Anger is still raging in Universiti Institut Teknlogi Mara (UiTM) as another protest took place in its Permatang Pauh campus against Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim today.

Some 1,000 UiTM students held a peaceful demonstration against Abdul Khalid, who last Sunday suggested that the tertiary institute be opened to non-Malays.

The protest lasted for about an hour before Student Delegates Council president Mohd Faizal Zainol handed over a memorandum to the university's deputy director (academy) Mohd Abdullah Hemdi.

Mohd Abdullah said the memorandum will be handed over to UiTM vice-chancellor Prof Ibrahim Abu Shah who will then submit it to Abdul Khalid.

In the 9am protest, held in the university field, students carried placards saying Hidup Melayu (Long live Malays), UiTM milik Melayu (UiTM belongs to Malays) and Jangan jual bangsa Melayu (Don't sell the Malays).

khalid ibrahim selangor state budget pc 120808 03 Dressed in all-black, they sang patriotic songs, chanted slogans and called the Selangor Menteri Besar a ‘traitor' for betraying the Malay community.

The protest coincides with tomorrow's nomination day for the Permatang Pauh by-election in which PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is set to contest. Abdul Khalid, former PKR secretary-general, is one of Anwar's most trusted lieutenants.

Anwar explained in a rally on Wednesday that Abdul Khalid's suggestion for ten percent of the seats at UiTM to be filled by non-bumiputera students and foreigners was meant to improve the skills and knowledge of both Malay and non-Malay students in the institute.

"It was merely a suggestion, not a policy announcement," Anwar said.

A Malay traitor

However, Mohd Faizal slammed Abdul Khalid as a Malay traitor who was willing to sell off the rights of his own race.

"UiTM students are angry with the Selangor Mentri Besar for compromising on Malay privileges in their own motherland," he said, calling on Abdul Khalid to apologise and retract his suggestion immediately.

"Otherwise, thousands of UiTM students will gather in Shah Alam to protest against him," he warned.

The Permatang Pauh protest was held after similar demonstrations yesterday in UiTM branches in Perak, Perlis, Pahang, Malacca, Kedah and Terengganu.

On Wednesday, students in UiTM's main campus in Shah Alam and Machang in Kelantan held similar demonstrations against Abdul Khalid.

Barisan Nasional leaders believe the protests will have a serious impact on non-Malay votes, deemed decisive, in the Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 26.