Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir has defended party secretary-general Marzuki Yahya over the latter's academic credentials.

He said the deputy foreign affairs minister was not picked for the post because of his academic qualification.

“I'm sure he was not picked to be a deputy minister on the supposed merit of his brandishing a Cambridge University degree,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.

The spotlight fell on Marzuki's academic credentials after a police report was lodged over claims he had lied about obtaining a degree from the UK's University of Cambridge.

He clarified yesterday that his degree in business administration was actually from the US-based Cambridge International University, which is alleged to be a degree mill. 

Mukhriz said to his knowledge Marzuki had never declared that he was a University of Cambridge graduate, and that the information was only on his Wikipedia page. 

“For his own knowledge, he attended a course by an American online institution which unfortunately had a similar name," he added.

Meanwhile, Bersatu supreme council member Tariq Ismail said Marzuki should not be judged for having a dubious degree.

“From his humility and hard work, I would hire the one from the fake Cambridge. The real Cambridge, I would throw them into the river because they think they own the world and the world has to continuously chase them.

“People should look for dedication and teamwork.

"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,” he added.