Malaysian Malay Muslim

Recognizing Our Strengths

2011-06-28T03:36:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and Good Day to all readers

I just like to say that I agree with the statement by the VC of USM in his suggestion for an alternative model for appraising the strength of local universities.

Regards and Wassalam

Apabila Peluang Dibuka

2010-08-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum para pembaca yang saya hormati

Pada hari Khamis yang lalu saya sempat meluangkan masa menghadiri jemputan berbuka puasa YAB Dato' Sri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak (DSNTR), Perdana Menteri Malaysia di Kompleks Seri Perdana, Putrajaya. Majlis berbuka puasa itu diadakan bagi memberi peluang kepada para pentadbir dan pelajar IPTA / IPTS mengenali lebih dekat YAB Perdana Menteri, di samping mendengar amanat beliau di dalam merencanakan masa depan negara daripada aspek pengajian tinggi.

Saya sempat bertemu dengan DSNTR namun tidak berpeluang untuk berbicara lanjut. Apakan daya, keterujaan kebanyakan pemimpin mahasiswa menyebabkan masing2 begitu mahukan masa bersama DSNTR sehingga terlupa protokol bagi majlis seumpama itu.

Saya juga sempat bertemu beberapa pemimpin mahasiswa untuk memberikan sedikit nasihat, terutamanya di dalam adab berkomunikasi sebagai seorang pemimpin / pejuang mahasiswa.

Sesungguhnya, majlis seperti ini sepatutnya dijadikan ruang untuk membina jalinan dan rangkaian kerjasama yang bakal memberi manfaat kepada para bakal pemimpin pelajar pada masa hadapan. Rugilah kiranya ia sebaliknya dijadikan tempat bermegah untuk bergambar foto secara berlebih2an sambil melopong mengiyakan setiap kata orang!

Sekian dan Wassalam

Ignorance of a Leader

2010-08-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and Good Day to all readers

I do not intend to blow up an issue which recently happened at Surau Al Huda in Kajang Sentral. All that I want to say is that the lesson learnt by the Serdang MP YB Teo Nie Ching has been an expensive one - due to ignorance on her part rather than anything else.

An ignorant leader is a bad leader. I sincerely hope that this episode serves a lesson to us all.

Regards

Ramadhan Karim

2010-08-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum kepada semua pembaca dan selamat beribadah sempena bulan Ramadhan yang penuh barakah.

Pada kesempatan ini saya ingin memohon maaf kepada semua yang mengenali saya sekiranya ada yang terguris hati sepanjang saya menulis di laman ini atau di dalam apa2 percakapan atau tingkah laku saya. Semoga Allah swt memberkati amalan kita semua.

Wassalam

THE ABOMINABLE ACT OF THE ISRAEL ZIONISTS

2010-05-31T07:09:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum to all readers, but a very sad day this is for me.

I have learned today that ships carrying aid on their way to the Gaza Strip have been attacked and plundered by Israeli commandoes who raided the civilian ships at around 4.30am local time, 65km off the Gaza coast.

The ships, dubbed as the 'Freedom Flotilla' were carrying aid cargoes including building material, food and medical supplies, as well as multinational representatives from humanitarian organizations including Malaysian Malay Muslims. Irregardless of the composition of the convoy, the despicable acts of pillage and murder had left 19 civilians dead and the whole watching world aghast.

The very fact that this heinous crime was done in international waters made it all more unbelievable. To set off a media spin, Israel had claimed that their commandoes were set upon by knives and clubs when they descended upon the vessels and had no option but to shoot.

However, their claims did not answer earlier questions on why the raid was executed before dawn, or why did the Israeli military jammed all communications during the operation.

As news began filtering out, it seemed that the commandoes had instead started their move by opening fire at the unarmed civillians aboard the Freedom Flotilla.

My prayers go to all my brothers who are being held captive as we speak, and may Allah swt provide them the strength to overcome this test.

Amin, and Wassalam.

E-Mel Kepada PM Mengenai Ancaman Penyalahgunaan Pasport

2010-05-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

Kepada yang dikasihi, YAB Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak,

Perdana Menteri Malaysia

Assalamu alaikum dan Selamat Sejahtera, dan Salam 1Malaysia

YAB Dato' Sri

Pertama2nya, saya ingin mengucapkan syabas di atas usaha YAB Dato' Sri merapatkan hubungan Malaysia dengan jiran serantau di Asia Tenggara. Sememangnya keamanan dan sikap muhibbah di antara negara2 ASEAN merupakan kunci emas kepada kemakmuran ekonomi di rantau ini, suatu matlamat yang saya yakin dapat dikecapi menerusi dasar luar yang dipimpin oleh YAB Dato' Sri dan YB Dato' Sri Anifah bin Haji Aman sebagai Menteri Luar Negeri Malaysia.

YAB Dato' Sri

Pada 18 Februari 2010 yang lalu, dunia telah dikejutkan oleh pengumuman daripada Leftenan Jeneral Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Ketua Polis Dubai, Emiriyah Arab Bersatu yang telah melaporkan penglibatan ejen2 Mossad Israel di dalam pembunuhan seorang warga kelahiran Palestin bernama Mahmoud Abdel Rauf al-Mabhouh, di sebuah bilik hotel lima bintang di Dubai pada 19 Januari 2010. Apa yang lebih memeranjatkan adalah laporan bahawa berlakunya penyalahgunaan pasport oleh ejen2 Mossad yang melibatkan beberapa negara termasuklah daripada Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Jerman dan Perancis.

Sehubungan dengan itu, beberapa negara yang terlibat di dalam isu penyalahgunaan pasport ini telah mengambil langkah perlu melalui penyiasatan yang berasingan. Pada hari ini 24 Mei 2010, Menteri Luar Australia Stephen Smith telah membuat pendedahan hasil penyiasatan Polis Australia dan agensi perisikan negara berkenaan dan seterusnya mengisytiharkan keputusan mengusir diplomat Tel Aviv daripada Kedutaan Israel di Canberra, mirip kepada keputusan yang dicapai oleh London pada bulan Mac lalu.

YAB Dato' Sri

YAB Dato' Sri mungkin sudahpun turut maklum akan sejarah jijik penyalahgunaan pasport oleh ejen2 Mossad ini. Pada Julai 2004, kerajaan New Zealand telah mengenakan sekatan diplomatik terhadap Israel dan telah menjatuhkan hukuman penjara kepada 2 orang warga Israel yang terbabit di dalam penipuan pasport milik kerajaan New Zealand. Pada September 1997, pasport kerajaan Kanada telah turut disalahgunakan oleh ejen2 Mossad ini bagi cubaan membunuh warga Jordan, Khaled Meshal di Amman.

Walaupun kerajaan Malaysia mempunyai dasar yang jelas terhadap Israel, selaku seorang Muslim Melayu Malaysia yang prihatin terhadap kesejahteraan dan keselamatan tanah air, saya ingin melahirkan kekhuatiran saya mengenai isu ini. Negara Malaysia yang sedikit sebanyak bergantung kepada industri pelancongan dan mengalu-alukan kedatangan pengunjung daripada ruang lingkup Komanwel kini berhadapan dengan ancaman ejen2 Mossad yang bertopeng di sebalik kerakyatan jiran Komanwel kita seperti United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia dan New Zealand di samping negara maju Eropah seperti Jerman dan Perancis.

Oleh yang demikian, besarlah harapan agar YAB Dato' Sri dapat mempertimbangkan cadangan saya agar pemeriksaan yang lebih terperinci dibuat terhadap pengunjung yang tiba menggunakan pasport oleh negara2 yang terbabit. Sekurang2nya, saya memohon agar YAB Dato' Sri dapat menimbang tara cadangan agar Kementerian Luar Negeri mengeluarkan kenyataan bimbang di atas isu penyalahgunaan pasport negara2 oleh ejen2 luar (seperti Mossad) ataupun warga Malaysia (seperti blogger pengecut) yang ditunjangi anasir2 kotor yang boleh mengancam keselamatan negara.

Cadangan ini bukanlah berhasrat untuk menolak kemasukan pelancong daripada negara2 terlibat, malahan bertujuan untuk menjaga hubungan baik sekian lama yang dijalin di antara Malaysia dengan negara2 ini, khasnya daripada kumpulan negara-negara Komanwel. Saya ikhlas berharap agar YAB Dato' Sri dapat melahirkan pendirian Kuala Lumpur di dalam isu ini agar kita boleh terus konsisten terhadap isu2 yang membabitkan Israel.

Terima kasih YAB Dato' Sri.

Ikhlas saya

Tak Kenal Maka Tak Cinta

2010-05-11T02:34:00.001-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and Good Day to all Readers

Just this morning I had the privilege to attend the launching of the Productivity Report 2009 and the Productivity Award 2009 Presentation Ceremony held at Subang Jaya and officiated by YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed (TokPa), Minister of MITI. I also had the opportunity to bring along several students to this event which would have given them a good experience as well as networking opportunities. I strongly believe in enriching our youths, as I feel that they are the anchor runners of our nation.

The second session of the event included a 'Highlight Session' with a paper presentation entitled “Achieving Growth Through Productivity” by YBhg Dato’ Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin, Council Member, National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC). The paper above all underlined the concept of the New Economic Model (NEM) which was revealed by the Prime Minister a while ago and highlighted the importance of the NEM as a model to achieve a better standard of living for the 'rakyat'.

During the question and answer question (which was started off by YBhg Tan Sri Dato` Ir Wan Abdul Rahman bin Hj Wan Yaacob, MPC director, on the insistence of the uncouth emcee), I posted the question on the willingness of ISIS, MPC and other governmental departments to go on the ground to explain the objectives as well as the framework of the NEM to university students as they are the ones who are integral to the working of this new model.

To that, Dato' Dr Mahani confessed that whilst there is a need to explain this policy, the NEAC with its limited number of members (with some overseas) are not able to carry out this task. Later, another MPC director, YBhg Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur suggested that Members of Parliament should take the responsibility to explain the NEM to their respective constituencies as it is "...bigger than sending out an astronaut", as it deals with the livelihood of the rakyat.

I see this spectacle of having the right tools but never the right timing never ending. Somehow, commonsense should just prevail. There should be a strong emphasis to explain the NEM to the masses as it affects each and every citizen of this country, including your Malaysian Malay Muslim.

There is a Malay saying: "Tak kenal maka tak cinta" which basically means "to love is to know". A good analogy is a job description (JD) of an employee. How can an employee work effectively if he is not told the specifics of his duties? Similarly, the rakyat in general, and the voting young especially, would want to learn how do they fit in the jigzaw of NEM. As they learn of their roles and the expectations placed upon them, surely their effectiveness in driving the country forward should also develop further.

As I mentioned earlier, I came with a strong and eager contingent of a good mix of students, both local and international, but ended up explaining the NEM myself to them. Surely there are people more ready, willing and able to do this? I thus urge the respective parties to put the agenda of explaining the NEM to the youth of Malaysia as their utmost priority. These young people are after all, the ones who would be carrying the baton at the next lap.

Regards

Weeding out Bad Hats of the Malaysian Higher Education Industry

2010-05-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and Good Day to all

The Star recently highlighted a couple of news on the issue of colleges running programs without valid regulatory requirements. This is an ongoing issue as Malaysia is moving towards the mission of becoming reknowned for its institutions of higher learning.

The natural attraction of Malaysia is understandable; being the melting pot of Asian cultures, the country is also blessed with good weather as well as the friendly people who are mostly conversant in English. However, the fertile ambience has also made the country a front for companies intending to make the quick buck, so much so the government of Malaysia is considerably finding it a challenge to nab these institutions in the bud.

There are basic pre-requisites for a college to run a programme; firstly the college must be approved of a license to operate by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE) as stipulated in the Private Higher Education Institution Act 1996 (Act 555). An institution should have the license certificate, which is usually valid for a period of five years, publicly displayed. Secondly, the program offered must also be approved. The approval letter should include the details of the program including the duration, the location of conduct, the courses in the program as well as other important information. Sadly though, there still exist colleges who flout these rulings and plead oversight as their escape clause from punishment.

As a Malaysian Malay Muslim, I am thankful that MOHE, especially the Department of Private Education, is continuously taking a pro-active stance in this issue. I urge them to continue acting strongly against these irresponsible institutions which are putting the national agenda of establishing Malaysia as a regional higher education hub in jeopardy. All it takes is a few bad hats to turn cases such as the ones above into bad publicity.

In moving towards a nation supported by the service based industry under the New Economic Model (NEM), the focus on quality and innovation in tertiary education must not be compromised. Thus, we as the public could work hand in hand with the regulatory bodies such as MOHE and the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) to weed out these unscrupulous owners of higher institutions whose only thoughts are centred around making quick profits above anything else. By highlighting higher education-related cases, we are safeholding not only the national interest, but the survival of our children.

Regards and Wassalam

The Gambit at Hulu Selangor

2010-04-14T04:51:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and Good Day dear readers.

I nearly fell off my seat when I first heard of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's (DZI) selection by the PKR bigwigs for the Hulu Selangor by-election which was announced in Serendah on Tuesday night. More surprisingly, the announcement was made in advance of Barisan Nasional's planned announcement on 15 April, which earlier declared their intention to field a candidate from the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).

Being an old goat in politics, DSAI could have taken the cerebral option and a safer bet in Dr Halili Rahmat, a neurosurgeon by practice and a local respected figure. However, the glutton that had defined his character all these years reared its head again and BN's bait in the possibility of pitting PKR against an MIC candidate got the PKR supremo hasting an early decision. What a pity, I must say.

On one hand, the liberal DZI appeals to likeminded voters who are cognisant to his views on many issues including his comments on the legitimacy of the steps taken by HRH the Sultan of Perak in resolving the impasse of the Perak State Government.

On another hand, the make-up of the majority rural community would mean that his persona may not be entirely appealing, especially in defending the track record of PKR in dealing with bread and butter issues ever since the party successfully wrested P94 from Datuk G Palanivel (DGP) in 2008.

It is obvious that from the beginning, the BN coalition had already made their calculations prior to the death of the late Hulu Selangor incumbent, Allahyarham Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad. Subsequently, the MIC red herring was thrown intentionally to get PKR all woozy and overconfident. Apparently the gambit tactic is working so far and PKR might regret the naivety of their chief in taking in the bait.

The only block for me to point out on a comfortable BN win at Hulu Selangor is in the stubborness of MIC in sticking to none other than DGP. Although intended to show unity and undivided support for the candidate, this gesture nonetheless gives rise to accusations of putting the BN leadership in a spot. Secondly, by risking the outcome of BN choosing an alternative candidate to DGP, the MIC stands to be ridiculed for having a disillusioned view of the whole scenario in Hulu Selangor and not listening to the sentiments of the voters, who irregardless of ethnicity, are yet to absolve the MIC leadership from the bad handling of issues related to the Indian community. Thirdly, members overlooked for this candidature may decide to field themselves as independents, indirectly challenging the currently weak MIC leadership.

All in all, I see this by-election going into a tight race of sorts. My recent findings through last week's trip to Hulu Selangor showed the level of support for either side is still unclear. Come Saturday however, this would surely change. And perhaps, DZI is DSAI's red herring after all!

Regards and Wassalam.

A Bosnian Pleasantry

2010-04-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

It has been about fifteen years since Bosnia-Herzegovina emerged from the rubbles of war devastation which resulted from inter-ethnical atrocities among its three major ethnic components with the true aftermath of this deep socio-political gash still subject to debate. However, an undisputed fact is that Malaysia (having derived from its own experience), had always been acommodating and vocal in its support for a peaceful and just nation of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

To this effect, Bosnians hold dear YABhg Tun Mahathir Mohamad (TMM) as head of an international friend and contributor to the rebuilding and subsequent progress of the Balkan country. How fitting then, to coincide with the commemorating of its independence, the community of Bosnia-Herzegovina through University Of Sarajevo (UNSA), has conferred TMM with its distinguished 'Honorary Doctorate of the University of Sarajevo'.

The Dean of the UNSA Faculty of Machine Engineering, Professor Dr Ejub Dzaferovic, had this to say in his proposal submission of TMM's candidacy:

Mr Mahathir proved, in his international activities, his sympathies for Bosnia and Herzegovina and peoples living there, by taking an active role as the 'Ambassador of Peace' in settling down war conflicts, and later, by helping reconstruction and development of our country. He was trying to transpose his positive experience that correct inter-ethnic relations can be achieved only by justice, consistency and economic prosperity, even to the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order with that, his role has been very active in connecting economy and universities of both countries via international projects. The University of Sarajevo has a very considerable cooperation with universities in Malaysia and with Malaysian companies as well. The cooperation reflects in mutual realization of teaching and scientific projects.

Congratulations to TMM for the award which further enhances the image of Malaysia in the international arena. As a discerning Malaysian Malay Muslim, I am both proud and thankful, and hope that the cooperation between Malaysia and Bosnia and Herzegovina be further deepened, especially in the field of higher education.

Regards and Wassalam

Menabur Budi Pada Yang Pasti

2010-03-04T05:36:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Salam Sejahtera para pembaca yang budiman

Sejak kecil saya meminati tanaman dan berkecimpung di dalam hobi berkebun. AlhamdulilLah, setelah usia ini semakin lanjut, saya menjadikan hobi ini sebagai riadah untuk mengeluarkan peluh. Selalunya saya akan ke rumah orang tua saya pada setiap hujung minggu untuk berziarah dan di sana saya akan mencuri masa bagi melakukan hobi ini. Antara yang saya usahakan adalah tanaman cili, terung, mangga, pisang, ubi kayu dan ubi keladi.

Jelas hobi ini ada kelebihannya yang tersendiri. Sepertimana tajuk artikel ini, berkebun merupakan aktiviti menabur budi kepada tanah, yang pasti memberikan pulangan. Bukan hasil tuaian yang saya maksudkan, tetapi pengeluaran oksigen kepada alam yang menjadi bekal kepada semua hidupan. Hasil tuaian adalah bonus kepada usaha ini yang apabila tanaman mengeluarkan hasil, merupakan sesuatu pengalaman yang mengujakan.

Antara hasil yang diambil

Mangga yang dibungkus dengan surat khabar dan akar pokok jalar

Pisang Raja digoreng buat hidangan minum petang yang lazat

Saya mengesyorkan hobi ini kepada semua pembaca tidak kira usia ataupun di mana lokasi anda. Semoga usaha ini memberikan kita jasmani yang sihat, rezeki yang berkat, dan udara alam yang selamat.

Sekian dan Wassalam.

Epitaph of a Brother

2010-02-13T04:56:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum, Happy Holidays and Good Day dear readers

I have been privileged to know a man which I consider my brother. His passing was a shock to me, and I am still at pains to accept his demise. Hopefully my sharing with you will make this easier to take.

He was one of the rare kind. The Bobby Mercer character in 'Four Brothers'. It was once said that Horatius needed two to defend Rome at the Sublician. Well, in 'Abang Onn', he would have probably needed only one.

Inna lilLahi wa inna ilaihi rajiuun. Ila hadratin Nabiyy ahmadim Musytaba Muhammadim Mustafa RasulilLahi sallalLahi alaihi wa sallam. Khususun ilahi ruhi Mohamed Onn bin Sulaiman, kiramin al Fatihah..

Kind regards and Wassalam

Kedaulatan Raja

2010-02-11T03:55:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum and Good Day to all readers

The recent Federal Court ruling on the legitimacy of the sacking of Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (DSMNJ) and the subsequent appointment of Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (DSDZAK) by the Sultan of Perak was met with a wave of emotions from both sides of the divide.

Whilst the ruling BN camp breathed a sigh of relief and joy, the Pakatan Rakyat coalition expectedly denounced the decision, and declared among others that it was 'shameful', and 'a black mark in the history of the country’s judiciary'.

Some may understand the disappointment of the former ruling government, but what made me sit up to write this piece is the remark by a someone who has had a history with the judiciary.

The party’s political bureau chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said the court has decided that the principles of constitutional law, parliamentary democracy and justice were subservient to political wishes.

“It means that the Malay Rulers now have an absolute power over the Chief Executive of the State.

The Sultan now not only has the power to refuse the appointment of anyone proposed by the government of the day as the Mentri Besar that he disapproves of, he also has the power to dismiss the said Mentri Besar if he so wishes,” he said.

He said it seemed that the constitutional requirement that a constitutional head only acted on the advice of the Mentri Besar or the Prime Minister was now no longer applicable.

The last remark made me think deeply on his intended agenda. Putting the will of the people against the supremacy of the head of state is a very dangerous game, especially if the learned ruler had taken steps deemed appropriate to resolve such an intricate impasse.

Moreover, how can impartiality be dispensed by a Mentri Besar or Prime Minister if the very issue at hand is the survival of the incumbent as the head of the exco?

I am shuddered by the fact that Kedaulatan Raja is being poked and questioned but worse, politicized with such henious intentions.

Only Allah swt can have pity on these poor souls.

Regards

Facilitating Quality Changes in Malaysia Higher Education via Training

2009-11-11T19:15:00.001-08:00

Dear readers

When one discusses the matter of quality in Malaysian higher education, it is difficult to actually point out what 'quality' really means. Of course you may want to read on 'quality' before you proceed with this piece but suffice to say I am safe with it meaning 'fitness for purpose' and 'value for money'.

Quality was previously perceptively equalled on the age of existence. University Malaya, for example, was a cradle of many current leaders for the fact that it was there in existence when no other local institutions were. Quality in higher education can also mean size, ie the volume of the institutional grants or revenue, or its expertise. To this, Universiti Putra Malaysia is an example as it stands tall among its local peers with around RM50m in annual grants allocated.

Infrastructure is another keyword in discussing quality in higher education institutions. Universiti Tenaga Nasional for example, was certified a 'Quality-Environment (QE)' university.

The recent development of this sector as an industry has led to a blurriness of fact on what construes a quality institution as there are now many classifications of universities; APEX, RU, IPTAs, GLC IPTs, HEPs and Self-Accredited Universities are all jargons that have found its way into our higher education lexicon and few are understood by laymen. Are these classifications done to tell the apples from the oranges or are they all inclusive? To resolve (and may I add stereotype) the 'quality' issue of Malaysia higher education institutions, several tools and indicators were introduced. Having said that, are tools like SETARA, COPPA and COPIA, MyRA and My3S used to form a ranking or a pyramid of hierarchy, or is the purpose of these mechanisms are to facilitate the self-regulation of the industry?

Whilst it may have noble intentions, it can be argued that additional burden of reporting is increasingly becoming a strain on administrators of the higher education industry as the very institutions that they administer are now under intense scrutiny, with the influx of international students deeply contributing to the latter. Allocations of funds need to be made to equip the members of the institutions in rudimentaries of educational accountability such as in delivering realistic Learning Outcomes (LOs) in programme curricula, as well as ensuring that the support systems of the institution (such as a dedicated International Office and counselling facilities) are adequately provided.

To this effect, the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia has itself gone into transformation. In December 2005, the Quality Unit of the ministry merged with the National Accreditation Board to form what we now know as the Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA). The ministry also created the Higher Education Leadership Academy also known as AKEPT to provide learning and networking opportunities for higher education administrators.

Whilst the former is widely known for its contribution in assuring quality of local higher education, the contribution of AKEPT is comparitively less visible, partly due to the probable fact that their reach is still limited (by budgetary constraints, perhaps).

To this the ministry may like to consider the expansion of educational faculties to provide formal scholarly studies in the field of higher education itself. The growing numbers of institutions would mean a higher demand of trained professional educational administrators with entrepreneurial knowledge to boost. With a strong structure in place, backed up by quality professional administrators, it can be argued that the factory of Malaysia higher education could churn changes on the current fate of the local scene.

The higher education industry is now slowly but surely moving into the next stage of growth, which is the consolidation phase. When the market expands on a certain structure of quality, the 'shophouse colleges' will surely be edged off fashion and die out of natural causes. These structures of quality are now aggresively being put in place, both in the public as well as the private sector.

The regulators nonetheless need to ensure that the institutions themselves are able to keep up with this new direction and pace along the highway of change. Why not by putting the correct brains in their driving seats?

Cheers

The Lonely Fight

2009-10-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

There seems to be no end to the predicament that is spelt as MCA right now. Political jostling for the much coveted top two posts is also distastefully evident with the contrasting statements given by the Central Committee (CC) as well as the thinly veiled shoving off by the CC members of the top incumbent, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Kiat (DSOTK).

It can be argued that the current president was initially the benefactor of the deep-rooted division in MCA; his neutral stance as well as his outspoken and 'lone ranger' image earned him the respect but not the adoration of his partymen. And so it was felt that DSOTK was the better alternative than the representative from the opposing camp.

With all these motive undercurrents whirling in MCA, it is of no surprise that the recent MCA Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) yielded the result it did; the delegates are in summary, not happy with the conduct of the CC headed by DSOTK. The climax of this ugly game also comes at the heels of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal which implicates Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (DSTKS), the Chairman of the Barisan Nasional (BN) Backbenchers' Club.

Anticipating the sorry situation the president is in, the generals have now turned onto their leader with the hope of making a quick kill. DSOTK, realising that his lead of the party is all but over now faces the lonely task of ensuring the bickering of his charges does not result in an implosion of the party, a worse outcome than the laughing stock that the MCA currently is.

As a chief partner in the BN administration fold, the discerning rakyat are surely looking at this situation with dismay. As a Malaysian Malay Muslim, I am in the view that the current MCA is a liability for the ruling coalition, concurring with the feedback I received from a friend, a year ago.

However, the spirit of togetherness that defines us Malaysians should be no more obvious than now; it should be us who facilitate the mending of the relationship of our neighbours. Therefore, it is important that we show our concern on the need to end this feud quickly and offer our help should it be needed.

Having said that this gesture to mediate must not be taken as a way to interfere with our neighbours internal matters. Worse is statements that is intended to sway public opinion for or against parties in the conflict.

At the end of the day, everyone should realise that turmoil benefits no one.

Kind regards and Wassalam

The Isa Candidacy

2009-09-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

Hi all and Salam Eid ulFitr

I have to apologise for this latest hiatus but there are times when I felt my brief blogging days were over due to the overwhelming daily responsibilities as well as infrastructural limitations. There are many articles that did not find the screen as they needed further research on facts; a practice which I observe is rendered no longer important to a few.

I admit that I am relieved that UMNO decided to endorse the candidacy of Tan Sri Isa Samad (TSIS) for the Bagan Pinang state seat. Not that I believe that the PAS candidate Zulkefly Mohamad Omar will turn this by-election into a smear campaign, but for the fact that the UMNO top leadership have accepted the wishes of the local community whom has vocally expressed its support for the former Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar.

Here is a man who has a history; someone who is motivated by the negative perception against him, and someone with a point to prove. With TSIS opting to briefly sit back in tending to the last days of his wife, he appears a strong contender to rejuvenate the image of BN as the fallen champion.

To both men: Good luck, fight well, and May Allah guide your conscience for a better Negri Sembilan.

Cheers and Wassalam

Selamat Tinggal PPSMI

2009-07-10T20:38:00.001-07:00

Assalamu alaikum para pembaca yang budiman

Umpama pembuangan selumbar yang mengganggu masyarakat pendidik lebih sedarsawarsa, pengumuman penarikan balik PPSMI oleh Jemaah Menteri melalui Menteri Pelajarannya, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin disambut dengan syukur oleh ramai pihak.

Sesungguhnya isu ini telah banyak memakan masa dan saluran disebabkan pelaksanaan dasar ini yang dilihat sebagai sebuah dasar siasah dan lebih bersifat menekan, tanpa diberi ruang perbincangan dan kajian dengan secukupnya.

Tujuan mengukuhkan penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris di peringkat rendah dan menengah seharusnya boleh dicapai dengan dasar lain yang tidak merogol kesucian Bahasa Melayu sebagai Bahasa Kebangsaan seperti yang termaktub di dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia.

Natijahnya, penguatkuasaan satu dasar yang gopoh telah menyebabkan negara kerugian daripada segi sumber2 yang telah dibazirkan di dalam 'ujikaji' memupuk keasingan Bahasa Inggeris di dalam aliran pembelajaran bermula murid darjah satu. Lebih parah lagi adalah nasib murid2 tersebut yang telah dizalimi masa depan mereka dalam menimba ilmu yang rata2 dilihat sebagai sumber penting di dalam pembangunan diri sebagai harta negara.

Ini merupakan satu pengajaran besar yang perlu dicatat di dalam lipatan sejarah negara dan dijadikan iktibar kepada golongan pemimpin dan negarawan. Biar besar manapun jasa(atau dosa) seorang pemimpin di dalam membangunkan negara, setiap dasar yang diperkenalkan haruslah dinilai secara halus dan terperinci tanpa mengaitkannya dengan dasar2 lain yang telah berjaya mahupun tidak. Pada asasnya setiap dasar ini perlu ditimbang kekuatan dan kelemahan kendiri sebelum sesuatu keputusan diambil.

Semoga barisan Jemaah Menteri yang ada kini mempunyai kekuatan untuk mempertahankan yang hak dan memerangi yang zalim.

Wassalam

Memegang Teguh Perlembagaan Demi Perpaduan

2009-07-08T02:33:00.001-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Salam Sejahtera rakan pembaca yang saya muliakan

Saya terpanggil untuk mengingatkan diri saya dan rakan pembaca tentang perlunya umat Muslim Melayu Malaysia teguh berpaksi kepada konsep dan definisi kita sebagaimana yang termaktub di dalam Artikel 160 Perlembagaan Malaysia, sepertimana tulisan yang saya petik di bawah:

Oleh sebab itu, telah dinasihatkan oleh Dato' Onn Jaafar dahulu, orang Melayu tidak seharusnya bermain puak dalam politik, kerana faktor inilah yang menyebabkan orang Melayu menjadi berpecah pada zaman penjajah dahulu, dan faktor perpuakan inilah juga yang menyebabkan Dato' Onn mencadangkan agar konsep Melayu itu sendiri didefinisikan semula menjadi "orang Melayu itu bermaksud mereka berbahasa Melayu, beragama Islam dan berbudaya Melayu." Tidak kiralah dia itu orang Jawa, Banjar, Mendailing, Petani, Bugis, Kelantan, Melaka, Brunei ataupun siapa sahaja daripada rumpun Melayu ini - semuanya dianggap Melayu apabila tiga syarat yang tersebut itu dipenuhi!

Politik Melayu di Persimpangan. Suatu Analisis Pilihan Raya Umum 2008 oleh Ahmad Atory Hussain, Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn Bhd (Februari 2009), m.s. 232.

Sekian dan Wassalam

Faktor 'RM' Bakal Memenangkan BN

2009-04-07T02:52:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum para pembaca yang budiman

Walaupun hangat disangsikan dan ditolak oleh kedua2 pihak, namun pengamatan saya mendapati kewujudan faktor 'RM' telah mengubah haluan arus sentimen undi kepada pihak kerajaan yang memerintah. Barisan Nasional seolah2 kini menjadi sebut2an di dalam usaha menyapu kembali kerusi yang dipertandingkan.

Faktor 'RM' bukanlah singkatan kepada 'Ringgit Malaysia' - istilah yang mengkonotasikan amalan jual beli undi dan politik wang. Sebenarnya, singkatan ini adalah kepada dua faktor yang dirangkumkan kepada dua perkataan Inggeris iaitu 'Release' dan 'Mahathir'.

'Release' merujuk kepada pelepasan tahanan ISA yang dahulunya lantang memperjuangkan hak bangsa di bawah bayangan HINDRAF. Langkah ini telah mendapat reaksi positif daripada banyak pihak yang sedikit-sebanyak meletakkan kerajaan BN di bawah pimpinan Dato' Seri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak di bawah sinaran yang elok.

'Mahathir' pula tidak lain dan tidak bukan merujuk kepada kemasukan semula Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad ke pangkuan BN dan UMNO. Tokoh negarawan ini lantas berkempen dengan agresif bagi memenangkan BN di kawasan2 pilihanraya kecil di tengah2 sambutan rakyat yang luar dugaan. Sememangnya karisma beliau adalah sesuatu yang amat didahagakan oleh rakyat yang dipimpinnya selama 22 tahun.

Seolah2 mendapat gejolak ombak Tsunami, kerajaan BN bakal menawan semula hati para pengundi yang seakan2 sudah beransur2 memaafkan BN di atas kealpaan awal mereka. Mungkin tidak di Bukit Gantang, namun jika keseriusan Perdana Menteri baru Malaysia ini dapat diterjemahkan kepada langkah2 ikhlas yang bermakna, nescaya satu lagi ombak akan melanda dalam beberapa tahun lagi.

Wassalam

Kemelut Pentadbiran Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan

2009-02-21T12:47:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum para pembaca yang budiman

Situasi pentadbiran negeri Perak kini diumpamakan sebagai telur di hujung tanduk dengan tindakan beberapa binatang politik yang jelas cuba memburukkan lagi kekusutan yang berlaku kesan daripada perubahan kuasa kerajaan negeri yang dipuncakan daripada tindakan keluar parti tiga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) daripada Pakatan Rakyat.

Apa yang jelas kemelut ini melahirkan rasa kurang senang rakyat lebih2 lagi masyarakat Muslimin Melayu Malaysia yang menjunjung Sultan sebagai pemimpin umat di negara ini. Ini disebabkan perasaan amarah binatang2 politik yang jahil ini melahirkan kebiadaban kepada sistem Raja Berpelembagaan yang belum pernah dilihat di dalam mana2 lipatan sejarah sejak Malaysia merdeka. Kekacauan kepada keamanan yang kian lama dikecapi adalah petanda betapa kejahilan dan kerapuhan iman boleh meranapkan usaha sezaman.

Saya menyeru kepada semua daripada kita yang mengaku cintakan keamanan supaya bertindak menurut lunas undang-undang dan berhenti daripada mengikut emosi yang bukan sahaja memakan diri, bahkan merosakkan negeri seperti yang kini terjadi. Semoga nikmat yang diberikan Tuhan tidak ditarik balik setelah kita insaf dan belajar daripada kesalahan silam, WalLahu alam.

Neo Manhattan Chess Centre (NMCC)

2009-01-13T00:36:00.000-08:00

Hi there

A local chess centre Neo Manhattan Chess Centre (NMCC) will be launched at 42B, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 1, Taman Tun Dr.Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. NMCC vision is to provide all chess related services such as chess coaching, training, simultaneous display, arbiter services and tournament organizing. This centre plans to also sell chess equipment such as chess books, magazines, clocks, chess sets, demo boards and other equipments.

However for the time being, NMCC only provides chess coaching / training package / chess talks and simulations. Everybody is welcomed. The Chess Centre will offer attractive promotion fee for those who are interested to join the coaching and training session.

For further details, please contact: Shamsol Bahrin o12 936 3119 or Irwan Zulkenain 019 386 6587 or email: neo.manhattanchess@gmail.com

Thank you.

Menangguk Peluang di dalam Kekeruhan Kemelesetan Ekonomi

2008-12-13T18:02:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Salam Sejahtera para pembaca yang dimuliakan

Di dalam kemurungan ramai pihak akan kemunduran ekonomi yang berlaku, pastinya ada yang bertanya2 tentang nasihat yang boleh diguna pakai di dalam menebat kesan kemelesetan ekonomi ini. Ini kerana umumnya kemelesetan ekonomi akan menyebabkan pengurangan permintaan terhadap barangan dan perkhidmatan; negara dengan ekonomi mirip Malaysia iaitu yang berpaksikan eksport kepada negara Amerika Syarikat pastinya tergugat dengan pemperlahanan suasana pasaran eksport. Maka di dalam situasi ini kilang-kilang akan mengurangkan operasi, elaun lebih masa akan dihentikan, perbelanjaan modal yang kurang mendesak akan ditangguh, buruh akan dikecilkan - semua ini sehingga situasi ekonomi dunia pulih seperti asal.

Nasihat yang paling penting adalah supaya kita sama2 mengamalkan perbelanjaan yang berhemah. Perbelanjaan berhemah bukanlah bermaksud tidak berbelanja, ia bermaksud berbelanja mengikut perancangan dan priority.

Daripada peringkat individu, terdapat banyak peluang yang boleh dicari di dalam kekeruhan kemelesetan ekonomi. Misalnya, terdapat peluang2 pelaburan melalui aset2 hartanah yang terpaksa disita oleh bank. Dalam keadaan ekonomi yang makmur, aset2 ini pastinya sukar untuk didapati maka ini merupakan suatu peluang yang baik kepada sesiapa yang mempunyai lebihan dana yang dikumpul melalui perbelanjaan berhemah.

Terdapat juga peluang untuk individu meningkatkan kemahiran diri disebabkan pengurangan komitmen tugas disebabkan kemelesetan ekonomi. Inilah masa yang sebaiknya bagi kita untuk mempelajari suatu bahasa, mengambil diploma atau ijazah sarjana yang sudah lama kita idami, mengetahui tentang cara membaiki komputer, bergunting rambut, membuat kuih dan sebagainya. Apabila lengkuk ekonomi negara kembali ke atas, kita sudahpun bersedia dengan kemahiran dan ilmu yang baru.

Kemelesetan ekonomi juga memberi kita semangat untuk mencuba sesuatu alternatif pendapatan yang baru, termasuklah perniagaan2 kecil seperti menjual kuih-muih, nasi lemak dan sebagainya. Ada yang turut mula berkecimpung di dalam bidang pertanian dan kemudian terus berjaya menjadi usahawan tani berkat disiplin dan usaha bertawakal gigih.

Tidak syak lagi terdapat peluang di dalam kekeruhan air muka ekonomi dunia yang mana jika dapat digunakan sepenuhnya, bakal menjanjikan pulangan dunia dan akhirat yang lebih bermakna.

Sekian dan Wassalam.

Doing Things Out of Respect, Not Right

2008-11-30T17:26:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum and hi all

I am trying hard to find a logical solution to all this fuss but all I see picturing in my mind is like an episode of 'Law and Order'. Unfortunately, unlike the tv programme where quid pro quo usually happens, I see no end to this and that is why discussing religious issues (of God's name, of all things) is deemed highly sensitive in a country such as ours where freedom of speech is not absolute freedom.

Let me rehighlight that the real issue under scrutiny is bigger then letting The Herald use the term 'Allah' in their weekly newsletters. Let me also state that the use of the term does not cause people that share my background to get confused so much so weakening my faith in Islam.

My concern is that term is used freely in literature especially for young children who read tales of the prophets (yes, the ones with pretty illustration) and find out that the ending is different altogether than what is taught in al Qur'an by their teachers and parents. I shudder knowing the fact that the few who are unable to read the al Qur'an may rely on translations of it to learn the religion and get it wrong. Worse, they could not tell one scripture from the other!

This is my genuine worry because I see them happening around me. So out of respect rather than right to my fellow peace-loving Christian friends, I hope that commonsense prevails.

It is always difficult to draw a clear line in matters such as this and I wish we do not venture there and share a common ground instead. That for me, is essentially quid pro quo.

Wassalam.

The Responsibility in Mending the Mentality

2008-11-29T16:55:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum and hi again to all

I am intrigued after reading two separate articles in the Star today with both touching on the need to develop a positive mentality in Malaysian sports. One was a comment by the goliath world champion by the name of Nicol Ann David while the other was from the ex-national hockey player Jiwa Mohan on rewarding mediocrity.

All through the years in the higher education industry I have realised that this lack of positivity and boleh dan mahu mentality is the single biggest disease hampering the youth in Malaysia. The culture of cukup2 makan is deeply ingrained so much so that it is bred and practised further once these graduates turn into employees of corporate Malaysia. Add the lack of communication skills and presto, you have a social nightmare and subsequent grim economic aftermath in your hands.

As educators, advisors, parents, sponsors as well as other stakeholders we must take the responsibility of instilling a winning culture in our youths in all areas of life. The development of the nation relies greatly on the competitiveness of its younger generation which in turn may only be achieved through holistic nurturing.

The nurturing of youth are both hard toil and an irreversible process. With stakes so high, care should be taken in ensuring that the policies in youth development are not made victims of unscrupulous limelight-hogging, power-maniacal politics.

As it is, the sight of a clueless 22-year old junior who is unable to speak her mind is very, very disturbing. Imagine that this person has an equal right to decide on the future of our nation through the balloting box.

Regards and Wassalam

The Critical Need to be Critical

2008-11-21T16:43:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum and hello everyone

Just to share this quote on the need to be critical in our society:

I was telling you earlier about the three elements in my morals. They are (1) the refusal to accept as self-evident the things that are proposed to us; (2) the need to analyze and to know, since we can accomplish nothing without reflection and understanding ‹thus, the principle of curiosity; and (3) the principle of innovation: to seek out in our reflection those things that have never been thought or imagined. Thus: refusal, curiosity, innovation.

Michel Foucault. Power, Moral Values, and the Intellectual. An Interview with Michel Foucault by Michael Bess, History of the Present 4 (Spring 1988), p. 1.

Regards and Wassalam

The Glion Colloquium

2008-11-19T06:10:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum and hi all

Over the past decade the Glion Colloquium has established itself as an influential think tank on higher education issues, in particular related to research intensive universities. Every two years the colloquium brings together, generally in Glion, above Montreux, Switzerland, twenty leaders from renowned universities and university organizations, along with influential figures from business and government, especially from Northern America and Europe, but also from leading institutions in other parts of the world.

The Glion Colloquium was launched in 1998 and immediately drew attention with the publication of “The Glion Declaration: the University at the Millennium”, prepared for the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education in the 21st Century, held in Paris in October 1998.

In 1998 the Glion Colloquium identified several challenges facing higher education in the new millenium through a survey done on the participants of the colloquium. These challenges include:

1. The changing environment
 Globalization
 The influence of Technology
2. Missions
 Responsive and responsible universities
 The changing shape of research universities
 Emergence of competitors to traditional universities
3. Students and teaching
 Students
 Teaching
4. The academic profession
 The changing role of teachers
 Tenure
 Developing a new generation of staff
5. Higher education finance
 Securing revenue
 Reducing costs
6. Governance
 Main shortcomings
 Ways to improve university governance
7. Comparing the United States and Western Europe

In discussing the comparison between universities in the United States to that of Western Europe, Weber (1999) identified among others, the original institutional setting and the different roles of the Rector/Vice Chancellor of the two continents with the former more inclined in finding investment, funding and sponsorship opportunities.

Further, the administration of American universities is apparently less constrained by public rules or direct political intervention. Arguably the additional freedom granted to the American universities is cited by many as the reason behind the excellent performance of the American universities in the annual Times Higher Education Index (THEI).

Antara Perubahan, Reformasi dan Inovasi

2008-11-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

Assalamu alaikum dan salam sejahtera para pembaca yang budiman

Saya ingin meminta maaf terhadap kelewatan pengkemaskinian laman blog ini yang disebabkan oleh kesuntukan masa bagi memenuhi semua tanggungjawab saya. Saya tidak menetapkan sela masa yang tertentu sebenarnya bagi menukilkan tulisan di dalam blog ini dan mengalu-alukan apa-apa sumbangan pendapat dan cadangan yang boleh mencetuskan sempadan ilmu yang baru (new frontier of knowledge).

Pembaca yang budiman

Di dalam suasana makroekonomi yang tidak menentu ini sudah acapkali kita mendengar luahan hasrat pelbagai pihak terhadap perlunya suatu perubahan. Perubahan ini bukan sekadar perubahan dalaman yakni daripada cara hidup, tabiat perbelanjaan, sikap dan positiviti, cara berfikir dan pembentukan paradigma, malahan terhadap sistem dan struktur seperti dasar pendidikan tinggi di Malaysia, polisi kesaksamaan pembangunan sosio-ekonomi antara kaum, dasar kewangan (seperti yang telah mencetuskan kemelut sub prima di Amerika Syarikat), sistem penilaian matawang, khususnya Dolar sebagai matawang sejagat bagi dagangan petrol, dasar luar Amerika Syarikat, dan sebagainya.

Umum bersetuju bahawa perubahan itu perlu bagi menjamin kelangsungan dan survival sesebuah dasar atau idea yang unggul. Namun demikian, perubahan itu sebenarnya hanya akan terjadi jika berlakunya reformasi. Reformasi sebenarnya bermaksud perubahan positif hasil daripada perancangan teliti yang diselia perlaksanaannya dengan rapi. Maka perubahan yang terjadi akibat daripada sesuatu peristiwa yang tidak sengaja (by chance, rather than by design) itu tidaklah dikategorikan sebagai reformasi dan bukanlah sesuatu yang patut diamalkan apatah lagi dibanggakan oleh seseorang penggubal dasar atau perancang polisi.

Inovasi pula merupakan alat atau wadah kepada reformasi yang dicetuskan oleh seorang pemimpin yang berpandangan jauh dan mempunyai karisma kepimpinan serta kemahiran berkomunikasi yang baik. Inovasi ini perlu bagi membantu merubah sikap lama atau status quo yang biasanya hadir merentang arus-arus perubahan.

Apa yang dikesalkan kini ialah terdapat inovasi-inovasi yang tidak tuntas kajiannya daripada segi mekanisme dan perlaksanaan. Lebih buruk adalah omong kosong yang bersifat populist yang hanya merugikan negara pada jangka masa panjang. Ini termasuklah segala keputusan mengenai dasar yang bersifat politik dan tidak diputuskan berpandukan empirical evidence dan maklumbalas daripada pelbagai pihak.

Harapan saya kita adalah supaya kita semua dapat melihat dengan lebih kritis setiap syor dan perancangan yang disuapkan kepada kita setiap hari. Saya fikir kita harus besikap demikian demi memenuhi tanggungjawab kita menjaga amanah bumi Malaysia ini untuk generasi kita yang akan datang, Insya Allah.

Drastic Situations Require Drastic Measures

2008-09-30T06:34:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and hi everyone

I would like to first of all wish all Muslim brothers a very happy Eid ulFitri. Hopefully all our intentions, words and actions are blessed by Allah swt.

The recent appointment of Profesor Datuk Dr Zaini Ujang as the new Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Vice-Chancellor is a welcomed move to freshen higher education in Malaysia. Congratulations to Prof Zaini who may be the youngest person ever appointed to the VC post.

His plate is undoubtedly full, considering where UTM is now and where it wants to go. Hopefully his forte in Educational Policy and Planning stand him in good stead to tackle the many issues hampering higher education in Malaysia today.

A topic I will surely update, Insya Allah.

Regards and Wassalam.

The Public Transport issue

2008-09-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and hello to all

The public transport issue is a bane so twisted and crumpled that many policymakers would just chuck it off if possible. Rapid development of industries and its subsequent population outgrew the development of infrastructure (and culture) so much so that our cities are turned into a townplanner's nightmare. As city dwellers most of us waste precious age and risk equally precious lives to commute in inefficient white mammoths called the public transportation.

The situation is exacerbated by the National Automotive Policy which has made Malaysia the leading passenger car market in the ASEAN. The vicious cycle has every other Malaysian driving to work as which is a reason / caused by the inability of public transportation to make a decent profit.

I am all for spending my taxed money to improve public transportation in Malaysia but I do not intend to finance it blindly. There has to be an end to unaccountability for public spending. The buck should stop at the top. Period.

Wassalam and kind regards

People are just - People

2008-09-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and hi everyone

This is a response I made to a friend sharing his experience on friendship with other Malaysian races:

I am glad to see a refreshing point of view of which I believe is actually the opinion of the silent majority. Malaysians are peace-loving and commonsensical but lately irresponsible parties have been harping on the race and equality issue, perhaps to the brink of disrepair.

I opted to keep quiet because apparently nature dictates that NATOs (No-Action-Talk-Only) hog almost every communication channel be it newspapers, blogs or online discussion groups. To that I asked the question "What is MY contribution to society and country?". Not a question for the populist, I know.

In the end, people are just that: people. As I mentioned earlier, corruption and misuse of power are not exclusive of any race, religion or skin colour. We are responsible to inculcate positive character in ourselves and our children so that our society survives. Yes, it is that serious looking at how things are going right now.

I am glad to know that you at least, have Chan as a friend. I myself have many very close friends of other races that I am glad to call 'sahabat' which probably is because of my non-conventional education background.

But that is not to say our race is not important. The fact that many fail to realise is that in Malaysia, the 'Malay' race is tied to religion and to that the brace of unique constitutional rights not found anywhere else in the world. In neighbouring countries this is not the case and we see the consequence it has in the assimilation of race, language, religion and culture. Many say this is not harmful to which I agree, but wait.. the caveat is that UNLESS where Islam is the victim of this assimilation. That is the reason for the special privileges.

It is dangerous when people do not understand the concept and only grasp the manifestations of it. Quotas and allocations are not relevant but they are what most people are talking about. Worse is extremism.

I have been through both ends of the spectra; I have Kumar, Bala, Vimal, Nantha et al and Jenn Shing, Mr Yee, Khay Wai et al who I trust would lend me an arm and a leg in dire times (and vice versa) but I have also encountered Sundra (who called me racist btw) and Chen (who told me that Malays are oppressive people).

As commonsense prevails, we will see that people are just people.

Wassalam

It is 16 September 2008 and I am waiting

2008-09-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

For all the hullabaloo concerning the change of government, I am currently waiting for the so called transition to happen. DSAI reiterated his assurance that the proposed transition would be a swift affair, once he has sought a meeting with Pak Lah. However, from what I have witnessed so far, this is merely an excuse to put the country in tenterhooks which in turn will upset the Malaysian economy.

This is an extremely cunning ploy. By prolonging the suspense, DSAI will be able to hog the media limelights for quite some time. He will also be able to shift attention of the public to the grim economy which is actually facing a global slowdown. If he can hold this for long enough, he may be successful in getting Pak Lah's meeting him as ransom to this political blackmailing.

In echoing Ku Li's views, I for one agree that this political shenanigan has gone overboard. For all the trust and money of the public spent, the focus should actually be given in strengthening the economy and nationbuilding. Instead we see political and racial bickering which in turn will hurt local competitiveness in the world market. Too often views are hurtfully divided along the political fence. The truth it seems, no longer bears relevance.

DSAI must be sincere to Malaysians and declare MPs aligned to him. It is unfair for the country to be in the grey of this alleged change of allegiance. Either say his piece, or forever hold his peace.

As it is, 16 September 2008 is wearing fast and so is my patience.

Tamingsari 73(1) AKDN 1960

2008-09-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

Gusar Sultan Melaka sekonyong2 baginda sedar pembuangan si Penderhaka berkehendakkan Tamingsari. Bukankah rakyat Melaka nanti bakal bertanggap unggul hulubalang Tuah itu terletak hanya di atas keris yang hikmat?

Namun, setelah ditimbang tara dengan nasihat mamanda Bendahara, maka lebih jelas bahayanya jika rakyat yang dibiar menjadi korban. Dengan sugul dan berat hati dilepaslah Tun Tuah oleh Sultan Melaka untuk mara ke Istana Sultan yang ditawan.

Si Penderhaka mencampak Tamingsari seraya mencabar Tuah. "Kalau kau hendak betul2 membunuh aku, ambillah Tamingsari, dan bunuhlah aku".

Maka dengan lafaz "La ilaha illa Anta, subhanaka inni kuntu min az Zholimiin", si Penderhakapun terkulai dimamah Tamingsari.

Perubahan Waktu Persekolahan Rendah di Putrajaya

2008-09-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

Pagi semalam seorang sahabat yang juga merupakan ketua saya mengeluh sambil mengadu tentang nasib isteri beliau yang kini mencari 'padang ragutan' baru disebabkan keputusan Pengarah Pendidikan Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya yang mengubah sesi persekolahan rendah di Putrajaya kepada sesi penuh sehingga jam 5 petang.

Walaupun sudah dikecam hebat sewaktu sesi perbincangan terbuka oleh sebilangan para guru yang dijemput memberikan pandangan, pegawai atasan berkenaan masih tidak berganjak daripada keputusannya yang dibuat tanpa kajian ataupun maklumbalas yang menyeluruh. Ini seolah-olah sudah menjadi trend tetap di bidang pendidikan, khususnya pendidikan peringkat rendah. Belumpun pulih daripada isu Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik di dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI), isu ini pula muncul sambil mengukuhkan lagi hujah para akademik bahawa pendidikan di Malaysia dibinasakan oleh dasar-dasar yang digubal secara top-down.

Sepertimana PPSMI, idea persekolahan rendah bersesi penuh adalah pada asasnya baik. Namun yang demikian, perancangan yang rompang hasil daripada sifat maghror pegawai penggubal dasar merupakan gunting dalam lipatan kepada aspirasi kerajaan membikin kemajuan pendidikan yang mantap. Seolah-olah perancang dasar tidak memikirkan tentang kesulitan ibu-bapa murid yang terpaksa menguruskan makan minum dan mandi tanpa prasarana yang mencukupi.

Soal utama yang dibangkitkan guru adalah tentang anak2 mereka sendiri yang bakal menjadi korban kepada polisi tersebut. Jikalau sibuk dengan mengajar hingga ke petang, masakan guru2 ini punya masa yang cukup untuk menyediakan makan pakai anak2 mereka sendiri?

Kini guru2 di Putrajaya sedang mencari alternatif lain termasuklah memohon pertukaran ke negeri lain. Sudahlah gaji yang diterima sama (walaupun beban masa kerja bertambah), kebajikan mereka seperti diperlekehkan pihak atasan.

Jika para guru di Putrajaya mengajar dalam keadaan protes, besar kemungkinan prestasi murid di kawasan itu bakal terjejas. Natijah daripada ini bakal merugikan banyak pihak, termasuklah ibu bapa, para guru, pentadbir dan penggubal dasar sekolah serta murid itu sendiri.

Semoga kita sedar bahawa situasi lose-lose ini tidak membawa apa2 manfaat kepada negara.

Wassalam

Apabila Politik Disanjung, Retorik Dijunjung

2008-09-12T07:06:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan salam sejahtera

Saya memohon maaf kepada semua pembaca kerana tidak berkesempatan untuk mengemaskini blog ini akibat kesibukan tugas. Terima kasih saya ucapkan kepada pembaca yang sudi bertanya khabar dan menggesa saya supaya lekas menulis memandangkan terdapat kebanjiran isu yang menjadi bualan masyarakat kini.

Apa yang saya gusarkan adalah perbicaraan-perbicaraan ini mengambil panduan daripada khabar-khabar angin tanpa fakta yang jelas. Seperti yang sudah saya nukilkan tidak lama dahulu, tanggapan yang dibuat melalui kaca mata yang kabur hanyalah bakal mengundang bencana apatah lagi jika disira dengan minyak tanah emosi.

Itulah lumrah politik yang bersifat retorik dan lebih kepada persepsi daripada fakta. Apabila kita menyanjung kepemimpinan sebegini, tidaklah mampu kita mengelak bala perpecahan daripada terjadi.

Wassalam.

The Gamble that is Permatang Pauh

2008-08-01T06:02:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and hi there

The recent announcement by DSAI to contest his previous parliamentary seat at Permatang Pauh have illustrated his steely and shrewd determination to once again grace the august house of Parliament, amidst the rancour of criticisms from various parties.

The criticisms range from the waste of public funds in the bowing out of the incumbent, the wife of DSAI, to the undermining of voters' confidence in ensuring the ascesion plan of PKR.

I am personally dismayed by these facts, so much so that I wish that I am strong enough to to stand against DSAI myself at Permatang Pauh, such is my stand against DSAI's antics, as well as my belief that the silent majority should now stand up and speak up their mind.

I will need to resign from my job, find people who are willing to stand as my proposers and campaigners and of course, find that small funding amount that defines what Malaysian politics is all about.

For the sake of the country I dare to muck myself in the murkiness of politics; to stand for what is right in Malaysia, and to prove some points. But then again, surely there are several more accomplished people who can stand up for my beliefs?

The Dangling Carrot

2008-07-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and Hi there

I would just like to sum up my meeting with a reknowned local expert in the field of Malaysian Educational Studies today. Succintly:

The withdrawal of carrots in a carrot culture is akin to whipping the stick in a stick culture.

Are we in such a culture?

Isu Perdana di Terengganu

2008-07-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Salam Sejahtera

Saya menggeleng2 kepala dalam mengikuti perkembangan isu pembelian kereta rasmi oleh kerajaan negeri Terengganu. Isu ini tidak sepatutnya terjadi kiranya pihak kerajaan negeri Terengganu lebih peka:
1. Peka terhadap budaya pengurusan aset yang berhemah; dan
2. Peka kepada arahan kabinet tentang penggunaan kereta Proton Perdana untuk urusan rasmi.

Satu lagi isu yang saya ingin ketengahkan di sini adalah kurangnya 'regulation' terhadap industri khidmat servis kereta. Jika kita amati, industri ini jarang menggunakan paparan senarai harga, terutamanya bengkel kereta yang beroperasi sendiri.

Maka keadaan ini mengundang manipulasi harga yang diakui di dalam kes kereta Perdana di Terengganu.

Tidak dinafikan, isu ini sedikit-sebanyak mencalar arang kepada imej Menteri Besar Terengganu yang baru. Semoga beliau bingkas sedar tentang hakikat duduk di kerusi panas ini.

Wassalam

'Casino Royale' - Antara Skandal Anwar dan Najib

2008-07-04T17:54:00.001-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Selamat Sejahtera

Terdapat beberapa permintaan daripada rakan2 saya untuk mengulas berkaitan perkembangan politik yang membabitkan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (DSNTR) dan DSAI. Ujar saya kita harus bersabar dan tidak membuat apa2 spekulasi awal berkaitan perkembangan ini kerana spekulasi seperti itu tidak membawa apa2 faedah, malah boleh menimbulkan suasana yang tidak selesa.

Senario yang saya perhatikan ini seakan2 mirip cerita wayang 'Casino Royale'. Di meja baldu hijau DSNTR dengan DSAI, masing2 tampak yakin dengan daun yang dimiliki mereka.

Satu demi satu daun dilontarkan ke atas meja, dan dan serentak itu jugalah sorakan dan riuh-rendah suara pemerhati di sekeliling menyokong dan mencemuh protagonis dan antigonis mereka.

Ada juga pemain lain di atas meja, namun mereka sudah 'bungkus'.

Bakal pemenang belum boleh dipastikan tetapi percaturan ini tampak menyeronokkan bagi sesetengah pihak. Bagi saya, jika kita bertaruh RM1 dan menang, kita tidak menang RM1 + RM1 = RM2. Malah, saya katakan kita kalah RM1 dan dapat dosa kerana perjudian itu HARAM.

Saya juga ingin mengingatkan diri saya dan para pembaca bahawa terdapat perbezaan di antara mengadukan perlakuan jenayah dengan membuka keaiban sesama Islam.

Semoga kita semua diberikan kekuatan untuk menghadapi keadaan sekarang ini.

Sekian dan Wassalam

Discoursing on the Brink of Disharmony

2008-07-02T09:16:00.001-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and Hello everyone

A friend recently confided in me on his personal take on (one of) the reasons behind the poor election showing by the Barisan Nasional component parties, particularly those of Gerakan-MCA-MIC. He is by the way a moderate UMNO member and was not shy to admit that he voted for the opposition in a straight fight between two non-Muslim Malay candidates.

His reasoning was very frank: Malaysians are peace-loving people, he said. The (then) recent developments of open conflict, confrontation and dissent by certain race based organisations thus indicated to him that the BN component parties which are supposed to be championing these races have not done their job well enough. Therefore these component parties were rejected, most of them outright, as their failure to protect the interests of their races had sacrificed the harmony of the country.

Shaken by the poor polling results these component parties react, with some overzealously. Rather than looking in at their own weaknesses, certain parties started looking elsewhere, at the weaknesses of others for the ease of scapegoating. Some even naughtily encroached the Never-everland of Constitutional privileges which are senstively held dear by the Malaysian Malay Muslims.

Whilst Article 10(1) of the Constitution guarantees the right of every Malaysian to free speech, this right is not absolute and is limited by Article 10(4).

The HRH Sultan of Perak, having the experience of a learned judge in the capacity of Lord President of the Federal Court once said:

The right to free speech ceases at the point where it comes within the mischief of the Sedition Act (1948).

Therefore, I nodded in agreement on the recent comment made by Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (DSSHA) expressing his concerns on the Malaysian Bar Council holding a forum discussing the Malaysian social contract.

His remarks was later attacked by the MCA Youth wing, citing that DSSHA had shown lack of mutual tolerance. The wing further made two sweeping statements:

"All Malaysians are knowledgeable and mature enough to discuss any matter related to the Constitution openly," and

“Anyone who wants to prevent or object to such forums has actually gone against the freedom of speech as enshrined in the Constitution.”

My friend's remark came back gushing into my head.

Kemuraman Bumi Mahsuri

2008-07-01T04:59:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Selamat Sejahtera

Pertama kali saya menjejakkan kaki ke bumi Langkawi, hati saya sudah tertawan. Ketenteraman yang wujud daripada kemesraan masyarakatnya dan keindahan bentuk muka buminya memang tidak boleh dibandingkan dengan mana2 tempat di Malaysia.

Kenangan bercuti santai bersama keluarga selama 7 hari memang merupakan ingatan yang amat indah, terutamanya setelah saya meyakinkan diri bahawa sebelum saya bercita2 mahu bercuti di negara orang, lebih moleklah kiranya saya menjelajah negara sendiri. Maklumlah, jika kita bercerita beriya2 tentang Niagara Falls dan Ipanema, Suq di Marrakech dan Menara Eiffel tetapi terkaku bisu tatkala ditanya orang asing tentang pekan Kuah, kolam Gadek, Hutan Lipur Lentang dan Terubuk Masin Sarawak, bukankah ironik (atau pelik) namanya?

Oleh yang demikian, saya berasa sedih apabila membaca nasib yang bakal menimpa bumi Langkawi. Bukanlah untuk menuding, tetapi perubahan polisi pengurusan kewangan kerajaan yang lebih berjimat dan pertukaran tampuk pemerintahan negeri Kedah mungkin merupakan antara faktor utama di sebalik keputusan ini.

Maka gembira saya ini berbaur sedih. Gembira kerana kerajaan yang dipilih 'cakap serupa bikin'. Sedih pula kerana mengenangkan bakal nasib pengusaha chalet di Pantai Tengah dan peniaga Warung Makan Fatimah di Ulu Melaka, penjual ikan bilis tersohor di Pantai Pasir Hitam, peniaga kraf di Pusat Kraf Langkawi dan para nelayan Persatuan Nelayan Langkawi. Mungkin juga nasib yang sama buruknya bakal menimpa Chef Jepun istimewa di The Loaf milik TDM di Telaga Quay!

Oleh itu saya membina azam untuk mengelakkan kemuraman daripada melanda bumi Mahsuri; iltizam saya ialah untuk mengumpul wang untuk membawa keluarga sekali lagi ke Langkawi. Saya akan juga mengajak rakan dan taulan selain daripada beberapa rakyat asing yang saya kenali untuk naik mengunjungi Langkawi. Pada saya patriotisme bukan bererti bertegang leher melaung2kan 'Merdeka'; ia seharusnya ditunjukkan dengan membeli khidmat dan barangan Malaysia.

Jika khidmat atau barang yang kita beli itu tidak bermutu, janganlah senyap dan mengelak untuk membelinya lagi. Sebaliknya, bantulah peniaga itu meningkatkan mutu barangannya dengan memberikan maklumbalas yang tulus dan sewajarnya. Itulah pada saya cara menunjukkan kasih kepada bangsa dan wangsa.

Siapakah lagi mahu bersama2 saya ke Langkawi pada hujung tahun ini?

Melihat Kebenaran Melalui Kaca Mata yang Jelas

2008-06-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Selamat Sejahtera kepada semua pembaca

Rakyat Malaysia, terutamanya Muslim Melayu Malaysia, terenjat sekali lagi dengan berita tentang aduan polis yang dibuat terhadap Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI) yang mirip dengan tuduhan yang dihadapinya sekitar sedekad lalu.

Umum mengetahui apa kesudahan tuduhan yang mengheret DSAI ke mahkamah. Hujah hakim Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad sewaktu menerima rayuan DSAI:

"We may be convinced in our minds of the guilt or innocence of the appellants but our decision must only be based on the evidence adduced and nothing else."

Saya berasakan ungkapan ini masih lagi boleh diguna pakai di dalam keadaan ini. Acapkali ketajaman akal kita dalam menterjemah fakta dikelabui perasaan yang meluap2 sama ada benci atau cinta, sehingga kita menjadi tumpul di dalam menilai kebenaran yang wajar.

Kebenaran dan keadilan mutlak bukanlah berada di tangan kita. Oleh yang demikian janganlah pula kita berasa gembira dan mengikut serta di dalam menyebarkan khabar2 yang belum tentu ada asas dan buktinya.

Janganlah kita cepat berang dan bangkit melulu menuduh ini angkara si polan dan si polan walhal yang kita lakukan itu bakal mengundang padah yang lebih buruk. Cukuplah Malaysia ini diburukkan oleh binatang2 politik yang berakhlak syak. Usahlah kita juga diheret ke dalam kancah yang sama. Marilah sama2 melihat kebenaran melalui kaca mata yang jelas, berfikir secara waras dan bertindak dengan bernas.

Konspirasi Petroleum

2008-06-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Selamat Sejahtera semua

Saya yakin ramai yang mungkin tertanya2 setelah mendapat tahu tentang perkembangan di Jeddah, Arab Saudi tentang tindak balas negara berkenaan terhadap kemelut Petroleum dunia. Ada seperti sesuatu yang tidak jelas pada pandangan kasar terhadap langkah kerajaan Arab Saudi meningkatkan pengeluaran domestik kepada 9.7 juta tong sehari menjelang bulan Julai ini, di samping menyediakan hampir USD500 juta bagi tabung pinjaman mudah bagi membantu negara2 pengguna petroleum. Kekeliruan ini ditambah pula dengan reaksi songsang masyarakat dunia yang ditunjukkan dengan harga pasaran petroleum ketika ini.

Sebenarnya, elemen bekalan sahaja tidak cukup untuk menstabilkan harga pasaran. Terdapat elemen lain yang sama pentingnya iaitu elemen permintaan.

Buat masa ini, dunia masih lagi berada di dalam keadaaan panik setelah direnjat dengan teori Puncak Minyak. Inilah sebabnya mengapa tindakbalas peningkatan pengeluaran, khususnya daripada negara2 OPEC tampak kurang berkesan. Yang lebih ampuh adalah apabila permintaan dikurangkan, terutamanya daripada negara pengguna tenaga utama dunia iaitu Amerika Syarikat.

Mengapakah tiada tindakbalas jelas daripada negara ini? Mengapakah mereka tidak cuba meredakan kegawatan pasaran dengan mengurangkan permintaan atau mengeluarkan rizab simpanan mereka? Apakah mereka meraih apa2 keuntungan disebabkan oleh keadaan seperti sekarang? APAKAH TERDAPAT KONSPIRASI PETROLEUM YANG SEDANG BERLAKU?

Rizab petroleum Amerika Syarikat adalah besar sekali. Namun, disebabkan oleh penggunaan mereka yang juga besar, rizab yang sedia ada hanya dapat menampung kegunaan dalaman selama lebih kurang tiga tahun. Pengeluaran domestik mereka, terutamanya di negeri Texas dan Alaska, masih tidak mencukupi. Maka sepatutnya kenaikan harga petroleum dunia bakal mengundang padah buat negara ini.

Hakikatnya, hubungan akrab kerajaan Amerika Syarikat dengan kerajaan Arab Saudi di samping penggunaan Dolar AS sebagai matawang urus niaga petroleum merupakan antara faktor tebatan yang mengkaliskan ekonomi Amerika Syarikat daripada bahana ini.

Apakah peranan Iran di dalam konspirasi ini? Marilah kita sama2 menunggu sambungan drama bersiri 'Pencarian Emas Hitam AS' tidak beberapa lama lagi. Ini adalah bahagian terakhir trilogi Afghanistan. Iraq. Iran. Besar kemungkinan, trilogi baru akan muncul - Venezuela? Libya? Sudan?

Di antara Kegelojohan ataupun 'Survival'

2008-06-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

Sesungguhnya arena politik tanah air sekali lagi mendapat renjatan apabila sebuah parti komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) SAPP meluluskan resolusi untuk mengemukakan undi tidak percaya terhadap Datuk Seri Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi yang juga merupakan Pengerusi BN.

Walaupun desas-desus tentang perkembangan ini sudah awalnya digemburkan oleh Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, namun yang lebih menjadi tanda tanya adalah motif sebenar di atas tindakan parti tersebut yang memenangi dua kerusi Parlimen di bawah pimpinan bekas Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Yong Teck Lee (DYTL) pada pilihanraya Mac lalu.

Ramai yang mengatakan bahawa motif di sebalik keputusan ini adalah kegelojohan DYTL di dalam merebut kuasa setelah dipinggirkan di dalam pemilihan calon pada pilihanraya yang lalu. Ini termasuklah Pak Lah serta beberapa pemimpin kanan BN. Ini dihangatkan pula dengan komen DYTL tentang wujudnya 'peluang' dan 'masa' yang tepat setelah dua kali bertemu dengan penasihat PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Namun di sebalik semua ini, saya yakin faktor utama yang menjuruskan DYTL kepada keputusan ini adalah perkembangan kes mahkamah melibatkan tuduhan pecah amanah Tan Sri Kasitah Gadam yang mungkin turut menjerat DYTL setelah perihal Briskmark terungkai kelak.

Dengan status sebagai komponen picisan, perjudian politik ini sebenarnya bagi saya bukanlah di atas sifat tamak, namun lebih kepada sifat mahu terus hidup di dalam senario politik Sabah yang tidak menentu. Tidak dinafikan bahawa SAPP berpendirian sebegini demi kepentingan 'survival' mereka sendiri.

Di dalam politik yang kotor lagi mengotorkan ini, apakah ada pilihan lain untuk DYTL?

The Cost of Ignorance

2008-06-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

Though not my part of my everyday duty, in my professional life I come across many university students who are in need of assistance, especially on advice in life.

I find this not surprising, as I was once in a similar position. There were not many people who were there for advice, and equally clueless peers apart, I found no one and ended up not trusting the system of public student sponsorship.

Nowadays, we have PTPTN, which above all things, should be lauded for helping many students achieve their tertiary education ambitions. This is apart from JPA, MARA and a host of other GLC trusts which provide financial assistance through scholarships as well as loans.

Nevertheless, I personally believe, this assistance should be extended far beyond monetary aid alone. Sincere assistance through a more holistic approach should be adopted in ensuring that money spent on the future generation is not only optimally utilised, but also benefits them by building them up as good citizens with high morals, positive attitude and good communication and entrepreneurial skills. They must be well versed on current happenings as well as have sound general knowledge.

I recently came across a girl who got her studies terminated, having had poor CGPA in two consecutive semesters. I discovered that she was not all that bad; in fact she aced a few courses. What made her stay in the program brief was actually due to the ignorance of certain academic rules which would otherwise saw her safely through the first year of university.

I was aghast. Not only this poor if not foolish girl wasted a good year of her life away, but in the end she was shattered. Surely this would not have happened had this girl talked to someone who knew about these rules? How much of PTPTN funds are thrown away this way, bearing in mind that it takes awhile before they could even think of recouping the money?

What about the girl's parents? Together with the financiers, the parents are stakeholders of this project called the 'tertiary education'. As much as they wanted to help, they cannot really do much as times change, and so does the education environment.

I believe there is a flaw in the system. I believe this flaw must be rectified to ensure that no more funds, be it public or private, are wasted in financing educational ventures which are doomed to fail. I believe that apart from the education institution, the financiers should be more responsible in ensuring a higher success rate in university graduates, and those who graduate, do so with high quality distinction.

MARA has recently decided to gather their under achieving scholars so that they can be given motivation to improve their academic performance. This is a positive trend; having said that, I trust that they can do much more.

For one, academic advisers can be appointed to meet all scholars face to face to personally motivate them. I find that one to one sessions are the most effective as students may feel inhibited to air their problems with their peers present. Above all else, the advisers must have in depth knowledge of the university, academic rules, student life, etc so that students do not feel that they are talking to just another parent.

I notice that some students nowadays take some time to mature in terms of making the right decisions in life. Hence, having activities such as breakouts or camps may benefit them in instilling responsibility and decisiveness.

Producing resilient and quality graduates to lead the future of Malaysia should not only be borne by a few selected shoulders; it must be the duty of everybody in the country, for the sake of the country.

The loss of youth and the waste of money apart, what is the true cost of our ignorance?

Minyak Oh Minyak

2008-06-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Salam Sejahtera

Rata2 tajuk perbincangan yang saya baca di media aliran perdana mahupun alternatif, masih berlingkar atas hal kenaikan minyak. Ramai yang mengutarakan pendapat, dan lebih ramai pula yang mendengar. Tidak kurang juga yang 'naik minyak' di atas kenaikan harga minyak petrol tanahair.

Sebenarnya, soalnya mudah. Kerajaan berasakan pemberian subsidi minyak sebelum ini adalah tidak adil kerana ia tidak khusus kepada golongan yang benar2 memerlukan. Sewaktu minyak berada di paras harga dunia USD30 setong, perkara ini mungkin tidak diambil pusing. Namun demikian, paras harga minyak dunia sudahpun meningkat kepada USD125 setong dan kini pemberian subsidi oleh kerajaan bukanlah lagi satu perkara yang realistik.

Ramai yang mengatakan sebaliknya Malaysia, sebagai negara pengeluar minyak ('net exporter country') sepatutnya lebih makmur dengan kenaikan harga petrol dunia. Maka disabitkan subsidi minyak ini patut diteruskan.

Isunya begini: Walaupun Malaysia sekarang merupakan pengeluar minyak, namun bekalan minyak negara Malaysia sudah mulai susut. Oleh yang demikian, penerusan pemberian subsidi walaupun boleh dilakukan, akan hanya boleh dibuat di dalam jangka masa yang pendek, yakni sekitar 15 tahun lagi. Pandangan jangka masa panjang yang lebih realistik adalah dengan menggunakan sumber negara dengan berhemah, dan menjana kembali perolehan minyak negara ke dalam industri2 yang berdaya mampu (seperti sumber tenaga kekal, bioteknologi dsb).

Kritikan sesetengah pihak terhadap kerajaan adalah mengapa perkara ini tidak diambil perhatian lebih awal? Maka jawapannya sepatutnya dijawab oleh kepimpinan sebelum ini, di bawah Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad! Saya jauh sekali mahu menuding jari ke arah mana2 pihak; yang penting di sini adalah kita berfikir secara wajar dan tidak emosional kepada seseorang pemimpin.

Kenaikan harga minyak sekarang sebenarnya tidak boleh dibendung lagi. Penglibatan spekulator komoditi dan mata wang menyebabkan nilai Dolar AS merudum dan akibahnya meningkatkan harga petrol di pasaran dunia. Ini secara langsung disebabkan oleh urusniaga petroleum dunia yang dijalankan di dalam matawang Dolar AS.

Maka penilaian kepada kepimpinan sekarang haruslah objektif dan rasional. Penjimatan daripada subsidi petrol sedikit sebanyak dilaburkan semula kepada subsidi makanan dan kepada belanjawan negara yang sekarang ini harus ditumpukan kepada pembangunan kemudahan pengangkutan bas awam yang dahulunya dianaktirikan. Ini adalah sesuatu yang sukar dan tidak boleh diselesaikan di dalam satu dekad.

Jangan kerana nyamuk seekor, kelambu pula dibakar. Hina besi kerana karat, hina bangsa kerana berpecah.

It's 78Sen!

2008-06-04T21:26:00.001-07:00

The rumours that have been flying recently were finally put to rest as effective today, the petrol pump prices have been increased to RM2.70. This is an increase of a whopping 78Sen, or 40.625% the highest petrol price increase for as long as I can remember. Consumer and industrial prices will now follow suit surely, if not slowly.

I am actually all for the removal of petrol subsidies. If I had it my way, I would in turn rechannel the savings to all targeted groups via the Inland Revenue Board. Of course, this is easier said than done.

In fact the decision to provide rebates to all motor vehicle users through postal order upon renewal of road tax is actually a good move. It eliminates the need to prevent foreign cars from filling up at local stations, as well as ensures that the rebates go to deserved citizens (driving small engine cars, that is).

I am nonetheless looking forward to find out the steps that the government is taking to ensure indirect users of petrol are not the ones who suffer from the rising price of petrol. These include students who commute to school through public transport and pay for food which is affected by the price increase. They also cover housewives and pensioners whom neither drive nor own motor vehicles.

It is still too early to see any immediate impact from the price increase apart from the fact that certain roads were severely jammed by cars queueing for petrol up till midnight yesterday. Some were turned away, a stark yet probable reminder of future things to come.

Living off Petrol

2008-05-30T05:09:00.000-07:00

I was told by a family member of mine (who by the way works with the local oil giant) a few weeks ago that the petrol price was to be increased to more than RM2 per litre some time yesterday. Fortunately it was not. What Dato' Shahrir Samad said was that there would be no more local petrol sales to foreign registered cars within a 50km border radius. (Sure enough it caused pandemonium in certain areas of the country).

That did not mean I disregarded the rumour. As with all anxious human beings whose fate and fortune rely heavily on a particular mixed hydrocarbon called petroleum, I duly took my car to the filling station and filled up.

Another rumour is that the price of petroleum will end up at the USD200 per barrel region by the end of the year. Currently it is at USD126, way above the USD75 it was last year. It all but points out to the out of control spiralling of petroleum, and with it, the World economy.

Only by being able to subsist without reliance on oil, can we guarantee a future not affected by the absurdity of the commodity demand curve. Most people however, feel this is impossible.

Among the ideas thrown about by the ayesayers nevertheless, is the invention of machines and tools able to harness the alternative sustainable energy sources; nuclear, solar, hydroelectricity and biofuel, to name a few. Of course there is also that stupendous idea of hydrofuel.

As it is, I am relying on my 20-point agenda which is drawn up to fight the petrol-driven inflation. I hope that it benefits other Malaysians as well.

As I head back to my village to have my family haircut, I dread to think what Malaysia would turn out to be without the occasional 'Balik Kampung' journeys.

Less road fatalities, I presume.

Ulasan Kritis (Namun Ikhlas) terhadap Kepemimpinan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

2008-05-20T08:44:00.001-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Selamat Sejahtera

Saya terpanggil untuk mengulas komen Suara Marhaien. Diharap ulasan saya ini tidak disalahmengertikan sebagai komen menghentam kepemimpinan sesiapa; niat saya supaya kita rakyat Malaysia, khususnya Muslim Melayu Malaysia, dapat menilai isu yang berkait rapat dengan perkembangan negara kita secara rasional dan objektif. Oleh itu sebelum saya menulis lebih lanjut, saya memohon maaf jika ada hati yang terhiris ataupun terguris.

Saya tidak nafikan era 22 tahun pemerintahan TDM membawa kebaikan kepada negara. Namun demikian, pemerhatian saya, seorang Muslim Melayu Malaysia (yang kritis tetapi ikhlas) ke atas pemerintahan TDM mendapati bukan sedikit kejahanaman yang dibawa Tun kepada negara ini. Ini yang saya maksudkan sebagai 'legacy' TDM - yang baik dan yang buruk.

Kejahanaman #1 - Mempopularkan budaya politik Machiavelli di dalam UMNO.

Pemerhatian saya mendapati TDM adalah seorang yang amat fokus dan bertekad tinggi. Kerap kali, beliau membuat keputusan secara autokratik dan kurang mengendahkan pendapat majoriti, dan kadang2 bertindak dengan 'matlamat menghalalkan cara'.

Beliau dijulang apabila bertindak membelakangkan nasihat IMF di dalam mentadbir kemelesetan ekonomi pada tahun 1997-98, namun ramai yang juga tidak lupa tindak-tanduk beliau yang seperti menyoal kuasa Raja-raja Melayu, merojakkan keterasingan badan eksekutif dan kehakiman dan mencabul kehormatan Bahasa Melayu. Semua ini seringkali dilakukan dengan bantuan cengkaman keras dan kemas terhadap semua media aliran perdana.

Kejahanaman #2 - Menjadikan UMNO sebagai wadah untuk politikus2 dengan yang akhlak yang syak.

Dengan matlamat membangunkan negara dengan cepat, TDM seperti seolah2 tidak mengendahkan tuntutan akhlak terhadap pemimpinnya. Anwar Ibrahim. Sabaruddin Chik. Megat Junid. Rahim Thamby. Osu Sukam. Senarainya amat panjang. Inilah asas kotoran politik parti yang akhirnya bernanah dan membisul.

Saya melihat Pak Lah cuba merungkai barah ini dengan membelahnya senyap2, namun ternyata barah ini lebih teruk daripada yang dijangkakan beliau. Hakikatnya, UMNO sekarang tidak mempunyai barisan yang ampuh untuk menandingi PAS yang dilihat lebih berketrampilan dan dinamik.

Kejahanaman #3 - Mengetengahkan budaya nepotisme dan kronisme di dalam pensyarikatan Malaysia.

Saya masih terngiang2 akan ucapan Datuk Dr Zahid Hamidi selaku Ketua Pemuda UMNO di dalam ucapannya di dalam Perhimpunan UMNO yang lampau. Kita maklum apa nasib yang menimpa beliau. Namun yang lebih penting, era pemerintahan TDM menyaksikan kebangkitan golongan korporat Melayu yang rata-rata didokong oleh polisi2 era kepemimpinan TDM.

Sebilangan mereka ini bangkitnya dengan segumpal awan tanda tanya di atas mereka. Masakan seorang individu boleh membuat pinjaman SEBANYAK RM1 BILION daripada kerajaan? Apa sudahnya cerita MAS itu sebelum masuknya Idris Jala?

Bagaimana pula kesudahannya dengan teraju2 Business Focus dan PSCI? Sime Bank? Perwaja Steel dan lain2?

MENGAPAKAH BUMIPUTERA BELUM MENDAPAT PELUANG SAMA RATA UNTUK MENDAPAT AP BAGI PENGIMPORTAN GULA?

Kejahanaman #4 - Memperkenalkan dasar2 yang menggugat kesejahteraan rakyat dalam jangka masa panjang.

Isu ini saya akui agak kontroversial, namun cuba kita fikirkan tentang Dasar Permotoran Negara yang dijulang TDM. Ideanya mungkin bernas namun kaedahnya? Bukankah dasar permotoran ini dimanefastasikan dengan kewujudan sebuah kereta nasional? Industri yang mulanya dibangga2kan namun kini dicemuh kerana perancangan yang gagal?

Bukan sahaja Proton dilahirkan dengan persetujuan yang tampak berat sebelah dan tidak menguntungkan malah korbannya adalah masalah pengangkutan yang kini menjadi isu nasional.

Kebanjiran kereta yang banyak menggalakkan pertumbuhan jalan raya bertol. Kepesatan minat generasi muda berkereta mencemarkan udara dan menyesakkan jalan-jalan. Industri pengangkutan awam terutamanya teksi dan bas juga turut lumpuh. Perancangan bandar juga dibuat dengan membelakangkan keperluan mendekatkan jarak penempatan dengan tempat kerja.

Maka apabila diturunkan dugaan Allah swt kepada rakyat dunia di dalam bentuk KENAIKAN HARGA PETROLEUM, kita di Malaysia lebih2 lagi, terpukul oleh kesan sabung-menyabung inflasi berasaskan petrol ini.

Satu lagi dasar yang amat menjerat negara adalah dasar kebergantungan kepada ekonomi negara bankrap Amerika Syarikat. Jika kita amati, pembangunan pesat negara dipacu oleh eksport industri ke negara AS. Maka nasib jatuh bangun negara ini sebenarnya terletak di bahu ekonomi negara berkenaan yang jikalau bukan kerana industri berasaskan peperangan mereka, sebenarnya menunggu masa sahaja untuk menjunam.

Jika telunjuk ini cepat menghukum, maka bukan PM sekarang yang patut dikambinghitamkan. Apabila TDM tidak lagi berkuasa, suara2 mula kedengaran menunjukkan kecacatan yang ada.

Maka yang kita perlukan sekarang bukan perpecahan. Bak kata Jata Negara:

"BERSEKUTU BERTAMBAH MUTU"

Sekian dan Wassalam.

Kampung-kampung Kita

2008-05-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Selamat Sejahtera kepada semua

Saya berpeluang untuk pergi ke beberapa kampung di dalam tempoh beberapa minggu yang lepas dan berpeluang membuat beberapa pemerhatian terhadap corak aliran sosial ('social trends') yang kini berlaku. Saya yakin bahawa trend2 ini juga turut berlaku di kawasan kampung lain di Malaysia, khususnya di pantai barat Semenanjung.

Di antara trend yang jelas dan tampak membimbangkan ialah trend migrasi luar bandar ke bandar oleh para belia yang sudahpun wujud lebih dari empat puluh tahun yang lalu. Secara amnya, migrasi yang menyumbang kepada kejadian fenomena KL ini didorong oleh kewujudan peluang pekerjaan di bandar yang menjamin kestabilan ekonomi imigran2. Di samping itu, di bandar-bandar besar, terdapat kemudahan dan prasarana seperti bekalan elektrik, sambungan bekalan air, hospital, dan sebagainya yang memberi taraf hidup yang lebih baik kepada penduduk bandar. Kini trend tersebut sudah sebati di Malaysia dan membawa kepada fenomena yang saya gelarkan sebagai fenomena 'Kampung Lengang' (KL).

Fenomena KL adalah membimbangkan kerana ia membawa kepada beberapa kesan yang buruk. Antaranya:

1. Keselamatan Penduduk Kampung

Di kampung2 sekarang ini, wujud isu keselamatan yang disebabkan oleh kebanjiran Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (PATI) yang menyelinap masuk ke kampung2 tanpa kawalan. Ada yang diupah untuk mengusahakan tanah2 yang terbiar, namun di sesetengah kampung seperti di Keru, Tampin mereka bermaharaja lela dengan merompak dan merogol penghuni kampung terutamanya janda2 yang tidak mempunyai suami atau anak muda tempat berlindung.

Oleh kerana tiadanya belia kampung untuk menjalankan rondaan dan menjaga kampung, maka saya mendapati PATI2 ini mengambil alih secara sah ataupun tidak.

2. Ekonomi Masyarakat Kampung

Oleh kerana ketiadaan para belia, saya mendapati wujudnya kawasan tanah terbiar yang banyak. Ini disebabkan penduduk kampung yang rata2 sudah tua dan sudah tidak berdaya untuk mengusahakan tanah2 tersebut. Di Sungai Balai Baroh, Bagan Datoh contohnya, tanah yang dipenuhi pohon2 kelapa adalah banyak tetapi tidak diusahakan walaupun kerajaan BN telah menyediakan jalan raya yang luas dan elok. Ini membawa kepada ironi betapa negara kita mengimport kelapa dari negara jiran untuk memenuhi bekalan tempatan!

Alangkah moleknya jika terdapat ramai belia berwawasan yang pulang ke kampung untuk membangunkan tanah2 yang terbiar ini. Sesungguhnya pengurangan aliran tunai ke luar negara serta beban inflasi adalah antara kebaikan yang dapat dinikmati oleh masyarakat dan negara jika ada di antara kita yang sanggup mengambil inisiatif mengusahakan industri asas tani di kawasan kampung.

3. Sosial Remaja Kampung

Di Slim Village, Slim River saya mendapati remaja belasan tahun yang sudah membabitkan diri dengan aktiviti hidu gam dan mengintai. Mereka ini tidak ke sekolah dan dibiarkan terabai tanpa panduan. Ini saya puncakan daripada ketiadaan golongan belia yang dapat memberikan panduan dan pantauan kepada golongan remaja di kampung tersebut. Golongan belia yang sepatutnya mengimamkan solat serta mengimarahkan surau2 semuanya sudah berhijrah ke bandar. Tiada belia yang menganjurkan aktiviti2 bermanfaat bagi kampung tersebut.

Golongan remaja yang sudah tamat sekolah juga tidak dapat kekal di kampung kerana ketiadaan industri yang diusahakan oleh belia kampung. Maka mereka ini terpaksa berhijrah juga dan seterusnya memburukkan lagi keadaan di kampung2.

Oleh yang demikian, saya menyeru kepada diri saya serta golongan belia yang berilmu dan berbakat supaya beriltizam untuk pulang ke kampung bagi membangunkan tanah2 kampung, khususnya menerusi Industri Kecil dan Sederhana (SME) yang berteraskan asas tani, eko dan agro pelancongan. Sesungguhnya ini merupakan di antara cara yang dapat membangunkan negara secara amnya dan juga ekonomi Melayu Muslim Malaysia secara khasnya.

Semoga Jihad ini diberkati Allah swt.

Sekian dan Wassalam.

Is your kid smart?

2008-05-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum and Hi there.

From time to time we hear from the news on smart kids that had passed high level exams whilst very young. These kids are considered to be more advanced than other children of their age with some having problems to adjust, which makes this piece of news an interesting read.

These blessed children are generally good in mathematical subjects and undoubtedly have great potential to succeed in their education. But is this all there is to it?

First of all, success in education does not equate success in life (which many parents often mistakenly believe). Here, 'smart' takes a bigger meaning; it is not merely the ability to reason, but also to plan, solve problems, be skillful, etc. In short, straight As in PMR, SPM or STPM or A-Levels does not necessarily mean one is smart.

My personal point of view is that each person is born with a different mix of intelligence, ie ways of thinking. This mix of intelligence is what makes all of us unique (and of course, is the root of the problems in the world, as different people think differently, want different things in life and thus have differing needs).

There are different areas of thinking which we use to make decisions based on the situations we are in. Among these which are common are logical thinking, critical thinking, lateral thinking, and emotive thinking.

Logical thinking is normally used to relate proof and evidence in establishing a fact. Hence, children with a high level of this intelligence may show the ability to accept logical reasoning.

Critical thinking normally relates to the intelligence in finding strengths and weaknesses (ie, scrutiny). The ability to counter argue and point out pros and cons of a suggestion are examples of such intelligence.

Lateral thinking on the other hand, is associated with problem solving. Children with high level of lateral thinking ability may show skills in games such as chess, scrabble and the like.

Last (of a truncated big list) is emotive thinking that relates to one's ability to empathize. Children showing high level of emotive thinking may portray overwhelming reaction to inputs, such as bedtime reading or television programs.

Understanding the many types of intelligence helps one to understand others. The ability to understand facilitates social integration, as one accepts that no one path to a solution is the most correct.

The understanding of the many types of intelligence also helps parents to recognise their children early so that for example, they do not make the mistake of focing their kids to read engineering at university and inevitably see their child drop away halfway (and bear the financial consequences).

All in all, success in life requires balance. For me, a smart 6 year-old is not one who can answer "What is 11 times 12?" in ten seconds through mental arithmetic; instead, he is one who can dish out a calculator and calculate the answer in half the time. But again, an equally smart kid would ask you, "What is the need for this?"

So then, is your kid smart?

Komen di Chedet.com yang Tidak Tersiar

2008-05-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

[Ini merupakan komen saya di laman web chedet.com di atas pos beliau pada 19 Mei 2008 yang lepas.]

Assalamu alaikum Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Sesungguhnya langkah yang Tun ambil ini mungkin drastik jika dilihat ramai, namun bagi mereka yang mengkaji riwayat hidup Tun, langkah keluar daripada UMNO yang Tun lakukan ini tidaklah memeranjatkan (sekurang-kurangnya bagi saya).

Cuma yang saya ingin ulas ialah UMNO yang Tun tinggalkan ini bukanlah 'legacy' 62 tahun lampau, tetapi merupakan binaan Tun sendiri. UMNO yang menggagalkan Malayan Union itu telah berkubur apabila pendaftarannya dibatalkan lebih 20 tahun lalu.

Maka apa yang Tun tinggalkan merupakan 'legacy' Tun - yang baik DAN YANG BURUK.

Jika Tun berbicara tentang "...UMNO yang ada sekarang hanya wujud untuk menyokong Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, keluarganya dan tindakan serta dasar yang tidak secocok dengan kepentingan bangsa, agama dan negara...", maka saya tidak nampak apa bezanya dengan tempoh kepemimpinan Tun. Malah ada yang berpendapat Tun lebih licik menekan di dalam soal kebebasan bersuara!

Mengikut pemerhatian saya, ahli UMNO yang ada sekarang ini masih berpegang teguh kepada cogan kata UMNO, iaitu "BERSATU - BERSETIA - BERKHIDMAT" terutamanya setelah diingatkan oleh rakyat pada 8 Mac 2008.

Walau apapun, saya berharap setelah Tun keluar daripada UMNO, Tun dapat menggembleng usaha menyatukan umat Islam, terutamanya Melayu Muslim Malaysia.

Terima kasih dan Wassalam.

Mengurus Inflasi dengan Berkesan

2008-05-03T19:41:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan selamat sejahtera para pembaca sekalian

Sekarang ini rata-rata di Malaysia hangat dengan isu inflasi. Beberapa hari lepas, timbul pula isu kekurangan beras di Kedah dan juga konflik di antara MTUC dengan kerajaan BN mengenai permintaan gaji minimum RM900. Semua ini berkait rapat dengan inflasi.

Apa itu inflasi dan mengapa ia begitu memberi kesan kepada kita, mungkin itu pertanyaan orang di jalanan ('people on the street'). Sebenarnya, inflasi itu adalah satu keadaan di mana berlaku kenaikan harga barang berbanding dengan pendapatan. Maka, 'kuasa membeli' rakyat semakin susut.

Kita mungkin pernah mendengar cerita ibu bapa / nenda kita mengenai bagaimana mereka berbelanja sewaktu bersekolah dulu. Kata mereka, dengan wang saku 10 sen mereka boleh berbelanja dengan mewah; 5 sen untuk roti krim, atau nasi lemak dan 5 sen lagi untuk ais kepal yang merupakan manisan yang amat popular dulu. Namun demikian harga sekarang untuk kedua-dua makanan itu adalah 50 sen dan RM1.

Jika pendapatan orang tua dulu-dulu tidak berubah (katalah RM500), maka kita melihat inflasi berlaku kerana kenaikan harga roti krim sebanyak 900 peratus! Secara logik, kemungkinan besar rata-rata kita akan berhenti membeli roti krim dan hanya makan biskut kering sahaja!

Dibawa ke dalam konteks yang lebih besar kita melihat kenaikan harga petroleum yang membawa kepada kenaikan harga barang-barang asas. Beras, gandum, gula, minyak masak, ikan, daging dan sayur-sayuran semuanya bergantung kepada sistem pengangkutan yang diasaskan oleh petroleum. Maka jika kita tidak bijak mengurus inflasi, kemungkinan besar kita akan dihimpit oleh masalah kewangan.

Sebenarnya, terdapat satu sifat inflasi yang perlu kita fahami supaya kita dapat mengurus inflasi dengan berkesan. Sifat yang saya maksudkan itu ialah inflasi berkait langsung dengan peraturan bekalan dan permintaan ('the law of supply and demand'). Dengan memberi contoh yang mudah, harga durian dulunya mahal kerana bekalan durian adalah mengikut musim. Namun setelah negara ini dibanjiri oleh durian Thailand yang berbuah sepanjang tahun, kita lihat harga durian jatuh merudum. Ini kerana bekalannya melebihi permintaan asal.

Satu perkara yang rakyat Malaysia (termasuk saya) harus juga maklum adalah inflasi tidak boleh dibendung dengan kenaikan gaji. Malah, tindakan menaikkan gaji merupakan satu tindakan yang berbahaya kepada ekonomi kerana ia seperti menyiram petrol ke atas bara inflasi! Contoh yang kita dapat lihat adalah apabila kerajaan BN pada 2007 mengisytiharkan kenaikan gaji kakitangan kerajaan sebanyak 40 peratus, harga barang-barang juga turut naik dengan mendadak.

Oleh yang demikian, tindakan-tindakan yang dapat mengawal inflasi secara berkesan seharusnya sejajar dengan peraturan bekalan dan permintaan, iaitu berpusar kepada aktiviti-aktiviti meningkatkan bekalan atau mengurangkan permintaan di Malaysia. Di sinilah kerajaan harus melihat di mana kelemahan yang ada yang boleh diperbaiki.

Antara prinsip yang boleh diterima pakai di Malaysia bagi membendung inflasi ialah dengan mengurangkan pembaziran dengan cara penggunaan sumber dengan berhemah. Pembaziran masa, tenaga dan wang di dalam pekerjaan seharian secara langsung atau tidak langsung akan meningkatkan inflasi.

Renungkanlah: anda seorang suri rumah yang boros. Setiap hari anda membeli ikan dan daging untuk dimasak tetapi rempah dan sayuran lain dibeli lebih daripada keperluan lauk tersebut. Beras juga dimasak lebih daripada yang selalu dimakan. Maka setiap minggu terdapatlah nasi, lengkuas, limau nipis, serai, dan sebagainya yang busuk dan perlu dibuang. Secara tidak langsung, anda menyumbang kepada inflasi kerana apabila suri rumah tidak membazir, anda tidak perlu membeli barang lebih. Maka harga barang sebenarnya lebih rendah jika tidak berlaku pembaziran.

Secara lebih mendalam, inflasi boleh dikawal jika kita (secara teorinya) boleh melenyapkan terus permintaan terhadap sesuatu barangan. Ini termasuklah barang mewah seperti barang luar negara yang mempunyai duti import. Di dalam konteks suri rumah tadi, anda boleh menanam sendiri limau, kunyit, lengkuas dan sebagainya untuk kegunaan sendiri. Malahan, tidak keterlaluan pula jika sebuah keluarga itu bertukar-tukar hasil tanaman dengan jiran; dengan ini kita melihat amalan sedekah dan kebajikan boleh menumbangkan inflasi.

Inflasi boleh juga dibendung apabila produktiviti individu itu bertambah. Bukan sekadar di tempat kerja, malah jika masa dapat digunakan sebaiknya, pendapatan boleh ditingkatkan dan perbelanjaan isi rumah pula dapat dikurangkan.

Satu langkah yang mungkin dilihat kontroversial adalah apabila salah seorang pasangan itu berhenti bekerja dan sebaliknya mengurus rumah tangga. Ini kerana pengorbanan daripada segi kemajuan diri dan pelaburan modal insan (oleh individu, penaja pendidikan dan juga kerajaan) mungkin dilihat tidak berbaloi dengan pulangan daripada segi kewangan. Namun demikian, jika sebuah keluarga itu mempunyai bilangan anak (kecil) yang ramai dan pasangan yang merupakan sumber pendapatan itu boleh mendapat keuntungan dari segi rebat cukai dan penjimatan kos menghantar anak ke taman asuhan, cadangan ini haruslah dipertimbangkan dengan mendalam.

Terdapat juga aspek makroekonomi yang menyumbang kepada inflasi. Jika ada kesempatan, saya akan ulas di blog ini nanti.

Berbalik kepada inflasi tadi, kita boleh berjuang bersama-bersama menumbangkan inflasi jika antara lain, kita dapat:

1. Mengamalkan cara hidup yang sihat dengan bersenam dan mengamalkan diet seimbang.

2. Mengurangkan minum pagi di kedai dan warung kopi. Sarapan ala kadar di rumah.

3. Membasuh baju sendiri seminggu sekali dan seterika baju semua sekaligus.

4. Mengurangkan sewa Astro kepada yang perlu sahaja.

5. Berpuasa pada Isnin dan Khamis bagi orang Islam.

6. Menanam sendiri herba dan sayuran seperti daun kunyit, cili, limau dan kangkung.

7. Mengumpul barangan terbuang seperti tin aluminium dan suratkhabar lama untuk dikitar semula.

8. Berpindah ke kawasan yang berdekatan dengan kemudahan awam dan tempat kerja. Seelok2nya mendiami unit kuarters pekerja jika menyewa.

9. Berhenti kerja sekiranya kos untuk bekerja itu lebih tinggi daripada kos untuk tidak bekerja.

10. Membeli barang pasar mengikut harga patut. Jika mahal, jangan beli dan gesa jiran supaya lakukan yang serupa.

11. Membasuh kereta sendiri apabila benar-benar perlu.

12. Bergunting rambut di kampung. Lebih elok jika dapat belajar menggunting rambut.

13. Mengelak daripada membeli barang yang berduti atau bercukai.

14. Mencaj bateri telefon bimbit dan laptop di pejabat.

15. Mengurangkan pengambilan gula dan makanan manis.

16. Mengurangkan merokok dan minum arak (bagi yang bukan Islam)

17. Memotong rumput laman sendiri.

18. Meningkatkan kemahiran sendiri dan sentiasa mempelajari ilmu baru (servis kereta, potong rumput, gunting rambut, baiki komputer, sembelih binatang dan sebagainya).

19. Mengimbangi aktiviti santai keluarga; mengurangkan menonton wayang gambar dan melebihkan aktiviti berkelah di taman awam.

20. Memastikan kenderaan (terutamanya angin tayar) sentiasa berada di dalam keadaan baik.

Sememangnya, satu perkara asas yang kita tidak boleh lupa ialah dengan membuat perancangan di dalam segala aktiviti kita. Semakin kos hidup meningkat, semakin tinggilah risiko ekonomi yang kita harus tanggung jika tersilap langkah.

Sekian dan Wassalam.

The dilemma of political alignment

2008-04-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines 'politics' as either:

a: the art or science of government;
b: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy; or
c: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government.

Note that 'poli' means means many, ie this art involves a group of people which in turn means that there are relationships involved. These people are bound together by a common goal (ie the need of power and influence) and thus will determine among them, on who gets what if their goal of attaining power or influence is achieved.

Look around us and we will see various organisations exist with politics very much in mind. There are very few rules in politics; one of them is that in politics, no one is permanently a friend or an enemy.

Being in the public administration system that we are today, the Members of Parliament (or MPs) are elected by the majority in the national elections. To borrow the phrase from Abe Lincoln, the "...government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Is this so?

One of the dilemmas in democracy is the dilemma of political alignment. I trust that many have watched episodes of 'Survivor' where sixteen people of different socio-economic backgrounds are lumped together for over a month in order to be the sole survivor (by avoiding the dreaded vote in each round) to win USD1 million.

We see alliances formed, broken and mended, all in the name of survival (that is winning the USD1 million). Players resort to lying, cheating, backstabing and what not to win.

I personally, would do the same. It is a game, therefore it should be treated as such. There is such a thing as gamesmanship, thus to play the game as if you are living your life is naive.

What I am trying to point out however is the scenario we see here now in Malaysia. There are people in Malaysia who do not hesitate to resort to anything in order to attain power, even at the price of peace, harmony and mutual inter-racial trust. This Machiavellian approach to governance "...considered the stability of the state to be the most important goal, and argued that qualities traditionally considered morally desirable, such as generosity, were undesirable in a ruler and would lead to the loss of power." The end, justifying the means, they say.

It is a tricky task to balance the needs of the electorate with the needs of the people you are aligned with. Where needs clash, it causes conflict. Either way (and with a healthy dose of spin) the outcome is not pretty unless the right strategy in handling the conflict is used. Ask Lee Kah Choon. Mohamad Khir Toyo. P. Ramasamy. Hishamuddin Hussein. Khairy Jamaluddin. Anwar Ibrahim. Wan Azizah Ismail. Mahathir Mohamad. The whole MCA, Gerakan, MIC and PPP.

The governance of this country is not an episode of a television gameshow and should not be treated as such. Unlike 'survivor', innocent lives and futures of families are at stake. These 'political animals' are the ones who form the root of our malaise. They are the ones that should be bound and hung, for they have sacrificed principles, religion and commonsense, all in the name of politics.

What does art, or science, got to do with any of this?

Foreword - Prakata

2008-04-27T04:49:00.000-07:00

Assalamu alaikum dan Selamat Sejahtera kepada semua!

Setelah lama saya memegang hajat untuk membuka laman blog sendiri, akhirnya tercapai jugalah cita2 saya. Saya bersyukur kerana dapat menimba sedikit ilmu untuk mengikut gelombang teknologi; maklumlah saya ini (jika diistilahkan oleh ahli pemasaran) merupakan 'laggard' dari segi penerimaan teknologi baru.

Tujuan blog ini adalah untuk membincangkan hal2 mengenai Muslim Melayu di Malaysia dan juga perkara2 yang memberi kesan terhadap kesejahteraan rakyat Malaysia, khususnya dari segi pentadbiran negara. Secara peribadi saya percaya bahawa budaya berpolitik yang diamalkan di Malaysia ini sebenarnya menjahanamkan, namun saya terpaksa akur bahawa sistem ini digunapakai bagi menjaga kepentingan beberapa pihak di negara ini.

Saya berasakan bahawa pemerintah di negara ini perlu diberi teguran tanpa membezakan fahaman politik mereka. Bagi saya yang betul itu betul, dan yang salah itu salah.

I write in both Bahasa Melayu and English at times I see it fit, and I welcome critical comments, save of course for any expletives.

The title of the blog is neither reflective of the audience that this blog is set up for, nor does it have any racial connotation. It is merely an indication of the social background that I come from. It is similar to knowing your neighbours from having a view of their lawn. The social make up aside, I do feel every bit Malaysian inside.

I believe that many Malaysians share similar beliefs as mine; peace loving, thoughtful and adhering to good old religion and commonsense.

Saya belum menetapkan kekerapan pos, namun apa yang saya harapkan adalah semoga blog ini menjadi pentas untuk perbincangan kritis yang berfaedah kepada semua rakyat Malaysia.

Kind regards and Wassalam