Brickbats over Hindraf's proposal to open up UiTM

A call by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf 2.0) to open up Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) to all races, especially underprivileged Indians, has received criticism.

Bersatu Youth education bureau head Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir said UiTM's mission was to create bumiputera professionals who are competitive, global and ethical.

"Until now, this objective has yet to be achieved. Nor has the objective of ensuring 30 percent Malay professionals in all industries," he said.

He said UiTM was the only tertiary educational institute established to address poverty among bumiputeras and fulfil social engineering efforts to ensure the country prospers as a whole.

He urged Hindraf 2.0 to recognise that Malays - its language, religion, culture and the status of Malay rulers - were the “tiang seri” (main pillar of traditional Malay houses) of the country which should not be disturbed.

"Don't touch the 'tiang seri' because (the house) will collapse if it is disturbed. The responsibility to take care of this house does not fall on the Malays and bumiputera alone.

"Chinese, Indians, Sikh (and others) have a responsibility to maintain the 'tiang seri' to ensure we stay united under the spirit of harmony," he said.

Gov't must reject proposals that erode racial harmony

Yesterday, Hindraf 2.0 had made 25 recommendations to Putrajaya's Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC) to address problems faced by the B75 - what they described as the bottom 75 percent of the Indian community.

Among others, Hindraf 2.0 suggested that certain poverty eradication schemes reserved for the bumiputera - Felda land schemes, certain business licenses, government contracts and educational opportunities - be open to underprivileged Indians.

Meanwhile, the UiTM alumni association president Mohd Zaini Hassan had said earlier that Hindraf 2.0's recommendations were a violation of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which guaranteed Malay special privileges

In a separate statement, Ikatan Youth chief Shahir Adnan (picture) urged Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to examine the 25 Hindraf 2.0 suggestions thoroughly but to reject any that goes against the federal constitution as it could erode the racial harmony in Malaysia.

While he said the government should pay attention to the issue of extreme poverty among the Indian community it should exercise care when addressing issues related to social justice.

"Ikatan Youth is against the suggestion to open up UiTM to non-bumiputeras because UiTM is the only institution formed to provide tertiary education to Malays and bumiputeras exclusively, for the sake of social justice among all Malaysian communities through a policy agreed upon by all, the New Economic Policy (NEP)," said Shahir.

He urged the new government to focus more on solving issues plaguing the national economy and corruption instead of creating more issues which could harm national harmony. - Mkini