Thursday, August 14, 2008

ARE MALAYSIANS TRULY MALAYSIANS

Menteri Besar Selangor, YAB Tan Sri Abdul Khalid’s proposal to allow non-Bumiputra admission into UiTM was met with severe criticism from may quarters; in particular from the PM himself, and the Vice Chancellor UiTM, Prof Dato Seri Ibrahim Abu Shah.

Tan Sri Khalid, in response said that his statement ‘was blown out of proportion and taken out of context’. He went on to say that he made it ‘in the context of raising the standards of institutions of higher learning, so that Malays and other bumiputras could improve their career prospects’

I believe, Tan Sri Khalid was merely making a proposal, and if at all the government is in total disagreement with the proposal, the Ministry of Higher Learning could have issued a simple statement to say that ‘the government is not yet ready to accept the proposal’, or something to that effect. There was no need for the PM to say that ‘he (Tan Sri Khalid) has no power to do that’ i.e. to propose changes to admission into UiTM, or the Vice Chancellor making hard hitting statements on TV, to counter the proposal. I wonder what the Malaysian viewers, particularly non-bumiputras have to say to the remarks made by the Vice Chancellor. I think, it smacks on racism, and I am disgusted to hear such unwarranted statements made by a person deemed knowledgeable, and is of reputable character.

For how long will some of our schools and institutions of higher learning remain racially polarized? When are we to be called truly Malaysian, if we continue to have, and segregate our children into Malay, Chinese and Indian schools? Fifty years of independence have not changed our society the least, that is still being identified by its racial entity.

I have been schooled in a totally racially integrated government school from the moment I entered school, and that was in the beginning of the early 50’s. I enjoyed the friends that I had, and we never identified ourselves by race or the colour of our skin.

Because of this upbringing, I had little problem in associating myself with my Chinese and Indian friends, who would readily come to my house to play, and to have meals together. My parents would welcome them as being part of the family. This are my school friends, all of whom have now pass their sixties, and when we meet, it is not about race, but about friendship.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dato Arshad,

Saya adalah salah saorang penuntut ITM pada tahun 1981 yang ditaja oleh Angkatan Tentera.Terima kasih diucapkan kepada ITM yang mengajar saya jadi pegawai Tentera yang berpengetahuan dan ATM kerana menaja pengajian saya selama menuntut disana. Didalam kelas saya dewasa itu ada Freddie Acho Bian,Karen,Helen McDonald,Peter Jelin mereka ni semua dayak Sarawak. Kemudian ada saudara Mat Noh,Kamaruddin dan beberapa ekor lagi raayat Singapura.Kemudian ada Razak,Lateef,Fadeel dan mereka ini pula Mamak (yang keturunan Keling dari India) kulit pun hitam legam. Perkara ni berlaku 27 tahun yang lalu dan mereka mereka yang saya sebut namanya sudah memegang jawatan tinggi di pelbagai institusi swasta sekarang ini.

Pada pandangan saya kalau nak diikutkan betul betul seperti contoh diatas dari dulu lagi ITM dah mengambil penuntut bukan Melayu iaitu Dayak,India dan bukan warganegara Malaysia. Jadi sekarang ni apa lah yang dihebohkan sangat sampai beribu ribu tunjuk perasaan .........kalau ikut AUKU (Akta University) mereka semua ni kenalah dibuang dari UiTM kerana menunjuk perasaan.

Ini adalah bukti yang terang lagi bersuluh bahawa budak budak ni (mahasiswa UiTM) dah jadi Mamat Kuda pehak UMNO sebab yang membuat kenyataan ialah Tan Sri Khalid (dari Parti Keadilan).

UMNO sememangnya terkapai kapai nak cari isu sebab dah nak lemas dan tengelam dari persada politik , ditambah lagi dengan Permatang Pauh maka ianya seperti pucuk dicita ulam mendatang bagi puak UMNO ni untuk membalun Parti Keadilan pimpimam Anwar.
Aleh permainan UMNO ni cucu saya kat tadika pun boleh baca dengan jelas.......isu politik la tu.

Cuba buat kajian mendalam bila masa lah UMNO ni jaga orang Melayu sebenar benarnya........semuanya hantu fulusi belaka......tengok le perangai mereka semasa nak bermesyauarat Agong hujung tahun ni, dah sebok tikam menikam,rasuah merasuah,fitnah dan lain lain lagi.

Parti ni dah lama dah saya flush dalam toilet bowl, cuma ........

dincbee said...

Kita sokong Pas je. Bagi lebai lebai tu can pulak. Jangan sokong Anuar,sytan2 Hindu duk peralatkan dia.Dari masa student lagi dia tu dah jadi pembohong.Orang UMNO lagi teruk.Kaki sapu.darah daging dari yang haram ni memang dah turun dari genarasi Mahathir lagi. Kita tunggu bala dari ALLAH je le.

maurice said...

I have no problem with TS Khalid's suggestion.I think it is the way forward to build an enduring Malaysian society.

The issue that 10% of Bumiputra students would be deprived of places at the UiTM could be easily resolved by having reciprocal arrangement with Universiti Tengku Abdul Rahman and others.

The suggestion should be looked positively as it is good for national integration, competiveness, foster cultural understanding, further improve the rating of UiTM etc.

We should not reject good ideas based on emotion and unreasonable political agenda.