KEPALA BATAS: Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional will lose all future elections if the unity government were to abolish Bumiputera quotas in higher learning institutions, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is PH chairman, also said calling for the system to be scrapped will “lead to turmoil in this country”, adding that Malaysia’s history and “social contract” must be taken into account in the discourse on the Bumiputera quota.
“If Anwar Ibrahim says scrap the quota system, we will lose all elections in this country and you will suffer more (if the country is run) by PAS and Bersatu. Understand that,” he said in a dialogue with Kolej Matrikulasi Pulau Pinang students here.
He was responding to a student who had asked if he would scrap the quota system, claiming that there were many Indian students who failed to get a place in public universities or colleges and had to appeal for a spot.
Anwar said should the current unity government be “wiped out” and PAS and Bersatu come to power, “… you know how they treat you”.
He said that meritocracy, while necessary, was flawed as it disadvantaged students from under-resourced schools in the rural parts who underperformed.
Meritocracy would only benefit top scorers from well-resourced schools, he said.
On appeals by non-Malay students who failed to get placements in the first intake, Anwar said he had instructed the education ministry to approve their appeals as some of them might not be from well-to-do families.
Last month, Anwar said quotas for Bumiputeras in institutions of higher learning should be maintained, while slots should also be given to high-achievers from other communities.
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