University students are fuming that they are not getting an extended holiday for Deepavali this year.

Deepavali is this Saturday, meaning that there is no extra holiday beyond this weekend.

Wanting a longer break, a student-led online petition was launched and signed by over 1,400 people, including Malays and Chinese.

Kapar MP G Manivannan raised the matter in a press conference in the Parliament lobby today, and asked for university students to be given a week off.

"They only have one weekend to stay with family. One day with family and spend next day traveling back to university.

"This is a form of discrimination against students," Manivannan said.

Deepavali, the festival of lights, is a one-day public holiday in Malaysia.