<p>Borders on Apartheid? Wow, someone does not have a serious grasp of apartheid in South Africa. Trust me, apartheid was a much more repressive apparatus than the Bumiputra policies. These policies are a far cry from the apartheid of the National Party which you claim it borders.</p>
<p>Firstly, Apartheid means “separateness” in Afrikaans. There is definitely not segregation to the extent of South Africa in Malaysia. South African Africans were separated completely from society. Moreover, 76% of the population is African, and was governed by 13% white majority ("Asians and ‘coloreds’ make up the rest). This 76% of the population was forced onto 13% of the land in the Native Lands Act of 1913. </p>
<p>Do the non-Malays live in townships outside KL? Definitely not. Do they have to carry passbooks and get a labor bureau to approve things? No. Do they have a 72 hour clause in urban areas? No. And I can continue on and on. </p>
<p>Comparing Bumiputra to South Africa’s Apartheid demonstrates a severe ignorance in the simile you drew. These policies do not even border Apartheid. You offend those who survived Soweto. Certainly the polices of Bumiputra have qualities of unfairness, but comparing it Apartheid?</p>
<p>Surely, there are flaws in our system, as there are in all systems. However, it looks like Johnleemk has failed to adapt himself to the system and choosing instead to quit and leave the system instead of just trying harder.</p>
<p>There are many students, of all races, who have been successful in this flawed system. </p>
<p>It is good to see someone so young to be so interested in politics, social issues and all that sort of thing, but it isn’t that good to see someone so young quit so quickly.</p>
<p>I want the flawed system to improve, surely, because it’ll obviously be good for the future of Malaysia. Constantly whining about it won’t change anything though. Instead of whining, perhaps you could try working around the system? Or <em>gasps</em> working with it?</p>
<p>Huh? What’s the point of working with a failed system? You might as well circumvent it and then work to replace the system instead of waste your effort for idealistic reasons. (It’s called pragmatism.)</p>
<p>It’s not a “failed” system considering that it has produced many people of high quality.</p>
<p>The thing is, it is a “flawed” system, by no means “failed”. It just seems weird that someone as ambitious as you gives up so easily on a “flawed” system. There are many students who sure as day did not give up so easily and ended up well off.</p>
<p>Improvements are needed, but it is not a “failed” system. Your diction is also very inaccurate, no offense.</p>
<p>As for working to replace the system, mere talking about it won’t do anything. So, if you’re not going to do anything substantial about it, you have to adapt to the system. Work with or work around the system.</p>
<p>Well, yes, but I see no point in working with a seriously flawed system if I can avoid it. If you have to use it, by all means, go ahead. But if there are other routes available to you, why make life difficult for yourself?</p>
<p>Well, if you don’t work in a flawed system, how ever are you going to change it? How ever will you know the merits and demerits of an education system in Malay? Of the JPA scholarship system? Of learning Sejarah Malaysia and and all that? Of interacting with NORMAL average malaysian kids, and not with rich, snotty international-schooled kid (not all of them are like that, but a good bit are) who knows nothing about Malaysia’s politics and racial tension, but chooses to comment on it anyway? I guess that’s where a lot of our politicians are, but we are trying not to be like them anyway, right? </p>
<p>If you do O Levels or IGCSE in some private school, people will always view you as some international school kid who knows nothing about Malaysia. And a politician/ social activist will never have the support of the grassroots if they find out that he/ she came from some international school. People will always personally attack you should you choose to comment about Malaysia’s issues, but that’s justifiable. It’s not fair, but it’s justifiable. </p>
<p>Unless you are planning not to deal with Malaysia’s issues.</p>
<p>Uh…are you aware I spent seven years in public schools (not including a couple of months at a public Chinese school and less than two years in a private school where I couldn’t make any friends)? I’ve effectively completed three-fourths of the traditional system too. PTS? Check. UPSR? Check. PMR? Check. And I didn’t do my O Levels in a private school either. I self-studied.</p>
<p>The only way my education differs from the standard system is that I effectively skipped forms four and five after completing my PMR (by virtue of the O Levels, which I sat for as a private candidate). Then it’s just less than two years in a college doing my A Levels, which is what I expect quite a number of SPM-holders to be doing as well.</p>
<p>Well, you didn’t do SPM… and that gives me valid reason enough to say that you didn’t finish the Malaysian schooling education system (which effectively stops at SPM, not STPM). Again, choosing a route as you did gives people the space to personally attack you, should you choose to comment about Malaysia’s issues. Arrogance undermines your words, see? People are always going to brush your words off as some “international school kid”'s rambles. It turns people off - I mean, if you want a good example, look no further than this board.</p>
<p>er and no, I wasn’t talking to Izzy. From the posts I seen, she doesn’t discuss Malaysian issues (well, not much anyway) - but you do, and that makes you accountable to public criticism.</p>
<p>upandover phrased everything well. Most people will be admiring of the fact that u voice your opinions with such clarity and fluency considering your age. There is a gaping flaw in your arguments however: what u have actually done is “run away” from the system, and in no way is that going to correct the flaws. Also john, bear in mind that both nickkhaw and upandover went through the entire Malaysian education system and now they are in Harvard and Yale respectively. In fact upandover has had her share of experiences with the bumi rights and quotas and all the stuff u write of. But she has taken it in her stride and risen ABOVE it, not sat about, pulled out of school (i will at least, not insult u by saying “drop out” cos i don’t believe that is actually what u did), found an alternate system deemed “better” and then proceeded to hit out on a system he does not fully understand … and thereby not comprehending how to FIX.</p>
<p>Nick and upandover…These are the people who fully realize the flaws in the system, worked with it so that they could achieve the further goal of gaining an education beyond malaysian boundaries. And these are the people who will bring back sufficient knowledge to change the system you deem so terribly flawed because they are the ones with duality in their experiences. You, my young 'un are not them.</p>
<p>And izzy, this board is to discuss education, this thread to discuss malaysian education so forgive me for sounding annoyed when i ask why u demand we take this to PMs??</p>
<p>This had deviated so much from the main point of the his post because he doesn’t understand the anecdotal evidence he uses…like Apartheid <em>still fuming</em></p>
<p>Brother John…Are you aware that you are speaking to I believe two products of a phailed malaysian education system, two products who are currently enrolled in two Ivy League Schools?</p>