Posts Tagged ‘discrimination’

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BTN to be revamped?

November 30th, 2009
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So says Nazri Aziz, Minister in the PM’s Dept. Looks like there is something not right with it after all. And why not secondary school History subject too while they are at it?

The National Civics Bureau (BTN) will revamp its controversial co-curriculum to be in line with the 1Malaysia concept, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

“The co-curriculum will be brought in line with the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia, which means it will be more inclusive and will not divide Malaysians.

“If we have a course for only one racial group, then that is not 1Malaysia,” he said at the Parliament lobby.

He said the Cabinet had agreed to the revamp, with the Chief Secretary to the Government overseeing the process.

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Protest against 10 subject limit

November 29th, 2009
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Somewhere in early June this year, the Education Minister came up with an idea to limit the number of subjects a students can take for SPM examinations in 2010. The reasons given:

– help to reduce teacher shortage

– 90% of students take 10 subjects

– many students take elective subjects not offered in schools, just to score more As. [Note: Tamil and Tamil Literature usually not offered in secondary schools]

– ease burden on students to excel

– reduce parents’ cost for tuition

– students will be able to focus on other activities

– easier to select students for scholarships

– to create a level playing field: students in fully residential schools were only allowed to take a maximum of nine subjects and those in rural areas too had to take fewer subjects due to a lack of facilities.

The Education Ministry then set up a communication channel to gather public feedback (I gave mine too) within a week, but not sure about the results of the feedback.

Interested parties can send their views on the Education Ministry’s plan to cap the number of subjects taken in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) by the end of this week.

Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom urged them to send by e-mail or facsimile their views to him.

“The views will be taken into consideration when I prepare a paper for the minister,” he told reporters after opening the Government Integrated Telecommunications Network Learning in Schools Programme schools’ convention.

Alimuddin can be reached at alimuddin.dom@moe.gov.my or fax: 03-8889 4548.

He was asked about complaints from students who were already studying for more than 10 subjects in Form Four this year.

Alimuddin said he would prepare the paper by next week, adding that the limit on the number of subjects for the SPM examination had not been finalised yet.

“We want to hear feedback from various organisations including teachers. I will also meet with ministry-level professionals.”

He said he would then discuss the matter with the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate before Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin makes a final decision.

The abrupt proposal caused parents and students to fume since students in Form 4 have already started classes for their subjects. However, DPM Muhyiddin said he was open for suggestions and clarified that any decision would not affect the students:

“Whatever decision made will not affect the people negatively.”

I’m not sure which professionals were consulted, but the decision (proposal) remained and the DPM said this:

“There are many who agree and they come from the education system.”

It seems that the core subjects may be reduced in order to allow more elective subjects. Currently, the core subjects are BM, English, Maths, History. Islam/Moral, and Science (for Arts stream students). However, DPM Muhyiddin mentioned recently that the core subjects will remain, so its back to square one in terms of solving the problem.

Note that it was a cabinet decision, so MIC representative Dr Subra have no choice but to support the decision, even though MIC is protesting the move (even made a resolution during the AGM).

You may want to read what two parents had to say on this limitation here to get some insight as well.

Back in June, this is what MIC rep Dr Subra said:

The MIC has asked the Education Ministry to allow Indian students to take 11 SPM subjects, including Tamil language and Tamil literature.

Party deputy president Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said he had submitted the request to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin before the Government’s recent proposal to limit the number of subjects to 10 from next year.

“If they are not allowed 11 subjects, some (those in the Science stream) will have to miss the Tamil language or Tamil literature subjects. With the 10-subject limit, they have to choose either one, as they already have nine compulsory subjects,” he told reporters in Pagoh yesterday.

Dr Subramaniam said that if Indian students were not allowed to take Tamil language and Tamil literature, some parties might exploit the issue.

He said for those in the Art stream, the new ruling would not pose a problem as they could take both the subjects and two others besides the six core subjects.

And this is what I heard him say last Sunday on TV2 in the interview show by Pandithurai:

MIC is still holding discussions with the ministry. For science stream students, they have to decide which two science subjects they want to take (meaning student already have an ambition or career in mind) if they want to take both Tamil subjects. For Arts stream students, he said not a problem, as there’s four elective places, meaning there two left after taking Tamil subjects.

Clearly, the stakeholders not very happy at the progress being made by MIC, until some guy from PKR wanted to burn an effigy of Dr Subra. There’s also a big protest planned on the 12th December at Wisma Peladang, Old Klang Road by various NGO groups:

More than 20 national Indian NGOs will stage a protest on Dec 12 at the Wisma Peladang in Petaling Jaya against a perceived grand plan to purge the Tamil language from the education system through the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).

The protest is over the government’s elimination of Tamil language and Tamil literature under the 10-subject SPM package system from next year.

The joint NGO group organizing chairman A. Thiruvenggadam (left) said because of the restrictive ruling, Indian students whose mother tongue is Tamil would not be able to sit for subjects in their language and this is not what 1 Malaysia is all about.

“The problem has arisen because the package is restricted to only 10 subjects. If an Indian student sits for nine subjects, he has only one more subject which can be used up for Tamil language, and will not be able to sit for Tamil Literature.

“And if the Indian student takes all 10 subjects there is no option at all for both the subjects,” he said in an interview with Malaysiakini.

The system of the 10 SPM Subject System, he said was a grand plan to eliminate Tamil as a vernacular language in Malaysia and this is not keeping with the 1Malaysia concept the government is propagating.

“It is totally unfair and an abuse of the education system to discard Tamil as a language spoken by a major component race of Malaysia. This is a ruling that will mark the progressive closure of Tamil schools in the country.

“Eventually, Tamil students will not be able to take Tamil as a language in STPM and university. This is another plan to eliminate Tamil totally out of the system,” he said on behalf of Indian NGOs.

Some of the NGOs jointly participating in the protest are the Malaysian Hindu Sangam, Malaysian Tamil Literature Association, Malaysian Dravidian Association, Hindu Dharma Maha Madhuram and several other Indian NGOs.

Most of the these NGOs constitution provides for the protection and propagation of the Tamil language and Tamil Literature in the community.

“When students are unable to take Tamil language there will not be enough Tamil teachers to teach Tamil in schools in future,” he added.

While it may not be just to eliminate Tamil language (I wondered if it got anything to do with BM borrowing heavily from Tamil and Sanskrit), I think the state has a responsibility to provide education of vernacular language to its citizen. We can’t be only interested on promoting multi-cultural aspect of our country, but not willing to invest on building those multi-cultural identities.

What I feel is also not right is this:

The only exceptions would be students in the joint science and religious stream who will be allowed to take 11 subjects next year until the curriculum is streamlined by 2011, after which they too will be able to take a maximum of 10 subjects.

Such leeway should be given to other students tamil vernacular language as well, while a proper solution is devised.

I’m also unhappy with these two fellows: Dr Ramasamy and MP Kapar Manikavasagam because was quiet all this while. Now, there’s a posting on MP Kapar’s blog and also Malaysiakini article featuring Dr Ramasamy. Where was the noise before this? Looks like cheap publicity for me.

Dr Subra claims that such protests and actions may jeopardise the effort of MIC, but I beg to differ. The NGOs and public should also voice out their unhappiness in some way, which will help MIC to promote its cause. And, the reality is, people not really trusting MIC now. Perhaps MIC could have started a poll or survey or mobilized its various branches to gauge feedback from parents. But no, its still in processing of changing, so no proactive effort there.

Even in Minnal FM program call-in session recently, parents and teachers also opposed the move, saying it will deter students from taking Tamil subjects.

As for current status, Dr Subra says this:

Dr Subramaniam said he had on Monday met officers from the Education Ministry, including its director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom, on the matter.

“We proposed that the Indian students be allowed to take 11 subjects, which would include Tamil and also Tamil Literature.

“However, the officials counter-proposed that the students wanting to sit these two papers could drop a subject, such as moral education or one of the four science subjects. We are not agreeable to this and this is why we are still in talks with the authorities.

I’m all for dropping Moral. Its a pathetic excuse for a subject!  Just take out Moral, and make it 4 core subjects (5 for Arts students). Or increase the subjects limit to 11 or 12. Is it so difficult? Another options is to allow student take language subjects separately (without SPM grading). A simple pass should be enough to provide the prerequisite for entering language related courses in IPTA or maktab, a workaround if you may. Something like MUET.

I have to repeat here: The state has a responsibility to ensure the multi-cultural heritage of the country is nurtured. One of the core elements is language. Instead of promoting growth of language, its seems to be the opposite. Its myopic to view language subjects as purely for examinations. In fact, why not make vernacular language as compulsory subject as well?

I hope Tamil proponents, ex-Tamil school students, NGOs, MIC’s 530,00 members, PKR’s members, DAP’s members, etc. all will turn up at Old Klang Road next weekend in a show of  force as voters of next general elections. That will be better than any discussion MIC can initiate.

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Brave questions by the Sikhs

November 26th, 2009
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I’m sure we remember the cabinet directive which has no legal effect during the case of  Indira? Remember her? The husband ran away with her 11 months old baby. After that, we don’t hear anything now. What happened to her and her kids?

And just yesterday, we read about the proposed amendments aimed at solving the conversion problem.

While the MCCBCHST did not directly ask any questions on the amendments, the Gurdwara Council did. And must say, really respect them for highlighting this:

The Malaysian Gurdwara Council has called on the government to state whether it is sticking to the April 23 directive that both parents must consent to a child’s conversion .

If so why is this not reflected in the proposed conversion laws, asked the council today.

On April 23, the cabinet had announced:

  • the religion of a child under 18 years of age would continue to be that at time of birth and one parent cannot convert the child unilaterally; and,
  • the converted spouse cannot use his conversion to run away from his obligations under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act, 1976, the law which have contracted their marriage.

However it was reported in the media on Tuesday, quoting a federal counsel of the Attorney General Chambers Mohamed Naser Disa, that the proposed amendment to Section 51(2) of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 included a suggestion that the civil court not be empowered to determine the religious status of a child when divorce between a Muslim and a non-Muslim couple takes place.

“The court could also decide on the custody right as stipulated under the constitution, where either the father or mother could determine the religious status of the child. Hence, the parent who has converted to Islam need to register their child as Muslim,” Mohd Nasier was quoted to have said.

The Malaysian Gurdwara Council president Harcharan Singh today said that they strongly oppose any provision allowing unilateral conversion of a child.

“Hence we reject any such proposed conversion laws. We also strongly oppose and reject any amendment allowing a child to be placed in an institution and hence negating the presumption a child below seven is best left with the mother,” he said.

Even a day old child can be converted

Harcharan said this would mean that even a day old child can be converted to Islam unilaterally by a single spouse.

“We do not think any religion allows conversion of such minors. Even the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia director-general Dr Syed Ali Taufik Al Attas had stated in a newspaper interview that “a child is deemed ignorant, cannot convert to Islam as the child does not understand the “Kalimah Syahadah” and cannot bear witness of his /her own free will and understanding.”

Harcharan said under Article 12 (4) of the federal constitution should be interpreted that a child can be converted only with agreement between both parents.

“If the law only provides that all that is needed is one parent’s consent for conversion to take place, then that would be unjust and undesirable,” he said.

Harcharan also said the Attorney-General should be working for all Malaysians and questioned why non-Muslim communities were being kept in the dark.

“The so called proposed amendments are being revealed only to one party. The other party who will be adversely affected is not being consulted or briefed, nor a copy of the proposed amendments given to them.”

“The cabinet should clarify whether the decision made on April 23 still stands. If it so why is this not reflected in the proposed conversion law?” Harcharan asked.

Tough questions for the authorities to answer. Why no transparency? Do they plan to just bulldoze the amendments and ignore any opinions/protests from the other groups? Or expect the other groups “to understand” and “look at the bigger picture”?

Not sure how this fits in the new tagline 1Malaysia. Doesn’t seem correct to me. Don’t tell me everything also need PM to step in and clarify!

Oh ya, where’s MIC ah? MIA again? They part of federal government, so surely will know something? Or were they too sidelined?

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Finally, they get some hope…

November 24th, 2009
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Not sure if readers remember the case of Bukit Kiara estate residents. After 23 years of staying TEMPORARILY in longhouses, there’s a glimmer of hope for them. Still need to wait two years (in time for next GE) for their actual own houses. Hopefully it will be a dream come true for them.

TAMIL Nesan reported that Bukit Kiara Estate residents who have been living in temporary longhouses for the past 23 years will be able to move into new houses in the next two years.

Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said the workers were moved to the longhouses after the estate was taken over by the Government for redevelopment.

They were promised houses and the longhouses were for an interim period of two years but the workers had been staying there for the past 23 years.

Saravanan said the 103 families would be given houses as promised. He said three locations had been identified within a 3km radius and the type of house to be built would depend on the land area.

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12 years effort to get Tamil language in USM

November 16th, 2009
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This is an interesting letter in Malaysiakini. I respect the spirit and effort of the students to persevere against the discrimination. Of course this is view of one person. Wonder what the university would say to this.

USM’s 12-year Tamil language saga

by Senthil Nathan

It was indeed very surprising that there are suggestions to make Japanese a third language whereas learning Mandarin will be much more useful and economical as well as universal. Mandarin-speakers are the largest in the world with over one billion of them.

This also makes us wonder if importance is being given to our own citizens and their cultures. Having ‘little Napoleons’ in various places only makes such simple things seems so difficult to be exercised.

On my personal experience in USM, for more than 30 years there, were many, many languages in the Pusat Bahasa. This included Arabic, French, Thai and many more foreign languages. For some reason, there were no Tamil language and when we enquired , the dean said there was a lack of support from students etc.

So to prove a point, student volunteers became part-time teachers to teach other students the language as a trial programme. Mind it, it was on personal basis as no club or even the Indian Cultural Society not willing to undertake this cause.

After one year, the classes had many students but the dean said, ‘We need to see statistics, please show us statistics’. So the second year was full of paperwork while the students-cum teachers ran their classes on Fridays from 12- 3pm for an entire year.

When presented with the statistics on attendance, the dean, simply said, ‘You did not have exams for the students, so there is proof the teaching was done properly’.

Third and fourth year volunteer teachers kept on with their Tamil-language private classes without fail and even streamlined four different levels and had exams for the students. All this was happening while they themselves had their own coursework and degrees to think about.

After applying for recognition from the university authorities for the fifth time, they realised that the authorities were simply delaying the approval hoping that the matter would eventually be forgotten after those who started it left the university upon graduation.

Nevertheless, the torch was passed from seniors to juniors who kept the work going and even recruited Chinese students who were at the mercy of the whims and fancy of the Pusat Bahasa management.

I was among those who came in the sixth year and stayed on until the ninth year. Seeing the dedication of the student/teachers and the unsupportive university authorities, we pushed the matter to the vice-chancellor who again told us to meet the dean.

Some students who graduated even continued with their masters just to ensure the success of this project but to no avail. No arguments were valid for the university authorities; they gave us all kind of excuses including the economic value of the Thai and Japanese languages compared to Tamil and unsupportive students once the language is offered (this is ironic, because they never tried offering it in the first place).

They even had the cheek to say students who took Tamil for SPM might score high results for the university Tamil paper examination.

After 12 years of non-stop effort, The Pusat Bahasa in USM finally accepted Tamil language as a paper and classes are now officially run. Thanks to the dynamic students who wanted to make a difference while sacrificing their quality time in university.

This has been entirely their effort from the start and it only proves that we have to struggle for what should have been given to us in the first place.

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