From: wslee@almond-frost.ai.mit.edu (Whay S. Lee)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: Financial Assiatance: justification ? (was: scholarship)
Date: 2 Oct 92 18:02:50 GMT

In article <3288@peking.gdwb.oz.au>, mlt@gdwb.oz.au (Mee Teng) writes:
|> 5. Have you ever asked yourself why are there so many bumis on
|> scholarships in the local Unis ? Not to even mention the overseas ???
|> Are they all outstanding & needy students ? Why are we arguing about
|> the relatively small number of non-government scholarships and
|> shut our mouths on the big ONE ? Worst still admit that we were
|> sleeping and know not there are so many scholarships around to 
|> grap ? Why should only non-bumis be made to fight for the limited
|> number of places ?
|> 6. How many scholarships (call it loans if you like. The fact is
|> they are scholarships. ) are given out to the bumis ? Most of them
|> without them even do anything !! And are offered even to the PHD
|> level ? En.Othman can fool some people some time, but not all 
|> the people all the time. 

Here, I am starting a new thread for discussion of this issue.
I propose that the discussion be focused on the following issue:

"Is it true that the government provides a disproportionately
large amount of financial assistance to the Bumiputras, as compared to
other people of Malaysia ?   If so, is such a policy justifiable ?"

I hope that this would turn into an academic inquiry, with verifiable facts,
citations that could be checked, and statistics that are accessible for
verification.    "Gut feelings" reasoning is probably not the way to go.

To get the discussion rolling, I like to solicit opinions to the following questions:

1.  Do we agree that a nation cannot be stable until the economic gap is narrowed
    to an acceptable degree ?  Do we agree that only when there is stability,
    people of a nation can enjoy its resources without fear of social unrest/discontent ?
    Do we agree that it is the goal M'sia should go for ?

2.  Do we agree that the racial economic gap is Malaysia is at an acceptable
    degree ?  What must be considered an "acceptable degree" ?

3.a  If so, do we agree that there is no social discontent/unrest in Malaysia ? 
     Further, what is the source/cause of such social discontent, if it exists ?
     Who are the groups involved, if they exist ?

3.b  If not, Do we need to close the gap to an acceptable degree ?
     What could be done to narrow the gap ?  What is the most effective 
     way ?  What is the most socially-acceptable way ? What is the most
     morally-acceptable way ?  How much time are we permitting ourselves
     to do that ?

4.  Do we agree that providing education is an acceptable way to narrow such a gap ?  
    Is it a good way?  Is it the best way ? 
    What other functions does higher education serve ?  
    What other methods may prove to be effective ?

5.  Does there exist a disparity in the academic/paper qualification/performance 
    across races of Malaysia ?  If so, what may be the cause ?  What could be done
    to rectify the problem ?  How long (time) do we intend to take to solve this
    problem, if it exists ?  Given that time frame, what is the most effective way?

6.  Is it true that the govenrment sends an unusually large number of students 
    overseas?
    Is it true that amongst them, the bumiputras are the majority ?
    Is this investment a wise one ?  If not, why ?  If yes, why ?
    How does this compare with spending the money to improve/expand local 
    universities instead ?  What are the pros and cons ?

7.  Does everybody, by virtual of being a citizen, deserve to receive an equal
    share of the riches of the country ? 
    Where/who does this riches ( ie. revenue ) of M'sia come from ?
    Who owns the public property/commodity (eg. petroleum, timber) ?  Is it
    the government, or is it the citizens ?  Who has the right to decide
    how the revenues from public property/commidity should be utilized ?


	I look forward to reading some pertinent points of view. cheers to all.




Whay S. Lee
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean