Foreign Student Surge Sparks Calls for Clear University Policy

• Enrollment of international students in Malaysian public universities, especially at the undergraduate level, is growing rapidly, outpacing local student growth.
• Lack of clear policies may limit opportunities for Malaysian students, particularly from lower-income families and minority or special needs groups.
• Lawmakers urge the government to define clear guidelines on foreign student admissions to ensure fairness and protect local interests.

Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has urged the government to clarify its policy on admitting foreign students into Malaysia’s public universities, particularly at the undergraduate level. He warned that the absence of a clear framework could limit opportunities for local students, especially those from lower-income families.

Speaking during the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Tuesday (Aug 19), Dr Wee, who is also the MCA president, asked pointedly: “What is our actual policy? Are foreign students only for postgraduate studies, or also at the undergraduate level? If it is for degrees, what percentage of places are allocated to them?”

He highlighted Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s electrical and electronic engineering programme as an example. According to Dr Wee, the number of Malaysian students has declined in recent years, while intake from mainland China has risen sharply.

“I do not believe that Malaysian children do not want to learn about electrical and electronic engineering, especially since Malaysia is a major player in the semiconductor industry”, he said.

Dr Wee cited specific figures: “Three years ago, out of 100 students, there were about 10 Malaysians of Chinese descent and 10 students from China. The following year, it was 15 Malaysians and 23 from China. But last year, only 17 Malaysians were admitted, compared with almost 90 students from China”.

He questioned whether local students were being edged out by foreign applicants due to commercial considerations. “If this trend has reached the undergraduate level, we need a clear policy to protect opportunities for our own people”, he said.

Dr Wee also raised concerns about what some universities call 'inclusive channels' for enrolment. These channels allow non-Bumiputra Malaysians to apply outside the central university admission system, but applicants are often required to pay commercial fees. “Isn’t this effectively a commercial channel, and doesn’t it discriminate against Malaysians?” he asked.

The MP further highlighted issues faced by special needs students. He cited cases of high-achieving candidates, including one student with autism, who were unable to secure placements. “We must ensure that our policies are inclusive, fair, and do not disadvantage Malaysians, whether they are from poor families, minority groups, or persons with disabilities”, he stressed.

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Dr Wee acknowledged that enrolling foreign students can bring benefits, such as raising Malaysia’s education profile internationally. However, he emphasized that this should not come at the expense of local students. “This is not about pointing fingers, but about reviewing policies that may need to be corrected. We must ensure fairness in access to higher education”, he said.

Responding, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir assured that local students remain the overwhelming majority at public universities and that policies are in place to protect their opportunities.

“In 2024, there were 497,000 Malaysian students in universities, compared with just 13,000 international students at the undergraduate level. For first-degree courses alone, there were 365,000 Malaysians”, he said.

Dr Zambry explained that university quotas for locals are set by the central university admission system (UPU) and must be filled before any remaining places are opened to foreign students. “Priority is always given to Malaysians. Only after UPU’s requirements are met can universities open the remaining capacity to others”, he said.

He added that Malaysia has welcomed international students since the liberalisation of higher education in 1996, but the policy has always prioritised postgraduate enrolment for foreigners. “This is part of the internationalisation process, but it is not done at the expense of our own children”, he stressed.

Earlier this month, Dr Wee reiterated his concerns about the sharp rise in foreign student enrolment at public universities, which is outpacing the growth of local students.

Citing a study by the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research, he noted that Malaysian student enrolment in public universities increased modestly from 172,719 in 2018 to 191,450 in 2024 a 10.8% rise with a compound annual growth rate of 1.73%.

In contrast, non-Malaysian enrolment surged from 10,003 in 2018 to 19,731 in 2024, marking a 97.3% increase and a compound annual growth rate of 11.99%.

Civil society group G25 also raised concerns about the increasing commercialisation of public services under the guise of financial sustainability, adding that policies must balance revenue needs with fairness to local students.

Dr Wee’s call highlights the need for a clear, transparent policy that safeguards the interests of Malaysians while allowing universities to continue attracting international talent.