Mara upholds UKKM entrance exam for MRSM, rejects 'connection practices'

SHAH ALAM - Ensuring the quality of education at Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM), Mara remains firm on requiring the MRSM Entrance Examination (UKKM) for student admission.

Its Chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki stressed that they do not compromise on any appeals or 'connection practices' to place students who fail the examination to ensure the quality of MRSM's products.

"I have a minister overseeing (MRSM), namely the Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi).

"He always advises me to adhere to principles, not to lower the quality of MRSM and to comply with the fundamental policy, which is to pass the UKKM.

"Even if we want to help, let's help those from low-income backgrounds (B40).

"For those who appeal, it is a normal process because 10 to 15 per cent of those offered admission will reject it for various reasons," he said during the "Apa Khabar Rakyat" discussion, edition 426, titled 'MRSM for B40 only?' yesterday.

Also invited as panelists were the MRSM Alumni Association (Ansara) president Mohd Fadzli Yusof and former MRSM teacher Nur Aziera Mohd Ramli, while Ismail Adnan served as the moderator.