Politik, Legislatif, Dasar dan Tadbir Urus

By Chong Lip Teck The incident in which an excellent SMJK Yu Hua student jumped to his death in Kajang must serve as a wake-up call to all of us. Besides disseminating knowledge, we must also identify whether schools are placing emphasis on students’ psychology development and nurturing at the same time. When the Franco-Prussian War came to an end in 1871, someone asked how Prussian army managed to emerge as the winner of the war. Moltke, the chief of the Prussian military staff said, the Prussian victory had been pre-determined dating back to primary education. The rise or fall of a nation is depending on education while national strength lies in the level of knowledge. In addition, principles like morality, courage, confidence, determination…… must be cultivated. Teachers playing the role of educationists must always seize the opportunities to instill good habits and values in students, as this will help them establish positive attitudes and subsequently reflect them in their everyda...

MCA Youth has accused the DAP of exploiting the controversy over the annual award of public scholarships by the Public Service Department (PSD) to outstanding students. MCA Youth secretary-general Chai Kim Sen said the opposition party was only good at instigation to curry favour with voters but had so far failed to propose solutions to the annual problem. We would like to ask the MCA youth secretary-general, what does he mean by instigation to curry favour with voters? DAP was doing what is best in order to get the attention from the federal government, particularly the education ministry to resolve this issue. And when DAP has brought up this issue in public for the attention of the education ministry, the MCA being part of the federal government was so ungrateful but instead accused DAP of exploiting the matter. So Chai, since you had already mentioned that this has been an annual problem, why didn't your party resolve it at the first place? Why, the MCA youth chief Wee Ka Siong...

We all agreed that the recent price hikes of some essential items had been indeed a grave disappointment to all of us. Previously, the Umno-led BN federal government had pledged that there are other channels and alternatives to address the current economic uncertainties as well as to keep its treasury filled all the time. But what came otherwise? The price hikes that came in a sudden, as a surprise and it was announced only at night instead of in the daytime. Why not giving the announcement in the broad daylight? Why is it so fishy doing it only at night? What are motives then? Do aware that these price hikes had multiple affects on all levels in our communities, be it the working communities, the business communities, wealthy people or even the students. So, for those who are of narrow minded, please be informed. In grieve this price hikes do affects badly on the students especially, because they are the one in the lowest income group. What is the source of their income? Yes, first fr...

According to a report in today's Sunday Times, the BN supreme council had decided to form a BN Rakan Muda Club in order to attract and bring in more youngsters into the BN fold. The club's membership would consist of youngsters aged between 18 and 21 years. So, after all these years, BN now decides to woo youngsters aged between 18 to 21 year into its coalition after realizing the potential of the young in our nation. Actually, Pakatan Rakyat component parties like, PKR, DAP and PAS as well as other political parties like PSM and PRM had longed being wooing youngsters into their fold in order to bring the political awareness to the young generation. One restriction after another restriction that PKR, DAP, PAS, PSM and PRM face in their youth initiatives is the common use of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) by the BN, particularly its dominant party, Umno to prevent university students from approaching the opposing political parties. For years, the UUCA laws and...

Last week the deputy higher education minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah complained of the poor response to the Speakers' Corners created at the higher education institutions. He also grumbled that in some of the universities, there is not even an activity at all since the Speakers' Corner was launched four months back. We are just wondering why is the deputy higher education minister so surprise of the poor and non-response of the Speakers' Corner created in the universities? Is he pretending no to know it or is he really an idiot who really doesn't know what is in his government? First of all, students with full wisdom and maturity would never go to the Speakers' Corner to try to speak their minds out because they knew that if they speak up, then they will be charged under the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA). Under the provisions of the UUCA, university students are not allowed to criticize the government, make political commentaries, speak up freely ...

Pro-Mahasiswa graduates cry foul over their elections defeat in Universiti Malaya (UM), claims the election was rigged by the university's administration and demand answers from vice-chancellor. To make their dissatisfaction and demands heard, the UM graduates occupied the university's administration building to seek for the answers of a possible fraud in the university's elections. The pro-Aspirasi students groups believed to be heavily funded by the BN had earlier won the majority seats in the student's representative council in the recently concluded campus elections. So, what about the elections in the other universities, like Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), etc? All rigged by the university's administration and their vice-chancellors on the instruction of the director-general of higher education who receives his order from the minister of higher education? If the elections are carried out i...

The chancellory and the senate of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) must issue formal apologies in writting to all the 4574 students who were mistakenly informed that they had been given places in the university because of their corrupt on-line system. Each of every student affected by this crisis must be given a personal and written apology and a public apology alone is not enough. First you gave all these students so much hope and happiness to their parents, and then you let them all down in a very next few days. The USM fiasco had clearly disgraced the entire Penang state and the educational system. The 4574 students' welfare, who is going to compensate them? They had been cheated in such a cruel and disgusting manner. If the USM chancellory and the senate cannot make a formal and written apology and compensate them with places at other varsities, then all of them should resign from their respective positions.

The Education Ministry’s initiative to make a pass in English compulsory for students to obtain their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) has been enthusiastically supported by several quarters. The National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) said the move must, however, be accompanied by good groundwork for policy efficacy. "It is a good move that will ensure a good future for students. However, positive action to create a good foundation is needed," said National PTA chairman Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ali Hassan. "It is already a core subject and it is a knowledge-based, global language. So, the language must be mastered by the young." The ministry is now drafting a proposal while getting public feedback concerning the move to make a pass in English as a compulsory requirement to attain the SPM certificate. "We welcome the statement. But, there needs to be good preparation before policy change and this involves good ...

I read and heard with irritation and felt disgusted with the fiasco committed by the apex status university called Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) which caused untold anguish to the affected students and their parents. If this happened in Japan, the Vice-Chancellor would have done the honourable thing - take full responsibilty and leave, but here in Malaysia, as expected, the blame is shifted here and there, trying to make someone a scapegoat. By the way, would there be any racist or sabotage elements involved? Those who are responsible for this fiasco should be sacked or expelled immediately.