Hassan Basri Awang Mat Dahan said the decision on the merger was ultimately the government’s but it was not a new idea.

“The previous government had already thought about it but it did not proceed. I believe the current administration will study the pros and cons of a merger before making a decision,” he said.

Earlier this week, a source told FMT the government was studying a merger of UMT and UniSZA with a decision to be announced soon.

FMT has reached out to the education ministry for comment.

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

“Expenditure is high, especially when it comes to the salaries of the top management, including the vice-chancellors, registrars and treasurers,” the source said.

Hassan said the merger would benefit both universities and allow the new institution to progress at a lower cost.

“It’s like two army battalions with two different commanders, now it becomes one brigade with one brigadier-general.

“The brigade is stronger and more powerful than the battalions. This is just a simple analogy. One professor is equal to one general, so you can imagine how the university will look after a merger,” he said.

Hassan said the merger would also strengthen the faculties, centres of excellence and departments.

But he said the most important issue would be its implementation and the welfare of the two universities’ staff, adding “it’s not just about budgets and cost savings”.

Yesterday, UTM’s student body demanded to be included in talks on the proposed merger.

Voicing concerns that the two institutions had different systems, it wondered which one would prevail should a merger take place.

The body also wanted to know what impact it would have on the students and the two universities as a whole.