‘Matriculation quota dated’

GEORGE TOWN: A DAP lawmaker has described the admission into the Education Ministry’s (MOE) matriculation programme as an outdated and regressive policy.

Penang DAP vice-chairman Dr P. Ramasamy (pic) said sticking to the policy of allocating 90% for bumiputra and 10% for non-bumiputra students is not good for the future of the country.

“Pakatan Harapan should come up with a progressive system for matriculation admission.

“This is not an issue between me and Bersatu. It is about the unequal ratio of 9:1 in the admission of bumiputra and non-bumiputra students,” he said on his Facebook page yesterday.

Earlier, Parti Pri­bumi Bersatu Malay­­­­sia (Bersatu) secretary­-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya was quoted as criticising Dr Rama­samy for likening Bersatu to Umno, which practised racial politics.

Marzuki said Dr Ramasamy has no right to question Bersatu’s stand in defending the Malays and the Malay agenda while being fair to all races.

Dr Ramasamy, in his Facebook posting earlier, said that Bersatu, while being an ethnic bumiputra party, seems to be entrapped in the mindset of Umno.When contacted, he said the coalition should meet for an effective solution to the matriculation issue as the old formula was not applicable anymore.

“Hopefully, the Cabinet which meets tomorrow (Wednesday) will find a solution to the issue,” added Dr Ramasamy.

Dr Ramasamy’s initial Facebook posting was in reference to Bersatu’s information chief Dr Mohd Radzi Mohd Jidin, who said he fully supported the ministry’s decision to maintain the 9:1 intake policy in government matriculation programmes.

Dr Mohd said the move was in line with the ministry’s goal of developing the potential of bumiputra students in science and technology through quality pre-university education.