UNIVERSITY students will not be holding protests against the government anytime soon following Putrajaya’s efforts to address price hikes and cost of living issues, a student leader said.

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) student union president Aliff Naif said for now, students have agreed to call off their protests but would keep monitoring the government’s efforts, especially on those impacting the students.

He said although the government has taken steps address the current crises concerning cost of living, it could do more to alleviate the people’s sufferings.

Students had threatened a series of protests following their first on July 2 if the government fails to heed demands on rising costs of living. 

The next protest was to have been today.

“For students, the government initiatives include a six-month moratorium for cafe vendors operating inside campuses. This will keep food costs low.

“And then there is also a Keluarga Malaysia menu at campuses now with food being sold at a set price.

“But of course it is all just a short-term plan, meaning we are still uncertain until when the government will do it. 

“We are happy with the government’s efforts for now but we can’t say that we are content with it. 

“There are improvements but we hope more can be done,” Aliff said. 

On July 2, some 200 people attended the #Turun Speakers’ Corner protest at Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur to protest against the increasing cost of living. 

Led by a coalition of student bodies from various universities, several students took the mic to air their grievances over the alleged lack of concrete action by the government to tackle the rising cost of living in the country.

After the protest, on July 4, Higher Education Minister Dr Noraini Ahmad announced that campus food stall operators at public institutions of higher learning will be given a rent moratorium for six months beginning this month. 

She said the move was to lower the operating cost of the food operators so that they can maintain the prices of food sold to students in view of the rising prices of goods.

Noraini also announced a quality food menu at a ceiling price of RM3.50 for each order under the Keluarga Malaysia Student Food Basket initiative, in line with the announcement by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Ismail said the government will roll out Keluarga Malaysia Menu at cooperative restaurants, cafeterias as well as food outlets at public universities as an alternative for target groups to obtain meals at an affordable cost.

Students to sit in government council

Aliff said the Keluarga Malaysia food menu will vary according to universities and that he will have a discussion with his own university this coming Monday.

“For IIUM, I will have a meeting with the administrator this Monday to discuss the matter. 

“As for other universities, the food menu varies. It depends on the university’s implementation. 

“As of now, we know that for Universiti Putra Malaysia, the menu is most “proper” for students and it is sold at RM3.50 per meal. 

“I feel the price is affordable for students,” he said. 

Besides this, Noraini also said the ministry has agreed with the proposal of the National Students Consultative Council to form a Keluarga Malaysia Student Livelihood Action Committee, which she will chair. 

Aliff also welcomed the move, saying it will give them a stage to express their issues and grouses.

“Five representatives from National Students Consultative Council are part of the Keluarga Malaysia Student Livelihood Action Committee. 

“So we hope that by bringing the voices of students at a ministerial level meeting, things can be further improved. 

“Of course it was just established and we are waiting for the outcome,” he said. 

Aliff said that although the government has taken efforts to address some of their issues, he said the people at large, those from the B40 and M40 groups are still feeling the pinch caused by the inflation and the increase in food prices. 

Hence, he said that as a next course of action, the student councils will send a memorandum to lawmakers when Parliament convenes next week.

“What we will do next is that when Parliament convenes, we, the students, will handover a proposal letter to lawmakers, be it government or opposition, for them to consider or follow our suggestions,” he said. 

Aliff did not disclose the proposals.

Earlier, students demanded salary cuts for ministers and their deputies, adequate aid to be provided to the people, the current subsidies to be maintained without reducing other subsidies, food security issues to be solved, and prices of goods and food to be controlled. – July 16, 2022.