All Malaysians Have Equal Rights To Quality Education - Najib. Rights Yes, But No Opportunities Lah Bradder!

All Malaysians have equal rights to quality education regardless of race and religion, and they also deserve at least 11 years of formal education.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this after receiving the inaugural ABE-Edward de Bono International Gold Medal (the Educator) Award 2007 at a special ceremony here tonight.

Since the country gained its independence 50 years ago, he said, education always sat on top of the government's agenda and many professionals had been produced out of it. He said: "Each and every Malaysian must enjoy the right to have quality education... and that right is a process that has taken place in our education system."

And more universities and private colleges were built to provide better access to tertiary education, he added.

Najib was elected to be the first recipient of the award in recognition of his vast contribution to the development of quality and excellent education in Malaysia and elsewhere.

Among his noted contributions are the roles he played in promoting Malaysia as the education hub and broadening the base of education by expanding educational facilities to rural areas which has benefited the children of Felda settlers, among others.

During his tenure as the education minister from 1995 to 1999, the education system was improved with better teaching and learning methods. He was also instrumental in establishing the Higher Education Fund Corporation to help students pursue university studies.

The citation was read out by ABE committee member Datuk Seri Azim Mohd Zabidi.

Tonight's award was the second presented by ABE to Najib for his achievements and contributions to education after the Stockton Award at the first Conference of the Malaysian Export Council in May 1999. Najib said the Educator Award was not for him personally but a recognition to all Malaysians who believe in education. (Bernama)

***** So Umno treasurer, Bukit Bintang Umno chief and Bank Simpanan Nasional chairman Azim Zabidi was instrumental in dishing out this 'award'! And I had actually thought that some bona fide mat salleh organisation had somehow unknowingly made a gross blunder. Silly me.

Of course no one can dispute the fact which Najib stated so eloquently that "all Malaysians have equal rights to quality education regardless of race and religion." No arguments on that score. But do those rights translate into real opportunities in this fair and just land of ours? One must be both blind and deaf and a little retarded mentally to claim that all Malaysians have equal opportunities to quality education. (Whether we truly provide quality education in the first place is in itself highly debatable, but let us not belabour the issue.)

In all the years that Najib was education minister the one thing I can vividly remember was his live telecasted announcements of the PMR(SRP), SPM and STPM results from the homes of selected top Malay students. That was the height of rank opportunism and political pimping.

If truth be said, Najib like the ministers before and after him had 'contributed' to the deterioration of our already low education standards by attempting to change the system for his own political gain. For far too long has the education ministry been the playground of ambitious Prime Minister wannabes and the damage they have done to the nation is much more than what many 'treasonous' ISA detainees are accused of.
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