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Sakmongkol ak 47

ariff.sabri@gmail.com

Monday 5 April 2010

Education Imperatives and the NEM

The key words in the NEM- high income, sustainable and inclusiveness. These are the cornerstones of the NEM.

And how do we do that? The PM said:

Our answer is to create high wage jobs, give our children the best educational opportunities, and attract the high quality investment that is the driving theme of this important gathering.

Tackle the education system.

We ask this question. What makes for a high income economy? Skilled and trained people who produce high value added services and products for a global world. I add a global world because, unlike China for instance, we don't have the domestic population to absorb the high value added g&s. So, we must be mindful that our skilful workers provide for a borderless world. As a reminder, there's a universal language skills needed here and whether you like it or not, it's that bloody English language.

Then we look at the skills profile of our economy at present. How many technicians have we produced? How many engineers? How many do we plan to produce and is that number supportable by our present education agenda? How have we applied our resources thus far?

Our aim is to double the per capita income in ten years when the growth rate today is half what it was ten years ago when the ringgit was stronger, and we are trying to achieve that "high-income economy" when 80% of the workforce, or 60% of the population, has only an SPM or below. Most probably those 40% mentioned by the PM are made up by these people.

I mentioned above that a language skill is needed for us to break through. Why are we xenophobic about mastering the English language? We should look also at national survival more. We have to be pragmatic. Unless you increase the number of hours pupils stay back in school, increasing the minutes for English means you incur opportunity costs in the learning of other skills. Which means, in the end, knowledge infrastructure the PM spoke of is affected adversely.

Many understand why BM is the medium of instruction. It was returned because the rural students are too far behind to use English. But the urban students can and they should not be sacrificed so that the ministry can have an easier job or UMNO a bugle to blow the trumpet of fantasy. Accept reality that knowledge today needed for high income is delivered in English and the best knowledge infrastructure is of no use if no one can use it for want of being able to tap the world's knowledge out there.

And let those who mindlessly follow the clarion calls of ultra nationalist bodies to later explain why they are still left behind. In the long run, like Keynes said, we are all dead. In 10-15 years, most of the language nationalists are dead. But our young, educated in the prevailing education regime, will have to compete with a borderless world which views out stubbornness to prevail with our language to fulfil the cultural agenda of our education imperative, as a curiosity. But they won't be able to get jobs that can earn them income. Each year, our policy makers are insulating themselves about the job prospects of thousands of school leavers.

When the PM spoke about education, he was also throwing a challenge to our education minister to provide the answers to our high income needs. So we ask- what is our priority now as regards our educational imperatives? In my mind, there are 3 educational imperatives- political, cultural and economic. Which one is given priority at the moment? It seems to me, we are strapping ourselves stubbornly in a straightjacket, to the cultural and political imperatives.

Because of this inclination, it has also produced countervailing response on the ground from those people alienated from such imperatives. In my time, 30 years ago, enrolment into vernacular schools was diminishing. Nowadays, enrolment into vernacular schools especially Chinese medium schools is increasing rapidly to the extent, that in some vernacular schools, there aren't enough places to accommodate parents wanting to send their children there.

We must look into this reaction. Beyond being just a cultural reaction, could it be also a response indicating, that parents objected to our education imperative? In contrast and out of pragmatism, parents place a higher priority on the economic imperative of our education system. The disturbing thing is, they are willing to act and support their decision with their own resources. Parents value an education system that produces children who can find work and income higher than an education system that places political and cultural imperative. In the end, the survival agenda is most important.

Our education system must continue to be re-evaluated and improved to create the workforce of the future, with a commitment to merit-based programmes. These will reward excellence and nurture talented graduates who excel in strategic and creative thinking and entrepreneurial and leadership skills that will drive success in the decades ahead.

Now hearing the PM said these words, pushes us to think- what is the current imperative of our education system? Which one is given priority now?

This is also a challenge to our education system and to our education minister. Not too long ago there was much furore about the reversion of the teaching of maths and science to Bahasa Malaysia. That has taken place and we now asked- for which imperative? Seems to me it's aimed at cultural and political imperative. Now if our students are deficient in language skills, and the world economy is run on language other than BM, where will that place our students?

We are often enamoured with the fine words used by academics- that to create high income, we must elevate the application of science and technology on industry. We forgot that what actually makes the economy tick is sheer hard work and elbow grease. That translates presently into having the skills and the technicals to elbow grease and work. You can't make the economy tick, when by his own admission 80% of our workforce is SPM empowered.

Maybe its time to re-assess our educational imperatives. Because in the end, the critical factor in our agenda to become a high income economy is the quality of our people. If we are lazy, deficient in language and technical skills, how do we compete and how do we conceptualise to produce high value added goods and services? We need a rigorous and sound education system with the right imperative priority must be geared to the needs of the economy first. Then in 5, 10 years, we review the imperative. We leavened it with moderation.

41 comments:

Anonymous,  5 April 2010 at 08:59  

The reason why the hawks wanted subjects like science & maths to be taught in Bahasa is because these hawks want to continue their cengkaman on power. They know that if the Malays become educated, their(referring to the hawks) days will be numbered!

Anonymous,  5 April 2010 at 09:44  

‘when 80% of the workforce, or 60% of the population, has only an SPM or below.’

That’s NOT the key issue! Ever so often the solution to that problem is FORM over SUBSTANCE within the M’sia’s pedagogic context!

The world, especially the US, will lose a lot of technological edge & advances, if paper qualification is the main personal achievement goal. Think, about Bill Gate, Stevie Jobs.

The main point is SUBSTANCE, which means QUALITY.

Unlike exam passing mark, Quality cannot be adjusted left-ward on that marking bell-curve. Quality shines through when the applicants r been push through the working floor for their creativity & dexterity.

None of these can be taught, but they can be inspired - & yet these r the areas that our educational planners failed pedagogically.

Playing statistic to prop-up the number of pseudo-high academic achievers is the Form-showing approach, when many of these people r actually sub-standard & should not be awarded that qualification in the first place.

The 1st consequence of that FORM approach is a falsified raised expectation, as mentioned by someone else earlier. 2nd, the mistakes cause by these sub-standard ‘qualified workers’, sometime with tragically end results, can be avoided iff these people r been disqualified to practice in the first place. They should be put into their proper level rather than been randomly selected to filled some quota.

So, yes by all being provide good & decent education to all. BUT do makes sure that THOSE who serve the people r TRULY qualified to serve – NOT just because certain quota has to be fulfilled.

Richard Cranium 5 April 2010 at 11:59  

This is like a pendulum. It swings to one extreme, and then to another. Eventually it will come to a rest.

Malaysia's people hasn't found its resting place where they can be confident of each other intentions yet.

Anonymous,  5 April 2010 at 12:16  

Dato SAK 47

The imperative of education cannot be underestimated. which is what is happening now as you have rightly pointed out. what is our Minister of Education doing about this?

We all know that without English as the base for education we are not going to go far. The issue for the govt is the ruaral students who are primarily the Malays. Why dont we adopt the same strategy that was used to to bring education to all Malays? That is create a "MARA" College for English education for the Malays as part of the affirmative action to bridge the urban-rural gap. But ensure that the money is wisely spent, not to bulge the pockets of the cronies! This will be true affirmative action to bring about the potential for higher income capacity for our children. This should be extended to all rural Malaysian children.

James Q,  5 April 2010 at 14:44  

Aiyah, what's the fuss about, Dato'?

We are doing well, aren't we? Just look at the number of A which our students have been scoring all these years. It shows whata great job our past few Education Ministers and current one have done. EWven Singapore students don't score so many As like our students.

Besides, all Ministers send their children abroad for schooling. Most MPs and State Assemblymen also follow suit. The latest being Zahrain who sent his son and daughter to UK (not Ulu Kelantan but the United Kingdom). They will ensure we will not lack future English-savvy leaders to lead the non-English-speaking masses.

So no worry lah, Dato'. As they say, we have got everything under control.

Anonymous,  5 April 2010 at 15:23  

PM announces..

1.HSBB will be competitive as it is key to NEM etc etc >>TM sets almost the highest rates for semi hispeed broadband.
2.Myprocurement will ensure transparency >> very basic almost static website with very limited info AND corrupted data incl RM 6.4 bil for rations

Don't the guys realise how important PM's announcements n initiative are..we are hanging to his every word yet the govt servants continue to fail him.

Its so simple to benchmark,do comparatives with other countries...we must be as good if not better.You're making a mockery of PM's words.

Another sad day for M'sians

Anonymous,  5 April 2010 at 16:22  

Salam Dato Sak,

Remember this ?

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/1/17/nation/16593810&sec=nation

According to the article - “Many schools in Malaysia have good infrastructure but the content is not as good,” he said.

With that being said circa in 2007and now at present 2010

Still, no progress and these super klux klux clan are fighting for a piece of the so called pie still.

Do you see any of these Perkasa people fighting and screaming why budak melayu kampung cant afford to have education in english?

Pity those people who came down PWTC recently and to sanctioned albeit authorised IA of becoming their tools plus with a benefit of getting Kain Pelikat and Teh Kotak Yeos, as an gesture of appreciation.

What a load of Bo**ocks!

How we rakyat doesn't stop keep on barking especially when it comes to education the present Gomen keep on changing? Definitely something is wrong with this policy isn't it?

Recent announcements by DPM that all school need to have extra curricular activities but certain school they dont even have a basic proper Field to start with!

Apa ni!?

One-Student-One-sport Vision konon

Pooodah.

-Ikan Tongkol-

Donplaypuks® 5 April 2010 at 18:26  

I've continually harped on the issue of our national education system. Ours needs a total revamp.

It is not a question of BM or not or English or not. It is a question of getting the correct balance between book learning, developing an independent thinking mind and participating in extra curricular activities (not least of all for social skills). The Greek philosophers - Socrates, Plato and Aristotle - and Greeks knew a thing or two about developing balanced minds and bodies.

For that, we need the best planners, administrators, head masters and teachers; not those who choose to be teachers as a last resort. We must also get the ratio of male:female teachers right or most sports and extra-curricular activities, especially in boys' schools will die a natural death, as it mostly has!!

dpp
We are all of 1 race, the Human Race

Pekesam 5 April 2010 at 19:09  

Talk so much here in your blog. Go convince your fellow members in UMNO that that is the way to go.

Anonymous,  5 April 2010 at 19:53  

Dato'

What makes DS Najib think tha the Government Servants will heed his call?

Look at them!

They did not heed the Call of the mighty Tun Dr Mahathir, and Tun Badawi tried to move them via Salary Hikes....

Another Salary Hike?

Pleaseeee




Joe Black

Anonymous,  5 April 2010 at 23:05  

: Donplaypuks

Ditto. Clearly its not english or BM the critical issue.

Total Revamp of Education system Yes.

Best Planners, admin, Dean etc we have plenty of those too.

The thing is, this so called jurassic park genes is pretty much akin to "shiok sendiri" Mentalblock

Gone were the days where you the very least had fun in Uni, unlike today everyone is racing each other with additional element of Mat Rempit there and here.Lately there's this sports have to be inline with studies blah-blah-blah
it's like there's nothing new on news lately, isn't new findings of new formula how to develop Solar, Rubber liquid so on and so forth tarak news ka?

When it comes to exam results each of every minister will waltz in with a smirk on its face "This year ada Peningkatan, Improvement dari Segi banyak A's " It has been brained-washed year in year out and maybe occasionally will change to adhoc topics such as school uniform is to be revamp due too much Sexy-ness and all that Jazz.


Anyway Coming back to what I stressed out on my earlier post, We as parents students, academicans, past-alumni etc need to slap some senses to Ministry of education - Tell them to shove it up **** where the sun don't shine!

Sports-vision that this but at the end of the day - they send their kids overseas!

Apa Cerita!?

PM Najib, is not working fast enough, is the shopping spree of getting mission grab back 2/3 major
is still on going!?

Hello Melayu-UMNO wakeup la!

-Ikan Tongkol-

p/s watch F1 last night, I notice that Mokhriz is cranky lately when it comes to comments on "Shabby" Sepang - Chill la bro, Enjoy your Porsche while it last.

Masam Manis,  6 April 2010 at 00:35  

Dato,

My opinion politicians make a bad educationists. Education has always been the tool and abuse by politicians to achieve their political ambition. Just look what happen @ Hulu Selangor parliamentary election. A promise of setting-up of Permata Center during pre-election. Now it appears that Malaysia has 2 Education ministers.

In-case people has forgotten , last year MoE announced all UPSR takers are to take aptitude test and individual result will be attached with UPSR slip. Well it did not happen. Ever wonder what the results tell about the aptitude of our children based on current education system? Still waiting for the MoE/s to announce.

Wenger J Khairy 6 April 2010 at 01:54  

In 10-15 years, most of the language nationalists are dead. But our young, educated in the prevailing education regime, will have to compete with a borderless world which views out stubbornness to prevail with our language to fulfil the cultural agenda of our education imperative, as a curiosity. But they won't be able to get jobs that can earn them income. Each year, our policy makers are insulating themselves about the job prospects of thousands of school leavers.

Actually there are 3 segements to the economy. 1 segment which is the High Tech Semi Con folk face ruthless competition. These guys deliver the US Dollars to fund our fancy merri go rounds. I would also include Petronas folk in this, especially since they are now involved in competitive tenders around the world and a major source of income being from the Sudan.

Some of our construction tycoons tried to compete in the Gulf and the results are mixed. On one hand folk like Eversendai have done well, on the other hand Rainhill got its ass kicked. Still waiting on WCT.

Anyhow - the next group of folk compete domestically. In the commercial private sector, race places a big influence, where certain people not of a particular race which controls the economy compete on unfair terms. Yeah - you'll can figure what I am saying. But they are not racist, only UMNO is racist

The 3rd sector is our Government megaplex. Its all civil servants, the corporatized bodies and the tender agents that have some form of Government monpoloy or an emolument. These guys do not compete.

Interestingly though, the burden on the Government to sustain this sector is about to reach crisis point. I have just gone thru literally line item by line item of the national budget 2010 and across the board you can see drastic cuts in most (expt JPM and Sabah/Sarawak agencies).

Education is definitely important. But has anybody bothered to ask the question : Can our folk be educated?

Think about it. The answer is not as obvious as it seems. If it was, we wont have the DAP, Perkasa and other race based politics because people would have been educated enough to realize simple key facts that we spend more time developing all sorts of prejudices and counter measures than acutally doing anything productive. Myself excluded of course.

Anonymous,  6 April 2010 at 01:56  

btw, is a cabinet appt imminent? i hope so. Its a shame to ignore people of your calibre

Mat Cendana 6 April 2010 at 03:38  

Dato': I had read Datin Mamasita's update at Facebook. I'm sorry to hear about the theft. My immediate thought was that these were pros. They knew everyone would be away during this period... and they probably thought "A dato's house must have something like a kilogram of gold and RM500k lying around..."

Anonymous,  6 April 2010 at 07:12  

Dear Dato,
Thank you for the good piece article you have written.
One man and only one to blame is Dr M. He singely destroyed the education system in Malaysia.

What is wrong in learning two languages? English being language of business & commerce,it is therefore a must.

Take Brazil. Students have to learn three languages; Portugese as the national language, Spanish so that one can do business in South America and English for business with USA & rest of the world.
Brazil is far greater than Tanah Melayu in size & population and they are proud to accept English is a must.

If you go to China, you will find that they use football stadium as classroom to conduct English lessons due to the demand.

And the stupid Umno destroy the teaching of English! Bloody fools!

AA

flyer168 6 April 2010 at 07:28  

Dato,

Just who are his "Master" advisers???

Malaysian Brains or APCO...

This is another one of our PM's DAILY "Syok Sendiri" Rhetorics...

Maybe he should read this AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN...to "Open His Eyes & Mind"...Just SIMPLE COMMON SENSE!

http://www.malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29632:lkys-old-speech-made-in-1965-vs-najibs-1malaysia&catid=84:archives-2010&Itemid=100149

LKY's Old Speech made in 1965 (35 YEARS Ago!) vs Najib's 1Malaysia
ARCHIVES 2010

Cheers.

Unknown 6 April 2010 at 10:17  

Dato'

Seems to me it's a Chicken and Egg Situation....

We have a large number of highly qualified citizens working att jobs well below their qaulification. The educated in this country is in fact "overqualified", and yet your thesis stipulates action towards making them even more qualified...

This is more likely the reason for 300,000+ Malaysians have migrated within a span of only a few months to countries which can make use of their qualification.

This is the Dilemma...

Are we able to offer jobs (so called higher income jobs) that will lift us out of the "middle income" morass?

If that initiative is not forthcoming then the current state of affairs of our education system is sufficient to cater for the Nation's needs...

Why make the young go through the gauntlet to reach Higher Qualifications when there is nothing for them at home? Want a PhD, buy one (only if you are a politician or businessman for Academia might find out your shelf category PhD!) Nothing worse than having a PhD or MSc and working at McDonald's....

msleepyhead 6 April 2010 at 11:04  

Maybe it's time to get past that national hobby of amateur political punditry and engage in a DIY for a change.

Instead of waiting every 4-5 years to do something, start now. If things are as bleak and the current crop of leaders are as hopeless as everyone seems to say, it's time to stop depending on them to create a Malaysian we wish to live in and instead be the change we wish to see happen in this country.

Be excellent to each other.

Here is one example:
http://www.ted.com/talks/shukla_bose_teaching_one_child_at_a_time.html

Anonymous,  6 April 2010 at 11:28  

Dear Datuk. Consider this. Together, the public universities in Malaysia produced less than 6 thousand graduates a year. How many of these graduates major in science and technology. How many PhD graduates in Science and technology each year?

How can we expect move ahead?

Secondly, on English. Some 30-40 subjects are taught in English in Taiwanese universities. Just this year, President Mah said, Taiwan need to increase the number of subjects to be taught in English. Taiwan need to have more international students to attract talents to Taiwan. This is to increase Taiwan's competitiveness.

When Taiwan need to do this, don't you think Malaysia need to do more.

This katak be bawah tempurung mentality will push Malaysia backyard. Many Malaysian polices were made t protect the interests of certain group. These policies must be revamped to make Malaysia competitive.

Wenger J Khairy 6 April 2010 at 12:05  

AA,
Dr M destroyed English education for political expediency. We have to take note that he is the master cunning strategist. Everybody listened to him whether right or wrong and he used liberal spending as well as the ISA and other instruments of state to instill "fear" and "wonder" among the population.

We are now enjoying the fruits of his Governance style. The Founding Fathers saw thru Dr M's capability to manipulate and play people out for his own gain, but alas, their views were ignored.

Dr M is an evil man. The greatest political man in the country in terms of his own personal achievement. But a legacy that should be consigned to the dustbins of history.

Donplaypuks® 6 April 2010 at 12:31  

To rebut some of Wenger KJ's points.

It is UMNO, MCA and MIC which have been race based political parties, indeed from the very beginning!! They have joined hands now, overtly or covertly, with a racist and religious bigoted KKK-type NGO, PERKOSONG (empty vessels make the most noise!!).

This is a card that Najib, Muhy, UMNO and Dr.M will play at their own peril and UMNO's demise!!. Ibrahim Ali comes across as a comic book character (I read someone calls him Spongebob) who is only an opportunist and a sacrificial pawn in a deadly game of political chess. History tells us extremism cannot win for long.

DAP is open to all races and so no one should lend credence to the fiction drummed up by APCO nose-led and BN owned MSM that DAP is anti-Royal, anti-Malay, anti-BM, unqualified anti-affirmative action etc.

"Can our folk be educated?"

I have not the slightest doubt they can. I am a firm believer in Theory Y. But the masses are often fickle and easily misled by unscrupilous politicians. Get the leadership right, and M'sia will fly!!

When I started in Std 1 in the '60's, I knew no more than a couple of english words. But dedicated teachers soon put that right. There is nothing wrong with the make up or IQ of the rural Malay. Get the teachers right and most Malaysians will have a fair command of at least 3 languages, BM, English, mother tongue, and an appreciation of 1 or two other european languages like french, italian or german.

Get the teachers right first, not the student. No solid, lasting house can be built without a firm foundation!

"In the commercial private sector, race places a big influence, where certain people not of a particular race which controls the economy compete on unfair terms. Yeah - you'll can figure what I am saying. But they are not racist, only UMNO is racist"

This is a clear cop out! You had 40 years to get it right. You control and dominate Parliament, Civil Service, the Police, Army, Navy, Airforce, Judiciary, Teaching and Higher Education Professions, scholarships, GLC's, Petronas, AP's, Licences, Share Issues etc., etc., etc.

If the leadership of M'sia failed, don't expect anyone else to stand still and/or fail as well.

When a a policy is fundamentally flawed and/or over skewed, the only those in power and their croneys will benefit from it!!

dpp
We are all of 1 race, the Human race

walla 6 April 2010 at 12:44  

3/3

A: 'But how do we create a Malaysia with a Malay world?'

B: 'For that, i invite you to ask the young educated Malays who have discovered how the western countries and some of the eastern ones are creating theirs.

Some of these Malay students and mobile professionals are from the rural areas. So our politicians can't use the rural reason to explain away why their national, federal, all-races, policies must try to embrace Malay-centric elements so that the rurals don't face a gap. Who in his right mind would think the rural Malays want to remain rural in their rustic Malay ways by following the exhortations of fire-branding Malay nationalists?

If these nationalists are tomorrow put on the world stage and asked to show what they know and can do that is relevant, they will probably beg excuse and scurry behind the backdrop curtains. They have neither credentials nor credibility at all. The world has become challenging, calculating and complex. There is no room left for rhetoric and polemic. People measure worth by what is relevant to what the global market decides, not some half-baked potato of a politician. And it is relevance delivered beyond empty talk and vacuous statements that exit from undernourished minds. Right, acting Minister of Education?'

A: 'But what about national integration through education?'

B: 'Oh please-lah, Sofea. Integrate to what? Integrate to half-past six minds and incomplete personalities who hide their insecurity behind their buffoonery one day and bullyism another?

Let me give you straight what my Other Malaysian friends have been saying with utter dismay. They say the government now talks about inclusiveness and diversity when all along they have been practising exclusiveness and monoracialism which have made so many to leave. Now the govt wants to talk about talent for NEM? From where now, when it was all along here from the beginning? And they know how low our educational standards have dropped. Let's not discuss this crappy issue here because, Sofea, i have no idea how to retort them.'

walla 6 April 2010 at 12:44  

2/3

A: 'But won't that mean we are opening the doors for people to take advantage of us?'

B: 'For how long? Fly-by-night operations won't survive in this world of instant information flow. If we have good basic rules for a flexible economy in place, then it's a matter of selling our principles and ideals not just to locals but also to partnering foreigners. Remember Schumpeter's creative destruction approach can pave a path to coopetition. In today's complex world, that's a more productive way of doing things. And believe you me, productivity is the key to so many things for the likes of our type of economic situation.

But i have to add a qualifier here. If one is productive doing the wrong thing, that's even worse than not doing anything. Why? Because doing something erodes diminishing resources and wastes time. And resources and time, we tiada lagi. Why, again? With so many brains leaving at such a rate and replaced by the less value-productives, we are at risk of falling into a vicious cycle.

We need to create a new Malaysia, Sofea. One that is practical and relevant to the world. We need fresh brains and talents. We need candid assessment. We need real transparency and accountability. We need institutional integrity of the highest order. And politicians who are manning the gates of policies are the last people one can trust to deliver them because they have shown all these years they have a finger in the pie. They want status quo because they realize that if they are out, it will be too late for them to make themselves relevant. The rakyat know this. They should too.

Let me add here and now that the Malaysian world that can be relevant must be cosmopolitan. That's the word to summarize a vision for this high-income economy. Breezy, new, fresh, intelligent, happy, confident, rational, moderate....cosmopolitan. And it is by creating a more open talent economy that we can quickly get a template for locals to transform ourselves, both in the mind and spirit. Otherwise, we will become marginalized as a nation. On that, i have no doubt. Neither anyone else who has seen how the real world operates.

Meanwhile, I suspect these two well-written pieces will still be current in months to come as we try to pin down the core issues to trigger NEM:

http://is.gd/bgsMV
http://is.gd/bcGxi

Whatever it is, education is central and political/government transformations are the first three keys to turn before you can open the safe to the gold bars of the NEM.'

walla 6 April 2010 at 12:44  

A: 'I've got it, Tun.'

B: 'Anything i shouldn't know, Sofea? Hehehe.'

A: 'You're terrible, Sir.

I thought hard, and now realize the angst of our Malays is to realize our vision of a Malay world. Our challenge is we are still trying to find a balance for the values we cherish when the rest of the world is changing everything around us. Things have gotten too complex. Yet we want to carve our own comfortable destiny.'

B: 'Sofea, those values are not the monopoly of Malays only. Some of them are universal. It's all a matter of perspective.

Let me give you an example. What is the most important practical word in that changing modern world you have just alluded? It is "algorithm". Without algorithms, there is no software. Without software, many things grind to a halt. From life-support systems to international finance, manufacturing processes to shipping, even transmission of knowledge. The world progresses fueled by information and knowledge. In many instances, they level the playing field.

Now, the word "algorithm" comes from the name "al-Khwārizmī", the Baghdad algebraist. So, what we are seeing today is the use of original knowledge to destroy the very root that originated that knowledge.

In other words, Baghdad stood still and thus fell because it didn't realize the importance of what it had discovered. Realizing what is important is the key to why the west had advanced. That, apart from colonialistic plunder.

Now what is happening today is that those who have been backward are coming forth to claim their previous eminence. A lot of the things they had discovered were lost in history, replaced by terminologies and methods used by the west to define, claim origination, and advance their fields.

And the catalyst for everything in the new revivals of future civilizations remains education.'

A: 'But can't we educate in our own way for our own self-determined world?'

B: 'We can, and there are examples of others which have done so. But if we are talking about, say, Japan, they virtually copied everything the west had done almost two centuries ago and started to change their own world after they had assimilated everything. Their circumstance at that time was both the same and different from ours now. It is the same for us because we are now also realizing like them then that we cannot close ourselves from the world; they too made that hard discovery. And it is different because they did it at a time when science and technology was just finding a new preeminence in world affairs and statehood whereas in our case, we are too late to replicate their program because since then the amount of useful knowledge in the world has exploded and everybody else has woken up; it has become an amazing race. Moreover, just knowing how to use knowledge is itself a premium. And that is why even when there is a global crisis, there is still a global war for talent.'

A: 'Talking of which, Sir, i remember we had an Asian crisis and also a dot-com crisis not too long ago....'

B: 'Exactly. As the NEM gets debated, people are concluding we are at a crossroads, and to bring back an old phrase, "failure is not an option".

Indeed, in crisis is opportunity. So we should take this present global crisis to lure global talent to come play here. They may not even need to physically come here. Just alliance and affiliate or rationalize the use of their thinking powers, knowledge and network for business, research and innovation from Malaysia as their second-home base. Presumably we can sell them we are still relatively low-cost and now awakened to the mistakes we have made for which we would in contrition like to make amends quickly.'

Anonymous,  6 April 2010 at 15:52  

Donplaypuks,
Stop talking rubbish. Not only is DAP the ultra commie sort with u in their ranks, they are also ultra hypocrite.

Wenger J Khairy,  6 April 2010 at 15:58  

DPP,
How many non Chinese contractors/management/directors staff are there in
a) Public Bank
b) Genting
c) Hong Leong
d) Berjaya
e) YTL
f) Sunway
g) Sunrise
h) Insert your f&^&* example here!

Stop bullshitting. There is bumiputera and there is Bumicina. I've been in the industry, dont you dare talk cock like this. The Chinese controlled the industry. There was never a desire to help the Malays, so the bloody Govt had to do something.

Anonymous,  6 April 2010 at 16:22  

Bad thoughts on English being the saviour of our economy, politics and education excellence.Very colonial Sak.Japan, China and South Korea did it without English and their recent decision to go English is so wrong.

Perhaps the only sane thing to do for us in Malaysia is to revise the existence of the Higher Education Ministry and to ensure all our cabinet ministers are qualified to be Ministers (so that they are serious about their work and bring this country to a level it deserves)

Anonymous,  6 April 2010 at 21:11  

Dear Walla & TUN,


I admire and look high for certain people who value and appreciate history for the right reason - for once, Tun has refer to the once high kingdom of Baghdad, Iraq. Additionaly, you quote -

"Baghdad stood still and thus fell because it didn't realize the importance of what it had discovered. Realizing what is important is the key to why the west had advanced. That, apart from colonialistic plunder"


I wish to seek your wisdom from the Oracle if I may, to even think that our past and present Nationalist is demeaning especially Bahasa Malaysia has become worse thanks to Nationalist ala Rais Yatim, People at DBP, those A Samad Said Wannabe but at the end turns out more likely sounded "Pasar Malam" as in Apa Citer rather than Apa Khabar,

Not too forget KerisMuddin alter ego vocalist "Petualang" and yet the Rakyat ending up talking Bahasa at its finest - as

1. "Teruja"

Lastly, remember Zam-Zam-Aljazeera?
During the Bersih Rally!?
what is that he gibberish about!?

I rest my case (the Kedahans always said tak tau la nak habaq apa lagi yak pi mampuih depa semua.

-Ikan Tongkol-


P/S for all those missed Zam-Zam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfpYZ4IGenY

Donplaypuks® 6 April 2010 at 21:53  

Wenger KJ

Your focus is still race based which has no merit in nation building in 1 M'sia.

But for the record, banking licences have always been controlled by BNM and MoF. PBB and HLB's success route was open to any M'sian and if they were lacking in know how, they could have formed strategic partnerships with foreign giants. Why didn't they? And you are still not satisfied with having Maybank, CIMB, Affin Bank, Eon, AMMB, Bank Islam etc? You wanna grab or compete for what's left?

As for Sunway and Sunrise, they made a fortune from developing barren and abandoned tin mines from which they carved out a world class water theme park and built condos and houses in places like Mt Kiara where they made a killing/ fortune. Did they have exclusivity in these areas to buy land? Don't talk cock with your puerile analysis.

As for Genting you know they carved an empire out of nothing and 1 man's dream and doing us proud now in S'pore!! YTL - similar story. Sure, we can question whether they engendered best biz practices and ethics in securing huge contracts, but guess who was all along in charge of the Govt which facilitated all of it?

Don't forget, Genting, Tanjong, Berjaya and Magnum succeeded largely in areas where the Malays/Muslims would not compete on religious grounds i.e. gaming, gambling and betting! Would they want or choose to be employed in these concerns?

I've no idea as to the actual the ratio of Bumi:non-Bumi staff in the companies you listed but concede that it's likely to be skewed in favour of the non-Bumis. But with Chairmen like Hanif Omar and a host of others, I'm sure that at least at Board (highly remunerated) level the Bumis are fairly represented.

Elsewhere, you have to compete becoz no one's going to give anyone, even the non-Bumis, a free ride.

dpp
We are all of 1 race, the Human Race

Donplaypuks® 6 April 2010 at 21:59  

"Dpp, Stop talking rubbish. Not only is DAP the ultra commie sort with u in their ranks, they are also ultra hypocrite." Anon 15.52.

Please first check the constitutions of DAP, UMNO, MCA and MIC and tell me which party is multi-racial and which is not!!

Then list all party leaders and office bearers and let us know which party appoints leaders based on race and which does not.

It's easy to label anyone as commie and hypocrite just because you affiliation and loyalty lies elsewhere. But can you substantiate anything objectively and with solid proof? Don't be led by your nose by APCO spin and Utusan type of racism!!

dpp
We are all of 1 race, the Human race

Anonymous,  6 April 2010 at 22:54  

dato'

there's a conspiracy theory in town.

Its a deliberate measure to ensure the malays are not exposed to the best practices and knowledge. look at the malays in the opposition PKR. arent they mainly middle and upper class with overseas stint? they know too much about and despise UMNO's cronyism.

dato', its just a theory. There's no way to validate this conspiracy. I can only pray and hope that the Malays wake up, throw away the crutch and gain knowledge to compete. I am very sure they will succeed coz when there's a will there's way to success.

You are a good man, Dato'. God always bless you and your family.

Anonymous,  7 April 2010 at 09:29  

Wenger J Khairy@6 April 2010 15:58,

I know u have some pervert sentiment about the Chinese M’sian businessmen. U also had some pervert comment about that forked-tongue nature of the Indian M’sian.

The examples u quoted is purely chicken-&-egg foreplay. & this come from a fact-based ‘analytical critic’ is just that much out of yr usual league. What takes?

Let me throw u an argument, running along yr logic;

How many Non-bumi contractors/management/directors staff are there in

a) CIMB
b) AMMB
c) Pertronas
d) Insert your f&^&* example here!

Stop bullshitting. There is bumiputera and there is Bumicina.

I've been in the industry, & sorry to say that 95% of the bumi stuffs there r purely paper-pushers, I-know-somebody-atas, 2nd best rejects marking time for openings to the next level.

To be honest, without the non-bumi background workers sweating for the results, at all levels within these organizations, most likely u wont see CIMB & AMMB sitting at where they r now! Ouch, Petronas is a different kind of ‘fish’ – its too big, too full of O&G money to fail, for the time being. When these god-given resource-curse run her course, most likely it will go the way of Petromina, more so when credible work-horse like Hassan Marican has now been replaced.

‘The Chinese controlled the industry. There was never a desire to help the Malays..’

What craps r u talking – a typical Chinese M’sian supply-chain dominant theorist. Let me give u something to chew;

1)How did Eversendai becomes what it’s now – given that the Indian M’sian founder tries to swim within the Chinese M’sian controlled steel supply industries – from production to market to oversea source?

2)How did Ramli Burger become what he is now from a burger stall at Jln TAR, to become a burger meat patty supplier to be recognized within M’sia. Bearing in mind that yr supply chain theory is telling u that the Chinese M’sian Businessmen wont help. Did the umno Govt helped Ramli then or r they now swamped him like sharks, waiting for the bounties?

3)Hear about Alif café? How did it gain popularity within the Malay M’sians. Chinese M’sian supply-chain theory again?

I’m NOT sure this piece is written by u! If u r really that Wenger, the u have lost yr marble. Period.

Anonymous,  7 April 2010 at 10:52  

all things being equal i will choose someone or a company that I m more comfortable with..

and more often then not evaluation of what is meant by "being equal" is not as easy as 1 plus 1..

Richard Cranium 7 April 2010 at 10:56  

Let me add another 2 sen into the mix. This nation won't really progress unless these two things happen in tandem:

1. The special position of the Malays is removed from the constitution.

2. The "right" to mother tongue education is also removed from the same.

But you and I know tinkling with these provisions are fraught with dangers to one's personal liberties.

Until this happens, we'll still be arguing about such things till 2020 and beyond.

*sigh* lemme crawl into the hold now.

Pak Idrus 7 April 2010 at 11:16  

The only was for the Malay to be successful like the other Malaysian is through better Education. Just bring back the English School and make Mandarin the second language in all school. Take care.

Donplaypuks® 7 April 2010 at 14:15  

OOps Wenger KJ

Forgot to include RHB.

Anonymous,  7 April 2010 at 14:30  

Wenger,

Politik - Melayu control
Kerajaan - Melayu control
Undang2 - Melayu control
Polis - Melayu control
Angkatan Tentera - Melayu control
Bank Negara - Melayu control
Pengeluaran Lesen - Melayu control
Pentabiran Awam - Melayu control

Kalau masih tak bejaya, ada apa alasan lagi ? Lesen di beri hari ini, besok gadai.

Tempoh bukan 5 atau 10 tahun. Tapi 40 tahun bang. Kalau baik nasib, sudah jadi datuk.

Ada apa lagi yang boleh dibuat supaya Melayu boleh berjaya ? Tanya Ibrahim Ali atau TDM ?

Anonymous,  7 April 2010 at 16:24  

Anonymous 14:30

Betul semua Melayu control,

Tapi sayang, Melayu semenjak habis zaman TDM tak veto & ISA semua leka & tido - lepas tuh nak naik amok keris sana sini

Saya sebagai rakyat malaysia - nak tengok hasil kerajaan sumbangan rakyat selesa bergerak sana sini tanpa Melayu Elit yang tolong perot dia aje & janji retorik aje.

Oh tak juga saya cakap selama ini orang melayu makan ubi kayu dan tengok tv hitam putih je dan mundur

Perkara asas - Ilmu Pengetahuan & Politik tak boleh dikucar kacir sangat.

Lihat ahli politik kita diparlimen
semua takde "standard" & Protokol asas zaman dahulu kala - Pakcik Lim & Kapal selesa tengok terutama orang kita bercelaru.

Saya penat tengok benda asas LRT, Taxi, MAS, Formula1, Bola Sepak, Mahasiswa Universiti semua sepatut-nye lebih berkembang dan berdiri tinggi diatas mata dunia - bukan banyak dengar Politik dikucar kacirkan

Itu Sebab UMNO gagal, bukan kerana TDM & IA laungkan orang melayu tersisih dan perpaduan sesama Melayu Islam amat diperlukan. Itu adalah jauh sekali.

Gula pon untuk orang rumah dikotak-katik apa cerita?

Petrol dinaik selama beberapa bulan apa cerita? Rm2.78 seliter mana hasilnya?

Engine Kapal Terbang LESAP boleh dikotak-katikkan bagai Sayur Kangkung macam mana tuh?

Saya tak dengar pon IA & TDM bersuara?

Kesimpulan - Pendidikan anak² Malaysia tidak patut dipermainkan dari tujuan asal
Sekejap English,Sekejap Melayu

Bangsa lain, semua dah memecut kearah hadapan

Memang Jelas kebelakangan ini
puak-puak UMNO rasa tertekan dan ada Teori kedengaran UMNO tak mampu untuk memberi pendidikan Bahasa Inggeris kerana takut akan Bebudak Melayu lawan balik atas Fakta yang bernas dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Kelmarin, Myprocurement - silap Million dengan Billion, itu pon silap kira ke? Mana UMNO? tak bersuara pon?

Adakah Melayu Malaysia kita ini selamanya dibuai Mimpi Retorik yang berulang kali?


-Ikan Tongkol-

flyer168 9 April 2010 at 09:45  

Dato',

Interesting success story from China....

"US President Obama visited China, primarily to find out what exactly & how exactly China is doing things that makes it such a success story, surpassing all the so-called "expert economic planners" of the US & Europe."

"His team found these 5 basic lessons behind China 's success" - which applies equally to our country.

LESSON No 1 - BE AMBITIOUS

The Chinese believe in Setting Goals, Making Plans, & Focusing on Moving Ahead - there is always the sense of foward motion.

As an example, a huge 6-lane highway in Shanghai took only 2 years from planning to ready for traffic.

In the US, 2 years will only get you the environment and local authority permit if you are lucky...

In Malaysia in 2 years, they will still be calculating how to inflate the costs, and to whose abang-adik company to award the project.

LESSON No 2 - EDUCATION MATTERS

The Chinese are obsessed with ensuring kids get the right education - English, Maths & Science.

They made sure that their education system reached even the most remote rural areas - today the literacy rate in China is OVER 90%, surpassing even the USA's 86%.

According to American Educationists, the Chinese kids are way ahead of the kids in the USA .

Meanwhile in Malaysia , our Moo-Moo politicians are determined to retract our education system into the stone age.

LESSON No 3 - LOOK AFTER THE ELDERLY

The Chinese DO NOT send their elderly to nursing care centres - they personally look after & care for their parents.

In the US, nursing care of the elderly is now costing each resident USD85,000 annually, & this is rising.

The Chinese also believe that the grandparents at home make the best tutors for their children.

It also provides a sense of cultural continuity - this helps bind society.

In Bolehland, it is a growing trend to have children brought up by maids, of the lowest educational & moral quality - so our children (the future leaders) grow up with similar language & outlook capability. (meaning becoming like Indonesians)

LESSON No 4 - SAVE MORE

In the USA, savings dropped to zero in 2005, and is only now slowly rising to 4%.

In China, the savings rate for every household has exceeded 20%.

The Chinese believe that frugality & a healthy savings rate are a sure indicator of a country's financial health.

High savings lead to increased investments - results in increased productivity, innovation & job growth.

In the West, & aped by our Malaysians, the status symbol is to spend more than you earn, with as many credit cards as possible. In the end, the whole country gets into debt.

LESSON No 5 - LOOK OVER THE HORIZON

In China, everyone is forward looking - never backwards.

New graduates make a vow - never ever will their children & grandchildren ever work in the fields again.

With this kind of forward mentality, people are always thinking & planning how, not just to succeed, BUT how to be the best in the world in everything they do.

In Malaysia , we are still, after 41 years, trying to get the window switches of the Proton to work properly, and our Muslim Fundamentalists want us to adopt medieval syariah laws...."

Cheers.

Anonymous,  10 April 2010 at 15:57  

no matter what our education policies are,for as long as paper qualifications or excellent pass in PTK is used as a benchmark in assessing our civil servant especially our teachers, we will go nowhere because our teachers are getting a short cut to promotions through PTK so there is no reason for them to teach well.even a hopeless,lousy and lazy teacher can get promoted or upgraded as long as they can pass their ptk and polish their boss's balls!

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