This paper presents an overview of the current state of use of Distance Education in Malaysian Higher
Education. Parts of this paper are based on research performed in support of a project of the Government
of South Africa that aims to review and reorganize its policy of regulation and funding of Distance
Education in the HE sector. Other parts are based on the experience of the authors in applying DE in their
institutions and on published case studies of policy and practices in other institutions in the HE sector. The
review covers both the public and the private sector HE institutions as, in the case of Malaysia, this
distinction is rapidly losing all meaning as the HE sector proceeds towards self-sustainability and
independence of from public funding. (Authors' abstract)