The Malaysian Computing Profession Act

One of the hottest topic today is the Computer Professional Act 2011. As a software developer, this affect me quite a lot. I for one is against such a act, for both professional, and personal reason.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/75107593/CPB2011-Draft

A draft have been out not very long ago.


Definition


A few definition on the document

“Computing” is a goal-oriented activity to plan, architect, design, create, develop, implement, use and manage information technology or information technology systems.

So here I assume computing in general, from creation to usage.

“Computing Practitioner” means a person who has a job function in computing or qualification in computing

Here I assume this mean people that uses computer, from architect, software developer, system administrator, end user. You get the idea.


Registration
Finish a few definition. Now lets jump ahead to part 3, on registration. Lets continue

There shall be indicated against the name of each Registered Computing Practitioner and Registered Computing Professional kept in the Register a record of disciplines or specializations on computing obtained or acquired by such personnel through academic qualification or training including on-the-job training or skill or specialist or professional certifications.

So it means here, I need to declare what I know, what does it mean? Does it mean that I need to produce a cert? Does it mean my boss need to write a letter? Thing get a bit uncomfortable here.

• If we just declare, then it means the whole process is useless? We can just claim what we know.
• If we need to have a cert then here is an interesting part, a lot of new technology don't provide cert. Open Source Project also don't always have cert. Thing change fast enough the training will need to be updated often, and it will be expensive. 
• On job training? My experience on job is, it tend to go safe, and rarely able to use the latest in technology
• School? That usually is not helpful at all
• Then if not above, that how to judge this?

Let go next 

For certifications mentioned in subsection (2), the Board may maintain a list of certifications provided by associations and bodies in Computing recognised by the Board and will keep the list updated from time to time.

What is the criteria to go into a list? Does it mean it will monitor training provider, via accreditation? Consider the countries, reputation. How not to abuse it.

Qualification

Now on to qualification

14.(1) (a) Subject to this Act, a person who holds –  

(i) the qualifications required for Graduate Membership of a professional body or organisation recognized by the Board, and the qualifications are recognised by the Board; or 

(ii) any qualification in Information Technology or Computing which is recognised by the     Board; or 

(iii) any other qualifications, certifications or relevant experiences recognised by the Board,

      shall be entitled on application to be registered as a
      Registered Computing Practitioner.

So remember the definition on top, Computing Practitioner is someone that just use a computer. From my understanding, does it mean that, everybody need to register to use a software?  For i) what kind of qualification, for iii) what kind of relevant experience, and certification?

2) Subject to this Act, the following persons shall be entitled on application to be registered as a Registered Computing Professional:

(a) any person who is a Computing Graduate or any person who has other qualifications recognized by the board 

    (i) who has obtained the practical experience as prescribed under subsection (1)(b); and 

    (ii) who has passed a professional assessment examination conducted by the Board,    

Corporate Member of or is a a professional body or organisation recognized by the Board; and

    (iii) who has paid the prescribed fee and 

    (iv) who has complied with all the requirements of the Board;

On top of experience we now have examination.

• What examination will be conducted? How many type
• What platform? or how many
•  Or practical knowledge on only stuff from one vendor? 
• Does it cover just computing, then in the definition above, it can be anything, even using spreadsheet is computing. 
• If not what does it cover?
• If so, does it mean everybody can claim to be professional?

An extra note on, examination is that useless, there is too many tool, too many option. Limiting to one will be ridiculous and unfair to other.

Scope

Lets go to the scope of what I can or cannot do

(a) a Registered Computing Practitioner employment may take up which  requires him to perform Computing

Services subject to the 

i. work is carried out under the supervision or instruction by a Registered Computing Professional,

or

ii. similar work scope has been carried out by the Registered Computing Practitioner before.

and

A Registered Computing Professional may only provide

Computing Services in the disciplines or specialisations of Computing

 he is qualified to practise and as is shown in the Register under

subsection 12(2).

Does it mean that, I register myself as a software developer, does it mean that

• that I can only write program. 
• I cannot administer my own server? 
• I cannot fix my own computer? 
• Because I only declare that I can only do webapp, does it mean I cannot write other type of software(say web server). 
• Now if I self taught new technology, does it mean I cannot use it at work when opportunity is given. 

And because it is based on similar work carried out before, it means that;

• I can only do stuff that I only do before,
• so if I started with writing webapp, does it mean I cannot be administer my own server at work? 
• it mean I cannot write mobile application professionally? does it mean, if i ever sell my own mobile application, because I did not declare this, outside of my work?
• Or I can only work in one industry, once in banking forever in banking

I graduated in AI in UM(don't ask), does it mean I cannot do mobile application? etc.

One more thing is how do we describe a similar scope? Does it go very granular, i.e you can only do php, because you have done php. Or it can be high level, i.e you have to do asp.net because you do web development.

Software tend to require multiple skillset, in reality a person involve in software need to have multiple skill, more obviously seen in software developer. And we have to learn on our own, the world just move fast, if we ignore the problem, the train just gone. Setting up rule like that, just make thing worst.

Conclusion
I believe that this act do not benefit professional like me for many reason.

• For one, I don't see the point, what kind of qualification for one, everybody use computer now? 
• It limit my opportunity, I need to declare what I know, somehow. 
• Worst I can only work on stuff I declared and no more, 
• Opportunity tend to be based on past experience. 
• Self learning, is not covered, and will not be recognized. 
• Worst I am not even allowed to use stuff that is new, because I am did not declare that I am know it. But I need to use to learn, to use a new technology. So does it mean I can only learn in secret. 
• Technically I am not even allowed to sell mobile app, which nowadays is very easy to distribute

In the end of the day, I believe this bring us 10 step backward for the IT industry. And only make thing worst. 

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