‘No need to open up UiTM to other races’

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM) is the last bastion for Malay and bumiputra students to further their studies and there is no need to open it up to other races, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) said.

In a response to the proposal by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for UiTM to open up 10% of its intake to other races, PPIM said the move would be seen as challenging the special rights of the Malays.

PPIM project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said the government and its leaders had to be tougher in defending such issues because although the country was multiracial, there was "no need to sideline Malay special rights."

"If something like this is allowed to happen, then there will be a worrying situation where many Malay institutions will crumble and be ‘Malaysia-nised’.

"It is hoped that the exclusiveness of UiTM is not undermined by anyone and it be allowed to continue as an institution that will strengthen the Malays," he said in a statement.

Noor Nirwandy said that UiTM has not only produced many excellent scholars but has also had many graduates who were able to compete with other races in the job market.

He added that the reason given by Khalid, which was to create more competition amongst students, was unnecessary because university students already competed amongst each other.

Comments by Me:

Another sad and racist statement by a person who never seem to understand the word "harmony" and perhaps the true meaning of being a MALAYSIAN. It’s amazing how the rights to get equal education can be associated with Malay special rights. And we all know that UiTM should be opened for BUMIPUTERAS, which by definition in the constitution includes the Ibans, Bidayuhs, Kadazans, Melanaus, Thais, Penans, Orang Asli (as they call those natives in Peninsular who do not want to convert to Islam), Kelabit, Dusun Bajau…etc. not solely Malays. Why are they claiming that opening up UiTM to OTHER RACES will threaten the Malays? I can’t understand why a suggestion can be twisted as a political agenda just because it was by an Opposition leader. It’s mere suggestion and people with the right mind should know that a MB cannot change any intake policy by a university. Why bother demonstrating? Politically-driven?

Tags:Current Issues, malaysia, uitm

12 Comments

Kai, August 19, 2008 @ 10:13 pm Reply

I am a Universiti Teknologi Mara [UiTM] student. A law student to be exact. But I don’t agree with the over reaction of my fellow UiTM students.

Personally, I do think that it is a great SUGGESTION to open up 10% of the quota. Besides integration, it will definitely give UiTM a new way of work and study culture as well as a very good competition among students.

It is just 10% and there is nothing to shout about… Or maybe, is it because [like a friend of mine said] these students [who thought they are heroes championing UiTM] are afraid that if the quota is to be opened, then 10% of top places in exam results will be monopolized by non-Bumiputeras? If that’s the reason, then it is good. It will make Bumiputera students study harder to gain good grades.

I was thinking after reading the newspaper, will the reaction be the same if UMNO leaders are the one who made such statement? I don’t think so… Even there was not as much fuss as this time when Dr. Mahathir first made such statement in 2003 [as reported in today’s Star].

Maybe the real reason the students gathered at the SUK that morning was to skip their class.. Lectures in UiTM start at 8.30 a.m until 10.30 a.m for the first session and 10.30 a.m to 12.30 p.m for the second session.

As the ‘Perhimpunan’ was held from 7.00 am to 10.30 am, well, maybe the crowd who went there were those who had classes at 8.30 – 10.30… Haha.. Just a wild assumption. It might not be true.. ;p

Anyway, not all students actually disagree with the suggestion by the MB. Some of us really think that we need to mingle. I asked my friends and most of them supported the idea. After all, the students had been pampered and spoon fed for so long and a new culture need to be inculcate so that the students will be ready to face the globalisation world that await them [including me, of course..].

And I can’t help but to say, how paranoid the 5000 students who demonstrated and the VC was… I mean, it was just a mere suggestion and they know that the MB can’t do anything more than just, well,… talk. So, what’s the fuss all about?

But to be honest, not all UiTM students are that racists and second class. I could read law at other institutions with my grades, but as UiTM law faculty is among the most established law faculty in Malaysia, I read law here. Even when people asked me many times why I chose UiTM, when I told them I read law here, they understand me. And that is why, I love the university.

But to my fellow friends, please don’t over react… Act wisely… If you can demonstrated for UiTM, where were you when students from other institutions demonstrated in front of the Parliament regarding AUKU?…. -_-

p/s: After all, it was just a MERE SUGGESTION…
Erlinda, August 28, 2008 @ 7:57 pm Reply

harmoni konon! it’s weird dis kind of thing happens… why do they have to compete among ‘themselves’ and not allowing ‘other races’ to join in to compete? wat la…
keeman, August 29, 2008 @ 11:34 am Reply

Wow, thanks for the sincere view Kai. We need more youth who are open and liberal as you. Being too preoccupied in our “comfort zone” will not lead us anywhere….

Erlinda: Hi!!! How r u? Hehehe..
lori, August 30, 2008 @ 12:03 pm Reply

for whatever reason its was i do not care…harmony-that is matter, rite?where got any harmony now?tats the other stories..

UiTm suppose open to all..even 10%?..more over in my stupid opinion Uitm should be open again for poor people!….not just anak-anak dato’ or to some ahli parliament’s children or even to anak2 orang kaya that drives honda for their kuliyah …and not talking bout poor malay or shit like that..more wisely..to poor Malaysians…kids that living in poor life and un-managed to get straight A’s but lies as beneath their heart ” i want to study again..to change my family way of life”..

as Uitm now more ‘branding’, those people who are promised that they can get a same educations as the rich people get, have to got to ermm lets say Giat Mara?IKBN?pusat latihan?

Closed the gate for others races?well please fucking-open the gate for poor people!poor Indians guy, poor Chinese or penan or Malay guys that have similarities ; didn’t success in SPM, having a poor family but still want to study…

well?fuck the systems..
pelajar uitm, September 8, 2008 @ 2:24 pm Reply

one day UiTM had to open its quota to non-bumi’s in order to create an unerstanding multi-ethnic society. but this is not the time yet…plenty of works had to done before we can open uitm to non-bumi’s…SRJK Cina or tamil had to combine with sekolah kebangsaan (also all of its element should also included)…that’s the first step…

second is..in sekolah kebangsaan (when all school had already combine), there should be included subject about culture of other race..subject like how to write khat, chinese caligraph, and indian sanskrit..also history about culture of all race in malaysia..all this to promote better understanding among malaysian about other race and their culture..

third, in school three main language should be teach in sekolah kebangsaan, malay, mandarin and tamil…but this subject should not be exam oriented..we should find different way’s to make malaysian more focus and can learn this language subject without fear of fail in this subject..

fourth…there should be more conference and forum to discuss about ketuanan melayu and other sensetive issues regarding hak orang melayu among average malaysian..this is important to create better understanding about the sensetive issues…we should not just letting the politician discuss about it..because politician had their own agenda and there is probabilitiy of politician might spin this issues for their own interest.

lasty..it is up to us…all malaysian, to think wise and think critically about this racial problem…to gain unity it should start from the society..malay, chinese, indian and bumiputera…we should try know each other and respect each other…also we should try trust each other…dont just blindy trust the media and politician because all of them had their own interest…and for UiTM student…

im also one of the student who join the demonstration(i’m sorry if our action might be reckless)…our intention is to tell the politician dont raise this issues now(especially when permatang pauh election was close)..because right now our politic situation were unstable..many people will get angry..get frustrated and many more will take advantage or spin this issues for their own interest…as a MB selangor…Tan Sri Khalid should be carefull with his statement(if it is just a suggestion..he should do research first then announce his suggestion, not doing the other way)…as for media..their should not drag this issues to make profit…to UMNO…they should not use this issues as political bullet to attack anwar…to BN component…they should not drag this issues…to dato seri anwar..please don’t this issues to make u look like a champion of malaysian…wise leader do work talk less..to UiTM V.C…do not get emotional and think wisely on every ur action..

and from me..i’m sorry we had to take this drastic action..we do it on our own will..not for umno neither do for ibrahim abu shah..we do it for uitm..also we thought it is crucial for us to take action that time..whether it is a mistake or not i personally took plenty of lesson from this historic event..rather than play the blaming game let all of us as a malaysian try to play our role in creating a better malaysia with high morality, integrity and united.
pelajar uitm, September 8, 2008 @ 2:33 pm Reply

one more i agree with Iori…when uitm will be open for all races..it should focus on taking poor people and student who didnt do well in their SPM…i dont mind people call uitm is a second class university..but im proud of uitm function to give hope to people who has lost hope…train stupid student to be bright student…world ranking is not the highest priority..but creating a good human is the top priority…for all malaysian..let us study hard and work hard…(think what can we give to our country not what our country can give to us) as clinton said
KeeMan, September 9, 2008 @ 11:34 am Reply

Wow, thanks for the sincere comments there guys. Lori got a strong point by stating that UiTM should go back to its initial focus (when they are still ITM), which is to provide tertiary education to those Bumiputras students who are not financially capable.

Pelajar UiTM: You showed how students can strive for what they want and not being influenced by politics. For far too long, bumiputra students are overwhelmed by politics and neglected their major role of competing their study by high merits and not merely fulfilling the quota or capacity in public universities.
Beb, October 21, 2008 @ 10:24 am Reply

It’s clearly said in the history of UiTM that UiTM is built based on Article 153 in
the constitution. So, why would we change that? UiTM had been operating for years, we should just keep it just the way it is.
well, March 23, 2009 @ 3:36 pm Reply

well…just think about it,,,before this issue arises many of us did not even bother about it…why bother it know??? if we did not bother about this issue,,then this all thing about harmony or what so ever surely would not arises…..can’t you think that this issue is actually exploiting everybody…
yang orait, April 8, 2009 @ 1:15 am Reply

i agreed with the statement that shows uitm should be opened to poor people, not for nobody that have HONDA and MERCEDES, drive with full of “megah” for going to class.
just think aboutt this before want to opened this issues… and plez don’t use this issues as things to make profit……….
plez understand the uitm students feeling….
ikhaatzeurpieten, December 15, 2009 @ 12:29 am Reply

Beb I totally agree with you. Prior to independence our grandmas n grandpas(Malay,Chinese Indian) has already agreed regarding Article 153 and the social contract. The deal was really simple…. Chinese n Indians can stay here and Malays has the special rights. The best thing is, the Chinese and Indians agreed to the terms. So why recently the non bumiputra want to complain? Do you want to betray the promises made by your forefathers??? The non bumis has agreed to the terms and condition. The non bumis should be thankful to be the citizens of Malaysia where you can earn a living(most of them better than the Malays), opportunity for education(altough UiTM is the ONLY university exclusively for the bumiputra there are more than 10 other public UNIs) and safety. Please give the chance for the Bumis to prosper because the British colonials have left us behind and gave bulk of the economy to the non Bumis. And Please, the corporations headed by the non Bumis are also racist. I can see in Job adds, the want people to be fluent in Mandarin which is not fair and some of the applicants must be chinese.

humble oppinion from UiTM Grad now in europe(not UK) competing and working with europeans. Even the most advanced european countries recognise UiTM graduates. UiTM dihatiku. May Allah bless Uitm.
KeeMan, December 15, 2009 @ 9:54 am Reply

@ikhaatzeurpieten Thanks for your honest response and views. Of course, this post was made a year ago. But you miss the point of this post. Read carefully my comments, I didn’t say Chinese or Indians, I’m giving my views on other Bumis. If UiTM is for all bumis, why aren’t the bumis in Sabah and Sarawak given more allocations?

Look at the article quoted from the newspaper above. UiTM is for Malays? Or for Bumis? Reality check.

Anyway, all the best in your quest in Europe. Not just UiTM graduates are recognised overseas, most Malaysian graduates are. Not because of their university but the hardworking nature of Malaysians (those who strive hard of course).