KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — The number of private higher education institutions registered under the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 has fallen to 359, following a review by the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE).
Its minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said the move came after they found that the number of these institutions had previously been excessive, requiring a reassessment of their operating status.
Of the 359 institutions, 65 are universities, 39 are university colleges, 11 are overseas branch campuses, and 244 are colleges.
"In fact, we have already reduced the number. When I first came in, I found there were far too many.
"So we asked for a review of the position of these universities. We directed those no longer functioning to close.
"... and as of September 30, a total of 348,496 local students and 75,721 international students were pursuing their studies at the 65 university-status IPTS," he said when winding up the committee-level debate on the Supply (Budget) Bill 2027 and the 2027 Development Expenditure Estimates Motion for MOHE in the Dewan Rakyat today.
In a separate development, Zambry said the government is adopting various approaches to speed up the provision of student accommodation, including through public-private partnerships (PPP) and private finance initiatives (PFI).
Five new residential colleges at public universities are being built under the 13th Malaysia Plan through PPP, with a combined capacity of up to 21,000 students.
On graduate employability, he said the Graduate Tracer Study System recorded 217,768, or 92.3 per cent, of new Malaysian graduates securing employment in 2025, while 18,279, or 7.74 per cent, were still unemployed.
Earlier, during the debate session, several MPs raised issues related to the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU), exemption from National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan repayments and research funding.
They also highlighted the development of higher education institutions in Sabah as well as student welfare, including accommodation, scholarships and financial aid.
Representatives also raised the legal basis for establishing private universities in Malaysia and the MOHE's jurisdiction in regulating their operations, particularly regarding the medium of instruction, fee-setting, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure such institutions comply with national policy and aspirations.
The Dewan Rakyat then approved the MOHE's operating and development expenditure estimates totalling RM19,085,572,100 for 2027 by a majority voice vote, after debate by 21 MPs.
The Dewan Rakyat sitting resumes tomorrow.
