TELUK INTAN: Form Six student Chew Man Fei had hoped to get into a matriculation programme so that it could help fast track his path to a public university.

The SMJK San Min student said he had applied and appealed to get into the programme three times but without any success.

He had scored 8As and 2Bs in the SPM.

“My mother works as a clerk and does not earn much,” said Chew, 19.

“I would prefer to further my studies in a public university.

“This is so I can keep my expenses to a minimum,” he told reporters at his home yesterday when Perak MCA Youth chief Daniel Wa visited him.

Chew explained that the matriculation programme was his first choice so that he could have the option to take up his preferred courses upon completion.

“I want to pursue a course in medicine through science.

“If I can’t get it, engineering will be my second option,” he told reporters.

The other option to enter a public university was through Form Six, he explained.

“It’s not my first choice as I would need to compete for places even if I do get good results in the STPM,” said the youngest of four siblings.

“I am also not guaranteed a place,” he added.

The matriculation quota system has drawn backlash from the public after the Education Ministry maintained the intake of students at 90:10 for bumiputra and non-bumiputra students respectively.

Minister Dr Maszlee Malik had also come under fire for his remark linking the quota system with unequal job opportunities for bumiputra in the private sector.

He was backed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof who said that this was in line with the Cabinet’s decision.

However, Dr Mujahid said priority would be given to students from families in the low income bracket (B40) which includes non-bumiputra students.

Under this year’s matriculation programme, the Education Ministry has allocated 60% of the spots to students from the B40 group.

Wa told reporters that he would go to the Education Ministry to help Chew submit an appeal.

“We have a list of 102 students who want to get into the matriculation programme.

“To our surprise, Chew, who had better results than the rest, failed to get in,” he said.

“We are not sure why he couldn’t get it.

“We will try to help him,” he added.

Wa also said he had approached several universities that Chew could apply to as an alternative.

“One foreign university is even offering a full scholarship.

“However, it’s all up to him,” he said.