I am watching you

Election Promises

If a new Governement elected to Parliament these are the laws/rules that requires changes;

1) Returning powers to DYMM (Majlis Raja Raja)

Election Commission answerable only to DYMM

fixed General Election dates (eg 16 Sept (or 2nd Sat of Oct every 5 years?)

fixed local election dates (eg 1st Sat of Dec every 2 years)

IGP answerable only to DYMM

ATM answerable to only DYMM

CJ answerable to DYMM

Deputy Agong as Speaker of Parliament

2) Returning Local Municipality Election every year but;

for 50% of total councillors (US Senate style)

3) Election of AG via Bar Council

4) abolish ISA

5) abolish AUKU

.... more to come

Quip and Snippet

The old lady who sells the neighbourhood nasi lemak lamented recently of the further drop of her daily sale. Upon further enquiry, she quipped it must be her packaging. You see, she lately uses the Utusan Malaysia newspaper as her wrapper after changing from the Star paper.

Minus PPSMI?

MENOLAK USAHA MENERUSKAN PELAKSANAAN PENGAJARAN SAINS, MATEMATIK DAN TEKNOLOGI DALAM BAHASA INGGERIS (PPSMI) DI PERINGKAT SEKOLAH HINGGA IPT(12 SEPTEMBER 2008 / 12 RAMADHAN 1429H)

1. Pengendalian Persidangan Meja Bulat anjuran Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia (KPM) yang cuba mendapatkan pandangan tentang PPSMI telah dilaksanakan secara “tidak adil” dan “laporannya” dalam akhbar juga “mengelirukan”. Tiga daripada lima orang pembentang bukannya berbicara tentang PPSMI tetapi tentang kepentingan menguasai bahasa Inggeris yang tidak pun dinafikan oleh kami. Kami bimbang akan kemunculan watak-watak “pembesar” seperti dalam cerita “Maharaja dengan Baju Barunya” yang hanya mengiyakan bahawa baju raja cantik walaupun raja sebenarnya tidak berbaju. Lagipun semasa hendak mengubah ke bahasa Inggeris dahulu tiada meja bulat pun dan tidak pun ditimbulkan tentang kesan ekonomi perbukuan bahasa Melayu. Apakah meja bulat ini hanya untuk mengaburi mata orang ramai saja kerana pengerusinya tidak dapat membuat kesimpulan secara objektif dan tepat. (Contoh pertemuan 27 Ogos 2008 yang lalu – rujuk The Star dan Utusan Malaysia 28.8.08 dan catatan wakil ASASI di www.prihatin.net).

2. Bagaimana pemimpin kerajaan boleh mempertahankan tindakan yang terang-terang melanggar Akta? Tindakan ini dilakukan secara sembunyi-sembunyi. Kononnya dua mata pelajaran tetapi ternyata kini bahawa sebenarnya lebih 80% kursus di sekolah menengah dan IPT telah diajar dalam bahasa Inggeris. Ini adalah benar dan bukannya andaian palsu. Apabila ini sudah berlaku maka Akta mungkin akan dipinda atas alasan fait accompli dan hancurlah bahasa Melayu. Soalan “adakah kita mahu meneruskan PPSMI atau tidak” sebenarnya samalah maknanya dengan soalan “adakah kita mahu meneruskan usaha menghancurkan bahasa Melayu dalam bidang sains dan teknologi?” (rujuk Siri Bicara Bahasa Bil.15, 2002 terbitan PLM & DBP). Kami sedia berdebat tentang kehancuran bahasa rasmi dan bahasa kebangsaan negara ini.

3. Kajian yang “lebih” jujur dan tidak berkepentingan oleh pelbagai pihak termasuk oleh Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr. Isahak Haron dan kajian Prof. Dr. Norhashimah Jalaluddin di bawah payung UKM-DBP misalnya menunjukkan mereka yang di bandar dan mereka yang dari keluarga yang berpendapatan tinggi mendapat manfaat dari PPSMI manakala majoriti pelajar luar bandar lebih terdera. Dengan PPSMI jurang antara bandar dan luar bandar semakin melebar. Yang menjadi mangsa pasti majoritinya Melayu kerana mereka kira-kira 70% penduduk luar bandar dan ini amat tidak adil kerana mereka dinafikan pendidikan berkualiti.

4. Tujuan seluruh usaha ini ialah untuk meningkatkan penguasaan BI pelajar. Tetapi ini telah dilakukandengan meminggirkan bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa ilmu dan budaya tinggi. Penyelesaian ini seperti kata pepatah Melayu, lain yang luka lain yang dibebat. Tidak pernah dibuktikan di mana-mana di dunia, mengajar sains dan matematik boleh meningkatkan penguasaan bahasa. Pelaksanaan PPSMI di negara bekas jajahan British di Afrika dan Pengajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Perancis di negara bekas jajahan Perancis di Afrika tidakpun memajukan negara tersebut, malah tinggal mundur dan miskin walaupun bahasa negara termaju digunakan. Hanya Amerika Syarikat, Britain, Australia dan New Zealand wajar melaksanakan PPSMI.

5. Kemungkinan besar tindakan ini untuk menutup kegagalan Kementerian dalam usaha mencari kaedah yang sesuai untuk mengajar bahasa Inggeris. Tegasnya Kementerian mestilah mencari kaedah mengajar bahasa Inggeris yang sesuai dan berkesan.

6. Kerajaan mestilah belajar dari pengalaman. Dalam tahun 60-an Kerajaan telah “mengusir” keluar tulisan jawi daripada bilik darjah. Akibatnya 40 tahun kemudian akhbar tulisan jawi menjadi tidak lagi berdaya maju, menjadi sisipan saja kepada akhbar tulisan rumi. Sekarang kerajaan sekali lagi “mengusir” keluar bahasa Melayu daripada bilik darjah “sains dan teknologi”. Kemungkinan besar 40 tahun lagi akhbar berbahasa Melayu tidak akan berdaya maju dan akan menjadi sisipan saja kepada akhbar Inggeris dan Mandarin. Pada waktu itu bahasa Melayu bukan lagi bahasa ilmu dan budaya tinggi. Sejarah akan mendera kita lagi.

7. Gesaan kami agar pihak berkuasa mengembalikan Dasar Pelajaran Kebangsaan yang telah berjaya dan dipersetujui bersama-sama. Kembalikanlah kewibawaan bahasa rasmi dan bahasa kebangsaan negara ini sebagai penghantar sains, matematik dan teknologi di sekolah rendah, sekolah menengah dan di IPT. Jika pertukaran dilakukan di peringkat sekolah rendah sahaja, dan/atau sehingga di sekolah menengah sahaja, akan hanya merupakan tindakan “melepas batuk di tangga”. Bahasa Melayu tetap hancur di negaranya sendiri. Kesan negatif akibat PPSMI telah melarat-larat dengan keghairahan pemimpin besar dan kecil sehingga menghina dan memperkecil bahasa rasmi/bahasa kebangsaan dalam semua aspek kehidupan di negara ini sebagai bahasa rasmi, ilmu dan perhubungan di negara ini sehingga DBP pun seolah-olah sudah “mati” dan tidak berwibawa lagi.

8. Malaysia bukan England, bukan Amerika, bukan India, bukan Taiwan, bukan Singapura. Malaysia adalah Malaysia yang dahulunya Persekutuan Tanah Melayu yang sejarahnya bermula sejak sebelum kerajaan Melayu Melaka lagi. Kembalikanlah bahasa Melayu dalam sistem pendidikan negara kita seperti sebelum tahun 2003. Kepemimpinan Melalui Teladan. Hormatilah keluhuran Perlembagaan dan kedaulatan undang-undang negara, (Rukun Negara ke-3 dan ke-4).

9. Rancangan untuk menjadikan keputusan UPSR pada tahun ini sebagai salah satu penentu penerusan PPSMI juga amat tidak logik dan membelakangi ilmu perancangan pendidikan. Bahasa Melayu tetap hancur dan musnah akibat PPSMI, keputusan dan angka juga boleh berubah-ubah dan soalan juga masih dwibahasa.

DENGAN INI KAMI BADAN-BADAN BUKAN KERAJAAN YANG BERIKUT (SEBAHAGIAN BESARNYA MEMANG MEMBANTAH PPSMI SEJAK URA-URA HENDAK DILAKSANAKAN PADA TAHUN 1996 DAHULU LAGI (LIHAT ASRAF, MANIFESTO BUDAYA PUPUS BAHASA PUPUSLAH BANGSA, 1996, PLM:KL DAN BUKU MENGAPA KAMI BANTAH SAINS DAN MATEMATIK DALAM BAHASA INGGERIS, ABDULLAH HASSAN, PTM:KL) MENDESAK LAGI SEKALI SUPAYA PPSMI YANG DILAKSANAKAN SEKARANG INI DIBERHENTIKAN SERTA-MERTA DAN KEMBALI KEPADA DASAR SEBELUM 2003.

Learning English is just a snip

By Francis Markus BBC Shanghai correspondent
More and more people in China are seeking tongue operations to improve their English.
Plastic surgeons say that with minor surgery, patients can improve their pronunciation almost overnight.
With China's growing internationalisation, people's determination to become more proficient in English has reached fever pitch.
The operation itself is simple and quick - just a snip of the muscle under the tongue using local anaesthetic - even if it does make you twinge.

Even after the snip people still need to do exercisesPlastic surgeon Dr Chu Jian is inundated with people begging for the operation because they want their English pronunciation to be clearer, freeing them from that tongue-tied feeling.
"Lots of people come to us asking for surgery hoping it'll help with their English pronunciation because they're taking interpreters exams or wanting to go abroad or get a job here with a foreign company," he said.
Dr Chu tells most of the people they do not need an operation because a strict regime of tongue exercises will work.
"There are lots of people who have serious problems with their tongues, affecting their pronunciation. They're not bothered about their Chinese pronunciation and they don't think about having an operation.
"But when they start to learn English they think it's really important, so they come to us," he said.
Parental pressure
Seven-year-old Ding Ding is one patient he has recently operated on.
Ding Ding is bright and lively. But he was rejected by a bilingual primary school, let down by his English pronunciation.
So his parents decided on the operation for the sake of his future.
His father, Wei Bo, said: "With China becoming more and more international, if you can't communicate properly in English it will have a serious effect on your career prospects."

Ding Ding's English pronunciation let him downPeople who do have the operation still need to do the exercises afterwards, meaning that for children like Ding Ding it is too early to say whether the operation was a success.
In Shanghai's People's Park on a sweltering Sunday morning, the heat does not stop droves of people turning out to practice their English.
Everybody's chatting away to each other purposefully, striving to improve themselves.
But the question is, which is the best way?
Mr Xie, a retired teacher, is an old timer here and his ideas on how to learn English pronunciation are somewhat traditional.
Asked about the people having operations on their tongues to improve their pronunciation, Mr Xie laughed.
"It's a waste of time, waste of money," he said.

Whats in a sign?

VIRGO (The One that Waits) Dominant in relationships.
Someone loves them right now. Always wants the last word. Caring. Smart. Loud. Loyal. Easy to talk to. Everything you ever wanted. Easy to please. The one and only.
SCORPIO (The Addict) EXTREMELY adorable.
Intelligent Loves to joke. Very Good sense of humor. Energetic. Predict future. GREAT kisser. Always get what they want. Attractive. Easy going. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Caring.
LIBRA (The Lame One) Nice to everyone they meet.
Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! However, not the kind of person you wanna mess with... You might end up crying ...
ARIES (The Liar) Outgoing.
Lovable. Spontaneous. Not one to mess with. Funny. Excellent kisser. EXTREMELY adorable. Loves relationships, Addictive. Loud.
AQUARIUS (Does It In The Water) Trustworthy.
Attractive. Great kisser. One of a kind. Loves being in long-term relationships. Extremely energetic. Unpredictable. Will exceed your expectations. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out.
GEMINI (Irresistible) Nice.
Love is one of a kind. Great listeners. Very Good in the you know where ... Lover not a fighter, but will still knock you out. Trustworthy. Always happy. Loud. Talkative. Outgoing VERY FORGIVING. Loves to make out. Has a beautiful smile. Generous. Strong. THE MOST IRRESISTIBLE.
LEO (The Lion) Great talker. Attractive and passionate.
Laid back. Knows how to have fun. Is really good at almost anything. Great kisser. Unpredictable. Outgoing. Down to earth. Addictive. Attractive. Loud. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Not one to mess with. Rare to find. Good when found.
CANCER (The Cutie) MOST AMAZING KISSER. Very high appeal.
Love is one of a kind. Very romantic. Most caring person you will ever meet! Entirely creative. Extremely random and proud of it. Freak. Spontaneous. Great telling stories. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out if it comes down to it. Someone you should hold on to.
PISCES (The Partner for Life) Caring and kind.
Smart. Center of attention. High appeal. Has the last word. Good to find, hard to keep. Fun tobe around. Extremely weird but In a good way. Good Sense of Humor!!! Thoughtful. Always gets what he or she wants. Loves to joke. Very popular. Silly, fun and sweet.
CAPRICORN (The Passionate Lover) Love to bust.
Nice. Sassy. Intelligent. Sexy. Predict future. Irresistible. Loves being in long relationships. Great talker. Always gets what he or she wants. Cool. Loves to own Gemini's in sports. Extremely fun. Loves to joke. Smart.
TAURUS (The Tramp) Aggressive.
Loves being in long relationships. Likes to give a good fight for what they want. Extremely outgoing. Loves to help people in times of need. Good kisser. Good personality. Stubborn. A caring person. One of a kind. Not one to mess with. Are the most attractive people on earth!
SAGITTARIUS (The Promiscuous One)
Spontaneous. High appeal. Rare to find. Great when found. Loves being in long relationships.. So much love to give. Not one to mess with. Very pretty.. Very romantic. Nice to everyone they meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing in the you know where..!!! Not the kind of person you wanna mess with, you might end up crying.

A Short Lecture (Sort Off) pt1

A while back I was requested by some old buddies of mine to give a short talk to their office staff. Well, I had the experience and been in the industry long to impart whatever knowledge I have. And its going to be only 30 minutes to an hour top anyway. "What the heck" I told myself and seemed to have forgotten about it until this buddy of mine called back to remind me about my so called lecture in a week time. Dang, I had not prepared anything much, as I said to him not to worry.
As the date gotten near, I began to doubt myself of whether I still have the stomach to go through a short talk where all eyes will be on me and evaluate what I am going to say (if ever i am going to say anything that is worth listening to). So i prepared my self a 4 pages (top) PowerPoint presentation - spice up a bit with a really slow text animation to buy me time to last at least 30 minutes (to save face, i keep reminding myself)
The day came and i went there early, 30 minutes early to be exact. No one's answering the door bell so i was made to wait by myself - it was a very long wait and at one point almost decided not to go through with it and apologize to my buddies later.

MalaysiaKini article 12/09/2008

Visit to Taiwan needs to be applauded
Ken Sep 12, 08 6:31pm
The BN Backbenchers Club has gone on a two-week trip to Tawain. The Opposition and many Malaysians are viewing this important trip as a desperate effort to stop Pakatan Rakyat from taking power on Sept 16.

What these critics don't realise is that this trip is absolutely necessary and it has to be done now, given that the government has placed agriculture at the top of its economic agenda and allocated a big amount in the 2009 Budget revealed recently.

If there is a delay, these same critics will blame the BN government for not acting fast. A proper analysis of this issue will expose the illogical criticism of the opposition.

The 2009 Budget has provided huge allocations to develop the agricultural industry. Any delay could have dire consequences, given that Malaysia is facing a serious economic downturn. The more than 40 BN MPs are currently gaining first-hand knowledge and insight about major agricultural activities in Taiwan.

In particular, the BN MPs will be able to learn from the Taiwanese about advancements in sectors where Taiwan excels. Upon return on Sept 20, these selfless BN MPs should be able to immediately spearhead Malaysia's next strategic move to diversify its agriculture beyond oil palm and rubber (where Malaysia is already a world leader and an authority and provides expertise to other countries) and tropical fruits, rice and vegetables to the rearing of animals and animal produce for export like how Australia and New Zealand are doing.

This is a strategy which should be applauded as it will mean more employment for Malaysians and inflow of substantial foreign exchange at a time when we are facing reduction in our traditional exports and encountering difficulties in attracting FDI.

Sheep and cattle rearing is not possible in Malaysia, given the humid and hot climate. The only other economically viable animal rearing activity which has a big export market is pig rearing. Taiwan has emerged as a major exporter of pork and pigs and has even overtaken Denmark in exporting to countries such as Japan.

The Taiwanese are emerging as a world authority in pig farming , offering expertise and assistance to many countries. It is only logical, therefore, for us to conclude that the BN MPs are visiting Taiwan to learn about pig farming from the experts to launch a new industry in Malaysia.

What else can Malaysia, whose agricultural sector is relatively bigger than that of Taiwan, learn from the Taiwanese about agriculture relevant to the country?

The BN MPs, in particular the Muslim MPs, are making a huge sacrifice by going on this urgent trip. The sacrifice they are making is evident from the statement of the BBC chairman: "I actually suggested of going on Sept 20, but the majority of the club members are Muslims who will be celebrating Hari Raya beginning October, and they said they would be busy with preparations for the festival."

The piousness of these Muslim MPs is being severely tested during this trip. How are they going to fast and buka puasa with proper halal food and pray five times a day in an environment which is oblivious to Islamic practices - a country where many haram items and practices, for example the consumption of pork and alcohol, are ubiquitous.

What greater sacrifice can one expect from our BN Muslim MPs who have placed the nation above their religion by going to Taiwan on a critical agricultural mission during a period when observance of Islamic practices are most relevant and important?

We, the humble rakyat, thank them for their selflessness.

Dimana 'Cari Ganti'

Permatang Pauh

I was there and I am standing for this by-election. Vote for me, for the future of this country.