Letters: Merit has no relevance in Malaysian universities

Malaysiakini, Kuala Lumpur

LETTERS: Merit has no relevance in local varsities
Prof P Ramasamy Nov 11, 2005

All the public universities in the country are in a terrible state of
affairs. The low academic quality leading to a worsening crises is a
result of a variety of factors.

First, the open and institutionalised discrimination of non-
bumiputeras in academic and administrative appointments has meant that
only bumis - particularly those loyal to Umno - are considered for these
positions. The vicious discrimination of non-bumis citizens on the grounds
of their ethnicity and religion has made mockery of Malaysia as a
democratic
country.

Past experiences reveal that sometimes, as in the case of UKM, even
non-citizens holding academic positions are appointed as administrators.
Non-bumis are completely by-passed in the administrative
appointments. Given this open discrimination, merit has no relevance in
the public universities.

Second, vice-chancellors in the public universities are all 'yes-men' to
those in Umno and the Ministry of Education. They simply lack the
academic and professional credentials to steer the universities in a
healthy
direction. They have been appointed to their present positions simply
because of their connections to those in power, the UKM vice-chancellor
being a case in point.

Third, the public universities are merely pathetic appendages of the
government; they do not have the requisite autonomy to function in a
free and healthy environment. Since there is complete lack of autonomy,
the
activities of students and lecturers are very much regulated and
controlled.

Those who are critically-minded face the prospect of punitive actions.
Lecturers who are vocal face the prospect of removal or non-renewal of
contracts.

Fourth, academic promotions are determined by criteria other than merit.
Ethnicity, religion and loyalty to the government determines academic
promotions. Non-bumis by definition are considered problematic in
terms of academic promotions or administrative appointments.

So how can one expect our public universities to attain academic and
professional standards when there is such a blatant discrimination?
How can a country that labels itself an aspiring democracy condone and
justify such a nefarious practice of excluding a segment of its population
from participating effectively in public universities? It is such a shame.

Millions of taxpayers' money is spent on building universities and
paying lecturers. The money comes from all, but the beneficiaries belong
to one particular ethnic group.

Unless and until the racial apartheid is dismantled in the Malaysian
education system in general and in public universities in particular, it
makes no sense to talk of the quality of the public universities.

The writer, formerly of UKM, is now Visiting Professor at University of
Kassel, Germany.

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