Anwar says matriculation spots opened to all top scorers to ease tensions
Published on: Monday, July 01, 2024
By: FMT
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the Bumiputera quota in matriculation admissions has been contentious, with debates over minority rights versus the Bumiputera privileges outlined in the constitution. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The government’s decision to admit all Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) top scorers, regardless of race, into matriculation programmes is intended to reduce tensions in the education system, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said the Bumiputera quota for admission to matriculation colleges had caused controversy at times, with some arguing against minority rights and others questioning the rights of Bumiputeras enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
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“So we (the Cabinet) took a balanced approach. If they are our citizens, we should care for them. Therefore, we must embrace the reality of meritocracy,” he said in his speech today at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister’s Department.
“This move should ease the ‘tension’ that the education ministry faces almost every year (when matriculation placements are announced). In this heated political climate, such matters can sometimes lead to racial and social tensions.”
However, Anwar also reiterated that the matriculation programme’s existing Bumiputera quota would remain unchanged, having regard to Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.
Yesterday, the prime minister announced that all students who score 10As and above in SPM, regardless of race or background, will be assured a spot in matriculation colleges starting with the 2025 intake.
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Anwar said the decision was made by the Cabinet last Friday to address the issue of fairness in education.
Racial quotas for admission to public universities were abolished in 2002. However, matriculation colleges maintain a 90% quota for Bumiputeras, while certain foundation courses are exclusively for Bumiputeras.
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Anwar said that while meritocracy was important, there was still a need for justice and fairness to avoid disadvantaging marginalised and poor communities.
Citing John Rawl’s concept of “justice as fairness” and Michael Sandel’s “tyranny of meritocracy”, he said it was unfair to expect students from underprivileged backgrounds to compete on equal terms with those from well-equipped urban schools.
“Expecting students from places like Manek Urai to compete with Malay College (Kuala Kangsar) or (SMJK) Chung Ling, which have urban facilities, is unfair. Similarly, expecting (these elite schools) to compete with secondary schools in Kapit (Sarawak) is also unfair,” he said.
“So while we support meritocracy, we still need to uphold the principles of justice and fairness. If we focus solely on meritocracy, those who are marginalised and poor will continue to suffer.
“We can uphold meritocracy without rigidly adhering to it.”
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