The meritocracy system, implemented for the first time in the country, will see a higher overall enrolment for bumiputra students into public universities.

Figures released by the Education Ministry today showed that the intake of bumiputra students who qualified for entry stood at 67 percent, which is higher than the previous quota system of 55 percent.

The ministry's Higher Education Department director Prof Dr Hassan Said told a press conference that the overall intake under the new meritocracy system proved critics of the system wrong.

"I think bumiputra students have worked hard to earn their places in our public universities. Maybe, the constant reminder from the prime minister urging them to study hard did have a psychological effect on them," he said.

Hassan said the selection for the coming intake was purely based on merit and not on race as before.

"All the names of qualified candidates are entered into a computer, and the selection is based purely on merit. The candidate's race is not entered into the computer," he explained.

He said the merit system does not take into account the candidate's co-curricular activities but will give the candidate an advantage in the event of a tie.

Hassan also disclosed that out of 2,690 places for 42 first degree programmes offered at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) for those with Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) qualifications, a total of 1,272 (47.3 percent) bumiputras qualified, compared to 1,207 (44.9 per-cent) Chinese and 211 (7.8 per-cent) Indians.

These students were selected from a total of 111,990 Bumiputras, 11,576 Chinese and 4,066 Indians with SPM. who applied.

Surprisingly well

Hassan said bumiputra students with Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) qualifications or its equivalent did surprising well as 22,557 (or 68.9 percent) were accepted into public universities, compared to 8,665 (26.4 percent) Chinese and 1,530 (4.7 percent) Indian students.

A total of 46,878 bumiputras, 13,489 Chinese and 2,961 Indians students with STPM qualifications or its equivalent competed for 32,752 places offered at 17 universities and colleges nationwide.

On the lower number of non-bumiputra students applying with STPM qualifications, Hassan said most of them may have opted to further their studies at private institutions of higher learning.

The Peninsular Malaysia Malay Students Association (GPMS) Suhaimi Ibrahim said the higher overall percentage of bumiputra students who qualified for entry into public universities proved that they can succeed if they work hard.

"Now, the bumiputra students have realised that they have to earn their places in the universities and not because they have a quota to fill," said Suhaimi.

Other options available

Asked on the smaller number of bumiputra students with SPM who qualified under the merit system, Suhaimi said the matter was not worrying as the students still have other options if they could not directly enter UTM after completing their SPM. One option is to pursue the STPM, he said.

Meanwhile, PAS education bureau chairman Dr Hassan Ali expressed fears that the meritocracy system may not satisfy all the races in the country.

"I am all for the meritocracy system as it will produce excellent students, but are all Malaysians ready for it," he posed.

The PAS leader also expressed his concern over the poor show among bumiputra students with SPM qualification as reflected by the low percentage who qualify for the first degree.