The 4.7 percent intake of Indian Malaysian students into public universities this year has visibly upset MIC  there is real possibility for the incorporation of affirmative action programmes for the needy and poor.

But then the regime should not use the label of affirmative action to propel the rise of one ethnic group at the expense of others.

There is need for affirmative action programmes in the country, but it should be introduced on the basis of need irrespective of the ethnic origins of the beneficiaries.

P RAMASAMY is a professor of political economy at the Political Science Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and has academic interests in Malaysian politics and labour. He has written quite extensively and is currently focusing on conflict management in Sri Lanka.