PETALING JAYA: A deputy minister who had a police report lodged against him over his qualifications as a Cambridge University graduate has clarified that he studied at a US-based institution of the same name.
Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya told Malaysiakini that critics of his academic qualifications likely “misunderstood” his credentials and said he is an alumnus of the Cambridge International University.
“I was doing logistics (before joining politics). So, I just took that certificate for my knowledge to expand my business.
“As CEO of the company, I wanted to expand my knowledge and my business,” he reportedly said.
His Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration is one of the 150 courses offered at the Cambridge International University.
Previously, political activist Muhsin Abdul Latheef lodged a police report after reading a Facebook post questioning the legitimacy of Marzuki’s Cambridge University degree.
He said the Facebook post showed the Wikipedia page of the PPBM secretary-general claiming to have obtained the degree from Cambridge via “long distance learning”.
Muhsin said the author of the Facebook post, “Zulfahan Pagon”, had checked online and found that Cambridge does not offer degree programmes via “long distance learning”.
Marzuki later said he viewed Mushin’s police report as part of a smear campaign by certain parties who are against him, adding that this “kind of mudslinging and baseless accusations” are a given in politics.
Checks on the US’ Cambridge International University website, meanwhile, show that it does offer distance learning but these are “unique, non-traditional and not accredited by the US Department of Education”.
“Non-traditional programs are important because they recognise knowledge gained outside the classroom and incorporate a broader more comprehensive view of the learning experience.
“It is precisely this recognition and view that challenges the established academic community,” the website reads.
Malaysiakini also quoted Marzuki as reiterating his stance that he would give evidence of his academic qualifications to the police once he is called in for questioning.
He also took offence at a series of edits to his Wikipedia page, saying whoever who did it has “evil intentions”, Malaysiakini reported in a separate article posted tonight.