Berita

End race-based quota for public university admissions

Each year, student intake into public universities is marred with the "quota” which triggers an uproar among candidates who failed to secure a place.

KUALA LUMPUR 8 Aug – The race-based quota system in our education system has put a strangle hold on our nation since the 1970s, slowly suffocating the country in terms of brain drain, just to name a few reasons.

Each year, student intake into public universities is marred with the “quota” which triggers an uproar among candidates who failed to secure a place or were not offered the courses listed as their top choice.

Quota for Bumiputra students for entry into the pre-university matriculation programme and university programmes has become source of grievances among the non-Malays.

The matter again became a focal point when a student asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim if the government of the day intended to do away with this system, deemed unfair by the non-Malays.

The question was posed when Anwar met students of a public higher learning institution recently and his reply did not douse the fire.

Many say the prime minister acted like a bully to an honest question posed by a young student who did not expect a political answer.

The question before us now is, will the quota system be abolished and replaced by a meritocracy system or any other suitable system?

How can we foster true national unity when students at their most impressionable age are told that their efforts and scores mean less than their Malay friends?

What parents and students are suggesting is, that the current quota system for students in public universities be shifted to a selection system that is based on needs and merit.

Is it time for the Madani government to face the problem head on and abolish the quota system for higher education?

One person does not think so and its former Selangor executive councillor and Klang MP V. Ganabatirau who felt that it was an unfair question taking into consideration the looming state elections, which is a few days away.

He claimed that the education issue was one that touched on the social contract agreed upon some 60-odd years ago by the nation’s founding fathers.

Surely the learned YB should know that times have changed, and it is vital for the nation to stay on par with the ever changing times. We are not living in “medieval times” to use race as a criterion to enter institutions of higher learning.

Saying that we should not be disturbing the social contract is utter nonsense in these times where information flow is faster than a phone call.

Going by Ganabatirau’s argument, if the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government cannot or does not dare to make changes to the system due to the fear of losing majority Malay votes, then we are back to square one.

The people, Malays, and non-Malays alike, voted this government in some 8-months ago as they wanted changes for the good of the nation.

The people wanted change when they voted PH in but replies such as this will only drive voters away from polling stations come this Saturday when six states will hold their elections.

Ganabatirau argued that the “the moment the government moves away from the quota system to implement the meritocracy system, the Malays will be angered, and this might lead to destabilisation of the current government at all levels and cause the government of the day to collapse.”

“Then, the PAS-led Perikatan Nasional government could form the government and things will go worse than expected.”

So, what if the government changes because it did something good for the people? Is Ganabatirau try to instil fear among voters that if Perikatan Nasional comes to power non-Malays will lose all their rights?

This is the same kind of rumour mongering done by Umno against DAP scaring voters that if DAP came to power, then the Malays will lose their political power.

These arguments are way behind time! It is time for PH to be brave and bold in making changes. Do away with the race-based system. Allocate more places at public universities to accommodate students who are qualified to enter public universities.

This way you do not have to snatch anybody’s quota, and everybody gets an opportunity to study and graduate. Spend money on building more public institutions of higher learning to accommodate more students so that no deserving students would be left behind.

The former Selangor exco also felt that we should not harp in sensitive issues especially during elections. This is pure bull! We as the people and voters can ask questions may it be sensitive or otherwise at any chosen occasion or time.

Seriously, after reading Ganabatirau’s press statement a day ago one wonders if the ruling PH will allow for freedom of speech, it had preached before winning the last general elections.

He claims that the plight of Indian race students who scored well in the pre-university examinations will be taken care off. But what about those who failed to make the cut scoring mediocre results?

Why can a Malay student with Cs and Ds enter public university while a non-Malay with the same score misses out? Is this fair and just? Is this what PH is all about?

On the same breath, Ganabatirau says “we should ask for the share that belongs to Indians.” Now this is mind boggling.

On one hand he tells Indians not to question this issue but at the same time he says Indians will need to ask for their share.

He also called on Indian students to take-up STPM compared to matriculation. This is even absurd and eventually even if you take STPM you are still bound by the race based quota system for public universities.

What Ganabatirau needs to learn is not to be over zealous when it comes to defending his boss. Be sensitive and assertive on issues and most importantly be a man with principles. — Xklusif

Artikel Berkaitan

Back to top button