I refer to the Malaysiakini report UiTM students in Permatang Pauh protest.

I'm a 28-year-old working professional and a proud Malaysian (and I'm Chinese if the details are really that important)

When I was a kid, topics like this has already been heard time after time. Everyone knew it was extremely hard to get into our local universities due to the quota system, hence the constant pressure and push from our parents to study harder and harder to obtain good grades so we'll hopefully receive sponsorship or a scholarship - hopefully.

If that doesn't happen, parents would have to pay through their noses to send their kids overseas or for some twinning programme or a local collage (with twinning etc). Either that or some low-quality and not-so-established college.

Me? I graduated from a college that is unknown to most. I admit I'm not together with the smart-ones as I'm no scholar. Why did I not go to better colleges? Because my parents could only afford that one at that time - and it's not their fault either, of course. But the struggle had made me a better man and I am able to fend for myself comfortably now and I have a better perspective of life and the country.

You see, there aren't much alternatives for kids/students who are not that able financially. I'm talking out of my experience by looking at my friends, stories from my parents, stories from friends of different races etc. It's still the same today. The really smart kids (non-bumis) are still having a hard time getting into our local universities even if they've score As for all subjects. This is a story that will never end and will be heard over and over again.

Switching over to education, our Malaysian education is the worst by far I've ever seen and heard. Looking at the kids’ curriculum (mine inclusive back then) it is horrible and embarrassing. If you have kids, I'm sure you know what sort of curriculum is really set for your children. It's pure utter rubbish. Given a choice, I would've rather studied in the time my parents were - at least it was open (religious studies as well) and liberal and you learn about world history.

Back to the protest; is there really a need to protest? What are their real motives? Why the commotion?

Correct me if I'm wrong; but aren't these universities funded by us? The people? The taxpayers, no? Aren't the student's scholarship sponsored by PTPTN (from EPF)? Isn't it our money (from the various people and races?) Do they see us complaining and causing a demonstration? (or we were told to shut-up and not question it?) Please do correct this if I am wrong.

Not trying to make this sound bad but, are they saying that we are gladly paying money to these poorly-educated graduates? I was really disappointed by the action of the UITM students really. Not because its racial but because it's extremely immature and ridiculous. I can hear other countries laughing at us from across the globe.

I've gone through some reports and blogs on this and I even find that the lecturers are confused internally. So is there no unity within the uni? Some say that it has already been a 'talked-long- about' topic but the lecturers who have been working there for eight years are denying any truth to it either. Sounds like a mess in there.

IF Selangor MB Abdul Khalid really meant what he said, then he's a man who is open towards progress. Right now, from what I'm reading, he's probably being peer-pressured into saying ‘no’. Then again, that isn't really important either is it?

No group will deny rights to other people - it is caused by someone with a hidden agenda. Students reflect a school and vice versa. What is UITM teaching in there? What are they telling the students? Isn't this a democratic country filled with different races where people are able to smile (without hostility) to one another?

Also, isn't it weird that these thousands of students weren't stopped from protesting? Makes you wonder why the protest by Hindraf/People's Right/Elections and Anwar were given hell even though they were peaceful ones.

My question at the end of the day is - What are they afraid of?

They are still the majority. They still hold a huge percent. We will still be narrowed down even with that 10%. Are they afraid of challenges? What's making these students tick? What are they really afraid of, that's the real question that we should be asking these students. It's not about rights, quota systems, religion, favoritism, purity.

It really should be: what are you people really afraid of? How will these non-bumis affect you? Are they gonna be hostile with you? Nonsense. It really looks like the other way round or am I blind? A little bit of common sense will take you a long, long way.

Even if the 10% was open, ground-level Malaysians will not send their children to UiTM anyway if such hostility is shown anyways. No right-minded non-bumi will. It's not like UiTM is the greatest uni in the world, thank you very much.

Again I'd like to stress that this is not a racist attack nor am I a racist - I like to see things as they are and this is what I see. It's sad to see that innocent children are still being brainwashed and are not given the freedom to choose.