Meritocracy - Such a lonely word!!!!

Sounds familiar doesn't it? If I'm not mistaken the original singer of this song (Honesty) was Billy Joel. Anyway you can correct me if you like. I however would like to equate these two words - Honesty & Meritocracy. On the subject of scholarships one can get into a long drawn discussion and argument as well. However in my personal point of view if the Education Ministry just reverts to merits and not race and creed, only then we will see fair distribution of scholarships. Apart from just merits and results a further in depth study of affordability must also be a main criteria. Let us now look at the meaning of the word. Wikipedia terms scholarships as an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award. Criterias include:

Merit-based: These awards are based on a student's athletic, academic, artistic or other abilities, and often factor in an applicant's community service record and extracurricular activities. The most common merit-based scholarships, awarded by either private organizations or directly by a student's intended college, recognize academic achievement or high scores on the ACT and SAT standardized tests.[1]

Need-based: These awards are based on the student and family's financial record and will require applicants to fill out a FAFSA to qualify if the scholarship is a federal award. Private need-based scholarships will also often require the results of a FAFSA, which calculates a student's financial need through a formula looking at the expected family contribution and cost of attendance at the intended college.[2]

Student-specific: These are scholarships where applicants must initially qualify by race, gender, religion, family and medical history, or many other student-specific factors. Minority scholarships are the most common awards in this category, and not all are based in the United States. For example, students in Canada may qualify for a number of aboriginal scholarships, whether they study at home or abroad.[3]

Career-specific: These are scholarships awarded by a college or university to students planning to pursue a specific field of study. Often the most generous awards are given to students pursuing careers in high-need areas such as education or nursing. Nursing students are in high demand, and many schools will give future nurses full scholarships to enter the field, especially if the student intends to work in a high-need community

Now that we are clear on the meaning of the word can we now or should I say can the Education Ministry and in particular the Education Minister begin to understand that scholarships are not just based on quotas. In Malaysia's case more often than not it is based on race and quotas. This of course is just my point of view. Can the Ministry of Education really openly and honestly say that the selection process of awarding scholarships are based on the criteria stated above?? Sadly I think not, more so with people like Ibrahim Ali and his fellow followers of Perkasa around. Do these people even know the meaning of the word scholarship?? Furthermore I know of many young Malay Malaysians who have been successful in life without any helping hand from the Federal Government or agencies. I am so very sure they will feel insulted with comments made by Ibrahim Ali.
Enough on politics and cheap publicity, let us focus on the subject being discussed, what is the criteria being used by the Federal Government in the award of Scholarships?? Is there a guideline? If there is why is this guideline not made public? Let us be fair for all Malaysians living under the Malaysian Sun. If our children merit an award of a scholarship they should not be denied be they Malay, Chinese, Indian or any other race. Why are they, the children made victims of whims and fancies of politicians?? Or why are they being used for the sake of getting the politicians their '15 minutes of fame'!! Scream and Shout all you like, what matters most is the education of our future generations. Sadly however this is not the case, the fact of the matter is sadly parliamentarians on both sides of the house are more interested in getting sensational headlines rather than tackling the problem at hand.
Have a basis or guideline for the award of scholarships that is what all Malaysians want. These guidelines or criteria must be publicised if not gazetted for all students and parents. Until this is done whats the point of accusing each other of sedition or going against the Federal Constitution.

Ibrahim Ali - Learn your history!!!!

I am full of disgust at this insolent, un-educated, crass and racist member of parliament. How can he blatantly say that only the Malays fought for independence!!! How can he proclaim that ONLY his forefathers sacrificed for the Independence that we now enjoy. Every citizen be they malay, chinese, indian or whatever race he or she may have been fought and sacrificed for the Independence of Malaysia!!! I for one can proudly say that I have even served Malaysia in the Armed Forces (in the Royal Malaysian Navy to be more specific) for 16 years of my life laying my life on the line on more than one occasion, has he even placed his life on the line for the country even once in his life???? Such insolence and stupidity more so coming from a member of parliament only goes to show the level of maturity, knowledge and common decency which walk the once exalted corridors of power in the August House. He claims to be a Jaguh Kampung, championing the rights of the Malays in Malaysia however does he really and truly represent all Malays as so he claims??? Or does he only represent certain sections within the Malay Community??? Championing only certain or selected issues which only benefits himself and people he claims he represents???? Why has he stayed silent on the issue of sports betting?? Is it because he is one of the board members of the many companies connected to Vincent Tan??? Why the silence on that issue YB Ibrahim??? You say you are a Jaguh Kampung, you say whatever you do you do for the love of the malays but how come you are silent on this particular issue??? Bukankah semua orang Melayu beragama Islam?? Adakah Islam menghalalkan judi?? Sudah semestinya sebagai seorang Melayu yang beragama Islam isu lesen perjudian ini harus ditentang sepenuhnya oleh YB kerana bukankan negara kita Malaysia majoritinya Melayu Islam???? To me personally you are nothing but a loud mouth insolent and rude person who cares not what other people think or feel. Not that I am a supporter of our Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak but I still salute him in his decision to deny Vincent Tan the sports betting licence. For once he has heard the cry of the people, it may be due to political pressure non the less its a decision which I as a Rakyat applaud. You on the other hand are nothing more than an opportunist, looking for cheap publicity at the expense of the loyal people who have voted you in to the position you are in now. I can only pray and hope that you will get your 'balasan' one fine day. REMEMBER you were voted in, the people of your constituency put you where you are, they can also remove you. All I can hope for is that people of your constituency will reflect and think twice again when its time to vote. Wassallam

Troubled and Worried

Fearful and worried is all I can feel for the future of our beloved Malaysia. Day in and day out we continue to hear, see and read of the many troubles which we ordinary rakyat are facing or are about to face in the coming years. Never before are we so divided along racial lines as we are now. The worse thing about it is the Powers That Be Are Perpetuating or in simple words making things worse!!! Ministers keep contradicting themselves day in and day out. One minister says this and the other contradicts him. Whats even more worrisome is that even the Prime Minister is being contradicted by his own cabinet members. Matters or issues being contradicted are of a wide range of issues which effect the rakyat as a whole. From betting licenses to scholarships for budding students. How can we the rakyat have any confidence in the government which is supposedly representing us, being held responsible as the custodians of our natural resources and more importantly holding the future of our children in their hands???
Do these ministers not understand that they are dealing with a new generation of Malaysians who are more educated, aware and sensitive to what is happening around them??? Do they still think that we still depend on the main stream media as our only avenue of information??? Presumably they still do, judging by how these ministers behave and make statements. Even professionals like Idris Jala are being rubbished for forecasting what we are facing in the coming years, even though his presentation was based real figures and statistics. A professional like Idris Jala doesn't make statements to the public if he hasn't done his homework so to speak. Sure, his presentation may have been based on worst case scenarios but then again should it not be done in that manner??? Again I must reiterate that I'm no economist neither am I qualified to justify Idris Jala's presentation. However I would sooner believe Idris Jala than anyone else.
I make a decent living for myself, saving as much as I can for the sake and future of both my boys. I'm sure there are many Malaysians like me out there, slogging hard to ensure their future as well as their future generations. What on the other hand is the present government doing to help simple Malaysians like us??? They talk of spending billions on projects supposedly to uplift the economy but in the next breath they say there isn't enough money to help brilliant students who can't afford tertiary education??? They talk of increasing or improving the standard of education but what is being spent on the education system??? No pomp and pageantry there!!!! All we see, hear and read about is the billions that the government is going to spend on white elephants which no doubt will only benefit those closely related to the people who walk the corridors of power.
They ask why there is an exodus of young brilliant Malaysians overseas???? Is it not clear the reason why??? I speak for myself of course when I say that I'm worried and troubled but I am pretty sure there are many fathers like me out there who feel the same way. However although I earn enough to be part of the exodus of Malaysians to greener pastures I AM STAYING!!!! I will never ever give up on Malaysia!! This is my homeland. No one can tell me otherwise!!! If it takes my life I will fight for equal rights for me and for all Malaysian Fathers like myself wanting to see our future generations prosper in their own land. No greedy, selfish politician is going to run me off from my beloved Malaysia!!!!

Are We Really Concerned??

How concerned are we as Malaysians with the future of our beloved Malaysia???? Thank God for the alternative media i.e the internet where we as Malaysians are not exclusively fed with what the ruling government wants us to see, read and believe. With the internet now we are privy to both sides of the divide where the politicians are concerned. Lets not delve on this subject of the Main Stream Media vs The Alternative Media for now. Today let us ask ourselves are we truly concerned with the wellbeing of our country and her future???
My previous post was about Malaysia going bankrupt in 9 years time. A harsh reality which I am coming to terms with. I believe it will happen as it has been forecasted by an individual who is qualified, learned, experienced, knowledgeable and has an impeccable track record. The ruling government has retorted and more or less rubbished his forecast as we have seen in the main stream media. However it has to be noted that facts and figures used in it's reply or retort so to speak don't add up!!! Now I'm no economist, neither am I even a diploma or degree holder. However I have been in the workforce a good 20 years and that in itself holds me in good stead to decided who is right or wrong.
Which now brings me to my topic of the day (sorry for the long mukadimah hehehe). Are we as Malaysians (tak kiralah Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Dayak, Orang Asli or anything else) really concerned??? If we truly are concerned what are we doing about it?? I have to admit I myself have not registered myself as a voter. In fact I have never voted in my life (although I THINK my vote has been utilized more than once without my knowledge by me being in the Royal Malaysian Navy for 16 years via postal votes). Still, can we really say we are doing our part in ensuring that the country doesn't disintegrate like Zimbabwe and Greece?? We as the Rakyat always seem to forget that we hold the key, politicians depend on us to ensure that they stay where they are in the corridors of power. It is neither their birthright nor god given right to say that they belong in their current position. It is us the rakyat that put them there. If we are not happy we can kick them out, put them on the street so to speak. WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO MY FELLOW MALAYSIANS!!!!
Currently those who walk the corridors of power seem to think that they are untouchable. No one can remove them from their current positions as WAKIL RAKYAT. I REPEAT WAKIL RAKYAT - Which means the peoples' representative!!!! They represent us. They should in fact serve us and NOT THEMSELVES which sadly and disappointingly seems to be the case at the moment. They are treated with such reverence and respect it's shameful to say the least!!! It's as if they are godlike in nature when in fact again I reiterate it is us THE RAKYAT who put them where they are!!!! I have travelled far and wide and no where in the world does a peoples' representative get so much attention and reverence like the wakil rakyats in Malaysia!!! It's as if they hold the key to our survival when in fact it us the rakyat who should determine their survival.
I beg my fellow Malaysians to open their minds, hearts and eyes especially. We live in a country rich with natural resources, rich with culture and traditions. Let us be fair this time to OURSELVES. I am neither advocating nor asking or even worse forcing any of my fellow Malaysians to back and support the opposition. All I ask is for us to ask ourselves are we really helping to make our country better, safer and prosperous for ourselves and our future generations? Or do we just continue to sit back and let things deteriorate. UNSHACKLE your minds and hearts my fellow Malaysians. Do we as the Rakyat want our rich resources squandered, wasted and pillaged by those who walk the corridors of power for their own benefit??? When in fact all this richness belongs to all of us who walk under the Malaysian Sun. I remind myself as well as like minded fellow Malaysians whom I consider brothers and sisters irrespective of race, creed or religion. It is us, we the Rakyat who determines our destiny or where we go from here.
We often hear that we are nothing, powerless against those who are in power. Alone I must admit we are powerless, alone yes we are nothing. However if we as the Rakyat are truly Concerned and want to safeguard our future generations we have to stand up, make ourselves heard and counted.
Let there be no stone left unturned, let there be no one spared from prosecution if there is proof of misdeeds. WE need and must demand for the return of our beloved Malaysia. Malaysia does not belong to a select few or those connected to the selected few. It belongs to all of us!!!! Nothing comes easy, we have to fight for what we want. Fight for what is fair and good. Listen not to what they who walk the corridors of power only want us to hear, but listen instead to our hearts and soul. Let us be true to ourselves, realize and begin to believe we are the ones in power. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step someone once said, our first step as children of Malaysia is to make that first step to believe. We have to believe we can save our beloved Malaysia. Let us all take that first defining step to save her, save Malaysia!!!!