Dr. Cheah’s Pages

Foolish Mimicry

It disappoints me that our current university student population is polarising themselves to the conventional pro and anti establishment. This displays a paucity of ideas, following a political landscape that is currently fraught with bigotry and corruption.

If the pro-Mahasiswa team was so dissatisfied with the e-voting system, then they should have protested its use before the election and not after they have lost. Despite accusations that the e-voting system was unfair, I feel that this technological advance is necessary and should be utilised in the General Elections to come. Advocating a return to paper ballots is a regressive move.

The university authorities should display transparency in this e-voting process in order to avoid inviting criticisms of unfairness. Shrouding the process in secrecy will no doubt be a signal of an intention to deceive. It should be free from political influences from within and without the university.

The university should encourage a healthy debate of ideas. This will not only encourage the surfacing of new and innovative ideas but certainly improve tolerance of differing views.

Break free from the current political imprisonment as a result of years of shackling the press and oppression of free speech. Let the university election be a glimpse of a nascent generation of mature individuals thriving in a developed nation.

As of now, it is only a foolish mimicry of infantile politics.

University Elections

Universities have traditionally been the hotbed of political activism. Therefore student elections are often a warring turf for political parties. The senior academics, many of whom have political affiliations or were elected to their office by political sources, often take sides silently.

This disputed ground is never to be taken lightly as it can potentially form the basis of the future political landscape. However, freedom of speech remains an abstract term with the disciplinary whip subtlely visible.

What disappoints me is that the candidates often imitate the infantile mentality of their adult counterparts in the political world. They resort to street processions rather than intellectual discussions. Many of them lack substance and originality and cements the idea of puppetry at work.

The university should be an exclusive zone where ideas should be allowed to flourish rather than be shackled by the academics, whom are themselves leashed by higher authorities. Students must learn to tackle sensitive issues with maturity and decorum rather than the hullabaloo we see whenever a sensitive issue crops up.

The ability to tackle difficult issues with dignity is a hallmark of a developed nation. Much of it remains a dream as of now.

Language Proficiency Test for foreigners

Singapore sets English test for foreigners in service industry
SINGAPORE, Jan 24 – To provide good customer service, what should you do when speaking with a customer? This question – which requires an oral answer – is a sample from an English proficiency test.

From July, foreign workers in three industries must pass it in order to get a work permit as a skilled worker. The industries are hotel, food and beverage, and retail.

The test will have two components, speaking and listening.

If a worker attains “skilled” status, his employer will save $90 a month on the foreign worker levy.

Read more

How many times have we tried in vain to convey a simple message across and gave up in the end? I think that it is a valid policy for Malaysia to adopt especially in the service industry. A basic competency test in either English or Bahasa Malaysia should be a compulsory item for the issuance of a work permit in Malaysia.

Corruption, the bane of Malaysia

It is sad that MACC continues to scrutinise high profile politicians from the Pakatan Rakyat alone. On the other hand, Barisan’s transgressions are often overlooked.

Najib’s promise to wrest Selangor from PR in whatever way possible rings clear. Perhaps this is one way to paint a picture of corruption to hoodwink the general public into believing that PR is inept at administering the country. The threat of PR winning the next general election is surely the top worry of Barisan at this moment. Any opportunity to discredit the PR representative will surely be fully utilised.

I have said it many times before and will say it again. The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission will not have any credibility so long as it remains under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department and the head elected by the ruling Government itself. Any attempts by the MACC to come clean will be negated by its role within the Prime Minister’s Department.

Despite calls to have a more transparent and dependable anticorruption force, Barisan has apart from changing the name Anti Corruption Agency to its current one, has failed to assure the general public that they are serious in tackling corruption.

For decades now, our wealth has been siphoned by individuals with ties to the powerful elite. What we could have done with the money is much, so much more than what Malaysia has achieved to date. We have fallen by the wayside as countries which were previously not in the same league are now leapfrogging us.

I say it is time to stop the rot!! Enough is enough!

Stop destroying the country

Every arson attack puts Malaysia in a new all time low. The masterminds behind these attacks may have their personal agenda but every Malaysian stands to lose from this saga. The negative perception that the international community harbours will hurt our economic potential.

To the Catholic administrators, you do not need to consult the Bishops from another country to decide if you need to pursue to matter. They may not understand the intricacies of this country and will certainly not have the country’s best interest at heart. Serve with greater wisdom, not as a blind servants of God.

To the arsonists, what you are doing is in itself contrary to the teachings of your religion. There is no intention to confuse Muslims. Much of the hype has been generated by self serving politicians whom are desperate to score brownie points by purportedly defending Islam. The word Allah has been used for decades especially in Borneo and the court ruling clearly stipulates that the Herald is only to be circulated amongst Christians. So much of the drummed up threat is to me a ploy to turn a relatively benign issue into a jihadist movement.

We all love Malaysia and we hate to see it go down the drain.

My 2 cents

The current debate and the term Allah has caught international attention. The Catholics in Malaysia is fighting to use the word Allah in their Malay language translations for the benefit of those especially in Sabah and Sarawak. In this saga, they have taken a role of de facto leader for the Christian community in Malaysia, a role that I personally do not agree with.

Having grown up mostly as a Christian, I have never recalled using the word Allah for the translation of God. There were songs in Malay and the word used was Tuhan. The current furore that this has generated should prompt the Catholic authorities to rethink their claims. Even in the English language, we call God by many different names from Jehovah, God the Father, God the Almighty etc. This does not mean we are praying to an entirely different God each time we call him differently.

If the leaders in the Catholic church have enough sense, they should at least relent on this occasion. Pushing their agenda will only cause more turmoil and hatred towards Christians in general. This is certainly not the brightest way to fight for God.

Sad day for Malaysia

How many of us remember the times when we needed to defend our country, Malaysia? Despite the ills that plague it, there are bright spots to be proud of. The brightest of them is the diversity in ethnicity, culture and religion, which has given us the culinary delights and the joyous occasion of different celebrations.

Unfortunately events of late has cast doubts on the beautiful facade of such a diverse nation, with hatred and intolerance brewing beneath a calm exterior. The slightest spark igniting a fire that can potentially erase decades of nation building, driving the wedge deeper among her people.

What has become of Malaysia? It is times like this that we need to pray for cooler heads to prevail. Those that love the country should stand united in condemning this act. No religion condones such dastardly acts and the pious should distance themselves from this.

Let us all pray for Malaysia and ask that God gives each of us peace in our hearts and for good to prevail over evil. Let not the defile few stain the sanctity of each of our religions.

God help us.