The Price of Malaysia's Racism - Slower growth and a drain of talented citizens are only the beginning. An article by JOHN R. MALOTT which was published in WSJ.
Malaysia's national tourism agency promotes the country as "a bubbling, bustling melting pot of races and religions where Malays, Indians, Chinese and many other ethnic groups live together in peace and harmony." Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak echoed this view when he announced his government's theme, One Malaysia. "What makes Malaysia unique," Mr. Najib said, "is the diversity of our peoples. One Malaysia's goal is to preserve and enhance this unity in diversity, which has always been our strength and remains our best hope for the future."
If Mr. Najib is serious about achieving that goal, a long look in the mirror might be in order first. Despite the government's new catchphrase, racial and religious tensions are higher today than when Mr. Najib took office in 2009. Indeed, they are worse than at any time since 1969, when at least 200 people died in racial clashes between the majority Malay and minority Chinese communities. The recent deterioration is due to the troubling fact that the country's leadership is tolerating, and in some cases provoking, ethnic factionalism through words and actions.
For instance, when the Catholic archbishop of Kuala Lumpur invited the prime minister for a Christmas Day open house last December, Hardev Kaur, an aide to Mr. Najib, said Christian crosses would have to be removed. There could be no carols or prayers, so as not to offend the prime minister, who is Muslim. Ms. Kaur later insisted that she "had made it clear that it was a request and not an instruction," as if any Malaysian could say no to a request from the prime minister's office.
Similar examples of insensitivity abound. In September 2009, Minister of Home Affairs Hishammuddin Onn met with protesters who had carried the decapitated head of a cow, a sacred animal in the Hindu religion, to an Indian temple. Mr. Hishammuddin then held a press conference defending their actions. Two months later, Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told Parliament that one reason Malaysia's armed forces are overwhelmingly Malay is that other ethnic groups have a "low spirit of patriotism." Under public pressure, he later apologized.
The leading Malay language newspaper, Utusan Melayu, prints what opposition leader Lim Kit Siang calls a daily staple of falsehoods that stoke racial hatred. Utusan, which is owned by Mr. Najib's political party, has claimed that the opposition would make Malaysia a colony of China and abolish the Malay monarchy. It regularly attacks Chinese Malaysian politicians, and even suggested that one of them, parliamentarian Teresa Kok, should be killed.
This steady erosion of tolerance is more than a political challenge. It's an economic problem as well.
Once one of the developing world's stars, Malaysia's economy has underperformed for the past decade. To meet its much-vaunted goal of becoming a developed nation by 2020, Malaysia needs to grow by 8% per year during this decade. That level of growth will require major private investment from both domestic and foreign sources, upgraded human skills, and significant economic reform. Worsening racial and religious tensions stand in the way.
Almost 500,000 Malaysians left the country between 2007 and 2009, more than doubling the number of Malaysian professionals who live overseas. It appears that most were skilled ethnic Chinese and Indian Malaysians, tired of being treated as second-class citizens in their own country and denied the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, whether in education, business, or government. Many of these emigrants, as well as the many Malaysian students who study overseas and never return (again, most of whom are ethnic Chinese and Indian), have the business, engineering, and scientific skills that Malaysia needs for its future. They also have the cultural and linguistic savvy to enhance Malaysia's economic ties with Asia's two biggest growing markets, China and India.
Of course, one could argue that discrimination isn't new for these Chinese and Indians. Malaysia's affirmative action policies for its Malay majority—which give them preference in everything from stock allocation to housing discounts—have been in place for decades. So what is driving the ethnic minorities away now?
First, these minorities increasingly feel that they have lost a voice in their own government. The Chinese and Indian political parties in the ruling coalition are supposed to protect the interests of their communities, but over the past few years, they have been neutered. They stand largely silent in the face of the growing racial insults hurled by their Malay political partners. Today over 90% of the civil service, police, military, university lecturers, and overseas diplomatic staff are Malay. Even TalentCorp, the government agency created in 2010 that is supposed to encourage overseas Malaysians to return home, is headed by a Malay, with an all-Malay Board of Trustees.
Second, economic reform and adjustments to the government's affirmative action policies are on hold. Although Mr. Najib held out the hope of change a year ago with his New Economic Model, which promised an "inclusive" affirmative action policy that would be, in Mr. Najib's words, "market friendly, merit-based, transparent and needs-based," he has failed to follow through. This is because of opposition from right-wing militant Malay groups such as Perkasa, which believe that a move towards meritocracy and transparency threatens what they call "Malay rights."
But stalling reform will mean a further loss in competitiveness and slower growth. It also means that the cronyism and no-bid contracts that favor the well-connected will continue. All this sends a discouraging signal to many young Malaysians that no matter how hard they study or work, they will have a hard time getting ahead.
Mr. Najib may not actually believe much of the rhetoric emanating from his party and his government's officers, but he tolerates it because he needs to shore up his Malay base. It's politically convenient at a time when his party faces its most serious opposition challenge in recent memory—and especially when the opposition is challenging the government on ethnic policy and its economic consequences. One young opposition leader, parliamentarian Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, has proposed a national debate on what she called the alternative visions of Malaysia's future—whether it should be a Malay nation or a Malaysian nation. For that, she earned the wrath of Perkasa; the government suggested her remark was "seditious."
Malaysia's government might find it politically expedient to stir the racial and religious pot, but its opportunism comes with an economic price tag. Its citizens will continue to vote with their feet and take their money and talents with them. And foreign investors, concerned about racial instability and the absence of meaningful economic reform, will continue to look elsewhere to do business.
Mr. Malott was the U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia, 1995-1998.
Datuk Nasir Safar, special officer to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, will resign over allegedly racist statements he made, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement Tuesday.
“The remarks allegedly made by Nasir in Malacca today do not in any way reflect the views of the Prime Minister,” the statement said.
“Nasir never intended to make any derogatory remarks. He spoke at length on the contributions made by all races in developing the country.
“Nevertheless, Nasir apologises for any offence caused ... and in light of this, will tender his resignation.”
Online portals earlier reported that Nasir’s remarks at a 1Malaysia seminar at the Malacca International Trade Centre were so offensive that MIC and MCA members in attendance walked out in protest.
He was reported to have said that Chinese and Indian Malaysians were mere “pendatangs” (immigrants) and that Chinese women came to Malaysia to indulge in the “flesh trade.”. Editor: In fact, all Malaysian, regardless of race are pendatangs, from other mainland or nearby islands. Heck, some of their grandparents were likely to be South-East Asia pirates or lanun. Sendiri mesti mau ingat.
Nasir first denied the reports, saying he was just talking about the country’s history.
“I did not say the word ‘pendatang.’ I only said the country has been successful as the Chinese and the Indians from those days until today have been coming here to work,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
He also dismissed claims that he had threatened to revoke the citizenships of non-Malays who demanded that their rights be respected, the portal reported.
MIC and MCA leaders had threatened to lodge police reports over the incident.
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The current selection of Public Service Department (PSD) is based on four criteria - merit (20%), race preferences (60%), Sabah and Sarawak citizens (10%) and students from underprivileged groups (10%). In addition to that, students with poor academic results but excellent in their co-curriculum activities will also have good chance to secure the scholarship.
Thus, only in Malaysia, if you are a smart Chinese student, your chance to get that scholarship is only 20% (based on merit). A whopping 60% quota is allocated for the Malays regardless if their result is excellent or not. Another obvious loop hole is that PSD will make sure 60% quota are given to the Malays even if all 60% are below average. I don't mind if all the 60% quota is given to smart Malays students but that is not the case. Fulfilling the quota just for the sake of quota is thus depriving other smarter MALAYSIAN.
Picture: Most scholarship wasted on Mawas standard students.
Related posts:
* PSD must cut the red tape
* Public Service Department is practicing racial preference
* Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers’ Union is racist
* PSD must speeds up assistance to all top achievers
* Why the government is selective in offering scholarships ?
Weaker Malays doesn't mean it will make the Chinese stronger. Weaker Malays will make Malaysia weaker
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From the Star
PSD scholarship review
By NG CHENG YEE
PUTRAJAYA: The Government will review the selection criteria for Public Services Department scholarships, said MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
He said a meeting would be held among Barisan Nasional component party leaders, the PSD director-general and the Chief Secretary to the Government today.
They will discuss the matter and reconsider rejected cases.
“All four MCA ministers had met with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to discuss the cases highlighted to us regarding the selection of PSD scholarship recipients.
“The same issue was also brought up at the Cabinet meeting. The Prime Minister has agreed to review the criteria,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
The MCA, he said, received many complaints where students considered the best in certain states were not selected for the scholarships.
“Instead, the moment they were informed about their unsuccessful bid to obtain scholarships to study overseas, the students were asked whether they would accept offers to study at local public universities or foreign universities based in Malaysia.
“This is a very serious situation where students do not get enough time to consider their decision,” he said, adding that such circumstances must be stopped.
Currently, Ong said, the selection is based on four criteria - merit (20%), race (60%), Sabah and Sarawak citizens (10%) and students from underprivileged groups (10%).
He said if meritocracy was part of the criteria, the students’ co-curriculum activities and interviews should not be included for consideration.
“Meritocracy means it should solely be the students’ results and not any other areas,” he said.
On another matter, Ong said he had briefed the Cabinet on the Port Klang Free Zone issue but nothing was discussed in detail.
Meanwhile, the Port Klang Authority would be holding an emergency board meeting at 10am today to approve the terms and conditions for the release of the audited report prepared by accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers, port au-thority chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng said.malaysia ~ If you like this informative post, please subscribe to my full RSS Feed
UMNO has suspended its Bukit Bendera division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail of his membership rights and stripped him of his posts for three years for making remarks which were deemed offensive by the Chinese community.
Ahmad Ismail says he accepts his three-year suspension from the party but promises to make a comeback. Ahmad Ismail stripped him of all his posts and membership rights.
This means the Bukit Bendera division chief will not be able to contest and vote in party elections nor attend the Umno annual assembly for that period. The decision is effective immediately.
MalaysiaKini reported that Ahmad Ismail's three-year suspension from Umno over his racist outburst drew mixed reactions from several politicians across the northern region. Some said Ahmad Ismail should have sacked him while others said the issue was blown out of proportion.
Responses to Ahmad Ismail's punishment:
TETRAIGRAT: The punishment meted out to Ahmad Ismail is really a camouflage of the highest order. This man almost threw the country into racial chaos but all the Umno supreme council can do is suspend him a mere three years. This guy will appeal so don’t be surprised if the suspension is reduced to three months.
Mustafa Ahmad: It took the Umno supreme council 3 hours to find Ahmad guilty for insulting the Chinese and refusing to forward an apology. But he is unfazed by the decision of his party boss and I bet my last dollar he won’t take his punishment like a gentleman.
Garry Khoo: Ahmad Ismail should join Pakatan Rakyat since he is so dissatisfied with Umno leaders as well Gerakan.
Kumar14: Ahmad Ismail suspended from Umno for three years? What for? For his racist remarks, unrepentant behaviour or the hooliganism demonstrated by his supporters? Will a three-year suspension ‘cure’ him of his racist beliefs? He has made it very clear that it will not.
Justice4allraces: Ahmad Ismail’s suspension could be considered fair for those who think a
three-year suspension would make him think twice of his actions. However, I beg to differ. A three-year suspension is actually not enough.
Steve: After 51 year of independence, this Umno man still has the British ghost taunting him. It clearly show how out of place he is in this century. I wonder if he and Umno will ever change with time.
Proud but Concerned Malaysian: Ahmad Ismail has been described a renegade who has refused to apologise for his racial slurs. In the light of this, I must ask MCA and Gerakan, why are you still part of BN?
From MalaysiaKini:
* Renegade leader unfazed by decision
* Ahmad suspended for 3 years
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From TheStar
Ahmad Ismail suspended and stripped of his posts for three years
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has suspended its Bukit Bendera division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail of his membership rights and stripped him of his posts for three years for making remarks which were deemed offensive by the Chinese community.
The decision was made at a specially convened supreme council meeting yesterday.
Other developments yesterday were:
> Barisan Nasional component parties immediately welcomed the decision, saying that Umno had recognised the coalition’s feelings;
> Ahmad urged calm among the Malays and Umno members but refused to retract the controversial remarks which were made while campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election;
> The Cabinet which met yesterday saw that race relations in the country was showing “not so good signs” and the Government would keep a close watch on the situation;
> The police will not hesitate to take stern action against anyone inciting racial tension, said Deputy Inspector-General Tan Sri Ismail Omar.
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From TheStar
Ahmad accepts punishment but stays defiant
KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail says he accepts his three-year suspension from the party but promises to make a comeback.
However, he refused to apologise or retract his contentious statement and called on Umno members and Malays to stay calm, adding that it was “a lesson for the Malays to be united”.
Speaking at a press conference convened by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor after the supreme council announced his suspension yesterday, Ahmad described the decision as “God’s will”.
“In politics there are leaders and fighters. As a fighter, there are sacrifices and risks. If you are afraid of the ocean waves, don’t build your house on the beach.
“Being struck by waves is normal but this time it was a tsunami (that hit me).
“But I have a long time, three years, to build a stronger house. I will build it on the same site. I will stay on with Umno, my party,” he said, drawing applause from his supporters who accompanied him.
On the decision, Ahmad noted that it was not an easy one for party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to make.
He said he could still serve Umno in other ways.
“If the division is smart enough to create a new post, like an adviser, I can become an adviser.
“It does not end there and I can even become executive secretary,” said Ahmad.
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From TheStar
Ahmad cannot contest or vote
By SHAHANAAZ HABIB, ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN and JANE RITIKOS
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has suspended Datuk Ahmad Ismail from the party for three years and stripped him of all his posts and membership rights.
This means the Bukit Bendera division chief will not be able to contest and vote in party elections nor attend the Umno annual assembly for that period. The decision is effective immediately.
Umno president Datuk Seri Abullah Ahmad Badawi announced the decision yesterday after a special party supreme council meeting held to discuss Ahmad’s case.
Moment of truth: Abdullah and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak attending a press conference after the special Umno supreme council meeting Wednesday.
The action was taken in accordance with Section 20(9) of the party constitution.
“Many Umno supreme council members gave their views and we are of the opinion that Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s comments and action have caused worry, protest and anger among Barisan Nasional which is serious thing and so we have made this decision,” he said.
At the Permatang Pauh by-election, Ahmad caused a furore when he allegedly said the Chinese in the country were immigrants and squatters and did not deserve equal rights.
He refused to apologise or retract his statement.
After a press conference on Monday, Ahmad’s supporters tore up a poster of Gerakan acting president and Penang state Barisan chairman Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, resulting in Penang Gerakan severing ties with Penang Umno.
When announcing the decision to suspend Ahmad, Abdullah said the Umno supreme council also wanted the other Barisan component parties to act sternly and take disciplinary action against their members if they commit similar offences.
“All components parties must be firm. If any of their members make comments which whip up racial sentiment and cause anger among the races and jeopardise ties among the parties, they must take disciplinary action,” he said.
Abdullah said Ahmad had the right to appeal against the supreme council decision,
Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said later the decision to suspend Ahmad was unanimously made by the council.
----------------------------
From TheStar
Other BN parties must act against errant members
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional component parties should take appropriate action against their respective members if they go against party lines and raise sensitive issues, said its Youth chairman Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
He said yesterday’s decision by Umno to suspend Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail should also mean Barisan component parties show consistency by taking action against their own members when they stoked ill-feelings among the people.
Hishammuddin referred to an earlier incident involving Gerakan, where its Youth vice-chief S. Paranjothy created unpleasantness last year when he had reportedly said on the Internet that the Indian community were treated like fourth-class citizens.
Hishammuddin said he called for Umno to break off ties with Gerakan due to the statement at the time.
He added that acting Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon had asked him to not push for action to be taken against Paranjothy because of the impending general election in March.
“Now when the same situation has happened (in Ahmad’s case), the concerned party should see Umno’s decision as a sign that when we criticise someone, what comes around will come around,” he told reporters after an Umno supreme council meeting.
Hishammuddin said Huan Cheng Guan faced a dilemma on whether to resign as Penang Barisan Nasional Youth chief because the state Gerakan had broken off ties with the state Umno.
He added that Huan felt it was not realistic for him to continue holding the post but his loyalty to Barisan was not affected.
Hishammuddin said the party would organise sessions to explain to the Umno grassroots especially Bukit Bendera Umno members on the reasons for the action taken against Ahmad.
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Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Prime Minister finally admits that relations among different races in Malaysia is currently not healthy.
Of lately, racial relations between the rakyat has been further tensioned by irresponsible acts of certain individuals. Some of of those individuals are from UMNO Party who Abdullah is the party president.
All along the relationship between races is cordial but at time hot and cold, despite the Malays constant avocation of Malay and Islam Supremacy in Malaysia. Politicians from UMNO as well as the Opposition Parties and the media tends to spice things up and blow up certain issues out of proposition and makes those issues even more racially flavored.
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From TheStar
PM: Race relations not at healthy level
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Cabinet, which discussed the race issue yesterday, was of the view that race relations in the country was showing “not so good signs” which could cause tension.
The Prime Minister noted that a number of sensitive issues, which were not openly discussed before, were being raised.
“Issues that are not normally raised are being brought up and turned into issues. Matters that have never been discussed before are being discussed now and this is bringing about all sorts of reactions.
“All this while we have been able to control the situation and prevent any untoward incident. But we cannot allow a fiery situation to prevail as it could jeopardise the peace and security of our country,” he said after chairing a special Umno supreme council meeting.
Abdullah said the respective ministries had been directed to keep tabs on the situation, and act accordingly.
“We hope the people will understand that in a multi-racial, multi-religious country like ours, we need to take care so that there will (continue to) be peace and mutual respect among us. We need harmony so that the country can develop.
“We need to do what is best for the country. We need to save Malaysia from racial fights and tension,” he stressed.
To a question, Abdullah said the Internal Security Act might be used “if needed” to curb racial tension.
He added that the Home Minister would “think twice or even three times” before deciding to take that step.
“If the minister thinks that it is an appropriate action to be taken, then he will take it,” he added.
Asked whether the directive to the ministries would curtail freedom of speech in the country, Abdullah explained that there was no such thing as absolute freedom anywhere in the world.
“Laws must be respected. People cannot just say whatever they like, in the name of free speech, to the extend that it can offend and hurt others and jeopardise security,” he said.
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Chinese feel as if they are not citizens of this country. That is what George Chan, the president of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) said. SUPP is a component party of BN Sarawak. George Chan said that in criticism to the inappropriate labelling of Chinese as immigrants by Bukit Bendara Umno division head, Datuk Ahmad Ismail, during the recent Permatang Pauh by-election campaign.
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From TheBorneoPost
SUPP rejects ‘Chinese immigrant’ label
By Philip Kiew
MIRI: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) does not want Chinese Malaysians to continue being labelled as immigrants, saying it is bad for racial harmony and disrespectful of their citizenship and rights in this country.
The party’s president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan yesterday said it was a paradox to the modern trend of immigrants of the past who have become citizens and contributed towards the nation.
“The label makes the Chinese feel as if they are not citizens of this country,” said Dr Chan yesterday.
“On the other hand, in the United States, African-Americans are not considered aliens, and now one of them may even become president,” he said, referring to the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Barrack Obama who has taken America by storm.
Dr Chan said this when asked to comment on the labelling of Chinese as immigrants by Bukit Bendara Umno division head, Datuk Ahmad Ismail, during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign.
“He claimed he was misquoted, but if it was true, then it would be very bad for racial unity,” he said.
Following calls to apologise for his remarks, Ahmad blamed the press, saying he was not being racist but was only quoting history in one of his speeches.
Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties hit out at him for his refusal to apologise and for what they construed as arrogance.
Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said Ahmad’s refusal to apologise showed that he failed to toe his party line and respect the Umno-BN ties.
On the apology of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pertaining to the matter, Dr Koh who earlier on opened Kelantan Gerakan annual convention, said his party appreciated it.
MCA was also stung by the remark and Kelantan MCA head Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said the state MCA had written a letter to the prime minister, stating that Ahmad’s remarks had angered them.
They wanted disciplinary action to be taken against him.
Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said the ball was now in Ahmad’s court and it was up to him to ’salvage’ the situation.
MCA vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Kiat who is also Transport Minister, said Ahmad was not above the law and it was up to the party’s top officials to decide whether or not to take disciplinary action against him
“We do not like to force things. Since his remark goes against the deputy prime minister’s stand, then it is an internal issue to be dealt with by Umno,” he said.
Ong said that it was up to Ahmad if he wanted to continue to be “hard-headed” and unapologetic, but that did not mean he was free from the law.
DAP adviser, Lim Kit Siang, said Ahmad’s refusal to apologise had ‘repudiated” the earlier reply and apology from Najib.
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This is a follow-up post on racist rules in Malaysian schools. As they said, educate Malaysian from young, corrupt them from young.
My previous post "Hishammuddin Hussein allows racist rule in Malaysian school" highlighted a discriminating rule in an English Language Debate competition for secondary school whereby the rules stated that there MUST be one Bumiputera candidate in the debate team, regardless whether that member is a dungu or not (so long as he or she is a Bumiputera).
No insult, dungu is God's creature but not meant for competition, ya.
You know when you include a dungu in your team, your team winning chance will be reduce by 20% or more. That idiotic rules definitely hamper team and motivational spirits. It dampen your fighting chance and that is the kind of rule that spoil young Malaysia. That will lead to racist Malaysian.
I mean, if that Bumiputera member is qualify for the team then you don't need the rule. But if there is no Bumiputera member qualify then don't force the team to include a dungu.
Let's go to an Islamic Religious school and imagine that there will be a Islamic Debate (no, you are not suppose to debate on religion) whereby the rules say the team must be include a non-Bumiputera. Tak masuk akal, right. Unless of course there is indeed a qualify Muslim non-Bumi in that school.
Image from: Bumiputra Rule in Malaysia's English Debate Competition - Word by word
Updated:
* Aug 20, 2008: Racist teacher still teachingmalaysia ~ If you like this informative post, please subscribe to my full RSS Feed
I came across a student blog where he post his updates in participating in an English debate competition. His team represents the state in a national level competition BUT only allowed if his team has a BUMIPUTRA representative.
Okay, I myself is a bumiputra but when it come to competition, you want the best members, the best candidates and not just a member of certain race to fill up the racial quota rule. That rule on the racial quote on a team is not only STUPID but darn stupid.
The objective of a competition is to field your best and try to win. How can you win with a handicapped team (because the rule say you have to include BUMIPUTRA member and what if you can't find the best bumiputra member, or that fella is not good enough) ? That would break your competing spirit. And no wonder, Malaysia alway f#$k up in international competitions !!
How can Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysia Minister of Education allowed this kind of racist rule to be practiced in school. His education policy should encourage competitiveness among students regardless of race and religion. Allowing racist rule in school only teach the young generation to be racist among each other when they became adult in later life.
Read the student frustration on the racial rule in his blog below:
* Dead Ends & Frustrations Pre-Debate Competition
* The Bumiputra Rule in Malaysia's English Debate Competition
Updated:
* Aug 20, 2008: Racist teacher still teaching
--
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Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers’ Union objects to the government’s move to increase Public Service Department (JPA) scholarship for non-Bumiputeras from 10 to 45 per cent starting this year.
SBTU should pressed for the government to abolish the racial quota and increase the overall scholarship allocation. Ahmad Malie, Union chairman said the move would benefit the non-Bumiputera community more than the Bumiputeras. Did he not understand that non-Bumiputera are also Malaysian and whatever assistance given by the government to the non-Bumiputera is for the benefits of Malaysia and not for a single race.
No matter how the government keeping adjusting the racial quota percentage, it will never satisfy one party. The best solution is for PSD to give scholarship to the deserving and smartest students regardless for race. That's mean the Malays, the natives and the non-Bumiputera need to compete among each other for the scholarship.
Giving bigger quota percentage to the Malays will only make the Malays more incompetent and why should they worry so much if they are protected by the quota percentage ? That will make the Malays weaker because of those protection and privilege. Weaker Malays doesn't mean it will make the Chinese stronger. Weaker Malays will make Malaysia weaker.
The idle situation is for Malaysia to have strong Malays, strong Chinese, strong Indian and strong natives.
Related links:
* PSD must speeds up assistance to all top achievers
* Why the government is selective in offering scholarships ?
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Source: theborneopost.com/?p=36325
Government urged to review decision
Union says no to non-Bumis getting 45 pct of JPA scholarships
KUCHING: Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers’ Union objects to the government’s move to increase Public Service Department (JPA) scholarship for non-Bumiputeras from 10 to 45 per cent starting this year.
Union chairman Ahmad Malie said in a press release yesterday that the move was announced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Sri Nazri Aziz during the recent sitting of parliament.
Ahmad said the increase was irrational since Bumiputeras only received 55 per cent.
He believed the minister might have overlooked the fact that there were many Bumiputera ethnic groups in Sarawak when the move was decided.
“Sarawak has the most Bumiputera ethnic group with 26 including the Malays. If their numbers are accounted for, the rate of 55 per cent is too small if they are to be included with Bumiputeras in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
The move would benefit the non-Bumiputera community more than the Bumiputeras, he said, stressing that the union feared Bumiputeras in Sarawak would be left behind because of the move.
Ahmad urged the government to take into account Bumiputera groups in Sarawak and Sabah when discussing Bumiputera issues and concerns.
“The federal government should be sensitive in preserving the rights of ethnic groups in Sarawak as this is part of the 20-Point Agreement when Malaysia was formed,” he said.
“Bumiputera groups in Sarawak need serious attention from the government particularly on matters concerning JPA scholarship distribution because the number of excellent Bumiputeras receiving the scholarship is still very small,” he said.
He urged the government to review its decision to ensure the gap between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera intellectuals in Sarawak would be further narrowed.
He said the union would be sending a memorandum on these concerns to the minister soon.
.
Why the government is selective in offering scholarships to excellent students ? Why still award scholarships and other monetary assistance to certain racial quota and not to all brightest Malaysian students ?
By depriving the brightest students of assistance, the government is losing their trust and their brain power. Lost of brain power mean, the discriminated students who deserved scholarships but did not actually get it will get their funding elsewhere and may just abandoned Malaysia. How to be a fully developed nation if the country does not have enough brain power to manage the country resources.
All the while, the government has been talking about manpower intellectual development yet the policies is only favoring certain race. This is counter productive and the government effort to ensure intellectual development among the brightest students will fail.
Related post:
* PSD must cut the red tape
MD Updates;
* Jun 01, 2008: PSD must speeds up assistance to all top achievers
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Source: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/21/nation/21310203&sec=nation (May 21, 2008)
A loss if we ignore smart students
THE Government must recognise and offer scholarships to students who achieve excellent results or risk losing them to other countries, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department S.K. Devamany was reported as saying in Malaysia Nanban.
It must ensure that these outstanding students are given the necessary scholarships so that they will return to work in this country, he said.
In the past, many outstanding students who failed to obtain scholarships managed to get funding from other countries, he said. Currently, many of them are working in those countries and that was a loss for Malaysia in its professional workforce.
He said that MIC, through its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, would continue to pressure the Government to ensure that more Indian students are given scholarships to pursue higher education.
He was speaking to reporters after attending a function to honour students of Sri Murugan Centre in Perak who achieved outstanding results in their UPSR, SPM and STPM examinations last year.
Public Service Department criteria of approving student applicants need to be revised. Any racial red tape must be cut and destroy.
Top most agenda is to ensure the smartest student application get approve automatically regardless of gender, race, religion or color. That's mean merits came into the picture not racial quota. After all, those smart students are Malaysian and that is the important thing. To assist and groom them into a better and contributing Malaysian.
That is what I mentioned in the previous post titled "Public Service Department is practicing racial preference" and Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam (who is the MIC secretary-general and the Human Resources Minister) basically concurred with that.
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Source: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/16/nation/20080516164930&sec=nation (May 16, 2008)
10A1s students should be automatically offered PSD scholarships, says Dr Subra
PETALING JAYA: Students who score 10A1s and above in their SPM examinations should be automatically offered Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships, MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said.
He said such a policy would ensure that these students, regardless of race and background, were not sidelined appropriately rewarded for their academic efforts.
Dr Subramaniam, who is also Human Resources Minister, said parents would have a negative perception of the government if such a system was not implemented.
He said some 140 students who excelled in SPM had approached the party to support their PSD scholarship appeal after being rejected on various grounds this year.
"The PSD should give a clear explanation to the public on their selection criteria for scholarship recipients," he said in a statement Friday. . Dr Subrmaniam said the Education Ministry should also limit the number of subjects allowed to be taken by students, adding that some schools offered a maximum of 10 subjects while others allowed up to 17 subjects.
He suggested that the ministry offer separate certificates for additional subjects other that the compulsory subjects in the examination.
Public Service Department is practicing racial preference by denying K. Kamine Devi, a bright Indian student. Kamine Devi scored 10 straight As in her SPM exam but PSD reject her application to study medicine overseas. If PSD is not practicing racial preference, then their officials is bunch of incompetent that read 1 As instead of 10 As.
So long as PSD practice racial quota on their application for qualified applicants, PSD is making mockery of themselves and is marginalized the minority races in Malaysia.
In other countries, the best and brightest students deserve full assistance regardless of their religion, race and color.
Is there any hope for our future generation if PSD and the government still implement the quota system ? No. Rewards and assistance must be based on merits not race, religion or color.
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Source: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/14/nation/21240224&sec=nation (May 14, 2008)
Girl with 10A1s shocked by PSD’s rejection
IPOH: K. Kamine Devi was shocked that the Public Services Department (PSD) had turned down her application to study medicine overseas despite her having scored 10A1s in last year's SPM.
This after the PSD had issued a statement recently guaranteeing scholarships for students who scored 9As in their SPM.
What was worse was that her application for a matriculation programme was also rejected.
Kamine, 17, said she had her heart set on becoming a doctor and even participated in an attachment programme in April that exposed her to a doctor’s job.
“I couldn't believe my eyes when I found out on Sunday through the PSD website that my application was unsuccessful,” she said yesterday, adding that she checked the result of her application several times.
“I felt that my world collapsed that day,” said the former student of SMK Ahmad Boestamam in Sitiawan, about 90km from here.
Speaking at a press conference called by the Perak Health, Environment and Human Resources Committee chairman A. Sivanesan, Kamine said her quality control father who earns RM3,600 a month could not afford to send her overseas to pursue Medicine.
“I just want to become a doctor so I can serve the country,” said Kamine, who was also active in her school co-curricular activities.
Sivanesan said the rejection of Kamine’s application made a mockery of the PSD’s earlier statement.
“The PSD should have taken the top-scorers result from the Malaysian Examination Syndicate and offer scholarships to the students. It is up to the students whether to accept or reject the scholarships,” he said.
He invited parents of bright children who faced a similar predicament to see him.
“I will assist them in writing to the PSD,” he said.
Federal Civil Service Department (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam) did not recognize the natives of East Malaysia in their application form. The Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak are grouped as ‘Others’.
Natives of Sabah and Sarawak are literally branded by JPA as "Bumiputeras Lain Lain" or "BuLL". What an insult by JPA. Natives of Sabah and Sarawak are also Malaysian.
In any application form, one does not need to specify one race. When looking for job for example, regardless you are a Malay, Chinese, Indian or Native, you are basically a Malaysian looking for job.
The race category is use by JPA to maintain the racial quota in the administration of the government. A special quota for the Malay and the JPA will fulfill the job quota regardless the job applicant is a smart Malay or a non-competent Malay. In other part of the world, only the qualified and competent applicant will get the job.
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Extracted from: theborneopost.com/?p=34183 (Apr 18, 2008)
We are all Malaysians: Suhakam
By Sandra Sokial
No need to have four boxes on job application form to specify one’s race, says commission
KOTA KINABALU: There is no need to have four boxes on the job application form to specify one’s race.
“Why not just one box and let the applicant decide whether she or he wants to put what his or her race is.
“After all, we are all Malaysians, and that is what counts most,” stressed Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) vice-president Tan Sri Simon Sipaun.
The former State Secretary also told The Borneo Post recently that instead of emphasising on differences, it would be better to give priority to similarities.
“And that is being Malaysians. It is regardless of what your race is as long as you are able to perform well in your work.
“This is especially important when promoting national unity…there should be no race differences to be a Malaysian,” he said.
Sipaun was commenting on a statement by United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) deputy president Datuk Wilfred Bumburing that the Federal Civil Service Department (JPA) did not recognise the natives in East Malaysian states.
He said the JPA’s application form, whether via Internet or hard copy, would have a section where an applicant would be required to enter his or her race, and only four racial categories were provided – Malay, Chinese, Indian and Others.
“The Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak are grouped as ‘Others’, and it is as though the natives are not recognised and do not exist on earth,” he said, calling for similar recognition from JPA, although the natives only represented nine per cent of Malaysia’s overall population.
Bumburing said Sabah and Sarawak had contributed 54 parliamentary seats to Barisan Nasional in the March 8 polls and hoped that their voices would be heard in Parliament.
Sipaun, on the other hand, asked whether the JPA recognised the natives or otherwise is not for him to comment.
“It is for them (JPA) to answer on the part whether the natives are recognised or otherwise. But, if I have my way, I will not ask for the race as we are all Malaysians.
“Speaking as an indigenous person, I would feel like an outcast when filling up the application form as I am just under the ‘Others’ group because I am not a Malay or Chinese or Indian.
“Why can’t we only have one box instead of four boxes? It would put a stop to all racial differences and in a way, better promote national unity,” he added.
