Responsibilities:
For those of you who are interested in doing research and getting a master's degree at the same time, we have a vacancy for a research assistent position to work under the project "Development of Job Matching Algorithm " - sponsored by JobStreet.
Requirements:
Passionate about applying technology to solving problem of job matching efficiently and cost effectivelyAs most of you know, I'm going to Thailand this August, and I will be joining a group called SEALNet (you can check it out on http://www.sealnetonline.org). Basically, SEALNet serves the community in Southeast Asia, promoting the spirit of service leadership in the region.
I will be involved in a project that aims to engage students in active learning. We will also be renovating the school library to encourage students to visit the library.
All this requires money, and therefore, I ask you guys to please help us achieve our goals. You can donate any amount you wish, 10 dollar, RM10, 100 baht, 500 baht, 1 dollar...anything. =p
Instructions on how to donate can be found on http://www.sealnetonline.org/donate.
Please let me know if you are willing to donate. My team members and I (as well as the little kids in Thailand) will be really grateful! =D
| Right now any gift you make to The Fresh Air Fund will be matched dollar for dollar by a group of generous donors! If you can give $25 that means $50 for inner-city children. $50 becomes $100! |
| But you must make your donation by June 30th to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity! |
The admissions team at Tufts University embraced the Yahtzee enthusiast and budding engineer who built a wooden catapult in his backyard and the straight-A teenager who described herself as a "wise old owl" whom her friends turn to for advice.
Amherst College eagerly admitted the son of a New York City cab driver, a Bangladeshi immigrant who had flunked gym class but founded a newspaper dedicated to economics. The school's admissions committee also delighted at the math wiz from Queens who loses sleep when he's stumped by a problem and lives for bowling nights in his mother's league.
All the successful applicants to Tufts and Amherst, two highly selective liberal arts colleges, boast impressive academic credentials, but so do most of their competitors. What they share is a spark that makes them stand out from the crowd, whether through singular talents and values, fierce determination in the face of hard circumstance, or force of personality.
For high school seniors aspiring to the nation's top colleges and universities, the inner workings of admissions offices seem shrouded in mystery, a murky process that fuels endless angst and speculation. As students nervously await their decision letters, the two highly selective colleges invited a Globe reporter to observe admissions deliberations firsthand. The sessions reveal a complex, nuanced system that is at once analytical and intuitive, rigorous and forgiving, impartial and deeply personal.
They also underscore how fierce competition makes instinctive judgments all but inevitable, and provide rare insight into how intangible qualities can sway decisions.
It is the season's first meeting of the review committee at Tufts, and Coffin surveys the lay of the land. By this point, all the applicants are strong, and often there is little that separates them academically. So the committee often goes beyond the numbers and takes an in-depth look at personal qualities and talents.
The panels are groups of admissions officers, led by the dean of admissions, who gather for all-day review sessions in March. Many of the committee members are young, 20-somethings responsible for recruiting in specific parts of the country.
From the 15,000 applicants vying for a slot in next fall's freshman class, the college has admitted 2,200 whose top-notch qualifications made them shoo-ins, leaving about 10,000 students competing for just 1,100 offers. Tough odds for the students, and a daunting, at times emotionally draining, task for the panel.
To Coffin's right sits Emily Roper-Doten, an animated 29-year-old who headed up Tufts recruitment in Illinois, the morning's topic of discussion. So far, each application has been read twice, and Roper-Doten rattles off a brief summary of students' academic credentials, personal essays, and recommendations from teachers and reviewers. Around the table, admissions officers call up student files on their laptops, scanning a four-year transcript in a few seconds.
The first student, from a public high school in suburban Chicago, ranked behind about one-quarter of her senior class. Reviewers had given her the lowest overall academic rating, and panel members wonder why she hadn't already been denied. Discussion is brief. "Do you want to hear any more?" Roper-Doten asks. No one did.
"It's a deny," Coffin says.
Later, the group wastes little time in rejecting a straight-A student - a Girl Scout, dancer, and peer tutor, to boot. There were plenty of others just like her, says Daniel Grayson, a 25-year-old Tufts alumni on the panel.
Using a "holistic" approach, Tufts and other selective colleges look beyond test scores and grades to an array of personal qualities, including intellectual talent and curiosity, leadership, ambition, and work ethic. They also judge students on their educational and family background, and give preference to low-income and minority students who overcome obstacles to excel.
After rejecting a number of candidates with stronger academic records, for example, Tufts admits a student from a blue-collar Italian family who wrote movingly about his love of "food and family" and his relationship with his developmentally disabled brother. The student, who attends a Catholic school and works summers as a golf caddy, is judged a "smidge weak academically" by one reviewer.
But the group clearly takes a shine to him, and admits him unanimously.
"He's really sweet about his bro," Roper-Doten says.
In the most intense debate of the morning, the panel splits over a hearing-impaired student from a rough neighborhood who travels more than an hour to a magnet high school. Her test scores and grades were mediocre, with a B average and C's in English. But she grew up speaking Spanish, reviewers note, and she helped care for her siblings from a young age.
"We've taken kids like this who wind up being president of their class," said Isabel Casariego Bober, 26.
In the context of her background, her scores on the ACT were strong, Bober adds. If she had gone to the high school in her own neighborhood, they agree, she probably would have gotten all A's.
Some committee members think she might struggle at first at Tufts, but would eventually find her way. Others fear the workload would be too much.
"I think she's overcome a lot," Grayson says, "but I don't like setting these kids up to fail."
"There's so much strength in her," Roper-Doten says.
Back and forth they go for 20 minutes, without reaching a consensus. They put her in the "bullpen" with other knotty cases they will tackle another day.
But as details emerge, the six Amherst College admissions officers, a youngish group arrayed around a cluttered conference table on a recent Monday morning, take a closer look.
Reading his file from large three-ring binders, the panel learns that his mother is unemployed and his father left years ago. He lives in a crime-ridden neighborhood but has "worked hard not to fall into that trap," a reviewer notes. He takes film courses at the local community college.
By that point, his board scores fade in the distance, and the vote is a unanimous yes.
Next is a New Mexico student who earned all A's while working 20 hours a week and volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. She is "mature beyond her years," her teacher wrote. Her essay, a reviewer writes, told "more about her than any test score." The panel agrees, and their hands shoot upward in unison.
"Good, good, good," reviewer Kathy Mayberry says quietly in a voice of satisfaction.
During the morning, the panel evaluates more than 30 students from low-income families, most from New York City, as part of the larger task of winnowing 7,700 applicants to 1,100 admitted students, a rate that ranks among the country's lowest. Most are minorities and children of immigrants who did not grow up speaking English at home. Their parents had, for the most part, not gone to college, and neither will most of their high school classmates.
In keeping with the college's aggressive campaign to admit more students from poor and working-class neighborhoods, the panel accepts the majority of them.
Reviewers note what students' parents did for a living, what level of education they completed, and what percentage of their high school goes to college. Students who were deemed "SP30," meaning neither of their parents went to college, or "SP31," meaning the family has a low income, were given a decided boost.
Yet students from such backgrounds had to persuade the committee they were prepared for a top-tier school, primarily by their performance on advanced placement exams.
Members are impressed by a student from Queens who scored high on the US history and statistics AP exams, and Dale Hendricks notes that the applicant's father, a Jamaican immigrant, had been imprisoned and deported.
"It's real hardship here, guys," Hendricks says.
But her SAT scores were 1,180, and other students who had overcome just as much had done better.
"It's a tough story," Hendricks says. "But in New York, there are many cases like this." She's wait-listed.
The litany of broken homes and failing schools puts the gulf between the have and have-nots in stark relief.
Yet many of the sagas are inspiring, and the panel clearly savors the opportunity to give talented students a chance at a better life.
At one point, the discussion turns to a student who grew up in a poor immigrant household and did not learn to read proficiently until she was 11. With what her teachers described as an "unrivaled work ethic," she became a standout student, earning A's in AP English and history and scoring 770 on the SAT critical reading section.
Coming from a student at a top prep school, the score would be impressive, the panel agreed. From a student whose parents didn't go to college, who grew up in a neighborhood ravaged by gangs, it was near-miraculous.
"Incredible, given her background," St. John says. "Just incredible."
All the drive in the world, added Tom Parker, the dean of admission. This time, there was no need for a show of hands. The decision was understood.
有的时候，别人的角度常给我们耳目一新的感觉。看过美国大学录取时对新生背景考察的全过程报道后，让人不禁感叹，艰苦是一种财富（或者温总理说的“多难兴邦”）这种观念已经深入到美国人心目中了。
美国《波士顿环球报》上个月对美国素有“小常青藤”之称的Tuft University（塔夫斯大学）和Amherst College（艾姆赫斯特大学）进行了新生录取的全程监督，让美国大学录取规则浮出水面。
塔夫斯大学今年的申请人数约15000人，录取人数为3000人，录取比例为5：1。由7位录取委员会成员从3月起开始审核申请材料。一位意大利蓝领工人的儿子，因为其作文动人地描述了他对食物和家庭的热爱，以及他和自己智障弟弟的关系，一下子被大家看中，很快获得一致通过。一位平均成绩为B、英语成绩为C的学生，她有听力障碍，生长在西班牙语家庭和非常破落危险的社区，每天要通勤一个多小时上学，从小就照料自己的弟妹。录取人员对她争论不休，讨论了二十分钟仍没有结论，最后不得不推迟决定。
Amherst College的录取委员会有6位成员，要在7700申请者中挑选1100位学生。一位科罗拉多的学生的资料显示，他成绩平平，在一般情况下肯定不合格。但录取委员会发现，他父亲离家出走多年，母亲失业，他生长在犯罪率极高的社区。结果，他的成绩就显得不那么重要了，委员会一致决定录取。
在这样的选才过程中，大学把社会和家庭因素当作衡量学生“品格”的一项指标。你以后在一生的事业中是否有克服艰难险阻的品格，是你成功的关键。而这种品格，从你上大学前如何“克服生活的挑战”，能非常明显地体现出来。当然，艰难的生活也加强了你对他人的理解力，成为你的“领导力”的基础。
这些录取委员们不一般的表现一定令很多人惊讶。因为从所谓公平的角度来说，这些无家世背景，甚至生活在恶劣的环境中，且成绩不高、专长不够扎眼的申请者应该被首先排除，但是事实上，这些录取委员们更相信苦难的力量，生活在一个破落的平民窟，在一个混乱的学校上学，虽然成绩比条件优越的孩子还有差距，但是，在贫瘠土壤中生长出的果实更懂得生活中的道理，懂得珍惜和感恩，懂得比别人多一份努力，也懂得自强不息是他们必须有的品格。
农村的孩子比城市的孩子更努力，更刻苦，这从来就是个公理。在湖南卫视去年播出的《变形记》中，我们看到了魏程和高占喜之间的家庭的巨大差距，胡耿和石宏强之间的性格对比，也看到了金达世杰和秦干面对不同生活的感悟，节目的初衷并非降调城乡之间的教育环境，但是却让我们从某个角度瞥见了生活在艰苦环境中的孩子的品质，石宏强的孝顺、质朴和吃苦耐劳，秦干的活泼开朗，这些孩子让生活在大都市的人们意识到，或许苦难真的是一笔财富。
Dear Sir/ Madam,
In this age of knowledge explosion, it is important to get updated about new happenings in your field in particular and other fields in general. Updating of knowledge should be a regular and a very fast process. Speed-reading is one of the skills that will help you in the process.
We cordially invite you to attend a complimentary talk "Speed Reading Strategies" by Mr. Anant. The details are as follows:
Date : 27 June 2009 (Saturday)
Time : 9.45 am – 12.00 noon
Venue : Centre for Extension Education
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
No.13, Jalan 13/6, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
The admission for the talk is FREE. The talk is open to all. Feel free to bring your family members and friends to the talk. Please drop us a note (mmlm@utar.edu.my) if you are coming so that we can ensure comfort for all.
Regards
Secretariat, MMLM
CIP Catalyst Info Talk for Entrepreneurs in KL! | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dear Cradle Friend, Cradle will be presenting an informational talk on its CIP Catalyst grant for entrepreneurs at Bangunan Bakti Siti Hasmah, Taman Tun Dr Ismail on the 13th June, 2009 (Saturday). If you have a great and innovative idea, then this talk is for you! Whether it's in IT, Biotech, manufacturing or retail, find out how your creative and innovative technology-based idea can get funding of up to RM150k and how you can become an entrepreneur! Come and find out how Cradle Investment Programme (CIP) and its CIP Catalyst grants can help you on your way. Meet one of Cradle's successful entrepreneurs, Cik Jafizwaty a Mobile Portal for Content Provider entrepreneur as she shares about how she got started with Cradle as well as other tips and insights into entrepreneurship. Admission is FREE, but there are only sixty (60) seats available, so please register your attendance by filling in the registration form attached and emailing it to: nurdhaniah@cradle.com.my by 9th June, 2009. Find out how Cradle Investment Programme (CIP) and its CIP Catalyst grants can help you on your way. (Download registration form here!) | ||||||||||||||||||
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We look forward to seeing you there! Warm Regards, The Cradle Team | ||||||||||||||||||
TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.
Wed, 3 June 2009 to Wed, 3 June 2009
From 03:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Plug and Play Technology Garden , Mid Valley City,
For the very first TEDxKualaLumpur, we have invited a list of interesting speakers to share their ideas and experience with the crowd.
Proposed Schedule
2.30 pm - Registration
3.00 pm - Welcome Address
3.05 pm - Intro by TED Curator Chris Anderson
3.10 pm - Yasmin Ahmad the Film Maker
3.30 pm - Dr. Bernard Leong of SgEntrepreneurs
3.45 pm - TED Video
4.00 pm - Roshan Thiran of Leaderonomics
4.15 pm - Dhakshinamoorthy "Dash" Balakrishnan of Warisan Global
4.30 pm - TED Video
4.45 pm - Kid Chan of Kid Chan Studio
5.00 pm - Krishnakant Mane
5.12 pm - TED Video
5.30 pm - Arief Aziz of TEDxJakarta
5.45 pm - Devan Singaram of Unreason
6.00 pm - Event End
"New America, One Malaysia" Forum
A Prelude to the 2009 Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit
The Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit is an annual active network, since 2006, for some 200 dynamic emerging leaders from the Asia-Pacific and the US, to build relationships and engage in interdisciplinary dialogue and cultural exchange. The summit, is also the highlight of Asia Society's Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative, to gather exceptional young leaders of tomorrow from every country in the Asia-Pacific and US region and from various disciplines, and to provide a platform for these young leaders to network across geographic boundaries, develop collaborative approaches to shared challenges, and educating each other in the highest ideals of values-based leadership.
As a prelude to this year's Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit 2009, which is hosted by Malaysia, a forum featuring outstanding Malaysian young leaders and Jamie Metzl, the Executive Vice President of Asia Society, will be held as follows:
"New America, One Malaysia:Young Leaders And The Global Agenda for Change"
Date : 3 Jun 2009 (Wed)
Time : 8pm
Venue : Bintang 1 & 2 Conference Rooms,
Relish Floor, JW Mariott Hotel,
183 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur 55100
Panelists:
* Jamie Metzl, Executive Vice- President, Asia Society
* Khairy Jamaluddin, Member of Parliament for Rembau
* Tony Pua, Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara
* Premesh Chandran, Founder & CEO, Malaysiakini
* Jacqueline Ann Surin, Co-Founder & Editor, The NutGraph
Moderator:
* Suryani Senja Alias, Senior Vice-President, Khazanah Nasional
All are welcome and attendance is free.
I had the privilege to attend The Canticle Singer's production of "Be Our Guest" this evening at Auditorium Perdanasiswa, University of Malaya.
It was an awesome performance and would say that those performers really put their hearts and soul into it. You can see very elaborate and genuine body language as they sing their pieces. The enthusiasm that they show in their performance is definitely amazing!
For the success of today's performance, credits should go to:-
HK Chong (Thanks for the tickets, HK!)
Chin San Sooi
Kenneth Ooi
Adrian Hare
Tan Wei Han
Timothy Au
Ivy Chan
Shameela Chandran
Chan Wai Yee
Cheah Jan Mie
Brian Cheong
Keilly Lim
Lim Ai Da
Low Tze Liang
Patricia Ngo
Stanley Morris
Joanne Poh
Christopher Sam
Vanessa Seng
Terry Siau
Phoebe Tan
Colin Wong
Joe Wong
Sarah Yong
Among the pieces performed include:-
Be Our Guest
September
The Wind Beneath My Wings
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Bring Him Home
As the Deer and How Great
Something's Coming/Tonight Suite
Hola, Lola!
Sweeney Todd Medley
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Winner Takes It All
Nella Fantasia
Paraiso
This Is The Moment
Baba Yetu
Streets of London
Rodgers and Hammerstein on Broadway
HK Chong also dedicated the piece of Paraiso to Markus Ng Chung Yau (1985-2009) . It was very touching that HK spoke about Markus's dedication to contribute to community and always look to help others. Markus is owasne of those people who propogated the spirit of Anak Bangsa Malaysia and also was someone who really hoped to serve the nation through civil service.
HK Chong also honored Betty Young, who celebrated her 87th birthday on 1 June 2009. Peter and Betty Young pioneered the vision and mission of Malaysian CARE .
The next performance by The Canticle Singers would be in October. Do hope that you would be able to support the performance. They are currently in need of corporate/individual sponsors, so if you are a music/culture/arts lover and don't mind supporting them, do let me know. I will put you in touch with them. KL Kepong has stepped forward to be the first sponsor. The entire production cost is estimated at RM180,000. All the performers are all volunteers, and hence none of them is getting paid a cent.
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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. :)
Time flies. It has been 4 years since I left my alma mater - Cornell University. Below is the commencement ceremony write-up, as well as the commencement speaker - David Plouffe, Election Campaign Manager for Barack Obama.
Those are quoted from here and here .
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Skorton urges graduates to focus on public service, not an uncertain future
By Susan Kelley
The 6,000 Cornellians who graduated today (May 24) have far fewer employment opportunities than two previous generations of alumni. But rather than dwell on their own uncertain futures, they were encouraged at Commencement ceremonies "to realize that the world stands in desperate need of your skills and talents."
Speaking under sunny skies in Schoellkopf Stadium, Cornell President David Skorton began his theme of service by congratulating those graduates who have joined such service organizations as the Peace Corps, Teach for America and AmeriCorps, and the 18 ROTC cadets commissioned May 23.
He departed from his prepared remarks to 32,000 family, friends, faculty, trustees and other university leaders to also congratulate a few seniors who could not attend Commencement: members of the men's lacrosse team. They are in Foxborough, Mass., preparing to take on defending NCAA champion Syracuse University on Memorial Day. It will be Big Red's first fight for the NCAA title in 21 years. "Somehow," Skorton said, "I think they would rather be there today than here."
The Class of 2009 faces daunting economic challenges, Skorton continued. Nationally this year, less than 20 percent of graduating college seniors who applied for a job actually have one, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers -- a decrease of more than 30 percent from two years ago. Nonetheless, he urged the graduates to embrace optimism. "I have no doubt that virtually all of today's graduates will find satisfying jobs -- and that many of you will do it by a road that will be distinctively your own."
Cornellians have the advantage of a liberal arts education, perhaps "the most useful and versatile education of all" especially in a time of national and personal economic uncertainty, he said. A liberal arts education offers five important "habits of mind": critical thinking, self-expression, a nuanced view of the world that comes from exposure to the arts and humanities, a sense of ethics and cross-cultural understanding, he said. "The depth, the richness and the diversity of our ideas inspire cross-fertilization and originality."
At the term "cross-fertilization," one section of soon-to-be veterinarians gave a rousing cheer. The audience applauded as Skorton ad-libbed, "If it has to do with nature, folks from CALS and the Vet School will be there."
But the audience offered its strongest applause when Skorton talked about the importance of ethics. "Indeed," he said, "some would argue that a lack of an ethical foundation is at the root of many of the problems we face in our society."
One thing is clear despite the uncertainty of the future, he said: that building a path to a better tomorrow will require the deep knowledge, skills, ethics and habits of mind that come from a liberal arts education. "The world needs what you have to offer now more than ever."
"I urge you to be creative and forceful in bringing your skills to bear on the problems we face, including the current economic dilemma, 'to be more useful' to your country and to humankind."
He continued: "We need your creativity, your courage, your optimism. We need your clarity of purpose. We need you to volunteer in your communities, to serve on school boards, to participate in the political process. We need you to contribute to nonprofit organizations. Most of all, we need you to put those hard-won skills and habits of mind to use not only in your professional lives, but in service to your community and to the world."
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Sending seniors on way 'with passion,' Obama's campaign manager salutes young for historic election
By George Lowery
Barack Obama would not be the 44th president without the votes of people under 30, observed the president's election campaign manager David Plouffe, before giving his address to Cornell's Senior Convocation in Schoellkopf Stadium today (May 23).
Plouffe, whom Obama called "the unsung hero" of the campaign, added, "We would not have won the Iowa caucuses if younger people had not turned out at historic levels that no one thought was possible, and that happened time and time again" during the campaign.
"One thing I learned in our campaign was that this generation of young Americans need not wait 20 or 25 years before they take the stage," Plouffe continued. "They're ready to lead right now. They're ready to innovate. We need them. We need their leadership. They helped determine the course of history in our campaign, but I think they can determine the course of history in ways large and small, right away."
It was a theme that Plouffe continued in his convocation address, telling the graduating seniors they "are now prepared to play a large role in shaping history for generations to come, who will be studying their accomplishments in these hallowed halls." But, he warned them, "You must have passion for your work. And you'd better really treasure and get the most out of your non-working hours ... those are the increments of time that will define your life."
At a meeting with the media before entering Schoellkopf, the slightly built, boyish-looking Plouffe, 42, noted that for the first time in decades the share of votes cast by people over age 65 in a presidential election declined, "not because older voters turned out in lower numbers, just because younger people participated." Of 5,000 people working in the Obama campaign, he said, "probably 95 percent of them were under 25."
He said: "I'm excited to be here because I'm excited about this group of people who are beginning to enter leadership roles in our country, and I couldn't be more excited to watch the work, talent and dedication they're going to bring to improve our country and our world in the years to come."
Credited with running one of the most effective and innovative presidential campaigns in history, raising $500 million on the Internet alone, Plouffe said grass-roots outreach, particularly in battleground states such as North Carolina, Ohio and Indiana, was equally important. "Change is never going to emanate from Washington; it's got to come from the country to Washington," he said.
"So many people in our country -- not just young people -- live most their lives through technology. Why should their interaction with politics or our campaign be any different? No matter who you are ... you have to realize how people are living their lives. You've got to reach them at their doors, in their e-mail boxes, on their Web pages, on their radios and TVs, and I think we did a good job of that."
Young volunteers helped shape the campaign's electronic strategies. "I think one thing that's never been properly appreciated is how many people -- parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts -- supported Barack Obama because their children felt so passionately about him. I think millions of people voted simply for that reason alone," Plouffe said. "It's a very powerful thing."
At Senior Convocation, it was announced that the Class of 2009 raised $36,655 for its class gift. The gift will fund the Class of 2009 Stephen H. Weiss Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of the late Cornell trustee, to benefit Cornell seniors. Trustee Martin Tang '70 matched the class gift, presented to President David Skorton on a giant check for $85,654.
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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. :)
Attended the 2nd L4T Leadership Series given by our former Finance Minister, Tun Daim Zainuddin. Today's lecture attracted more than 100 youth, with some had to stand throughout the lecture, due to limitation of the seats. It was a sold-out crowd!
Among the attendees include Dato' Mokhzani, Dato' Amrin, Syed Naqis etc. It is a platform for Malaysian youth to interact with captains of industry.
Tun Daim Zainuddin does not need further introduction. He has served as Minister of Finance twice and Minister of Special Function. He was a MP for several terms. He has owned many businesses in various regions. He is founding Chairman of The International Commercial Bank Group (ICB). For his introduction, do read up in Wikipedia .
For today's lecture, Tun Daim would share on "Jaguh Kampung: A Personal Perspective on Business Outside Malaysian Shores".
The sharing below is based what I jotted down during the lecture. So, if there is any error on my part of misquoting what Tun Daim said, please kindly let me know. The purpose of this is just to share with others who might not have the chance to be there to listen first hand from Tun Daim.
This is the 1st time since 2004 that Tun Daim has spoken in Malaysia. Since his retirement from Malaysian politics in 2001, he has only spoken once before in 2004. So, it was our honour to have the chance to listen to him to speak. Tun Daim mentioned that it took him some serious thinking before accepting this invitation. He has great faith in young people and that was the reason he accepted this invite. He hoped that the youth can grow and succeed in the future and become "Leaders of Tomorrow".
Tun Daim thanked Tengku Zafrul for the invite and highlighted that the topic is interesting.
He first highlighted that the term Jaguh Kampung has been too often used to suggest failure, where people like to use that term to portray people who fail overseas. It used to be used in sports, but today it is used in business as well. Tun Daim questioned how one could succeed globally, if one can't succeed locally. So, local success is a starting point for us to learn, hone our skill and learn from mistakes, before we embark on overseas venture.
Tun Daim mentioned that Malaysians are often too comfortable. For Malays, often they claimed that when they venture overseas, there is no NEP to help them and they don't have history of business. However, Tun Daim highlighted that among many non-Malays who succeeded locally, they were helped by government too. And some of those fail overseas. We have to know why we succeed and why we fail.
Tun Daim used his personal experience to illustrate and see how one can grow from a kampung boy to global stage. Tun Daim grew up in a small kampung in Kedah, where his kampung produced 3 doctors (including Tun Dr. Mahathir), 2 veterinary surgeons, 1 dentist, many civil servants etc. But there is no lawyer, and hence Tun Daim's father wanted him to be a lawyer.
Tun Zahir helped him with his admission to Lincoln and he learned politics from many people. Tun Hussien Oon shared with him on political history. Tun Daim was saying that his first offer of standing in election was by PAS.
At the age of 28, Tun Daim had the privilege to go to Cabinet meeting to brief them. Little did he knows that 18 years later, he would be attending cabinet weekly.
Before he made it, he used to write to Prime Ministers, often unsolicited advice and often ignored.
Back then, he once got RM60,000 loan from MARA. He put some in doing up his office and spent the rest in stock market. He lost most of it in May 1969.
Later in his life, he learned to invest in quality stock and made $ through his law practice. Believing that he needs to succeed, he needs to go beyond being a lawyer.
His first business was an investment into a saw mill business. It didn't turn out well. Tun Daim mentioned that luckily it didn't work out, or else he might end up losing even more money.
He then went into property, where he paid premium to get a piece of abandoned mining land in Selangor, where he had to fill up many lakes, before even can construct.
Tun Daim highlighted that failure is a great teacher. Never give up and be determined.
"Success is not final. Failure is not fated. It is the courage that counts" - Winston Churchill.
Tun Daim became a millionaire in his 30s. When he was offered to go into Cabineet, he had to let go of many of his investment. And that time, he owned a few factories and stakes in many companies. Tun Daim shared that his sharing of his achievement is not to show off, but to show his journey.
He has to sacrifice to join the government to do national service. He has to sell his stakes at cost to bumiputera (despite getting much higher offers from others). He gave up his wealth, carefree life and more importantly his privacy. Before, he had no one to answer to. It took him more than 1 month to decide on whether to take up position as Finance Minister. He pointed out that sometimes we need to look beyond wealth and personal interest. There was call for service then, and his father wanted him to serve the nation and do what is best for the country.
During his term, Malaysia succeeded from being an agricultural country to an industrialized country. The only regret he has was his loss of privacy. The friends and networks that he built earlier is very useful. We can't be successful if we are just hermit. In anything, networking is important, just as the Chinese term guanxi.
Tun Daim pointed out that he is not suggesting that we make friends with ulterior motives. If we are using others, it can't be for long term.
Tun Daim has the habit of writing to others in those countries, when he visited the countries and meet up with them, to keep up with his friendship.
After his retirement, he has no ministry or company to take care of. He spent his time at Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University reading books. After several months, he became restless.
He felt that if he do business and be successful in Malaysia, people will question him. So, he tried to do it overseas, and he owes it to Malays to prove it to them that they can be successful abroad too.
Tun Daim started his bank in Eastern Europe and it was tough to do it. It is tough too to get Malaysians to work there. And he has to drive home the point that businesses are to make profits. When he ventured into Africa, it is even tougher.
Most African Presidents/Prime Ministers knew Dr. Mahathir and Malaysia, and Tun Daim credited Tun Dr. Mahathir for the good name of Malaysia. That definitely helped Malaysian companies to venture there. Petronas is a potential beneficiary of that too.
On Africa, Tun Daim highlighted that there isn't much discipline, and little expertise. Not many are with experience. And the ones with experience would leave the continent to work elsewhere. It is even tougher to entice Malaysians to work in Africa. He has to start from scratch.
Tun Daim stressed that team work is very critical and he is determined to succeed. Money and reputation is at stake and they have left the comfort of home. Without a good team, he can't be there. The bank has even won the Eurobank award. And has a good reputation in Africa, where most of the Presidents/Prime Ministers/Finance Ministers/Governor of Central Bank knew of the bank and happy with the performance of the bank. It did business fair and honest. He treated them as partner of equal and trained the local (who ended up being poached). There were a lot of requests to open more branches in more cities/countries, but limited by resources. Quality is important. It is in 10 African countries, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Laos.
Tun Daim highlighted that it is crucial to start with business plan, but do need to reassess and reevaluate it. Business cannot be static.
Tun Daim' advice for those who want to differentiate between success and failure is that we have to make sacrifice and defer immediate gratification and leisure. Be the first to arrive at work and last to leave, and plan, execute and change the plan.
"It is not the strongest person nor the the most intelligent person to survive, but most adaptable " Darwin.
Tun Daim stressed on reading up a lot and keep up with the latest trend. If we did not venture out, we did not gain. There is no embarrassment, and we shouldn't be too proud. Don't follow blindly either. We should know ourselves.
"Choose jobs that you love and you don't have to work a day in your life" Confucius.
You are your best asset and you are your master of your destiny. You should be disciplined, determined and work hard.
Tun Daim's advice for the Malays are that they shouldn't be too afraid of competition and don't believe in handouts. Handouts don't guarantee your success.
Tun Daim's advice for non-Malays to not find excuses when they fail, and don't be afraid to fail and take chances.
When one door closes, another door opens. Move on and look for the open door.
Be confident and look for opportunities, but don't compromise. Do face the mirror everyday and make sure you have your conscience. Have faith in yourself and don't live in extravagance and arrogance. Don't rest on your laurel too. Be humble and reach out and success means we have obligation to give back.
Tun Daim ended his speech with leave your kampung, and go where you want to be and claim your future.
Below are some of the responses for Q&As.
Tun Daim commented that it is the right time to open our banking sector, but currently no bank has money to invest.
On what drove him to success, he highlighted that many people in his kampung succeeded and everybody knew everybody. So, he has to be successful.
Tun Daim aid that he used to sleep in office and 1st to go there and last to leave.
On Proton, Tun Daim shared an insider story which is much untold of. It was an Iraqi who came to approach Tun Dr. Mahathir to start up Proton. After the idea, the Iraqi went missing and Tun Dr. Mahathir worked to start Proton. From the start, the agreement was one-sided, where Proton can't export, and if it does, it has to pay commission. So, during recession, it was hard to sell the car. Tun Daim tried to negotiate with the Japanese, but didn't manage to get much support from Proton.
Tun Daim highlighted that we need to penetrate American markets to succeed. Tun Daim highlighted that recently he found opportunities for Proton in Africa, but they are not interested. The question is that Proton should make money back for the public.
When Tun Daim was first became Finance Minister, 80% of government companies were making losses. He hoped that KPI would work. it is crucial to make money, even though it ended up with smaller percentage of stake. If lose money and own 100% stake, would have to absorb all the losses. This can be enhanced with some common sense.
Looking back then, Malaysians were more friendly, and races were more together. There are more in common among all races in Malaysia. We should be more understanding and work together.
We shouldn't take things for granted. All of us can succeed, if we are prepared to work hard.
Tun Daim highlighted that he has written to Dato' Bandar several times giving views on how Kuala Lumpur is developed and he felt that there should be a lot more green lungs and planning.
Africa is changing and there is tremendous opportunities. It is right time to go in now. China is spending lots of money there, and in every African state, there is a Chinatown there. China people work very hard and often in shift, to make it 24 hours a day. Labour is cheap, productivity is high and the people are very hardworking, as well as with government backing.
When Japanese and Korean companies go abroad, their governemnt gives them interest-free loan.
In 2007, Tun Daim highlighted on the recession coming, but it was not published.
Tun Daim pointed out that Morocca, Algeria, Angola, Nigeria are doing well. South Africa current President understand the needs of people.
On Iskandar, Tun Daim highlighted that any development is good, provided that the local interest is taken care of. For housing projects, we perhaps have relaxed the rules too much.
Tun Daim also highlighted that the approval process still takes too long. Comparing our own Security Commission vs Singapore's or Hong Kong's, ours is still very slow. Connection is still crucial in Malaysia.
On the RM40 Billion investment in Iskandar, Tun Daim hoped that it is well managed. The new CEO highlighted that they need local support. Tun Daim's suggesetion is that we take the best idea and move on.
On affirmative action, as long as whole exercise is to help the less fortunate to do well, then it is good. The main issue is implementation. NEP is to eradicate poverty, irrespective of race. It started off well, but its implementation was not perfect after that. NEP was meant for every Malaysian.
The ruling of 30% for Malays stake in listed companies, that is not part of NEP.
On how to move forward, good education would be a solution, where people can stand on their own. At that juncture, Tun Daim said that our education system has failed.
He also commented that at any point in time, 30,000-40,000 people are studying religious studies in Middle East. But there are only limited positions as imam.
We need to ask are we producing the right type of people for Malaysia. What is the problem of our education. Know the ground issues and solve the problems with real solutions.
Tun Daim highlighted that education, security and economy should be the top 3 agenda for the country.
Tun Daim said that Dr. Mahathir is not a dictator. He used to debate with Dr. Mahathir with logic, and Dr. Mahathir appreciated that. It is just that a lot of other Cabinet ministers are not on par in terms of intelligence and they preferred to keep quiet.
Tun Daim ended with saying that Malyasia has tremendous potential, and we need to have intelligent people, and that can be done through education.
The sharing is based what I jotted down during the lecture. So, if there is any error on my part of misquoting what Tun Daim said, please kindly let me know. The purpose of this is just to share with others who might not have the chance to be there to listen first hand from Tun Daim.
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JobStreet.com has its Annual General Meeting today and the 2008 Annual Report can be obtained from here . You can get quarterly reports there too.
Below is a news by Business Times covering today's AGM. It is quoted from here .
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JOBSTREET Corp Bhd is negotiating with a few parties for a possible acquisition.
Its chief executive officer, Mark Chang Mun Kee, said with a cash reserves of RM70 million, the company was in a good position to buy a good quality firm.
"The company has received a few enquiries for partnerships but nothing were concrete yet," he told a media briefing after the company's annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.
Chang said the company might consider increasing its stakes in 104 Corp (Taiwan) and Recruit Group Ltd (Hong Kong).
Currently, it owns 6.6 per cent equity interest in 104 Corp and 8.47 per cent in Recruit, he said.
"During recession, it is good to reinvest in the countries that we are in. However, this will depend on the share prices of the companies," he said.
He said the company was also looking at expanding its operations overseas.
Currently, it has operations in eight countries, he said.
He said its Thailand operations would start in a few weeks and were expected to start contributing to its revenue after two years.
"Malaysia continues to be largest contributor with about 50-60 per cent in revenue, followed by Singapore and the Philippines. - Bernama
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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. :)
Saw this news in Business Times on Air Asia looking to raise fund through share sale. It is quoted below.
For its financial results, do look for here . It is great that Air Asia continues to grow during this tough time.
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AIRASIA Bhd, Southeast Asia’s largest low-cost airline, said it’s considering raising about RM500 million (US$143 million) to fund expansion in the Malaysian company’s biggest share sale since listing in 2004.
“We’re looking at it,” chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes said in an interview today. “If our growth requires us to raise more cash, then we’re not averse to it.”
AirAsia, which has ordered 175 Airbus SAS planes, may raise the money in a stock sale or a rights offer to shareholders, Fernandes said. The timing or the structure of the transaction hasn’t been decided, he said.
The airline’s shares have surged 50 per cent this year in Kuala Lumpur trading, providing currency to raise funds as debt markets wither in the financial crisis. Fernandes expects Airbus to deliver about 24 planes annually for the next three to four years as the airline adds routes to India and boosts flights to China.
“Raising debt would be much cheaper, but I don’t think companies have a lot of choice these days,” said Raymond Yap, an analyst at CIMB Investment Bank Bhd in Kuala Lumpur with an “outperform” rating on AirAsia. Yap issued a report earlier today saying AirAsia may be considering a rights issue.
The carrier had a fleet of 74 planes at the end of March 31, it said in a statement yesterday after reporting its highest quarterly profit since the final three months of 2007. AirAsia had 59 Airbus A320 aircraft and 15 Boeing Co. 737s.
Based on AirAsia’s profit-growth forecasts, a RM500 million share sale won’t necessarily dilute earnings, Fernandes said. The Sepang, Malaysia-based company had RM224 million of cash on its books at the end of March 31.
AirAsia today rose 4 per cent to RM1.30 at the 12:30 pm break on the local stock exchange, set for the highest close in more than a year. Malaysia’s benchmark Composite Index added 0.3 per cent.
AirAsia’s second-quarter passenger traffic is headed for a 21 per cent jump, matching last quarter’s increase as budget- conscious travelers look for cheaper air fares, Fernandes said.
“For the moment, things are rosy,” he said in a Bloomberg Television interview. The “second-quarter demand looks good.”
Profit at the airline climbed 26 per cent in the first quarter to RM203.2 million after the company flew more passengers and added routes, the company said yesterday after the stock market closed.
The carrier’s surging traffic contrasts with slumps at regional rivals including Singapore Airlines Ltd, which is cutting routes and capacity. AirAsia, which expects to fly 24 million people this year, is increasing its capacity by about 20 per cent each quarter, the chief executive said.
AirAsia, which flies to one destination in India, will fly to at least six more airports in the South Asian nation before the end of 2009, Fernandes said. -- Bloomberg
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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
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Dear Sir/ Madam
Wish to win RM 3,000/=? Then take part in our memory competition! The details are as follows:
Date : 28 June 2009 (Sunday)
Time : 9.00am to 1.00pm
Venue : Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
No. 13, Jalan 13/6, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Admission: FREE
The written Memory Competition is open to all. This competition consists of 4 categories. The categories are:
(i) Dates & Events
(ii) Random Numbers
(iii) Random Letters of the Alphabet
(iv) Random Words
Interested participants may take part in one, two, three, or ALL four categories. For each category, there will be three winners selected.
1st Prize: RM 3,000/=
2nd Prize: RM 2,000/=
3rd Prize: RM 1,000/=
Enclosed herewith the registration form and the rules and regulations for the competition. Photocopied registration forms are acceptable.
The Registration Closing Date is 22 June 2009
You could help to disseminate the information to your family members and friends. For registration or further information, please email to mmlm@utar.edu.my or fax to (03) 7955 8170. Alternatively, please contact Samantha / Li Yin at (03) 7625 0328. We look forward to your participation.
Good Luck!
Secretary, MMLM
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