Latest news with #Satu
The Star
02-08-2025
- Business
- The Star
Water tariff for domestic users in T'ganu up eight sen per cubic metre
KUALA TERENGGANU: Domestic users in Terengganu will pay eight sen more for each cubic metre of water, up to 20 cubic metres per month, starting Friday (Aug 1). Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd (Satu) chief executive officer Abdul Karim Endut said with the new rates, the minimum use charge for domestic users has risen to RM6.60 per month, but noted that the subsidised 20 cubic metres of water per month for each B40 household in the state would continue. "Water use at mosques and suraus registered with the Terengganu Islamic Religious Affairs Department will continue to be borne fully by the Terengganu state government under Satu. "For houses of worship and welfare institutions, existing tariffs will be maintained to support them," he said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 2), adding that existing subsidies have risen from RM2.5mil to RM3.0mil annually. A total of 75% of industrial and business users would see an average daily increase of RM1.24, while water supply for use on board ships docked at ports in the state would be charged rates applicable throughout Peninsular Malaysia, at RM8 per cubic metre (excluding electricity charges). The water tariff for data centres has been standardised throughout Peninsular Malaysia at RM5.30 per cubic metre (excluding electricity charges), he added. Abdul Karim explained that the Tariff Setting Mechanism, which took effect yesterday, had been agreed upon by the Cabinet on July 25, following receipt of an application from Satu. The new tariff reflects the state government's commitment to comprehensively tackling water supply issues. – Bernama
The Star
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
‘Review entry mechanisms'
PETALING JAYA: Outstanding students have had their applications to Universiti Malaya's critical courses rejected via the Unit Pusat Universiti (UPUOnline) centralised admission system, only to be given the same offer again under the direct entry system, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic). He said he has proof of such cases in which students who failed to get a place through UPUOnline were offered a place for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) under the Satu (open channel) route. Dr Wee cited a case of a student with excellent academic results who was denied admission under UPUOnline despite appeals but was 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,' he said in a Facebook post. Dr Wee also said that it would be misleading to compare Satu to international models like UCAS in the United Kingdom or Australia's university system. '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's criticism came following a statement on Friday by Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman 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 fee hikes for students under the Satu channel, Dr Noor Azuan had 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. Refuting Noor Azuan, Dr Wee said the explanation given was inadequate. 'The vice-chancellor's response completely sidesteps the key issue – how financial ability seems to override merit in the MBBS admissions under Satu.' 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 to conduct a thorough and transparent review of public university admission systems. In his statement, Noor Azuan said irrespective of the pathway taken, students seeking admission into UM's MBBS programme must pass a standardised selection test and an interview before they are offered a spot. He had explained that Satu provides a chance for students seeking placement in competitive courses like medicine, pharmacy and dentistry where thousands of top students are turned away due to limited places. Noor Azuan said the higher fees apply only to Satu students and do not affect government subsidies for UPUOnline students. 'The fee adjustment is based on identified costs and it reflects the actual expenditure to deliver the programme and sustain the university's core functions,' said Noor Azuan. The fee increase for Universiti Malaya's MBBS programme – from RM299,200 in 2024/2025 to RM500,000 in 2025/2026 – has sparked public outcry, with critics warning it will make medical education unattainable for most STPM and matriculation graduates unless they are well-off. The criteria for enrolment in degree programmes differs between the UPUOnline and Satu channels. For UPUOnline, applicants need a minimum CGPA of 3.00-3.80, with a higher threshold of 3.80 for competitive courses like MBBS. Accepted qualifications include STPM, matriculation, Asasi UM, or equivalents 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. In contrast, 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.
The Star
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Dr Wee: Satu intake should focus on fairness, not financial sustainability
PETALING JAYA: The crux of the issue involving prospective students applying to Universiti Malaya's Satu (open channel) route is not a question of ensuring the financial sustainability of a university, but equity and fairness, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic). The MCA president said that while supporters of the Satu route argued that it was a necessary move to provide an alternative source of funding for universities, it still deprives students of their first-choice course simply because they can't afford to pay private-tier fees. 'That's not a question of 'financial sustainability.' That's a question of equity and basic fairness. ALSO READ: Postpone Satu intake, suspend planned medical tuition fee hike until issues resolved, Dr Wee urges UM 'If Satu runs in parallel, fine. But when top scorers—those with 4.0 CGPAs and perfect merit—get pushed aside or told, 'you can still enter… just pay,' then the system is broken. 'You cannot preach about world-class education while quietly normalising a two-tier structure where money quietly outranks merit,' he added. Dr Wee was responding to UM associate professor Dr Adelina Asmawi, who said in a post on social media that the purpose of Satu is to provide an alternative source of funding for universities, as the government had significantly reduced subsidies and financial aid for public institutions. Adelina said that Satu fees, while higher than the public pathway, remain considerably lower than those of private universities. She also said students entering Satu must still meet academic qualifications and if required, pass interviews for specific programs. Adelina argued the additional revenue from Satu supports academic activities such as conferences, training, covering international publication fees, supporting sabbaticals and other essential academic functions, which is not covered by Putrajaya. Elaborating further, Dr Wee said that at the end of the day, it is the government's responsibility to ensure public universities are funded well enough so that every top-performing student can pursue their chosen field without paying private-level fees. 'Anything less is a betrayal of the social contract and a mockery of the promise of upward mobility through education. 'So yes, universities can 'look wider' at funding—but the government must 'look harder' at its own duty,' he added. ALSO READ: Deserving students priced out Dr Wee believes that prestigious universities should find ways to commercialise their research and development work to increase the universities revenue, rather than imposing exorbitant fees on underprivileged students. 'This is extremely unfair to them,' added Dr Wee. The fee increase for Universiti Malaya's MBBS programme – from RM299,200 in 2024/2025 to RM500,000 in 2025/2026 – has sparked public outcry, with critics warning it will make medical education unattainable for most STPM and matriculation graduates unless they are well-off. The criteria for enrolment in degree programmes differs between the UPUOnline and Satu channels. For UPUOnline, applicants need a minimum CGPA of 3.00-3.80, with a higher threshold of 3.80 for competitive courses like MBBS. Accepted qualifications include STPM, matriculation, Asasi UM, or equivalents 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. In contrast, 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.
The Star
29-06-2025
- Politics
- 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.
New Straits Times
27-06-2025
- 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.
