Wee’s data on student admissions is misleading, says UM

 UM vice-chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman says admission into all academic programmes is based on meritocracy and follows applicable rules and procedures.

MCA had called for a suspension of Universiti Malaya’s open channel (Satu) intake for the 2025/2026 session until the higher education ministry reviews its admissions mechanism.

PETALING JAYA:

 Universiti Malaya (UM) has dismissed allegations of inequality in its dual admissions process, saying that the data cited by MCA to question the meritocracy of the system was “misleading”.

In a statement, UM vice-chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman emphasised that admission into all academic programmes is based on meritocracy and follows applicable rules and procedures.

“The enrolment data cited by MCA president Wee Ka Siong regarding increased undergraduate admissions through the ‘Satu’ open channel from 2018 to 2022 is misleading and lacks a holistic view,” he said.

He also said enrolment via the Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU) pathway has remained consistent and even increased in line with the higher education ministry’s projections, with no reduction in UPU slots due to the existence of Satu.

“The UPU route continues to prioritise academically qualified students from all pre-university backgrounds, including STPM, matriculation, and foundation programmes,” Noor Azuan said.

On Tuesday, MCA called for a suspension of UM’s Satu intake for the 2025/2026 session until the higher education ministry reviews its admissions mechanism, following claims of structural inequality.

Wee launched a position paper by MCA on the matter, in which the party said the apparent selectiveness in UM’s student admissions raised questions about meritocracy in the process.

In the paper, MCA said the availability of the two parallel channels reinforced inequality, as lower-income students could only apply via UPU, while those with more funds could afford Satu’s higher fees.

The party also highlighted the lack of transparency in the selection criteria and intake quota between the UPU and Satu admission pathways.

MCA said the exorbitant increase by 67%, from RM299,200 to RM500,000 for the bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery (MBBS) programme under the Satu system had placed the top public medical programme beyond the financial reach of most B40 and M40 families.

Noor Azuan said irrespective of the pathway taken, students seeking admission into UM’s MBBS programme must pass a standardised selection test and an interview before being offered a place.

He said Satu provides a chance for students seeking placements in extremely competitive courses like medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, where thousands of top-performing candidates are turned away due to limited capacity.

“Satu provides additional opportunities without disrupting UPU quotas,” he said, adding that the open channel allows students to study locally at a lower cost compared to going abroad.

He also said alternative admission routes were not unique to Malaysia, citing countries such as the UK, which uses the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), and Australia, which offers full-fee admissions for international or non-subsidised students.

Explaining the higher cost for the MBBS programme, Noor Azuan said the increase reflected the higher costs for clinical training, maintenance of teaching hospitals, technology, and compliance with professional standards.

“The fee adjustment is based on identified costs and reflects the actual expenditure required to deliver the programme and sustain the university’s core functions.

“These higher fees apply only to Satu students and do not affect government subsidies for UPU students,” he said. - FMT