A VIDEO circulating on social media claimed that Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia has five international students for every local student, a ratio that would mean foreign students make up the overwhelming majority of the university's population.
The claim spread quickly, tapping into longstanding public concerns about university admissions and access for local students.
Do international students really outnumber locals by five to one at a local Malaysian university?
Verdict:
FALSE
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) described the claim of a five to one international-to-local student ratio as completely false.
The university's latest data from its Academic Management Centre and Centre for Continuing Education and Professional Studies shows a total student population of 46,151, of which only 3,917 are international undergraduates.
International undergraduates account for just 8% of the total student population, making the actual ratio approximately one international student for every 12 local students, almost the exact opposite of what the viral video alleged.
UKM reaffirmed its commitment to its founding mission of advancing education for Malaysians, stressing that the admission of international students does not come at the expense of opportunities for local students.
"The admission of international students is carried out in a controlled manner, in line with the Ministry of Higher Education's aspiration to strengthen the country's internationalisation of the higher education sector," the university said in a statement.
UKM said it takes a serious view of the spread of false or misleading information that could tarnish its reputation.
"The university will not hesitate to take legal action against any individual or party that continues to disseminate defamatory or inaccurate claims," it added.
The public was urged to obtain information only from UKM's official communication channels and to refrain from sharing unverified or misleading information.
Source:
Bernama
