Unlike the more
open-minded UiTM people I've met, these protesters were in effect
declaring that their university should become a glaring example of
apartheid.
I find it ironic that Malaysia fought against apartheid
by whites against blacks in 1980s South Africa but still endorses a de
facto Akademi Apartheid at home.
Yet some non-Malays are allowed
into UiTM with open arms. But only foreign non-Malays. It's right there,
in black and white (well, actually purple and white) on the website.
“We
welcome all prospective international students (for) postgraduate
programmes. We look forward to seeing you become a part of our big
family.”
Similarly, the red carpet is also rolled out for foreign exchange students:
“UiTM welcomes international students from all over the world… it is
about having fun in the tropical sun and exploring the uniqueness of
this multi-racial country.”
But that red carpet turns black and
grows thorns when it comes to local non-Malays. Sorry, no “big family”
or “tropical sun fun” for them. They are instead deemed a “threat” to
the Malays.
This is similar to the UEC (United Exam Certificate)
from local independent Chinese schools being denied recognition by
public universities.
Yet, as Raub MP Chow Yu Hui noted, those who hold A-levels, Australian matriculation and even China’s HSC are welcomed.
Why are we still holding back some Malaysians on purely racial grounds?
How can we claim to be a Madani nation when we don't practice three of its six pillars, namely compassion, mutual respect and mutual trust?
Feeding forest monkeys
This is the irony of Malaysia. And it has serious economic effects.
As academic Jomo Sundram
has pointed out, we give so many privileges like tax exemptions and
subsidies for foreign direct investment (FDI). But many local small and
medium industries don't get such government support.
Why? Is it because they are of the wrong skin colour? Jomo doesn't spell it out, but the subtext is clear.
So
he says, that if anyone has ideas or money, they invest overseas and
then come back to Malaysia as “foreign investors”. Only then are they
entitled to various incentives!
“This is ridiculous,” says Jomo.
“We will never become world leaders in anything if we keep depending on FDI, we will just be (stuck as) subcontractors.”
He
adds that Japan and Korea did not progress by depending on FDI but by
developing their own local companies. China is now doing the same.
There is a perfect Malay idiom for this - anak kera di hutan disusui, anak sendiri di rumah kebuluran. Or “feed the monkeys in the forest while our children at home are starving”.
In the current controversy, the few non-Malay postgraduate students who want to join UiTM have no choice.
There is no other avenue to certify cardiothoracic surgeons except the one by UiTM done with the National Heart Institute (IJN).
Which
comes to the question. Why did IJN tie up with UiTM for this important
medical field? Why didn't it work with another university that accepts
students of all races?
Given UiTM’s racial mindset, any future collaboration should be limited perhaps to fields such as “Islamic medicine”.
Coconut mindset
Anyway,
most non-Malays would probably not want to send their children to UiTM
for normal courses, given such openly racist student protests.
College
is not just about studies. It's also about making friends and contacts
that will be important in later life. Such human networking is even more
crucial as artificial intelligence will replace mundane technical
skills.
It would be far better to go to other private colleges
which have open, competitive mindsets, rather than closed coconut ones.
Yes, it costs more, but it's a better investment.
But many poor non-Malays can't afford private colleges. Don't they deserve government help too?
If
taxpayers’ money is used exclusively for one racial group at UiTM, then
to be fair, there should be another public university just for “the
nons”.
Of course, that is impossible, as our system is allergic to the Chinese. OK, but how about a public college just for Indians?
Everybody
can agree that this community needs more government help, yes? So how
about another UITM – Universiti India Teknikal Malaysia?
We can already hear the howling protests. Kami bantah sekeras-kerasnya! (We vehemently protest!). Hopefully, without stepping on any cow heads.
Such
an Indian college will be a black pool that amplifies racism! We cannot
have academic inbreeding! We must mix on campus to open minds! Bla,
bla, bla…
Right. Precisely the same can be said about UiTM.
In conclusion, the upheaval over Akademi Apartheid is just another symptom of our deep-seated racial problems.
Will the Madani government have the courage to start fixing them?
