I hate it when …

I state my support for a certain political ideology; I’m accused of being ungrateful. They would say I got to go study in the UK because of a certain political party, I got my job because of that political party, and this country is an independent sovereign state because of a certain political party and therefore I owe my life to them.

They fail to recognise that the particular political party played a very small, if any, part in me getting into university (it’s a proper university mind you, not some poly-turned-uni), I think I got into university because I passed my A-level exams, I am quite certain that I got my job because my bosses need my expertise, my application did not come with a recommendation letter from the political party nor did they instruct my employers to employ me.

So what if the government led by that political party provided the study loan for me to go to the UK, isn’t that the responsibility of a responsible government, to provide education for the rakyat, regardless of their ethnicity? In any case, the funds came from the tax payers, so it’s them I should be thankful to.

Don’t get me wrong, I may support a certain political view at the moment but it could change if the other side offers me (the voter) a better deal. But I hate it when people tell me to be grateful to an undeserving political organisation.

Keeping the Keris in its Sheath

I laud PM Najib’s announcement on the abolishment of Bumiputera quotas and the setting up of meritocracy based scholarship programme. I will be branded a traitor for saying that. If Shahidan Kassim finds out, he might call for my expulsion from the Malay race like he did to Zaid Ibrahim.

The announcement came as quite a surprise to me as I wondered what happened to Najib’s war cry some twenty two years ago when he said blood will be spilled if Malay rights are challenged (his infamous “Soak (the keris) in Chinese blood” battlecry in 1987). I guess that’s what you would call adapting to change, different times calls for different measures.

Some Malay non-UMNO (and ex-UMNO) politicians have been accused of selling their souls to the Chinese, Jews etc for calling for the abolishment of Bumiputera quotas. UMNO Youth is usually the first to crucify anyone, Malay or otherwise, for suggesting the removal of Bumiputera quotas but this time, they were relatively quiet. Former leader Hishamuddin’s keris antics (pic) were directed precisely at those questioning Malay rights (removing quotas is considered as challenging Malay rights)

Another bewildering statement came from PAS the Islamic party. No, not the secret talks with the “kuffar” UMNO but their stand on maintaining the quotas. I have always regarded PAS as an Islamic party first and a Malay party second. The only reason I consider them a “Malay” party is because a majority of their members are Malays but in actual fact the party cannot be considered Malay at all by virtue of them accepting people like Annuar Tan and Idham Lim as full party members. So, PAS is an Islamic party and not a Malay party and therefore they should subscribe to the Islamic ideals of justice and equity which means unfair quotas is a big NO-NO.

Why do I laud PM Najib’s announcement? No, I haven’t sold my soul to some foreign race or the CIA or Al-Qaeda. We live in a “borderless” world where the invisible hand is playing a more effective role in resource allocation. In this globalised, flat world we live in today, protectionist policies will only serve to stifle growth. Unfair policies will dissuade effort and innovation and create disloyalty. Why do you think Malaysia suffers from a brain drain? Not only talent are leaving Malaysia but big local businesses are also moving overseas not only because of expansion and diversification but also because protectionist policies are limiting their opportunities to participate in the Malaysian economy forcing them to bring their talents, capital and efforts elsewhere. In the end the whole country suffers.

Many will ask, “Where do the Malays go from here?” That is a stupid question, it is insulting. The Malays are more than able to fend for themselves in this highly competitive world and the removal of the “crutches” (to quote ex PM Dr. M) will make them even more resilient to face global challenges.

Switching Allegiances

Michael Owen became the first player in the modern era to move to Man U after a successful career at Liverpool. Many have gone the same path but Owen was a Liverpool legend and it’s quite difficult for me to accept. I’m quite disappointed actually …

The following are players who have played for both great rivals in English football

Liverpool and Manchester United
Paul Ince
Micheal Owen

Liverpool and Everton
Peter Beardsley
Gary Ablett
Nick Barmby
Kevin Sheedy
Abel Xavier
Don Hutchinson
Steve McMahon
Sander Westerveld

Manchester United and Manchester City
Peter Schmeichel
Denis Law
Andy Cole

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur
Sol Campbell
Pat Jennings
David Bentley
George Graham (Manager)

Quotable Quotes

Fitness Centre sign: "Self Esteem is feeling good about yourself - regardless of the facts."

Crime doesn’t pay… Does that mean my job is a crime?

Any woman that thinks the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach is aiming just a little too high.

Never forget that you’re unique, just like everyone else.

If practice makes perfect, and nobody’s perfect, why practice?

Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try. (Homer Simpson)

If you want a committed man, look in a mental hospital.

Life is what happens to you when you’re making other plans.

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.

It’s always darkest before dawn. So if you’re going to steal the neighbour’s newspaper, that’s the time to do it.

Money can’t buy you happiness… but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery. (Spike Milligan)

By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he’s too old to go anywhere. (Billy Crystal)

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

Do You Believe In Ghosts?

I found this on the net ...

A professor at a University is giving a seminar on the supernatural. Getting a feel for his students, he asks “How many of you believe in ghosts?” About 80 of his students raise their hands.

“That’s a good start I suppose. Those of you who believe in ghosts, how many have actually seen a ghost?” About 30 students raise their hands.

“That’s good. I’m really glad you’re taking this seriously. Ok, has anyone here ever talked to a ghost?” About a dozen students raise their hands.

“That’s a great response. Has anyone ever touched a ghost?” Two students raise their hands. “That’s fantastic. But let me ask you one last question… have any of you ever made love to a ghost?”

One student in the back raises his hand. The professor is astonished. He removes his glasses, takes a step back, and says, “Son, in all the years I’ve been giving this lecture, no one has ever actually claimed to have slept with a ghost. Why don’t you come up here and tell us about it.”

The redneck student replies with a nod and a grin, and begins to make his way up to the podium. The professor says, “Well, tell us what it’s like to have sex with a ghost.”

The student replies, “Ghost? Oh… I thought you said ‘goats’!”

Malaysia Boleh

In fact, anyone boleh, if they put their hearts and minds to it, be disciplined, honest, brave, prepared, yada yada. But in Malaysia, boleh is at a totally different level.

Malaysia boleh build a very tall building but that does not mean we have to build tall low cost flats and squeeze 120 families into an 18 storey tower block, each getting 700 square feet regardless of the family size. And guess what, Malaysia also boleh squeeze half a dozen of these tall low cost flats into 1 acre piece of land.

KL boleh build 3 different types of modern light rail transport system but unable to integrate them into one connected user friendly system.

Malaysia boleh spend to send a man to the moon but cannot spend to give their young men and women free tertiary education.

Malaysia boleh build a Maracana sized football stadium but cannot keep the pitch decent.

Malaysia boleh build cars but cannot sell without the Government protectionist policies.

Malaysia boleh build new townships but cannot preserve old buildings.

Malaysia boleh create policies but cannot effectively enforce.

I boleh get into trouble for writing all this …

Boleh = can, able

Feeling Depressed?

Major depressive disorder, commonly referred to as "depression," can severely disrupt your life, affecting your appetite, sleep, work, and relationships.

Some people say that depression feels like a black curtain of despair coming down over their lives.

Many people feel like they have no energy and can't concentrate.

Others feel irritable all the time for no apparent reason.

The symptoms vary from person to person, but if you feel "down" for more than two weeks, and these feelings are interfering with your daily life, you may be clinically depressed.

Some people don't really understand about depression. For example, they may react to a depressed person's low energy with criticism, yelling at the person for acting lazy or not trying harder. Some people mistakenly believe that depression is just an attitude or a mood that a person can shake off. It's not that easy.

If you've been diagnosed with depression, you may wonder why it had to happen to you. The fact is that anyone can get depression.

Depression is a medical condition and you are not to blame for it, it is not your fault that you are suffering from depression. Change won't come overnight — but with the right treatment, you can keep depression from overshadowing your life.

The symptoms that help a doctor identify depression include:

• constant feelings of sadness, irritability, or tension
• decreased interest or pleasure in usual activities or hobbies
• loss of energy, feeling tired despite lack of activity
• a change in appetite, with significant weight loss or weight gain
• a change in sleeping patterns, such as difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much
• restlessness or feeling slowed down
• decreased ability to make decisions or concentrate
• feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
• thoughts of suicide or death

Depression has no single cause; often, it results from a combination of things. You may have no idea why depression has struck you. It's normal to feel shock, anger, sadness, or other emotions—even relief—when you’re diagnosed with depression.

Whatever its cause, depression is not just a state of mind. It is related to physical changes in the brain, and connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries signals in your brain and nerves. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters.

Many things can trigger debilitating depression. Feelings of depression are caused by a chemical change that affects how the brain functions.

A normally functioning brain is a giant messaging system that controls everything from your heartbeat, to walking, to your emotions. The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells called neurons. These neurons send and receive messages from the rest of your body, using brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

These brain chemicals—in varying amounts—are responsible for our emotional state. Depression happens when these chemical messages aren’t delivered correctly between brain cells, disrupting communication.

Possible causes of depression

(1) Trauma and stress. Things like financial problems, the break-up of a relationship, or the death of a loved one can bring on depression. You can become depressed after changes in your life, like starting a new job, graduating from school, or getting married.

(2) Pessimistic personality. People who have low self-esteem and a negative outlook are at higher risk of becoming depressed. These traits may actually be caused by low-level depression (called dysthymia).

(3) Physical conditions. Serious medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, and HIV can contribute to depression, partly because of the physical weakness and stress they bring on. Depression can make medical conditions worse, since it weakens the immune system and can make pain harder to bear. In some cases, depression can be caused by medications used to treat medical conditions.

(4) Other psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and (especially) substance abuse often appear along with depression.

While depression can affect anyone, its effect may vary depending on your age and gender.

Women are almost twice as likely to become depressed as men. The higher risk may be due partly to hormonal changes brought on by puberty, menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy.

Men although their risk for depression is lower; men are more likely to go undiagnosed and less likely to seek help. They may show the typical symptoms of depression, but are more likely to be angry and hostile or to mask their condition with alcohol or drug abuse. Suicide is an especially serious risk for men with depression, who are four times more likely than women to kill themselves.

Elderly. Older people may lose loved ones and have to adjust to living alone. They may become physically ill and unable to be as active as they once were. These changes can all contribute to depression. Loved ones may attribute the signs of depression to the normal results of aging, and many older people are reluctant to talk about their symptoms. As a result, older people may not receive treatment for their depression.

Even after you've learned that you have depression and sought treatment for it, you won't feel better right away. Depression can be frustrating, because recovering from it takes time. So, keep your spirits up, surround yourself with supportive, caring and loving people and bring yourself closer to God.

www.depression.com

The Maid Dilemma

The Star, 26 June 2009, 7.58am
Jakarta stops export of maids immediately

JAKARTA: Indonesia has ordered employment agencies to stop sending its citizens to Malaysia to work as maids. Indonesian Manpower Minister Erman Suparno said the decision – effective today – would remain in place until safeguards are implemented in Malaysia.

We should sympathise with their plight. Some are treated so badly, even worse than animals.

But before we go all out to demonise and crucify Malaysian employers, let’s flip the coin and look on the other side.

What about the cases of abuse towards defenseless children and the old and infirm? I saw one video clip of a maid repeatedly kicking and stepping on a little girl.
There were reported cases of maid urinating in the employers’ food.
What about those who bring home their boyfriends? Some even got pregnant.
What about those maids who bring diseases (this is despite getting health clearance from Indonesian doctors).
They congregate and gossip instead of looking after the children at the playground.
There are maids who watches more TV than doing housework
Some don’t even know how to use simple electrical equipments (this is despite being “trained” in Indonesia).
What about the runaway maids?
What about the maid who runs away after stealing (robbing) from their employers?

The Indonesian authorities may not believe this, but there are maids who get to travel with their employers, visit interesting places, some overseas and stay in decent hotels.
There are maids who regularly gets presents and gifts, including (designer) hand me downs.
Some even get TV in their rooms.

The longer the ban, the better for us. We will survive, we’ll find alternative solution to the problem, worse comes to worse; one spouse will stop working and become the household manager. In adversity we’ll prevail.


I wonder why the Indonesian authorities are not banning the export of Indonesian criminals as well. We seem to have too many of them here.

English for Maths and Science

The Education Minister admitted that teaching maths and science in English has not improved the performance of the students in those subjects since the policy was implemented in 2003.

So, how now brown cow? Do we continue with the policy or revert to Bahasa Malaysia? IMHO, we should examine a few issues before we decide which language to choose.

The teachers
Do we have enough teachers proficient in scientific and mathematical English to effectively teach those subjects in English? I’m saying scientific and mathematical English because I feel the English used for those subjects tend to be technical in nature, it’s not the same as the English taught in your English literature class.

In what language were the teachers trained? If they were taught in English while at college or university, it would be unfair to make teach in Malay, vice versa. They would have to practically re-learn the subjects.

The students
Are the students proficient enough in English? Technical terms can be introduced and explained but if they have a poor command of English, how can we expect them to fully grasp the subject. They may not even understand the instructions let alone the teacher’s explanations.

So, how now brown cow?

Maybe what we should do is get the trainers properly trained. Make sure the teachers are able and capable of effectively delivering the subject in English. I’m sure we have many such teachers around but I’m also sure the numbers are quite small. Give a time frame, say five years for the teachers achieve competency. In the meantime, teach the subjects in English only in schools whose teachers (and students) are qualified to teach (and learn) in English. Gradually the number will increase and it will be done without putting anyone at a disadvantage. No, doubt two languages will be used to teach the subjects for at least the first ten years but eventually we will almost certainly get the desired result.

At the same time, the lower primary school students need to be given extra lessons (by qualified teachers) in English, especially those in the less urban areas where the command of English tend to be weaker.

I first studied economics in college and it was taught in English, I went on to study economics in an English university and my post graduate economics lectures were also delivered in English. I have never read a Malay economics text book. I was an economics lecturer for a brief period and I taught my students in English. I would have a tough time if was asked to teach economics in Malay, it would not be fair to my students. It would probably make them dumb and dumber.

Having said that, learning should be in any language, the idea is to obtain knowledge, what language is used to obtain the knowledge is of little relevance.

Learning English will not kill Bahasa Malaysia. Indiscriminately adopting English words into Bahasa Malaysia WILL kill the language. http://sam-bicara.blogspot.com/2009/01/whither-bahasa-melayu.html

What is a Malay?

Article 160 of the Federal Constitution defines Malay as a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language and conforms to Malay custom.

I have a question, or rather a hypothetical situation.

There is this person, born in Tanzania but a citizen of Malaysia and lives in Dungun, Terengganu. His father is of Persian decent and his mother, Chinese. His paternal grandfather is African and his maternal grandmother is Anglo-Saxon. He is a staunch Muslim, having been on the pilgrimage twice and does the umrah every Ramadhan. He has a Master’s degree in Malay literature and currently teaches Malay language to form 5 students at the local school. He is also the president and promoter of the Malay NGO Persatuan Adat Resam Tradisi Rumpun Melayu Sedunia (PARTRuMS).

In short, he professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language and conforms to Malay custom. But, is he Malay?

According to the Federal Constitution, he is as Malay as I am. Maybe even more Malay than I am.

Life is ...

Leaving the house in the morning, dressed in clothes that you bought by credit card, driving through the traffic in a car you are still paying for, putting in fuel that you cannot afford, all in order to get to the job you hate but need so badly so that you can pay for the clothes, car, fuel and the house that you leave empty the whole day, in order to live in it.

I got this from a colleague - kind of true for some of us, especially those trapped in the rat-race or trapped while trying to compete with the Joneses.

The Malay Dilemma?

Another one from the “dilemma” series!

It is often lamented (maybe not so publicly) that non-Malays have no chance whatsoever to head a Government Linked Company (GLC). This is often blamed on the NEP which is not entirely accurate because if not for the affirmative action, there won’t be that many GLCs in the first place, the large corporations would probably still be owned by the British.

Anyway, back to the dilemma, it is true that all of the CEOs of the GLCs are Malays/Bumiputeras and it is also true that their position is attributed to the NEP (and its successors), via institutions such as PNB, EPF, Khazanah, MoF Inc. which acts as drivers of the policy. While it is true and beyond argument that Malays/Bumiputeras are the only types that head the GLCs it is also true that no Malays/Bumiputeras are heading the other equally large and diversified corporations which does not fall under the GLC ambit such as YTL, KLK, SP Setia, Hong Leong, IOI, Rimbunan Hijau, Lion, Berjaya, Tan Chong etc.

So, this lack of “opportunities” for the different races occurs on both sides of the fence, the GLCs and so called non-GLCs and therefore no one should be complaining. I however feel the choice of corporate leadership should not be based on ethnicity but instead on quality. Trust me, quality Malay/Bumiputera managers and leaders do exist and some are where they are not so much because of skin colour but also based on merit.

All we need is trust and respect for each other. Being of different race, religion or even political belief should not be a basis for distrust. Let’s be trusting of each other and rid ourselves of the unnecessary prejudices. Maybe then we can move forward to greater heights.

Ironies

I enjoyed this interesting article by James Chin (JC) in The Malaysian Insider; it really shows that we are full of contradictions, some to the point of absurdity.

Irony 1 according to JC – We are told communism is bad, they are evil, their past leaders cannot set foot in our country BUT our leaders visit the largest communist country in the world, forging political and business alliances with them … irony?

Irony 2 – Some quarters are against teaching certain subjects in English but upon closer inspection these people who objects to teaching in English were themselves educated in English, graduating from English medium institutions in English speaking countries.
To make the irony even more ironic, UiTM which is exclusively for Bumiputeras teaches in English while UKM, which is open to all races (subject to a quota of course), teaches in Malay.

The truth they say is stranger than fiction but the observations made by James Chin is a fact, a sad fact.

The Toll-gate Dilemma

Almost all the highways in Malaysia are privately owned. Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS) owns the most highways (NSE, NKVE, FHR2, Elite, SPDH, BKE, Linkedua), other owners include Litrak (LDP); Prolintas (AKLEH, GCE); MTD (Karak, ECE); IJM (Lekas, Besraya, NPE); Kesturi (DUKE); SDE Holdings (SPGDE) and Silk Holdings (SILK)

Road users pay to use the highway and in return we expect a pleasant journey on well maintained roads, safe and clean rest facilities with decent and reasonably priced food outlets and rapid emergency response. I have little or no complaints on the services, they have been quite satisfactory.

However, I feel that all the highway operators should consider discriminatory pricing. No, I’m NOT suggesting that Bumiputeras get a 30% discount. I would suggest that discounts be given to users during peak periods. This is because we pay for convenience and during peak periods (school breaks, public holidays, Aidil Fitri, CNY, weekday mornings and evenings) we get very inconvenienced when on the highway. There is a long queue to use the toilet; you are unable to get parking at rest areas, driving faster than 60km/h is impossible due to the heavy traffic and worst of all is the queue to pay toll which can stretch for kilometres.

So, given all that, why can’t those bunch listed in the first para give us poor road users 50-60% discount during the peak periods, after all the traffic volume will surely compensate for the reduced price.

The Environmental Dilemma

Wrong to treat orang utans like human babies, say activists
Bukit Merah (near Taiping), Perak: An orang utan sanctuary where baby apes wear nappies, sleep in cots and are cared for by nurses dressed in masks and starched uniforms has drawn the wrath of environmentalists.
Tourists snap photos as they file past large windows looking onto a facility billed as the world’s only rehabilitation and preservation facility for the endangered primates.
Behind the glass, adorable baby orang utans like two-month-old Tuah lie swaddled in nursery sheets and cling to baby rattles.
But the care lavished on the animals, which are fed every two hours by a staff of seven nurses on duty round the clock, is lost on environmentalists who say this is no way to treat wild animals facing the threat of extinction.
A 2007 assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme warned that orang utans would be virtually eliminated in the wild within two decades if current deforestation trends continue.
Managers of the 14ha Island, which is part of a resort hotel development, say they aim to return the animals to their natural jungle habitat, but so far none have been released. The centre’s veterinarian defended the facility, situated in this tourist town, which opened in 2000 and now houses 25 orang utans.
(The Star 1 June 2009)

Despite the name, orang utans should not be treated like orangs. Animals should be left to be what they are, fending for themselves without human interference. Even when there is a need for human assistance to ensure survival of the animal species, it should be done in a manner that does not make the animals less animal. Some animal species by nature are hunters (Tigers for example). But once they get used to being fed fresh warm meat without having to hunt for it, they become lazy and in the end become less of a tiger.

So, stop molly cuddling the animals and let them be themselves.

On another note, it was noted that if current deforestation trends continue, the (wild) orang utan population will be eliminated within the next 20 years. That’s the thing with forests, we need them to complement our lives, i.e. we need wood to build houses, schools, hospitals, factories, furniture; we need land for farming and to breed livestock; we need space for the ever increasing population but cutting down trees (indiscriminately) for these purposes will cause other environmental issues. The rate of human growth outstrips the rate of reforestation.

So, how do we go about finding a balance between cutting down trees and meeting our needs? Do we say stop building new houses? But then the new families need a roof over their heads, where are they going to stay? Stop making furniture? Stop using fireplaces? Where are we going to rear the cattle? And we need land to plant vegetables.

It’s about time everyone; governments, industries, universities, Greenpeace, the UN and you and me to get together and come up with a win-win solution.

And no, limiting one person to one chair per lifetime is not a solution.