As the issue on whether to open up Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) cardiothoracic surgery training to non-bumiputera medical officers rages on, another Umno leader has voiced reservations against the idea.
According to Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, UiTM should continue to be reserved for bumiputera students.
“If we set up something for a specific purpose, keep it that way.
“There will come a time when we may need to change if there is a need but for now, I don’t think the situation permits it.
“So, let’s continue with its original intention,” Razaleigh (above) told reporters after the launch of his book titled “Ku Li: Memoir 205”.
On April 25, health news website Codeblue reported Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar, a board member of the UiTM-IJN (National Heart Institute) cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme, as saying the varsity is agreeable to opening the course to non-bumiputera students.
UiTM is the only varsity that offers a parallel pathway programme in collaboration with IJN in the cardiothoracic field, which comprises surgery and care for heart and lung diseases.
Despite this, Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said there had been no discussions on allowing the entry of non-bumiputera students and that the issue had been turned into a point of contention.
The idea courted opposition from several quarters, with UiTM’s student council calling students to wear black to protest the plan.
They also asked students to upload photos with the placard #MahasiswaUiTMBantah on social media in support of the campaign.
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh also joined the foray on May 17 and sided with the students protesting.
No provision in law
However, on May 18, Lawyers for Liberty said there is no provision in the law that prohibits the admission of non-bumiputera students into UiTM.
“The multitude of statements that have come up from various quarters on this issue have misunderstood and twisted the meaning of Article 153 of the Constitution and its relation to UiTM.
“This is hardly surprising as successive governments and political leaders since the early 1970s have consistently misinterpreted and abused the application of Article 153 for political gain at the expense of national unity.
“This has led to disadvantages for non-bumiputera which is not envisaged by Article 153,” its director Zaid Malek was reported as saying. - Mkini
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