News of university students going without food should not be sensationalised, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

He added that the authenticity of such reports should be investigated.

"I'm not saying that all varsity students are doing well, but I doubt that there are starving students. [...] Yes there are some facing hardship but not that bad.

"Even the homeless in Kuala Lumpur are given free food by Umno Youth. This (starving students) is hard to comprehend. I hope this story is not sensationalised, and is verified," he said at an Umno Youth press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Reports of varisty students going hungry because of the rising cost of living have been making headlines recently.

A survey by the Muslim Volunteer Malaysia Association (MVM) found that three out of four students in public universities in the country have admitted to being in situations where they were so broke they could not afford to eat

This has spurred numerous food programmes aimed at aiding needy students, including food coupons and 'pay it forward programmes.

Public University Alumni and Student Affairs deputy vice-chancellors secretariat chairperson Adnan Hussein however refuted media reports on the matter as untrustworthy and questionable.