The Universiti Malaya (UM) management today met with a student group opposing UM's new “direct intake” programme, explaining its purpose was to fundraise for the university in the midst of severe budget cuts by the government.

“The management has admitted that this (programme) is to help the university generate income, to help the university in its financial administration,” Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president Kon Hua En told reporters on the campus grounds today.

Kon's meeting with assistant registrar Mohd Nasruddin Kachi Maiden of the deputy vice-chancellor’s office was the first time he had been granted an audience with the university management on this issue.

"We were told this ‘direct intake’ is a pilot project. They want to see whether this programme can achieve a good outcome," Kon said...