Going by this figure, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng as well as student activists Adam Adli and Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi, warned of possible repercussions not just for students, but also to the country’s future.
Khoo said while public universities have been performing well, they are still nowhere near the standards of international higher institutions of learning in other countries that rank among the best in the world.
“Logically, this is something that is detrimental. If you’re talking about knowledge acquisition and artificial intelligence, among other things, our universities are not able to churn out the required skilled workers.
“There’s no point in trying to be nationalistic or patriotic. We have to allow our ‘creme de la creme’ the access to the best universities.
“Or else, our dream of becoming a digitalised country for example, will not become possible,” the independent analyst said to FMT.
Last year, a group of around 150 Public Services Department (JPA) scholars publicly pleaded to the government for scholarships that would allow them a chance to study at the world’s top universities.
It came after JPA decided, out of the blue, to pull the plug on their overseas scholarships, citing falling government revenue.
Earlier in the same year, 744 JPA scholars were informed that they would no longer be sent to study abroad. The government in defending the move, said it would save the country RM240 million in expenditure.
Meanwhile Adam, who is studying law in a local private university here, said Malaysia as a developing country needed all the expertise they can get.
“We don’t have the ability to provide the same education you get overseas. That’s why lots of students have to go out of the country to obtain world class education.
“Limiting their opportunity to do this (by slashing the budget for scholarships), will not only affect them, but also the country’s future,” he said when contacted.
Adam said the budget cut only further proved that the government has its priorities misplaced.
Hence, parents especially, should start speaking up on the opportunities that their children would be deprived of due to the lack of government support, he added.
“They should ask for a government that would guarantee the future of their kids.”
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s student activist, Asheeq, said the same, adding that the budget cut will seriously affect Malaysian students’ opportunity to pursue their undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
This is because presently, even studying in public universities is costly, he said.
Asheeq also cited a March 22 report by the New Straits Times, which highlighted a London-based Expert Market survey. In the said survey, Malaysia was listed as the fifth most expensive country to get a higher education.
“It is undeniable that the tuition fees in public universities is low, but the costs of buying books, accommodation and daily expenses, are very high.
“A public university undergraduate student needs at least RM500 a month for daily expenditure, not including accommodation rental and books every semester.
“For those who do not have hostels, they have to spend at least RM200 monthly to rent a room, especially in Klang Valley,” Asheeq said.
Some students, he said, have had to survive on instant noodles.
“I would like to invite Najib and those who want to deny my statement, to go on a day tour to my university so they can understand our situation better,” Asheeq said.