Bersatu Youth opposes opening UiTM to non-Malays

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 29 May 2018 11:27AM · 9 Comments

Protesters urge Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to step in and dismiss the demand for Universiti Teknologi Mara to admit all Malaysians, regardless of race. – The Malaysian Insight pic, May 29, 2018.

BERSATU Youth wants the Pakatan Harapan government to reject Hindu Rights Action Force’s (Hindraf 2.0) demand for Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) to admit students of all races.

The Youth members are calling on Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to intervene and declare Hindraf 2.0’s claim irrelevant as it encroached on the rights of Malays and Bumiputera.

Bersatu Youth education exco Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir said now was not the time for UiTM to admit non-Bumiputera because it was the sole institution established to provide higher education to the Malays and Bumiputera.

“It is still too early to discuss opening UiTM as demanded by Hindraf.

“They are many more key agendas that the PH government are doing for the people and Hindraf’s demands will disrupt what the government is doing,” he said in a statement.

Hindraf 2.0 had submitted 25 demands to the institutional reforms committee to improve the lives of the bottom 75% (B75) in the Indian community.

One of the demands is to open UiTM to non-Bumiputera.

Ashraf said Hindraf and any other party who wished to question this matter should also consider the Rukun Negara, which formed the heart of the constitution.

“The time is still far off to discuss opening UiTM to all races. It is not good to touch on an issue that will incite anger.”

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Alumni Association (PAUiTM) was similarly against the idea of open admission to all Malaysians.

“PAUiTM stands firmly and unanimously against any attempt to open UiTM to all races.

“It is based on the premise that UiTM’s position as a high-level education centre for Malay and Bumiputera children is part of Malay rights and privileges, as set out in Article 153 of the federal constitution,” it said in a statement.

PAUiTM said Hindraf’s suggestion would anger the Bumiputera, and called on the group to stop making seditious statements.

To ensure UiTM was safe from threats such as this, the alumni has proposed that the university be placed under the protection of the council of Malay rulers. – May 29, 2018.

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Comments

  • Oh, oh... start of the end of a new Malaysia?

    Posted 5 years ago by KK Wong · Reply

  • A close historical equivalent to UiTM would be the black universities and colleges in the US. While they never ranked very highly in the academic rankings, they did provide African Americans the opporrtunity for higher education that they would have been deprived of from normal colleges.

    Today all the historically black universities and colleges are now open enrolment and some are ranked quite well.

    There still exists tribal colleges that provide subsidised access to higher education for Native Americans as well as additional federal grants. Other students may enrol but there is a quota and they have to pay full fees. Other minority-serving institutions in the US system include Hispanic and Asian-Pacific serving institutions.

    There are a lot of models that can be explored to make the provision for higher education under Art 153 appear less discriminatory yet still fulfill the purpose of Art 153. A little less confrontation and demands on both sides would be a great start.

    Posted 5 years ago by Bob Kee · Reply

    • Key difference you left out: the black universities and colleges in the U.S. have been motivated by the minority black population, unlike here with the Malays in the majority (as you know). It is a big difference culturally and politically

      Posted 5 years ago by KK Wong · Reply

    • Big differences... 1. Black colleges are mostly private and not funded by the government. 2. Black colleges represent a tiny fraction of the total number of colleges and universities in the USA. 3. Black colleges were open to everyone - others did not enroll but they were permitted to do so. UiTM is a publically funded institution and is the largest university system in Malaysia that

      Posted 5 years ago by Market Realist · Reply

  • For what it is worth, and by way of illustration, in the late 1960s my best friends in upper secondary school were 2 Malay boys (who spoke good English) and were a joy to be friends with. They enriched my school life and entertained me daily with pleasant greetings, smiles and laughs, and Cliff Richard song releases. I wish the Malays well..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Seriously I think UiTM should be revamped turning it into a Malaysian University. Enough is enough on this Bumi agenda, let us start a new Malaysia with a new world view rather than looking narrowly into outdated policy. Go on merit basis and you will be surprised that we can compete and there is nothing to worry. Our market is the world and we need new policy and if we sticked to the old agenda you will get the same result,trust me.Have good chat with Tun and I believe he will agree to revamp UiTM.

    Posted 5 years ago by Zainal Othman · Reply

  • It really is unacceptable for there to be an institution in Malaysia that discriminates based on race. This is not the age of apartheid in South Africa or Jim Crow in the Deep South of the USA. Add to this inherent injustice, the institution in question is for higher learning and is funded by the taxpaying public. If we are to hae any

    Posted 5 years ago by Market Realist · Reply

  • If we are to have any hope of moving forward as a nation, UiTM has to be opened up to all Malaysians. There can be preferences, but they must be race-blind and focused on socio-economic standing. The poor from all races face the same challenges. Eliminating poverty irrespective of race should be the focus of the Government.

    Posted 5 years ago by Market Realist · Reply

  • Are there non-Malay lecturers in UiTM? If there are, then they should go too; if UiTM is to be exclusively meant for Malays!

    Posted 5 years ago by Meng Kow Loh · Reply