Matriculation seats for Indians: Meeting with Maszlee soon
By K Pragalath
PUCHONG: Principal secretary to rural and regional development deputy minister G Sivamalar confirmed that a meeting with Education Minister Maszlee Malik is in the works to resolve the matriculation seats for Indians controversy.
“We are waiting for him to return on Tuesday. All the students with 8As and above should be allowed to join the matriculation courses irrespective of their races,” said Sivamalar who is also PKR women wing’s vice chief.
“This is just one suggestion. There are many ways of doing this. Abolishing STPM and sticking to just matriculation is also an option.
“If there is a standard entrance examination, parents and students would know where they stand exactly,” she added.
Controversy over the matriculation seats erupted after the new government announced that the 2200 seats under the former BN government was a one off offer. The number of seats was reduced to 700 this year.
Sivamalar came under fire yesterday even though she aired her dissatisfaction on Facebook.
“People voted PH in to bring policy changes. Not to continue the same old race based policies,” she stated.
That raised the ire of MIC Youth member Punithan Paramsivan.
“What you mean by race based policies? Are you ok with the matriculation?” he asked.
He highlighted the example of Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran stating that he did not have a response.
Sivamalar countered that Kula’s statement was that he did not have a response at the spur of the moment.
Punithan however did not take the response lightly.
“You are just denying the actual fact that none of the PH leaders are taking clear responsibility for the issue. You name me one person who is in charge.”
One Facebook user even suggested that PH should ensure their leaders come without links to Umno.
Another user L Jeyasreedaran questioned what were the ethnic Indian ministers and deputy minister were doing.
“No one can voice out about any issues for our community? Before election everyone spoke like super heroes. Now everyone are like dummies.
The Leaders Online previously reported Minister in Prime Minister’s Department P Waythamoorthy stating that a solution to this issue would be announced by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
