Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Hands Off UiTM, Khalid!

Just what the bloody fish was he thinking? Why the need to make a remark that is so blatantly politically motivated? What kind of Melayu has he become?

As a proud alumus of UiTM and direct beneficiary of the government's effort to raise the socio-economic status of Bumiputras, I was enraged that Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim saw it fit to propose UiTM open its doors to non-Bumis.

Not content to limiting himself to the populist statement aimed at gaining non-Bumi support (now that Permatang Pauh by-election is within view), Khalid also went a step further by insulting UiTM graduates by insinuating they are unfriendly to other races and that they lack quality and competitive spirit.

Politicising UiTM to gain non-Malay votes in the Permatang Pauh by-election may just backfire. Don't underestimate the strong sentiment UiTM alumni have for their alma mater.

As UiTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Ibrahim Abu Shah rightly pointed out, Malays made up only 35 percent of the total intake for higher education in BOTH public and private higher learning institutions.

He added that the majority of students in critical fields like accounting and pharmacy in public higher learning institutions are non-Malays, whereas in private higher learning institutions, 90 percent of the students are non-Malays.

UiTM, established in 1967 as Mara Institute of Technology, is the only Bumiputra-only public university. There are 20 public universities and a few hundred private colleges and higher institutions of learning in Malaysia. Why begrudge UiTM?

Lest Khalid forgets, "Bumiputra" does not translate into being a Malay and a Muslim. The entire indigenous population of Malaysia, from an Iban Christian to an Orang Asli animist qualify as Bumiputras.

Shame on you, Khalid, for betraying your own bangsa. Why don't you just stick to what you had been elected to do - administer Selangor - than poke your nose into affairs that don't concern you?

Quit playing politics, just get on with the job. Being a lembu doesn't have any merit. And being a lembu dicucuk hidung is even worse.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

How many Iban or Orang Asli in UiTM?

Kama At-Tarawis said...

I can't answer offhand without statistics, but I sure can find out. I do know that Bumiputras (Muslim or otherwise) from East Malaysia count for quite a few, then and now.

And during my time, a Sakai by the name of Akim Buntal and an Iban by the name of Rami Bulan were lecturers there. Both eventually got their doctorates.

Anonymous said...

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Sabahan said...

How many Dusuns, Kadazans, Rungus ?

Do your statistics well please.

It is for the Malay.

Kama At-Tarawis said...

it is for bumiputeras. and take yuor ugly head of rascism elsewhere, please.