The proposed merger of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin is still being discussed, UMT vice-chancellor Nor Aieni Mokhtar said.

She said several matters will have to be looked into and considered before making any decision.

“We need more consultation sessions to weigh the costs and benefits which will take time. Furthermore, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said that further discussions (on the merger) are needed,” she said after a staff and student assembly at UMT in Kuala Nerus today.

She said the meeting with Mahathir took place at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya on Thursday.

In another development, Nor Aieni, who was asked to go on leave from Dec 30 last year, expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of Education for giving her the opportunity to continue as UMT vice-chancellor until April 12, as per her original contract agreement.

UMT in a statement issued by its Corporate Communications Office on Friday stated that Mahathir as acting education minister had agreed to allow Nor Aieni to resume her duties to see to the smooth running of the university.

- Bernama