Kuala lumpur: The UPUOnline system has recorded a total of 511,006 admissions for undergraduate programmes in public universities nationwide this year, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. He noted that of this total, 497,020 admissions, or 97.26 percent, were local students, while 13,986, or 2.74 percent, were foreign students.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zambry dismissed claims suggesting that local student quotas were being taken away to accommodate foreign students, describing such allegations as unfounded. He emphasized that after meeting the needs and criteria for local students, universities may allocate limited spaces for foreign students. This move is particularly aimed at supporting internationalisation efforts that enhance university rankings.

In a related matter, Zambry also rejected claims that foreign students in the country are primarily enrolled in medical courses, thus limiting opportunities for local students. He further refuted allegations that foreign students are charged lower fees than local students, calling these claims baseless.

Additionally, Zambry addressed the issue of water supply at higher education institutions, including those in Sabah and other states. While water supply management falls under state jurisdiction, he assured that the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) would assist in finding solutions if water shortages affect institutional operations. He stated, "We will work to resolve the issue, whether it's due to the university's system, insufficient water supply, or if it's being politicised by the relevant parties."