MP SPEAKS | The apparent show of concern by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on the slumping intake of Indian Malaysians into tertiary institutions smacks of political expediency, more than principled concern.

Malaysians from minorities groups, Indians in particular, have been disgruntled over declining admission rates at public universities.

Although these disaffected minorities are part and parcel of the Malaysian population, their growing marginalisation continues without any government measure to counter the trend.

When it concerns university admissions, this relegation of minorities to the periphery, in a field considered as the indispensable means for upward mobility in society, only underscores the steepness of the climb up the ladder faced by the disadvantaged.

How often have we heard of suitably qualified minority students failing to obtain admission to courses of their choice?

For example, their choice is medicine and they have the appropriate grade point average, yet the student fails to gain admission to a medical seat and is instead given a place to do an unconnected course, causing much frustration to the applicant.

There have been instances when even foreigners have gained admission to Mara, which is funded by taxpayer money, but deserving students from local minorities are not accommodated.

Will the prime minister have the courage to correct this lopsided admissions process?

As a consequence, suspicion surrounds the intake of apparently qualified students into universities.

Why hasn't the government held up the university admissions process to public scrutiny?

There is a legitimate concern that underqualified students have been admitted to local universities due to insider connections.

Furthermore, the admissions' interview board should encompass all races and not be restricted to one race only.

Malaysians are intrigued by the statement by the prime minister, that if meritocratic criteria are applied, the intake of Indians into tertiary education will see a sharp drop.

The PM seems intent on conveying the impression that after eight and a half years in the saddle, he is focused on being the prime facilitator of the economic and social advancement of Indians.

This is intriguing, for just before the last general election in 2013, he signed a MoU with Hindraf, setting out in detail how his government will assist to alleviate the socioeconomic situation of Indians.

That signing was historic. It proposed to help the Indian poor in four areas, namely:-

1) Aid displaced estate workers from low-income households

2) Rectify statelessness

3) Increase education opportunities from pre-school to university

4) Increase employment and business opportunities

None of these nostrums materialised in the four years that have elapsed since the signing of the MoU.

This led to Hindraf leaders losing hope in Najib's promises and to their abandonment of BN.

Today they have decided to support Pakatan Harapan instead.

If Najib had been sincere when he signed the MoU with Hindraf, there would have been no need for him to renew promises to the Indian community. He has broken "nambikai" (trust) with the Indian community.

Indians have wised up to the ways of BN who come a-wooing when an election looms. They have waited too long for the delivery of promises that were not intended to be kept.

Harapan promises nothing more than to let loose a tide in Malaysian affairs that will lift all boats.

M KULASEGARAN is the MP for Ipoh Barat

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.