Apr 17: DAP election strategist Ong Kian Ming has discovered at least five BN candidates in Selangor whose academic qualifications could be called into question owing to the reputation of the universities involved.
Topping the list is MIC's Puchong candidate Kohilan Pillay (left), who has Masters degree in "Commercial and Industrial Economy" [sic] from the Pacific Western University, US."This ‘university’ was found to be a degree mill, lawsuits were taken up against it and it was subsequently shut down," said Ong on the outgoing deputy Foreign minister!
Next comes Klang MP aspirant Teh Kim Poo, chairman of the Port Klang Authority (PKA), who has a PhD in Business Administration from New Port University, US, which according to Ong has a reputation as a dubious university.
In a 2009 report published by MCA-owned newspaper The Star, New Port University was named among a list of bogus varsities and "degree mills".
"Newport University claims to be based in California and has more than 20 branches all over the world, including Belgium, China and Malaysia. It is not recognised by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation," the report stated.
The three others have been named as state constituency candidates, all of whom Ong said obtained degrees from "well known degree-mills".
They include Ab Wahab Bin Ibrahim (Taman Medan), who has PhD in Public Service from "Irish International University", exposed as a bogus university in 2008; Ching Eu Boon (Pandamaran), who has PhD in Network Marketing from the St George University International - described by a South African daily as "a shadowy online outfit seemingly based in the Caribbean"; Lee Ban Seng (Kajang), a 'graduate' of the Rutherford University which has been named as a "scam school" by the website
ConsumerFraudReporting.org.
Ong said the revelation flies in the face of BN's claims of placing only candidates with integrity for the coming GE.
He further reminded that academic qualification which is being brandished by BN does not "automatically make one person a better candidate than someone without a degree".
"However, candidates who feel as if they had to ‘buy’ a degree, either at the undergraduate, masters or postgraduate levels, inevitably call their own integrity into question. If these candidates are willing to dupe voters about their academic qualifications, which is an important part of any person’s life, what other areas of life would these candidates be willing to lie about including in areas of public interest such as the management of public funds and the proper and responsible use of public resources?" he asked.
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