Our Schools and Idle Youths
SEEING IT MY WAY
Malaysiakini.com May 10, 2006
From December to June, thousands of our young idle their time in the malls and elsewhere while waiting for their SPM (Form V) examination results. Then they wait whether they would be accepted into Sixth Form or matrikulasi (matriculation).
Those who can afford it, or have freed themselves from the dependency on the government, have wisely abandoned the system. They enroll their young in private institutions that prepare for foreign matriculation examinations.
The poor, and those who cling to the notion that the government knows best and are therefore psychologically dependent upon it, wait passively. They wait patiently for the bureaucrats in the Ministry of Education to determine their fate.
This being Malaysia, the race factor is never far. In the first group are mainly non-Malays; the second, Malays. That being the case, we should expect the Malay-controlled government to solve the problem long ago, as the beneficiaries would clearly be mostly Malays. It is both a paradox and a riddle that that is not happening.
In my book An Education System Worthy of Malaysia, I advocated de-emphasizing the SPM and extending the school years to Sixth Form for all.
SPM should merely be an in-progress report card, not a terminal examination. The areas tested should also be reduced to only the core subjects of English, Malay, science, and mathematics. This idea that students should be sitting for up to 15 subjects is ridiculous.
There will be some non-core elective subjects. These would be evaluated by the individual schools and teachers. Using statistical techniques to compare the schools’ composite SPM scores, it is possible to reduce considerably interschool variations in evaluations.
Revamp and Expand
The Sixth Form would have to be revamped and expanded away from only preparing students for university. That would still be the objective of the academic stream. However, there would also be vocational and general streams Sixth Form to cater for those not university bound.
Subjects like wood working, cooking, book keeping, and auto mechanics should be taught at vocational Sixth Form, just as they are being taught at American high schools. The curriculum could be integrated with the apprenticeship programs so that when the students completed their Sixth Form, they would be certified journeymen.
The general stream Sixth Form would prepare students for non-university institutions like nursing schools and teachers’ colleges. Even if they were to forego further education and enter the work force directly, they would be better prepared for having had the two extra years of schooling.
The academic steam would continue the current pattern of preparing students for universities.
I would broaden the curriculum to six subjects, with the four mandatory ones, and scrap the useless General Paper. The rigors of the subjects would have to be modified. The mathematics of the academic stream would include calculus and statistics, for the vocational stream, “consumer math.” Those pursuing the sciences would take physics, chemistry and biology; those opting for liberal arts, physical or life science; and in the vocational stream, general science.
Those in the Islamic stream too would have to take the four core subjects, plus their Arabic and Islamic Studies as the other two subjects. This would broaden the students’ intellectual horizon and career options. Even if they were to end up as religious officials, they would have a wider view of the world for having had a broad based education. That would be good for them and Islam.
All students, regardless of their ultimate career choices, would have 13 years of schooling and instructions in the four core subjects. That should prepare them well.
Cheaper Proposal
My proposal is also cheaper. Matrikulasi is expensive; scrap it and divert the funds to expand Sixth Form.
I would encourage through tax incentives and grants for private industry to sponsor or start their own vocational stream. Proton could start one preparing students to work in the auto industry. A group of hotels could start one focusing on the hospitality industry by training students to be chefs and waiters. A consortium of construction companies could start schools to train plumbers, welders and wood workers.
With the SPM testing fewer subjects, we would not have to wait months for the results. The transition from Form V to VI would be as smooth as from Form IV to V, with students starting their classes in January instead of six months later. With the non-core subjects evaluated continuously throughout the year by the schools, this would give yet another independent assessment of the students to complement the SPM.
There is no reason for our youngsters to waste the six to seven months from November to June. Similarly, our younger students are wasting their valuable time waiting for their SRP and UPSR results. These tests should be held done late in November so as to maximize the instruction hours. There is no reason why the Examination Syndicate (that conducts these public examinations) could not be more efficient. I am appalled that their staff are allowed to take their annual holidays at the end of the year, when that should be the busiest time of the year for them.
The present system has been in existence for decades; it is time for to examine it critically. At the very least my proposal would get rid of the current “mall rats;” at best, it would extend the instruction days and would make our young, and our nation, more competitive.
May 14th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Dr. Bakri:
Don’t you think adding two more years of compulsory education will unnecessarily lengthen our schooling years? If anything that we should right I would say, is to think of a way to shorten our compulsory schooling years. Americans complete high school at a younger age. Brits as well.
May 14th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Sharmalen
I beg to differ. US education systedm requires students to do 12 years of formal schooling, elementary, middle school and Grade 9-12 in High School.
Perhaps a better way is to suggest that entry to college is not dependent on SPM but on a national college entrance exam similar to the SAT exam conducted in June of the student final year. Results will be made known in October and students who do well will be granted entrance to colleges.
The extra year Dr Bakri recommends allows a student to mature and explore career possibilities. Ask any SPM student about their choice of career and you will not be suprised to get the standadr answer Engineer, doctor, lawyer or accountant.
May 14th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
ogre:
Yes, you’re right. I should have said Americans enter college at a younger age. The point I was trying to make is Malaysians should start college at a younger age. I don’t think we need to add an extra two years just to allow students to mature. Students should achieve a certain level of maturity after completing high school. They will further develop themselves in college. As for career choice, the college system should provide students with a certain degree of flexibility – you spend the first two years in liberal arts school for example, before taking your major subjects.
Low level of maturity at the end of SPM is probably one of the consequences of rote learning that we seem to emphasize in our education system, not because of the duration of schooling years
May 14th, 2006 at 9:31 pm
I agree with sharmalen, if anything we need less years of formal schooling, not more. Maturity comes when you finally leave school and are out on your own. No more teachers or parents telling you what to do and pointing out the road to you. It is when you finally realise that life is not a stright path, that nothing is sure in life and you have to find your own way, that you develop maturity.
I know so many people who went through the whole thing, from kindergarden to a BA in Law or computer sceince, only to realise at that point in life where they have graduated and are wondering “What now?” that what the “correct” thing to study is not their calling.
Pushing students through more years of school may help them pass more tests, but it is setting them up to fail in life.
May 14th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
Sharmalen, Nicholas,
Bakri is not suggesting 2 more years of formal study but just one more year. Currently Malaysian students spend 6 years in primary school and 5 years in secondary school making itt 11 years of formal schooling. The US system requires student to spend 12 years of formal schooling.
Unlike Malaysia US high school graduate have many choices of further education i.e. City Colleges, Community Colleges to obtain an Associate Degree and a 4 year college or university for a baccalaureate degree. Malaysian students are academically well prepared and from the last SPM. some have 15A’s to boot which is mind boggling. Yet these same students fail miserably in public speaking, critical thinking and social interactions. Some can’t even discuss current events or world news or presenting a differing view.
Yes two years of liberal arts is great. Most US universities requires their student to spend the first 2 years in General Education courses spread over humanities, psychology, philosophy, English, Maths and Science.
Over the years I’ve noticed that Malaysian students have trouble adjusting from the rote system to one of lecturing, note taking and presenting ideas in original form. Coupled with poor English the ir performance is mediocre.
Here we are discussing extending the number of years of formal education and I read recently that Open University is advocating university entrance to PMR students with only 9 years of formal education. Are Malaysians making university education universal?
May 15th, 2006 at 1:30 am
Don’t agree with M Bakri….
I understand being the idle is not good; after all there is this famous saying that “the idle brain is the devil’s playground…”
But there is so many things things I did when I was idle…… I read novels…. and books…. walk around…explore things…… and experiment new things too……..
Hey… I remember reading a lot of history during those idle days…. going to the National Library in KL…and reading and browsing all those books….. very ironic as history was not my favourite subject in school…..
……Mmmm all I remember about history in school: was that my history teacher was dull…and unattractive……
May 15th, 2006 at 4:51 am
Scrapping matrikulasi may be a tough-sell politically; matrikulasi, of which the majority is Malay, is the main feeder for local universities. It is also somewhat easier than STPM. Now that the goverment has implemented “meritocracy” (in quotes due to skepticism), the high number of matrikulasi students getting A (compared to STPM) is used to justify the high number of bumiputra (Malay) admitted to the universities.
If the matrikulasi was merged into STPM, I fear the percentage of Malays admitted to university will drop. There will be smart ones will get 5A, of course, and eventually the increased competition will drive Malays (and everyone else) to work harder, and ultimately Malays will benefit. But the initial pill will be hard to swallow, and I don’t see the current government having the political will to swallow it.
Malays (just as parents of every race) wants their children to go university. Vocational training is seen as “second class” in Malaysia (which I strongly disagree, but that’s another topic). Ideally, politics should be seperated from education, but unfortunately, that is not the case.
May 15th, 2006 at 9:07 am
Over the years I’ve noticed that Malaysian students have trouble adjusting from the rote system to one of lecturing, note taking and presenting ideas in original form. Coupled with poor English the ir performance is mediocre.
I whole heartedly agree with you on that but isn’t the problem in the QUALITY rather then the quantity of the education? To me at least that 1 year has made a very big difference in my life.
RIght after my SPM, i went overseas on a working holiday and spent 1/2 a year working and living in a forign country. That really opened my eyes and I learnt to love this home I call Malaysia. Even Anak Malaysia above, spending his “bum around” time found a passion for History, a subject he didn’t like in school.
So my point is, 11 years is already 10 years 11 months and 29 days too many of rote learning in school. If anything, I believe we ougth to encourage school leavers to go get lost somewhere far far away and spend that year finding their way back. That one year will teach them things that 12 years of textbooks will not.
May 15th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Viceice and Anak Malaysia are very fortunate to have the resources and insight to either wander the world or wander the stacks in the National Library. But majority of the students don’t have the moolah to wander the world or don’t have the luxury of the National Library at their back door. For some, to go to the National Library may entail a whole night journey by bus at a cost that can feed the family for a week.
Yes I agree that Quality is more important than Quantity but you need to butter the bread evenly so more can enjoy the bread albeit thin. My heart goes to the poor kampung student that lives in the FELDA schemes, rubber estates or even the pendalaman. They have little exposure to the world and getting a passport now cost RM 300.00. Then there is the airfare, or boat fare, meals and accommodation. Even our neighbors down south cost a bundle. So as you suggest maybe the 12th year Malaysia can teach students “adjusting to college life or career choice or life experience” just like they do to the AAD students bound for US.
May 15th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
Malaysia will never become a developed nation if we maintain the 2 different streams of entry into local universities.
Now we are facing a serious mismatch of graduates and what the employment market really needs - ie skilled technicians.
It is better to be a skilled technician with good job prospects than a graduate who is unemployable.
The Higher Education Minister needs to do better coordination between the universities and industry so that we do not churn out thousands of people who simply cannot get a job.
Parents too have a role to advise their children and not depend on the government who should concentrate more on making good policies and follow up.
There is a tendency now to shorten the school years. In Singapore they do O levels after 4 years. My son did his Os and then did 3 A level subjects in one year and qualifies for entry into an overseas U.
Not sure if he will be accepted into a local U though but that was never in our thinking.
May 16th, 2006 at 12:03 am
Bakri, who actually listens to your ramblings and ideas? Not those in position to really act on your “recommendations” I bet.
Why don’t you come back and put your money where your mouth is?
Sitting there in your luxurious home, enjoying an American surgeon’s income is all very well and good if you just want to be an armchair critic. Why don’t you come back? Are you even a Malaysian citizen anymore?
Your type disgusts me….
May 16th, 2006 at 12:12 am
Tell me I am wrong -
“The areas tested should also be reduced to only the core subjects of English, Malay, science, and mathematics.”
do you mean up to form 5, students only be examined for the above 4 subjects and they need not study anything else? School will be incredibly boring.
I think we should emphasize on language competency (learning Chinese or Arabic or whatever to deal with the rest of the world), geography (so that we know what’s outside Malaysia) and history (the past gives a clue to the future) and commerce - prinsip alaun and perdagangan.
What I would like to see is less emphasis on exams (where the students with the best memories or question spotting capabilities or obliging teachers prevail in a few hours); and more emphasis on project works that carries point. Getting the students off their ass and work on projects teach them about initiative, resourcefulness and maturity.
This sort of education style can curb to certain extent the unhealthy state of tuition dependency in Malaysia.
Also, more time should be given to PE, music and art to developed more rounded students.
I am more for cutting down the number of years in school. We gratuate too old and becomes mature slower.
Also, I agree we should have 1 exam entry system for universties. Having 2 is openly admitting to double standard and lack of competitiveness. I believe firmly that any human being works harded to get something he/she does not have; whereasto one that is used to hand outs tend to work less harder….
May 16th, 2006 at 1:13 am
Asri,
Your posting sickened me! In the first place why do you even bother to visit this blog if it disgusts you so much? Why do you need to get personal with Dr Bakri? It’s none of your business to extract personal details from him.
You should be appreciative of what the good doc is trying to do, to share his thoughts and experiences and perhaps to knock some sense into those monkeys having a free run all over Bolehland.
Dr Bakri may not be all correct in his writings but people your kind with your low self-esteem, do you have better ideas to contribute? If not please move on and do not antagonise and upset everyone on this blog.
May 16th, 2006 at 2:53 am
If you think they’re monkeys, why don’t you do something about it? All talk, no action. Just like the good doc here.
Join a party, join NGOs, work within the system, persuade people personally. These are the things to do. Not writing from 10000 miles away and hoping those in power actually reads your opinions.
I visit because I follow his writings. I hoped he’d come to realise how futile his method is. But it seems not. He’s too comfortable there to actually come back and join whatever cause he believes in. This is the kind of Malay that org kampung in UMNO and PAS despise. Gain a bit of knowledge and then presume to be a lot more intelligent than the yokels back home…
disgusting…loya..
May 16th, 2006 at 3:48 am
asri,
There’s more than one way to skin a cat. Bakri finds it easier to criticise from without. Try doing so from within and I am certain the SB will be knocking on your doors sooner than you can say, “Jack Robinson”.
The cultutre of fear is so entrenched in our society that no one in his right frame of mind will dare do what Bakri is doing. His critical essays are being read far and wide and I am sure those in power read and follow his postings.
Many may not agree with what he writes but at least he is prepared to say the unthinkable so that his Malay brethren at home will be enlightened.
As to joining an NGO or a political party and to work from within. Well, that is easier say than done. After all how many of our kind join NGOs?
So, let the good doctor says his piece and be enlightened.
May 16th, 2006 at 6:27 am
Mmmm… culture of fear…… huh…. that’s a scary topic I suppose…….
I wonder…. does the Special Branch operates like BIN - Badan Intelijen Nasional of Indonesia…
Or perhaps more appropriately….similar to Bakin - Badan Koordinasi Intelijen Negara - during Suharto’s time?
I hope I won’t get into trouble… by making this comparison……..
May 16th, 2006 at 9:55 am
The first thing to do is to shut down all vernacular schools. Period.
May 16th, 2006 at 10:32 am
Asri
Join a party, NGO etc etc. You can’t change by joining a party. You get assimilated by the party. Take a look at Anwar Ibrahim, join the party to change from within and yet at the highest point in his life as DPM he couldn’t change the party or Malaysia.
Bakri talk sense and his writing is read by all walks of life, be it the people in government as well as the administrative service. He is doing the Malays a favor and he should be lauded and not belittle. He does take trips back home to Malaysia and he does have current information given him by friends in Malaysia. Living in Morgan Hill USA does not mean that he cannot contribute to the well being and development of Malaysia.
How about you, may I ask? Are you in UMNO or PAS or any NGO? What is your contribution to the betterment of Malaysia? Perhaps you can enlighten us on your activities in the pursuit of a better Malaysia. Please share with us your experience, activities and efforts so we may join you (not in your armchair i hope) in your quest of a better Malaysia.
May 16th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
I challenge this blogger to come down from his ivory tower - and see from the ground. His perspective may be different.
Right now, your views are warped, unreal, artificial - and what’s more, self-serving.
May 16th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
I watched a documentary on Malaysian Olivia Lum, the CEO of Hyflux.
She was an orphan and brought up by an old woman who encouraged her to move to Singapore after her LCE.
She had good results and her school principal encouraged her to leave her village.
But she was ambitious and always driven to escape her poverty cycle and prepared to work very hard.
I guess we lost a towering Malaysian in the process of her escape. Yes from the ground level we really do have real poverty in Malaysia. These are the marginalised of all races.
May 16th, 2006 at 5:43 pm
Asri,
I am not trying to defend Dr Bakri but I don’t think you are being fair in your comments.
If you have really followed Bakri’s writing, I am sure you would have come across the book “From Malaysia With Love”. Bakri actually served the government and even teached medical students over here. He actually got very frustrated with the bureaucracy and the mentality of our government and civil service over here.
Unlike others who just “cabut” from the country, Bakri has made himself a name overseas and is indeed an example of a “Towering Malay”. He still cares for the country and the “rakyat” here and that is why he keep on writing a series of books to educate those who are still willing to listen.
I don’t know Bakri personally but from my various email correspondences with him a couple of years back, I can testify that he is someone who really care and even willing to share his perspectives with a non-malay like me. Certainly not a typical “malay ultra”. What I am trying to say is that Dr Bakri really cares for the nation and has tried to contributes his bit in our nation building. At least, he has done more than our so-called leaders and civil servants. Just ask yourself, how many of these political or civil service goons has ever bothered to write books and educate the masses?
Let’s be fair to Bakri and I wish him well in his endeavor. He certainly have my respect as an ordinary Malaysian.
Cheers!
May 16th, 2006 at 5:58 pm
Ok, asri, let’s hear your views on how to “fight from within” without getting hammered by your own kind.
When I said about the culture of fear I am saying from experience. On Saturday, May 6. 2006 I was invited to talk at a women’s rights organisation at the MPPJ hall in old town P Jaya. The organiser had to get a permit from the Police before proceeding.
And while I was delivering my speech, three SB personnel were in the crowd observing. One was recording my appearance, and that of the other speakers, on a camcorder.
See the subtle threat the authorities have deliberately imposed on the rakyat. And mind you this is not my first time.
May 16th, 2006 at 7:54 pm
This wasn’t me:
“I challenge this blogger to come down from his ivory tower - and see from the ground. His perspective may be different.
Right now, your views are warped, unreal, artificial - and what’s more, self-serving”
You guys are too easy, that’s all I can say.
May 16th, 2006 at 9:10 pm
Asri
The real or the hantu Asri, enlighten us with your contributions to nation building. Don’t attack the writer, by all means attack the message if you have differing views. Both Asri’s display poor judgement, kind of those that fail to make it even with the gov’t handout or failed medical school and now envious of Bakri’s success as a surgeon.
May 16th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
The likes of Asri is a common phenomenon of Malays who like to pull down their own kind.
Fathol Zaman, your Ipoh Echo makes me proud for being the voice of the Ipoh community.
May 17th, 2006 at 12:16 am
Nation building….
That’s a very grand concept……..
I see a very big problem here…… how do we define Malaysia as a nation…..
Supposedly some people think that a nation consist of people (community), time and space all enclosed within a border…
some even may add religion and ethnicity….as additional borders….
But perhaps in the age of increasing mobility…although I must say imperfect, as only people with highly valued capital or knowledge (or luck !!!) are the main beneficiaries…, it is more helpful to think a nation as an imagined community….. an idea… that are constantly re-inforced….
A nation is an idea… so Malaysia is in reality an idea!
Aha…. of sometimes I wonder why should the Special Branch be interested at women’s rights organisation meeting….. after all they are not Communists ! But if I think that a nation consist of ideas… then it all makes sense….
The power of ideas can move a nation….
May 17th, 2006 at 12:19 am
But somehow…. people in Malaysia… I mean those with alternative ideas… hasn’t managed to move the nation yet………
Or is it so…?
May 17th, 2006 at 12:21 am
Asri is correct alsolah. Many people can talk only. I can also talk one. My mother also can talk one.
My contribution to nation building? I don’t litter aroud. I use proper bin for mycigarette butt. That’s also nation building what?
May 17th, 2006 at 12:23 am
Hello asri,
Feel free to disagree with the doctor, but you should do so on the basis of the reasonableness and soundness of his idea. If you think he is mistaken in his reasoning, give counter-examples. I recall that in his post about Pramoedya, he made a mistake about the latter’s work not widely known in the Malay world. Someone corrected him. We want to see this kind of interaction. What do you gain by attacking his character? Please offer more than name calling and vitriolics.
May 17th, 2006 at 2:04 am
Dear All,
Why gadoh about what Dr Bakri say, the point is that our education system needs some serious looking into. This I agree with Dr Bakri, but I don’t agree that we should take in toto the American system.
We should have an independent panel of educationist,politicians etc to discuss what is best for us. The current education system is based more on what the politicians want and not what our children need.
In the school where one of my children is schooling they have several options at form 5 level. This is based on their perfomance, interests which are monitored throughout their primary school and secondary school and by the time they are at form five level they have options of taking O level subjects, or partly SPM subjects.
This system is both flexible and practical. After all you dont need a grade 1 or 2 to go to University, you need subjects that you excell in. 6 good grades at O level can get u to matriculation program in most part of the world or even for STPM or HSC. This is an Islamic school,mind you!
What is important is for the entrance requirement to our Uni. We should not look at the grade 1 or 2 but the subjects passed and the grades.
But most important is the method of teaching during the years in school. A good school provides a holistic approach to education from day one and not teach the objective,parrot like, method taught in our national schools.
So, lets make a petition to the Govt to establish the Commission, and perhaps Dr Bakri or Asri can initiate it? Moral of the story is if the politicians are allowed to make the education policy all we have are BN thinking citizens, brainwashed to think as a one track human being,solely churned out to support the BN Govnt till eternity!!!
Salam and Regards to all
May 17th, 2006 at 7:12 am
Aiyo-yo! Why you fellas get at each others’ throats lah?? Look at us MIC fellas we are united lah!
May 17th, 2006 at 7:14 am
KerisWieldingFanatic:
Shutting down all vernacular schools can stop thousands of our young idle their time in the malls and elsewhere?????
May 17th, 2006 at 7:21 am
Fathol says, “See the subtle threat the authorities have deliberately imposed on the rakyat. And mind you this is not my first time”.
You call that subtle arhh?? Where got subtle anymore when the chap is openly recording your speech and zooming in on you with his camcorder?? Special Branch is documenting you so a charge could be proffered at a suitable time if need be. But if they decide to detain you under the ISA, the government does not need to prove its case – but you would have to show cause why you should not be detained?? So how are you going to do that unless they give you due process and allow you to look at the evidence the Government has.
Good luck man!
May 17th, 2006 at 7:23 am
Tails Gomen wins, heads you lose.
May 17th, 2006 at 7:25 am
but at least you have elevated yourself to the status of “celebrity” lah.
May 17th, 2006 at 7:37 am
Thanks Maniam for your concern. Just a reminder to those who want to fight from within. I am certain they already have a dossier on me.
A small price for wanting to institute changes like asri has advocated.
May 17th, 2006 at 8:10 am
Asri,
….are you still there?
May 17th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
Today monkeys populate the seats in our Parliament. Monkeys see, monkeys do – their motto.
Let the good doc return and offer his services to those he says closest to his heart – his “comrades-in- arms” so to speak. There is no point offering lip service and indulging in useless rhetoric, with that “I know best attitude” or holier than thou attitude. There is nothing new about your ideas as others have trodden down the same path and have found them impracticable.
Having Din Merican as your sidekick will not make up for the lack of originality in your ideas.
May 17th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Asri has a point!
But then that proposal needs Man of substance, ethical & integrity.
Br Bakri is right to say that environment maketh the man. But take a look at the present environment that our M’sian society is operating under!
The three branches of the govt are a joke; with monkey see monkey do. Moreover most of them now operate to certain extend like fiefdoms with minor ’sultans’.
In the private sectors everyone looks within their own boundary defined by self interest. See how our press & media behave! Even some of our NGOs cannot look further than their limited resources can provide.
Then our political parties - the biggest joke in town.
Trying to fight & change from within? Provided you don’t get overflown by all the inter-plays of self interests surrond you. MCA, Gerakan, MIC & UMNO are all the same. they are all only interested to look after their own pockets.
Only when there is spilled-overs will then the commoners being thrown a skinned bones. & yet the commoners are still being fooled to perpetuate the same game.
These are the reflections of our educational system. Dr Bakri is right to emphasize the rehabilitation of our education system, which has being run down throughout the course of her history.
All the modern features in the schools will maketh a MAN if the basics of humanity are being imparted diligently, unbigotly & historically correct.
What’s the point of having a technically skilled person & yet the mind is dark like a chasm with only one tunnel direction.
& yet beyond all those unemployable graduates & within those employed ‘cream de la creams’ there are those that fall within this category. These are the people that are carrying the course of the nation towards darker pages & the momentun is accelerating.
Ya! by all means fight within the system, provided one’s conviction will not be swagged by the surrounding enviromental factors.
BUT where to get this MAN of calibre to take up this challenge? Who will be the conscience of M’sia to wake up the general ‘bolehan’ by sacrifice him/herself to fire the first volley!
This volley will have to be in the educational field & it’ll take many years & sacrifices to achieve a minor first step to untwisted the 40+ years of political interferences in educating our youth.
& yet I’m dispair.
May 17th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
to the second asri,
What the hell are you trying to pull here? I know your anonymity is your shield, but at least have some self respect and stop hijacking people’s comments!!! Idiot..
May 17th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
this is pretty much my 1st entry. i was just wondering about this one issue. We have so many publications and blogs always highlighting all the problems and ills that are plaguing our country. I mean, it’s all well and good to know what is going on, but why don’t we really discuss how we can solve it properly?
Some of you will probably say “but he did offer suggestions how to solve the problem whattttt”. I know, but let me give you an example. Just supposed i want to eat an apple hanging from a tree. You guys would probably say go pluck the apple and eat as the obvious solution to the problem. I was hoping for a more specific answer such as “grab the ladder from the woodshed, climb the tree and pluck the apple”.
This is all very unplanned, so please don’t be too hard on my example. But what im trying to ask is just this. Can we have more specifics on how things can be done? As many of you know, Malaysia’s laws are very very ironclad and it’s hard to exploit anything that could mean a change with any regards to education, race and religion etc. So how do we stop the rot that is making our country less than what we should be?
May 18th, 2006 at 4:00 am
What about we form our own multi-racial, secular, transparent, accountable political party? We can call it PBM (Parti Bloggers Malaysia).
May 18th, 2006 at 10:58 am
Asri first one,
Perhaps you should go register your handle as a trademark and then you can file a lawsuit. In the meantime, posters here are not interested in who is who - except what you say here.
May 20th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
asri (whichever one):
What good does criticising the source of an idea do? If you are suggesting Dr. Bakri’s ideas are unworkable, then provide reasons. As your posts stand, they seem to imply you disagree with him just because he is “comfortable” living as a surgeon in California. If Dr. Bakri does not love Malaysia, do you think he would spend so much of his time setting up a blog and writing so many books about his home country? Many Malay populists are content with just insulting the loyalty and citizenship of the non-Malays, but apparently you take things one step farther and insult Malaysians living abroad as well.
As for Dr. Bakri’s post, I think that the main problem with Malaysian schools as things stand are the teachers. They are overworked and underpaid, and given the wrong subjects to teach (to boot). I know pf teachers with physics degrees teaching secondary school biology, and IT teachers forced to teach history. Before moving on to deeper details, we must correct this problem by properly training and allocating teachers.
September 6th, 2006 at 10:38 pm
Dave
Interesting topic… I’m working in this industry myself and I don’t agree about this in 100%, but I added your page to my bookmarks and hope to see more interesting articles in the future