MIC leader slams unfair intake of Indian students, takes a dig at Kamalanathan
By Yiswaree Palansamy
A senior MIC leader has questioned the government over the reduced intake of Indian and Chinese students in local universities this year while slamming its representative in the education ministry.
Party treasurer-general Senator Datuk Jaspal Singh said it was the "most unfair and biased public university intake in the history of Malaysia."
Jaspal also expressed his disappointment with Deputy Education Minister II P. Kamalanathan, alleging the latter was part of a "deceitful trickery" which has mocked the trust the Indian community had placed in him.
He said the Chinese student intake had dropped from an average of 25 per cent over the years to 19 per cent this year.
Jaspal said the intake of Indian students stood at a miserable four per cent of the total 41,573 who were given places.
"Why is the intake of Indian students only 1,800 this year?" he questioned.
He said the intake of Indian students into public universities should be about 3,000 as many were doing matriculation courses.
Jaspal said Indian students with a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.0 were not even given their preferred course choices, with some not even being offered a place to study.
Only 442 of the 51,673 students who sat for the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia examination achieved a 4.0 CGPA nationwide.
"We should therefore ensure that they get access to the type of courses they prefer and that they stay in the country to contribute to future nation-building efforts," Jaspal added.
He took a swipe at Kamalanathan and the education ministry for allegedly "crushing the dreams and hopes of many parents".
"The country stands to lose as it denies capable future leaders who will steer the nation towards greater development," Jaspal told The Malaysian Insider today.
Equally contentious, Jaspal added, is the matriculation seats for Indian students.
"The MIC fought for the increase from 300 to 1,500, an undertaking which was given by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself," he said.
Jaspal said the ministry appears to be contradicting itself by issuing varying numbers at different times.
"Sadly, even Kamalanathan is part of this, issuing yesterday (Saturday) the most hypocritical statement that matriculation is for all races." he said.
Jaspal also reminded Kamalanthan that he has been minted to his current stature as the representative of the MIC and his community.
He said that MIC's higher education bureau had received complaints from 10 students who scored a perfect 4.0 CGPA but were denied the courses of their choice.
"This discrimination must stop. The majority of Indians are poor and the parents sacrifice much to educate their children."
He urged the prime minister to review this year's public university intake to ensure that the brightest and the best from the Indian community were accepted. - July 14, 2013.
