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Is he talking about meritocracy?

That is one brave man. Running through the letter, I find myself nodding in agreement as I go along. He has highlighted the problems in universities that we know so well: bureaucracy, politically correct, and lack of meritocracy. Perhaps these problems are prevalent in all of Malaysian society, and not just in the education sector? That's something to think about. It also means that nothing will be changed unless Malaysian mentality changes. Certainly an open letter to the Star, no matter how well written nor how coherent its arguments, will change anything if we don't change first.

credit to thestar for having balls to publish this. (Though puzling..)

Azmi has my total respect for his comments. Politics should never mix with education. Politics will only kill the purpose of universities, which we see everyday in our local universities. But sadly, our beloved politicians will never leave academics alone...

Agree with all that stated by Dr Azmi. As for seletion of Vice Cancellor where "It must not be hindered by any political agenda and must instead pick the candidates based on ability – and ability alone. Factors such as race, creed, gender and nationality should not be a consideration”. This should also explicitly mentioned for student admission critieria as well.

Sorry being sacarstic, why Star allowed this open letter be printed out?

Politics is the antithesis of good governance. It’s true not only in education, but also in every aspect of society. For example, think how much better out lives would be if Local Councils where once again about service to the people instead of political masters.

Nearly everything Dr. Azmi says can and should be applied to every government endeavor.

impressive!!! It certainly take a lot of courage to write a letter of this nature in Malaysia. We need mandela like Dr Azmi, or our education system will never progress.

Ask around... if any parents can afford to send their kids overseas for education, who in their right sense of mind will put malaysia as the 1st priority?

Quite frankly, i wonder whether there will any repercussions to his published comments over the course of the next few days, weeks or even months to come, depending on the 'motivation' of this article. I think many already know that the gist of the article is true, about the reforms and all. The question is what's next. It has been always all talk and hot air as far as implementation, or even as far as the will to change is concerned.

"They should instead be high-class restaurants. Universities have to be elitist in order to produce quality research and graduates.

An elitist university means that only the best candidates are taken in as students and only the best staff are hired. Classes and exams can then be pitched at a higher standard"

Does he meant the 'best among allocated quotas', Officially and unofficially?

Anyway, a lots of luck to you, Mr Azmi in your carrier. But of course a true academics such yourself will be very demanding in any other places in the world. So chill. I bet you are.

The most innocent letter I'd ever read in a while.

I totally agree with the facts that Dr Azmi brought out in this letter. However, the intention is not right - this letter show no suggestion to the new minister, plain complain never helps. Also, there are much more important factor that leads to the failure of public universities are not surface. This is misleading!

1. The syllabus of engineering courses are totally out of date! What students learnt are just so irrelavant to their future career. Some public universities are still teaching MC68000 microprocessor when Motorola has already spin-off Freescale. Only a small fraction of the lecturers do know what is the current industrial trend (e.g. digital electronics lecturer are aware of the shift to FPGA). World class universities also conduct researches that are not practical for commercial application but those lecturers are aware of what the industries are doing.

2. Excuses are given for not able to lecture in English and you are expecting your student to publish papers in the international journals? Money making conferences may accept casual writings but not world recognized journals.

I am as well not giving any suggestion, but just to give more complains (this time around targeting local academics). But my intention is to attempt to surface more facts.

I want to shake the man's hands... well done!! but...

He needs support from ALL of us including his peers in UM and other Unis and from parents like myself who has a son studying in UM and last but not least from the all of you who feel that this is a small yet significant step in the right direction.

There may be repercussions for the letter writer, but I will forever salute his timely letter and the kudos to the STAR for publishing it.

All hope is not lost...

As a victim of the educational system in our country, i find myself and others in the final year of public university leading our lifes like zombies. It's just like everyone has been shaped into the same mold. Graduates nowadays fail to think, afraid to fight, lazy to care and not keen to find out what they really want in their life.

opps sorry, 'shaped using the same mold'

forgot to add...

come on ... let's hear it for the man!!

Dr Azmi Sharom, you have one lifelong fan in me...

Amazing!

The frankness of the letter and the expressing of so many popular views definitely gives me the feeling that he's "one of us"!

I was actually expecting a letter that tries to toe the line, as these criticisms are typically muffled (saying AUKU effectively makes Uni students High Schoolers is definitely crossing the line never breached in mainstream media) but he went all out without being all too emotionally charged, as people with views such as these usually are.

I hope many more academics and students give a follow up to this. He risks being labelled an isolated case by the government otherwise.

Please please people who have a broad public voice endorse this and not just give a silent pat in the back.

cheers

Do you think they give a hoot to the letter? They will say it is opposition motivated smearing government image. The way things are still going on they will probably suspend him saying he has violated regulations. The Star maybe also.
My support goes to Dr Azmi Sharom for his bravery and well written letter.

Why is "people who are creative, able to adapt to any situation and create their own opportunities" not in the list of what constitutes a "world-class" university?

Dr Azmi Sharom

You got the balls man!!....But I hope you have lined up for yourself another job somewhere!.....Somehow I cannot see you advancing in your career here on.

But maybe we can all come together and start writing out a show cause response that you will soon be asked to make. But then you write..oh so damn well..I guess you don't need our help...but then you can send them a whole lot of responses from all of us rather than just yours alone!

Unfortunately, smaller minds will say he's biting the hands that fed him.

What Dr Azmi Sharom has written rings true and echoes the hundreds of comments made in this blog and elsewhere regarding the condition of tertiary education in this country. We would only be kidding ourselves it isn't so.

Yet no one is naive to think this govt will endorse his appeal, given the politicians' comfort level with their politicization of govt-funded tertiary education.

One can only hope they will come to their senses, with the same professional candour and academic rigour amply displayed by Dr Azmi - and start with one, just one, local university, transforming it with the right recipes of policies and resources into what Malaysian universities can truly become, given no lack of great grey material in the youths of our nation. That selected institution can then become the benchmark for the others to come to their senses as to how to claw back from their own self-dug quagmires.

Malaysia has lost her way. Everyday, it ambles from one unnatural disaster to another. Let the right things be done again to lift her up once more. Start with Dr Azmi's calling.

And don't just leave it to Mustapa.

show cause letter in the mail for Azmi soon. I hope he don't get "expelled" but just in case he should start looking for a job.

Got balls..I salute you for writing that letter.

And Star printed it..what a surprise!

Well, let us look at the real situation. This man has just killed his career. Why? He wrote this letter, he question A MINISTER decision.

We all know that Malaysian Universities are political entities and the Govt is trying to produce something of a Malaysian version of "Westpoint" were Govt have a right to tell students what to wear, what to think and what to do.

Just keep track of the man's career as people in the education department moves to kill his career in a few year when everyone of us have forgetten all about this man.

Next thing we know,
Mustapa will read it and..
"bah.. nothing important"

Maybe, i guess he can't read the oh-so-high-class words. :P

All in all, Dr Azmi, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT!..
Don't stop when it doesn't end. This is just the beginning.

The good doctor has major cojones.

Bravo! And buona fortuna!

Folks

It is hard for anyone disagree with Dr Azmi. He had virtually summarised what Malaysians had been saying along since the start of the New Economic Policy.

The narrow minded bureaucrats had hijacked the education imperatives in the NEP at the detriment of our current generation.

The problem with the Universities began with the Mahathir regime when it started to bureaucratise the management of our higher institutions of learning through the Ministry of Higher Education, thus treating Universities like Secondary Schools. VCs are appointed by pro-UMNO candidates, the whole admin staff of Universities recruited so that the personal and prejudiced and UMNO-biased agendas of the fulfilled. And allowing mediocrity to creep in at all levels from appointment of VCs, professors and student intake.

Dr Azmi's letter should NOT have addressed to the Minister of Higher Education. He is a product of the Mahathir regime's ill-considered structure and he is only a pawn in the politicisation of our Malaysian Universities.

Dr Azmi's letter should have been addressed to the Pak Lah as the PM. Only the PM has the political clout and political will to make the radical changes proposed in Dr Azmi's letter.

Unfortunately, Pak Lah does not have the political base to make the changes nor the marbles to even make a dent to the terrible state of affairs in our Universities, especially with the UMNO Youth apparatchiks watching him at close range and with his son-in-law breathing down his neck on policies that disadvantaged UMNO Youth membership.

I am in deep sympathy with Dr Azmi but I think all his patriotic intentions will fall on deaf ears.

The UMNO politicians and UMNO Youth wannabees will be saying among themselves:" Kenapa di mahu buat pandai sahaja dalam hal ini. Bodoh sunggoh, doctor kita ini"

Dr. you have my salute and suppot, bravo!! hope u stil retain your job after this.

I met Azmi a long time ago while at university. Even if Azmi gets into trouble, I dont think he'll get problems getting employment elsewhere...

i have to disagree with you, look clearly and you shall see that there are suggestions albeit more on a macro level.

even you pointed out that there are a lot more reasons for uni not too perform well. would not be fair to expect Dr azmi to address all this. a micro approach of any recommendations or soluions would not be appropriate for this platform.

on another note, imho, the only VC of a world class standard that we ever had in malaysia is Prof Ungku Aziz. another one that was in the making was the last UKM (UPM) VC who was ousted. with this sort of practice, what do you expect?

the post above is for for francislight.

A very eloquently written piece by Dr. Azmi. He's clearly not afraid of the consequences, neither is The Star. Perhaps he can be VC of Auckland University, if/when he does 'resign?'

A sincere prayer for Dr Azmi's job security. A defiant nod for his courage and sound opinion. May more people like him step forward only then we may see a positive change in malaysian education. Amen.