Um Up To 160 Places Offered For Accounting Not Just 85

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Universiti Malaya (UM) has clarified that it offers up to 160 places for each intake of students into its accounting programme, following questions raised by MCA president Wee Ka Siong.
UM vice-chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman explained that out of the total, 85 are for students who apply via the centralised university admissions system (UPU) and another 28 are for students from the institute’s “feeder” programme.
The remaining 30 to 50 places will be filled by students who accept direct intake offers via UM’s Open Channel “Satu” system.
“If we look at UPU, there are three categories. The first category (consists of students from) STPM, matriculation, and foundation graduates from universities other than UM.
“The second category is diploma graduates, and the third is the feeder programme, namely those from UM.
“So, 85 places come from UPU, 28 from UM’s feeder programme, and about 30 to 50 places through the open channel (direct intake),” he was quoted as saying by Utusan when met by reporters at the Higher Education Ministry yesterday.
Noor Azuan also asserted that the offer of 28 places under UM’s feeder programme is a common practice allowed by UPU for universities to select candidates from among foundation graduates who meet the requirements.
Yesterday, Wee highlighted that the Higher Education Ministry’s statement on UM only offering 85 places for its accounting programme appeared not to tally with official data from the nation’s top university.
The Ayer Hitam MP had taken issue with the figure as UM has produced an average of around 150 accounting graduates from 2011 to 2024.
Multiple ways for university entrance
Commenting on the claims, Noor Azuan reportedly said UM, as the nation’s flagship university, uses “creative ways” to boost student numbers and ensure it climbs in the ranks.
He said this in justifying the direct intake pathway, under which students purportedly pay “up to 10 times more”.
Student Edward Wong (left) and MCA president Wee Ka SiongThe vice-chancellor, however, reiterated that UM’s direct intake is not automatic, as candidates who initially fail to secure a spot via the UPU system must go through an appeals process.
“This direct intake (offer) is conditional, and its merit requirements are the same as UPU, but the (offers) are issued only after the appeal period (through the UPU system).
“The letter clearly states that offers will only be issued after the appeal period, so candidates for these 30 to 50 places are filtered based on ranking - we will see who is the best,” he said.
Previously, Wee raised concerns about UM potentially prioritising profits after it allegedly issued a direct intake offer to STPM top scorer Edward Wong months before he received confirmation on his rejected UPU application.
The MP lamented that while the direct intake offer proved Wong was qualified for the course, the UPU system determined Wong did not make the cut.
Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir has since stressed that higher education should not be politicised, emphasising that students encountering issues in the university admission process have proper avenues, including appeals, to resolve the matter.
Zambry also said his ministry remains open to addressing any shortcomings in the current admission process, which is continuously being improved. - Mkini

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