Friday, April 24, 2009

THANK YOU MR. PRIME MINISTER, BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH...........


Kudos and congratulations to the esteemed Y.A.B. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak and the government for the recent liberalization steps taken on 27 services sub sectors. This is indeed a far reaching decision and will further strengthen the country’s image in the international business and trade communities such as the Asean Economic Community and the World Trade Organization which Malaysia is a member of. Such a move is timely and expedient considering the current challenges and turmoil of the global business and financial sectors. These steps will the stepping stone for increased competitiveness and value enhanced services to brighten Malaysia’s opportunity to become investor’s choice destination.

However there remains much to be done to make sure this steps aim and objectives fulfil its optimum potential. The policies instituted are only as good as its implementation agents. One of the main thrusts of development of a country’s resources is of course its education system. As long as the best and brightest are not given priority and aid then it’s a leakage of the nation’s pivotal strength of human resource development. In the long run it will lead to a brain drain that will reach critical levels and also cause competitiveness and performance levels to be lower than it should be. The consequence of this will be the overall deterioration of the nation’s competitive edge.

Just as the government has reviewed and rescinded the above mentioned policies it should also take a closer look at the countries education system make similar adjustments to help make sure that the cream of Malaysia students get the necessary help to empower themselves to further fulfil their potential. If not the government, then who? Is the questions on the minds of countless parents who have had their hearts broken because policy dictates their children who worked and studied hard to achieve flying coloured results still didn’t get the places public in universities and critical courses. For example the Matriculation centres for learning only allocate 10% of their seats for non Malays. This is one aspect of policy that should be relooked at. Besides that, a more transparent process of the university intakes could also be considered.

Although it is understandable that the government needs to balance its need for meritocracy and achieving its social restructuring agenda which is the aim of the NEP yet there must be some recourse for students who have achieved results and do not have the means for furthering their academic careers due to financial considerations. After all these children are Malaysians too and deserve to get the same opportunities as other Malaysians. This in a nutshell would be the ultimate fruition of the 1Malaysia concept in action. This being said it would be ideal that all students regardless of race, gender and religion will get equal opportunity in furthering their studies based on achievement alone. Policies that reward excellence will not only be good for the country but also strengthen the will of all students to work hard knowing that their efforts will be rewarded by the state.

It is with great hope and expectation that the country embraces the new Prime Minister and his style of leadership. His foresight and political will thus far has won many admirers among the masses and also the naysayers. Such continued policy restructuring and implementation will ensure that the countries drive towards being a fully developed nation by 2020 and also a testament to the successful integration of the 1Malaysia ideal into the general Malaysian society will be a realized success for sure.
MY VIEWS......
We want to fish and all we need is the rod and the bait and we will go to the river and get the fish our self.
We believe we can, just show us where the river is.