Republic of virtue, 8/08

MARA is progress not fascism PDF Print E-mail
Posted by admin
Thursday, 21 August 2008 12:11

Open-mindedness is rarely encouraged and students take control over each others' lives transplanting retrogressive ideologies into each other's head, with the help of ultra-nationalist and anti-multiculturalist teachers.

Azly Rahman | dr.azly.rahman@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://azlyrahman-illuminations.blogspot.com/

Mara means "to advance (forward)". It is the opposite of "retreat" and the declaration of defeat. It does not mean Undur.

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) must live up to its name. So must its younger brother Maktab Rendah Sains MARA. It is in the interest of the public to suggest good ideas for reform - and to advance.

In my lifetime I have been affiliated with both organisations. I taught in the former institution and I was schooled in the latter. Whether a product of historical accident or not, I am proud of my experiences in both. There is a reason for things to happen. I came from a poor family and was given the chance to have an education I wish many more Malaysians, my parents included.

But I wish to share my view on this troubling phenomenon that is plaguing a certain segment of the Malays. My argument will be largely linguistic.

What is the Malay view of the recent protest of UiTM student - of those young "men-in-black" whose are mourning and calling for the death of reason and rationality and for critical sensibility?

I think Malays in general are angry at the protesters. I think they are embarrassed that those few thousands of Malay students were displaying their ignorance of what Universiti Mara means.

While other universities have advanced (sudah mara ke hadapan) and are proud that they are embracing diversity and sharing resources for the benefit of deserving children of all races, those protesting UiTM students are experiencing the opposite.

They are yelling with pride the word "defeat" and "retreat". Instead of Ayuh Mara they are actually saying Jom Undur. While thinking needs to advance, these students are saying that they need to digress (Ayuh… mari mundur ke belakang). Mundur is the derivative word.

Should a university embody the philosophy of mundur rather than mara? Should it even be proud of being and embodiment of that philosophy? I doubt it. Only a misguided leader will be proud of being a guide to 'defeat and retreat' while the world around 'advances' and moves.

But these students are not entirely at fault. It is the ideology and perpetrators of the ideology of undur itself that's at fault. It is the leaders implementing the retrogressive ideology that are at fault.

It is the systematic indoctrination programme of ketuanan Melayu run over the decades that are advancing this UiTM philosophy of retreat.

It is an overdose of the work of government-sponsored Biro Tata Negara (BTN) that is making the mass retreat and defeat possible. It is the work of Malay-dominated agencies like these that are imprisoning the minds of the Malays. This is an anti-Malay-progress establishment that is using deformed arguments on race and ethnicity to pursue an educational ideology that has gone bankrupt.http://www.malaysiawaves.com/2008/07/umnos-latest-psy-war-materials-exposed.html

Docile Malay intended

This is an anti-Malaysian mode of thinking that is still allowed to shackle the mind of the Malays. The idea is simple: make the Malay mind docile and afraid to think and you will divide and conquer them.

UiTM students need to instead protest against the continuing oppression they are experiencing through the work of their own institution and through BTN. They should demand that multiculturalism instead of blind nationalism be made the foundation of their college experience. UiTM students are more intelligent than those who protested against the suggestion.

In the 1980s UiTM's (then ITM) orientation programme used to be conducted using the tactics of sheer humiliation and stupidity; meant to stupefy the young, bright Malay minds.

The ROTU (Reserve Officers Training Unit then) was part of the week-long organisers of the orientation to create an awareness of how ITM students must learn to live in a tough and challenging environment.

Senior students would prey upon the incoming freshmen to make them 'tough' through humiliation – name-calling, physical threats, psychological abuse, etc. Minggu Orientasi (Orientation Week) is a week for the seniors to have control over the mind of the Malays; oftentimes in a gangsterish way.

Of course, it is also the time for the senior boys to show toughness to the young girls in this 'big brother-little sister' game of tough love. Many of them fell involved with each other in this 'Master-Slave' relationship. Even senior girls prey upon young boys, acting rough and tough on them. Pathetic paternalistic philosophy in progress.

At times the freshmen would be roughened up by students in army boots and told to just follow instructions if they are to survive in ITM. They will be screamed at for trying to speak up. This is the ideology of ketuanan Melayu at work; how to enslave the mind of the young Malays and continue to do so through the hidden curriculum designed by those who wish to have control over the mind of the bright young and eager-to-learn Malays.

Instead of teaching the in-coming students how to take good notes, listen to lectures, speak up in public, pay extra attention to English Language, and be open to new ideas, respect each other, and learn from other cultures, the Malay students are subjected to humiliation in a place that called itself a university.

Retrogressive ideologies

In MRSM as well, a predominantly Malay-elite secondary institution for the best and brightest young Malays, similar things have been happening since the 1980s as well. Kursus Kesedaran (Self Awareness Courses) are conducted to instill the questionable idea of Ketuanan Melayu, making the children afraid of "Malaysian boogeymen and boogeywomen" and their own shadows.

Open-mindedness is rarely encouraged and students take control over each others' lives transplanting retrogressive ideologies into each other's head, with the help of ultra-nationalist and anti-multiculturalist teachers.

Even if these children survive the ideological ordeal and experience 'tough love' and go on to get their degrees from top American and British universities, they will still be Malays with a shallow understanding of multiculturalism or become more sophisticated Malays with more complex arguments on Ketuanan Melayu. http://azlyrahman-illuminations.blogspot.com/2008/02/155-malay-view-of-ketuanan-melayu.html

They will then design policies to affect the needed sustenance of ideology in order to protect the interests of the few. Neo-feudalistic cybernetic Malays are then new creation of the political-economic ruling class. They run the country and many are now running it down.

As an educator wishing to see Malays progress alongside in peace and prosperity with other races, I call upon us all to put a stop to all forms of indoctrination held especially by the BTN; an organisation that is of no value to the advancement of the Malays they claim to want to liberate.

It should be taken over by progressive Malaysians and replaced with a systematic effort to promote not only racial understanding through teaching respect and deep reflection on the cultures of the peoples of Malaysia, but also teach conflict resolution and mediation through cross-cultural perspectives. All must question the presence of BTN on campuses. All must reject BTN's programme for indoctrination.

Let us no longer allow any government body of that sort to set foot on our campuses or our schools. As Malaysians we have to demand an end to the further dissemination of racist ideologies.

Open up, not only UiTM and MRSM but also Umno to more cultures. We will have a great celebration of diversity and respect for human dignity in decades to come. I speak as a silent reproduction and capitalised human of both MRSM and UiTM; a product of the human capital revolution of the Mahathir era.

MARA means progress. Malays are now sick of contradictions and doublespeak. They do not wish to Undur. Let us all protest against the stupefication of the Malays. Let us dismantle racist institutions.
Comments (26)Add Comment
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written by Rundukon, August 21, 2008 12:16:06
UiTM or previously known as Maktab MARA and ITM, was established to help the poor Malays and Bumiputras from the rural areas to gain entry to tertiary level. Without proper infrastructures such as electricity, pipe water and roads where the kampong folks have to endure 2 to 3 hours walk to schools, there is no way for them to match the city folks examination results hence limits their chances of getting into Universities.

That was 40 years ago. Had BN fulfilled their responsibilities in bringing the much needed infrastructures to the rural areas, MARA's objectives would have been achieved. But alas, BN had failed miserably in that there are still children having to endure 2-3 hours walk to schools especially in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak.

Having said the above, UiTM is not the exclusive property of the Malays and the Bumiputras.
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written by keep it raw, August 21, 2008 12:22:05
recalling back UPM Incident will clearly shows what being practise in our U....

Check..YOUTUBE...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n12IhVuLQNo
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written by megatron, August 21, 2008 12:36:16
Dont Blame on the students
they are kurang ajar because they not finish school yet
habis blaja nanti pandai laa pilih emas dinegeri orang
blame it on UMNO
blame it on BN
blame it on that fxxking abg misai macam hero tamil tahun 70an (no offence to indian)
and I too support Khalid on opening the UiTM to all
(I dont want to call the chinese & indian & other non-bumis because we are all MALAYSIAN)
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written by HARIMAU BIN ABDULLAH, August 21, 2008 12:37:50
Indoctrination of the Malay minds is already deep-rooted and not easy to alter without causing intense reactions, as can be witnessed over the most recent event concerning UiTM.
The erosion of human minds will continue until such time when they begin to fight among themselves, like "dogs eat dogs". Iraq is a good example.
Malaysia should be renamed "SWEARLAND" for the time being.
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written by mawi, August 21, 2008 12:51:11
Why take the controversial way when it can be diplomatically avoided. Why not start off with an exchange programme. Start off with an exchange program with student from UTAR. Take a few hundred students from UiTM and place the in UTAR and a feww hundred students from UTAR and place the in UITM.

It would bring more benefit and cordiality than trying to convince the Malays to give up their rights just as difficult it is to convince the Chinese to give up its vernacular schools.
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written by SocratesI, August 21, 2008 12:54:35

Mara means Progress, but what is progress without direction ?? Or if the students are Mis-directed to progress backwards, but told that they are progressing forwards ??

That is what is happening in UiTM these days ! The studense ... I mean, students, are being led by the nose by all the BIRO TATA NEGARA brainwashed lecturers, tutors, and VC and led backwards so they are less educated, less smart, less open, and more dumb, so that the Buntut Najis Govt. can control them like puppets on a string, but they are told they are progressing forward as the creme de la creme of Malaysia !!

It is totally unconscionable what the BUNTUT NAJIS Govt. is doing destroying young Malay minds and futures !! Such a waste of human resources !!

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written by NSTPravda, August 21, 2008 13:23:25
"MARA is progress not fascism"???
If you say that you are not a good muslim
At least by the norms of Islam Hadhari
You must support MARA and NEP

UiTM is already living up to its name
Being mara at non-bumis is the game
Kafir pendatangs try lure us into meritocracy
We just want NEP for a short perpetuity

Azly Rahman you are totally wrong
Strict adherence to dogma makes us strong
If you don't agree with us, you'd be a RPK
His thinking too much is not semua-nya oK!
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written by Susanna, August 21, 2008 14:17:38
Good on you chap to enlighten the dark force. Must break off the shackles of ignorance and bliss. Keep up the good work good ole chap. If more of you are having the right perspective to help enlighten fellow brothers and sisters, there is hope for Malaysia. Jangan2 Mara akan rasuk anda!!
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written by Food Thought, August 21, 2008 14:23:12
When they come out to the real world, they'll understand. Life is not just circle around UiTM campuses. smilies/sad.gif . It's a big world out there.
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written by The dragonheart, August 21, 2008 14:44:35
should we close down ... err..

Maktab Melayu Kuala Kangsar
Kolej Tengku Kursiah
Confucious Schools
and hundreds of vernacular schools etc etc?
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written by POPEYE, August 21, 2008 14:44:50
What an excellent view. Yor article has made Malaysia and Malays proud. It has even redeemed the reputation of Mara because you are from within the college and you Dared to Speak. There is hope for Mara yet. Syabas.
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written by gorshan, August 21, 2008 15:56:24
dear wanzah1, please buka kedai spare parts so that i can buy from you,but the spare part price and service charge must not be more than Chinese shop,can or not?

and you also tell that to proton servicing centers also can or not?
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written by cwy, August 21, 2008 16:21:14
The three sons of Mahathir were educated in MRSM, Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan and the son of Rahmat ( old time Information Minister ) was educated in MRSM, Kulim, Kedah. They were just average students and they managed to continue their education oversea ( and not ITM then ) sponsored by Mahathir's government....... MRSM students in the past are daring, outspoken and proactive but the students now are......well, you can ask the author.
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written by Malaysiaputra, August 21, 2008 17:13:36
Dr. Azly, TDM has etched in the Malay psyche that the Malays are a Tongkat Race ,38 years on, from 1970 till today,the tongkat has become a norm for the Malays.

It has now become part of the Malay culture.
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written by Mustapha Kamal, August 21, 2008 17:23:09
My father was one of the original lecturers seconded to Maktab MARA when it was founded and based in Jalan Rida, Old Town PJ. I cannot remember the Director, Arshad Ayub being as narrow minded as the current incumbent Vice Chancellor. Maybe that's why so many Malay youths of that era have gone on to become successful. I still am friends with some of them, and I can assure you that NONE of them are racist. I blame the Indian Muslim PM for this reversal in Malay Muslim attitudes and thinking.
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written by DanielYahya, August 21, 2008 17:34:13
So the truth is out...

Originally by http://terangbulannegaraku.blogspot.com/
"Dalam pekeliling tersebut, saya telah diarah untuk melakukan demonstrasi membantah Menteri Besar. Saya juga dimaklumkan jika mana-mana pelajar yang ingkar, semua kemudahan yang diberikan oleh UiTM akan ditarik balik dan kemungkinan akan diberhentikan dari pengajian,



Just what I have been saying all along...
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written by OilMan, August 21, 2008 20:01:28
All I want to say is, "All Malaysians regardless of race be treated equally and let us have an open playing field". Be fair for the benefit of the country. If the USA can have Obama as the running President then we can have an Iban as the running PM.
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written by ASK4u, August 22, 2008 00:34:53
..MARA is progress not fascism

True Dr Azly Rahman, allow me to be a 'cheap' contributor to this wonderful article of yours. There is another meaning for MARA in Sanskrit and Pali language, i.e., DEVIL(SYATAN)

Their action(demonstration)speaks for itself.


smilies/tongue.gif smilies/grin.gif smilies/cheesy.gif
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written by ASK4u, August 22, 2008 01:18:13
Dr Azly wrote: It is the work of Malay-dominated agencies like these (BTN) that are imprisoning the minds of the Malays.
My answer: It's the hidden agenda of BTN, which is an UMNO machinery, to enable the UMNO gomen to stay in power in perpetuity by manipulating the minds of this gullible and innocent Malay students.

Dr Azly wrote: This is an anti-Malay-progress establishment that is using deformed arguments on race and ethnicity to pursue an educational ideology that has gone bankrupt.
My comment: requote Dr Azly..This is an anti-Malay-progress establishment = BTN
Conclusion: using deformed arguments on race and ethnicity to pursue an educational ideology that has gone bankrupt to again enable the UMNO gomen to stay in power in perpetuity by manipulating the minds of this gullible and innocent Malay students. This is an anti-Malaysian mode of thinking that is still allowed to shackle the mind of the Malays. The idea is simple: make the Malay mind docile and afraid to think and you will divide and conquer them (extract from Dr Azly).

Solution: Get as many Malay students to read this great peace of writing to awaken them from their hypnotic trans state.Translate it to BM if you so need it. This is an urgent matter. I'm going to forward it to as many students as possible.

To Dr Azly, keep up the good work sir.
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written by renoir, August 22, 2008 02:53:19
>It would bring more benefit and cordiality than trying to convince the Malays to give up their rights just as difficult it is to convince the Chinese to give up its vernacular schools.]]

Rights to what??? No one is asking any community to give up any rights - we don't want to close down UiTM or the Chinese or Tamil vernacular schools or, for that matter, wholly-Malay residential secondary schools. What we want is for all these educational institutions to open up to all ethnic groups. The Chinese vernacular schools are open to any Malaysian - there're over 60 thousand pupils from other communities. I'm sure the Tamil schools too are open to anyone - if the non-Indians don't might studying in these grossly underfunded institutions. The challenge now is for the publicly-funded Malay residential schools and colleges to follow the example of the vernacular schools and open up to all ethnic groups.

What Dr. Azly and other educators are concerned about is, in the final analysis, the kind of education the Malays are getting from their closed institutions. American schools treasure diversity because they know its role in fostering wider worldviews and hence more intelligent understanding of the universe. This is the same reason the United States is holding lotteries for Permament Residency all over the world - an America with a diversified population, the thinking goes, is a richer, more vigorous, more dynamic America.

The insularity of Malaysians has to be experienced to be believed, and it's heartreaking that so much taxpayer's money has been poured into institutions such as UiTM to perpetuate that insularity instead of ending it.

LChuah
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written by JohnQ, August 22, 2008 13:41:16
No competitions are welcome ? I rest my case. Let them be as retarded as idiotic for another 5oyrs.
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written by Suresh, August 22, 2008 20:56:01
Sadly, an attempt to be progressive via parallelthinking has been rebuffed by many but especially the students themselves and some @ helm. Views of these heard on national media were equally sad.
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written by allmenarebrothers, August 23, 2008 16:41:46
Dear Dr Azly
Josef Goebbels the Nazi Propaganda Minister must be laughing Netherworld.
The racist government has been using his techniques of mind control, indoctrination in order to lockek-up & imprison peoples minds & stupidify the students.
They gave been these mind-bending & closing things in order to perpetrate themselves.
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written by Surich, August 23, 2008 22:35:03
Craig Barrett, the chairman of the world's biggest computer chipmaker Intel said recently "Nations are as strong as their educational systems."

Can UiTM deliver the graduates that are ready to compete in this border less world?
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written by Tom n Jerry, August 26, 2008 09:28:00
Its their business if they cant deliver;still living in stone age mentality when the world has gone borderless;how pathetic;and there are leaders who champion for their rights in this incivilized way smilies/angry.gif
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written by Christopher, August 29, 2008 00:01:40
Dear all,
if you can, get hold of New Straits Times, Saturday , August 23. Go to page 43 and look for an advertorial by University Tun Hussein Onn. Y.A.M Raja Zarith Sofiah is being conferred an Honorary Degree by the University. Y.A.M Raja Sofiah is also a linguist, the university's advertorial claims, but look which university is giving the Honorary Degree.Judge the University by the advertorial. Its amazing.
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