Increase of Non-Bumis in Universities

The Education Minister, Datuk Musa Hitam announced recently that more places would now be alloted to non-bumiputra students in the five local universities. He added that, "The government trusts that this will reduce frustration and disappointment among non-bumiputras and will be received with goodwill and understanding by bumiputras."

The latest move by the government should be seen against the "Merdeka University" formation attempt by the Chinese community and the latent frustration and strong feelings about the education opportunities available to the non-Malays.

The figures for the new intake for the 1979/80 academic session had to be revised in the light of this announcement. The question of selection, quotas and processing of applications are done centrally for the five universities by the University Unit Centre of Kuala Lumpur.

Technology University

Bumiputras	: 2,882
Chinese	: 321
Indians	: 38
Others	: 19
Total	: 3,280

Agriculture University

Bumiputras	: 2807
Chinese	: 250
Indians	: 844
Others	: 3
Total	: 3144

Science University

Bumiputras	: 1,253
Chinese	: 939
Indians	: 145
Others	: 6
Total	: 2,343

University Malaya

Bumiputras	: 3,487
Chinese	: 2,775
Indians	: 490
Others	: 100
Total	: 6,852

80 Students Detained

The Mentri Besar of Johore, and Chairman of the Johore State Security Council, Haji Othman, said that up to the end of Last year, a total of 70 students - including 26 girls from 7 secondary schools in Muar and Batu Pahat were detained for what he described as "communist activities". In addition, 10 students from Muar, Batu Pahat, Kluang, and Johore Baru were arrested at the end of January this year on suspicion of being involved in communist activities.

Release Dr. Husin Plea

The Malaysian Government has been urged to release Dr. Syed Husin Ali, an associate professor in the University of Malaya and all other political detainees in the country.

"Despite the conditions and lack of facilities in the detention camp, Dr. Husin has managed to write several books, two of which have been published," said Encik Mohideen Abdul Kader of the Partai Rakyat.

He said Dr. Husin had also made a thorough study of the Quran and had prepared an annotated index of its contents which would be useful to the public and scholars he said in a statement on 6 February.

Another Border Operation

Malaysia and Thailand recently launched another joint military operation - condenamed Alpha 792 - against communist guerillas along their common border. The last operation was held 18 months ago.

On 3 February, about 4,000 combined troops started a two-pronged attack on the areas of Sadao and Betong, both in southern Thailand. Earlier, the operational areas had been heavily bombarded by warplanes and artileries to "soften up" the ground, which was believed to be densely booby-trapped.

The Communist Party of Malaya has 2,500 guerillas lodged in sanctuaries in southern Thailand along Malaysia's borders, and another 500 operating inside Malaysia. There are also about 1,000 Thai communist guerillas in southern Thailand.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the first joint Malaysia-Thai air exercise will be held soon to standardise and coordinate various procedures used by the armed forces of the two countries.