MCA Penang observes that there are discrepancies in the enrolment figures for Universiti Malaya's (UM) accounting programme, as reported by the Ministry of Higher Education and the university itself. The conflicting numbers - 85, 113, 160, 163 - have unfortunately caused greater confusion among the public and this suggests a lack of transparency and fairness in the admissions process of our public universities.

The MCA Penang State Liaison Committee which convened a meeting on 10 September 2025 reiterates our full support for the party President, YB Datuk Seri Ir Dr. Wee Ka Siong, in his continued efforts to advocate for fair higher education opportunities and accessibility for all students. We respectfully urge the government to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry to examine the admissions procedures of public universities, particularly in light of concerns regarding commercialisation, to ensure Malaysia's education reputation remains intact.

We are particularly concerned by a statement from the Vice-Chancellor of UM, Professor Dato' Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman, who indicated that 113 students were admitted to the accounting programme this year, including 28 from feeder programmes. His quoted figure differs from the figure of 85 provided by the Director-General of Higher Education.

The Vice-Chancellor further mentioned that an additional 30 to 50 students would be admitted through direct admission, potentially bringing the total to 163. While 85 places were allocated through the Unit Pengambilan Universiti (UPU), placements offered to STPM holders remain undisclosed. This lack of clarity makes it difficult to assess whether STPM students are being accorded equal opportunities.

According to the data provided, only 52.2% of the total estimated 163 seats were filled through UPU. The remaining 47.9% were admitted through non-UPU channels, comprising 30.7% via direct admission and 17.2% through feeder programmes. As a taxpayer-funded institution, it is reasonable to question whether this distribution is equitable.

As the nation's premier university, UM should exemplify fairness and transparency in our education system. However, the current explanations regarding their admissions process have, regrettably, led to more questions than answers.

MCA Penang once again urge the government to establish an RCI without delay. This would help ensure that future admissions processes are transparent, merit-based, and fair, providing every qualified student with an equal opportunity to pursue higher education.

Datuk Tan Teik Cheng
MCA Penang State Liaison Committee Chairman
MCA Vice President

11 September 2025

-MCA Comm-