Malaysia Education Ministry explains race column in varsity application forms

April 17th, 2011 - 2:47 pm ICT by ANI  

Kuala Lumpur, Apr 17 (ANI): Malaysia’s Higher Education Ministry has explained that the sub-categories under the “race” column in the Universities’ Admissions Unit’s online application forms are for authorities to check the applicants’ personal data with the National Registration Department (NRD).

The Ministry responded to a news report that quoted former Perak Bar Council chief M. Mathialagan as saying the sub-divisions under the “race” column in the forms made a mockery of Prime Minister’s Najib Tun Razak’s ‘1Malaysia’ concept to unite all races.

According to The Star, applicants are required to fill up the “race” column and indicate their sub-race or dialect group under the sub-divisions column in the application form.

For example, under the Indian category, there are eight sub divisions- Malayalee, Punjabi, Sikh, Tamil, Telegu, Malabari, Indian Muslim and Orissa.

Malays are sub-divided into Bugis, Boyan, Banjar, Jawa, Jawi Pekan and Minangkabau.

“The information is required because the ministry needs to tally it with the data at the NRD to check their citizenship status when processing the applications,” said Higher Education Ministry management of student admission division principal assistant director Rosmin Md. Amin.

She said the sub-divisions had been in place for several years and was not introduced this year, as alleged by Mathialagan. (ANI)

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