Friday, April 24, 2009

THANK YOU MR. PRIME MINISTER, BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH...........


Kudos and congratulations to the esteemed Y.A.B. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak and the government for the recent liberalization steps taken on 27 services sub sectors. This is indeed a far reaching decision and will further strengthen the country’s image in the international business and trade communities such as the Asean Economic Community and the World Trade Organization which Malaysia is a member of. Such a move is timely and expedient considering the current challenges and turmoil of the global business and financial sectors. These steps will the stepping stone for increased competitiveness and value enhanced services to brighten Malaysia’s opportunity to become investor’s choice destination.

However there remains much to be done to make sure this steps aim and objectives fulfil its optimum potential. The policies instituted are only as good as its implementation agents. One of the main thrusts of development of a country’s resources is of course its education system. As long as the best and brightest are not given priority and aid then it’s a leakage of the nation’s pivotal strength of human resource development. In the long run it will lead to a brain drain that will reach critical levels and also cause competitiveness and performance levels to be lower than it should be. The consequence of this will be the overall deterioration of the nation’s competitive edge.

Just as the government has reviewed and rescinded the above mentioned policies it should also take a closer look at the countries education system make similar adjustments to help make sure that the cream of Malaysia students get the necessary help to empower themselves to further fulfil their potential. If not the government, then who? Is the questions on the minds of countless parents who have had their hearts broken because policy dictates their children who worked and studied hard to achieve flying coloured results still didn’t get the places public in universities and critical courses. For example the Matriculation centres for learning only allocate 10% of their seats for non Malays. This is one aspect of policy that should be relooked at. Besides that, a more transparent process of the university intakes could also be considered.

Although it is understandable that the government needs to balance its need for meritocracy and achieving its social restructuring agenda which is the aim of the NEP yet there must be some recourse for students who have achieved results and do not have the means for furthering their academic careers due to financial considerations. After all these children are Malaysians too and deserve to get the same opportunities as other Malaysians. This in a nutshell would be the ultimate fruition of the 1Malaysia concept in action. This being said it would be ideal that all students regardless of race, gender and religion will get equal opportunity in furthering their studies based on achievement alone. Policies that reward excellence will not only be good for the country but also strengthen the will of all students to work hard knowing that their efforts will be rewarded by the state.

It is with great hope and expectation that the country embraces the new Prime Minister and his style of leadership. His foresight and political will thus far has won many admirers among the masses and also the naysayers. Such continued policy restructuring and implementation will ensure that the countries drive towards being a fully developed nation by 2020 and also a testament to the successful integration of the 1Malaysia ideal into the general Malaysian society will be a realized success for sure.
MY VIEWS......
We want to fish and all we need is the rod and the bait and we will go to the river and get the fish our self.
We believe we can, just show us where the river is.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Tan Sri Ismail Adam - 'Please do not over rule the Honorable Prime Minister's decision'

The recent announcement by PSD Director General Tan Sri Ismail Adam is something that has caused a lot of uneasiness among 2008 SPM students and their respective parents. This issue is very close to the heart of the people and much thought should be given before a decision is reached. The previous year when there was a public outcry when students with flying results were denied scholarships the honorable Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi diffused the situation by announcing that any student who achieved 9 straight A1s would be allocated scholarships. This intervention by the prime minister was timely and very well received by the rakyat.

Tan Sri Adam has categorically stated that not all straight As students will be eligible for scholarships. This is definitely a step backward for the countries education system and overall aim of increasing and enhancing the human resource capability of the nation. Those who are have worked hard and attained excellence should be rewarded and no less then the Prime Minister has agreed to this. Putera MIC strongly objects to the PSD Director Generals statement which implies this practice will be stopped. We strongly urge Tan Sri Adam to carefully rethink the decision and make a decision that is in the best interest of the students and their futures.

When the Prime Minister made the decision last year there was overwhelming support for it. Has the Prime Minister agreed to the new decision? How come he didn’t state the scholarships were only for the year it was announced and not for the future too? What has changed so drastically that such a well received decision has to be reversed? The people are watching this issue very closely and they need to be reassured that the government has the interests of the people at heart when making a decision. Students should be confident that when they study hard and do well the government will reward their effort and this will spur them to work harder.

Another point we would like to raise is the fact that by Tan Sri Adam’s own calculation there are 2000 overseas scholarships and there are 1676 student with straight A1s. This being the scenario shouldn’t all those who got straight A1s be entitled to scholarships. Even if all those who got straight A1s were given scholarships there would be about 300 and more available for others. As for those who got straight As the local 10 000 scholarships will be available to them.

As a country striving to become more competitive and first world in all ways, educational policies are of paramount importance. Taking this into consideration we urge all involved rethinking their decision and doing what’s best for students and the country. The people await a decision for them and supporting their well being and not against them. PSD hopefully will not disappoint.



MY VIEWS....

I remembered what was said once by Dato' Seri Nazri - A Government servant must just be a government servant he cannot be a political master or change it to be a government master. A government servant does the job instructed by the political master.

It seems that everyone wants to over rule the Prime Minister's decision ? Why ? Do they think that they can be a better Prime Minister or the Prime Minister is not capable enough to make his decision.






Friday, March 20, 2009

PROpenmic - dedicated to Public Relations Practitioners all over the world


If you are a public relations practitioner or even a student or an academician, I don’t know if you have heard about a social network group for public relations practitioners called ‘PROpenMic’.

Indeed in my opinion, I don’t think many Malaysians or for that matter, ASIANS are aware of such an existence of an amazing and outstanding website.

For your information, ‘PROpenMic’ is a website public relations students, faculty and practitioners can come together and share notes about public relations. I have signed in to the site and I am indeed proud to share with all of you that I think I am the first Malaysian to do so, I have also created a spot where all Malaysians can share their notes and experiences in public relations.

I have indeed realized the so called ‘WOW’ factor when I was surfing into this site. It is indeed great to see how public relations is being studied and practiced all over the world.

PROpenMic? Is a metaphor. You can step in up and speak your mind. The website’s goal is to be the social network for public relations student, faculty and practitioners worldwide. The website is ad free and nonprofit with an education focus. Already, they have members from over 50+ countries and almost 300 universities worldwide. ‘PROpenMic’ is your network for connections and learning. Ultimately, the network is about you helping others.

The site was founded by Mr. Robert French from the United States of America. He teaches public relations at Auburn University. Mr. French has been actively involved in this discipline for over 25 years with experience ranging from public relations, broadcasting and university administration to teaching.

For those of you who haven’t visited the site yet, please do! Here’s the link: http://www.propenmic.org/

MY VIEWS……

MY Malaysian friends, please do not bring a political link to ‘PROpenMic’, it has nothing to do with MIC.