Statement
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong
on 30.5.2002
in Kuala Lumpur
Today, media report quotes Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting as saying that at least 10% of the Matriculation places will be reserved for Chinese and Indian students and that the authority also consider the family background of students.
Malaysian students take STPM to enter public universities. Meanwhile, Malay students take Matriculation in individual universities to prepare them for Science, Dentistry, Medicine and Engineering. Since there are differences between Matriculation and STPM, mixing the two up causes unhappiness.
University enrolment based on merits and needs is important. Today, the Prime Minister Dato'Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said: "But as it (university intake on merit) turned out, it is the other way round (the number of Bumiputra students is not reduced). Of course now they say it is not fair. Well, they should have protested earlier. We will have to stick to it (meritocracy system) at least for this year."
Dr Mahathir has repeated his earlier statement. However, we hope that he will ensure that the system is truly meritocratic. If Matriculation is Washington apple and STPM is Fuji hybrid, then how do we compare them?
ON BEHALF
That Ong Ka Ting talks about at least 10% Matriculation places for Chinese and Indian students is one thing, the Education Minister Tan Sri Musa Mohamad remains mum is another. Has the Education Minister asked the Housing and Local Government Minister to speak on his behalf?
Tan Sri Musa has to explain to the people how he proposes to solve the problem of the differences between Matriculation and STPM. If the Cabinet decision on at least 10% Matriculation places for Non-Malays is true, then how do STPM students of all races feel about it?
Apparently, the Education Minister is said to be overseas attending a Unesco conference. If he is abroad, has he agreed to Ong Ka Ting deputizing for him? We hope that Tan Sri Musa will explain the Cabinet decision on Matriculation places.
University intake will continue to be a controversial topic. As long as the Government does not come out with a formula that shows fair criteria in university admissions, the suspicion will not go away.