Students “forging” their way into varsity

FIRST of all, I would like to state that my undertaking to write this letter has nothing to do with the news report “Shahrizat: PM’s acceptance into UM law faculty based on merit” (The Star, Jan 20; online at https://bit.ly/3GZ51S). I would just like to share my recollection of a situation during my days in that respected institution of higher learning.

The year was 1974 and I was a second year arts student majoring in History. Rumour was spreading then that several students in Universiti Malaya had managed to gain entry by forging their Form Six (then called Higher School Certificate) exam results. I didn’t give much thought to the rumour until I met a student who was from my hometown. As I was leaving the main library, I bumped into her. She was entering the same library carrying a bundle of books.