SEREMBAN: Master's and doctorate students found using professional writers to pen their theses will have their degrees withdrawn.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said stern action must be taken against such students as they could tarnish the reputation of their universities as well as the country's image.

"Once a university's reputation is tarnished, it will be difficult to re-establish its credibility. It is a university's business to produce quality graduates."

Lecturers also need to be vigilant to prevent such cheating, he said after opening the Open University Malaysia's (OUM) regional learning centre here yesterday.

Last Saturday, the New Straits Times reported that hundreds of master's and PhD students were hiring professional writers to complete their theses.

Mustapa, however, said the public should not be alarmed with this development as the number of students involved was small.

"We have dealt with cases that were brought to our attention. However, those with information need to come forward so that we can investigate."

Present at the ceremony yesterday was OUM president and vice-chancellor Professor Tan Sri Anuwar Ali.

Anuwar said the university would open another three regional learning centres next year, one each in Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Malacca.

"The Kota Kinabalu and Kuching centres will be ready by March, while the one in Malacca will be ready by the end of next year. We are also upgrading the learning centre in Kota Baru, which will be ready in April.

"We are looking for locations in Terengganu and Pahang to set up such centres," Anuwar said.

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