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Racial quotas not a mistake, says deputy education minister

The country's racial quota system in public universities — 55 percent for bumiputra students and 45 percent for non-bumiputras — was not a mistake, Deputy Education Minister Abdul Aziz Samsuddin stressed today.

He said that the quota system implemented in the early 70s was necessary in order to correct the disparity between bumiputras and non-bumiputras. That was why the government also implemented the New Economic Policy (NEP), he added.

Speaking to reporters in Parliament lobby today, Aziz pointed out that the situation today cannot be compared to that of the 70s or 80s.

"At that time, we feel that the quota system was necessary... so it was never a mistake. Now, the meritocracy system is found to be suitable to meet the changing times," he said.

Aziz hoped that with the new merit system, the talk that "Chinese students are more intelligent and hardworking, Malays are lazy and Indians are unlucky" would not be heard of anymore.

"If this saying continues among our people with regards to our education system, then we only lower our dignity as Malaysians," he said.

Aziz also said that for those who could not secure places in public institutions of higher learning (IPTA), they could opt to further their studies in private institutions of higher learning (IPTS).

This is why the government is encouraging the setting up private educational institutions in the country, he said.

Better facilities

He also felt that the well-to-do students would rather further their studies in IPTS because private institutions provide various twinning programmes, better facilities and students can graduate earlier too.

Earlier in the House, Yong Teck Lee (BN-Gaya) requested the education minister to state the criteria used in the merit system in order to clear doubts about the system.

He also queried whether the quota system of the past was a mistake as the meritocracy system has resulted in more intake of bumiputra students into IPTA.

Replying to the queries, the ministry's parliamentary secretary, Mahadzir Mohd Khir, said that from this year, academic qualification was the core assessment criteria for admission.

According to him, co-curricular qualification will only be considered when two or more students hold the same academic qualifications.

Limited places

To a supplementary question from Wan Junaidi bin Tuanku Jaafar (BN-Batang Lupar), Mahadzir said that the government will only consider the highest academic qualification as the places in the universities are very limited.

Wan Junaidi had earlier commented that the merit system's consideration of only academic qualification will cause the students to put aside criteria such as innovation and creativity.

Mahadzir said the ministry will retain the current system "as it is the best system we have at the moment".

"Those who could not enter IPTA can go to IPTS, and choose the course they are interested in," he added.

On another query from Wan Junaidi as to whether the government will consider giving priority to those who are good in the English language as the government is now encouraging people to excel in the language, Mahadzir replied the government will stick to its current assessment.

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