Ku Nan claims 'slow learners go to UiTM' remark misinterpreted

Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor claimed today that his remarks on “slow learners” being given a chance to study at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) has been misinterpreted by certain quarters. 

In a statement, Tengku Adnan said that his speech at the Anugerah Nadi Negara 2017 last Saturday was an attempt to explain the history of Malay-Bumiputera development over the years, prior to the introduction of the New Economic Policy in 1971.  

While crediting UiTM for its role in assisting Malay-Bumiputera students, including those who at the time possessed only the bare minimum requirements, Tengku Adnan insisted that their successes were also due to contributions from Umno and BN.  

“The fact is, Umno and BN had realised the rise (in numbers) of Malay-Bumiputera who used to be left behind or ‘slow’ (was) due to abject poverty. 

“Has Umno been forgotten? This is what I tried to explain spontaneously through my ‘off the cuff’ speech, which might not have been properly delivered,” he said. 

“If there was a technical error in terms of my unintended speech, that is a normal human weakness and it could happen to anyone,” he added. 

While Tengku Adnan did not refer to any parties specifically, Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had yesterday described his remarks as being “shallow” and an insult to the thousands of students who studied at UiTM. 

"You get to enter university, if slow learner, enter ITM (UiTM). Sometimes if you don't meet the point (grade point average), it will also be reduced so you can enter university,” Tengku Adnan told a group of students in Kuala Lumpur, in emphasising Umno’s contributions to Malay youths over the years. 

'Ku Nan only stating facts, reality of Malay youths'

Meanwhile, Cheras Umno chief Syed Ali Alhabshee (photo) claimed that Tengku Adnan’s speech was “twisted” to make it appear as if he was insulting the Malay community. 

“The setting-up of UiTM was (due to) Umno’s struggle, so how can it be possible for Ku Nan to have intentions to insult (its students)? 

“This is the opposition’s negative perception,” said Syed Ali in a blog post today. 

The Federal Territories Umno liaison secretary also said that Tengku Adnan was only stating the real situation of Malay-Bumiputera students who were at the time left behind in terms of intake to local universities. 

Umno’s contributions, he noted, must be remembered for its success in setting up UiTM, and developing it to become one of the top institutions of higher education for Malay youths, the “slow learners” included. 

“So what is wrong with the ‘slow learner’ remark? Ku Nan’s statement should be viewed from a positive angle and also as a motivation for the Malays,” he stressed. 

Syed Ali also took a swipe at Syed Saddiq whom he accused of misunderstanding Tengku Adnan's remarks, and deliberately spinning it for his personal political agenda. - Mkini