"Data" on the number of young women acting as "sugar babies" is dubious and possibly improbable, said the Higher Education Ministry.

The ministry had contacted several of the universities listed as having a high number of female students registered for sugar baby services - and found that many have expressed doubts with the data published.

"Sunway Education Group said it is impossible that 45 percent of its Sunway University students are involved as sugar babies.

"This is as the number of students at Sunway University is fewer than 7,000. As such, reports that 3,105 of the university's students are sugar babies...