Cuts Show Underhand Scheming

This position may sound fine in principle but must be put in the context of four important considerations. The first obvious one is timing. There had not been concern expressed about the number of Malaysians coming to New Zealand until they collectively began to criticise their home government.

Secondly, the situation in Malaysia of monitoring and registering students and their parents is an easier task to accomplish if their numbers are smaller. Also the process will certainly be selective to those the authorities hope are more likely to behave.

Thirdly, the manner in which these cuts are to be considered. A sub committee of the University Grants Committee was established by Act of Parliament to regulate the flow of overseas students to New Zealand and has been doing so every year since 1972. This body the Overseas Students Admissions Committee, in its meeting last year did not express any disquiet about the proportion of Malaysian students. This committee has already been using its discression according to the OSAC Secretary's Report in 1975:-

"As usual, candidates from the developing countries of the South Pacific were given some priority for admission".

The fourth consideration is paramount in that it is difficult to imagine where the students to replace the Malaysians would come from. While the numbers of new entrants into the universities last year was roughly in the proportion of two Malaysians to every other category the competition from other sources was not strong.

The number of countries which were eligible to send students to New Zealand was extended by the government in 1973. Despite this, the overall student quota for 1975 was underfilled by 92.

Of the students who qualified for entry last year 96 were not offered places. Of these 88 were Malaysians, thus leaving only 8 non-Malaysians who couldn't come. Of these five were Fijians whose applications were denied on the grounds that courses of a similar nature were offered at the University of the South Pacific at Suva. Of the remaining three, two were from Singapore which is usually bracketed with Malaysia in OSAC categories anyway. Thus the Talboys concern is on behalf of a great mass of students unable to come to New Zealand because of the Malaysians keeping them out This great mass, for the most recent year in which figures are available, numbers only one.

From our government's lack of response to the threat of the Extra-territorial legislation and the eagerness to cut back on Malaysian student numbers, it is obvious the Wellington and Kuala Lumpur governments are hand in glove. Which is which hardly matters.