YOURSAY 'This is shameful political persecution suffered by a bright young man. He won his scholarship on merit, yet it was mercilessly withdrawn.'

Mara pulls back study loan given to PKR leader's son

your say Odin: Article 160(2) of the federal constitution defines a Malay as a Malaysian citizen born to a Malaysian citizen who professes to be a Muslim, habitually speaks the Malay language, adheres to Malay customs, and is domiciled in Malaysia.

Does Akmal Hakim (or his parents) not satisfy these requirements? If he does, Mara has no justification to withdraw the study loan.

When PM Najib Razak was the education minister, he offered, on behalf of Malaysia, to pay for the tuition of a British mathematics prodigy (a young woman) in UK for as long as necessary just because the prodigy's mother was formerly a Malay Malaysian.

The mother was married to a British Muslim, and as such she was no longer a Malaysian. If you can do that with a foreigner, what are you doing with Akmal Hakim?

Not Confused: Batu Pahat PKR chief Syed Hamid Ali, I really feel for you and your efforts to do the best for your son.

I am speechless with anger at the petty, bureaucratic attitude of Mara. It does smack of political persecution; something that we see all too often.

Is it any wonder that the elite of the young Malaysians go abroad for studies (when they can) but never return because of the racist decisions of such organisations.

It is yet another sad day for Malaysians - one that will no doubt be explained away with the wave of a hand. Shame on them.

Anonymous_5fb: I think Malay is the only race in the world has definition in a constitution of a country. Don't you find it weird? Since when it is defined? If there is no such definition, would the Malay race still exist?

Wira: If Muslim children of Malaysians with Indian blood can be bumiputeras, why not Muslim children of Malaysians with Arab blood?

Perhaps Dr Mahathir Mohamad should answer what constitutes a Malay in this country. This I think is a real Malay dilemma.

MfM: Wow, the non-Malays here seem to have some rather 'colourful' comments on this matter.

By definition of the constitution of Malaysia, Akmal Hakim is a Malay, and that's it. No two ways about it. Mara just decided to add additional qualifiers making at least one of the parents a Malay.

The problem with the non-Malays is that they want to stay as non-Malay, and not just as non-Malay, they also want to stay as non-Malaysian. ‘I want Chinese education, Tamil education, blah, blah, blah.'

But when it comes to scholarships, I want that too. If you want to be Malaysian, then let's all be Malaysian - one school system, one national language, then truly we will be 1Malaysia.

But no, the Chinese especially, continue to behave like Chinese - they favour their own kind when it comes to business dealings. They employ their own kind only, always adding ‘Mandarin speaking' to the job requirements.

Don't get me started on the Indians.

Mosquito: The annual allocation for Mara comes from taxpayers' money. I remember TDM (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) saying that the non-bumis pay 90 percent of taxes collected, yet they don't have the right to apply for any loan or scholarship from Mara.

This institutionalised discrimination is now felt by a Malay, albeit with Arabic roots. Clearly, the candidate concerned qualifies. Enough has been said about the mixed ancestry of all the former and present prime ministers, and they are all Malay.

But to single out this 17-year-old child now suggests that the political inclinations of the father may be the cause of the disqualification. For 17 years, he has lived under the illusion he was Malay.

This is one sure way to further alienate the fence-sitters from tilting your way, Mr Prime Minister. Still it is your political life, not any of ours. Maybe, you have some enemies within plotting your downfall.

Daging: Are people aware that Syed Hamid Ali was an avowed communist until around 1990 when the government allowed him back to society after the amnesty?

He was part of the insurgents who killed ordinary people, the police and armed forces. Now he is talking like he helped Malaysia grow and prosper. Instead he tried to destroy our nation.

Vgeorgemy: Bureaucrats have no idea what their role is in the administration of our beloved nation. They are to implement the policies of the government of the day without any fear or favour instead of looking at the recipients' political affiliation or colour or creed.

In short, they are the independent force to implement the policies of His Majesty's government policies. Here they are acting as a branch of the ruling party, sabotaging our love for the king and the constitution.

Malay citizens who convert out of Islam are no longer considered Malay under the law. Likewise, a non-Malay Malaysian who converts to Islam can lay claim to bumiputera privileges, provided he meets the other conditions. Where did Akmal go wrong?

Qiqi: This is shameful political persecution suffered by a bright young man. He won his scholarship on merit, yet mercilessly withdrawn with a flimsy excuse.

Clearly, there are two classes of bumiputeras - Umnoputras and non-Umnoputras.

Faz: There is no need to read too much into this episode. It was political harassment from the top, nothing more, nothing less.

Mara is just the mule. Umno-BN had been at it for years and only now does this news get reported in the alternative media.

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