Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Tok Pa Reads Blogs!

Wow! I'm impressed. Our new Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed (Tok Pa) reads blogs and makes it a point to reply quickly where required.

Parliamentary Opposition leader, Sdr Lim Kit Siang blogged 2 days ago based on a newspaper report that Tok Pa should "prove first-class mentality" by releasing the Zahid Higher Education Report to the public immediately instead of in August this year.

On the very next day, Tok Pa emailed, yes, emailed Sdr Lim his response that the newspaper report was not exactly accurate, and that he has begun the process of de-classification and should be made available to the public within the next two weeks.
The report by the media at the press conference held at LAN last Thursday was incomplete.

What I stated was that the Wan Zahid report will be made public as soon as possible, to allow for public consultations and updating of the findings and recommendations, including the incorporation of elements outlined in the 9th Malaysia Plan. Tan Sri Wan Zahid has been tasked to oversee this effort and the final report is expected to be completed by the end of September, this year.
Sdr Lim rightly praised Tok Pa for "passing the first test... for blazing the path as the first Cabinet Minister in cyberspace to respond to views concerning his ministry on blogs and the internet".

Now, if Tok Pa reads blogs, or at the very least, one of his senior assistants must be, then I may safely assume that this blog is being read (or monitored?) as well. :) For Sdr Lim have often liberally quoted, linked and plugged various posts in this blog in the past and as recent as a week ago.

Tok Pa, if you are reading this, both Kian Ming and myself would like to warmly welcome you to our modest blog on Education in Malaysia. Both of us are extremely concerned about the state of education available and accessible to all Malaysians in this country and would love to help it improve. I'm sure you'd have read the many criticisms we have had on the system to date, some harsher than others. These are not written out of malice, but of a sincere and heartfelt desire to be providing constructive criticism so that the relevant authorities may take the necessary steps to remedy the weaknesses.

Tok Pa, we look forward to a more open, transparent and constructive Higher Education policy and era under your leadership. Despite the many cynicism which have been expressed by many Malaysians, some as comments by readers of this blog, we hope that the standards and quality of our tertiary education sector will improve significantly under your reign.

Welcome once again! :)

36 comments:

Kian Ming said...

If just one or two of the ideas expressed in this blog gets passed on to Tok Pa, I think we'd be pretty happy.

Anonymous said...

It is indeed very good news that our ministers (at least Tok Pa for now) are listening to the public. There are many excellent blogs highlighting the Malaysian plight from all walks of life. An open discussion is always a right step to being a developed nation. I hope more ministers will read these blogs.

Anonymous said...

the proof of the pie is the eating.

Let's see what version of the Wan Zahid report is released
Let's wait a year or 2 and seeif any positive development in our univercities.

Malaysians are very very good in talking. The doing part is actually more important.

Anonymous said...

Tok Pa reads?

Anonymous said...

But then, this means someone is monitoring the cyber space. Better be careful in what we say loh~

Anonymous said...

To Tok Pa,

With due respects there are more truth in the state of education in Malaysia then found in the newspapers or the media.

Please try to heed the 'prayers' and 'hopes' of the bloggers here

Anonymous said...

I am proposing that since we have so many high calibre professors in UM, that a display of all their peer reviewed publications in international journals be placed besides the Great Hall.

By this way the public and the students will be proud to see the number of papers being produced yearly. or that that the display will always remain 'empty'

So hardworking and non hardworking professors will be identified

Anonymous said...

they'll probably end up listing their medals won at trade fairs

Anonymous said...

If Tok Pa really read blogs, I hope he not only read Lim Kit Siang's blog because it's more on political issue. For example, in this blog we only interested in education in Malaysia, we just don't want politician intefere in education institution; school, colleges and universities..Please work as government not as politician...The different is Government works for rakyat, politician only work to get vote..I'm pretty sure a lot of politicians out there browse internet everyday..they just don't want to listen to public...and public, just don't know the right channel to raise their concern, or just frighten to do so...

Anonymous said...

If the Higher Education Minister, Datuk Mustapha Mohamad, is reading this blog, YB should encourage lawyer Rafiah Salim, the new UM VC (with HR expereince), to scrutinize the people appointed by the former VC.

For example, Wirakarnain Sani, Bazrul, Kamariah Haron, Kalam Azad Abu Bakar, Mahaganapathy Dass @ Paskaradass, Halmi Rajin, Mahadzir Mat Isa, Hirman Awang, Koshy Philip, etc.

Also the promotion of the former UM VC’s wife to professor in the Science Faculty.

Were their appointments done in the proper manner, following the correct SOP under ISO? Were the various Deans and Heads arm-twisted to appoint them? Are they contributing to the departments where they are attached to? Are they there to serve the former VC (and maybe his dear wife) and wasting taxpayers’ money?

Is the former UM VC’s wife, a chemist by training, contributing actively and brilliantly to the advancement of chemistry in both teaching and research in the Chemistry Department, UM? If she is not in the Chemistry Department, then why?

For a start, let the new VC show us accountability in UM, a public university. (After all, a lawyer is trained to seek truth and to speak the truth.) This simple act will certainly enhance Puan Rafiah Salim’s reputation and the reputation of our Higher Education Minister.

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! Even everyone here know about Koshy Phillip ( Pillai)!!
Get your spies to dig about his background data...his academic resume...you will be in for a treat!!

Anonymous said...

The former VC wife is in the Biochemestry division of ISB...hehe

Anonymous said...

Is this the same Koshy Phillip with OMX Marketing Sdn. Bhd., GD-Mineway Group, Mineway (M) Sdn Bhd., Kandiah & Associates Sdn. Bhd.?

Why is he with UM now? Is he doing his job as an academic?

Anonymous said...

he he he! You hit it right on the nail!

He is an academic now. First with medical faculty then with science faculty.

You should do research from students taking his course what they think of his course and so called 'expertise'

Guess his entry into UM is through the magic wand of Kapten VC

Anonymous said...

Seems that this Koshy Pillai is more a salesman with trading companies then a true blue academic.

Apa sudah mau jadi ini UM la???

Anonymous said...

It was claimed that Koshy Phillip was employed as an Associate Professor in UM by UM former Kapitan VC because of KP's involvement in the Kapitan's and Kapitan's darling wife's research project.

It was also claimed that under the patronage of the former Kapitan VC, KP was untouchable and was gifted from the Faculty of Medicine (which obviously did not know what to do with this extra manpower) to the Faculty of Science (which obviously dared not offend the royal wishes of the then Kapitan VC, though again did not know what to do with this extra manpower). What a luxury of having excess human resource!

If the claims were true, Koshy Phillip must be a lucky person born with silver spoon in his mouth - buta gaji and goyang kaki. The monthly salary of an associate professor is handsome by Malaysian standard. On top of that, KP may be getting other salaries from his many other positions outside UM. Me want to in that fortunate position too!

As a taxpayer, I want to know if this is true. And if it is true, why has taxpayers' money been abused?

If the UM former Kapitan VC wants KP to help in his and his wife's research project, then why can't the former Kapitan VC employ KP on his project grant money? Why appoint Koshy Phillip as an associate professor?

Something is very wrong in UM!!

Anonymous said...

What is definite, his appointment is not in accordance with the standard guidelines, and does not follow ISO procedures...thats what I think...

It is interesting what you can get by typing his name (KP) in the yahoo seach engine

If I am not mistaken he dis his BSc and Msc in India then his PhD in UPM...Can anyone confirm this...??

Maybe the UM authorities at the level of VC, TNC, Dean and Head can confirm how KP got into ISB...

This could be very interesting.....

Anonymous said...

During the UM former Kapitan VC's reign, Koshy Phillip was first gifted to the Medic Faculty. No idea what to do with this sort of talent or finding this talent too difficult to handle, the Medic Faculty then gifted Koshy Phillip to the Science Faculty.

Koshy Phillip then became a staff member of the Institute of Biological Sciences (IBS) and a colleague of Wirakarnain Sani, another gift from the then Kapitan VC to the Science Faculty. Kapitan VC realized that he could easily twist the arms and bola of the Science Dean and ISB Head, who wanted to keep their respective positions.

At IBS, Koshy Phillip then moved from the Biotechnology Division to Microbiology Division. Why the Biotechnology Division did not keep the great biotechnologist is a mystery.

The Higher Education Minister, Datuk Mustapha Mohamad, has to tell the nation why public money is spent on Koshy Phillip, one of his Ministry's employees and seemingly a rolling stone.

Is Koshy Phillip's appointment in UM value for money?

Anonymous said...

DEFINITELY NO!!

Is it rumour or a fact that Wirakarnain did not even fulfilled his teaching load as a lecturer?

It would be nice if UM come to the front and explain the true situation regarding the above matters, so that we can put a close to these nagging and irritating issues

Anonymous said...

Not Kaptain VC but "Bill Board Hashim"

Anonymous said...

Dr Koshy Philip (PhD Microbiology) is omnipresent. He is or was also with Malaysian Business Magazine, besides UM, OMX Marketing Sdn. Bhd., GD-Mineway Group, Mineway (M) Sdn Bhd., Kandiah & Associates Sdn. Bhd.

Wonder if Associate Professor Koshy Philip is always present in Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, UM, carrying out some duties to earn his bread and butter?

Anonymous said...

To know about KP's performance as an academic, just ask the students he teaches or supervised....
hehe

Anonymous said...

Legacy of Bill Board Hashim in Institute of Biological Sciences, Science Faculty, UM: Sri Nurestri Abd Malek, Wirakarnain Sani and Koshy Philip.

Do they teach at all? What were their teaching load and duties? Did they contribute in terms of international refereed papers to promote academic excellence of UM? Did they supervise postgraduate students? Do they bring in research grants to UM? Buta gaji? Goyang kaki?

Taxpayers want to know.

Anonymous said...

BILL BOARD HASHIM MUST EXPLAIN!

He was instrumental in bringing these so called lecturers in. Bill Board Hashim should stop hiding in the new building of Dental Fac!

The Dean must answer! The head of ISB must answer!

Anonymous said...

If you visit UM now, you would think you are visiting Kota Bharu.
The exact replicas of Kota Bharu architecture are there such as the lurid pillars here and there, the sign boards...same type of sign posts up to the gold plated top and the lurid pastel coloured paint work. Definitely this is the influence of Bill Board Hashim during his tenure as VC who comes from kelantan

Frankly I think Bill Board Hashim has gone over the limits with his craze for bill boards, and sign posts... There are too many signs in UM now..you wonder what is happening

Lucky thing he did not proceed of making a wakaf in front of the DTC. I think past graduates of UM will weep seeing the state of the surroundings of DTC now. The grand hall now has the glass panes embroded in funny designs reminiscing of TGIF restaurants...

The monument to mark the 100 years of UM looks funny and queer, it reminds me of the throne of yester years when sultans sat there...hehe Funny...no body seems interested in taking pictures there...A good decent clock tower would be ideal and majestic

There used to be a good parking area in front of the DTC where huge stone slabs separate the zones and where visitors rest. Now its gone..its just empty space. Some times I wonder if Bill Board Hashim is really 'over board". The stupid mini lamp posts is a shame to the grandeur of UM...

The cheap toilet tiles replacing the great slabs outside the DTC..


Hashim!!! What have you single handedly done to the DTC?? You have destroyed it within THREE years...

Anonymous said...

DTC has this cheapo overdecorated joget hall look. No style! Hashim destroyed the solemn atmosphere of DTC and wasted public money.

He also destroyed the car park in front of DTC to satisfy his ego of keeping the huge space for him and his selected officers to park their cars!

UM is paying the price of appointing one wrong guy as the VC - see the long term damages caused to UM, even when the devil is no longer there!

UM can forget contributions from its alumni!

Anonymous said...

Hashim Billboard...if you still do have some form of integrity and principle..please ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES and leave UM. That goes for your cronies too like Koshy Pillai of ISB, wirakarnain and others

Anonymous said...

Hashim Bill Board is the only VC who play wayang kulit and bersilat on stage.
The only appreciative audience is his wife.....

Anonymous said...

Why is the Experimental Theatre next to DTC, UM, still not fully repaired, when the repair job was due to be completed many months ago?

Is this the icon of UM, trying to tell us something?

Anonymous said...

Dont worry why Experimental theatre is still there...worry why koshy pillai and gang is still there teaching in UM...

Wonder what koshy pillai will be teaching this coming year...

Anonymous said...

It's good that the Experimental Theatre stays as it is because it is the icon of UM. It represents the decay and rot that is going on in UM, with many undeserving and low calibre people pretending as scholars. They don't teach well or they teach little and continue to suck money from the civil service in the form of buta gaji!

And the new VC claimed to be an experienced HR person. The continued presence of many infamous parasites appointed by Hashim Y in the Science Faculty, especially the Institute of Biological Sciences, UM, is a big slap on her face.

Maybe one Kelantanese (present VC) is protecting another Kelantanese (ex VC) and both are protected by another Kelantanese (the Minister of Higher Education). The Kelantanese Code!

Anonymous said...

It is no secret that Um biotechnology graduates are not in demand at al......! The course is being taught by renegade taxonomists.

Anonymous said...

about Koci pilip ha...ell...things being tough here studied under him n while taking his course..

sooo tough...

feels like i will never get A in his subject bcoz i hate him n his super duper teaching method..

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