Group raps UPU over 'discrimination' against autistic student
According to a Facebook post by Sazly Azizuddin Sahaimi, the student, known only as Aniq, was said to have a matriculation CGPA of 3.83, and had met general and special programme requirements.
Sazly claimed that while Aniq...
A mental health organisation raised concerns over a student who was allegedly denied from applying for public universities due to his autism recently.
According to a Facebook post by Sazly Azizuddin Sahaimi, the student, known only as Aniq, was said to have a matriculation CGPA of 3.83, and had met general and special programme requirements.
Sazly claimed that while Aniq, who was understood to be his son, had been able to select his choice of university programmes during the second phase under the Central University Admission Unit (UPU) system, the choices “disappeared” at the next stage.
Aniq’s initial choices, Sazly said, included computer science, mathematical science, and statistics at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia.
“We contacted UPU. E-mails were sent. A reply came, but it was deeply disappointing (as) the reason was due to Aniq being an autistic student holding a disabled persons card,” Sazly detailed in his post.
UPU is a division under the Higher Education Ministry, which coordinates applications for higher education programmes at public universities and other higher education institutions.
Sazly also questioned the logic behind denying Aniq educational opportunities due to his status as a disabled person, querying whether disabled persons are viewed as a burden.
“Is Aniq’s intelligence judged merely by a label, instead of his actual ability?” he added, urging UPU to review its eligibility policy for disabled students instead of limiting their future.
Responding to the incident, the National Coalition for Mental Wellbeing (NCMW) said UPU’s actions undermine the basic principles of fairness and inclusion.
The group stressed that all youths deserve a pathway to further education that respects their abilities instead of barriers defined by their disability status.
NCMW also cautioned that when an institution cites neurodiversity when denying opportunities, it sends a message of exclusion, compounding a disabled student’s mental stress.
“Despite the proven academic success, this rejection can trigger self-doubt and erode self-esteem, which increases the risk of depression.
“It places a significant strain on the student’s mental health and wellbeing, (as they are) already coping with autism-related challenges,” the coalition said in a statement today.
NCMW noted that besides the trauma carried by the student, parents who are forced to be pillars of strength also bear an emotional toll.
It also expressed support for calls by civil society organisations for the authorities to seriously address the plights of students, including recognising their academic merit and right to equal opportunity, instead of sidelining them due to disabilities.
“We must go beyond mere compliance as the core of our educational values. Embedding genuine acceptance of students on the autism spectrum requires more than accommodations.
“It demands a cultural transformation where differences are valued, every mind matters, and every student feels they belong,” it added.
The coalition also suggested implementing mandatory training on disability rights, neurodiversity inclusion, as well as mental health and psychological first aid for the admissions officers of educational institutions.
