A source close to the matter told FMT that the final decision to merge Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) is expected soon.

The source said the top management of the two universities had been informed of this initiative by the education director-general recently.

“Expenditure is high, especially when it comes to the salaries of the top management.

“This includes vice-chancellors, registrars and treasurers,” the source told FMT on the condition of anonymity.

The source said talk of the possible merger had been making the rounds around the two campuses.

Many, the source claimed, were unhappy over this proposed move.

It is not known if similar plans are in the pipeline for other public universities.

UniSZA was established in 2005. It is reputed to be the first university in the country to be modelled after University of London, United Kingdom. It has four campuses, including one in Kuala Lumpur.

UMT began as Universiti Pertanian Malaysia’s Centre for Fisheries and Marine Science before being upgraded as University College of Science and Technology Malaysia (Kustem) in 2001.

In 2007, it was rebranded as UMT.

FMT has reached out to the education ministry for comment and is awaiting a response.