Sovereignty Defined: Rejecting the Capitalist Education Trap
The Illusion of Academic Necessity
I've been seriously questioning the automatic assumption that a university degree is the only path to success. We already have quality college diplomas, accessible education, electricity, and transportation. The exact degree I want is available nearby in my state at different, comparable institutions, or even through the original university's college brand. So, should I give up on the degree?
The answer is, I should give up on the illusion that the degree defines my life's success. With the rise of technology and AI, academic gatekeeping is increasingly obsolete. My worth is determined by God and my own ethical effort, not by a credential, the government, or a billionaire's definition of wealth. I am choosing knowledge over credentialism, and that requires moral clarity.
Decolonizing My Debt and My Worth
I am taking a stand against the structural manipulation inherent in the academic system. I am moving to ditch the degree path and will pay back the waived fees to my college—worth RM4000. Yes, this feels like paying for the right to leave, but I choose financial freedom over institutional bondage.
This is a rejection of the modern slavery vibe created by blind contract agreements and education tied to PTPTN-style loans. These systems are designed to normalize long-term debt. I was harassed by anonymous online trolls for choosing to withdraw, but their opinions are irrelevant. My financial safety net was my parents—my true support. Not a single stranger or so-called "hero" in the Fediverse stepped up. To those keyboard warriors: Do not be arrogant; your validation is worth nothing. If I can pay the penalty for leaving, I am free from your fear tactics.
The Global Capitalist Trap
This struggle is not unique to Malaysia. Tell me if I am wrong: Capitalist tactics are globally effective at manipulating citizens. They successfully portray education (according to their defined, credential-based structure) as essential, yet simultaneously make it prohibitively costly.
They offer an endless, confusing menu of institutions—public or private, this brand or that brand—all designed to give us the illusion of choice. But the actual choice is a false dichotomy: either join the debt machine to gain their definition of "success" and face decades of repayment, interest, and dependency on money, or reject the system and face social dismissal: "Oh, this one only has a college diploma. Can only do kuli-kuli work."
The Failure of Rebranded Fiat Finance
Even in Malaysia, where political parties often claim a middle-right stance and boast about having the world’s best religious financial system, the underlying structure remains predatory. The claim of ethical finance is often a façade. The money is still fiat currency, and what they label a "service fee" is often just "interest" (riba) rebranded to circumvent moral scrutiny.
Real success is found not in debt, institutional status, or carefully curated appearances, but in genuine self-sufficiency, ethical financial practice, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. I refuse to let debt, whether labeled as "interest" or a "service fee," define my value or control my future. My sovereignty is non-negotiable.
Revived from an original blog entry draft, first published on September 21, 2025.
