We are about go through the crucible but we'll emerge on the other side. We always arise from our own ashes. Everything returns later in its changed from. Take the golden path, free from a predetermined future. Make our own destiny and through the door we pass through, lies the future.

Malaysian Constitutional Issues

By examining the notable features within the Malaysian law and constitution, one can understand better the reason behind the problems and issues that the country currently face. The Constitution at the time of its drafting had set out the intention of making Malaysia governed by principles of open democracy. The problem that arises now is because of the government's attitude towards the Constitution. The government has little respect for the Constitution. It is not given its proper respect as the foundation for governing the nation. Rather, it is treated similar to an ordinary legislation that can be amended at will to suit the interest of the current ruling government.

The lack of effective mechanisms to ensure a good constitutional government is the definitive contribution to this problem. As it was mentioned earlier, the executive act in removing the judiciary's power is perhaps the most significant event that has affected the country. This is a sign that separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branch of government in Malaysia is slowly being broken down with the executive branch giving itself more powers.

The retention of the state of Emergency and the ISA legislation could be attributed to the government's desire to have means to maintain its influence and to silence dissent. Without the judiciary having its former power to check the government's abuse of these provisions, it will inevitably lead to a state of arbitrariness.

The increasing emphasis on Islam as the guideline for governing Malaysia is something that must be kept in check to avoid the overzealous elements within the government implementing unacceptable Islamic policy on a multi-religious society.

The Bumiputera privileges provision under the Constitution and the greater role of Islam in influencing official policy has led to ethnic and religious tensions amongst the population. Thus, there is no unified voice that could keep the government accountable. This provision in the end will hurt the country's economy. Currently the government is trying to get back the country's talented professionals who are working outside Malaysia. Most of these professionals are from the non-Bumiputera group. It is very surprising that the government ignored that fact that the Bumiputera provisions caused this problem in the first place. The unwillingness to address the root cause of this issue will only perpetuate the problem.

Some would argue that the public tolerance towards the flaws in the governing of Malaysia has led to the state of stable economic growth that it is in right now. The question that should be asked in response to this is whether the current situation can be sustainable.

To-morrow

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.
Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

successful businessmen

we are always in awe regarding success stories of people making it big in business.
but, what galls me is that we never stopped to pause, and examine how they make it big.

how many people they sacrificed to gain their wealth? a logging tycoon in sarawak, for example, surely makes it big. at what cost? thousands of displaced native. logging contractors molesting and raping native girls.

what about companies engaged in dam buildings? for example again, over half a million natives will be displaced to make way for this megaproject.

at the risk of sounding cynical, each time i see a rich man, i tend to think of how many sufferings did he inflict to others to enrich himself, whether he has a mistress or not, whether he paid lots of under the table money to win major government contracts.

so what if he drives a big car and lives in a big house and wear expensive clothings, shoes and watches?

i am utterly unimpressed.

personally, there are 4 types of people i distrust. businessman, politicians, lawyers and pastors. the burden of proof is on them to prove me wrong..

we should not admire successful businessmen and entrepreneurs until we are certain that the method that they used to gain their wealth is fair and transparent.

WAKE UP PEOPLE AND SMELL THE EXCREMENT THAT IS CALLED THE MALAYSIAN RICH ELITES!

Doing research

Doing research is a challenging, arduous but rewarding process. To be a successful researcher, one must possess a passion in the subject matter that he/she is examining.

Ongoing commitment to work at your research subject matter. Commitment. That is but one of the many criteria for a successful researcher to possess.

The interest in the subject matter is a definite plus point. It is easier to be committed to a subject matter that you are really passionate about.

The value that your research findings would contribute to the body of knowledge or to society in general. After all, would all of us not take pride in the fact that our findings made a difference, no matter how big or small it is?

Purpose of a law school

I always wonder what a law school aspires to do with its students.

Produce skilled competent lawyers. Well, that is clear enough.

Any other purpose apart from the mundane?

Dare I say to produce a generation full with the sense of truth and justice? Individuals capable of thinking for themselves, and challenging the wrongs in society? Fighting the good fight and be an agent of change?

Idealistic gas or a real potential to come into fruition?

The jury is still out on this.

Unemployable graduates

Why are graduates here unemployable? Who is to blame? The university? Our education system? The graduate's own attitude during uni time? Or all of these factors?

As usual, the powers that be talk a lot about this issue. However, even though the solution is blindingly obvious, there seem to be no action to follow up after everyone has finished giving his 2-cents on this.

Well, why am I still not surprised..

Lecturing

What does lecturing accomplish?

Lecturing is just ONE of the several ways in which students learn. What they learn out of class ought to be greater in volume that what they learn in it.

They ought to spend more time and effort studying on their own since contact hours are limited.

How is the reality in our local universities and institutions? I somehow think that at this juncture, it is pointless to repeat things that are widely known in the country..

Malaysian brain drain, ad nauseum

I have been reading a lot on the ever present brain drain happening in Malaysia. The root cause is blindingly obvious. Ditto for the solution.

Of course the powers that be refuse to address it. And yet they keep harping about it from time to time.

There are complaints that local universities produce mediocre graduates. Well, what else would you expect from mediocre management and teaching staff? Senior appointments based on political connections, not academic experience. Visionary lecturers being harassed up to the point where they depart to greener pastures. Like the brain drain problem, the root cause and solution is blindingly obvious. .

Merely asking talents overseas to be patriotic and return to serve the nation is not going to cut it anymore. Serving the nation. Somehow in my mind this translates to 'serving the personal pockets of the elite few who runs the nation'.

In my opinion, Malaysia does not reward talents. It promotes mediocrity. Your qualifications or experience means very little. Firstly, your connections count. Secondly, you have to belong to the right ethnicity and religion. Thirdly, you must know how to pander to the powers that be.

So, where to now Malaysia?

Yahoo Messenger/MSN 's role in academic learning

Many young people use Yahoo Messenger or MSN. University students included. Or certain lecturers that I know =)!

We have heard on the news about its negative impact. Girls cheated/raped by guys who they knew online. The issue of the gullibilty/stupidity on the girls's part and sexual predatory violence/opportunism on the guys'part is another topic on its own.

Understandably, it is hard to see any positive avenues that these chat softwares could be utilised for.

Well, my two cents on the issue is this, as simplistic as it may sound.

Within the university environment, perhaps lecturers and students could have discussion sessions pertaining to the subjects that they teach/learn. Students who are normally shy to speak out face to face during lecture sessions could be encouraged to articulate their views and opinion in this real-time online environment.

But I do wonder, how many people are receptive to this idea. It is admittedly unorthodox within the Malaysian context. However it is something worth thinking of..

Random thoughts on education

The education system in Malaysia leaves a lot to be desired. That is blindingly obvious. Unless you are part of the feudal-supremacist-political intellectual prostitution ring that currently administers the nation

The question is now how do we address the problems plaguing our universities and schools.

Or is it something that will remain with us for years upon years without any end in sight?

Perhaps our political warlords are not in the least bothered about this issue. Universities churning out unemployable, half-baked graduates. Talented and visionary lecturers being sidelined, hard-pressed and eventually some departed to far distant shores.

Has the collective Malaysian consciousness suffered from a pitch-black blindness? Or is the sense of despair over things has led us to a stark resignation that there is nothing more that anyone can do?