updated version

The government would take "radical actions", including slashing the bumiputra quota for university admission, to prevent more students from being involved in negative activities, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned today.

The actions to be proposed by the government will include amending the Federal Constitution and other laws, as well as introducing a meritocractic system for university admission.

"We can't afford to take these problems (created by students) lightly; tak boleh main-main (can't fool around). We can't bring up issues of human rights as the government's actions are important for the country's future," he said.

Asked if the radical move will result in a political backlash to the ruling party, Mahathir said the problem in hand is too serious for the government to take just the political consideration.

He said some Malays have taken their rights for granted and assume that they will still get assistance and support from the government no matter what they do.

"But we shall see, if the government takes everything away from the Malays, what will happen to them?" he warned.

The Umno president was speaking at a press conference after chairing the party's supreme council meeting this morning at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur.

Political activism in local universities and the recent emergence of the black metal 'cult' among students have come under fire from the government which claimed that students were being distracted from their studies by such activities.

Mahathir also said that a militant trend was seeping into university campuses and youngsters were increasingly getting involved in anti-religion activities and satanic rites.

Good intentions twisted

Early this month, two students - one from Universiti Malaya; the other, Institut Kemahiran Mara - were detained under the Internal Security Act which permits indefinite detention without trial. One of them has been released but the other is still being held in police custody.

The premier said he was saddened by the fact that most students involved in negative activities were Malays even though non-bumiputra students also received similar education and were not as affected.

Mahathir also reiterated that the government had no qualms coming down hard on "traitors" who manipulate the country's education system to pursue their selfish interests.

However, he declined to disclose their identities beyond saying that "these are the people who try to frustrate the government's effort to help the Malays", and egg them to partake in unhealthy activities instead.

He also expressed his disappointment with the group of people who he claimed had "politicised, misinterpreted and twisted" the government's good intention.

"That is why our attempts to help the Malays have failed," he said.

To curb the instigation going on in schools and universities, Mahathir suggested that a special body, comprising experienced education officers and government officials, be established to ensure that the syllabuses are taught as determined by the education ministry.

Bond scandal

Meanwhile, Mahathir refused to comment on the government's decision to classify the investigation into an alleged bond scandal involving billions of ringgit as 'state secret'.

"I don't know who said it, I have to find out more about it," he said.

Yesterday, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Douglas Unggah Embas told Parliament that Perbadanan Usahawan National Bhd (PUNB) bond scandal involving some RM19 billion was a state secret unless the matter was brought before a court of law.

"All complaints must be kept confidential and cannot be made public by anyone unless the report is made to an ACA officer or public prosecutor," he said.

"This will have to wait until the accused is brought to court for a conviction under the Act or any other law related to the complaint," he added, in a written answer to Keadilan's Permatang Pauh MP Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The fraudulent bonds, carrying the signatures of the chief executive officer and secretary of PUNB, were issued without the approval of the Finance Ministry.

The case was classified as an abuse of power. The ACA reportedly said in February that the investigations would be completed within a week but it has yet to reveal anything to date.