Student Black Shirt Campaign Not Protest Shows Uitm Identity Vc

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Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) vice chancellor Sahib Sahibuddin said the campaign by the varsity’s students to wear black was not a form of protest but an expression of identity.
“For me, this is not a protest, because if we want to protest, it has to be against a decision. Actually, no decision has been made.
“The Student Representative Council (MPP) itself says this is not a protest and I think this is an expression of students showing their identity as UiTM students,” he said.
“They feel, in terms of the Act 173 1976, or the UiTM Act, is indeed item 1(A) which states UiTM was established based on Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which is hotly debated,” he said when met in Kuala Lumpur.
Sahib said this after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between UiTM and Ohio University yesterday.
It should be noted that Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek argued there is no provision in the law that prohibits the admission of non-bumiputera students into UiTM.
He said various quarters have twisted the meaning of Article 153 of the Constitution and its relation to UiTM.
He pointed out that Article 153(2) of the Constitution allows the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to determine a reasonable proportion of educational privileges for the Malays and the natives and Sabah and Sarawak, but that Article 153(1) clearly states the legitimate interests of other communities must be safeguarded when utilising said provision.
On May 15, UiTM’s MPP called on students to wear black to protest the plan to open the university’s parallel pathway cardiologist technical training programme to non-bumiputera medical officers.
They also asked students to upload photos with the placard #MahasiswaUiTMBantah on social media platforms in support of the campaign.
“The objective of the establishment of UiTM is to ensure that students who are less able among bumiputeras gain access to higher education.
“We unanimously support that UiTM remains with the original objective of its establishment, which is to protect and advance bumiputera students as a defence bulwark of the nation’s privileges and progress,” said UiTM’s MPP.
UiTM is the only university that offers a parallel pathway programme in collaboration with the National Heart Institute (IJN) in the field of cardiothoracic surgery.
Foreign students to generate income
Meanwhile, Sahib said the establishment of UiTM was to increase the share of bumiputera equity in the national economic sector.
He said if the problems of bumiputera can be dealt with, then the problems of the country will also be solved.
Asked about UiTM’s action to allow the admission of foreign students but not local non-bumiputera students, Sahib said the programme aimed to generate income for the university.
“Our approach ensures that these students contribute because we charge full fees. For me, it is easy, if the government gives full funds to UiTM, there is no need for us to take them in.”
Sahib also said UiTM currently has around 1,600 international students in postgraduate studies.
He said this was in line with the national higher education strategic development plan to ensure public universities are not fully dependent on public funds.
On Saturday, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh waded into the fray, saying no party can insist that UiTM be opened to non-bumiputera.
“Don’t disturb UiTM, UiTM will always belong to the bumiputera first, now, and forever,” he said. - Mkini

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