VARSITY CORPORATISATION AND ECONOMIC WOES
 

Aliran regrets that Education Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak chose to dismiss categorically the suggestion made by the Malaysian Academic Movement (MAM) that the corporatisation of public universities be delayed given the prevailing economic problems that the country is facing.

It is pathetic that the Minister's explanation for going ahead with the corporatisation plan is that "the government has approved it".  Has not the government, on the other hand, postponed or cancelled some of its megaprojects which the government had also approved?

We concur with MAM president Dr Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda that it is unfair for the government to go ahead with corporatisation.  How can the academic and general staff be expected to rally around the corporatisation process if they are not informed of what is going on and are not to be awarded the pay packages promised earlier?  Surely in academic and educational matters, discussion and debate aren't too much to ask.

If anything, the current economic situation should provide us with a golden opportunity to reflect, discuss, and take stock of ourselves.
 

P. Ramakrishnan
President
5 March 1998