ALOR SETAR: Malaysia is facing an "education crisis" as many of its top students are not getting spots at public universities, says a Kedah PAS representative.
Jitra assemblyman Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah, who is debating the PAS president's policy speech, said that it was worrying that many local students could not get a spot in the country's top five universities, including Universiti Malaya (UM).
"Out of some 180,000 spots, it is estimated that some 39,000 or 21% slots are given to foreign students.
"We are not anti-foreigners, but it should not be that high. Our local students should instead be prioritised," he said at the 71st PAS Muktamar here on Monday (Sept 15).
Haim Hilman cited the case of the top STPM scorer Edward Wong Yi Xian, who was rejected a place in UM.
"This is not an issue of the child of a Chinese, Indian, Malay, or Kadazan.
"This is about all of our children who only wanted a good education," he said.
He also slammed the UPUOnline system that offers limited placements for local students.
"This shows that the federal government is not preparing the future of our children," he added.
