[Letter to the Editor]
By Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan
It was reported in The Star newspaper (November 3, 2024) that admission into five Sarawak-owned universities will be based on merit. The universities involve are University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), Swinburne University, Curtin University Malaysia, i-CATS University College and the Centre for Excellence in Technology Sarawak (Centexs).
On the surface, this announcement appears good. But it is not a novel idea. Perhaps in Malaysia including in Sarawak where not only admission to public universities but also consideration to enter government services, being awarded licenses have been based on some reserved privileges for indigenous people such as the Malays and those classified as bumiputera or sons of the soil. This provision is provided for in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia. The article seeks to safeguard the “special position of the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak” who are to be given preferential treatment for scholarships, public service positions, and business licenses and permits.
Article 153 (1) states: It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
Article 153 was clearly operationalised, that was translated into actionable policy in the New Economic Policy (NEP) launched in the Second Malaysia Plan, 1971-1975. The policy ended in 1990, but the spirit of the policy continued and even went beyond the implied original intention, to uplift Malay and bumiputera status to a point that the former could stand and compete on their own two feet.
The questions that arise from the announcement on this would be:
(1) is the action by the deputy minister not going against the Federal law, the highest law of the land? If he wants to change a policy that is tied to a law, then get the law changed first without risking backfire for going counter to it. The duty to supervise this law is given by the constitution to HM the King who, according to the same article, “… shall … safeguard the special position …”
However, it could be argued that this concerned a private, state-owned universities. Still, how does it look for a minister to go around a law that they are supposed to uphold?
(2) how will this new policy ensure that those who have been disadvantaged by different types of schools, locations of schools, access of schools to facilities be narrowed. It is generally seen that urban students performed better because they have access to better facilities compared to their rural counterparts. Studies and statistics have shown disparities in performances of student who come from urban and rural schools.
For lawmakers to fully understand and appreciate this issue, they should first test their hypothesis by sending their children to rural schools. Perhaps by doing this they can have a better empirical feel of the issues and worries of lesser economically-endowed families struggling to put food on the tables and at the same time sent their children to schools.
Government must not pursue populist policy for quick electoral endorsement. Not too long ago, the same government also announced that free university schooling will benefit Sarawak students. This was received with jubilation especially among families that find it hard or could not support their children’s education. Soon thereafter, this announcement was clarified and that free education is for Sarawak students in selected courses or programme endorse by the government. These “endorsed courses or programmes” tend to be in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM. This alone would have filtered many, and selection would favored students from certain backgrounds.
Before any fundamental change that is to be introduced, a comprehensive and in-depth study must be carried out to determine practicality and effectiveness as well as ensuing challenges. This is to ensure that government policy and action do not jump from one to another mode only in name but in the end ended up widening gaps that is already wide between students and their families from different backgrounds.
Lawmakers need to be reminded that the policy they make are funded by the rakyat’s money and thus they answer to the people for the policies and programs that they introduce. No programme and policy is good until they address and narrow gaps whether that be in education and access to it. Education is the key to resolving these gaps and such profound policy need thorough and careful study before made into actionable programmes for the benefit of all Sarawakians regardless of backgrounds.
Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan is currently a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and at the Institution of Malay Rulers Chair at UiTIM.
This is the personal opinion of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.
— DayakDaily
