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The Demanding Generation

It has been a long long time since I updated my blog.

Once in awhile, I will come across a new occurrence that I have to write down.

SPM result was released exactly a week ago, and students of class 2011 are now rushing to enrol into colleges or universities. And I came across this chat on Facebook about scholarship (it never will please everybody).

Malaysian students have become a "demanding" generation. Pampered with scholarships thrown from hundreds of universities/colleges, it becomes a norm for students with top result to "demand" for scholarship. It is so unlike my generation who graduated in the 90s.

We do not demand for scholarship back then, as we were taught to apply and hope for scholarship. We do not think that because we are top students in school or district or state or national level will earn us a full scholarship.

We took our result when it was released and quietly filled up scholarship application form to universities/colleges. We quietly, eagerly and patiently sat at home, waiting for our dear postman and checked our mail box everyday to see if there was "good news" among the letters.

But it wasn't the same anymore.

Parents and students walk into education fair and asked for scholarship proudly and when you inform them that they have to fill up and apply for scholarship, they will raise their eyebrow and said,"You don't have full scholarship? My son scored 10As in SPM with 6A+."

If you go to the western countries like U.S. or U.K., where their universities and academics are rated among the top in the world, students are fighting among the best to get a small chance for scholarship. They do not demand, they want. They do not ask for it, they fight for it.

There is a difference between "demand" and "want".

Good results in SPM or even straight As in A-Level or degree do not mean you will be successful in the future. Such good result is just a bridge that can lead you there, but with the wrong attitude, you will fall from the bridge halfway and the destination will never be reached.

My Funny Malaysia #1

Getting a little bored in office, trying to settle my resignation but bosses do not want to accept. Is there such a thing as not accepting a resignation? Hmmm....I am just tiny potato, no worth keeping in any organization....wooohoooo!!!

But come back to the topic, recently Malaysia is going to create a few funny stories. Well at least I felt funny and laughed non-stop reading the newspaper.

#1 Malaysian is top student in Cambridge.

Yay!! What a good news!! It is seldom a Malaysian is able to come out top in one of the oldest universities on earth, and from a law faculty too. YAY!!! But wait a minute, the boy is going to graduate from UK and start his practice in Singapore Legal System? And he is given an ASEAN scholarship by Singapore Government? Now this is worth laughing isn't it? Ironic! In Malaysia, we have JPA la, Petronas la, ASEAN la etc...

Countries like China, Japan and now Korea are sending out their citizens to foreign countries to study, give them the best they can, and make sure they return home to service the country with no limitation and with job opportunities. In Malaysia, so many scholars go abroad, 90% do not want to come back. Why?

No yay!!

#2 Ugly side turns up in Malaysia politics

I remembered I once had a discussion with my friend about the Opposition and Government. Issues like corruption, mal-practice etc came up. And thats during the 2008 election. He got it right saying that Opposition will grab a few states, and I totally agreed with him, especially on Penang. But during that time, I also mentioned about the ugly side of the so-called reformation parties in Opposition.

To simplify the story, when men got power, that is when you will see the real side of men.

Human is a very weak creature. When we don't have power to do anything, we will do anything to get help and attention to survive. But when we come into power, come devil who lure us with promises of money, high position, free cars and houses etc. At that time, how many people will have the will to fight on and say NO to temptations?

It is going to be an interesting election. Galas and Batu Sapi will give an outlook on the possible outcome of the next General Election.

In the end, who is the angel who is the devil? Can we, the normal citizen, who fight everyday to survive in the challenging economy and work life, have the eye to see through these agendas? I need another spectacles to do that.

But what I know, we, the normal citizen, regardless of races and religions, hope to have a stable yet progressing country, so that we have a chance to earn a living in a peaceful way, and see new developments that can bring our country to the top.

But so far, after the 2008 elections, either parties have yet to perform. And that's teh report card.

Malaysia ~ I Once Knew

Well, sitting here today, trying to update my blog with positive news to share with my friends and fellow students. But while reading today's newspaper, I suddenly felt confused with the fact that the news are so scary and terrifying; that I don't recognize the country I once live in.

1) Murders and more murders. Seems like life is no value anymore. Murder of a Datuk, an Uztazah and her 10 year-old son....etc

2) Suicide

3) Runaway teenagers

4) Racism? Please stop being manipulated by this agenda. It never happens in real life. Who is even free to think about this except those opportunists in Malaysia political arena?

5) Nadal became the US Open champion-finally. So the debate is on: Nadal or Federer?

Yeah the only news I kind of like is Nadal holding the trophy and not Djokovic. Never like Joker.

You see? So many issues to write about and so many complains to listen to.

A parent even wrote in to The Star to urge Government to emphasize moral and religious studies in school. And all this while I thought, IT IS THE JOB OF THE PARENTS AND FAMILY TO EDUCATE THE KIDS SINCE THEY ARE SMALL? They shouldn't have wait till primary school to educate their own kids on these issues.

Let me quote an example:

I was sitting in my parked car in Setia Alam. Obviously my car is parked in a legal space. A BMW suddenly stopped illegally beside my car and it was by the roadside, blocking at least a lane where car can move. Ignoring all the MORAL issues, the father stopped the engine, the mother came down with a son and a daughter. And to my whole life amazement, the mother spitted onto the grass in front of her kids, and you can even see the spit hanging by her mouth. Gross? What is uglier is that the parents don't even care what the kids will learn from what they are seeing with their own eyes.

So tell me, whose fault is this? How about parents who drive and their kids are left unseated and no belt on? How about parents who bring their kids to jump queue in shopping mall? How about parents who let their kids scold them in the public?

And these are the moral issues that end up making Malaysia a worse place than before.

Parents nowadays are supposedly to be higher educated than my parents, but it seems like the I-Don't-Care attitude is getting out-of-hand.

And then I saw a comment on FB saying that "I have freedom, so I say what I want.". And I wonder whether these kids know what they are saying.

Try saying that to your superior or boss, and expect to be fired on the spot or you might even ended up getting a real slap.

I have to emphasize again: Freedom is free but respect is to be earned. Freedom is free but it should not be misused.

I am truly Malaysian

Recent newspapers, blogs, Facebook status, Youtube links are quite synchronized into one topic...which I do not want to touch because to me, it is so unnecessary and uncalled for.

The recent events are, to me, a form of manipulation from people who are opportunist. They try to manipulate everyone by playing on race, and from the expected reaction, they would come out to take advantage of the situation for their own agenda.

While this happened, ordinary people like us, who are working hard to survive in the world that is gradually increasing in price, are struggling to strike a balance in life. We do not have time for all these rubbish, as I still see Malaysians as a harmony and peace lover.

I do not allow myself to be manipulated by these hypocrites, opportunists, and so-called justice fighters, who hide behind their mask of good people, while behind, they are full with motives and agendas. It doesn't need a smart person to see through these evil agendas.

I do not want to be victimized and manipulated.

I just want my beloved country to be peaceful and developed.

Let us push all these agendas away, and work towards a better future.

Kids of Today's World

The recent happenings of social ills in Malaysia: rape of a school girl, molest of a school girl, shooting of a 15 year-old boy etc...have stirred up a lot of debates and discussions; be it in the Parliament or in kopitiams. As a daily newspaper reader, I was shocked after having to read news after news of the social ills in Malaysia.

I wouldn't want to stand on any side about the recent killing of the 15 year-old boy because both side are at fault to me. There is even a suggestion to implement curfew for school kids which already be in place in Singapore, UK and several other countries. Some agreed and some certainly do not.

As written in the newspaper today, the parents of the 15 year-old were saying their son is no criminal. Of course, who will admit their son is criminal? But to me, at first place, the boy shouldn't be there at 2am with his friends, and driving a car. A 15 year-old driving a car is already a traffic offense, and reversing the car towards police is a crime at first place.

Who should be responsible?

THE PARENTS!

How can they say they do not know what their son is doing at the scene with his friends? How can they let him go out so late at night, loitering around, and driving a car, while he is supposed to be in his house, sleeping?

Those who do not agree to the curfew may have their point, but please bear in mind, when we are talking about human rights, shouldn't it also take into account the responsibility of an adult towards minor especially a 15 year-old who at his age may do all the wrong things if not care about?

Human right is a strong word. When used in the proper context, it is positive but when used in the wrong way, it can become reasons to many people not following law and order.

Family education is the most important education in developing a civic-minded person, not teachers, not law, not the police.

Happy new year, Happy Chinese New Year

2010. An exciting year indeed.

Now it is already February. Hmmmph!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

But it is going to be a very headache Chinese New Year for me. So many things to think about and consider about my future.

To stay or not to stay, that is the question!

No Plastic Saturday

Happy New Year everyone!

Well was reading my newspaper today while eating my breakfast, and nearly choked on a news about the no plastic saturday in selangor.

As usual, Malaysians like us will always applaud and clap hands to support the save-the-earth campaign, which the Selangor State Government has taken the first big step to implement this campaign and made an announcement nationally on December 20, and I remembered reading it from the newspaper as well.

As I read through the news article, I was amazed by this phrase :...so quietly that many consumers, although applauding the move, were frustrated being caught UNAWARES."

As usual, Malaysians like us will always applaud and clap hands to support the save-the-earth campaign, but we never really put these issues into our brain and remember them.

The campaign has been announced widely in every newspaper, and hence, Malaysians like us are still complaining about being caught unaware.

There is no use of complaining if it is our fault. **shrug**

By the way, what is there to complain if it is to save our Mother Earth who is sick now. Just grab those foods and stuff you bought, put it in a trolley, wheel it to your car, and start loading into your car boot. And if you think those fishes and meats and vegetables are too smelly and wet, fork out a 10cent or 20cent, buy one plastic bag, keep them inside, and hit your head on the wall for being foolish not being able to remember NO-PLASTIC-BAG SATURDAY DAY!!

A Day To Remember

30 Dec 2009. A day before new year eve, and a day that I could remember for year 2009.

I met up with a now former student from SMJK Kwang Hua, Pek Shian, and her another friend in Sunway Pyramid today. We bought the ticket for the same movie, Twilight: New Moon, and so naturally, we went for lunch together after the movie. We chatted a lot about school, Famine 30 etc. and I shared my funny experience too.

But what make the day so special is that I finally got back the feeling why I have dedicated myself to education all these years. It is a wonderful feeling when students call your name and remember you, and also listen to you. It is something that makes me happy which I believe money can't buy.

And funnily, after my lunch with them that took us 2 hours, I finished my shopping for tomorrow's new year eve gathering in my house, and realized I need to make way to Subang Parade to buy some nice thin sliced pork for BBQ. So I went there and bought the meat I needed and guess what: Zheng Hao from SMJK Chung Hwa called me. And he is working there as a promoter. Another student! My day is superb.

I love education and I love students!

Education in Malaysia

Having been working in the private education sector for 8 years and stepping into my 9th next year, I have to say I am quite concerned about the direction where Malaysia education system is heading to.

I read in the Star newspaper today, a letter from Dr Chris Anthony, which shocked me. He worte that a parent eventually left his kid in school after his kid scored 4A and 1B in UPSR. He was not satisfied with the result, but imagine the trauma inflicted on the kid who sat and wept in the school. 4A and 1B is a brilliant result, but why such inhuman respond from the boy's father?

I totally agree with Dr Chris Anthony that primary school is not only about studying and taking examinations, and this also applies to high schools. In primary school, kids are supposed to learn not only basic reading, writing and calculating knowledge, but also learn social skills, including respecting friends, eating habit, discipline and ethiquette. They should also learn thinking skills.

The target of primary school is to actually instil good values in these early learners so that they will grow up to be educated and civilized.

In secondary schools, students should then be developed towards achieving goals and knowledge and to be active in extra co curricular activities that teach them thinking, management and leadership skills. They should also be prepared to face challenges, be tolerant and understanding.

Instead, after over 50 years of independence, I have to conclude the harmony has grown further and further, especially in schools. I have been actively giving talks in high schools and this is something alarming that I can see. And I am trying my best to assist to educate our future generations in term of studying and understanding each other.

Our secondary education system is too robotic to generate robot students, whom a lot of them are good scorers but lack of thinking and critical thinking skills. They study everyday but when given a task, they wouldn't be able to achieve it. Ask a question outside of the book, they wouldn't be able to answer much.

It is time to revamp our education system if we are to generate more high profile and innovative bucnh of youngsters.

Scholarships by higher education institution should be done through thorough interviewing process (especially in private colleges) rather than simply giving them to any students with particular results. Such publicity of scholarships is also a contributory factor towards making our kids becoming too result-oriented. Emphasizing As and making it look so big will only create a generation of robots.

I have to applaud Sri Cempaka schools, whom I think has successfully produce a lot of quality students as I am the witness to the different teaching culture that targets on Mind Body and Soul.

Let us hope for a better education, and now is the time to do changes.

Malaysia Politic: A Total Mess-Up

I have been keeping quiet all this while, as I feel it is simply outrageous for me to write anything in particularly the current Malaysian politics. I feelt lazy to even want to finish reading all the news, but hey I think sometimes, you just feel enough is enough.

The Government and the opposition (who is not opposition in 4 states) are in total mess-up.

MCA is a total joke after 60 years. The party is simply divided, playing camps, backstabbing, firing remarks all over the media and Internet. And guess what! The Rakyat is watching. We have eyes and we have ears and most importantly we have brain to think. There are so many things left stranded (economy anyone?) and these people who have lost so many seats in the March 08 election are still fighting each other, and forgot they have people trying to destroy them (DAP?). In dire time like this, maybe a crisis is good for them, so that they can just be overturned in the next election. And I foresee this if they don't clean up their act ASAP.

MIC has totally stop seeing media much nowadays

UMNO is biting their fingers to try not to interfere in MCA and MIC but still have to step in.

How does all these happen to the three OLDEST political parties in Malaysia?

Leadership and focus.

If everyone in the Government now focuses on their job, and focuses on getting economic problems solved while trying to increase our FDI, and work together, they will not end up in this brew.

And the Opposition don't even dare to dream on either.

Keadilan is having problems maintaining discipline in their own party.

PAS is having their own internal crisis.

And DAP still trying to push blame to whoever they can and not rather try to find the solution. Come on, we can blame other people for the problem, but hey, the problem will still be there to be solved. But DAP failed to do this. Push once push twice push thrice, things still need to see a solution.

And best still, I saw a nice article over the Star Newspaper today, with a photo of Lim Guan Eng trying not to step on the three ex-DAP who turned to BN, which the trio photos being laid on the floor. ANd know what did our dear Lim Guan Eng tried to joke about "They are too dirty even for me to step on". A JOKE?

I am very worried about the future of Malaysia new generation. How can I ever dream of a future of these kids when the politicians act like a uncivilized people?

Who in the world deserved to be step on like what DAP did?

Come on, this is what I said about DAP. They still linger about trying to destroy the Government, by putting up all these monkey acts, and reveal so many things but at the end, they forgot they have a state to govern, and people to protect.

Rakyat will be bored with all the gimmicks. It is already near 2 years since the last election, but both Government and Opposition failed.

But I see hope in our current new Government policies but the implementation as usual is weak to the bones.

1Malaysia but politicians are putting down Chinese Education to push forward a one school ruling?

Datuk Seri Najib, please do look into this if you want to make 1Malaysia a success. I respect your idea, but to make this works, you cannot allow anybody to put down any race. You are supposed to unite everyone, not to create break ups.

People, it is time to think whether we should let Independent candidates win next election!

The End

I never thought that in my life, I am going to witness the ending of the dramatic office politic at my workplace. And it is as funny and interesting as our dear Malaysia political scene.

And today may mark the final episode and put down the red curtain to end this remarkable drama. And seriously, you will be surprised how some of them should really win an Oscar for their breakthrough performance in acting.

They come and smile and the next thing you know, a dagger on your back and guess who stab you.

English For Science and Maths

Years ago, while I was still in high school and college, i kept on reading about how Malaysians' English has gone downhill, and parents and teachers calling out to the government to do something to save us from such situation.

Thus, now, Science and Maths are taught in English, apart from the English subject itself.

And there are complaints, and now calls to abolish such act.

Eventually, when we look into this matter, it is the implementation problem instead of the idea behind it. We should have started from Standard One instead of both Standard One and Form One. But looking back into it, students in Form One had learn English since kindergarten, so there should not be any excuse not to be able to cope with English for Science and Mathematics. Students should be able to know what add, subtract, multiply and divide mean by the age of 13.

So if they can't differentiate these words at the age of 13, whose fault is it?

Government? Parents? Teachers?

Let us all be mature enough to think about the root of the problem instead of going on street to demonstrate and blah blah blah.

I always believe, when a problem arise, rectify it. Not create more problem on top of it.

Remarkable Malaysia - Mollywood

We have Hollywood in US and Bollywood in India. N hey, Malaysia should have our own Mollywood.

Come on. If you guyz think that US Presidential Election is great, our Malaysia political scene is of Hollywood Best Motion Picture standard. It is crazily dramatic.

Who would expect within a week, an UMNO rep would quit and then rejoin UMNO? And who would expect that BN has regain Perak state with one rep majority over PR?

It is so highly dramatic that I couldn't believe it.

We are certainly there if we are to set up Mollywood to cater our politicians. It is just like Lord of The Rings.

Truly Malaysia

I have lost the discipline of updating my blog often. It took miles of effort to just write a few lines in here.

I am looking forward as how PR going to solve the Hudud issue.

I am thinking of ways to stop making myself a fool to sit in meetings that nothing is eventually solved.

Happy 2009, Happy CNY, Gong Xi Fa Cai, Happy Thaipusam etc etc etc....

Not a beggar

When I was small, my mom would always tell me that a man should always learn to admit defeat and mistake, learn from these lessons, reinforce himself and come back to compete again. And so far, I believe that is a belief I put up as my #1 principle of life. She also reminded me to not beg for anything especially respect and sympathy from people if I ever get defeated, just to get my way through. This is because such way is not a passsage to victory as someone who begs does not earn and deserve it.

And funnily, when I flip the chinese daily that my dad reads everyday, I keep seeing a defeated person who defeats himself trying to give warning about the future of MCA and said he is just asking for a second chance. Well the chance comes every 3 years in MCA when all members will elect a new president and new line of excos will follow suit. Come on! He did what is wrong to his family and tarnished his own image.

Yes, the same story will go on...."it is my private life.....ppl shouldn't spy on me.....I am a normal guy.....blah blah blah....."

But to ordinary people like me, and especially those with family and kids (not like me), I don't think I am ready to have such a person as a party representative who I will vote for. All due to morality issue. A man, after a mistake, has to know how wrong is his doing, and amend it, and not just come out everyday asking (or begging) for second chance. Take the 3 years period to prove himself, earn back the respect he deserves by changing his attitude (and not appearing on the video again for the second time) and just work his way up again.

A person who sits high up shouldn't think that he will forever stays up there!

Hear It (II)

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More funny things happened in Malaysia

1) Just because an ex-PM got out of the party, he has no right to question or comment on the current government. Our Tun has been spearheading Malaysia for more than 20 years and doing a far better job, and after he retired, he becomes nothing but an ordinary citizen? Come on!

2) Petrol goes up everything goes up within two days. When petrol goes down, we need to wait SIX bloody-hell months for everything to go down.

3) After so many news on how girls got cheated by their so-called bf to take their nude photos, there are still people doing it.

4) A wise move by DPM to visit Brickfields.

5) Datukship for Shah Rukh Khan? Although I am a fan, but I think Ang Lee deserves it more.

6) PR surrendered.

My respect

Angin Yang Berlalu
(Khas untuk Tun Dr. Mahathir sempena persaraan Tun)



Sayup-sayup bermula

Tiupan angin selembut sutera

Menyusup ke nadi-nadi Malaysia

Lembutnya adalah cinta

Sejuknya adalah sedar.




Saban hari

Angin ini melilit dunia

Deruannya menyapa segala umat

Seruannya menggegar masyarakat

Dan tiada padah ia menyongsong kemajuan

Bangkitlah Malaysia yang kerdil

Dengan KLCC, dua puncak yang mencakar langit

Dengan KLIA yang menggabung benua

Dengan Putrajaya yang mentadbir negara

Dengan Proton yang mencipta kereta

Dengan MSC yang menjalin jaringan digital

Dengan Sepang F1 yang melumba dunia

Dan dalam masa dan waktu

Pengembaraannya menjadi daun-daun sejarah yang baru

Detik-detik yang letih tanpa pilu.




Sayup-sayup berakhir

Pengembaraan yang berpanjang 22 tahun

Angin sudah puas mengerah bakti

Songsongannya sudah berpahat di hati

Tibalah masa ia berhenti dan menyaksi.










Nukilan hati

Rymond Wong Teck Chiow

Sekolah Sri Cempaka Cheras

30/10/2003

Famine 30 at HICT

Two days of no-rest, but everything is worth it! I am glad to emcee for all of you!