Was USM 'forced' to take in 150 students?

The NST's Saturday 20 June 2009 news report titled "USM 'forced' to take in 150 applicants" was a bit exaggerated if you consider the autonomy given to USM as an APEX university. Naturally, the Higher Education Ministry can't simply 'force' USM to do something under its autonomy that was earlier given. Yes, it can guide but not force. And of course NST can get away with it using the 'quote unquote' excuse.

For the uninitiated, the bracketing key ' ' or quote unquote used within words or phrases means the writer wished to show doubt that something is true or exactly as it is described. To some writers it is as an idiom or meant as a satire to show 'vagueness' of what the words or phrases really mean. It is also up to the readers as to how they want to interpret it.

Well, in this case NST is obviously trying to tell 'something' to its readers that the recent 'blunder' that has befallen USM is something not yet 'forgiven' at least by its gatekeepers. Of course, this is my personal opinion.

Nonetheless, the contents of the NST report did go into detail what the 'forced' meant - that "USM would have to absorb them "as there are still places available in the university because of rejection of offers by other applicants" said Higher Education director-general Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi. Now, at least that is quite a fair explanation.

However, in this example of direct news reporting, I would have to say hats off to Utusan Malaysia for its contents and header of the same news (well, not entirely the same). Its 20 June 2009 news report titled "4,424 calon tersalah tawaran USM ke IPTA" has a quote by the Higher Education director-general Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi: "Katanya baki 150 calon yang terlibat dalam kes berkenaan dan tidak mendapat tawaran ke mana-mana IPTA akan dipertimbangkan semula oleh USM."

Now, what's the difference between being 'forced' or 'would have to absorb' or 'akan dipertimbangkan semula'? Naturally, 'forced' is a very strong word, 'would have to absorb' is a bit milder. And Utusan's 'akan dipertimbangkan semula' means as it is-lah, what do you expect? At least now that we know NST (representing their readers) is still angry with us.

'Not Forced'
Izaham