World · Malaysia Bureau
Mara Chair Urges UiTM Students to Defend Constitutional Privileges
The chairman of Mara has called on students at UiTM to resist what he characterised as equality-driven agendas, urging them to uphold constitutional protections for Malays and indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak.
LSN Malaysia ·
Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, chairman of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), has appealed to students at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) to remain steadfast in protecting constitutionally-enshrined privileges granted to Malays and the native populations of Sabah and Sarawak.
Dusuki's remarks appear directed at countering what he views as movements promoting equality that could undermine these longstanding provisions. The privileges, established under Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution, grant special rights and positions to bumiputeras, or indigenous peoples of Malaysia.
UiTM, a prominent public university primarily serving bumiputera students, has been a focal point in ongoing national debates concerning affirmative action, equity, and access to higher education in Malaysia. The institution's admission policies have periodically drawn scrutiny from those advocating for merit-based or more inclusive enrollment criteria.
Dusuki's address to students underscores persistent divisions within Malaysian society over how to balance constitutional protections with evolving concepts of fairness and equal opportunity. The matter remains a sensitive topic in Malaysian politics and public discourse, touching on questions of national identity and social cohesion.