Since yesterday, a video clip of a “fanatic” had been circulated on the social media with the suggestion that receipients should forward it to as many as possible so as “to reach Tun before he became the education minister”.
The “he” was meant to be Maszlee Malik, the Education Minister-designate except that the person in the video clip was not Maszlee at all.
The person in the video clip was definitely making extremist and fanatical attacks on the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia, and about the marginalistion of the Malays in Malaysia – a theme which was false, divisive and dangerous but so ubiquitous in the last general election campaign, which could only disunite and polarize Malaysia further, when we should all be doing our utmost to put the politics of race, hate and fear behind us to usher in a New Malaysia where all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or political affiliation, are united and can feel proud of be a Malaysian – both inside and outside the country.
We are in the information age, but we should be aware of its promises and perils.
As netizens of the information era, we must develop new disciplines, one of which is to check the veracity of the messages and video clips before circulating them on the social media.
There have been criticisms of Mazslee as the Education Minister, but let us give the 44-year-old academician the chance to prove his suitability for the important post of Education Minister of a New Malaysia.
(Speech at the DAP Iskandar Puteri thanksgiving lunch for the Pakatan Harapan Iskandar Puteri PACA (polling agents/counting agents) at Mido Restaurant, Skudai on Sunday, 20th May 2018 at noon)
#1 by pulau_sibu on Monday, 21 May 2018 - 7:05 am
I noticed that the age of a few ministers are too young, in their 40’s. Honestly, I feel that one should reach 50 or beyond in becoming a minister. Some life experience, of different forms, are needed and this may not be achieved by 40’s.
I also felt lonely that Kit Siang is not a part of the cabinet. Kit Siang would have made the cabinet stronger and sound. I am not sure if the Harapan MPs will elect Kit Siang as the speaker for the parliament. I hope it will happen.
#2 by Bigjoe on Monday, 21 May 2018 - 10:27 am
Education is actually very hard portfolio. It has a huge budget but fact is even if there have been no wastage and corruption all these years on the Educaiton budget, its not necessary better could have been achieved. It takes real insight to learning and the human condition to take on portfolio.
Mahathir, who started out as Education Minister but most of his career has been about economics and social engineering, that he took on the challenge of the portfolio at his final lap at power proves his sincerity as patriot to concern of the people despite all his wrongs.
Education is no magic, it is a powerful tool if you can make it work. For a small country that has to compete with giants in the future economics based on intellectual property and talent, it literally our future survival and social wellbeing of the people especially the most disadvantaged.
Mazlee certaintly has the heart for education and social well being of the disadvantage. He certaintly is well aware of the contemporary needed to improve our education. His religo-leaning is exaggerated, he is more practical than ideological.
The corelation between spending and education is a mix picture. Better talent and teacher’s pay result in better result. But spending on expensive tech frequently fails, better infrastructure does help. We need people who can sort to complexity of mix correlations. We need real insight, it is a CAUSE no less than unloading the UMNO/BN regime.
#3 by undertaker888 on Monday, 21 May 2018 - 10:33 am
That’s why it not wise to totally repeal the anti fake news act. Why repeal it when you need to cook up another one later? It is better to define it as not to be too draconian.
#4 by SuperStringhg on Monday, 21 May 2018 - 12:10 pm
Since the anti fake news law still around, throw it at the person who sent it. Although not sure who did this, but an educated guess is someone pro-umno or may even be umno member.