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.