Interesting Quote:
'It's almost like seeing a guy show up at the soup kitchen in a high hat and tuxedo.'
GARY ACKERMAN, US House of Representatives member, to chief executives from General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler who flew into Washington in their private jets to plead for US$25 billion (S$38 billion) in federal aid.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Neo-Colonialism
I read this interesting thought by Dr Farish Noor, one of the most prominent Malaysian scholar-activists now based in Singapore.
In this particular article, No, Neo-Colonialism Is Never The Answer, he observed that the governments of South-East Asia share a common trait - the huge disconnect between the people and the ruling elite. In his view, this was a legacy of the colonial structure that was never dismantled fully. The governments, though locally elected, were still acting like the past colonial masters.
This is what he said:
"Today the structures of colonial rule persist with colonial laws such as Malaysia’s Internal Security Act still in place; and the ruling elite of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries are likewise distanced from their own people. Like the colonial masters of the past, they view their own fellow citizens with incredulity, and fail to understand how plural and complex their societies really are."
He also said:
"It is imperative therefore that we recognise two things: That postcolonial societies have yet to jettison the colonial mindset of colonial governmentality; and that we need to develop a new mode of representative politics that reflects the complexity of the societies we reside in.... The sooner the political elites of Indonesia (and Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines) realise this, and the sooner they behave like democratic representatives rather than colonial bureaucrats, the better it will be for everyone."
In this particular article, No, Neo-Colonialism Is Never The Answer, he observed that the governments of South-East Asia share a common trait - the huge disconnect between the people and the ruling elite. In his view, this was a legacy of the colonial structure that was never dismantled fully. The governments, though locally elected, were still acting like the past colonial masters.
This is what he said:
"Today the structures of colonial rule persist with colonial laws such as Malaysia’s Internal Security Act still in place; and the ruling elite of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries are likewise distanced from their own people. Like the colonial masters of the past, they view their own fellow citizens with incredulity, and fail to understand how plural and complex their societies really are."
He also said:
"It is imperative therefore that we recognise two things: That postcolonial societies have yet to jettison the colonial mindset of colonial governmentality; and that we need to develop a new mode of representative politics that reflects the complexity of the societies we reside in.... The sooner the political elites of Indonesia (and Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines) realise this, and the sooner they behave like democratic representatives rather than colonial bureaucrats, the better it will be for everyone."
Sunday, 9 November 2008
The Social Contract
I read this interesting interview with Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, 75, who was involved in drafting some of the laws in the aftermath of the 1969 racial riots in Malaysia.
With his first-hand insight, there are a few things that are worth noting:
1 The term "Social Contract" was never used during the independence negotiations. The term merely describes the political relationship between the State and the people.
My take: The social contract ought to be an evolving agreement between the government and the electorate. When the people elect the government, they are in fact granting a new term for the government to rule based on the promises made during the elections. So I hope the BN government would stop bandying this term or heaven forbid, have it written down in our history textbooks as the truth of the agreement made between the races.
2 The term "Ketuanan Melayu" or "Malay Supremacy" is a term used to describe the privileges of the Rulers, not to signify the dominance of one race over another.
My take: This is an honest appraisal from a Malay. He is also honest in pinpointing that the main purpose of the NEP was to eradicate poverty for all races and its failure so far is due to the rampant corruption and cronyism that exist during implementation of the policies. We all know this, it is so blatantly done, and it is encouraging that there are more and more Malays who are coming out to say so.
3 Dr Abdul Aziz agrees with the privileges and special position given to the Malays "because they have always been there". He quotes Clause 19(1)(d) of the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948 which states that the British High Commissioner shall safeguard the special position of the Malays.
My take: Well, this is not 1948 and we are no longer under British rule. But I suppose we need to define what is this special position. Does it mean that the special position has to be protected even to the detriment of the other races? Although Dr Abdul Aziz vehemently denies the existence of a two-tier citizenship in the country, isn't this exactly what it means when we talk about the special position of any one race?
When YAB Datuk Abdullah Badawi says a member of any race can be PM in Malaysia, he is again showing how shallow his responses are to the real situation in the country. His counterpart in Singapore was more realistic when he told a Malay gathering that a non-Chinese PM in Singapore is unlikely in the near future. I would say that is what is called credibility - something we desperately need in our leaders.
With his first-hand insight, there are a few things that are worth noting:
1 The term "Social Contract" was never used during the independence negotiations. The term merely describes the political relationship between the State and the people.
My take: The social contract ought to be an evolving agreement between the government and the electorate. When the people elect the government, they are in fact granting a new term for the government to rule based on the promises made during the elections. So I hope the BN government would stop bandying this term or heaven forbid, have it written down in our history textbooks as the truth of the agreement made between the races.
2 The term "Ketuanan Melayu" or "Malay Supremacy" is a term used to describe the privileges of the Rulers, not to signify the dominance of one race over another.
My take: This is an honest appraisal from a Malay. He is also honest in pinpointing that the main purpose of the NEP was to eradicate poverty for all races and its failure so far is due to the rampant corruption and cronyism that exist during implementation of the policies. We all know this, it is so blatantly done, and it is encouraging that there are more and more Malays who are coming out to say so.
3 Dr Abdul Aziz agrees with the privileges and special position given to the Malays "because they have always been there". He quotes Clause 19(1)(d) of the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948 which states that the British High Commissioner shall safeguard the special position of the Malays.
My take: Well, this is not 1948 and we are no longer under British rule. But I suppose we need to define what is this special position. Does it mean that the special position has to be protected even to the detriment of the other races? Although Dr Abdul Aziz vehemently denies the existence of a two-tier citizenship in the country, isn't this exactly what it means when we talk about the special position of any one race?
When YAB Datuk Abdullah Badawi says a member of any race can be PM in Malaysia, he is again showing how shallow his responses are to the real situation in the country. His counterpart in Singapore was more realistic when he told a Malay gathering that a non-Chinese PM in Singapore is unlikely in the near future. I would say that is what is called credibility - something we desperately need in our leaders.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
US Presidential Victory
4th November 2008 will always be remembered as the day a black President of USA was elected into office.
I am happy for Barack Obama and for USA and for humanity.
To me, the true victory of this election is the evidence that racial divides can heal, if the will is there. It may have taken 143 years for blacks in the USA to leave their slavery past to reach the pinnacle of the nation, but it's done.
Malaysians can hope the same. After all, the racial injustices in the US were arguably deeper than what we have here.
We are a young nation of 51 years. We have already sounded the knell on 8th March 2008. What we need now is the relentless pursuit of our ideals, the united effort by all races to do what is right and the audacity of hope.
I am happy for Barack Obama and for USA and for humanity.
To me, the true victory of this election is the evidence that racial divides can heal, if the will is there. It may have taken 143 years for blacks in the USA to leave their slavery past to reach the pinnacle of the nation, but it's done.
Malaysians can hope the same. After all, the racial injustices in the US were arguably deeper than what we have here.
We are a young nation of 51 years. We have already sounded the knell on 8th March 2008. What we need now is the relentless pursuit of our ideals, the united effort by all races to do what is right and the audacity of hope.
Malay Rights
This is a reproduction of an article written by a Malay. There seems to be an increasing number of educated Malays who think the same - that the country's affirmative action policies, the NEP, are doing more harm than good to the Malay race.
Malay rights
By Shaik Rizal Sulaiman
The Malays are 'technically' in power governing the country but it is also this same controlling group that demands the right to correct economic imbalances and disparities for its own race.
What does this say about the 'majority governing' Malay race for the last 50 years? I dare say that most Malaysians (regardless of race) below the age of 40 would like to see all opportunities be spread amongst those who deserve it on meritocracy.
We do not need the keris anymore to tell others to be careful of what they say and do because in the survival of the fittest, the keris is of very little relevance!
If we continue to hide under the 'bumiputera' tempurung as most Malays have been in the last 50 years or more, the catch-up game will just get harder and the gap wider.
If we continue to expect without earning it, we will never learn how to be a race that succeeds on merit. There is NO substitute for merit. The Malay politicians continue to shout about Malay rights and bumiputera rights because the very nature of our local politics is sadly racially biased.
In this day and age, a great nation is built upon joint success stories, meritocracy and the combined hard work of its people WITHOUT any fear or favour of racial biased politics governing our daily policies. Sadly, the Malay politicians have ended up completely corrupt, racialists, twisted religious fanatics.
I am below 40 and as much as I love the 'idea' that Malaysia is tanah tumpahnya darah orang Melayu, I can't help but also feel that this country is for ALL Malaysians alike including the Chongs, the Kumars, the Xaviers, the Singhs & Kaurs etc who were born on the same day in the same hospital as me here in Malaysia.
If we feel that WE (the Malays) deserve this country more than THEM , then WE (the Malays) should have shown them a long time ago that we deserve the 'control all' status. We have to earn it. The policies FAILED because the very concept of Malay rights or the NEP/DEB is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it aims to eradicate wealth disparity but on the other, it has made the Malays oblivious of what reality is. Our (Malays) success is only reflected in the 'perceived' political power which today can collapse in a matter of minutes.
I would also like to see my children succeed in their country, Malaysia, for reasons that true success should be based upon, which are merit and hard work and NOT because they are Malays or bumiputeras.
For as long as the Malays don't see this, there is very little point in fighting for Malay rights..It just makes us look more ridiculous. We have taken this notion of being privileged a bit too literally in that it now simply means we want this country and its fruits all for ourselves without accepting the responsibilities that come with it. I blame the MALAY politicians for this because we want to only fight the cause without strategising for the true substance and need of the cause. We have been given fish all the while without being taught how to fish.
It's funny how two different generations can be so diverse in their thinking and the recent elections proved just that.. We are no longer concerned with racial problems but more so the never-ending Malay agenda issues. The rakyat has spoken and the landscape has drastically changed. Is this change welcomed? Is it good?
The answer is 'NO'. Because we,the Malays, have been caught with our pants down - we are not ready to compete on any level playing field (we can't even compete on advantageous grounds!). Even with three or five more continuing policies for Malay rights or bumiputera privileges over the next 50 years, we will still be in exactly the same position as we are in today.
The truth hurts and the truth will always prevail. And the truth of what's to come will NOT go away. I am cynical perhaps because I feel that Malay rights is NOT relevant anymore.
The right to be safe, to be treated fairly, to have a world-class healthcare and education, to enjoy equal prosperity, to have good governance, to live in a clean environment and to be war-free is what I want for my Malaysia. NOT for MY race to be artificially powerful.
If we want the Malays to fail, then by all means continue the fight for Malay rights. Go and polish your keris..
Shaik Rizal Sulaiman
Posted by Malaysians Unplug
P/S In recent months we have seen the Syariah Courts allowing quite a few Malays to exercise their rights to a third or fourth wife. Fair, the guy may be able to provide for the financial & conjugal needs of his wives. However, question here is when he has a dozen kids, will he be able to provide a decent education and life to his kids or will he demand for his 'Rights' for subsidy and aid and be a burden to the govt and society.
Malay rights
By Shaik Rizal Sulaiman
The Malays are 'technically' in power governing the country but it is also this same controlling group that demands the right to correct economic imbalances and disparities for its own race.
What does this say about the 'majority governing' Malay race for the last 50 years? I dare say that most Malaysians (regardless of race) below the age of 40 would like to see all opportunities be spread amongst those who deserve it on meritocracy.
We do not need the keris anymore to tell others to be careful of what they say and do because in the survival of the fittest, the keris is of very little relevance!
If we continue to hide under the 'bumiputera' tempurung as most Malays have been in the last 50 years or more, the catch-up game will just get harder and the gap wider.
If we continue to expect without earning it, we will never learn how to be a race that succeeds on merit. There is NO substitute for merit. The Malay politicians continue to shout about Malay rights and bumiputera rights because the very nature of our local politics is sadly racially biased.
In this day and age, a great nation is built upon joint success stories, meritocracy and the combined hard work of its people WITHOUT any fear or favour of racial biased politics governing our daily policies. Sadly, the Malay politicians have ended up completely corrupt, racialists, twisted religious fanatics.
I am below 40 and as much as I love the 'idea' that Malaysia is tanah tumpahnya darah orang Melayu, I can't help but also feel that this country is for ALL Malaysians alike including the Chongs, the Kumars, the Xaviers, the Singhs & Kaurs etc who were born on the same day in the same hospital as me here in Malaysia.
If we feel that WE (the Malays) deserve this country more than THEM , then WE (the Malays) should have shown them a long time ago that we deserve the 'control all' status. We have to earn it. The policies FAILED because the very concept of Malay rights or the NEP/DEB is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it aims to eradicate wealth disparity but on the other, it has made the Malays oblivious of what reality is. Our (Malays) success is only reflected in the 'perceived' political power which today can collapse in a matter of minutes.
I would also like to see my children succeed in their country, Malaysia, for reasons that true success should be based upon, which are merit and hard work and NOT because they are Malays or bumiputeras.
For as long as the Malays don't see this, there is very little point in fighting for Malay rights..It just makes us look more ridiculous. We have taken this notion of being privileged a bit too literally in that it now simply means we want this country and its fruits all for ourselves without accepting the responsibilities that come with it. I blame the MALAY politicians for this because we want to only fight the cause without strategising for the true substance and need of the cause. We have been given fish all the while without being taught how to fish.
It's funny how two different generations can be so diverse in their thinking and the recent elections proved just that.. We are no longer concerned with racial problems but more so the never-ending Malay agenda issues. The rakyat has spoken and the landscape has drastically changed. Is this change welcomed? Is it good?
The answer is 'NO'. Because we,the Malays, have been caught with our pants down - we are not ready to compete on any level playing field (we can't even compete on advantageous grounds!). Even with three or five more continuing policies for Malay rights or bumiputera privileges over the next 50 years, we will still be in exactly the same position as we are in today.
The truth hurts and the truth will always prevail. And the truth of what's to come will NOT go away. I am cynical perhaps because I feel that Malay rights is NOT relevant anymore.
The right to be safe, to be treated fairly, to have a world-class healthcare and education, to enjoy equal prosperity, to have good governance, to live in a clean environment and to be war-free is what I want for my Malaysia. NOT for MY race to be artificially powerful.
If we want the Malays to fail, then by all means continue the fight for Malay rights. Go and polish your keris..
Shaik Rizal Sulaiman
Posted by Malaysians Unplug
P/S In recent months we have seen the Syariah Courts allowing quite a few Malays to exercise their rights to a third or fourth wife. Fair, the guy may be able to provide for the financial & conjugal needs of his wives. However, question here is when he has a dozen kids, will he be able to provide a decent education and life to his kids or will he demand for his 'Rights' for subsidy and aid and be a burden to the govt and society.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Sack Those Errant Police!
This is another piece of news that makes my blood boil.
The Star reported today that "more than 60 police officers, including an Assistant Superintendent, and personnel from the narcotics department have been suspended, demoted or transferred in a nationwide clean-up exercise."
Some of these police officers were alleged to have close links with drug syndicates while others were said to be complacent and shoddy in their investigations.
Now, let me ask you, why are they not fired?
Suspending and demoting them will merely ensure that the wood continue to rot. There is no point applying anaesthesia to termites, they have to be exterminated.
Just as bad, transferring them to another department simply means that we are spreading the infestation. I hope the Inspector-General will do the public a favour and let us know where they are transferred to so that the public can be more alert.
Please-la, this smack of the wrist is not going to be a deterrent. We need to see stronger action if the government means to clean up the act.
The Star reported today that "more than 60 police officers, including an Assistant Superintendent, and personnel from the narcotics department have been suspended, demoted or transferred in a nationwide clean-up exercise."
Some of these police officers were alleged to have close links with drug syndicates while others were said to be complacent and shoddy in their investigations.
Now, let me ask you, why are they not fired?
Suspending and demoting them will merely ensure that the wood continue to rot. There is no point applying anaesthesia to termites, they have to be exterminated.
Just as bad, transferring them to another department simply means that we are spreading the infestation. I hope the Inspector-General will do the public a favour and let us know where they are transferred to so that the public can be more alert.
Please-la, this smack of the wrist is not going to be a deterrent. We need to see stronger action if the government means to clean up the act.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
What Meritocracy?
The Deputy Prime Minister announced today that the Matriculation Exam stays.
Entry into public universites in Malaysia is supposed to be based on meritocracy now. The former race-based quotas have been abolished. But the bumiputras here have learnt from Deng Xiaoping: it does not matter what colour is the cat so long as it catches the mouse. By devising a system with two university entrance examinations, it has again been institutionalised that there will be no true meritocracy in this land.
The Matriculation Examination was introduced in 1998 when the DPM was the Education Minister. It is now conducted in 9 centers in the country and 90% of the places are reserved for bumiputras. In two MARA colleges, all the places are reserved for bumiputras. Most of the non-bumiputras take the other university entrance exam, the STPM, which is equivalent to the GCE "A" Levels.
The Matriculation Examination is notoriously light-weight compared to the STPM. The STPM is widely recognised worldwide but the Matriculation Exam is not. The only route for Matriculation graduates is to join public universities here.
It begs the question why the country feels there is a need for two university entrance exams. The ministry says the standard and curriculum for both examinations are largely the same. This hardly answers the question. If so, why then is there a need to have two examinations?
This is merely paying lip-service to the concept of meritocracy. The DPM made this statement, “The selection process (into the matriculation programme) is based on meritocracy which is fair to all parties. I believe non-bumiputras too benefited as a quota of 10% has been set aside for them.’’ Such logic. Effectively, this is just shifting the race-based quotas downwards. Instead of applying them at the universities, the discrimination starts earlier.
There will never be a total level playing field. At the SPM (the high school certificate), bumiputras offer Islamic studies and other related subjects while non-bumiputras offer a compulsory subject called Moral Education, which is practically useless if you ask me, but the grade for Moral Education is taken as a compulsory subject when it comes to scholarship applications. Examination leaks are common in this country, especially at residential schools which again are catered mainly for bumiputra students. At SPM, a 70% score already garners an A1, thereby making it harder to distinguish the truly brilliant students from the average. And with the matriculation to bridge the gap to public universities, it is not surprising that the number of graduates from public universities with worthless degrees is on the rise in this country.
Don't get me wrong. There are some very good bumiputra students out there. However, with such education policies, these good bumiputra students will always need to fight for the recognition that they deserve in their own right.
Entry into public universites in Malaysia is supposed to be based on meritocracy now. The former race-based quotas have been abolished. But the bumiputras here have learnt from Deng Xiaoping: it does not matter what colour is the cat so long as it catches the mouse. By devising a system with two university entrance examinations, it has again been institutionalised that there will be no true meritocracy in this land.
The Matriculation Examination was introduced in 1998 when the DPM was the Education Minister. It is now conducted in 9 centers in the country and 90% of the places are reserved for bumiputras. In two MARA colleges, all the places are reserved for bumiputras. Most of the non-bumiputras take the other university entrance exam, the STPM, which is equivalent to the GCE "A" Levels.
The Matriculation Examination is notoriously light-weight compared to the STPM. The STPM is widely recognised worldwide but the Matriculation Exam is not. The only route for Matriculation graduates is to join public universities here.
It begs the question why the country feels there is a need for two university entrance exams. The ministry says the standard and curriculum for both examinations are largely the same. This hardly answers the question. If so, why then is there a need to have two examinations?
This is merely paying lip-service to the concept of meritocracy. The DPM made this statement, “The selection process (into the matriculation programme) is based on meritocracy which is fair to all parties. I believe non-bumiputras too benefited as a quota of 10% has been set aside for them.’’ Such logic. Effectively, this is just shifting the race-based quotas downwards. Instead of applying them at the universities, the discrimination starts earlier.
There will never be a total level playing field. At the SPM (the high school certificate), bumiputras offer Islamic studies and other related subjects while non-bumiputras offer a compulsory subject called Moral Education, which is practically useless if you ask me, but the grade for Moral Education is taken as a compulsory subject when it comes to scholarship applications. Examination leaks are common in this country, especially at residential schools which again are catered mainly for bumiputra students. At SPM, a 70% score already garners an A1, thereby making it harder to distinguish the truly brilliant students from the average. And with the matriculation to bridge the gap to public universities, it is not surprising that the number of graduates from public universities with worthless degrees is on the rise in this country.
Don't get me wrong. There are some very good bumiputra students out there. However, with such education policies, these good bumiputra students will always need to fight for the recognition that they deserve in their own right.
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