Opposition reps slam varsity budget cuts, warn of higher fees

Malaysia’s oldest public research university, Universiti Malaya, will see its funding shrink by 27.3% because of Budget 2016, say opposition lawmakers Sim Tze Tzin and Zairil Khir Johari. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 24, 2015. Malaysia's public universities will receive RM1.4 billion less next year under Budget 2016, prompting questions over whether Putrajaya’s goal to produce world-class universities can be realised.

Cuts in this sector also raised concerns that tuition fees at these public institutions would be raised, said PKR lawmaker Sim Tze Tzin.

He and DAP's Zairil Khir Johari noted that 19 out of the 20 public universities faced budget cuts in 2016.

Universiti Malaya will fare the worst with its funding shrinking by 27.3% ‎or RM175 million. Sultan Idris Education University, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Universiti Malaya Terengganu will see cuts of more than 20%‎, the two lawmakers found, after analysing Budget 2016 and federal expense statements tabled yesterday in Parliament.

The budgets of another 11 public universities will be reduced between 10% and 20%, while four will lose up to 10% of their budget.‎

The budget cut for the universities ‎comes amid a reduced allocation for the Higher Education Ministry, from RM15.78 billion in 2015 to RM13.37 billion for 2016, they said.‎

The move flew in the face of Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh's claim that Malaysia's universities are on track to becoming “world-class", ‎Zairil said.

“With the top universities having their budgets slashed by up to 27%, how will the ambition of having world-class universities materialise?‎” said the DAP's parliamentary spokesman for education, science and technology.

He said improvements to the universities would require more investment to boost the quality of the academic faculty and develop better research programmes and grants, as well as to upgrade infrastructure and student facilities.

In a separate statement, Sim said the “drastic” cuts would likely result in universities hiking their fees by around 20%, affecting 534,569 students.

He warned that the budget cut for universities would further erode students' support for Barisan Nasional, adding that the ruling coalition only received 46% support from voters aged 21 to 25.

“PKR opposes any university budget cuts because it is the responsibility of the country and also a wise investment,” said the PKR strategy director.

“According to the OECD's (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) study, investments in higher education will bring huge returns for the government.

“On average, for every ringgit the government invests in higher education, it will receive RM6 in return through taxes,” Sim said. – October 24, 2015.