Language policy: The Utar-Mara Chicken and Duck Talk

Last weekend, Utar held its convocation for 1,313 graduands. Of the graduating cohort, 99.9 percent were non-Malay. Aside from a sprinkling of Indians, the university enrolment is overwhelmingly Chinese even though there is no bar on Malay entry.

Utar’s mono-racial counterpart is UiTM which on the other hand does close its door to the other races. A Mara entity, UiTM is presently home to almost 120,000 predominantly Malay students.

Aimst University – the brainchild of Samy Vellu – is a private institution established by MIED the education arm of MIC, whose marquee courses include medicine, pharmacy and dentistry.

Only in Malaysia do we find universities segregated by race, either officially or informally. But first, a short explanation on my article headline: ‘Like chicken and duck talking’ is a Chinese idiom on how two parties are unable to communicate and interact.

The polarised college enrolment has more to do with the politicisation of education. In Aimst, all courses are taught in English. In Utar, English is the main medium of instruction. In UiTM, the courses are in English too. An ironic convergence, one must say.

Utar, established in 2002, traces its genesis to TAR College. MCA past president Dr Ling Liong Sik, dubbed ‘Father of TAR College Development’, is chairman of the Utar council. In the council are MCA Cabinet Minister Ong Ka Chuan, former MCA Minister Fong Chan Onn and former Star CEO Steven Tan, among others.

The recent Utar convocation was held in the hall of the party headquarters Wisma MCA. Graduands received their scrolls from former MCA president Ong Ka Ting, the guest-of-honour.

UiTM added ‘university’ to its name in 1999 after upgrading status from Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM). It has 27 campuses and 19 affiliated colleges. Its chancellor is the Agong, no less.

Last year when Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim suggested that UiTM admit more non-bumiputera, its vice-chancellor Prof. Ibrahim Abu Shah warned ‘Jangan kacau UiTM’ and promptly pledged to defend the university’s role as “the last Malay bastion” (for uplifting Malays through education).

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