New twist in PPSMI saga

Long piece from The Star on PPSMI but has a highly relevant perspective-

The reversal of the policy in the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science in English two years ago left many dismayed, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel.

ADIB and Haikal have been studying Mathematics and Science in English since they were in Year One and can’t imagine learning the subjects in Bahasa Malaysia.

To Adib who is in Form One, the transition from one language to another is going to be difficult.

Mathematical terms like multiply and divide come easily to him but its Malay versions of darab and bahagi will be more alien.

“The terms in Bahasa Malaysia are not so recognisable to us especially since we are not taught in the language,” shared Adib.

He foresees more problems with Science as students have to write out in full sentences in the subjective section.

Noor Azimah (middle) discussing how PAGE can help the government seek input from parents with Sulaiman (left) and honorary secretary Tunku Munawirah Putra. Inset: Mak.

“Most teachers teach students a certain ‘format’ to answer these questions, but all that will be redundant once the change takes place. “Once again, back to square one,” he added.

Haikal who is in Form Three, faced a problem when he scored a place in a residential school after his excellent UPSR results.

When he studied in a national primary school, he was taught both subjects in a mixture of English and Bahasa Malaysia.

“But at the residential school it was only taught in Bahasa Malaysia so the transition was hard for me. There was also less emphasis on English,” added Haikal, who is now studying in a secondary school near his home.

Understandably both boys are worried since they are the direct stakeholders affected if the reversal of the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (better known by its Malay acronym PPSMI) goes ahead.

Chan Siew Mei was in the pioneer batch of Lower Six students who studied the two subjects in English in 2003.

She said she was actually relieved that the subjects were taught in English because it provided a good foundation for Form Six students before entering university,

“It was absolutely fantasic to study the subjects in English and we had more reference materials — from the Internet and A-levels textbooks.

“However, I must say that my classmates and I were lucky because our teachers were able to teach the subjects very well in English. There were positive vibes among students to learn the subjects in English,” said the homemaker who feels parents should be given the option to decide on the medium of instruction for the two subjects.

But there just may be light at the end of the tunnel if the Government decides that the subjects could be taught in English in selected schools without interrupting the teaching and learning process.

Although the news is welcome by many who have been asking the Government to either reconsider the reversal in 2009 or provide them with an option of choosing the medium of instruction — English or Bahasa Malaysia — in national primary schools, a thorough study of the matter and viability has to be carried out soon.

Are schools able to offer two mediums, are there enough competent teachers and more importantly, parents and students who want the two subjects to be taught in Bahasa Malayia or Chinese and Tamil as stated after the reversal of the policy should be able to do so.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Education Ministry would study if it was possible for the subjects to be taught in English in selected schools without interrupting the teaching and learning process. (see table for chronology of events)

Eager learners: Parents want the option of deciding if their children should be taught Mathematics and Science in English. - File photo

An official who previously served with the Education Ministry believes that it should be possible for this to be carried out as long as the minutes and teaching materials on PPSMI are still archived at the Curriculum Development Division.

The ministry, she added, would have to monitor the situation carefully and redeploy English teachers to weaker schools if there was a need.

“The Government has invested so much in this policy that students who are able to cope with the subjects in English should be given the option to do so while those who can’t cope or are weak in the language can opt for Bahasa Malaysia in national primary schools and Chinese or Tamil in vernacular schools.

“We cannot stifle performing students and drag them down,” she explained.

Concurring, Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (Melta) president Dr Ganakumaran Subramaniam said it was a sensible move for the Government to study the possibility of the use of dual mediums for the teaching of the two subjects in English.

The PPSMI policy was initiated by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and implemented in phases, beginning with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students in 2003.

Thanking the Prime Minister and his deputy for considering the use of the two mediums, Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said PAGE hoped Bahasa Malaysia and English can be made an option for parents to choose from, in national primary and secondary schools.

“We suggest that the Education Ministry offer the options available to every parent as is provided for in the Education Act 1996 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations which states that ‘children are to be educated according to the wishes of their parents’,” she explained.

Malacca Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin said parents should take this opportunity to discuss and take a stand on this issue at their parent-teacher association (PTA) meetings.

“We hope the school authorities and education officials will not be overzealous and allow parents to do so. In this way, we should be able to gauge the actual response of schools which are for it, or vice versa,” he said.

PAGE deputy chairman Sulaiman Mahran suggested that each parent should indicate the preferred medium of instruction to the schools their children go to. “The school will collate the preference which will determine the number of Science and Mathematics classes to be conducted in Bahasa Malaysia and English,” he said.

Agreeing with Sulaiman, Dr Ganakumaran suggested a model that involved the use of a bilingual approach which offered some level of flexibility.

“Ideally, this should start from Years One to Three, adding that the schools could review whether they want to go fully in English or continue with the bilingual approach according to the pupils’ needs when they enter Year Four,” he said.

Noor Azimah suggested that every national primary and secondary school offer a minimum of one Bahasa Malaysia and one English option class at every level.

“It should be acknowledged that children learn best when they are young,” she said.

The sovereignty of Bahasa Malaysia, she added, will continue to remain protected as the national language since it is sanctioned by the Federal Constitution.

The English policy had never advocated the learning of English through the subjects of Mathematics and Science, she added.

“It had instead intended to acquire the knowledge that is found in Mathematics and Science through English, its lingua franca.

“There is a vast difference between the two,” she explained.

Since the announcement that the Government is considering using two mediums, The Star has received many SMSes, thanking the Prime Minister for listening to the people’s pleas on the matter and suggesting ways to seek parents’ input.

Viable concerns

Having taught in rural schools where she witnessed English become a crippling factor for students to learn Mathematics and Science,StarEducation columnist Nithya Sidhu said students need to be comfortable in the medium of instruction in order to do well in the subjects learnt.

“It was an uphill task to teach Mathematics and Science in English in the rural area because the students could not grasp the language,” said Nithya, now a retired Science teacher.

The problem, she added, was compounded by the lack of teachers adept at teaching the two subjects in English as unlike senior teachers, the younger crop of teachers did not learn the subjects in English when they were in school.

However, she points out that it is unfair to blame teachers as they would be better if they are allowed to teach in the language that they are well-versed in.

“The suggestion to use two mediums of instuction is a ‘win-win solutions’ to both camps who have opposing views on which language Science and Mathemactics should be taught in,” said Nithya, adding that those who want to learn the subjects in English should never be labelled as being unpatriotic.

Nevertheless, she pointed out that many issues need to be ironed out before the policy is put in place.

One suggestion was to start the dual medium of instruction policy in cluster schools during its initial period of implementation.

Another StarEducation columnist Mallika Vasugi feels strongly against the reversal of the PPSMI policy.

“We have made a lot of progress and the PPSMI policy has started to show some results. Reverting to teach Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia is just taking a step backwards,” she said.

Mallika said the “progress” and “results” she mentioned refers to the better grasp of English demonstrated by teachers and students who were weak in the language previously.

“I am very happy to see that my students are now more confident to converse in English, even teachers who were not fluent are now able to teach the subjects in English,” she said.

She stressed that the reversal of the PPSMI policy was making a mockery out of the effort put into implementing it since it was first introduced in 2003.

Ultimately, she said the objective of PPSMI was to provide students with a better headstart.

“Students are able to access the wide variety of reference materials in English. PPSMI also prepares them to write research papers in English when they enter college,” she explained.

Experienced English language teacher Jugdeep Kaur said the bigger problem was in identifying teachers who were able to teach these two subjects well in English.

“PPSMI failed because we did not have the right people to execute the policy. If teachers are not proficient in English, how can you expect them to teach Science and Mathematics in English?” she asked.

However, Jugdeep contends that either PPSMI or its reversal presents a dilemma to students and teachers.

“The majority of students in the rural area who are weak in English will struggle if the subjects are taught in English.

“It is also unfair to make students who are unhappy with the reversal of the PPSMI policy to learn Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia, forcing many of them to transfer to private schools which will create a different set of problems in itself as there are others who cannot afford to do so,” she said.

Sounding a note of caution, Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees’ Association) president Dr Yap Sin Tian said the Chinese group maintained its stance on the use of the mother tongue to learn Mathematics and Science.

“The decision to switch back to Bahasa Malaysia and the mother tongue has already been decided back in 2009. Any changes in the policy will affect the children,” he said.

National Tamil School Headmasters Council president P. Doraisamy said it was important for the Government to study the matter thoroughly before introducing any new policies because any changes would affect the children’s future.

“It does not matter if it takes four or five years to come up with a decision, as long as it is a sound decision. Such changes incur cost, time and energy,” he said.

Although no time frame has been given on when the study is likely to take place and when parents’ views will be sought, Sulaiman hoped that the issue could be brought to the Cabinet for a decision soon.

As one parent said, his children were already struggling with Mathematics as it was now being taught in Bahasa Malaysia adding that he hoped the policy would return soon.

“It is a win-win situation,”said Noor Azimah pointing out that parents with children in national schools would at least be given the options to choose.

“After all, children are very precious to parents,” she added.

Let teaching of Maths and Science in English be a choice for parents and schools

Like many Malaysians I am heartened that there are more public moves within the Barisan Nasional establishment to support the maintenance of the teaching and study of Maths and Science in the English language.

Now we have PM Najib being quoted-

Najib had said that the Goverment would study the possibility of using two mediums of instructions in the teaching of Science and Mathematics in schools.

And, MCA Chairman Chua Soi Lek saying-

Parents should be given a choice to select the language for these subjects in schools where adequate qualified teachers are available.

“The teaching of the two subjects in English is a must if we are moving towards a developed nation status and want to compete on the global front,” he said yesterday.

My views on maintaining the teaching of Maths and Science in the English language is clear. Keep it.

But, I'm okay with where BN is taking this matter. Now they are framing it as a matter of choice. Parents and schools may be given the choice of whether to have Maths and Science taught in English or in Bahasa Malaysia.

This outcome will be sensible and, I dare say, it should be well-received by all sections of the Malaysian community.

-----------------------

On the matter of choice, it is interesting to see the slightly more sophisticated positioning of the MCA in public issues of late.

On the matter of the lottery ban in Kelantan, the MCA said the choice should be given to non-Muslims whether or, not, to buy lottery tickets.

On this matter of the teaching of Maths and Science in the English language (or, alternatively, in Bahasa Malaysia), the MCA wants parents to have a choice.

MCA is clearly trying to become the political party "of choice", if you'll pardon the pun.

It's a good trend that the MCA should keep at. 

Saturday Night

The Scottish band, Bay City Rollers' 1976 hit song Saturday Night may be more popular as far as radio play goes.

But, for me, it's the Aussie band, Cold Chisel's 1984 song, Saturday Night that deserves more airtime.

As the well-written description of the Cold Chisel song goes-

"Saturday Night" was a 1984 single from Australian rock band Cold Chisel, the second released from the album Twentieth Century and the first to be issued after the band's official break-up. The song is a picture of late-night city life written by organist Don Walker based on his observations of Sydney's Kings Cross district. The track features ambient noise recorded in Darlinghurst Road, including the sound of motorbikes, strip club spruikers and crowds of drunks. The vocals are shared between Ian Moss and Jimmy Barnes.

It's a great song about Saturday night. It resonates with gritty big city ambience late into the night when the stragglers and nocturnal life-forms crawl around and thrash about. Those of you in KL, JB and Georgetown may understand what I mean.

I like it. 

Libido and Leadership

Politics is hypocrisy in action. Public life is all about hypocritical perceptions.

In the privacy of private conversations between men (and, some say, women) sex is likely to be the number one topic. The racier, the better. The juicier, the better. And, special accolades are given to the spinner of the sexual yarn if he (or, she) is the principal protagonist.

But, in public life, whether one is a political leader or a celebrity (think Charlie Sheen and Tiger Woods), sexual peccadilloes are frowned upon. There are clearly double standards to be applied.

From another perspective, some may regard lurid stories about leaders, be they political or business leaders, as positive news.

I can sense arched eyebrows and wide eyes at this point.

How can such news be positive?

Well, from a physiological point of view, such lurid stories suggest that the political or business leader in question is in good health. For, how can one "get it on" unless one can "rise" to the occasion?

A stressed-out person, let alone high-profile political or business leader, will exhibit the symptom of poor libido. He just can't get it on.

So, if we hear lurid stories about political or business leaders, it means that they are managing their stress pretty well and, they are in good physical health.

Posthumous stories of JFK having gotten it on faster than a rabbit in heat only reaffirmed his ability to get it on in leadership terms.

A sexually frustrated leader is not fun to be with, I'm sure.

Oh, yes, there is the other *yawn* boring perspective about morals and morality.

But, remember that for every poor, sexually deprived (and, depraved) person who may take umbrage at public figures who are accused of having sexual flings, there are many others who may feel that such news is evidence of libido and, therefore, physical fitness for high office.

Let the person who has no vice stand up to claim leadership.

Then, let the rest of us dispose of that person because there is a statistical certainty that under such leadership Life will be worse than Death.

No one likes a killjoy for a leader, whether in politics or in business.

I'm just saying....

Three Signs You Are Addicted to Chaos

I had strange and mixed feelings when reading the piece below. But I shall not live in denial. I have been exhibiting all 3 symptoms for some time now.

Entrepreneurs are frequently so devoted to the business that they persist in the state of chaos, accepting it as a way of life, without ever trying to identify or solve the root of the problem. From my experiences and observations working with thousands and thousands of entrepreneurs over the years, here are the top three signs I see of entrepreneurs who are addicted to chaos:

3. Their business life revolves around the in-box. They are constantly in reaction mode, always pouncing on the hot fire that pops up, the request for information, or the opportunity that just presented itself. They don’t have an overarching, long-term strategy that ties back to their daily activities. So they spend most of their time responding to the flavor of the day, hoping this will lead them to their goals, which are—ironically enough—more time, money, and control.

2. They can’t step away from the business without feeling like it will crumble while they’re gone. They have a particular anxiety that sets in when they think about taking a day off or going on vacation. If they have employees, the employees assure them everything will be fine, but they worry nonetheless. Part of their concern is real: They have a bunch of proprietary information locked up in their head instead of in a central database; therefore, certain things may indeed stall while they are out of the office. But part of their concern is likely moot. Chances are, all will not collapse in the small amount of time they are away from the office.

1. They are strangely proud they have so little free time. That’s right. As if symptom No. 2 weren’t cruel enough, the worst symptom is that entrepreneurs sometimes treat their stressed-out routines as a badge of honor. They tout to friends and family how long it’s been since they’ve taken a vacation, how many hours they work, and how little they sleep. That sounds like owning a job, not a business.

If you find yourself experiencing these symptoms, you are probably addicted to chaos. Get help. Business ownership should bring you more time, money, and control. If you’re not getting that, make some changes to your mindset and your business systems so you can find the freedom you were looking for when you started your business in the first place.

Machiavellian Economics

This is a thoroughly interesting piece by Harold James. It highlights a feature of government behaviour that is inconsistent with the rules of conduct that is hammered home against corporations. 

The question is where do we draw the line? Where corporations are required by corporate governance principles to disclose as much of the truth about their financial, management and business affairs, why do governments live by different standards? 

Do political leaders in office have higher order rights and privileges than corporations? 

Food for thought....

PRINCETON – When is it legitimate to lie? Can lying ever be virtuous? In the Machiavellian tradition, lying is sometimes justified by reference to the higher needs of political statecraft, and sometimes by the claim that the state, as an embodiment of the public good, represents a higher level of morality. That tradition is once again in the spotlight, as the question of political untruth has recently resurfaced in many bitter disputes.

Did German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg have to tell the truth about the massive plagiarism that pervaded his doctoral thesis, or could a lie be justified because he was performing an important government job? Was the 2003 United States-led invasion of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq illegitimate because it was predicated on a falsehood about the existence of weapons of mass destruction? Or were conservative US anti-abortionists justified in sending actors with a false story into the offices of Planned Parenthood in order to discredit their opponents?

The economic variant of Machiavellianism is as powerful as the claim that political untruth can be virtuous. Lying or hiding the truth in some circumstances can, it appears, make people better off. Deception might be a source of comfort. We might find ourselves warm and contented in a cocoon of untruth.

One of the most famous examples concerns the Great Depression – an epoch that policymakers frequently drew upon in trying to come to terms with the post-2007 financial crisis. Many countries in the early 1930’s had terrible bank runs, which inflicted immense and immediate damage, decimating employment by bringing down businesses that were fundamentally creditworthy.

Hire a Blogger to Promote Your Business

The evolution of business opportunities driven by technology continues. This piece from Forbes is another example. Food for thought...and maybe action.

________________________

Outsourcing all kinds of social media marketing—from writing a company blog to updating Twitteror Facebook—is becoming a viable option for small business owners who simply don't have the time or inclination to take on the job themselves. Even some entrepreneurs who prefer to handle their own social media may designate a surrogate—in-house or outside—for when they are on vacation, in case they fall ill, or during busy season.

"There is an incredible need for [small and midsize businesses] to get up to speed on social media and social media best practices," says Jo Lilore, who consults on social media marketing and search engine optimization atWebBizStrategy.com in Pasadena, Calif. "Commerce and the Web in general have gone social, and there's no turning back. If you're not up to speed and in the game, you are not only losing potential leads and customers, you are also missing opportunities."

Jon Gelberg, chief content officer at Blue Fountain Media, a New York Web design and online marketing company, agrees. "Businesses are learning how valuable a well-written blog can be as a tool for branding a company, personalizing a company, and establishing the company or individual executive as an expert in their field," he says. But "a poorly written blog, on the other hand, can have a negative impact."

Keeping the middle class happy

This is an excellent observation that I thought (tongue in cheek) may resonate with some quarters in Malaysia:

Keeping the middle class happy is also the party’s concern. Over the past decade, despite a rhetorical shift to the left, the party has tailored policies to avoid antagonising such a politically crucial group. It has been adept at isolating and containing protests by angry farmers or the urban underclass, using a mixture of intimidation and pay-offs. But it is less sure that it could deal so adroitly with grievances shared by swathes of the middle class.

The extract is sourced from this piece.

Minimum wage

Whether or not to implement a policy on minimum wages for workers in Malaysia. As the owner of services-based SMEs, I don't have a problem if the Malaysian government decides to implement a policy on minimum wages. In fact, I support the idea of minimum wages.

But, I am aware that the issue is not a simple one. The Malaysian economy still depends on fairly labour-intensive industries. The primary industries sector of oil palm plantations is particularly labour-intensive. The workers are unskilled.

On the other hand, Malaysia aspires to be a Knowledge-based and Services-based economy. Our macroeconomic indicators point to the growth of Services-based industries. Workers in these sectors are semi-skilled and skilled. Extensive training is required. Even hospitality and tourism industries require some degree of certification now. This is a good thing. It ensures that there are minimum standards of services.

There is indication that the Malaysian government is taking a sensible approach of segmentation of minimum wage policies based on the peculiar labour supply-demand matrices of each economic sector. This is the correct approach. One size can never fit all.

To engender a sensible discussion on this matter (as opposed to brainless hysterics), here's a pro and con view of the matter of whether a formal minimum wage policy should be instituted. It is sourced from here. 

The following table summarizes the arguments made by those for and against minimum wage laws:

Arguments in favor of Minimum Wage Laws Supporters of the minimum wage claim it has these effects: Increases the standard of living for the poorest and most vulnerable class in society and raises average.[1] Motivates and encourages employees to work harder (unlike welfare programs and other transfer payments).[32] Stimulates consumption, by putting more money in the hands of low-income people who spend their entire paychecks.[1] Increases the work ethic of those who earn very little, as employers demand more return from the higher cost of hiring these employees.[1] Decreases the cost of government social welfare programs by increasing incomes for the lowest-paid.[1] Encourages the automation of industry.[33] Encourages people to join the workforce rather than pursuing money through illegal means, e.g., selling illegal drugs [34][35]

Arguments against Minimum Wage Laws Opponents of the minimum wage claim it has these effects: As a labor market analogue of political-economic protectionism, it excludes low cost competitors from labor markets, hampers firms in reducing wage costs during trade downturns, generates various industrial-economic inefficiencies as well as unemployment, poverty, and price rises, and generally dysfunctions.[36] Hurts small business more than large business.[37] Reduces quantity demanded of workers, either through a reduction in the number of hours worked by individuals, or through a reduction in the number of jobs.[38][39] May cause price inflation as businesses try to compensate by raising the prices of the goods being sold.[40][41] Benefits some workers at the expense of the poorest and least productive.[42] Can result in the exclusion of certain groups from the labor force.[43] Is less effective than other methods (e.g. the Earned Income Tax Credit) at reducing poverty, and is more damaging to businesses than those other methods.[44] Discourages further education among the poor by enticing people to enter the job market.[44

Interlok revisited

I have not been following the controversy over the usage of the Abdullah Hussain's book, Interlok, in Malaysian secondary schools. I was, however, aware that the peeve was over the usage of the "P" word that offended sections of the Malaysian community. 

I just read an opinion on the impugned book by Raman at his Silverfish blog. 

It appears that the "P" word was used only twice.

More importantly, here is Raman's take on Abdullah Hussain's book. It is a view that I subscribe to largely because I have the utmost respect for Raman who is a publisher of books and a very important facilitator for English-language writers in Malaysia. Without the likes of Raman, Malaysians who have an urge for literary expression in written English will suffer from interminable lexicographic constipation. Anyway, here's Raman@Silverfish's opinion:

______________________________

I was going to write about something else, but two things happened that made me change my mind. First, was this gentleman I met who asked me what I did for a living? Then when he heard that I was a publisher, he immediately asked my opinion on the Interlok controversy. I started cautiously by saying that I had read the book, both the Malay and English versions, but before I could continue he asked:

“You mean you have read the book?”

I stopped in my tracks. It was a bizarre question and a bizarre moment. Why was he asking for my opinion if he thought I hadn’t read the book? If he wanted a hysterical uninformed opinion, there was plenty going around. Perhaps, he thought I would abandon scholarship for tribal loyalty and salute the flag he was waving, without a second thought. Perhaps, he was surprised that I could read Malay and, worse still, admit it. Perhaps, he was shocked that, in these days of self-righteous chest-thumping, I dared to look at an issue from another angle.

Second, was this email from one person (whom I shall leave him unnamed): DOES A LOYAL MALAYSIAN INDIAN DESERVE THIS KIND OF INSULT IN A COUNTRY HE CALLS MOTHERLAND ?????????? (Yes, all in capitals, 18 point fonts and in red colour, to boot).

My opinion of the book in question is that, though wobbly in (many) parts and a little naïve, it is certainly one of the better Malaysian books I have read. It is, basically, a story of the human spirit. Abdullah Hussain’s empathy with his characters (whether it is Seman, Cing Huat or Maniam) is quite admirable. Read the following, for example:

Kadang-kadang dia masih lapar. Bau roti yang dibakar dan disapu serikaya menimbulkan rangsangan dalam kepalanya untuk makan, bau makanan yang di masak oleh penjual nasi di sudut kedai itu menimbulkan nafsu untuk makan dan kadang kadang dia melihat daging babi yang tergantung dengan lemaknya yang berminyak-minyak itu, menggoda dia untuk makan. (Interlok, page 156)

(Sometimes he (Cing Huat) remained hungry. The smell of bread being toasted and spread with serikaya would stimulate his brain to eat, the smell of rice being cooked by the food seller next door triggered his appetite and sometimes when he saw the  (roast) pork hanging with its fatty oil dripping, it would entice him.)

A Malay writer talking about the smell or lard from roast pork? No, Abdullah Hussain is not afraid to go where no one else dares, if it serves his art. I hugely admire his research, his craft and his courage. And he is, certainly, no racist.

As for the offending “p” word it appears twice in the book:

Satu perkara besar yang membuat mereka senang bergaul ialah mereka itu tergolong dalam satu kasta Paria. Mereka tidak takut mengotori sesiapa kalau bersentuhan dan mereka bebas lepas bergaul. (Interlok, page 251)

(One thing that made it easy for them to mix around was the fact that they were all from the same Pariah caste. They had no fear of polluting anyone they touched and were free to mingle.)

One feels for Maniam. Yes, this is how he would have felt, coming from a background of centuries of oppression and suppression. Abdullah Hussain got it right. (Mulk Raj Anand would have applauded, too.) Taking the “p” word out would be doing injustice to the Maniams of the world. It would have been precisely because of his caste that he would have been considered untouchable and unclean, and he would have had every reason to be nervous.

Di sini, Maniam dapati perbezaan perkerjaan menurut kasta, seperti yang masih berlaku di negerinya, tidak ada.

Pertama kali inilah yang ditanya oleh Maniam kapada Muthu, seorang kawan dari desanya yang sudah lama tinggal di Pulau Pinang. Muthu seorang dari kasta Paria, seperti Maniam juga, dia berkerja sebagai kerani di sebuah gudang orang putih dekat perlabuhan. (Interlok, page 257)

(Over here, Maniam noticed that working according to one’s caste was not in practice.
That was the first thing that Maniam asked Muthu, a friend from the same village who had lived in Penang for a long time. Muthu was from the Pariah caste, just like Maniam, and he was working as a clerk at the godowns belonging to the white people near the port.)

There is nothing negative about this section either. It is a statement of fact. To a person like Maniam, this would have been a big deal indeed. He could do any work he wanted, even become a clerk like his friend Muthu, his Malaysian Dream, his ticket out of hell.  According to an article in the Malay Mail on Monday 24th August, 2009, 65% of MIC members belong to this caste although they now refer to themselves as Namavars – our people. Again, Abdullah Hussain’s research cannot be faulted.

Interlok is the story of three people and their trials. Seman is devastated when he learns from his father on his deathbed that the land they have been tilling all these years does not belong to them but a Chinese towkay, Cina Panjang. Chin Huat leaves his mother to come to Malaya with his father to escape an impending famine in China. Maniam travels to Malaya, the land he keeps hearing about, leaving his wife behind to escape crippling poverty. And in the end, they all get together and live happily ever after (which, in hind-sight, is the actual fairy tale).

The first part about Seman is, probably, the best written. Cing Huat’s section is good, too, though Abdullah Hussain does not say how or why this personable Chinese lad transforms himself into the predator businessman, Cina Panjang. The Maniam section is the weakest part and is riddled with minor and major errors. It is as if the author, tired of research, resorted to watching a few Tamil movies for the right cliches -- complete with the long suffering hero, the unfaithful wife, the totally evil villain (Suppiah), the mandatory rape scene followed by the suicide of the victim, and the long lost son who discovers that the prisoner in his police lockup is really his father. Corny to the max.

Then, the final scene is all Malaysian TV during elections: sugared to the hilt to induce terminal diabetes in the entire population of a small country.

But, one thing remains unclear, though. By some accounts, the version to be used in school is an abridged one (and not the 503-page original). If that is the case then all my comments above could be completely off the mark, because I have no idea what has been taken out and what remains. Knowing the track record of our gomen pen-pushers over decades past, I am aware that they are capable of being quite jahat about it.

Anyway, the cabinet has appointed a committee to look into the matter. This, normally, means that nothing will happen. Some new crisis will emerge and we all forget about Interlok. We are, after all, Malaysians.

The one good thing to come out of this crisis is that many people are reading the book, and Interlok is sold out in most bookshops. Good on you, Abdullah Hussain.

The Inequality Wildcard

To continue with the matter of the economic factors that is triggering off the socio-political unrest in Tunisia and Egypt, in addition to the issue of unemployment, we have to also be mindful of the issue of income inequality or, the growing gap between the rich and the poor.

The matter of the rich-poor gap is beyond the mandate of economic planners. This is a matter that falls squarely in the domain of political leaders.

Economic planners can merely point out the dangers of the rich-poor gap. But, greedy and avaricious political leaders who are interested in making themselves, their family and crony friends rich will ignore the warning of the hapless economists.

This rich-poor gap is increasing in Malaysia.

Of course, the rich-poor gap is not unique to Malaysia. In fast-developing economies like China and Vietnam the gap will increase very fast before narrowing over time. But, countries like China and Vietnam are unleashing years of languid development. There is a sense of being in a hurry.

In contrast, Malaysia is at an economic developmental crossroad. Too expensive to be in labour-intensive activities and, yet, not skilled enough to get into high value-added and innovative knowledge-based activities.

In Malaysia's current position, the rich-poor gap is discomfiting. Unless Malaysia's political leaders address this issue urgently, this rich-poor gap may cause socio-political tension over time.

My biggest fear is that such tension will be distorted by stupid Malaysian politicians who will frame the issue in terms of race when the issue is actually one of poor ethics and abusive governance.

Anyway, read what Kenneth Rogoff has written in the sidelines of the Davos summit here. 

The Youth Unemployment Bomb

The events in Tunisia and Egypt should rightly scare all governments throughout the world. There will be many different views on the catalytic factors that led to the groundswell of public emotions that are threatening to ignite various nations in the Northern African and Middle Eastern belt.

The obvious commonality between Tunisia, Egypt and, Yemen is that these nations have predominantly Muslim populations. I'm no so sure about the relevance of Islam as a common factor for these events. Nor do I think that authoritarianism and lack of freedoms are relevant catalytic factors.

To me the more interesting and relevant common denominator in these nations is the high level of unemployment. Unemployment is the main trigger cause of the unrest.

And, equally so, the preponderance of youths among the unemployed of these nations is another key factor.

My view is that it is the poor economic health of these nations that have created huge numbers of unemployed youth that, in turn, have channeled their considerable restless energies into political protests in these nations.

This is the lesson that we have to quickly learn in Malaysia.

I suggest that the first module be the piece from Bloomberg-Businessweek here.

I sincerely hope that our economic planners and political readers read it and start reviewing how our economy is planned and managed. Prevention is better than cure.

The moral is that if everyone has a fairly decent job that pays a decent wage that puts decent food on the table, there will peace and harmony.

Alternatively, no jobs, no food and plenty of idle time is a dangerous combination.

Gong Xi Fa Cai 2011

GONG XI FA CAI to all Malaysians celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year and Happy Holidays to everyone else.

pix from here.

There is much that I wish to say. But, I am too busy living and enjoying my life. My thoughts and opinions will have to remain in my head until later.

How I will cast my vote - PAGE + PPSMI

The issue of reverting the medium of instruction of the Science and Mathematics subjects in Malaysian schools from the English language to Bahasa Malaysia still burns in the depths of my soul.

After I read this report in the Malaysian Insider, I have resolved to cast my vote in favour of the political party that supports the maintenance of English as the medium of instruction for Science and Mathematics.

All the bullshit politics make no sense to me.

But, the issue of educating Malaysians to the greatest advantage possible and, to equip young Malaysians to compete at the global level makes eminent sense to me.

I have seen how my children benefited from PPSMI since it was implemented in 2003.

Two of my children are still in school at Form Two and Form 4.

I don't care what any politician, political party, NGO or any publicity-seeking hound says anymore.

I support PAGE's stand.

The Malaysian Government should stick to the maintenance of English as the medium of instruction for Science and Mathematics.

Stay the course.

And, I will support the political party that supports the maintenance of English as the medium of instruction for Science and Mathematics.

It will be that simple to get my vote.

SME

Just over half or 56% of total employment comes from this sector where 19% to the nation's total exports stem from. 

The segment also represents 99% of total business establishments and is a substantial contributor to the country's gross domestic product at 31%.

Sourced from here.

Given the stats above, why do my SME friends still feel orphaned and unappreciated and are finding difficulty with obtaining funding support?

More action, less words, please.

English in Math and Science - PAGE Forum Sunday 16 January 2011

Time for IPPs to help the rakyat

Kudos are due to Business Times for this op-ed piece. This blog has hammered the IPPs for the lop-sided Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). The BT's op-ed reminder is timely. I implore the government to pay heed to this perspective that come the time to renegotiate the PPAs, the government must support Tenaga Nasional's position and pay heed to the massive burden that the Malaysian consumer has to endure with this example of dodgy privatisation model.

Here's the BT op-ed piece:

Sweetheart deals that the first-generation independent power producers (IPPs) secured in the early 1990s will expire in stages from end-2014 or 2015.

It is often highlighted that these IPPs have collected billions of ringgit from lopsided power purchase agreements (PPAs) that put them in very minimal or an almost zero-risk environment.

The IPPs are YTL Power Generation Sdn Bhd, Genting Sanyen Power Sdn Bhd, Segari Energy Ventures Sdn Bhd, Powertek Bhd and Port Dickson Power Sdn Bhd. They are controlled by some of the country's richest families and individuals.

Constitution of the State of Selangor

The Constitution of the State of Selangor.

I have attached above the url link to the Constitution of the State of Selangor.

pix from here.

This time is a good opportunity to understand the importance of constitutions.

There are many explicit provisions and procedures in constitutions.

At the same time, there are many practices or conventions that have been taken for granted or overlooked.

pix from here.

This is as good a time as any to flick the dust of the Constitution of the State of Selangor and look at it with an objective and unbiased mind.

Nor should politics and partisanship dilute the executive powers vested in the Menteri Besar of Selangor.

What is the proper procedure for the appointment of the State Secretary of Selangor?

Who initiates the process of appointment of the State Secretary of Selangor?

Does the Menteri Besar of Selangor have any constitutional role to play in the appointment of the State Secretary of Selangor?

In these inquiries, let the Rule of Law be our guiding principle.

And, let not politics and partisanship affect the dignity and standing of DYMM Sultan Selangor.

Allah lanjutkan usia Tuanku.

-extracted from the State Anthem of Selangor-

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

It is tempting to gaze into the crystal to see what one hopes 2011 will be like. Well, less racial nonsense will be a very good thing. 

No prayer in the world will prevent excessive politicking from occurring in Malaysia. But, unlike straightjacketed places like Singapore or China, Malaysia has a vibrant democratic ethos. So, politics or, even the excess of it, is something we will all have to accept.

That is not a bad thing if there is sufficient civility and a large dollop of good sense.

pix from here.

I, for one, am very proud of our great nation.

No, it's not just because I cheered myself hoarse in both legs of the Suzuki AFF finals where our young Harimaus broke valiant Indonesian hearts.

And, it's not just because my firm's order book for 2011 looks damn promising.

It's because Malaysia has weathered the results of the 2008 General Elections very well in spite of the sea-change from BN's loss of it's two-thirds majority.

Yes, there has been a lot of unsatisfactory tactics and blatant cheating. Yes, corruption still needs to be tackled even more firmly. Yes, street crime is still a source of great concern for all Malaysians.

These are challenges that we shall have to face.

It is the job of the Loyal Opposition to throw brickbats. Equally, it is the job of the Party in Government to counter the brickbats and swing some of its own. That's democracy. 

As citizens, it will be for each of us to dutifully support any leader who argues for stronger audits of the governance of the Federal Centre and each of the States.

Above all else, to my mind, we must be the most vigilant about the Local Governments whose incompetence, bad planning and sheer abuse and neglect, has caused each and every one of us to suffer from traffic jams, poor road maintenance, non-functioning traffic lights, unlit street lights and the list goes on. We, the ratepayers, must hold those buggers running the Local Governments to account.

For, in the final analysis, the average citizen's most frequent contact with the GOVERNMENT is at the Local Government level.

Have a good New Year celebration, Malaysia.

MERRY TROPICAL CHRISTMAS 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010

pix from here

My seasons greetings to all Malaysians who are celebrating Christmas. To the rest of Malaysia and elsewhere, I wish you happy holidays.

I thought a tropical Christmas picture will balance out the news of winter chills and airport closures in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Ronald Coase turns 100

Many blogger buddies may be piqued to learn that part of Ronald Coase's work, if properly applied by Rais Yatim's Ministry, would have prevented much of the criticism levelled at the Minister, the Ministry and the Commission that regulates telecommunications in Malaysia.

Read Coase's description of his work in this area (emphasis added by me):

"I made a study of the Federal Communications Commission which regulated the broadcasting industry in the United States, including the allocation of the radio frequency spectrum. I wrote an article, published in 1959, which discussed the procedures followed by the Commission and suggested that it would be better if use of the spectrum was determined by the pricing system and was awarded to the highest bidder. This raised the question of what rights would be acquired by the successful bidder and I went on to discuss the rationale of a property rights system." 

I stumbled onto Ronald Coase's considerable corpus of work on economics and law when I was pursuing postgraduate academic studies. 

Coase is best known for the following work which I have embedded links to Wiki:

Nature of the firm;

The problem of social cost; and, most especially (to me)

Economic analysis of law aka Law and Economics.

More to the point, Coase's work is extremely helpful when we try to evaluate the costs and benefits of government regulation. Malaysia can certainly use Coase's methodology when deciding on economic policy and regulations within the context of fair economic competition. But, this is not the time and place to discuss the matter. This post is about honouring Coase and his contribution to our understanding of the economics of commercial transactions and government regulations for which he was awarded a Nobel Prize in Economics.

Coase, born on 29th December 1910, will turn 100 next week. An amazing longevity achieved by an amazing mind.

The Schumpeter column of The Economist has rightly honoured the man who was born in the United Kingdom and, since 1951, resided in the United States.

Coase was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1991. I offer you his autobiography written by Coase himself in 1991 on the occasion of the Nobel Prize award:

Zhuge Liang as a Tragic Hero

Don't mind me. It's just me squirrelling away some acorns during my period of hibernation...

Zhuge Liang as a Tragic Hero:

His Failure to Win against Heaven's Will due to His Confucian Beliefs

Sourced from here. An essay by AshleyTerra. 

A star falls to announce the death of Zhuge Liang, one of the most beloved characters of Three Kingdoms. At first glance, the attraction seems obvious: he is popular because he is a hero with a whole slew of victories. In fact, he is so successful and skilled that many, including C.T. Hsia, consider him the main hero of Three Kingdoms (31). As a scholar hero, he kills opponents "with the tip of his tongue, or, better, of his brush" instead of a sword and is both "daring and courageous… in court and council" (Ruhlmann 161). However, this interpretation fails to provide a satisfactory explanation because the novel is filled with successful heroes, like Zhao Zilong, who never gains the same adoration. When one takes a look at the historical Zhuge Liang, one would find that he was "simply a prominent figure to whom one might feel varying proportions of admiration or disgust… as toward any other influential person in public life" (Henry 604) despite all his successes in his lifetime. It was only after his death that popular sentiment turns to adulation, beginning in the area where he died (Henry 608). This gives the necessary clue to suggest that it was not Zhuge Liang's successes as a scholar hero that endeared him to the public, but rather the tragic nature of his heroism as a Confucian hero.

Borowitz slays me

Here's the headline from the satirical, political lampooning, take-the-Mickey-out-of-politicos, Borowitz Report....

U.S. Orders Diplomats to Stop Telling Truth Until Further Notice

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) – In the first major policy fallout from the WikiLeaks disclosures, the State Department has ordered all U.S. diplomats to “cease and desist telling the truth until further notice.”

“We are working overtime to try to make sure that leaks like these don’t happen again,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters.  “But until we’ve got the leaks plugged, it’s incumbent on all our diplomats to put on their lying caps.”

Secretary Clinton noted that since many US diplomats are major political donors with long careers in the business world, “this shouldn’t be a reach for them.”

But for those career diplomats who came up through the Foreign Service, the State Department will be holding a series of “truth avoidance seminars,” led by executives of Goldman Sachs.

Additionally, Secretary Clinton said, the State Department would install on all diplomats’ computers new software called CandorShield™, which automatically translates truthful language into a less embarrassing truth-free version.

For example, she explained, the software would translate the phrase “two-faced weasels” into “trusted Pakistani allies” and would delete all references to French President Nicolas Sarkozy as “Monsieur Shorty Pants.”

Elsewhere, Interpol issued this statement about its pursuit of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange: “We will find Julian Assange, and then we will hire him.”