“When varsity students are said to be involved, we have to check whether they are still studying or have graduated from university,” Minister Idris Jusoh said when met at the Parliament lobby here today.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil had earlier revealed that some varsity students were willing to bribe their lecturers to get high marks or to pass them in their examinations.

However, he said only a small number of students were involved.

Meanwhile when asked to comment on claims that Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) had stopped funding Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes, Idris said he would seek a clarification on the matter from the agency.

The matter was raised by reporters following information from the agency’s officer that Mara would no longer provide funding for PhD programmes abroad and would only finance students pursuing their diplomas locally.

“Apart from Mara and MyBrain, we also have academic training schemes, and research grant schemes with many other organisations that are offering PhD scholarships,” he said.