SHAH ALAM, Malaysia: The rights of Malay students were never questioned when the suggestion was made that 10% of Universiti Teknologi Mara's (UiTM) intake be open to non-Malays and foreign students, said Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

"Never at any moment had I questioned the rights of Malay students but it was reported out of context and it is now leaning towards a racial line," he said after the State Executive Council meeting yesterday.

Asked if he would apologise, Khalid said: "It was taken out of context, so there is no apology on the issue as it is now being politicised."

Khalid said Selangor recognised that UiTM was established to provide an opportunity for higher education for Malays including bumiputras from Sabah and Sarawak.

"Our state will continue to uphold the spirit of the Federal Constitution Article 153 that enshrines the special rights of the Malays," he said.

Khalid said the statement he made on Sunday was solely his and not a PKR policy.

Some Malay students had organised a peaceful demonstration in front of the state secretariat building on Tuesday.

"The statement was made in the context to uplift the quality of Malay students through tertiary education in a borderless world where it would give them better job opportunities," he said.

In Petaling Jaya, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association said UiTM was the last bastion for Malay and bumiputra students to further their studies and there is no need to open it up to other races.

Association project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said the Government and its leaders had to be tougher in tackling such issues because there was no need to sideline Malay special rights although the country was multi-racial.

Former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the strong reaction to Khalid's suggestion was "alarming" and "added to the racially-charged tension of the past week".

He added that MCA should seek to point out that the common goal for all Malaysians is for the Government to ensure the highest quality educational opportunities for all Malaysians.

PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said: "It is obvious that Khalid's intention is nothing but to give UiTM students wider exposure."

"And this includes the possibility of accepting international and non-bumiputra students in certain fields, especially those which involve global issues."

"We have to accept the fact that the quality of our local education institutions have fallen far behind universities in our neighbouring countries."

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh also stated that there was "no question of Khalid betraying the Malay race".