Meritocracy in varsity intakes should be applied to all ethnic groups and be emphasised together with the factor of need, said the Barisan Alternatif (BA) Education Bureau today.

Its chairman Dr Syed Husin Ali said the opposition front consistently held that merit should be given due consideration irrespective of ethnic background.

However, it should also be taken together, at tandem, with need - referring to the economic, social and educational backgrounds of the students, he added.

"If merit is the only criterion used for university admission, then many students from poor families in backward areas, would not be able to continue their studies to higher levels.

"Furthermore, it will increase the socio-economic gap between the rich and the poor," he said in a press statement.

The veteran politician added that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was pushing for meritocracy as a revenge against Malay students whom the latter alleged were neglecting their studies to concentrate on anti-government activities.

"At the same time, Mahathir is also trying to provoke the Malays so that they will oppose genuine meritocracy to retain the old quota system, which obviously has been abused," he said.

Syed Husin claimed that the premier was also using the meritocracy issue to gain greater support from non-Malays.

Fair policy

Meanwhile, Gerakan vice president Dr S Vijayaratnam also called on the government to consider a merit system based on needs and circumstances.

In a press statement today, he said students disadvantaged due to socio-economic factors, decreased accessibility to learning facilities and physical disabilities should be given special consideration, regardless of ethnic origin.

However, Vijayaratnam welcomed the introduction of the meritocracy system, adding that there would be a definite improvement in the standard of graduates from all communities in the country.

"The prime minister's announcement that student intake into public universities based on a modified merit system has to be viewed positively as eventually being fair to all races.

"It will serve as an incentive for bumiputeras to work harder and be competitive, and at the same time the non-bumiputeras would not feel discouraged or marginalised," he said.

DAP publicity bureau secretary Gobind Singh Deo said that rather than merely imposing strict requirements of merit at university intakes, the entire education process of the student should be evaluated.

"If the government insists on merit, then changes should be implemented in the very early years of education, where students are then put on track, towards future learning levels," he said.

He said that establishing checkpoints at university levels may not be effective enough as when students reach pre-university levels, they were already set in their ways and thinking.

Practical effects

Gobind added that DAP was also concerned with the practical effects of the government's plan as students are sensitive.

"The government should clarify matters to ensure students are not plagued with confusion and anger in the belief that what the government is doing is political instead of practical.

"Dr Mahathir must explain, and the government must look further if it is 'results and merit' that this exercise really seeks to achieve. We are, as yet, not convinced," said Gobind.

Yesterday, the premier announced that student intake in public universities based on a modified merit system will start next year.

He added that in the first year of implementation, the system would apply only to selected faculties which requires high academic achievement.

Mahathir also said that the move was not meant to limit places for Malay students, but a measure to compel them to strive harder for academic excellence.