KUALA LUMPUR – Ayer Hitam MP Wee Ka Siong should apologise for his misleading claims about the number of Mainland Chinese students in Malaysian public universities, said Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee.
In a statement, Lee, who is also DAP’s political education director, challenged the MCA president’s accusations that Chinese students outnumbered local students, particularly in public universities.
Lee said Wee must provide evidence to support his claim, failing which, he should offer a public apology to all Malaysian public universities.
“The total number of undergraduates from Mainland China in the 20 public universities is just 7,930.
Meanwhile, there are more than 41,000 Malaysian Chinese undergraduates. Either Wee Ka Siong was misleading the public, or he was visiting universities where the numbers of Mainland Chinese students were distorted.”
Lee also rejected the suggestion that foreign students were taking up resources meant for Malaysians, calling it “pure fiction.”
He pointed out that the number of Malaysian Chinese students in public universities is not “enough” but stressed that the long-term vision is to work towards universal, free higher education for all Malaysians.
“The government remains committed to pushing the numbers higher, and foreign students are not ‘taking over’ our educational resources.”
Wee had also criticised the intake of foreign students into foundation courses, claiming that even the Asasi programme for Bumiputera students had been opened to foreign nationals.
Lee dismissed these claims, calling them “outright lies” and a “desperate attempt to defame” the Malaysian education system.
He highlighted that such rhetoric was divisive and unjustified, aiming to stoke resentment between Malaysians and foreign nationals.
On the issue of international students, Lee pointed out that foreign enrolment is a vital component of university rankings.
“Why should we deny our public universities the right to admit international students?” he asked, citing the fact that Malaysia attracts students from over 150 countries.
Yesterday, Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir responded to the claims, dismissing them as baseless.
“The priority at public institutions of higher learning has always been Malaysian students,” Zambry affirmed.
He stressed that the government had not compromised on local student quotas and had never sacrificed the interests of Malaysians to make room for foreign students.
Zambry further explained that Malaysia’s international student intake aligns with the country’s internationalisation policy, noting that international students choose Malaysia because of the trust in the local education system.
He attributed this growing interest to increasing geopolitical tensions in Western countries, prompting foreign students to seek alternatives in Malaysia.
Refuting Wee claims of a “takeover” of Malaysian universities, Zambry urged parliamentarians to engage in constructive dialogue rather than fueling unnecessary polemics.
“When we make baseless accusations, we stir up unnecessary concerns,” he said, calling for a focus on solutions rather than division. – August 8, 2025