UKM Denies False 5:1 International Student Ratio Claim

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) — Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has refuted claims circulating in a social media video alleging that the university houses five international students for every single local student.

In a statement today, UKM dismissed the claim of a 5:1 international-to-local student ratio as completely false.

The university clarified that the latest data from its Academic Management Centre and the Centre for Continuing Education and Professional Studies shows a total student population of 46,151, out of which only 3,917 are international undergraduates.

Based on these official figures, international undergraduates constitute just eight per cent of the total student enrollment, making the actual ratio approximately one international student for every 12 students—a far cry from the alleged 5:1 ratio.

“The university takes a serious view of the spread of false or misleading information that could tarnish its reputation and will not hesitate to take legal action against any individual or party that continues to disseminate defamatory or inaccurate claims,” the statement said.

UKM reaffirmed its commitment to its founding mission of advancing education for Malaysians, emphasizing that the admission of international students does not jeopardize opportunities for local students.

“The admission of international students is carried out in a controlled manner, in line with the Ministry of Higher Education’s aspiration to strengthen the country’s internationalisation of the higher education sector,” the statement said.

The university also urged the public to retrieve information only from its official communication channels and to avoid sharing unverified or misleading claims.

-NMT