PM: Nation must find middle ground between meritocracy and affirmative action

KUALA LUMPUR: A balance must be struck between policies on meritocracy and affirmative action to ensure fairness in the country’s administration, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said there is currently a disconnect over the issue, where the “elite are obsessed with meritocracy” at the expense of those requiring government assistance through affirmative action.

“Meritocracy is important but it cannot be the sole criterion in the administration of the nation, which must be based on fairness.

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“Meritocracy is important among the elite and the rich but if you want to talk about the best schools in Kuala Lumpur and compare them to schools in Kapit, Sarawak, it means that it is a formula which does not stress fairness.

“That is why we have to strike a balance between the two,” he said when launching the collaboration of the iTekad micro-credit programme with four banks at Bank Negara Malaysia on Tuesday (Aug 22).

In July, Anwar said the quota system at public universities in the country will be retained but students from all races who excel in their studies will get places in institutes of higher learning.

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He said the quota system would continue to be implemented to enable Malay and bumiputra students to achieve balance in universities.

However, the issue cropped up on Aug 5 during a “Temu Anwar” programme with university and polytechnic students.

Anwar fielded a question from a female student at the Penang Matriculation College, who wanted to know when the government was going to do away with the racial quota system in favour of meritocracy for entrance into higher learning institutions.

Anwar was criticised by several quarters for interrupting the student although he was trying to answer her question in context.

Anwar cited the Aug 5 incident as an example of this disconnect.

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“In my recent dialogue with young undergraduates, one side talked about meritocracy and the other side talked only about quota, affirmative action or ‘bumiputraism’.

“I think both can be merged,” he said.

He added that meritocracy is crucial to “uplift the very best among us” but at the same time affirmative action would ensure fairness towards the less fortunate.

“I worry at times as even (a long time) after Merdeka, there is still a disconnect on this issue between the elite and the less fortunate,” he said.

He cautioned that if this situation is left unchecked, racial and religious issues would persist.

“It is because they (less fortunate) feel sidelined and neglected, and resort to racial and narrow religious issues to save themselves.

“It is as though it is a shortcut to heaven,” he added.

Anwar said he believed that the situation can be resolved if immediate steps are taken to address it.