PUTRAJAYA – The Higher Education Ministry has contacted several universities whose students are allegedly involved in “sugar baby” activities for information on the validity of data published in the media recently.
Its director-general, Prof Datuk Husaini Omar, said the ministry is taking seriously revelations made by The Star Online on the “student programme” website and Facebook reports about the sharp increase in the number of university students involved in such activities.
He said the Sunway Education Group said it was unlikely that that 45% of Sunway University students are “sugar babies”, as the current number of Sunway University students is only about 7,000.
“In this case, the university explained that there are many doubts about the data submitted,” Husaini said in a statement today.
“Therefore, the report published by the media that a total of 3,105 Sunway University students are involved in sugar baby activities is not reasonable.
“On February 10, Universiti Teknologi Mara also lodged a police report denying the report in the media,” he said.
Husaini said the ministry and university authorities plan to address the issue more effectively by conducting detailed internal reviews.
“The ministry will also carry out engagement sessions involving the Youth and Sports Ministry; Women, Family and Community Development Ministry; Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission as well as related non-governmental organisations so that a continuous and comprehensive programme can be designed to ensure the personality of students and the image of the institutions of higher learning in Malaysia are maintained,” he added. – Bernama, February 14, 2021
