Kohilan Shows Proof Be Did Not Buy His Degrees As Claimed By DAP Strategist

Gerakan vice-president A. Kohilan Pillay today showed reporters his thesis for his master's degree and the transcript of his bachelor's degree examination results as proof of his academic qualifications.

Kohilan brought along the proof to the press conference held at the party headquarters, here, to refute the claim made by DAP general election chief strategist Ong Kian Ming yesterday, that his tertiary academic qualifications and that of four other Selangor Barisan Nasional candidates in the upcoming 13th general election had been bought.

Kohilan, the deputy foreign minister, had obtained a Master of Science in Industrial Economics from the Pacific Western University, United States in 1992, one year after he received a bachelor's degree from Connaught University, Ireland.

He said the Pacific Western University was closed when it was found to have sold degrees, 14 years after he completed his studies there.

Hence, Kohilan wants Ong to apologise for his false allegation on his academic qualifications and may take legal action if Ong continues with the allegation.

Kohilan, who is vying for the Puchong parliamentary seat, said he went abroad to further his studies after completing Form Six in 1987.

"I obtained all my academic qualifications by studying hard, so there is no truth to the allegation that I bought my degrees," he said.

Kohilan said after getting his master's degree in 1992, he became a lecturer in economics and statistics at Stamford College until 2008.

He said he had also written two books on economics for students sitting for the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia examination.