Datuk Saifudin Abdullah, we need more leaders like you — Ruzaimi Ramli
Okay. First and foremost, this article is not written to “bodek” Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, it is just to “celebrate” his bravery and pragmatism in defending the rights of the students.
Secondly, I doubt that this kind of effort will get much coverage in the mainstream media, so let me at least try to “flood” the alternative/online media with this article.
Thirdly, being a student myself not so long ago, this topic is very close to my heart and, in my opinion, deserves constructive and intellectual discussions in the cyber and real worlds.
There were 30 points against allowing students to be actively involved with off-campus politics being brought forward to Cabinet meetings and all those points were given clear and strong rebuttals by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
In front of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, he presented the reasons and explained the necessities in letting the students to decide for themselves. In short, he’s telling each and every Cabinet member to stay out of our students’ lives and not to treat them as low-lifes who can’t decide for themselves, let alone calling them immature!
It is to my amusement and satisfaction when the former vice chancellor of a public university whose name I shouldn’t mention here was given the bitter taste of a straight-talking and no-nonsense response from Datuk Saifuddin in a recent television interview regarding the same issue.
“I’m thankful to God that you were not given the extension as the VC,” to quote Datuk Saifuddin in his reply to the rather immature comment from the thick-moustached VC.
The whole of Malaysia jumped with joy and jubilation (Okay, I exaggerate this a bit). But, nevertheless, what a “polite” way of shoving the hard truth in the mouth of the old-fashioned VC.
Students like to experiment with things, they are at a stage in life where Evel Knievel is their role model, and “dare to fail” is their life dogma. Or it is probably more appropriate to say “failure” is non-existent in students’ dictionary, since a failure is a teacher in life.
It teaches students to improve and to avoid doing same mistakes as they go on with their lives. There is no way for a self-proclaimed, well-learned adult to prevent a student from experiencing failures and to take failure as one of their great teachers in life. That’s how they gain the utmost valuable experiences that, in time, earn them the sacred “mature” title.
There’s no way to tell for sure if a 50-year-old is more mature than a 20-year-old matriculation student just by judging at the numbers in their age. Needless to say, by labelling students in general as immature, that doesn’t make you a “mature” adult too!
To make full use of a normally-short student life, one has to be above average, to be active and proactive, to be brave and enthusiastic, to be smart and sharp. One of many available ways to achieve all of these in one go is by participating in student activism.
Student activism includes on/off campus politics, co-curricular, education, research, charity, etc. Pick any one activity that you like and indulge yourself in it. Be the leader or active member and organise events, projects or anything that is related.
You will face obstacles, setbacks, debates, disagreements, grunts, unhappy teammates, etc in the process. However, you will surely be rewarded with the intangible, often unnoticed life-changing experiences. That’s how you earn yourself the title “mature”, and certainly that doesn’t involve a lecture from your VC. You probably don’t even have to know his/her name at all.
So, it is important that in the life of a student that rope is given to direct but not to tie their hands. It is prudent to show them the light, so they won’t stumble, but not to blind them. It is up to the so-called mature adults to let them walk, run and fall, just for them to stand again stronger and wiser. What students need is the trust and confidence from the people who were once students too; who were and still have a teacher called “failure”.
Not to discredit any of the member of the Cabinet, but Malaysia needs more leaders like Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah. Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat leaders must not take students for granted.
Malaysia is a country that is well known for its huge investments in students and education. No country other than Malaysia spends billions of ringgits on student scholarships; that, I can be sure of.
You’ve already put your money on them, so now let’s have faith in them.
It’s time this country’s future is given to the hands and minds that will drive the future.
* Ruzaimi Ramza Ramli reads The Malaysian Insider from Eire.
Secondly, I doubt that this kind of effort will get much coverage in the mainstream media, so let me at least try to “flood” the alternative/online media with this article.
Thirdly, being a student myself not so long ago, this topic is very close to my heart and, in my opinion, deserves constructive and intellectual discussions in the cyber and real worlds.
There were 30 points against allowing students to be actively involved with off-campus politics being brought forward to Cabinet meetings and all those points were given clear and strong rebuttals by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
In front of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, he presented the reasons and explained the necessities in letting the students to decide for themselves. In short, he’s telling each and every Cabinet member to stay out of our students’ lives and not to treat them as low-lifes who can’t decide for themselves, let alone calling them immature!
It is to my amusement and satisfaction when the former vice chancellor of a public university whose name I shouldn’t mention here was given the bitter taste of a straight-talking and no-nonsense response from Datuk Saifuddin in a recent television interview regarding the same issue.
“I’m thankful to God that you were not given the extension as the VC,” to quote Datuk Saifuddin in his reply to the rather immature comment from the thick-moustached VC.
The whole of Malaysia jumped with joy and jubilation (Okay, I exaggerate this a bit). But, nevertheless, what a “polite” way of shoving the hard truth in the mouth of the old-fashioned VC.
Students like to experiment with things, they are at a stage in life where Evel Knievel is their role model, and “dare to fail” is their life dogma. Or it is probably more appropriate to say “failure” is non-existent in students’ dictionary, since a failure is a teacher in life.
It teaches students to improve and to avoid doing same mistakes as they go on with their lives. There is no way for a self-proclaimed, well-learned adult to prevent a student from experiencing failures and to take failure as one of their great teachers in life. That’s how they gain the utmost valuable experiences that, in time, earn them the sacred “mature” title.
There’s no way to tell for sure if a 50-year-old is more mature than a 20-year-old matriculation student just by judging at the numbers in their age. Needless to say, by labelling students in general as immature, that doesn’t make you a “mature” adult too!
To make full use of a normally-short student life, one has to be above average, to be active and proactive, to be brave and enthusiastic, to be smart and sharp. One of many available ways to achieve all of these in one go is by participating in student activism.
Student activism includes on/off campus politics, co-curricular, education, research, charity, etc. Pick any one activity that you like and indulge yourself in it. Be the leader or active member and organise events, projects or anything that is related.
You will face obstacles, setbacks, debates, disagreements, grunts, unhappy teammates, etc in the process. However, you will surely be rewarded with the intangible, often unnoticed life-changing experiences. That’s how you earn yourself the title “mature”, and certainly that doesn’t involve a lecture from your VC. You probably don’t even have to know his/her name at all.
So, it is important that in the life of a student that rope is given to direct but not to tie their hands. It is prudent to show them the light, so they won’t stumble, but not to blind them. It is up to the so-called mature adults to let them walk, run and fall, just for them to stand again stronger and wiser. What students need is the trust and confidence from the people who were once students too; who were and still have a teacher called “failure”.
Not to discredit any of the member of the Cabinet, but Malaysia needs more leaders like Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah. Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat leaders must not take students for granted.
Malaysia is a country that is well known for its huge investments in students and education. No country other than Malaysia spends billions of ringgits on student scholarships; that, I can be sure of.
You’ve already put your money on them, so now let’s have faith in them.
It’s time this country’s future is given to the hands and minds that will drive the future.
* Ruzaimi Ramza Ramli reads The Malaysian Insider from Eire.
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