What exactly does the professors' council do?

The only recent contribution of a member of the National Professors’ Council (NPC) that some of us may recall is that of Teo Kok Seong

He remarked that “Chinese schools sow racism” and caused a socio-political meltdown and a slinging match with some DAP politicians.

So, what exactly is the role and function of the NPC?

The professors are supposed to represent the best minds in academia in Malaysia. Using rice as an analogy, would they dare to debate the effects of a monopoly on rice imports, or suggest drastic approaches and reform in local rice production and marketing?

Or will they place more importance on protecting their own rice bowls by keeping largely silent?

Have these professors made any meaningful contributions to Malaysian society? What are their suggestions to halt the brain drain? What are their thoughts on TalentCorp? Or corruption? Or whether Malaysian history should be rewritten with the discovery of an ancient Hindu-Buddhist civilisation in Kedah, which rivals that of Angkor Wat and Borobudur?

The archaeological site in Bukit Choras, Kedah

The professors advise ministers on policymaking. Have they spoken out against institutionalised racism in our schools? Or the covert conversion of minors?

Have they mentioned the debilitating effects of racial quotas on a student’s future and aspirations? What good do they see in affirmative action policies and will they advise ministers to make a U-turn on the failed NEP?

Dare they tell ministers that nothing in a tahfiz contributes towards nation-building, racial unity or how to survive in a 21st-century Malaysia?

Will the professors be bold and advise ministers, that the 3Rs (race, religion, and royalty) will cripple the nation and the country will not progress until everyone is treated with equality, justice, and fairness?

When conservative politicians blame God for climate change or say that flash floods are God’s punishment on humans, will the professors criticise the intellectually challenged MPs?

So, who do you believe? The Auditor-General’s Department which said that the NPC had abused its funding from 2019-2023 or the NPC which denied the allegations of graft?

You decide. It is a straight choice between the AG and the NPC. Only one of them is telling the truth.

What’s the point?

This is a serious matter because each year, without fail, the AG writes lengthy reports about funds going missing, excessive wastage and leakages but very little is done about the issues.

Crimes have allegedly been committed but no one is found guilty, no one is made accountable for their actions, no one assumes responsibility, and, hey presto, the same abuses are repeated the following year with hardly any repercussions. It’s almost as if a ghost committed all the crimes.

Perhaps, the AG’s Department is best made redundant.

Auditor-General Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi

The AG, Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, has done her duty and exposed the wrongdoing and as far as her office is concerned, they have done their job and it is up to the various departments and ministries to act on the recommendations; which they don’t, or won’t.

The AG’s Report makes interesting reading but we need not lose any sleep over the follow-up action. There won’t be any. Both the civil servants and politicians have no will to resolve the many issues which have been highlighted.

On the other hand, the NPC calls itself “Pemikir Negara” (national thinker) and on its website claims that the council is a “superior organisation” established by a “special government”. The use of superlatives makes the NPC appear pompous and self-righteous.

The AG’s Department found that the NPC had abused its funding but the NPC has denied receiving government funds and claimed that it was self-financing and had received donations.

Malaysians are used to this typical response from those in authority because each time a group is accused of corruption and abuse of power, it denies any wrongdoing.

Same old tune

Today, the NPC uses the same tiresome script once used by the entire cabinet of the convicted felon and former prime minister, Najib Abdul Razak, when they lied about 1MDB and said that the stolen money was a “donation from an Arab prince”.

Shame on the professors. They are supposed to set a good example and yet they have failed the nation.

Misdeeds listed in the AG’s Report include the misuse of RM374,000 to benefit two companies in which two trustees had failed to declare an interest.

The NPC chairperson and his deputy received a total of RM207,000 but approval of the payment had not been given by the relevant minister.

No audit has been conducted on the NPC since its formation in 2014. This is despite the NPC receiving RM35 million in management grants from the government from 2015 to 2018, in 2022, and 2023.

What has the NPC to show for this money because the exposé by the AG has shown that it functions like a clone of a mismanaged government department.

Few can say that the NPC has enriched the lives of Malaysians.

Perhaps not everyone in the council deserves to be labelled as a kangkung professor but we should not trust anything whose formation has its roots firmly established by politicians.

The NPC was “inspired” by Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the then higher education minister, and it was launched by Najib.

In a twist from the myth of King Midas and his golden touch, everything that Najib touches simply turns to dust. - Mkini

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MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, X.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.