Breaking Down Racial Barriers (Lessons Learned from the Tale of the Rainbow)

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie makes life
a wonderful journey.

            Racial issues have dominated public discussion for ages and we need to put an end to this journey that only brings misery and causes complexity to the country. The recent incident, involving Johor Gerakan member Tan Lai Soon, has forced him to face the music following his controversial speech that touched on racial sensitivity.

With a Chinese friend, Tan Wei Pern

It is time we set the country free from racial conflicts. We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now (Martin Luther King Jr). Hence, I suggest we learn the lessons from the tale of the rainbow.             

            In the story, each colour of the rainbow claims that it is the most superior among all. Red brings passion and is also the colour of blood. Orange is the colour of health. Yellow symbolises happiness. Green is a sign of life and the world is adorned with lush greenery. Blue provides peace and tranquility. Indigo is the colour of silence, while purple indicates power and royalty. 

Spending time with dear professor, Dr. Soo Ling Howard

All of them brag about their individual qualities and insist that their colour is the most prominent, without realizing that they appear most beautiful when they are united on the spectrum.

During the Dean's List Dinner with the Jessica Lynn Adrew

Attending INTEC's Awards Night with Chung Yin Hui

            Likewise, Malaysia’s population comprises many ethnic groups that are special in different ways. The people are like a myriad of colours that should stay united in spite of differences and uniqueness. The colourful cultural celebrations bring joy, laughter and prosperity to all.

Standing next to a cool lecturer, Mr. Keshminder Singh

Being in the multiracial workplace, neighbourhood and school, it has become a norm for us to convey good wishes to one another when somebody is tying the knot, welcoming a newborn, obtaining good results in exams or being promoted to a higher position. During birthdays and farewell parties, we prepare gifts and exchange greetings. When others fall ill or are fighting diseases, we pray for their speedy recovery. When they deal with bereavement or mishaps, we express our grief and sympathy with the hope that they are given strength and patience to face the ordeals. Our unity is so precious and to break it apart is just atrocious.

Cherishing the day with a Bruneian buddy, Nazri

A snap with the multi-talented Elaine Daly during the Frogway show

Over 40 years ago, when the May 13 tragedy took place, it was a traumatic experience for many. We cannot afford another one. Some may find it trivial but a racial joke may invite misinterpretation, while a racist statement may lead to speculations and disharmony. We need to end racism by hook or by crook.

Hanging out with Middle-East friends 

Waving goodbye to Korean companions 

The old stereotypes that were used to define the races - Malays are farmers, Chinese are tin miners and Indians are rubber tappers - are not practical any more. Nowadays, there is no such segregation.

            We have been together through thick and thin and we should realise that we complete each other, just like the colours of the rainbow that finally stretch across the sky to mark a happy ending. The colours inspire us to live in hope, peace and unity.

At A Glance: New Straits Times Saturday the 25th Edition

In her 1971 poem titled Paul Robeson Gwendolyn Brooks wrote: “We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond”.

               

Courtesy of New Straits Times

25 October 2014

Spending is Wise for Right Reasons

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie
makes life a wonderful journey.

            I was intrigued by Lat's editorial cartoon (NST Oct 13), which depicted a group of people of various age, gender and race rushing for a grand sale. They were so excited until they came to a newsstand which featured a newspaper headline: "Malaysians Don’t Save Enough for Old Age". This simple sketch tells the story of spending and saving.

Malaysians love to spend. During festive seasons, hypermarkets and shopping complexes will be flooded with people afraid to miss out on the great discounts. 

It is a common, yet sorry sight to see children indulging in shopping sprees with their friends. This "worry-free life" will do them more harm than good.

Excessive shopping is not encouraged.

When people overspend, it only gives them a temporary satisfaction. It is not smart to work like a beaver yesterday, only to empty the wallet today, without having a slight thought for tomorrow. 

No religion gives the green light to spending an inordinate amount of money without a good reason. It is indeed an act of greed and ungratefulness that seduces human beings to keep craving for more. But to excessive spenders, the more shopping bags to take home, the merrier.

            There is no problem with shopping itself, but to immerse oneself in the activity is not okay. We need to set strict shopping rules to avoid buying more than we need. We may prepare a shopping list and compare prices before purchasing, for example. This is how we become wise consumers.   

Teenagers indulging in shopping sprees

            Everyone has reasons to save. Bachelors and bachelorettes may need to save for marriage. Elder children of poor families may need to support their younger siblings. Parents need to think about paying their children’s education fees and needs. And as the drawing suggests, everyone needs to save for old age.

In his 1920 article entitle "Success! It’s Up To You!" politician John Poole wrote: "The practice of saving money gives an upward tendency to life, improves a person’s outlook on life, and has a healthful reaction upon all his faculties.”

Saving is a necessity. A penny saved is a penny earned. Our forefathers used to keep their money under the pillows or mattresses. When we were little, we, too, saved our coins in piggy banks every day after school. Now, almost everyone has a savings account.

We need to save for old age

If we have extra money, we may want to consider helping the needy or orphans. In fact, it is an act of kindness and generosity to share with someone else. Our little contribution may quench their thirst and make their day.

            Before we spend on the unnecessary, let us spare a moment and think about 214 million people living in Sub-Saharan Africa who go to sleep hungry every night. And, for every 10 seconds, a child dies from illnesses exacerbated by poor nutrition.

Hungry children in Africa

            Save money. Save ourselves. Save the world.

       Courtesy of New Straits Times

20 October 2014

Kudos to the First Batch of PT3!

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie
makes life a wonderful journey.

            Kudos to all fifteen-year-olds for having accomplished their mission fulfilling all requirements for Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3), the new and improved public examination that marks its first year of implementation since PBS was introduced in 2012. Being the firsts to sit for the exam in history, some of them might have sleepless nights knowing that they dealt with the community’s expectation.  

            Not only the candidates, the pressure is also felt by the policy makers, parents and surely the teachers who have been working hard to help students score exceptionally well. With mixed reviews about the effectiveness of PT3 from educationists and academic researchers, I personally think that this revised version of Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) will eventually bring plenty of benefits on the students especially.

            PT3 candidates now need to prepare for Written and Oral tests (Listening and Speech) that are assessed separately for both Bahasa Melayu and English subjects.  Students will obtain two different grades for both subjects based on their competency and proficiency. This is beneficial for the students to help them improve their writing and communication skills. 

             Nowadays, it has become a standard procedure for selected schools, colleges and universities to interview applicants to qualify them for admission. They cannot depend solely on their examination results to continue their education or to get a scholarship. Indeed, it is a privilege for these future graduates to be equally fluent in Bahasa Malaysia and English especially when they compete for jobs later.

            As for History and Geography subjects, the assessments will be only on coursework without final papers, unlike PMR. This is good as students will be trained to work on researches and assignments as that is what they will face when they pursue their diploma or degree later. The experience of completing a project will help them broaden their perspectives about a topic. They will begin to open their mind as they find answers and solutions to a problem. They could also polish their social skills when they conduct case studies individually or cooperatively, if they work in groups. This is a good step in making our education system less exam-oriented and students are given a chance to enjoy learning as a meaningful process.   

            Hopefully, this great effort by Ministry of Education and National Board of Examinations will produce more potential individuals that can lead our country in the future.

17 October 2014

2015 Budget (People's Budget is Future-Centric)

            Winston Churchill once said: “To improve is to change so to be perfect is to have 
changed often.” Changes are daring moves that help us make a difference. If plans are smooth sailing, it’s a beautiful present. If they happen otherwise, it’s a useful lesson.

Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

            The 2015 Budget tabled by the prime minister on Friday and the gist of the speech has since been the talk of town. Many jump for joy and tick off their wish list while some look down in the mouth for the announcements do not meet their expectation. Truth be told, it is hardly possible to satisfy everyone.

            It is undeniable that various aspects have been vastly covered in the budget. Themed the "People’s Economy", the budget considers the wellbeing of people from all walks of life. From schoolchildren, working adults and retirees, to Orang Asli and the handicapped, all have been guaranteed benefits. The government ensures that no one will turn into green-eyed monsters for being made less important or left behind.

            All women have every reason to smile following the approval of 2.26 billion allocated to uplift their role. 

            The mainstreaming of technical and vocational education is another relevant decision, given that the demand for workers with technical and vocational qualifications will be higher by 2020. It is healthy competition for applicants who fight for a place in technical and vocational training (TEVT) programmes. 

            For decades, parents did everything they could to make their children doctors, lawyers, and engineers, without taking a second glance at other options. Now, it’s time for parents to get out of the box and realise that the grass is now greener on the other side. Those with technical skills will be highly sought after. 

            The allocation of 26.7 billion should be wisely spent to beef up national security to prevent another intrusion in Sabah and to avoid incidents like the hack of automated teller machines (ATM) and the bomb blast in Bukit Bintang, from recurring.  

            I feel the 2015 Budget is not only people-centric, but also future-centric. The implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the incentives for electric vehicles and the focus on the role of youth as future leaders, who will maintain the country’s pristine glory, are forward-looking.

          The amount of 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) for qualified individuals has increased while the civil servants and government pensioners are to receive a bonus in January.

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie
makes life a wonderful journey.

            To quote Maya Angelou: “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”

            And if we find our basket of goods full with lemons one day, just make lemonade.

Courtesy to New Straits Times,

13 October 2014

Language Abuse (When Internet Talk Ruins Our Languages)

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie makes life
 a wonderful journey.

            We have been exposed to plenty of negative consequences of the excessive use of gadgets and the unlimited access to social media platforms. The side effects of these sophisticated technologies impact healthcare, reduce family time, distract students from their studies and invite controversies when interesting Facebook statuses, tweets, pictures or videos go viral. Here comes the next effect that many may overlook or take for granted: the abuse of language.

            Language is a tool of communication, but the privilege has apparently been misused by some insensitive people. The distortion of language seems to be increasing at an alarming rate as people venture into the borderless world of the internet. They are getting more creative in delivering a message as they modify the spellings and change the word structures. This is practised by teenagers and young adolescents who may be influenced by the infamous “You Only Live Once” (Yolo). Their ridiculous style of writing often leads to misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the real meanings.

This phenomenon involves Bahasa Malaysia and English language. While we are upholding Bahasa Malaysia and strengthening the English language, some do not take this policy seriously. Bahasa Malaysia has been our lingua franca for a long time and we should maintain the quality of the language. Furthermore, the language has become a shared language that unites the races and is used during formal occasions. 

Meanwhile, the effort by the government to boost English proficiency among students will be in vain if they keep using improper language when writing a social media update or creating a blog entry.

            To schoolchildren, it is fun and trendy to type text messages and online comments using awkward spellings to convey meanings. Some of them coin words and mix the two languages (BM and English), making the sentence a mess. 

         Sometimes, it is upsetting to notice the misspelling of common words by teenage users, not to mention intentional grammatical errors and inappropriate phrases used by the students when updating a status. Even if they want to go casual, they need to at least use contractions, acronyms, clipping or hypocorisms in their sentences to avoid ruining the language.

            One implication of the frequent use of improper language on social media and in text messages is the tendency for students to carry the same attitude when writing essays for language subjects. These students subconsciously apply what they practise during their online chats, which results in mistakes. The word “you” will be spelled as “u”, “maybe” will become “mybe” and “thank you” will become “tq”.

            This issue should be highlighted during the language month celebrated annually in schools to remind students to mind their language every time.

The responsibility to preserve the value and beauty of the language is not only on linguists but all of us. Together, let’s write it right.

Courtesy to New Straits Times

10 October 2014

Gender Equality (The "Weaker Sex" Work Hard to Prove Their Worth)

Emma Watson during her speech on gender quality.

            Last month, United Nation Women Goodwill Ambassador, Emma Watson delivered an inspiring speech on gender equality. Her professional approach to invite more men to support feminism – the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities – was something to be proud of. The speech should be a wake-up call to all. I salute women who can control their emotions even when discussing civil rights violations, as many men fail to stay calm when trying to stand their ground.

There were the days when women were only allowed to reach a certain level in their education as they were expected to live their lives serving their husbands and taking care of the children. 

A scene in Mona Lisa Smile

This conservative idea is portrayed in Mona Lisa Smile – a film set in 1953 in Massachusetts. In the movie, all Wellesley College female students are trained to be a good wife after their graduation (despite their potential to go further) as the school believes that the grade that matters most comes from their husband. Those days are gone, except for some countries in Africa, where some women are still denied the right of going to school.

Nicol Ann David, Malaysia's precious diamond.

In Malaysia, there are women who outperform men in school and at work. In squash, Nicol Ann David is the world No.1 for eight years. Siti Nurhaliza is a star in the music industry. The top student awards are conquered by female achievers. Their hard work, strong will and positive attitude makes them who they are today.

In the corporate world, women who break the glass ceiling are lucky. This is because some other potential female employees are left unnoticed, and they could only watch their male colleagues take the glass escalator. In Japan, only 10 per cent of the managerial positions are represented by women, according to Mutsuko Murakami in her column, “A better future for Japanese women?” (New Straits Times, Oct 6). These women do all it takes to produce the best quality of work and they deserve fair treatment from all.  

A man supporting HeForShe Campaign

Most of the time, men forget that actions speak louder than words. Some men claim that they are the superior gender, but they do not walk the talk. Women, on the other hand, strive for excellence to prove that they can be as excellent as their male counterparts.

Every year, girls face great competition before they are selected to join a university while male applicants experience a contradictory situation.

Some boys agree that books are for girls, so, to grab one and read would make them less manly. Those immature boys will finally involve in crime instead of studying.

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie makes life
a wonderful journey.

Men should stop labelling women as the weaker sex because the stereotyping is no longer relevant. Men and women need to see eye to eye and work hand in hand from now on. To all men, we need to wake up and be true gentlemen.

Courtesy to New Straits Times,

8 October 2014

Reading Habits (Literature Is Not Boring)

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie makes life
a wonderful journey.

            In 1925, Alfred North Whitehead wrote: “It is in literature that the concrete outlook of humanity receives its expression.” With violence and inhumanity becoming the cup of tea for the heartless, it should be the utmost concern of parents to ensure that their offspring grow up with sense and sensibility. 

           

Alfred North Whitehead,
Philosopher (1861-1947) 

From the ruthless episodes of wars around the world and the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, to the physical assault on a New Straits Times photographer, it seems like brutality and aggression have no plans to slow down. These phenomena take away peace and the beauty of life, and we should regain what we have lost, through literature.

            

             When a child is born, it means the world for the parents to hear and witness the first word uttered by their little sweetheart. To encourage the child to speak more, parents buy books and flash cards. This is the first exposure to literature. 

Reading materials for children.

          It is a smart move for parents to inculcate reading habits in children beginning from when they are toddlers. Fables and fairy tales are perfect for children’s imagination and enjoyment. To engage interest in these young readers, excellent illustrations help. As they flip through the pages, children will build their curiosity and emotions. One way to keep them close to the world of literature is by reading them bedtime stories. In the process, they will develop their emphatic feeling to help them become a selfless person later.

My book collection.

            In his column, “Beauty in words immeasurable, but real” (New Sunday Times, Sept 21), Wan A. Hulaimi suggested that children needed to learn literature and poetry as logic would not give them the answer every time. It was a good decision by the Education Ministry to include literature in the English syllabus. Unfortunately, students pay attention to details in short stories, poems and novels only for obtaining good exam scores. 

Literature is not boring. It teaches us lessons. It makes us justify our words and actions. It makes us think about others. It helps us weigh the pros and cons before finalizing decisions. And finally, it gives us a good heart.

Courtesy to New Straits Times

4 October 2014

Jihad (Understand the True Concept)

            The trick strategy of the Islamic State (IS) uses to recruit members from all over the world, including Malaysia, to join the organization has made many fall into its trap. It has lured many naive youths to become members to fight in Syria and Iraq. These extremists think they are jihadists, but are they really?

            First, let us be clear with the concept of jihad. "Jihad" is an Arabic word that means “struggle” or “resisting”. Its definition is wide and the seemingly most common one - that of going to war, wielding a sword, and finally being declared a "martyr" - is only one way of looking at this concept.

During the early history of Islam, Prophet Muhammad once returned from a tragic war and told his dear companions that the war they had just fought was only a small jihad, and they needed to prepare for the bigger one- resisting desires and temptations. 

In this modern era, humans are tested with greater challenges that make it hard for them to say "no" to their yearnings. They prioritize their wants over their needs just to make them the next greedy person. This is the jihad they need to win before they sign up with a jihadist group.

Learning is also another way to show our jihad. Knowledge is power. To spend our lifetime feeding our curiosity and sharing the answers with the rest is a noble act of jihad. Learning is a lifelong process that helps us become wise, knowledgeable and respected.

Knowledge helps us fight for truth and justice to end the oppression and to emancipate the innocent. The pen is mightier than the sword. Intellectual jihadists are courageous and confident warriors who should stay humble. The knowledge we gain should guide us towards the right path for us to make justified decisions. We seek knowledge for the right reasons and not for recognition.

Negativity is a silent killer that makes life meaningless and worthless. It is also a sinful pleasure we indulge in but to restrain ourselves from eating the forbidden fruit is an achievement and a jihad. When we stay away from unhealthy habits like smoking, overspending, gossiping, clubbing or being hardly punctual for an appointment, we have succeeded in our jihad. Those who cannot put a stop to their immoral activities just because old habits die hard should take this as a challenge en route to becoming exemplary individuals, who are faithful to their religion. 

More than 20,000 Malaysian pilgrims are performing their Haj in Mecca and these devotees struggle to earn the Haji Mabrur - an ultimate success every pilgrim dreams of. 

Now, that’s a jihad that deserves congratulatory greetings.

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie makes life
a wonderful journey.

2 October 2014