10 theSun | TUESDAY MAY 5 2009

speak up!
Race relations in Malaysia: The path ahead
letter
letters@thesundaily.com

Give priority to
quality education
THE management of education since Merdeka
seems to have been done at the expense of quality
though it is less elitist now and available to every
Malaysian child.
In science, we learn that volume decreases as
pressure increases through Boyle’s Law. It is almost
always the same when we talk about quality and
quantity in most things unless it is consciously man-
aged and planned. A mother can cook a splendid
dish for her family of five but she may not be able to
do the same for a crowd of five hundred unless she
uses the same ingredients proportionately and uses
cooking utensils that are much larger and employs
other necessary skills and techniques that are
required for large-scale food preparations.
In a similar vein, education in Malaysia has
become a victim of this quality versus quantity
axiom. It is undeniable and commendable that the
government has spent considerably large propor-
tions of the GNP on education and resultantly, the
number of schools and also the number of institu-
tions of higher learning have grown impressively
since the Merdeka years. These gains can easily
be translated into statistics and proved but, sad to
say, the quality of education has not kept abreast
with this growth.
In my school days in the 1950’s, one was much
respected if a student could score just one distinc-
tion in examinations. Of course today, we see quite
a few students, no doubt through sheer diligence,
walking away with distinctions beyond the dozen
counts in public examinations. I do not believe that
this is a true indicator of the improvement in quality
as much as I would like to believe so.
Quality is an elusive element to assess in educa-
tion as it is not an element that is as easily tangible
as quantity. I hope that the new education minister
will concentrate more on this area by improving the
quality of education at all levels from kindergarten
to university. To do this well, he may want to consult
prominent educators such as Emeritus Professor
Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim and like-minded educators
and educationists while they are still around. Here
I would like to quote the late education icon, Tan
Sri Dr Murad Mohammad Nor, who was once the
director general of education in Malaysia.
He said: “Aspek yang paling mustahak dalam soal
mengimplementasikan mana-mana satu rancangan
adalah pihak guru. Jika pihak guru tidak dapat men-
yampaikan nya dengan baik, maka rancangan itu
tidak akan berguna walaupun rancangan itu begitu
baik sekali pun.”
The quality of teachers and the teacher educa-
tion process itself is one area that the education
minister may want to start with so that we can do
a turnabout in the quality of education in Malaysia
too.
Johami Abdullah
Seremban
Focus on the big picture
by K.K.Tan and advance society for the provocations and insults are outlawed
Beyond benefit of all. there.
IN ORDER to see the “big If we agree that it is An important obstacle to overcome in
picture” ahead and decide Race absolutely vital to have ra- Malaysia to achieve genuine racial unity
where we are going, we need A new perspective cial unity for our collective is the concept of “racial supremacy”,
to understand where we came survival and advancement, which has been confused with the social
from and where we are now. anyone who tries to use the contract or even the NEP.
The understanding of the country’s race card to inflame or divide the people As stated before, there is no such
history from a correct perspective is im- is undermining the interest not just of his thing as a superior or supreme race on
portant to ensure that racial politics does or her own race – but also the national an objective basis. From a subjective
not get out of hand and drag the country purpose and the integrity of the nation. standpoint, the promotion of racial su-
down into chaos and anarchy. The government, political parties, premacy is usually manifested in racial
The Chinese and Indians came dur- civil servants, NGOs, community leaders arrogance and it is often backed up with
ing the colonial time, before Merdeka, to and practically every Malaysian have a lies, distortions and propaganda.
Fiat aims work and contribute to developing the role to play in national unity. There will Hitler used the superiority of the
country and the economy. They fought be new, unexpected and sensitive racial so-called Aryan race and look at the suf-
to create for independence alongside the Malays and religious issues. How such issues fering he created for Germany and the
global and other bumiputras. are handled and resolved by the authori- world. The former apartheid regime in
giant ALL races in the old Malaya con- ties (with new policies if necessary) will South Africa used the superiority of the
tributed to securing independence from set the tone for racial unity or disunity in whites over the blacks to justify racism
with GM the British. ALL races contributed in future. The attitude and approach would and see the sufferings and injustices
pg 12 building up and developing the country. be more important than using any laws, it created for the black people in that
ALL races contributed and even sacri- policies or the bureaucracy to tackle any country.
ficed their lives during the communist such issue. Zionism uses its own historical and
insurgency and the Confrontation with Justice, fair play and sensitivity are religious interpretations to claim for the
Indonesia in 1963. Our nation’s peace, fundamental principles in resolving any Jews their right as their God’s “chosen
security, relative prosperity and freedom racial or religious issue. Racial unity people” to occupy, expel and oppress
today were achieved by the contribution must be accompanied by social justice as the Palestinians and look what a terrible
and sacrifice of our forefathers of ALL well; any form of national unity without mess and the injustices they have cre-
races. justice is superficial and unsustainable. ated for the Middle East.
An important question we should ask Race-based parties must come to My article on Jan 15, “Racism a key
ourselves is “what is the basis of racial terms that sooner or later, they need to factor”, explained that the atrocities
unity?” or “why is racial unity impor- reform or re-invent themselves to stay committed by the Israeli regime against
tant?” We should not take for granted or relevant and one important principle the Palestinians in the recent Gaza offen-
assume that everyone understands the is to become multiracial in form and sive could only be attributed to racism or
substance. the racist superior attitude of the Zionist
“What is the basis of racial unity?” or Resolution of any issue must cut regime. Ask any Palestinian what the
“why is racial unity important?” We across racial lines. The focus must concept of Zionist racial supremacy
always be on the big picture, the sum means to them, they will tell you that it
should not take for granted or assume that
of all parts and how to create a bigger is their number one enemy.
everyone understands the need for national cake for all. From the perspective of history from
unity. If national unity serves no bigger national The 1Malaysia concept must be ap- around the world, in each and every
purpose other than merely tolerating one plied in true spirit and practical imple- case, “racial arrogance oppresses and
another, then why bother to give priority to it? mentation as well. Any specific action absolute racial arrogance oppresses
or policy must be judged by the result of absolutely”. Racial arrogance is a dan-
need for national unity. If national unity achieving greater unity and justice and gerous pitfall that Malaysians of all races
serves no bigger national purpose other not by “playing to the gallery”. must avoid at all cost.
than merely tolerating one another, then Any new affirmative policies and We need to stick to the fundamental
why bother to give priority to it? actions must help the poor bumiputras principle that we are all human beings
We need racial unity in order for the in the true sense of the meaning and first and foremost. Our common des-
people to work together and co-operate the poor of all other races should also tiny in working together in facing the
meaningfully to ensure the nation’s eco- be helped and not be sidelined or ne- challenges as one nation, as espoused
nomic survival and competitiveness in glected. recently in the 1Malaysia concept, far
the ever-changing globalised world. We Any attempt to play the race card outweighs any perceived differences we
need unity for the fabric of our society to must be vigorously opposed by all po- may have. It is the ONLY path ahead.
be harmonious and peaceful for all of us litical parties. Perhaps, there should be
to live happily and enjoy life. We need some new punitive laws to deter such The writer is the CEO of a think-tank
unity to face all external challenges such actions to racially insult and instigate and strategic consultancy firm based in
as in trade, security and geopolitical ri- others. Freedom and democratic rights, Kuala Lumpur. He can be contacted at
valries. We need unity to further develop even in the West are not absolute. Racial kktan22@hotmail.com.

Hillary Clinton takes on the ‘Mad Mullah’

by Eric S. Margolis
THE Taliban are coming! The Tali-
ban are coming!
French troops in Afghanistan
were last week rocketed by Taliban.
A week earlier, a bunch of lightly-
armed Pashtun tribesmen rode
down from the Malakand region on
motorcycles and pickup trucks and
briefly swaggered around Buner,
only 100km from Pakistan’s capitol,
Islamabad.
Hysteria erupted in Washington.
Hillary Clinton, still struggling
through foreign affairs 101, warned
these scruffy tribesmen were a glo-
bal threat. Pakistan’s generals duti-
fully followed Washington’s orders
by attacking the tribal miscreants in
Buner who failed to obey the Ameri-
can Raj.
For context, may I immodestly
refer Clinton to page 30 of my book,
War at the Top of the World: “In the
first quarter of the 20th century...
two wonderfully colourful figures
emerged from the barren mountains
of the Northwest Frontier. First, a
fiery holy man with a wonderful
name, the Fakir of Ipi. The old fakir
rallied the Pashtun tribes against the
infidel and came within a turban’s
length of taking Peshawar from the
British, who spent a decade chasing
the elusive fakir through the moun-
tains of Waziristan.
“Then, a fearsome figure, the
‘Mad Mullah’ (as the British press
branded him), who rode down from
the Malakand Pass at the head of
20,000 savage horsemen, determined
to put the impious city of Peshawar
(the main British imperial base) to
the sword.”
A century later, western imperial
forces are again chasing unruly Pa-
shtun tribesmen on the wild North-
west Frontier. Today, they’re called
“terrorists”.
Pashtun (aka Pathan) frontier
tribes – collectively mislabelled
“Taliban” by western media – are up
in arms again because they are be-
ing bombed by US Predator drones,
and attacked by the Pakistani Army,
which the US rents for US$1.5 billion
(RM5.3 billion) annually, to support
its widening war in Afghanistan.
Pashtun civilian casualties – “col-
lateral damage” in Pentagonspeak over the rest of Pakistan. pretext of “fighting Islamic terror-
– are rising fast. But Washington’s ham-handed ism”.
The primary cause of the grow- tactics in Afghanistan and Pakistan Everyone now asks, “are Paki-
ing rebellion in Northwest Frontier are creating a bigger storm: a na- stan’s nuclear weapons safe?” Yes.
Province is the US war in Afghani- tional revolution in Pakistan against They are heavily guarded by crack
stan, which is rapidly spreading the western-backed feudal oligarchy army units and the intelligence
into Pakistan. Most Pakistanis see that has ruled it since 1947. service and will remain so unless
the Afghan Taliban and their own Pakistan is among the world’s the army splits in a power struggle.
rebellious Pashtun as heroes fighting poorest nations. Half its people are Pakistan’s nukes cannot be armed
western domination, and scorn their illiterate. Most subsist on US$1.13 without special security codes.
own isolated leaders in Islamabad as (RM4) daily. The feudal landowning My esteemed colleague and
working for the Yankee dollar. elite, only 0.5% of the population, regional expert, Arnaud de Borch-
holds over 90% of grave, warns Pakistan could become
But Washington’s ham-handed national wealth. Cor-
ruption engulfs every-
another Iran. I’m not so sure. Islamic
parties have never commanded
tactics in Afghanistan and thing. Democracy is a much support. But Pakistan is headed
Pakistan are creating a bigger storm: a sham; the legal system into very dangerous waters.
national revolution in Pakistan against a cruel joke.
Islamic law,
As for the US-led crusade in Af-
ghanistan and Northwest Frontier,
the western-backed feudal oligarchy however, draconian, recall the words of Victorian poet
offers the only justice of the British Raj, Rudyard Kipling:
that has ruled it since 1947. that cannot be bought. “Asia is not going to be civilised after
Growing resistance the methods of the West. There is too
Even the British Imperial Raj’s movements in Northwest Frontier much Asia and she is too old.”
most junior officer knew it was fool- and Baluchistan call for national
hardy to provoke warlike Pashtun. leadership that represents Pakistan’s Eric S. Margolis is a contributing
But Washington has done just this. rather than western interests. Paki- editor to the Toronto Sun chain of
Still, the Pashtun “Taliban” have no stanis are humiliated by being forced newspapers, writing mainly about
influence outside their Northwest by the US and Britain to wage war the Middle East and South Asia. Com-
Frontier and are not about to take against their own people under the ments: letters@thesundaily.com