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Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Use SST revenue to fund student aid, improve campus facilities, say student leaders
With plans afoot to increase student numbers to 50,000 within five years, the government should allocate funds to upgrade campus infrastructure and expand housing, says Umsu vice-president Lim Jing Jet. PETALING JAYA : Student leaders and education advocates are urging the government to allocate more funds to support undegraduates—especially those from the B40 income group. They argue that such reinvestment would transform the recently expanded sales and service tax (SST) into a force for good. Although higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir has commissioned a study on SST's impact on the education sector, student groups and civil society organisations say immediate measures are necessary to relieve the financial strain felt by vulnerable communities. Lim Jing Jet. University of Malaya Students' Union (Umsu) vice-president Lim Jing Jet said SST revenue could be used to subsidise tuition fees, particularly for high-cost programmes. He also said funds should be allocated towards the operating budgets of public universities to reduce their reliance on commercial pathways and help prevent the creeping privatisation of higher education. 'For example, the MBBS programme under the SATU pathway at UM will increase from RM299,200 to RM500,000 in the 2025/26 academic year. We need to ensure our institutions remain accessible,' he said. 'The government could redirect some SST funds through the higher education ministry to maintain university operations without overburdening students.' Lim also said the SST revenue could be used to benefit students by upgrading campus infrastructure and expanding housing. 'Right now, the issue isn't just outdated facilities — it's that existing facilities can't cope with the growing student population,' he said. 'We already have around 21,000 undergraduates and 19,000 postgraduates, and there are plans to increase student numbers to 50,000 within five years.' He said any infrastructure spending must be accompanied by clear planning and transparency. Direct aid for students Nazirah Abdullah. Nazirah Abdullah, an Umsu past president, said SST revenue could be used to introduce targeted subsidies and emergency assistance. 'This includes subsidised meals on campus, discounted internet plans, free or low-cost digital devices, and financial aid for off-campus rent or transport,' she said. She also called for mental health support, counselling, and internship allowances to be funded by the expanded SST revenue pool. Nazirah said such measures would make a difference for B40 families by helping to alleviate the financial stress that often interferes with students' academic performance. She added that clear communication and accountability would increase student confidence. 'When students see that SST revenue is going back into their education, it builds trust and reduces resistance to tax reforms,' she said. Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim. Parent Action Group for Education chairman Noor Azimah Rahim echoed these calls, saying that any tax increase should be matched by visible returns to students. 'We've seen signs of strain — more students using food banks, applying for emergency funds, or skipping meals. 'Even small increases in cost can push low-income students into hardship,' she said. Azimah suggested that the government use SST revenue to fund campus-based support services, including counselling, affordable hostels, public transport passes, and tuition waivers. Ali Tayyassar Razi, an international student at Universiti Malaya and former president of the Universiti Malaya International Association, said proper use of SST could enhance Malaysia's reputation as a global education hub. Ali added that students are more focused and productive when they are financially secure. 'For foreign students, cost is always a concern. But if that cost comes with visible improvements in housing, learning tools, support — then it becomes a worthwhile investment,' he said. 'Whether local or international, students thrive when they don't have to worry about their next meal or whether they can afford textbooks.'
Free Malaysia Today
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
UM students' group criticises govt for matriculation admission ‘flip-flop'
Umany president Lim Jing Jet reminded the education ministry of its previous '10As policy' in which all non-Bumiputera students who achieved 10As in the SPM exam would be eligible for admission into the matriculation programme. PETALING JAYA : A students' group at Universiti Malaya has criticised the government for its 'policy flip-flop' on the eligibility of non-Bumiputera Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia holders for admission into the matriculation programme. University Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president Lim Jing Jet questioned an education ministry circular issued on April 30 declaring that A- will no longer be recognised as Grade A. The circular states that Grade A refers to A and A+ grades, including four subjects graded with merit. In a statement, Lim contrasted this with the government's introduction last year of the '10As policy' and its promise that all non-Bumiputera students who achieved 10As in the SPM examination would be eligible for admission into the matriculation programme. 'Under the 10As policy, a student with 9A+ and 1B is considered less qualified than a student with 10A-, which is clearly unreasonable and unfair. 'Yet, at the time, the education ministry ignored public concerns and proceeded unilaterally. 'This recent 'shrinking' of the policy is nothing more than an attempt by the government to limit the number of eligible applicants and cover up the deeper structural contradictions in the system,' he said. On June 30 last year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said all students who score 10As and above in the SPM examination, regardless of race or background, will be guaranteed a spot in matriculation colleges starting with the 2025 intake. 'This decision ensures that all top SPM students have the best opportunities to pursue higher education,' he said. Lim said Umany criticised the government for using the 10As policy to 'pacify non-Bumiputera voters' while refusing to address the root issue of racial quotas in university admissions. 'The matriculation programme's long-standing 90:10 ethnic quota significantly limits non-Bumiputera students' access to higher education and weakens the nation's overall talent competitiveness. 'If the education ministry genuinely seeks a fair and transparent higher education system, it must abolish the racial quota system and establish a unified university admission mechanism – only then can the root of the problem be addressed. 'We reiterate, no matter how it is adjusted, the 10As policy merely treats the symptoms, not the cause,' he said.
