Student black shirt campaign not protest, shows UiTM identity - VC

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) students’ campaign to wear black was not a form of protest but an expression of identity, its vice-chancellor Shahrin Sahib said.

He pointed out that it doesn’t qualify as a protest as a decision has not been made on the matter.

“For me, this is not a protest, because if we want to protest, it has to be against a decision. Actually, no decision has been made.

“The Student Representative Council itself says this is not a protest and I think this is an expression of students showing their identity as UiTM students.

“They feel, in terms of Act 173 1976, or the UiTM Act, it is indeed item 1(A) which states UiTM was established based on Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which is hotly debated,” he said when met in Kuala Lumpur.

Shahrin said this after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between UiTM and Ohio University yesterday.

It should be noted that Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek argued that there is no provision in the law that prohibits the admission of non-bumiputera students into UiTM.

He said various quarters have twisted the meaning of Article 153 of the Constitution and its relation to UiTM.

He pointed out that Article 153(2) of the Constitution allows the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to determine a reasonable proportion of educational privileges for the Malays and the natives and Sabah and Sarawak, but that Article 153(1) clearly states the legitimate interests of other communities must be safeguarded when utilising said provision.

On May 15, UiTM’s student council called on students to wear black to protest the plan to open the university’s parallel pathway cardiologist technical training programme to non-bumiputera medical officers.

They also asked students to upload photos with the placard #MahasiswaUiTMBantah on social media in support of the campaign.

“The objective of the establishment of UiTM is to ensure that students who are less able among bumiputera gain access to higher education.

“We unanimously support that UiTM remains with the original objective of its establishment, which is to protect and advance bumiputera students as a defence bulwark of the nation’s privileges and progress,” the student council said.

UiTM is the only university that offers a parallel pathway programme in collaboration with the National Heart Institute (IJN) in the field of cardiothoracic surgery.

Foreign students to generate income

Shahrin said the establishment of UiTM was to increase the share of bumiputera equity in the national economic sector.

He said if the problems of bumiputera can be dealt with, then the problems of the country will also be solved.

Asked about UiTM’s action to allow the admission of foreign students but not local non-bumiputera students, Shahrin said the programme aimed to generate income for the university.

“Our approach ensures that these students contribute because we charge full fees. For me, it is easy, if the government gives full funds to UiTM, there is no need for us to take them in.”

Shahrin also said UiTM has around 1,600 international students in postgraduate studies.

This was in line with the national higher education strategic development plan to ensure public universities are not fully dependent on public funds, he added.

On Saturday, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh waded into the fray, saying no party can insist that UiTM be opened to non-bumiputera.

“Don’t disturb UiTM, UiTM will always belong to the bumiputera first, now, and forever,” he said.

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