From Malaysiakini,

University intake: True meritocracy needed 4:40pm Fri May 28th, 2004 Opposition leader and DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang today called on the Cabinet to decide on a common university entrance examination to ensure that genuine meritocracy is practised. "Malaysia must get out of the ‘denial syndrome’ that we are practising a true and genuine form of meritocracy, which will continue to be a source of national disunity," he said in a statement. "So long as there is the ‘Malaysian mould of meritocracy’, which is merely a reminder to all that there is only meritocracy in label but not in substance, the annual intake of students will be a source not only of individual disappointments and frustrations, but even more serious, national unity," he added. The meritocracy system was implemented in 2002 to replace the quota system, which had set a 55:45 ratio for enrolment of bumiputeras and non-bumiputeras respectively. Under this new system, entrance to public universities are by way of two examinations - matriculation and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM). Only 10 percent of Mara matriculation courses are open to non-bumiputeras. Many have decried this system as being unfair as the one-year matriculation programme is deemed to be not on par with the more trying two-year STPM examination. No exception Lim said this year’s intake comprising 38,892 students into public universities was no exception because of the ‘differential and discriminatory’ application of two different entry examinations. Of the total number of students admitted into public universities, 24, 837 (63.8%) were Bumiputera, 11,778 (30.3%) Chinese and 2,277 Indians (5.9%). The opposition leader also noted that 1,774 students obtained the maximum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.0. Among the STPM students, 527 obtained the maximum CGPA - Chinese (503), Indians (23) and Bumiputera (1). For matriculation, there were 1,247 students with the maximum CGPA - Bumiputera (789), Chinese (419) and Indians (39). "As only 10 percent of the Mara matriculation courses are open to non-Bumiputeras, this means that non-Bumiputera students representing 10 percent of the matriculation candidates secured 36.73 percent of the candidates with CGPA score of 4.0 as compared to the 63.27 percent securing the top score by bumiputera students representing 90 percent of matriculation candidates," Lim said. The DAP chairperson added that if Malaysia is serious and genuine about meritocracy, then it must be prepared to have a common university exam. "No Malaysian will object to an intake policy based on ‘merit coupled with need’ to ensure other important considerations of proper ethnic and socio-economic representation are also taken into account. "But these considerations should be kept completely separate and distinct from the system to establish and determine academic meritocracy in a common university entrance examination," he said. Students’ plight The Star today highlighted the plight of Murali Silvarajoo and other students, who despite scoring high CGPA scores, failed to gain admission into the courses of their choice. Murali, who scored straight As in the STPM examination, was crestfallen when he discovered that he did not qualify to do medicine. He was instead offered Chemical Engineering. "I cannot believe it. I am really shocked and disappointed," he said, adding that he would file an appeal on the matter. Another high scorer, Jenifer Kua, who obtained a CGPA of 3.92, was not given any of the eight courses she had applied for. She was instead offered a course she had never heard of. "I applied for medicine, pharmacy and dentistry but was offered some course called Pemulihan Biodiversiti (Biodiversity Rehabilitaion) at Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia. I have not even heard of this place," she lamented.

Meritocracy is still a hot topic for debates. There is certainly much controversy with regards to the selection of students. The discrepancy in standard between the matriculation and STPM appears evident despite vehement denials by the education authorities that they are of equivalent standard. But it is clear that these 2 systems are bound by different rules, curriculum and examination standards. If they are of the same standard, then why have 2 systems? Why can't all students be measured by the same examination?

I think the answers are pretty obvious. The quota system still exists but has been "discretely" disguised. Imagine a 5A STPM student cannot qualify to do medicine. I can almost bet you that there will be many matriculation students with inferior scores getting into medicine. The Government often laments on the brain drain occuring in Malaysia. Unfortunately , they are not doing the necessary things to stem this trend. I am sure a student of Murali's calibre will be quickly snared by other countries, in particular Singapore, which recognises talent.

Malaysia is still pretty much segregated racially and this divide is set to widen even further. We must not fool ourselves into believing that all is well. Media propagandas often paint a good picture of racial harmony but is it a true reflection of the current situation? If the basic tool for racial integration ie our education system, still appears racially segregated, how can we then expect future generations to forge a cohesive partnership between races in Malaysia?

The Government needs to be serious when implementing meritocracy. We only appear half-hearted, with certain quarters still reluctant to completely relinquish favouritism. The verdict for now is "No, there is no meritocracy as of yet". It appears that the Government has its own definition of meritocracy, similar to their re-defining of the word democracy.

Interesting statistics