I refer to the Malaysiakini report 'Non-bumis will be an asset for UiTM'.

I studied at ITM in Shah Alam now known as UiTM. Many UiTM students had declined to accept offers to study at the other public universities because they knew they could benefit more studying at UiTM.

I was offered to be put in the list of 'alumni cemerlang' or outstanding alumni of UiTM when they celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. I declined because I felt I was not quite interested to be so 'recognised'.

What have I done? Was it because I had gone to work on my Masters at a university in New York City, the same time as US presidential candidate, Barack Obama who turned out to be my junior there?

Anyway, there is nothing wrong with UiTM as it is now.

Of course, it is good for some newly- converted politicians to play the 'racial card' by trying to be liberal. But what liberalism? It is pseudo-liberalism.

And no doubt the discourse had turned out to be a pseudo-discourse, too.

Unfortunately, what UiTM does not have is public relations - that the graduates or alumni have not been known to 'hit their own gongs' unlike most of the private universities which seem to have mastered the art of unnecessarily over-promoting themselves.

I can attest that UiTM students and graduates have not been known to be 'racists'. They are open-minded.

This is due to the less on-campus friction that they experience and also due to being taught by many non-Malay or non-bumiputera lecturers. This also helps.

We had a great time learning from them. And these lecturers, too, enjoyed their stint there.

Unfortunately, the peace and tranquility of UiTM has been stirred by racialism - which unfortunately came about by some unfortunate comments made by those who should know better than to utter whatsoever comments that can spoil this tranquility.

I did not take part in any student demonstrations during the time I spent on campus. I don't think the students who had demonstrated did not have anything better to do.

And there is nothing wrong for UiTM to be what it has been. It has provided hundreds of thousands of graduates many of whom have been absorbed into the private sector.

Maybe it's time for UiTM or its administrators to seriously think of improving their public profile and highlight their achievements and whatever contributions they have given back to society.

In this way, UiTM can improve its profile and perhaps its standing in the world of academic and professionals.

For one, it started to offer courses for the private sector long before any other private university or college started to think of this.