Perkasa unhappy over Mara's decision

Perkasa opposes Mara’s decision to reduce its sponsorship of students pursuing first-degree courses overseas.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said the decision seemed to have been taken after the issue was raised by MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong.

Last week, Wee has asked whether the government would reduce the number of Mara scholarships following the Public Service Department's (PSD) move to scrap scholarships.

Mara director-general Ibrahim Muhamad announced the move (to reduce the sponsorship) when launching the Mara financial operation guidebook and finance division website here yesterday.

However, Mara would increase its sponsorship for students pursuing master's degree in critical courses.

Early this month, PSD had announced it would scrap scholarships for first-degree students pursuing courses overseas.

Considerable disadvantage

Expressing his sadness, the Perkasa president said the PSD decision would put Bumiputera students at a considerable disadvantage.

“My question is, what is left of the Malay privileges that have been guaranteed under Clause 153 of the Federal Constitution?”

“We have been advised not to be rash for the sake of globalisation. Is it because of the Malay privileges that the non-Malays did not vote for Barisan Nasional (BN)?

“And when the Malay privileges are being sidelined by the Malays themselves, what is the guarantee that the non-Malays will support BN?

“I would advise that we prepare an umbrella before it rains,” said Ibrahim, the Independent MP for Pasir Mas.

Ibrahim had crossed swords with Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin recently over the scholarship issue when Khairy defended Wee in raising the Mara issue.

The verbal spat intensified with Ibrahim calling Khairy stupid for the latter’s failure to “read in-between-the-line” of Wee’s statement.

Said Ibrahim yesterday: “Am I right to question Wee’s motive in raising Mara’s sponsorship? If I am wrong, how come Mara made such a decision (to reduce sponsorship)?”

courtesy of FMT