KU NAN CRITICISED FOR ‘SLOW LEARNERS’ REMARK
Association president shares list of university’s luminaries in FB post
FEDERAL Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has been taken to task over his statement that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) is a place for those who did not excel in their education.
UiTM Alumni Association president Datuk Mohd Zaini Hassan, on the association’s Facebook yesterday, gave a list of the higher learning institution’s luminaries to counter Tengku Adnan’s statement.
In the list were former Permodalan Nasional Bhd president Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, as well as Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who are ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Others in the list include AirAsia co-founder Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, Boustead Holdings Bhd chairman and group managing director Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, Sabah Chief Minster Tan Sri Musa Aman, Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, DRBHicom chairman Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Khamil Jamil and Perbadanan Nasional Bhd managing director Datuk Syed Kamarulzaman Syed Zainol Khodki Shahabudin.
Others included Communications Adviser to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Farid Ridzuan, Bursa Saham Kuala Lumpur former president, the late Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdul Majid, and singers Ito Mohd of the Blues Gang, Datuk Sheila Majid, as well as Usop and Sani of Kopratasa fame.
Also included were veteran journalist and blogger Datuk Ahiruddin Atan and Media Prima’s Television Networks News and Current Affairs deputy group managing editor Datuk Manja Ismail.
Zaini was commenting on a statement by Tengku Adnan, who was delivering a speech at Majlis Anugerah Nadi Negara 2017 here on Sunday, where the latter had described UiTM students as “slow learners”.
However, Tengku Adnan claimed his speech had been distorted and that he meant well.
“It was a function attended by students and I did not expect the media to be there, so I spoke openly and I meant well.
“I didn’t expect that it would be spun out of proportion like this,” said Tengku Adnan at his office at the Putra World Trade Centre here.
A video showing a part of Tengku Adnan’s speech at the function, where he cited that even “slow learners” had a place to pursue their studies to gain better opportunities in life at UiTM, went viral yesterday.
The clip was pounced upon by opposition factions and an online tirade against him ensued, with several opposition personalities calling him to retract his statements.
Tengku Adnan, who is also Umno secretary-general, said in addressing the students, he wanted them to appreciate the opportunities provided by institutions like UiTM, where students with lower grades were given a second chance to pursue studies, which would give them a better chance in life.
“In fact, that was the reason UiTM was formed. It was for secondor third-grade students, particularly those from the lowincome families, to further their studies.
“It was Umno’s plan, because we did not want anybody to be left out as the country progressed.”
Tengku Adnan said after delivering his speech at the Anugerah Nadi Kebangsaan 2017 gathering, he noticed that students in the audience had taken his message positively.
“This is another example of the opposition putting their spin on a non-issue to confuse the public,” he said.
“They did not listen to my whole speech and the message I was conveying. Instead, they extracted one part and used that against us.”