The one-semester suspension of second-year computer science student Lee Song Yong by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) for obstructing campus officers from confiscating his personal belongings in the run-up to the campus polls in October is not only a grave violation of human rights but also a chilling reminder of the stultifying control of Malaysian academia by Little Napoleons which can only perpetuate a culture of mediocrity.
It is most regrettable that the UPM had completely ignored the call by Suhakam to stop the university disciplinary proceedings against Lee to pave the way for Suhakam investigations into complaint of human rights abuse by the university authorities.
This is another case where the higher education authorities have failed to distinguish between the core functions of universities to be centres of academic excellence from the petty details of regulatory control of lecturers and students which are the refuge of “Little Napoleons”.
In the latest world’s Top 200 Universities Rankings released by Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) a fortnight ago, Universiti Putra Malaysia, which had never been listed in the Top 200 Universities Ranking, still slipped 72 slots from No. 292 in 2006 to 364 in 2007.
It is most disappointing that the university administrators are unable set an example in the nation to respond to calls for a “First-World mentality” so that Malaysia can march towards fully developed nation status but continue to be mired by mindsets and approaches which could only produce universities and generations of mediocrity.
I propose to focus parliamentary and national attention on the disease of mediocrity in the Malaysian universities as highlighted by the free-fall of Malaysian universities in international rankings and the Little Napoleon regimes resulting in victimization of free spirits like Lee Song Yong which are antithetical to the development of a creative academic environment and towering Malaysians in keeping with the Abdullah administration’s slogan of “Cemerlang, Gemiling, Terbilang”.
I will give notice to move a motion to cut the salary of the Higher Education Minister, Datuk Mustapha Mohamad during the 2008 Budget committee state debate on the Higher Education Ministry in Parliament on Dec.5 to focus on the issues of government failures to restore a culture of excellence and academic freedom to create world-class universities.
#1 by Libra2 on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 5:12 pm
This case must be challenged in court. How on hell can one students obstruct several officers. Of course, he had every right to object to his personal belongings to be taken away by the licensed thugs.
Of course, if the students had been a Malay, nothing would have happened.
This is yet another example of the intimidation of the non_Bumis by the sons of the soil.
#2 by smeagroo on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 5:33 pm
If it was a ketuanan guy surely he would be let off the hook. Remember those hollignas monkeys in UPM last time who taunted those few chinese students? WHat was their punishment again?
Thank God that the rankings are dropping. They truly deserve it when baboons helm it!
#3 by justiciary on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 5:48 pm
YB Lim KS,
Can you enlighten us on the syndicate that use different stickers on transport lorries to enable the bribed JPJ enforcement officers to close one eye on errant lorry drivers? This blatant act of disregarding laws has caused fatal accidents resulting in loss of lives and injuries on highways.The news was carried by Sin Chew today and yesterday.This is another corrupt practice commited by JPJ staff.
#4 by sj on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 6:25 pm
Malaysia is flooded with racism. They used to say western countries like UK, Aus and US are full of racism. Then again, looking at our own backyard, during Mahathir’s rule we were so blind and did not realise that the root of evil : racism has been grown so deep into our system that people in power has such a warped mind.
#5 by year of snake on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 8:03 pm
In Aus, UK and US the authorities do not practice racism. It is some of the public who are doing it. For example if a white were to call a black a Nigger and if reported, he will be charged in court and will spend time in jail or doing community services. Over here, it is both the authorities and some individuals who are doing it. The irony is that I am more a Malaysian when I am overseas because when I filled in forms, I will just write Malaysian under the coloum citizenship but in Malaysia, one have to fill in the race and religions in all government forms.
#6 by Justicewanted on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 8:47 pm
Looks like the Little Napoleons in UPM has got their priority wrong. That explains why the Top 200 Universities Rankings is so pathetic…
#7 by WFH on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 8:48 pm
Danger beckons for all those deemed “independent”, those who do not toe the UPM’s authority’s stifling line. Beyond this suspension, what’s to stop UPM from “advising” their examiners to blacklist this student Lee Yong Song, and having his examination results and grades marked and manipulated adversely henceforth?
#8 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 8:50 pm
“In Aus, UK and US the authorities do not practice racism. It is some of the public who are doing it.”
Racial discrimination along with gender etc is illegal. Racism is not.
#9 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 8:58 pm
“…if a white were to call a black a Nigger and if reported, he will be charged in court and will spend time in jail or doing community services.”
Not true because it is not racial discrimination.
#10 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 9:00 pm
It is also not unlawful though illegal.
#11 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 9:20 pm
“…. obstructing campus officers from confiscating his personal belongings in the run-up to the campus polls in October is not only a grave violation of human rights …” KIT
There is not one issue but several.
Is it unlawful to have the student suspended? Sorry, illegal.
Is it unlawful in a university campus to be “obstructing” security officers of the University from carrying out their job – assuming “protesting” is also “obstructing”?
Has the university infringed upon the constitutional right of this student to freedom of speech?
True university regulations allow disciplinary action be convened against any student for any serious breach of discipline assuming protesting is a serious breach of university discipline. Was he granted his right to be heard? What of his right of due process?
The University does not need the input of bodies like SUHAKAM before it decides.
#12 by izrafeil on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 9:25 pm
Saudara Lim,
Lets collect petition to overturn this stuP*d decision by UPM.
Otherwise I hope UniTAR can take this student and h*^l with AMe*o run univs
#13 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 9:26 pm
The way forward would be for the student affected to resort to the courts to address the issues. I feel his constitutional right of free speech has been violated.
#14 by ycg on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 9:37 pm
Uncle KIT,
OMG! This is the future of a teenager we are talking about. to suspend him for a semester is completely unacceptable! Can’t something be done to overturn the decision by these [deleted]?! What can we do to help?
#15 by Libra2 on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 9:37 pm
“It is most regrettable that the UPM had completely ignored the call by Suhakam to stop the university disciplinary proceedings against Lee..”
SUHAKAM is a big joke. Nobody respects this body, not even a lowly vice-chancellor of the miserable university.
In fact this whole country is now a big joke. If the AG can try and cheat the ICJ with a doctored photo, can we go any lower?
Not to mention the leaking rooks, collapsed buildings, deserted Ports, etc etc
#16 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 10:01 pm
To continue from where “Year of Snake” left off about racism.
You cannot legislate on “racism” but you can on “racial discrimination”.
In Malaysia over the last five decades, racial discrimination has been institutionalised. It is not illegal to discriminate along racial lines. It is not unconstitutional.
The way forward would be for whoever wins the next GE and 2/3 majority of Parliament to rid the Federal Constitution of references to “race” and “religion”. It takes a visionary leader and a courageous one among the Opposition leaders to publicly acknowledge that this is the root cause of the problem and will continue to hinder this nation for centuries to come – and like all root causes they have to be addressed.
You do not need to be a student of constitutional law to open the pages of the U.S. Constitution and to see that there is not a single mention of the word “race” or “religion” anywhere though the United States is often referred to as the melting pot (of races and cultures etc).
The goal of our founding fathers was a political union and not a cultural, religious and racial union. It is always unity through diversity. Diversity is an asset which we as Malaysians must cherish. Unless we learn to do that we will continue to be a nation of bigots and racists – a nation of races divided and ready to implode.
#17 by Jackychin on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 10:48 pm
i personally experienced the arrogance of the campus officers, they are a bunch of hooligans, lets see how shameful they protray themselves in the international stage, gladly they are working hard on de-ranking the school…Yay…
#18 by k1980 on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 11:29 pm
This case of racist bullying must be highlighted throughout the world via all types of media so that the so-called “malaysian education hub of excellence” will be boycotted by all and sundry
#19 by budak on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 11:41 pm
University Pengganas Malaysia = UPM
what de hell, what wrong for him to ask Incompetent Minister to penny salary… [deleted]
#20 by Filibuster on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 12:47 am
As a fellow student myself, I am deeply saddened that this event has occured – that in the course of action, he has become the scapegoat, and is the one that bears the punishment. Some mention that this amounts to nothing more than racism, or racist discrimination, but it is important not to lose focus on what was the main issue behind the seizure of his computer – the question to ask is why did they do that, of all the students they could target?
Furthermore, I am befuddled that UPM is committing itself to these kinds of actions, especially during a trying time for the Malaysian High Education sector. As for Datuk Mustapha, talk about “jatuh ditimpa tangga”.
#21 by undergrad2 on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 3:01 am
“The irony is that I am more a Malaysian when I am overseas because when I filled in forms, I will just write Malaysian under the coloum citizenship but in Malaysia, one have to fill in the race and religions in all government forms.” Year of Snake
Hold on! Before you go all weak in the knees showering praise on countries like the United States, know that the United States did not start off being the way it is today!
Let’s take the issue of citizenship.
In 1790, a few months after the ratification of the Constitution, only Whites could become citizens. Only whites were able to naturalize. Citizenship and naturalization laws were long after that remained tainted by racial prejudice.
It was only in 1952 that the last of the prerequisite laws were abolished. There was a prohibition of Chinese naturalization – the only U.S. law ever to exclude by name a particular nationality from citizenship coupled with a ban on Chinese immigration. World War 11 forced a reconsideration of the racism integral to the U.S. immigration law. Only in 1940, did the U.S. Congress open naturalization to “descendants of races indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. In 1946, it opened up naturalization to persons from the Philippines and India.
It was only in 1952 that racial bars on naturalization came to an official end.
#22 by sj on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 3:28 am
Well the United States fought on issues like these very hard. How did they do it? Through people with visions and also people with educations. The more educated a nation can be, the more they will understand and progress. Then the more effort will be poured into combating racial discrimination. Make no mistake though, racial discrimination is one of the hardest case to prove even in USA. But the people will work with you and will not ignore you about it if you presented it and reported. Unlike in Malaysia, where you automatically get marginalized without a blink of an eye. Yes I am going to use the taboo word that Lee Kuan Yew used, MARGINALISED. Is a fact and we have seen reports on this happening even more frequently, thanks to the Ketuanan policy.
#23 by undergrad2 on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 5:08 am
“How did they do it? Through people with visions and also people with educations. The more educated a nation can be, the more they will understand and progress.” sj
Are you saying their Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and the others were people without vision and without education??? The U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1790 and months later they decided that only Whites could become citizens of the United States. Chinese from China who came to work on the railways in California in the 1800s were excluded and banned from becoming citizens. There was an expressed prohibition against Chinese.
#24 by sotong on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 6:17 am
This is clearly a political suspension……nothing is spared from their narrow, shallow and damaging politics to maintain total control and power at all costs!
#25 by sotong on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 7:20 am
If as a result of Affirmative Action, education standard had fallen significantly, GLCs incurred losses, rampant corruption, gross abuse of power and excesses, widening gap between rich and poor and etc. – this is not Affirmative action in the best interest of restructuring the society and country anymore.
#26 by paix on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 7:37 am
It is true racial discrimination exists in every corner of the world. However, in most countries, it is practiced covertly; not the overt discrimination as practiced by the government of Bodohland that is supposedly representing every denizen of the country. Can you imagine the uproar in countries like UK, US, Canada or France if government jobs are advertised in the newspapers that only whites need apply? Or if the Bill Gates and Warren Buffets in the US can buy their homes at a 15% discount while people of color will have to pay full price? Or certain universities will only admit whites?
Bodohland is the only country in the whole wide world where racial discrimination is openly practiced and sanctioned by the government. In most other countries the minorities are given special assistance because their governments recognize that every citizen has an unalienble right to realize their potential to the fullest.
Life is not a dress rehearsal. There is no undo button to press. What is being done to the non-bumis in Bodohland is a crime. They are handcuffed and anchored down by a government that does not realize the harm that is being done to the competitiveness of the country.
If the US has the same shortsighted policy as Bodohland, the world may be missing out on some of the great accomplishments by such Asian-American luminaries as Vinod Khosla (founder of Sun Microsystem), Jerry Yang (co-founder of Yahoo), David Ho (Director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center and 1996 TIME’s Man of the Year) and I.M. Pei (Pritzker Prize-winning architect). Who knows how many potential Khoslas, Yangs, Hos and Peis there are in Bodohland who may have been deprived of their right to achieve their dreams.
#27 by Jonny on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 7:50 am
Well, many people (mostly Chinese) shared the same sentiments with me. Kudos to the “wakil rakyat” who said: “Kalau tak suka, boleh keluar dari Malaysia”.
Most who shared with me have the same thoughts as myself. Good times are guaranteed and can only last for our present generation. After our children’s generation. No more guarantee that there still will be money or resources left in the country by the rampant raping which is happening. EPF money? Don’t even dare think of it.
So, most are planning and working the @rse off to secure a better future for their children. One job is not enough. Must have more than 2 income. At least 3.
Ketuanan Melayu can have its day. When there is no longer plurality in Malaysia. It may happen within our lifetime. Steps are underway to make Malaysia more Islam than Saudi Arabia. Sometimes, more so, with its own interpretation.
– Institutionalized racism is BOLEH
– Under table money is BOLEH if it helps coffers of ruling govt
or it is payback to people who helped the ruling govt.
– And many many more BOLEHs which the rakyat knows of
Remain silent as we are, but we’re not stupid.
#28 by firstMalaysian on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 8:11 am
What do you expect from a university that is slowly falling off in rating? Let us raise funds for him to study in private universities. At least one of the them in Malaysia is the top 50 in the world. Shame on local universities! Even with 100% government funding and yet could not make it to the top 100. We need REFORMs in universities. Appointing 4 non malays as DVC is no big deal. This will not enhance the rating. The system (appointment of professors/asso professors/deans/deputy deans/fund allocation for research/promotion criteria/recruiting capable VCs with international standing and repute (who can be an American/Australian/Singaporean/Malaysian/African/British etc) has to be pursued to see real and sustainable improvement. Strong and unwavering political will is required.
#29 by Bigjoe on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 8:56 am
What the hell is wrong with these universities authority people they are afraid of one Chinese student activity? Even if he was an activist, what is there to be afraid of? Can he really cause any real trouble even if he tried?
If you asked me, it sound more like a case of dead-minds overeacting to their own insecurities than anything real. Forget the morality of this, the mediocrity is more scary.
#30 by max2811 on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 9:12 am
As a parent, I would advise Song Yong to act with dignity. Get the hell out of that stupid university run by morons. Go to a private uni. My daughter had 11 1As for SPM and 4As in her STP. She wasn’t offered any JPA scholarship. She wanted to appeal but I told her no. We must have the dignity to look the other way. It is their lost. She went to Spore.
You can enrol in UTAR. It’s a better place than any local uni.
You get to be with very hardworking students not mat rempits or lazy parasitic junior UMNaziO putras. There are loans to help.
#31 by mike_tang on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 10:50 am
I am 69 years old, and have lived in the US for 52 years. I came to the US in 1955 for my undergraduate study in chemical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. I transferred to MIT in 1957, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1959. I actually had to write a thesis for my senior project which was on the mathematical modeling of chemical reactions. (Needless to say, computers weren’t in vogue at that time.)
I continued my education at MIT, graduating with a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1961. My master’s thesis was also in the area of mathematical modeling of chemical reactions.
From January 1958 to May 1961, while a student at the MIT, I worked as a research assistant at the Polaroid Corporation in Cambridge.
I started working as an entry-level engineer at the now defunct Digital Equipment Corporation in Shrewsbury just outside of Boston in May 1961. It was my first exposure to the relatively new electronics industry. During this time, I became interested in learning more about semiconductor technology and integrated circuits. From September 1961 to December 1965, I was a part-time graduate student in electrical engineering at Harvard.
In 1966 I started my fulltime doctoral study in electrical engineering at Princeton,specializing in semiconductor device physics.
I received my doctorate in 1970 and joined Intel in Santa Clara as a research engineer. I retired from Intel two years ago after 35 years of various assignments of increasing responsibilities in virtually all areas of semiconductor technology both as an engineer, technical manager, and business line executive.
I married an incredible American woman in 1965 and we have four lovely boys who are now in their 30s. (And we also have six grandchildren.)
I actually thought of returning to Malaysia in 1975. I was 37 years old. My wife was very supportive of my move. I wanted to teach at the University of Malaya which was locally the most prestigious institute of higher education at that time. I had hoped that my three degrees in two diverse fields of engineering and my years of work experience would have convinced the professors of my technical prowess, and that I would continue to make contributions to the semiconductor industry. My lifelong goal at that time was to pursue teaching as a profession, becoming the educator and teacher that I so admired in my college years. I wanted to contribute in a meaningful way to the lives of young people. Unfortunately I was told that I didn’t qualify for a position because I wasn’t conversant in Bahasa Malaysia. I would have a difficult time teaching.
It was a blessing in disguise. I decided to stay in the US out of consideration for my wife and four children. It would have been stressful for them to leave all their family and friends behind in the US and adjust to the Malaysian way of life. It wouldn’t have been practical as their only exposure to Malaysia was the yearly visits to my parents and siblings.
I became a US citizen in 1980 after 25 years living here. I was 42 at that time. My wife and children were at the ceremony when I took the oath. I am proud to be a US citizen but I do miss Malaysia. I do miss the place where I had spent the first 17 years of my life.
The US is now my home. In all candor, I couldn’t really call Malaysia my home anymore because I have a wife, four children, and six grandchildren who are all born in the US.
#32 by madmix on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 10:56 am
We should start a fund raising drive to sponsor this student to study in a better university. At the same time DAP lawyers can help him sue UPM.
#33 by Traveller on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 12:02 pm
My advice to Malaysian students is follow the plans below for undergraduate studies:
Plan A – apply to study in Singapore, failing which go to Plan B;
Plan B – enrol in the 2+2 programs in one of the private colleges and make sure the twinning partner in the US or elsewhere is a major top tier university; then go overseas. If that costs too much, then go to Plan C;
Plan C – go to UTAR.
On top of that, take English classes seriously and take additional classes if necessary.
But if you want to do Medicine, then do it locally or in Singapore because it is tougher to do that overseas.
It is sad to say that Malaysian students are not competitive compared to students from mainland China when it comes to graduate studies in the US. One main reason, besides the obvious difference in depth of knowledge, is that their English is better. I am referring to those mainland Chinese students applying from Chinese universities not those mainland Chinese students that came through Malaysian IPTA/IPTS.
#34 by HJ Angus on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 12:17 pm
There is a plan D for those who want to do accountancy like ACCA professional qualifications that you can do in most colleges in the main cities like KL, Ipoh, Penang and JB.
For this student it is a form of bullying as I don’t think any action would be taken if he had come from the BN camp.
http://malaysiawatch3.blogspot.com/2007/11/upms-heavy-hand.html
#35 by undergrad2 on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 12:23 pm
“I became a US citizen in 1980 after 25 years living here. I was 42 at that time. My wife and children were at the ceremony when I took the oath. I am proud to be a US citizen but I do miss Malaysia. I do miss the place where I had spent the first 17 years of my life.” mike_tang
There are many Malaysians like yourself. Posters like Jeffrey understands this. Like I always say – and I can only speak for myself when I say – Malaysia is still a good place to live in and raise a family despite the discrimination. We may be U.S. nationals today but we were once Malaysians.
#36 by Traveller on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 12:26 pm
“My lifelong goal at that time was to pursue teaching as a profession, becoming the educator and teacher that I so admired in my college years.” – mike_tang
—————————-
You could have gone to Singapore instead of UM, or you could have applied for a faculty position in the US. There are many Engineering profs in the US with industrial background. Although not paid as much as in industry, engineering profs are still paid very well in the universities because the universities have to pay “market rate” to attract or retain the profs. For instance, the salary of an Asst Prof in engineering is higher than an Assoc Prof or even full Prof in the sciences.
There is also better job security in academia, although in your case you still did well for staying so long in your job.
For some reasons, I did not fancy UM or other Malaysian universities at all when I was looking for a job. So, I did not even bother applying. Teaching in Bahasa was one of the reasons.
#37 by undergrad2 on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 12:43 pm
“Bodohland is the only country in the whole wide world where racial discrimination is openly practiced and sanctioned by the government.” paix
I don’t know about that! In Malaysia racism and racial discrimination is institutionalised. It is not unconstitutional to discriminate along racial lines.
That sets Malaysia apart from countries like the United States. But the U.S. did not start that way. Racial discrimination was not unlawful in the U.S. at one time. For example, only Whites could become U.S> citizens in the 1800s. It was only in 1952 that racism as an integral part of the immigration policy came to an official end.
In the United States
#38 by sotong on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 1:53 pm
mike_tang, you are a successful migrant.
#39 by Traveller on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 2:49 pm
“It was only in 1952 that racism as an integral part of the immigration policy came to an official end.
In the United States” – undergrad2
————-
Racial segregation existed in the US until the early 60’s. There was a joke about a Yankee woman at a laundromat in Atlanta asking why all the washing machines were only for white laundry (because she saw the sign – WHITES ONLY). Racial segregation was abolished only after a lot of protests by the blacks.
So, maybe that is what is needed in Malaysia to bring about change. If the Chinese remains quiet and continues to take the abuse, nothing will change.
#40 by cheng on soo on Friday, 23 November 2007 - 4:17 pm
Lee SY, seriously, U should look at other alternatived post in others’ comments, even if U be a good boy after 1 semester, and continue, R U sure UPM wont mark U b discriminate U in future (exam, test, tutorial etc)