THERE is no need for Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Marzuki Yahya to resign on grounds that his degree was from a disreputable university, but he must be made to answer allegations that he was dishonest in explaining his qualifications, said academics.

Universiti Malaya law lecturer associate professor Azmi Sharom said that while there was no need for ministers to hold certificates, their reputations and sense of honesty should be unquestionable.

Azmi said it was normal for confusion to arise when citing a university’s name, but stressed that Marzuki intentionally trying to fake his academic credentials was a serious allegation.

“For example, I was mistaken as a graduate from Hall College instead of Hall University. The same goes for Cambridge University, and we can understand if there is confusion. It is a minor mistake and there is nothing wrong with that,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Azmi said the problem of false academic qualifications was rampant during Barisan Nasional’s administration, and said the public should not blow the issue out of proportion.

“In the end, we just have to see if they can do their jobs. I’m not saying (the culture) should be followed by the Pakatan Harapan government,” he said.

He said the issue should be handled within Marzuki’s Bersatu party, which has to decide whether a party leader requires academic qualifications.

Earlier this week, a blogger said that Marzuki’s claims he had obtained a degree from the UK’s Cambridge University via a long-distance programme were questionable after the university was found to not offer such degrees.

While initially saying he could prove his claims, Marzuki later admitted that his degree in business administration was actually from United States-based Cambridge International University.

Institut Darul Ehsan deputy chairman Redzuan Othman concurred with Azmi, saying the issue was not whether or not Marzuki held a legitimate degree.

“If you look at the Election Commission’s requirement, there is no prerequisite for an academic certificate as long as the people make the decision. Anyone can be an elected representative,” he said.

However, he said the issue was whether there was an element of dishonesty over the matter.

“That is why I’m saying these are two different matters. It is not a problem if an elected representative does not have a high qualification.

“But it becomes an offence that should be answered if it has elements of dishonesty,” he said.

Earlier today, DAP’s Ong Kian Ming waded into the controversy by saying that Pakatan Harapan should hold itself to higher standards of public accountability and transparency, and that the issue should not be “swept under the carpet and ignored”. – February 8, 2019.