A university lecturer has suggested that tertiary institutions offer the part-time jobs available at their campusus to undergraduates who find it difficult to cope with the rising cost of living.

Prof Mohamed Aslam Haneef, lecturer at the Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) Malaysia, said many such jobs were available in the administration, cooperative and library sections.

"The universities can give these part-time jobs to the needy students to enable them to earn some money to meet part of their living expenses, and reduce the need to recruit outsiders," Aslam told Bernama .

He was asked to comment on news reports that some students of public tertiary institutions had to tighten their belts in view of the rising cost of living.

Aslam said the offer of jobs to the students should take into account the need for them to attend lectures and study as well.

University administrations, he said, could also buy used reference books from graduates and sell them to undergraduates to help them reduce expenditure.

"This may already be in practice but has to be extended because many of the reference books are published abroad and are expensive," he added.

Aslam also suggested that the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) review the funding for undergraduates to ensure that it met current needs.

- Bernama