Put people's needs first, open up for non-bumi, MMA tells UiTM

 

The Malaysian Medical Association today said that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) should allow non-bumiputera Malaysians seeking specialised training in the cardiothoracic field, given that international students can enrol at the university.

MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz in a statement urged UiTM to make a decision in the best interest of the health of the population and address acute shortages in specialists.

“Cardiothoracic surgeons are one of the specialisations most in demand.

“UiTM should consider the suggestion to temporarily open up its cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme to non-bumiputera,” said Azizan.

In making the call, Azizan quoted a reported statement by Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar, a member of the UiTM-IJN Board of Studies for its cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme, that he did not believe legislative amendments were needed to admit non-bumiputera students into the university’s postgraduate programme.

On April 25, Codeblue reported Amin as saying that the varsity is agreeable to opening up parallel pathway training to non-bumiputera.

“If UiTM can open its doors to international students, we don’t see why it can’t open up to all fellow Malaysians on a needs basis,” Azizan said today.

She said this in response to UiTM vice-chancellor Shahrin Sahib, who yesterday reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to uphold the UiTM Act 1976 (Act 173) and Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which only allows enrolment of bumiputera students.

However, Shahrin also said UiTM will accept whatever the government decides with the blessing of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong if the matter arises due to national need.

Patients die waiting for surgery

Commenting further, Azizan said there are currently people waiting between six months and a year for bypass surgery in the Malaysian public healthcare system, with some dying while in queue.

“As it stands, we don’t think we will be able to meet the target of 28,000 medical specialists by 2030.

“We need UiTM to support efforts to produce more cardiothoracic surgeons by opening it up to all Malaysians who wish to specialise. Healthcare should never be politicised,” she stressed.

UiTM is the only university that offers a parallel pathway programme in collaboration with the National Heart Institute (IJN) in the cardiothoracic field, which comprises surgery and care for heart and lung diseases.

It is also the largest public university in the country. - Mkini