A response to comments made by Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China, Malaysia

I am given to understand that the chairman of the Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China, Malaysia has commented over my blog posting. One should not be too emotional over this issue and regard it as a Chinese issue. It is an education issue that involves 2 countries, Malaysia and China.

When I was the Minister of health, I persuaded the Cabinet to recognize Nanjing University, Beijing University and Shanghai University’s courses in traditional Chinese medicine. This is to ensure that Malaysian Chinese who are trained in these 3 universities can then practice alongside western trained medical practitioner. This is important to give recognition to a lot of Chinese traditional practitioners in this country and would lay the groundwork if we develop an integrated hospital combining western and traditional Chinese medicine. Today, I am proud that there are traditional Chinese medicine unit in Putrajaya hospital and Kepala Batas hospital.

It was also during the time of Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting and myself as Minister of Health that we persuaded the Cabinet to recognize Chinese language degree from Beijing University and Tsing Hua University.

Whether or not the government recognizes the degree from Chinese universities, Malaysia students will continue to go to China to pursue their education. If the university is well known, students don’t have to worry about their recognition. They can work anywhere and be accepted. There are a lot of Malaysian Chinese having degree from China doing very well in Malaysia and other parts of the world. Do not turn an educational issue of recognition into a racial issue.

Meanwhile, leading universities in China is unlikely to set up branch campus in Malaysia because I understand that the Chinese government does not allow it. In China, there are also restrictions in the number of student intake into leading universities.

Currently, I’m helping two private institutions to set up two branch campus from China in collaboration with local universities. Accusing me that I do not think from the perspective of the Chinese community, I leave it to the Chinese to judge me. Whatever it is, I am not emotional in looking at problems from a narrow racial angle.

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马来西亚留华同学会会长陈志成针对我在部落格一文中其中一项论点作出批评。

（我在该文说：多数大马华裔对投身公共服务领域无兴趣，因此承认或不承认中国大学文凭并不是重要的事）

我认为，承认大学文凭是一项牵涉马中两国政府的教育课题。我认为，各造不该情绪化来看待有关课题，更不应该把它视为华社课题。

我担任卫生部长期间，成功说服内阁承认南京大学、北京大学及上海大学的传统医药学位，目的是确保在这3所大学修读中医药课程的马来西亚华人，回国后可以和本地的西医相辅实践。这项突破对国内中医师而言，是一项重大的肯定和认同，并且为我国日后推广中西医结合医院的努力奠立基础。今天，我为布城和抛甲峇底两家医院设有中医部感到高兴和骄傲。

此外，马华前总会长丹斯里黄家定在位期间，我与黄总也成功说服内阁承认北京大学及清华大学的中文系学位。

政府承认中国大学文凭与否，我国学生仍纷纷赴华深造。若所选择的是众所周知、声明显赫的大学，学生无需多虑，因为他们在任何地方都被接受。事实证明，许多留华的大马人在国内甚至海外各国都有优越的表现。因此，不要把文凭承认的教育问题，化为种族课题。

与此同时，据我了解，中国的顶尖大学来马设分校的可能性不大。据了解，有关计划必须获得中国政府准许。而且，中国顶尖大学的收生学额也有所限制。

目前，我也在协助中国两所私立教育机构与本地大学建立合作，在马来西亚设立分校。因此，说我不站在华社立场设想的指责，我交由华社判断。

不管怎样，我坚持不以狭隘和情绪化的种族角度来看待教育问题。