TTF: Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said today that his ministry had taken a more holistic approach in upholding the integrity of the country’s education system by giving autonomy to institutions of higher learning.
However, this is the same Mazlee who undertook to remove Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Tun Zaki Azmi, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn’s Tan Sri Sufri Mohd Zin, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin’s Datuk Dr Kamaruddin Hussin, Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Tan Sri Noorul Ainur Mohd Noor and Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Tan Sri Anuwar Ali.
Mazlee contended that their appointments were political without once explaining how and why he came to that conclusion.
Days prior to their removal, on the 22nd of June 2018, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Islmail told newsmen that Civil servants needed to support the Pakatan Harapan government or risk being punished or having their jobs terminated.
Put together, it becomes increasingly obvious that Mazlee isn’t committed to giving autonomy to institutions of higher learning as he claims and probably removed the heads of the aforementioned universities to have them replaced with Pakatan puppets.
He further contended that his ministry had embarked on an inclusive study to abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act.
However, what he failed to mention is that a Malaysian court has already ruled that the 1971 Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) – which bars University and College students from joining political parties and trade unions – is unconstitutional.
On the 31st of August 2011, Malaysia’s Court of Appeal ruled that the UUCA contravened tenets to the Federal Constitution of Malaysia which guaranteed freedom of speech and expression.
What this means, is that University and College students are already free to join political parties and trade unions and embark on establishing speakers’ corners with or without Mazlee’s help.
So you see, while it is commendable that Mazlee is considering doing away with the UUCA, there is absolutely no basis for him to take that long as a court has already ruled on it.
He can straight away work towards completing a repeal Bill on the basis that the act contravenes tenets to the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
PUTRAJAYA: Fourty-three education-related initiatives have been implemented by the Pakatan Harapan government within 100 days of its administration, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said today.
He said some of the initiatives were those promised in the PH election manifesto, such as removing the names of National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers from the Immigration Department’s blacklist, which was fulfilled on July 8.
The move brought relief to 429,945 borrowers, he said in a statement.
He said the ministry was also working to ensure that those in the low-income group would be able to postpone their repayment through the Income-Contingent Loan Repayment (ICLR) scheme.
In the meantime, the ministry, he said, had taken a more holistic approach in upholding the integrity of the country’s education system by giving autonomy to institutions of higher learning and more freedom to students to express themselves through the revival of the speakers’ corner.
Maszlee said in tandem with the PH manifesto, the ministry, through a special committee, had also embarked on an inclusive study to abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act, while public universities were encouraged to organise more debates and dialogues with interested parties.
Efforts to enhance higher education also saw suggestions by stakeholders being accepted by the government, such as in the appointment of the university board of governors and candidates for the posts of vice-chancellors and deputy chancellors, he said.
Maszlee said his focus during the 100 days of helming the ministry included reducing the burden of teachers from administrative work, enhance national schools and special education schools, ensure students no longer carry heavy bags to school, enhance the use of Bahasa Malaysia and encouraging students to master more than three languages.
He said the ministry had abolished the audit process for the “Standard Kualiti Pendidikan Malaysia Gelombang 2” last Jun 7 in a move to reduce the burden of about 500,000 teachers in the country.
Other initiatives carried out by the ministry during his 100 days of helming it, he said, included setting up of a committee review the national education system in keeping abreast with the 4.0 industrial revolution; to launch a national reading campaign and setting up of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Empowerment Committee.
He said the ministry also carried out internal investigations on huge contracts such as the solar hybrid project in Sarawak and the provision of 1Bestarinet, as well as take action to enable the opening of Malaysian Arts School next year.
On the welfare of people with disabilities (OKU) and Orang Asli, Maszlee said the ministry, in collaboration with non-governmental organisations, was working on improving special education and the academic performance of Orang Asli students nationwide.
He said religious education institution, such as the tahfiz schools, were also empowered with discussions being held with several countries in the Middle East to enable students from Malaysia to further their studies there.
The ministry, he said, had also allocated RM30 million for government-aided religious schools and also offered training package for tahfiz school teachers.
He said focus was also given to Tamil nation-type schools where they were now placed directly under the minister and deputy minister.
As for the Chinese national-type schools, Maszlee said the government had agreed to build six new schools; four in Johor and one each in Selangor and Penang.
On the transfer of students in under-enrolled schools, the matter would be carried out and the ministry has allocated RM30 million this year for the purpose.
Source: NST Online
