The undergraduates that were involved in the harassment at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) canteen last month (July 17) will be let off with advice. [Sun2surf]
In a press conference on Friday (Aug 18), UPM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Nik Mustafa R. Abdullah said that..
“We will call the students and advice them that we have to respect each other. This is the university’s responsibility to educate them rather than punishing them.
We are an educational society. We have to instil moral value.. Everyone stands a chance. We have to educate them.”
I don’t object to the intention of ‘moral education’ but only to a certain extend, kids will grow up to be adults that need to be responsible for what they did, to know to differentiate what’s right or wrong.
For me university seems like an ideal place to start adulthood, the UPM VC obviously has different idea.. university undergraduates are still kids that need to be morally educated.
I’m clueless on what’s the best solution for the incident. Perhaps I would be happier to see the bullies and trouble makers from both side to be punished with community service, do some toilet cleaning or something.. but that will only serve my personal satisfaction and probably solve nothing in the end.
Let bygones be bygones, lets hope that their ‘advice’ works and cases like this will not happen again.
August 19th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
If you check the list of Top 500 Universities in the world recently, maybe you will know why.
TNC UPM said they were singing hostel’s song. Ya, it is very easy to learn and sing. Go to my blog, you can watch the UPM hostel song MV. (Don’t play play, got MV one) [link]
By the way, interested to sell Nin Jiom Pi Pa Kao Syrup (Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao) near to UPM as part time job?
August 20th, 2006 at 1:53 am
Sounds like another cover up story. So let the Chinese students have their nightmares. This emotional bullies will definitely be in their hearts till they die. So another racial issues no solve but rather sweeps under the rug. This is a ‘big fat NOT fair’.
August 20th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Kean Jin.. I read merdekareview report too, it’s ridiculous indeed. A few of the students were acting like barbarians and I’m kinda disappointed to see that no action taken against that particular few.
Selling Pi-Pa-Kao? lol no thanks, it’s not like monkeys know how to use the syrup btw.
Bullythis.. there’s no cover up this time, the UPM officials have openly show that they are very tolerate against bullies and are very ‘moral-education’ minded group of academicians.
No point making this a racial issue, because it’s not. During my uni studies, I’d seen some Malays being treated unfairly and under different pressure as well.. this is more to political and ethical issues instead.
Agree 100% that it’s a very poor decision by the UPM disciplinary committees though.
August 20th, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Jee…monkeys don’t know how to use Pi-Pa-Kao is not a problem. They will “drink” it once at all, then, you can sell more. See, the way you can making money.
August 20th, 2006 at 9:31 pm
i can sell some pi-pa-kao at upm, i can sell some cosmetic to upm vc too, so thick face “.T
August 21st, 2006 at 4:24 pm
jee how about feature those UPM barbaric neanderthals with their name, details, pics n name n shame em to the max here.
kita kasi malu sama mereka.
August 21st, 2006 at 8:06 pm
cy.. the biggest mistake those bullies had made was to take matters in their own hands when they didn’t have the rights and authority to do so.
UPM already made the decision, it’s stupid but it’s not up to us to penalize the barbaric acts.
I am not going to let myself fall into the same category of those monkeys, your suggestion is not really a good one you know?
August 23rd, 2006 at 3:49 pm
Why the UPM vice-chancellor said ” university undergraduates are still kids that need to be morally educated”.?
Hey Mr. Vice-Chancellor, when do you think they are really mature?
And
Punishments should lead the way rather educate them cos they are not mature…am i rite?
They all should know what is wrong and right.
what should Government do for this ?Why this kind of
ppl still getting their place at University ?
Anyone here can explain ? Who should blame?
August 24th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
Benny.. the VC didn’t really said that, it’s the perception that he gave me.
I do think that the bullies are letting off rather cheaply, and the UPM officials just made the undergraduates look dumb and childish.. and the UPM VC successfully made himself looking stupid.
Who should be blamed? God knows.
August 24th, 2006 at 4:01 pm
U all need not be disappointed over this issue and let it be bygone. I am also 50 now and I am surpise that not much issues have changed since my time until now. I feel sad but what to do… at this 49 years of independence fest - my children proudly sing the national anthem and being proud of the citizen of Malaysia BUT still until today we are not … “Golden child of this land.” We are outsiders although political mass media says so….. Let ponder our future and let us live with tolerancy or convert to muslim……
August 25th, 2006 at 12:51 am
I won’t deny the differential within Malaysians in terms of race and religion, but I don’t want to relate any racial issues in this UPM matter.. it’s the childish mentality of the undergraduates (and probably the VC and UPM officials) that’s laugable for me.
You are right though, let it be bygone.. the recent snatch thieves issues are perhaps more worrying than these UPM bullies.
August 25th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
From Shukreen Ma:
A letter sent to the NST last week, because I have the locus standi to say something.
Dear Editor,
The Sunday Interview on June 18 (New Sunday Times) left me quite breathless,with laughter and frustration.
The National Fatwa Council has decided that “Muslims cannot conspire to join in the celebration of the festivals of other religions,” including Chinese New Year.
I’m sorry, but to me that sounds like telling someone on a new diet “you must stop eating all kinds of meat, including cucumbers.”
With all due respect, the National Fatwa Council’s ‘collective decision’
was made totally out of context. Cucumber is not a type of meat. Really,it’s not. And as Professor Shamsul Amri Baharuddin pointed out, Chinese New Year is not a religious event.
It is frustrating that some Malaysians, even those who are learned and wise, have difficulty telling the difference between race, culture and religion.
This is ironic for the people of a country that insists on being known as multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious.
I’ve always maintained that I am a Malaysian, period. But perhaps for the purpose of this article I may have to break down that definition. I am a Malaysian-born Chinese, and I am Muslim. My parents were born as Chinese Muslims. Our ancestors are from a community of almost 50 million Chinese Muslims in China.
My grandfathers sported Muslim headwear and preached Islam, and my grandmothers wore Cheongsams all their lives. My siblings and I were brought up to recite Bismillah before every meal and to hold chopsticks in a respectful manner. We were taught to read the Quran and to speak in Mandarin at home, and we grew up celebrating Hari Raya and Chinese New Year, every year.
Next year, however, we shall celebrate Chinese New Year at the risk of eroding our Aqidah (faith), as suggested by the Ulama who was interviewed that Sunday. Never mind that we will start the day with our Subuh prayers and serve Chinese Muslim food (yes, 100% Halal) to our friends, and never mind the fact that our Muslim ancestors from China have done so for generations, as they welcomed the Spring season and the start of a brand new year.
The Ulama also mentioned that it is wrong for Muslims to give Ang Pow to children during Chinese New Year. My poor parents. They’ve been giving Ang Pow to us kids every year, and also to the maid and to the garbage truck uncles, spurred by the simplistic belief that they were merely sharing good fortune. Now my siblings and I must fervently pray for forgiveness on their behalf.
August 26th, 2006 at 1:04 am
Not really fitting in the situation, but a nice article anyway.
The extreme idealist like the Ulama does exist.. not just in Islam but in other religion as well.
I have a cousin that refused to attend my father’s funeral decade ago because we were using traditional Chinese ceremony, and my cousin is a Christian. I’m not sure if it’s religiously correct for his decision, but I thought he’s an idiot.
I always believe the base of all religion is to spread love.. it’s pity to see religions that are setting barriers to different kind of relationship.
August 26th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
It is the end of the day for these malay dog. We are all hardwork to earn money to rear this monkey dog?? No way. This violence want to end?? Ask this monkey dog to come out from the university compound and face the real gangster. Let them taste it.
August 26th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
I don’t think violence is the best way to fight against violence.. it will just raise more violence from other sources.
There are always laws that should govern this kind of action, pity that the police had threw back the case to UPM officials at the first place, and the UPM verdicts are definitely not pleasing at all.
We need better laws, and better implementation regarding this kind of hooliganism.
September 28th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Err.. the post was about UPM harassment and then there are comments about the fatwa. I don’t see the connection.. ermm. Anyway, the keyword halal Chinese food brought me here
IMO, we are not going anywhere concerning national integration… ermm I’m not going to comment more regarding this..
Actually I was surfing for halal Chinese food. Haven’t found any in Penang. Any idea? Oopps sorry for being out of topic
P/S: Shukreen, are you related to Ibrahim Ma?
September 28th, 2006 at 3:31 am
lol Hisham.. what on earth does Chinese halal food related to this entry, search engines give funny results sometimes.
I suggest you try 5 star hotels for that, they don’t normally call it Chinese halal food, there normally categorize that into Asian cuisine.. which can include a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Japanese food.
February 2nd, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Hi, just for the record, yes, Shukreen Ma Pin is the granddaughter of Datuk Haji Ibrahim Ma Tien Ying and daughter of the late Capt Nasir Ma Lee.
February 2nd, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Call me naive (or stupid)… I have no idea who is Ibrahim Ma, nor Capt Nasir. Anyone to enlighten me here?
March 6th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Won’t be able to help you there, Jee. I’m WAY too far out of bound.
Bully-
Well, I’ve heard this cases when I surf the net some long long time ago. I never heard the verdict. Glad I found it here and let’s just say I’m quite disappointed with the result… Come on! I was absent for one day in an institute and I was given a letter stating that I was absent for which date, time, classes missed and which rule and regulation I violated for that day! Well, let’s just say that food poisoning got me that far… Alright, what did that have to do with this?
I was half expecting the students that were involved to get into some big trouble or even expelled! But this? “To advice them to respect each other?” I don’t know about any of you but to me their verdict is clearly, obviously wrong. Oh how they should feel the indignation of the society as a whole. But with this kind of cheap tactic…?
Fatwa Council Incident-
They did what?! I thought Chinese New Year is suppose to be a cultural event… what do this have to do with religeous faith? I mean… come on. Does that mean that Chinese cannot celebrate Hari Raya or the Indians cannot celebrate the Moon Festival? Really… this have to be one of the most silly things I hear…
And in schools they preach Open House, National Integrity and all those things when what they are doing is… just the opposite of what they are teaching nowadays. They teach us not to bribe for example, but my dear… Let’s just say something happened. ISA alert.
Anyway, I wonder what position does an Ulama hold… To say such things when it is possible to create contradictions such as this. They must have forgotten that there are Chinese people out there that are Muslims too.
March 26th, 2007 at 8:11 am
Its sad to know all this..I just finish my form 6 and I’m going to further my studies in local university. I always heard about racism and violence in the local Us but I never see before. It was really disturbing and sad to watch it. I just hope and pray that I’ll never have to go through this in the U later. Let us pray hard for our nation. Pray that the malays will understand the difficulties we’re going through and pray that there will be no more non-malays being treated unfairly. God knows…..
March 26th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Don’t be too pessimistic Truth… university life should still be pretty enjoyable.
September 3rd, 2007 at 7:19 pm
The future looks bad for chineses in Malaysia…
I am staying bangkok now. During my previous chinese new year holidays, when i am backed in KL…i missed everything back here (except food).
Theres no ’superior race’ and everybody is equal. No worries about being chop one day. More easy to earn a living (not rich). The police (though do take bribes) are much more friendlier. And a lot more.
To all fellow malaysian chinese, if you are not happy, go abroad (save money - dont spend money on clubbing lar, wasting money only), dont look back (stay strong)…for your future generation (not you). If not, keep quite and be 2nd grade citizen.
Btw, the malays are good people not like us (admit it), so dont blame them. Like what the rigthist malays said ‘kaum pendatang, balik cina jika tak suka’ - i have to agree!
September 3rd, 2007 at 11:23 pm
I am not from China, I can’t “go back”.
Besides, Malaysia is not that bad yet… there are still hopes.
September 4th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Dear Jee,
…then go somewhere else, the world is a big place.
If we had to wait untill the situation is bad, its too late. Hopes…the ‘can cope with chinese’ malays are few, and the majority are not listening to us that is we want equal rights as malaysian citizen. Cant all of us really listen to what the majority say and has said that is they are the ‘bumiputra’..
better go lor..
September 4th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
You are right, it could be too late when the situation is bad… and as the current situation progresses… equal rights are far from reachable.
I have thought of leaving Malaysia numerous occasions… but as said, I believe we are not that bad yet. I would be content if the current social situation stay as it is, but not if it’s going into the wrong direction.
September 4th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
there is a way of making the majority malay/government listen to us. the chinese should start migrating…if chinese population is 25% (6 million) and we controls a large part of malaysia’s economy (as today), would you think those proud malays will still treat us like they do now? what is left in malaysia if we are gone? who will be the money genetor for the malay government?
eg. the malays blamed us for cheating them into buying our goods so we make good profit, adn etc - see or not? this kind of mentality wont work nowadays.
Big and medium companies, rich individuals are preparing already (transfering funds, invest abroad, and etc). if we the middle, middle upper and lower dont start to at least prepare…our next generation will suffer. For those poor family, save money…dont spend…get ready.
September 4th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
If I migrate, that is because I am changing for something better… by then I won’t care a single bit about what happens to Malaysia. What good can be done for Chinese to leave the country if we want to change the current situation.
I have some rich friends that are getting PR overseas, and transferring their funds abroad as you mentioned. Those middle range (and upper) people have quite some option (to leave the country) if they want to, but for the poor (or least educated), they don’t have much choices.
Besides, Chinese are not as important as some thought; Malaysia can still survive without the Chinese. We can bring our money away, but we can’t bring the market away… there will still be demand in a lot of things, and there are enough Bumi entrepreneurs these days to fill the void, especially with the help of the government. Don’t overestimate Chinese’ power.
September 4th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
remember singapore? compare now and then. Malaysia has the upper hand then but of course like what our government told us, we are bigger in terms of size and population so need to do more. My foot. Land are resource and at that time malaysia is not over populated.
Now compare malaysia to thailand. just several years ago when i first stepped into thailand i thought that we are more superior than the thais. after been here long enough and understand more, compares here and home, the thais are almost at the same level like us. i am very sure the thais will soon overtake us.
How bout vietnamese? Like malaysia, money came from abroad. Friend, things just going to be bad for us if we dont prepare. Bad = economically stagnant, population will grow every year so government need to look after them. I mean untill the day comes when there are a big majority of malays who are not ‘poor’, the government will not listen to us nor they dare to.
See…i am not overestimate “chinese power”. Oklar, is like this, malays majority are good people and usually good people cant advance in commerce. fyi, im not anti malay, in fact i like them more than chinese, really.
September 5th, 2007 at 11:46 am
You are right, Malaysia is not in the best position in recent years, I understand that. Again, it’s a matter of choice… I can choose to leave Malaysia, and it won’t be too difficult for me to get a PR. Question is, do I want to leave? Not now…
As said, the current situation is not that bad yet… I can’t predict for the future. If there is some government leaders with great vision, we can boom again; but if people like Pak Lah continues to rule our nation… I am not sure about that.