Umno Johor: End meritocracy system in varsities
Malaysiakini
Nov 6, 2006

Umno Johor has suggested that the meritocracy system practised by institutions of higher learning be terminated to reduce the gap between students of different ethnic backgrounds in certain ‘strategic’ courses. 

Its head Abdul Ghani Othman said the meritocracy system should only be applied among students from within the same ethnic group, in competing for places in public universities.

“Although the entry of Malay students is comparable to that of non-Malays, it is because students are grouped from all the tertiary institutions,” he was quoted as saying in an Utusan Malaysia report on the Umno Johor convention held yesterday.

“In reality, at the main institutions and especially in strategic courses, non-Malays outnumber Malay students.”

He said that, if the issue of meritocracy is not addressed, Malays would regret it as future generations would blame them for lapses.

“It would not be considered extreme to say that we are currently facing a crisis in education. The gap between Malay and non-Malay (children), especially between urban and rural areas, is wide,” he reportedly said.

“Drastic measures must be taken to develop the education environment in rural areas so that the younger generation of Malays do not become victims of discrimination as a result of the implementation of meritocracy.”

He said a holistic education system would take into consideration the imbalances and deficiencies faced by different ethnic groups. It would cover those who cannot achieve their full academic potential or have limited options due to unforeseen circumstances.

“In Victoria, Australia, nine disabled students were listed under the Special Entry Access Scheme for public universities and colleges. This took into account the indigenous background, a non-English speaking background, advanced age, socio-economic factors and isolated rural upbringing,” he said.

He said a more economic comprehensive plan is needed to improve the education system in Malaysia, particularly because the current generation of Malays are being associated with social problems including drug abuse, dropping out of school, loafing and illegal motocycle racing.

“For the past 20 years or in other words, for the past generation, we have turned our children into experimental subjects...so many have become victims for the sake of the introduction of curriculum after curriculum in pursuit of education liberalisation,” he added.