UPM Students Fracas - Varsity Sets A Very Bad Precedent.
Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah says that Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) will not hand down punitive action against the students involved in the July 17 fracas, which the inquiry panel found to be non-racist and non-violent.
I won't blame the VC wholly, after all he is merely a political appointee serving at the pleasure of the Minister of Higher Education. He is answerable to him and therefore his loyalty is predisposed to supporting the views of the minister and by extension the opinion of the government (read Umno). He has also to take into consideration the sentiments on the ground at the university itself, meaning the large number of Malay academics, support staff and students, who by a natural tendency will endorse the actions of this group of monkeys responsible for the ruckus. Therefore it is in his interest that the rowdy students who were implicated are diplomatically let off. In the skewed thinking that exists today, these semi-literate primates are probably considered as having 'sacrificed' and berjuang for bangsa dan negara! You can't possibly punish demi-heroes, lest you be branded a traitor to the race. There aren't many more dishonourable titles worse than pengkhianat bangsa for a Malay.
Now that the Malays are appeased let us count the damage in real terms. University discipline will go to the dogs (and the apes) since it is now acceptable to behave as these bunch of hooligans did, and despite being caught on video, can still get away scot free. But the biggest loser in the whole episode, and which has been sacrificed at the altar of expediency is interracial harmony. It doesn't require a vivid imagination to understand the feelings of the aggrieved group nor the elation of those who have been 'punished' with advice. Never again will these two groups be able to see eye to eye. This episode will also have repercussions on future intake of students and their relationship with their fellow citizens of different races. Let us not cheat ourselves by pretending otherwise.
I fear for the future well-being of Malaysia. I'm apprehensive of the direction our population is heading in. I doubt the sincerity of our government in inculcating values and qualities that promote interracial goodwill. I also know that the present or any future government of this type and mould cannot be trusted to foster true racial harmony (despite it making all the right noises.) It is therefore incumbent upon rational and right-thinking persons of all races in Malaysia to take the initiative to advance the cause of peace and concord. Even now it is late in the day, but let us at least try, for the future of our children and our nation.
I won't blame the VC wholly, after all he is merely a political appointee serving at the pleasure of the Minister of Higher Education. He is answerable to him and therefore his loyalty is predisposed to supporting the views of the minister and by extension the opinion of the government (read Umno). He has also to take into consideration the sentiments on the ground at the university itself, meaning the large number of Malay academics, support staff and students, who by a natural tendency will endorse the actions of this group of monkeys responsible for the ruckus. Therefore it is in his interest that the rowdy students who were implicated are diplomatically let off. In the skewed thinking that exists today, these semi-literate primates are probably considered as having 'sacrificed' and berjuang for bangsa dan negara! You can't possibly punish demi-heroes, lest you be branded a traitor to the race. There aren't many more dishonourable titles worse than pengkhianat bangsa for a Malay.
Now that the Malays are appeased let us count the damage in real terms. University discipline will go to the dogs (and the apes) since it is now acceptable to behave as these bunch of hooligans did, and despite being caught on video, can still get away scot free. But the biggest loser in the whole episode, and which has been sacrificed at the altar of expediency is interracial harmony. It doesn't require a vivid imagination to understand the feelings of the aggrieved group nor the elation of those who have been 'punished' with advice. Never again will these two groups be able to see eye to eye. This episode will also have repercussions on future intake of students and their relationship with their fellow citizens of different races. Let us not cheat ourselves by pretending otherwise.
I fear for the future well-being of Malaysia. I'm apprehensive of the direction our population is heading in. I doubt the sincerity of our government in inculcating values and qualities that promote interracial goodwill. I also know that the present or any future government of this type and mould cannot be trusted to foster true racial harmony (despite it making all the right noises.) It is therefore incumbent upon rational and right-thinking persons of all races in Malaysia to take the initiative to advance the cause of peace and concord. Even now it is late in the day, but let us at least try, for the future of our children and our nation.
posted by The Malaysian. at 8/19/2006 10:48:00 AM
5 Comments:
Racial incident? Please, just because both sides consist of 2 different race doesn't mean anything. Look on a bigger picture. The one being 'harass' was trying to promote 'illegal' club/association using university *own* premise. Now, who's in a total violation of university's rule?
to anonymous: even if they were doing wrong by promoting "illegal" clubs and broke the Uni's rules, is that really the way to apprehend them?
To behave like total hooligans?
I think you are the one who shld look at the bigger picture. Even if they are right, that's no way to treat others.
Those days I remembered students were severely reprimanded when caught picking a fruit. Now they said it is quite OK to behave like hooligans in campus. That is how low the standard has dropped in UPM.
erm.. in my opinion.. it may be of 2 different race right now... but lets take a good look at a bigger picture.. all these while.. countless of these cases had been happening even before this one.. just that.. this particular issue had a vid on their bum.. yes, we can argue that its totally against the uni's rule.. but hell.. isnt that suppose to be the uni's job and not a bunch of babarian's lurky for an excuse to give problems?
so, wad ure tryin to say here is being a hooligan is right? acting in such barbaric way is right? come on man.
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