A group of youths held a protest at KL Sentral today to demand free education and also to oppose a slew of budget cuts for public universities next year.

In the protest lasting about 20 minutes this afternoon, the students from the Free Education Movement (GMPP) also urged passers-by to show support for their cause by signing a banner.

One speaker at the protest, Persatuan Mahasiswa Malaysia president Azzan Aznan, highlighted that some oil-producing countries such as Argentina and Brazil not only provide free tertiary education, but also allowances.

Meanwhile in Malaysia, he said students are being saddled with heavy debts as well as a high cost of living, and the newly introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST).

“We are suffocating under various economic and social difficulties, so I ask for your cooperation, your solidarity, and support from ladies and gentlemen who are here today, by putting down your signature and support free education, so that your children and grandchildren are given free education and not oppressed even when they are still studying,” he said.

Most commuters at the station simply rushed past the protesters, who numbered around 15.

However, some did stop to listen to their speeches and later sign the white banner, adorned with the words ‘Free Education for All!’.

Time limit

A handful of police and auxiliary police personnel kept watch from a distance and did not interfere but is understood they imposed a time limit for the protest.

KL Sentral where the protest was held, serves as a station for multiple train lines, including the Kelana Jaya LRT line, the KTM Komuter lines, the KTM intercity lines, and the KLIA Express, among others.

Under the 2016 Budget proposal now being debated in Parliament, public universities are to face RM1.4 billion in budget cuts.

Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh had assured that this would not lead to an increase in tuition fees, but this failed to appease the students.

In a statement circulated during the protest, GMPP said this would not stop universities from raising other fees such as resource fees, parking fees, and administrative fees.

“GMPP also foresees that in order to reduce operational costs of universities, students will be forced to participate in longer periods of industrial training or internship programmes which will not earn them an equitable income while they still have to pay for their fees.

“This is equivalent to selling cheap labour in the name of ‘improving their employability’,” the group said.

GMPP is a coalition of 17 youth and student groups, such as Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia, Legasi Mahasiswa Progresif UPSI, and youth wings of Parti Sosialis Malaysia, PKR and Amanah.

They will continue their protest later today at Masjid Jamek, Masjid India and Sogo Shopping Complex in the city centre later today.