Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – A growing number of Indian students in Malaysia are turning down offers from public higher education institutions, a trend that has sparked concerns among lawmakers and community leaders.

Senator C Sivaraj, a former MIC vice-president, has raised questions about the mismatch between the courses offered and the qualifications and aspirations of these students. He expressed disappointment with a recent Dewan Negara reply from the higher education ministry, which provided broad statistics but lacked specific details.

“The ministry stated that 8,529 SPM holders and 4,342 STPM holders were offered places in public higher education institutions for the 2024-2025 academic year. However, many of these students were offered diploma and certificate courses in polytechnics and community colleges, which they have declined,” Sivaraj said.

He urged the ministry to disclose the specific universities and courses offered to Indian students, arguing that the students cannot be held responsible if the courses do not align with their qualifications and interests.

“We need to analyze our weaknesses and failures to improve the situation for the upcoming academic year. More specific data is essential to develop an effective strategy for increasing Indian student enrollment in government institutions of higher learning,” he added.

The Malaysian Indian People’s Party has proposed a 7% public university admissions quota for Indian students, a target set in the Malaysian Indian Blueprint. However, Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir emphasized that admissions are based on merit, particularly for highly sought-after courses. He cautioned against politicizing the issue along racial lines.