“These quotas and all that, some of it is in Article 153 in the constitution. I have been telling my Malay community, I said, ‘You know, one day, you should actually aspire, even before 2050, aspire to be in the university without quota’,” the Umno Youth leader told a dialogue on the National Transformation Plan 2050 with Indian youths at the Putra World Trade Center here today.
“We should start seeing this quota (system) as something that is a bit insulting, that we need quota to get somewhere.”
His comments came after a participant said he hoped that the quota system for Bumiputeras in the country would one day be removed.
“Just as there is a perception of discrimination amongst other communities, we also feel that maybe we are not that good, because other communities are saying that, ‘Hey you are here only because of the quota’.
“I want the Malay community to complete on a level playing field. That’s my aspiration,” said Khairy.
The dialogue session was organised by MIC Youth as well as several Indian youth NGOs.
Also speaking at the dialogue was MIC president S Subramaniam, who questioned what the retirement age in 2050 will be.
He said the question should be posed in the face of newly-acquired data that more than 500,000 Malaysians will live to over 90 years old in 2050.
“If we maintain the current retirement age at 60 years, the young won’t be able to support the older generations.”
He said after Malaysia’s independence in 1957, the average lifespan was between 50 and 60 years.
“This is why the EPF (Employees Provident Fund) had a cut-off age at 55 and the retirement age was previously at 55.
“However, moving forward, I don’t think we’ll be able to just stop working at 55 or 60.”