Kuala lumpur: Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir today stressed that higher education should not be politicised by any party. He said students encountering issues in the university admission process have proper avenues, including the appeal process, to resolve the matter. ‘I often say this is about our children continuing their studies, and I do not want it to become a political issue. There is an appeal process that can be used within the 10-day period provided,’ he told reporters after officiating the closing of the Karisma Antarabangsa: Kenegaraan Malaysia MADANI programme here today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zambry also said the ministry remains open to addressing any shortcomings in the current admission process, which is continuously improved from time to time. ‘I understand the aspirations of students who wish to secure places in the best programmes,’ he said. He was commenting on a complaint from a Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) top scorer who claimed he was denied a place in Universiti Malaya’s accounting programme despite obtaining a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.00 and a co-curricular score of 9.90, giving him a total merit score of 99.90 per cent.

Meanwhile, Zambry said the government would continue to assist and safeguard the welfare of Malaysian students abroad. ‘They are the nation’s young ambassadors when overseas, as they carry Malaysia’s good name through their character and conduct. The government will continue to support them through Education Malaysia representatives in countries such as Egypt, Jordan and the United Kingdom,’ he added.