[Letter to the Editor] Education challenges in Malaysia: A call for reform in Sarawak

Letter to the editor. —DayakDaily.com file pic. // Photo by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Letter to the Editor

By Muhammad Khusairy Bakri

In recent years, the Malaysian education system has faced a palpable unease. A sentiment echoed from student dormitories to lecture halls. This unease permeates discussions around academic theses, hiring practices, and promotions, raising questions about the quality and impact of education. In this article, we delve into the multifaceted challenges faced by academics in Malaysia, specifically focusing on Sarawak. We aim to shed light on the prevalent issues and propose strategies for improvement, emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift in the Malaysian academic landscape.

One of the central issues plaguing Malaysian academia is the traditional requirement for master’s and Ph.D. candidates to produce extensive dissertations. These theses often range from 80,000 to 200,000 words, sparking debates about their relevance and effectiveness, particularly in Sarawak. The adherence to arbitrary thesis length requirements has led to the creation of voluminous theses that receive scant attention from the academic and industrial communities. In Sarawak, as in the rest of Malaysia, this trend has significant implications for research output, academic pursuits, and the prospects of aspiring scholars.

Furthermore, a disconcerting reality persists in many Malaysian universities, including those in Sarawak—graduates often lack publications upon completing their studies. This delay in entry into the job market perpetuates a cycle of favoritism and political influence in hiring and promotions. It is not uncommon for the process to take years longer than the typical completion duration, contributing to a sense of frustration and disillusionment among the academic community.

A critical aspect of the conundrum lies in the prevailing perception that longer theses signify a more profound commitment to research. However, historical evidence and the practices of influential figures in the scientific community challenge this belief. Notably, renowned scientists like Albert Einstein produced seminal works that were concise yet impactful, emphasizing the quality of ideas and results over the sheer volume of words. It prompts a crucial question for Sarawak’s academic community: should the emphasis be on the thesis’s length or the research’s impact?

In Sarawak and beyond, the academic job market must reassess its priorities, shifting from an emphasis on word count to evaluating the impact, originality, and significance of research. Metrics such as citation rates, conference presentations, and successful grant applications should take precedence in gauging a researcher’s contribution to the academic community. This shift is about changing perceptions and redefining the educational success and advancement criteria.

To dispel the notion that extensive dissertations are a prerequisite for meaningful intellectual contributions, one need only look at the experiences of prominent scientists throughout history. For instance, Albert Einstein’s groundbreaking theories on relativity were presented in concise and focused papers, highlighting the depth of thought rather than an exhaustive exposition. The impact of research findings, methodological rigor, and potential applications should be the yardstick for determining the true value of academic contributions, not the length of the accompanying thesis.

In Sarawak, as in the broader Malaysian context, the academic community must reflect on these historical examples and reconsider the current emphasis on thesis length. A shift towards valuing the substance and impact of research over arbitrary word counts is essential to foster a culture of meaningful scholarship.

In Malaysia, and by extension, Sarawak, a troubling trend has emerged wherein individuals who eschew publishing find it easier to secure academic positions than those with a robust publication record. Institutional leaders perpetuate this counterintuitive practice by Sarawak institutions, both private and public institutions, prioritizing factors like salary constraints or overqualification, neglecting the wealth of talent among experienced researchers. The resultant brain drain, coupled with an influx of cheap non-Malaysian labor, further undermines the integrity of the academic system.

Moreover, promoting academics based on years of service rather than performance exacerbates the imbalance in the academic hierarchy, creating a hostile environment that stifles true innovation and discourages excellence. It can be seen that numerous researchers in Sarawak are entitled “Professor” and even given “Director” and “Manager” positions, even though their impact is smaller and comparable to the “Lecturer” position, while not even qualified for the post. This hiring and promoting system has caused a decade of problems in Sarawak’s academic institutions, significantly hindering Sarawak’s development towards the PCDS 20230 initiative by the state government. The “Brain Drain” intensifies as skilled talents seek opportunities abroad while the hiring system based on political and influential factors prevails. Change in upper management of these universities is necessary to create a positive balance towards development.

There is an urgent need for a paradigm shift in the Malaysian academic landscape to address these pressing issues, with Sarawak serving as a microcosm of the broader challenges. Institutions must adopt transparent and comprehensive evaluation criteria, considering factors such as publications, grants, and contributions to the academic community. The current norm of hiring and promoting based on political influence and favoritism must be dismantled, and a robust auditing system should be implemented to weed out unqualified individuals holding academic positions.

Transparency is key to rebuilding trust within the academic community and ensuring that meritocracy becomes the guiding principle in hiring and promotions. The term “Professor Kangkung,” symbolizing individuals with eloquence but lacking substantial contributions, must be eradicated from top management to foster a culture of meritocracy.

In conclusion, the prevailing trend in Malaysia, where the length of theses precedes the quality and impact of research, demands immediate attention and reform. Recalibrating the criteria for evaluating academic qualifications is paramount to cultivating an environment that encourages meaningful contributions to knowledge. Rigor in research must be balanced with an acknowledgment that impactful scholarship is not solely measured by the number of words on a page.

In Sarawak, specifically, a paradigm shift is imperative to address the unique challenges faced by its academic community. Sarawak’s institutions must lead the way in embracing a more nuanced and relevant assessment of scholarly achievements. By doing so, Sarawak can contribute to a broader transformation in Malaysian academia, fostering a culture prioritizing innovation, transparency, and genuine contributions to the global body of knowledge.

Reforming education in Sarawak is about meeting academic standards and nurturing a generation of scholars who can make meaningful contributions to society. It requires collaborative efforts from educational institutions, policymakers, and the community to create an environment that values quality over quantity, impact over word count, and meritocracy over favoritism. Through such a concerted effort, Sarawak can position itself as a beacon of academic excellence, setting an example for the rest of Malaysia and beyond.” — DayakDaily

Ts Dr Hj Muhammad Khusairy Capt Hj Bakri is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Composite Materials and Engineering Center, Washington State University (WSU), a Faculty-Staff member for the Center of Bioplastics and Biocomposites (CB2) for North Dakota State University, United States of America, and a Lead Research and Development Sector of the Association of Professional Technicians and Technologists (APTT) Sarawak, Listed and indexed in the “Science and Research” category on the Fifth Edition of “Successful People in Malaysia” by Britishpedia as a successful young researcher in Malaysia published by British Publishing House Ltd, working on composite materials from the forest and industry products.

This is the personal opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.