Suara Siswa which represents students from various faculties said there was a sudden fee hike of RM50 for local students and up to RM3,000 for foreign students.

“We suspect a breach of contract. We understand that the university needs some budget cuts but these cuts should not be imposed on students,” said final-year engineering student Wong Yan Ke, a spokesman for the group.

He said UM also failed to respond to complaints about the fee hike, including a memorandum with 6,000 signatures.

“They did not respond at all. All we received was a ‘cop terima’, or a stamp of receipt,” Wong said after the group submitted a petition bearing 8,000 signatures today.

The students blamed the fee hike on a lack of funding for public universities, following cuts announced in the last budget.

Final-year law student Iman Najaa said students were worried that further budget cuts would be announced ahead of the 2019 Budget.

Iman said students were planning to submit a memorandum on the matter to the finance ministry as well as the education ministry.

Meanwhile, UM deputy corporate communication director Shahzatul Ermiza Johol assured students that the university would address their concerns, and that their welfare was a top priority.

UM vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim was not available for immediate comment.