyone wants to pursue matriculation as some prefer the foundation course or Form 6 or go overseas,' he said. On Wednesday, the Education Ministry said all students who achieved 10As and above in SPM will be granted a place in the matriculation programme, including those who got A- in some subjects. This follows a Cabinet decision that all students with 10As and above, including A-, would be given a place if they apply for matriculation, regardless of race and background. The announcement comes a day after Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek confirmed that only students who score 10A+ and solid A grades in their SPM would get automatic admission into the matriculation programme.
