Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara)’s decision not to fund future students of Tayloy’s University smacks of racism, says MCA.
Its publicity chief Chai Kim Sen said the announcement made by Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday cements his reputation as a “racist”.
“Ismail Sabri will always be inked as the minister who lashed out the “boycott Chinese businesses” call.
“His latest announcement for Mara will only further weaken his already-tarred reputation as a racist, and in this case, as a minister who openly undermines education development,” Chai said in a statement.
He condemned Ismail Sabri’s politicisation of education, and said the minister is sabotaging efforts by the Higher Education Ministry to raise the standards of local universities.
“Education institutes are expected to remain apolitical. Ismail Sabri has fuelled politicisation of education, and in so doing, committed a disservice against (Mara) as the public will associate (Mara) and himself as vindictive with race-based prejudices and policies,” Chai said.
Ismail Sabri (photo) yesterday said Mara will no longer fund students to Taylor’s University, but did not give a specific reason why.
He said it will be for future intakes, and will not affect Mara-funded students currently studying at Taylor's University.
His announcement comes after the private varsity terminated its contract with a bus operator, who used a bus bearing the university’s logo to ferry protestors to the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu in Kuala Lumpur rally last week.
Taylor's University said it has yet to recieve an official statement from Mara on the matter.
Mara was founded under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry in 1966, following a resolution at the Bumiputera Economic Congress in 1965, to provide developmental assistance, especially to rural dwellers.
It now has education institutions at various levels across the nation, and provides scholarships and education loans to bumiputera students.
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