JOHOR BARU — Johor chief minister Osman Sapian has admitted that he does not have a degree from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), apologising to Malaysians for the “confusion and misunderstanding” over his qualifications.

Social media had been abuzz with claims that Osman’s accounting degree from UPM in fact did not exist, with the allegations coming to light after someone purportedly conducted online checks with the university.

On Thursday (Feb 14), Malaysian newspaper Sinar Harian quoted Osman as saying that he was once a student with the Kolej Pertanian Malaya, the predecessor of UPM.

"However, I did not complete my studies," Osman said.

On Feb 9, the Johor Pakatan Harapan chairman was approached by reporters after a Chinese New Year function in Kulai to comment on allegations, which have gone viral on social media, that he did not actually hold an accounting degree. He just smiled at them.

The Johor government's website previously showed that Osman had a degree and diploma in accounting from UPM, but he said that he had no knowledge of this.

Osman said that he has instructed for the information to be taken down.

"I humbly apologise to all Malaysians for the confusion and misunderstanding over my qualifications," he said.

Osman was one of several Pakatan leaders whose qualifications are under scrutiny following the revelation that Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya had obtained his degree from a degree mill. AGENCIES