NOW, let us try to follow this step by step.
We have this thing called the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), right? Launched 15 years ago, in 1996, it was supposed to be, in the words of then PM, Dr M, Malaysia’s gift to the world, right?
Yep. This MSC was supposed to help us lompat katak (leapfrog) to the Information Age. Indeed, it was supposed to pave the way for the digitisation of the country, making us, among other things, an information-rich, paperless society.
A society where all our basic information would be archived or stored in largely-government computer banks and could be accessed at the flick of a switch or through the pressing of a button or keyboard key.
So far, so good, right?
With all this computerisation, it is safe to assume that simple data, such as the detailed results of nationwide public examinations, would be accurately tabulated and stored and, equally accurately, could be retrieved, right?
Results of public examinations like the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia(SPM), right? Right.
Okay, here comes the question.
Why on earth then, with all this digital technology at our fingertips, do we face this dismal situation every year of the Malaysian Public Services Department (JPA) screwing up the process of providing scholarships for our kids?
The Friday news report states: Some 363 straight-A+ students who deserved to be funded for study abroad had lost out to those with lower grades.
Given our digital capacity and the fact that, despite the brain drain, Bolehland still has some computer-savvy people, perhaps anywhere between one and 10 such errors may be understandable, if not acceptable.
But 363? Yes, three hundred and sixty-three of our top scoring kids being pushed aside this year. Denied scholarships pending appeal.
And we all know this happens EVERY year.
But, hang on a second.
Didn’t the PM himself declare recently that JPA (yes, folks, the same outfit above) scholarships would be given to ALL students who achieve 8A+ in the SPM, regardless of race?
So, who are these 363 then? Martians?
And let us do remember that JPA scholarships are essentially government scholarships that come from the taxes of all tax-paying Malaysians.
Yes, taxes you and I pay.
JPA scholarships are NOT grants derived from the funds of Barisan Nasional or any other political party.
And if they are supposed to be for academically-qualified Malaysian kids, as the PM rightly declares, then for these Malaysian kids they should be then.
Irrespective of race, religion, creed, colour and gender.
So, what’s so mindbogglingly complicated about that, officers of JPA? Surely you don ft need a spanking new iPad 2 each to do the math?
That’s 363 young lives you are messing with. Three hundred and sixty-three anxious and disappointed young minds who, based on this and, I fm sure, other similar experiences along the way, may certainly consider being part of the Malaysian brain drain.
Believe you me, I have seen them. And their numbers have been growing over the years due to obviously discriminatory practices which are excused by silly politicians as ‘red-tape errors’. ‘Red-tape errors’, my eye.
With this number of ‘red-tape errors’ year in and year out, an organisation like the JPA surely ought to re-evaluate its KPIs. Assuming, of course, it knows what KPIs are and their purpose.
And as for the politicians who then spring into action when 363 voices are raised (together with their parents’, family’s and friends’), do please stop the sandiwara and pretend to be the champions of the people.
We all know you are part of the problem. On the one hand, you say there are mechanisms firmly in place to make sure that there’s fair distribution of funds.
Your boss himself declares publicly that the equation is a simple one that even a moron from Perkasa or Pembela would understand: 8A+ (and above) = a scholarship.
So, when 363 (or more) kids with 8A+ (and above) suddenly find themselves in a pickle rather than in the university of their choice WITH a scholarship, and this becomes an annual problem, then it no longer is a ‘red-tape error’.
And, really, you’d look like a right ninny these days if you were to suggest silly stopgap measures instead of having the courage and commitment to confront and overcome what are clearly NOT ‘red-tape errors’.
Indeed, call a spade a spade, for heaven’s sake.
Remember, like this or any other government, the JPA and its officers are the caretakers of the rakyat’s funds; you don’t own the funds.
You are paid to manage the funds for us, not mismanage them.
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