MP SPEAKS | Andrew Sia is a semi-retired writer who does not have the machinery or might of Umno leaders.

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s actions are pressuring writers into silence.

In contrast, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki took a more civilised approach. He rebutted Sia with his own article entitled “Vicious slander in calling UiTM ‘apartheid academy’”. That should be the way.

If Akmal doesn’t agree with Sia, he should write an article and explain why rather than calling for nationwide police reports to intimidate writers and suppress discussion of ideas. Malaysia cannot progress if we refuse to debate how we can improve.

As Amanah leader Mohamed Hanipa Maidin has pointed out, involving the police in this matter is against the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution. Precious police resources could be better utilised to curb robberies and snatch thefts rather than being involved in what is essentially a political issue.

Akmal is taking great offence against Sia for something that he himself actually agrees with - that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) is just for bumiputera. He simply didn’t like the words Sia used to describe the situation.

But why get so worked up when the writer is just calling a spade a spade? Why try to cover up the naked truth?

The term “apartheid” has been used by others in Malaysia. For example, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said: “We do not want apartheid-like policies to exist in a fair and democratic Malaysia”.

Similarly, former Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph commented: “If you are a Malaysian, you are a Malaysian… If there are two forms of citizenship, it begs the question if there is apartheid in Malaysia.”

Neither Hassan nor Jerald were using the word in the extreme and oppressive South African sense. They were referring to racial discrimination in general. So was Sia. However, Akmal chooses to focus narrowly on the meaning of apartheid as the “cruel racial segregation policy in South Africa.” Why?

‘Our big family’

Two weeks ago, the UiTM student council launched a campaign to protest the proposal of allowing fewer than ten non-bumiputera students into its cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme to become heart surgeons.

This is despite the fact that money from taxpayers of all races funds UiTM and that these surgeons would save both bumiputera and non-bumiputera lives.

Yet foreign non-bumiputeras are welcomed into UiTM with open arms. It’s right there, in black and white, on the website: “We welcome all prospective international students (for) postgrad programmes. We look forward to seeing you become a part of our big family.” 

Don’t local non-Bumiputeras deserve to be part of that “big family” too? Why the discrimination?

The UiTM student council has issued an open apology for organising the protests. They apologised for a “confusing” campaign and added that sensitive racial issues should not have been raised at all.

I applaud their humility. Since the student council has chosen to cool things down, it would be wise for politicians to follow their example of moderation and work to reduce rather than raise the racial temperature.

LIM LIP ENG is Kepong MP.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.