Referring to the ongoing issue of students allegedly starving from lack of money for food, Idris said the ministry had still not heard from these “starving students”, despite the furore raised in the media over the past few months.

“We still don’t know their names. If these students are really starving, they should go to their university authorities for help,” Idris told reporters after a public dialogue with university student leaders at UKM here.

Last month, he had urged all public universities to identify and assist students with financial problems, according to a report by Malaysiakini.

“I understand that the students may be embarrassed to approach us or are unsure of where to seek assistance,” Idris commented.

He had said that the ministry had taken measures to see to the students’ welfare, among them being the education loans from PTPTN, student cards, welfare fund and food aid programmes.

The dialogue with the student leaders today tackled issues of employment, and student and university development.