Ministry To Address Corruption In Ums Says Deputy Minister

---

 
The Higher Education Ministry will address any corrupt activities that could affect the operations of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), says Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud. - NSTP/ MOHD ADAM ARININKOTA KINABALU: The Higher Education Ministry will address any corrupt activities that could affect the operations of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), says Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
"I think there might be some connection between corruption and UMS' financial shortfall; however, it is not the primary cause.
"Of course, we will handle it. The prime minister has emphasised the need for university governance in line with the Madani government's principles.
"We will see who is involved and we will investigate. If they are found guilty of bribery, legal action will be taken, and they will serve their sentences," he said after chairing the PKR party meeting at a hotel here.
Besides being a deputy minister, Mustapha is also the state PKR chairman.
Recently, Melalap assemblyman Datuk Peter Anthony had failed to overturn his conviction for falsifying maintenance and service contract documents at UMS in 2014, which he was sentenced to jail for three years and fined RM50,000.
The National Audit Report (LKAN) 1/2025 on the 2023 Financial Statements of Federal Agencies, recently tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, revealed that three public universities were among five agencies that recorded the highest consecutive losses from 2021 to 2023.
According to the explanation provided, the losses incurred by the three universities were due to insufficient operational grants and self-generated income (student fees).
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) was identified as one of the three universities, and it recorded a loss of RM141.41 million in 2023, a sharp increase from RM89.47 million in 2022 and RM89.31 million in 2021..
Mustapha said that the ministry disagreed with the terms "losses" and "deficit" used in the report as universities were educational institutions and not businesses.
"The grants given to universities covered 80 per cent only, while the remaining 20 per cent is encouraged to be self-funded by the universities.
"However, some universities are able to generate income, while others are struggling.
"UMS is also affected, which is why there is a shortfall. The grants provided are insufficient, and when the university is unable to generate additional revenue, it results in a financial gap between income and expenditure.
"Regarding the audit queries, we have conducted a special session on additional allocations, and funds have been allocated to cover the shortfall. We have recently approved additional funding for universities, including UMS," he said. - NST

---