The Higher Education Department (JPT) has clarified why Edward Wong, Penang’s STPM top scorer with a perfect 4.0 CGPA and exceptional co-curricular marks, was not admitted to Universiti Malaya’s (UM) accountancy course. Wong ranked 1,129th out of 2,291 applicants competing for just 85 available seats, placing him outside the admission cutoff. Instead, he was offered a spot in a Bachelor of Management with Honours program at another research university, his fifth choice.JPT also shared admission statistics for other universities, highlighting the fierce competition and limited seats across top programs. The department dismissed concerns over the fairness of the UPUOnline system, confirming all placements were merit-based and aligned with applicants’ preferences. Wong's case sparked public debate, but the official explanation emphasizes the challenges of university admission amid high demand.