The Higher Education Ministry (Mohe) is considering taking legal steps in response to what it characterized as baseless claims by Jitra assemblyman Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah regarding how students gain entry to public universities. The ministry announced on Monday (June 15) that it was examining available legal channels to defend the reputation of Mohe, public universities, and the nation's higher education sector against what it termed slanderous and unsubstantiated accusations.
Dr Haim Hilman's remarks included assertions that public universities were granting admission slots to wealthy applicants and that a significant number of students had gained entry through improper channels. These comments were made during a speech at a public event connected to the Negri Sembilan state election campaign on June 13, with a video of the address subsequently shared on Facebook.
The ministry stressed that such statements pose a threat to the credibility and standing of Malaysia's higher education institutions, their leadership, government representatives, and the numerous students who gained admission through proper procedures. Officials noted that this was not the first occasion on which the assemblyman had directed comparable accusations toward Mohe.
While the ministry stated it welcomes legitimate, evidence-based feedback on its operations, it made clear that claims capable of damaging public trust in higher education institutions must be grounded in verifiable facts. The ministry emphasised its position that it will hold accountable any individual or group making unverified allegations that harm the reputation of the country's educational establishments.
