COMMENT | When international schools were initially set up in Malaysia in the ‘60s and ‘70s, they catered for children of expatriates.

Malaysian children who had part of their education overseas, or children of Malaysians returning from postings overseas, would have to apply for dispensation from the Education Ministry.

Initially, there was a 40 percent cap on local enrollment in international schools or the requirement that one of the parents of these local students must be a foreigner.

When the government intended to make Malaysia the regional education hub in the ‘90s, it offered unlimited licences to establish schools, colleges and universities.

But in 2012, the cap was removed and the demand increased. At the last count, there are 182 international schools in Malaysia in 16 different towns.

There are about 50 universities and university colleges, more than 500 private colleges, polytechnics, and community colleges.

Over the years, policies changed and like any other commodity, availability is just a matter of...