Budget 2024: Affordable higher education available for underprivileged students

SHAH ALAM - Existing students who cannot afford to pay tuition fees will not be prevented from registering for subjects each semester, and payments can be made after subject registration.

Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said any payment regulations by the university should take into consideration the welfare of students.

"I want to emphasise the welfare of university students. I will not allow any student, especially those from underprivileged families, to be denied admission to public universities due to an inability to pay registration fees.

"The lack of funds cannot be a barrier to taking exams,” he said when tabling the Malaysia Madani Budget 2024 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The Prime Minister said starting in January 2024, registration fees for admission to public universities would be capped at RM1,500.

"This aligns with the initial loan disbursement (Wang Pendahuluan Pinjaman or WPP) of RM1,500 provided by National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) to all eligible new students.

"In the future, the Student Affairs Division of universities, along with PTPTN or other organisations, should facilitate and assist students and prospective students with payment issues,” he said.