It also decided to maintain the 90% quota for Bumiputera students and 10% for non-Bumiputera students.

Education Minister Maszlee Malik said the decision was taken to ensure that excellent students continue to have the best opportunity to pursue higher education.

“The Pakatan Harapan government acknowledges that there is a need to increase the number of students in the field of science and the capacity of the matriculation programme should be maximised for this purpose.

“This decision is also seen as the best solution to ensure that all races can benefit from the programme,” he said in a statement.

Mazslee said the decision to maintain the quotas was in line with the original vision of the matriculation programme to encourage Bumiputera students to pursue studies in science.

“The education ministry will hold discussions with the finance ministry with regard to costs following the increase in the number of students.

“The Cabinet also requested the education ministry to consider measures such as utilising premises and expertise at teachers’ training institutes to accommodate the increase in the number of students,” he said.