Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) is proof that the government still has the support of the country’s youths.

Umno minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this in congratulating the former student leaders of UiTM, who he said have contributed greatly not only to their fellow students, but to the government as well.

“Why do I say that they have helped the government? It is because the (pro-government group) Pro-Aspirasi dominated in the (recent campus elections).

The government, he said, was satisfied as it is perhaps the first time now that all public universities nationwide are dominated by the Pro-Aspirasi teams.

“If there are those who say that student groups are fully against the government, UiTM has given a clear signal that the youths are still with the government.”

Ismail, who is rural and regional development minister, said this in his speech at a dinner with representatives of UiTM’s 2014/2015 Students Council and College Representatives Committee in Shah Alam last night.

In the public universities' campus elections for the 2015/2016 term, the Pro-Aspirasi group won in the country’s major universities - Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Ismail, who is UiTM minister mentor, expressed hope that the UiTM students would be in the forefront in being the strongest in supporting the government.

“Because this (university) was the best policy created by the government since (former prime minister) Abdul Razak (Hussein) in establishing an institution specifically for Malay students.

“As UiTM students, you should support the government because this institution was developed to develop the bumiputera,” he said.