Fong: Create more places before opening up UiTM
Tuesday August 19, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government can create more places in UiTM before opening it to non-bumiputras.
MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said it would allay any fears that the move to open it to non-bumiputras could deny bumiputras their chance of studying there.
Dr Fong said the Cabinet had been receptive to opening similar institutions, like the Mara junior science and matriculation colleges, to non-bumiputras when the matter was discussed three years ago.
Both institutions are now open to non-bumiputras, he pointed out.
Dr Fong, also former Human Resources Minister, said having Malaysians of different ethnic groups studying in the same institution would create healthy competition.
In Shah Alam, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has welcomed Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) decision to take legal action against him over his statement calling for 10% of the varsity’s intake be opened to non-bumiputras.
Khalid said the suit would provide an opportunity for the truth behind his statement to be revealed.
He said the suggestion he made on Aug 9 was not something that was altogether new and had been raised even before this.
“I feel Malays and Malaysians as a whole are more mature and they know that such efforts (to open the intake to the non-bumiputras) are needed as we head towards globalisation.
“The openness in education is necessary to raise the skills of each member of the workforce in Malaysia as a means to ensure the country can effectively compete with other nations,” he said.
UiTM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah and the student body council had slammed the mentri besar for his suggestion, saying that the state government had no jurisdiction over the university.
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