The accuracy of a research revealing that 120,000 bright and eligible Malay students were denied places in local universities this year is in dispute.

The figure was claimed by the 'Malaysian Malay Economic Growth Research Institute' based on its recent research. The report was given prominent coverage in Utusan Malaysia over four days.

Following that, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak then instructed the Higher Education and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative ministries to take measures to accommodate the Malay students who were rejected.

However, MCA Youth education bureau head Dr Wee Ka Siong questioned the accuracy of the figure.

"Firstly, we could not determine how they arrived at the figure? Only about 100,000 applications were received this year," he said.

The Higher Education Ministry had stated that the total number of applications received was 105,014 this year with 64,877 being categorised as eligible. A total of 39,976 eligible students who passed the STPM exam and matriculation were chosen to local varsities based on meritocracy.

The successful candidates comprised of 24,941 bumiputras or 62.4 percent of the total, 12,802 Chinese (32 percent) and 2,233 Indians (5.6 percent).

Wee, who is also Ayer Itam MP, urged the Malaysian Examination Board to conduct its own research on all races of students who failed to gain entry into local varsities in order to obtain a clearer picture.

"This is not a one race issue confined to the Malays only. Chinese and Indian students are also involved. All the races should be given the same opportunity too," he added.

Reports criticised

MCA on its official website also posted a commentary criticising the 'inaccurate' Utusan Malaysia reports saying that "they depicted the government as sidelining the Malays on their educational needs".

"In reality, these students are over-dependent on the government for their educational needs," the party said.

It also questioned the classification of bright students in the research as it said students who meet the minimum entry requirement could not be termed as 'bright' as there are many students who scored straight As.

The research found that the group of 120,000 was 65 percent from 178,038 SPM and STPM graduates who failed to get places in local varsities due to the limited places available.

The basic requirement for entry into local universities (with the exception of one or two courses) is STPM qualification while SPM students could apply for matriculation.

Following the reports, Higher Education Minister Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh said he was instructed to look into alternative ways for the students to further their studies such as enrolling them into polytechnics, community colleges and private higher learning institutions.

He added that all vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors of local universities have met to discuss the matter.