With clear vision and mission for "Polytechnic" University in Sibu, Tan Kee Hian formulated four crucial strategies for the higher institution.Strategy (1) is spelt out as follows:
Take a proactive approach to meeting the stakeholders' needs by delivering "products and services":
-Ready-to-deploy graduates, with:
*Degrees and professional qualifications
*Diploma and semi-professional qualifications
-Problem-solving, applied development and innovation services
-Programs and activities stimulating social, entrepreneurial and intellectual development
The picture shows Tan Kee Hian giving a talk at a public forum "Outlook For Sibu" at MPI on Oct. 25, 2008. Photo: Terrence Tan of MPI
.JPG)
10 comments:
Wong Ho Leng give a vision before about a university in Sibu. It will improve different kinds of business around Sibu. But there had been zero governmental support on the plan. If anything has to be done based on the political preference, we should forget about developing Sibu.
In the 70's, some people went to China and looked at the areas surrounding Foochow. They came back to Sibu and told us how poor China was. People from Sibu have had to send pieces of cloth to China for their relatives in the 60's. Now, I looked at China again, forget about Beijing, Shanghai and other big cities, even the Ming Ching area around Foochow is so much better and developed, perhaps some of those rural areas are better than Sibu.
What was the main thrust behind a more developed Ming Ching area compared to Sibu? There is no doubt that the political system played a role. We have been under a single party (BN for Malaysia, SUPP for Sibu) for a long time. But that communist party in China seems more capable than SUPP of Sibu. I am sorry to bring in this issue, but it is the fact (and you can't delete my message for my negative evaluation of SUPP/BN).
Wong Ho Leng gave a vision before about a university in Sibu. It will improve different kinds of business around Sibu. But there had been zero governmental support on the plan. If anything has to be done based on the political preference, we should forget about developing Sibu.
In the 70's, some people went to China and looked at the areas surrounding Foochow. They came back to Sibu and told us how poor China was. People from Sibu have had to send pieces of cloth to China for their relatives in the 60's. Now, I looked at China again, forget about Beijing, Shanghai and other big cities, even the Ming Ching area around Foochow is so much better and developed, perhaps some of those rural areas are better than Sibu.
What was the main thrust behind a more developed Ming Ching area compared to Sibu? There is no doubt that the political system played a role. We have been under a single party (BN for Malaysia, SUPP for Sibu) for a long time. But that communist party in China seems more capable than SUPP of Sibu. I am sorry to bring in this issue, but it is the fact (and you can't delete my message for my negative evaluation of SUPP/BN).
How can DAP and BN work together ? They are just like oil and water. For now, China is one of the economic tigers fast catching up with the developed world. We cannot compare Sibu with Ming Ching. One very clear reason is Sibu is not all Chinese. Not all China Chineses are that rich. There are poor China Chineses who expect oversea Chineses to give them gifts because they think that oversea Chineses are rich which is a wrong idea. Rich China Chineses are really very rich. But poor China Chineses can be very poor. But because of some of those very rich China Chineses, China can earn much money. Another point is that China is filled with corruption, probably worse than Malaysia for one fact that the country is much bigger and has a bigger population. Methodist Church Sibu has done much to help education. There is the Philley school, the Open university in Wesley Church, Methodist school as well as other education institution in Sibu. If the politicians fail to do anything, probably the church has to step in. The Vatican is political. Probably the Methodist church has to be equally political with the support of the Christian politicians.
When I was a career guidance teacher in Sibu I helped students to cast their nets wider : oceanography - marine shipping - maritime engineering - culinary arts - archealogy and petroleum engineering but family traditions were hard to break - must be lawyers and doctors.
the fine arts were deemed low class!
So my job was really difficult and then finally I realised that it was family first and very few students would really come to see me.
In the school assembly the principal usually invited lawyers accountants and doctors to give talks...Puan JW could testify to that too.
This resulted in Sibu having produced the largest numbers of these professionals in Sarawak....
TKH and TH-At that time every one wanted to be in the safe waters of Red Ocean. But I am glad it is slowly changing....Thanks.
These days you cannot think of white collar jobs alone. Tell the youngsters to go back to those days when their grandparents were farmers; so called poor people. But poor people with a piece of land that is worth so much these days. And when they lose their professional job, they still can go back to the farm and have at least, at least one small meal a day. Go back to vocational training. Skills are plan B. Never underestimate the so called hard jobs. They are still jobs. Again repeating myself. What happen to all these high flying coloured professional Sibuians ? Where are they ? They are in another country. They are citizens of that country. They are not Malaysians. Not pure Malaysians. Sad isn't it ? You educate them and they fly off, never to come back again. Why ? Because there is nothing in Sibu to offer them bright future. Even SUPP, even other politicians' children are in another country. Do not expect Sibuians to come home when the politicians, the leaders children refuse to come home to Malaysia.
Dear Anonymous.
I appreciate very much your write-ups showing your concern and interest to see something turn around in Sibu. Please do continue to share. We do not delete negative opinions or differents views. We only delete those that are non-sensible or unreadable 'crypto scriblings' and those who try to be funny.
I do agree with you that the Churches in Sibu esp the RC and Methodist have contributed greatly to education, not only in Sibu but in the whole of Sarawak and Malaysia. Look at many of the mission schools (now govt.schools) in Sibu, Miri,Kuching and all the major towns in West Malaysia. Many are still top schools.
When it comes to tertiary education, it is still but a dream for Sibu to have a university.
The Methodist church has tried more than 10 years ago also along this line but to no avail.
THe Methodist Pilley Institute has been the symbol for tertiary education since 1991. It started in a humble beginning. However I can safely say with substantiation that it is now a well-recognized institute of higher learning in Sarawak. It is even branded for its accounting courses and graduates.
As you well know, this kind of private college does not get any govt.funding. Therefore it needs the support of all the people in Sibu and greater Sibu both in terms of sending their children there and also contributing financially for it to grow in size and faculties to become a university.
My dream is for Sibu Christian and non-christian community to be united to see to it that we can do it even if the govt does not come in, for the sake of Sibu and the future generations of Sibu.
BTW, the Open University Malaysia(OUM)with its head office in KL,is only renting the facilities at MPI (Methodist Pilley Isntitue),mostly on weekends, for giving tutorials. It has nothing to do with Wesley church, though we'd be honoured if we have such capability and privilege.
I must admit though I for one do sometimes feel ashamed that as christians or citizens of a democratic state, we are not on par with the communist govt. eg in China, in providing eduation and other social services to our own people.
Having said this, I will still want to continue to dream that with greater awareness, with more people being stirred up and with more people dreaming together as a greater community of Sibu, our dream can become a reality.
Let us not give up hope.
A small beginning is still a beginning.
A little drop of water will eventually make an ocean.
I would really like to see Sibu having a university with or without government support but People's Support is the most important.
I agree with Anonymous that we must go back to the land which brings forth life. But again we must make sure that we till and toil and not make mistakes like the other countries in the world.
In England there is a city that has turned around in organic vegetable gardening - every single spot is planted with vegetables and the city suddenly becomes very green and very beautiful.
No politician declared the campaign open...but the people themselves started to catch on. So now their grocery bills have been cut...but more important - they feel that the city belongs to them!! They are united in spirit...
Also...leaders' children are all living in prosperity overseas...using perhaps our tax payers' money...how can the ordinary people be happy to toil in Sarawak? Many of us are still struggling to support our children because we cannot own a piece of decent land or hold a job with a good salary (much of it goes into buying a car to take us to work and pay gas bills which are too enormous for comfort...I still like the idea of cycling to work.... But if we sacrifice so much again...who will be the final beneficiary? If it is the government then many will migrate)
and now....who will be the beneficiary of the much talked about GST?
Green wishes to you all.....
Dear Judy
Can you please share with the whole wide world your blog or your web page so that you know not everyone is trying to be funny. Or may be funny so that things would not be so tensed up. I clicked on your name but it leads me to your profileless profile. You are also trying to be funny. So I would appreciate it if you can share your world with us. Tony if you can help out here it will be much appreciated as well. Or may be let her or him know. Thank you.
Anonymous (dated December 11, 2009), thank you for your kind comment. I have relayed your point of view to Judy. Please continue to put forward your views for sharing for the betterment of Sibu.
How much does it cost to study overseas now? If it is RM100,000 a year, you may end up with RM400,000 upon completion of your degree. Now if your salary upon graduation is RM2,000 a month, it will take you 16 years to recover the cost. Leave alone the interest, increase in rate, etc. Just a simple math. That is why people has to work overseas to recover the cost.
Post a Comment