KUALA LUMPUR: Enrolment data into public universities, especially the country’s top five elite institutions, show that the percentage increase of international student intake is outstripping that of locals — raising concerns that Malaysian students are being sidelined in favour of revenue-driven policies, said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of foreign student intake, both undergraduate and postgraduate, has fast outpaced that of local students.
Figures from the Higher Education Ministry revealed that between 2018 and 2024, foreign student enrolment in public universities nearly doubled from 10,003 to 19,731, while local student numbers rose modestly from 172,719 to 191,450.
"The ratio of foreign to local students has narrowed significantly, shifting from 1:17 in 2018 to 1:10 in 2024.
“This clearly shows the gap is closing too fast. If such wide avenues can be opened to foreign students, why can’t the same be done for local students?” said the Ayer Hitam MP on a Facebook video.
He also raised concerns over irregularities in the admissions process, citing allegations that some students were offered courses via the Open Channel as early as July 2025 — before UPU (merit-based admissions channel) results were released in September.
“This directly contradicts what was said by the Deputy Higher Education Minister in the Kamar Khas (Special Chambers),” he noted.
Dr Wee further questioned anomalies in the data, including medical programmes.
“What is the logic when the number of medical graduates at Universiti Malaya exceeds the number of places originally offered?” he asked, adding that his claims were supported by information from the ministry’s website, university reports and the MyMoheS database.
He also criticised the steep rise in tuition fees under the Open Channel, saying it disadvantaged local students. “What is the justification for such drastic fee increases that appear to prioritise revenue generation over access for Malaysians?” he said.
Dr Wee cited cases where high-achieving STPM students were overlooked under the UPU channel, only to be later offered the same courses under the Open Channel.
“These discrepancies not only undermine public confidence in the fairness of the admissions system but also risk marginalising talented local students who deserve equal opportunities.
“The Higher Education Ministry must come forward immediately and provide a full explanation. These questions have remained unanswered since June 2025,” he added.
