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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Need continuous efforts to overcome racial & religious divide

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw reiterates the need to have greater efforts to overcome the racial and religious divide which is clearly shown in the Sarawak Elections results.

The Malay/Melanau Muslims tend to go for PBB and the Chinese and some Ibans tend to support Pakatan Rakyat.

On 17.4.2011, Dr Tan comments further on the April 16 poll in Sarawak.

The elctions results show,among others, that PBB won 35 seats, DAP 12 and PKR 3, Despite traditional media being biased towards BN, DAP managed to win 12 out of 15 seats contested. The defeat of Tan Sri Dr George Chan by DAP candidate and Datuk Peter Nyarok by PKR candidate is significant. Sarawak politics is entering a new phase of change.

Despite the Prime Minister calling for 1 Malaysia, the poll results show that Sarawak also has racial and political divide. As Datuk Seri Najib has said that he intends to correct BN's mistakes, it is interesting to see how he proposes to handle this divide.

Those who win have to work harder, including DAP. We have to prove to the people that we are prepared to sacrifice and to serve honestly. How many will misuse their positions for economic gains?

While elected representatives have to fulfill their duties and obligations, all must pay special attention to the religious and racial divide.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Friday, April 01, 2011

Apex university must have apex quality

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on all 20 public universities in Malaysia to aim for higher ranking in the world including the QS system of assessment.

This includes Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) which has been conferred Apex status that means extra funding being approved by Parliament.

On 31.3.2011, the Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ho replied to my question on the performance of USM as an Apex university, saying that the Apex system and the QS system of assessment of universities is different. For example, Apex is more concerned with local potential to excel.It has only 5% foreign lecturers and students. Its world ranking is lower than University of Malaya(MU). This type of excuse is unconvincing.

Just as other universities, USM has some research fndings which are good. But, the amount and quality of research matter.

Harvard University ranks first in the world ranking. It has huge funding and good tradition. It is not fair to compare our universities such as USM and MU with this university. What univeristies like USM, MU and UKM should aim at is to get within 100 top universities in the world.

Malaysians expect USM as the Apex university to reach the apex. All 20 public universities in Malaysia should aim at improving their world ranking.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw