The Number Of People Who Don't Want UiTM To Be Open To Non-Bumis Has Crossed 150,000
The petition was created by the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Alumni Association.
By Jia Vern Tham — 30 May 2018, 02:52 PM
The Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Alumni Association (PAUiTM) has created a petition to protest against demands to open UiTM's admission to non-Bumiputera students yesterday, 29 May
Malay Mail reported PAUiTM president Datuk Mohd Zaini Hassan as saying that the petition will be handed to Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Education Minister Dr. Maszlee Malik, and the Institutional Reforms Committee.
Although a goal of 200,000 signatures was set on the petition, Mohd Zaini said the association just wanted to see how far they could go.
"We have had a massive response agreeing with us, even from non-Bumiputeras. Don't mess with the system," Mohd Zaini was quoted as saying by Malay Mail.
At the time of writing, the petition has garnered nearly 156,000 signatures.
Members of PAUiTM were objecting to alleged calls from Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) 2.0 to open the university to all races
Leader of Hindraf 2.0 P. Uthayakumar at Ilham Tower before he handed the 25-point memorandum to the Council of Elders.
Image via Malay MailAccording to Malay Mail, leader of Hindraf 2.0 P. Uthayakumar submitted a 25-point proposal to the Institutional Reforms Committee on 28 May.
One of the demands was for UiTM to be opened up to non-Bumiputera students, and a 15% mandatory intake of Indians in the bottom 75% (B75) group into education institutions.
Nonetheless, Hindraf chairman P. Waytha Moorthy clarified later on that Hindraf 2.0 is not a valid organisation, and Uthayakumar was not authorised to speak on behalf of Hindraf. The Star also reported him as saying that P. Uthayakumar has not been a part of Hindraf's activities since 2008.
Waytha and Uthayakumar are brothers.
Following P. Uthayakumar's actions, PAUiTM members launched a police report against him at the Shah Alam district police station yesterday, 29 May
PAUiTM members launched a police report against Hindraf 2.0 at the Shah Alam district police station yesterday, 29 May.
Image via New Straits TimesNew Straits Times reported UiTM Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenangjung (GPMS) president and a PAUiTM member, Muhamad Akmal Dahalan as saying that no party should get involved with matters regarding Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees special rights of the Malays and Bumiputeras.
"The proposal to open admission for all races is a step backward in achieving balance and stability in terms of education, economy, and social. This should be rejected," Akmal said.
PAUiTM secretary-general Shukri Ishak was also quoted as saying that the issue will cause anxiety among Malays and Bumiputeras.
"If the situation is not put to rest soon, it will cause chaos," Shukri added.
Netizens took to Twitter to express their views on opening UiTM's admission to non-Bumiputeras
One netizen suggested UiTM to accept students based on their living conditions rather than their ethnicities.
Another netizen also wrote that opening up admission to non-Bumiputeras will bring benefits to the university.
Other netizens suggested to leave UiTM to Malays and Bumiputeras.