(Malaysian Mirror) - Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that the opportunity given to more bumiputras to enter public universities should not be disputed as a racist act which prioritises one race at the expense of others.
The former prime minister said the move was to ensure a balanced racial development so that the bumiputras were not left behind in mainstream education, which could have negative repercussions.
Seeking a balance
He said that at the private institutions of higher learning, which now numbered nearly the same as the public institutions of higher learning, the bumiputra enrolment was very small, only in the region of 10%, while the rest was made up of the other races because many bumiputras could not afford the fees.
"If we conduct a census of the number of students in the government and private universities, there are more non-bumiputra students. That's why we give attention and more places to bumiputras," he said in his keynote address, entitled "UUM 25 Years Expectation vs Reality", at the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Alumni Convention 2009 here.
"So we should not feel guilty (just) because we have places for the bumiputras. We have a right to attain a position that is on par in this country. We want reasonable rights," he said.
You can't call it racism, says Dr M
Dr Mahathir said the affirmative policy under the New Economic Policy to bring the bumiputras into the country's mainstream development in various fields, including education, was not something extreme because although bumiputras made up about 60% of the population, the set quota was only 30%.
"This is not racism...we only ask for half of what we should be demanding. This shows that we are not racist...in fact to get 30% is not easy."
If there was no balance, those left behind would feel hatred and jealousy and might act irrationally, and this was what the country wanted to avoid, he was quoted by Bernama as saying.
He added that the extra attention and opportunities given to the bumiputras did not mean that the other races were sidelined.
He also said that it was important for the bumiputras to have the knowledge in running a business because many of them did not use the money as capital or to invest but to shop.
"We must change the bumiputra mindset. The money will bring returns when invested and this can enhance their wealth. Normally, they spend when they have money...often more than the money available and this causes problems."
Advice to set up university town
On UUM, Dr Mahathir said the aspiration of its establishment had been achieved as was evident from the success in producing bumiputra graduates as well of graduates of other races in management but it was still not enough.
"The UUM's future still hinges on efforts in capacity building, especially for the bumiputras, in business," he said.
He said students in management finance and accounting must be taught to have the right mindset, strong resilience as well as other traits to be successful in business and other fields.
Dr Mahathir also hoped that one day there would be a university town in Sintok, where the UUM is located, like the university towns in Cambridge and Oxford.
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written by anon, December 12, 2009 22:47:40
Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that the opportunity given to more bumiputras to enter public universities should not be disputed as a racist act which prioritises one race at the expense of others.
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I am beginning to believe what Anwar said about this Maha sh*t - he must be getting too old and all the ops are now making him senile.
What do you call a University that takes in 'bumiputra' students, the majority of whom who do not meet the minimum qualification? Then their marks are pushed - literally speaking - and they pass and graduate.
Why the quota system in the first place?
If these 'bumis' do qualify and have no money then help them by all means. But to just haul them all and make them all doctors and engineers and lawyers - who believe English Language only exists in countries like England, U.S and Australia - is somwhat pathetic - depriving the non-bumis of a place in the University.
That is not racism?
If they are given all the incentives and motivation and they still do not make it, why do you have to herd them all in Universities? Just to fulfill that NEP crap? To strike a balance?
The Malays who made it meritoriously deserve to be helped but certainly not the others who just want to sit on a fancy chair in a lounge suit as a Director of a company with a voluptuous secretary - and play golf.
Yes, open up two more Universities that are on par with Oxford and Cambridge and herd all the cow-head protestors inside these two Universities - the same sh*itheads who stepped on the photographs of opposition party members.
Listen Mahamutt, I know of 'bumi' students ( more tahn 55% ) who failed and were pushed to pass and graduated - what do you call that?
...and the more-than-qualified non-bumis were deprived of a place in the University.
.... a racist act which prioritises one race at the expense of others.
That is not Racism?
You have UiTM with about 36,000 students - 'bumiputras' - a lot of whom keep changing courses - starting with the Law faculty then finding it confusing and switching to other easier courses.
RACISM: The belief that people's qualities are influenced by their race and that the members of other races are not as good as that of your own, or the resulting unfair treatment of members of other races.
Now tell me if what I said is not racism.
written by anon, December 13, 2009 02:25:55
Listen MahaMutt,
Forgot to mention this - I am sure we all have friends and family whose results are well above the minimum qualification - but yet cannot seem to get a place into local Universities. Why is that so? There are Universities blooming everywhere and yet there are no places for these students with excellent results.
That is not Racism?
Are these places reserved for the non-qualified 'bumi'?
Don't try to shit us with your garbage - many of these 'bumis' do not deserve to be in any University.
Let us get something very clear here - I am not against helping a bumi who deserves to be in a University and needs financial aid. Help him/her by all means. That is your duty.
I speak through experience when I say there are 'bumis' - scores of them who do not belong in a University - I have seen their results. In the 80s - a 'bumi' ( good friend of mine ) got in with ONE "A" - in Agama in his Form Six. Then he was sent to England to do his Master's Degree. He failed and did it again - tax-payers money of course. He finally made it.
Then he was sent - against his wishes - to get his PhD. You can guess if he obtained it or not. This is not a 'bumi' who is poor.
That is just one example. There are many.
The Matriculation program was created for the 'bumis' - one or two Sarawakians and Sabahans. Yes, a handful of these 'bumis' are good and made good but the rest should never had been given the chance to enter the University and follow the program - their English Language was atrocious and these were future Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Architects, Pharmacologists, Biologists, Chemists, Physicists - all in the field of Science. Of course the majority wanted to be Doctors .... and guess what - some already are and some will be.
Some are doctors in local Universities and others went to Sungai Petani. The good ones went abroad on scholarships - mostly to Ireland.
And the non-bumis with excellent results are struggling to get into a local University - a big number of them cannot get in because they are not qualified! So what is the qualification for the non-bumi?
That is not Racism?
You damn hypocritical racist bigot. Keep that garbage that spills out of your filthy mouth to yourself.
One MahaMutt followed by another MahaShit-yuddin. When can we expect the next Maha-moron? Won't be long.
Damn fascist started all this Racist policy with your so-called Malay Dilemma and your NEP. Stay retired you damn racist. Do not get involved in this education system that you made a mess of.
Why don't you go see these 'bumi' doctors the next time you go for your check-up? They are your by-products.
If you are as genuine as your rhetoric, I challenge you to have a young 'bumi' doctor as your family doctor.... for you, your children and their children.
"....a balanced racial development so that the bumiputras were not left behind in mainstream education",
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The majority of the 'bumiputras' are simply not interested so how can you have a 'balanced' racial development? They just want to sit around the grounds of the Twin Towers and enjoy the romantic atmosphere.
" which could have negative repercussions".
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This to me sounds like yet another threat from a former PM of a racial riot.
"many bumiputras could not afford the fees".
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More qualified non-bumis cannot afford the money - and who is to help them?
"If we conduct a census of the number of students in the government and private universities, there are more non-bumiputra students".
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Why don't you conduct a census of who has to work harder and who produces better results - the bumis or the non-bumis?
"We want reasonable rights,"
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What IS your reasonable rights? That the bumi who does not meet the minimum qualification be allowed to enter a University? That to you is .... reasonable?
"affirmative policy under the New Economic Policy"
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A 'yes' plan for all bumis to enter a University minus the merit - just to bridge the gap - that is the "affirmative policy" under the NEP!
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"we only ask for half of what we should be demanding".
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Only half. How thoughtful. It does not matter if you cannot find that half. Just take a handful of the rempits and you will make that half.
And .... should be demanding? Demand for what? For mutts to get into a University? They are making more money in illegal racing on the streets and enjoying it ( with their girls as pillions ).
"the extra attention and opportunities given to the bumiputras did not mean that the other races were sidelined".
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This extra push given to those who do not deserve it has definitely sidelined the other races - and you know that this is a fact.
"We must change the bumiputra mindset".
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Finally you have said something that is true - but you also know very well that to do this is wishful thinking.
The mindset of most bumis is already set - by them - and you, even as the former PM for 22 years, failed to change that with your racist policies.
....you can take the man/woman out of the kampong but you cannot take the kampong out of the man/woman....
The only good Malay is the one who has emerged from the hard-core kampong shell and has seen democracy.
....anon
So the next best thing is to herd them all into a newly opened top-notch Universities and pass them all and expect them to have built-in business acumen and take over the economy of the country.
I guess these are the 'hopefuls' who have impressed you and have initiated you to build two more Universities - on par with Oxford and Cambridge.
LONDON: An international medical university will be built in Perak next year in collaboration with several leading universities, mainly from India, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said yesterday.
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Qualifications: For 'bumis' only - good paper qualification is an asset but not compulsory.
Hey doc, you may get your wish.
Allow me to remind you of what Racism is: The belief that people's qualities are influenced by their race and that the members of other races are not as good as that of your own, or the resulting unfair treatment of members of other races.
