PM must guarantee public varsity spots for deserving students after UUCA abolishment - Loke

 

DAP has appealed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to push ahead with other education reform measures, following the government's intention to repeal the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971.

In his policy speech at DAP's annual conference today, Loke said that while DAP resolutely backs the abolition of the UUCA, more must be done to ensure every citizen, regardless of their background, is guaranteed the right to higher education.

"We must appreciate every Malaysian citizen who has achieved results worth entering universities (as) they should get a spot in public universities.

"This should be the policy and reformasi spirit that the prime minister is trying to bring," Loke, who is also the transport minister, said at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

He added that similar measures should also be formulated for other sectors, including those that will address economic issues such as the people's cost of living.

Anthony Loke during the DAP National Conference at PICC

While he stressed that DAP will support any action that ensures the betterment of the people, Loke noted that the way announced reform measures are delivered to the rakyat remains pivotal.

"What is more important is implementation and stern decisions that have to be made by the prime minister and the cabinet," he said to around 4,000 delegates at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

He added that he was also a "victim" of the UUCA during his years in university, asserting that the legislation caused him to live "in a climate of fear on campus".

Sorry for losing Chennah

Around 4,000 DAP delegates will cast their ballots in an anonymous voting process to determine whether the party will remain part of the federal government until the end of its term.

In his speech before tabling a motion on the matter, Loke also affirmed that DAP will not give up on its objective as a multiracial party that aims to serve all citizens, despite the hurdles it has faced in recent state elections.

Apologising for failing to retain the Chennah state seat during the Negeri Sembilan polls, Loke said he had contested with the hope of proving that DAP can get support from voters of various races and win in a Malay-majority seat.

"I admit that this mission was not a success.

"DAP's struggle from the 70s till today is the same: how do we break the wall of racial politics?" he added. - Mkini