(The Star, 17 November 2017, Page 10,  Column Nation)

Kuala Lumpur: Eight universities - two private and six public - achieved Tier Six or outstanding status in the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education 2017 (Setara). The public universities are Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The private universities are International Medical University and Monash University Malaysia.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said this marked the first time the Tier Six rating was achieved. I believe the ratings are fair reflections of the state of our higher learning institutions," he said at the Setara 2017 award ceremony here yesterday, after congratulating the varsities on a job well done.