Is this fair?

I was recently contacted by a friend from Malaysia. She is 19 years old and just finished her STPM(highest secondary school exam in Malaysia, purportedly to earn a place in a public University. She was at first elated when she got the result for her exam, as she had managed to acquire a decent CGPA of 3.25. She thus applied for a course in a public University, confident she would have a place.

However, imagine her surprise when the University placement results came out, she wasn't offered a place in any university for any course at all!She was confused, sad and hurt as she was the only daughter and her sick, elderly parents had placed high hopes on her on succeeding. She came from a modest working class background and as such, she couldn't afford any private universities. The public university was her only option at getting out of her poor life. For a few days, she drifted in and out of depression and she couldn't bear to see the disappointment on her parents faces.

Then, imagine her surprise, when she found out her classmate, who had a lower CGPA of 2.9, got a public university place!!She who had a higher CGPA had missed out whereas her friend with the lower CGPA got a place. Both had excelled at co-curricular activities, achieving similiar marks, the only difference is academically, my friend had a higher CGPA, which should make her the choice to get the University place!

Malaysia officially practices a system of meritocracy when determining a place for public universities. In the past, the country practiced a quota system, where each race is allocated a certain quota of students that will be admitted. The system favoured the majority Malay race, with them receiving a whopping 50% share of the quota followed by the Chinese with 30% and Indians 10% and others 10%. This system was abandoned after many years of practice after protests from sides that argued it was very unfair, denying many gifted students and poor students entry into public University.

My question is, now, since Malaysia 'practices' meritocracy in determining University placements, how come the complainant was denied a place while her friend with the lower CGPA and equal co curricular marks was accepted? Why can't they make the selection process more transparent? Just for the record, the complainant's friend was of a different race. Malaysians will get my meaning.

I dug a bit deeper and I found a story, as reported by The STAR newspaper on the 20th June 2007. The story can be viewed at the link below

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/20/nation/18074809&sec=nation


Please, I urge you, do read the story. It is very, let's say, eye opening. Read the story and put two and two together. I also found a passage from the website of the independent publisher Malaysiakini, which several times has been embroiled in controversy for whistle blowing and allegations of government corruption. The passage reads,

'Is there an ulterior motive for the government to be doing what they are currently doing? Keep feeding the Malays with the ‘feel good’ feeling so that they will keep supporting the government no matter how corrupt the government has become?'


Hmmm... It makes you think doesn't it? Is the Malaysian government practicing a covert quota system, favouring the majority race at the same time, sidelining the other component races? Is the word 'meritocracy' is nothing but a cover and instead they are still practicing the quota system, albeit unknown to the masses? Why can't they make the selection process transparent? Do you think I'm just a paranoid schizophrenic guy high on pot and spouting conspiracy theories? Well, 99 % of my Malaysian friends agreed with me privately, because publicly, they can't say anything, due to the ISA law (Internal Security Act). I'll explain this draconian and outdated law in my next posting.

Oh, yeah, about my friend. I encouraged and helped her to apply to a foreign university where she was accepted immediately, with even a partial scholarship. That says a lot, doesn't it?

Please leave comments on this article. (Please understand that all information will be treated private and confidential but if you don't have the balls to say it publicly in the comments, you can always e-mail me privately. But that would make you no balls.. Hmmm... HAHA..) Have a nice day!!