KUALA LUMPUR: The labelling of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) as an 'apartheid academy' is unnecessary as Malaysia has sufficient higher education institutions for all races.
Wanita Umno chief Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad said the original objective of UiTM's establishment as a university to protect the interests of Bumiputera students should remain and not be disrupted by other parties.
The former Higher Education Minister also said UiTM's agenda to increase Bumiputera participation in higher and professional education is a cornerstone of the national education system and its authenticity must be preserved.
"The controversy (surrounding UiTM) stirred by some irresponsible parties labelling the university as an 'apartheid academy' is unnecessary as the country has sufficient higher education institutions for all races.
"The number of public higher learning institutions (IPTA) and private higher learning institutions (IPTS) is sufficient in accommodating students of all races, including non-Bumiputera.
"Therefore, Wanita Umno urges all Malaysians to exercise their rights to freedom of speech responsibly and stop making fun of religion, race and ethnicity (issue) that can harm racial harmony in the country," she said in a statement, today.
Noraini was responding to a column published by portal Malaysiakini over the issue, criticising the university's student council against calls to admit non-Bumiputera students and labelled the university as an 'apartheid academy'.
This comes after certain calls were made by several quarters, including the Malaysian Medical Association, for UiTM to open its cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate training programme to non-Bumiputera trainees due to the shortage of specialists in the field.
UiTM is believed to be the only university in the country that offers a parallel pathway training programme via a collaboration with the National Heart Institute.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir on May 15 reiterated that there had been no discussions regarding the admission of non-Bumiputera students into UiTM.
He said the issue had not been considered at any level within the ministry or cabinet.