{
  "id": 6108672,
  "title": "Zambry: Govt will not deny university spots based on backgrounds of applicants",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/zambry-govt-will-not-deny-university-spots-based-on-backgrounds-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-07T05:57:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1527488/zambry-govt-will-not-deny-university-spots-based-backgrounds-applicants"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PUTRAJAYA: Higher education minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir pledged the government would not refuse university admissions to Malaysian students based on their backgrounds. He emphasized expanding access to higher education meant ensuring no Malaysian child was denied a place due to their origins, as every child is valued equally. Zambry lamented past instances where talented students from low-income families were unable to attend tertiary education due to financial constraints, and pledged to prevent such situations from recurring. All students - regardless of their ethnicity, be they Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli, Kadazan-Dusun, Iban, or others - are considered his children and valuable assets to the country, he stated. At a presentation of tuition sponsorship letters to outstanding 2025 STPM students, Zambry announced the government had initially planned for 18 sponsored national top scorers, but increased the number to 30 after further deliberation, with 27 accepting the offers. Universiti Malaya alone admitted six recipients into fields like medicine, mathematical sciences, chemical engineering, exercise science, and law. Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris received four recipients in Chinese language education, Malay language education, and special education. Many of the recipients excelled academically, scoring a perfect 4.0 in their subjects, suggesting a promising future for the quality of teachers who would educate the nation's children. Zambry advised the students to approach their studies with enjoyment, not pressure, and to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than distress. He urged them not to turn their learning into a pressured experience, but instead to find joy in learning, so pressure becomes a challenge that improves them. He also cautioned against neglecting character and values in the pursuit of academic success, emphasizing that education is about shaping good human beings, not just obtaining a degree.",
  "summary": "PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education meant ensuring no Malaysian child was denied a university place because of his or her background.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}