Are Malays really lagging far behind?

COMMENT | A possible beneficial outcome of the controversy over the matriculation programme is the opening up of valid and trustworthy data on Malay participation in higher education and professional fields for public scrutiny.

This is important and necessary so that stake players and politicians such as Education Minister Maszlee Malik do not confuse themselves or confuse others on the real extent to which the Malay community is lagging behind other communities.

The data is also important as it will inform on whether past efforts at corrective policies have been successful or unsuccessful. This can then assure the public that the alleged imbalance in higher education and professions is based on facts and accurate data; and is not trotted out for political or racially opportunistic reasons...