A Malaysian student who achieved a perfect cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 was allegedly treated dismissively during an interview for Universiti Malaya’s (UM) medicine programme, with him ultimately not offered a place in the programme.
The case was highlighted by the University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY), which urged the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to investigate the matter.
Interviewer allegedly used phone throughout interview
According to Sin Chew Daily, UMANY submitted a memorandum to MOHE calling on the ministry to address alleged unfairness in the public university admission system.
The memorandum was received by a senior assistant director from MOHE’s Student Affairs Division.
Speaking to the media after submitting the memorandum, UMANY president Lee Wen Quan (transliteration) and vice president Lee Yu Dong (transliteration) said the organisation received several complaints after the latest admission results were announced through the University Central Unit (UPU).
One complaint came from a foundation student who obtained a perfect CGPA of 4.0 and attended a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) for UM’s medicine programme.
According to the complaint, the interviewer at one of the stations allegedly spent the entire five minute session looking down at their phone.
The student claimed the interviewer did not look at them even once throughout the interview.
Wen Qua criticised the interviewer’s alleged conduct as arrogant and dismissive, saying it disregarded the student’s preparation and undermined the university’s academic standards.
Calls for investigation and independent appeal process
Meanwhile, Yu Dong urged MOHE to investigate the interviewer’s alleged misconduct and establish a proper monitoring system for university admission interviews.
He also called for an independent appeal mechanism for applicants who wish to challenge their admission results.
UMANY further urged the ministry to publicly disclose the weightage given to academic results, extracurricular activities and interview performance during the selection process for each university programme.
The group said this would allow applicants to better understand how admission decisions are made.
Other top students allegedly failed to secure places
UMANY said it had also received complaints from high achieving students enrolled in several foundation programmes, including Matrikulasi, PASUM and UTM Asasi.
Despite achieving results close to a perfect score, several students allegedly failed to secure any university placement.
Some complainants claimed their CGPAs and merit scores were higher than those of other applicants who were successfully admitted.
Meanwhile, applicants with scores below 3.5 were allegedly offered places in the same programmes.
UMANY urged MOHE to publish detailed admission data for programmes offered by public universities.
This includes the actual minimum merit scores of successful applicants, the allocation of places among different categories of foundation students, and the quotas for science and arts stream applicants.
UMANY seeks response by Sept 24
UMANY also referred to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement under Budget 2026 that an additional 1,500 places would be made available for high demand programmes at five research universities.
Wen Quan urged MOHE to disclose how the additional places would be allocated to ensure the process remains transparent and benefits qualified local students.
UMANY also called on MOHE to respond to its memorandum by Sept 24.
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