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Rising Concerns Over Foreign Student Enrolment in Malaysian Universities
Recent discussions in Malaysia’s political and academic circles have highlighted growing concerns about the increasing number of foreign students enrolled in the country’s top public universities. According to data shared by a Kedah state assembly member, approximately 27% of students at five leading public universities are from abroad. This has sparked debates on whether the current system is adequately serving the interests of local students.
Dr Hain Hilman Abdullah, a member of the Kedah state executive council, revealed that out of around 180,000 students enrolled across Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), about 38,000 or 27% are international students. He emphasized that these institutions are funded by taxpayers and that their professors are paid using public money. Despite this, he pointed out that nearly a third of the beneficiaries are not Malaysians.
This revelation contradicts previous statements made by the Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, who had claimed that only 5% to 10% of university intakes consist of foreign students. However, according to Dr Hain Hilman, the actual figures for research universities are significantly higher. For example, at UM, 24% of students are foreigners, while USM has 25%, UKM 20%, UPM 22%, and UTM 15%. These percentages far exceed the minister’s earlier claims.
One specific example cited by Dr Hain Hilman was the Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Honours) programme at UKM, which offers 200 seats. Out of these, 90 or 45% were allocated to students from mainland China. While he expressed no opposition to Chinese or other foreign students, he stressed that the university was built through the struggles and sacrifices of the Malaysian people for the benefit of future generations.
In addition to concerns over foreign student numbers, Dr Hain Hilman also raised issues regarding the mismatch between graduate output and job opportunities in Malaysia. He noted that about 1.9 million Malaysians are underemployed, and another 500,000 are unemployed. This means that 2.4 million Malaysians are either jobless or working in positions below their qualifications. He warned that if the trend of allocating a high percentage of places to foreign students continues, local graduates may be left behind.
Dr Hain Hilman further emphasized that the issue should not be viewed through racial or political lenses but as a matter of national interest. He stated that it is not about Malay, Chinese, or Indian communities, but rather about the rights of all Malaysians. He called for safeguarding higher education opportunities for local students while still maintaining a balance with the need for internationalization.
Calls for Transparency and Policy Clarity
The debate has also gained traction in the Dewan Rakyat, where Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong urged the government to clarify its policy on foreign student intake into public universities, particularly at the undergraduate level. He pointed out that the lack of a clear framework could risk limiting opportunities for Malaysian students, especially those from lower-income families.
Dr Wee, who is also the president of the MCA, cited a study by the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research, which showed that Malaysian student enrolment in public universities increased from 172,719 in 2018 to 191,450 in 2024—a rise of 10.8%. Meanwhile, foreign student enrollment nearly doubled during the same period, rising from 10,003 to 19,731.
In response, Dr Zambry reaffirmed that the government continues to prioritize Malaysians, ensuring that quotas for local students in public universities remain unchanged. However, the MCA has called for full transparency, urging the minister to make admissions data public. They argue that the influx of foreign students must not come at the expense of local students’ opportunities.
Balancing National Interests and Globalization
As the discussion continues, the challenge lies in balancing the benefits of internationalization with the need to protect the interests of local students. The increasing presence of foreign students in Malaysian universities raises important questions about fairness, equity, and the long-term impact on the country’s education and employment landscape. With calls for more transparency and policy clarity, it remains to be seen how the government will address these concerns moving forward.