Indian students cheated again, says PKR man

The candidate for Gadek recalls Najib’s promise of 1,500 places in matriculation centres.

PETALING JAYA: A PKR candidate for the general election today accused BN chief Najib Tun Razak of breaking his promise to reserve 1,500 places for Indian students wishing to take matriculation courses.

G Rajendran, who is seeking election to the Malacca state seat of Gadek, urged MIC and Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy to clarify what he referred to as “the latest confusion” on the issue of educational opportunities for Indians.

Quoting an article in a Tamil newspaper, he said it appeared that the Education Ministry had allocated only 500 places for Indians in its matriculation centres this year.

The article also said neither Najib nor his deputy, caretaker education minister Muhyiddin Yassin, had issued any directive to the relevant departments with regard to matriculation opportunities for Indians.

Rajendran claimed that when Najib made his promise in February last year, he gave the impression that the 1,500 places would be a yearly allocation beginning in 2012.

“Last year, only about 700 students were admitted, leaving 800 seats vacant. And this year the number has been reduced to 500 students.”

Rajendran, a vice chairman in Malacca PKR, said the BN leader’s failure to honour his promise did not surprise him. “Najib is just another typical Umno leader,” he said.

He alleged that BN leaders were “continuously baiting the Indians with promises which they may not necessarily fulfil.”

He took a swipe at Waythamoorthy, who recently aligned himself with BN.

“The Indians are eagerly waiting for Waythamoorthy as well as MIC to explain why the number of matriculation seats for Indians have been reduced,” he said. “They must clear the air.”

He also said the episode further proved that the civil service was not bothered about Najib’s promises to the Indian community.

“The civil service has its own Umno agenda. This 1Malaysia gimmick is merely about netting the Indian votes.”