MCA president Wee Ka Siong has raised questions over the higher education department’s (JPT) claim that only 85 places were available in Universiti Malaya’s (UM) accounting programme this year. Citing UM’s own convocation data, Wee noted that nearly 200 students have graduated from the course annually between 2011 and 2024.
“If UM really only admits 85 students per year, that would mean just 340 undergraduates over four years—but UM’s total enrolment is 43,000,” he said at a press conference, challenging JPT’s figures.
JPT had previously stated that STPM top scorer Edward Wong, who achieved a perfect 4.0 CGPA and 99.9% in co-curricular activities, ranked 1,129th out of 2,291 eligible applicants for UM, where only 85 accountancy spots were available this year. Wong was offered a place in a management course at Universiti Sains Malaysia, his fifth choice.
Wee highlighted that Wong had also received a conditional offer for UM’s accountancy programme through its open entry channel, which required a higher fee of RM83,800. “Under UPU, he’s ‘not good enough,’ but under open entry, he’s fine if he pays 10 times more. Who decided this? Who fixed the 85 seats?” he questioned.
He called for a full review of the university intake process, urging transparency on seat allocation. “Are these places being traded away? That’s the root issue that must be answered,” he added.
Wee also dismissed calls by UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh to apologise to the higher education ministry over his remarks. “After my explanation, why should I apologise? They claim only 85 seats exist, but I can show it’s in the hundreds,” he said, noting he was surprised Akmal had not contacted him directly before making the statement.
He stressed he was merely highlighting a single case and not attacking anyone.
