The data provided by the higher education department on seats available in Universiti Malaya’s accounting programme is accurate, having been obtained from the Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU) system, says UM vice-chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman.
Defending the data, he said the actual overall intake for UM’s accounting programme this year is 113, higher than the previously cited figure of 85.
“The 85 comes from UPU, which covers the matriculation, STPM, diploma and external foundation programmes. But there are others, namely 28 from UM’s feeder programmes,” he said in a video posted on Facebook today.
Earlier today, MCA president Wee Ka Siong challenged the figure of 85 available seats, saying that according to UM’s convocation data, nearly 200 students graduated from the course annually between 2011 and 2024.
Wee asked why the higher education department said only 85 places were offered “when (UM’s) records show a much larger number of graduates”.
“If UM really only takes in 85 students a year, then over four years, that’s just 340 accountancy undergraduates at any given time. But UM’s total enrolment is 43,000 students,” he said.
Noor Azuan said as UM is a flag-bearing university for the nation, it uses “creative ways” to increase its student numbers and ensure its ranking continues to rise.
“We need sophisticated equipment, international staff, international students and so on. This is why we have what is known as the open channel for 30 to 50 people,” he said.
He stressed that the open channel does not provide automatic entry, and that applicants are ranked and finalised after going through an appeals process.
“They are given conditional offers. This means they fulfil the requirements, but have not received a spot,” he said, adding that they are informed that offer letters will only be issued after the date of appeal.
“So, during the appeal date, the 30 to 50 people will be ranked to see who is the best,” he said.
Higher education minister Zambry Abd Kadir also advised parties on all sides to stop using the issue to push their political agendas.
He said many comments both positive and negative have been made since the issue became public, placing pressure on students, and urged all sides to stop making assumptions that can further complicate the matter.
