KUALA LUMPUR: University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY), a Universiti Malaya (UM) student group, is urging the university to disclose admission figures through open channel called SATU which has sidelined the enrolment chances of STPM students.

In a statement, the UMANY said according to the data released, a total of 337 students were admitted to the dentistry programme where only two of them were STPM holders in 2023.

A total of 102 students studying dentistry were admitted through SATU, where students paid tuition fees equivalent to private universities.

“This indicates a preference for students who can afford higher fees,’’ it said.

UM Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman recently denied that the SATU was reducing the number of places available to students applying through the centralised UPU system, a platform for STPM students to apply to public institutions of higher learning, where students pay affordable fees in public universities.

SATU offers more options for outstanding students and reduces the burden of studying abroad according to Professor Dr Noor Azuan.

 UMANY also criticised UM for failing to disclose how many SATU students recruited by the university were rejected by the UPU system earlier, raising concerns about a lack of transparency in the admissions process.

Additionally, UMANY said university raised tuition fees for the medical programme from RM300,000 to RM500,000, citing upgraded teaching facilities without providing clear cost breakdowns.

In the statement, UMANY also said that although the university acknowledged that some SATU students face financial difficulties, it continues to enforce a zero-balance policy—requiring full payment before financial aid or loans are disbursed—causing significant financial stress for many students.

 Responding to Associate Professor Dr. Adelina Asmawi, who said in a post on social media that the purpose of SATU is to provide an alternative source of funding for universities, as the government had significantly reduced subsidies and financial aid for public institutions, the group said as a public university receiving government allocations, UM should uphold a fair and inclusive admissions policy rather than shift toward high-cost, market-oriented education.

It also warns against turning public universities into profit-driven institutions.