From: eng20009@nusunix1.nus.sg (TAN GIM WEE)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: Re: Malaysia's racial policies
Date: 8 Nov 92 15:32:34 GMT
Organization: National University of Singapore
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Azran Osman Rani (azran@leland.Stanford.EDU) wrote:
: 
: [deleted stuff]
: 
: essentially, it is about numbers. THis is perhaps clearly reflected in local
: university admissions (the quota thingy). Currently, there are 
: disproportionate numbers of ethic representation in fields like engineering,
: medicine, law, etc. Since more malay engineers and doctors are needed
: to balance the 'numbers', more spaces are allocated for malays in these
: fields. Similarly, more spaces are allocated for say, Chinese in the
: Arts. This does not mean that any malay off the street can qualify for
: the spaces. Neither do these policies put a restriction on Chinese wanting
: to study fields like engineering if they don't make the quota in local
: U's. There are always other ways besides local universities. Nothing is
: forbidden. I am not interested in discussing this further.
: 
Yes, proportional representation is indeed very desirable in a
multi-racial society like Malaysia. But sir, think about a poor Chinese
who wants to get into the local universities to do engineering but can't
because of the quota. Where, sir, do you expect him to find the needed
financial resources to fund an overseas education? Yes, the policies
does not restrict people who are non-bumis from pursuing their goals and
dreams, but makes it harder, much harder. Anyway, one can get an
accounting degree by correspondence, but so far, I have not heard of any
such courses for engineering. Where to do the experiments?
An enlightened government should as far as possible try to allow ALL of
its citizens to pursue their own goals, while at the same time try to
maintain national unity and harmony. Another thing is that any
government should know that dealing with people will always entail
having to deal with irrational and emotional responses. That is inherent
in human nature. Whatever the benefits of any policies are on the macro
level, as long as it hurts oneself at the micro level, it is always hard
to rationalise them as being good. Perhaps your esteemed government
should do more PR and marketing, get in touch with the people to explain
to them the reasons for their policies. Maybe this will help reduce the
amount of negative feelings amongst some of the people.

: [deleted stuff]
:
: Yes, perhaps these policies sacrifice quality but national unity comes
: with a price and it is all a matter of priorities. Yours is probably
: not the same as the govt, perhaps?
Yes, you are right again. However, it would be rather unfair to ask any
single community within the country to sacrifice. After all, for
national unity, all people should share both the gains and the
sacrifices isn't it?
: 
: 'Nuff said from me. I will not entertain any response on this matter if
: it is the usual, unproductive, emotional mumbo-jumbo. 
: 
Hmm...hope that what I have said qualify to be considered rational. I
certainly hope to qualify as a disinterested third-party to this debate.
:)
Have a nice day! :-)

: Azran Osman-Rani
: Stanford University.

--
---------------------------------------------------------
Tan Gim Wee
EE Dept, NUS
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"It was a dark and stormy night......"	-  Snoopy