An Education System Worthy of Malaysia #27
Chapter 4: Deficiencies of the System (Cont’d)
The Universities
The recent widely publicized plight of over 40,000 graduates unable to find jobs is emblematic of the failure of Malaysian higher education. The overwhelming majority (over 94 percent) were Malay graduates of local institutions. The public was stunned by the revelation, the sudden realization that the blight had infected the cream. The whole edifice might crumble.
There was no shortage of commentaries and finger pointing, with some blaming the students for being choosy, and others the universities for being out of touch with reality. In all those discussions the basic question was not asked, let alone answered. Were these graduates unemployed or simply unemployable? With the former, the answer would rest with the greater economy; with the latter it would be with the education system.
It is hard to imagine with the current near full employment and with the country having to import thousands of workers that these graduates would have difficulty finding jobs. It is my contention that the universities have done a lousy job to ensure that their products are employable.
Mustapa Mohamad, chairman of the National Economic Action Council, identified this as essentially a Bumiputra problem. Again, this reflects the tendency of officials to view problems through the prism of race; it permeates their thinking. As graduates of local public universities are mostly Malays, the poor Malay race again gets blamed when in actuality it is the universities’ fault in doing a lousy job of preparing their graduates for the realities of the marketplace.
Sadly, the government again reverted to pat pattern in solving the problem, by pouring more money on these graduates. The results will be no better than other similar programs to help Bumiputras, and will be just as expensive and wasteful. The government has done enough already by giving them the opportunity to get a university education. If they cannot go on their own after that, then there is no hope that they ever will. Spending more money only heightens their already inflated sense of entitlement and ingrains their dependency mentality. These graduates are getting RM500 monthly allowance; a hawker can easily earn much more. If an illegal and illiterate Bangladesh immigrant can earn a living in Malaysia, I see no reason why these graduates could not do the same. It is not ordained that our graduates cannot be construction workers, taxi drivers, farmers, or hawkers. Indeed with their university education they would become better and more productive at those jobs.
The government’s various attachment schemes for graduates are nothing more than camouflaged public works programs. They are meant more to provide an income to the graduates rather than equipping them with the necessary salable skills. I would scrap the entire program and use the funds to retrain them with marketable skills. Enhance their English fluency, mathematical competency, and IT training, and they will find ready employers.
The only avenue of employment for arts graduates from local universities is with the government. They have no useable skills needed in the private sector. Blame our pubic universities for this. Had our universities followed the example of leading American colleges and made a year of English, mathematics, and laboratory science mandatory, then our graduates would have greater flexibility not only in the marketplace but also in their further studies. In America, because of its broad-based liberal education, it is quite common for a religious studies or history major to go into medical, law or business school, or to change their field of study at the graduate level.
There have been tepid attempts at broadening the undergraduate program. Deputy Prime Minister Badawi suggested that Islamic Studies students take one elective outside their major. UUM students now have to take at least three courses conducted entirely in English. This will go a long way to stem the decline of English fluency of its graduates. To date this sensible idea has not spilled over to the other campuses.
Despite the glut of jobless graduates, the government continues to provide scholarships and loans for students to pursue the liberal arts. It should be sending a very strong signal to would-be undergraduates by sharply curtailing financial support for those pursuing these unneeded disciplines. Additionally, again through the funding mechanism, I would send the appropriate message to the universities to cut their intake for such disciplines. These academics are being irresponsible in churning out products that are not needed in the marketplace.
Concomitant with the reduction in intake for the arts stream, the government should also broaden the curriculum by making these students take English, science, and mathematics to enhance their employability.
There is a sinister but hidden aspect to the government’s help for these jobless graduates. There is no incentive for would-be undergraduates to choose carefully their majors, as no matter what, the government would be there to bail them out in the end.
The problem with our public universities is that with Malay being the medium of instruction, students have low English proficiency. There are limited number of books and reference materials in Malay, meaning that the students’ intellectual horizon is necessarily limited. Their reading list is extremely short, and students rarely venture beyond the few prescribed texts.
The typical Third World professor is also aloof, all knowing, and imperious, a demeanor not likely to encourage or tolerate vigorous class discussions or intellectual debates. Consequently Malaysian students are passive listeners; their classroom involvement is merely to show up. A senior history professor from UM lamented that his students were reduced to being silent stenographers dutifully transcribing everything he uttered, and regurgitating them at examination time.
The professor was as much at fault. If he was worried about his students becoming stenographers, why, simply publish and distribute his lecture notes. To encourage class discussion, try assigned seating and have class participation factored in the final grades. Or he could use some of my tricks mentioned earlier in teaching medical students where I simply uttered something ridiculous and see the students’ reactions. Similarly, he could have “open book” examinations and design his questions to minimize rote memory and mindless regurgitation.
What goes on in the lecture halls and seminar rooms on Malaysian campuses is essentially a one-way communication, a monologue from the lecturer. Students are treated simply as empty dustbins to be filled with data and dogma rather than curious minds to be stimulated. Students in turn treat everything emanating from the professor as gospel truth.
While student evaluation of professors is standard on American campuses, it is unthinkable at a Malaysian university. While Malaysian academics endlessly exhort their students to be original and creative, these professors hardly contribute anything creative or original.
This lifelessness did not develop overnight. The government is directly responsible and indeed actively promotes this sorry state of affair. Such an atmosphere is not conducive for excellence or innovation. If one were to look for the turning point that led to the current state of mediocrity, it would be the introduction of the Universities and Colleges Act of 1971. The original intent of the Act was benign enough, to prevent a recurrence of the nightmare of the race riot of 1969. But the Act has been “strengthened,” that is, made more repressive with subsequent amendments, in particular the one in 1975. The Act not only did away with what little academic freedom the professors and universities had, but more menacingly created a palpable atmosphere of repression on campus. The university was put on a very tight leash; those who dared stray would be jerked right back, or worse. Those who dare express independent viewpoints, meaning not what the government or ruling party wants to hear, would suffer the consequences, and many have. A professor of sociology active in the opposition party had his teaching contract not renewed; actually he was fired, just in case the message did not register with his colleagues. Justice finally prevailed with the professor winning his case in court. The verdict itself was a surprise. No, he was not reinstated, merely awarded monetary damages.
Academics quickly learn that if you want to progress you have to ingratiate yourself if not overtly suck up to the powerful. No surprise then that the universities have failed the nation; they are being led by the meek and the toady rather than the brilliant and innovative.
Malaysian universities are not autonomous; they are divisions within MOE. Faculty members are treated (and they in turn behave) more as civil servants rather than as scholars and scientists. Discussions in the faculty club often revolve around one’s position on the salary scheme rather than papers published or patents applied. Senior academic positions are chosen not by the university community rather appointed by the minister. Often they are civil servants seconded from the Tourism Ministry while on their way to be undersecretary at the Sports Ministry.
This civil service milieu is purposely created. And like the civil service, brilliance, creativity, and innovations give way to precedent, seniority, and general orders.
For the past few years the regional publication Asiaweek (now defunct) conducted regular surveys of Asian universities. Already in that short space of time we see the steady decline in the ranking of local institutions. In its first survey in 1997, Malaysia’ leading and oldest university, UM, was ranked 11th, two years later it slipped to 27th, and in the last survey (2000) it dropped to 47th. Meanwhile UKM made the list once at the very beginning, and then dropped out of sight. Only UPM improved its standing from 69th in 1999 to 52nd in 2000. One may argue with the criteria used, but there is no mistaking the trend. Of course the typical ministerial response is, well, we are still ahead of Papua New Guinea!
Those attempting reform must be prepared to address not only the institutional issues but equally important, the cultural impediments to change. Before presenting my proposals, I will examine the system of education of a few select countries that is worthy of Malaysia to note. This would be followed by a chapter reviewing attempts at reforming the system, in particular the two current proposals, MOE’s Education Development 2001-2010, and the more recent report of the National Brains Trust.
Next: Chapter 5: A Look At other Models
July 19th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
Dear Dr. Bakri,
I think, it basically boils to “what is a University”? One thing it is not: it is a not for massive production of graduates of dubious quality.The rest can be a matter of details like overall education policy, the split between research and teaching, staffing, etc.
I referred to Donald Kennedy’s book, Academic Duty, earlier because it contains useful insights into what made Stanford University a great institution, and examines the concerns of, and the challenges for, academia in general in the US for reseach funding.
As far as Malaysia is concerned, we do not have to go far. Just look at the experiences of Australia, Hongkong and Singapore. As you say, “A Look at Other Models” (Chapter 5 of your book).
Salams.
July 19th, 2006 at 11:08 pm
Please remove ‘a’. Sorry.
July 20th, 2006 at 2:38 am
Yes, there are problems in our education system and so are other “systems” in Malaysia. How far do we need to go fix the root problem? Dr. Bakri’s suggested solutions could help alleviate the education problem but will it last since the root causes is subjected to political agenda based on ethno-religious supremacy?
If we had put our political system in the right path with checks and balances the rest will have taken care of itself. At the moment, corruption permeated right through the political system, be it money politics, abuse of power and freedom of the press.
I believe the problem is obvious to most and even a solution is commonsense if there is political will. But the problem is more complex than one imagine with hidden agendas on those involved because there are no checks and balances for abuses.
Most of the actions to right a wrong I see are reactive rather than proactive. Having observed the general progress of Malaysia both from afar and within I feel the situation will get worse (much worse) before it can get better.
July 20th, 2006 at 2:50 am
The way Malaysian public universities seem to be, I’m even surprised any of them reach a top 200 list.
July 20th, 2006 at 4:13 am
” Only UPM improved its standing from 69th in 1999 to 52nd in 2000.”
With the shameful event taken place in UPM on the 17 July 2006, what rank will UPM have in any coming survey ?!!
July 20th, 2006 at 5:15 am
It is time for politicians to stop playing politics with the education of our young. Period.
Malek.
July 20th, 2006 at 5:17 am
The normal tendency and trend would be to “climb the ladder” in the rankings, that is, in quality. How and how much we have regressed and how much more we would regress or go down the drains is very obvious. As I have said a number of times before, hope is the last word (if at I all I can count on it) I would ever think of.
While I feel sad at such a sorry state of affairs, I do rejoice at the fact that most of them would be “dumbs” and would never pose a challenge to me except gleefully wait for handouts, which I am quite happy to oblige, having taken competition in the knowledge era out of the equation by default. Well, they may fervently want to maintain the status quo, with their own set of arguments and reasons and it is fine with me to go along with it, just that my reasons are different and opaque and I feel secured, albeit cynically. After all, why should I worry or care? Let us see who is smarter in this game.
July 20th, 2006 at 9:49 am
I watched the tape on what happened in UPM involving so-called student leaders and freshmen and others who were there to help in the registration of new students.
The blatant display of racism by Malay students is shocking to say the least.
What has become of this country??
July 20th, 2006 at 10:13 am
Didn’t I say that this country has gone to the dogs. We live in peace and harmony, so we say to the whole world, a model Muslim country. What a bullshit. When a former PM can say that if you don’t vote for us, there will chaos and bloodshed, like May 13, what hope do we have for sane and moderate minds to prevail. Shame, real shame.
July 20th, 2006 at 10:14 am
Observer,
Sorry for my ignorance, I am out of the country right now so mind elaborate further what happened?
Thanks.
July 20th, 2006 at 10:37 am
I just saw the video clip. The parents of these boys ought to be ashamed for bringing-up such ill-mannered children. I think this is the norm and reality rather than an exception on what runs through their minds. I hope Pak Lah and Mustapha did have alook at the clip. No human decency. Just horrible.
July 20th, 2006 at 11:31 am
Many of the bumi students in the first place do not qualify to enter universities. They were being pushed in as part of social reengineering NEP. I remember my Malay school friend who got a grade C, grade D and Grade E in STPM in the 1980s can get into the Law Faculty. But knowing his weaknesses, he appealled to transfer to a lower course. Being pushed into a course for the sake of filling up the quota while many Chinese with much stronger grades cannot make it into University Malaya.
July 20th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
Jong
Go to bloglimkitsiang.com and see for yourself - it is captured on one of those camera cell phones. It redirects you to a DAP website where you can view it.
Tell us what you see in your mind’s eye - apart from the bullying of Chinese students who were to register and to help others to register.
July 20th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
They better stop this “reengineering bullshit”, Phelps.
It is seriously flawed. They want to make Malays lawyers, doctors and engineers - no harm in wanting to do that. But surely not all of them have what it takes to be lawyers, doctors and engineers.
It does not mean as a race they are inferior.
July 20th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
…but take a look at what is happening when they fail (to make Malays lawyers, doctors and engineers). It gives rise to a discontented lot who are “programmed” to blame their failures on others who did.
Never mind the disgust others who fail to get into the sysem at all feel about the discrimination.
July 20th, 2006 at 5:46 pm
The video clip is disgusting and is this the way to welcome freshman into UPM. What on earth can our new undergraduate comprhend this phenomena! One one hand, you are being bullied and on the other, chinese and indian are blamed for May 13, Suqiu and Kg Medan incidents under the Ethnic Relations Module.
Quote from The Star “Mustapa added the university students were free to give other views”. !! Is it solving problems or creating more problems?
July 20th, 2006 at 6:10 pm
May be now I can understand why the two authors from UPM who came up with the race relations module/book could write such a “masterpiece” of facts. Indeed they are facts - a la UPM style. I wonder what moral would the Vice-Chancellor of the University have to be still in that position. Utter hoolganism - what more a student union leader posturing in such an unbelievable manner. Sacrifices of many wish them to have a decent education but ?????
July 20th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
“……Observer,
Sorry for my ignorance, I am out of the country right now so mind elaborate further what happened?
Thanks. ….”
DON’T HAVE TO BE IN MALAYSIA TO KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING. DR. BAKRI IS IN THE USA FOR GOODNESS SAKE! WE HAVE THE NET . MAY BE YOU MAY NOT EXPERIENCE THESE EVENTS BUT YOU CAN SURE HAVE MEANS TO KNOW THE LATEST IN MALAYSIA.
July 20th, 2006 at 11:24 pm
Observer,
Thanks for your response, appreciate that.
I saw the video clip. That’s shameful acts of gangsterism, that’s bad up-bringing! It’s about time they realise that they are at UPM on tax-payers’ money, and incase they don’t know, Ah Chong/Ah Moy, Muthu/Saras have contributed a tremendous lot to give them a university education while their own children have had to endure such treatment from these idiots.
Higher Education Minister and VC of UPM should haul up those gangsters and swift action must be taken against them, no ifs no buts!
They must be answerable to the people for allowing such shameful acts of intimidation and misconduct in a public university, captured on video and circulated in the internet.
July 21st, 2006 at 4:28 am
“They must be answerable to the people for allowing such shameful acts of intimidation and misconduct in a public university, captured on video and circulated in the internet. ”
You have not gone far enough in your comments. If you want democracy you gotta speak up, be conscious of your rights and say what you feel and think.
Yes, they should be made accountable for their actions. And how do we do that? That video is evidence of no less than three criminal offences being committed by perpetrators who can be identified easily - and guess how? From the tape itself. What better evidence can there be?
They should be brought to answer for their actions in court. I wonder what their defence would be - intoxicated while walking??
Is there no will by both political parties and NGOs etc to see that incidents like this one is never repeated throughout the campuses in the country.
Or shall we wait for a spark to a bigger event to be ignited?
July 21st, 2006 at 9:26 am
That’s shameful acts of gangsterism, that’s bad up-bringing! It’s about time they realise that they are at UPM on tax-payers’ money, and incase they don’t know, Ah Chong/Ah Moy, Muthu/Saras have contributed a tremendous lot to give them a university education while their own children have had to endure such treatment from these idiots - Jong
It’s a chip off the old block. A case of assault and battery captured on tape - with racial undertones.
They are there at taxpayers expense?? Everything is at taxpayers’ expense. Since when do government servants act like they are public servants???
July 21st, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Hi,
When your input is third class material, would you expect a first class output?
This is exactly happening to the enemployed and unemployable graduates.Do not always point to their handcap in English. It may be onlyone of the factors which is not really fatal in seeking employment.
I have come across many so called engineers, accountants and IT specialists who do not know their subjects well. Incidentally, most of them are seeking employment with the government as teachers. When asked why not they join the private sector. the first answer was ,’susah la’ or ‘tak boleh buat kerja di company’. Yes, they are suppose to be professionals but did not know their job well.
As many of the bloggers have noted.This failure is due to the national policy. Trying to make almost every one a graduate, never mind they are notup to the mark!
More unemployable graduates are on the pipelines as long as this policy persists.
July 22nd, 2006 at 1:41 am
Syed Zainal Abidin Tahir, CEO of Proton, is clear on his priorities:
“I’m a Malaysian first and a businessman second,… I’m not a civil servant, but part of my job is a social and national obligation I have to adhere to.” http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/07/10/8380925/index.htm
Instead of doing what is right, the VC of most IPTAs appears to also adopt a similar mindset. Hence, they are blindly pushing a politically-developed program despite the failure which we see on hindsight. There is neither the political will or academic insistence to steer the course of the program - despite knowing the disastrous destiny.
As I mentioned in an earlier thread, the government’s noble intentions have backfired. Instead of helping the race, the government’s action of forcing degrees on some unqualified students have resulted in an entire group of students from IPTAs being seen as incapable and unqualified. The result is that the government (and GLCs) must continue to be the employer. As this pool of students will continue growing, the government should set up more ministries and GLCs to create more vacancies.
July 22nd, 2006 at 3:32 am
It’s time policy makers have a good hard look at the directions things are going.
When I was an undergrad you just had to compete to come out tops - not today. It seems there are “other factors”. And it is these “other factors” that has been determining the quality of our grads.
When I was growing up, I used to have a graduate in accounting and commerce from India cut my hair. It won’t be long before we have our very own graduates working in hair salons and unisex barber shops - and masseuses.
July 22nd, 2006 at 3:38 am
,,the politics of education has messed up with standards so much today, to the extent that it makes no sense to keep “producing” grads who cannot speak English, think analytically, independently - and who work best memorising a manual.
We used to be proud to announce to the world that we’re university grads - not so today when what we’re holding are just pieces of paper which compete with toilet paper in terms of utility.
July 23rd, 2006 at 6:45 am
I believe this is an opportunity to publish some of my preliminary thought about the issues.
First and foremost, patience is virtue. Unfortunately, neither the media nor its audience seems to have any time for fact-checking. The same can be said of the MOE in its haste to introduce Ethnic Relations, considering the first decision was formalised somewhere in October 2004.
The Hansard for 18 July 2006 is not out yet, but the session which started it all is available (see Hansard, 17 July 2006, pg. 5-8). Note that there were two issues raised by the MP from Rantau Panjang and MP from Ipoh Timor, namely 1) Campus politics and student activism and 2) Quality of tertiary curriculum, in particular on Ethnic Relations.
Dato’ Mustapa pointed out that a review of the AUKU and the amendments of repressive clauses are underway for the former, and pleaded with the MP of Ipoh Timor that interpretation of historical facts is allowed, but the government will look into claims of distortion of facts and correct them if necessary.
We do not know clearly what happened the next day, but politicians from all sides took an opportunity to lambast the Minister of Higher Education over the publication, pressuring him, among other things, to take action on the academicians, the institution, and the removal of the offending publication. The media and the public soon joined in and instant experts began lending their weight on the matter, prompting a withdrawal of the module on Wednesday, 19 July 2006, announced by the PM himself after a cabinet decision, considering how the Minister of Higher Education has resisted pressure to do so in the time being.
All it took was three days, ladies and gentlemen.
It speak volumes not only of academic integrity in this country, but how emasculated academic freedom in this country has become.
When Prof. Mearsheimer and Prof. Walt published a paper entitled “The Israel Lobby and U. S. Foreign Policy”, the pressure and smearing was not only intense, but the heat almost took both of them out of commission in the academia. Intimidation, of course, is part of the academic risk for trying to present alternative points of view.
Certainly, the writings in the publication edited by Prof. Jayum and Dr. Zaid would have lacked academic rigor and consistency, and most likely, taking the easy way out by toeing political positions rather than critical history. I have not quite read the already withdrawn publication, but I hope to do so soon because too much accusations have been levelled by those who have not even seen the publication.
The precise problem with our current academia is the huge headache brought about by politics. The intelligensia have learned to censor or moderate themselves because one false step on the wrong toe would mean the axe, quite literally. So caution is the key that locks away academic freedom and scholarship. If we look at the highlighted incidents, all took to the safest arguments to minimize dispute. Sure, the Opposition is unhappy, Suqiu is unhappy, and the Indian community is unhappy. But look at it this way, in a climate where it is easy to offend (and if you absolutely have to blame someone or something), pick one that you can live with. Would ANYONE actually expect our academicians to blame UMNO in a publication for university students, optional reading material or not?
The real evil is probably the lack of academic rigor to provide a comprehensive analysis. One could argue that the publication was meant as an introductory guide, but it also points out how sorely lacking we are in authoritative texts on the subject matter due to the reluctance of proper analysis and dissemination. They are, afterall, fairly recent events on the scale of human history. Memories are still fresh and raw, with the anger and prejudice still intact from past propaganda. Until we can achieve some kind of objectivity or detachment on the matter, we will keep going in circles trying to exenorate ourselves from the blame.
Already, the incident has spiralled into historical revisionism and determinism where political parties are now joining in the game of finding out the real causes for the 13th May incident in 1969. I am rather touched by the concern shown by our politicians on the factual accuracy of historical events. The subject has been much neglected and watered down, guided by expediency rather than the truth. However, truth is a mother. A real tricky snake that one is.
Of course, IF the issue lies with the credibility of some local historians, then let the academia resolve such differences through the proper platforms. Established interpretations of past events were not achieved at mamak stalls and coffee shops, but in works of scholarship. There are many past incidents in Malaysia that offers invaluable lessons in the study of ethnic relations.
If factual errors are made, then corrections must be made. However, interpretations of historical events (including its significance) is subjected to open debate. All the brouhaha over the subject matter will end up as hot air as many of the audience will remain spectators without making the effort to learn the facts. History is not to be used in judging who was right and who was wrong, although historians enjoy pronouncing their own conclusions after a systematic study of evidence, information and records. We must respect, defend and protect this space for academicians to present their thoughts and findings, as well as enable proper channels of feedback to stimulate further discussions of the matter.
The motive behind the questioning in the public mind, however, is a matter of apportioning blame. This reflects the mentality of Malaysians where somebody (or something) is at fault for bad things that have happened. Whether it is an argument to show that Party A or Race B is not to be blamed for so and so, or claims that Mr. X and Ms. Y did or did not do this or that, the whole exercise becomes politically, racially or religiously charged. Many Malaysians are hell bent on proving that they are not sufficiently mature to handle such discussions.
Ironically, the incidents do not mark a black spot on any of the political parties, ethnic communities, lobbying groups or the poor - it is a black spot ON ALL OF US, every single Malaysian. There is just no way we can just blame a party and be self righteous about it. Never.
That is the lesson. We should be ashamed that we have failed each other, in particular the victims, to reign in our own monsters. All the blaming is only showing how far away still we are from assuming responsibility towards the fracture and hurt that exist between the communities in Malaysia.
Many have conveniently forgotten that there was a call to roll back politics in education. Now, the Ministry of Higher Education is entasked to prepare a standard text for the subject on Ethnic Relations. Neutrality is good for handling controversies, and probably this is an opportunity for the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education to relook how they have done things in the slipshod past and correct their own flaws in sacrificing the truth over conformity to political propaganda. Academicians should learn that toeing the official versions and explanations for historical events is lazy and uncritical work which needs little further airplay. The question that remains is how well will the academia liberate themselves and take on the truth, without fear or favour?
At the end of the day, will the public learn to understand communal differences, their insecurities and fears, or they will talk past each other by focusing on blame and fault-finding, blind generalizations and self-serving agendas?
A look at the UPM incident involving the disgraceful fracas between the group of students and the initial public reaction becomes crystal.
The trigger to that incident was clearly related to campus politics and student activism. Did we detect a racial undertone? Considering how politics in the larger society is played out, I am not surprised by the simplified and sensationalist charge that the incident reflects ethnic tension.
Please-lah, the first and last thing Malaysians are capable of thinking when a Malay and a Chinese is arguing is the race of the speakers, nothing else. They could be arguing about free trade or globalisation for that matter, and it will still be tinted with race politics. That’s how it is with this country. Nevermind that the real issue behind the brawl was the highhanded treatment of student opposition in the campus, but many in the public simply decided to take the racial divide route in framing their arguments.
Granted, race is a huge factor in many aspects of our lives, including for many undergraduates in the universities. There are many unofficial self-help groups that were formed along racial lines that were organized by the students. This is further complicated by the university’s administration lack of awareness of its own biasness, whether its is political, ethnic or religious slant. When a majority of its staff is of a single ethnic or religious denomination, and by default an extension of the ruling coalition, it is common to see how endorsements for student activities are limited by the virtue of short-sighted administrative staff. Poor judgements and lapse in thinking, in particular assuming that the campus audience are all of one denomination, resulted in further alienation of the minorities - hardly a celebration of diversity and multiculturalism.
However, the diseases that plagued the institutions of higher learning are not cured by simply rewriting a text on ethnic relations and punishing the students for unruly behaviour. That’s merely a treatment of the symptoms while ignoring the larger issues. It is fine and dandy that the cabinet decided in record time to pass judgement on the scholarship of a claimed academic work. Are we to expect that to happen all the time? Dato’ Mustapa will win huge support from the academia for recognizing that it is time to make the institutions reponsible for their own flaws and shortcomings. It is only correct for UPM to handle its own internal affairs. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Higher Education has a larger task to perform, and that is to halt the decline of our tertiary institutions. Reviewing the AUKU is a step in the right direction, but it goes much further than that. Freeing up the academic space is the beginning, but the next item on the agenda should be the beefing up of academic parity - to allow the institutions to compete for the best and brightest, to allow the academicians to contest opposing and differing points of view, to enable criticism and critical thinking the space to grow, to allow reason to govern rather than blind adherence to the politics of patronage.
Of course, this is also conditional upon the academia to prove that they are able to meet such standards, whether it is scholastic ability, quality or integrity. Until then, complaints of interference is only going to highlight their own dependency and shortcomings.
The group of UPM students have not only disgraced themselves and the university, but also their families, parents and the students they are supposed to represent. Is this any different than the mobs who tried to abort attempts at dialogues by the Article 11 group?
Perhaps our youth is only taking a page from the wrong adults.
July 23rd, 2006 at 7:35 pm
Ladies and gentlemen,
These UPM fellas might just be your next leader of Malaysia
Wonderful isnt it
July 24th, 2006 at 3:40 am
Of course! UPM campus like most other campuses throughout are ‘breeding’ grounds rather than training grounds for Malay Islamic fascists.
July 24th, 2006 at 9:08 pm
Dear All, especially Paula the Poop,
The UPM case is but just one example of negative developments which will have a long term impact on ethnic relations in our country. The attempt to obstruct the Inter-Faith Dialogue is yet another. More of this can come unless our Government takes action to stop intolerance and promote inter-communal harmony through dialogue and social exchanges.
It is not just the work of “Malay Islamic fascists” (what a label to use, Miss Poop!) and others, but of people on both sides of the politics of this country. There are people in this country who are trying to rekindle the flames of racial hatred and religious bigotry under the name of Malay nationalism, Kitsiangism, Ulamakism, Anwarism, Sequeism, Veluism, or other isms. If this is allowed to get out of control, we, as a nation and as Malaysians, will end up those losers, that is, no body gains. Capital and talent will just go away.
Ignore the lessons of contemporary history at our own peril. So, the Department of National Unity must be given the budget and our support to carry out its mission. At the same time, we must lower our voices and debate the so-called “sensitive issues” rationally. We cannot just sweep them under the carpet, so to speak.
Thanks.
July 25th, 2006 at 5:29 am
Dear Din,
We can already envision the line of defence by the MPPUPM President, Mr. Abd Manaf Ariffin - “… but we were provoked!”.
Already, many sides have decidedly to prey on the ethnic angle. So far, the clown has even appeared before the press, not to apologize, but instead to stage a mock handshake with his own Chinese comrade-in-arms, hailed by the VC.
Puzzling? Me too.
Shouldn’t the least we should do, regardless of whether there is a basis for such unruly and uncouth and thuggish behavior, call for the MPPUPM President to explain himself? Did an unusual large rush of blood to his head explain the juvenile act? Will he apologize for setting not only a bad example for the students he is supposed to represent, but also extremely ungentleman-like conduct? Will he run for Putera UMNO?
The problem with a choked campus without the freedom to organize and speak up means that incidents like these probably have been going on for some time. It is not unlike politicians who turn on their constituents when student leaders cannot even extend basic courtesy to his peers.
I must say, they must have done a good job in indoctrinating the students on who is the enemy. Anti-establishment is a very risky label to bear indeed.
July 25th, 2006 at 7:00 am
isn’t it obvious that Malay Islamist facists have not only control of our so-called institutions of higher learning, but have come to populate its many campuses?