KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry reasserts that the proposal to open Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) admission to non-bumiputra students has never been discussed in any ministry or Cabinet meetings.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said that certain parties deliberately created controversy around the issue in an attempt to undermine UiTM's original policy and objectives and this has resulted in confusion and disputes among various parties.
"As I stated on May 2, the ministry has never discussed or permitted the admission of non-bumiputra students to UiTM, as has been played up today.
"The Higher Education Ministry strictly adheres to Clause 1A of Act 173, which states that UiTM was established in accordance with the provisions of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution," he said in a statement Wednesday (May 15).
Previously, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) urged UiTM to prioritise public health policy by temporarily opening a postgraduate cardiothoracic surgery programme to non-bumiputra (Malaysian) students.
MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz had argued that a critical shortage of specialists in the country, especially cardiothoracic surgeons, was resulting in prolonged waiting periods for critical surgeries and unnecessary deaths.
Meanwhile, UiTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Shahrin Sahib, in a separate statement, reiterated that the current enrolment policy is permanent, and there will be no discussion in the UiTM Senate or University Executive Council meetings regarding the matter.
He said UiTM firmly adheres to Clause 1A of Act 173, under which UiTM was established in accordance with the provisions of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.
"I urge all students to concentrate on fulfilling their responsibilities.
"Make the most of your valuable time to study and gain as much knowledge as possible for an uncertain future. This is the real struggle of a student," he said. - Bernama
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