The policy of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to only accept Malay students, Orang Asli students and students who are natives of Sabah & Sarawak will be maintained in an effort to bridge the gap between races, especially through socioeconomic aspects.
According to a report by Berita Harian, the Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir emphasised that this policy is needed to realise the government’s wishes.
He said the 2024 Bumiputera Economic Congress Report by the Ministry of Economy showed that there is still an economic gap between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera community members in terms of average monthly holdings, corporate equity holdings, poverty rates and skilled labour production.
“In fact, the absolute poverty rate among Bumiputeras still need continuous efforts to improve.”
“With the establishment of UiTM, more Bumiputera children have the opportunity to continue their studies and be trained to fill various positions as a necessity to improve their quality of life and change their fate,” he explained.
This comes after Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh questioned whether the government plans to allow non-Bumiputeras to study at UiTM by amending the UiTM Act 1976.
Zambry added that UiTM itself is a Public University, established in accordance with the provisions of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution as stipulated in Section 1A of the UiTM Act 1976 (Act 173).
He also shared that Article 153 of the Federal Constitution includes the power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to establish quotas for Malays, Sabahans and Sarawakians, which is the basis of the Bumiputera agenda for the recruitment of UiTM students.
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