PETALING JAYA: The Higher Education Ministry has expressed hope that there will be no further cuts for higher education in the 2018 Budget.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said he is putting forth the request to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to ensure the continued development of universities in Malaysia.
He said 10 out of 20 public universities are now 70 per cent dependent on public funds, ahead of the 2020 target. However, the younger universities are still at infancy stage and may require more time to develop.
"We are also requesting that research universities be given due attention as they not only carry Malaysia's image but also other universities'. Research universities not only collaborate among themselves but also with other universities to ensure the continued success of higher education in Malaysia," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after launching the University Leadership & Governance Conference 2017, organised by the University of Malaya, the Higher Education Ministry and the Higher Education Leadership Academy.
A total of 230 delegates from public universities, private universities and countries such as South Korea, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand are attending the two-day conference, which is themed "Redesigning Education Towards Financially Sustainable Universities".