Parallel pathway: Don't be naive, Ramasamy chides Khairy
Published: May 23, 2024 3:07 PM
Former minister Khairy Jamaluddin was told not to be naive when discussing opposition to Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) letting in non-bumiputera students to its cardiothoracic programme.
“I’m surprised that Khairy, a former Umno politician and minister, is unaware of the combustible nature of ethnic politics in the country - especially those touching on the privileges of the bumiputera community,” said P Ramasamy.
The United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai) pro-tem chairperson was responding to a Free Malaysia Today report in which Khairy called the current UiTM controversy “foolish”.
“The debate over the issue of whether UiTM should be opened to non-bumiputera has become foolish,” said the former Rembau MP.
“From a limited, short-term exemption request, it has escalated into a debate that UiTM must be opened to non-bumiputera in general.
“We never intended to open UiTM broadly to non-bumiputera. This is about solving the need for current trainees who cannot be registered as specialists due to the unresolved parallel pathway issue,” said Khairy in a podcast.
Khairy Jamaluddin
Ramasamy in a statement today said the former Umno politician should know how politics are centred around race and religion in this country.
“There is no such thing as a temporary or permanent change in opening up race-based universities to others.
“Don’t be naive to think that a simple act of admitting non-bumiputera students into a medical specialist programme should not have been politicised,” he said.
On May 15, UiTM’s student council called on students to wear black to protest the plan to open up the programme to non-bumiputera.
They also asked students to upload photos with the placard #MahasiswaUiTMBantah on social media in support of the campaign.
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh also joined the fray on May 17 and sided with the students protesting.
Putrajaya must handle this
On that note, Ramasamy said the shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons in the country must be dealt with at the cabinet level – involving the Higher Education and Health ministries.
He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who advocated for reforms in the past but was seen as shying away from the issue.
READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | Parallel pathway - what is it and why is it an issue?
“Is it something that he (Anwar) cannot manage as was the case with the ‘sock-gate’ incident not too long ago?” Ramasamy asked.
“Shouldn’t the issue of lack of doctors and specialists be the concern of the government? Why should a particular university be targeted despite its obnoxious admission policy?
“While it is easier to blame UiTM for its myopic tendencies, the actual blame should be cast on the government - particularly the relevant ministries such as (Higher) Education and Health,” said the former Penang deputy chief minister II.
“There is no such thing as a temporary or permanent change in opening up race-based universities to others.
“Don’t be naive to think that a simple act of admitting non-bumiputera students into a medical specialist programme should not have been politicised,” he said.
On May 15, UiTM’s student council called on students to wear black to protest the plan to open up the programme to non-bumiputera.
They also asked students to upload photos with the placard #MahasiswaUiTMBantah on social media in support of the campaign.
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh also joined the fray on May 17 and sided with the students protesting.
Putrajaya must handle this
On that note, Ramasamy said the shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons in the country must be dealt with at the cabinet level – involving the Higher Education and Health ministries.
He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who advocated for reforms in the past but was seen as shying away from the issue.
READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | Parallel pathway - what is it and why is it an issue?
“Is it something that he (Anwar) cannot manage as was the case with the ‘sock-gate’ incident not too long ago?” Ramasamy asked.
“Shouldn’t the issue of lack of doctors and specialists be the concern of the government? Why should a particular university be targeted despite its obnoxious admission policy?
“While it is easier to blame UiTM for its myopic tendencies, the actual blame should be cast on the government - particularly the relevant ministries such as (Higher) Education and Health,” said the former Penang deputy chief minister II.
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