Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, President of MCA, has been urged to apologize to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) following his comments regarding the university admission of a high-achieving student.
UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh criticized Wee for blaming the system, calling it an unjust accusation that tarnishes the reputation of the ministry.
“When I read YB Wee’s initial statement, I felt sympathy for the student who worked hard but did not receive the offer she hoped for,” Akmal said in a Facebook post. “However, the reality is that she was not lacking in ability—she is very capable—but there were many other students who performed even better and were more eligible.”
Akmal explained that the student had a 99.9% merit score, but numerous other Malaysian students achieved 100%, and the limited spots at University of Malaya (UM) meant the competition was intense.
“By blaming a broken system, YB Wee made an inappropriate accusation and disrespected the MOHE staff, who have carried out their duties fairly and without prejudice,” he said. “We urge him to apologize to the ministry. If he is reluctant to apologize publicly, he should meet the Minister of Higher Education and apologize directly.”
The issue arose after Wee, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ayer Hitam, claimed in a press conference that a top-performing student was denied admission to UM’s accounting program despite excellent results.
Further clarification from MOHE revealed that while the student scored 99.9%, the fierce competition included many students with 100% merit scores, and UM only had 85 available spots for a total of 1,129 eligible candidates.
