Why quota system for matriculation studies was retained

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy is not surprised that the cabinet has retained the quota system for admission to the pre-university matriculation programme at - 90 percent for bumiputeras and 10 percent for non-bumiputeras.

Fearing backlash from sections of the Malay-Muslim community, it is apparent that the Pakatan Harapan government decided to maintain the status-quo in the admission quota, Ramasamy said.

However, he noted that the number of admissions to the programme was increased to 40,000 students, while the intake has increased to 36,000 (bumiputeras) and a mere 4,000 (non-bumiputeras)

"With this figure, the admission of the bumiputera students increased from the earlier 22,500 to 36,000.

"Despite the clamour for more non-Malay admission, they only received an increase from 2,500 to 4,000 places - just an addition of 1,500 students," Ramasamy told Malaysiakini today.

"We are not in the position at the moment to determine the number of Indian students who will be admitted," added the Perai assemblyperson.

"It appears as though the cabinet was not prepared to take a bold decision in increasing the intake of non-Malay students, particularly Indians."

Ramasamy said non-Malay supporters of Harapan would definitely be disappointed.

"I am taken back by the decision. We failed to move forward but I am not giving up the fight for better Malaysia!" he added.

Yesterday, Education Minister Maszlee Malik stated that the cabinet decision was the best option to allow the matriculation programme to provide educational opportunities to all races.

Over the past week, debates on the numbers of matriculation seats for non-bumiputera students continued to rage, with many students complaining about being denied places despite scoring straight As in their SPM.

 (debates)

Last year, 2,200 and 1,000 matriculation studies seats were allocated respectively for Indian and Chinese students but Education Minister Maszlee Malik said it was a “one-off initiative”, only for last year.

These "one-off initiative" was announced by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak in 2018 in view of the 14th general election.

However, Najib has since refuted the claim by the Ministry of Education that it was a one-off thing.

Meanwhile, social activist Sudhagaran Stanley (photo) said the cabinet decision was "one of the worst and most disappointing decisions ever made" by the Harapan government.

He said Harapan leaders were quickly getting used to and ruling the country according to the "Umno way".

"What does this decision mean? Just 4,000 seats for non-bumiputeras and 36,000 seats for bumiputeras.

"How is this different from the UMNO and PAS way of ruling this country?" asked Sudhagaran, who is the Penang coordinator for the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4).

"It only affirms Malay supremacy and treats non-bumiputeras as second class citizens," he added.

Sudhagaran said the 10 percent quota allocated to non-bumiputera students does not even reflect the non-Muslim population in this country.

The quota system should have been abolished, with places given on merit and needs.

"However, it seems that Harapan leaders are quickly failing the Malaysian aspiration and fast becoming like BN 2.0," he added, saying he felt crushed by the new development. - Mkini