where will my money go?

The world economy is reeling in its worst self lately and to some extent, many even equate it as a potential crisis of the world depression in the 1930s. Many governments of the world today are beginning to prepare for the worst case scenario and plans have been put into place to mitigate the risk of a total financial system meltdown. All these economic jargons seem huge and mesmerizing but the most important issue right now is what does this mean for the man on the street and how it will impact him? Like it or not, the impending doom of the financial crisis will hurt every individual regardless of one’s standing or status in the community. The have-nots will definitely bear the brunt much worse than the haves. No one in this world will be spared by the onslaught and Malaysians will not be an exception.

Already we are hearing about possibilities of retrenchments, spiraling issues of people’s quality of life diminishing and even bankruptcies. It is certainly a scary scenario if all these events do take place. The government of Malaysia has come up with various initiatives to cushion the financial crisis but the one million dollar question every citizen will ask, are they sufficient? Most of us are considered laymen when comes to these economic jargons and initiatives. We basically can’t tell from head to toe of what is being done but one thing is for sure, if it hurts our pockets, then we know the country is in deep trouble.

The first announcement made by the government is to prepare a so called stimulus package to boost the companies listed in the KLSE. How will that help the ordinary people in the streets is still a mystery to most of us but the rationale communicated to us is to stabilize the Malaysian economy as a whole. This could be true since the US is doing the same thing by providing assistance to failing conglomerates there. This is normally referred to as corporate bailout. However, the stark difference is in the US there is this entity called Congress. The functionality of this entity is to scrutinize every expenses incurred by the taxpayers to boost the faltering economy with the sole purpose of ensuring the expenses are justifiable and fair for the benefit of the entire nation. Is this check and balance process practiced here in Malaysia? The opposition bloc is harping on issues concerning bailouts of companies that are considered cronies. This scenario definitely will frighten every man on the streets since the bailout fund is taken from EPF, every citizen’s savings for old age. Is the ruling government so powerful that it can use the stimulus package as it deems fit without any scrutiny or transparency? We the rakyat definitely hope this is not true but what guarantees we have that this does not happen; none.

The subsequent initiative is to reduce the percentage of EPF contribution of a working rakyat to 8%. The rationale for this is to ensure the rakyat has additional disposable income to spend and in the process, boost the economy. Who in his right mind will want to spend frivolously in these uncertain times is way beyond our layman’s comprehension. However, in economics, this is supposedly to be a way to boost the economy. The downside to this will be, the rakyat will have fewer savings for their retirement later.

If one has a sharp mind, he can see that all these initiatives actually have one thing in common; the rakyat bearing the full brunt all by themselves to save the economy. The politicians can sit in their cozy seats in the Parliament while devising initiatives and plans. Upon finish doing so, they can go back to their big houses, big cars, yachts, private planes and a fat employment package borne by the rakyat. They buy stakes in companies and if the companies do not perform, they can always use the stimulus package to bail them out; if there are no approvals required by a selected committee. Why must the diminishing of wealth be the burden of the normal rakyat alone but never the politicians or their fellow corporate cronies? The rakyat that supposedly to be the master in turn become servant to these self serving politicians. Guess that is the beauty of capitalism in a democratic, free world. Only downside is, if you’re at the other end of the equation and be a normal rakyat, you’re screwed.

Think the best solution right now is just to take the reduction of EPF contribution and put the additional income into bank savings. At least the government can’t take extras to put into the stimulus package. At the end of the day, we the rakyat at least know where our money is going to. God bless our money.

malaysia education system

“Education is the best provision for old age”
Aristotle

Education is a very important aspect of a person’s life whether one admits it or not. Education can empower a person to earn a living and in the process, sometimes enable a person to reach the pinnacles of ones dream. Education is also an essential tool enshrined in the doctrine of basic human rights and no citizen should be deprived of it by its government. After saying that, it is therefore of utmost importance for a country to ensure the education system is well in place to produce capable and industrious citizens to build the country’s future and in the process providing its citizens of their basic rights. In Malaysia, there is no exception to the rule. However, the argument point here is whether the education system in Malaysia is effective in the said objectives?

No doubt there is some foundation being laid by the British during the colonization days. In a way our education system does bear some resemblance to the British. However, along the years since the 50s, have our education system evolved to meet the needs of a new millennium? It cannot be denied that there have been some changes but whether they are sufficient are another matter altogether. An indication of the status of Malaysia’s education system can be seen by numerous complaints by potential employers, mostly foreign based companies that Malaysian graduates are definitely not up to mark in terms of essential skills level. Academic knowledge is certainly not an issue since we can see that there are many top scorers among Malaysians in public examinations. What is the complaint about then? Academic knowledge is important, but the capabilities to execute it effectively are equally important. What is the use of having profound knowledge but unable to express it when it matters the most in the workplace.

There is too much emphasis on scoring perfect marks in examinations. Students in their early years are taught that the best students are the ones that score the highest marks and the most As in examinations. With this in mind, students’ priorities are distorted whereby they concentrate more on scoring marks rather than understanding the implications of each subjects being taught. In other words, we are actually training mindless robots with good memories but not an effective employee in the working industry. Most of the graduates have difficulties in communicating effectively in simple English in the workplace for daily routine work, what more during presentations. Some do not even get past the job interviewing process. Judging by all these issues, the government should realize that there is indeed something wrong with our education system. Rather than being in denial, concrete actions should be taken to rectify this matter before it gets much worse.

The first instance is the usage of English language to teach Mathematics and Science. This is actually a correct step forward but there have been reservations by certain quarters mostly originated from nationalism feelings that since Bahasa Malaysia is the national language therefore should be used instead. Not to belittle our national language, but how many countries in the world conduct their business in Bahasa Malaysia? What is the point of learning a subject in the national language when the terms to be used in the workplace later are mostly English? How will our graduates be able to adapt and even to compete if all their schooling days’ terms are not used at all. They basically have to spend much of their early working years just to adapt to the new terms being used! Our graduates will lose competitive edge this way.

The other grouses will be the treatment of students in terms of scholarships being offered. There have been complaints from the public that this process does not constitute a transparent affair. It is even seen by certain quarters that there are some elements of racial biased within the system. It is truly heart wrenching to read about top achievers not being able to pursue their preferred courses or even to secure a scholarship in the process. The Malaysian government has always been vocal to attract Malaysian talents from overseas to serve the country for patriotic reasons but failed to realize that it is the government itself shuns the potential talents in the first place. It is imperative for the government to realize that affirmative actions are no doubt important for a multi racial country in terms of nation building but there must not be any compromise on quality for certain critical industries and the best minds should be considered to serve in these industries foremost. After saying that, the Public Services Department should also heed the public’s call to be transparent in the matter in order to put to rest all uncertainties regarding the award of scholarships for potential nation builders of the future. Meritocracy is a critical element to be assessed here for we must ensure the best minds are given the tasks accordingly.

The Malaysian education system is not entirely flawed in that sense but there is definitely some room for improvements. The main objective of education should not be lost in some political playground. Education is to empower people to earn a living and in the process able to contribute effectively to the growth of a nation.

detention without trial

Detention without trial; a person can be detained for months and even years without going through the due process of the law. This term is beginning to be a norm not only in Malaysia but even in the world today. Human rights advocates clearly states that a person is entitled to a fair trial and right to be heard. Things like that no doubt can happen in countries controlled by autocratic regimes, but in the free world?. The next question that comes to mind will be, “How is then such action possible being practiced in countries that promote democracy?” Let’s do a thorough analysis on how such a concept can originate in the first place.

In Malaysia, detention without trial is enforced by the Internal Security Act 1960. Its primary objective is to suppress organized violence against persons and property in Malaysia. This legislation was originated from the British during the colonial era. At that time, it was solely used to counter the armed insurgency of the communists in Malaya. Touching on that point, the Americans used a similar tactic to counter the terrorists under detention at their naval base in Guantanamo Bay. There is a similarity here if one is able to pick up the insinuation. The legislation is used by a government on foreign nationals bend on destruction and mayhem towards their interests. If that is the case, can we say that the legislation is some sort of colonial-master tool to suppress dissent? For one, we don’t see them implementing such legislation on their own nationals. The conscience of America is beginning to question the legitimacy of detaining so-called terrorists without trial and to some extent, some of these “terrorists” are actually proven to be innocent people. Recently the Americans did enact the USA Patriot Act, kind of similar to the ISA. However, its implementation is widely criticized and is not easily enforceable to the whims of the government. How is this legislation enforced in Malaysia then? There are many reservations brought forward by Malaysians on ISA. It is undeniable good in way for it maintains peace and order. However, the main question one should ask is, at what cost?

The government of Malaysia has been using ISA against countless people. From triad members to cult members and not forgetting the source of recent outburst of discontentment, political adversaries. It is within logical sense to detain triad members and cult members for these people are a threat to national security and to the general public as a whole but politicians? It is difficult for anyone to see how a politician can be equated to an armed terrorist. The only common excuse that the government dishes out is, the politician is stroking racial sentiments and this could generate into all out racial clashes. It is definitely a nightmare if these clashes do happen in multiracial Malaysia but could this really happen? It did happen once in 1969 so there is always a possibility this might reoccur. The only argument is why this particular politician can’t be charged in court for seditious remarks rather than stripping off all his individual rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution and is treated like an outcast. Are our police force and public prosecutors that incompetent that they are unable to bring a simple case against the politician in the court of law? Furthermore, if the ISA is not in existence, couldn’t all the triad members and cult members be prosecuted as well? Every time the ISA is invoked, at that very moment the judiciary system in Malaysia will lose a credibility point. In the end, what is the point of having courts of law if the government can bypass these courts at its whim. The Malaysians’ perception is that the government can detain a citizen with impunity if the citizen is deemed to be a threat to national unity without any chance for him to defend himself in the courts of law. This is beginning to look more like living in a feudal state rather than a democratic state.

The ISA has also brew suspicion that the government is using the legislation to silence political dissent. This is certainly not without credence since most of the ISA detainees are basically politicians from the opposition camps. It is definitely unsettling that all criticisms hurl towards the government can be construed as dissent even for the constructive ones. As power corrupts, the government could run into the risk of abusing the ISA. It does more good than harm then if such law is repelled and inadvertently the credibility of the government will then be restored as a just entity protecting the rights of every citizen.

As Habeas Corpus, one of the oldest liberties clearly states “No free man shall be seized or imprisoned except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land.”