MACC OPENS TWO INVESTIGATION PAPERS ON UKM FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES, GOVERNANCE

PUTRAJAYA, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened two investigation papers in connection with the issues of governance and financial irregularities involving Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), as highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) 1/2026.

MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said it has scrutinised the audit report and is collaborating with UKM to conduct further investigations.

He added that the probe is focusing on student intake programmes that were not approved by the board of directors, as well as false claims.

  "We have started our investigations, and UKM is cooperating with us. Two investigation papers were opened today,” he told a media conference here today.

Azam said that, so far, no witnesses have been called up, and that the MACC will obtain important documents from UKM for investigation purposes.

Earlier, it was reported that the MACC would begin preliminary investigations into governance issues and financial irregularities involving UKM, as highlighted in the LKAN 1/2026.

On Feb 23, the LKAN 1/2026 revealed that UKM faced serious irregularities and governance breaches in its student fee collection and spending, failing to comply with legal and financial regulations.

According to the report, an unauthorised body, Koperasi B-5-1788, collected student fees totalling RM50.74 million, including RM3.53 million for the Master of Education (SPEND) and RM47.21 million for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (DPLI).

In addition, RM32.36 million in student fees distributed to Koperasi B-5-1788, including RM0.87 million received by UKM via the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), and eKewangan (UKM’s payment platform), was not recorded as UKM’s revenue.

The report said RM21.02 million in SPEND and DPLI fees collected by Koperasi B-5-1788 were handed to UKM 31 to 291 days late.

-- BERNAMA