https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...ed-seats/190572

Edward Wong, the STPM top scorer from Penang whose case drew public attention last week, was ranked 1,129th among 2,291 eligible applicants for Universiti Malaya’s (UM) accountancy course, where only 85 seats were available this year, the higher education department (JPT) said.

According to Free Malaysia Today (FMT), JPT said Wong, who achieved a perfect 4.0 CGPA and scored 99.9 per cent for co-curricular activities, was instead offered a Bachelor of Management with Honours programme at another research university, his fifth choice.

The department also revealed its rankings for other public universities: Universiti Putra Malaysia (1,724th out of 4,154, with 100 seats available), Universiti Utara Malaysia (1,288th out of 2,595, 350 seats), and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (1,062nd out of 2,292, 55 seats).

“Accordingly, the candidate was offered a place based on merit and programme choices, just like all other applicants,” JPT said in a statement, dismissing claims that flaws or gaps existed in the UPUOnline system.

“At the same time, JPT remains open to feedback and suggestions on ways to improve the existing system,” the department said.

The case gained traction after MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong labelled the centralised admission process as “flawed” and “unfair”, noting that Wong was later accepted into the same UM course through open intake.

However, the fee was RM83,800 — nearly 10 times higher than the RM8,300 UPU-subsidised route.

JPT also stressed that its pledge to place all STPM students with a 4.0 CGPA in public universities had been fulfilled, with 1,249 out of 1,255 applicants already placed and six awaiting final paperwork.

The department said the UPUOnline appeal consultation counter would remain open until September 12 at the higher education ministry’s atrium in Putrajaya for students seeking clarification.