UMNO leader hits out at DAP Youth over 27 STPM sponsorships
KUALA LUMPUR: An UMNO division leader has hit out at DAP Youth for criticising Higher Education Minister Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir over the government’s decision to fully sponsor 27 outstanding STPM students to pursue their studies at public universities.
Batu UMNO division chief Gulam Muszaffar said DAP Youth (DAPSY) should have done its “homework” before claiming that the initiative had neglected thousands of other students seeking admission to public universities.
“DAPSY is truly data-blind and did not do its homework before speaking,” he said in a statement today.
Gulam said data from the higher education ministry showed that 107,875 eligible applications were received for the 2026/2027 academic session, with 82,092 candidates offered places at 20 public universities.
He said this represented 76.1% of all eligible applicants.
“This is clear evidence to answer DAPSY’s statement. Does providing 27 full scholarships to outstanding STPM students mean the entire higher education system has been neglected?” he asked.
Gulam also questioned whether DAPSY would apply the same criticism to initiatives introduced by other Cabinet ministers.
He cited Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s initiative to provide free B2 motorcycle licence training to 60,000 students, involving an allocation of RM18 million.
“Did Loke’s initiative neglect the hundreds of thousands of other eligible students who did not benefit from it?” he asked.
Gulam also pointed to initiatives by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim, including special approvals through Bank Rakyat, TEKUN Nasional and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia for selected entrepreneurs under the SME, hawker and small-business sectors.
“Does this mean millions of other entrepreneurs and small traders were also neglected? Please answer,” he said.
Gulam said it was problematic when certain DAP leaders appeared to question initiatives simply because they came from the government.
“Even good things are being questioned. This is what happens when some DAP leaders think they are the smartest by ‘thinking outside the brain’,” he said.
He added: “It is like being foolish at the wrong time and being too clever to be followed.”