LETTER | Increasing the number of student intakes into the matriculation programmes of government educational institutions does not augur well for the students - and neither does it help to solve the imbalance problems of the various races.

It looks more like squeezing one more roommate into an already packed room, rather eating the leftovers of the same old cake.

No window dressing please, Pakatan Harapan!

You see, with the old quota in use for admission of students into the government matriculation programmes remaining at 90 percent for Malays and 10 percent for the other races, it is sad to say that despite the new Harapan government harping for a fairer and just administration in every sector for the rakyat - these all remain unchanged.

Where is the reformation?

By the way, the minister of education had decided to hang on to the old quota policy for new intakes of students for the government’s matriculation programme at 90 percent for Malays and the remaining 10 percent for Chinese, Indians and other minority races.

This is clear-cut discrimination of the Chinese and Indians whose forefathers had toiled the grounds under the hot sun and rain, sweating “blood”, literally speaking.

The Education Minister reported that the government only decided to increase the number of intakes. So long as the quota stays at 90 percent and 10 oercent, it in itself is already an unfair and unjust way to select new students to do matriculation under the government matriculation programmes. This no way to treat the Chinese and Indians.

So, how to narrow down the racial polarisation gap simply by increasing the intake only?

This will just increase the number of Malay graduates at the end of the day. This, too, will push up the number of unemployed graduates as a result. We don’t have that many employers in the country, to help out, to get these new graduates employed.

Another drawback is, this will worsen the current situation in the country - like having too many unemployed graduates

The right and fairer way to do

Yes! Seriously, do take another review on your decision, Harapan government. Inevitably, raising the number of intakes does not help narrow down the racial gaps but it will flood the market with more unemployed graduates.

The right and fairer way to do it is to have the Old Quota system changed to 50 percent for Malays, 20 percent for Chinese, 20 percent for Indians and the remaining 10 percent for the minority races.

It makes sense when the discrimination of races is minimised. If not, one can see that Malaysia is doomed as no government dares to correct the wrong, without fear or favour.

Remember, the Malay, the Chinese and Indian leaders together went to London with Tunku Abdul Rahman to get independence for Malaya from the British government. And Independence was given to Malaya on account of the different races living together in peace, harmony and unity.

Also, the Chinese and Indians had contributed to nation-building under the hot sun, and they too were responsible to boost up the economy before taken over by the Malays.

Really, the Chinese and Indians are more concerned about having a roof over their heads and that there is food on the table for the family. And, most importantly, is to give their children a good education.

In their life, they need a job and to share opportunities with other races as they go on - let alone living in peace, harmony and unity.

There you go! They don't deserve to be ill-treated or ignored by the government. Anyway, it is so wrong to burn the bridges after crossing over to the other side, in time of need.

Hello! Unity is Strength, so it is risky to cut away from the goose that laid the golden egg.

Note to my fellow citizens: We all will leave everything behind on our passing. Everything is impermanent, but Malaysia will stay on forever. Why fight when we are all here for a short stint?

LAU BING is a community activist and writer in Subang Jaya.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.