Latest news with #WeeKaSiong
The Star
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Dr Wee: Review expanded SST
PETALING JAYA: Apart from a longer list of goods taxable under the expanded Sales and Services Tax (SST), another major concern of the people is the tax on raw materials and machinery, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic). The MCA president said this will then set off a wave of price increases down the line, causing more pressure on the people. 'The SST brings a cascading effect because the raw materials and machinery will also be taxed after this. 'This silent inflation wave will surely be felt by all levels of society throughout the coming months,' said the Ayer Hitam MP in a Facebook video yesterday. He pointed out that back in 2018, more than 8,000 items were exempted from the SST. Under the expanded tax scheme set to take effect on July 1, the list has been significantly shrunk to only around 1,000 items, he said. He added that the expanded SST will not only apply to wellness and beauty-related services, it will also be applied to traditional products such as red dates, black fungus, dried longan and snow fungus. He stressed that many industries including rubber, plastics, medicine and oil palm, and the manufacturing sector have voiced their concerns about the expanded scheme as about 97% of goods in the market will be taxed. 'While we welcome the government's U-turn on the tax for imported fruits, it is not enough. 'The real issue and danger lies in the taxation of raw materials and industrial machinery,' he said. 'Politics aside, the people's welfare should be prioritised. It is better for the government to review the scheme or scrap it altogether,' he said, adding that the SST rate had already increased (from 6% to 8%) on March 1, last year. Dr Wee added that it was unfortunate that the expanded SST will start on July 1, the same day that the base electricity tariff and Port Klang tariffs are set to increase. 'The obvious solution for the government is still the GST, which is a fairer and more transparent taxation system. 'The main difference between both systems is that the GST taxes the end user – you use more, you pay more – while the SST taxes all levels of the supply chain and the end user has to pay a far higher price in the end,' he said. 'The GST ensures the stability and strength of the country while the SST will further burden the people and give businesses an excuse to raise prices,' he stressed. In announcing the expanded SST, the Finance Ministry said the measure is to strengthen the country's fiscal position by increasing revenue and broadening the tax base.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
High public uni fees pricing out deserving students, says Dr Wee
KUALA LUMPUR: The increasing use of direct or open entry routes into public universities is raising concerns over high costs that are progressively pricing out deserving students from underprivileged and middle-income backgrounds. "We must re-evaluate this system when public universities begin to act commercially, deviating from their original noble goal of ensuring that bright students—especially those from low-income families—are allowed to succeed," said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong at a press conference here. The MCA president highlighted the growing trend of public universities offering courses through open channels at exorbitant tuition fees. "This issue extends beyond Universiti Malaya. Other universities like USM, UKM, UPM, UTM, and UUM are following similar practices. "The shift towards these open channels is concerning, as it prioritises financial capability over academic merit, undermining the foundational ethos of public education," he said. On Tuesday (June 24), Dr Wee highlighted the sharp increase in UM's medicine and other critical field degrees fees for the 2025/2026 intake under its direct admission channel, Saluran Terbuka Universiti Malaya (Satu), which rose by 67.1% to RM500,000 from RM299,200 the previous year. In contrast, students admitted through the UPUOnline channel, which is government-subsidised, pay only RM15,000 for the same programme. He questioned if this stark fee disparity discourages students from lower-income B40 and M40 groups. Dr Wee said that he received overwhelming feedback from parents who shared their distress after highlighting the UM case. "Many of their children applied through the UPUOnline system, only to receive an acceptance contingent upon paying up to RM300,000 via the open channel. "This financial burden is insurmountable for most families, turning what should be a joyous occasion into one of despair," he said. Dr Wee emphasised that public universities were funded by taxpayers, with the annual budget approved by Parliament specifically to cover the salaries of chancellors and staff, and to maintain the operational needs of these institutions. While acknowledging that the funding might not be sufficient for all developmental expenses, he said this should not come at the expense of deserving students who qualify through the UPUOnline system. According to a previous Parliamentary reply, Dr Wee said 19% to 40% of public university placements are now allocated through these open channels, revealing a systemic issue that undermines the foundational ethos of public education. "I firmly believe that UPUOnline should remain the main and utmost channel for enrolment in public universities. "This ensures admissions are based on merit rather than financial ability, thus promoting social mobility for underprivileged students to turn their lives around via quality and affordable education." He also warned that the current trajectory risks transforming the education system into an elitist one, where only financially privileged students can access quality education. Citing an example, Dr Wee said the total cost for completing a public university medical programme has soared from approximately RM300,000 to over RM500,000, surpassing fees at some local private universities. "Similar hikes of 20% to 30% have been seen in other professional courses like law, and this casts doubt on whether public universities still prioritise talent cultivation or have shifted towards a quasi-private model. "While direct admissions can be implemented, public universities should expand their intake rather than using slots meant for UPUOnline students," he said. Dr Wee called on the government to establish a royal commission of inquiry to review these practices guided by learned educationists, emphasising the need to uphold the role of public universities in fostering talent and offering upward mobility through education. "We cannot allow financial capability to replace academic merit in determining university admissions. The government should intervene immediately to prevent further inequality in higher education access," he said, adding that the open channel intake should be halted. "Our public universities should remain bastions of opportunity, where students are admitted based on their abilities and potential, not their financial standing. "I hope the government takes decisive action to stop this trend and safeguard the future of higher education in Malaysia. It should remain a public right rather than becoming a privilege," he added.
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.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
MCA calls for RCI on public university dual admission channels
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.
