Prof.Merilyn Joyce Liddell, PVC of Monash University Malaysia is leaving

4 years! That is how long Prof.Merilyn Joyce Liddell and I had been in Monash University Malaysia. While she is leaving to enjoy life back in her home country Australia, I have to stay behind and struggle 1 more semester next year thanks to some evil lecturer that failed me =.=" not fair!

Although I didn't get the chance to know her personally, her effort and initiatives to listen to students during events like PVC-Student dialogue and well as PVC Day With Students really shows how much she cares. Sorry for all the question bombardments during the dialogue, hopefully no hard feeling had been taken. We are after all working towards a better university.

During her farewell speech, she told her fellow colleagues to take problems (including my critics... hehehe) not as a threat but as a challenge and by saying this she earned my respect. If only the other PVCs of our local public university are half of what she is, we can all rejoice.

After her farewell dinner speech on the roof top of our university, the people there (professors, lecturers and admin staff + 1 lost female student) started dancing when the music is played. I guess someone spiked their drinks with ecstasy pills XD

Written by Evilbunny "The best ideas comes from the worst minds" 27/9/07

Here's a video of it: NJOY ^^

Failing Malaysian Varsities

In the last years of his tenure as prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad must have realised that there is such a thing as too much nationalism. Without nationwide consultation, without any penetrating studies by experts, and certainly without seeking opinions from parents, teachers, and students, his government decreed overnight that Math and Science must be taught in English.

Not a note of protest was heard from the Malay teachers association, and other usually irascible Malay nationalist bodies.

The move was an open admission that the exclusive emphasis on Bahasa Malaysia in schools and universities has failed to produce globally competitive human resources. Dr M may have been a giant figure in the short history of Malaysia, and has been instrumental in shaping the political landscape of our country. But his brand of Malay nationalism in the matter of the national language has victimised many generations of young Malaysians in developing their potentials in more ways than one.

The first casualty of this language policy has been the academic standard of our local universities. In the 80s, I used to be invited to student forums in local universities, in my capacity as an opposition MP. Representatives from other political parties were also invited, bit it seemed these talks generally degenerated into a BN bashing session by students of all races.

After one such session, the moderator of the talk who happened to be the dean of one faculty told me aside on the quiet that the performance of his students had declined over the years, partly because they were illiterate in English and could not read international journals and reference books. (He also told me that he and other university lecturers were compelled to mark the students on a curve, so that those Malay students who failed will be given a pass mark anyway! But that is an open secret.)

Publish or Perish

Those who are acquainted with the unwritten rules of the academia know that academic standard is subject to international scrutiny. An academician has to publish or perish. It is very difficult for a professor to obtain the security of tenure if his original composition or research findings are not published in prestigious international journals. Better still, he can publish an authoritative book, which soon becomes a best seller and a university text book everywhere.

The idea is that one of the essential roles of the university is the production of new knowledge through research. The findings of research must then be published to allow the world academic community to test and evaluate the research results. Only when it is so verified can the new theory or findings be accepted as orthodox truth.

Naturally, students - especially those in senior years and in graduate programmes (or “post-graduate” programmes, as they are called in British universities) – must refer to an enormous amount of journals, reference books, and related research materials, in order to master their area of specialisation.

Invariably, their thesis must contain a great number of quotations from authoritative sources, footnotes, and a lengthy bibliography. In conclusion, the thesis writer is supposed to come to his own theory or perspective, by engaging himself in a debate with all the authorities, and synthesising all contentious stands into a harmonious view entirely his own.

Then, the graduate is qualified to pursue an academic career, as a professor, an assistant professor, or a humble lecturer. This is that original signification of the term “professor”, as one who professes his own theory through some kind of publication. His academic worth is often determined by how often he is quoted by other books and publication. The standing of a university is also determined partly by how many such professors they have on their faculty.

Though I do not have the figures, I suspect that most academic and professional journals in the world are published in English. If our universities are such that English literacy is lacking, we will be producing graduates who are intellectually like frogs under the coconut shell, no matter how fluent they are in the national language.

Perhaps the problem lies with the philosophy of education determined by the government in the first place.

Academic Freedom

The idea of the Western university evolved very much after the model of Plato’s Academy. Plato’s model was shaped very much by his philosophy of searching for truth and knowledge as its own end, and not as a means to an end. It was meant to be a community of scholars living in close proximity, a refuge free from the power play of the outside world.

Plato’s Academy continued in Europe even after the fall of Athens at the hands of Alexander the Great from Macedonia and the rise of the Roman Empire later. The last Academy was finally closed down by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in AD 529 because of religious bigotry on his part.

That is why an institution of higher learning has to enjoy academic freedom, because without the freedom of thought and speech, there can never be truth with a capital “T”.

Thirty years ago, I did study philosophy in a small university, the University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Unlike Malaysia, the Winnipeg university came under the purview, and was funded by the provincial government of Manitoba. The unranked university was administered by a University Senate made up almost entirely of faculty members, and 12 student representatives. I served as a student senator for a couple of years, sitting on several committees like the one in charge of admission of foreign students.

Many of those liberal arts colleges and universities in the West are run on the assumption that the most important people in a higher institution of learning are the teachers and the students, and they should be given a big say in all things in the administration of the campus.

One year, the provincial government of Manitoba proposed a raise in tuition fees. The student union organised a demonstration, marching down from the campus to the state legislature downtown peacefully in protest, with professors marching with them in support. The proposal was withdrawn. If such a march happens in Malaysia, the police, the FRU, and the water cannons will arrive in full force to quash the “riot”!

The comparison may not be all that fair. As an important institution, like all other political, social and economic institutions, the university takes even centuries to mature. We are but a young nation on the world stage.

I can actually understand how, during the early uncertain years of independence, the university was seen as a powerful political tool for nation building. Much stock was placed on the university as a symbol of independence. Since education tends to be the quickest way towards social upward mobility, the eradication of poverty and the lifting of the socio-economic position of the Malays and other native communities must indeed depend on a tilted policy on university education.

Nearly half a century of experiment with our own tertiary education later, in the context of a rapidly changing world, the glaring negative impacts of our university education are legion.

Send Them Overseas

Naturally, in all universities, you get the small percentage of the cream of the crop who would do well anywhere in the world. The bulk of the university student population though are just glorified super secondary scholars in terms of their intellectual achievement.

(I had the chance to interview some graduates who were certified to teach English as a second language. Upon my request, they could not name even one prominent writer of English literature!)

What ails our universities is more than evident when it comes to the employability of their products. Tens of thousands of fresh graduates cannot find a decent job after graduation. They have to be re-trained at great public expense in order for them to find their place in society. If you ask me, it is this training mentality that forms the bedrock of our philosophy of education which stunt students’ growth.

Finally, the government is making some noise about creating “apex universities”. There is some welcome talk about academic freedom, financial independence, and campus autonomy. So far, what little public discussion there is on the proposal borders on the superficial. We are indeed a Third-world nation. But the discussion is better late and superficial than never.

Blame me for being pessimistic, negative, and cynical. As long as Umno is in power, and they seem determined to do so for the next half century, no meaningful reform on our tertiary education system will arrive at our shores. There will be too much politics and too much vested interests in the way of moving our nation forward in matters of education. All this talk about making Malaysia the educational hub of the region is only marketing language to be taken with a giant block of salt.

My advice for my friends who have children contemplating university education has always been this: send them overseas!

Written by Sim Kwang YangSep 22, 07 11:45am @ Malaysiakini

University and University College Act 1971

While surfing the net I came upon the infamous University and University Act of 1971, which you guys can download from the following link:

http://www.agc.gov.my/agc/oth/Akta/Vol.%201/Act%2030.pdf

If you are lazy to read the whole thingie, just read Section 15 - Section 16 c as it concerns us as students the most.

More will be added on soon.

Written by Evilbunny "The best ideas comes from the worst minds" 22/9/07

Lucky for us, phew ^^ Go Monash!

A recent video released in the internet has shown the realities of local public universities where racism, local politics as well as anarchy is wide spread among the students as well as the staff members of the university.

Lucky for us, being in Monash these problems doesn't exist however this doesn't mean we should be complacent and ignore situations in the real world. Problems exist whether we like it or not, since Monash is an established university most of the problems have been taken into account during its founding and over the years.

It is only right if problems are being discussed in the open with everything being accounted for. The reason why most of us are paying so much is not only to get a good academic education but as well being a productive member of society and this includes solving and discussing social problems together.

Here are the two videos about the happenings in our local universities: NJOY^^

Written by Evilbunny "The best ideas comes from the worst minds" 20/9/07

More Evil Than Me XD

Had been surfing the net at home these few days because the comlabs had been flooded. And yesterday I came across this damn evil thingie, a long lost relative of mine. Something for guys to give their GFs during valentines. LOL!

Taken from http://rojaks.blogspot.com/

Written by Evilbunny "The best ideas comes from the worst minds" 13/9/07

Freedom and Student Activism! ROAR!

Ever since starting this blog I had been getting supporting comments from people particularly students of Monash as well as drawing flak from other people. Articles like 'Monash Welcomes Najib', 'Bootlickers @ Monash' and even the article of me helping a friend to get a date get criticisms. Two notable comments criticizing me that I got was, 'You got really nothing to do' and 'I bet you weren't there to learn the history of the university', their identities had been hidden to prevent any repercussions.

First of all, let me talk about freedom. It is my god-given right to do whatever I want with my time and no one has the rights to force me to do something against my will. If you prefer to spend time shopping, studying, watching movies, reading novels, sports... etc etc it is up to you, I don't give a damn unless you are my GF. However please respect what I want do with my time be it to be; writing crap, playing DOTA, watching porn (illegal? XD), going to the gym, whacking plane, reading books, so be it as long I am not violating another person's liberty.

God made me unique and I plan to stay that way preventing myself to be stereotype with the rest of the other people. Do I have to dress, think, walk and behave just like the rest so I don't look weird? NO!, and maybe because I am born special being rebellious in nature doesn't mean I have to hide all my characteristics just to look good. It is right to say to me things like 'you should spend more time on you studies, since it sucks' or even 'you need to get laid/GF ^^' but never 'You got really nothing to do' as what I am doing here takes lots of guts, effort and time.

Most of the time, people like Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Mahatma Gandhi, Joan of Arc, William Wallace, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Nelson Mandela get shunned and misunderstood by society because their ideas were too radical at that time or it is anti-establishment and out of fear of retribution they are not welcomed. Is not until their death that they are being honoured as heroes and saviors for their 'really nothing to do' sacrifices. I am not saying I am being like one of them, but more like not judging me before you get to know the real me.



The second issue I would like to address here is the 'I bet you weren't there to learn the history of the university' with regards to the article 'Monash Welcomes Najib' and 'Bootlickers @ Monash' and that hits me like a cranium basher right on my skull. If I had not mistaken I topped my class in history for 2 years straight during high school in oneof the best class. I would even dare to say my history is better than 90% of the population. Sorry, a bit of boasting XD

I took it constructively since I really don't know much about Monash besides its founder. After much googling and wikipeding XD I found some interesting facts about Monash. But let me start with those that I found about Monash Malaysia. All news and articles written about Monash Malaysia is nothing but praises and more bootlicking of how good, nice and beautiful is Monash Malaysia without any setbacks, typically Malaysian. Good job, angguk-angguk then being fed some dog biscuits.

However when you look at the history about Monash University, I can damn well say I am proud to be a Monash student. This is the way of how a university should be, with no cover ups as well as admitting to mistakes so that 'Ancora Imparo' can take place.

"From the mid-1960s to the early 1970s, Monash became the centre of student radicalism in Australia. It was the site of many mass student demonstrations, particularly concerning Australia's role in Vietnam War and conscription. The origins of mass student demontstrations in Melbourne were those against capital punishment, and some of the largest protests occurred at Monash in the final years before it was abolished in Victoria. By the late 1960s, several student organizations, some of which were influenced by or supporters of communism, turned their focus to Vietnam, with several blockades and sit-ins on University Council chambers. The most famous student radical was Albert Langer, who regularly made newspaper headlines and caused major disruptions at the Clayton Campus. So great was publicity surrounding the protests that many in Australia and around the world first heard of Monash not because of its teaching and research, but because of its protests. In recent years, student radicalism has died down, although there have been occasional protests on government higher education policy." from Wikipedia.

I would end this article by encouraging people take up history XD and not those cowcrap published to blind and hide the truth.

Written by Evilbunny "The best ideas comes from the worst minds" 11/9/07

Free Monash Ball Tic! + Date ^^

This is a free ticket giveaway! Yes, absolutely free! No prank, instead a genuine offer that's not to be missed! So don't wait! Hurry and apply here.

All you need to do is to date, Jon Wong our very own tutor for mechanical engineering in Monash.

Requirements:

Anyone can apply! But preference will be given to girls. Dress decently or not XD its up to you

Terms & Conditions:
Be Jon's date for the night. The final decision on who to go with is final and will be decided by Jon himself.

Date: 21st September 2007

Time: As stated by the ball committee.

Benefits: Get to go to the Monash Ball for free inclusive of a date.

How to?: Leave your contact details in the comment section so Jon can contact you, eg. friendster, msn add, hp no.

Jon's Pics

Written by Evilbunny"The best ideas comes from the worst minds" 8/9/07

Our foreign buddies, a tribute to them ^^

I was born, bred and educated in Malaysia and most of my life is spent here, with the exception of a few months overseas for vacation. Coming from a poor family, I don't get to travel much moreover taking vacation to somewhere far.

Being in Monash compensates for this, as people from different nations can be seen enrolled in our campus. Noticeable ones from the far-west middle-east (huh?) Arab nations, the not so far India and Sri Lanka as well as the super near South East Asians with the majority being Indonesians.

We should be glad being able to expose ourselves to so many cultures and traditions all under one roof. Imagine the amount of things we can learn from each other, languages, country, customs, traditions, food (most important) as well as their beauties XD ... I mean the beauty of diversity.

Therefore I humbly urge all my local friends to spend time getting to know these people as a friend. There are differences in the way we communicate (language is not a barrier but an excuse) or behave but fear not, trying is the first step to everything. You might never know, he or she might end up being your gf/bf ^^, partner, best friend, guardian angel, clubbing buddy... blah blah blah

We should not only mix with our own kind although it is easier and more simply, take a step out of our comfort zones once in a while and look out the window. By making an effort to welcome our foreign buddies, I can guarantee you it will be an eye opener as well as a form of education. Not only will they thank you for making their stay here more meaningful but you might one day be visiting their country and thanking them back instead.

With all my previous criticism, don't get me wrong. I don't hate Monash in fact I love being in Monash for giving me all kinds of opportunities and this being one of it. We all agree that no one is perfect therefore my criticisms are meant to be constructive, hopefully help making Monash a better place for all of us.

Let me end this article with three quotes,

1) To my foreign buddies:
"We are friends
but we are making mistakes
cause if I don't understand you,
you don't understand me
if we solve the problems
everything will be free"
by Namewee aka Wee Meng Chee in his song entitled 'Kawanku/My friends"

2) About my criticisms:
"Dissent Is the Highest Form of Patriotism"
by Thomas Jefferson

3) About my blog:
"If I criticize I care,
If I care I love"
by Evilbunny & A lot of mothers in the world.

Written by Evilbunny"The best ideas comes from the worst minds" 7/9/07

Monash Mascot ^^ woof woof

Got hungry early today so I decided to drop by the cunteen to get myself some food but on the way to the elevator I found something that caught my attention. Looks attractive enough to take a nibble at it however the stench of the toilet nearby put me off. Maybe it has to do with the two articles I wrote a few days ago so they used that as bait.

Decided not to have indon food today so I went over to the bollywood side and try something out since the last time I ended up coughing rm8 for something that cost rm3.5 in medan. My plan was to run away with the food after he put it into the plate but to my surprise he only charged rm4 so I decided to forgive him. Although still expensive at least it is edible and I still have money to pay for the farking that cost rm2.

Back to the title, ever since moving to the new campus I had noticed there's a dog that has been loitering around the carfark. You can even notice its paw prints on the concrete walkway. Considering that Monash doesn't have a mascot, why don't we adopt it? Not only can the poor bugger get some food allowance from sponsorship deals, Monash would also have a new pet to brag about to the media. Good idea eh?

So I decided to hop by the carfark to find that bugger to ask its opinion however I found the bugger to be dead.

I panicked and started hopping around, then a few faggers told me to look properly only then did I realized that bugger is just resting down there. Must be the effect from inhaling the smoke from the faggers or the bugger got tempted from the 'food' I saw earlier near the elevator.

I shall leave the bugger alone for now, as I too have to hop back before the jam starts on the LDP.

Sorry for all the mistakes in my spelling, had a presentation earlier in the day and because of that I am lack of hibernation.

Written by Evilbunny"The best ideas comes from the worst minds" 5/9/07

Bootlickers @ Monash University Malaysia

Being in campus today really excites me, things are moving and being done so fast. People that are usually hiding in their office suddenly appear out of their caves wearing baju kurungs, tie, coats... etc etc

I am wondering where had Monash gotten their resources from? since most of the time the university staff take ages to do simple things or sometimes financial constraint is given as an excuse.

Ohh... how can anyone forget, today's the opening of our new campus and VVIPs are coming. Canopies are being erected in front of the cafeteria, toilets being clean or at least those near the audis. Security guards are everywhere eventhough the police are already there. Why the sudden change?

The answer is simple, make Monash look nice to welcome the VVIPs. Bodek and bootlick as much as they can to make the VVIPs happy and impressed. This is a clear example of what of what the Chinese use to say "hou thai imm hou sek" which literally means nice to see but not nice to eat.

While the VVIPs gets entertain, the students suffer. 400 car parks had to be reserved for the VVIPs, and I myself had to park at some muddy construction site next to the campus. This is fine to me as this is a one time matter, but what pisses me off is that the problems students face everyday is just being ignored.

Let's us not forget that we are the ones funding Monash's income. Although they make some by renting out spaces but 90% of their money are from us, students. And yet we are treated like crap, staff and VVIPs gets the best treatment and we students are left to suffer and survive on ourselves.

Take some time off and think about it, is this how you want to be treated after paying rm30k a year? Are we so desperate as to beg the university to treat us right? It is time for you to speak up and speak out and demand what you deserve and not just be a nerd that studies and go back home to sleep, wasting you parents' money.

Written by Evilbunny"The best ideas comes from the worst minds" 3/9/07

Monash Welcomes Racist Najib

Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak the deputy prime minister of Malaysia had been invited to officiate the opening of Monash University Malaysia's new campus.

Monash Malaysia being made up of a multi-cultural society can not only be seen in its international and local students but as well as academic and admin staffs.

By inviting a racist that threatens to drench the keris (a type of dagger) in Chinese blood, clearly contradicts the values Monash uphold in being an international university.

Najib, doing so for political gains or for whatever reasons clearly shows that he's unfit to be a leader. Other alleged involvements such as corruption regarding purchases of fighter planes, tanks, submarines and as well as the recent murder case of Altantuya are said to have been cover-up by the government.

Being a former educational minister that supported the university and uni. colleges act as well as the 'aku-janji' contract to silent critics and activism had crippled the Malaysian education system of allowing students to think for themselves. The product of our Malaysian education can be seen even in our own campus where students don't question and just follow lacking creativity. Participation in events tend to be sadly low and local graduates ending up not being able to find jobs because they are exposed to the real world where things are different.

Who are we to blame? Ourselves? The government? The university/school...etc? By associating ourselves with Najib clearly shows the path we are taking, and not only us but the future generation of Monash students as well.

So ask and think about it, is Najib worthy of officiating our new campus? Is it because he's the only available VIP? or because Monash filled his pocket with money?

This article has been modified to protect the interest of certain parties. Please forward and share with your friends if you find this article relevant and it reflects your views.

Written by Evilbunny "The best ideas comes from the worst minds" 30/8/07