This was the interview given by former IGP, Tan Sri Rahim Noor, on his views about the Haadyai Peace Accord, and his thoughts about Chin Peng, in 2009. From the tone of it, I believe Tan Sri Rahim holds a great deal of respect for Chin Peng and that probably what prompted him to make the 'don't make us a laughing stock' statement when UMNO Baru plans to bar the ashes of Chin Peng from entering the country.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
The true facts behind the Baling Talks in 1955
I had the honour of participating in the reading of the 1955 Baling Talks at the Singapore Arts Festival in 2011.
After reading the entire unedited script of those talks, I was left with the distinct feeling that the official account of that historical event must count as amongst the most dishonest.
Like so many others from that era, Chin Peng must be acknowledged as one severely maligned by the lies and untruths layed out by UMNO / BN and denied his place in the annals of this nation as one who fought for his beliefs and the freedom of the people.
_____________________________________________________________
A review of what happened at the meeting in December 1955 in Baling, Kedah between the Alliance represented by Tunku Abdul Rahman, David Marshall and Tan Cheng Lock and the MCP represented by Chin Peng, Rashid Mydin and Chen Tien, is crucial for proper apportionment of the blame for the continuation of the Communist Insurgency in Malaya post Independence.
First a quote from Khong Kim Hoong –
The Peace Talks in Baling in December 1955 between the Alliance leaders and the MCP broke down. The Alliance leaders went back on their amnesty proposal which they had campaigned for earlier in the (1955) elections and rejected the MCP demands that after the cessation of the guerilla warfare, there would be no reprisals against any individuals and that the MCP would be allowed to participate freely in politics. The stand taken by the Alliance leaders was important to the British government. They had proven themselves to be as uncompromising to the communists as the British government itself. Therefore the earlier fears of the British that the Alliance leaders might strike a compromise with the MCP that could adversely affect British interests in Malaya were eliminated. The talks in London opened in a more amiable atmosphere. (Merdeka! British Rule and the Struggle for Independence in Malaya. P 198)
Khong’s description of the outcome of the Peace Talks is corroborated by Said Zahari in his book, “Dark Clouds at Dawn”, where he writes (P282) –
I asked Tunku if he was disappointed with the failure of the “peace talks”. Unhesitatingly, the Chief Minister replied: “No, I’m not. I never wanted it to be a success.” He then smiled broadly and walked away towards the conference room. Syed Jaafar Albar pulled me aside and said “Said, I think Tunku’s reply to your question should not be made public.” I was disappointed
According to these 2 accounts, Tunku Abdul Rahman had to renege on his offer of amnesty for the communists that was so loudly canvassed in the Federal Elections of July 1955 because that would have adversely affected his push for Independence within 2 years. Chin Peng and his colleagues thought so too, and they harboured hopes that once Malaya won its Independence the amnesty offer might be followed through (See “My side of History” by Chin Peng.) Amnesty was finally offered in 1989 on almost the same terms that the MCP had requested in Baling in 1955.
Why the inordinate delay? The MCP was ready to lay down arms in 1955 itself for they could see that the military campaign was not getting them anywhere. But they did not want the indignity of surrender and indefinite detention under the emergency regulation! The continuation of armed hostilities in the jungles of Malaya between Independence in 1957 and the Peace Accord in 1989 was largely because the Malayan/Malaysian government wanted to keep the communists out of the legitimate political process. They were afraid that the communists might be able to garner enough support to enter Parliament and offer resistance to the pro-capitalist policies of the Alliance government.
Don’t the UMNO leaders – Najib, Muhiyuddin, Hishamuddin, Nazri and several others – who have been loudly protesting the return of Chin Peng’s ashes to Sitiawan, know what actually happened at Baling in December 1955? Surely they cannot be so ignorant! Their main argument is that Chin Peng was responsible for the deaths and injuries suffered by Malayan /Malaysian soldiers, and that why many Malaysians are still angry with him. Yes, many Malaysian soldiers sustained their injuries fighting the communist insurgents. But surely Kong Kim Hoong’s and Said Zahari’s accounts of the Baling Talks suggest that the Alliance leaders do share the moral responsibility for all the injuries sustained by our soldiers as well as the communist fighters post Independence.
Intellectual honesty has never been the strong point of our UMNO leaders! The penchant to take an ethnic slant on issues is! Their hysterical reaction to the proposal to bring Chin Peng’s ashes to the land of his birth displays both of these features quite clearly!
Dr. Jeyakumar Devaraj
PSM Central Committee member / MP Sg.Siput
After reading the entire unedited script of those talks, I was left with the distinct feeling that the official account of that historical event must count as amongst the most dishonest.
Like so many others from that era, Chin Peng must be acknowledged as one severely maligned by the lies and untruths layed out by UMNO / BN and denied his place in the annals of this nation as one who fought for his beliefs and the freedom of the people.
_____________________________________________________________
A review of what happened at the meeting in December 1955 in Baling, Kedah between the Alliance represented by Tunku Abdul Rahman, David Marshall and Tan Cheng Lock and the MCP represented by Chin Peng, Rashid Mydin and Chen Tien, is crucial for proper apportionment of the blame for the continuation of the Communist Insurgency in Malaya post Independence.
First a quote from Khong Kim Hoong –
The Peace Talks in Baling in December 1955 between the Alliance leaders and the MCP broke down. The Alliance leaders went back on their amnesty proposal which they had campaigned for earlier in the (1955) elections and rejected the MCP demands that after the cessation of the guerilla warfare, there would be no reprisals against any individuals and that the MCP would be allowed to participate freely in politics. The stand taken by the Alliance leaders was important to the British government. They had proven themselves to be as uncompromising to the communists as the British government itself. Therefore the earlier fears of the British that the Alliance leaders might strike a compromise with the MCP that could adversely affect British interests in Malaya were eliminated. The talks in London opened in a more amiable atmosphere. (Merdeka! British Rule and the Struggle for Independence in Malaya. P 198)
Khong’s description of the outcome of the Peace Talks is corroborated by Said Zahari in his book, “Dark Clouds at Dawn”, where he writes (P282) –
I asked Tunku if he was disappointed with the failure of the “peace talks”. Unhesitatingly, the Chief Minister replied: “No, I’m not. I never wanted it to be a success.” He then smiled broadly and walked away towards the conference room. Syed Jaafar Albar pulled me aside and said “Said, I think Tunku’s reply to your question should not be made public.” I was disappointed
According to these 2 accounts, Tunku Abdul Rahman had to renege on his offer of amnesty for the communists that was so loudly canvassed in the Federal Elections of July 1955 because that would have adversely affected his push for Independence within 2 years. Chin Peng and his colleagues thought so too, and they harboured hopes that once Malaya won its Independence the amnesty offer might be followed through (See “My side of History” by Chin Peng.) Amnesty was finally offered in 1989 on almost the same terms that the MCP had requested in Baling in 1955.
Why the inordinate delay? The MCP was ready to lay down arms in 1955 itself for they could see that the military campaign was not getting them anywhere. But they did not want the indignity of surrender and indefinite detention under the emergency regulation! The continuation of armed hostilities in the jungles of Malaya between Independence in 1957 and the Peace Accord in 1989 was largely because the Malayan/Malaysian government wanted to keep the communists out of the legitimate political process. They were afraid that the communists might be able to garner enough support to enter Parliament and offer resistance to the pro-capitalist policies of the Alliance government.
Don’t the UMNO leaders – Najib, Muhiyuddin, Hishamuddin, Nazri and several others – who have been loudly protesting the return of Chin Peng’s ashes to Sitiawan, know what actually happened at Baling in December 1955? Surely they cannot be so ignorant! Their main argument is that Chin Peng was responsible for the deaths and injuries suffered by Malayan /Malaysian soldiers, and that why many Malaysians are still angry with him. Yes, many Malaysian soldiers sustained their injuries fighting the communist insurgents. But surely Kong Kim Hoong’s and Said Zahari’s accounts of the Baling Talks suggest that the Alliance leaders do share the moral responsibility for all the injuries sustained by our soldiers as well as the communist fighters post Independence.
Intellectual honesty has never been the strong point of our UMNO leaders! The penchant to take an ethnic slant on issues is! Their hysterical reaction to the proposal to bring Chin Peng’s ashes to the land of his birth displays both of these features quite clearly!
Dr. Jeyakumar Devaraj
PSM Central Committee member / MP Sg.Siput
Monday, September 23, 2013
Yet another PAS leader stands up for Chin Peng
 |
| Sepang MP, Mohamed Hanipa Maidin |
Chin Peng continues to draw official condemnation days after his death, but a PAS Member of Parliament has today spoken up in defence of the late communist leader.
Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (pic above) took to task Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, saying he should not follow right-wing Malay group Perkasa when talking about the law.
The PAS lawyer was commenting on Khalid's statement that border checks would be stepped up to prevent any attempts at bringing back Chin Peng's remains into Malaysia.
Hanipa then referred to a statement by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar that Putrajaya has no legal power to stop Chin Peng's ashes from being brought in, as well as the comments from former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor, that Malaysia will be a laughing stock for not allowing Chin Peng's ashes into the country.
"The former IGP had also suggested that Chin Peng's contribution to the country be studied again.
"Good thing it was Rahim Noor who had said that and not Mat Sabu. If it was Mat Sabu, there would have been thousands of police reports lodged against him by BN politicians," Hanipa remarked, referring to PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu.
Mohamad Sabu was at the centre of a storm last year for saying that history books deriding communist fighters should be revised.
Hanipa also defended Chin Peng as an independence fighter, a description that has not sat well with Umno leaders.
Hanipa is one of many PAS leaders who have openly come out in defence of Chin Peng, who died on September 16 in Bangkok.
Mohamad Sabu, in urging Putrajaya to reconsider its decision to bar Chin Peng's remains, pointed out that Islam never discriminated against its enemies.
Yesterday, a Kedah PAS leader, Fadzil Baharom, showed up at Chin Peng's wake at a temple in Bangkok, saying many Malaysians including PAS members have misunderstood the late leader.
"Malaysia's history has been changed. I am looking for the unvarnished version," said Fadzil.
[Source: The MI]
Monday Humour
AN UNUSUAL REQUEST
A man walks into the doctor's office and says: "Doctor, my name is Mark, and I'd like to be castrated."
"What? Are you sure about this? Why?" asks the doctor, amazed.
'And what are you here for?' enquired the mother-in-law.
'I'M HERE TO ENTERTAIN YOUR SON!!!!!'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A JAPANESE ELEVATOR PRANK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOICE RECOGNITION ELEVATOR
A man walks into the doctor's office and says: "Doctor, my name is Mark, and I'd like to be castrated."
"What? Are you sure about this? Why?" asks the doctor, amazed.
"It's something I've been considering a long time and I'd like to have it done" replies Mark.
"But have you thought it through? REALLY through?" asks the concerned doctor, "It's a very serious operation and once it's done, there's no going back. It will change your life forever!"
"I'm aware of that and you're not going to change my mind, so please book me in to be castrated or I'll simply use another doctor."
"Well, OK.", says the doctor, "But I'll have you know that it's against my better judgment!"
So Mark has his operation, and the next day he is up and walking very slowly, legs apart, down the hospital corridor with his drip stand. Heading towards him is another patient, who is walking exactly the same way.
"Hi there," says Mark,"It looks as if you've just had the same operation as me."
"Yes, it seems like" said the patient, "as for me, I finally decided after 37 years of life that it was time for me to be circumcised."
Mark stared at him in horror and screamed, "Dammit, THAT was the word!!!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DILEMMA
“Hello.”
“Mrs. Sanders, please.”
“Speaking.”
“Mrs. Sanders, this is Doctor Jones at Saint Agnes Laboratory. When your husband's doctor sent his biopsy to this lab last week, a biopsy from another Mr. Sanders arrived as well . We are now uncertain which one belongs to your husband. Frankly, either way, the results are not too good.”
“What do you mean?” Mrs. Sanders asks nervously.
“Well, one of the specimens tested positive for Alzheimer's and the other one tested positive for HIV. We can't tell which is which.
“That's dreadful! Can you do the test again?” questioned Mrs. Sanders.
“Normally we can, but the NHS will only pay for these expensive tests once.”
“Hello.”
“Mrs. Sanders, please.”
“Speaking.”
“Mrs. Sanders, this is Doctor Jones at Saint Agnes Laboratory. When your husband's doctor sent his biopsy to this lab last week, a biopsy from another Mr. Sanders arrived as well . We are now uncertain which one belongs to your husband. Frankly, either way, the results are not too good.”
“What do you mean?” Mrs. Sanders asks nervously.
“Well, one of the specimens tested positive for Alzheimer's and the other one tested positive for HIV. We can't tell which is which.
“That's dreadful! Can you do the test again?” questioned Mrs. Sanders.
“Normally we can, but the NHS will only pay for these expensive tests once.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do now?”
“The NHS helpdesk recommend that you drop your husband off somewhere in the middle of town. If he finds his way home, don't sleep with him."
“The NHS helpdesk recommend that you drop your husband off somewhere in the middle of town. If he finds his way home, don't sleep with him."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A NEW AGE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
Some daughters-in-law are well trained and well mannered....
They don't come to change the family, they are here to ...
They don't come to change the family, they are here to ...
The new wife was being welcomed at the husband's home in a traditional
manner. As expected she gave a speech;
manner. As expected she gave a speech;
'My dear family members, I thank you for welcoming me in my new home
and family. Firstly, my being here does not mean that I want to change
your way of life, your routine ..'No, I will never do that, never in a
million years.'
'What do you mean my child?' asked the father-in-law.
'What I mean dad is (looking at her in-laws);
Those who used to wash the dishes must carry on washing them.
Those who used to do the laundry must carry on doing it.
Those who cooked should not stop at my account, AND
Those who used to clean should continue cleaning!!!
and family. Firstly, my being here does not mean that I want to change
your way of life, your routine ..'No, I will never do that, never in a
million years.'
'What do you mean my child?' asked the father-in-law.
'What I mean dad is (looking at her in-laws);
Those who used to wash the dishes must carry on washing them.
Those who used to do the laundry must carry on doing it.
Those who cooked should not stop at my account, AND
Those who used to clean should continue cleaning!!!
'And what are you here for?' enquired the mother-in-law.
'I'M HERE TO ENTERTAIN YOUR SON!!!!!'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A JAPANESE ELEVATOR PRANK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOICE RECOGNITION ELEVATOR
Fadzil Baharom of PAS was there
 |
| Fadzil Baharom (second from left) meets Chin Peng's brother-in-law |
When met at the wake, Fadzil stressed that he was not representing PAS or PKR but was there in a personal capacity.
Fadzil said he has known members of Chin Peng's family for about five years and felt it was appropriate to attend the wake.
He said despite the Malaysian government's portrayal of Chin Peng, he considered the latter to be a fighter.
"Malaysia's history has been changed; I am looking for the unvarnished version.
"Even within PAS, not everyone is really familiar with the facts of the nation's history and how events actually panned out," Fadzil said.
"Although my presence here today is nothing great, I am sure in five or 10 years it will be seen as a historical moment because I dared to attend Chin Peng's wake," Fadzil said jovially.
He also pointed out that following Chin Peng's death on Monday, many people had been circulating old stories and reports about the 88-year-old on the Internet.
He said that was good as it would help to educate the younger generation and give them a better understanding of history.
Asked whether other party members might frown on his presence at Chin Peng's wake, Fadzil shrugged and said he did not care as he did not feel there was a problem with his attendance.
He emphasised that paying his respects did not mean he was a communist or followed the ideology. He was merely interested in history, and Chin Peng was a part of the fabric of Malaysia's past.
Fadzil contested in GE13 for the Sungai Tiang state seat, but lost to Barisan Nasional's Suraya Yaacob.
(Source: The MI)
Saturday, September 21, 2013
The Thais show UMNO Baru what it means to be forgiving
A wreath of orchids from Thai princess Chulabhorn Walailak placed in front of the coffin of former CPM leader Chin Peng tells a story the Malaysian government is not likely to agree with.
In Wat That Thong, one of the more famous temples in Bangkok, it is this story that retired Thai generals, who came to pay their respects to Chin Peng this afternoon, will remember him by.
According to retired general Kitti Rattanachaya (left), who was given the honour of spraying holy water on Chin Peng's body before it was placed in the coffin, Chin Peng should be remembered as a hero, not as a terrorist.
Through signing the Hatyai Peace Agreement of 1989, Kitti said, Chin Peng "played a key role in maintaining peace" along the Thai-Malaysian border.
"He fought for the independence of his country, just like (Vietnam leader) Ho Chi Minh, but he did not succeed.
"It is proper to allow his ashes to be returned to Malaysia. Forgive and forget, let bygones be bygones. Once someone dies, everything is finished," Kitti told members of the media.
As a former military man who led troops against the CPM guerillas, he said, he viewed Chin Peng - who spent a third of his life in exile in Thailand - as an elder brother.
"(The Malaysian position) is just politics. When a peace agreement is signed, there is no longer animosity," Kitti said, stressing that this was his personal view and not that of the Thai government.
Forgiveness the only solution
Agreeing with him, Akanit Muansawad, a general who retired from the Thai army last year, said that for him, forgiveness was the only way to bring peace.
As the first Thai army officer to broker talks with Chin Peng in August 1973, Akanit said he made the decision to do after losing many of his men.
"I was a captain then and in one year, I lost 50 soldiers - 30 died and 20 were wounded. I got malaria 13 times from going in and out of the jungle.
"I forgave because I couldn't see any other way to solve the problem," Akanit (right) said.
The princess' wreath was just one of many in memory of Chin Peng today.
Among them was a wreath of yellow flowers from his children, with a message simply reading: "In loving memory of our dear father."
Of the 50-odd family members and friends who came to the quiet and sombre affair today, many were seen in tears.
According to Anas Abdullah, a family friend who helped arrange the wake and funeral, more than 100 former CPM guerilla fighters are expected to pay their respects in the next two days, before Chin Peng's body is cremated on Monday.
The son of a CPM leader and the son-in-law of one of the oldest surviving Malay CPM members Abdullah CD, Anas said his father-in-law was not able to make the 10-hour drive to Bangkok from the Sukhirin peace village, near Narathiwat.
"But about 10 people from the village will be driving over tomorrow," Anas said of the village that is home to former 10th Regiment fighters, who are mostly Muslims.
[Source: Mkini]
In Wat That Thong, one of the more famous temples in Bangkok, it is this story that retired Thai generals, who came to pay their respects to Chin Peng this afternoon, will remember him by.
According to retired general Kitti Rattanachaya (left), who was given the honour of spraying holy water on Chin Peng's body before it was placed in the coffin, Chin Peng should be remembered as a hero, not as a terrorist. Through signing the Hatyai Peace Agreement of 1989, Kitti said, Chin Peng "played a key role in maintaining peace" along the Thai-Malaysian border.
"He fought for the independence of his country, just like (Vietnam leader) Ho Chi Minh, but he did not succeed.
"It is proper to allow his ashes to be returned to Malaysia. Forgive and forget, let bygones be bygones. Once someone dies, everything is finished," Kitti told members of the media.
As a former military man who led troops against the CPM guerillas, he said, he viewed Chin Peng - who spent a third of his life in exile in Thailand - as an elder brother.
"(The Malaysian position) is just politics. When a peace agreement is signed, there is no longer animosity," Kitti said, stressing that this was his personal view and not that of the Thai government.
Forgiveness the only solution
Agreeing with him, Akanit Muansawad, a general who retired from the Thai army last year, said that for him, forgiveness was the only way to bring peace. As the first Thai army officer to broker talks with Chin Peng in August 1973, Akanit said he made the decision to do after losing many of his men.
"I was a captain then and in one year, I lost 50 soldiers - 30 died and 20 were wounded. I got malaria 13 times from going in and out of the jungle.
"I forgave because I couldn't see any other way to solve the problem," Akanit (right) said. The princess' wreath was just one of many in memory of Chin Peng today.
Among them was a wreath of yellow flowers from his children, with a message simply reading: "In loving memory of our dear father."
Of the 50-odd family members and friends who came to the quiet and sombre affair today, many were seen in tears.
According to Anas Abdullah, a family friend who helped arrange the wake and funeral, more than 100 former CPM guerilla fighters are expected to pay their respects in the next two days, before Chin Peng's body is cremated on Monday.
The son of a CPM leader and the son-in-law of one of the oldest surviving Malay CPM members Abdullah CD, Anas said his father-in-law was not able to make the 10-hour drive to Bangkok from the Sukhirin peace village, near Narathiwat.
"But about 10 people from the village will be driving over tomorrow," Anas said of the village that is home to former 10th Regiment fighters, who are mostly Muslims.
[Source: Mkini]
Friday, September 20, 2013
The Malaysian Education Standard by Dr J B Lim
(Note: In response to a press report on April 7, 2013 that Malaysians failed to gain admission into the World’s most prestigious Harvard University for the second year in a row due to a slide in the quality of Applicants, the Blogger's most learned e-buddy Dr JB Lim has the following to say)
If I were to relate to you my experiences with all these local graduates, especially those from public universities, let alone school leavers trying to enter universities in the United Kingdom like Oxford, Cambridge or at St Andrews University, or those in the United States like Harvard, Princeton, MIT, CIT, you will laugh at the atrocious standard of our Malaysian educational standard especially in Science . It would take me pages after pages to recount my experiences.
Very briefly :
1. You ask them a simple question in English, they can only reply in Bahasa Malaysia.
2. You ask them a simple technical question in the area they study in the university, they will be stunt. They will just stare at you ; look up at the ceiling instead of looking at you. You will wait for 1 - 2 minutes for them to answer. When you repeat the question once again, they will just smile at you. They just don’t seem to know.
3. I have been a previous external examiner to some of the undergraduate students studying in local universities. When I asked them questions, not only do they just remained silent & just smiled and showed their teeth, but they gave irrelevant and out-of-point answers . They told me they have not studied that before. When I asked them, then what did they study, they replied points that were neither here nor there. I just can’t believe it. But their lecturers who sat beside me as an observer during the oral examination told me these were taught to them although not in great detail.
Anyway, I have never failed any student even if they cannot answer. During the oral examination even if they cannot answer, I would explain to them, and gave them the answer. I then asked them to promise me that they will remember what I told them before I let them go with a pass. So for compassionate reasons, none has ever failed under my hands.
4. Over the last 10 years I have also been one of the International Judges for ITEX for all the local public universities, and a few private universities competing with each other with their research inventions and innovations. I found most of their research, discoveries and inventions by academics and postgraduates students below expectations.
A few years ago, a Malay female M.Sc. student from the University of Malaya even tried to bluff me and my co-judge that she boiled a flower extract in water for over 180 degrees Celsius, and she found the colour of the flower extract heat remained stable. This instantly caught me by surprise because water at normal atmosphere can never exceed 100 deg C. So I asked her if she used some kind of very special very high pressure cooker to boil the water. To my surprise she said no . . . ’just boil it with water in a beaker.’
Instantly I failed her. Her professor (a Chinese lady) who was standing behind her to give her support could not defend her, because I was one of the International Judges evaluating the quality of inventions put up by local public (some from overseas) universities.
I would have forgiven her if she was only a Form 1 or Form 2 school student. I would have taught her that water can only boil at 100 deg C under sea level atmospheric pressure. But she was doing her Master of Science degree from what was supposed to be the best and oldest university in Malaysia.
5. My drug company employs a few science graduates, including qualified professional nutritionists graduated from UPM and UKM. During my conversation with some of them about nutritional diseases and methods to diagnose them, surprisingly they told me they have not heard of these deficiency diseases, let alone identify their clinical feature and diagnose them.
I remember at London where I studied nutrition, we were drilled through and through on the clinical features of all the nutritional disorders until we were truly expert in identifying every one of them. Both my external examiners were from the Department of Medicine from Cambridge. Both were Jews and Professors appointed by the University of London to examine us. I remember during the oral exams they would show us clinical slides of nutritional diseases, and ask us to make a diagnosis.
We could do this with ease because our London professors (also all Jews – all walking encyclopedias. The Jews are a very highly intelligent race that hold almost all the chairs of university departments in the UK) have already drilled us very expertly in this area among many other branches. We have no trouble at all answering our external examiners from Cambridge .
We never smiled, remained silent and stared at the ceiling like what I experienced with our local university students when you examined them.
The academic standards between British and Malaysian universities are worlds apart. There is totally just no comparison at all – even in the 1960’s the academic standards of British universities are far higher than those of Malaysian universities in 2012.
6. I have also been a Chairman of scientific sessions where research papers were presented by academics and post-doctoral researchers in scientific congresses. I just can’t believe the sub-standard quality of their papers which I think even a good Upper Form Six student from another country can do better.
When I was at the University of London doing my postgraduate way back in the early 1960s the quality of papers from British Universities were so high that we, even as postgraduate students, find it very difficult to understand . They were all so good, so professional and so specialized. Their papers were beyond us. Even way back in the 1960s, their papers were full of data, statistics and mathematical analysis of the experimental data done in a very sophisticated and elegant way. It was so professional.
But when our Malaysian university academics present a paper at a scientific conference, they only show pictures and photos, and seldom any research data.
Here in Malaysia in the 2010s, I feel very bored and sleepy especially after lunch as chairman for the afternoon sessions trying to listen to our local postgraduates’ sub-standard papers . Their slides were just pictures and photos taken with a camera. There is seldom any statistic or data to back up what they were trying to present. But they call it ‘presenting a research paper’.
So with the sub-standard knowledge of our local students, their professors and subsequent education how can they ever hope to enter Harvard University ? They are crying for a blue moon in their dreams .
JB Lim
A proud Dr J B Lim with his daughter, Ai Hsing, graduated with BSc (Hons) in Engineering from Liverpool John Moore University.
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