THE student union of Universiti Teknologi MARA’s (UiTM) has voiced strong opposition to a proposal for the institution to take in people of all races for a medical programme.
It was recently suggested that the university open its cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme to non-Bumiputera students.
The UiTM Student Representative Council (MPP) urged students to wear black tomorrow to protest the idea. Students were encouraged to join the #MahasiswaUiTMBantah campaign and use the hashtag on social media.
MPP said UiTM was incepted to protect the special position of Malays, Orang Asli, and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.
Citing Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, it said the university was built to ensure that lower-income Bumiputera students had access to higher education.
“UiTM MPP believes that the university is the one Bumiputera educational institution that has been protected till now,” it said in a statement.
"We urge UiTM to preserve the original objective of its foundation, which is to protect and develop Bumiputera students.”
Prof Dr Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar – who is on the board of studies of the UiTM-IJN cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme – recently proposed that the university open the programme to non-Bumiputera.
He said such a move would be temporary pending the development of a similar programme in Universiti Malaya. – May 15, 2024.
