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Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir has firmly denied any discussions about allowing non-Bumiputera students to enroll at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). His statement comes amid a student protest campaign, #MahasiswaUiTMBantah, which encourages students to wear black to campus tomorrow in a show of opposition.
Zambry emphasized that the controversy is being artificially inflamed by certain groups aiming to disrupt the founding principles and policies of UiTM, thereby creating confusion and discord among the public. "This issue is deliberately turned into polemics and played up by certain quarters who are trying to disrupt the policy and initial objectives of establishing UiTM, which at the same time is causing confusion and discord among several parties," he stated.
He reiterated that the Ministry of Higher Education remains committed to upholding Article 1A of Act 173, which refers to the UiTM Act 1976, aligned with Article 153 of the Federal Constitution. Article 153 deals with the reservation of quotas for Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.
The UiTM Student Representative Council issued a statement calling for the preservation of the current policy and urging UiTM to protect the special position of Malays. They also called on supporters to participate in the black attire protest.
The uproar was sparked by a news report suggesting that UiTM might open its cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate program to non-Bumiputera trainee doctors. This program, conducted in partnership with the National Heart Institute, is currently the only Parallel Pathway Programme in the country.
Last month, the Health Ministry announced its intention to recognize the Parallel Pathway Programme and to amend the Medical Act 1971 accordingly. This decision followed a lawsuit by four graduates of the cardiothoracic surgery program with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, who sued the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) for refusing to register them on the National Specialist Register (NSR).
Zambry's denial seeks to quell the controversy and reaffirm the ministry’s commitment to the university’s original mandate. UiTM was established to provide higher education opportunities to Bumiputera students, in line with the affirmative action policies outlined in the Federal Constitution. The ongoing student protest underscores the sensitivity and importance of this issue within the community.
The Higher Education Ministry's firm stance on this matter aims to maintain stability and clarity regarding UiTM's admission policies. The student protest highlights the passionate views held by many about maintaining the university's original objectives and ensuring that the special privileges afforded to Malays and Bumiputera students remain intact. As the protest unfolds, it remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved and what impact it will have on UiTM’s policies and future admissions.
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