KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Some academics and youth leaders regard the suggestion by Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim that 10 percent of places in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) be given to non-Bumiputera and foreign students, as politically motivated.
President of the Federation of National Writers Associations (Gapena), Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Ismail Hussein has dismissed the suggestion as being in tune with Pakatan Rakyat's attitude of ignoring Malay problems.
"The Selangor state administration must first resolve the racial problems which have heightened lately, and not widen the socio-economic and educational achievement disparities between the races," he said when contacted by Bernama here today.
Yesterday, Abdul Khalid also said that the proposal would help raise the quality of education at UiTM and make its students more competitive.
Ismail said all quarters must realise that UiTM was established to address some of the problems faced by the Malay community and other Bumiputeras who lagged behind in various fields.
UITM-REACTION 2 KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysian Youth Council president Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said Khalid had made the statement as if to win the support of non-Malays in the Pakatan Rakyat.
"It sounded politically motivated, and not in the interest of the Malays. They must understand the founding objectives of UiTM, among them, to provide skills training to Bumiputeras," he said.
President of the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) Datuk Reezal Merican Naina Merican through his SMS message to Bernama, said he regarded Khalid's action as betraying Malay trust.
"The Malays should now open their eyes to Tan Sri Abdul Khalid's actions. I believe UiTM has also never compromised on merit and quality although it was established solely for Bumiputera students," he said, adding that Khalid's reason of creating healthy competition with non-Bumiputera students was baseless.
Historian, Professor Emiritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim, however, said that Khalid's suggestion should not become an issue as it had been raised and tried to be implemented before.
UITM-REACTION 3 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
But the suggestion was also not well received by non-Bumiputeras as they would not feel comfortable being in a university that was dominated by one race, he added.
UiTM began as Dewan Latihan Lembaga Kemajuan Perusahaan dan Kampung (Rural and Industrial Development Authority)'s training centre in November 1956 in Petaling Jaya, offering preparatory courses for rural students in the English stream.
Then in June 1965, it was placed under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and its name changed to Maktab Mara. In 1967, it became Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM) and its status raised to university level in 1996, with the name changed to UiTM in 1999.
Despite its several name change, the institution's objective remains the same today, that is, to raise and secure the socio-economic status of the Bumiputeras.
BERNAMA
JMH NSS KAM MO
Khalid all for open door at UiTM
SHAH ALAM: Universiti Tek-nologi Mara should be opened up to all races although it was set up to produce Bumiputera professionals.
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said he agreed to suggestions that the university be opened to all, and further proposed that 10 per cent of all new student intakes in UiTM be reserved for non-Bumiputeras and foreign students.
He said the move would be timely as it followed the changes in the education system. At the same time, it would give early exposure to UiTM students to be more friendly towards other races.
"UiTM was set up to uplift Malays and Bumiputeras from Sabah and Sarawak in the education sector. This effort must continue.
"But at the same time, UiTM should think more globally to ensure their graduates are more friendly with people of different races in the nation."
Abdul Khalid said this after flagging off the participants in the Shah Alam-Adidas King of the Road 2008 Run here yesterday.
He was commenting on reports that several quarters were trying to get UiTM to have closed-door discussions about opening its doors to non-Bumiputeras.
He said inter-ethnic interaction was crucial for UiTM graduates as they would be better prepared to step into the working world, which was far different from life as they knew it.
He said he agreed with state executive councillor for higher education Dr Halimah Ali, who said there was nothing wrong in opening up UiTM to non-Bumiputeras.
She, however, had said that detailed studies should be carried out so as to ensure that any such move did not contradict the university's original goal.
UiTM was set up in 1967 as Institut Teknologi Mara, when then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak wanted to raise the socio-economic status of the Bumiputeras.
President of the Federation of National Writers Associations (Gapena), Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Ismail Hussein has dismissed the suggestion as being in tune with Pakatan Rakyat's attitude of ignoring Malay problems.
"The Selangor state administration must first resolve the racial problems which have heightened lately, and not widen the socio-economic and educational achievement disparities between the races," he said when contacted by Bernama here today.
Yesterday, Abdul Khalid also said that the proposal would help raise the quality of education at UiTM and make its students more competitive.
Ismail said all quarters must realise that UiTM was established to address some of the problems faced by the Malay community and other Bumiputeras who lagged behind in various fields.
UITM-REACTION 2 KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysian Youth Council president Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said Khalid had made the statement as if to win the support of non-Malays in the Pakatan Rakyat.
"It sounded politically motivated, and not in the interest of the Malays. They must understand the founding objectives of UiTM, among them, to provide skills training to Bumiputeras," he said.
President of the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) Datuk Reezal Merican Naina Merican through his SMS message to Bernama, said he regarded Khalid's action as betraying Malay trust.
"The Malays should now open their eyes to Tan Sri Abdul Khalid's actions. I believe UiTM has also never compromised on merit and quality although it was established solely for Bumiputera students," he said, adding that Khalid's reason of creating healthy competition with non-Bumiputera students was baseless.
Historian, Professor Emiritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim, however, said that Khalid's suggestion should not become an issue as it had been raised and tried to be implemented before.
UITM-REACTION 3 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
But the suggestion was also not well received by non-Bumiputeras as they would not feel comfortable being in a university that was dominated by one race, he added.
UiTM began as Dewan Latihan Lembaga Kemajuan Perusahaan dan Kampung (Rural and Industrial Development Authority)'s training centre in November 1956 in Petaling Jaya, offering preparatory courses for rural students in the English stream.
Then in June 1965, it was placed under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and its name changed to Maktab Mara. In 1967, it became Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM) and its status raised to university level in 1996, with the name changed to UiTM in 1999.
Despite its several name change, the institution's objective remains the same today, that is, to raise and secure the socio-economic status of the Bumiputeras.
BERNAMA
JMH NSS KAM MO
Khalid all for open door at UiTM
SHAH ALAM: Universiti Tek-nologi Mara should be opened up to all races although it was set up to produce Bumiputera professionals.
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said he agreed to suggestions that the university be opened to all, and further proposed that 10 per cent of all new student intakes in UiTM be reserved for non-Bumiputeras and foreign students.
He said the move would be timely as it followed the changes in the education system. At the same time, it would give early exposure to UiTM students to be more friendly towards other races.
"UiTM was set up to uplift Malays and Bumiputeras from Sabah and Sarawak in the education sector. This effort must continue.
"But at the same time, UiTM should think more globally to ensure their graduates are more friendly with people of different races in the nation."
Abdul Khalid said this after flagging off the participants in the Shah Alam-Adidas King of the Road 2008 Run here yesterday.
He was commenting on reports that several quarters were trying to get UiTM to have closed-door discussions about opening its doors to non-Bumiputeras.
He said inter-ethnic interaction was crucial for UiTM graduates as they would be better prepared to step into the working world, which was far different from life as they knew it.
He said he agreed with state executive councillor for higher education Dr Halimah Ali, who said there was nothing wrong in opening up UiTM to non-Bumiputeras.
She, however, had said that detailed studies should be carried out so as to ensure that any such move did not contradict the university's original goal.
UiTM was set up in 1967 as Institut Teknologi Mara, when then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak wanted to raise the socio-economic status of the Bumiputeras.
NST online
11/08/08
1 comment:
let them inbreed and lose their academic "excellence". Non Bumis should not apply to Uitm. Likewise bumis should not be allowed to enroll in non bumi establishments,
This is dog in the manger attitude
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