I am of the view that the parliamentary opposition leader must demand the resignation of Dr Shafie Salleh as a minister after the shameful statements he made at the recent Umno general assembly viz:

that he will never allow 'non-bumiputeras' to enter UiTM and

that as long as he remains minister of higher education, he will ensure that the percentage of Malay students given places at public universities under the present so-called meritocratic system will always be higher than the percentage under the previous quota system.

A minister responsible for higher education who can make such inflammatory statements knowing full well that Malaysia is a multiracial, multi-religious nation is not fit to hold the position.

If he has any self-respect, he would resign as his statement since has brought disrepute to the prime minister, the cabinet, Umno and Barisan Nasional. It is high time that politicians who make seditious statements for their selfish personal agendas be made to pay for insulting the intelligence of Malaysians and for fomenting strife.

His statement confirms that the so-called meritocratic system of university entrance is a sham since he is able to promise that the percentage for Malay applicants will never fall below the previous quota percentage.

And since Shafie also spoke of the Merdeka social contract, the parliamentary opposition leader should challenge him to a public debate on the matter as his seditious statements at the Umno assembly obviously show that he is ignorant of the letter and spirit of the social contract.

He should be the first person to be given a lesson on the social contract and how it has been abused.