‘This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.’
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States
UNIVERSITI Teknologi Mara (UiTM) is currently at the centre of a significant debate following a protest organised by its Student Representative Council. The protest was aimed at deterring the government from opening up the university to Chinese and Indian students, thus maintaining UiTM’s exclusivity to the Malays and native races.
While many non-Malays expressed disappointment at this stance, we need to understand the context and rationale behind maintaining UiTM’s current enrolment policy.
Established in 1956 as a Rural and Industrial Development Authority Training Centre, UiTM has undergone several transformations, evolving to meet the needs of the Malays and Bumiputera communities in Sarawak and Sabah.
It became Maktab Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) in 1965, then Institut Teknologi MARA in 1967, and finally Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in 1999. The institution — a brainchild of a founder member and former president of Umno Datuk Onn Jaafar — is aimed at providing educational and professional opportunities to lower-income Malays and Bumiputeras.
The university’s mission is deeply rooted in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which protects the special position of the Malays.
If you asked me, I am all for maintaining UiTM’s status quo; I know some of my buddies will be disappointed with my stand, but we have to be realistic.
UiTM’s foundation was to address the educational disparities faced by the Malays and natives. By remaining exclusive, the university will be able to continue fulfilling its original mission effectively.
Opening the university to non-Bumiputera students might dilute its focus and resources, weakening its ability to serve the intended community. Despite progress, many Bumiputera families remain in lower-income brackets and require continued support before they can discard their crutches. And UiTM plays an important role in providing these families with access to higher education without the added pressure of competing with non-Bumiputera students who often have better preparatory resources, and somehow appear to perform better in examinations and are apt at overcoming challenges.
Admitting non-Malay students could increase competition for limited seats, potentially disadvantaging Malay and native students. This concern is not unfounded, as non-Malay students tend to have better access to educational resources such as private institutions which are not affordable to most Bumiputeras and are generally very competitive.
Also, non-Malays could always look towards overseas tertiary education. So, if UiTM were to open up to non-Malays, there is a fear that Bumiputera students might be overwhelmed by their Chinese or Indian fellow students over time.
Maintaining UiTM’s current policies is about supporting weaker communities, not excluding others. Ensuring Malay students have secure access to education helps uplift the entire community.
While maintaining the status quo, UiTM has shown flexibility in specific areas. For example, it has allowed non-Bumiputera students to enrol in critical courses like cardiothoracic surgery, recognising the immediate need for specialists.
This pragmatic approach addresses current demands without signalling a permanent policy shift. However, it highlights the necessity for a long-term strategy that could eventually include non-Malay students without compromising Bumiputera support.
Nevertheless, the protest resulted from a lack of proper dissemination of news. The move to admit non-Malay students was not for all programmes at UiTM as claimed by the Student Representative Council. The proposal was only for a single post-graduate programme in cardiothoracic surgery (CS), a procedural requirement related to accreditation.
Furthermore, the non-Malay students would only be placed in the programme on a temporary basis while awaiting the launch of a similar programme at Universiti Malaya. UiTM is the only institution offering speciality in CS in Malaysia.
We are in need of CS specialists judging by the fact that majority of death in Malaysia is caused by heart diseases.
A national news portal recently reported a first-year degree student’s sentiment: “… we just want it to remain the way it is. It is not as easy as an overnight change, and everything will fall into place; there are many things to consider.”
This reflects the broader student body’s view that changes should be carefully considered and not rushed.
The Student Representative Council is only protecting the special position of the Malays, as outlined in the UiTM Act 1976 and Article 153 of the Federal Constitution. This perspective is important in understanding the wide-ranging implications of amending the university’s enrolment policies.
Some might view the protest and stance as racist. However, it is important to clarify that the goal is not racial exclusion but rather the fulfilment of a specific “historical mission”. The policies are designed to provide targeted support to a community that has historically faced educational and economic challenges. Recognising this context is necessary to understand the need to maintain the current enrolment policies.
While there is a recognition that policies should evolve, any changes must be carefully planned to ensure they do not undermine the support provided to Malay or Bumiputera students. Future amendments should take into account the changing demographics and needs, but the primary focus should remain on uplifting the Malay community.
While there may be a need for future adjustments, these should be made with careful consideration of the institution’s original mission and the ongoing needs of the Malay and native communities.
Balancing support for the weaker and less advanced communities with potential policy changes will be key to ensuring UiTM continues to fulfil its original role in our society.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
