Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia stops using cooperatives for admissions and fees after audit finds irregularities, with millions in funds now being recovered.

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia has ceased using cooperatives for student admissions and fee collection. The move follows irregularities highlighted in the 2026 Auditor-General’s Report.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said UKM now handles admissions and fees directly for specific postgraduate programmes. This immediate corrective step ensures greater transparency and accountability.

“Adjustments have been made, recognising RM2.27 million for SPEND and RM30.09 million for DPLI in 2024, as well as RM27.67 million for the previous 2025 cohorts,” he said. All fees for the latest DPLI cohort have now been fully accounted for.

A letter of demand has been issued to the cooperative involved, with RM1.83 million recovered so far. Efforts to recover the remaining balance are ongoing through legal channels.

Adam Adli provided this update during the winding-up debate on the audit report in the Dewan Rakyat. The UKM Integrity and Ombudsman Centre is investigating the invalid cooperation agreements.

The university is fully cooperating with the Royal Malaysia Police to ensure a transparent and thorough probe. On a separate audit matter, Adam Adli addressed a RM110.67 million research grant balance across five research universities.

He clarified that the sum came from savings and project surpluses over nearly 20 years, not from any leakages. The balance relates to 7,129 development and research projects from 2006 to June 2025.

The surplus arose partly from efficient project completion and cost savings through technology. It also resulted from adherence to financial regulations, averaging RM15,524 per project.

 The Sun Malaysia