Stop misleading statements on matriculation, Sathia tells Indian NGOs

PKR deputy secretary-general Sathia Prakash Nadarajan has urged Indian NGOs dissatisfied with the government’s recent decision on matriculation to stop issuing misleading statements on the matter.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Sathia said many misunderstood Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement on the issue, thinking that the existing quota system was abolished.

“Anwar’s statement was very clear: The government guarantees students from all races who achieve 10As and above the opportunity to participate in the matriculation programme.

“This does not mean the existing quota system is abolished or the number of Indian students in matriculation will decrease,” he said.

Anwar announced the matter on June 30 and said the decision was made to ease racial tensions in the country.

The programme currently allocates 90 percent of its spots to bumiputera students, reserving the remaining 10 percent for non-bumiputera.

Sathia was commenting on the demands from a coalition of over 300 Indian community NGOs, which urged the government to retain the quota system for Indian students wishing to pursue matriculation.

The NGO also said that the decision is only a temporary solution.

‘Backward step’

However, Sathia said the NGOs’ request for the government to maintain the quota system is a step backwards, noting that the Indian community in Malaysia has long advocated for a merit-based system.

Elaborating further, he claimed that NGOs made statements hastily before the Education Ministry could unveil more details on the matter.

“This year’s SPM results show that 11,713 students, including about 900 Indian students, achieved straight As. If around 10,000 students pursue matriculation, 30,000 places will remain vacant under the quota system.

“With the existing system, which allocates 3.5 percent of positions for Indians, Indian students will get 1,050 places.

“If we add the 900 Indian students who achieved straight As, the total will reach 2,000 places. This is nearly a 100 percent increase from the 1,116 Indian students admitted to matriculation last year,” he said.

He added that this number could be increased if more Indian students achieve straight As in SPM or if the government increases the number of matriculation places in the future.

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