KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak’s decision to remove quotas for its university admission is brave and should be emulated by others, said Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
The former law minister took to X, formerly Twitter, to speak about Sarawak's education reform, saying it is about time we subscribed to a fair system.
"A system where the people take pride in a merit based education system in the country.
"If we can start with no quotas in higher education, we can slowly introduce a merit-based policy in other places," he said on X on Monday (Nov 4).
On Sunday (Nov 3), Sarawak deputy education, innovation and talent development minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said admission into five state-owned universities will be based solely on meritocracy.
Zaid said on the concern of whether rural or poor students can compete fairly, it must be addressed with more scholarships, tuition fees and other means.
"The students must be aware that they have to study hard to be admitted to the universities. "Why would they work hard if they know they can be enrolled with lesser grades?
"We are all born with different abilities, attitudes and values.
"The government's responsibility is to provide enough facilities to level the playing field," he said.
Zaid said the government must not participate in discriminatory policies for political gains by favouring certain groups.
"If we must give more to the less able, then we must but it is not the government's job to ensure a specific outcome in all human endeavours.
"The government’s responsibility is to assure all Malaysians have a promising future if they work hard.
"Quotas in a limited form may be justified but only as a temporary measure.
"We have to let the best reap the benefits of their labour," he said.
Zaid said if we look back at some of the country's best doctors, lawyers and professionals, many came from rural and low-income families.
"They were a hard-working lot," he said.
It was reported on Sunday (Nov 3) that admission into five state-owned universities in Sarawak will be based solely on meritocracy.
The five universities are Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak, i-CATS University College and Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak or Centexs.
Dr Annuar said student enrolment into these universities will no longer go through a quota-based system.
"With meritocracy, students will have to work harder and compete to secure their place.
"For Sarawak to advance towards becoming a developed state, meritocracy is the only way to train talents and pick the best of the best among our students," he said.
