The integrity of university admissions has been called into question by Penang state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow.

NONE Chow (left) , who heads the local government, transportation and environment portfolio, pointed to MCA's "influence" over the Higher Education Ministry in affecting the process.

He said Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong  - also the MCA Youth chief - had openly admitted that his party has such influence.

"So how can the people have confidence in the public university system to process the admissions fairly?" asked Chow, also the state DAP chairperson.

He was referring to a news report today that twins Aimee and Charlotte Teong have obtained places to study medicine at Universiti Malaya.

Star quoted Wee as saying that their case had been submitted to Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Noordin through MCA central committee member Dr Hou Kok Chung.

Chow pointed out that the "happy picture" portrayed in the media is not representative of the larger issues plaguing the allocation of seats in public universities.

The practice of applicants going to politicians for help is also unhealthy, he said, as this is a sign that there are fundamental problems in the university seat allocation system.

"The consequential clamour for help is exploited by ruling (coalition) politicians, presumably because they have the links to influence the outcome of appeals," he said.

"This cycle of students complaining about their admission, followed by BN politicians offering help, repeats itself yearly without any long-term solution."

‘Process compromised’

Chow said the scenario benefits the public image of MCA politicians like Wee, but it is wrong that current procedures are compromised just because people like Wee "can push his weight around".  

"For every one success story highlighted, there could well be 100 others who might feel disappointed with their admission offers or lack thereof," he said.

Calling for fairness, Chow urged the central admissions body to open its processes for scrutiny to prevent this from being turned into a "political circus by people hoping to score brownie points".