LONE

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

More on Noh's Comments

The PM has finally commented on Noh's "Go Home, Foreigners" comment. BERNAMA has the following report ::

The Prime Minister has described as inappropriate a remark by Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Noh Omar who asked foreigners to go back to their own country if they find the Malaysian police cruel.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told Bernama Wednesday that Noh had touched on the government's policy on tourism which really welcomed foreigners whether to visit, study, receive medical treatment or conduct their business operation here.
"Government servants should be more sensitive and careful when issuing statements on the issue.
"I have advised Datuk Noh Omar on the matter," said the premier.
Noh was reported to have made the remark at a press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday when asked on the video clip featuring a woman, believed to be a Chinese national, doing ear squats in the nude while in police custody.

Is that all the PM is going to do, just advise the deputy MINIster on the inappropriate remark? A deputy MINIster who has just tarnished the country's image and gone against gomen policy of "welcoming foreigners whether to visit, study, receive medical treatment or conduct their business operation here".
Now i thought that Pak Lah was a soft-spoken one but is he really so soft, just an ever-so-light-tap on the wrist. Who remembers that a deputy MINIster was suspended immediately after he criticised gomen policy {MMC's derecognition of medical programme offered by CSMU} some months ago. Remember MIC's Sothinathan's suspension of three months? According to the gomen Chief Secretary, Sothinathan had breached the code of ethics as a member of the gomen. The Chief Sec said ::

"Based on the Code of Ethics for Members of the Administration 2004, a member of the administration (including the Deputy Minister, Sthinathan) is bound by the principles of joint responsibilities, that is, he cannot make any statements which are contrary to government policies."

Noticed any similarities between Sohinathan's act and Noh's act. If yes, why the kidglove treatment, Datuk Seri PM Pak Lah?

| ¶ 11/30/2005 09:28:00 PM

On Noh's Comments and Good Polis

For the past one week after the sensational naked ear-squat video clip surfaced there has been a barrage of criticisms of polis brutality, polis atrocities, degrading acts and so on. For the immediate higher-ups to say that what their rank and file have been doing is wrong would have opened up a Pandora's box of their own making. Skeletons in their cupboards would have been revealed. The next best thing of course would be to say the actions of the lady cop seen in the video clip was as routine as having roti cannai and nasi lemak and tosai for breakkfast and within the law and the SOP. Forget about human rights and dignity, they are so foreign and unMalaysia Boleh and not truly Asian and all the other stuff. So we have the sight of the DIGP and the deputy Internal Security MINIster coming out to exonerate the said lady polis. They obviously want to shift the focus away from themselves and the force that is under their command. But things just don't look like it is going to die down after so many have been riled up.

Defending the indefensible is of course not an easy task and often one gets hot under the collar and loses one's cool. This is probably what happened to our good deputy MINIster of IS. Despite being quoted by our own NTV7 and evening editions of the local Chinese press and the foreign press, our deputy MINIster of IS is up to the old trick of blaming the press but probably feeling that giving the old tired excuse of being misquoted by the press won't do, he now claims that there was misintepretation by the press of what he had said. In today's Malaysiakini, the good MINIster, who has good intentions of not tarnishing the image of our fair country and wants to be seen as welcoming tourists with opened arms, is quoted as saying ::

“I am a deputy minister. Would I do something like this to jeopardise the image of the country? You know we are now trying to tell foreigners that our country is safe.”
“If the misinterpretation has offended anyone, then I will apologise too all quarters. My intention was to show that Malaysia is a safe country.”

What do you think, is he for real?

It looks like there are also many good people out there we feels that there has just been a little too much of polis bashing over the past few days and would like to remind one and all that there are plenty of good polis out there looking after our safety and protecting us all. And good polis personnel there are obviously plenty of them out there. For we are told that only about 1% of the force may be involved in dubious activities, others may want to think the figure is higher, but i for one believe whoever gave that figure of one. But if the "black sheep" accounts for only 1% amongst them, then there are 99% of "white sheep" amongst them. The question is what are these 99% doing? With such overwhelming numbers, can't they weed out the "black sheep" amongst them on their own? Who was it who said "Where there's no will, there's no way". Don't we wonder why the "black sheep" are still there. It is obvious that they are unable to remove these "black sheep". It is also obvious that their political masters are also having trouble weeding them out. So what's is left, if not for us, remember in the final count we are the boss, to do the necessary. The momentum which has been gathered over the past few days should not be slowed, we have to push on to at the very least get the IPCMC recommended by the Royal Commission set up ASAP. This is a golden opportunity for those 99% good polis to join in and cleanse the force so that we can have a professional one which can police without being abusive and brutal. One which each and everyone can be proud of and feel protected by. Then and only then will it make sense to say :: May the Force be with You.

| ¶ 11/30/2005 08:34:00 PM

Sunday, November 27, 2005

True Reason for Postponement

With the on going controversy regarding the profiling of female Chinese national as you know what and the sensational video clip of a female Chinese national being subjected to humiliating acts and exercises, our PM has ordered our newly married MINIster of Home Affairs to go to China to settle affairs of the state. He was reported to be going to China to clear any misconception that Malaysian authorities were targeting Chinese nationals, especially women coming to Malaysia. He is also reported to be ready to apologise if the need arises.

A snag has been reported and instead of our MINIster flying off to China on his mission on 30th November, his trip has been reported as being postponed till 20th December. Our MINIster says that this postponement is at the request of his Chinese counterpart. This has certainly got tongues wagging in our local kopitiams and kopistalls. Talks are going around that the MINIster's Chinese counterpart is considering how to treat our MINIster and his entourage on their arrivals. Much debating and betting is said to be going on as to how many of this they will be subjected to each and how many of those squatting exercises each of them will need to do. Talk has also been going on that members of the entourage are busy in training for the ordeal. But there is good news for all of them.

After checking from a friend who has a friend who has a friend staying near the main airport where our MINIster and his entourage will fly in, the true reason can now be revealed. So all those rumour mongers in the various joints can stop their kopitiam and kopistall talk. The actual reason is as shown below. Following recent events in our country, the Chinese has decided to change the welcoming banner for the MINIster and his entourage to reflect recent happening. The new welcoming banner as revealed by my friend's friend's mainland friend is as below ::

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

It is obvious the Chinese who will be hosting the Olympics soon have banner makers who appear to have problems with their English/Manglish letterings. Apparently they have subjected the banners to numerous changes and have yet to get them right. Not wanting to have foreigners laughing at them, they will still endeavour to get them correct, at the latest by 19th December. An English expert is said to be returning home at the latest by 18th December.

Meanwhile, with the falling number of tourist arrivals from China, the Tourism MINIster will meet other ministries which have an impact on the tourism sector to discuss the sharp drop in Chinese tourist arrivals in Malaysia. Meanwhile in order to drum up more tourist arrivals from other countries, it has also been suggested by the German-based Tourism Malaysia marketing manager that Malaysia should offer her many secrets to European tourists. Said market manager, one Stephanie Hunger, is quoted by the STAR as saying ::

"These are exactly what European tourists are looking for. Nothing fanciful but a chance to enjoy the nature."

[By "these", she meant our sun, our sea, our nature's treasures :: our jungles, swamps and mountains and certainly not the above mentioned "flee stuff".]

With the Home MINIster's China trip and the ongoing "Make It Malaysia" programme and the getting together of the Tourism MINIster and his brother MINIsters, certainly we will be able to lure the tourists back and have our tourist industry back to where it was before.

| ¶ 11/27/2005 03:46:00 PM

Wanted::Video Shooter/Phonies in our Midst Bhg II

Make no mistake it is the sensational video shooter that the polis is really after in its probe into the humiliating, disgusting, outrage provoking incident.

The lady polis who subjected the detainee to the naked ear squats is not the subject of the polis probe. She was just carrying out a routine check, one which is carried out for all polis detainees before their admission to the polis lockup, says the deputy IGP. The DPM says this is not so but the deputy IGP and the polis say that is the routine! As usual we have to wait for the PM to say what is the true state of affairs.

But then again what can the PM and his cabinet do, As shown by the refusal of the polis personnel concerned in the Foo's case, the cabinet's decision/recommendations count for little. Does anyone knows what has the IGP standing orders got to say regarding naked body searches and naked ear squats?

The DAP MP Ms Teresa Kok intend to table a motion in Parliament tomorrow to get to the bottom of this but will she succeed? If the PM and his MINIsters are truly shameful and disgusted by the whole scandal, then we will see the motion successfully tabled and debated. If not then they are Beyond Shame and truly not serious about the whole thing. Just "play play" only loh and there are truly "phonies in our midst".

| ¶ 11/27/2005 11:23:00 AM

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Beyond Shame[Phonies in our Midst]

After 20th September 1998 and the subsequent happenings and events involving the one whose name is rarely mentioned in the papers, i thought that we as a nation was beyond shame. But it looks like one can be wrong. Upon waking up, i was surprised to see this STAR headline screaming to be read :: PM: It's shameful. Walking to the local newstand, i noticed that the NST carried the headline :: Naked Anger; Memalukan polis: PM said the BERITA HARIAN and the UTUSAN carried this :: PM berang, kecewa.

9 days after the fateful night of 20th September, "the one whose name is rarely mentioned in the papers", appeared in court with the now famous "Black Eye for Justice". If only those papers had reacted then with the same headlines we are seeing today. Today's headlines are in response to the revelation of the sensational video clip of the dehumanising, degrading, disgusting, demeaning acts of the polis and therefore the outrage and outpouring of concern and disgust. Wasn't the perpetration of the "Black Eye for Justice" an abomination too and something for the papers and Malaysians and all those in authorities to be shameful about?

The PM of the day then didn't appear to think so, he did not express any shame then and probably so even today. He even suggested that the one with the black eye could have beaten himself up, in order to gain sympathy. And that rather creative and imaginative lady, who has been labelled by some as the AP Queen and is presently still a MINIster of the King, even demonstarted how one could self-create a black eye. Our present PM, who was DPM then, i don't remember him saying :: "It's Shameful" regarding the black eye. How many of our MINIsters then, who are still MINIsters now, expressed disgust and outrage then? If only they had, we may, today, be seeing a better and more professional polis force which is mindful of the human rights of fellow humans they are sworn to serve and protect. Instead what do we have today in their midst; sadists and voyeurs and abusers of human rights.

Following that fateful September night, those reformasi supporters found themselves ill-treated by the very polis force sworn to protect them. When the water cannons and batons and canes were used against them, did our MINIsters and papers protest? Did they express outrage? Even then, many of those reformasi supporters who were detained complained about polis brutality and violence. Many would remember the lady reformasi supporter who complained that she was stripped naked and had to do ear squats. But most of us remain silent. Our then PM, in June 1999, at the AGM of UMNO[Baru, some calls it] in his ""NO tears for "traitor" Anwar" speech called "the one whose name is rarely mentioned in the papers", a traitor, a colonial puppet and a back stabber. Our present PM and other UMNO delegates appeared to give their backing to the then PM. And the rest but not all remained silent.

Did those in authority expressed utter disappointment and immediately requested for no cover-up and thorough investigations into these incidents? Did they warned those perpetrators of abuse of dire consequences and that there will be no gomen protection for the guilty ones. What we see today is different , the PM and the DPM are shameful of today's event has depicted in the sensational video clip. They have ordered urgent, thorough and no cover-up investigations in this present incident of national shame. They appear to have awoken, much late but then it is better than never. Our present deputy IGP, who some 5-6 years ago was also a major player in that incident which had tarnished our national image, appears also a changed man and has promised to get to the bottom of the sensational video clip soonest possible.

Back then, the perpetrator of the "Black Eye for Justice" must have carried out his deeds in the presence of many of his fellow officers. But an internal inquiry failed to go anywhere. And it took five long months and a Royal Commission of inquiry to finally drag out the truth. Then there was certainly no urgency and no will for an immediate and thorough and no cover-up investigation. Then and even now, many asked why? Even till today, the one who caused the "Black Eye for Justice" has failed to apologise in person for his deeds. The one who cried "sodomite" and "self-injury" appeared unrepentent and will certainly not apologise. But recently when he, himself appeared to have been slighted by the "AP Queen", there were many who called for the latter to apologise to him.

The nation, as a whole, appears to want to forget all these events and move on. But remember these events stemming from that fateful September night, we must. For it is because of those events and the manner we have responded to them and the silent messages we sent out, that we are in the state we are today, and "It's Shameful". But are we going to continue to be "Beyond Shame" and have phonies in our midst?

| ¶ 11/26/2005 06:37:00 PM

Friday, November 25, 2005

No Cover Up Order after "No Cover-Up Video"

The sensational video clip of the no cover-up-ear-squat case should not deflect the nation's focus on the rot that is affecting us all. A rot which the 2-year old PM appears unable to stop.

The polis appears to be more interested in investigating who made the sensational video clip recording and is going into express-mode with the investigations. The polis appears to want that person apprehended ASAP. The deputy IGP appears to be promising that investigations would be neatly tied up as early as early next week, Monday possibly! Based on the past, usually such express-mode would lead nowhere. Remember Norrita, remember Xu Jian Huang. The PM is presently in Malta attending the CHOGM. BERNAMA reported that at a media conference was called by the PM himself, Pak Lah speaking in a serious tone to reporters covering the CHOGM here, reflected his utter disappointment over the incident. i had expected him to be sadden again. Calling for thorugh and immediate investigations in the case, he said ::

"There should be no cover-up at all. I don't want anybody to hide the bare facts obtained from the investigations."

Pak Lah also said that a serious investigation must be conducted as the incident had embarrassed the police force. Many of us would consider it to have embarrassed the nation! Now we wonder whether the polis has got the right message from Pak Lah. Obviously, embarrassed Pak Lah wants a serious, through and immediate investigation into the demeaning, dehumanising, disgusting and abusive manner in which polis detainees are being treated rather than who is responsible for the sensational video clip. Or am i the one getting the wrong message? For the PM's info there are many many other cases of alleged abuse of polis and ISA detainees in the past many many years, maybe he would also like to order serious, thorough and immediate investigations for them too, while he is in his state of "utter disappointment". It may also be timely to remind Pak Lah of all things he has been promising thus far. Of late, he appears to have forgotten them; so let us remind him about the need to be truthful, the zero corruption fight, the transparent need and a more civil civil service, etc etc.

Meanwhile, the DPM warned those responsible for ordering "strip naked searches and ear squats", not to expect gomen protection. And he pointed out rightly :: "It should not have happened. It has dealt a severe blow to our country's image." He said this when asked to comment on the sensational video clip. The DPM also said "forcing a person to strip naked was not part of procedures in police investigations". BUt the deputy IGP maintained otherwise, he says that "body search" is within the rights of the polis. But we are talking about "strip naked search". Now who is right and who is wrong? As for "ear squats", the deputy IGP resued to comment.

Many of us are waiting eagerly for early next week for the deputy IGP to present us with the solution to the case of the sensational video clip. Certainly, i, for one, hope that he won't disappoint.

| ¶ 11/25/2005 09:06:00 PM

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Have We Been Taken For A Ride?

Slowly but surely, events over the last few weeks and days have shown that we have been taken for a ride by the THES rankings. The whole fiasco really started last year when the THES ranking 2004 was announced and UM found herself ranked 89 and USM was ranked 111. UM which claimed that 2005 was her centenary year saw the VC going overboard celebrating her 89th THES 2004 ranking. Please note that in 1999, UM celebrated its 50th anniversary! Someone said that there could be two more centenary celebrations in the pipeline for UM :: one in 2029 and the ultimate centenary in 2049! If you really want to know about all these various centenaries for UM, check this MalayMalil article :: by Amir Hafizi and here there is this chappie vexing nostalgia over the said centenary and the all important THES 2004 ranking :: he said "The recognition by THES is just a beginning for UM". Anyway back to our VC and his June centenary celebrations, he wanted the whole world to know the fact that UM was world ranked as she was among the top 100 universities covered by the THES 2004 survey. Billboards were erected to proclaimed UM world ranking in the top 100 best universities. During the celebrations the DPM expressed to the VC, his hope that by 2020, UM could be ranked among the world’s top 50 universities.

The THES 2005 ranking was like a bomb shell hitting Pantai Valley, from its glorious 2004 ranking of 89, instead of moving higher towards the 50th position, it plunged down, down down to 189! The VC was not perturbed, UM was still among the top 200 and was in the among the top 100 in Arts and Humanities, Biomedicine and Social Sciences categories. Many were shocked by the plunge and the PM, as usual, was sad about the whole thing. For the Opposition leader, it was like a major disaster for Malaysian education and he called for the resignation of the VC. Meanwhile, Tony P & Kian Ming, of Education in Malaysia blog, suspected that UM THES 2004 ranking was not deserved. Check out their detailed analysis here.

And finally, we have confirmation that Tony P & Kian Ming were right on, Nunzio Quacquarelli, the managing director of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, which designed and conducted the THES survey, conceded a fumble in their data collection for the 2004 THES survey. Nunzio explained that the UM was wrongly ranked in 2004 because the survey had treated all Chinese and Indians as foreign students. This led to high marks being awarded for the ‘international students’ criterion and the resultant 89 rank. It is quite difficult to accept how this could have come about considering the importance some people placed on the THES rankings. Nunzio attributed it to "an error in communication". It is now quite obvious that UM THES 2004 ranking of 89 was wrong and also obvious that the actual position should have been lower than 89, but Nunzio is not telling. What is even more surprising is that the THES 2004 rankings were not changed and amended even when the mistake was recognised. When was the mistake noted? Was UM made aware of the mistake? If yes, when? If no, why not? Could UM have been informed but the centenary celebrations, billboards and all had to go on? Questions which would most likely not receive answers, now or in the near future.

The THES rankings leave bad tastes in the mouths of many and with the fumbles in data collection and the methodology used should we be placing much importance on these rankings? Even Nunzio is quoted as saying :: "There is no indication that a university ranked high is better than a university ranked lower." So why the THES ranking? Have we been taken for a ride? It would be better to leave the THES rankings well alone and concentrate on our real crisis in higher education and solving it. The first step being the need for those in authority to stop denying that there is such a crisis.

| ¶ 11/22/2005 11:02:00 PM

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics.

The total number of accidents recorded during Ops Sikap IX that began on Oct 27 is 13,462, an increase of 1,853 or 15.9 percent higher compared to 11,609 during Ops Sikap VIII last year.

Fatal accidents also rose by 39 cases or 22.5 percent to 212 this year compared to 173 cases last year. The number of deaths rose by 33 to 233 compared to the previous year.

Accidents on federal roads claimed 102 lives, nearly half of the fatalities during the 15-day operation, 23 deaths on highways, 67 on state roads, 27 on town roads and 14 on other roads.

AS a result of the large number of accidents and deaths on federal roads during the Ops Sikap IX period, much criticisms were raised that poorly designed or maintained gomen roads were a major cause of fatal accidents, especially during festive seasons. Our MINIster Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu now claimed that a study by the Public Works Department (PWD) showed that more accidents happened on highways per 1,000km than on federal and state roads. He was equally quick to point out that the statistics did not mean highways in the country were unsafe.

The statistics the PWD study claimed to have produced are as follows ::

1.For each 1,000km of road, highways recorded 536.5 accidents and 11.8 deaths, federal roads 186 accidents and 5.4 deaths and state roads 32 accidents and 0.9 death.

2.During Ops Sikap 8, highways recorded 496.5 accidents and 11.2 deaths, federal roads 162.5 accidents and 3.5 deaths and state roads 33.2 accidents and 1.1 death, per 1,000km of road presumably.

With the statistics the PWD study have cooked up, Samy claims that federal and state roads were in good condition and safe for vehicles, and this was due to the implementation of short and long-term programmes by the PWD to improve road safety.

Anyone out their convinced by Samy's study and conclusions?

Lets just remind Samy what some of us tend to think of Statistics

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics::Benjamin Disraeli
"Definition of Statistics: The science of producing unreliable facts from reliable figures."::Evan Esar
Statistician: A man who believes figures don't lie, but admits that under analysis some of them won't stand up either::Evan Esar
Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital::Aaron Levenstein
97% of all statistics are man made and made up::Lone

Footnote:: For more boring stats on Causes of Accidents, check this out.

| ¶ 11/19/2005 11:09:00 PM

Friday, November 18, 2005

It's Animal Farm & the Stockholm Syndrome all over again

The call for abolishing the UUCA appears to have met with some unexpected reponse from those whom we thought would benefit directly from the UUCA demise.
The Students Representative Council [SRC] of UPM is reported as has coming out in defence of the controversial University and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) saying the legislation ‘protected the welfare of students’.
Other reported utterances of the SRC of UPM includes the following ::

"If government leaders think the act should be reviewed, then review it, if not, there is no need to review it. We don't have any suggestions, let the leaders decide ”
"As students, we are not in the position to give suggestions. Only the leaders can do that because it involves the law. We believe the leaders always think of the students' welfare"
"We accept anything that is good for the students' welfare."
“This clearly shows that UUCA is protecting the students' welfare, so why do they want to abolish the act?"

If these utterances by the SRC of UPM are representative of the SRCs in the other universities of our country, i can only say that the gomen has done very well with the UUCA and other stuff in its arsenal. Imagine that we have student leaders who have total believe in in the gomen and have given up their own innate ability to think for themselves. It's so Orwellian. So Animal Farmish. So Stockholm syndrome-like. Three cheers for the gomen upon its total success at campus control.

More later

| ¶ 11/18/2005 04:30:00 PM

Thursday, November 17, 2005

M'sian Workforce Not Competitive

Our work force has been found wanting. A recent study conducted by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) showed that our workforce is not competitive enough.
The JETRO study found that Malaysian workers were job hoppers and lacked skills. In terms of competitiveness, we rank lower than Singapore, Australia and Britain. So we should stop thinking of lazy Oz and Brits, if that is what is in the minds of our workers.
Our own Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) thinks that Malaysian labour laws were "difficult to manage" and "too rigid" and made it difficult for the employer to "hire and fire" workers. Our labour laws are said to be very "protective of its workers" with compensation for retrenchment being the second highest in the world!
So when times are hard, all these are going to make us unattractive for foreign direct investments and tend to frighten away foreign investors.

| ¶ 11/17/2005 12:50:00 AM

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

UM VC continues Celebration

It looks like the UM VC is still blowing his trumpet regarding UM's World Ranking. He certainly can be rather creative for according to YB Lim, he has added Disney-like buntings to len up the Pantai Campus :: VC turns University of Malaya into Disneyland.

While the Speaker of Parliamnet has deemed that there is no urgency to discuss UM's plunge, the Deputy Edu MINIster, Fu says :: UM has no cause for celebration

QuacquarelliSymonds Ltd which says that it is the World's leading network for top careers and education appears to be jumping on board the VC's celebration bandwagon. QS, according to its advert (see below) claims that it knows the :: "True state of affairs (of UM's THES ranking)". Its forum unfortuantely is by invitattion only. Will the Opposition Leader and the Higher Edu MINIster be invited to this forum?

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

As for what the public thinks and has to say regarding UM's ranking and the VC's antics, one only has to check out the letter pages of the NST and the STAR

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

| ¶ 11/15/2005 11:05:00 AM

Sunday, November 13, 2005

About Turn by Higher Edu MINIster

The 'tudung issue' which has been given great prominence by the Opposition leader and the Batu Gajah MP appears to have come to an end. The Higher Edu MINIster appears to have "tudunged" the issue by his latest announcement that the "tudung" or headscarf will be made an optional attire for non-Muslim graduands during Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) convocations. This is reported by BERNAMA.

Recent IIU law graduate Foo Yueh Jiin first brought the issue into prominence when she had to forgo her convocation as she had protested the ruling that she had to wear a tudung to do so. Ms Foo then sent an e-mail to Opposition leader, who raised the matter in Parliament. Minister in the PM's Department replied that IIU’s rule “was not religious in nature but a matter of uniforms". He also said that it must be followed as "it does not breach basic human rights". IIU also defended its decision to compel non-Muslim ladies to wear the tudung at its graduation ceremonies. The IIU PR director was quoted as saying :: "IIU will stand by its decision. We will not change it." in view of this, the president of UM's student representative council urged the IIU to review this decision.

The Opposition leader continued to keep the issue alive. The NST reported that the Cabinet reached a consensus that no Malaysian undergraduate should be compelled to wear a tudung. It also reported that the Cabinet also agreed that wearing of tudung be made optional at graduation ceremonies or convocations. But the Higher Edu MINIster continued to defend IIU's decision. He was quoted by BERNAMA on 9th Nov as saying ::

A "tudung" (headcover) is part of the official dress for International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) female graduates during convocation ceremonies, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh, Wednesday.
The dress-code must be adhered to by all graduands, both Muslims and non-Muslims, he said.
"For non-Muslims, they are not required to wear "tudung litup" (a cloth covering the whole head) but scarves will do," he told reporters here when asked to comment on the issue raised by DAP in the Dewan Rakyat two weeks ago.
On the wearing of tudung by non-Muslim IIUM students when attending lectures, Shafie said it was a symbol of respect to the university.

The Opposition leader doggedly pursued the issue, he arranged for a media conference with Ms Foo and Ms Fong [the Batu Gajah MP] telling their tales. Ms Fong urged IIU thus ::

“If IIU is trying to project a good image of Islam, then it should abolish such a rule. It should lead the way by showing that Islam is moderate, open, understanding and sensitive."
“This will also encourage more non-Muslims to apply for admission.”

It looks like as frequently happens in BolehLand, the Higher Edu MINIster has done an about turn and is toeing the Cabinet decision. He might just use the overused claim that he was misquoted by the press all along. Or has he finally come to his senses and heard what the Opposition leader and other bloggers had to say regarding the whole issue ::

"No dress code however official or ceremonial can justify the violation of the Cabinet decision of no compulsion in the wearing of tudung for non-Muslims in a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural Malaysia."

This blogger hopes that this issue and other similar issues which touch on the sensitivities of any of our nation's communities will not be unnecessarily raised in the future. We must all be mindful of each other sensitivities and not just insist on others being mindful of ours alone. Respect cannot be obtained by compulsion, it has to be earned like lots of other stuff.

| ¶ 11/13/2005 12:23:00 AM

Saturday, November 12, 2005

On Luring Back Tourists from China

The number of tourists from China have fallen lately. Their arrivals in Malaysia from January to August this year fell by 47.8%, from some 420,000 the same period last year to some 202,000 this year. The total number of tourists from China in 2004 is said to be some 550,000. Malaysia was hoping to bring in 610,000 Chinese tourists to Malaysia this year. Tourists from China brought in RM1.33 billion (US$352 million) in foreign exchange in 2005, the third-highest foreign exchange contributors after Singaporeans and Thais.

So why the drastic fall? Among the reasons are ::

A directive from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) to its travel agents to cancel group tours to Malaysia because of the high crime rate.
Reports of Chinese tourists being robbed of their passports and female tourists being hassled by Malaysian Immigration
International highlighting of "the Genting incident" :: Pig head on vouchers offends Chinese tourists
Negative publicity on snatch thefts involving Chinese tourists in Malaysia.
Perceived poor tourist security in Malaysia.
The opening up of more tourist destinations for their people by the Chinese authorities. Just recently, China has granted 63 countries and 90 destinations approved destination status.
The 26/12 Tsunami.

The latest alleged "yum cha" harassment of two Chinese nationals by the polis at the Sungai Buloh police station, of course is not going to be helpful.

But our Tourism MINIstry is already on the offensive. BERNAMA reports that it is taking various measures to lure back Chinese tourists. Deputy Tourism MINIster, Datuk Mohd Zahid Hamidi, would represent the ministry and visit Kunming from Nov 23 to 26 to meet tour agencies and take part in the China International Travel Mart. He wants to change the perception in China on the tourism climate in Malaysia and will inform the Chinese that it is safe and fun to come to Malaysia! But before he goes to Kunming and does all that, wouldn't it be better if he puts his house back home in order first? Ensuring that there is no harassments of the tourists by the Immigration and Polis; ensuring that our local hotel staff are tourist friendly and not are only just able to speak "Malaysian and English"; ensuring more Chinese-speaking officers at immigration checkpoints and more friendly signage at points of tourist entry and departure. Whatever said, i wish the Deputy Tourism MINIster, every success in his "luring back of tourists from China" as it appears we do need their Renminbi.

| ¶ 11/12/2005 05:40:00 PM

"Saya Anti Rasuah"

Lately we have been told that only 5% of the 90,000 strong PDRM personnel are corrupt. We are also told that the PDRM is "anti rasuah" but when we see and hear of what is happening, doesn't it tend to make you wonder whether it is rather "anti rust-suah" we are talking about.
Could it be this which led to the latest badge-wearing and sticker-sticking? But will this latest effort of badge-wearing and sticker-sticking really work?
Not by far if this upon investigations proves true. This latest allegation of polis corruption and lack of integrity by a housewife, who is a Chinese national, will certainly make those who had doubts about what abettermalaysia had to say :: Drug Bust jails 22 innocents, think again.
On 5th November, just a few days ago, we celebrated NID :: National Integrity Day, we have a NIP :: National Integrity Plan and aslo an IIM :: Integrity Institute Malaysia and even a BEIM :: Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia. All these for what? For meanwhile we have a VC who should know better than most others about integrity, going to town and erecting "billboards of shame" in his campus about something he should have little to be proud about. If he understands so litlle about integrty, can we expect more from the PDRM?
So meanwhile, mindful that the Sun says :: Corruption Kills, those with information on corruption can contact the polis at 03-2262 6555, 03-2262 7555 or 03-2031 9999.

| ¶ 11/12/2005 09:54:00 AM

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

MY MP has a Website::Syabas YB Kayveas

Mr Lim Kit Siang, our Opposition leader is busy searching for our MPs' e-mail addresses to send them mails regarding the UM THES ranking drastic plunge and the need for our MINIsters to lead anti-corruption drive in respective ministries. YB Lim has found to his surprise that some 10 years after MSC, most MINIsters still don’t use e-mail! Some of these MPs don't have e-mail addresses, some have difficult to locate addresses or non-functional ones and some don't bother to open their mail boxes or read e-mails sent to them.
But our Taiping MP, YB Datuk Dr. M Kayveas PJN JP, has not only a functional e-mail addy :: jpmkv@pmo.gov.my but also a functional website :: http://www.mptaiping.com/about_kayveas.aspx. According to the webmaster ::

The purpose of this web site is to act as a medium of contact between the public and the Taiping Member of Parliament. In addition to this it also serves as a one stop information providing center on various aspects of Taiping constituency. This web site will allow the user to convey their grievances, views, messages, feed backs and opinions to their Member of Parliament.

Despite having only had 1911 visitors so far, there have been 724 onsite grievances. If only there was a way o Taipingnites to share these greivances and the solutions profferred by our enlightened and progressive MP.
One can even add oneself or one's establishment to the Yellow Pages of this website.
i encourage fellow Taipingnites to pay this website a visit and let our MP know the grievances they may have in the manner the Majlis Perbandaran Taiping and the central gomen is running Taiping. Remember this YB is the one who said that local authorities are being run like "secret societies". The YB will surely be all ears if you have complaints to make against these "secret societies".
Syabas YB Datuk Dr. Kayveas, long may your website stay current and frequently updated.

| ¶ 11/08/2005 11:41:00 PM

Saturday, November 05, 2005

5th November::NID

Remember this date, it is National Integrity Day for Malaysians. When launching this very important day for all Malaysians, the PM said :: "The government's move to declare Nov 5 every year as a National Integrity Day is aimed at making integrity as a culture and way of life of the Malaysian society." For starters maybe the PM might want to remind that someone who has been raising self-praising billboards in his Pantai Valley campus.
In April 2004, soon after winning the 11th election with a massive majority, the PM launched NIP :: National Integrity Plan, a five-year plan to create a noble Malaysian society, to bring back noble values. There is a 5-year roadmap for this plan, called Resolution 2000 [now how many can recall this Resolution, probably the UM VC has forgotten it].
The 5 targets for Resolution 2000 for the first 5 years of the NIP are ::

Effectively reduce corruption, irregularities and abuse of power
Enhance efficiency in the public service delivery system and overcome bureaucracy
Enhance corporate management and business ethics
Strengthen the family institution
Improve the quality of life and wellbeing of the society.

Looks like we have another day to remember in the calender, but will we be celebrating greater integrity and plenty of the noble values in the years to come on each 5th November?

| ¶ 11/05/2005 08:17:00 PM

Friday, November 04, 2005

THES Ranking::No Need to Panic Lah

The PM may feel sad about the lastest THES ranking of UM and UKM but there are many like the UM VC who take the contrarian view and feel either there is "No cause for panic" as we are not of the "developed world". Then there is Prof Dr MOHAMAD ROM TAMJIS,Dean, Faculty of Engineering,Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur who feels "UM falls in ranking but is on the right track", one certainly has some difficulty following the Dean's line of lateral thinking.
But then again there are those who think along the line of the Opposition leader and feel that UM has indeed taken a beating, no thanks to the UM VC. An undergraduate of UM called D.D. of Kuala Lumpur (could he be the Dare Devil of KL for daring to criticise the gomen) saying that UM is a "Varsity not receptive to constructive criticism". Meanwhile O.B.H. of KL too, tells UM :: "Check Decline" to UM's plunge in ranking.
From these photos, this and this, seen in this blog, the UM VC has taken quick copy and paste measures to highlight the 'positive findings' of the THES rankings, but it appears that he is not highlighting the 89 to 169 fall. The Oppostion leader feels that the UM VC appears to be enlisting the help of the politikus in this endeavour of his.
And it does appear that the politikus is out to help the UM VC, the Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh declared that UM has launched efforts to improve its international standing following a slide in its THES ranking from the 89th to the 169th position. Among the strategies to be utilised is one where more foreign students would be encouraged to take up the post-graduate programmes offered by UM! This would internationalised UM more and having more foreign students, the Minister feels that UM would then gain more THES ranking points. But will the UM's ranking plunge encourage foreign students to come? Neighbouring NUS and NTU, with their better THES rankings of 22nd and 48th respectively, would definitely be better choices. Chulalongkorn University which is ranked 121could be another good alternative. Is the Minister thinking straight? Will foreign students agree with what the Minister has to say :: "Performance-wise, the UM is still good but because the points between one university and the next are too close, even missing two or five points can result in a big drop in position". The Minister claims that he will be visiting ANZAC soon to encourage students there to come over. More wasted effort, time and taxpayers' money? Will he be going to Britain too, to round up the students there to do their PhDs in our local universities? He appears to have high hopes regarding the PhD joint programmes between our five local universities and London's Imperial College and that they will successfully enhance UM status.
The THES ranking list is not based on perfect criteria or methodology and some of the criteria used may even be suspect. Kian Ming of educationmalaysia.blogspot had earlier posted that :: UM should never have been in the Top 100 in the first place. This ranking plunge has, at least in the Malaysian blogosphere, become a rallying point for all those who feel that Malaysians are facing "A Crisis in Higher Education" and they are voicing their fears of further free falls if corrective measures are not taken. Meanwhile our Higher Education Minister and his VCs are behaving like those 'proverbial ostrishes' and 'katak dibawah tempurong' and are refusing to acknowledge this crisis. They appear to be defending the indefensible by their utterances here :: Shafie: What crisis in higher education? and here :: UM defends slide in university rankings.
Surely being the Higher Education Minister, he knows what has to be done to arrest further free fall of our universities' rankings. If he is not sure of what to do, he only need to check this and this and this. Or is everyone of them waiting for the PM to start to wield the big stick and get things going. Though in his heart he may want to but many fears that he might not be able to after having seen the first two years of his helmsmanship which has been marked by plenty of hot air and equally plenty of inaction.

| ¶ 11/04/2005 02:16:00 AM

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

UM Says Performance Improved Despite Drop In Ranking and Happy DeepaRaya

Just came across this interesting item as above-entitled. So many have gone to town intrepreting that the recently mentioned ranking of 169 in the THES showed and shows that UM is going to the dogs and that the UM VC should be retired, some said 'tarred and feathered' and "sacked" also, while others suggested giving him 'them boots'. Some felt sad that UM has taken such a slide. As usual, the opposition and other like-minded parties have called for another Royal Commission to be set up. Hasn't the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the PDRM been an eye opener. The Report was released more than 5 months ago and to date, there are no visible signs that its most important recommendation is going to see the light of day. Sub-committees are still studying the Report's findings and recommendations.

See here, here, here and here for context regarding the THES listing.

Sad though he may be with regard to the UM's 169th position, Pak Lah wants action and has ordered and wants UM to find out why ranking dropped. Not only does he want to know the reason(s) for the slide, Pak Lah wants the necessary actions to be taken, “I hope UM will take the necessary action to rectify it,” he must have thundered. Many have already suspected that the criteria used for the THES listing this year must be different from those used last year when UM was listed in position 89. Even Pak Lah said sometimes the criteria used in the ranking system might differ from country to country. Would should a thing be likely? Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow questioned the accuracy of the listing, especially when a number of respondents were foreign lecturers and students. He probably would have liked the survey to have been conducted strictly amongst Boleh Malaysians only. Deputy Minister Fu added that using the numbers of foreign students and lecturers in Malaysian public universities as criteria, would have disadvantaged local universities.

The UM VC, a responsible and rapid response guy, appears to have instantly got to the root cause of the slide of UM. This BERNAMA report carries his findings. UM Vice Chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Hashim Yaakob says ::

UM performance has improved despite falling from 89th to 169th spot in a ranking of the world's top 200 universities compiled by The Times of London. "How can that be so," i asked. My 5-year old nephew who was passing by, said "Why not." "Last year, i had 5 As and was 1st in class, this year i have 17 As and i am near the bottom."
UM overall score has improved, it was 16.6 in 2004 and 23.5 in 2005. "Why the drop from 89 to 169?" i asked. My 8-year old niece who was passing by, said "Why not". "Last year, i received 161 marks (out of a total of 200) and was placed 89 in form, this year i received 235 marks (out of a total of 500) and here i am in 169th position."
A new category was added in evaluating the university's performance this year contributed to the drop in ranking. The new category? The new category asked employers to list the universities with students who are employable. Having so few employable graduates locally; we, of course, failed miserably. If only they had given points for having the most unemployable graduates, UM would have definitely bettered its posittion this year.
The number of universities surveyed had increased compared to last year. "How does this contribute to UM slide?" i asked. My 17-year old nephew who was passing by, replied "Surely can." "But i can't explained why, just yet."
The universities graded were placed in 5 categories :: arts and humanity, social sciences, bio medicine, science and technology. And UM scored excellently. UM was placed 45 in the arts and humanity category, 83 in the social sciences category and 82 in the bio medicine category. As for the science and technology categories, make your guesses, the UM VC's lips are sealed.

Thus having assured us and the PM that all is well with UM, its performance has truly improved despite its position having taken a massive plunge; so all is well and the UM VC is definitely not thinking of resigning nor need he look for ways and means of rectifying the slide of UM. All of us should also just go ahead and enjoy the forthcoming DeepaRaya festivities and not worry our little heads silly with the THES or the THP listing.

So don't worry, be happy. To all those celebrating DeepaRaya, have a Happy, Blissful, Blessed DeepaRaya.

| ¶ 11/01/2005 01:16:00 AM

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