Below is part of the report on the debate of MP for Pasir Salak. In fact, MP for Rembau and MP for Muar also spoke about this allocation of scholarship and the quotas. One of them argued on the point of Art 153 of the Federal Constitution, the special privileges and allocation of scholarship is a matter listed under Art. 153.

They asked for the “cake to be enlarged” but the quota of 90% for bumiputera to be maintained.

In fact, last week, there was a report in a Malay daily which reported an academician expressing his concerns of widening the gap between bumiputera professionals and non bumiputera professionals, when commenting on quota of 55% - 45% which is applied recently, instead of the 90%-10% (bumi- non bumi), previously.

You want to encourage or “keep” the top scholars, but at the same time, you are worried about the “gap” or perhaps, one may puts it, “it is one of our special privileges.” As such, we must have “much more”, always.

I do accept that it is provided in the Federal Constitution and I am to abide to it, but, it is the application which I am seeking clarification.

I asked myself, what is this? Art 153, is sensitive? We, non bumiputera cannot raise or question its application? Can I? In fact, earlier, MP for Pasir Salak during the ninth Malaysia Plan (mid term review) called on the government to provide a course on - the origin of different races in Malaysia.

Dear readers, let me have your views, strictly on scholarship , please. Thank you.

Wednesday July 2, 2008 (The Star)
MP: Help non-bumis but don’t mess with quota

“The ratio of 80% for bumiputra students should remain. I am ready to face the Education Minister for (saying) this,” he said, when debating on the motion on the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia
Plan.
(part of the report only)