RMC New Campus & Events

Updates of the development of RMC new campus:

• The Ministry of Higher Education has now intervened in the process for attaining IB status. The Ministry has concluded that the request cannot proceed without the Ministry's approval since IB falls under its purview. The implementation plan has now slipped to 2011.
  
• The location of the new campus is now in question as to whether it is on Military reserve land, Government reserve land or some other owner's land.
• The proposal to position a one-star general as Commandant has been politely declined (the current Commandant's pay grade is lower than the Director of Studies, thus making it extremely difficult for the two to work together and for the Commandant to execute his policies).

The most recent recruitment drive brings a total of 1017 applications nation wide. The criteria for selection is being questioned as to whether the minimum of 6 A's in PMR is based on the trial exam or actual. If one is to acquire 6 or more in his trials, get accepted and then later find out his has failed to achieve minimum of 6 in the actual, does he still qualify? OPA has requested this issue to be clarified.

OPA is also planning to organize a forum featuring YB Nasir Hashim and OP Rahman Embong. The topic will be about the future of race-based politics in Malaysia. This is scheduled to be in January 2009.

The second forum will be in February 2009 showcasing the former MCA president Tun Ling Liong Sik and former Minister Dato' Seri Radzi.

It is unfortunate that the newly constructed bar which was built without the knowledge of the committee will be used for liquor and booze for a Christmas celebration. Perhaps the OPA is becoming more modern and liberal. One OP was ostensibly captivated with this 'joyous' liberalization of alcohol in the building that he emailed his friends to come to show their support for this change in policy.

Streamlined Education, why are we so divided?

Demi negara

Update 2: 3/12/08 Storm over vernacular school statement

Update 1: 2/12/08 Dato' Mukhriz proposing a streamlined education

I've always been a strong advocate of a streamlined education system. We indirectly promote segregation by sending our kids to vernacular schools. The Chinese has always been protective of their school systems, refusing to assimilate with the others, yet at the same time demand equal rights as Malaysians.

Tun Dr Mahathir mentioned this yesterday at a seminar at the Perdana Leadership Foundation. Judging from the consistent size of audience he normally attracts, it is obvious that people still seek judgment and wisdom from the Grandmaster.

For OP President and the OPA, this is the best time to promote the Royal Military College which emphasizes co-operation and unity. All are treated equal and trained as one unit. If one makes a mistake, it will be a price everyone pays. There is a lot of respect for each other, regardless of race or religion or family background (sometimes sons of General's get away with things). National service is not too bad but if racial polarization has been indirectly nurtured in our fragmented education system, teaching these kids about unity and racial tolerance at age 17 won't undo the damage. I strongly support a one-education system. Of course, a sudden change in the education system would invite huge protests. It has to be done in stages.

This would also augur more competition at schools. The average Malay students could emulate the bright Chinese students and study together. The english language could be practiced more by the Malays who are not so fluent in it and practice with their chinese and indian friends. There should be an english-speaking day at school. PPSMI (Pengajaran Dan Pembelajaran Sains Dan Matematik) can be better implemented if the students get to practice more with their chinese and indian friends. I think the Malays speak more Malay when they are in the company of other Malays. It is the same with the Chinese. Somehow, we automatically tune ourselves to the English language when talking to our chinese or indian brethrens. At the very least, we change our tune to 'Mangelish'.

Of course, by merging all the schools, there would no longer be additional funds for the chinese and the indian community. Their community and political leaders must accept this if they respect racial tolerance as a virtue.

See my earlier notes on streamlined-education system.

Extensive work ahead
Tolerance is the path to unity
Efficiency in allocating resources
Only UMNO has the weight to change

The new Pakatan Rakyat candidate for Kuala Terengganu?

Update 1: 6/12/08: Nik Aziz picks Mat Sabu as his preferred candidate, stating that Mat Sabu's rhetoric and aggressiveness are to be admired. The recalcitrant PAS State Youth Assembly disagrees with the Mursyidul Am.

Zaid Ibrahim is not a happy camper.

• He has lost his bid for Ketua Bahagian in the recent UMNO Kota Bharu Division election. He was suspended as UMNO Kota Bharu Division chief 2 terms ago after being charged with money politics.
  
• He's annoyed that Tan Sri Muhyiddin is leading the pack in the nomination for Deputy President of UMNO (he had asked TSMY to step down if TSMY is not in agreement with the Prime Minister's transition plans).
• He made the proposal to allow foreign law firms to set up operations in Malaysia without having local partnership - on the basis that Malaysian law firms especially Malay firms need to learn to be competitive and not be dependent of the NEP.
  
• He has also failed to carry out his so-called 'judiciary reform'. The judiciary has lost its trump ever since the so called 'judicial crisis' 20 years which saw the departure of the then Chief Justice and 4 others, according to him. He made the suggestion that the Government should apologize to Tun Salleh. He was later shot down by the Cabinet for not referring to the Cabinet first before making an official statement.
• He had then proposed to the Cabinet for funds in the vicinity of RM10M to be disbursed to the former judges as ex-gratia payment (neglecting the fact that they have been enjoying pension as well due to the the Prime Minister's kind consideration. Normally pension is not given if sacked from a governmental post) and was upset when the figure was debated in Parliament. By the way, ex-gratia in Latin for 'as a favor'.
  
• He resigned as Minister in the Prime Minister's department in charge of law because of his conflicting views of the Internal Security Act, particularly with regards to the detention of Kok because of the azan issue. He was then pressured to give up his senatorship, which he held for quite some time before letting it go.
  
• He is likely to be playing devil's advocate by proposing that the concept of "Ketuanan Melayu" has failed (whatever Ketuanan Melayu may mean to different individuals or groups, call it Special Privileges or something else if you like - yes it is that constitutional provision which the non-Malays are not so bubbly about).
  
• He also suggested that as long as the out-spoken Tun Dr Mahathir is around, reform in UMNO and in the government is near impossible.

Good on him that he has moved on to other things in life. Expect him to be given a high post in the green Pakatan Rakyat as a true 'reformer' and 'Malaysian for Malaysia' hero. Maybe Pakatan would give him the candidacy for the KT by-election. Who knows.