[UPDATED] UiTM remains Bumiputera-exclusive, UM offers cardiothoracic surgery course: Zambry

KUALA LUMPUR – Universiti Malaya, the country’s oldest university, is set to offer a cardiothoracic course starting in October.

This initiative is part of the Higher Education Ministry’s efforts to address the acute shortage of postgraduates in this field, said its minister, Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir.

He also noted that discussions have been conducted with multiple higher education institutions on this issue of late, expressing hope that they will emulate Universiti Malaya’s initiative.

“A misconception arose when the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) claimed that the cardiothoracic course is only offered at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and therefore, the ministry is working hard to reach the best solution to solve this issue, especially since the four cardiothoracic surgeons had ended their fellowship with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh through the Parallel Pathway.

“We are now actively seeking the best solution for this issue, and InshaAllah, this will be resolved in the near future.

“We also anticipate progress by October, with Universiti Malaya potentially considering offering this course to non-Bumiputera, followed possibly by other higher education institutions,” he responded to questions from Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor).

In saying this, Zambry affirmed that UiTM enrollment policies will remain exclusive to Bumiputera students in accordance with the UITM Act 1976 and Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which safeguard Bumiputera rights. 

There are no intentions to amend the university’s act, he said.

Article 153 includes the power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in setting quotas for the Malays, Sabah, and Sarawak, which is the basis of the Bumiputera agenda for the recruitment of UiTM students.

He added that the establishment of UiTM was a response to the shortage of trained professionals among the Bumiputera, particularly in the unskilled job sector.

“Meanwhile, the Bumiputera Economic Congress report this year indicates persistent economic disparities in average monthly income, corporate equity ownership, poverty rates, the availability of skilled labour, and professional qualifications.”

“Even the absolute poverty rate among Bumiputeras still needs continuous efforts to improve.

“Therefore, the maintenance of UiTM’s policy for the Malays, indigenous people, and natives of Sabah and Sarawak is still necessary in an effort to realise the government’s desire to bridge the gap between races, especially when it comes to socio-economic aspects,” he said.

During the question-and-answer session (MQT), Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim praised Zambry rather than the government, stating that Zambry had effectively defended UiTM’s exclusivity for Bumiputera students. 

Shahidan criticised Ramkarpal for questioning the amendment to the UiTM Act 1976, suggesting that instead of raising such issues, he should inquire about the introduction of cardiothoracic postgraduate programmes at other universities.

The issues involving the enrolment of non-Bumiputera into UiTM came to a head in May when UiTM’s Prof Dr Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar reportedly said that he did not believe legislative amendments were necessary to admit non-Bumiputera’s into the university’s postgraduate programmes. 

Raja Amin serves on the board of studies for the UiTM-IJN cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme.

His remarks irked many sectors of the public, including Zambry, who had said on May 15 that there was no discussion to open UiTM to non-Bumiputera.

UiTM’s student representative council had previously issued a statement urging students to protest against an appeal by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) for UiTM to put public health interests first by temporarily opening the programme to non-Bumiputera, amid a shortage of specialists and surgeons in the field. – June 26, 2024