A director from the Corporate Communications Department of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) has lodged a police report against PAS Central Working Committee member Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah over remarks alleging that public universities are selling admission places to certain groups.
Bakhari Che Mohamed Ariff said the report was lodged after he watched a recording of Haim Hilman’s speech, which was broadcast on Facebook during a public political ceramah held ahead of the Negeri Sembilan state election.
According to Bakhari, the speech contained allegations that public universities were currently offering admission opportunities to wealthy individuals through unofficial channels.
He claimed Haim Hilman suggested that a “backdoor” system existed for students who did not qualify based on academic merit, while places that should have gone to deserving students were instead awarded to those capable of paying full tuition fees.
Bakhari said such allegations could seriously damage the reputation of public universities and undermine public confidence in Malaysia’s higher education system.
He called on the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to investigate the contents of the speech, arguing that the statements were defamatory and had the potential to tarnish the image of public institutions.
“The speech was widely circulated nationwide, and the video has reportedly been viewed by more than 220,000 people,” he said in the police report lodged at the Bukit Kayu Hitam police station on Monday.
The controversy stems from a speech delivered by Haim Hilman at a PAS event in Seremban on June 13, where he allegedly claimed that public universities had denied opportunities to 30,000 qualified students due to a lack of transparency and the existence of a so-called “backdoor” admission system.
He also reportedly described the situation as one of the biggest failures in the country’s education sector and criticised the government for not providing sufficient funding and university placements.
Bakhari said the allegations were serious because they could create a negative perception of the government, public universities and the university admissions process.
He further warned that such claims could lead to public anxiety, anger and a loss of trust in higher education institutions if left unaddressed.
The matter has since sparked debate over transparency in university admissions and the responsibility of public figures when making allegations involving national institutions.
