Even scholarship for deserving students can’t be handled effectively by public service department (JPA)

Year after year the public service department creates confusion and unhappiness to bright students by failing to award JPA scholarships to deserving SPM students. There seen to be no written transparent criteria in the JPA scholarship awarding after so many years of public hue and cry. Is the public service department that dump and stupid that they are unable to create transparent selection criteria that stops the yearly dilemma to parents and students? The prime minister has clearly failed to resolve the yearly dilemma despite promising to provide scholarships to all students who achieve more than 8A+. These deserving students also know many others who do not have the required A’s getting scholarship to go overseas. With this blatant discrimination right in front of their eyes, will these students ever feel patriotic and good about this country? Unfortunately the biased and narrow minded leaders of this country can’t foresee or couldn’t be bothered about the outcome.

The ministry of education must device clear policies on the awarding scholarships. Those who are rich and powerful should not be given scholarships. That’s a waste of tax payer’s money. Scholarships must be awarded to high achievers whose parents cannot afford the studies chosen by the students. Rich students who are high achievers must be given recognition for their high achievements. The ministry must not insult these high achieving students by allotting courses that are not chosen by them. These students are determined and generally know what discipline to chose. Minister must support them in securing the chosen field for students. If these awarding of scholarships are done well, the country will not face any brain drain but there will be brain gain.

Unfortunately the underlying issue in the whole JPA scholarship award is racial preferences and prejudices. The government should do away with racial discrimination in the selection of JPA scholarship. Can the minister of education provide an open reply to the question of students with 4 A’s getting scholarship to go overseas while students getting 10A’s and not getting scholarship or rather given scholarship to study some diploma course which is not their choice in local university. Students who have 10As and excelled in sports and co-curricular but left out or given courses that are not their choice is a criminal waste of resources. There must be a limit to discrimination and segregation otherwise this blessed country will be retarded economically thus leading many other social problems.

The ministry of higher education must ensure that these students come back to serve the country. Local universities must have quality lecturers and professors to attract these students to stay back and study in local universities courses of their choice which will save millions of ringgit. With so much pomp and prim about the local universities why did the ministry provide scholarships to students with even 4As to go overseas? They could have studied in local universities courses of their choice. The prime minister must intervene and settle the annual JPA scholarship debacle with transparent selection criteria once and for all.

Senator Dr. S. Ramakrishnan

27/5/2011

HISTORY SHOULD INTEREST STUDENTS

History subject of Malaysian secondary schools is politicized to such an extent that it does not interest students anymore. Unfortunately only UMNO leaders still do not know why History subject do not interest students.  Schools are there to provide education that enable and empower students to contribute positively to themselves, society and nation. Yet UMNO fundamentalist temper with history syllabus to erase the diverse, multi ethnic and multi religious history of our country.

Malaysian schools should be free of indoctrination, evangelism and racism if we as a nation were to compete and find a respectable place among other countries. Education Ministry seems more concern with producing colorful and glossy history textbook.

Only when there are public outcry the ministry comes out to inform the general public that they seek the history teacher’s views otherwise teachers are never taken seriously. Do the ministry officials ever take the students view? Since students are the main stakeholders, they should have a strong say in the whole matter.

Ministry has a tendency to impose certain narrow views on the students. Students now are well exposed to the world views than the elders via internet and other alternate media. Therefore it is not possible to stuff parochial and dogmatic views in their minds. It is important that the ministry takes an inclusive approach to not only history but also moral studies through consultation with student representatives. Student’s aspirations and expectations must be factored in the formulation of history syllabus.

The current government talks so much about brain drain and spends millions of tax payer’s money to entice them to return but at the same time, government is making superficial and primitive changes to drive them away from our education system. Do the UMNO racist ever bothered about brain drain or they feel they have more brains than others. We need proactive and inclusive action and not mere empty and shallow promises from the government to instill confidence in our country.

Students are accessible to so much historical information with just a click away. Will our existing history syllabus and the teaching methodology ever compete to attract student’s interest? Therefore to make history interesting, thought provoking and informative, the history subject syllabus and the teaching methodology must be revised.  A study of History is to understand how we arrived at the present.  Religion is minor episode in the vase ocean of history. Therefore to limit history subject to only a particular religion and race is a disservice and disloyal act of the highest order to the fertile and budding young minds of this beloved nation. History has ample proof of how religious dogmas, conflicts and misunderstandings have destroyed civilizations and empires.

Religion is the opium of the poor people. Give them generous quantities of it and they will blissfully support the very religious leader who is destroying them. Religious leaders throughout history have waged wars, death, torment and destruction than any other single cause. Yet UMNO politicians instruct civil servants to turn history into religious and racial indoctrination propaganda. Let’s fix up the history subject to one that is inclusive and revealing the mysteries of the past.

Senator Dr. S. Ramakrishnan

Is PERHILITAN enforcing law or giving excuses?

The recent probe on notorious Malaysian zoos by an English daily newspaper shows the level of cruelty and neglect of wild animals in some of the private zoos. Notorious zoos in particular Dayang bay zoo and Saleng zoo have been under the watchful eyes of animal activist for some time. PERHILITAN have been alerted on a number of occasions but these zoos continue to operate. Why PERHILITAN is not taking proactive actions to save the wild animals from these private zoos whose primary objective is make profit.

Reports and pictures showing wild animals like lions and tigers kept in cages, elephants chained and neglected orang Utan separated from their kith and kin whether temporary or permanent are inhuman and gross animal cruelty. These zoo operators are giving silly and stupid excuses after excuses and PERHILITAN is dragging its feet in enforcing laws on them. PERHILITAN should be headed by animal conversationalist to end the animal cruelty in Malaysian zoos.

Animal shows are banned and not many people visit zoos. How do these zoos make profit to cater and provide food for these wild animals? PERHILITAN seems indifferent to their dubious nature of business and failed to check the accounts and ascertain that these animals are not kept for poaching and illegal trading purpose. A fine of RM200 or 6 months jail is small feat to these operators. Many well managed zoos are there whose best practices can be emulated here. PERHILITAN must show that it has the will and guts to enforce the law.

PERPILITAN don’t seem to have zoo animal care standards and guidelines for zoo operators to follow? If they have why is this violation not acted upon? Malaysia has about 39 zoos. Are these figures justifiable? Do PERHILITAN have data bases like origin, age, health conditions on the animals kept captive by zoos in Malaysia? Singapore has the database on every tree in the island. They monitor the trees through GPS. Why can’t emulate this practice to monitor the welfare on zoo animals? PERHILITAN did not show its social responsibilities in caring for these animals. The minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas has clearly failed to direct his ministry to act against public complains. He should resign if he really cares about animal welfare to make way for others who can do the job.

There is an urgent need for PERHILITAN to take on board committed animal conservationists in monitoring and formulating rules and regulations for Malaysian zoos to follow. Without any further excuse PERHILITAN must enforce the existing laws on notorious zoos. It is time that PERHILITAN start gathering wildlife crime database to eliminate poaching and illegal wildlife trades from and to Malaysia.

Senator S. Ramakrishnan

Kualiti pelajar Program Pengajian Perubatan di IPT

Senator Dr. Ramakrishnan a/l Suppiah: Terdapat sekarang 19 kolej universiti perubatan swasta dan 15 kolej universiti perubatan kerajaan. Nampaknya bilangan yang banyak. Bagaimanakah kualiti terjamin? Baru-baru ini MAA membangkitkan keraguan mengenai kualiti pelajar di kolej-kolej ini. Apakah jaminan kerajaan untuk mengekalkan kualiti pendidikan perubatan di semua kolej universiti ini.

 

Dato’ Saifuddin bin Abdullah. Timbalan Menteri Pengajian Tinggi. Mengenai kebimbangan Yang Berhormat Senator Dr. Ramakrishnan a/l Suppiah tentang kualiti program perubatan di IPT. Suka saya maklumkan bahawa proses penilaian kualiti bagi Program Pengajian Perubatan di IPT adalah sangat ketat dan dipantau oleh badan profesional. Pelaksanaan program perubatan dikawal oleh Malaysia Medical Council (MMC) yang bertanggungjawab menetapkan standard tertentu yang perlu dipatuhi oleh IPT sebelum sesuatu program pengajian perubatan diberi status akreditasi. Keputusan akreditasi oleh MMC akan diterima pakai oleh MQA untuk didaftar di dalam MQR.

Untuk makluman Dewan yang mulia ini, pemberian akreditasi oleh MMC untuk program perubatan hanya untuk tempoh tertentu sahaja dan IPT perlu memohon semula pembaharuan akreditasi sebelum tamat tempohnya. Proses penilaian akan dijalankan semula sebelum pembaharuan akreditasi dikeluarkan. Ini akan dapat memastikan kualiti graduan yang dihasilkan akan sentiasa terjamin.

Senator Dr. Ramakrishnan a/l Suppiah: Muka hadapan akhbar The Sun bertarikh 5 May 2011 memaparkan berita bahawa semua penawaran kursus baru dalam bidang perubatan di institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) dibekukan selama lima tahun yang berkuatkuasa pada 1 May 2011. Alasan yang diberikan kerana peningkatan ketara bilangan graduan perubatan, dan kompetensi graduan ini yang menjalani latihan praktikal di hospital.

Menteri nampaknya hanya memberikan satu jawapan untuk menenangkan ahli-ahli parlimen tetapi hakikatnya berbeza. Adakah kolej dan universiti perubatan ini diiktiraf oleh badan akreditasi antarabangsa? Sehingga Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi tidak perlu berehat dan merasa puas. MMA telah menyatakan keprihatinan terhadap kualiti graduan perubatan tempatan dan saya minta kementerian untuk menghentikan penurunan kualiti graduan, jika tidak keseluruhan profesion perubatan akan terjejas.

Program Kembali Bekerja PERKESO

20 April 2011

 

Dr. S. Ramakrishnan minta MENTERI SUMBER MANUSIA menyatakan:

(a)          apakah analisis kos-faedah bagi Program Kembali Bekerja atau Return to Work (RTW) dan adakah program ini memberi manfaat kepada ahli dan PERKESO. Berapakah pegawai baru yang telah dilantik untuk mengendalikan program ini. Bagaimana pula dengan tahap pengetahuan dan pencapaian mereka serta kenaikan kos pentadbiran akibat program berkenaan.

(b)          berapakah perunding yang terlibat untuk memberi perkhidmatan dalam program ini dan berapakah amaun yang telah dibayar sejak tahun 2009. Adakah program ini juga melibatkan pekerja di Sabah dan Sarawak.

Jawapan

Tuan Yang di-Pertua,

1. Berikut adalah jawapan kepada pertanyaan Y.B. Dr. S. Ramakrishnan berkaitan PERKESO.

(a)   Analisis kos faedah bagi Program Kembali Bekerja (Return to Work)

Program Return to Work (RWT) boleh dianalisa dari 2 aspek, iaitu dari aspek kuantitatif dan kualitatif, program ini memang memberikan manfaat kepada ahli (pekerja) dan PERKESO. Butiran terperinci mengenainya boleh diperihalkan berdasarkan hasil kajian analisis kos faedah seperti berikut:

• Dari 1,640 pekerja yang cedera dan dirujuk untuk mengikuti RTW, seramai 1,004 atau bersamaan 61% telah berjaya dipulihkan dan kembali bekerja. Kes yang dirujuk untuk program RTW ini terdiri daripada orang berinsurans PERKESO yang berada di bawah Skim Insurans Bencana Pekerjaan dan juga Skim Penen Ilat.

• Mengikut kajian dari segi aspek kuantitatif pula, purata pulangan program ini terhadap Orang Berinsurans yang telah kembali bekerja adalah sebanyak RM319,602.37. Pulangan program ini terhadap Orang Berinsurans yang berjaya untuk kembali bekerja berbanding dengan kos pembiayaan program ini adalah 98.60 nisbah 1 (98.80:1).

• Dari segi aspek kualitatif, pulangan faedah kualitatif diukur berdasarkan Visual Analog Scale (VAS 100mm). Hasil dari kajian tersebut, menunjukkan bahawa majoriti peserta yang mengikuti program ini menunjukkan perubahan yang positif dalam aspek yang dinyatakan di bawah:

v  Kemahiran                           – pembaikan 1.30mm

v  Halatuju Kerjaya                  – pembaikan 1.35mm

v  Kebergantungan                  – pembaikan 1.20mm

v  Harga Diri                            – pembaikan 1.17mm

v  Keyakinan                            – pembaikan 1.44mm

v  Keadaan Kesihatan              – pembaikan 1.30mm

v  Toleransi pada kesihatan    – pembaikan 1.11mm

 

Rajah 1: Rajah analisis kualitatif bagi 7 nilai-nilai individu

• Dari segi kemurungan, kecemasan dan tekanan pula, skor purata yang ditunjukkan oleh Orang Berinsurans adalah seperti berikut:

• Kemurungan (Depression)  – pengurangan skor sebanyak 6.43
• Kecemasan (Anxiety)           – pengurangan skor sebanyak 6.17
• Tekanan (Stress)                  – pengurangan skor sebanyak 6.18

Rajah 2: Analisis kualitatif dari segi kemurungan, kecemasan, dan tekanan

(b)   Bilangan Pengurus Kes Baru dan Pencapaian

PERKESO telah melantik 25 orang Pengurus Kes pada tahun 2009 menjadikan jumlah pengurus keseluruhan sebanyak 35 orang. Prestasi 25 orang pengurus kes sehingga sekarang telah berjaya memulihkan seramai 1,004 orang yang berinsurans dan kembali bekerja.

(c)   Kos menggaji 25 orang pengurus kes

PERKESO telah membelanjakan peruntukan sebanyak RM72,562.50 sebulan termasuk pembayaran caruman untuk KWSP dan juga PERKESO bagi menggaji 25 pengurus kes.

(d)    Kenaikan kos pentadbiran akibat Program Return to Work

PERKESO telah mengadakan kerjasama dengan 5 buah penyedia perkhidmatan rehabilitasi dalam menyediakan perkhidmatan pemulihan rehabilitasi merangkumi bidang fisioterapi, occupational dan psikologi. Penyedia perkhidmatan berkenaan ialah:

• DBC Spine & Rehabilitation Centre
• Sau Seng Lum Rehabilitation, Puchong
• Penang Adventist Hospital
• Klinik Coomfort Melaka
• Negeri Sembilan Chinese Maternity Hospital

Amaun yang telah dibayar sejak tahun 2009 hingga tahun 2010 kepada penyedia perkhidmatan rehabilitasi ini ialah RM1,979,332.00.

(e)   Program ini juga turut melibatkan pekerja di Sabah dan Sarawak, dan 2 orang Pengurus Kes ditempatkan di setiap negeri berkenaan bagi mengendalikan kes-kes Return to Work di sana.