SPA: Abolish racial quota system for matriculation entry

KUCHING: Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) says the racial quota for matriculation programme and admission to public universities should be abolished immediately.

Its chairman Datuk John Lau said this in response to the recent announcement by the Minister of Education concerning the quota system for matriculation programme, with intake increased from 25,000 to 40,000.

When the Pakatan Harapan government came into power on May 9, 2018, everyone was talking about a ‘New Malaysia’; that the government shall rule the country and treat everyone equally regardless of their racial background. Many top leaders spoke of a New Malaysia without referencing to their races. — Datuk John Lau, SPA president

“When the Pakatan Harapan government came into power on May 9, 2018, everyone was talking about a ‘New Malaysia’; that the government shall rule the country and treat everyone equally regardless of their racial background. Many top leaders spoke of a New Malaysia without referencing to their races.

“SPA advocates that enrolment for the matriculation programmes needs to be based on the students’ achievement and their CGPA or their SPM results.

“The racial quota system was used for the past 60 years. SPA prays that the authorities practise a Malaysian Malaysia,” he said in a press statement here Friday.

Lau added that with the quota system, many SPM high achievers, who were left out of the matriculation programme, had no way to go except to enrol themselves in private institutions of higher learning or go abroad to study in foreign universities.

“The government of the day and parents need to look ahead once the students graduate. Can they find jobs? Can they be engaged in business ventures?

“Employers will not engage anyone with low CGPA. Many employers would like to employ graduates with CGPA above 3.5. A matriculation admission is the threshold to assert quality control.

“SPA believes in quality, not quantity,” he said.