By NUR ASHIKIN LOUIS
KUCHING: Locals are speaking out over the importance of higher academic education that a politician should possess in order to qualify serving as leaders of the country.
According to the laws of Malaysia, every citizen resident in the Federation is qualified to be a member of the Senate if he is not less than thirty years old and not less than twenty-one years old for the House of Representatives.
A member of parliament needs not be someone with high academic qualification. There is no such requirement.
However, the recent case of the Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Marzuki Yahya faking his Cambridge University certificate has led to doubts and disappointment among the people. It also raised another question of whether it is important for a politician to have a higher academic qualification.
New Sarawak Tribune yesterday interviewed some locals to get their opinions on the issue.
Freelance graphic designer Alwin Lawrence, 26, said it is very necessary for someone to have higher academic qualification when they work in political field.
“A politician has to be knowledgeable and have high futuristic thinking. With higher knowledge, they know what they can do to improve and help society and maintain good political atmosphere,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
“From that, it will shape your own charismatic leadership naturally when you know what to say, what to do and what to be as politician. For me good politicians can be someone who have good academic qualification, know people problems, and try to fix it, less problematic and of course people will love them naturally.”
Another respondent, a community and events executive in a private company who requested anonymity of his comments, stated that our leaders should be academically qualified to run the country irrespective of whether the results are good or bad.
“Leaders must show good examples to the people. In order to hold a high position, a leader should not only able to talk, but is academically qualified,” he said.
“This is also to send message to the younger generations that in order to become a leader, you must first complete your studies. It is not talking at coffee shops, gaining followers and these followers would then elect you based on your ability to ‘talk’.
“If we have more leaders who are elected based on their ability to talk at a coffee shop without any proper qualification especially in the era of digital economy nowadays, then that country is doomed to fail,” he added.
He explained, “Good politicians must be able to not only be good in talking and leading, but are able to run things hands on based on what he/she is talking about. Otherwise it would just be an empty can trying to lure votes. But when the votes are in, the politicians could not deliver what they are talking about because they lure voters based on talking (populist talk) without thinking about the consequences once they hold power.”
At the same time, retail supervisor Gerrald, 25, expressed his opinion that academic qualification would reflect that the minister is knowledgeable.
“A minister that is academically qualified means he has the knowledge to create new or adjust old policy. He is able to voice up current international/ domestic issues.
“Politicians need to understand their scope because they are elected by the people to bring changes. Higher education means more knowledge so they can help their people,” he said.
Contact centre executive Alicia opined that education is important to open one’s eyes about how the world functions.
“Education teaches one to have wider perspectives. I think it is important to have open-minded politicians as they are more open to outsiders’ critics and feedbacks which can build up our country in a good way. Instead of blindly defending our country against the critiques they received, they are able to accept the critiques and improvise our political system based on the criticisms.
“A good politician is someone who is able to view/understand things from the community’s perspective. They do not make judgement merely based on his/her own understanding and the theories he/she is exposed to.”
A bachelor’s degree holder who only wanted to be known as Soo also said, “If you have high education, you will get nice job. You learn more as you study higher. And when you have knowledge, you will be able to lead the people. The certificate is a proof that you are knowledgeable. You cannot lead people if you do not have the proof.”
Nyemkoro businesswoman Siti Nazurah Adel, 25, also reveals her views on the need of an academic qualification that a politician should possess.
She said, “Without education, I do not think a minister can govern well.”
Soldier Azzneezam Abdullah, 25, said, “Education is important in choosing leaders. People nowadays are fond of judging a person without looking through their background. But an academic certificate is still important to act as a physical proof.”
Meanwhile, a local musician Azarel Kislon, 27, has a different opinion. He said that an academic qualification is not the only determinator in a person’s ability to serve the country.
“Knowledge is a very wide scope. The person who has a scroll in his hand is not necessarily better than a successful businessman who started with a weak education background. For me, academic qualification is a bonus. You still need to have the other qualities such as honesty, loyal, integrity and very serious in helping the people wholeheartedly,” he explained.
A middle-aged businessman Ariffin also shared the same opinion. He said, “It depends on his relationship with people, his approach with the community and his will in solving their problems.
“As long as he knows how to write, how to communicate, that is probably enough. All he needs more is experience. From experience, he will learn and adapt to the real situation. This is the real knowledge.”
Meanwhile, a housewife Aniza Waini said, “A certificate is not a measuring tool for one’s cleverness. They also needed experience which can help them in developing Malaysia.
“But I also think academic qualification is important. Without higher education, this will lead to negative attitudes among the younger generation towards education system in Malaysia. The youngster would be thinking, why should I further my studies if the country’s leader is only an SPM holder?” she said.
Majority of the locals strongly pointed out their concern that political leaders should possess academic qualification. Although it is not necessarily a criteria for one to be appointed as the members of the parliament, the people would want their leaders to be worthy in leading the country.
