In a statement, higher education director-general Azlinda Azman said international students make up 21.3% of the total student population at the five universities, not 27% as claimed.

Azlinda also said the ministry does not limit the percentage of international students at the postgraduate level as they provide new perspectives based on their cultural and academic backgrounds, enrich discussions, and encourage more creative approaches to problem solving.

She also said that international students do not benefit from government subsidies, and that universities use proceeds from international students’ fees to improve their facilities.

“The total student population at these five universities is 180,024, of which 141,636 are local students while 38,388, or 21.3%, are international students

“Of this number, 15.8% are postgraduate students and the remaining 5.5% are undergraduate students,” said Azlinda

The five universities are Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

On Thursday, a Kedah executive councillor claimed that 27% of students at Malaysia’s five leading public universities were foreign nationals.

In a report in The Star, Haim Hilman Abdullah said data from the higher education ministry showed that of about 180,000 students enrolled at the five universities, some 38,000 or 27% were from abroad.

“These universities are funded by taxpayers and our professors are paid with public money. Yet 37% of those who benefit are not Malaysians,” he told the Kedah state assembly.

The Jitra assemblyman is also Kedah’s investment, higher education, science, technology and innovation committee chairman.