Malaysia Gemilang: University, A Fascist Place ?

The Regime of Fascism
Before the start, let us analyse the meaning of the word "Fascism". This is the description as provided by Wiktionary :
{Noun}
1) A political regime based on strong centralized government, suppressing through violence any criticism or opposition of the regime, and exalting nation, state, or religion above the individual.
2) A system of strong autocracy.

Such a negative word.....

Yee Yang Yang in UPM
Malaysiakini reported on the 16th and 17th on a student by the name of Yee Yang Yang, a student of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) but maybe not "Universiti Paling Menakutkan" having various personal possessions confiscated by campus security.

Via Malaysiakini, on the account of the confiscation:
According to Yee, the security guards were conducting a spot check on two rooms in his hostel with his room being one of them.

Yee was then subjected to a interrogation session where the security guards had allegedly demanded to know why he was involved in politics.

“I asked them: You (security guards) said earlier that you were looking for a stolen mobile phone, why are you asking me about politics?” said Yee when contacted.

Two attempts to lodge reports by Yee has been failed by the police due to assurance given by UTK to return the stated items. Another attempt is probably on the way.

Via Malaysiakini, some mind-boggling facts:
Yee belongs to the "anti-establishment" camp (Barisan Mahasiswa Bersatu) and the incident is suspected to be connected to impending campus elections .

Rival students groups - mostly between anti-establishment and pro-government factions - are already in the midst of campaign preparations as polls are widely tipped to be announced soon.

Last year, the anti-establishment group - who are generally regarded to be pro-opposition - has boycotted the students election, claiming that the rules are heavily stacked against them.

In recent years, student groups not aligned to the government-backed Aspirasi faction are often subjected to harassment from campus authorities.
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Other Incidents in UPM
As the fever of campus elections grows, Harakahdaily through Malaysia Today posted an article with supplemented photos.

Pictures:
1) Yellow paint poured over a student's motorcycle.
2) "Threat" Notice with splattered yellow paint : "Nak Sihat Jangan Bertanding" (Do not Contest if you want to stay "healthy") .

On top of that it seems that Mohd Taufiq Mahmud, Chairman of Barisan Mahasiswa Bersatu (BMB) and a colleague of Yee Yang Yang were facing problems days before the confiscation. His motorcycle was locked by the Headmaster and HEP officers.
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Conclusion
It is certainly weird that so many things can happen in a matter of a few weeks one can't help but wonder if there is any greater power in work. If there is, would it be appropriate for us to describe these actions in a single word : INTIMIDATION ?

If Malaysiakini had described correctly, government-backed factions are not harassed. That's ironic and mind-boggling.

The Yee Yang Yang incident reminds the public of a similar case in the form of the Nathaniel Tan arrest. Yee Yang Yang is not arrested but Nat had his items confiscated as well. Nat claimed that his belongings have not been returned to him in the article Me, Yee Yang Yang… Are you next? . Two months had passed.

A number of blogs on the net tried to put this incident on a racial fiasco : Malays on one side, chinese on the other. Such mentality is inaccurate. The chairman of Barisan Mahasiswa Bersatu is a Malay while Yee Yang Yang, a member, is a chinese. Both are from the same side. Malaysians need to think out-of-the-box !

All of a sudden, I feel a tingling sense of fear. However, my choice would be to persist in writing. The last I checked, Malaysia is supposed to be democratic. I cannot accept a fascist state.

Malaysia, A Land of "One Straight Minds"

Abdullah's Higher Education Strategic Plan
New Straits Times reported Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's plan to improve Malaysian universities and raise them to world-class standards. Although such initiative from a leader is certain welcomed, the Members of Parliament should evaluate the plan before fully embracing it. A writer by the name of Syed Husin Ali responded in a Malaysiakini article Higher Education Strategic Plan - a critique . It seems that the Abdullah's plan contains a number of loopholes.

Another response that I particularly support is from Dr. Azly Rahman, a frequent writer in "Republic of Virtue" of Malaysia Today . His article is aptly titled Critical Theory for our varsities .

What is Critical Theory?
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy describes it as this:
According to these theorists, a “critical” theory may be distinguished from a “traditional” theory according to a specific practical purpose: a theory is critical to the extent that it seeks human emancipation, “to liberate human beings from the circumstances that enslave them” (Horkheimer 1982, 244)

So, what makes a "critical theory" different than "traditional theory"?
.... a critical theory provides the descriptive and normative bases for social inquiry aimed at decreasing domination and increasing freedom in all their forms.

The key phrases are "Social Inquiry", "Decreasing Domination" and "Increasing Freedom". It is even right to say "Critical Theory" is a form of "Democracy" for "The Mind"; The Allowance for alternative thinking towards developing better solutions for the society.

I would conclude that "Traditional Theory" breeds students of "One Straight Minds" whereas "Critical Theory" creates "Creative-Innovative Minds". In the modern world of science, information and communication, creativity and innovation are certainly needed to transform Malaysia into a first world nation.

Varsities creating Robots?
Does anyone still remember about the Wawasan (Vision) 2020 plan? Malaysia is only 13 years away. The public is not very positive on achieving the outlines of the vision. Maybe there are some particular good reasons Abdullah named his report "Strategic Plan For Higher Education: Laying The Foundation Beyond 2020" ?

Now it's "Beyond 2020" ?

Dr. Azly further stated: Many of our university leaders who still cannot and will not understand the difference between the concept of hegemony and totalitarianism as opposed to education and liberation. To them, it is a place for exercise total control of the mind, body and the soul.

Such a statement is made true with the Akujanji pledge that academicians have to sign before entering a university. The reason that Malaysia is still in its sad state of affairs, of intense corruption, racism and mismanagement resulted from an education system that limits freedom in thinking. In short, our varsities are creating mind-controlled beings, also known as robots. Robots only respond to the actions pre-programmed in its central processing unit (CPU). They are not intellectual. Perhaps, Abdullah should include the abolition of Akujanji in his plan.

In order to cure a disease, one should go to its root / core. Solving the symptoms by pouring more money will not help much. If the governing body established is not independent, the disease will persist and the leadership will find itself going back to square one.

Response to Dr. Azly's article in Malaysia Today
Malaysia, A Land of "One Straight Minds" (Becoming crooked only when one senses money and benefits of fanning the racism fire, albeit in a 'crooked-but-stupid aka. evil' way)

Dr Azly,

I think you will make a better Minister of Education. We need people who think like this.

You know something, my friend and I was having tea in a mamak store the other day and as students of the stupid KBSM syllabus, were discussing what is lacking from our education system.

Our conclusion was this:

1) The system lack subjects like Critical Thinking. We are taught to be spoon-fed

2) We are taught to think in dead-pan, one straight mind ways ... with subjects such as Moral. Pendidikan Islam was taught in a way that is not beneficial for the growth of mind.

3) We do not have a useful subject such as "Civic Consciousness". Ironically, this subject was taught back in the days of English schools in Malaysia. So, what is different between being "Civic" and being "Moral"?

Moral is too subjective to be classified into a few so-called "nilai-nilai murni". It can be impractical and illogical at times. I have a few sample SPM questions to prove my point. I can provide them when requested.

Whereas, Civic Consciousness is useful in real life. For example, my father used to tell me that those days, teachers used to inform children not to stand in front of the same bus they came down from, while waiting to cross the road.

Why? Is it immoral to do that? No, that's rubbish. They should not do that because:

a) Due to the height of the bus, the driver may not be able to see you (a children) which may result in an accident when the vehicle moves forward.

b) It is not good to endanger your life for doing something like that , just to save time. You can always walk to the back of the bus instead of the front. However, this model is not standard. The children are taught to behave according to situation. If the driver has stopped the bus (shut down the engine), then it is okay to stand in front of the bus.

c) If everyone were to stand in front of the bus, the bus would not be able to move away from the spot. It will cause a massive traffic jam. This is not an utilitarian approach, just because you save your time, everybody has to waste time waiting for you to complete your foolish selfish action.

Now, you wonder why KL has traffic jam? Now, why is it that British people drive better than us? Now, why is it that the British pedestrians are more well-behaved?

4) Our education is made with propaganda. Serious events such as May 13 and Operasi Lalang 1987 are not properly healthily discussed. Due to this, the generation would have a big misunderstanding on the chain of events. Sweeping events like these under the carpet will make the "racial" situation worse. Even when its not swept under the carpet, such events will be "made"/written to function as a political agenda. Not forgetting, we have something called "Akujanji", highly critical in a a negative way, not because of the good thinking it fosters, but because of its bad implication towards creating a "closed-mind" evironment.

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There you are.. These are only the 4 basic points. Bear in mind, each and every component described can be tied back to "Critical Thinking".

There are more of course. Most of the other problems are symptoms and not the real cause,

You see, the root of this is Mentality @ Thinking. If our education system can be changed to encourage free and critical thinking, the other "symptoms" can be eliminated as well.

Pouring huge amounts of money in Budget 2008 towards education will not solve the problem. Likewise with waving keris and shouting around.

Money, Supremacy and ISA do not make One Straight Minds become Brilliant. Sadly, this is the point that Pak Lah's government fail to see. Maybe those that we are supposed to depend on are the biggest One Straight Minds of all. I have not seen any constructively intelligent blueprint for education development in Malaysia.

People's Petition to The Agong - Please Sign and Distribute

With the recent shooting incident in Terengganu where two unarmed civilians were hurt in the process. The "ceramah" (forum) was organised by BERSIH (Gabungan Pilihan Raya Adil dan Bersih) with the good intention of calling for electoral reforms and encouraging a healthy democratic election environment.

Some mainstream medias have been trying to paint a picture that looks as if the Opposition Parties caused a riot. However, through a thorough analysis from a number of sources, inclusive of those who were there at the scene, there are theories of Agent Provocateurs not from the Opposition involved.

The biggest problem that we need to pay attention is the use of firearms against civilians. Such violent approach must be condemned. In fact one of the victims was hit on the chest. With such a large number of FRU dispensed, it is not excusable to say that the unarmed crowd cannot be controlled without firing some shots.

Nathaniel Tan of jelas.info wrote this: Terengganu Truth: The Bigger Picture
Malaysiakini readers wrote this: Terengganu riot: Who is lying?
Malik Imtiaz Sarwar of HAKAM called for a Royal Commission Inquiry (Independent) to investigate: Seriously, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister

In tandem with this as well as other issues besetting the nation, Malaysia Today has created a People's Petition, which will be submitted to the Monarch of our nation, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

Please read the content of the petition and sign on the website if you have a log-in username. Alternatively, you can e-mail raja.petra.kamarudin@gmail.com with the message "Signed" and your name. Otherwise you can post a comment here and type "Signed : " followed by your name. This blogger will compile and submit them to Malaysia Today. E-mail this post to your friends if you wish to.

HERE IT IS; PLEASE SIGN :

Petition to The Agong

Peluru Hidup dan Erti Sebenar Kemerdekaan

E-mel Khas Buat Kemerdekaan

Perayaan Hari Merdeka ke-50 telah berlangsung di Dataran Merdeka seminggu yang lalu ( 31 Ogos 2007 ). Namun, saya baru sahaja mendapat e-mel berikut pada pagi ini. Sememangnya ia adalah sesuatu yang patut dibaca dan direnungi. Cuba fahamilah maksud yang tersirat.

"
Hello Kawan,

SEKARANG BILA KITA MERDEKA SENDIRI
1. Kereta yang kebanyakan kita mampu pakai hanyalah WAJA, WIRA, MYVi, KELISA dan KANCIL
2. Gaji minimum kita di kerajaan ialah RM900 tapi di swasta ialah RM450 (mungkin telah bertukar sekarang, namun tidak dimaktubkan sebagai undang-undang)
3. Harga minyak dan harga barang bila dibandingkan dengan gaji SANGAT TIDAK BERPATUTAN
4. Kita kena kerja 7 hari seminggu, 12 jam sehari. (Pekerja Swasta)
5. Team Bola Sepak kita hanya layak ke SUKAN SEA dan ranking 152.
6. Kita hanya pernah ke Oversea (Pangkor, Redang, Pulau Pinang)
7. Perdana Menteri hanya 5 orang sejak 50 tahun merdeka dan dari satu Barisan sahaja.
8. Kebanyakan kita bila berumur 55 tahun, kita terpaksa retire dari satu kerja dan berhijrah ke kerja lain.
9. Kita kena bayar TOL setiap hari dan jumlah Lebuhraya baru bertambah sama seperti gerai pasar malam 10. Kita hidup dengan aman dan damai setiap hari tanpa sebarang halangan.

KALAU KITA MASIH DIBAWAH JEPUN
1. Kereta yang kebanyakan kita mampu pakai hanyalah HONDA, TOYOTA, MITSUBISHI, NISSAN, SUZUKI dan ISUZU. Kita gelak dengan orang yang pakai kereta HYUNDAI dan PEUGEOT.
2. Gaji minimum kita di kerajaan ialah JUTA2 YEN tapi di swasta ialah YEN JUTA JUTA juga
3. Buat apa nak kisah beli minyak sebab kita ada banyak PENGANGKUTAN AWAM.
4. Kita kena kerja 5 hari seminggu, 8 jam sehari. (Pekerja Swasta)
5. Team Bola Sepak kita pernah main kat WORLD CUP. WORLLLLDDDDDDDDD! !!!!!
BANGGA WA CAKAP LUUU........ ...
6. Kita sering pegi oversea, around the world dan semua orang bila jumpa kita nak cakap bahasa kebangsaan kita di negara mereka hahahaha bangang betul la mereka tu...
7. Aku tak tau berapa banyak Perdana Menteri dan berapa banyak parti politik, tapi sering tukar2 la, tapi RAJA satu jer, tak pernah tukar2 RAJA pun.
8. Kebanyakan kita bila berumur 55 tahun, kita jalan2 makan angin ke negara lain, kalau kita tak pergi makan angin, member2 kutuk sebab mereka semua pergi makan angin.
9. TOL??? ape kemende tu? Buat apa bayar jalanraya yang kerajaan buat guna duit rakyat?
10. Kita hidup dengan aman dan damai setiap hari tanpa sebarang halangan.

KALAU KITA MASIH DIBAWAH GREAT BRITAIN
1. KITA MAMPU PAKAI SEMUA KERETA SEBAB SEMUA KERETA MURAH NAK MAMPOSSS!!!! TAK PAYAH REPAIR, ROSAK BELI BARU. ADA JUGAK ORANG NAK AMBIK KERETA ROSAK KITA TU.
2. GAJI DAPAT DUIT POUND STERLING. KITA GELAK KAT EURO DAN US DOLLAR SEBAB MURAH!!!! LOW CLASS!!!
3. PENGANGKUTAN AWAM BANYAK DAN MINYAK PUN MURAH.
4. Kita kena kerja 5 hari seminggu, 8 jam sehari. (Pekerja Swasta)
5. SEMUA ORANG SUKA NATIONAL TEAM BOLASEPAK KITA. TAK PERNAH MENANG PUN TAPI RAMAI ORANG SUKA PAKAI JERSEY BOLA KITA, SPONSOR KELAB KITA, SOKONG SAMPAI PAGI2 BUTA GAME KELAB2 BODOH KITA. WORLD CUP????? TAK PAYAH CERITA LAAA, DAH BORING LAYAK TAPI TAK MENANG FINAL PUN.
6. PERGI OVERSEA??? AKU NAMPAK ORANG DATANG TEMPAT AKU ADA LAH, AKU PELIK APA SEBAB MEREKA MINAT SANGAT DATANG TEMPAT AKU......... .
7. Aku tak tau berapa banyak Perdana Menteri dan berapa banyak parti politik, tapi sering tukar2 la, tapi QUEEN satu jer, tak pernah tukar2 QUEEN pun.
8. Kebanyakan kita bila berumur 55 tahun, KITA PERGI JALAN2 SANA SINI DAN TENGOK BOLA JER. SAMPAI BORING DUDUK RUMAH TAK BUAT APA PUN.
9. TOL??? ape kemende tu? Buat apa bayar jalanraya yang kerajaan buat guna duit rakyat?
10. Kita hidup dengan aman dan damai setiap hari tanpa sebarang halangan.
11. WOI !!! Merdeka tu apa? bila masa Great Britain kena jajah? Penjajah terakhir kami ialah Tentera ROM lebih kurang 300 Masihi............. aku pun dah lupa kemerdekaan kali ke berapa, dah tak celebrate dah kot........

Fikir2 lah wahai sahabat.............. ERTI SEBENAR KEMERDEKAAN........... .
"
_________________________________________

Peluru Hidup di Terengganu

Sementara itu, saya terbaca berita bertajuk " Surai ceramah: Pembangkang dakwa anggota polis lepas tembakan " di laman Malaysiakini .

Menurut ringkasan yang dipaparkan:
Parti-parti pembangkang PAS dan PKR mendakwa, polis telah bertindak ganas, termasuk menembak peluru hidup, untuk menyuraikan satu ceramah di Pantai Buruk, Terengganu lewat malam tadi.
-> Dua cedera parah
-> Gas pemedih mata

Saya membaca cerita ini dengan perasaan penuh dukacita. Seminggu selepas perayaan Hari Merdeka, demikianlah bentuk berita yang menggambarkan keadaan "kebebasan" di tanahair.

Menurut parti-parti yang terlibat, ceramah sebegitu adalah lazim. Baru-baru ini pula terdapat desas-desus yang mengatakan negara kita kemungkinan akan menjalankan pilihanraya pada bulan November, selepas Hari Raya. Sesungguhnya, kalau bukan sebab pilihanraya, adakah salah untuk parti-parti bukan-Barisan Nasional untuk menyuarakan pendapat dan berkongsi pengalaman?

Setahu saya, Malaysia ini negara demokrasi, raja berperlembagaan. Adalah termaktub di dalam perlembagaan yang menjanjikan hak bersuara untuk sesiapa sahaja yang mempunyai perkataan "Warganegara" tertera di atas kad pengenalan yang dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara selaku wakil kerajaan Malaysia yang kononnya dipilih dan diberi mandat oleh rakyat sendiri.

Sudahlah ada ISA yang zalim untuk mengongkong kebebasan, ditambah pula dengan kekerasan. Apakah FRU patut melepaskan "peluru hidup" ke atas orang awam untuk menyuraikan ceramah? Sememangnya, kelakuan ini adalah sesuatu yang amat mengejutkan. Harus diketahui yang Harakahdaily menyatakan, rakyat-rakyat yang pergi ke ceramah tersebut tidak mempunyai senjata.

Adakah penyuraian tersebut lebih penting daripada nyawa rakyat yang kerajaan sepatutnya pertahankan? Kini dilaporkan, dua orang warganegara Malaysia telah cedera disebabkan oleh peluru yang dilepaskan. Tidak tahulah sama ada bererti kalau nak kata nasib baik. Kalau malang tidak berbau, peluru tidak mengenal mangsa, silap haribulan terkena kepala sesiapa pastilah nyawa melayang.

Tambahan lagi, jumlah FRU yang hadir dikatakan oleh sumber-sumber yang diperolehi adalah ramai. Ada juga trak penyembur air berasid dan bom pemedih mata. Tidakkah itu lebih dari cukup untuk mengendalikan hadirin sekalian yang tidak bersenjata?

Ceramah yang dianjurkan berniat baik, oleh NGO BERSIH atau nama panjangnya Gabungan Pilihan Raya Adil dan Bersih. Matlamatnya baik. Sepatutnya kerajaan dan FRU memberi sokongan yang padu, keganasan tidak harus dipraktikkan. Diharap kerajaan memandang nyawa orang awam sebagai bernilai sepenuh masa, bukan hanya waktu pilihanraya sebagai pengundi

Penulis blogger menyokong panggilan Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, selaku Presiden HAKAM kepada DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Agong untuk menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Bebas bagi menyiasat kejadian "peluru hidup" yang sangat tidak diingini dan tidak sepatutnya berlaku di Malaysia, yang kononnya sudah "Merdeka" setengah abad (50 tahun).

Rakyat Malaysia bukanlah Musuh Negara.

Malaysia Today telah memetik dua berita dari Harakahdaily:
1) Menteri, polis 'hilang akal' hadiahkan peluru hidup untuk surai majlis ceramah
2) Mengapa polis lepaskan peluru hidup di Batu Buruk?

Sumber-sumber berita lain yang penting:
3) Elizabeth Wong: Magic Bullet
4) Malik Imtiaz Sarwar: Seriously, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister