Why build universities?

Yes, why would govt and people build universities? To ask this question here is already a sign of strong misgivings and a sense of despair. It is so pathetic to have to ask such a question, but it must be asked. Would anyone expect me to list down the reasons here why govt and people built universities? Anyone who can read and understand this question would be most able to provide himself all the answers to it. The reasons for building a university are so fundamental and so basic that there should not be any need to raise it again. The very fact that it has to be raised is proof that something is seriously wrong with the universities and the important role and purpose for their existence.

If anyone still demands an answer, pay a visit to the Chinese High School in Bukit Timah. Read the carvings inscribed in stones at the entrance of the main building. Yes, they were set in stones like the Ten Commandments as if the pioneers knew that people down the ages would forget the purpose of building the school. The very reasons for building the Chinese High School are the same reasons why universities were built.

In 1958, hundreds of thousands of people marched to Jurong to witness the opening of Nantah, 南洋大学. Millionaires like Tan Lark Sye, 陈六使, donated $5m to build the university. This princely sum could be the equivalent of $5b today in purchasing power. The Chinese community, from the rich towkays to the dance hostesses and rickshaw pullers also answered the call for donation for the university. Why would every one of them think it important enough to want to contribute to this cause, to build a university?

The reasons for building Nantah were not different from the reasons to build the University of Singapore and the renamed Nanyang Technological University. There are now many new universities, many built for commercial reasons and did not share the common altruistic goals of Nantah and the University of Singapore, now NTU and NUS. The commercial universities can be excused for doing things differently as their purposes are slightly different with money making a key objective. The purpose of building universities like NUS and NTU may have changed to some degrees, but the fundamental and basic reasons for their reasons must not changed.

Have they changed? Some may be thinking that the universities existence is to be ranked highly by farcical ranking organizations and to gain frivolous honours for being ranked among the best. Is this the reason for the building of universities?

Again I would ask, what is the purpose of building universities? Have our universities lost their direction and purpose of existence? Universities are not like F1 or Garden by the Bay, some feel good stuff for the rich to have a little fun and fake importance. They have very important roles to play in the lives of the people and the well being of the country.

The haze must be dealt with in haste

Since Wednesday, the haze has been getting worse and air quality has reached a stage when schools have to be closed. And Singapore is several hundred kilometers from the sources of the haze. It does not need much imagination to know how bad the air quality is in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Social and commercial activities in the city state have hit a new low with visibility in many parts of the island falling to less than 50 metres. And some residents are complaining that they have difficulties watching what is on the TV screens.

And we have heard only words, words of what the govt on both sides are doing to curb the haze. Probably in another 50 years we would still be talking and exchanging words. The govt has been telling the people that they have identified some companies involved in the haze and would be taking legal actions against them I supposed. Is it really so difficult to identify the culprits causing the haze, particularly the big companies? Perhaps we need to send a few satellites into space to do so. By the satellite images produced in the media, it is quite obvious that the whole of Sumatra and Kalimantan are on fire. What would that say about the companies involved or how many companies are involved?

A few things can be done immediately instead of acting like lost sheep or headless sheep not knowing what to do. What about imposing an immediate ban on all imports of palm oil and related products from all the companies with plantations in Sumatra and Kalimantan for a year for a start? And the ban should include by products from companies that used palm oil from the same companies in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The ban should be taken up to Asean and all Asean countries should also ban the import of palm oil and related products from these companies. And if needed be, a complaint can be tabled at the UN to impose a world wide ban on these companies.

There must be many things that the affected countries can do instead of sitting haplessly waiting for a miracle to happen. If words are the only instrument available , the haze problem will still be around in the next 100 years and nothing would be done about it except words and more words.

Have we run out of ideas as usual in dealing with this hazardous environmental threat to the health and lives of out people? Maybe we need to bring in a few more foreign talents to help us solve this perennial problem. Oh, an easier way is to engage some top notch consultancy firms from the US or UK or Europe to think up a solution for us. QED.

PS. There is something to be learnt from Mahathir in interstate problems. If the other side cannot or unwilling to tackle the problem seriously, think what Mahathir will do like the crooked bridge issue? Mahathir will solve the problem himself unilaterally without needing the other party to do anything.

The Philippines – Asean’s most power country preparing to take on China

A NYT article appearing in the Today paper on 21 Sep 15 discussed the thinking process of the Philippines and how it is trying to take on China in the boxing ring. In the 80s there was a surge of nationalistic pride among the Pinoys that eventually wrought back their independence from the USA and sending the Americans packing from two of the biggest American military bases in the world in Subic Naval Base and Clark Air Base.  Both bases were the homes for the Americans in their Vietnam War and a home away from home in the USA. The infringement on the national sovereignty of the Philippines, in a way turning the Philippines into a semi American colony did not go unnoticed. The nationalists in the Philippines took to the streets to demand the GIs to go home. That victory was to the credit of the Pinoys unlike the Japanese and South Koreans where the Americans would not go home.

Today, the turn of events in the South China Sea with the Philippines at loggerhead with China, competing with China to claim islands for themselves is making the Pinoys thinking of reinviting the Americans back. They wanted to take on China militarily and are depending on the Americans for more financial and military aid and the possibility of stationing troops in Subic and Clark again.

The Philippines have chosen to fight China head on with the encouragement of Japan and the USA. While neighbouring countries of China chose to cultivate good relations with China and live in peace, the Philippines are thinking that they could take on China with the help of the USA and Japan. Once this mindset and policy are in place, it is all one way, to build up a strong military and even compromising their independence by allowing foreign military bases in their country.

Putting up a China threat with a China not interested or has no intent to set foot on the Philippines, the Pinoys have chosen or are in the process of choosing to become a semi colony of the USA by voluntarily inviting foreign military forces into their country.

No one can beat the Philippines in strategic military planning, in resolve to take on a super power and in nationalistic pride. That’s the way to go Pinoys. The Chinese are shivering in their pants. The GIs will roam the streets of Manila again. The bravery of the Philippines is best demonstrated in the spirit of Ello Ed Bello.

Tan Lark Sye 陈六使 – Early pioneers

The early history of Singapore did not begin in 1965. Singapore existed long before 1965 and there were many pioneering giants that lived through our history.  Tan Lark Sye was one of the great men that lived among us. His contributions were no lesser than other pioneers whose names were remembered in the street and road names of our city, Boon Lay, Joo Chiat, Kim Cheng, Kim Tian, Nee Soon, Hong Lim etc etc. Many of these were very rich and prominent heads of families, the old rich of Singapore. Not many had contributed as much as Tan Lark Sye especially in the field of education.

Tan Lark Sye was best remembered for founding Nantah or Nanyang University, 南洋大学, and his contribution of $5m to the project. The purchasing power of the $5m is easily in the region of $5b today. And on behalf of the Hokien Huay Kuan, he donated 523 acres of land in Jurong to build Nantah. Nantah was then the only Chinese university in Southeast Asia and played a pivotal role in producing many graduates that came from the neighbouring countries that became prominent business, academics and political leaders in the region.

Tan Lark Sye was a giant of his time. He came to Singapore as a young man of 18 but went on to build a fortune in rubber trading and other industries, probably as rich as Tan Kah Kee, and was the President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Hokien Huay Kuan and Chairman of Nanyang University’s Executive Committee. His misfortune came when he was stripped of his citizenship for supporting the Barisan Socialis and died stateless.

The Chinese community has not forgotten this man and has honoured him in many ways and telling his stories in the museum that honours the Chinese pioneers in Ee Hoe Hean Club. His contributions in education, donation to the University of Malaya, as the founder of Nantah and as a philanthropist, within and outside Singapore, should deserve more recognition in the annals of our history.

Singapore owes this man a debt of gratitude and it is about time that this man be honoured and given his due respect as one of our great pioneers who once walked among us.  The political bitterness should be left to rest in history. Tan Kah Kee has a MRT station named after him and his statue stands proudly in the Chinese High School. Would a statue of Tan Lark Sye be erected to stand on our soil or a street name after him?

It is a shame that a great man like Tan Lark Sye is only briefly mentioned and remembered in the history of our pioneers. He was a natural leader and could move crowds, and had great influence in the Chinese community, a most feared attribute in politics. The past, present and future alumni of NTU and Nantah were and are what they are today because of this man. He is part of our history, a true son of Singapore. The pioneering spirit of Tan Lark Sye also known as the Spirit of Nantah, and his contributions to Singapore and education cannot be simply forgotten.

Najib versus Mahathir

The battle for supremacy and control of UMNO between Najib and Mahathir is growing with both sides building up their alliances and forces and gearing for a final do or die battle in days to come. Najib the sitting PM and his cousins in Hishammuddin and Hamidi, with the Police Chief and several govt organizations on his side are pitted against Mahathir and the defection members of UMNO plus his former allies whose power and influence have yet to be fully exposed.

The fireworks will start any moment with sparks flying everywhere. This could be the mother of all battles for the control of the Malay ground. Both sides are claiming to be defending the interests of the Malays and would need an enemy to prove their convictions. The events after the Bersih 4 demonstration and the protest by the Red Shirts are frightening examples to send notice to the Chinese and Indian minorities to stay clear of this fight. They must know that it is not their fight and any sign of their involvement will be used as an excuse to direct the fire power in their direction.

The Chinese and Indian minorities are best advised to stay clear of the conflict, disappear if possible and better still to state their non involvement clearly. They just cannot be involved to invite bloodshed on themselves. Do not become the convenient devil for either side. Yes stay out, stay away. It is not their fight. They would not survive when the elephants turn around and trample on them instead.

This is a time when the Chinese and Indian minorities must know their rightful place in the country. It would be plain stupidity to offer themselves again and again as the whipping boy. And this time it is not just whipping. Lives will be lost, homes would be burnt.  Be warned and be wise. Taking any side will bring about their total destruction.

The Royalties are not taking sides. PAS is not taking sides. Would the Chinese and Indians be so dumb to take sides in this tussle for supremacy between the Malay leaders?