Dr.Maszlee is the symptom not the cause.

The recent resignation of the Minister of Education Dr.Maszlee Malik is something that shocked the country being the first resignation of a PH minister in their 20 month government.

First and foremost I must congratulate Dr.Maszlee in making this very bold and brave decision on resigning.

It’s not easy to walk away from such a big and important position and takes a lion’s heart to accept one’s failure and do the right things.

I also sympathise with him in regard to the news focus which sometimes is more sensational and non academic than on tangible educational successes.

My years as a Deputy Education Minister was challenging, as an example the vast majority of 500 000 teachers are committed and responsible educators who strive to do their job well but the one bad apple makes news headlines while the majority sacrifices and successes are ignored.

Education is a very politically and practically very important part of our nation’s psyche.

In fact just a simple count of 5 million students in our primary and secondary schools mean 10 million parents are stakeholders and it’s difficult to get consensus among even 10 people sometimes , what more 10 million.

However the resignation of Dr.Maszlee though commendable isn’t enough.

Dr.Maszlee is the symptom not the cause. If performance was the criteria then many in the cabinet are in jeopardy. The PM himself gave them 50% during their one year anniversary, in 5 months would be 2 years but I doubt the performance will see any major improvement though some maybe worse.

The fact is the PH government is floundering because they have promised the world and now are unable to deliver. In almost all aspects of the nation from economic growth to racial relations things have become worse across the board since the new government was formed.

The people who voted for change stand disappointed and betrayed and yet the PH coalition is still mired in both internal party politics and national leadership tussles rather than focusing on the prime responsibility which is governing well for the people.

The sad truth is PH vehicle is on the way to a major breakdown and an overhaul might not be enough. Maszlee’s resignation is just a drop in the ocean of bad policies and decisions affecting the peace and prosperity of Malaysians.

The people wanted change but what they got for the last 18 months were just lies, more lies & excuses!

P.Kamalanathan
Central Working Committee Member of the Malaysian Indian Congress and
Chairman, Education Bureau MIC.

KHAT: Another Unnecessary Distraction

The introduction of Khat Jawi writing in schools is a very contentious issue at the moment. 

In one way the MIC is very disheartened that among the myriad of serious challenges, problems and issues faced by the nation the current administration chooses to add to the distractions by creating the KHAT polemic.

It would be infinitely better if they focused their resources and attention on growing the economy, helping the people manage the continues increase in cost of living and fulfilling their promises of free education, no toll and shared prosperity instead of shared poverty.

There are many dimensions to the issue and the MIC’s education bereau would like to state some perspectives on the issue.

KHAT or any other subject matter that enhances and value adds to the quality of education should be encouraged.

That being said nothing should be forced if all the stake holders are not completely aboard.

Although the decision to introduce KHAT was made in 2014 yet at that time it was only a plan to introduce or “perancangan pengenalan” not a firm decision written in stone.

Furthermore to the best of my recollection it was specifically for national schools and not vernacular schools and there was sound reasoning for this.

First among which was that the standard of Bahasa Melayu in national schools was different from the standard of Bahasa Melayu in vernacular schools hence a blanket decision would not be suitable.

Secondly 2016 and 2017 Tamil school UPSR students about 20% failed Bahasa Melayu. This means they need to spend a year held back at remove or “peralihan” class.

Hence we introduced many measures to first solve this high failure rate but the introduction of KHAT would negate and wipe out all the forward momentum gained in overcoming the high BM failure rate.

The ministry should focus on solving this high failure rate in SJKT first before contemplating adding KHAT to the mixture which would make the situation even more untenable.

MIC would like to suggest the ministry take the DLP approach and allow the schools management, teachers, students and parents to collectively decide if they would like to implement it provided they have the necessary resources such as teachers capable of teaching it properly.

If we can implement such a system for a pivotal important international language such as English surely it can be done for KHAT as an artistic and historical part of Bahasa Melayu.

Education is such a fundamental foundation in creating a successful nation and MIC urges all parties to not politicise and sensationalise the issue but to take a calm collected approach by using the QUALITY of education as our guiding north star in making a decision on how best to move forward for the sake of our nation’s children and future.

P.Kamalanathan

SMJK TAMIL Fantastic Reality or Really Fantasy?

First, let me thank YB Senator Datuk T Mohan on his concise statement that Pakatan Harapan should study something before making promises and not the other way around.

In the Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto themed REBUILDING OUR NATION FULFILLING OUR HOPES, under the subject titled ‘Special Commitment for the Indian Community’ at number 5 it clearly states the following;

5. Establishing a government funded Tamil secondary school.

Clearly it says ‘ESTABLISHING’ and what it means is to set up, start, begin, form, create and no where it has mentioned the word review or to consider.

So for the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Education to say that a committee has been set up to review and consider in establishing a Tamil secondary school is not only a joke but taking the community for a ride to no where.

I would also like to show how hypocritical they are since they came into power.

I would like to refer to a statement made by YB Batu Kawan (YB Kasthuri Patto) on October 19th 2016;

“Without a doubt, that there is no political will by the minister and his Education Ministry, including the Deputy Education Minister in charge of Tamil schools P Kamalanathan, to even engage with the Penang state government when land has been allocated there to build a Tamil secondary school.

How can the Education Ministry supply MPs and the Parliament with such ridiculous contradictory answers on their disability in building the nations first Tamil school, when they clearly can do so. It is evident that the ministry has no intention nor plan to empower children in Malaysia to honour, save and keep their mother tongues alive, in this case, the Tamil language when there exists Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan for Chinese schools.” - Yb Kasthuri Patto, Malaysiakini. >LINK<

MY VIEWS;

Now after more than a year the Pakatan Harapan government is just going to form a committee to study the need. A very different tone when they were in opposition it was a definite need and urgent too? Maybe after winning no more a priority, I feel very bad for the Indians who voted them in as the secondary Tamil schools is just like many other promises, a work of deceit and fiction.

I quote another statement by YAB Penang Deputy Chief Minister II (Dr. P. Ramasamy) October 17th 2017;

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 2017: Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy has called on Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to approve the state government’s proposal to set up a Tamil secondary school in the state, if the Prime Minister is serious about the Indian community, he hoped that the PM gives Malaysian Indians a Deepavali present like the approval for a Tamil secondary school in Pulau Pinang. >Link<

MY VIEWS;

Last few years was a dark Deepavali according the YAB Deputy Chief Minister II, maybe this year DCM will get his government to make it a bright shining one with a secondary Tamil school, though I very much doubt it.

Finally, another quote by the Former Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng  on October 16th 2017

“The Penang chief minister said for Indians to be empowered, they required not only the proper maintenance of the many Tamil primary schools in the country, but also for a secondary school project to be given approval.

“There is no reason why the education ministry refuses to permit a secondary Tamil school even though there are secondary schools that use Arabic, English or Mandarin as a medium of instruction,” he said.

“The federal government only needs to spend on building the school since the Penang state government is willing to offer land for free,” he added in his Deepavali message today. YAB Lim Guan Eng, FMT >Link<

My Views;

Now as Finance Minister and his party controlling Pulau Pinang surely finance and land not a problem. Why the drama of a committee to study the need when already approved by you as CM. Now as Finance Minister so much easier to just allocated funds unless it’s another Lim Guan Eng special, lie and lie some more with extra topping of misinformation and false promises.

In conclusion Pakatan Harapan made promises they had no intention of keeping with the sole intention of misleading the people for their political expediency.

The people are the biggest victims of their lies and I hope the Pakatan Harapan politicians have the courage to stop cheating the people and start delivering on their promises.

P.Kamalanathan