Malaysia Higher Education Ministry Refutes Claims on International Students

Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) has strongly refuted claims that admitting international students into public universities (UA) curtails opportunities for local students. The ministry described the allegations, made by Jitra assemblyman Dr. Haim Hilman Abdullah, as baseless and misleading, failing to reflect the reality of the nation's higher education system.

KPT emphasized that the internationalization of higher education is not a new or ad hoc policy but a consistent national strategy implemented over two decades. This aligns with the National Higher Education Strategic Plan (PSPTN) 2007, aimed at establishing Malaysia as a world-class higher education hub.

Official data from the MyMoheS system as of December 31, 2025, shows a total enrollment of 1,264,541 students across public and private institutions. International students constitute 159,138, or 12.6%, of this total. At public universities specifically, international students number 56,565 out of 634,706 enrolled, representing 8.9%.

The ministry further detailed that undergraduate programs at public universities are predominantly filled by local students, with Malaysians making up 96.56% (520,105 students) of the undergraduate population. International students in undergraduate programs total only 17,893, or 3.44%. This data clearly indicates that the majority of international students are pursuing postgraduate studies, not competing for undergraduate places with school leavers.

KPT explained that undergraduate admissions prioritize local students, with international students accepted on an "over and above" basis. Postgraduate programs, however, are open to both local and international applicants based on academic qualifications and university research capacity. The ministry concluded that combining undergraduate and postgraduate figures to suggest international students displace locals is inaccurate, as both categories have distinct objectives and admission mechanisms.