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.