Until recently, my view on the state of the Malaysian construct was one of misalignment. The voices of the people are misaligned with the thoughts and wants of our leaders. Today, those views have disintegrated with the scene of UiTM students demonstrating for their right to remain exclusive.
My first thought on the negative reaction to the Selangor MB’s suggestion was one of natural indifference. Politicising and attacking mere thoughts are a trademark of Malaysian mainstream psyche. But watching the student’s protest cast a dark shadow over any hopes of a new outlook for our country.
Being a student of UPM, and seeing the people around me shaping a new Malaysia, I have held on to a feeling of optimism on the future. To know now that my compatriots in UiTM are against a new dawn, I am broken. But I have close friends there and I know the views of those demonstrating are not shared by everyone. There could have been an element of herd mentality causing thousands to turn up.
It is a travesty that politicians have encouraged the demonstrations, and the minister in charge even fanned the flames with his statement soon after Khalid’s. I find it hard to imagine that any of the students demonstrating will have any action taken against them through the AUKU.
I guess the only way to show these people is by hitting them where it hurts. I know for a fact that UiTM grads are the least in demand of any public university for jobs except for government posts. Any company believing in a new Malaysia should freeze employing all UiTM graduates.
But let me put it bluntly to UiTM.
Even if you open up 1% intake to non-bumiputras, I don’t know one non-bumi who’d even consider walking through your doors.
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