“Lack of Ambition” in Malaysian Education System

Fallacy of objectivity : lack of motivation / ambition / urge.

While some scholars or pegawai would say that this statement is a fallacy itself, I beg to differ. Yes, I do agree that our education system was created in line with United Nations Millenium Development Goals, Rukun Negara, etc. and all other policies.

But how much do we emphasize on the student’s ambitions? While some may refute and say that teachers in school motivate students to have ambition, again I agree ONLY partially.

Don’t we understand the meaning of ambition and the effort we put it as we work to achieve our ambition?

Some examples of ambition and motivation in practice:

1. Play traunt or ponteng sekolah to go and play pool or play games cybercafe.
2. Run on sports day to get the gold medal.
3. Keep on messaging a girl to flirt her.

All the examples above are simple scenario faced by Malaysian students. But please take into consideration that all these are based on “objectivity”, to get something out of it, they put in their effort wholeheartedly.

Nowadays, everything is based on “A”. Get lots of “A”s and you can get a good place in university. In the end we university students watch helplessly as our peers complain that they do not like their courses, they wish they have never taken this bachelor degree, this is not they are cut out for, they don’t like medic, etc.

But shouldn’t we take examples of students who strive to be doctors because they are inspired by their parents/relatives and because of their objective in becoming one, they could learn wholeheartedly and contribute to the nation because of understanding their profession?

To prove my point althought it is based on value judgement, try and ask any students in our public universities and ask whether they “still remember what they learnt during the previous semester and what use was it to them”. They will tell you that they just get an “A” and leave the subject as it is.

Many will do the following:

• Sell their textbooks to juniors (oh yes, we don’t need to refer to all the books we bought, we get A, we have everything in our head)
• Cherish the “academic transcript” rather than the acquired knowledge

Then what is the meaning of devising a degree when we do not put good use to what we have learnt?

That would be a worm’s eye view of why we have unemployed graduates which do not fulfill the capability of the industry: lack of ambition / ambition of just getting A -> failure to learn and apply knowledge -> can’t solve problems of the industry.

Now I understood why the corporate leaders preferred overseas graduates during their meeting with the minister of Higher Education and Vice Chancellors at Bank Negara 3 years back. While at that time I stood to defend Malaysian students, now I changed my perspective to agree with these corporate leaders.

Surely profitability and efficiency in a company has no place for graduates who couldn’t put their knowledge into practice. I rather pay extra for a better employee than pay normal for a troublesome and stupid employee. (I would put this statement into exception for training unemployed graduates as it’s tax deductible. Again, its based on profitability)

While some may disagree, I have been through this path and some of us do agree that we do not apply any knowledge learnt when we work.

If we keep this up, surely Malaysia has a problem realising vision 2020. Something I regret not to understand until now. If I have only realised, I would have wrote a paper on it for my National MPPK President to discuss with the government during his meeting with Ministry of Education.

Too late, but not too late to put my thoughts on words.

Malaysia Entrepreneurship Project

• Are you a Malaysian who is an aspiring entrepreneur or in search of financial freedom?
• Ever wondered where to obtain financing from RM50,000 to RM250,000 from banks or Malaysian government agencies?
• Or haven’t a clue of how important a business plan is?

Well if you answered to any of those questions above be it yes or no, try and have a look at my latest project, Malaysia Entrepreneurship Project. It’s mainly a free online resource for entrepreneurs in the Malaysian business environment.

Issues regarding funding opportunities given by Malaysian government agencies and practices on how to manage company in terms of operations are bundled up in there.

Not selling anything ere, just putting the knowledge about the industry to good use after being in audit line. If you do have ideas or experience on entrepreneurship, do share with me on the site so I can post it. It’ll be great to let others know and grow their ideas into successful businesses.

The Road Not Taken

Indeed upon graduation, we are forced to choose many roads leading to who knows where.
For those with ambition on climbing the organizational ladder, their road indeed leads to somewhere.

Nonetheless I too, chose my road based on my ambition and hopeful thoughts.
But I chose to take that path not taken by others.

I chose not to be a chartered accountant when I had the chance of employment.
I chose not to accept an offer with an MNC firm.
I chose not to venture onto start-ups at this moment.
I chose not to work as a government officer.

Then what path am I on?
For all has been planned and with the blessings of Allah s.w.t, success is near.
For when time comes to pass, everything shall be revealed.

Malaysian Entrepreneurship Survey

I am currently doing a simple research on entrepreneurship. For my readers from Malaysia which have an interest in entrepreneurship or wanna achieve financial freedom, I need your help on completing the research.

There are 17 simple questions only and I’m using google form so it should be very friendly. Thanks a lot in advance! Your time spent answering the survey is greatly appreciated!

Click on this link to access the form: Information Availability for Financial Freedom & Entrepreneurial Creation in Malaysia

Kerana Mengejar Pangkat

Pernahkah anda melihat manusia yang mengejar pangkat?

Pangkat yang baginya dapat memberikannya kuasa dan berniat untuk membangga2-kan diri kepada orang lain?

Adakah kamu melihat dengan kedua-dua matamu rintangan yang mereka perlu lalui,

Atau kejatuhan mereka setelah mendapatkan ‘pangkat’ itu samada sewaktu manusia itu masih kekal bernafas atau hanya dalam ingatan?

Pangkat itu bukan hakiki ataupun mainan dunia semata-mata,

Tapi anugerah dan amanah yang dipikul oleh manusia itu sendiri.

Senyumlah kepada mereka yang memiliki kejujuran dalam melaksanakan amanah.

Kerana hanya dengan kejujuran sahaja manusia itu dapat memahami “anugerah” dan mencapai kegembiraan dengan keredaan dariNYA.

Mistakes In Leadership Practices – My Perspective

All these are based on my personal experience and I write it down so that others won’t make the same mistakes I’ve made or mistakes I’ve observed others did. I think these mistakes would be most relevant to student leaders especially Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar.

1. Don’t demand respect from your peers, it will never come. Respect is a given, it comes from the heart. It comes naturally for those unique qualities you possess and utilize (skills, etc)

2. Don’t encourage nor be in love with your organization members. It will lead to your downfall through bad mouths spoken by your members. Professional conduct is a must.

3. A leader without a vision is similar to a newborn baby appointed as the President of a Nation / Country. Without any vision you can’t achieve anything significant.

4. For long term results and praises, go for intangible results. For short term results and praises, go for tangible results.

5. An organization that does not create tangible results would lead to further demotivation with a ‘given time’.

6. Allowing a member in the organization to slack off (lazy, ponteng) is the start of the organization’s downfall. This particular member must be dealt with. If slacking off is still apparent, forced resignation is applicable.

7. It’s better to safeguard the interests of the people who contribute to the organization and are loyal to the organization than protecting those people sucking-up to you in its entirety.

8. Trust, dedication and loyalty between “leaders-members” is the foundation of growth.

9. Recruit the cream of the crop (trustworthy, willingness, IQ & EQ intelligence) as your team members and not who talk-a-lot but does nothing.

10. First impression is a false assumption, constant impression is a near-accurate assumption.

11. Do not reveal secrets to those who are not trustworthy.

12. Do not take subordinates of your superiors as your protectors and listener unless they have proved their trustworthiness as those who are close to you could be your next betrayers and slanderers.

13. Never trade your religion / faith / principle with unlawful acts (example: accepting bribes, prosecuting when you know it is wrong)

14. Always assess and evaluate potential threats and opportunities on your environment to increase your “grip” with your current strength and cover your weaknesses.

15. Never trust fully the person with the running mouth (gossip, create stories, sucking-up to you, bodek), they may be entertaining but they will be the first to betray you in any case.

16. Keep and gather allies, be it friend, enemy or rivals for he who commands the battlefield wins half the fight.

17. Never let the ball off your feet and slack off for one second.

18. Always be truthful in your cause and not deviate. Anger is the cause of destruction to self and organization. Being proud is the source of failing to keep rule #14 in check.

19. An act of kindness and responsibility for governance and leadership is solely for Allah s.w.t., unjust doing leads to self-corruption.

20. Titles and decorations are purely responsibility given by Allah, as leaders we are stewards and shall discharge our duties for the benefit of all, not betray the oath we have promised.

21.Always  be humble, everyone including you do not favour those who are proud of themselves. Humbleness + intelligence is the essence of loyalty and respect.

22. A leader who slack-off will destroy his / her organization in a “time” period.

23. A person who becomes a leader solely to pursue his personal intentions will be stewards who those not understand his people and subordinates.

Between Forgiveness & Gardens of Fitna

Do they think that ‘moment’ is worth to be forgotten?

It’s been 2 years since the Gardens of Fitna came to pass.

Do they think all those fitna & plot should be forgotten?

And both of them plot but every single shame were undone.

And those who thought were allies took the bait.

One ended a faithful friendship just for a single fitna.

Have they enough possessions to face the afterlife with their fitna deeds?

Indeed life has taught of who’s to be trusted with the soul, who are just mere friends and who are betrayers.

Forgiveness is theirs, compassion is none other than the traits of the Almighty.

For those who seek their Lord earns his forgiveness in the day of the next.

A Typical Answer for Poor Malaysian Government Services

Below is the typical answer given by government officers in charge should poor services be discovered by higher officials or ministers. My experience on this pattern of ‘typical answer’: when UM representatives complaint to Dato’ Mustapha Mohamed (Higher Education Minister at that time) on the water problem, when UPM students encountered food problems and reported directly to Biro Pengaduan Awam, Jabatan Perdana Menteri and during pre-MPPK.

So what is this typical answer all about? After pondering the pattern in a systematic manner it’s like this: put your shoes into someone in charge of a department and one day, someone discovered a problem and raised it up to your boss and it’s a complaint on your department services.

You, as the one in charge must make sure you get all the evidence to support your basis of saying that your department is not at fault, change it to a “misunderstanding occured” or the blame the public for your poor performance. It’s simply getting evidences from your “allied officers” and deny the facts from the evidences by making up a load of story.

As for me, it’s simple: Juz improve the God damn service!

It is so hard? beating around the bush there and here. Juz get down to work and improve it and from there you would get rewarded with job promotion. Simple equation: Your Department Perfomance Increase = Your Promotion Opportunity Increases.

Too defensive, I know it’s your periuk nasi but if you make it better for the rakyat, you would be rewarded in the future.

I’m not pointing my fingers to anyone, but it’s downright truth for those who have been dealing all this while with such a mindset.

A job well done to ministers! I see nowadays under Najib a lot of turun padang is being initiated. Hopefully it is being made often because MBWA technique is effective. Relying on reports from your subordinates are purely a conflict dilemma as the report is a conflict of officer’s independence as the officer relies on incentives and benefits from the report. (it must look good right?)

————————————————————————–

So, enjoy the news from NST:

Link : http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/NewsBreak/20090426162925/Article/index_html

HKL doctors allegedly caught ’slacking’ on duty

KUALA LUMPUR, Sun (Update) :

Deputy Minister of Federal Territories Datuk M. Saravanan today “caught” two doctors at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) emergency department reading newspapers and doing their own stuff instead of attending to more than 20 patients in pain waiting for treatment.

Saravanan made the shocking discovery at about 10.30am when he went to the hospital to visit a university student who was injured after he was knocked down by a car driven by his (Saravanan’s) driver.

“I, too, waited for a while for the girl to be treated and, realising that none of the patients were being called in by the doctors, I opened the door to the treatment room. I was shocked to find one doctor reading a newspaper and the other minding his own business and doing his own stuff.

“There were more than 20 patients outside waiting for treatment. This should not be the way doctors work. The patient should come first. Furthermore, it is an emergency unit, which is supposed to be fast in dispensing treatment,” the visibly irked Saravanan said.

The deputy minister said he reprimanded the doctors for their behaviour and demanded to see a superior who, he said, appeared after 30 minutes.
“After that, those waiting were promptly treated. Why couldn’t the doctors attend to the patients first? This should not be the way service at government hospitals is dispensed,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in one of his surprise visits to the city centre yesterday, said he wanted front-line government establishments in the federal capital to improve their services to the people.

Saravanan said that though he had caught the doctors by chance, he would from now on make it a point to conduct surprise visits to departments under his ministry to ensure that front-line staff did their job of serving the people.

“This is an eye-opener. We, as leaders, just cannot afford to pay lip service and not check whether work is done by the front-line government servants. We have to go down (to the ground) to ensure that speedy solutions are found for the people’s problems.

“What more in this case where people are in pain and undergoing agony due to the pain. If they were not suffering, they would not have come to the emergency unit. This is a lesson for all hospitals. Please work for the people if you are in the civil service,” he said.

Meanwhile, HKL director Datuk Dr Zaininah Mohd Zain, in responding to Saravanan’s remarks, said the hospital would get details of the incident and if there was any element of irresponsibility, it would be the first to take the appropriate action.

She said the hospital’s investigation showed that there were only eight patients and 20 relatives and that none of the patients was in pain because “we practise holistic pain care service and pain (is assessed) as the fifth vital sign”.

“Our hardworking doctors are but human,” she said, adding that browsing a newspaper when there were no cases in his (doctor’s) room should not be interpreted as neglecting his responsibility.

“We do not condone lazy or irresponsible doctors but (having) understanding, caring and hardworking doctors is also our obligation,” she said in a text message to Bernama.

Dr Zaininah said the HKL Emergency Department was a very busy department that managed 550 cases per day and was served by six medical officers in every eight-hour shift (of three shifts per day) with one specialist, one consultant and one (supervising) senior consultant per day.

“The challenge of patient loads is ever increasing, up to 30 per cent due to the current economic crisis.

“Despite this situation, we have served well in a systematic manner with the triage system to sort out and manage cases according to priority,” she said.

Dr Zaininah said HKL would continue to evaluate, supervise and maintain a high quality of service but support and understanding from the public were crucial to sustaining a high standard of service continuously. — BERNAMA

————————————————

Well this definitely makes a good case study for my future management encounters. Period.

Walking Down the Political Path or Islamic Path?

My departure from student politics into the corporate world completely changed my perception of my future. It is only now that I am deeply immersed in determining my path in life and career. Once I gave deep thoughts on joining the political world head on and make it my future career. But there was something amiss, something not right. I remembered those words by a Political Secretary when he told me that it is a waste student leaders do not participate in politics after their graduation.

But look how ‘noble’ it is to participate in politics as a youth in the recent UMNO assembly. Now I am definitely rethinking thousand times before even joining any political party. Do I join the party for my lust and desire of power, being a leader with ‘faces of sincerity’ but corrupted in heart? Or participate under the shadows of business networking in securing contracts? If it may be, I would want to fight for things dear to the party, it’s essence, it’s roots, it’s noble cause, serving “agama, bangsa dan negara”.

Whateva it may be, my heartiest congratulations to Dato’ Mustapha Mohamed for the highest votes garnered for Majlis Tertinggi UMNO. You have won our hearts, as previous YDPs which gained the opportunity to have known you personally and listening to our students problem attentively and taking direct actions. We miss you, you were truly like a father. I am sure with someone who is dedicated to serve, the party would be noble in it’s cause.

My mind flashes back to those memories when my grandfather used to siap2 for the annual UMNO general assembly. One typical question from him would be; “cantik tak baju atuk? cantik tak sampin ni?” I remembered that PEKEMBAR file in his room, pekembar means Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu which in english means UMNO. I used to watch the tapes where he gave his speech when he was the Selangor Chief Minister, I remembered the book on Adat memasuki istana, those medals in the gallery given by the Sultan and the small keris which I used to play around the house.

I remembered that phrase; “bila besar boleh jadi macam atuk ye.” Nay, I admit I was nakal when I was in high school but what not, deep in myself I was cultivated with this impression of UMNO grandeur since I was young. I know somewhat I wanted to be like him. Getting to see Tan Sris and Dato’ Seris whom are respected in society, that annual Hari Raya open house which brings lots of known people. Alas, I ‘want-ed’ that.

Now distant memories as they are, somehow or rather it’s just as distant as it could be. When I was young I enjoyed the credibility of being one of those “noble” people. I belonged to a society of elites, those people who enjoyed luxury and position. Until one day your friend asks you a question; “mak awak anak angkat kan?”. Cried home at that time asking whether it’s true or not. Alas as I grew up I came to accept that I was nothing more than a commoner, position in memory but virtues in heart. I came to learn that valuble lesson of not depending on your family’s position nor brag on something which others earned such as “wei, taman ni atuk aku punye, tengok la nama pun nama atuk aku” or “tengok la siapa engkau, siapa aku?”.

Allahuakhbar. Allah is Great. Alhamdullilah. When I was about to be lost, Allah brought me back to my path. For if it was my noble blood, my ego would have swollen like a mountain. I’ve learnt to conceal my historical background, I wanted to climb the ladder on my own. I wanted to be in the society where no one saw anything special in me, I felt how it was like to be pushed over, looked down upon, jeered at or even ‘fitnah’ by friends. What’s most memorable to me was phrases like; “you tau sabrie, dia millionaire, dia dato’ tau, you mesti bangga dapat salam dengan dato’” or “siapa kamu datang ke sini tanpa kebenaran saya?”. If it was because of status I am sure hypocritical words would be pointed to me.

Now as I leave all those things behind me and look into the future, I remembered the person I love the most, my parents which made me what I am today. I remembered those days when my parents paksa me read Richard Branson’s biography than reading Doraemon books. Those days when he used to buy me books about Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet and lingering around his library on all those business books. I admit my parents spent a fortune on books.

I just love our mini library where those books really shaped my life. I have always made it a point to learn from others mistakes and never step on the pitfall twice. My mom is wants us to learn so much, I couldn’t remember how many tuitions I had in a day. Yes, education is important, I never loved it, until now. Nonetheless, my dad always wanted me to be an enterpreneur.

I hope I would be one. And that is my aim. But it’s normal in Malay society to be jeered when you tell others you would want o start business. I have always concealed my intentions as it is always pleasurable in our society when someone fails we would respond things like; “tu lah, aku dah cakap dah dia degil tak nak dengar.” or “tu la cita2 tinggi lagi, tengok sekarang dah jatuh rasakan.” Such perceptions till I barred my parents from informing others of my ambitions. Cukuplah sekadar mengatakan pada orang kita nak makan gaji. Lagi baik bagitau orang kita nak keje bende yang tak setimpal dengan degree. Baru orang puas hati.

Other than that I thank my parents for enlightening me with all those knowledge. What would I be without knowledge.

Now arise the question. Whatever I choose to be in life, I ponder on my life. Is it forever? What do I want to accomplish? Do I desire wealth? Do I desire happiness? Or do I desire heaven? Or do I care about my afterlife? Should I live long enough to be so material forgetting the oath I did before birth?

Whatever it may be, I choose submission to Allah. And I am lucky to have a person who loves me dearest, who brings me closer to Allah. Sometimes it is true they say, when you love a woman, you should first love her because of religion. And how lucky I could be to have a potential someone with intellectual knowledge, kindness and loyalty to our Lord. Turning to Allah from all those secular love thoughts truly brings joy and happiness to the heart. Hopefully baby steps would enrich our knowledge on religion and when fate sets it, we shall be our Lord’s loyal vicagerent on Earth and have offsprings with faith in mind.

When it comes to the future, I would really think of none other than one thought;

“Guide us to the straight path. The path of those on whom you have bestowed your Grace, not of those who have earned your anger, nor of those who go astray.” (1:6,7)

Here goes to those I admire and wish to be them, who serve their Lord, Most Gracious, most Merciful; “the examplary Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.), the kindness of all wealthy men; Abdul Rahman Bin Auf, intelligence beyond compare; Ibnu Sina, philosophical beyond the norms; Ibnu Khaldun and Khawarizmi.

May I be among the wealthy righteous and be a man of knowledge to serve none other than Allah s.w.t. Amen.

Students Political Fight.

Yin and Yang.

That’s about it.

For ye to understand.

Action speaks louder than words.

Sometimes knowledge makes one see the light when all is dark.

Never let the ball of your feet, they tell you when u play soccer.

I tell you, he who conquers the field wins half the fight.

For every wind is not the same wind.

Idiots see every wind as the same wind.

Simply idiots are those deceived.