14 theSun | TUESDAY OCTOBER 13 2009

speak up!

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USM works towards

sustainable future
THE recent release of the THES-QS
university rankings has got every-
one’s attention again. What is obvi-
ous are the comments from certain
quarters regarding Universiti Sains
Malaysia’s slight drop (from 313 to
314) and the sniping regarding its
Apex status obtained last year.
I strongly believe that any
discourse attempting to relate the
two (ie the THES ranking and
the Apex status) is intellectually
anathema and simply borne out of
sheer frustration and to a degree,
misplaced envy.
At USM, we are part of the fra-
ternity that has evolved a blueprint
that will be engaging, relevant and
focused on the uplifting of the live-
lihood and welfare of Malaysia’s
less privileged and hopefully, the
world’s bottom billions; granted it
is a work in progress and numer-
ous tweaks and refinements will
have to be made but the impera-
tives are crystal clear – “USM will
set its vision of a sustainable
tomorrow while keenly promoting
values such as equity, accessibility,
availability, affordability and qual-
ity as its optimal endpoints while
embracing the protection of the
ecosystem, the conservation and
restoration of resources as well
as the development of human
and intellectual capital towards
this purpose. It will position itself
in meeting existing and future
global aspirations towards the
upliftment of the billions trapped
at the bottom of the socioeconomic
pyramid.” (Quote from USM’s Apex
document).
The apocryphal THES ranking,
flawed as it is in both mechan-
ics and methodology, clearly
does nothing to dissuade USM’s
academic populace from striving
ever harder in their intellectual
pursuits. It is annoying that this
matter resurfaces annually, but
will not detract us from focusing
on the real issues at hand. Does it
not bother the public that littered
among the top 10 ranked universi-
ties were people that precipitated
the global financial crisis? Should
we revisit our noble mission just
so to fit the THES survey? What
if we ignore the survey altogether
next year and fall out of the THES
radar? Does that mean that we
have actually been “relegated” to
a nothing university?
Put in their simplistic yet proper
context, the THES survey has been
likened to getting the famous All
Blacks Rugby team to take part in
the Fifa World Cup or for Usain
Bolt to compete in the 10,000m
– both exercises in futility and the
sooner this point is accepted, the
better it will be for all and sundry.
If being relevant to the cause,
being committed to our mission
while acknowledging our short-
comings and being honest in our
intellectual undertakings all trans-
late into having to compromise our
“league position”, so be it.
It is important to realise the
value of working within our
strengths and towards meeting
our ideals and hopes. Within the
mélange of courses being offered
and the plethora of people-centric
researches being conducted, USM
is obviously unique, a university
with a conscience, as it were. No
number or rank can ever diminish
this fact.
Azlan R. Nuruddin
School of Housing,
Building and Planning
USM
Tee Keat should just go
Scene: Dome, KLCC.
AZMAN: Wow! The MCA delegates really spoke up.
They decided that they have had enough of the public
spat among their leaders and voted to kick them out.
They really spoke their mind. Wow! What a breath of
fresh air.
Mohan: Well, that’s one way of looking at the out-
come of Saturday’s MCA extraordinary general meet-
ing. I wish delegates of other parties would also speak
up instead of merely endorsing without so much as a
whimper what their leaders decided.
Azman: Is there another way of looking at it? Of
course, by deciding the way they did – no confidence
in their president, Datuk Seri Ong
Tee Keat, and refusing to re-instate
his rival Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek
as deputy president – they have
also shot themselves in the foot.
Now they have no president and
no deputy president.
Chong: They just don’t seem to
care. They were so fed up. Wonder
if they would have voted the way
they did if they had known the
outcome. And now it looks like
the MCA would be in for a bigger
WhatTheySay trouble.
by Zainon Ahmad Azman: All because two top
leaders decided they also don’t care
what happens to the party as long as each prevails over
the other. Of course each was confident of triumphing
over the other. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen the way
they wanted. What’s your view on this Cikgu?
Zain: I am sad because I thought Tee Keat would
get a thumping endorsement of his leadership. So that
he could continue to be a strong minister of transport
– stronger maybe – to throw more light into the shady
affair of the PKFZ, the Port Klang Free Zone. A multi-
billion ringgit shady affair. And it’s all our money. So I
am sad because I am not sure another minister would
pursue the affair as relentlessly or as bull-doggedly as
Tee Keat.
Mohan: I am also sad. Many others too, I’m sure.
Now the shady affair would probably move into a darker
area. And soon to be forgotten. We lost our billions and
no one will be punished for it. Yes, Cikgu I also thought
for a moment that there was a chance of at least one
scandal or one shady affair – out of the many that we
have – gets to be exposed.
Azman: I am not sure I agree with you entirely. The
government has set up a task force to look into the affair.
So with or without Tee Keat, the shady affair would be
looked into.
Mohan: Maybe.
Chong: But surely you can’t blame the MCA del-
egates if the shady affair is not thoroughly investigated.
They were not thinking about national matters when
they voted. Their thoughts were only on party affairs.
Zain: You think so? Don’t you think that those who
are not interested in seeing the PKFZ affair being investi-
gated thoroughly did not seek to influence the delegates?
To ensure that Tee Keat is rejected.
Mohan: I agree with you Cikgu. So it is not just a
simple vote of no confidence in a party president. What
about those who don’t like the shape of his face? And
those whose toes he has stamped or trampled on? Some
say he is a bit abrasive. It seems not many people like
his leadership style too.
Zain: Yes. Many people actually feared Tee Keat
being strongly endorsed. Just imagine how strong he
would be if three quarters of the delegates had dem-
onstrated their confidence in him? Many in the party
would begin to fear him.
Chong: Many outside the party too?
Zain: Why, of course. He would be a real party
strongman. The MCA could be strong too under his
strong leadership. But then I am not sure many people
want to see a stronger and more united MCA emerging
even though it would make the BN a more formidable
party.
Chong: Cannot be bullied ma.
Zain: Maybe. So you see a lot of interested people and
a lot of interested groups want to see Tee Keat brought
down. I am sure they are now savouring his defeat. Too
bad.
Azman: But can’t he stay on?
Zain: He could but he shouldn’t. He has lost the vote
of confidence and so he should step aside. The delegates
had spoken with a clear voice – they do not want him
anymore.
Azman: But he lost by only 14 votes.
Zain: One vote or 14 votes it does not matter, he lost.
Some would say he should be responsible enough to
stay on to help the party to organise fresh elections and
then go. I say that’s hokum. He had made his pitch and
lost. Let others decide what to do now. As far as he is
concerned, he should just go.

Adopt sustainable water plan Klebang Besar reclamation poser

THE Coalition for Sustainable Water
Management (CSWM) is in agree-
ment with “Water laws lack check
and balance” (Letters, Oct 6). We are
confused as to why the government
is continuing to push forward with
the Kelau Dam-Pahang-Selangor raw
water transfer project.
The coalition had sent a detailed
report to members of the federal and
state governments on the fact that
the need for the Kelau Dam and the
interstate water transfer project is
based on flawed and inflated water
use figures derived in the National
Water Resource Study.
We continue to question why,
if the government truly believes a
water crisis is looming, no other
step has been taken to ensure water
security, other than pushing for the
dam and transfer tunnel? Why are
no large-scale efforts being made to
enforce water conservation among
users, both domestic and industrial?
It is not uncommon for countries
or states to face periods of water
scarcity. However, knowing that
there will be periods of low water re-
serves, these places monitor strictly
consumer use of water during the
dry seasons. Furthermore, they aim
to reduce overall water consump-
tion, to ensure water security and the
sustainability of this critical resource
for their country or region.
The coalition finds it ironic that
the date of the pending water crisis
for Selangor and Kuala Lumpur
continues to move into the future,
together with the completion date
of the water transfer tunnel project.
Previously, the water shortage was
projected to occur in 2007 and then
2009. Now it has moved forward a
few years yet again.
There is no doubt that the RM9
billion Kelau Dam and Interstate
Water Transfer project will be the
kingpin for the construction sector
underpinning future growth. But it
is an unnecessary project. Money
should be better spent on projects
the country really needs.
CSWM
Via email
I WAS under the impression that no
development that could possibly affect
the environment proceed without an
environmental impact assessment report
(EIAR). It has come to my attention that the
reclamation in Klebang Besar, Malacca, is
proceeding without an EIAR.
This area is a breeding ground for the
famous “geragau” prawns and is near
Pulau Upeh, a turtle breeding area.
Are we going to lose these precious
pieces of nature to indiscriminate devel-
opment. Isn’t the objective of an EIAR to
ensure that development does not inter-
fere with nature?
Apart from losing these gifts of nature
from God, my grandchildren will not have
any beaches to enjoy in Malacca as little
by little the beaches are rapidly disappear-
ing.
Does Malacca really need another
theme park? It definitely does not need
more high rise condos as there are many
beach-side condos for sale. Many of these
have been on the market for 10 years.
Does a city that has gained Unesco
World Heritage status care about the en-
vironment, conservation and sustainable
development?
Malacca should show the world that it
really cares about the environment, peo-
ple’s lives and well-being and put a stop to
this madness.
Anak Malacca
Malacca