Sheikh Madani don't talk cock

According to Malaysia Now, Malaysians have expressed their dissatisfaction on social media with Anwar’s response to a teenager who asked whether the government planned to do away with the bumiputera quota system. The prime minister’s reaction was seen as bullying, overshadowing the student’s genuine and non-political question.

During a dialogue session at Kolej Matrikulasi Pulau Pinang in Kepala Batas yesterday, the student requested that she be given time to explain some context before posing her question. 

“When will the quota system be abolished and replaced by a meritocracy system? My friends and I, as well as others that are not known, are affected by this quota system, all because they don’t have bumiputera status,” she was heard saying in a video of the event posted on Anwar’s official Facebook page.

However, Anwar cut her off before she could explain, saying he already understood the question and that he had already answered a similar question previously. “This is an important question but you need to understand history, you need to know about the social contract...,” he said.

Afterwards, he said the student should have refrained from discussing the quota system and instead should have pointed out specific cases of non-Malays being denied entry, allowing the government to address the situation.

MS : On this issue of educational opportunities for all, Syed Saddiq's needs-based proposal makes more sense than Anwar Ibrahim's "social contract" hogwash. Poverty and marginalization cut across ethnic groups.

And the politically-contorted policies over the decades have made it worse for the under-served across the board. This government as well as those which came before it know that to be a fact. Yet the ketuanan melayu drug which they continue to consume, comes in the way of clear thinking...and "keadilan".

Gerard Lourdesamy : The quota needs to be reviewed at some point in time. Based on the latest national census the Bumiputera make up 69.1% of the population. Rightfully, the quota should be 70% for Bumiputera and 30% for non-Bumiputera.

The current quota for matriculation set at 90% for Bumiputera and 10% for non-Bumiputera is simply unfair unjust and inequitable. In fact it violates Article 153 of the FC because it gives the Bumiputera a virtually monopoly all places in public institutions. That was never the intention of Article 153 and the social contract.

ScarletImpala4428 : I wonder how PM is going to explain that students from the same school are being discriminated..those with 2 or 3A can get matriculation, those with 7 or 8A cannot. Here there is no rural element coming in.

Just as all form 1 students move tyo form 2 and then to form 3, allow all students to do matriculation. You can use the same colleges by runnung two sessions, or the matriculation with now take 2 years to complete. Note that everyone will agree that a longer matriculation period will help the weak students..they have more time to improve.

Or allow private colleges to offer matriculation with the Govt sponsoring the poor students. Then everyone gets the opportunity, no one loses out and everyone will be happy..wont they

DonGetMeWrong : It is pathetic that Anwar uses the narrative of the non Malays would faced worst discrimination as compared to his Madani govt if PN wins in elections. So that means the non Malays has to put up with such discrimination in perpetuity no matter it is the Madani, Keluarga, 1 Malaysia or Hadhari govt?

Koel : The PM's office should be better prepared to justify a system that is seen as discriminatory. A non-bumi child from B40 background will be bewildered by accusations of unfairness to rural students from an office that appears to be unfair to someone from her background.

And Mr PM, speaking only of rural poverty and neglecting the issue of the urban poor of all races indicates an unwillingness to engage with realities on the ground - realities that have been raised by the last UN rapporteur's visit to Malaysia.

Using rhetoric from the 60s is a weak approach. Dont wait for students to call you out for this weakness. The person(s) you should be more annoyed with is yourself and your advisers for not having sound reasons for old and outdated practices.

Vijay47 : Sorry, Anwar Ibrahim, but your snake-oil salesman talent is soaring beyond the ceiling. But more of that later. Your impatient, hectoring response to a fully valid question from the young lady reveals the desperate panic you must be suffering over the current support for you and your fancy Maidani government which is plummeting southwards beyond Singapore.

What do you mean you have “already answered the question”? Are you some state-of-the-art Arab-speaking Aristotle whose every word the world must remember with bated breath? She asked you a civil question, you just answer it in a civil manner, prime minister or not. Coming to the matter of university intake, you are following the exact steps set by your master Mahathir Mohamad – you make some inane reference to the Constitution.

Nobody denies that the bumiputras must continue to be issued crutches even after 60 years. But have you asked yourself why this failure, after all, the government has always been Malay-dominated? Leaving aside MARA and the hundreds sent overseas on scholarships funded by us, where in the Constitution does it demand that intake into public universities must be overwhelmingly in favour of bumiputras?

To the cruel, unjust exclusion of non-Malays who performed brilliantly? It appears that 9As are often viewed as inferior to 3As and 4Bs. And I am not even talking about appointment into the public service. Tell me, Anwar Ibrahim, with these kinds of policies, when do you think the bumiputras will ascend to their proud, rightful presence in the Malaysian success story?