KEPALA BATAS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's guarantee that all Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia graduates with 10As and above will be offered places in matriculation and public university foundation programmes reflects the government's readiness to implement such a matter.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir said the government has suitable methods to ensure that all outstanding students secure places to further their studies, including at the matriculation level, without sacrificing the Bumiputera quota.
"There may be those who question this and that... yes, they have the right to ask about it, but the most important thing is that all who get 10As and above, as mentioned by the prime minister, we will facilitate.
"That has been explained by the prime minister, that there will be no sacrificing of the allocated quota because we want to provide those places.
"But what is certain is that all students who get 10As and above will be accepted, and we will work to ensure they get a place because they are the best students," he said.
Previously, MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong was reported to have questioned how the matriculation programme could accommodate all eligible students without affecting the Bumiputera quota.
Wee had said that although Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Zambry had issued statements regarding the matter, they did not specifically outline how it would be implemented based on the two main principles announced by the prime minister.
Zambry also assured that all applications received would be processed before the student placement process is carried out based on the availability of places for them to study.
"This is different in terms of numbers because the matriculation programme is implemented by the Education Ministry and it depends on the number of students taking the examination and will also be given places based on availability.
"As we know, some students will get places in matriculation, and some we will place at the university level, and we also have foundation programmes that we will allocate (student placements)," he explained.
He said it was not appropriate to continue questioning whether these outstanding students will truly get a place or not.
"When we state that we will provide places, then we will give places. So, don't ask how (we will provide the places).
"What is most important is that those who get 10A's and above will be given places," he said.