The government has denied accrediting two private higher education institutes - the Irish International University and Cambridgeshire University - whose credentials have been questioned.

"There are claims that a letter from the Public Service Department and another from the Private Education Department were said 'to recognise' the qualifications from these two universities," Higher Education Minister Mohamad Shafie Salleh told the Bernama news agency on today.

"The government has never recognised any degree from the so-called Irish International University," he said adding that the same was true for Cambridgeshire University.

Last week Ireland's ambassador to Malaysia Daniel Mulhall urged Malaysia to clamp down on the Irish International University, saying it was not connected to his country.

"They do not offer any courses or conduct any classes in Ireland. I find the name is itself a deception because they are neither Irish nor a university," Mulhall was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

Mulhall also blasted the institution's prospectus, saying he was "offended" by its use of Gaelic, Ireland's traditional language, and that the words were misspelt.

High-profile figures

The Irish International University, which has insisted it is a legitimate educational institution, was set up as a company in Ireland in 2000 and has its campus in the satellite town of Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur.

The daily also said that several hundred Malaysians may be holding questionable qualifications from the two unaccredited universities, estimating that students could have paid up to RM28 million.

It said the Irish International University prospectus featured photos of officials posing with high-profile figures including former premier Mahathir Mohamad.

Privately-funded schools and institutions have been part of Malaysia's education system for decades and are supposed to be registered with and approved by the Education Ministry.

Their popularity is growing due to a squeeze on public university places, but there has been increasing criticism from educators over the quality of tuition offered by the private bodies.