We are not university graduates, say embattled ministers

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 10 Feb 2019 11:04AM · 7 Comments

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu has denied that he has a degree, saying he never graduated from ITM as he was expelled for his activism when he was a student there. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 10, 2019.

TWO senior Pakatan Harapan (PH) ministers, Mohamad Sabu and Zuraida Kamaruddin, have denied accusations that they are both university graduates, and that they had faked their educational credentials.

Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, told a news portal that he had never graduated from Mara Institute of Technology (ITM) as he was kicked out following his student activism.

“Some people say I have a degree in culinary arts. I never said that,” the defence minister told Free Malaysia Today.

“Truth is, I never completed my studies at ITM. They kicked me out.”

Zuraida meanwhile rebutted claims that she is a graduate from the prestigious National University of Singapore (NUS).

“It has been reported in Utusan Malaysia that according to my purported ‘biodata’ that I am a graduate of NUS.

“I have never claimed or held myself to be a graduate of NUS and I have never authorised anyone else to do so.

“I am also not responsible for the wrongful entry in Wikipedia which claims that I am NUS graduate.

“I am disappointed that the media did not verify these obviously fake news with me before publishing,” the housing and local government minister said in a statement.

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin says she does not have a degree from NUS and had not authorised anyone to claim so on her behalf. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 10, 2019.

A Bernama infographic also shows Zuraida as having a degree in Sales and Marketing from UK MITD as well.

Checks showed that there is no such university in the United Kingdom and MITD stands for Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD).

Yesterday, Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian was also asked on his education qualification but the Bersatu man refused to entertain the question.

Osman came under fire after it was reported that he ignored media questions regarding his accounting degree obtained from Universiti Putra Malaysia.

According to the New Straits Times, Osman merely smiled when asked by reporters about the matter after a Chinese New Year function in Kulai.

Checks on the Johor government’s website showed that Osman has both a degree and diploma in accounting from the university.

Critics on social media have also claimed that there is no record of Osman having graduated from UPM.

Social media users backed up their claims with a screenshot showing Osman’s name absent from the university’s official website.

Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya has come under fire after it was revealed that his Cambridge degree was obtained from a degree mill based in the US. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 10, 2019.

PH leaders are being targeted over their academic background after Bersatu secretary-general Marzuki Yahya was slammed for having a dubious degree.

The deputy foreign minister, who previously said he had a degree from the United Kingdom’s University of Cambridge via a distance learning programme, earlier this week admitted that it was actually from the US’ Cambridge International University.

The American institution has since come under scrutiny, with increased suspicion that it is a degree mill awarding certificates with little to no actual study involved.

Cambridge International University, on its website, admitted that it is not accredited. – February 10, 2019.

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Comments

  • A quick question to MO1 ex PM Najib...we know that he enrolled in Nottingham University to study economics but which University did he graduate from?

    Posted 7 years ago by Julian Nagelsmann · Reply

    • Bugis University of Felony

      Posted 7 years ago by Duh Duh · Reply

    • University of Nottingham - "...universitys spokesman said in a brief email reply to Malay Mail last night."

      Posted 7 years ago by Plaq one · Reply

  • The deviousness of politicians. They will only resort to excuses when their wrongs are highlighted or else they will let it be and blame on the media for the fake news. If they are politicians of integrity they should corrrect the wrong immeditely there and then but choose to stay qquiet and ride along on the false glamour. Judge for ourselves who are good politicians????

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • So how many in our government have no formal education? This is worrying. Why can't we have ministers from top universities or technical schools?

    Posted 7 years ago by K Pop · Reply

    • It's good to have MPs and ministers with 'normal' backgrounds. The Dewan should be representative of the rakyat. I fully support PSM's recent moves to field Orang Asal and blue-collar candidates. If we have MPs and ministers only from the 'elite' groups, they will not be able to understand the struggles of the common rakyat and the result will be the chaos we see in France now with the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) movement. Not only in France but throughout the developed world this problem is now becoming apparent.

      Posted 7 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply

  • No wonder

    Posted 7 years ago by MCA Headquarters · Reply