The Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (Mipas) today lauded the increase of Indian Malaysian state civil servants in Penang due to meritocracy and said it should be implemented nationwide.

"This would be the best way forward for the country - to be based on merit - that will make sure only good people with the right qualifications get offered jobs.

Barathidasan of MIPASMipas believes the same practice need to be implemented in other states and federal agencies as well. This will determine the best are employed in government agencies in order to serve the people better," said Mipas secretary-general S Barathidasan (left).

He was responding to Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy who yesterday attributed the increase of Indian Malaysians in state agencies to the state government's practice of meritocracy.

Since taking office in 2009, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak too has attempted to move the country to merit-based policies but has faced fierce resistance from ultra-right wing Malay groups.

Malay Consultative Council president Ibrahim Abu Shah had last month proposed that meritocracy in education be abolished and was backed by several other Malay educationist.

"Today meritocracy has created Chinese supremacy. There is nothing to benefit Malay students. Imagine Malay students only make up 35 percent of those in higher education institutions and the rest are Chinese," he had said.