Thumbs up: (from left) Fatimah, Kuek and K. Uvan said they are happy with the government’s move. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
NIBONG TEBAL: Voters in Sungai Bakap expressed joy for the announcement that all top SPM scorers, regardless of creed, could enter local university matriculation.
One of them was sundry shop owner Kuek Mong Yap, 65, whose son scored 10As but did not qualify for matriculation.
“It was 14 years ago. My son is in his 30s now. He went through Form Six and then entered a public university.
“To allow all top SPM scorers to enter matriculation is a wonderful development,” he said.
Sungai Bakap voter Fatimah Musa, 30, said it was top-notch motivation for earnest school students to strive hard and get as many As as they can.
“It will provide students with the opportunity to improve their career prospects after graduation,” she said.
Fatimah from Sungai Kechil said the move by the government will allow top SPM students to pursue their dreams without the financial burden often associated with higher education.
However, she hopes that the implementation of the move will safeguard the quota for Malay students entering the matriculation program in public universities.
K. Uvan, a 23-year-old voter, suggested reducing the matriculation guarantee requirement from 10As to 5As at SPM.
“If those who score 5As are also active in school extracurricular activities, they should be guaranteed a place too,” he said.
The matriculation programme of public universities, set up in 1998, was originally a preparatory programme for bumiputra students to qualify for further studies.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced last Sunday that students, regardless of background, who scored 10As and above would receive a guaranteed spot in the matriculation programme beginning next year.
Anwar said the decision was reached after a Cabinet meeting last Friday.
At a Perikatan Nasional press conference yesterday, state PAS commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff said any policies that are good for the people should be welcome.
“We don’t have a problem with that,” he said.
Pakatan Harapan’s Sungai Bakap by-election candidate, Dr Joohari Ariffin, from PKR, said the move is fair and appropriate and urged the government to consider those in rural areas who get fewer than 10As, considering their lack of access to tuition and the internet.
