“This decision ensures that all top SPM students have the best opportunities to pursue higher education,” Anwar said in a statement. However, the existing Bumiputera quota for the matriculation programme would not be affected.

He said the education ministry and the higher education ministry will work out the details for the initiative together.

Racial quotas on admission to public universities were abolished in 2002. However, matriculation colleges maintain a 90% quota for Bumiputeras, while certain foundation courses are exclusively for Bumiputeras.

In May, FMT reported that two senators urged the government to ensure Indian students who aced the 2023 SPM examination should be spared the “annual heartache” of missing out on a place in matriculation colleges.

Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran said it was painful for top students to be overlooked. “I hope the unity government will put a stop to this once and for all. Do not deprive anyone of a place based on their ethnicity,” he told FMT.

Senator C Sivaraj, who previously urged Anwar to provide 2,500 matriculation seats for Indian students, said the time was right for Putrajaya to rectify the injustice as it was common knowledge that the Indian community lagged far behind others and was in need of such assistance.