YOURSAY | 'UiTM policy depriving all M'sians of good healthcare... govt's deafening silence disgraceful.'

COMMENT | Remove disgraceful block to badly needed cardiac surgeons

Milshah: I think this was handled badly. The stakeholders were not consulted, and this resulted in a total meltdown in public relations.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) was borne out of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

True, there is a shortage of doctors, but you need to engage all the related stakeholders.

Otherwise, when it is suggested in the open, you see open arguments. A says B, B says C, it never ends.

I know there is a shortage, but this is UiTM, a bumiputera university, and it has to be handled correctly.

The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) should have engaged the students, the government, and everyone involved.

This may be a hassle, but that's the way to handle sensitive issues like that. I give an 'F' to stakeholder management on this issue.

You can't simply gung ho on such a sensitive matter. Now look at what has happened. Open arguments everywhere.

Does that solve the issue? No. If it gets worse, what would have been a good proposal to increase specialist doctors, may not happen, because the MMC handled this issue badly.

Koel: UiTM deserves to stumble along with its usual business.

But why is the media not also focusing on the Health Ministry and MMC stand-off in recognition of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS Ed)?

The problem started there and people responsible in these two agencies need to be publicly whipped for creating this problem in the first place. Who were they?

Is there a racist angle to all this, seeing as the non-bumiputera candidates are left high and dry?

Are we to believe that UiTM's postgraduate programme for cardiothoracic surgery training far outstrips the Edinburgh institution that was chartered in the 17th century?

Why was UiTM chosen as the twinning partner for the National Heart Institute (IJN) when it practises racial segregation in education?

Was this a deliberate policy to prevent capable non-bumiputera candidates from specialising?

Jay Tee: Ask why non-Malaysians can study and use bumiputera facilities at UiTM but not its citizens.

Ask why it’s difficult for an exception to be made in this case for non-bumiputera doctors to get cardiothoracic surgery certification, for the sake of national interest.

Ask why Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim cannot make a stand and be principled instead of holding his usual elegant silence. Ask what Madani means.

Sad Malaysian: I am perplexed that if there was a restriction on entry for minorities, why weren't other institutions considered first before UiTM was allowed to run the programme?

Was the parallel pathway allowed in the past to facilitate the minorities a path towards specialisation in the same field, but due to the current political/social climate, this is being closed off to please a certain party?

I hope someone in the know can explain this. It looks like the authorities have yet to demonstrate much leadership in resolving this. It becomes an us vs them issue in this.

KK Voter: There are two separate issues here: one is MMC not recognising their qualifications, and the other is the refusal of UiTM to allow them a pathway to get recognised.

UiTM is a story for another day, in my opinion. MMC needs to get their act together to recognise foreign graduates, unless, of course, they get their qualifications from known degree mills, which is not the case here.

If I were to speculate - is it possible that MMC may be facing the same 'issue' as UiTM and refusing to recognise these surgeons because the decision-makers are local graduates who put their interests and ego above national interests?

Any research by any press will be appreciated.

DonGetMeWrong: Why are we still categorised as bumiputera and non-bumiputera? It sounded strange like there were two different citizens in Malaysia.

The white supremacy in South Africa championing the apartheid system has long been abandoned. Here in Malaysia, the system is still very much alive.

It is preposterous to allow UiTM to monopolise the programme, thus rendering other races unable to pursue such a specialised field except Malays.

Never mind if some people want to keep UiTM all to themselves, but the government must be fair and just to other races to pursue their ambition and open up the programme for other universities to offer to overcome the shortage of such surgeons.

It is about saving lives, not ‘ketuanan Melayu’ (Malay supremacy).

Letdown 2018: The non-Malays better realise fast their position in this coalition government.

Realistically they prefer to send their children to education establishments where the qualifications can get a job.

UiTM should be kept for the bumiputera but an alternative should be presented where tax money can also be spent.

Medical care should not be about race. When it is needed, it must be provided or one can die.

In the end, the ones most affected will be those who seek free or subsidised medical treatment.

HJ Angus: This disgraceful policy is depriving all Malaysians of good healthcare, unless Malaysian Muslims do not want non-Malays to treat them.

We have so many debilitating policies like this - such as the non-recognition of the UEC (United Exam Certificate) to enter local universities.

Even more disgraceful is the deafening silence from the government authorities who are supposed to put up clear directives.

Instead, we just get pitiful denials, thereby encouraging those who will forever impede Malaysia's progress.

Emperor Nasi Goreng: Sick and tired each time they beat the Article 153 drum!

As it was rightly pointed out, Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir doesn't have the guts to discuss this conundrum with the cabinet. God save Malaysia.

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