Being Critical of Faculty-The Malay Mail Online
NOV 1, 2013 — It had to happen.
First, it was the proclamation of Malaysia as the best democracy in the world. It was followed by accusations of gerrymandering of constituencies, reintroduction of detention without trial and a RM 1 million fine for civil servants and journalists for revealing anything about the workings of the government to the public.
Then, it was the proclamation of Malaysia as the most moderate Muslim country, a shining beacon for the rest of the Islamic world. It was followed by the arson of churches, the banning of the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims, the threatened arrest of Syiah Muslims professing their faith in public and the rise of Perkasa as the untouchable hero of Malay-Muslim superiority.
Finally, it was the proclamation of Malaysia having the best educational system in the world. It was followed by a consistent fall in Malaysian university rankings, the dropping of English as a medium of instruction and the increasing unemployability of Malaysian graduates. And last week, the awarding of a honorary doctorate to that world renowned democrat, Kim Jong Un of North Korea by HELP University.
In some ways the Home Minister seems to have hit the nail on the head with his “We shoot first” remark. Never mind if the reality is the exact opposite as is the intention, the leadership whether political, religious or educational seems to believe if the most outrageous statements are made first, uncomfortable ideas such as the truth can subsequently be safely ignored. Why do these people believe that reality has no bearing on their public pronouncements?
Simply put, because it doesn’t. There are a few reasons for this, the most obvious one being the notoriously short public memory. Before the election: Goodies galore, promises aplenty. After the election: Stern finger wagging, belt tightening and homage to long term prosperity on the back of short term pain. Chin Peng: Absolute vilification of communism. President Xi Jinping of China: Gushing obsequience.
In Malaysia the public and leadership alike seem to live entirely in the present. There is very little sense of history and therefore very little ability to predict the future. Take what is given now, moan when it is taken away and rejoice when it is reinstated. Never ask if there is a deeper purpose behind all of this. It applies equally to the distribution of money, rights and freedoms. It is almost as if the critical faculty is missing in the main body politic. Why can a great mass of people be snubbed at every turn with silence, half-truths and outright lies with no consequence for the perpetrators?
As always, the answer seems to lie in the education system. Is it a coincidence that the education ministry is seen to be the most important, where there is endless experimentation, secrecy and political manoeuvring? The hallmarks of the system are rote learning, emphasis on a language of instruction deficient in critical reference material, low emphasis on history and a high emphasis on “listen, listen, listen.”
It is clear that the intended output of the system is a populace that is placid, easily satisfied and complacent in its own assumed superiority. Objective truth, critical reasoning and global realities are for the rest of the world. So why be critical of a faculty that honours by all accounts one of the worst regimes in the world, when the whole educational system refuses to encourage the development of critical faculties amongst its students?
Unfortunately for a small country with an increasingly trade and export dependent economy, continuing down this path could have very serious repercussions down the road. When the people do not question, hubris among the leaders invariably follows. A deep fall is generally the consequence.
When the ludicrous becomes everyday, be very afraid.
Then, it was the proclamation of Malaysia as the most moderate Muslim country, a shining beacon for the rest of the Islamic world. It was followed by the arson of churches, the banning of the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims, the threatened arrest of Syiah Muslims professing their faith in public and the rise of Perkasa as the untouchable hero of Malay-Muslim superiority.
Finally, it was the proclamation of Malaysia having the best educational system in the world. It was followed by a consistent fall in Malaysian university rankings, the dropping of English as a medium of instruction and the increasing unemployability of Malaysian graduates. And last week, the awarding of a honorary doctorate to that world renowned democrat, Kim Jong Un of North Korea by HELP University.
In some ways the Home Minister seems to have hit the nail on the head with his “We shoot first” remark. Never mind if the reality is the exact opposite as is the intention, the leadership whether political, religious or educational seems to believe if the most outrageous statements are made first, uncomfortable ideas such as the truth can subsequently be safely ignored. Why do these people believe that reality has no bearing on their public pronouncements?
Simply put, because it doesn’t. There are a few reasons for this, the most obvious one being the notoriously short public memory. Before the election: Goodies galore, promises aplenty. After the election: Stern finger wagging, belt tightening and homage to long term prosperity on the back of short term pain. Chin Peng: Absolute vilification of communism. President Xi Jinping of China: Gushing obsequience.
In Malaysia the public and leadership alike seem to live entirely in the present. There is very little sense of history and therefore very little ability to predict the future. Take what is given now, moan when it is taken away and rejoice when it is reinstated. Never ask if there is a deeper purpose behind all of this. It applies equally to the distribution of money, rights and freedoms. It is almost as if the critical faculty is missing in the main body politic. Why can a great mass of people be snubbed at every turn with silence, half-truths and outright lies with no consequence for the perpetrators?
As always, the answer seems to lie in the education system. Is it a coincidence that the education ministry is seen to be the most important, where there is endless experimentation, secrecy and political manoeuvring? The hallmarks of the system are rote learning, emphasis on a language of instruction deficient in critical reference material, low emphasis on history and a high emphasis on “listen, listen, listen.”
It is clear that the intended output of the system is a populace that is placid, easily satisfied and complacent in its own assumed superiority. Objective truth, critical reasoning and global realities are for the rest of the world. So why be critical of a faculty that honours by all accounts one of the worst regimes in the world, when the whole educational system refuses to encourage the development of critical faculties amongst its students?
Unfortunately for a small country with an increasingly trade and export dependent economy, continuing down this path could have very serious repercussions down the road. When the people do not question, hubris among the leaders invariably follows. A deep fall is generally the consequence.
When the ludicrous becomes everyday, be very afraid.
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