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Ceramah Speech (2)     
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Ipoh, Sunday): In a week or two, the new student intake for 2007/2008 into the public universities will be announced and Malaysia will again go through the agonizing annual racial polarization caused by the “fraudulent meritocracy” as a result of the use of two completely different examinations to decide on the higher educational future of our children – the STPM and matriculation. 

I understand that 40,016 places in public universities will be offered for the new academic year, with racial breakdown of 24,957 or 62.36 per cent for bumiputeras, 12,616 or 31.53 per cent for Chinese and 2,443 or 6.11 per cent for Indians. 

DAP MPs have repeatedly called in Parliament for the end of the “fraudulent meritocracy” in the use of two completely different examinations for university intake and it is a matter of grave regret that no Barisan Nasional MPs, particularly from MCA, Gerakan, MIC, SUPP, PBS and other component parties in Sabah and Sarawak have dared to support such a call. 

The use of two completely different examinations for university student intake - with the STPM universally recognized as very much more difficult and of higher standard than matriculation – has the most adverse long-term effects for Malaysia in at least four senses: 

• Setback for national unity and nation-building in plural Malaysia, as it provides an annual event causing racial polarization;
• Undermines university quality and academic excellence which have seen Malaysian public universities plunging in international rankings for top world-class universities;
• Grave impediment in the drive to enhance the nation’s international competitiveness to face the world challenges of globalization; and
• Promotes public deceit and lack of integrity by perpetuating the fraud that there is no difference between STPM and matriculation.

On the occasion of the nation’s  50^th Merdeka Anniversary, let us all focus on how Malaysians can become more united, harmonious, dynamic and progressive in the coming decades. 

Let us end the annual racial polarization caused by “fraudulent meritocracy” for university student intake by adopting one common university entrance examination from next year, whether STPM or matriculation – which will make the 50^th Merdeka Anniversary most meaningful to all Malaysians who are committed to the goals of promoting national unity, restore academic excellence of public universities, enhance our international competitiveness and most important of all, uphold public integrity by ending the public deceit of “fraudulent meritocracy” based on two different examinations for university student intake.

(10/6/2007)