By : MOHD JEFRI RADIUS
WHAT was the strategic development philosophy which had enabled countries in the West including Japan in the Orient to attain the developed Nations status even leading to the creation of countries considered as Super Powers, Nuclear Power & Economic Power within the time scale of less than a Century just after the outbreak of the Two World Wars?
The simple answer to this lengthy and seems complicated question is: The ruling leaders of the countries in questions focused more on national interest above their own. In other words, the leaders that lead the government of the days have designed specific master plans set aside for their citizens to excel primarily in the aspect of Learning and Human Resource Development as spelt out within the framework of their National Socio-Economic Agenda, despite varying implementation strategies or medium of communications etc. but the objective is universally identical.
The availability of Research Institutions fully equipped with pools of necessary facilities thus cater the need of their learned citizens, having varying specialised knowledge & experiences, to conduct various forms of Researches & Developments (R & D) programmes supported by their governments, aiming at exploring and in search of life sustaining products with economic values & relevant technology technically applicable in several field of modern engineering etc or those found scientifically proven conducive for every mankind needs worldwide etc. Not to mention the controversial programmes of the Uranium Enrichment and Proliferation of Nuclear reactors being undertaken secretly outside the knowledge of The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by a couple of countries geographically located somewhere on the earth’s terra firma in the northern hemisphere
Historically, a number of the new discoveries and inventions innovatively created by these learned citizens in question comprising brilliant Scientists, Researchers, Universities’ Professors or Academicians etc since the dawn of the 20th Century, had earned them distinctions when they got through the nomination as prospective reputable candidates and winners of The Nobel Prizes Awards, established on 27th Nov 1895 by Alfred Nobel, the Swedish Chemist who invented the Dynamite.
As of 2009, about 802 individuals and 20 organizations have been awarded the Nobel Prize, whereby nominated individuals having outstanding contributions in the field of Chemistry, Physics, Literature, Medicine & Peace etc, would undergo the screening process of assessment, evaluation and selection that would be determined and finalised by The Royal Swedish Academy of Science and The Karoliaska Institute etc.
Paradoxically, the Western countries which based their concepts of National Development optimistically and pragmatically on Science & Technology and other relevant fields, made history in terms of statistics and records by dominating 90 percents of the latest tally of Nobel Prize Winners or Recipients lists since the beginning.
Notably In 1921 Albert Einstein a Jewish Scientist born in Germany but escaped to the US to fend off Hitler’s Atrocity and his Nazi’s Dictatorial Genocide order in annihilating and wiping out millions of Jewish population in Germany through the lethal Gas Execution Chambers, won the prize for Physics through his formula E=MC². The Theory of Relativity, which led to the creation of the first Atomic Bombs (Uranium Bombs with 16 kilotonnes of TNT) which were dropped over Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Japan on 6th-9th August 1945, thereby marking the end of the Second World War in favour of the Allies Armies and Nations.
May we look forward to seeing that one of our learned men in the country will emerge as a Nobel Laureate especially in the scientific fields for this universal prestigious award upon attaining the developed nations status quo one day before the turn of the next century.
Former Premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammed of Malaysia is a fine example of such living post war leader and prominent figure also known as the “Third World Spoke Man”, who had continuously and seriously been stressing to get his message understood by every Malaysian from all walks of life, on the vital role and values of education as conceptualized and envisaged in his Vision 2020 during his 22 years of administration and even after he left office.
This shows that Mahathir Administrative Legacy which strived specifically on the significance of Education still prevails, brought forth and being disseminated by the current Leaders of the country.
As an example, in the words of our DPM cum Minister of Education Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in his key note address entitled ‘The Role of Education in Shaping the Future: The Realisation of 1 Malaysia made at the 4th Annual Malaysian Student Leaders Summit’.
“We have to further enhance the elements of creativity and innovation in the curriculum, in the teaching and the learning process and in the system assessment, with the aim of producing creative and innovative human capital. As innovation is the key to our economic transformation, the education system must also move in the same direction” (D.E 1st August 2010)
The summit was organised by The United Kingdom & Eire Council for Malaysian Students (UKEC) carrying the theme “Our Malaysia, Charting the Way Forward” attended by about 350 Malaysian tertiary students and graduates from local and foreign universities in the national capital recently .
Muhyiddin was also quoted as saying during the function “We do this by bringing together the children of all races under the national school system, which not only uses the national language as the medium of instruction but also cater the specific needs of its multi racial pupils, including the pupils’ need to learn their own language.”
This is a testimony of our current leaders’ vision in the government of the day in gearing up the Nation to become a world class knowledge based economy, whereby Malaysia has now being rated as the 11th largest education exporting country globally, with approximately 90,000 international students from more than 100 countries studying in various international schools, colleges and universities.
The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) coupled with the existing legislation The Education Act 1996 and Private Higher Educational Institution Act 1996 play a significant role through the implementation of their effective monitoring system on every educational institution in order to maintain a fine quality products of learning in the country.
Factually, One Fifth of the nation’s budget has been allocated by the BN Government annually towards education and human development. In 2009 about RM 47.7 Billion was allocated for the education sector, while for year 2010 approximately 22.7 percent of the entire government budget has been channeled for similar purpose.
Under current PM Najib’s Administration, Education comprises one among the 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) which is expected to propel the country into the high income nations ranking, a criteria that will turn Malaysia dream to become a fully developed nation into reality.
In Sabah, Land Below The Wind, The UMNO led BN State Government under CM Datuk Seri Musa Aman administration, has taken similar proactive move towards achieving this resembling vision & mission by way of recommending to the Federal Government on the need of establishing several educational hub State wide.
The Master Plan to construct a Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTm) Campus & a Nursing College in Sook, a small district in the Interior Residency as proposed under the 10th Malaysia Plan for rural education hub in the State is an exceptional case in point.
This would will be followed by the construction of similar projects in Sandakan, thus turning it into another educational hub in the East Coast Residency for several higher education institute, thereby enabling children from poor families to continue their studies.
CM Musa was quoted as saying while officiating the closing ceremony of The Sabah Youth National Forum at UMS Recital Hall, Sandakan, that the hub which was supported by the Federal government, was a testimonial of the government concerned or cared about the development and human capital “To empower our youths and youth organisations, they must respond to the challenges of the Internet and build a community and individuals who are active, innovative and progressive, while maintaining their identity as people of Sabah“ (Education hub for poor children Borneo Post Tuesday August 3, 2010)
The Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), a government controlled local institution of Higher Learning built by BN Administration, caters opportunities for Malaysian student especially Sabahan to further their studies locally. UMS is regionally recognised for its research in natural science faculties and through its UMS Holding Sdn Bhd, it offers Advisory & Consultancy services covering Marine & Aquaculture, Biotechnology, Management of Coastal Areas, Social Economy, Water Quality Evaluation and Solar Power etc.
Its Vice Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr. Kamaruzaman Ampon as set a strategic target to fully turn UMS in attaining the research university status by 2013 by way of getting 75 percents of its lecturers to take up doctorate degrees.
UMS has provided a scholarship fund amounting RM1 Million on annual basis to deserving post graduate students for this academic purpose. It would also be getting financial sponsorship from the Ministry of Higher Education, Public Service Department, Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation, various State Governments, Statutory bodies, private sector and NGOs .
Once the criteria is fulfilled in three years time, certainly, UMS would be duty bound to keep up with its quantum of 75 percents lecturers to maintain its research university status. In the literarily and sensible words of Universiti Malaya (UM) Chancellor Sultan Azlan Shah during the opening of UM’s 49th convocation 2nd August 2010, “It takes long time to produce one great scholar. So if ever produced, the great scholar should be put into optimal use by the institution. The retirement age for academicians should differ from that of public officers because in the academic world, the older a scholar gets, the more mature and deeper knowledge would be. The institution and country would suffer from major loss if scholars were forced to leave the university when their service scheme compelled them to retire” (Borneo Post 3rd August 2010)
In the midst of this latest development, CM Musa gets another ball rolling across the board in urging UMS to act in speeding up the creation of a Pharmacy faculty, considering the facts that the local institution of higher learning is in a better position to understand more about the types of health care issues in the State. Musa said in his text read by Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, the State Community Development & Consumer Affairs Minister in conjunction with the Sabah Pharmaceutical Society ‘s 31st Installation Dinner Banquet 2.
“Malaysia’s aspiration to become a high income nation can be achieved through industrial pharmacy, which focus on research and development of new medicine. If we put our mind to this, the local pharmacists can become part of the teams that create new cures, helping, millions worldwide. Sabah which is blessed with biological diversity and commercialization of local remedies that relied on indigenous vegetation, which could potentially generate a significant income to its Gross Domestic Product (G D P).”
“If Sabah is able to tap into just one percent of the global plant industry, we could earn up to USD2 Billion or about RM 6.5 billion, bringing with it untold spin-offs” (UMS Should Have A Pharmacy Faculty : CM - Daily Express 28th July 2010 )
Just recently, CM Musa has officiated the opening of another Yayasan Sabah Iskandariah Hostel costing USD 1.5 million in Alexandria, Cairo, Egypt. As Chairman of Yayasan Sabah Board of Trustees, his advices to our students currently studying in that country on the need of focusing fully on their studies so that they can assist the State Leadership to develop Sabah in whatever ways upon their return to the State is truly appropriate, proper and in order.
Consequently, It worth bearing in minds that we should be able to judge our leaders by the quantum of their administrative contributions to the Nation Building Concept and to support leaders who are preparing and planning something good or what should be in store for the future of our people regardless of their races, creeds and social belief etc.
Hectic CM Musa has set strings of fine examples to execute his duties and responsibilities vested upon him in running the State Government by fulfilling the dreams of our poor families by way of assisting them to support their children to get the formal education somewhere. Unlike our past leaders who are now back and active in politics propagating all sorts of controversial issues aiming at nothing other than to discredit the efforts of our present ruling leaders, but they (the opposition leaders) had shown nothing at all to be proud of while they were in office before.
The degree of Truth in many of the sugar coated promises made by our present opposition leaders are questionable, We doubt if the opposition leaders could ever really fulfill or keep their words or honour their promises in the event that they are voted to power again by fate, as they are no strangers to us in the scenario and stages of our local politics, we know their backgrounds well and how they behaved during their hey days as cabinet ministers in the previous State Government.
The famous American President Abraham Lincoln had left us with his Golden Adage that is worth remembering until the end of time, to guide us in choosing the right leaders & not to be easily misled by opportunistic leaders, when he says “Your can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool most of the people most of the time.”
Significantly, Lincon’s famous quotation is showing us the Senses & Sensibility of a Transparent Message, which has a place in the Democratic World, simultaneously giving us the hint of the Wonders to make full usages of our Human Consciences, Instincts & Judgements, when the time comes to exercise our Constitutional Right, The Adult Franchise e.g in The P.185 Batu Sapi by-election whereby the BN Candidate Datin Linda Tsen Thau Lin is expected to win with landslide majority in view of the apparent split in the opposition Camps PKR and SAPP.
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