For those of you who want to get Career Advice for Young Professionals, this could be a good source.
10GoodMinutes.com .
There are a number of 10 minutes pod casts for you to learn more on this. Hope that you find this useful!
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
10GoodMinutes.com - Career Advice for Young Professionals
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The 2009 MSC Malaysia Open Source Conference (31st May-3rd June)
This is an event supported by JobStreet.com .
For full info and sign up, go to here .
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The 2009 MSC Malaysia Open Source Conference
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN MSC MALAYSIA OPEN SOURCE CONFERENCE 2009
Date: 31 May - 3 June, 2009
Venue: Berjaya Times Square Hotel & Convention Center, Kuala Lumpur.
MSC Malaysia's inaugural and full-fledged Open Source Conference to incorporate a "Quadruple play" of 4 crucial stakeholders consisting of government, businesses, developers and community in envisioning open source's contribution to the IT industry and socio-economy.
Positioned as International forum for sharing and exchanging ideas on technical advancements, applications, development and business cases on open source, and its positive impact in meeting challenges of the current economic climate.
Organised by MSC Malaysia & MAMPU and jointly supported by the Malaysian Open Source Community and MOSTI, the Conference invites developers, designers, systems administrators, community leaders, innovators, CTOs and CIOs, evangelists and activists, researchers, strategists, and entrepreneurs to lead and contribute during all conference sessions, tutorials and discussions.
With 3 DAYS, 3 TRACKS, 1 HACKATHON are in store for everyone who attend this conference. In addition, we have renowned speakers from prime Open Source Enterprises which are Mozilla, Google and Red Hat to name a few and also not forgeting from the developer community - Ubuntu, BSD, Fedora, PHPs, etc
Come join us at the MSC Malaysia Open Source Conference 2009! You'll be pleasantly surprised...
Who should attend?
Business executives from MSC Malaysia and Non-MSC Malaysia Status companies
Open Source developers, communities, inventors, evangelist, researchers, strategist
Government officers, Students, general public
Why you should attend?
Provide exposure and knowledge on the importance of Open Source in enhancing competitiveness by giving freedom of choice in software usage with lower total cost of ownership, hence benefiting businesses and society at large. Over 30 session tracks are made available.
Share amongst the open source community on new directions and latest innovations by the subject matter experts, thought leaders and industry gurus.
Provide a platform for conference participants to actively interact, share and exchange views, ideas, and tools on the latest trends and issues of Open Source.
Networking, learning and having great fun!
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Introducing PitchYourTalent.com
I just realize that I haven't made a blog post on a project that a team of us in JobStreet.com have been working very hard on recently . For those of you who know me and are in touch with me lately, I would have promoted this to you too!
It is regarding PitchYourTalent.com! A revolutionary way to help job seekers (I would call them talents here, since everyone is talented in a unique way) to promote themselves online and be searched and contacted by hiring managers and HRs.
Before this, hiring managers do not have a direct source to reach out to potential hire. Of course, they can do a google search, but it is going to be hard. They could have used Facebook, LinkedIn etc, but it would not ideally be for that purpose.
But PitchYourTalent.com is precisely for this reason!
Several of the main unique differentiation of PitchYourTalent.com is as follow:-
1. Let jobs search for you, instead of you searching for jobs.
2. Your talent profile is indexed by search engine and becomes visible to the whole internet world.
3. Your talent profile is visible to the world, immediately after setting it up.
4. Your talent profile will be visible not only to HR managers, but also to the departmental hiring managers.
5. You will get to decide how much information you provide in your talent profile - you get 100% control.
Since its official launch in Malaysia on 7th April 2009, Philippines on 20th April 2009, Singapore on 22nd April 2009, India and Indonesia on 27th April 2009, more than 30,000 talents have signed up at PitchYourTalent.com!
Before the start of this project, I would never have imagined that within the first 3 weeks, 30,000 people signed up for it! And they come from more than 85 countries! That's certainly amazing!
Would suggest that you check it out. Try to search for any key word, be it "Managing Director", "Manager", "Fresh Graduates", or the name of any specialization/industry/university, you should be able to find some talents.
And the database is growing by leaps and bounds everyday.
It's free for signing up now. So, why wait? Go to PitchYourTalent.com !
This is a project that keeps me occupied for the last few weeks, so this project means a lot to me. Thanks for your support. Please kindly help to spread the words around too!
If you're on Facebook, please kindly help to join the fan group at Facebook.
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Swine Influenza
FAQ of Swine Influenza quoted from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/28/nation/20090428132524&sec=nation
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What is swine influenza?
It is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. It regularly causes high flu outbreaks in pigs but with low death rates. There are four main sub-types of the virus, but the most recent isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.
How does it spread?
Swine flu viruses do not typically infect humans though they do occur through close proximity or contact with infected pigs or contaminated areas. Cases of human-to-human spread have been documented.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms are similar to those of regular flu:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting and diarrhoea in some cases.
How common is swine flu infection in humans?
In the past reports of about one human swine flu virus infection had been received every one to two years in the United States. From December 2005 till February 2009, 12 cases have been reported.
Has this strain of flu been seen before?
No. Flu mutates constantly, so it is common for new strains to emerge. Pigs can also be infected with both human and avian influenza, and the current circulating swine flu strain appears to contain genetic elements from all three.
Can swine flu be treated with antiviral drugs and flu vaccine?
The swine flu is resistant to two common drugs – Amantadine and Rimantadine. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are very different from human H1N1 viruses. Therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection. However, a "seed vaccine" has been specifically tailored to this swine flu and will be manufactured if officials deem it necessary.
Can people catch swine flu by eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 70ºC and above kills the swine flu virus.
How long is someone with swine flu considered contagious?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic; possibly for up to seven days following the onset of the illness. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
What can I do to protect myself from the swine flu?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against the swine flu.
However, you can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza by:
- Covering your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the waste basket after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also helpful
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people. - If you get sick with influenza, stay at home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Consult your nearest healthcare facility if you think you have any of the symptoms.
Which countries have had cases of the swine flu?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed human cases of swine flu in Mexico, the United States, Canada and Spain. Only Mexico has reported deaths from the new strain.
Are there any travel restrictions or advisories for Malaysians?
The Health Ministry on April 27 advised Malaysians against travelling to certain places in the United States, Mexico and Canada which have been affected by the swine flu.
What precautions are in place in Malaysia?
- The Health Ministry's operations room in Putrajaya has started a 24-hour monitoring of the situation. The public can call 03-8881 0200/300 for enquiries.
- Those returning from Latin American countries and found to have flu-like symptoms will be quarantined.
- Health Ministry officials are conducting health screenings on passengers arriving from the United States.
- Thermal scanners will be placed at international airports to speed up the screening process for swine flu.
- Public and private medical practitioners have been instructed to report to the district health office any patient with influenza-like illnesses or severe pneumonia symptoms and who had travelled to the affected countries after April 17.
- Owners of the 797 pig farms nationwide have been ordered to immediately contact the nearest Veterinary Services Department office or the Animal Disease Control Centre if their workers or animals show symptoms linked to the swine flu.
Where can I get more information?
For more information, go to the Health Ministry (www.moh.gov.my) or call the Ministry's hotline at (03) 8881-0200/300.
Useful Links:
World Health Organization: www.who.int
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Homeland Security Department: www.dhs.gov
WHO swine flu page: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Recipease - Interactive Kitchen Table
I have never failed to be impressed by Su Yuen.
Su Yuen is the main designer for most of the backdrops, flyers, banners, buntings etc for Discover U.S. Education - KL '07 and its predecessor Experiences 2006 Kuala Lumpur.
Su Yuen has done internship with Apple as well.
Now, she has created a multi-touch table for her Design of Interactive Media module with her teammates for a school project in NUS.
It is definitely impressive, and it is beyond what one would typically expects from a university student.
Do check out their youtube to introduce the product too! It is called Recipease - Interactive Kitchen Table.
Check it out here .
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5th World Youth Congress Turkiye 2010
Would highly recommend everyone to apply who are between age 15-30 to apply for this prestigious 5th World Youth Congress in Turkey 2010 from 31st July to 13th August 2009.
I tried and failed to get it previously, but am going to give it my last shot. Since I will be over aged in the 6th World Youth Congress.
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5th World Youth Congress Turkiye 2010 : is open for applications from youth aged 15-30 to take part in the 5th World Youth Congress to be held in Istanbul, Turkiye in August 2010.
Following up the success of the previous four congresses – in Hawaii, Morocco, Scotland and Quebec City, Canada, - the Turkey Congress will bring together 1000 of the world’s most active, most innovative young development enthusiasts + plus young journalists, artists, entrepreneurs and global educators. With a thousand delegates (800 from overseas, 200 from Turkiye) – this will be the biggest congress to date. Previous congresses have drawn delegates from more than 120 countries – and the Turkish hosts, aware that getting visas to enter Turkey is easier than for some of the other host countries, hope to welcome young delegates from over 150 countries.
Each Congress has pursued a specific theme: in Hawaii, the delegates were selecting ‘Priorities for the New Millennium’ – and came up with the innovative concept of Youth-led Development (YLD). In Morocco, the organisers focussed on the theme of Tolerance and Solidarity – and came up with the Casablanca Declaration on how young people can most effectively, assist their governments and the UN achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Scotland produced a ‘How To….’ Handbook on Youth-led Development, and Canada produced “A Celebration of Youth-led Development” – reporting on the massive progress that has been made in this field since we coined the term in Hawaii in 1999.
In Turkiye, the focus is on improving the mechanisms for evaluating YLD – including discussions of a Youth development and a Youth Empowerment Index. There will be a call for papers on this and other issues, including a debate on mobility in the proposed Union for the Mediterranean. Also, where in Hawaii, the Congress focussed on the spirit of ‘Aloha’ – the Turkish hosts want their young delegates to absorb and learn about the ancient Turkish practice of ‘Imece’ – a system of solidarity that brings harmony, joyfulness and a strong record of joint achievements to communities large and small.
Apply today to take part in the most important, most impactive and most fun event happening in 2010 for young people interested in expanding the role of youth in making poverty history and helping the UN to achieve its Millennium Development Goals.
For 11 days, you will work with 1000 of the world’s most active, most innovative young development enthusiasts + plus young journalists, artists, entrepreneurs and global educators. Age range: 15-30 year old.
Also – in a key feature of every World Youth Congress – you will spend 5 days in an impoverished part of Turkiye working with local youth on an Action Project. And you will get to visit the ancient city of Istanbul in its year as European Capital of Culture – and experience the extraordinary meeting point of Asian and European cultures.
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32nd AGM of AUAM
32nd Annual General Meeting of the American Universities Alumni Malaysia will be held on Saturday, 25th April 2009 at 3.00p.m. at Royal Commonwealth Society, No. 4, Jalan Birah, Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur.
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Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009
KL International Marathon will be held on 28th June 2009, and Standard Chartered will be the main sponsor this year, and hence, we will join Singapore in having huge marathon. (Hopefully!)
I have just signed up for the 10km and also have pledged my support to one of the 5 causes that KL International Marathon is championing for.
The 5 causes are:-
1. Standard Chartered Trust Fund
2. Shelter Home for Children
3. Development of Human Resources in Rural Area
4. National Autism Society of Malaysia
5. Malaysia Nature Society.
Hope that you can join the marathon (for health and fun sake) and also sign up for one of the charity causes! If not, do go there and donate/support! To donate, go here . Very simple and it is tax exempted too.
To join the marathon, go here .
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Article by John Lee on Unity for Malaysia
A very solid article by John Lee. This sums up what most Malaysians abroad think, and hopefully, we Malaysians, can be united!
This is quoted from here .
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APRIL 17 — It’s rather clichéd, but you don’t know how much you value something you own until you lose it. As a Malaysian living overseas, you cherish Malaysia much more than you did when you were back home. And when you finally meet up again with other Malaysians, all you can talk about is how much you miss Malaysia — and how much you wish things might change, as much as you love it.
It is rather lonely being a Malaysian studying in America; there just aren’t very many Malaysians around. If the number of Malaysians on your campus is in the double digits, you can count yourself extremely lucky. This is a big reason why a bunch of Malaysians dispersed across the northeastern United States came together and formed the Northeast Malaysia Forum in 2007 — our second annual conference, held at Yale University, concluded just under a week ago.
NMF, as we have come to call it, gives us a taste of home. Words cannot describe how comforting it is to once more be among people who look like you and your friends, talk like you and your friends, and eat like you and your friends. For a little while, it’s almost as if you really are home again.
Looking at Malaysia from the inside, it’s often hard to believe that we are actually one country, or 1 Malaysia, as the Prime Minister would have it — much like the shopping mall, I suppose. But when you go overseas, these differences really melt away. Nobody gives a crap where you’re from, what race you are, or what languages you speak — they’re just excited to see another Malaysian.
I believe that what defines a nation the best is the shared experiences which its people must go through. Regardless of what we actually think about Negaraku, the Jalur Gemilang, Rukunegara — whether we think of them as patriotic reminders of our country, or pointless propaganda — we all know what they mean, and we all care about this meaning, even if that is sometimes reflected in gripes about our government. Perhaps more importantly, we all have a favourite Malaysian food, a favourite Malaysian song, a favourite Malaysian person; we are in love with something Malaysian. And nothing reminds you more of how much we have in common than spending months separated from all you hold dear.
If you want to create national unity and nurture patriotism, cost be damned, just disperse all those kids we send to National Service across the globe — and reunite them 12 months later in a foreign land. It’s expensive, but it works. Every year, at NMF social events, it is guaranteed that you will find people randomly breaking out into patriotic song — just turn the corner and you might find someone belting out “Sejahtera Malaysia”.
Perhaps more importantly than this, because we are reminded of how much we love our country, we don’t shrink from speaking some hard truths about it. When people give us feedback on NMF discussions, there’s always astonishment at the things that came out, and a sense of regret that we could not have discussions like these back home. Last weekend, a Malay in the group I attended bluntly told us: “You know, the Malays are really very racist.” A Chinese responded: “If you think the Malays are racist, you haven’t met the Chinese yet!”
Strikingly, these conversations were not just being held in conference rooms at Yale, but in cities across the world: for what might have been the first time in history, Malaysians in places ranging from Sydney to Yale to London gathered together to watch a live webcast of speakers hosted at a studio in 1 Utama, Petaling Jaya. And then, in real time, as the speakers held forth, these Malaysians engaged in a spirited debate online, in a chatroom, leaving no controversial issue untouched — from race to religion. Almost every imaginable point of view was represented — and questions from this very chatroom were posed to the speakers in KL, also in real time, allowing for an unprecedented, jovial and amazingly civil back-and-forth between Malaysians across the globe.
Meaningful dialogue, even on sensitive issues, is very possible — and while back home, repressive laws may be a barrier, the biggest block is primarily societal: most Malaysians are not comfortable enough with each other to have these frank discussions. We are not vulnerable enough to let our guards down; we define ourselves by a conflict with some other ominous group. I have heard many Chinese over the years admit to other Chinese that most of us are incredibly insensitive and far too racist — but till now, I have never seen a single one dare admit this to someone from another ethnic group. But when your worldview changes — when you’re overseas — you’re just a Malaysian among Malaysians: you can talk about Malaysian issues as a Malaysian, instead of as a Muslim, or a Chinese, or a Perakian.
NMF actually grew out of an earlier initiative by a group of Malaysians in California, who founded the Stanford Malaysia Forum — and what both groups have in common is a desire to drive this dialogue, to build bridges between Malaysians of different backgrounds. We recognise that right now we are not quite 1 Malaysia — or a Bangsa Malaysia, or a Malaysian Malaysia, or whatever you want to call it, because these labels really all mean the same thing. But we believe this ideal, united Malaysia can be created, if only enough Malaysians can come together to make it a reality.
This year, the theme for the NMF conference was Revision 2020: rethinking our idea of what a truly developed and progressive Malaysia should look like. As much as we may disagree on what this ideal Malaysia should be, we are at least talking openly about it, and through conversations with other Malaysians, slowly making a united Malaysia — a Malaysia with a shared vision — a reality. We posed hard questions with no simple solutions, and we shared our differing ideas freely and civilly.
Can we really say the same for our members of Parliament, our Cabinet ministers, or even our simple gatherings in warungs and kopitiams across the country? When we complacently slide back into the old idea of pitting one group of Malaysians against another, it is much easier to pretend these problems aren’t really there — it is simpler to ignore the elephant in the room, or to dismiss it as a trivial problem. But until we can frankly talk about that elephant, we’re never going to make it go away: until we can talk openly and honestly to another Malaysian, regardless of who or what they are, can we really call ourselves 1 Malaysia?
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Motivational-Well-Being.com
Kevin Ngo, creater of motivational-well-being.com has shared a bunch of motivational stuff online, to help the community to acheive their goal. Do check it out!
A short write-up by Kevin is as follow:-
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If you've ever had a problem with getting yourself to take action in order to achieve your goals, here's a great website, created by Kevin Ngo, that has tons of resources to help motivate you as well as give you strategies to enable you to reach your goals faster. Since everyone is motivated differently, you will find all sorts of great tools such as motivational videos, quotes, songs, stories, and self improvement articles.
If you are able to motivate yourself long enough in order to form successful habits, you will eventually get to the point where taking action will be easy. At that point, achieving your goals will almost seem effortless. The free motivational tools on this website will help you get to that point. Get ready to have your life changed.
http://www.motivational-well-being.com
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Admit Rate for Class of 2013
This post compares between the acceptance rate of various top US Universities for this year, Class of 2013.
Harvard - 7.0% (about 30,000 applicants)
Yale - 7.5% (1,981/26,000)
Stanford - 7.6% (2,300/30,428)
Princeton - 9.8%
Columbia - 9.8% (2,496/25,428)
MIT - 10.2%
Brown - 10.8% (2,708/24,988)
Dartmouth - 12.0%
UPenn - 17.1%
Cornell - 19.1% (34,381 applicants)
Cornell is catching up with UPenn soon.
The info is obtained from the links below:-
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/a-few-more-colleges-report-low-admission-rates/?hp
http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/28413
http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/28434
http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2009/04/02/News/Admit.Rates.Decrease.At.Most.Ivies.Interactive.Graph-3693289.shtml
Looking into history (using graph by Emily Babay and Kritika Seksaria) - the link by dailypennsylvanian.com
UPenn - About 23% (Class of 2004), then drops to about 20%-21% (Class of 2005-2009), drops to about 18% (Class of 2010), drops to about 16% (Class of 2011), and marginally increase to about 17% (Class of 2012 and then Class of 2013).
Brown - About 15%-16% (Class of 2004-2009), about 13-14% (Class of 2010-2012), drops to about 11% (Class of 2013).
Columbia - About 15% (Class of 2004), About 10%-12% (Clas of 2005-2008), about 13% (Clas of 2009), about 11% (Class of 2010), about 10% (Class of 2011-2013).
Cornell - About 30% (Class of 2004), about 25% (Class of 2005), about 24% (Class of 2006), about 30% (Class of 2007), about 29% (Class of 2008), about 27% (Class of 2009), about 25% (Class of 2010), about 21% (Class of 2011), about 20% (Class of 2012), about 19% (Class of 2013)
Dartmouth - About 21% (Class of 2004), about 23% (Class of 2005), about 20% (Class of 2006), about 17% (Class of 2007), about 18% (Class of 2008), about 17% (Class of 2009), about 15% (Class of 2010-2011), about 13% (Class of 2012), about 12% (Class of 2013).
Princeton - About 12% (Class of 2004), about 11% (Class of 2005), about 10% (Class of 2006-2007), about 12% (Class of 2008), about 10% (Class of 2009-2013).
Harvard - About 10% (Class of 2004-2010), about 9% (Class of 2011), about 8% (Class of 2012), about 7% (Class of 2013).
Yale - About 15% (Class of 2004), about 13% (Class of 2005-2006), about 11% (Class of 2007), about 10% (Class of 2008), about 9% (Class of 2009-2010), about 10% (Class of 2011), about 8% (Class of 2012), about 7.5% (Class of 2013).
If we look at selectivity of those Ivy League universities, from toughest to easiest (Based on my naked eye observation at the graph by Emily/Kritika):-
Class of 2004 - Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Yale, Dartmouth, UPenn, Cornell
Class of 2005 - Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, Brown, UPenn, Dartmouth, Cornell
Class of 2006 - Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Cornell
Class of 2007 - Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Cornell
Class of 2008 - Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Princeton, Dartmouth, UPenn, Cornell
Class of 2009 - Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Cornell
Class of 2010 - Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Cornell
Class of 2011 - Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Cornell
Class of 2012 - Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth, Brown, UPenn, Cornell
Class of 2013 - Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Cornell
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
Festival of the Mind @ Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah
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Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah will be organizing a two-day Festival of the Mind in its campus in Kulim Hi-Tech Park. The details are as below.
Date: 27 to 28 April 2009 (Monday to Tuesday)
Time: 9:30am to 4:30pm
Venue: Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah, Kulim Hi-Tech Park, 09000 Kulim, Kedah
The admission to the Festival is free and open to all.
To find out more on the Festival, please contact:
- Cik Siti Hajar Tel: (04) 403 3333 ext 2314 or 013-520 7040
- Pn Syajaratul Tel: (04) 403 3333 ext 2336 or 019-470 7471
This message is a community service by Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
L4T Talk With Dato' Sri Nazir Razak
Leaders for Tomorrow (L4T) aims to encourage leadership development among Malaysian youths by providing a neutral platform to acquire leadership skills and exchange ideas.
In line with its ethos, L4T is hosting the L4T Leadership Series, a series of dialogues aimed at providing Malaysian youths with the opportunity to gain insights and interact with leading figures from diverse fields.
The L4T leadership Series will have its inaugural event as detailed below:
Speaker : Dato' Sri Nazir Razak, Group Chief Executive, CIMB Group
Date : 5th May 2009 (Tuesday)
Topic : Opportunities in Adversity: A Personal Insight
Venue : Menara SBB
83 Medan Setia 1
Plaza Damansara
Bukit Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Itinerary :
| 7.30 pm | Guest Arrivals/ Registration/ Refreshments |
| 8.00 pm | Welcome note & introduction |
| 8.05 pm | Dato' Sri Nazir Razak to speak on "Opportunities in Adversity: A Personal Insight" |
| 8.15pm | Q&A session |
| 9.00pm | End of session |
For Muslim participants, prayers can be performed at the Menara SBB surau or the Damansara Heights mosque opposite.
Participants are required to RSVP their attendance to khairi@kenanga.com.my by 1st of May 2009. There will be no attendance fee for this event.
Thank you
Sunday, April 19, 2009
US Applications Guides - Urging All to Write & Share
With many have gotten into their dream universities and the celebration has been done, I would like to urge you to write down your advises, sharings, motivations, inspirations that hopefully can educate, guide, share with the future applicants.
Some of them have written and shared their application processes, struggles, advices, tips, experiences etc. Really appreciate it!
1. U.S. Applications 3-Day Workshop
2. General US Applications Guide - for USA For Students
3. Andrew Loh's Why Study in America
4. Gabrielle (Wellesley College)
5. Su Ann (Columbia University) - Part 1
6. Su Ann (Columbia University) - Part 2
7. Charis Loke (Brown University)
8. Charis Loke (Brown University) - On Application Essays
9. Boon Jim (Cornell University)
10. Andrew Loh (Swarthmore College)
11. Andrew Loh (Swarthmore College) - For the Kiamsiap: How to save money in US college applications
12. FreeRice.com - SAT Vocabulary
13. ReCom.org - The Worldwide Malaysian Students Network
14. College Confidential.com
15. SAT Score Analysis (Using Thai Case Studies)
16. Collegeboard.com (SAT Test)
17. TOEFL Test
18. Common Applications
19. US News Ranking of US Universities
20. Times Higher Education Supplement Ranking of World Universities
21. Common Data Set (Prepared by Xianjin)
22. How to Make Full Use of University Life
23. Admit Rate of Class of 2013
24. FreeVocabulary.com (SAT Words Practice)
If you come across any other write-ups or useful resources for U.S. Applications, do let me know, so that I can consolidate here.
Am calling all those Class of 2013 who have gone through the application process, to write and share. Do hope that you will share it through various platforms - your blog/website, forum, and I'll definitely be more than happy to share what you have written here too.
Would also strongly encourage all of you who have gone through the process to go back to your alma mater (high school, preparatory program) to share on what you know and guide the younger batch.
Lets hope that we can all work together to stimulate the applications and admission rate next year!
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Chen Chow's Other Posts
Subscribe to Chen Chow's blog
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 will be more than happy to post it to share
Feel free to quote any post within my blog, as long as you link it back here. Sharing is always a good virtue. :)
Saturday, April 18, 2009
I want to find out something. What should I do?
Thanks to Cheen Euong who shared this in ReCom.org
This is for those of you who want to find out something, but don't know what you can do.
This is the solution.
Enjoy!
Friday, April 17, 2009
How to Make Full Use of Universities' Life
17th April 2009 already, so it is 2.5 weeks since the U.S. admission decision was out. Some of you were thrilled, some of you were happy, some of you were ok with it, some of you were sad, some of you were depressed.
I hope that you have come back to reality. To those of you who have gotten in to your dream schools, I would say Congratulations and do make full use of the opportunities. To those of you who got into your safeties, I would still say Congratulations and do make full use of the opportunities. To those of you who has not yet gotten into any university or any of your dream university, I would say that you should never give up, and also not forget to make full use of the opportunities that you are going to have.
Frankly speaking, getting in is just the first step. Some might still be on cloud nine. Yes, you deserve to be so, but I hope that come August, when you hop into the plane, you can be back to be level-headed and focus on your mission, vision and dream.
My this blog post would share on my thoughts to all of you on how to make full use of university life. I have to admit that I fail to make use of my university life. I was pretty much not well exposed when I made the journey. I was struggling initially, and in fact, for quite a long time. I didn't manage to really live up to what I should be doing there. Nevertheless, I would say that I have learned a lot throughout my 4 years there. It was a whole world of change.
Before the journey on the morning of 20th August 2001 from KLIA, I had never taken a plane before. I had never really spent time with an American before. My English command was horrendous. I don't have world view. I was still stuck with my world of knowing stuff that was carried in The Star, and nothing else. That was my world. My first non-textbook English book was "Guns, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond, a required reading by my alma mater. It was horrible trying to read a thick English book. I can't recall how many times I fell asleep on the bed trying to read it. To be frank, the words might have been read, but literally I don't understand it.
Okie, lets look forward, and not backward. But what I am trying to do here, is to share what I know, especially to those of you who might come from same background as I. Each of us has different background. While some might be very well exposed, not everyone is as fortunate. I know that some of you who got into very prestigious universities are still in the state of daze. I was too. I never expected myself to get into Cornell. My SAT was one of the weakest among those who applied. I had no national or international credentials. I was never a straight As students.
So, to those of you in those background, don't give up. It will be a struggle, but I hope you can prepare from now, and you will be better off in 4 months' time, when you make your journey over. Don't compare with others who start from different starting line. Main thing is you need to breakthrough yourself. There might be frustrating moment, there might be stressful moment, there might be time that you would be crying, there might be time that you would want to give up. All these not meant to scare you, but to tell you that the journey that you might have to go through. It is not an easy journey, but everything starts from your first step. Make the step ahead. You have gotten the opportunities, wherever you are going to study. To those of you who are staying back for another year, don't give up. Learn as much as you can. There are still a lot of resources online. Do keep up the learning.
While during the application processes, I might have stressed that you should try your best to get into best possible universities, but at this stage, what I will stress is that irrespective of where you are going to head to, make full use of it. What matters is your utilization of the opportunities. You could be at world's best institution and never make use of the opportunities.
Some of the ways that you can utilize during your university time include (in no particular order):-
a) Have fun! Try to enjoy your campus life. If you don't, then there is no meaning in life. So, main thing is explore on stuff that you like to do, or want to do and do it!
b) Before you set out for the journey, try to list down maybe 10 or 20 of stuff that you really hope to do in your life, and during your university days, do go and get those done. You will be able to achieve some of those, no matter how large is the dream. Be willing to dream big. Dream big is one of the most important elements of life. Tony Fernandes gave me 3 words "Dare to Dream", Idris Jala gave me 3 words too "Dream the Impossible". Both the sharings has the word "Dream".
c) Plan your time, at least for each semester or each week/day. Structure your life, so that you can optimize it. Of course, not meant to be fully rigid. Be flexible, but plan it, and mark down the stuff that you want to do.
d) Never procrastinate (Tara's favourite word... hahaha). If there is an interesting opportunity/event etc that you hope to participate, do join it from year 1. Don't wait till the last year, or you might never have the chance to do it.
e) If you have passion in research or plan to go for Master's/PhD, then do start doing research from year 1. Read up about the professor's research, go and meet them during office hour, and start from there!
f) Do attend the office hours of professors/teaching assistants. Those are great time for you to learn from them. Discuss not just about homework/exam, but learn from them in general.
g) Time Management is very crucial. If you can't manage your time well, you will have a hell of time in your university life. Especially if you are taking heavy workload and busy juggling with a lot of other activities.
h) Load yourself with enough load. As most universities give you a free hand in choosing how heavy your workload, do choose appropriately. Measure based on how much workload you think you can take, while not jeopardizing your other stuff. Make full use of those.
i) Take courses that you like. While you might be majoring in a field, do try to explore to take courses that you hope to learn something from, or something that you hope to pick up a skill or two that will be helpful in your life. Be proactive in planning and don't forgo the opportuniites to take a course, because you are afraid that you can't do well in it. Don't think in that manner.
j) Mingle with others. I am not saying that you shouldn't mingle with Malaysians, but you should mingle with others too. Try to go beyond your comfort zone and mingle. The Malaysians or Asians could be your supportive group, and there is nothing wrong in mingling with them. Actually, you shouldn't fully alienate this group too. But strike a balance, maybe spend 2 nights a week having dinner with the Malaysians, but not all 7 nights.
k) Explore new experience. Don't just get involved with only those stuff that you have done before. Nothing wrong exploring further on those of your passion, but takes the chance to do something new. It could be a new sport, a new discipline, a new type of activity etc.
l) Attend public lectures. This is my favourite. I attended 200+ of those during my free time in my university days. These sharings by those who have been there and done that, would help you to prepare for your future. You name it, those Nobel Prize Winners, Presidents/Prime Ministers, CEOs, academicians, NGOs, activists etc will be there to speak. Choose those that you want to listen and learn from.
m) University is the time to take risk and try out. No harm in trying out things and fail. It is a platform for you to learn and grow.
n) Share what you know with others, and learn from others. University environment provides a lot of networking opportunities with fellow students and others. And everyone there is a potential source of your learning. While you are waiting for bus, while you are hanging out at your dorm's lounge, strike a conversation with others. You might create awareness in others or learn from others.
o) Campus is not your limit. The sky is. Go and explore opportunities beyond your campus, be it for international conferences, international research, study abroad, research programs, outreach program, internships, externships, shadowing etc. Some of those international conferences could include Business Today International Conference, Harvard Project for Asian & International Relations (HPAIR) Business/Academic Conference, International Youth Leadership Conference, DOHA International Conference, South East Asia Youth Leadership Service Network (SEALNet), Wharton Global Conoference, China Synergy Programme for Outstanding Youth, World Youth Congress etc.
p) Traveling. During holidays, do go out and travel. Save up during semester and travel. It will broaden your horizon. Don't just go to those mega cities, but walk into civilizations, go into nature, go into new areas that you have never explored, and try to interact with the community there. Observe the people there. It is a lot of learning.
q) Try out the food from around the world. There are just so much new and interesting food around. Do try it. Yes, today, this effect is not as huge, as a lot of food chains are now here. But no harm trying a good meal. Do try to mingle with people during meal time too. Like during lunch/dinner, just sit down with strangers in dining hall and strike a conversation! :)
r) Fraternities/Sororities, while not everyone would want to be part of it, or not everyone will get used to those kind of life, do explore it as well. Maybe could be attend occasional parties there, visit your friends there etc. The network is something to learn and build too.
s) Give back to community there. Get involved in charity/community stuff there. It is a good way to know more about the people that live there. Interaction there will give you learning, while the people there will learn too.
t) Learn from the world, be it internet, libraries etc. Don't stop learning and don't just learn because it is going to be tested in exams. Education is way beyond it. It is about wholesome education and really learn how to learn.
u) Alumni network is crucial. Build up the ties, where it will become a community of learning together. Support one another, and this network will be applicable throughout your life.
v) While you need to put in the hours to get all the homework done, rush all the projects, and be ready for exams, don't let this be the only thing in your educational experience. Those are an integral part, but not let this affects your other parts of life.
w) Sports is a big part of university education, be it participate in it or attending those sports events. I definitely have a lot of memorable time in Lynah Rink, cheering for the Big Red ice hockey team.
x) Do internship. It will prepare you for the career world, especially if you are looking to go into career world after that. If you can't get a good internship in the summer of year 1, no harm getting it back home, but do explore different internships, and it could be ticket to your permanent job offer.
y) Whenever you need help, do ask for it. Whenever you need support, do ask for it. Don't be alone to go through it. The same if others need your help/support, do provide for them too.
z) And the most important thing is share with others what you know. Help others to reach their dream. While you might not realize it, what little effort that you have done, could mean a lot to some people. Lets make this world a better place and lets help others to reach their dream too!
I've finished all 26 alphabets. Guess I should stop. Before I end, I should say that attitude/character is very crucial. Start your university life with the right mentality. Go there with some self-confidence, but don't forget to stay humble. It is a platform for you to learn and grow and do go for it.
I wish you all the best and hope that you could share more ways to make full use of univesities life here too! (I know you're gonna say Facebook! Yes, it is true, Facebook, Gmail, Gchat, MSN is important too to keep in touch with others and make your work more efficient!
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Chen Chow's Other Posts
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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 will be more than happy to post it to share
Feel free to quote any post within my blog, as long as you link it back here. Sharing is always a good virtue. :)
Studying for the SAT helps!
Thanks to Mark Lee for this article.
Feel free to discuss on this!
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Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., which is one of more than 800 universities that do not require applicants to take the SAT, is hosting a two-day conference beginning today titled "Rethinking Admissions."
Among the highlights will surely be its concluding panel, on Thursday afternoon, in which Jeffrey Brenzel, dean of admissions at Yale and a critic of the handicapping of colleges by magazines and guidebooks, is set to square off against Robert Morse, the director of data research for the influential (and controversial) U.S. News and World Report college rankings.
Already this morning, a research study was presented that bears further examination. It is titled "The Myth of Meritocracy: SAT Preparation, College Enrollment, Class and Race in the U.S.," by Claudia Buchmann of Ohio State University. Among its findings: that all types of test preparation efforts result in higher scores, and that the most expensive — including private classes and private tutors — yield the largest gains. The study, which suggests yet another way wealthier applicants may gain an edge in the admissions process, was based, in part, on a nationally representative sample of eighth graders who were re-surveyed every two years thereafter, through high school graduation and beyond.
You can look at the slides from the Buchmann presentation here, and then follow some of the play-by-play from the conference in a running blog that conference organizers have established here.
Funding for Early-Career Scientists/Engineers
Thanks to Charis Quay for sharing this.
---
This may be of interest to some of you: very generous start-up funds
that go with junior (tenure-track) faculty positions in Singapore ---
USD 1.5 million over three years with a possibility of renewal for
another three and no teaching duties. Closing date the 6th of September.
rita.nrf.gov.sg/NRF_RF_2009
This may be of interest to some of you: very generous start-up funds
that go with junior (tenure-track) faculty positions in Singapore ---
USD 1.5 million over three years with a possibility of renewal for
another three and no teaching duties. Closing date the 6th of September.
rita.nrf.gov.sg/NRF_RF_2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Constant-Content.com
A good friend of mine, Pei Chieng has published 2 articles at Constant-Content.com , with 1 more pending to be published. Am always inspired by how Pei Chieng is able to make full use of her time effectively and efficiently.
Pei Chieng is an alumna of Princeton, and she is one of the very few Ivy Leaguers that I know that would sleep 8 hours a day throughout her education. She hardly stays up till midnight or later. An impeccable discipline that I see in her. :)
Even these days, when she is working as a Management Consultant, she is able to sleep 8 hours a day or close to 8 hours a day, while still manage to get everything done. A very solid time management.
To all of you who are sleeping 2-4 hours a day in university or working life, you should follow Pei Chieng's footstep! :) Actually, I need too. LOL :)
Going back to the Constant-Content.com . Do check it out. It is a site where you can write an article and then post for it, and people can buy the rights to use it, have exclusive rights or fully own it! Or you can go there to request to buy articles too!
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Chen Chow's Other Posts
Subscribe to Chen Chow's blog
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 will be more than happy to post it to share
Feel free to quote any post within my blog, as long as you link it back here. Sharing is always a good virtue. :)
Islamic Finance in the Blue Ocean
Ng Boon Ka, who is working at Bank Negara and pursuing his PhD at INCEIF has written an article on "Islamic Finance in the Blue Ocean". It got published in the Malaysian Reserve.
Do check it out here .
Do leave comments for him.
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Chen Chow's Other Posts
Subscribe to Chen Chow's blog
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 will be more than happy to post it to share
Feel free to quote any post within my blog, as long as you link it back here. Sharing is always a good virtue. :)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Cornell & mushrooms
Thanks to Mark Lee for sharing this article on my alma mater.
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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iaJo_deXIUf-nYMsxQznjZdIN15AD97HQ4TO0
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iaJo_deXIUf-nYMsxQznjZdIN15AD97HQ4TO0
US university returning prized mushrooms to China
By BEN DOBBIN – 18 hours ago
ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — An Ivy League school is giving China back its treasured mushrooms.
Shu Chun Teng traveled halfway around the world on a scholarship to study mycology at Cornell University in 1923. He left five years later with a knowledge of fungi unequaled in China, then spent the next decade traveling on horseback gathering up molds, lichens, yeasts, rusts and morels in the forests, fields and marshes of his homeland.
During the Japanese invasion in 1937, Teng arranged for his best specimens to be removed from a national botany institute he directed in Nanking to save them from destruction. During World War II, they were smuggled by ox cart to Indochina and then by sea to the United States, and 2,278 of the specimen packets ended up at Teng's alma mater.
At Cornell's initiative, the university is dividing up and sharing its Fungi of China Collection with the Academy of Sciences in Beijing to help advance the exploration of fungal species. Only an estimated 6 percent of those believed to exist in the world have been recorded.
In a repatriation ceremony Monday, Cornell President David Skorton presented a high-level Chinese delegation with a rare mushroom called Lentinus tigrinus, reaffirming the university's desire to share a collection he said it "has held in safekeeping for the global scientific community since 1940."
Some 1,700 specimens will be delivered to China in the fall, including 57 considered irreplaceable. Cornell will retain fungi that can't be divided, but make them available to scholars.
More than 70 years after their discovery, "examples of this kind almost do not exist in China, which makes this collection invaluable (for) the study of the variety, distribution and evolution of Chinese fungi," said delegation leader Liu Yandong. "On behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to say a big thank you to Cornell University."
Kathie Hodge, the Cornell herbarium's director, said the fungi are invariably tiny — "just dried up leaves, most of them, or pieces of wood with a little dot of them. To an average person, they look like something you would sweep off your kitchen floor. But under the microscope they're beautiful and exciting and incredibly diverse."
"I think it's really important to understand the diversity of life on Earth and we are so far from being able to do that right now," she said. "And fungi are one of the last great frontiers of biology."
During his travels to all corners of China, Teng made meticulous notes and drawings of the fungi he found — and frequently mailed duplicates to Cornell. He returned to teaching after the war, restored a national mycology laboratory and published a 1963 book that remains an indispensable source of information on his country's fungi in the first half of the 20th century.
At the start of the devastating Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, Teng was tagged as a "counterrevolutionary academic authority." Discharged from his lab, he was subjected to daily beatings and mental persecution that ruined his health and career, according to the science academy. He died in 1970 at age 67.
Years later, his family managed to recover his confiscated manuscripts. His daughter, Rosaline Deng, worked with a Cornell professor of mycology, Richard Korf, to complete and publish "The Fungi of China" in 1996.
Transferring the fungi "is our decision," said the 83-year-old Korf, who taught at Cornell until 1998. "The whole reason really is that it makes scientific sense," especially with the warming of U.S.-China ties over the last 30 years. "It's clear we are cooperating in ways we never knew we could."
Another impulse, he said, is "I had a brilliant student, Wen-Ying Zhuang, come to work with me from China in the 1980s and get her Ph.D. She became a major figure in the Chinese mycological field. She certainly pressed me on how important it would be for Chinese scientists to be able to easily access those specimens. Many of the scientists didn't even know we had them."
As for Teng's trove, "there are no duplicates of many of them left in China — the Japanese did destroy a lot of the herbaria," Korf said. "It gives you some concept of what the flora and so forth were like in these places, many of which have changed immensely or disappeared. The function of these collections is to document the past and allow you to compare what's there now."
Monday, April 13, 2009
Al-Fatihah to Allahyarham Md Zaher Mohamad
Al-Fatihah to Allahyarham Md Zaher Mohamad from Celcom Customer Service Insight Management, who passed away this morning at an accident at km 443, North South Highway.
Condolences to Zaher's family.
It is a pity that Zaher passed away so young through such cruel bus accident. It was a pleasure working with him during my days at Celcom project.
On bus accidents, it seems that nothing is learned from the past accidents. Lee Nian Ning, a JPA scholar, passed away in January 2008, due to bus accident and there was some hoo-haa back then, but seems we never learn from it.
It is sad that this is the 2nd time I lost a friend through a catastrophic bus accident.
Al-Fatihah.
Ureka Weekend
Thanks for the info from Daniel Cerventus. Do check it out!
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UrekaWeekend is an event to give people a chance to explore ideas and
what can be done with them. With a maximum 100 of the most interesting
people we know (and some that we don't) from a variety of backgrounds
and with a multitude of skill sets, all to join us and discover the
joy of creating.
Think of it like an intense weekend where you get to take a bunch of
ideas and work in a team to make these ideas a reality.
Developing a business plan
Developing a pitch for your idea
Developing a prototype for your idea.
You can find out more about it at http://www.entrepreneurs.my/ureka-weekend/
The event is set for the weekend of the 17th – 19th April 09 and will
be held at the 1st Barcamp venue Xtrain in Megan Avenue (along Jalan
Ampang)
Register yourself at http://www.entrepreneurs.my/ureka-weekend/
*UrekaWeekend is not a conference.
Sincerely
Daniel CerVentus
Malaysia Entrepreneurs
http://www.entrepreneurs.my
UrekaWeekend is an event to give people a chance to explore ideas and
what can be done with them. With a maximum 100 of the most interesting
people we know (and some that we don't) from a variety of backgrounds
and with a multitude of skill sets, all to join us and discover the
joy of creating.
Think of it like an intense weekend where you get to take a bunch of
ideas and work in a team to make these ideas a reality.
Developing a business plan
Developing a pitch for your idea
Developing a prototype for your idea.
You can find out more about it at http://www.entrepreneurs.my/ureka-weekend/
The event is set for the weekend of the 17th – 19th April 09 and will
be held at the 1st Barcamp venue Xtrain in Megan Avenue (along Jalan
Ampang)
Register yourself at http://www.entrepreneurs.my/ureka-weekend/
*UrekaWeekend is not a conference.
Sincerely
Daniel CerVentus
Malaysia Entrepreneurs
http://www.entrepreneurs.my
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Disadvantages of Elite Education
I posted this in August 2008, and saw this article highlighted by Evelyn just now at Facebook.
Would put this link back up again. And this is a very suitable article to be read by all those top universities admit. What it says inside is pretty true for most of the top Ivies. :(
http://chenchow.blogspot.com/2008/08/disadvantages-of-elite-education.html
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Chen Chow's Other Posts
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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 will be more than happy to post it to share
Feel free to quote any post within my blog, as long as you link it back here. Sharing is always a good virtue. :)
Project What's After SPM
Thanks to my loyal blog reader for highlighting this article. Thanks to Tara for smsing me on this too yesterday! :)
Would like to credit Gabrielle Chong Yong Wei, Tara Thean, Kimberley Ho, Charis Loke, Goh Jing Pei for this project.
If you are between 18-35, do submit your entries at http://whatsafterspm.blogspot.com .
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THERE is a world of opportunities beyond college and university open to school-leavers after their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
And a group of young go-getters is hoping to inspire students with tales of successes, failures and everything in between.
And a group of young go-getters is hoping to inspire students with tales of successes, failures and everything in between.
"Many of us realised that some are fortunate they knew what they could do after SPM," he says.
Others, however, cannot imagine life beyond secondary school.
The point of the book, Yeoh adds, is not to tell run-of-the-mill stories of entering college or university but to inform about other paths people have chosen to pursue after school.
"We hope that the book will reach every school library in Malaysia to give students the inspiration to pursue whatever they want."
There is no "best" or "right" route to take after school; any course can be good if you make the best of it and remain passionate about what you do.
As this is a community service project, none of the participants, project committee members and project advisers will receive any form of royalty or payment.
A fund-raiser will be held to collect money for the project and excess funds will go towards distributing the books to students and secondary schools for free.
So far 53 entries have been sent in and the group is confident that the target of 100 will be reached by the April 30 deadline.
Find out more at whatsafterspm.blogspot.com
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Live Blogging of NMF - YB Yusmadi Yusoff & YB Khalid Samad
, YB Yusmadi Yusoff (MP of Balik Pulau) & YB Khalid Samad (MP of Shah Alam)
- YB Yusmadi greeted everyone.
- On behalf of PKR, thanks for the invite
- How Wawasan 2020 will develop democratic society?
- Develop Malaysia as a democratic society
- is a good objective
- As an objective, it has to match criteria
- Work within negotiated parameter by underlying idea of Malaysia
- what was promised in Declaration of Independence, should be achieved.
- Unleashing opportunities, for those who are willing to work hard
- About "persahabatan sejagat"
- brotherhood of mankind
- If these criteria matched the criteria of democratic society, or else may see imbalance, if one of these principles is not matched.
YB Khalid Samad
- Thanked for the opportunities
- Opportunities to meet students
- Image problem for years.
- Question of Vision 2020
- Not a big fan of Dr. Mahathir, so not too familiar with his view
- Have done some brief research
- Been asked to speak on unity, democratic society and tolerance
- Unity only if justice is served
- As far as Malaysian public is concerned, we ourselves must all be advocates of these values.
- Insist on this kind of freedom
- Need for accountability
- Freedom of information
- Can agree that it is very restricted
- Not much available
- Many important issues are covered by OSA
- Develop attitude of tolerance
- Is a challenge that all of us to participate, and make people understand
- Tolerance is something that is key ingredient in multi-racial and multi-religious party
- This is propagated by all major religions in the world.
- what being said not equal to what being done.
YB Yusmadi
- If the ideal of "persahabatan sejagat" is achieved by BN, YB Yusmadi would support it.
- Personal sense is principled.
- People will say that they are being discriminated and be 2nd class citizen.
- Very fundamental value of teaching is not being given due recognition by government.
- Until today, we still see the outcry by non-Malays or even Malays.
- If government is able to achieve building a society which is based on "persahabatan sejagat", then there is nothing for PR to fight for.
- People's fundamental right shouldn't be compromised based on people's generosity.
- Cannot have the situation where people are being to be under the mercy of others.
- Prophet says "Hurt no one, so that no one will hurt you".
- Malaysia claims Islam Hadhari, but if we do not achieve this, then YB Yusmadi still have more jobs to do.
YB Khalid
- It is a question of social establishment.
- Not a question by who is the leader
- Member of societies are politically concious.
- In political arena, not to seize power, but to bring realization of society that we want.
- Society that is more just, and more caring.
- Question of brotherhood
- Sense of responsibility towards each other.
- This is what we're striving for.
- We do not see political involvement as merely a struggle
- It is a process of social change that need education/mobilization
- If government then conforms to values of societies, in order to maintain value of societies, then we don't necessarily need to be part of that conforment.
- Even though what YB Yusmadi mentioned is correct, but not necessarily the case.
- When you get a good government, it doesn't mean that there is no role for opposition.
- Need to reevaluate the strategy.
- Politics that we face may not be as antagonistic.
- Differences of approaches/opinion
- Then will have healthy debate.
- Matured politics
YB Khalid
- Concrete measure for PAS is question of educating them
- uphill task
- Islam and Malay is almost being seen as synonymous
- Debate on whether the words of Allah can be used.
- There are Muslims who still believe that Hindus cannot have temples.
- Need to do political re-education
- And need to build the understanding
- When Datuk Ngah recited Quran, people were intolerance.
- People are trying to put right, on this re-education.
- PAS has an influx in 1998, and there is difference in the thinking mindset.
Naim@Yale: PAS is at heart an Islamic party. Given the controversy surrounding hudud and syariah laws, how far is PAS willing to change its approach or compromise as part of a diverse political coalition seeking to appeal to all Malaysians?
YB Khalid
- What we are fighting for is not just for Muslim
- Within society at large
- Change of approach takes a bit of time
- Since 1997/1998, been more inclusive
- More directed to society in general
- The way to go
- Further reinforced through the formation of Pakatan Rakyat
- No stopping in the direction that we are going into
- Realization that we cannot make an impact
- This is what YB Khalid tries to drive
- Interaction with Non-Muslims since 1986-1987
Michael @ KL - Is Pakatan Rakyat merely a marriage of convenience? Without a common opposition, can the parties of PR even work together?
YB Yusmadi
- Can PR work together?
- Makes Exclusive Revelation today
- Soon to announce "Pengisytiharan Pakatan"
- PAS and DAP has done their part
- PKR is a little slow
- Announce the common goal
- Can the party work together?
- Can see for the first time in election, have common machinery
- In parliament, fighting for the same issues.
- Clear on ISA, policies which discriminate others.
- PAS explains and clarifies ideological fight
- PAS speaks to the heart of non-Malays
- Chineses and Indians were using PAS flag during the by-election.
- Unprecedented in Kuala Terengganu, Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang
- Joint Manifesto
- What else to see Pakatan Rakyat works together
- YB Anwar, YB Lim Kit Siang and Tuan Haji Hadi Awang - agrees on a common agreement
- Idea maybe articulated differently.
- Younger ones can see things differently.
Q: Can Non-Muslims use the word of Allah? How about Lina Joy's issue
YB Khalid
- In the use of Allah by non-Muslims, in the Quran, it is very clear that Non Muslims use it.
- Issue on the reading of political reality at ground level
- And that may create confusion.
- Purely theocratically, no problem for non-Muslims to use the word Allah
- Politically, there might be issues.
- As far as PAS is concerned, no firm decision on this.
- On theocratically, in many verses of Quran, non Muslims are using the word Allah.
- In the case of Lina Joy, the case of Ulama has to do "isytihar".
- In God's will, God could have made everyone a believer
- Are you going to force people to be believer?
- No one will believe, unless with God's consent.
- No way to force a person to believe
- If based on basic principle and Ulama is allowed to study the situation, and we go on a proper debate on the issue, there is a way out.
- There is a difference of opinion within the Ulamas.
- Some say it is by Hudud Law, some say it is Takzir.
- YB Khalid says that the issue of apostasy should be by Takzir.
YB Yusmadi
- Globalization speeds up the process
- The tsunami is not just by political parties.
- Political parties put in the strategies
- Fight by people
- No more about candidate of Keadilan or PAS, but it is a fight by people.
- Joint election secretariat, who is the director and who is responsible for each area.
- Process of enlighthenment is happening in PR.
- If were to say in definitive term what is happening in PR
- Anwar has developed political capital for years in Permatang Pauh
- New development of Pakatan Rakyat value adds
- From Permatang Pauh is carried forward to Kuala Terengganu
- Seen a good manifesto, campaign machinery, or even media level is coordination
- Issue of DCM of Penang, Issue of YB Elizabeth.
- Now, PR knows how to react.
- Get people based on value add of the moment.
Q: Amirah@Chicago: How can we revamp the Shariah Law that we feel is unjust esp towards women like Family law (Polygamy, Inheritance, Women leadership/politics, Divorce etc) and can Malaysia Muslims one day choose to be under civil or Syariah law and be the Muslim they choose to be? This is also in relation to Naim's question which is not addressed yet.
YB Khalid
- System of Islamic Law to be polished.
- Areas within Islamic Law is clear.
- Polygamy is allowed.
Q: In Tunisia (Sorry for my typo earlier, Andrew) and Jordan, polygamy is not allowed.
YB Yusmadi
- Tunisia, polygamy is an offence.
- Syariah Law - Beauty of democracy
- Someone has to fight for the values of the country
- Meeting the needs of the country
- Sometimes have to see the difference between Syariah Law and Palestine.
- Hamas went for election and still say not democratic.
- Whatever PAS wants to do, has to do within democracy.
- PAS has to think more on how to articulate their believes.
YB Khalid
- Polygamy is allowed
- We can argue till cows come home, but still no solution.
- If someone wants to seek for divorce, they can do so.
- Polygamy is not a favourite topic.
- YB commented that his wife is here.
- For non-Muslims, have to be tolerant of Muslims, just as vice-versa.
- To Muslims, what is important is the Islamic Law
- Once we say that this is Syariah, Muslims should abide, and non Muslims should tolerate.
Q: What is civil law contradicts with Syariah Law?
- Islam has always established a society of plurarism.
- Muslims have their laws, Christians and Jews have their own laws too.
- Each group abides by their own law.
- That is a sign of tolerance.
- We have a similar approach.
- Muslims are religiously obliged to conform to Islamic Law
- This is a right that Muslims want.
- As we develop more Islamic Law, Muslims will opt for that.
---> Note that this is a live blogging and I might misinterpret what the speaker says.
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Live Blogging of NMF - Prof. Dr. Fatimah Harun
Next speaker - Prof. Dr. Fatimah Harun, paediatric endocrinologist at UM Medical Centre
- A student was doing elective asked to do this
- Little did Dr. Fatimah know that she would be speaking to a big group and in front of 2 MPs.
- Can't do much at small clinic
- Came back to alma mater for training and serve
- Happy at UMMC
- Treat children and teach young students to be good doctors.
- What do you think of prosporous community?
- A prosporous community lives in a state of well being.
- Not totally in economic sense
- Community have people in good health, good decent home, strong family ties, high moral value
- Level of maturity
- Self discipline
- Tolerance
- Care
- Live peacefully as one nation.
- A community that is clean
- Community for recreation
- Personal sense of security and social justice
- Equal opportunity to achieve one's success
- Prosperous community
- If can achieve that, it would be superb
- What would health care to achieve this
- Healthy individual is stronger and more creative
- Healthy people are asset to our nation
- Has a role to play in preventive aspect of health
- Doctors must have the skills to diagnose and treat in the state of the art
- Whether our government has placed enough priority?
- 4.9% of budget in late 1990s in healthcare
- Nowadays about 6.9%
- Developed countries are at about 10-12%
- Healthcare system
- health indexes for Malaysia is good.
- Lifespan for Males are 71 and Females are 76
- Services for the children
- Infant mortality of 6
- Total mortality of 0.5
- On health, we are on the right track.
Rina - What about healthcare in rural areas? Do these people have access to quality healthcare?
by Fardina Fuad
- Healthcare is cheap
- Distribution is not at all level
- In a way, the rural folks do not enjoy specialized care
- They have to transfer to centers of these services.
- Better to invest on preventive health than to promote health.
Emily in Yale: What do you think of the lack of community space (i.e., free space like recreation parks etc.) in Malaysia especially at low and middle-class areas? Does it have an impact on mental health and have you seen any trends with regards to this?
- Housing not that condusive
- TV viewing etc is not healthy
- Average time people on TV is a lot
- People hardly walk less than 1,000 steps a day.
- Restructuring of society needs to do a role
- Public library for people to read - Instill reading habit
Q: Jab & Nikesh @ Yale: What have you done before, or, what would you do in order to develop a first class mentality of a child (Malaysian) at a young age if Wawasan 2020 is to be achieved?
-Every child should be a wanted child
- Should be a planned pregnancy
- Now we have teenage pregnancy
- Every child should be planned, not by accident
- Borned to a home where 2 people are taking care
- Dr. Fatimah tells mother of 1st born child
- It is easy to take care, if know how to
- Child needs warmth and security, not just physical care
- If a child cries, the mother needs to be there.
- No harmony at home
Ronny Leong@Yale: Why are the best practitioners in the private sector? What have we done to attract them to public service, and is it enough?
- Priority for private sector is self
- different priority
- private health practitioners also care in the health of patients
- It lifts off the burden of the doctors in the public sector
From Yale: I am pleased to hear that our healthcare system has achieved such success. However, could you elaborate on how exactly this contributes to the goals (2020) referred to earlier? Could a little of that 6% of the budget be used elsewhere, or perhaps allocated differently within the healthcare system?
- Focus on prevention of diseases and health awareness, rather than treatment.
---> Note that this is a live blogging and I might misinterpret what the speaker says.
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Chen Chow's Other Posts
Subscribe to Chen Chow's blog
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 will be more than happy to post it to share
Feel free to quote any post within my blog, as long as you link it back here. Sharing is always a good virtue. :)
NMF Live Blogging
First session is starting.
Dina Zaman is CEO of My Future Foundation!
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- Honored to be in the same panel as other speakers
- Congratulations for new Malaysian Prime Minister
- Engaging on social issue in Malaysia
- Wants a lot of things to happen
- Some are saying Malaysia heading towards Zimbabwe
- A lot of faith in this country
- Inspired by patriotism abroad, with their democracy, freedom and also public transportation.
- Hope that we can all build a Malaysia with faith
- Islamic Malaysia has not been getting good press, and we should correct that perception
- What is freedom, strength to Malaysians?
- Need to grasp the ideal
- Search for the soul
- Malaysians need to work on the ground, and not just talk
- 50 over years of NEP (with best intention)
- The poor deserves the benefits.
- Have to look at this aspect
- Constant bombardment of questions on identity
- Malaysia first
- Freedom, agree to disagree
- The word of integrity has been branded.
- Need to be transparent
- Good Malaysia
- Sometimes we say, but we do other things.
- We make excuses
- Instill what is right and wrong
- Instill in the young
- Honesty/sincerity
- Go back to basic
- Malaysia needs young Malaysians
- To take stakeholder of issues
- Cannot assume that the younger who are less intelligent
- 3 types of youth
- Youth like you, politically aware and technologically savvy.
- Hopefully, be corporate leaders, government leaders, NGOs
- the 2nd one is the urban ones
- 3rd one the disenfranchised youth (who think that they have no future in the country)
- Malaysian youth feel hopeless
- Despite concern, sense of apathy are weak
- Not many participate actively in politics
- Non-Malay Malaysians, who are open to politics, tend to open to opposition politics
- They have very conservative views of politics.
- Their focus has been different.
- Obama gets everyone excited.
- people are concerned of personal finances
- Political instability is one of the concerns.
- Young Malays consider themselves as Muslims first, then Malays or Malaysians
- Young Non-Malays consider themselves Malaysians first
- Youth are thinking that political divide are bigger
- We need to understand the youth lingual
- Don't say that don't understand the youth lingual
- What we do is fantastic, but need to bring to rural area
- Youth may not know of why they are having sex
- They know nothing of STD
- We have been too dependent on governments
- Need to get people to work
- Go to kampung and speak to people on issues
- We can debate on sensitive matters
- We need to talk on these matters
- Youth are creative
- Don't give up on hope
Q: How do we convince Malaysians that they are pretty smart? Especially in rural areas, like in Felda.
- Need to really to engage the kids
- Really talk to the rural kids
- Understand how they see the world
- Put it in their shoes
- Even things like personal hygiene
- Need to guide the kids to be presentable
- Don't talk down to them.
- Speak that you were once in their shoes
- Be very honest to them
- Explain to the kids on the rationale
Q. What do you propose that we do?
- Propose that you come back
- Work with the poor kids
- Irrespective of races
- The kids believe that they have no future
- Need to come out for micro credit programs
- For kids to go into business
- Empowerment program
- Come out with practical programs, not things that say must have 2 malays, 2 chinese, 2 indians etc.
- Be practical
- Come out with little workshop
- Not looking at big solutions
- Have German film weekend. Invite 20 young kids.
- The kids were able to take what happened in the movie
- And reflect on it
- Do a talk show/music video
- Annexe in Central market is speaking to a group of crowd, who needs the spaces.
From Amirah Chicago: Thanks for speaking your mind Dina, its great. How can we Malaysians achieve our freedom of speech and revamp laws that are unjust in this aspect? TQby Khadijah
- Have to keep on doing
- Be open
- Main thing is how we word it
Dina, seems that we are educating youth about sex only when situation is too late. I think you agree that we should be able to talk openly, about consequences, and risks. Do you foresee this to be possible ?
by Khadijah
- Yes. It is possible
- Parents educate on pre-marital sex
- Attended a sex education workshop
- Take steps
Dina you mentioned that it is now time for the younger generation to step up and for the older generation to step away. Is there a forum where we can learn from the older generation? (transfer of knowledge) - on a day to day basis rather than a conference?
by HW - london
- We have a lot to learn from the elders too.
- It is quite sad to talk to lower income kids
- The kids don't have the opportunities
- Engage with the young ones.
- Talk to the older ones..
- Be smart
Michael from KL - Do you see whether education in Malaysia be the problem of this? If yes, how do we solve it?
- Not very well versed with education now
- Went to Convent Bukit Nanas previously
- Used to be fantastic, and teachers are good
- Now, seems different
- Teaching has made creativity lost
- Now, all is work
- Education system got a lot of problem
- Something that we need to look at and resolve
Education system in Malaysia is like spoonfeeding babies. Should teach kids to be independent and to ask questions and explore. Don't you agree?by Khadijah
- Allow kids to make mistakes
- Yes, teach them to be independent
- Need experience to make them better person.
- Come back and get involved in a lot of programs.
- Learn from a lot of things from them.
- In Terengganu, a small community of Chinese/Indian, they all speak on Terengganu dialects
Amirah@Chicago: Some of us Muslim Malaysians feel that we re not able to be the Muslim we want to be due to the enforcement of Syariah Law and religious police that we feel is unjust, especially to women. How can we change this? This is also in relation to the question by Jian@Singapore below which is not addressed yet.
by Khadijah
- Pockets of NGOs here and there
- Muslims Women complaint to organizations, but no action
- Can't live in little bubble
---> Note that this is a live blogging and I might misinterpret what the speaker says.
-
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Chen Chow's Other Posts
Subscribe to Chen Chow's blog
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 will be more than happy to post it to share
Feel free to quote any post within my blog, as long as you link it back here. Sharing is always a good virtue. :)
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