Manjit Bhatia's letter Wrong formula to improve English, was on target. I'm one of the lucky ones who have been studying in Australia from Year 10 onwards, so I have had better opportunities to improve my English. There are many Malaysian students who whine that their lecturers complain frequently about their poor English and inability to construct a proper sentence, much less to speak in proper English.

I can tell you interesting stories of Malaysian students trying to cheat with their assignments by employing 'ghost writers' which is more common than talked about.

Most Malaysian students can't think for themselves; they are only good at rote-learning. Give them a difficult question to solve that requires critical thinking and they fail miserably. So let's stop boasting that Malaysia's education system is among the best, because clearly it is not and is getting worse.

My personal experience with the poor standard of English among Malaysians rang loud and clear when I called the Malaysian High Commission recently and spoke with someone in the passport section. I had to renew it and wanted to know how to go about it.

The consular officer started speaking, but he sounded terribly disinterested, and in an English that one can only conclude as awful. It was so difficult to understand what he was saying, until I spoke with him in Malay. He was still disinterested but spoke Malay fluently, of course.

On the other side of this is the bureaucratic red tape for Malaysians abroad who need to renew their passports. In Malaysia one can get this done within a few hours or two or so days. But it takes three months at least to get a Malaysian passport renewed or a new one re-issued. And this is what you have to go through first:

  • Write a letter to the High Commission requesting forms for passport renewal or for a new passport

  • Enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope

  • Enclose A$0.50(for the forms)

  • Wait for a reply (however long it takes)

  • In the reply, you will get the forms. You will be told of the cost for passport renewal or issuance of a new passport

  • Fill out the forms, pay the costs, send new passport photograph, and then wait some more. How long? You're at the mercy of Malaysian bureaucratic incompetence.

    When I asked the consular why it takes three months or more, he replied: "Lagi?"

    When I asked why I had to pay for the forms or a stamped self-addressed envelope, he said "policy".

    Typical. Some things about Malaysia never change, and probably never will.

    I remember my father talking about the so-called sweeping changes Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was introducing into the public service, like compulsory name badges and clocking in and out of work. Big deal, because the bureaucracy is a service unto itself and the government, to serve the interests of the political and bureaucratic elites and their private sector cronies.

    So what is all the hype behind the 'Malaysian way' or 'Malaysia Boleh' and 'Wawasan 2020' really about?