Allegations portraying higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia as breeding grounds for corruption are irresponsible and risk damaging the reputation of the country’s education system, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim said.
He stressed that while isolated cases may exist, it is unjustified to generalise such incidents across the entire higher education landscape, which has been built over decades.
“Institutions take years, even decades, to develop. It is not reasonable to undermine them based on one or two issues. Such statements are not responsible,” he said at a press conference following the launch of the UTM–University of Canterbury Joint Satellite Laboratory.
Mohd Shafry was responding to recent media reports alleging that corruption has quietly permeated the ecosystem of local HEIs, effectively labelling them as corruption hotspots.
He cautioned that such sweeping claims could erode public trust and deter prospective students from pursuing their studies at local universities.
According to him, universities, like other government-linked entities and organisations, operate within established governance frameworks and adhere to strict integrity systems, particularly in areas such as procurement and administrative processes.
“Integrity mechanisms are already in place within universities. Procurement procedures, workflows and operational practices are guided by government-issued circulars and regulations,” he said.
He added that even university-linked entities, including subsidiary companies, are subject to legal oversight and regulatory controls, making them less susceptible to misconduct.
Mohd Shafry also expressed confidence that higher education institutions remain open and willing to cooperate fully with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in any investigations related to corruption.
Recent reports have highlighted several alleged corruption cases involving individuals at selected HEIs, including an ongoing MACC probe into a university over governance and financial management issues, following findings in the Auditor-General’s Report 1/2026.
– EDUCATION TVET ASIA