PETALING JAYA: The increasing commercialisation of public services under the guise of “financial sustainability” is becoming a concern, says civil society group G25.
They gave examples of the direct intake of students into public universities and the privatisation of healthcare in the country.
“This risks creating new socio-economic divides not based on race or religion, but between those who can afford access and those who cannot.
“We risk depriving deserving Malaysians of higher education opportunities in favour of foreign applicants who can afford to pay more.
“Poorer patients may have medical treatment delayed in favour of fee-paying patients in public hospitals,” it said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 7).
G25 said this possibly violates equality provisions in the Federal Constitution, as enshrined in Article 8 (equality before the law) and Article 12 (equality in the administration of education).
The group, which comprises prominent retired civil servants, noted that the nation’s ambition to become a high-income, innovation-driven economy hinges on consistent implementation of policies.
“Without firm political commitment to tackle systemic corruption, there’s a risk of disconnection between policy intent and reality on the ground,” it said.
The group also warned that economic advancement must be matched by improvements in governance and civil liberties.
Emphasising the importance of civil society, the G25 group urged the government to foster open dialogue.
“Public trust in the government is strengthened when dissent is not feared but welcomed, and when democratic institutions demonstrate their independence and integrity,” said G25.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, who first raised the issue, said he was not alone in his concerns about admissions into public universities.
“G25 shares my apprehension about the commercialisation of these institutions, where the rich can enrol in public universities as long as they can afford the high tuition fees.
“This could impact access for less affluent Malaysian students despite their academic excellence,” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
He noted this was reminiscent of the Rakan KKM policy, where money allows one to skip the queue for medical treatment.
“Kudos to G25 for their courage in speaking the truth,” added Dr Wee.
On Wednesday, Dr Wee reiterated his concerns about the sharp rise in foreign student enrolment at Malaysia’s public universities, which outpaces that of local students.
While not against the intake of international students, Dr Wee said it becomes an issue when their enrolment seems to take up spots meant for Malaysian students.
In response, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir denied the allegation, saying the government continued to prioritise Malaysians with no compromise on the quota for local students in public universities.
