A group of NGOs have come together to help feed less fortunate university students who are in need of food assistance.

Dubbed Gabungan Kami Sayang Mahasiswa (Kasih), the group said it plans to give out regular food assistance to students at several public universities in the Klang Valley.

"We are only a support group to help relieve some of the burdens faced by students.

"But the government should be more responsible in resolving this issue with more allocation for varsity students," Kasih chairperson Mariam Abdul Rashid told a press conference in Shah Alam today.

The move comes following reports that students were going hungry in public universities or have to subsist on only instant noodles due to the rising cost of living.

Mariam added that the coalition will provide some financial assistance to needy students through their respective public universities' welfare secretariat and this will be distributed in the form of coupons.

She said the initiative by a coalition of 17 NGOs will commence next month.

Among the targeted universities are the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Selangor (Unisel).

Mariam said the coalition will receive funding from the Selangor government.

She added that Parti Amanah Negara had today also contributed RM10,000 to their cause.

She said public contributions were also welcomed and they could be channelled into Bank Islam's account number 14032010094329 which belongs to Pertubuhan Kebajikan Ehsan Ummah.

Mariam also asserted that students should be given assistance by the government and not have to work part-time just to make ends meet.

'Students not spoiled'

"I don't agree that students should work part-time. For us, an almost developed nation that is earning big profits, we feel students should be given specific scholarships especially those from low-income families

"Now that there are many who are unemployed, how are we supposed to find part-time work? So the government, with its massive reserves of funds, should help prevent such things from happening," she said.

She also rejected claims of spoiled students who always wanted more and more handouts, saying that sponsoring students was not something new.

"This is not something new (students going hungry) but they have ignored this for a very long time. Students aren't spoiled.

"In other countries, students are sponsored by the government from the tip of their hair to the bottom of their feet," she said.

Previously, Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh had said that students should not be facing financial issues and should work part-time if they want more money.