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TITAS is the acronym for Tamadun Islam dan Tamadun Asia
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Free Malaysia Today
Clueless, opportunistic defenders of TITAS
The compulsory implementation of TITAS is being backed by a slew of politically correct opportunists at the expense of the students’ best interests.
As soon as one academic government yes-man appears to retire from the public scene, another all too quickly rushes to fill the vacancy.
The latest academic political wannabe is Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Prof Teo Kok Seong who has said that Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies (Titas) would benefit the Chinese, and that Chinese leaders should support its introduction.
Offering little in the way of empirical evidence or intellectual argument, he has provided the breathtakingly brilliant and original insight that “TITAS in private higher institution is to resolve the issue faced by citizens who do not know our history and civilisation. The ultimate purpose is to create better understanding, foster unity and inculcate the development of a national identity.”
According to Prof. Teo as reported in Utusan Malaysia (July 23, 2013), the compulsory teaching of the subject is to streamline the social sciences in public and private universities and to foster humanism in the undergrads.
And to drive home the importance of the compulsory subject, he links his defence of it to the lack of understanding among private school students “of the country’s history and the basics in the country as [seen in] the sex couple Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee….”, said a Malaysiakini report headlined ‘Titas would benefit the Chinese, says don’ (July 23).
Prof Teo appears bent on justifying his position as Research Fellow of the Institute of the Malay World and Civilization and the conferment of a Datukship on him.
If that is his intention, he should have gone further and asked perhaps for the public flogging of the couple and the withdrawal of citizenship of those against the Education Ministry’s effort to create better understanding and greater unity among students.
An even harder line would endear him more to the higher ups and secure greater official recognition.
For the full article, which is well argued, click on
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THIS IS THE COURSE DESCRIPTION OF TITAS. Decide for yourself whether it is suitable, as claimed, for everyone?
(Blogger: none of the spelling errors, etc, are mine.)
DLHW 1702 : ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION AND ASIA CIVILIZATION
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this subject, students should be able to:
1. identify cultural background, thinking and relate to the development of other historical civilizations in the world such as Islamic, Chinese and Indian Civilizations.
2. provide positive response between one and the other of the various religions, races dan cultures
3. practice virtuous values and capable to face global expansion and willing to develop the nation, race and religion
Synopsis
This subject is one that discusses on knowledge in the various civilizations that covers
introduction on civilizations, interaction between the various civilizations (Malay, Chinese and Indian);
Islam in Malay civilization as well as their roles i building the Malaysia civilization; comtemporary issues in theIslamic civilzation and Asia Civilization;
Islam Hadhari and the process in the development of the nation.
Refernces
[1] Hashim Hj. Musa, (2004) Pemerkasaan Tamadun Melayu Malaysia Menghadapi
Globalisasi Barat, Kuala Lumpur
, Penerbit Universiti Malaya.
[2] Samri Samsudin, (2003) TITAS Tamadun Melayu, Tanjong Malim, Quantum Books.
[3] Afifah Abu Yazid, (2003) Pengajian Tamadun Asia, Pahang, PTS Publications &
Distributor Sdn. Bhd.
[4] Azhar Hj. Md Aros, Azharudin Mohd Dali, (2001) Siri Sejarah Fajar Bakti: TITAS 1,
Selangor, Penerbit Fajar Bakti.
[5] Zainal Abidin Abdul Wahid, (1992) Malaysia Warisan dan Perkembangan, Kuala
Lumpur, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
DLHW 1702 : ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION AND ASIA … – UTeM
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Free Malaysia Today
Civilization studies must be balanced, fair
The writers give several proposals for reforming TITAS and ensuring transparency and public accountability in its implementation.
By Lim Teck Ghee and Din Merican
We owe a debt of gratitude to Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli and other supporters of the proposed Islamic and Asian Civilization Studies (TITAS) course for opening the Pandora’s box on the educational value and desirability of this officially decreed course previously imposed on public universities and now planned to be extended to private universities.
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Recognising that it is well-nigh impossible to expect the authorities to withdraw its proposal, we urge Rafizi and others in favour of the course to support the following measures to ensure that TITAS does not become another platform to load our young with politically, racially or religiously skewed knowledge.
…
Our proposals
Here are our proposals for reforming TITAS and ensuring transparency and public accountability in its implementation
1. Make the course an optional and not a compulsory one in both public and private universities
2. Post the present content of the required course on a website that is accessible to the public and request for feedback on it…
3. Do away with the system of ministry-ordained recommended or required texts written by half baked or officially-sanctioned academics..
4. Permit the use of English as a medium of instruction for the course in both public and private universities to encourage exposure to the rich corpus of English-language material…
5. Appoint a team of independent education experts to undertake an open review of the current course content and teaching methods.
6. Introduce changes to ensure that what is being taught is inclusive of all civilizations – great and little…
7. Since Islam had its origin as a religion in the Middle East, its inclusion in the course on Asian civilizations needs to be justified.
8. Strive to have multi-racial and multi-religious teams of lecturers and instructors to conduct the course..
Read the article to get the fullw report/recommendations
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Malaysiakini
Under the guise of instilling “national patriotism” and “nationalism”, it is likely that Titas is part of the overall game plan of Umno in cahoots with our education officialdom to ensure that the party’s version of politically-correct history, religious and civilisational studies is imprinted into the minds of our young generation.
DR LIM TECK GHEE, director of the Centre for Policy Initiatives.
Rafizi on Titas ‘smacks of crude political opportunism’
See also Don’t be anti-Malay, Rafizi tells think-tank chief
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Read the following: Debate on Islamic studies in varsities – Asia Report
A MOVE to make Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies compulsory for students at Malaysian private universities has triggered a fierce debate, with the government being accused of stepping up the Islamisation of the nation.
This comes just as another controversy, over a Bill to allow a child to convert to Islam with the consent of only one parent, has died down. The government withdrew on July 8 the proposed legislation, which caused unease among religious and ethnic minorities.
Critics are now demanding that the government either reverse the decision to make Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies (Titas) compulsory or make the module elective if it insists on pushing for the subject to be taught at private universities.
Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin came under fire when he said in a written reply in Parliament last Thursday that Titas would become mandatory for local students, regardless of their religion, starting in September. Two other subjects that will also be made compulsory are Ethnic Studies and Malaysia Studies. He said the move was to streamline the requirements of public and private universities.
– See more at: http://www.stasiareport.com/the-big-story/asia-report/malaysia/story/debate-islamic-studies-varsities-20130717#sthash.zAP4u5xz.dpuf
Debate on Islamic studies in varsities
Module to be made compulsory for locals in Malaysia’s private unis
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos– See more at: http://www.stasiareport.com/the-big-story/asia-report/malaysia/story/debate-islamic-studies-varsities-20130717#sthash.zAP4u5xz.dpuf
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Mysinchew.com
Bridging the gap
Titas textbooks meant to bridge the gap of tertiary students’ understanding of various civilisations in this country. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily
2013-07-17 18:09
Translated by DOMINIC LOH
Sin Chew Daily
PETALING JAYA, July 16 (Sin Chew Daily) — From the information made available to Sin Chew Daily, students studying in private institutions of higher learning will hot be necessary to take the Malaysian Studies subject as it will be replaced by Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies (Titas). As a result, the students will not be additionally burdened.
Before Titas and Racial Relations subjects are implemented by the education ministry, students pursuing bachelor courses are required to take Malaysian Studies, Moral and Conduct, and Bahasa Malaysia subjects, all being compulsory subjects that must be passed.
For students with passes in Bahasa Malaysia in SPM, they only need to take another subject to take the place of BM.
In other words, Titas and Racial Relations are to replace Malaysian Studies and Moral and Conduct, and will therefore not add to the burden of the students.
A Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) spokesperson told Sin Chew Daily, both Titas and Racial Relations have already been compulsory subjects that must be passed at government universities, and will now be implemented in private institutions of higher learning as well from September 1.
Those in the education field are of the opinion that Titas is divided into two parts, namely Islamic civilisation and Asian civilisation, and the controversies around the subject have arisen mostly from the “Islamic civilisation” part.
It is understood that other than Islamic civilisation, the Titas curriculum also encompasses Chinese civilisation, Indian civilisation, current affairs, civilisation challenges, globalisation challenges and universal value system.
As a matter of fact, the MQA already discussed the implementation of Titas and Racial Relations with representatives from private institutions of higher learning a year ago.
“Most people feel that moral studies have been taught since young and tertiary education should therefore provide more macroscopic vista, and Titas should be able to meet such requirements.”
Misunderstood
Dr Tee Boon Chuan, head of UTAR Institute of Chinese Studies told Sin Chew Daily, Titas is not just a single subject; it allows our tertiary students to have a better understanding of our own civilisation as well as that of other ethnic groups.
He said the subject is based on the four major civilisations in the country and that we should not just look at the “Islamic civilisation” component of it, adding that the subject systematically introduces the students to the civilisations of various communities in Malaysia in hope of promoting greater understanding of various civilisations, not just one particular civilisation.
“This subject was first introduced in public universities in 1998, and so far we have not heard of any objection from the students or parents. if there is something ethnically sensitive in the subject, there should have been people rising up to protest.”
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/88901
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Malaysia Chronicle
Saturday, 20 July 2013 08:46
Education ministry insists TITAS suitable for non-Muslims
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He said concerns that Titas was Islamic in nature, and not suitable for non-Muslims, should also not arise.
Does he really think that we are STUPID?
Star
Friday July 19, 2013 MYT 7:49:40 PM
Titas covers Chinese, Indian civilisations, says education ministry
KUALA LUMPUR: The Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies (Titas) covers not only Islamic civilisation but Malay, Chinese, Indian civilisation and aspects of sociology, said the Education Ministry.
Higher Education director-general Datuk Dr Morshidi Sirat said Titas had been compulsory for public university students of all races since 2006 and both Muslims and non-Muslims have had no issue with the course.
Thus, he said, statements from certain parties that Titas would be unfair to non-Muslim students should not arise, as Muslim students would also be learning the civilisations of the Chinese and Indians and of future civilisation.
“Titas was introduced to give exposure to students of the civilisations existing in Malaysia as a way to develop patriotism and unity,” Dr Morshidi said in a statement.
Titas covers Chinese, Indian civilisations, says education ministry …
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During the past two decades there has been a concerted attempt by Umno leaders using the bureaucracy to reconfigure Malaysian and world history as well as civilisational studies taught in schools to fit in with their “ketuanan Melayu” (Malay supremacy, “ketuanan Islam” and “ketuanan Umno” mindset.
Malaysiakini
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COMMENT Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli’s support of the proposal by the Higher Education Ministry to make the Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies (Titas) course compulsory in private tertiary institutions (IPTS) is a disappointment.
More disappointing is the reasoning behind his support for the introduction of the subject.
Rafizi’s (left) argument that “politically, it’s not helping when it’s made too much of a fuss, because it fits the Malay right-wing argument that the Chinese and non-Malays refuse to understand and look down on everything Islam” smacks of crude political opportunism.
Members of the public who see him as a potential future leader expect him to take on and not surrender to Malay right-wing opinions that are based on irrational and mischievous thinking.
Rafizi should know that the religious and socio-cultural conflict in the country is not because the non-Malays refuse to understand and look down on everything that is Islamic.
The great majority of Malaysians respect the faith of their neighbours even if they may not understand it. What they resent and oppose is the state-sponsored assertion of dominance and superiority of a religion that is different or not their own.
I am sure Malay Muslims will similarly resent and resist any action to marginalise their religion and culture in any country in the world. In this particular case, we are witnessing the use of the public sphere to force feed the young with perspectives that are biased to one religion and narrowly selective.
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Overall Umno game plan
A similar outcry and close scrutiny of Titas is needed.
Under the guise of instilling “national patriotism” and “nationalism”, it is likely that Titas is part of the overall game plan of Umno in cahoots with our education officialdom to ensure that the party’s version of politically-correct history, religious and civilisational studies is imprinted into the minds of our young generation.
If Titas goes through as a compulsory requirement, non-Malays and non-Muslims will not be the only losers. Young Malays and the Muslims themselves, too, will lose out as they imbibe and internalise a propagandistic and truncated version of the world’s religions and civilizations which will highlight the self -proclaimed superiority of Islam and the shortcomings of all other religious and civilizational systems.
This can only diminish and impoverish rather than nourish their minds, values and behaviour.
This is why Rafizi needs to reconsider his stand – if not for the sake of the non-Malays, at least for the sake of the Malays.
This is why other stakeholders need to speak out and demand to know the truth behind the proposed course and put its contents, the recommended text books, and other requirements under the microscope of public scrutiny.
DR LIM TECK GHEE is director of the Centre for Policy Initiatives.
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