1-7-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) In a move aimed at reducing long-standing tensions within Malaysia’s education system, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has revealed that the decision to open spots in matriculation programmes to all top Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) scorers, regardless of race, was driven by a desire to foster a more balanced and inclusive approach.
Addressing the Prime Minister’s Department’s monthly assembly, Anwar acknowledged that the Bumiputera quota for matriculation college admission has been a source of controversy, with differing views on minority rights and the constitutional provisions safeguarding Bumiputera privileges.
“So we (the Cabinet who made the decision) took a balanced approach. If they are our citizens, we should protect them. Therefore, we must accept the reality of meritocracy,” Anwar stated, emphasizing the need to embrace a fair and equitable system that recognizes academic excellence.
The prime minister’s remarks shed light on the rationale behind the recent announcement that all students who score 10As and above in the SPM, Malaysia’s national secondary school examination, will be guaranteed a spot in matriculation colleges starting with the 2025 intake, irrespective of their racial or cultural background.
Anwar, however, was quick to reassure that the existing Bumiputera quota for the matriculation programme would remain intact, underscoring the government’s commitment to upholding the constitutional provisions designed to safeguard the rights and interests of the Bumiputera community.
The decision, made by the Cabinet last Friday, was a deliberate step towards addressing the longstanding issue of fairness in education, a matter that has often been the subject of heated debates and controversies.
“This should ease the ‘tension’ that the education ministry faces almost every year (when matriculation placements are announced). In such matters, the heated political climate can sometimes lead to racial and social tensions,” Anwar cautioned, highlighting the potential for such issues to exacerbate existing societal divides if left unaddressed.
Racial quotas for admission to public universities were abolished in 2002, a move hailed as a significant step towards a more equitable higher education landscape. However, matriculation colleges and certain foundation courses have maintained a 90% quota for Bumiputeras, a policy that has drawn criticism from various quarters.
By extending matriculation opportunities to top-performing students from all backgrounds, Anwar’s administration aims to strike a delicate balance between upholding constitutional provisions and embracing meritocracy, a principle that has long been advocated as a cornerstone of an inclusive and progressive education system.
