From: u925979@postoffice.utas.edu.au (Hee Poh)
Subject: Re: Anwar Ibrahim's Qualifications
Organization: Faculty of Engineering
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 02:32:14 GMT

In article <74606@hydra.gatech.EDU>, gt6737b@prism.gatech.EDU (E.A. JAAFAR) writes:
> 
> In article <1992Nov12.071138.27287@nuscc.nus.sg>, engp2120@nusunix2.nus.sg (YONG KUEN FATT ALAN) writes:
> 
> > Actually what Othman says is true, only in Malaysia :)
> > Considering that most places in local universities are reserved
> > for Malays, only the very best non-Malays can get in. Also,
> > those Malays that have reasonable results are sent overseas, ie
>   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^==========^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > maybe those that have grade 2 or better. Hence you can extrapolate
>   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > the standard of those Malays in local universities. In that kind
> > **********************************************************************
> > -----                     Lets get dangerous                     ---DW
> 
> 	I know that maybe you have little respect for malays.
> 	Probably from  your point of view, all malays should have
> 	been a bunch of failures no matter where they go.
> 	Probably from your views that those malays who make it
> 	big time on foreign soil probably as stupid as the rest
> 	of the bunch at home.
> 
> 	Maybe their achievements on foreign soil also due to politics.
> 	Maybe from your view, the professors at those foreign colleges
> 	have preferrential treatment going on for the malays.
> 
> 	Maybe from your views, those malays that got 10A1s in spm
> 	and those that got at least under 10 agg. in spm are really
> 	really dumb actually.
> 
> 	I dont know where you have gotten those info. but I have
> 	never seen any friend of mine(malay) who has got a scholarship
> 	to study abroad with a grade 2 spm result.  But then again,
> 	maybe I'm too blind to see reality.
> 
> 	I would understand if you feel dissappointed for not getting
> 	govnt assistance in persuing tertiary education.  I myself
> 	feel sorry for you and I myself realized how the system has
> 	been providing too much assistance to the wrong kind of
> 	malays-the rich ones.  I have known  some rich malay kids got
> 	assistance to study at expensive private American colleges
> 	while there are alot more qualified but with less contact
> 	at higher governmental level,  didnt get the opportunity
> 	to be sent overseas directly after spm.  I also have seen
> 	friends of mine, non-malays, from middle income family that
> 	have to take up loans to put their kids to college, while
> 	those rich malays dont even think of taking up loans to
> 	send their kids abroad e/though they have the means to do so.
> 	But they instead, use the fact that they are malays and use
> 	their influence to get a free ride.  That's the problem the
> 	way I see it.
> 
> 	That's why I absolutely agree with Mr. Jack Teh.  Assistance
> 	should be given to those who deserved it.  
> 
> 	Eventhough you might be mad at the situation, you shouldnt
> 	have blinded  yourself with such inaccurate generalization that
> 	all malays that was given assistance to study abroad are less
> 	qualified.  Maybe interms of mentality some are immature, racist
> 	and what have you but academically speaking I think those that
> 	were sent directly abroad are pretty excellent and capable of
> 	performing as well as you perhaps even better.
> 	Yes, maybe they are from rich famalies but they arent by all means
> 	dumb.  Yes, some do got into the program thru back doors, but
> 	still they arent dumb-at least the ones that I know of.
> 	The problem is not the qualification(from my view) but rather
> 	the selection process in giving out governmetn assistance. 
> 	What we need to realize is that it is a bad practice.
> 
> 	The problem with the system as far as education is concern, the
> 	ambiguity in the definition of the word malay itself.  I think
> 	the definition of the intention of NEP should accurately point
> 	out what kind of malay that needs assistance.
> 
> 	many malays nowadays still believe that they should get those
> 	special treatments no matter how succesful they have become.
> 	The way I see it, the assistance is given so that a malay of
> 	a poor family backgound can get a start and when they have
> 	become successful, they ought to be able to provide for their
> 	kids themselves.  Meaning, those rich malay families should
> 	take up loans like other non-malay people and let their spots
> 	be filled with a more deserving malay.  That way the rich
> 	malay will be helping the poor malay.  But as what we all see
> 	now that's not the case.  Rich malays getting more egoistic
> 	and powerful than ever.
> 
> 	So sir, there is a bigger picture instead of just a matter of
> 	the malays are discriminating the non-malays.  I believe that
> 	the malays are discriminating amongst themselves as well.
> 	the rich needs the poor to say that NEP is still needed to
> 	help those malays in poverty but they way I see it, that's 
> 	always going to be the case since they are cheating on 
> 	themselves.  Selfish.
> 
> 	Power is what matters right?....
> 
> 	===============================================================
> 	disclaimer:  what i said is that of my views, formulated thru
> 	my experience.  Be aware that what I've experience probably
> 	just another unfortunate incidents, the growing pains in my life.
> 	================================================================
> 
> -- 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> **  E.A. Jaafar, Atlanta.  I guess we just stick to BUZZ-ketball!!!          ***
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  
> 
> 

==========================

Although I have seen quite a number of articles, good or bad, of the Malays,
this is the first ever I would praise about.

You are damn right. As I always stress, we are not pointing our fingers to each
other, saying that you are terribly wrong and he is no good either. Neither are
we doing some promotion on hatred among races. Although the truths may be that 
the non-Malays are being discriminated, or that the ministers are corruptive. 
All we are doing here is just to promote better understanding among us. Nice to
hear that you are telling me something I have never heard before. I am not 
saying that I am glad that you are having the same problems that we Chinese have,
but the truth you are telling. I really hope that the government is seeing the 
problems you see it. I am simply pointing out the fact that the government should 
do something about their "not-quite-right" attitude. I read about the news that
our government is going to "redefine" the term "bumiputras". Should be a nice 
thing to hear about! Won't get "worse" I guess.  :-)

Also, I feel pity for your saying, that the poor ones are always being treated
"specially & differently". In fact, this is exactly the same to the other races.
You will see the real thing as you go to the agencies or places like that. The 
rich knows the decision makers the best. It seems to me sometimes relationships 
DO help a lot. What can I do, as a normal person from a kampung? Maybe this is 
the real life. Who knows? 

Change, is the word I would suggest to the government. We don't need much. Just 
a little change will make a whole lot difference. We don't wanna see the "bad" 
things unchanged in the future, if it promotes social "disorder".

Nice to hear your voice again.


HP.
A great country, Malaysia.