KUCHING, Aug 19: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth Chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan opines that Malaysia should be rid of the notion that whoever controls politics grasps all economic and educational opportunities.
“Obtaining or securing something via political affiliation and race demography is not only prejudice but may kill excellence instead.
“Not only it insults human wisdom but it denies excellence of it intrinsic values.
“As such we have to do away with the notion that one who controls politics grasps the economic and all other opportunities,” said Snowdan in a statement.
The Youth and Sports Assistant Minister said with the same principle should apply to education.
“Entry to university and access to scholarship, for example, should be given priority to those with best academic results. Quota comes second.”
“We recognize the fact that this is a multiracial country, where adjustments are necessary for certain groups of people. However, we must give chance and allow merits to prevail,” said Snowdan who is Balai Ringin Assemblyman.
He pointed that in the 80s, Malaysia came up with the National Economic Policy (NEP) which aimed to restructure the society through education blueprint.
“This policy had been widely criticised as discriminatory and had caused dissatisfaction which was followed by ‘brain drain’ where the best left Malaysia,” said Snowdan.
Snowdan said this in supporting PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing’s call to adhere to the principle of meritocracy in developing Malaysia.
Citing Singapore as an example, Masing said the nation has been upholding the principle of meritocracy in nation development and has become a nation which Malaysia cannot keep up with. — DayakDaily
