[Letter to the Editor] The problem of degrees from ‘fly-by-night’ universities in politics

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Letter to the Editor

By Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan

Controversies about academic qualifications are not new. When it involves politicians, the matter becomes amplified. Several dimensions of the altercation need to be understood.

First, candidates who have attended academic institutions may not completed their degrees for whatever reason. However, they allow their circles to believe that they have obtained the qualifications. For those who were doing PhDs, they allow their friends to call them ‘doctor’—some shameless individuals would even print their name cards with the prefix ‘Dr’ to their names.

Second, some individuals could have well received such degrees from some ‘fly-by-night’ or ‘degree mills’ universities. In an era of digital accessibility, simply looking up the institution’s name on a search engine would lead one to information about the status of any university.

Third, undergraduate degrees in social sciences normally run for about three to four years, while Master’s degrees would require between one and two years and PhD between three and four years.

In most instances, all three levels of study have residency requirements, meaning candidates are required to be physically present on campus for a specified duration. For Master’s and PhD programmes by research, candidates are normally required to submit a partial or full thesis upon completion. These theses are typically made publicly available through university libraries, with many accessible online.

Some basic degrees, such as medical degrees, would grant access to graduates’ path to becoming a general medical practitioner. In Malaysia, such graduates, whether from local or foreign universities, are required to register with the Malaysian Medical Council and satisfy set conditions. Only then would they be granted a license to practice medicine in Malaysia.

Similarly, many undergraduate degrees—such as those in engineering, accountancy, and architecture—do not automatically confer professional titles on graduates. To use professional prefixes or suffixes such as “Ir.”, “CA”, or “Ar”, individuals must apply for membership with the relevant professional bodies and meet prescribed requirements before being admitted.

Degrees that are recognised by the Malaysian government through agencies such as the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA), Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) or Public Service Department (JPA) mean that holders use their degrees to seek employment in government and government statutory bodies.

For example, if a public university chooses to hire an individual holding a PhD from a foreign university, there is nothing inherently improper about the appointment. However, such a decision could complicate accreditation processes with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), as degrees awarded by that institution may not be recognised by the accrediting body. Consequently, holders of such qualifications may be unable to use them when seeking employment with the government or government-linked institutions.

In recent times, some politicians have listed degrees from universities with questionable accreditation. A degree is not a requirement to get elected, and neither is it a requirement for appointments to state and federal Cabinets. If politicians want titles other than what they already have, they should set good examples by doing them in recognised institutions.

There are many positive examples set by past leaders. As recently as last month, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri was reported to have successfully passed his PhD viva at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). Earlier, former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Salleh Syed Keruak earned both his Master’s and PhD degrees from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The late Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Okin, a former Sabah opposition leader, obtained his Master’s degree from UPM. Former Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim earned his PhD from UUM, while the late Datuk Omar Othman, a former Pahang Executive Councillor, completed his Master’s degree at UPM.

Politicians, as role models, should set good examples for the rakyat. The examples cited above involve leaders who pursued their studies during periods of ‘political sabbatical’ for various reasons.

However, there have also been cases where serving representatives undertook academic studies while still in office. The timing of such pursuits raises ethical and moral questions. Elected representatives are paid to serve the public, yet some choose to devote part of that time to personal advancement. While some may argue that they had obtained permission from their ‘superiors’. Such justifications do not absolve them of poor judgment.

Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan is currently a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and at the Institution of Malay Rulers Chair at UiTM, as well as an Adjunct Professor with the Institute of Borneo Studies in Unimas.

This is the personal opinion of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.

— DayakDaily