诚邀出席《全民辩翻天》：单元种族政党是否能走多元族群路线？

MCA would be organizing a People's Debate on:-
7th July 2008
7:30pm to 9:00pm
3rd Floor Auditorium, Wisma MCA.

It is open for public, and it would debate on whether "Single Race Political Party can go on Multi-Party Platform".

Among the debaters include:-
YB Datuk Ong Tee Keat, Transport Minister
Quek Ngee Meng, Acting Director of Lifelong Learning
Ng Kian Nam, Press Secretary of YB Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan and Former Press Secretary of YB Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

Omar Mustapha - CEO & Principal of Ethos & Co

Very interesting talk!

--------------------
Subject: The CEO SERIES 9 : Omar Mustapha, CEO and Principal, Ethos & Company

Young Corporate Malaysian (YCM) presents the CEO SERIES FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS :

The CEO Series for Young Professionals would like to invite you to our next CEO Series No 9 which will be featuring:

Mr.Omar Mustapha , the CEO and Principal of Ethos and Company

Date: Wednesday 2nd of July 2008 ( yes this coming wednesday!)

Time: 7 30pm to 9 30pm

Venue: Rumah UKEC 67, Jalan U Thant KL (Email me back for maps)


Do bring as many of your friends as possible!

To confirm your attendance, please email to Katrahmat@gmail.com

Any enquiries, please call

Firdaus 012 3902877
Iliyas 012 6509027



Omar Mustapha (Managing Principal & Director)

Prior to rejoining the firm (which he co-founded in 2002) in February 2006, Omar served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia on economic, corporate sector and foreign policy matters. He brings with him over 12 years experience in the Malaysian corporate and government sectors, has an in-depth understanding of Malaysia's public policy process, and an extensive network of senior level contacts in both Government and the corporate sector.

Prior to Ethos, Omar was a Senior Associate with McKinsey & Company Inc. based in London and Kuala Lumpur. He has served multinational clients in the telecoms, energy, media, retail, banking and government sectors in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, on issues of corporate strategy, performance management, organisational performance and post merger management. In his consulting career, he has led a number of significant client engagements with key ministries, government agencies, government-linked companies and multinational corporations operating in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

Omar is a graduate of Oxford University where he obtained his BA (Hons) and MA degrees in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He is an active member of the ISIS Malaysia network, and was formerly the Director General and Board Member of the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC) Malaysia Committee and senior staffer to the Chair of the Malaysia APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
--------------------

IFILMINDIE.COM: Are You Indie?

While the website is still WIP, no harm i help to publicize this.
-----

 

Greetings from IFILMINDIE.COM,

 

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Michael Chen, I am the Founder of WWW.IFILMINDIE.COM , a community website that I have recently left my full time job to build. My goal is to make IFILMINDIE.COM a one-stop community website for all things INDIE Malaysia. Having been an Actor (mostly in theatre) since I was in School and then having a real taste of what Production is like after I graduated - my immediate observation is that there a whole lot of talent here.

 

I aim to make IFILMINDIE.COM a one-stop Community website for all things INDIE Malaysia.

 

The Goal:

"IFILMINDIE.COM aims to be the platform to create a consolidated Malaysian INDIE Community strong enough to make a real positive impact to encourage growth and development of Local Talent."

 

The Mission:

"IFILMINDIE.COM will keep the world updated with the INDIE scene while initiating Programs, Projects, Productions & Events that will unite and ignite the INDIE Community to move as one."

 

How can you help?

If you are INDIE - regardless of capacity, race, age, financial status or anything - Join IFILMINDIE.COM and be a part of the INDIE Revolution.

 

Are You INDIE?

 

Attached is: The 1st IFILMINDIE NEWSLETTER & an UPLOAD GUIDE should you have any videos that you would like to upload.

 

Best Regards,
 
Michael Chen

 

Founder
WWW.IFILMINDIE.COM (Work in Progress)
Email:            michael@ifilmindie.com

MIMOS Technology Preview 2008

I don't have the exact date of the actual event, so if you are interested, do contact them.

----

Greetings from Cradle Investment Programme (CIP)!

Cradle Investment Programme in cooperation with MIMOS, MAVCAP & MDEC, will be organising an event entitled "MIMOS Technology Preview 2008" to commemorate the collaboration among the four esteemed parties. Cradle will be one of the panelist for "Funding Opportunity and Technology Commercialization Activities". Aside from that, there will be parallel sessions which will discuss various technology topics by speakers from MIMOS.

Admission is free but seats are reserved for the first 100 participants only on first come first serve basis. Sign up today to find out more about the MIMOS Technology Preview 2008.

For more information or to sign up, please email didie@cradle.com.my or eliza@cradle.com.my with the subject Mimos Technology Preview 2008  and to include your contact details (name, telephone number and email address). You can also RSVP via telephone  at 03-21664730 and ask for Didie Samueil or Eliza Elias latest by 26th of July 2008.


We look forward to seeing you there!


Sincerely,
The Cradle Team

Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting not seeking re-election

Was shocked seeing the headline of Sin Chew Jit Poh just now. Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting decided not to seek re-election to be MCA President. It is definitely a shocking news, especially I have seen how sincere Dato' Seri is, in terms of bringing reforms to MCA. He is a leader, who doesn't care about his personal gain, but work tirelessly for the community.

He has made sacrifice after the 12th General Election, to not seek a Cabinet position. That's very rare in Malaysian history, especially with him only being 52 years old. And now, he decided to not seek re-election for party president post as well.

Malaysiakini did an article here too.

Personally, I definitely felt that it is a loss for MCA, Chinese Community and Malaysian community in general, due to Dato' Seri not continuing to be party president. Dato' Seri has been able to bring across many ideas that transform our community.

I, personally, would have to thank Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting on his fight to open JPA Scholarships for Chinese, and since 1999, he has managed to fight for more than 3,000 Chinese to get JPA Scholarships. That's something that no one has dreamed about previously, but Dato' Seri has made it happen.

Having said the above, I respect the decision by Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting. He is a leader, who hopes to set leadership by example, to bring upon healthy political culture within MCA. And his not seeking re-election is definitely part of the picture.

Hopefully, MCA would have a great successor, that would continue the great work of Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting, who have left so many legacy around, especially in terms of changing the MCA constitution to limit the number of years of MCA leaders serving the party.

Do check out Ng Kian Nam's blog too. Kian Nam was the Press Secretary of Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting previously when he was Minister of Housing & Local Government.



-----
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Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

9MP Mid Term Review

9MP Mid Term Review by Prime Minister

 

Quoted from <a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/26/nation/20080626133019&sec=nation"> The Star </a>

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KUALA LUMPUR: The policy and strategy framework for the mid-term review of the 9MP, outlined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Thursday, focuses on these five thrusts:

1. Move economy up the value chain by focusing on enhancing productivity and competitiveness of the nation, generate new sources of growth and expand into new markets.

2. Raise the capacity for knowledge and innovation and nurture first class mentality. The key initiatives are to improve the quality of and accessibility to education; making national schools the preferred choice; providing tertiary education of international repute; nurturing R&D and innovation capability; and fostering a society with exemplary values.

3. Address persistent socio-economic inequalities by further reducing the incidence of poverty, improving distribution of income, reducing regional disparities, restructuring employment and wealth ownership, and developing bumiputra Commercial and Industrial Community (BCIC).

4. Improve the standard and sustainability of quality of life, accessibility to and quality of healthcare and other social amenities will be enhanced and environmental management improved.

5. Strengthen the institutional and implementation capacity.

Priority during the remaining 9MP would be on people-centred projects that bring tangible benefits and improve the quality of life of the people.

The main initiatives topping the agenda are:

·eradicating poverty;

·providing affordable housing to the low and middle income;

·providing access to water and electricity;

·enhancing health care;

·improving the standard of living of marginalised groups;

·narrowing intra and inter ethnic income and wealth gaps;

·strengthening human capital;

·upgrading public safety;

·improving environmental management and conservation;

·and developing regional corridors and accelerating development of Sabah and Sarawak.

The development expenditure ceiling has been raised to RM230bil from RM200bil approved under 9MP, to finance priority projects including the food security programme, construction of rural roads and provision of low cost housing.

Macroeconomic performance and prospects

* GDP to grow 6.0% per annum in 2008-2010, driven by domestic demand, particularly private sector expenditure

* On supply side, services, manufacturing and agriculture sectors will remain as main sources of growth

* Private investment to grow 10.6% per annum. In nominal terms, private investment to reach RM121.0bil or 56.4% to total investment in 2010

* Public investment to grow at 6.3% per annum

* Private consumption to grow at 7.6% per annum with its share to GDP increasing to 52.9% in 2010

Sectoral Output:

* Services sector to sustain growth momentum at 7.9% per annum, led by financial and business services subsector growing at9.8% per annum

* Manufacturing sector to grow at slower pace of 3.5% per annum, due to sluggish global demand of electrical and electronics products

* Agriculture sector to grow at 4.4% per annum

* Mining sector to grow at 3.4% per annum, with oil and gas subsector accounting for 98.7% to sector

* Construction sector is grow 5.8% per annum, boosted by civil engineering activities, residential and commercial property subsector

Fiscal Deficit: Federal government expected to be sustained at 3.2% of GDP in 2010

Moving economy up value chain:

·Increasing value added of the services sector by 7.9% to RM948bil

·Increasing share of services sector to GDP to 55.7%

·Targeting 24.6 million tourist arrivals with receipts of RM59.4bil

·Increasing tourist per capita expenditure to RM2,417

·Increasing value added of the manufacturing sector by 3.5% to RM168.9bil.

Targeted value added of major subsectors - E&E (RM32.9bil); M&E (RM19.2bil);

Petrochemical (RM20.5bil);

Transport equipment (RM16.2bil)

·Average annual investment level of RM27.5bil - E&E RM14.0bil; M&E RM1.7bil, Petrochemical RM1.7bil; Transport equipment RM2.1bil; Medical devices RM800mil;

·Increasing food production and self sufficiency level (SSL).

.Production of rice to increase by 27.4% to 2.9 million tonnes (86% of SSL);

Fisheries production to increase by 33.4% to 1.8 million tones (103% of SSL); Beef by 31.2% to 45,000 tonnes (28% of SSL); Poultry by 18.2% to 1.3 million tones (122%of SSL).

·Increasing ICT value added to RM30bil; Increasing ICT-related jobs to 500,000

Highway projects:

·Construction of East Coast Expressway Phase II from Kuantan - Kuala Terengganu.

·Senai-Desaru and Kemuning-Shah Alam highways; Construction of roads to link resettlement areas with rural industrial areas and estates, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak. Upgrading of Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu and Labuan airports

·Construction of Seremban-Gemas and Ipoh-Padang Besar electrified double tracking rail projects. To be completed in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Mid-Term Review of Ninth Malaysia Plan prepared by Economic Planning Unit

What's out:

* No allocation given for RM1.6bil Penang Monorail project under 9MP
* No allocation for Penang Outer Ring Road project under 9MP
* Proposed administrative centres in several states put on hold

Projects were deferred as they were not people-centric as yet and would not have an immediate impact.

What's in:

Additional RM30bil for development expenditure under 9MP used for: * RM10bil for the various Corridor initiatives
* Additional RM2bil for Sabah, Sarawak development
* Food security (RM3bil)
* Strategic investment fund (RM3bil)
* Double tracking rail project (RM2bil)
* Additional rural infrastructure (RM2bil)
* Public transportation (RM1.6bil)
* Low and medium cost housing projects (RM1bil)
* High impact education fund (RM500mil)

When the 9MP was prepared, the cost of light crude oil was then at US$55 per barrel. When the Mid-Term Review was carried out, oil was at RM100 per barrel in February.

Poverty eradication

To address persistent socio-economic inequalities, the government's target is to eradicate hardcore poverty and reduce overall poverty to 2.8% by 2010. In Peninsular Malaysia, the percentage of hardcore poverty has been reduced from 0.7% in 2004 to 0.3% in 2007; while for Sabah it was reduced from 6.5% to 3.7% while for Sarawak it was reduced from 1.1% to 0.7%. The country's urban hardcore poverty rate was reduced from 0.4% to 0.3% and for rural, from 2.9% to 1.4%.

Overall poverty in Peninsular Malaysia was reduced from 3.6% to 2.3% while for Sabah, it was reduced from 23% to 16% and Sarawak from 7.5% to 4.2%. For the country's urban poverty rate, it was reduced from 2.5% to 2% and for rural from 11.9% to 7.1%

Income distribution

Income distribution to reduce income gaps among ethnic groups as well as between rural and urban areas has seen Bumiputera's mean income increased by 5.2% to RM3,156 in 2007 from RM2,711 in 204. During the period, the Chinese's income rose 3.0% to RM4,853 from RM4,437, Indians' income rose 3.2% to RM3,799 from RM3.456 and for others, a 15.5% increase to RM3,651 from RM2,312.

In urban areas, income rose 3.3% to RM4,356 from RM3,956 and for the rural area, there was a 6.8% increase to RM2,283 from RM1,875

Ownership restructuring

The government's target under the 9MP is to attain bumiputera equity ownership between 20% and 25% by 2010, which excludes government companies like Petroliam Nasional Bhd and Khazanah Nasional Bhd. The equity ownership is based on the par value of the shares and not on market capitalization.

Bumiputera ownership has increased from 18.9% in share capital in 2004 to 19.4% in 2006. During the period, individual ownership increased from 15.0% to 15.1% while for institutions, including Permodalan Nasional Bhd, it increased from 2.2% to 2.6%.

For non-bumiputeras, it increased from 40.6% in 2004 to 43.9% in 2006. Chinese ownership group saw an increase from 39.6% to 42.4%, while for Indians it showed a slight decline from 1.2% to 1.1%.

However, there was a decline in foreign ownership from 32.5% to 30.1% while for nominees, it fell from 8.0% to 6.6%.

RM 1,000 referral fee for a Marketing Executive/Business Development

Blogged about positions available before for my friend, Yew Jin here

Follow up on that below
-----

Hi All,

My company is currently giving a RM 1,000 referral fee for a Marketing Executive/Business Development person. The person should have some marketing background.

Requirements

1. Under the age of 30. (We might not afford somebody that is already a manager)

2. Good grades in school.

3. Relevant working experience in the marketing field, experience with agencies a huge plus.

Two positions to be filled.

Regards,

- Yew Jin

-----
Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

University of Malaya Business/Executive Coaching Programme

Quite tempted to go for this course, but would have to sacrifice my Saturday for 4 months.
-----
Dear Sir/Madam,
 
Greetings from University of Malaya Centre for Continuing Education (UMCCed).
 
It is our pleasure to inform you that UMCCed is organising a Business/Executive Coaching Programme which is specially designed to groom individuals to become competent, qualified and professional coaches. With these traits and skills, they will be able to develop themselves and others in the organisation to a higher level of performance.
 
The trainers for the programme are professional and practical coaches with high qualifications and extensive experience in the coaching industry. Through this programme, we believe that you will definitely achieve a higher level of success in your career as well as your organisation.
 
It is our pleasure to inform you that we have started the programme since year 2004 and so far about 70 participants have completed the programme and have been awarded with the Certified Coach Certificate.
 
The programme fee is RM10,500.00 whereby payment can be made by installments. The payment breakdown is as follows:
 
RM750   - registration fee
RM2000 - 1st installment
RM2000 - 2nd installment
RM2000 - 3rd installment
RM2000 - 4th installment
RM1750 - 5th installment
 
 
The programme will be held only on Saturday from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. at UMCCed. We have attached the course framework and application form for your perusal. Also attached is our location map for your reference.
 
Kindly to inform you that the next intake for both programmes tentatively will be in July 2008. We have a preview session of the programme on 5 July 2008 (Saturday) at 11.00 a.m. in UMCCed. Please make yourself available for the preview. Very much appreciate if you can inform us earlier if you can come for the preview session.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further inquires or visit our website at www.umcoaching.com.my
 
Thank you.

Regards,
Marsyahana Umordin
Coaching Division
UMCCed
Block A, Level 3
UM City Campus
Jalan Tun Ismail
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-26173111
Fax: 03-26173103

-----

CERTIFIED BUSINESS/EXECUTIVE TRAINING PROGRAMME
COURSE FRAMEWORK
1.0   Introduction to Coaching
• The Coaching Fundamental
• Profiles in Coaching
• Significance of Business/Executive Coaching
• Coaching Principles
• Ethical Issues in Coaching
2.0   Methodology
• The Coaching Structure and Process
• The Model of Coaching
3.0   The Practice of Coaching
• The Competencies
• The Skills
• Developing Coaching Practice
4.0   Theoretical Roots of Coaching
• Theories on Adult Development
• Learning Theories
• Behavioral Theories
• Theory of Needs
• Theories X, Y, Z and C
5.0   Coaching Applications (Discussion on Case Studies)
• Coaching for Accountability
• Coaching for Customer Satisfaction
• Coaching for Behaviour Change
• Coaching for Career Development
• Situational Leadership and Coaching
• Coaching and Performance improvement
• Coaching for Productivity
• Coaching for Profitability Improvement
• Coaching for Strategic Planning
• Coaching for Organisational Change
• Coaching for Leadership Development
• Coaching Leaders
• Strategy Coaching
• Coaching and Diversity
• Coaching for Marketing Planning
• Coaching for Sales Improvement
• Coaching for Financial Improvement 
• Coaching for Turning Around Companies  

Positions Available at The Centre for Public Policy Studies

Positions Available at The Centre for Public Policy Studies
----
Centre for Public Policy Studies,

1718 Jalan Ledang, Off Jalan Duta

50480 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-20935393 Ext. 202,203, 205; Fax: 03-20933078

Vacancies at The Centre for Public Policy Studies

 

The Centre for Public Policy Studies is pleased to announce that it has immediate job vacancies, and invites applicants for the following positions and job descriptions.

 

The Centre for Public Policy Studies is an independent and non-partisan public policy institute that aims at fostering open-minded dialogue, enlightened leadership and better governance. The belief underpinning the establishment of the CPPS is that the challenge of building a cohesive, competitive and successful multi-racial Malaysian society can best be met by open discussion buttressed by rigorous analytical work and a spirit of tolerance and respect for the needs and aspirations of all stakeholders in the country.

 

Background

 

CPPS has been a platform to connect various stakeholders in Malaysian society on a range of socioeconomic and political issues, as part of our continuous effort to encourage dialogue on public policies. Some of our initiatives include forums on Elections 2008 (both pre- and post), the Mid Term Review of the 9^th Malaysia Plan, the national Budget, Religion and Ethnicity, Poverty and Development, and so on. These programmes are essential in stimulating discourse and generating key policy proposals garnered from different levels of the Malaysian public. With increasing public demand for dialogue, it is essential to respond in timely fashion to urgent issues at hand. Coupled with this is the need for research and analysis that help support programmes and drive research projects.

 

Vacancies Contact: cpps@cpps.org.my

 

Please send full CV and cover letter to the email address above, latest by the 31^st of July, 2008. Short-listed candidates will be called for an interview between 1^st and 15^th August 2008, and successful candidate(s) are expected to begin employment starting on the 1^st of September, 2008.

 

 

1.       Programme and Research Associate

 

Responsibilities

 

Based on the background described above, the Programme and Research Associate will be responsible for a number of duties, including the following: Develop research content and input into programmes, Manage programmes, Draft speeches and press statements when needed, Analysis, Provide substantive support to the development and progress of the Centre, Work closely with the Director and Centre's Advisory Panel, Conduct research and obtain information and data, with the assistance of the Programme Officer.

 

Qualification and Competencies

 

Competencies: Professionalism, Teamwork and Good Communication skills. Possesses driven personality, ability to be flexible and responsive, and ability to draft, edit, express ideas clearly.

Education: University Degree (preference for Master's Degree) desirable in Economics, Political Science or related degrees. Graduates from other disciplines are also encouraged to apply.

Language: Fluency in English (verbal and writing). Fluency in other Malaysian languages is an advantage, especially Bahasa .

Desirable Skills: A keen interest in Malaysian current affairs, desire to contribute to public space discourse on policy related issues, Interest in advocacy, Good computer/Internet skills.

 

 

2.       Programme Officer 

 

Responsibilities

 

The Programme Officer will be responsible for a number of duties, including the following: Execute centre's programmes by assisting the Programme and Research Associate, Manage the centre's communication platform (website and other online communication tools), Conduct research where necessary, Assist in development of budget, and Media monitoring.

 

Qualification and Competencies

 

Competencies: Adaptable, teamwork skills, organized, working knowledge of IT/website/online communication tools

Education: University Degree.

Language: Fluency in English (verbal and writing). Fluency in other Malaysian languages is an advantage, especially Bahasa .

Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS)

http://cpps.org.my/

Maybank attempts for 30% stake in Pakistan Takaful company

Maybank continues its aggressive acquisition trend.

This is quoted from Reuters .
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KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Malayan Banking Bhd (MBBM.KL: Quote, Profile, Research), the country's largest in asset terms, plans to buy a 30 percent stake in Pak-Kuwait Takaful Company Ltd, the Malaysian lender said on Wednesday.

Pak-Kuwait Family Takaful is in the process of applying for license from the authorities in Pakistan to operate the family takaful (Islamic insurance) business, it said.

It is a joint venture between Pak-Kuwait Investment Company Private Ltd, Allied Bank Ltd and Saudi Pak Industrial and Agricultural Investment Company Limited, Maybank said in a statement.



-----
Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

TM International now with big stake in huge telco in India

Telekom Malaysia International (TMI) is making further inroads in India.

Quoting from Reuters

-----
NEW DELHI/KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Reuters) - Malaysia's TM International (TMIT.KL: Quote, Profile, Research) will pick up around a fifth of Indian mobile operator Idea Cellular (IDEA.BO: Quote, Profile, Research), bolstering its presence in the world's fastest-growing mobile market, after a takeover of a smaller Indian firm in which it held a stake.

Idea, India's fifth-largest mobile operator, said on Wednesday it will buy a 40.8 percent stake in smaller rival Spice Telecom (SPCM.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) for 21.76 billion rupees ($508 million).

TM International's 39.2 percent stake in Spice will be converted into Idea shares, and it will pay 72.9 billion rupees ($1.7 billion) for a preferential allotment of 14.99 percent. TM International is a unit of Telekom Malaysia (TLMM.KL: Quote, Profile, Research).

India's mobile market is the world's second-largest after China and foreign firms are keen to enter the market. Last year, Vodafone Plc (VOD.L: Quote, Profile, Research) paid $11 billion for a controlling stake in the No. 3 cellular operator.

"We have a 39.2 percent stake in a company which (covers a) population of 80 million. Now we will have an around 20 percent stake in a company which has 700 million," Yusof Annuar Yaacob, group chief financial officer at TM International, told Reuters in Kuala Lumpur.

"For us, it's a much better position to move forward with our business," he said, adding the deal was expected to be completed by April 2009.

Idea, along with TM International, will make a mandatory open offer for another 20 percent of Spice at 77.3 rupees per share, the same price it will pay Spice's founders for their stake. The price is a 42 percent premium to Tuesday's close.

Spice shares, which listed last July, surged 33.1 percent to a record close of 72.35 rupees in a market that rose 0.8 percent.

MINORITY PARTNER

Idea said TM International would remain a minority partner.

"We have a very clear understanding. Telekom Malaysia will not go above 20 percent. So there is a cap there. They have one board seat," Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla told a news conference.

Idea, part of the Aditya Birla Group, operates in 11 of India's 22 telecoms circles or service areas, and has approval for the other 11.

It said the deal gave it ready-made entry to the Punjab and Karnataka circles, which account for 11 percent of the Indian market, and the TM International investment would support its aggressive growth plans.

"It takes Idea very clearly into a very high-growth trajectory and into the big league," Birla said, adding Idea planned capital expenditure of 100 billion rupees over the next two years.

Idea also said would use the Malaysian firm's 3G expertise.

A combined Idea-Spice would have more than 30 million subscribers. Bharti Airtel (BRTI.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) is India's top mobile operator with 64.4 million subscribers at the end of April, followed by Reliance Communications (RLCM.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) with 47.4 million.

Vodafone-controlled Vodafone Essar has 45.8 million subscribers and state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam has 41.3 million. Idea is buying its stake from Spice's founders, the Modi family, who said TM International had been pushing for the deal.

"The deal has been the brainchild of Telekom Malaysia," Spice Chairman Bhupendra Kumar Modi told NDTV television.

"They are the one who wanted stake in an all-India company. It was Telekom Malaysia who put all the puzzles together to make the deal happen."

Idea Cellular shares ended up 2.9 percent at 102.05 rupees, while TM International shares were suspended from trading in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the announcement.

DSP Merrill Lynch acted as the financial adviser to Idea, and Lazard was the financial adviser to TM International. Enam Securities and Lehman Brothers advised the Modi family. ($1=42.8 rupees) (Additional reporting by Rakesh Sharma and C.J. Kuncheria in NEW DELHI and Narayanan Somasundaram in MUMBAI; Editing by John Mair and Lincoln Feast)





-----
Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Malaysia Entrepreneur Nite for June

This is an interesting event for budding entrepreneurs.

-----
Fellow Entrepreneurs

Just a gentle reminder, the June Malaysia Entrepreneur Nite Out is happening tomorrow on the 26th June at 7pm onwards.

Our 3 guest speakers:

Hanson Toh of Google.com will be talking about "Effective Marketing on Google"

Iszuddin Ismail of InOutMarketing.com will be talking about "Finding hidden profit in your biz"

and Marco Robinson of Revelations Promotions will be talking about "Being an entrepreneur in a volatile market"

Details:

Location : Aliyaa - Island Restaurant & Bar
8 Lorong Dungun, Bukit Damansara
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/5t4vup
(posted in the events photos)

Time: 7-10.30pm

Fee: RM50/pax including

Welcome Drink:
Soft drink, beer or wine

Tapas:
Fish Cutlets
Vegetarian Cutlets
Lamb Rotti Roll
BBQ Chicken in Pita Pockets
String Hopper Kothu Served with chicken curry

Plus Adwords Coupons

See you tomorrow.

Cheers
Daniel
0136353888
Malaysia Entrepreneurs

-----
Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Interesting Workshops at South City Lifelong Learning Centre, South City Plaza

More interesting workshops by MCA Lifelong Learning.

 

----
Dear Sir/ Madam

 

We have a few interesting workshops in July. 

 

The Basic of eBay Trading- Part 1

Date: 12th July 2008 (Saturday)

Time: 2pm- 4pm

Speaker: Chris Chan

Fee: RM 75 per person

Medium: English

(Limited Seats- Maximum 25 participants)

 

The Basic of eBay Trading- Part 2

Date: 19th July 2008 (Saturday)

Time: 2pm- 4pm

Speaker: Chris Chan

Fee: RM 75 per person

Medium: English

(Limited Seats- Maximum 25 participants)

 

Wine Appreciation Workshop

Date: 19th July 2008 (Saturday)

Time: 3pm- 5pm

Speaker: Lionel Lau

Fee: RM 50 per person

Medium: English

 

Tax Planning For SMEs

Date: 16th July 2008 (Wednesday)

Time: 7pm- 10pm

Speaker: Yee Hun Leek

Fee: RM 50 per person

Medium: English

 

Financial Planning

Date: 26th July 2008 (Saturday)

Time: 10am- 5pm

Speaker: Kenny Ng

Fee: RM 200 per person

Medium: English

 

Any enquiry, please feel free to call us.

 

rgds

SCLLC

Tel: 03-89438186

Fax: 03-89438981

3rd Floor, South City Plaza

Persiaran Serdang Perdana,

Taman Serdang Perdana, Seksyen 1,

43300 Seri Kembangan.

 

 

 

Lifelong Learning Reading Club Talks: The Secret

Interesting talk by Lifelong Learning.

-----

Dear Sir / Madam,

Talk:(1)"THE SECRET"

Greetings from Centre for Continuing Professional Education, Tunku Abdul Rahman College.

Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) through its Centre for Continuing Professional Education, in collaboration with MCA Lifelong Learning will be organising a Reading Club entitled "THE SECRET" on 2 July 2008 (Wednesday). "THE SECRET" is a book written by Rhonda Byrne.

"THE SECRET" espouses the law of attraction. The author has travelled and met many people who practise the law of attraction, which include Jack Canfield, Quantum physicist Fred Alan Wolf and Barbara Streisand.

"THE SECRET" is that we create our lives with our every thought every minute. Byrne writes that we need to learn to ask for what wwe want because the universe will give it to us, and all we have to do is to receive and enjoy it!

We cordially invite you to attend this complimentary Reading Club by Mr Uthaya Sankar, TV News Editor (RTM)and Writer.

Details of the talk are as follows:

Title   : THE SECRET
        (programme information enclosed)

Date    : 2 July 2008 (Wednesday)

Time    : 7.00pm to 9.00pm (including questions and answers)

Venue   : KTAR Learning Centre
         Ground Floor, Wisma MCA
         165, Jalan Ampang
         50450 Kuala Lumpur

For enquiries and registration, please call 03-4149 9164 (Ms Haagen).


Thank you.


Centre for Continuing Professional Education
Tunku Abbul Rahman College
Direct Line: 03-4149 9164
Fax: 03-4149 9253
Email: cpe@mail.tarc.edu.my


*** Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman Enriches Your Learning Through The Centre for Continuing Professional Education! ***

*********************************************************
Centre for Continuing Professional Education (CPE Centre)
Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman
Jalan Genting Kelang,
Setapak
53300 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-4145-0123 (Hunting Line)
    03-4149-9164 (Direct Line)
Fax: 03-4149-9253

Website: http://www.tarc.edu.my (go to Training and Lifelong Learning Programmes)
*********************************************************

Papa John is entering Malaysia via Berjaya

Read this article from BizJournals.com .

-----
Papa John's International Inc. today announced it will open 100 pizza restaurants in Malaysia over the next 10 years.

Louisville-based Papa John's (NASDAQ: PZZA) has signed a development agreement with Berjaya Pizza Co. Sdn Bhd to develop the restaurants. The first restaurant is expected to open later this year, Papa John's said in a news release.

Papa John's operates more than 3,200 restaurants worldwide, including 495 international restaurants in 29 countries. It operates 171 restaurants in Asia.

"This agreement will further strengthen Papa John's brand position throughout Asia and will enable our 'Better Ingredients. Better Pizza' message to be spread throughout the region," David Flanery, Papa John's chief financial officer and president of International operations, said in a news release. "One of the keys to the success of Papa John's in any country is working with top-quality franchisees and Berjaya is an experienced company dedicated to delivering on our brand promise."


-----
Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Sime Darby New COO & CFO

New appointments for Sime Darby.

Copy from The Star
-----
KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd has appointed Datuk Abd Wahab Maskan as group chief operating officer (COO) and Tong Poh Keow as group chief financial officer (CFO) effective Tuesday.

Abd Wahab was the senior executive vice president, property division of Sime Darby prior to his appointment as COO. As the group COO, he would support the president and group chief executive in the day-to-day operations of the group.

As for Tong, she was the chief financial officer of the plantation and agri-business division prior to the latest appointment. In her new capacity as group CFO, she reports directly to the president and group CEO.

Sime Darby said Abd Wahab, 57, would be mainly responsible for all the group’s operational matters, ensuring key performance indicators and merger synergies were achieved.

It added the departments -- group shared services, group procurement, group risk management and group information technology -- would come under the group COO.

“Managing directors of the respective divisions will report to the group COO on operational matters and will continue to report to the president and group CEO on strategic, business development and human resource matters,” it said.



-----
Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Career with WWF-Malaysia

Thanks, Krista for this.

-----
For circulation and this position is open to both internal staff and external applications. Feel free to circulate.

Based at : Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Responsibilities :
1. Lead, manage, and coordinate all issues and matters relating to media and public affairs
2. Cultivate and help provide positive media exposure on WWFMalaysia and its conservation work and help increase the overall media profile of the organisation and enhance its public image in and outside the country
3. Managing rapid response; alerting key staff on important external issues directly affecting WWF-Malaysia and its work; developing appropriate responses in a timely manner (together with relevant Communications Officers and programme staff)
4. Provide media support and advice to all departments, projects, and staff within the organisation

Requirements :
1. A qualified degree or masters in communications (media, public relations)
2. At least five (5) years working experience in a similar or related field, with at least three (3) experience of working with the media being essential
3. A mature individual, with substantial experience of working with senior levels of management
4. Excellent writing skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia (ability to read and write Chinese an advantage)
5. Strong journalistic sense, able to identify potential media stories from WWF-Malaysia's numerous projects


Application deadline : Saturday, 12 July 2008


Please view for more details at : http://www.wwf.org.my/about_wwf/careers_in_conservation/career_vacant_positions/index.cfm


For those who are interested, send in a cover letter and latest resume to careersjobs@wwf.org.my


Thank you.


Cheers,
Yen Ling

*********************************************
(Ms.)Yen Ling Khao, Recruitment Executive
WWF-Malaysia
49, Jalan SS23/15
47400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia

Tel: +603 7803 3772 ext. 6210
Fax: +603 7803 5157
Mobile: +6017-695 1325
E-mail: ylkhao@wwf.org.my

WWF for a living planet

*****************************************
Check us out at www.wwfmalaysia.org

-----
Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

SAT Score Option from March 2009 Onwards

Realized that SAT students would be able to choose which SAT exam results to be sent to colleges, starting from March 2009 onwards. So, this would not be applicable for this batch of students, but for future year of students. This effect would increase the average SAT scores of students.

Quoted this from Collegeboard
-----
The College Board has approved an important change to the current SAT® score-reporting policy. This new policy will give students the freedom to send the scores by sitting (test date) that they feel best represent their ability to colleges and universities in the application process. Designed to reduce student stress and improve the test-day experience, this new score-reporting feature will be "opt-in" and will first be available for students in the March 2009 administration at no additional cost to students.

This new score-reporting feature also gives colleges the ability to choose which scores are required for admission. Colleges and universities will communicate any changes to their admissions policies or application requirements to students.

Fast Facts
Students will be able to select which scores they send to colleges by sitting (test date) for the SAT and by test for SAT Subject Tests™.
Scores from an entire SAT test will be sent—scores of individual sections from different sittings cannot be selected independently for sending.
Students can send any or all scores to a college on a single report—it will not cost more to send one, multiple or all test scores.
Students will be instructed to follow the different score-reporting requirements of each college to which they apply.
The new score-reporting feature will be optional—if students do not use it, all scores will be sent automatically.
The score-reporting feature can be used on any score report that students send:
The four score reports available through online or phone registration (applying to already scored tests) and additional score reports
The new score-reporting feature functionality will be available to all students via the Web or by calling Customer Service toll free (within the United States)
Students who complete a test prior to the launch of the new score-reporting feature will be able to take advantage of this option when sending past or future scores.
FAQs
Q: Will this new score-reporting feature be available to students who register for 2008-09 test dates prior to the launch?
A: Yes. Students who register for a test date that will occur after the Winter 2009 launch of the new score reporting policy will be able to return to update their registration information via the College Board Web site or by calling a toll-free customer service line. If students don't update their registration information, all scores will be sent with their score reports by default.

Q: Is the new score-reporting feature available for both SAT and SAT Subject Tests score reports?
A: Yes. Students will be able to select which scores they send to colleges by sitting (test date) for the SAT and by test for SAT Subject Tests.

Q: Does the new score-reporting feature affect other aspects of SAT registration and score-report timing, policies or processes?
A: No. The new score-reporting feature allows students to select which scores are sent to institutions. It does not affect score-report timing or other policies and procedures that are not directly related to sending score reports.



-----
Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Paycheck vs Public Service

Thanks to Chia Yee for sharing this with me.

 

Quoted from  New York Times .

 

----
23rd June 2008

 

Big Paycheck or Service? Students Are Put to Test
By SARA RIMER

A prominent education professor at Harvard has begun leading "reflection" seminars at three highly selective colleges, which he hopes will push undergraduates to think more deeply about the connection between their educations and aspirations.

The professor, Howard Gardner, hopes the seminars will encourage more students to consider public service and other careers beyond the consulting and financial jobs that he says are almost the automatic next step for so many graduates of top colleges.

"Is this what a Harvard education is for?" asked Professor Gardner, who is teaching the seminars at Harvard, Amherst and Colby with colleagues. "Are Ivy League schools simply becoming selecting mechanisms for Wall Street?"

Although others have expressed similar concerns in recent years, his views have gained support on the Harvard campus with students, faculty and even the new president, Drew Gilpin Faust, who made the topic the cornerstone of her address to seniors during commencement week. Dr. Faust noted that in the past year, whenever she has met with students, their first question has always been the same: "Why are so many of us going to Wall Street?"

On other campuses as well, officials are questioning with new vigor whether too many top students who might otherwise turn their talents to a broader array of fields are being lured by high-paying corporate jobs, and whether colleges should do more to encourage students to consider other careers, especially public service.

As Adam M. Guren, a new Harvard graduate who will be pursuing his doctorate in economics, put it, "A lot of students have been asking the question: `We came to Harvard as freshmen to change the world, and we're leaving to become investment bankers — why is this?' "
In her speech, Dr. Faust highlighted the results of a spring survey by The Crimson, the student newspaper, which found that about 20 percent of this year's graduates were heading into financial services and management consulting, down from about 22 percent last year.

 
She acknowledged the appeal of the jobs — the money, the promise of stimulating work, the security for students of knowing they will be working alongside their friends, a commitment of only two or three years. She urged the students to search for measures of personal success beyond financial security, despite "the all but irresistible recruiting juggernaut."

In his commencement speech last month at Wesleyan University, Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, voiced a similar theme when he sounded an impassioned call to public service, and warned that the pursuit of narrow self-interest — "the big house and the nice suits and the other things that our money culture says you should buy ... betrays a poverty of ambition."

Universities are so concerned about this issue that some — Amherst, Tufts, the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard, for example — have expanded public service fellowships and internships. "We're in the business of graduating people who will make the world better in some way," said Anthony Marx, Amherst's president. "That's what justifies the expense of the education."

This year, Tufts announced that it would pay off college loans for graduates who chose public service jobs. And officials at Harvard, Penn, Amherst and a number of other colleges say one reason they have begun emphasizing grants instead of loans in financial aid is so students do not feel pressured by their debts to pursue lucrative careers.

In an interview this spring, Dr. Faust held up as a model Teach for America, the nonprofit program that has recruited large numbers of students at top colleges to teach in low-income schools for two years. With 9 percent of Harvard's senior class applying to Teach for America this year, 37 students made the cut.

One of the seniors that Dr. Faust met with in the winter was Dhaval Chadha, who wanted her support for a "diversity in careers" forum he was organizing. Mr. Chadha, 21, who grew up in India, will spend the next year on a fellowship in Brazil, working with an antipoverty group in preparation for what he says will be his career in public service.

"I don't think a lot of people at Harvard know what a hedge fund or a consulting firm is when they start," he said. But then, he explained, juniors and seniors being recruited come back from expensive dinners out and "start throwing salaries around," and students begin to understand that "there's already a kind of prestige attached to working for those people."

"It's like applying to college all over again," he added. " `I applied to 8 to 10 Ivy League colleges, and I got in here. I applied to these 40 companies, and I got into these ones.' It's exactly the thing that appeals to the Harvard competitive spirit."

Evgenia Peeva, who will be working for McKinsey, said: "You have to be part of the competition. You have to prove to yourself and everyone else that you can do it."

Bryan Barnhill, a Harvard senior from a public high school in Detroit, took a semester off and will graduate next year. "Some people say it's a selfish thing to do," he said, referring to the lucrative jobs. "They say you should be using your talent for something beneficial for your community. Terms like `corporate whore' would be tossed around."

Competition for corporate jobs is fierce. But applying, usually online through Harvard's Office of Career Services, is easy.
"I don't think I would have applied if it wasn't almost an automatic option," said Neil Sawhney, 21, a recent graduate who turned down a management consulting job for a paralegal job, and plans to go to law school. "It's hard to overstate how much everyone is doing it."
But for many Harvard seniors, corporate work represents security. "It's scary not knowing what you're going to do," said Chen Xie, who is joining McKinsey. "A lot of people think, `Here's a plan, let's just do the safe thing.' "

When Akshay Ganju began at Harvard four years ago, he burned with ambition to be a doctor. "You get to help people all the time," he said. But his junior year he took a summer internship with Bain & Company, and loved it. "It was like going to Harvard," said Mr. Ganju, 21, a new graduate. "There were so many smart people there."

Now he is about to join Bain for a full-time job. The generous salary, Mr. Ganju said, will make it possible to pay off his college loans.
He still may end up going to medical school, he said, or maybe business school.

"I don't think the point of our education is to make us rich," Mr. Ganju said. "We all feel we want to do something meaningful beyond just accumulating wealth."

Discussion on Malaysia-Southern Thailand

Jennifer, a student from University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, is interested to talk to anyone who knows about Malaysia-Southern Thailand relationship.

 

If anyone is able to talk to her, do contact me. I'll link you and her.

 

----
Hi!

My name is Jennifer Sawicki and I am currently a student at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. I have been awarded the amazing opportunity to conduct international research by the Morehead-Cain Scholarship Program which is affiliated with the university. My research topic centers around the insurgency occuring in Southern Thailand. I am currently traveling in Southeast Asia and trying to find individuals to talk to. I found your website during my research and I hoped you might have an alumni, such as a college professor, government official, or non-government organization worker whom I could contact to discuss the political arena in Malaysia regarding relations with Thailand at their convienence. If this is possible please let me know.
Thank you for you time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Sawicki

DBKL Public Opinion - KL City Draft Plan

Would like to say Congratulations to DBKL for being very transparent and efficient.

 

Recently, in a DBKL Roadshow to show their plan, I filled up a survey form, to give my feedback.

 

And today, a letter reached my home. And I can track my opinion too online! That's a first-world government, and they even invite me to be present to convince them on that.

 

Good Job DBKL!

 

-----

No.Pandangan: PTKL2020/DRAFT/45
Tarikh diterima : 29hb May 2008

Dimaklumkan bahawa Jabatan ini telah menerima Borang Pandangan Awam anda
mengenai Draf Pelan Bandar Raya Kuala Lumpur 2020 dan sedang mengambil tindakan.
Jabatan ini mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih di atas pandangan yang telah dikemukakan.

Sekiranya anda memilih untuk hadir bagi menjelaskan pandangan di sesi pendengaran,
anda akan dimaklumkan kemudian mengenai tarikh, masa dan tempat sesi pendengaran.
Anda juga boleh menyemaknya di laman web  klcityplan2020.dbkl.gov.my/eopinion
dengan menggunakan nombor pandangan di atas sebagai rujukan.

Sekian,

Pengarah
Jabatan Pelan Induk
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur
b.p. Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur

 

Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations(CAFEO)

This is a great opportunity to attend the Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations(CAFEO). The deadline is 31st July 2008. Do spread the words around!

 

-----

 

The Young Engineers Session of Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) is having a delegation to Young Engineers ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organization (YEAFEO). YEAFEO is part of the organization of AFEO which serve the interests of young engineers and students in ASEAN region.  The ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (AFEO) is a non-govermental body. Its members are the engineering institutions and organisations of ASEAN countries with the following main objectives: To promote goodwill and mutual understanding To establish and develop a ASEAN baseline standard for the engineering profession with the objective of facilitating the mobility of the engineers within the ASEAN countries. Every year, AFEO will have a Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (CAFEO) in different ASEAN country. This year, the CAFEO will be held in Bangkok with the details as follows: Date: 26-29 November, 2008 Bangkok, Thailand Official website: http://cafeo26.com/index.php The 26 Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (CAFEO 26) has set as its theme "Interdisciplinary and Trans-boundary Engineering Opportunities in ASEAN" to tackle engineering issues related to natural disasters and other issues as well as look toward future opportunities in terms of engineering education and the opportunities in the energy and petrochemical sectors. Initiated in 1982 as a yearly event the host of the Conference has rotated among the ten ASEAN member countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The Conference historically attracts more than 200 foreign and 300 local engineering professionals from various industries, fields and sectors. In 2007 The Philippines hosted the Conference in Cebu and in 2006 Malaysia hosted the Conference in Selangor. CAFEO 26 is being jointly hosted by the Engineering Institute of Thailand Under Royal Patronage and the Thailand and the Thailand Council of Engineers. For those student leaders in universities who are interested represent Malaysia as a delegate to YEAFEO can contact IEM Young Enginers Committee Mr. Chin Yik Ming at chinym33@yahoo.com/ 012-3206283 or visit http://theiemgns.blogspot.com for more information.  Regards, Chin Yik Ming Committee Member Young Engineers Session Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Mobile: +6012-3206283

Still Blogging at KLIA

Still at KLIA. Flight further delays... Sigh.. How come our National Carrier is having such problem? It is supposed to be good in on time.

 

Perhaps, in the future, should take more Air Asia flight, especially with Air Asia offers RM200 gift if flight delays by more than 3 hours. My delay is just 1 hour 25 minutes, so I would still not get that free gift yet. :(

 

Anyway, lets forget about the flight delay.

 

It has been a couple of weeks, where my blog has low activity. I promise that after this Sunday, the activity of my blog would go back to normal. First, it was my CFA on 8th June, and then the USA Education Fair on 14th June.

 

A lot of people have been asking me about my new job, and I would have to say that it is marvellous. I really feel very energetic and enthusiastic about it. I get to do the stuff that I am really passionate about. It has been 1.5 months today, since I joined on 5th May 2008. And I have gotten many interesting assignment, including the P&G Business Challenge (If any of you are interested, do check out at http://www.pgbusinesschallenge.com . I'll be at Impiana Hotel on Monday, 23rd June 11am. This is targeted at those who would graduate in 2009, but those who graduates this year and 2010 are more than welcome too.

 

Besides that, I get to be involved in Career & Education Fair tomorrow and Sunday. Imagine, it is counted as my working day being at the fair! That's dream come true. I definitely look forward to go to work every day, and it is interesting where I get to liaise with folks from sales, marketing, product (my own team) etc. It is really a cross-functional job scope, for my role as Product Manager for JobStreet CAMPUS.

 

If you are currently still studying in university or have graduated recently, do sign up for http://my.jobstreet.com/campus (JobStreet CAMPUS). hahahaha... my blog sounds like advertisement already. :)

 

Yeah, forget about one more of my job scope. Blogging... Yes, blogging. Check out my blogging at http://blog.jobstreet.com too! It is definitely a dream come true!

 

The work-life balance has been much better too, since I joined JobStreet.com . Don't get me wrong. I learned a lot during my time in Accenture. And those 32 months there (oops.. 34 months, if count my internship period), really shaped me!

 

Okie...Finally, it is calling for boarding already...

Memory Talk & Mind Competitions

Blogging from KLIA as well. Hasn't boarded yet.

 

Interesting talk and competition by Malaysian Mental Literacy Movement!

 

----

1) TALK: THE MAGIC OF MEMORY by Jeyaraman           Date: 5 July 2008 (Saturday)      Time: 9.45 am – 12.00 noon      Venue: Auditorium, Centre for Extension Education                   Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman                   11, Jalan 13/6                   46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor      Admission: FREE (prior registration required)      2) MIND COMPETITIONS        Date: 6 July 2008 (Sunday)      Time:  a) Memory Competitions (8.30am – 12.30 noon)                 b) Mind Mapping Competition (1.30 pm – 5.00 pm)        Venue: Auditorium, Centre for Extension Education                   Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman                   11, Jalan 13/6                   46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor      Admission: FREE (Memory & Mind Mapping Competition - registration close on 2 July 08)   Registration form can be obtained from http://www.utar.edu.my/media/Competitions-Flyer-Final.gif   REGISTRATION & ENQUIRIES   For registration for the above events, kindly email to MMLMMALAYSIA@YAHOO.COM.   For enquiries, kindly email to mmlmmalaysia@yahoo.com or contact 03-7625 0328 (Samantha / Edison)..

 

Blogging at KLIA

Am at KLIA. MAS has a flight delay for my flight. It is about boarding already. Am on a 7:55pm flight to JB. It's fun blogging at KLIA, especially with a fantastic WIFI at KLIA.

 

For those who are in JB, do come to Persada International Convention Center tomorrow and 22nd 10am to 7pm for the Career and Education Fair, co-organized by JobStreet.com. :)

 

I'll be there till around 5pm on Sunday. So, do check it out!

Announcement of formation of Provost Search Committee and interim provost

Biddy Martin is bidding her farewell from Cornell. Would wish her all the best. She was the provost throughout my 4 years at Cornell!
----

CORNELL CHRONICLE

June 18, 2008

 

President Skorton announces formation of Provost Search Committee and Names Interim Provost

 

President David J. Skorton has announced the formation of a Provost Search Committee of faculty, staff and student representatives to recommend, from within the Cornell community, a successor to Carolyn (Biddy) Martin, who will be leaving Cornell this summer to become chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. When Martin steps down on August 31, she will have been the longest serving provost in Cornell history.

 

The search committee will be chaired by Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy Martha Haynes and will have the following members:  Harry Katz, Dean of the ILR School and J. Sheinkman Professor in Collective Bargaining; Carlos Bustamante, assistant professor of biological statistics and computational biology; Paulette Clancy, professor and the William C. Hooey Director of the School of Chemical and Bio-molecular Engineering; Robert Frank, the Henrietta Johnson Louis Professor of Management and professor of economics; Sandra Greene, professor of history; Charles Phlegar, vice president of Alumni Affairs and Development; Ryan Lavin, president of the Student Assembly; Michelle Leinfelder, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly; and Brian Cornell, chair of the Employee Assembly. The committee will solicit nominations and applications this summer, and recommend finalists to President Skorton by mid-fall.

 

"It is a great responsibility to select the chief academic officer of Cornell, an institution that has guided American education since its own founding," said Skorton.  "I am grateful that Martha Haynes and her colleagues have agreed enthusiastically to take on this role and I look forward to the success of their work."

 

Haynes said she welcomed the opportunity to lead the search for "the second most important administrative position at this complex institution."

 

She continued, "The provost is such an important part of Cornell life, and unlike many universities and colleges Cornell selects a provost from its own ranks because there are so many competent and committed leaders already on our campus. An important part of the search will be finding someone who complements the president's leadership style. I am truly honored to be part of this process."

 

Skorton also said that Deputy Provost David Harris will serve as interim provost during the transition starting on September 1, 2008. Commenting on the news of his appointment, Harris praised Martin's eight-year tenure as provost and said: "It is an honor to be appointed interim provost of Cornell University. I will strive to advance the academic priorities that have been established by the faculty and endorsed by the academic leadership. My term as interim provost will be marked by steady progress. I do not have any interest in being considered as the next provost. This is not the right time in my life or in my career to pursue the position."

 

The provost acts as the university's chief academic officer and serves as the president's first deputy officer. The provost oversees all academic programs and units of the university, other than those reporting to the provost for medical affairs. The provost also is responsible for strategic planning and budgeting, tenure and promotion and academic and research initiatives.

 

For further information about the search process, contact Laurie Summers, Director of Operations for the Office of the President, at lks59@cornell.edu.

 

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/June08/provostSearch.html

MY Career & Education Fair 2008 - Johor

I'll be in Johor Bharu this weekend - 21st and 22nd June 2008.

Do check out http://my.jobstreet.com/announcement/2008/m/mycefjh1e.htm for the details. It is the MY Career & Education Fair 2008, powered by JobStreet.com.

It would be on 21st and 22nd June 2008 (10am to 7pm) at Persada International Convention Center.

Activities:

On-the-spot Interview
Career Development Talks
Courses Consultation
Meet Recruiters Face to Face
Resume Clinic
Internship Corner
Education Workshop
Contest & Lucky Draws

Participating Companies:-

Advertising / Marketing / Promotion / PR
Expo One Events

Automotive
Lucas

Banking / Financial Services
Scope International (Standard Chartered)
OCBC Bank
UOB
Public Bank
RHB

Cement
Holcim Malaysia

Construction
Senai-Desaru (Ranhill)

Education
Cosmopoint Institute of Information Technology
Lim Kok Wing University
International Islamic University Malaysia
Master Skill
SCM Professional

Electrical & Electronics
Flextronics
Intel Technology
WD Media
Matromatic Handling Systems
Pioneer Technology
Shimano

Financial
Public Mutual
Tune Money
Aeon Credit Service

Food
Sushi King

Hotel / Hospitality
Zon Regency

Insurance
Etiqa
Great Eastern Life

IT
Electronic Data Systems IT Services

And there will be a lot of universities there too, to get students for Master & PhD course.

Minister of Higher Education would be there on Saturday 10:30am.

Do check it out!

11th Annual Southeast Asian Studies Graduate Conference Call for Papers

Call for Papers

 

The Cornell Southeast Asia Program invites submissions for its 11th Annual Southeast Asian Studies Graduate Conference. This year this annual event will be held at the Kahin Center for Advanced Research on Southeast Asia at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York on October 24-26, 2008. We welcome submissions from graduate students at any stage engaged in original research related to Southeast Asia. Graduate students working in the following disciplines as well as other related fields that contribute to the understanding of Southeast Asia are encouraged to apply: history, literature, art history, sociology, musicology, religion, anthropology, archeology, architectural history, gender studies, political science, economics, linguistics and literature.

 

This year we are honored to announce that our keynote speaker will be Professor Benedict Anderson (Aaron L. Bienkorb Professor Emeritus of International Studies, Government and Asian Studies, Cornell University), the author of Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism ([1983], rev. ed. 1991), The Spectre of Comparisons: Nationalism, Southeast Asia, and the World (1998), and Under Three Flags: Anarchism and the Anti-Colonial Imagination (2007).  Papers related to Professor Anderson’s interests are strongly encouraged.
 
We ask that prospective presenters submit a one-page abstract and curriculum vitae by September 1, 2008 to: seapgradconference@gmail.com

 

Final papers will be due by October 10, 2008. Papers should be in English with a reading time of no more than 20 minutes (plus 10 minutes of discussion).

 

Please see http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/southeastasia/symposium/2008fall.asp for details on abstract format and submission, as well as further information and future updates

 

A limited number of modest travel grants are available. Please indicate in your email when you submit the abstract if you would like to apply for a travel grant.

 

Rose Metro and Trais Pearson

SEAP Student Committee Co-Chairs

2008-2009

Quite a few days I didn't blog already. This is a good opportunity!

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Call for Papers


The Cornell Southeast Asia Program invites submissions for its 11th Annual
Southeast Asian Studies Graduate Conference. This year this annual event
will be held at the Kahin Center for Advanced Research on Southeast Asia at
Cornell University in Ithaca, New York on October 24-26, 2008. We welcome
submissions from graduate students at any stage engaged in original research
related to Southeast Asia. Graduate students working in the following
disciplines as well as other related fields that contribute to the
understanding of Southeast Asia are encouraged to apply: history,
literature, art history, sociology, musicology, religion, anthropology,
archeology, architectural history, gender studies, political science,
economics, linguistics and literature.



This year we are honored to announce that our keynote speaker will be
Professor Benedict Anderson (Aaron L. Bienkorb Professor Emeritus of
International Studies, Government and Asian Studies, Cornell University),
the author of Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of
Nationalism ([1983], rev. ed. 1991), The Spectre of Comparisons:
Nationalism, Southeast Asia, and the World (1998), and Under Three Flags:
Anarchism and the Anti-Colonial Imagination (2007).  Papers related to
Professor Anderson's interests are strongly encouraged.

We ask that prospective presenters submit a one-page abstract and curriculum
vitae by September 1, 2008 to: seapgradconference@gmail.com



Final papers will be due by October 10, 2008. Papers should be in English
with a reading time of no more than 20 minutes (plus 10 minutes of
discussion).



Please see
<http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/southeastasia/symposium/2008fall.asp>
http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/southeastasia/symposium/2008fall.asp for
details on abstract format and submission, as well as further information
and future updates



A limited number of modest travel grants are available. Please indicate in
your email when you submit the abstract if you would like to apply for a
travel grant.



Rose Metro and Trais Pearson

SEAP Student Committee Co-Chairs

2008-2009

NTV7 8am-10am 16th June

Sorry for missing in action for almost a week. Will be back blogging more this week.

As a start, do catch me on NTV7 Breakfast Show on 16th June (I know this is late notice. :)) between 8am and 10am. Guess I'll be up for about 15-30 minutes. It would be regarding US Universities Applications etc.

Thanks.


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Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

FAQ on U.S. Universities Applications

This is in the process of being updated at USA For Students . Thanks to Ke Lun and Adrian Lim for leading this initiative to prepare this FAQ of Applications to US Universities last year, and this initiative is led by Ern Sheong this year. Thanks to all of the rest who have helped in one way or another to make this a reality.

To all of you, many of them who have helped to enhance this FAQ would be at the U.S. Universities Applications FAQ booth at USA For Students on 14th June 2008 10am to 4pm at Wisma MCA. Do go and ask them question. Read this first, before you attend the fair.

Please feel free to forward to others, but please include the Acknowledgement part.
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US UNIVERSITIES APPLICATION INFORMATION SHEET

Wanted to know more about US university applications but don’t know where to begin? This information sheet will provide you with the necessary knowledge needed to get started.

Acknowledgement: A very huge portion of this Information Sheet has been taken from Chua Ke Lun’s thread “FAQ about TOEFL, SAT 1, SAT 2 and US UNIVERSITY APPLICATION”, which can be found at the forums in www.recom.org under the Education section. A note of thanks also goes out to Adrian Lim, Vincent Ang, Mei Yueh, Sabrina Lim, Eu Win, Timothy Tam, Claire Chin, Dickson Ngai, Chen Chow and Ern Sheong for contributing in one way or another.

Types of Universities in USA

A. Public Universities
Examples:
- University of California system
- University of Michigan
- University of Virginia
and many others.

B. Private Universities
Examples:
- Ivy League Universities (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania and Yale.)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Stanford University
- Duke University
- Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- University of Chicago
- The John Hopkins University
and many others.

C. Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal arts colleges are institutions of higher education offering programs in the liberal arts at the post-secondary level. Liberal arts offers a wide range of fields in the arts and sciences to gain general knowledge and develop intellectual skills.

Generally, liberal arts colleges are small and thus have smaller class sizes and smaller enrollment than universities. They usually offer a liberal arts curriculum. Liberal arts colleges focus primarily on tertiary education, and tend to emphasize interactive instruction rather than research. Full-time professors teach almost all the courses, rather than graduate student teaching assistants.

Generally, a full-time, four-year course of study at a liberal arts college leads students to a bachelor's degree. Several colleges offer postgraduate programs; however, their postgraduate enrollments remain small compared to their undergraduate enrollments and postgraduate enrollments at research universities.

Liberal arts colleges are often private institutions, although a number of state-supported institutions also operate on Liberal Arts College models. The private dominance is particularly pronounced among the leading liberal arts colleges:

- Smith College
- Williams College
- Swarthmore College
- Wellesley College
- Middlebury College

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Financial Aid/Scholarships

Most public universities in the US do not provide financial aid. On the other hand, most private universities in the US do provide financial aid or scholarships. These private universities have different policies when it comes to admission of international applicants who apply for financial aid. These are:

A. Need-Blind Admission
Want a university that will cater to YOUR financial needs? Dream of a university that will not look at your financial status when reviewing your application? Or a university that will pay for you should you gain admission? APPLY NEED BLIND!

Currently, there are only 8 schools which practice this policy. They are Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dartmouth, Williams, Middlebury and Amherst. Your chances of admission to these schools will not be jeopardized if you apply for financial aid. Besides that, these schools will provide sufficient financial aid for you to enroll.

B. Admission Blind
Application to certain schools is independent of your need for financial aid. This includes Cornell University. Cornell can admit you without providing you any financial award even though you have indicated that you require financial aid to attend.

C. Need-Aware/ Need-Based Admission
For need-aware admission, your application to certain universities will have a lower chance of success if you apply for financial aid. These include Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania.

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Admission Policies


A. Regular Decision (RD)

This is the normal application policy by all universities. Regular Decision deadlines are usually at the end of December or early January (varies from university to university). Under Regular Decision, applicants are under no obligation to enroll even if they have been admitted. They are welcome to apply to as many Colleges as possible without any binding clauses.

B. Early Decision (ED)
Early Decision plans allow you to apply early (usually in early November) and get an admission decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date (around middle of December). However, Early Decision plans are binding; if you apply as an Early Decision candidate, you agree to attend the college if it accepts you and offers an adequate financial aid package. Although you can apply to only one college for Early Decision, you may apply to other colleges through the regular admissions process. If you're accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all other applications. Usually, colleges insist on a nonrefundable deposit well before May 1.

C. Early Action (EA)
Early Action plans are similar to Early Decision plans in that you can apply early in the admission cycle (usually in December, January or February) whether or not a college has accepted you. But unlike Early Decision, most Early Action plans are not binding, i.e. you do not have to commit to a college to which you've applied for Early Action. Under these plans, you may still apply to other colleges. Usually, you can let the college know of your decision in late spring or whenever you've decided.

D. Single-Choice/Restrictive Early Action (SCEA)
Some colleges notably Yale and Stanford have begun offering a new admissions option called Single-Choice Early Action (usually in October). This plan works the same way as other Early Action plans, but with Single-Choice, and candidates may not apply early (either Early Action or Early Decision) to any other school.

You can still apply to other school’s Regular Decision and are not required to give your final answer of acceptance until the Regular Decision deadline. This allows you to compare offers of financial aid in the spring before making a commitment.

– Adapted from Collegeboard.com

E. Rolling Admissions
It is an admission policy where no specific deadline is fixed. Under rolling admissions, applications are reviewed as they come in until all spots are filled.

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Application Procedures

Each university in the USA has its own requirements for undergraduate application. Please check with the universities you intend to apply (their websites are the best resource) to confirm what documents and information they require.

The Standard Requirements for university application in the USA are:
- Personal Information
- Academic qualifications and achievements
- Co-curricular activities
- Essays and/or personal statements
- Teacher recommendations (normally 2)
- Standardized test scores ( e.g. SAT 1 , SAT 2 , TOEFL )
- Counselor’s report

In some cases, the universities may provide interviews through the local alumni associations.

Application dates differ depending on whether you are applying for: Early Decision or Regular Decision. Both applications start in early October. However, Early Decision normally ends by early November while Regular Decision normally ends by early January of the following year.

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SAT 1 and SAT 2

General Information regarding SAT 1
The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills you learned in school that you'll need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200—800, with two writing sub scores for multiple-choice and the essay. The test is about 4 hours long and is administered seven times a year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and six times a year overseas. Colleges usually take the highest scores of the math, verbal and writing sections (which can be from two different test dates) although they always receive your entire College Board testing history.

General Information regarding SAT 2
Subject Tests (formerly SAT II: Subject Tests) are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge. Students take the Subject Tests to demonstrate to colleges their mastery of specific subjects like English, history, mathematics, science, and language. The tests are independent of any particular textbook or method of instruction. The tests' content evolves to reflect current trends in high school curricula, but the types of questions change little from year to year. Many colleges use the Subject Tests for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Used in combination with other background information (your high school record, scores from other tests like the SAT Reasoning Test, teacher recommendations, etc.), they provide a dependable measure of your academic achievement and are a good predictor of future performance. Some colleges specify the Subject Tests they require for admission or placement; others allow applicants to choose which tests to take. Colleges usually take the highest scores of each subject (which can be from two different test dates)

Both sections are quoted directly from Collegeboard.com

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Test Dates
The SAT is tested on the following months outside USA, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories (6 times a year):

January
May
June
October
November
December

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Registration
To register for the SAT 1 and SAT 2, you would need to register at www.collegeboard.com or through the Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE).

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TOEFL

General Information
The Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings. The TOEFL test is offered in different formats depending on a test taker's location.

The Internet-based TOEFL Test
The TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The test helps students demonstrate that they have the English skills needed for success. Each section has 30 marks with the highest score being 30 for each section. Maximum score is 120. Only the TOEFL iBT test is offered in Malaysia. Registration is through ETS. The test dates varies with the test venues. Once you register for TOEFL, it would ask you to fill in the location for the test. Only then would you know which date is available.

– Quoted directly from ETS TOEFL website: www.ets.org/toefl

A. Writing part
You would have to write two essays. One of them is to write a summary of the information provided to you and the other is to write your response to a question posed to you. The two tasks are rated from 0 to 5, and the average of these scores is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30. Human scorers rate the responses.

Scorers evaluate the integrated writing task on the overall quality of the writing (development, organization, appropriate and precise use of grammar and vocabulary) and the completeness and accuracy of the content. Scorers rate the independent writing essay on the overall quality of the writing:
o Development
o Organization
o Appropriate and precise use of grammar and vocabulary.

B. Reading part
This test is similar to the critical reading section of the SAT. However, it is much easier compared to the SAT.

C. Listening part
You would have to listen to a few conversations and answer them based on the conversations. It is advisable to write down the key points of the conversations so that answering it would be easier.

D. Speaking part
You would be asked to give your comment on an issue or present the ideas given in a recorded conversation. Each of the six tasks is rated from 0 to 4, and the average of these scores is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30.Human scorers rate the responses. They evaluate the test-taker's ability in topic development, delivery, and language use.

Exemption from TOEFL Test
If you have been attending an English-medium school for at least 2 years and have achieved a decent SAT 1 score, you can apply to the individual universities for exemption from taking the TOEFL. There is no guarantee that the universities would allow such exemptions. Please take the initiative to ask the universities you are applying to.

Important Information
If you intend to take the TOEFL, please register as early as possible as the test venues have limited places unlike the SAT 1 and SAT 2. The delivery of the test scores by ETS is also not as fast as College Board’s. Your scores may not arrive on time for admission consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I send my teacher recommendations and my school counselor report together instead of sending them separately?
You can do that provided that each individual envelope is sealed before being sent in bulk.

2. What if my essays exceed the word limit? Would the admission officer count every single word?
Since there will be hundreds if not thousands of essays coming in, admission officers won't possibly be counting all of them. However, after reading many essays, they would probably have a good idea of the ideal length of an essay. Essays should be edited if possible to fit into the word limit. Please note that many online application forms have character limits and limited space for the essay, anything exceeding the limit in the final PDF format may be truncated.

3. The Common Application asks me what would be my possible major and career path, would it affect my application if I am not sure?
Yes and no. Some admission officers do take note of the choice when looking through your whole application (essays, recommendations). In other cases, admission officers ignore this choice.

4. Should I waive my right to the recommendation letters? Would it affect my application?
You probably should waive your right to these letters. Some teachers feel more at ease, not because they want to write bad stuff about you. Sometimes, it is more about privacy. Anyway, since most people waive the right, it won't really hurt if you follow everybody else.

5. How heavily does the SAT weigh in the overall application?
Your application is made up of the SAT, essays, academic scores, co-curricular records, teacher recommendation, alumni interview and counselor report. A high SAT score can make your application even better. However, if you only have a high SAT score but mediocre academic scores and so on, you would be significantly disadvantaged compared to one who has an average SAT score but good recommendations and so on. The conclusion is that the SAT plays a part in your application. As to what percentage it occupies, it really depends on the quality of the whole application pool.

6. Should I send in my application as soon as possible?
If you send your application in before the deadline it will not be read sooner, you will not receive your decision sooner, and you will not be more likely to get in. Just a view of what would happen to your application. When applications reach the admissions office, it takes a small army of people to open all that mail (or print out all the electronic submissions), sort it, file it, respond to all those little postcards people put in to confirm their applications were received, enter the data into the computer database, make folders containing the application with color coded stickers with your name/region/home state identifiers, then organize the folders according to admissions reader (usually based on geography) and present this final product in a uniform, readable manner so that the admissions officer can start reading applications.

– Quoted directly from http://gettingin.wordpress.com

7. Besides my Pre-University and upper secondary academic results, should I send my lower secondary results?
This totally depends on you. Giving the lower secondary school results can give the admission officers a good view of your consistent work. In other cases, you may just appear to be too eager to show your academic results. In the end, it's your call.

8. Which university or college should I apply to? Should I just focus on the Ivy League Universities?
This question can be answered in many ways. First of all, ask yourself whether you really want to go to the US for studies or is it just one of your choices other than UK, Singapore or Malaysia. If you really intend to go to the US, one of the methods you can use is to choose 3 groups of universities to apply. One group would be universities that you know you would surely get into. The other two groups would be universities that you have a realistic chance of getting in and some chance of getting in (dream schools). Others would prefer to choose a list of universities that are good in one major and apply to those universities.

Do take into consideration your needs:
- weather
- lifestyle
- rural/urban setting
- academic style
- requirements
- strong departments
- fellow Malaysians
- reputation
- location
- student body
- athletics
- whether you think you could fit in
- Greek life

9. I am from a government high school and my school doesn't have a school counselor. Who should I approach to fill in the secondary school report?
You can normally approach your principal or vice-principal for help or your class teacher or “penolong kanan”.

10. The Advance Placement (AP) test is available to me. Should I take it?
AP is an exam that allows you to receive some freshman credits (provided that you get higher than a specific score, which different universities have different scores as their benchmark). If you are taking STPM, A-Level or IB, you probably need not take it as these pre-university courses are considered sufficient for admission. If you intend to apply after SPM, you are highly recommended to take the AP tests.

11. I just finished SPM can I apply to US universities?
In most cases, you can. You would still need to take the SAT 1, SAT 2 and TOEFL. Please check the respective university websites to find out the minimum academic qualification. The University of California system only allows STPM or A level standard pre-university courses.

12. What is the difference between college and university?
The two mentioned above are interchangeable terms. Universities and Colleges teach undergraduate studies and function pretty much in the same manner.

The US government defines college: “College: An institution of higher learning that offers undergraduate programs, usually of a four-year duration, that lead to the bachelor's degree in the arts or sciences (B.A. or B.S.). The term "college" is also used in a general sense to refer to a postsecondary institution. A college may also be a part of the organizational structure of a university.”

University is defined as: “University: An educational institution that usually maintains one or more four-year undergraduate colleges (or schools) with programs leading to a bachelor's degree, a graduate school of arts and sciences awarding master's degrees and doctorates (Ph.D.s), and graduate professional schools.”

Source: http://educationusa.state.gov/graduate/glossary.htm


13. Can I refuse to go to my Early Decision school?
Basically, no. If you back out of an ED commitment, you will be blacklisted from other schools as soon as they find out. Universities take ED violations very much to heart. The only way you can turn down a university is if it doesn't offer sufficient financial aid for you to attend it. If you need financial assistance in order to finish your course of study, you need to request financial aid with your ED application. We were not aware of how much this bothered universities last year, but we now know that they see it as insincere to send an ED application while saying that you will only attend if you get a scholarship. The reason is that ED is understood as a whole-hearted promise that you really want to attend and are trying to give the university every opportunity to help you attend. If you do receive the scholarship later, you can immediately withdraw your request for financial aid at the universities where it will reduce your chances of admission.

Quoted directly from RJC US application website

14. I am taking STPM/A-Level now, do I need to take SAT 2?
You would still have to take SAT 2 unless the college you are applying to specifically tells you that SAT 2 is not compulsory.

15. How many SAT 2 subjects should I take?
This depends on the university you are applying to. Most universities require only 2. Some universities require 3.

16. Which subjects should I take in secondary school?
This depends on what course you intend to take in University. If you intend to apply to an engineering or business school, schools will advise you to take Math with Chemistry or Physics being the addition if you are applying to an engineering school.

17. What is the difference between Math 1 and Math 2?
The Math 2 is more difficult than Math 1.With sufficient knowledge of your STPM/A-Level Syllabus, Math 2 should be alright. Most competitive universities recommend or accept Math 2 only.

18. Can I take both SAT 1 and SAT 2 on the same test date?
You cannot take the SAT 1 and SAT 2 on the same test date. Both tests take place at the same time.

19. Do I have to send the scores to the college by myself?
No, College Board will send the scores directly to the universities that you have applied to. Your first 4 college recipients are free; any additional college will cost USD 9.50. Note that you will have to list down your first 4 college recipients when you register for the test or 1 week after the test.

20. I am taking 3 SAT 2 subjects for this coming test. What is the order of the subjects?
Basically, you get to choose the order in which you take the test.

21. My SAT scores are not good enough, should I retake?
The best bet is that you should take the SAT again only if you have confidence in getting a higher score.

22. What score should I achieve in the SAT?
Ideally, the higher the better. Other than that, you could see the range of SAT scores of the respective schools to have an idea of whether your scores are safe enough.

For more specific questions regarding the SAT, please visit www.collegeboard.com

If you want to take a look at how Thailand scholars achieve in their SAT and their corresponding university admitted, do refer to http://www.ts48.org/college/ . There is no guarantee of admission to any university, even with full score of SAT. It is just for reference. SAT is just one of the many factors the admission office considers for your applications.

23. When should I apply for financial aid?
Ideally, this should be done while you are preparing your admission documents (Recommendation letters, Essays, and so on).The reason being that these forms require quite an effort to fill in as it involves taxes, property, income and so on. Most of the time, you would need to download 2 forms and filled them up. They are the International Student Financial Aid Application and International Student Certification of Finance Form. The International Student Certification of Finance Form requires a banker to certify the amount of money in a bank account that will be used to pay for your undergraduate education.

Note that some universities require financial aid forms from their own universities.

24. How should I ask for waiver from a particular university?
This depends on the university in which you are applying to. Some universities allow you to ask for waiver while applying online to their universities. In other cases, you are required to submit a written paper application to apply for waiver. Check the university websites to have a clear idea of the correct procedure to apply.

25. Will my application to one Ivy League school affect application to another?
No.

26. TRANSCRIPTS: Secondary School Report, Mid year Report and Final Report.
Kindly refer to Common Application FAQ below, No. 2. The same policy applies for forms other than the Common Application forms.

27. When should I start applying?
If you would like to enroll the following year (2009), you’ll have to apply by the end of this year (end of 2008). Although different universities have different application deadlines and intakes, most of the competitive universities have only one intake (which is the fall intake in August) and the application datelines are some time from November to January, varying among universities.

28. What do I need to prepare for my application?
a. Essays/Personal Statement
b. Teacher Recommendations
c. Interviews with alumni (if required or offered)
d. Tests: SAT, SAT1, SAT2, TOEFL
e. Supplementary material (drawing, composition, research project etc) if you have them
f. Counselor’s Report
g. All necessary forms which will require you to fill in your personal information, achievements, co-curricular activities, etc.
h. Optional: Certified true copies of certificates of significant achievement (Olympiads, National Competitions), letters and testimonials, and other important documents. (Note: DO NOT send them every single certificate you have collected in school.)
i. any additional materials required by the particular university


Common Application FAQ
This FAQ attempts to address the most popular questions Malaysian applicants ask about the Common Application. It is by no means an exhaustive guide. Kindly refer to the FAQ in commonapp.org or log-in to the Common App portal to gain access to very comprehensive instructions.

1. What is the Common Application? Why use it?
“The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application – online and in print – that students may submit to any of our nearly 300 members.

Once completed online or in print, copies of the Application for Undergraduate Admission can be sent to any number of participating colleges. The same is true of the School Report, Midyear Report, and Teacher Evaluation forms. This allows you to spend less time on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what's really important: college research, visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework.”

– Quoted directly from Common App website FAQ

Basically, through Common App, one can simultaneously apply to multiple member colleges or universities by completing the application once. The aspects covered in the application process include personal biodata, academics, standardized tests, activities, essays etc. However, there are competitive schools which require a “Supplement” form where applicants have to fill in additional information (in many cases, additional essays)

2. I’m doing my Pre-U studies now. What should I put under the Educational Data section “secondary school you now attend (or from which you graduated)”?
Firstly, it is essential for you to know the difference between the number of years we attend school in Malaysia and the number of years Americans attend school. In our education system, from Standard 1 till Form 5, we only have 11 years of schooling. On the other hand, the Americans have 12 years of schooling (Grade 1-12). Thus, you should regard your STPM/Pre-University studies as your 12th year of secondary school (i.e. fill in your STPM/Pre-University school as the secondary school you now attend) and NOT College. In the US, there are no Pre-University Colleges; colleges are the equivalent of universities and they are also where you do your undergraduate studies. As for your former secondary school (Form 1-5), type it under the column “List of all other secondary schools…”

On the other hand, you may elect to fill in your Secondary School (Form 1-5) in the “secondary school you now attend column” and insert your Pre-University institution in the “List all colleges/universities…for credit” column. This applies to applicants from INTEC or other Pre-University Institutions which do not have Counsellors, or their Counsellors are unwilling to write recommendations. However, unless applicants have such a situation, the majority of applicants would go with the first approach.

3. TRANSCRIPTS: Secondary School Report, Mid year Report and Final Report.
Secondary school report: Get your secondary school (SMK...) to fill them up. Request a letter of recommendation from your school counsellor and attach it together as well. (This is for the “Evaluation” part) Attach it with your Form 4 and 5 (internal exams) and SPM results. Form 1-3 internal exams are optional.
Mid year report: Your current Pre-University midterm results. Get your counsellor from the “college” you’re attending to help you to fill it up.
Final Report: Your final results of your Pre-University Institution. It’ll only be sent up to the particular university you’ve been admitted and have chosen to attend.

(For STPM students or ASEAN Scholars who studied in Singapore, you may get your Form 6 or Junior College Counselor to fill up all the above forms instead of going back to your former Malaysian Secondary School where you took SPM.)

4. I’ve composed music. I’ve painted pictures. How do I send them?
In the Common Application webpage, you will find a link for you to download all the forms you need. Look for “Art Supplement” and download the form. Fill in the form and have an instructor who is familiar with your work send in a recommendation letter (e.g. Art tuition teacher, music instructor, drama teacher). Then, together with the form, send in a 10-minute CD or DVD of your artwork. You should also attach a résumé that summarizes your experience, giving years studied, names of teachers, repertoire and awards/honors received.

5. May I submit multiple versions of the Common Application form to tailor to the needs of each university that I am applying to?
Once you submit your application to the institution (or institutions) on your ‘My Colleges’ list, you will not be able to change answers for that application. However, you may create a second version of your original Common Application and then modify that application to be sent to a different institution (or institutions). Source: commonapp.org

Hence you are advised to send in your Common App forms one by one, creating duplicates of the original which are then edited for sending to different institutions.

6. Which universities accept the Common Application? Where can you get this list?
Point your browser to https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Members.aspx to see the complete list of universities that accept the Common App.

7. "Is there any difference between the Common Application and the
application forms provided by the university? Which one will put me at a/an
disadvantage/advantage?"
Some schools accept the Common Application form as well as their own
application forms. Both will be weighed equally and there would be no distinction made between one and the other. If you are applying to many schools, it is advisable that you apply using the Common App to refrain from filling in personal details multiple times. Some schools only accept the Common App forms and do not have their own forms (eg. Stanford).

"Our college and university members have worked together over the past 30 years to develop the application. All members fully support its use, and all give equal consideration to the Common Application and the college's own form. Many of our members use the Common Application as their only undergraduate admission application.” – Quoted directly from Common App website FAQ.

8. Does the Common Application require additional information besides the main forms? Any supplements involved?
The Common App is a very general university application form. Therefore, many universities that wish to learn more about certain characteristics of a prospective student will require applicants to fill in supplementary forms from Common App. This is to help the university ascertain that the applying student meets the needs and requirements of the university. To see the supplementary information requirements for a specific university, go to https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/CollegeInfo.aspx.

9. I find that the Common Application does not have the sufficient space to allow me to list all my achievements and co-curricular activities. What do I do about this?

This is a perpetual problem that applicants face while applying. Ideally, do try to maximize the limited space given by economizing the words and phrases used. Omit unnecessary phrases like “of the”, “I also …” etc that would lead to wastage of space. You can use abbreviated words such as “c’ship” that clearly portrays the word championship. However, use it at your own discretion as excessive abbreviations can cause confusion. Full sentences are not required. As long as the statement carries the intended meaning across, it should suffice. Alternatively, if you feel that there is still lacking of space or there is a longer list of activities/honors to fill, you can resort to the additional information section where you can upload the extended list. Please however, limit the section to just one page. It is important to be concise.

You are advised to focus on the main activities and achievements instead of trying to list all of them in the Common App form. Universities are more interested in the depth of commitment and achievement rather than in the sheer quantity of the activities. Hence do try to capture your KEY selling points within the limited space available. Anything else which is noteworthy but is of secondary importance should be listed under the Additional Information section. Trying to fit it all in and listing many activities without depth might give the impression that you are not really committed, and this reflects badly on you. The same can be said for non-Common App forms.

For more information on the Common Application kindly visit http://www.commonapp.org

TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ESSAY
By Gregory Lloyd
From http://www.back2college.com/admissionessay.htm

You’re about to write one of the most important essays of your life. Don’t panic. The subject is one you know very well—yourself. You’re an interesting person and it’s time you show those college admissions officers just how interesting and unique you are.

After all, that’s what they’re looking for. They want to know something about you that’s not indicated by your resume, your SAT score, your grade-point average, academic awards, or any other document you include elsewhere in your application package. They want a focused, well-organized essay that helps them get to know a bit about your character and personality, what drives you, and what excites you. Make them like you.

Of course, you have only a limited amount of words to do all this, which is good and bad. Good because you need to write only a few hundred words; bad because you’ve got to get your point across in just those few words.

It’s important to view the essay as an opportunity rather than a chore. It’s really not so hard once you know what’s expected of you. To make an impression, your essay must stand out from the crowd and elicit an emotional response from the reader. Here are some tips that will help you prepare a memorable essay that will get read.

Write as you speak.
The purpose of the essay is to show the admissions committee the real you, why you think and act the way you do, and what motivates you. So don’t write as if you are someone else, use stilted language, or gloss over how you really feel. Be authentic, not superficial. Use a relaxed, conversational style.

Be original.
Too many essays use the same tired themes. For example, instead of showing yourself as a victim, focus on how you overcame the situation. You’re not running for Miss America, so avoid presenting your solutions to world peace and hunger. Remember that what bores you pretty much bores others. As you’re writing and revising, continually ask yourself if you would be interested in reading your essay.

Show genuine enthusiasm.
Nothing draws a reader more than writing that’s invigorating. When choosing your topics, pick what genuinely excites you. Your enthusiasm will show through.

Create some mystery.
Begin with an introduction that surprises your readers and makes them want to read past the first paragraph. For example, if you’re an avid volunteer for the Appalachian Trail Club and you’ve chosen to talk about your latest trip, you could start with a description of the sights and sounds as you move about the forest clearing trails.

Focus.
Rather than describing everything you’ve done with your life, give a full description of one or two items or events. The magic is in the details.

Use active verbs.
Action verbs makes your essay much more lively than passive voice, which comes across as cold and detached. For example, “My Botany teacher recommended me for a semester of study at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania” is much better than “I was recommended for
a semester of study at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, by my Botany teacher.”

Use short sentences and simple words.
According to a recent study at Stanford University, individuals who use complicated language are viewed as less intelligent than individuals who use simpler, more concise language. You want your readers to understand your essay. If you use obscure terms needlessly, they won’t be impressed.

Vary sentence structure.
Don’t start every sentence with “The.” Inter-mingle long sentences with shorter sentences to keep the reader from getting bored.

Don’t brag.
No one wants to hear an endless description of how great you are. Let your actions speak for themselves.

Avoid acronyms and abbreviations.
Although our language is incorporating more and more acronyms and abbreviations, they have no place in your essay. For example, use “and others” instead of “et al.,” “Pennsylvania” instead of “PA.”

Avoid exclamation points and parentheses.
Using exclamation points—especially more than one in a sentence—is a big turnoff.

Avoid asking questions or setting off words and phrases with quotation marks.
These are generally considered inappropriate.

Be specific.
You need to include concrete details about your experiences. Elaborate on one or two of your activities or achievements, showing the reader why you made a particular decision or reacted a certain way. Remember, you’re including a list of your accomplishments elsewhere in your application package; for the essay, use specific dates, locations, feelings, etc., to describe your experiences in accomplishing those achievements.

Don’t tell them what they want to hear.
Colleges read plenty of essays about how wonderful their school is, the evils of war, and the drive and determination needed to become a lawyer. Tell them something new that they may not have heard before.

Avoid gimmicks.
Don’t use puns, definitions, famous quotations, flowery descriptions, or overdone wordplay to get your point across.

Avoid controversy.
Strong opinions about what’s wrong with the world, what kind of government we should have, or why your religion is the best are a no-no.

Be witty only if you can pull it off.
Don’t go overboard with humor. Although admissions officers love essays that make them laugh, using humor for humor’s sake or being silly or immature will get your essay thrown in the slush pile. It’s more important to tell an interesting story and let any humor be inherent.

Avoid offensive tone or language.
Don’t ever cuss or be confrontational when you write.

Don’t try to sound like a sage.
Never begin or end an essay with a quotation, proverb, or other wise saying. Also don’t try to be sophisticated by writing about the world’s greatest mysteries. Many students try to philosophize or use clichés to prove their point. This is a surefire path to disaster. No one wants to read about your position on the validity of totalitarianism or read sayings that are all too familiar.

Avoid jargon.
Avoid computer-related words like “input,” “interface,” parameter,” and “feedback.” Also avoid “actually,” “basically,” “arguably,” and “virtually,” and words commonly spoken by juveniles, such as “awesome” or “cool.”
Avoid sexist language.
Substitute asexual words for sexist words. For example, use “chairperson” instead of “chairman” and “pioneers” instead of “founding fathers.”
Write tight.
Choose nouns and verbs that are specific as possible. “I raced to the door” is much better than “I ran to the door quickly.” Similarly, “The Chihuahua” is much better than “the little, brown dog.”
Also, don’t use 20 words where a few will do. For example, instead of writing…
"Throughout my years of growth from childhood to adulthood, family members, teachers, and others have always commented on the fact that I am a very diligent worker. And I think I would have to agree with them."
Use…
"I’m a workhorse."
Don’t insult your reader.
Let the reader read between the lines to draw conclusions. Just tell the story. Let the reader figure out the moral.
Revise until it’s perfect.
You’ll need to rewrite and edit your essay several times before you consider it final. Keep in mind that the essay must be more than interesting—it must be captivating. Let your enthusiasm show through.
Adhere to the word limit.
If the school instructs you to write 500 words or less, don’t write 600. And, if your essay runs a little short, don’t feel obligated to fill the extra space.
Proofread your work.
Make sure you don’t have any typographical errors. Don’t rely on your computer’s spell check. Although some software programs make grammatical changes for you, chances are you’ll need to read your essay word for word to make sure you haven’t goofed, for example, by using “there” instead of “their” or “form” instead of “from.” Also make sure your intended meaning is coming across.
Show the essay to someone who can be objective.
To produce the best possible essay, you have to find good editors. Don’t give your essay to your husband, parents, or best friend for comments. Get someone who not only knows English well but can also give you constructive feedback on how your message is coming across. Remember: The college doesn’t know you.
Writing a successful college admissions essay is not a simple task. You should plan to spend a lot of time writing, reviewing, and polishing so that it’s just right. But, if you persevere, you’ll end up with an outstanding essay that will capture the reader’s attention, reach an emotional conclusion about you, and get you that letter of acceptance.
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On a more local front, consider what Sugasini Kandiah, a Malaysian student who was accepted into Yale, UPenn, MIT and Stanford last year, has to share about writing outstanding and noticeable admissions essays:

“You could make your essay stand out by writing about something from your culture. That's really your biggest advantage in the whole admissions process. The last thing admissions officers want to do is have some international kid who thinks like an American. People here love diversity and you have so much of it to offer as a Malaysian.

Bits about you working hard should be something others say about you, like your teachers in their recommendations or your principal. Your main essay should be about something admissions officers won't know about you from your CV. And trust me, you don't want to waste it by telling them about how you've worked hard because that comes through in your achievements.”


For more abundant resources on college essay writing, kindly Google “how to write a good admissions essay” and take the initiative to read up. But most importantly, start writing instead of just sourcing for tips! Get down to it and refine it along the way! Be yourself and write the essay in your own personal style. There is no ultimate right or wrong guide for essays. It’s all pretty subjective. So do what you think is best and most importantly, be happy with yourself and your essay.

For additional resources on US University Admission and Applications, you can visit collegeconfidential.com, tinkosong.com and recom.org for more information.


All the best to you in your endeavor to enter your dream university in the United States!!!

P.S.: Please verify the information provided above with authoritative sources. We bear no responsibility of any misfortune caused by the use of the information above. The info above is compiled based on our best knowledge and some are with our own opinion.

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Good Luck! If any part, you find it not correct, please let us know.

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