PETALING JAYA: The government must clarify its policy on the intake of foreign students into local public universities, particularly at undergraduate level, says Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
He added the lack of a clear framework could risk limiting opportunities for Malaysian students, especially those from lower-income families.
"What is our actual policy? Are foreign students only for postgraduate studies, or also at the undergraduate level? If it is for degrees, what percentage of places are allocated to them?" he asked during the Dewan Rakyat sitting held here on Tuesday (Aug 19).
Dr Wee, who is also the MCA president, cited Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s electrical and electronic engineering programme as an example, noting that Malaysian student numbers had declined in recent years while intakes from mainland China had risen significantly.
"I do not believe that Malaysian children do not want to learn about electrical and electronic engineering because Malaysia is a major player in the semiconductor industry."
"Three years ago, out of 100 students, there were about 10 Malaysians of Chinese descent and 10 students from China. The following year, it was 15 Malaysians and 23 from China."
"But last year, only 17 Malaysians were admitted, compared with almost 90 students from China," he said.
Dr Wee also questioned whether local students were being edged out by foreign applicants due to commercial considerations.
"I do not believe that Malaysian students are not interested in this field. If this trend has reached the undergraduate level, then we need a clear policy to protect opportunities for our own people," he said.
He pointed out that some universities had introduced what was described as "inclusive channels" for enrolment, where non-bumiputra Malaysians could apply outside of the central university admission system.
"However, these applicants are then required to pay commercial fees. Isn’t this effectively a commercial channel, and doesn’t it discriminate against Malaysians?" Dr Wee asked.
He also raised concerns about special needs students being left out of the system, citing cases of high-achieving candidates, including one with autism, who were unable to secure placements.
"We must ensure that our policies are inclusive, fair, and do not disadvantage Malaysians, whether they are from poor families, minority groups, or persons with disabilities," he stressed.
Dr Wee said while foreign student enrolment can benefit Malaysia’s education sector and international profile, the balance must not come at the expense of local students.
"This is not about pointing fingers, but about reviewing policies that may need to be corrected. We must ensure fairness in access to higher education," he added.
Responding, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said locals remain the overwhelming majority at public universities, with policies in place to safeguard their opportunities.
"In 2024, there were 497,000 Malaysian students in universities, compared with just 13,000 international students at the undergraduate level. For first-degree courses alone, there were 365,000 Malaysians," he said.
Zambry explained that university quotas for locals are set by the central university admission system and must be filled before any remaining places are opened to foreign students.
"Priority is always given to Malaysians. Only after UPU’s requirements are met can universities open the remaining capacity to others," he said.
He added that while Malaysia has welcomed international students since the liberalisation of higher education in 1996, the policy has always been to prioritise postgraduate enrolment for foreigners.
"This is part of the internationalisation process, but it is not done at the expense of our own children," he stressed.
Earlier this month, Dr Wee reiterated his concerns about the sharp rise in the percentage of foreign student enrolment at Malaysia’s public universities that is outpacing that of local students, raising red flags about the allocation of placements.
Citing a recent study by the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research, he said the number of Malaysian students enrolling in public universities increased modestly from 172,719 in 2018 to 191,450 in 2024, reflecting a 10.8% rise and a compound annual growth rate of 1.73%.
In stark contrast, non-Malaysian enrolment surged from 10,003 in 2018 to 19,731 in 2024, marking a 97.3% increase and a compound annual growth rate of 11.99%.
Civil society group G25 also stated their concerns about the increasing commercialisation of public services under the guise of financial sustainability.
