Scholarship – A Parent’s Greatest Frustration (2)
Yesterday, I wrote about the need to have ‘transparency’ and ‘fairness’ when it comes to university entrance exams and how JPA Scholarships were being offered – albeit I believe, are skewed in nature to certain ethnic communities. In this Part 2 of the article, I would like to explore how we can make the offering of JPA Scholarships more ‘fair’ and ‘just’.
Take as an example, (for easy calculation) – if ‘300′ JPA Scholarships are offered annually, and if we allow 30% of it to go to Bumiputra students, then 100 will be ’secured’ for bumiputras alone and will be directly offered to them. But the next ‘200′ must be awarded based on merits. That was why I proposed a Unified University Entrance Exam (UUEE) to cater for such selection. Without having a standard exam as a basis of judgement, we will never know how to award the scholarship to people who deserve it – i.e. those who make the grades – the same grades that every other person who took the exam did.
If the exams differ and the acceditation are done by different ‘authorities’, there is no way to find out if everyone is judged fairly.
Secondly, the availability of the ‘200′ Scholarships must be advertised and made ’public’. And it should be categorised into different fields of study. There is no point if we allow ‘100′ of the ‘200′ scholarships to be awarded for Liberal Arts studies or Commerce Studies when what the society needs most are Environmental Engineers or Health and Safety graduates. By streaming scholarships this way, we would also help to attract people to take up research in these diverse fields, without which, nobody would do so if not for the availability of scholarship.
Thirdly, before any JPA Scholarship is being awarded, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) must take inventory of the recipients financial background before dishing out the funds. This would ensure that those who get it, don’t only get it because of ‘deed’ (based on their grades) but also because of ‘need’ (i.e. poor financial background).
For example, a rule that, if the parents earn a combine household salary below that of RM2,500, then the recipient is eligible for the scholarship. Otherwise, even if he or she had make the grades, they should forego and let more needy and deserving people have the chance to study in a public university.
Then of course, if Anwar Ibrahim had his way and if he really could do it – (I doubt if ever in his lifetime) – by biting his words, abolish the New Economic Policy (NEP) – then all my children would have an equal chance to bit for a JPA scholarship, DSAI – dare you?
Batu
April 29th, 2008 at 5:48 am
林敬益另有所图
李骏佳 | 4月28日 9点40分
退而不休的林敬益医生在民政党大败、前爱将退党接受槟民盟的委任后，近日不断发表言论抨击其政治对手。认真看一看，林老的回应并非单纯，似乎另有政治目的。
林敬益召开了记者会来向大众说明，他是如何的可怜行动党，以及夹在中间的李家全，认为一手培育的爱徒是没有原则的投机分子。
李家全在政坛多年，曾官拜政务次长，他该不会不知政坛的险恶，更不会不知道接受的委任后会招来激烈的批评及抨击。在这样的大环境下，他仍选择接受这两项委任，可谓勇气可嘉。姑且不论他的接受委任是孟子所说般：“虽千万人吾往矣”的伟大，还是以个人利益为重，我们希望看到的是一个能够全心全意为国为民的领袖。
李家全既然已公开接受委任，他势不会因为一些批评而放弃，只为保住自己在党内未知的前途。在这样的背景下，林老仍大力抨击，其目的不外乎是要制造压力，以道德制高点来贬低李家全的诚信，企图挑拨离间李家全及行动党，导致两者相互猜疑从而不能有效执行任务。当然，若对一名重量级领袖的退党不加以鞭挞的话，恐怕也会导致潮水般的骨牌效应，到时民政就不只是泡沫化那么简单了。
林老认为，行动党突破性的接纳敌对党的举动，是人才凋零，非常可怜。其实我们不难看出，无疑，行动党新官上任，在经验上的确稍嫌不足，而国阵多年来垄断政治资源的情况下，行动党连竞选基金尚且要向大众筹募。但在这样的情况下，却能实事求是，吸纳人才以补不足。反观民政，固然人才济济，但在国阵里被绑手绑脚，不能让人才发挥所长。就像有钱子弟不好好努力，反而说那些人穷志不穷的穷小孩非常可怜，实在可笑。
林敬益也认为行动党的行为与国阵之前的挖角如出一辙，这言论有点似是而非。国阵的挖角是基于挖角对象拥有国会或州议席，要的是议席而不是人才，如森州的李银芳及林辉明等。李家全在接受委任前已经辞掉了所有党职，且声明是一槟州子民的身份接受委托，两者不可混为一谈。
这名前部长在退休后，像敦马一样，不断大发阙词，应该不是单纯的不吐不快，而是希望加强自己的实力，好为林公子的前程铺路。可惜敦马的儿子尚能在巫青团里发表言论，期望在来届党选更上一城楼，林公子却似乎没有遗传到乃父的作风，低调的风格，除了林家公子的身份，其他的一切都还没让人信服。相较之下，谁比较可怜？
[Editor: This is an open forum, therefore if you can kindly keep your comments in line with the topic in hand. This post is about Scholarships and Education. Thank you]
jason Ang
April 29th, 2008 at 9:18 am
the best to based on the performance, so that good one get it
Andy
April 29th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Hi there,
Haisehman, you should be in the education ministry. It was never intended to be judged fairly. The Malays can never compete with Chinese if they are to give priority to meritocracy. Thanks to other avenues such as Asean, Kuok/Lim Goh Tong Foundations and even S’pore govt to enhance the propects of those top students.
Satu Hati
April 29th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Quit post and butt out, Gerakan ex-boss told
Former Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik should quit his position as advisor and stop interfering in party matters, said seven leaders in the Federal Territories.
In a joint statement, they referred in particular to his attack on former protégé Lee Kah Choon for accepting two posts offered by the DAP-led Pakatan Rakyat Penang government. Earlier, though, he had expressed disappointment, but wished Lee “the best of luck.
However, the group of seven accused Lim of “forcing the hand of the party leadership” in issuing a show-cause letter to Lee over the appointments, which prompted the latter to quit the party on April 23.
“We regret that a capable leader has been forced out of the party as a result of the action by Keng Yaik,” said the seven, mainly comprising branch and division chairpersons.
They also claimed that Lim has made several statements over the past few months that have damaged the party’s image.
The seven comprise FT head Dr Tan Kee Kwong and division chairpersons Siow Chee Meng (Bukit Bintang), Dr Hsu Dar Ren (Cheras) and KK Supramaniam (Lembah Pantai), as well as Gan Kok Keng, Eddie Yaw and Li Tiam Chai.
Lee, the former Jelutong parliamentarian was touted as a candidate for the Penang chief minister’s post prior to the March 8 polls. After Gerakan’s rout in the state, he quit all party posts on March 31, including that of deputy secretary-general, to take responsibility.
He has been working with the Penang Development Corporation and InvestPenang since April 18, after accepting the offer by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (right in photo).
The group said that, based on the polls results, Gerakan must put aside ideological differences and be prepared to “work hand in hand” with the opposition for the sake of the people.
“In this context, we view Lee’s acceptance of the (two posts) as something beneficial to the people of Penang. These appointments are non-political and his work would be no different from that of a civil servant.
“We note that Lee was an ordinary Gerakan member at the time of his acceptance of these positions. Hence, his acceptance of these positions would not jeopardise the party’s interests.”
‘Keep promise’
At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Tan – who acted as spokesperson for the seven – said Lim’s latest outburst was a sign that he had reneged on his promise not to interfere in party affairs.
“These are his exact words: ‘I don’t want to be another (ex-premier Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad). When I step down I will shut up, unless I’m asked for my comments’,” Tan noted.
Stressing that his views do not represent FT Gerakan, Tan gave examples of remarks that Lim has made to the alleged detriment of the party’s image.
These included a pre-election statement that the new Penang chief minister should be one of three named candidates – whom he described as “horses” – who obtained the highest majority in the polls.
“When I read that, I almost fainted. How would Penang people feel? People were more worried about economic issues and he was talking about the chief minister’s post. So the people of Penang threw the whole lot out, including the three horses,” said Tan.
“My advice to Keng Yaik (photo) is, as an experienced leader, you can talk about inflation, Islamic state and other national issues, but please don’t comment on party matters.”
On a separate matter, Tan announced that he would not defend his post as Segambut division chief and Federal Territories head.
He was non-committal when asked if he would contest any post at the national-level party elections, due by year’s end.
Pressed by reporters, Tan said he has received many suggestions by members to go for broke and contest the presidency.
Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who lost to DAP’s P Ramasamy in the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat in the general election, has been acting president since last April when he took over from Lim.
[Editor: This is an open forum, therefore if you can kindly keep your comments in line with the topic in hand. This post is about Scholarships and Education. Thank you]
Satu Hati
April 29th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Quit post and butt out, Gerakan ex-boss told
Former Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik should quit his position as advisor and stop interfering in party matters, said seven leaders in the Federal Territories.
In a joint statement, they referred in particular to his attack on former protégé Lee Kah Choon for accepting two posts offered by the DAP-led Pakatan Rakyat Penang government. Earlier, though, he had expressed disappointment, but wished Lee “the best of luck.
However, the group of seven accused Lim of “forcing the hand of the party leadership” in issuing a show-cause letter to Lee over the appointments, which prompted the latter to quit the party on April 23.
“We regret that a capable leader has been forced out of the party as a result of the action by Keng Yaik,” said the seven, mainly comprising branch and division chairpersons.
They also claimed that Lim has made several statements over the past few months that have damaged the party’s image.
The seven comprise FT head Dr Tan Kee Kwong and division chairpersons Siow Chee Meng (Bukit Bintang), Dr Hsu Dar Ren (Cheras) and KK Supramaniam (Lembah Pantai), as well as Gan Kok Keng, Eddie Yaw and Li Tiam Chai.
Lee, the former Jelutong parliamentarian was touted as a candidate for the Penang chief minister’s post prior to the March 8 polls. After Gerakan’s rout in the state, he quit all party posts on March 31, including that of deputy secretary-general, to take responsibility.
He has been working with the Penang Development Corporation and InvestPenang since April 18, after accepting the offer by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (right in photo).
The group said that, based on the polls results, Gerakan must put aside ideological differences and be prepared to “work hand in hand” with the opposition for the sake of the people.
“In this context, we view Lee’s acceptance of the (two posts) as something beneficial to the people of Penang. These appointments are non-political and his work would be no different from that of a civil servant.
“We note that Lee was an ordinary Gerakan member at the time of his acceptance of these positions. Hence, his acceptance of these positions would not jeopardise the party’s interests.”
‘Keep promise’
At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Tan – who acted as spokesperson for the seven – said Lim’s latest outburst was a sign that he had reneged on his promise not to interfere in party affairs.
“These are his exact words: ‘I don’t want to be another (ex-premier Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad). When I step down I will shut up, unless I’m asked for my comments’,” Tan noted.
Stressing that his views do not represent FT Gerakan, Tan gave examples of remarks that Lim has made to the alleged detriment of the party’s image.
These included a pre-election statement that the new Penang chief minister should be one of three named candidates – whom he described as “horses” – who obtained the highest majority in the polls.
“When I read that, I almost fainted. How would Penang people feel? People were more worried about economic issues and he was talking about the chief minister’s post. So the people of Penang threw the whole lot out, including the three horses,” said Tan.
“My advice to Keng Yaik (photo) is, as an experienced leader, you can talk about inflation, Islamic state and other national issues, but please don’t comment on party matters.”
On a separate matter, Tan announced that he would not defend his post as Segambut division chief and Federal Territories head.
He was non-committal when asked if he would contest any post at the national-level party elections, due by year’s end.
Pressed by reporters, Tan said he has received many suggestions by members to go for broke and contest the presidency.
[Editor: This is an open forum, therefore if you can kindly keep your comments in line with the topic in hand. This post is about Scholarships and Education. Thank you]
Jason ANG
April 29th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Hello Satu hati, i think we should satu hati lah, the lee Ka choon is a politic frog for sure, why using LKY to shoot ? Since we are satu hati we should satu hati lah shooting here and there for what leh?
[Editor: This is an open forum, therefore if you can kindly keep your comments in line with the topic in hand. This post is about Scholarships and Education. Thank you]
romerz
April 29th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Satu Hati,
I’ve read that article at Malaysiakini.
I’m more interested in what you think. If you’re interested in what I think, go to Dr Hsu’s forum at http://hsudarren.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/press-release-by-some-gerakan-grassroots-members/#comments
Only then can we debate about the ‘rights & wrongs’ of such a move.
Jason Yuen
April 30th, 2008 at 6:25 am
Dear Andy,
I find your statement
“The Malays can never compete with Chinese if they are to give priority to meritocracy.”
bordering on racial supremism and at best, totally unhelpful.
There is nothing in this world to say that Chinese or any race is inherently superior in any sense and as a Malaysian of Chinese decent, I think that such statements are really going down the wrong track.
Who says that Malays cannot compete?
I agree that our environment today is not the best way for the Malay community to excel and move forward.
However, if we are to say Malaysian Malaysia and say that everyone should be treated fairly, we must first loose any of our own concepts of racial superiority.
It is a false assumption that all else being equal, the Chinese Malaysian will dominate.
Let us stop thinking along racial lines and focus more on fellow Malaysians in need.
Rgds