{
  "id": 16828731,
  "title": "Open-channel admissions won’t reduce UPU quotas at public universities, says Zambry",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/open-channel-admissions-wont-reduce-upu-quotas-at-public-universities",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T01:20:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/28/open-channel-admissions-wont-reduce-upu-quotas-at-public-universities-says-zambry/240859"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — The Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, has clarified that open channel admissions to public universities will not impact the quota allocated through UPU, Malaysia’s centralised admissions system. He stated that this method accounts for a small percentage of admissions and is only offered in specific courses with available seats, not as a revenue-generating strategy for universities. Minister Zambry affirmed that the existing quotas would remain unchanged. Regarding tuition fees, he acknowledged they varied, especially for critical courses like accounting, engineering, and artificial intelligence. However, the government remains committed to increasing allocations and quotas for these fields to accommodate a high number of qualified students. Furthermore, Minister Zambry emphasized that financial constraints should not deter students from pursuing education at public universities, as various forms of financial aid are available, including tuition fee coverage and living allowances through programs such as the Community College Student Financial Assistance, Foundation Financial Assistance, and B40 TVET Scholarships. Meanwhile, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing reported that Malaysia had welcomed 32.26 million international visitors from January to September 2026, a 2.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The minister highlighted ongoing efforts to promote tourism, even amidst global geopolitical challenges, by continuing to allocate existing resources. He also announced new partnerships with 24 airlines for 46 international flight routes, with 35 being new and 11 existing. Additionally, the business events sector experienced significant growth, with a 113.7% increase in economic impact to RM1.24 billion in the second quarter of 2026, and a 81.2% rise in event numbers to 125, including a sharp rise in international delegate attendance by 105.2% to 83,596. Tiong emphasized the need for RM10 million to be allocated to the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) to attract more high-impact MICE and international sporting events. Finally, Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Ramli Mohd Nor commended the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry for its role in organizing the Sewang Festival, where 18 Orang Asli ethnic groups came together on October 24, with potential to attract international tourists and plans for a national event next year.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) has stressed that offering admission to public univers...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Open-channel admissions will not affect public university quotas, says Zambry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/open-channel-admissions-will-not-affect-public-university-quotas-says",
        "published": "2026-10-28T02:30:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}