Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya is currently embroiled in a bit of a controversy over his academic credentials.

His degree from "Cambridge University" was not obtained from the University of Cambridge in the UK, but supposedly the U.S.-based Cambridge International University (CIU).

CIU's distance learning program is not accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, according to the institute itself.

But members of his political party, the Parti Pribumi Malaysia Bersatu (PPBM), are sticking up for him.

No degree no problem

Mukhriz Mahathir, the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Kedah state, said that Marzuki was not given his Deputy Minister's position because of his degree.

Speaking to the Star Online, Mukhriz, who is the son of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, said:

"As far as I know, he never declared that he was supposedly a Cambridge University graduate. That only came out in Wikipedia. For his own knowledge, he attended a course by an American online institution which unfortunately had a similar name.

I’m sure he was not picked to be a deputy minister on the supposed merit of his brandishing a Cambridge University degree."

As long as people don't rape or steal, it's fine

Another PPBM politician said that Marzuki's misstep was not as serious as other potential crimes that could have been committed.

Said Tariq Ismail, a member of PPBM's supreme council:

"He’s not going to be CEO of Goldman Sachs, BP or Felda, or resuscitate Enron. All those people who headed those companies had degrees but were crooks who stole. A degree is just a piece of paper that gets you into the workplace. The rest is up to you.

Having a dubious degree or not having graduated can be a stigma, but as long as people don’t rape or steal, it is fine."

Tariq added that he actually preferred Marzuki for his humility, over genuine degree-holders from the University of Cambridge:

"From his humility and hard work, I’d hire the one from fake Cambridge. The real Cambridge, I'd throw them in the river because they think they own the world and the world has to continuously chase them. People should look for dedication and teamwork."

Website hacked

Unfortunately for Tariq, he might not be able to hire more graduates from Cambridge International University even if he wanted to.

The website appears to have been hacked, as of 11:30 am on Feb. 8.

Accessing the university's website throws up this image:

It doesn't look like any school reunions for CIU graduates are likely to take place.

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Top image from Tariq Ismail and Marzuki Yahya's Facebook pages.