KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has expressed outrage over a recent article by Malaysiakini columnist Andrew Sia, in which Sia referred to Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) as an “Apartheid Academy.”
Akmal also said he plans to file a police report against both MalaysiaKini and Sia for what he described as a defamatory and incendiary piece that undermines national unity.
In a statement posted on his Facebook profile, the Merlimau assemblyman claimed Sia’s column misrepresented the role and purpose of UiTM.
“I read an article today by a writer named Andrew Sia, published by Malaysiakini. I am disgusted by the mindset that claims to be based on ‘freedom of speech’ but is increasingly poisoning our unity,” he said.
He elaborated on the historical and constitutional basis for UiTM’s existence, explaining that it was established to uplift the educational standards and opportunities for Malays and Bumiputeras, not to oppress other ethnic groups.
“UiTM was built to elevate the education and expertise of Malays and Bumiputeras. This institution was not developed to oppress other races but to support Bumiputeras who were lagging in their own country. This is the spirit behind Article 153 of the Federal Constitution,” he explained.
Akmal drew a sharp distinction between apartheid, a system of racial segregation historically practised in South Africa, and the affirmative action policies underpinning UiTM.
“Apartheid was a brutal policy of racial segregation that elevated whites over blacks in South Africa. It is a despised policy, hated by everyone, including Umno and all Malays.
“When such heinous accusations are hurled at our educational institution, can we not be angered?” he questioned.
In a video accompanying the post, Akmal also said “This accusation (of apartheid) is shallow and stupid, if we practised apartheid, you, your children, and your family would not even be able to study in this country.”
He defended UiTM as a symbol of Bumiputera advancement and pointed out the existence of other educational institutions that cater to non-Bumiputera communities, such as Chinese and Tamil national-type schools, which are supported by government funding.
“The Malaysian government, which is predominantly Malay, still allows and supports educational institutions like SJK(C) and SJK(T), showing our acceptance and understanding of cultural rights,” he noted.
Akmal also touched upon the broader implications of Sia’s article on national unity and the sensitivity of the Malay community towards such criticisms.
He also called for Malaysiakini to remove the article and for Sia to issue an immediate apology.
“The Malay community is forgiving and open, but when we are constantly insulted like this, how can we be expected to accept even slight suggestions for openness? Calling UiTM an academy of apartheid is rudeness that must be addressed,” he said.
“I strongly urge MalaysiaKini to take down this article and demand an apology from Andrew Sia. Due to this rudeness, Umno Youth will mobilise its members to lodge reports against Malaysiakini and Andrew.”
Akmal’s statement follows an apology from UiTM’s student council for their #MahasiswaUiTMBantah campaign, which opposed the proposal to admit non-Bumiputera students to its cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate program.
The council admitted to unclear communication and pledged to avoid future misunderstandings.
This controversy was sparked by a recent appeal from the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) to temporarily open UiTM’s cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme to non-Bumiputera students due to a shortage of specialists in the field.
The student council’s campaign quickly garnered widespread attention and backlash online. – May 23, 2024