Remember about the Bumiputra Rule I brought up a while ago that nobody knew existed in Malaysia's Secondary School English Debate competitions? Yeah, the very one that I got really angry at. Here it is in all its glory, word by word. I only have one thing to say: Read it and decide for yourself if it's even justified at all. And if you really think it's a rule that should be there, please do let me hear of your logic, if there even exists such a logic in the first place.
11 comments:
sigh... life is a bowl of cherry stones sometimes. >.<
"Each team should comprise at least one bumiputera student who is a speaking member of the team."
I don't think anything is wrong with that. He or she is not on a free ride as the rules states "speaking member". Those ruling are made to ensure more participation from the bumiputera students, ie to improve their grasp on the language.
It would only be a problem if clause 3.4 comes into effect where the school do not have any "english debate quality" bumiputera student to participate in the team.
I may be wrong but I guess your problem most probably is to find a good bumiputera english debater from your school.
i see..
well, here's my point of view
if that's the justification of such a rule, a few things I have to say:
1. are you trying to imply that it's only the bumiputra's English that needs improving?
2. if that's the justification for such a rule, why isn't there a rule stipulating there must be at least one non-bumi speaking debater in BM debate competitions? after all, it's to improve their 'grasp of language', right?
just what I personally feel...I'll be writing a more comprehensive post on this matter
what utter bollocks!
If a given school does not have a competent Bumi speaker and one dungu was put in just to fulfill that ridiculous requirement, the performance of the team as a whole is bloody compromised!
but of course, Malaysia breeds mediocrity.
how can there be nothing wrong with that, commenter#2??
keep calm, everyone ;) I believe that the rule has been standing for a very long time, as much as we encourage all students regardless of their background to join such competitions. that's the way it is, and I don't think it's changing any time soon. yeah, it can suck when you have to boot some good speaker because you need the slot for a bumiputera, but we shouldn't grudge the bumis who are on the team, whether they're proficient speakers or not. it's not their fault, and if they weren't around we wouldn't qualify to join. just my two cents. don't get all worked up ;)
There are different ways of encouraging the bumiputeras to participate in competitions that are aimed at improving the proficiency in a language. Imposing a quota rule is not one of them.
Certainly, forcing a team to field a bumiputra does not warrant as "to ensure more participation from the bumiputera students, ie to improve their grasp on the language."
This rule is ridiculous in the sense that it does not justify its means.Every single team wants to win and will send out its best speakers.If the bumiputeras are proficient in English, then naturally they will all have their chance and become state representatives themselves,why the need for such a rule?
Even if the rule is like what you've said,surely you would have realised that the bumiputera's aren't the ones who would need help in their English, there are people of other ethnic groups.Well, might as well propose that every team should consist of an Indian,a Chinese and a Bumiputera.
Furthermore,to become a debater it is a pre-requisite condition that you yourself is able to master the language that you are debating in.This is the art of winning arguments and language is paramount. I see no reason as to why people who need "improvement in their grasp of a language" would be encouraged to participate in a competition where every speaker is competent in the language. A parallel analysis for you would be the Olympic games. You need to earn your right,ie in qualifying for the games.Outstanding athletes are chosen to represent their nation,not those "who needs to improve in their game."
The point here being, we should draw a line between something that is "encouraged" and something that is "mandatory."
Imposing such a rule under the mask of "encouragement" is completely unjustified.
sounds like a debate in the making here already :D everyone has a point, and I guess I can understand the different perspectives being brought up. I do feel, however, that in the --> cbox, passerby's comment about comunnalism was nicely annihilated by KY's ideas. heh.
(warning: reiteration highly liable. third speaker here, after all. /sheepish grin)
being a debator I have also experienced the frustration brought upon by this rule, and while I do agree that it's pretty useless not to mention annoying to have such a rule, I suspect that I have become jaded towards it. no point stressing when it's not going to help the team, you know? snapping at a bumi speaker who isn't the ideal candidate isn't going to help matters along.
I agree that the justification behind this criterion is, well, lame. as I mentioned before, in schools all students are encouraged to participate, regardless of background and ethnicity. but the rule still stands. that's all there it to it. as much as we want to change it, it's not our place to do so (unfortunately). my stand here is leaning heavily towards acceptance. (bwahahaha. that kind of comment comes from me once in a purple moon.)
yeah, I still say the rule needs to go. nope, I still don't expect it to.
[is anybody from the JPN reading this? lol. o.O]
The rule has existed since this whole debate thing started in 1991. Just because people do not bother to read the rules is no excuse for not knowing about them. Period. As for the messy organisation you mentioned in an earlier post, what's new? It's the same every year! Well, what do you expect when for 'obvious reasons', they pull all those incompetent nincompoops to warm their butts in the comfortable air-conditioned offices in the ministry or departments? There have been worse horror tales than what you are going through!
LOL, I see a debate brewing here...
ok, gonna try to reply to each and everyone of u
to anucia
you share my view point...qualification for competitions should be based on ability and not based on one's poistion as a bumi or not
to keatyang
nth much to say considering this was exactly the same view you've given in previous ocassions discussing this matter
to xacrest
ya, there's really nothing much we could do, as giving too much fuss over this matter might in fact land ourselves in hot water..that being said, I'd like to quote a line from St. Augustine 'an unjust law is no law' ...i rest my case
to anonymous
thx for the info, but I suppose such a rule logically came when the competition was first started, and ya, i noe, it's no excuse, but my point being that most ppl not associated with debate knows about this rule and I feel there is a certain need for others to be aware of such a rule, especially the public..and yes, I am aware of other horror stories that are far worse than what is happening to us now, but that still doesn't mean it shouldn't be highlighted just because it's smaller in gravity compared to the other problems you've said exists...it is still a representation of the inefficiency of the MOE as stated in my previous blog post.
OKAY.. Now to the racist apologists, tell me this, why not state that it's compulsory to include NON-BUMI as well?
If the team is all Bumi, then it can't participate. Where is that rule? Otherwise it is biased towards one race, which by ALL definition is the very essence of RACISM.
That rule just shows how insecure and points out how Bumi's are terrible at English. If you're a Bumi, you should object to this rule too.
I think the ruling was first introduced to encourage the participations of Bumi speakers from the rural/non-urban areas where some of them never even dreamed of representing school in this kind of competition. So let's not make a big fuss over this issue and instead work together in making the best out of it.
While I agree the Bumis are not the only one who needs encouragement and help, but one has to remember life is about giving and taking. You give way for the Bumis to be part of the team then perhaps you would get something better somewhere else. For example, in my school, if there are any Science/Maths related comps, the priority is given to the non-Bumis so I would say don't make such a big deal out of something so small. There's always something for everyone.
I've seen plenty of debate teams making it far in the competition even with the 'Bumi ruling' in place and even if they started out with a not-so-strong Bumi speaker. But, you see, debating is about teamwork and we should see pass all the diff races and colours and work on helping each other out.
I, myself was a Bumi speaker in the Wira debates and my team was the national champions once. I may not be the best speaker on the team but my team members were very cooperative and we helped each other out in every way possible. At the end of our debating journeys, we etched friendships that lasted a lifetime.
So, even with the so-called unfair ruling, even if you had to put a dungu Bumi speaker in your team, it doesn't matter. Because I believe EVERYONE has their own strengths and weaknesses. Benefit from each other's strengths and work on each other's weaknesses.
At the end of the day, what seemed unfair will not matter at all.
Trust me, I've experienced it first hand.
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