All IPTAs still require SPM BM. Some unis require an additional SPM subject like Sejarah or Maths. I highly doubt this requirement will change. So even if you hold O-levels, you still need those SPM subjects. It's baseline requirement set by the ministry.

However...

If you noticed recently that the ministry have introduced individual papers for SPM. So now people with O-levels can take 1-2 SPM subjects to fulfill the intake criteria. I'm not talking about the July papers, because to qualify for July papers, you need to have sat for full SPM papers.

So with the new ruling, you don't need to sit for full SPM, just take individual subjects.

I know this because I had one case in UTM who took O-levels (father is a diplomat). She tried to apply for July BM paper, but was told she didnt qualify. So she took SPM (the whole thing!) as individual candidate. Of course, she only needed credit in BM . The rest peduli apa.

Well they can. But just to note: This programme is known as PUPW (Public University, Private Wing) where all UAs in Malaysia can adopt to ease the financial burden. Each university can come up with their own niche or method to run this programme, but the bottom line is, they cannot get intake lower than that is already set by MQA and the ministry.

Although it means those who have money but lower results can get into UA, but they still can't undermine the minimum requirement.

Also, in this programme, you pay more doesn't mean you get more (like in US/IPTS). You get the exact same facility, accommodation, education and experience as those who came in UPU. You just pay more to skip UPU