OK I'm doing this entry to clear some things up or just to shed some light
It's true that last time all Malay students don't have to pay for their tertiary fees,just the administrative cost however this is changed due to....
1)as pointed out by Isnan more malay students entering U
2)increase in the no. of middle class Malay family.
which is why the policy/programme was removed,considering that more Malay families can afford tertiary education on their own,rather than relying on the government.(Note: Singapore is not a welfare state.)
So I think it's fair,to provide assistance to those Malay families with a monthly income less than 3k(100% subsidies for those 1.5k n below,and 70% for those 1.5k up to 3k). I mean the Indians and the Chinese didn't have this system and I guess it's just fair for them,the lower income group, to feel "left out" by the system.I know I know,we Malays are the indigenous and we deserve some rights.But as what I learnt,we may not be as indigenous as we may think we are.Most of our ancestor are from the Java islands,the kepulauan or Malaysia,so to deem us as the ultimate original indigenous Malay may be a bit inaccurate.
I am though a bit displeased over the fact that if your IC is not stated as Malay(but you have a Malay/Muslim name), you don't get the assistance.I mean sure your IC may put you as Indian or chinese or Arab.But the thing is, you do learn Malay in school and live a life as a Malay(I'm generalising,pardon me),so why can't you get the assistance when you truly need it.Isn't it enough that one parent is Malay like what they do at Eurasian Association-as long one of the spouse is Eurasian,you can get the assistance.I thought that was fair,so why can't Mendaki follow suit.I understand there are more than meets the eye and I'm sure it's more complex than I think it is.But I do have a few friends who can be counted as "true blue malay" but unfortunately their IC say a different story,so isn't it unfair to them?
The point of this entry is that I do feel that the law is just.I know we Malays may feel a bit left out in certain ways.But I really believe the law is just.Of course I am not saying I'm pleased with everything(like I said,I don't like the Malay as stated in IC system...etc).There are some laws that I really would like to see amendments made but for something like tertiary fees,I guess we have to ponder for a while and put our views into perspectives
So Isnan,I respect you have your own views.But I'm just telling you the other side of the coin so that you have a more balanced view on the issues.
Hanim