Prime minister assures universities over finances

New Straits Times 22 October 2016

The prime minister has assured public universities in the country worried about their finances that he has heard them loud and clear, write Zafira Anwar and Amin Mokhtar for New Straits Times.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he took note of the fact that academics in the country’s institutions of higher learning had been asking the government to increase allocations for their research and development activities. “I understand, I read the newspaper… Perhaps they are all aware that the government is in the midst of preparing the 2017 Budget. I understand, I hear you. I get the message,” he said before officiating at the Universiti Teknologi MARA’s 60th anniversary celebration.

The New Straits Times recently carried a front-page story headlined “Public varsities’ cry for help” which touched extensively on the slashing of operational budgets, which had brought many to their knees, with some having to abandon their research. In exclusive interviews with the New Straits Times, several university heads said the allocation cuts they faced last year alone had led to a host of problems, leading to massive adverse cascading effects.
Full report on the New Straits Times site

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