Meritocracy the way to move forward

The statement by Selangor Mentri Besar, Khalid Ibrahim which caused much furore among the UiTM undergraduates recently was very much expected.

Khalid had called for the university, which was established as a response to the need for trained professionals among the bumiputras, to open up 10 per cent of its intake to non-bumiputras.

Hell broke loose when the suggestion was made by the Mentri Besar which resulted in the undergraduates in several of its campus nationwide protesting for the remark which is seen by them as infringing into their rights.

UiTM Student Delegates Council President, Mohd Faizal Zainol slammed the Mentri Besar as a Malay traitor whom he described as willing to sell off the rights of his own race while calling him to apologise and retract his suggestion immediately.

But Khalid’s suggestion was made in good faith as by opening up the university, according to him, would allow the undergraduates to gain more exposure and be friendlier to people of other races.

His suggestion came at a time when the country’s political landscape is still in its tumultuous stage, with the Barisan Nasional government yet to reel from the shock of the March 8 general election.

The opportunity was of course seized very much quickly by certain politicians to gain political mileage by fanning racial sentiment and whether or not such gesture by these politicians augurs well for the country is a foregone conclusion.

The UiTM vice chancellor, Ibrahim Abu Shah in one of the occasions said the university was reserved for bumiputras as majority of the students in leading fields of study in higher learning institutions were non Malays.

He even went on to say that the constitution stresses balance and that this is a statistic which should be understood by any leader, government or opposition body and nobody should begrudge UiTM as the only public university for bumiputras.

The Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi then vetoed the call by Khalid, saying that the Mentri Besar had no power to do that and that matters related to students intake is under the higher educational institutions.

PKR de facto leader, Anwar Ibrahim in defense of his secretary general explained in one of his Permatang Pauh by election rallies that Khalid’s suggestion was meant to improve the skills and knowledge of both Malays and non-Malay students in the university.

He added that students who had potential to excel in studies should be given equal opportunities to pursue tertiary education and those students, regardless of race should have the chance to rise to the occasion and fulfill their potentials.

The MCA Kuantan division chief, Ti Lian Ker in response to the statement by Khalid said we must think of the exposures and interactions of the bumiputra students with representatives of all Malaysians of diverse culture, religion and race.

He further said it was now time to do justice to the country’s education system by giving students a holistic education exposure.

In fact, the government had opened up 10 per cent of the Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) and matriculation centres intake to non bumiputras several years ago to create a healthy competition among the students.

So why the big fuss now with the opening up of UiTM to other fellow Malaysians?

Don’t our politicians realise that by playing the racial cards it will further erode the competitiveness of our country in this age of globalization where we are supposed to compete at the international stage with people from around the globe?

If the students are made the stooges by these irresponsible politicians to achieve their selfish political agenda, then why the heck to amend the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 since the students are played fool when in fact the students single biggest role is to study?

What Khalid had said that Malays and Malaysians as a whole are more matured and they know that such efforts are needed as we head towards globalization comes from a truly far vision politician who knows for sure that our people should no longer rest on the laurels forever in the good slumber of the protectionist policies of the government.

Many years back, the former Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad had even chided the Malays by saying that if not for the protectionist policies of the government, many of them would not have become vice chancellors or deans of public universities.

While there is no doubt that what is enshrined in the Constitution on the special rights of the Malays must be upheld and respected, there ought to be some adjustments to certain policies such as education in the changed landscape and if such efforts are done in good faith for the benefit of this country, which belongs to all Malaysians, regardless of whether they are Malays, Chinese or Indians.

Every year, hundreds or even thousands of students who could not enroll into public universities or given the public scholarships despite their flying colour results have been pinched by other countries like Singapore.

Have our politicians ever thought what is going wrong with many of our top brain students leaving the country and remain overseas after graduation and become the permanent residents there?

The time has come for everyone in this country to put a stop in raising racial or religious sentiments as more efforts should be taken to debate on bigger issues like how to upgrade and improve our education standard and how to enlarge our economic pie for the benefit of Malaysians in this age where no one waits for no one.

A protracted argument on the two contentious issues will only stagnate our competitiveness in this globalised age of fast and furious mode where we cannot afford to be leaving in the cocoon of our own.

Malaysians must be free of the trappings of race like some say and we need to buck up and put on the right track to remain competitive and move ahead.

Meritocracy is the sure way to progress and unless and until meritocracy is fully understood by those who have yet to have a good grasp of it, Malaysians can just expect endless debates on what’s yours and what’s mine with the rest of the world already moving far ahead.