All 20 public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) in the country are to maintain their tuition fees and cost of accommodation even after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) tomorrow.

This was stated by the chairman of the IPTA Vice-Chancellors and Rectors (JKNC/R) Committee, Brig Gen Datuk Prof Dr Kamarudin Hussin when dismissing as baseless the news circulated on the matter which he said was done to panic students.

JKNCR/R also criticised the statement made by the Muslim Students Association of Malaysia (PKPIM) on the issue of increased tuition fees and accommodation cost as published by Harakah Daily.

"I urge students not to be easily influenced with this false information, and to check with their respective university student affairs and finance office for clarification.

"PKPIM's hasty action in issuing the unsubstantiated statement is very much regretted as they have various ways to channel their problems in the university," he said in a statement here today.

Harakah Daily yesterday reportedly said PKPIM received complaints from students who had been notified of an increase of tuition, hostel and other fees.

According to Dr Kamarudin, the increase in fees was not logical as students were already in the middle of the semester and tuition fees and accommodation cost had already been deducted from their loans or scholarships.

He said the government had clearly stated that all academic programmes given accreditation by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and all matters directly involved with teaching and learning activities would not be subjected to GST.

He, however, did not deny that some tuition and accommodation fees which were income-generating for the universities would be increased to cover operating costs.

"For example, tuition and other related fees for executive learning programmes, offered to postgraduate students, will have to be increased as the courses offered are profit-motivated, so GST will be imposed," he said.

He said students still living in hostels during semester holidays for the purpose of learning and teaching would continue to pay the normal fees.