IDRIS HARON: No quota to rectify gender imbalance

By LOH FOON FONG

The Higher Education Ministry does not plan to set a quota for undergraduate entry that would enable more male students to enter universities to overcome the gender imbalance of undergraduate students.

Its minister Datuk Idris Haron said that the ministry was confident that the phenomenon of more female students than male students in public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) would not jeapardise the number of male students being involved in the professional field in future.

“We would like to reiterate that we don’t practice gender discrimination against high ranking staff or students and would not introduce any quota to offset the student gender imbalance,” he said.

Efforts had been made to create awareness among male students on IPTA entry through educational programmes, seminars and forums, exhibitions and outreach programmes, he said.

As of July this year, 60.39% of students in all IPTA were female while the rest were male, however, at the PhD level, there were more male students than females, with 62% males and 38% females, he said.

More male students were also enrolled in polytechnic institutions and community colleges as of January this year; 56% males and 44% females in polytechnic institutions while 57% males and 43% females were in community colleges, said Idris.

Khairy Jamaluddin (BN - Rembau) had asked the ministry in Parliament Wednesday to state the statistics of male and female graduates in IPTA and efforts in overcoming the imbalance between the genders.

Idris said student entry into IPTA was very competitive because the space was limited and demands continue to increase.

“Female students in secondary schools outperformed male students resulting in more female students getting a place in undergraduate studies in the IPTA,” he said.

Khairy also asked whether the Ministry would work with the Education Ministry to change the examination-oriented curriculum to a more coursework-based curriculum and to look at the overall performance of a student rather than just academic.

Idris admitted that based on the Bloom’s Taxonomy (classification of levels of intellectual behaviour important in learning), girls tend to do better academically because they have better cognitive abilities while boys have better psychomotor skills. He added that the ministries are already working together.

The Higher Education Ministry would continue to create awareness among male students on the importance of academic achievements in facing future challenges, he said.

He added that the condition for IPTA entry was 90% academic achievements and 10% co-curriculum and this could help address some of the imbalance...Parliament: No quota to rectify gender imbalance Malaysia Star, Malaysia.

BERITADARIGUNUNG: Idris is still learning the intricities of life and politics. He should also learn and ponder on social equilibrium! Hanging out with khairy will not make him look better.

Rafiah describes her treatment by ministry as "sedikit kurang ajar"

Kong See Hoh

Former Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Datuk Rafiah Salim describes the way the Higher Education Ministry treated her as "sedikit kurang ajar" (somewhat disrespectful). "They seem to regard this (now former) UM vice-chancellor as a criminal! Even employees who make mistakes have their rights, and not to be treated like this," she told China Press in an interview published on its front page today. Rafiah, the first woman to head a public university in Malaysia, was appointed VC in May 2006 and her contract was extended for six months from May this year. She said that before her contract was up, she contacted Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the ministry's secretary-general and director-general requesting them to notify her early if they had no intention to extend her contract. Rafiah said the secretary-general, Dr Zulkifli A. Hassan, phoned her to say her contract was not extended just before it expired. There was not even an official notification, she said. Asked if she deemed the ministry's treatment of her contract unprofessional, she said it was not only unprofessional but also "sedikit kurang ajar". She disclosed that she only got a letter informing her that her contract was not extended five days (Nov 12) after she wrote a complaint letter to Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohamed Sidek Hassan. She said although the letter was signed on Oct 31, the VC's office only received the letter on Nov 11 and she was handed the letter the next day. If the letter was ready on Oct 31, why couldn't it be faxed to her the same day? Why was it sent only several days after the contract expired and after she had complained, she asked. "What is amusing is that Khaled Nordin said he was satisfied with my contributions, but his assistant insulted me in the Parliament." Rafiah, who has earlier demanded an explanation and public apology from Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Idris Haron for questioning her performance as head of the university in Parliament, challenged him to repeat his "insulting" remarks about her outside the parliament if he did not want to apologise, so that she could take the necessary action. Idris has to bear responsibility for what he had said as all that was recorded in the Hansard. "I don't want to see that, some years later, when my grandchildren go through the Hansard while doing their research, they get the wrong impression that their grandma, the first woman VC of UM, was given the boot because of poor performance," she added.

Updated: 05:30PM Thu, 20 Nov 2008

BERITADARIGUNUNG: But who is Idris Haron? Not about his ministerial post, but more about him as a person, a politician and his political tendencies and likings. I saw a photo of him squeezing in for a group photo with their white uniforms with Khairy. Idris think highly for himself? Idris needs more than a personal tution on politics, reality and stupidity.

## Najib dilonjak dengan sengketa dalaman Kabinet Abdullah.

oleh BERITADARIGUNUNG

Sejak pengumuman Abdullah akan berundur pada 2010, inilah keputusan yang cenderung ke arah itu. Malangnya pertukaran portfolio itu dibuat dengan latarbelakang kritikan bertalu-talu. Publisiti kemasukan semula Tun Dr Mahathir dalam UMNO dan cadangan berani Muhyiddin menggesa peralihan kuasa dipercepatkan, dijangka memaksa perubahan drastik ini.

2. Ramai pemimpin telah menyatakan pandangan mereka, namun hanya dua sahaja dengan tegas mengasak Muhyiddin. Pertama Zaid Ibrahim dan kedua Mohamad Hasan. Zaid telah mengambil jalan selamat dengan meletak jawatan, apatah lagi beliau telah kehilangan tapak politik di Kota Baru.

3. Terdapat pemimpin kecil cuba menyampuk. yang ketara ialah Idris Haron dari Tangga Batu Melaka. Saya yakin beliau sedar kecenderungan Ali Rustam terhadap kritikan berani Muhyiddin. Ramai tahu betapa nasib pemimpin kecil berada dalam tangan Pengerusi Perhubungan Negeri. Idris telah memijak bara api. Mohd Khaled juga turut membidas Muhyiddin, walaupun mereka dari negeri yang sama. Sekadar peringatan buat Mohd Khaled, Muhyiddin pernah menjawat jawatan Menteri Besar Johor, sedang hajat Khaled dan Abdullah masih tidak menerima perkenan Sultan. Saya sebut ini semua untuk meletakkan ahli politik pada tahap credential masing-masing.

4. Agak janggal bila ahli kabinet Abdullah bercakaran. Terlalu sukar untuk terus menerima pandangan Shahrir dan Nazri suatu masa dulu, bahawa kini dalam kabinet mereka bebas bersuara. Walaupun ramai sedar, kata-kata itu dituju khas kepada Tun Dr Mahathir, namun ramai juga tahu, keberkesanan kepimpinan bukan ada hubungkait dengan berapa besar mulut yang bercakap, tetapi bergantung kepada berapa besar minda, ketajaman fikiran dan analisis serta berapa besar pemikiran strategik yang dapat digembeling. You cant quarrel and stay united. Singapore being idolised by some leaders never allow that. It is all about synergy!

5. Rakyat sedar betapa sejak awal lagi, Kerajaan pimpinan Abdullah kelihatan kurang synergy. Terlalu ramai pemimpin dan menteri membuat kenyataan. Hinggakan ada yang rasa perlu menegur dengan "Itu kenyataan peribadi beliau, Kabinet belum bincang". Pasukan tidak bergerak sebegini. Pasukan bolasepak pun tidak mampu menang jika pemain buat hal sendiri. Jawatan Kapten Bolasepak bukan sekadar glamour, malah ia menuntut komitmen dan kepimpinan. That's how it goes. Thats more of a reason, for a team requiring a leader. And thats what missing in Leadership. It is both bad and sad.

6. Dengan senario di atas, selepas perbincangan 4 mata anatara Abdullah dan Najib, lebih dari 4 jam, Malaysia dikejutkan dengan pengumuman pertukaran portfolio antara PM dan TPM. Dari sudut positif kita akan terima dengan lapang dada kerana inilah satu-satunya petanda jelas bahawa Abdullah serius dengan peralihan kuasa. Sedihnya, Abdullah buat begitu secara reactive, selepas diasak. Oleh yang demikian, akan ada yang mempersoalkan kejujuran Abdullah.

7. Najib ada credential untuk memikul tugas baru. Najib dulunya belajar ekonomi di University of Nottingham, England. Jawatan sebagai Timbalan Menteri Kewangan pada awal 80'an tentu jadi pengalaman berharga. Jangan lupa, Najib masih ada keakraban dengan Razaleigh dan Tun Dr Mahathir. Fikiran kedua-duanya masih gagah, dan tentu boleh membantu jika dipinta.

8. Dengan jawatan baru ini, hubungan antara Najib dan Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri Shahrir Samad perlu dikaji semula. Shahrir perlu sedar keperluan baru untuk beliau seiring dengan Menteri Kewangan yang baru. Sukar tetapi wajar.

9. Keperluan utama dalam membina semula BN dan UMNO adalah untuk membetulkan tindak tanduk Abdullah dan kabinetnya. Kini bukan masa untuk tunjuk mulut siapa yang besar. Perlu ada synergy yang ketara. Najib telah menyatakan dengan jelas bila menyebut Muhyiddin sebagai Team Player (click) . Synergy bukan datang secara kebetulan tetapi dengan secara sedar dan penuh strategik. Bukan Abdullah sahaja yang bertanggungjawab, yang lain juga perlu sedar.

Penutup: Lupakan "keterbukaan", tidak salah sedikit "tertutup". Biar berdisiplin. Biar ada synergy. Malaysia dahaga pemimpin gagah yang boleh menjana ini semua. Mereka perlu berjiwa besar (bukan mulut besar).

beritadarigunung

idris harun mahu khairy?

Exco Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO, Datuk Idris Harun membayangkan jawatan Ketua Pemuda UMNO tidak harus dipertandingkan sebaliknya pilih saja orang tertentu yang sudah dilatih dan dibimbing untuk jawatan berkenaan.

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idris harun: ini orangnya.idris harun: ini butiran diri
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