Globalisation made a new school, academic tells old school PAS leader

As the world continues to become smaller due to globalisation, the room for outmoded mindsets is shrinking, pointed out academic Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi.

With employment opportunities no longer restricted by geographical boundaries, he said Malaysians must adapt to remain competitive.

In this context, the professor of architecture stressed that the United Examination Certificate (UEC) possessed an edge.

“The future of education is about globalisation. The UEC has a more global outlook and that is necessary for present-day survival.

“I am not speaking on the side of the UEC but speaking plainly as an academic who sees change and the importance of riding with change for the better,” he told Malaysiakini.

Tajuddin said the Malaysian education curriculum, albeit in schools or madrasah, required an urgent overhaul, but those in power lacked the courage to do so.

The academic was responding to Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria citing the UEC as a threat to Malay hegemony.

However, Tajuddin argued that Razman possessed “tempurung thinking” (frog under the coconut shell) that believes education should remain unchanged to preserve the status quo.

“He continues to hold on to the kampung idea of Malaysia when the world around him is witnessing rapid change and progress.

“This is because change poses an existential threat to politicians like himself who cannot adapt or compete on issues that require a more in-depth thought process.

“Razman sees the past and refuses to change. So he propagates the old narrative of race and outdated education to recycle Umno’s old strategies,” Tajuddin added.

Last year, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said there were no plans to recognise the UEC - which is the Chinese independent secondary school examination equivalent to SPM - citing its inconsistency with the national education policy and the provisions of the Education Act 1996.

READ MORE: Unified Examination Certificate: Are the criticisms justified?

Race vs religion

Based on Razman’s remarks, Tajuddin also questioned if race has superseded religion as the main objective in PAS.

“If PAS still stands for Islam, does it support the tribal thinking or ‘Assabiyah’ that was rejected by the early Islamic reformists?

(In the pre-Islamic era, Assabiyah refers to social solidarity with an emphasis on group consciousness, cohesiveness, and unity.)

“Did Prophet Muhammad declare in his final sermon that skin colour does not matter but only good thoughts and deeds?” he asked.

On a hypothetical note, Tajuddin wanted to know if Razman would still sing the same tune if the majority of non-Malays in Perak chose to embrace Islam.

“Will PAS still claim that the majority race must rule or will PAS change its tune, as it has done many times before, according to new developments, to remain relevant?

“If it is the latter, then it is time for Parti Islam Semalaysia to change its name to Parti Melayu Semalaysia instead,” he added.

Tajuddin has been a staunch critic of PAS, warning that its brand of political Islam could tear the nation apart.

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