14
speak up!
We live and learn
Scene: Dome, KLCC
MOHAN: Do you realise we are
getting a lot of education these
days about the powers of the rul-
ers, the power of the legislature,
the power of its speaker and what
the assembly members or MPs
can and cannot do.
Chong: Not to forget about how
to remove the chief executive of
the state, the mentri besar. And
also, not to forget, about how to
remove the speaker. How to re-
main a speaker he must continue
to occupy his seat and cling on to
it no matter what. And how to re-
move him, he must be physically
dragged away from his seat.
Azman: We live and we learn.
Zain: Unfortunately, some of us
only want to live. We don’t want
to learn. Notice at a gathering,
whether a wedding or a birthday
party, some people ask questions
about this and that when the
answers are plain to them if they
read the newspapers.
Azman: Cikgu, maybe these
people take the attitude that ig-
norance is bliss. And also maybe
they don’t trust the newspapers,
TVs and radios anymore.
Zain: But surely they would want
to know what happens. It’s fine
if they don’t want to read the
newspapers. But there are other
sources of news and information.
They can look these up. They
surfeit our need for information.
Unless, of course, these people
can’t be bothered.
Mohan: Mostly that’s the case.
letters
letters@thesundaily.com
Confused over scholarship criteria
I WAS devastated on May 8 when
I checked my application status at
the PSD scholarship website. I saw
“Tidak berjaya”. My ambition to get
an overseas medical degree was
crushed. The only avenue available
was to appeal.
I had applied for scholarships
from Bank Negara, Yayasan Tenaga
Nasional, Sime Darby, UEM, Yayasan
TM, Petronas, PSD and Program Pela-
jar Cemerlang KPLSPM and the IPTA
programmes. All applications had
been rejected except for Yayasan
TM and Program Pelajar Cemerlang
KPLSPM which are still pending.
Had family income been consid-
ered as the main criteria, it is most
likely that my remaining two applica-
Give priority to national interest
I AM glad that the rakyat had re-
sponded warmly to the 1Malaysia
concept. My understanding of this
concept is that it is an endeavour
to attain a united, successful and
peaceful nation. It envisages to cre-
ate a feeling of oneness among the
people. In a nutshell, it entails that
all Malaysians feel, think and act as
one.
Every Malaysian should therefore
look at the big picture and give prior-
ity to national interest, instead of
harping on issues which are counter
productive to racial integration and
disregard provisions in our constitu-
tion.
Let us for once be honest with
ourselves and admit that the country
has developed by leaps and bounds
since independence because of the
policies put in place.
WhatTheySay
by Zainon Ahmad
Chong: I agree.
Azman: But it’s their right, isn’t
it? It’s democratic. While some go
by right to know, some prefer the
right not to know. Fair, isn’t it?
Zain: So is the vote of those who
are informed the same as the vote
of those who don’t care if they are
informed or not, or who don’t
want to be informed?
Azman: But that’s democracy.
Who really cares whether you
are an informed person or a
person who can’t be bothered
about knowing things as long as
you vote. Sorry Cikgu, but with
all due respect I think that’s how
things are.
Zain: Indeed. And that’s how we
elect all kinds of people to be our
wakil rakyat – MPs and assembly-
men and assemblywomen. We
deserve them, of course. Because
many of us elect them without
thinking. They are more swayed
by promises of all kinds of things
instead of truly scrutinising the
candidates for their potential. And,
of course, there are those who
tions would probably be rejected.
I was elated when I received my
SPM results on March 13. I got 13
A1s and was one of the top three
students in Perak.
PSD stated that 75% goes to
academic performance. Are not my
13A1s are not good enough to get
the 75%? I got 93 marks for co-cur-
riculum activities. Doesn’t it qualify
me to get the 10% allocated for
co-curriculum?
Another 10% goes to family back-
ground. My parents had dutifully and
truthfully declared their income. They
had been working for more than 23
years; their combined income is
more than RM1,500 a month but is
this a criteria to punish me?
The New Economic Policy (NEP)
has ensured the well-being of under-
privileged groups, ensuring a harmo-
nious environment for all the races.
Since there are claims of pitfalls,
then we have to positively revisit the
policy and rectify any weaknesses in
its implementation. But the NEP with
its good economic and social virtues
should stay.
Since we are still grappling with
racial integration issues even though
we have attained nationhood for
almost 52 years, concerted effort
should be undertaken to arrest the
situation.
We have no alternative but to
consolidate our efforts. Instead of
clamouring on our differences we
should agree on some common
grounds especially in crucial areas
such as language and education. For
TELLING IT AS IT IS
Acting Editor-in-Chief: Chong Cheng Hai
Consultant Editor: Zainon Ahmad
Executive Editor: Lee Boon Siew
Deputy Editor: Patrick Choo (Production),
Editor: R. Nadeswaran (Special Reporting and Investiga-
tions)
vote by habit. They have voted for
a particular party for a long time
and don’t want to change.
Chong: I think they are chang-
ing.
Mohan: I think they are already
changing their views about their
elected representatives following
what happened in the Perak state
assembly on May 7. They have
seen how these so-called first
among equals behaved disgrace-
fully.
Zain: That they have fallen? That
they are no longer gods after all?
That it does not necessarily mean
that because we refer to them as
yang berhormat or honourable
they behave honourably.
Mohan: Yes, Cikgu.
Azman: I think it’s happening
elsewhere too. Take what’s hap-
pening in the British parliament
for instance.
Zain: Westminster? The mother
of our Parliament?
Azman: The MPs’ expenses
scandal.
Zain: Oh, yes. If I am not mis-
taken it was the Daily Telegraph
that exposed the cheating ways of
the British honourable members.
The MPs have been making all
kinds of claims and the newspa-
per reports of them have sickened
the British taxpayers that they are
clamouring for an early general
election so that they can throw
them out.
Chong: Yes, I too am following
the development there. It seems
like the MPs were on a feeding
frenzy of the taxpayers’ money. A
My mother is a school teacher
and my father is a factory manager.
With three teenage children and
rising cost of living, how can they af-
ford to pay for an overseas medical
programme?
Five per cent was allocated for
my performance during the inter-
view. I answered all the questions
and took an active part in the group
discussions.
I am disillusioned. My mother
always told me that to get a govern-
ment scholarship I had to obtain
excellent results. I have been con-
sistent in my studies: obtained 7As in
UPSR, 8As in PMR and received the
PMR 2006 excellence award.
For being top student in my
the benefit of posterity we must de-
cide for uniformity on these issues.
It is incumbent on us to look to
our history and take cognisance of
our harmonious and glorious past. We
became what we are today because
of the happenings of yore. To ignore
this will be at our own peril.
Every citizen should be reminded
of all the sacrifices made in the
past. Views of Tun V. T. Sambanthan
(speech in the Dewan Rakyat on June
1, 1965) and that of Tun Tan Siew Sin
(statement in a daily dated April 30,
1969) are significant and should be
discussed diligently by all for their
truth, resourcefulness and wisdom.
By understanding our history, we
will be able to appreciate the reasons
for our existence and avoid actions
that might result in further racial de-
generation. We should also encour-
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feast if you like. From the bloated
claims, some MPs have second
and even third homes. Some no
longer felt restrained by their code
of ethics and claimed for all sorts
of expenditure including what
their dogs ate. One even built a
duck island in a duck pond in his
garden.
As a result of the public outcry
the speaker of the House of Com-
mons has resigned, a minister
has resigned and some MPs even
declared that they are not seek-
ing re-election in the next general
election that is due in June next
year. Some have even returned
the money they “stole”.
Mohan: Which begs the ques-
tion: is our Parliament a true child
of the mother?
Zain: The mother is about 700
years old while the child is only
51. So if some of the claims of our
MPs are nothing compared to
those of their British counterparts
it is understandable. Our MPs get
about RM7,000 in allowances a
month but sometimes some of
their claims can even exceed
that amount. The claims are for
such things as mileage, hotel, day
allowances and meeting allow-
ances.
Chong: I think it’s reasonable.
Zain: If you think claiming
mileage for travelling to KL and
going back to their home in the
far corner of the country when
they actually travel by AirAsia or
Firefly is reasonable, it is I sup-
pose. There may be other things.
However, one suggestion made
at the British parliament is for all
claims by MPs to be published
online.
Chong: A good suggestion.
Maybe our legislatures should
institute this ahead of the mother
of parliaments.
school, I received a challenge trophy
from the chairman of my school’s
board of governors. He told me to
keep up the good work and bring
honour to Ave Maria Convent.
I understand that there are
limited PSD scholarships and there
are bound to be disappointed ap-
plicants. However, I am confused as
I have worked really hard to achieve
the best in both my academic and
co-curriculum. Is this not sufficient
to qualify me for a scholarship? If it
is not, then what should my younger
sisters and juniors do so that they will
be able to secure a scholarship?
Teng Jo Ann
Ipoh
age our children who are young and
impressionable to learn, understand
and converse in the national language
and mix freely with all the races to
develop the spirit of respect, caring
and understanding. What better way
to achieve this than to introduce the
single education system. This is the
answer to our present predicament.
This should have been the launching
pad of 1Malaysia.
In this time and age, a harmonious
and peaceful civil society will only
come into being if there is respect
and trust between the people and
an equitable distribution of wealth
among the various races. That should
be the simple meaning of 1Malaysia
to all of us.
Zamri Mahmud
Kuala Lumpur
theSun | TUESDAY MAY 26 2009
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Send the cream
of the crop
to local
universities
THE debate and controversy on the award-
ing of scholarships to top scorers in the Sijil
Persekolahan Malaysia (SPM) examination
continues.
The latest move is the plan by Deputy
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to
limit the number of SPM subjects to be taken
by a student. According to Muhyiddin impos-
ing this limit will lead to a fairer Public Services
Department (PSD) scholarship selection.
However, limiting the number of subjects
is not the main grouse but the manner in
which these scholarships are awarded.
Collecting as many As as possible is not
wrong but to base the awarding of scholar-
ships merely on the number of As is not the
right way. The number of As in core subjects
may be important but it is equally important
to consider the student as a whole, his ex-
tracurricular activities, financial affordability,
aptitude and his continual performance in
school. This last criterion is best assessed
by the student’s teachers and headmasters
during his eleven years in school and it is
important to identify those who will serve
the nation and the people.
In the past, a lot of emphasis was placed
on testimonials from teachers with regards
to character, attitude, aptitude, behaviour
and achievements of students. Students with
excellent testimonials were given greater
priority for scholarships and other awards.
Students then strived very hard to excel in
all areas, not just academic, so as to get a
good testimonial on leaving school, knowing
very well that only academic excellence with
good testimonials from their teachers will
take them far in their career and lives.
Unfortunately today, testimonials are
rarely sought and they have limited value
particularly for top scorers. All that matters
is a string of As and nothing else. Students
spend so much time and money to obtain As
often at the expense of all other equally use-
ful activities that are essential to make one
an all-rounder, being well-equipped to handle
the many problems they may encounter with
maturity and wisdom.
Can our schools today be depended to
provide the all important testimonials for our
students? Many of our class teachers today
don’t even know their students well enough
to provide such a testimonial. Unfortunately,
we do not have many conscientious teachers
around anymore to provide a fair, balanced
and unbiased assessment of their students.
The competition for scholarships espe-
cially for education overseas has become so
intense that our children have to compromise
on many useful and healthy activities like
sports, debate and other extra-curricular
events that are essential for their whole-
some development. After so many years of
independence it is difficult to understand why
we have to send our top students overseas
for pre-university and basic degrees. Aren’t
our local universities good enough to provide
the basic undergraduate training for top scor-
ers?
It is time to seriously think of sending the
cream of our students to local universities. By
doing so we will be saving millions of ringgit
and helping to boost the standards in our
universities which are on the decline accord-
ing to international ratings. The money saved
can be used to sponsor many more eligible
students. Isn’t it time to have our own Oxford,
Harvard, and Cambridge universities that will
be the pride of every Malaysian? How can we
achieve this when we continue to send our
best to foreign universities?
It is time for our new education minister
to seriously consider a fairer and more com-
prehensive method of awarding scholarships
to our deserving students. These awards
should be granted to all who are eligible
based on overall merit without discrimination
whatsoever. Unless we give every deserving
Malaysian child the opportunity to pursue his
ambitions and ideals, our nation will not be
able to move forward in this highly competi-
tive global world.
Dr Chris Anthony
Butterworth