We, Pusat KOMAS, are deeply concerned by the recent protests at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) against the potential inclusion of non-Bumiputera students in selected programmes. While we acknowledge the historical context and intent behind UiTM’s establishment, we believe that the current calls to maintain Bumiputera exclusivity in all programs are not in line with the evolving needs of our nation.
Malaysia is facing a critical shortage of specialists, particularly in fields like cardiothoracic surgery. This shortage affects all Malaysians, regardless of ethnicity. Earlier this year, Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (MATCVS) president Datuk Dr Basheer Ahamed Abd Kareem claimed this delay will result in the death of one patient from each of the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) seven cardiothoracic centres nationwide every week.
Denying qualified individuals the opportunity to train in these fields based solely on their race hinders our nation’s progress and jeopardises the well-being of all citizens.
Introduced in 1971, the New Economic Policy (NEP) aimed to address socioeconomic disparities and create a more equitable society. While it has made significant strides in uplifting the Bumiputera community, it was never intended to be a permanent solution. As Tun Dr. Ismail, a key architect of the NEP, stated the “special position” was meant to be a temporary measure, a “handicap” to help the Malays catch up.
Given the temporary prescription of the NEP in its original design, the present debacle shows that this “handicap” is now in need of reassessment in line with human rights principles. Maintaining Bumiputera exclusivity in fields where there is a dire need for skilled professionals hinders national development and perpetuates inequality.
We urge the UiTM student representative council to consider a more nuanced approach. While the council viewed its recent protest as a win, the country’s ongoing shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons does not allow for this dialogue to end here.
Perhaps a targeted expansion could be a viable solution, where specific programmes – such as the cardiothoracic training – with critical shortages while maintaining the Bumiputera focus in others. This would uphold the spirit of the NEP while addressing the pressing needs of our nation.
It should be emphasised that the recent proposal of Prof Dr Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar – who is on the board of studies of the UiTM-IJN cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme – for the university to open the programme to non-Bumiputera students would be temporary pending the development of a similar programme in Universiti Malaya (UM).
At the same time, Pusat KOMAS also calls for cooler heads to prevail over the situation and for empathy to be shown to the non-Bumiputera doctors affected by this fiery debate. Pusat KOMAS calls upon the government to engage in a constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to find a solution that balances the needs of the Bumiputera community with the broader needs of the nation. Let us strive to build a Malaysia that is genuinely inclusive, where all citizens have equal opportunities to contribute to our shared prosperity, regardless of their ethnicity.
After all, a heart surgeon’s skill is not determined by their race, but by their ability to mend hearts, and patients’ needs for urgent medical intervention surely would not count on the ethnicity of the doctor coming to the rescue.
Statement by Pusat KOMAS
20 May 2024