Fake degrees: have Malaysia’s politicians not learnt their lesson?
- Claims that Malaysian ministers exaggerated their education are damaging for Mahathir Mohamad’s government, which swept to power on an anti-corruption agenda
Allegations that politicians from Malaysia’s ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition faked their university degrees have raged on social media in recent days, forcing the administration to confront questions about its integrity and accountability.
At least six politicians have come under fire so far for not possessing the academic credentials previously attributed to them.
Others embroiled in the scandal include Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin and the chief minister of a Malaysian state. All have denied purposely trying to hoodwink voters.
James Chin, a Malaysian political scientist and director of the University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute, said the “real problem” exposed by the scandal was how accepting the Malaysian public was of “bad behaviour from politicians”.