KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – Malaysia now has 359 registered private higher education institutions following a review by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the ministry found that the number of institutions had become excessive.
As a result, the ministry reviewed their operating status. It also directed institutions that had stopped operating to close.
Zambry shared the figures during the Dewan Rakyat debate on the 2027 Budget on Wednesday.
Universities and Colleges Make Up 359 Institutions
The 359 registered institutions include 65 universities, 39 university colleges, 11 overseas branch campuses and 244 colleges.
Zambry said the review aimed to ensure that registered institutions remained operational and met the required standards.
As of Sept 30, the 65 private universities had a combined enrolment of 424,217 students.
This included 348,496 Malaysian students and 75,721 international students.
Government Expands Student Accommodation
Meanwhile, the government is taking steps to increase student accommodation at public universities.
Zambry said the government is using public-private partnerships (PPP) and private finance initiatives (PFI) to speed up construction.
Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, five new residential colleges are being built at public universities.
Together, these colleges will provide accommodation for up to 21,000 students.
The initiative aims to address accommodation needs as universities continue to serve students from different parts of the country.
More Than 92 Per Cent of Graduates Found Jobs
Zambry also shared the latest graduate employment figures.
The Graduate Tracer Study System recorded 217,768 Malaysian graduates securing employment in 2025.
This represented 92.3 per cent of the graduates covered by the study.
Meanwhile, 18,279 graduates, or 7.74 per cent, remained unemployed.
During the parliamentary debate, MPs also raised concerns about student welfare and higher education policies.
Their discussions covered PTPTN loan repayments, research funding, scholarships and financial assistance.
They also questioned the regulation of private universities, including tuition fees, teaching languages and compliance with national education policies.
Parliament Approves RM19.08 Billion for Higher Education
The Dewan Rakyat approved RM19.09 billion for the Higher Education Ministry’s 2027 operating and development expenditure.
The approval followed a majority voice vote after 21 MPs took part in the debate.
The parliamentary sitting will resume tomorrow.
Source : BERNAMA | Rewritten By Minutesmy
