MCA to continue helping straight-A students enter matriculation, says Dr Wee

PETALING JAYA: MCA will continue to assist straight-A students to enter the matriculation programme, regardless of race, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The MCA president said the party would continue to do so to ensure justice for all in this matter.

"Recently the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) announced that students who scored 10As will be given automatic offers to join the matriculation programme, regardless of race and background.

"He also gave an assurance that the bumiputra quota will remain at 90%, meaning there is no change according to the Prime Minister.

"We can conclude that there is no change in the intake quota composition for bumiputra and non-bumiputra," the Ayer Hitam MP said in a video posted on Facebook on Sunday (July 7).

However, there are a few questions raised on the issue, including whether the announcement will take effect this year or the next as there have been conflicting media reports, he said.

"What about those who scored 9As, which is common in schools? It is not possible for them to get 10As as they only took nine subjects.

"The Education Ministry announced on July 1 that the intake requirement into the matriculation programme is subject to availability. If many get 10As or straight As, will the government accept all of them and increase spots in the programme?" he questioned.

Dr Wee said the ministry also mentioned that matriculation intake was subject to applications for 10As or straight-As.

"So will they be offered automatically or do they have to apply for it?

"The Prime Minister announced the new policy but the due date for matriculation intake and appeal has ended. We hope for an explanation by the ministry," he said.

Dr Wee said the matriculation programme was established by then-education minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 1998.

"His purpose of doing so is not only to cater to high achievers but to help those who are less fortunate socio-economically.

"However, currently, the government is directly offering straight-A students into the programme, he said.

"Is it not against the basic reason to help those from underprivileged families?

"For high achievers, without taking into account background and socioeconomic status, they have more resources and choices compared to the less fortunate.

"In fact, there are those among the high achievers, who came from well-to-do families, who can afford to send them overseas or to private colleges for further studies," he said.