Published by Malaysiakini, image from Malaysiakini.
Columnist Julia Yeow summarised it pretty well: A degree may not define a man, but lying about it does.
Malaysiakini journalist Zikri Kamarulzaman meanwhile was one of the first to comment on this controversy, making an eloquent argument as to why having integrity is better than having a ‘degree’.
It does raise eyebrows a little bit, this apparent obsession we have about degrees and titles that leads us to go so far as to fake them.
This may also behind the phenomena where Malaysians add fake Datuk, Datuk Seri, and Tan Sri prefixes to their names on their business cards.
I suppose psychologically speaking, it must boil down to some level of personal insecurity, coupled with a proclivity to pursue shortcuts towards recognition and ‘glamour’.
We might consider such behaviour par for the course amongst conmen and hustlers, but surely this behaviour is worrisome if found in the highest levels of our government.
I’m sure this has been said to death by now – a lack of education is worrying, but not more worrying than a lack of integrity.
Counting the red flags
If I may be so bold, I think lack of intelligence is not evidenced by the lack of a degree, but by the fact that someone would choose to buy a degree from Cambridge International University.
Such a decision indicates that either the individual did not think that he would get caught, or worse yet, the individual did not realise he was buying a degree from a fake university – one where stated school ‘fees’ suspiciously do not come with some term or yearly based breakdown.
In the off chance it may be useful, here are a few indicators that the university you are buying a degree from may not be the most reputable.
(At time of writing, it appears the Cambridge International University’s website has been taken down; but luckily for you, good reader, I am possessed of a good memory, and at least one screencap).
Red flag number 1: All the faculty members have multiple degrees, stated as degree (eg “PhD”) followed only ever by a location in parentheses – eg, “(London)”
This appears to presume that there is only one university in London, or at least only one university that gives out PhDs. Should there be any lingering doubt as to the fact that this is not true, please allow me to disabuse you of them.
Red flag number 2: In aforementioned ‘location universities’, Auckland is spelt Aukland, and Scotland is spelled Scottland.
Red flag number 3: Photos of faculty members that may be more at home at either the cast list of a 80s high school movie, or a mail order bride website.
Of scrutiny and seppuku
One would hope that the leaders of our great nation would not be the type of person susceptible to scams with the sophistication level of a Nigerian 419 email scam.
One would also hope for our leaders to be cognisant of the times we live in, where our every movement and claim is subject to the incisive, unforgiving scrutiny of the great internet masses.
Underestimate these detectives at your own peril.
How people respond to being found out is also a test of character.
A strict boss would demand seppuku, but I don’t think we need to start handing out tanto swords just yet.
That said, trying to twist and turn after having being given the lie invariably makes things worse, as does making rather irrelevant arguments such as how lying about one’s degree is not worse than raping or killing (after all, that comparison would apply to stealing billions from the nation, arguably).
When caught in flagrante delicto, a politician’s only hope for survival is ‘insaf dan bertaubat’ (repent and atone).
Chua Soi Lek did it, and he survived magnificently.
The path to betterment
I have met countless individuals with little or no higher education, whom I believe beyond doubt are my intellectual superiors.
They have always been humble, down to earth, and honest people – people who have earned respect not by the words that precede or follow one’s name, but by the words they have read, and the words that they speak.
It is right to aspire to better oneself – with or without external recognition.
Part of that journey, one we should all be on, is identifying the right path to betterment – a path that is by nature devoid of shortcuts.
It’s a hard journey to figure out, and I would never presume to know all the answers; but I think I will be presumptuous enough to say with some confidence that said path does not pass by Cambridge International University.
Nathaniel Tan is Director of Media & Communications at EMIR Research, an independent think-tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based upon rigorous research.
Diterbitkan oleh Malaysiakini, gambar daripada Malaysiakini.
Penulis Julia Yeow telah merumuskan kontroversi terkini dengan baik: Segulung ijazah bukan cerminan terhadap seseorang, tetapi berbohong tentang hal itu mencerminkan dirinya.
Sementara itu wartawan Malaysiakini, Zikri Kamarulzaman – antara yang terawal mengulas kontroversi ini – telah mengemukakan hujah bernas tentang mengapa integriti lebih baik daripada segulung ‘ijazah’.
Hal ini barangkali berkait rapat dengan fenomena sesetengah orang yang suka menggunakan darjah kebesaran – Datuk, Datuk Seri, dan Tan Sri – palsu pada nama di kad perniagaan mereka.
Mengapa kita begitu obses dengan darjat dan gelaran, sampai sanggup menipu?
Ini mungkin berpunca daripada kurangnya keyakinan diri, ditambah pula dengan kecenderungan untuk melalui jalan pintas ke arah pengiktirafan dan populariti.
Kita boleh menganggap tingkah laku sedemikian biasa bagi penipu dan “scammer”, tetapi amat membimbangkan jika ia melibatkan kalangan pemimpin tertinggi kerajaan kita.
Tahap pendidikan yang rendah memang membimbangkan, tetapi integriti yang rendah lebih membimbangkan.
Tanda-tanda curiga
Bagi saya, kurangnya kepintaran seseorang itu bukan kerana dia tiada ijazah, tetapi apabila memilih untuk membeli ijazah dari Cambridge International University.
Tindakan itu menunjukkan dua kemungkinan: Dia tidak menjangka tindakan itu akan diketahui orang atau, lebih parah, dia sendiri tidak sedar telah membeli ijazah dari universiti palsu.
Berikut beberapa tanda menunjukkan universiti tempat anda membeli ijazah mungkin tidak sah atau tidak berwibawa.
Pertama: Semua tenaga pengajar mempunyai pelbagai ijazah, dimulakan dengan kelulusan (misalnya “PHD”) dan hanya diikuti dengan lokasi yang ditulis dalam tanda kurungan – misalnya “(London)”.
Ia seolah-olah memberi anggapan hanya ada satu universiti di London, atau satu sahaja yang menyediakan pendidikan peringkat PHD. Kepada sesiapa yang ragu-ragu, izinkan saya tegaskan – ini tidak benar.
Kedua: Nama tempat universiti itu sendiri dieja dengan salah. Misalnya, Auckland dieja sebagai ‘Aukland’ dan Scotland menjadi ‘Socttland’.
Ketiga: Gambar tenaga pengajar yang lebih menyerupai pelakon filem remaja era 1980-an, atau lebih sesuai di kalatog laman mencari jodoh atas talian.
Masa untuk seppuku?
Harapnya pemimpin tertinggi negara kita bukanlah jenis yang mudah termakan dengan penipuan tahap scam emel Nigeria 419.
Kita juga berharap para pemimpin sedar kita bukan lagi hidup di era lampau. Zaman sekarang, setiap pergerakan kita diawasi orang ramai di internet.
Reaksi individu itu – setelah tembelangnya pecah – juga menunjukkan peribadinya yang sebenar.
Ketua yang tegas akan menuntutnya melakukan seppuku, tetapi kita mungkin belum sampai ke tahap meletakkan pendang Jepun di tangan mereka.
Bagaimanapun, tindakan memutar belit selepas berbohong selalunya hanya menjadikan keadaan bertambah buruk. Apatah lagi dengan mendakwa berbohong mengenai ijazah tidak seburuk membunuh atau merogol.
Apabila sudah ditangkap terang-terang – in flagrante delicto – satu-satunya jalan keluar untuk ahli politik adalah insaf dan bertaubat.
Chua Soi Lek boleh dijadikan contoh.
Jalan mulia
Saya telah bertemu dengan ramai individu yang tiada ijazah dan saya yakin – tanpa sebarang keraguan – mereka lebih pandai daripada saya.
Sentiasa merendah diri, tidak mendabik dada, dan jujur, mereka adalah orang yang bukan dihormati kerana perkataan di pangkal atau belakang nama, tetapi kerana perkataan yang dibaca dan diucap mereka.
Memang wajar untuk menambah baik diri sendiri – dengan atau tanpa pengiktirafan luaran.
Dalam mencari jalan untuk memperbaiki diri ini, kita mesti sedar bahawa jalan pintas tidak wujud sama sekali.
Ia jalan yang sukar dan saya sama sekali tidak akan berkata tahu jawapannya. Walaupun kita belum ada peta atau jawapan, cukup jelas bahawa jalan itu tidak melalui Cambridge International University.
Nathaniel Tan merupakan Pengarah Media & Komunikasi di EMIR Research, sebuah organisasi pemikir bebas yang berfokuskan kepada pencernaan saranan-saranan dasar strategik berteraskan penyelidikan yang terperinci, konsisten dan menyeluruh.
