File 34 : Youthsays.com

While I was reading a friend's blog, I found about a website named Youthsays. The website is dubbed as Malaysia's Largest Youth Opinion Community.

Well, I have registered as a member and I recommend all readers to do the same because the portal is so great. Besides earning some money (like a part time job..hehe), we can also voice out our opinions, as what other contributors had done in this blog.

They are going to organize an event known as Youth 09' at PWTC next year. So click here to check it out...

File 33 : National keADILan Congress...

Those who want to watch Live! coverage of the 5th National Keadilan Congress 2008, held at Shah Alam Malawati Stadium, watch it here...

File 32 : My one cent thought...

Wanita UMNO is busy arguing over whether Shahrizat should contest the party election next year or follow the transition plan planned earlier.

I think they should not argue on this small matter. It's better for Shahrizat to contest for the Ketua Wanita post. Rafidah had been in that position too long. She should just resign from the post. After all, the transition for the top post i.e the President will be done on March. Wanita should follow lead.

If Rafidah is to retain the position and hand it over to Shahrizat on June, for three years there will be no deputy for Wanita and Rafidah will be the acting Ketua Wanita with limited power. But how if Rafidah is to retain the position and she does not want to hand it over to Shahrizat?

Power is something that humans always want. They thirst for power. Once they are in power, they will think that it is theirs till death.

In short, Rafidah should forget her plan to contest as Ketua Wanita UMNO. It's time for the next generation to lead. Other major parties had handed over powers to the new generation of leaders.

But Wanita UMNO?

File 31 : Math and Science in English, anyone?

This is a hot issue that is being debated up until today. Many people are still confused, be it students, teachers, academicians, and even laymen like me. We are confused as this issue had been debated for such a long time and there had been no concrete stand on the issue. In what language shall Math and Science be taught in schools? Should it be in English, in Malay, or in the mother tongue of respective vernacular schools?

As a product of national education system [this is the problem when we have many education systems in such a small country like Malaysia – everything got messed up easily], I am of the opinion that Math and Science shall be taught like before, in Malay and in Mandarin or Tamil – IF the purpose of having the two subjects being taught in English is to improve the command of English among students.

Learning these two subjects in English is not the answer to level up the proficiency of English among students. As the president of Translation and Creative Writing Association [PERSPEKTIF], Goh Hin San said “It is like operating on the leg when someone is having stomach problems”. I could not agree more on his view. He is absolutely right.

Math and Science are important subjects that would help develop Malaysia towards achieving its goal to become a developed country. Both subjects are crucial subjects and having it taught in a language which the students and the teachers could not fully understand would hamper the learning process of the subjects. It is true that English is a widely spoken language internationally but to have a good command in English does not necessarily means that we have to learn Math and Science in English.

My parents, my relatives, my teachers, and my friends learned Math and Science in Malay. So do I. But we could speak and write in English properly because the teachers always emphasise the importance of English during English classes. We had extra classes for English. We spoke English during English classes and even after classes. But the situation is different today. English is not more than just a subject to be learned in school. Teachers do not make it fun to learn English. Maybe the teachers should use the tagline that was used during my schooldays: ‘English is fun!’

In conclusion, English is not the answer if the government’s purpose of having Math and Science to be taught in English is to master the language. There are many other ways to do so. Don’t make a mistake that would be regretted later. This is for the future of Malaysia and our future depends on the policy.

p/s: Politics and educations are two different things. Maybe politicians shall be barred from being involved in policy making of the education system. Besides, by doing so, we can ensure that education will not be politicised.

File 30 : ‘Akta Hubungan Kaum’ – Race Relations Act

A few days ago, Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had proposed an Act, which is at the moment known as the Race Relations Act (hereafter may be referred to as ‘the Act’) or ‘Akta Hubungan Kaum’ to be enacted. It has received well support from a number of Ministers.

However, do we really need such Act? Different people may have different views but for me, it is not necessary to have such Act.

With the Act, what was supposed to be a neutral racial relation will become a hypocrisy racial relation. For 51 years, Malaysians had been living together harmoniously and happily without the implementation of any Act to govern how relationship between ethnics should be conducted.

During my kindergarten days and primary school days, my friends and I went to school together, went to extra classes together and we even went to our English teacher’s house [Puan Santilakshmi – if I am not mistaken] for a Deepavali treat. Our relationships were great back then and there was not even one Act existed to govern our relationship.

But look at the scenario today. Ethnic relations are on the brink of collapse. Thus, instead of just coming out with a medicine to heal the sickness [an Act telling citizens what to do and what not to do on ethnic relations], it is better if the government could do a check up and prevent the sickness [by providing and nurturing young minds on ethnic relations]. After all, young minds are easier to nurture [melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya].

Furthermore, isn’t prevention is better than healing?
[Mencegah itu lebih baik dari mengubati…?]

File 29 : Common Bar Exam?

Those who follow my writings would know that I am a law student. Having been spending my 2 years of life in my lovely law faculty in UiTM Malaysia, Shah Alam had taught me many things on the legal aspect as well as the human aspect. Not to forget, political aspect as well.

First and foremost, for those who do not know the procedure before you are admitted to the Bar [the professional body that govern the lawyers], I am going to write here a VERY brief concept on how thing goes.

For overseas graduates and those who pursue law degree in twinning programs at private colleges, they had to sit for an exam which is called as the Certificate for Legal Practice [CLP] before they could practice as an advocate and solicitor in Malaysia.

As for local graduates [UiTM, UM, UKM, UIAM and UUM – but there’s a problem with UUM currently…], after they had finished their LL.B (Hons.) program, they need not take the CLP exam as they could be admitted as an advocate and solicitor right after they had done their chambering for the period of 9 months.

The reason for having the CLP exam was to ensure that overseas graduates would be familiarized with local laws. This is due to the fact that when they read law, for example, in the UK, they would read the Common Law. However, due to the rate of failure that is so high among CLP students, they [the overseas graduates] had started to voice out their dissatisfaction claiming that it is unfair for them to take the CLP when the local graduates need not. Plus, there are some claiming that the quality of reading law in Malaysia is not on par with the way of reading it overseas.

So, the government had now proposed to create a new examination to cater both local and overseas graduate. This is known as the Common Bar Exam. Its purpose, as can be seen by looking at its name, is to ensure that both local and overseas graduate would sit for a common exam to enable them to be admitted to the Bar. So, upon graduating, all graduates had to sit for this very exam.

Nevertheless, as a law student my self, I object to such exam. For me, CLP is needed for overseas graduates as they need to know at least a little on our own Malaysian law. They had spent their 4 years reading law overseas but when they intend to practice here, did they learn Malaysian law? No! So, that is why they need to take the exam.

As for us, local graduates, we spent 4 years in the law faculty, learning the ins and outs of our law. When we want to practice later, it’s the law that we had learned that we are going to use. So, what’s the purpose of having another exam when we had learned the laws of Malaysia for 4 years?

Furthermore, the way the law faculties in Malaysia conduct their law programs differ from one institution to another. For example, in UiTM, the course is done by using a 3+1 system. For three years, we will do Bachelor of Legal Studies (Hons.) Upon graduating, the graduates could choose either to work [as legal executives, legal advisers etc but cannot practice] or to pursue for another year doing the professional course. The professional course is needed if one wants to practice. The professional course is the LL.B (Hons.) and it is a simulation course where students will have their own firms, arguing cases as to prepare them for practicing in real world.

As an insider, I do think that the LL.B (Hons.) conducted in UiTM is the best as practicality is always better than theory. So, why should the student spend another year studying for the Common Bar Exam when they are ready to face the real world of practicing as lawyers? Besides, isn’t LL.B (Hons.) is sufficient to be the common qualifier for local graduates to practice?

File 28 : There is a saying...

There is a saying, which my friend often tells me. “Sometimes, we have to apologise even if we had not done anything wrong”. My teacher also once told me, “A person who apologise is a winner…”

Last few days, an issue had been raised up in major daily newspaper. A statement made by Bukit Bendera UMNO divison head, Datuk Ahmad Ismail where according to the reports, he had made racist statement during campaigning in Permatang Pauh.

I could not tell whether his statement was really racist or not as I was not there, hearing his speech. But whether it is or it is not, to call the Chinese as squatting in Malaysia and that they are immigrants was an impropriate thing to be said by a leader. Furthermore, leaders should show good examples and not otherwise.

Last Sunday's newspaper stated that according to him, the statement was made while referring to the old days . As for me, whether he likes it or not, Malaysians of other ethnics are not immigrant today as most of them now were born in Malaysia.

In addition, he said that he has a principle and this so-called principle had made him to reject a call made by the Prime Minister to apologise. What an insult to the PM! I do think that he needs to apologise.

Malaysians had been living together for such a long time and we are like brothers. To make such a statement was a disgrace towards nation’s building. Plus, it could hamper our hope of becoming a developed nation by 2020.

He should just apologise. There is nothing wrong to just say, “I am sorry…”. It does not matter whether Ahmad Ismail is on the right side or on the wrong side. Apologise to make things better is a great thing to be done. As the saying goes, “A person who apologise is a winner…”

File 27 : Insider's view...

Some of the billboards erected inside UiTM Malaysia Main Campus in Shah Alam...

DSC07506, originally uploaded by niezwan87.

DSC07507, originally uploaded by niezwan87.

DSC07505, originally uploaded by niezwan87.

File 26 : Welcome Ramadhan...

1. The fasting month is coming again. Thought it will be tomorrow, but it was announced last night that fasting starts today.

2. Unlike yesteryears, fasting today is not more than just an annual ritual that needed to be observed.

3. There is not as much spirit as when I was young when people could not wait for the month of Ramadhan to come

4. Anyway, with current inflation, we should stop from buying unnecessary foods at the Bazaar.

5. It is better if we can cook [which means that no Bazaar foods], but if we still want to go to the Bazaar, just buy a kuih or two. Don't buy a dozen of those.

6. To all my Muslim friends and visitors, Salam Ramadhan, and to my non-Muslim friends and visitors, wanna join me fasting to live up the joy? ;)

p/s: I'm trying to make my post short and str8... Direct to the point.. (^_^)

File 25 : 51st Merdeka...

This year, this month, we are going to celebrate the 51st Merdeka Day anniversary. It was called as the National Day before the government decided to revert it back to its original name, the Merdeka Day.

Countries like Japan and Indonesia are very patriotic. They have patriotic citizens and the patriotic spirit inside them is genuine and sincere. That is why, in those two countries, when it comes to Independence Day celebration, [or National Day or whatever they called it] people could see many flags hanging all over the country. Be it a house, a factory, or pavements, flags are everywhere.

I have read in a local weekend newspaper that flag sellers in Indonesia have multiple sales during Independence month. People all over the country look for these flag sellers to buy flags and to hang it as they are proud with their nation.

Things are different in Malaysia. We [not all] tend to wait for free flags that are distributed at toll plazas and shopping malls. RM 1 for a small flag is considered as expensive. The worst is Malaysians seem to have a 'I Don't Care' attitude towards Merdeka Day.

Whatever it is, just ask ourselves, what is our contribution to our beloved country?.... Don't ask what can the country do for us. Instead, ask what can we do to our beloved country. Wow! I can't believe that I am this patriotic... ;p Hahaha...

Happy Merdeka Day - Selamat Hari Merdeka...

File 24 : 10% UiTM quota to be opened to non-Bumiputeras...

10% UiTM quota to be opened to non-Bumiputeras...

I am a Universiti Teknologi Mara [UiTM] student. A law student to be exact. But I don't agree with the over reaction of my fellow UiTM students.

Personally, I do think that it is a great SUGGESTION to open up 10% of the quota. Besides integration, it will definitely give UiTM a new way of work and study culture as well as a very good competition among students.

It is just 10% and there is nothing to shout about... Or maybe, is it because [like a friend of mine said] these students [who thought they are heroes championing UiTM] are afraid that if the quota is to be opened, then 10% of top places in exam results will be monopolized by non-Bumiputeras? If that's the reason, then it is good. It will make Bumiputera students study harder to gain good grades.

I was thinking after reading the newspaper, will the reaction be the same if UMNO leaders are the one who made such statement? I don't think so... Even there was not as much fuss as this time when Dr. Mahathir first made such statement in 2003 [as reported in today's Star].

Maybe the real reason the students gathered at the SUK that morning was to skip their class.. Lectures in UiTM start at 8.30 a.m until 10.30 a.m for the first session and 10.30 a.m to 12.30 p.m for the second session.

As the 'Perhimpunan' was held from 7.00 am to 10.30 am, well, maybe the crowd who went there were those who had classes at 8.30 - 10.30... Haha.. Just a wild assumption. It might not be true.. ;p

Anyway, not all students actually disagree with the suggestion by the MB. Some of us really think that we need to mingle. I asked my friends and most of them supported the idea. After all, the students had been pampered and spoon fed for so long and a new culture need to be inculcate so that the students will be ready to face the globalisation world that await them [including me, of course..].

And I can't help but to say, how paranoid the 5000 students who demonstrated and the VC was... I mean, it was just a mere suggestion and they know that the MB can't do anything more than just, well,... talk. So, what's the fuss all about?

But to be honest, not all UiTM students are that racists and second class. I could read law at other institutions with my grades, but as UiTM law faculty is among the most established law faculty in Malaysia, I read law here. Even when people asked me many times why I chose UiTM, when I told them I read law here, they understand me. And that is why, I love the university.

But to my fellow friends, please don't over react... Act wisely... If you can demonstrated for UiTM, where were you when students from other institutions demonstrated in front of the Parliament regarding AUKU?.... -_-

p/s: After all, it was just a MERE SUGGESTION...

File 23 : Malaysian movies...

This issue had been brought up many times in the entertainment section by some major Malay dailies. They [the editors] often questioned whether Bahasa Malaysia movies are Malay movies or Malaysian movies. They have such view because normally, Bahasa Malaysia movies' actors and actresses are Malays.

If Bahasa Malaysia movies are the only Malaysian movies, how about Chinese language movies that are made in Malaysia. There are quite a number of made-in-Malaysia Chinese movies which are produced, acted, directed and filmed in Malaysia. For me, it is quite discriminatory to classified only Bahasa Malaysia movies as Malaysian movies.

It is true that according to Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, Malay language is the sole official language in Malaysia. But we have to bear in mind that the use of other languages are permitted and recognized under the Article. After all, Malaysia is and will always be a multi-ethnic country. So, why does non-Bahasa Malaysia movies are not classified as Malaysian movies?

Maybe it is caused by the mind set of Malaysians themselves, I mean, ourselves ;p .. We often describe ourselves along race based communal lines [especailly in the Peninsula]. Malays, Chinese, Indians.... I think Malaysians will have true Malaysian movies when we stop being racist / race-biased.. Unless and until we truly become one Bangsa Malaysia [as stated in the first paragraph of Vision 2020], Malaysians will never have true Malaysian movies...

File 22 : Do we need a new law?

Do we need a new law?

Bloggers are writers who write their views over the Internet. People often said that the Internet is the lawless place on the earth. Well, as to what extent does the Internet is lawless?

In most part of the world, blog is the medium for people to voice out their views over matters that mainstream medias do not allow. As mainstream medias are subjected to law, people write in blogs to escape from the so called restriction law, law that restricts people from totally express their views.

What is the position in Malaysia?

As far as I am concerned, there is no specific law that limits a person from expressing their views through the Internet. Which means that, we are free to express our views in any matters. This is due to the fact that, blogs exist in cyberspace, not real world. So, does normal laws apply to the cyberspace?

This is a new thing actually because blogging in Malaysia has had a tremendous development from an online diary to a place where people write about anything. Even now, the government uses blogs to reach the community.

Recent cases such as Raja Petra's showed that bloggers are subjected to normal laws. Raja Petra's was charged under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation. But is it right to charged a person under normal law when the offence was made in the cyber world?

With all respect to the above question, should a new law be made available to govern blogging activities?

File 21 : A qualified mandate...

I was quite fascinated with an article that I read in the Star recently. It is true when the writer said that what the Opposition or Pakatan Rakyat had right now is a qualified mandate given by the Rakyat. Well, we have to remember that Pakatan Rakyat won 5 states in the Peninsula through the ballot box. It is a qualified mandate as to the extent that the Pakatan Rakyat won the states through proper channel i.e through the election. Not through other means e.g stumbling upon the government, power seizure or a coup.

As for that matter, it is very tiring to see that the Pakatan Rakyat, instead of properly governing the states that they had won, are busy over the matter of cross over. People are tired to see all this dramatic-political-storyline that are happening in Malaysia. If, let's say the Pakatan Rakyat managed to get the numbers needed to form a new government, is it a qualified mandate? Is it chosen by us, the Rakyat?

The question is not mine to answer, but it is for you, the Pakatan Rakyat leaders and for you, the readers of Voices of Young Malaysians, to evaluate it and answer it.

God bless Malaysia...

File 20 : One in - one out...

A breaking news..

DSAI was released at 9.45 a.m this morning under police bail. However he has to go to IPK KL at Jalan Hang Tuah on 18th August. - One out...

As stated and thought by Nurul Izzah Anwar in her blog, Raja Petra Kamaruddin was detained at 11 a.m this morning. He was detained under Section 500 of the Penal Code. - One in..

DSAI was released and RPK was detained. Do not know when all this drama would ended...

File 19 : Anwar arrested...

It's quite a long time since I last posted here. Maybe because of my life as a student and the money that I had to fork out every time I wanted to update my blog in cyber cafes.

Yesterday was a historic day. For the first time, Malaysians had watched a live telecast of a debate between an opposition figure, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Minister of Information, Datuk Shabery Cheek. Although I did not managed to catch the live telecast, I am able to watch the debate through recorded telecast at TV3 as well as through the net.

It was quite amazing to see how DSAI managed to tackle the questions intellectually by giving out fact and numbers. It was also amazing as to the extent that he managed to give out his speech calmly despite the tense that flew all over him [well, he said yesterday that he might be caught anytime...].

However, it was quite disheartening to see the way the minister answered the questions. Although he is a good speaker and yes, some of his answers were good, the fact that there were too many personal attacks made towards DSAI had made the minister looks more like a person who like gossips as if he was gossiping to tell the people things that he himself was not sure whether they are true or not...

Anyway, this afternoon DSAI was detained and the policemen who detained him were Special Squad cops with balaclavas!! Looks like they [the policemen] were arresting a highly wanted global terrorist...

Well, I'm still young but I think that I can think rationally too. Is it necessary to have Special Squad with balaclavas to detained a yet-to-be proven suspect of an alleged sodomy?? Plus, why arrest him when the time for him to give his statement is not yet due? mmm...

File 18 : A guy named DSAI...

If I ask each and every one of you, what is the current general issue that is getting hotter and hotter everyday, I bet that the answer would be the sodomy report lodged against Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim [DSAI]. Or, maybe some of you don't even care about this issue. Yeah, I am pretty sure that there are some who do not care or don't even know about it. They do not care because they know that this is politics. A game played with strategies.

For DSAI supporters, who could forget the tragedy 10 years ago. Yes, 10 years ago where the same situation occured. Some said that history repeats itself. Is it true? With the world entering recession period - as in 10 years ago, the sodomy chargers - as in 10 years ago, the unstable political scenario - as in 10 years ago... If the teory is true, we have to buckle up ourselves and get ready to face another challenge in our lifetime.

As for DSAI, nobody knows what really happen except him, the guy who lodged the police report, and Allah s.w.t. Is it real? Is it a conspiracy? Is it a cheap publicity? Let us wait and see....

File 17 : 100 days of Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor...

I went to Shah Alam Stadium last Friday night. Well, quite a lot of people there. I think they went there with the same intention as mine. The eagerness to know what does the Selangor state government has for us, the people of Selangor.

For the moment, the government has 7 major projects for us which include 'program peningkatan hasil daripada bahan batuan dan mineral', 'tabung anak kelahiran Selangor', 'hadiah anak masuk universiti', 'caruman takaful dan perubatan percuma warga emas', 'pusat khidmat krisis sehenti (OSCC'), and 'tabung pendidikan anak-anak pekerja ladang.'

Well, those are some of the promises made under their manifestos. How about other promises? Let's just wait and see...

File 16 : GERAMM....

GERAMM [acronym for Gerakan Rakyat Anti-Manipulasi Minyak / Peoples' Movement For Anti-Manipulation of Oil] had set up an online petition to urge the government to decrease the oil price to an acceptable price.

Malaysians, if you believe that the oil price should be decreased, if you believe that somebody is manipulating the oil price, or if you believe that the oil price can be increased but not to a what-the-hell 78 cents, if you believe in what you believe, then just sign the petition by clicking the banner below...:

Or if you are a bit curious, and wanna know what GERAMM is all about, just click the small banner of GERAMM located at the right frame of this blog.

Let's make a change fella...!

File 15 : Come on Malaysia... Let's be part of it!

Firefox is now on its attempt to create a world record by having the most downloaded software in 24 hours. Fellow Malaysians, let us be part of it and receive your, well, I could say, souvenir. It's a certificate that indicate you are part of the programme. it's nice, coz I have one already.

To join the record breaking attempt, just click on the button that I put on the right frame of this blog. As at 7.00 p.m, Malaysia had downloaded 19000+ of Firefox 3. Among ASEAN countries, Vietnam had the most.

Come on Malaysia! We have Cyberjaya, MSC, Putrajaya... So, let us show to the world that we are aware of the current happenings in the cyberspace.

Info : The 'Download Day 2008' will end at 2.16 a.m, 19th June 2008 in Malaysia and other GMT+8 countries...

Click the above certificate for a clearer version of it...

File 14 : Dengue = 0

Today, when I was on my way to the office, I saw many buntings which stated that "Awas! Kawasan kita sedang diserang DENGGI!" "Caution! Our place is being attacked by dengue fever!". When I read those wordings, my mind flew back to 2003, the year my mum was admitted to SJMC [Subang Jaya Medical Centre] for dengue.

Dengue is not like a normal fever. We cannot treat dengue as one. It is far more dangerous than normal fever. Normal fever may cause you to absent from school but dengue fever? It may cause you to absent from school FOREVER!

My friends, just take good care of our place, our home, our neighbourhood. I plead to all readers of Voices of Young Malaysians to make sure that there will be no single dengue cases in our neighbourhood. Make sure that every possible breeding places for Aedes mosquitoes are destroyed.

We do not want to see many bright future young Malaysians to die just like that, do we?

File 13 : Let's face it!

Well, there's nothing much that we can do. The oil price had increased already. In my last post, I said that it was semi-confirmed. And when I watched the news, the oil price is going to increase the next day. It's not like the normal 2 cents to 5 cents increase. The increase that was announced yesterday was the most unbelievable since 2002. 78 cents, which means that the new oil price in Malaysia will be RM 2.70 per litre. A far cry from the previous RM 1.92.

And of course, when announcing this, the 'golden' sentence will be burst out by the government. "Our oil price is still among the lowest in this region"... I am sick with this statement. Sick, sicker, sickest!! What? They want to compare our oil price with those in Singapore? Oh man! C'mon.. Before the government compare the oil price in Malaysia with the oil price in Singapore, why don't they compare the household annual income of Malaysians and Singaporeans. Singaporeans are rich people mate! Their household income [as per Malaysian ringgit] is higher.. The Singaporeans deserve the high price. But Malaysians? I think... I could not think... -_- ...

However, either we like it or not, the oil price is now RM 2.70 per litre and will be subjected to monthly reviews. Hopefully, the monthly reviews would decrease the oil price instead of the opposite. And as the nightmare is now a reality, what we could do is to face it. Well, just face it my friends! There's nothing more that we could do. Demos would led us nowhere. Memos would be ignored. The oil price will no longer revert to the old price.

Hmm.... just wondering, what is the fate of the biodiesel project [to generate car oil by processing the oil palm]? Why is it quiet when we need it the most?

And is this the beginning of the NGV era?

File 12 : Oil price hike, again??

Yeah... Our fear is getting nearer. I watched the news yesterday and it was semi-confirmed that we are going to have another oil price hike. No... I don't blame the government. I know and understand that the oil price are increasing globally.

But if the government has any measure that could control the oil price from increasing tremendously, I urge the government to use that measure. Coz I'm afraid that Malaysia will be like Indonesia where the increasing in oil price had led to many demonstrations.

We sure want to have a peaceful Malaysia right?

File 11 : I want cheap food...

Previously, the price for a plate of rice at Section 2 Shah Alam was RM 0.50 per plate... Now, they had increased the price to RM 1.00.

My mum used to open a nasi lemak stall and now she runs a secondary school canteen. No... it does not matter what my mum works as... What I want to tell you is how things have changed rapidly since early this year. This is a good information for all of you, especially to those who rarely [or NEVER] goes to a market before [hypermarket included.. ;p].

When my mum runs the nasi lemak stall, the price of rice that she used was around RM 16 to RM 17 for the packet of 10kg [SST 5%]. RM 18 was considered costly then for a nasi lemak seller like my mum. RM 20+ was crazy. But now, the cheapest price for a 10 kg SST 5% is around RM 26 - RM 27. For RM 18, you could only get an SST 15% 10 kg packet. Yet, people still want cheap prices for food.

Teachers in the school sometimes complaint about the price. They said that it should be cheaper. But they do not understand the suffering of the canteen runner nor any food seller in this country. Perhaps they are people who depend on their maid to go to the market thus make them unaware of the price hike? Well, who knows... ;)

The thing is, WE ARE HAVING FOOD CRISIS RIGHT NOW!!!! No more cheap foods.. I think one day, MC Ds will be for the elite classes and lower classes will only go to, what, KLG? Warung Setarbak?

File 10 : Free water?

Today is 1st June. Supposed the first 20 cubics meter of water is free. Is it free already? Coz THEY are damn quiet. No news about it... YET.

So, let's just wait and see... right? :-p

File 9 : Here in my home...

Since I started blogging in 2002, I had - many times - talked about the issue of Bangsa Malaysia, the integration, the suppose-to-live-harmoniously-together Malaysians. But what had happened now? All of us tends to be racist, prejudice and speak on racial communal lines...

Just now, I visited Elizabeth Wong's blog and found a video made by our Malaysian artistes who want to see Malaysians living together peacefully. And of course, without racial sentiments that normally played by the politicians.

The video clip is nice and simple. The music was perfectly composed - light, easy and catchy. Kudos to the song writer and the lyricist. The lyrics - combined with the music - really touched my heart as an ordinary Malaysian.

Ladies and gentlemen, give your big round of applause, and of course, your big round of eyes, ears, and heart, to the Malaysian Artistes for Unity with their song, HERE IN MY HOME...

VIDEO VERSION





MP3 VERSION

Verse 1

Hold on brother hold on
The road is long.
We’re on stony ground
But I’m strong.
You ain’t heavy

Verse 2

Oh there’s a misspoken truth that lies
Colors don’t bind, oh no.
What do they know?
They speak falsely.

Chorus

Here in my home
I’ll tell you what its all about
There’s just one hope here in my heart
One love undivided
That’s what it’s all about
Please won’t you fall in one by one by one with me?

Verse 3

Push back sister won’t you push back?
Love won’t wait.
Just keep pushing on.
Yes I’m strong.
You ain’t heavy.

Verse 4

Oh don’t you worry about that…
What we have shadows can’t deny
Don’t you know it’s now or never?

Chorus

Rap

[Bahasa Malaysia]
Bertubi asakan berkurun lamanya
Hati ke depan mencari yang sayang

Translation:
Years of fears and years of tribulation
The heart keeps searching for that endless devotion

[Mandarin]
手牵手大家一起走，
我代表华人开口未来就没有丢走

phonetics:
shou qian shou da jia yi qi zou
wo dai biao hua ren kai kou wei lai jiu mei you diu zou

translation:
Hand in hand we’ll march like blood brothers
I speak for my people we’ll find peace forever

[Tamil]
இந்த பயணம் பயணம்..
என் வெற்றி தாகம், அந்த கனா காலம்..
நம் வெற்றி ராகம், நண்பா..
நண்பா..

phonetics: inthe payanam payanamm yen vettri thaagam
anthee kaana kaalam naam vetri raagam...
nanba nanba

translation: May the road ahead quench my thirst for success
May the road behind echo a song of the blessed

[English]

Yes I feel it in my bones and I will let it be known
No matter where I roam this is home sweet home

Sing! -

Words & Music by Pete Teo featuring rap by KLG Sqwad & Altimet -
Reprinted by permission. © 2008 Redbag Music. All Rights Reserved.

File 8 : Ezam is back!!!

Well, it is quite shocking when a person who once loudly criticized the government, particularly UMNO, is now back to the arms of the party. Nobody except him knows the reason why he returned to UMNO.

Pak Lah and Pak Ajib welcome him back. Pak Lah even automatically approved his application to re-enter UMNO. But Muhyiddin? Well, maybe he is still suspicious with Ezam. His 'Sumpah Keramat' and his criticisms against UMNO were so powerful that many UMNO leaders still couldn't believe of his decision to return to UMNO.

This is politics. Friends become enemies- enemies become friends... Even your once very-close-best friend could be your very-close-enemy in a blink of eyes..

File 7 : UiTM student lodged report...

I watched Buletin Utama this evening and the news reported that a Universiti Teknologi Mara [UiTM] student had lodged a police report for the failure of the state government to give the RM 1000 incentive to every students from Selangor who secured a place at any institutes of higher learning.

Honestly, i do not support the student's act for several grounds.

1- According to the news, the student is already a UiTM student. So, I do not think that he should lodged the police report. This is because, the manifesto was made after he entered UiTM. Thus, he is not subjected to the manifesto as the incentive was meant to those who are going to enter universities after the Pakatan Rakyat manage to take over the state.

2- If I am not mistaken, legally, manifestos do not bind people. Manifestos are promises made to lure voters to vote for a particular party. Failure to comply with the manifestos does not constitute an offence, but the voters will surely feel like they had been cheated. However, the fact that manifestos do not bind people shows that a police report should not be made as there is no legal action that could be taken.

3- If, manifestos bind people legally, one has to remember that manifestos are meant for voters. So, if the student who lodged the report is not a voter, does he has the right to lodge the police report in the first place?

File 6 : My Malaysia...

Malaysia was a peaceful country...
Less controversy..
Less racial disharmony...
Everybody lives perfectly...

But now?

Everybody wants power...
Everybody wants money...
And we, laymen?
Not enough food...
Starving for rice...
Pleading for some help just to pursue our studies...

What is happening to this, once, wonderful Malaysia?

File 5 : Dr. Mahathir quits UMNO?

My uncle told me that all UMNO presidents died outside the party except Tun Abdul Razak who died early due to heart failure. Suddenly just now, The Star Online and Utusan Online reported that our ex-Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohammad quits UMNO.

Does my uncle's prediction true??

File 4 : V.K Lingam... You know him?

V.K Lingam... He was popular as a lawyer. Even though he wasn't popular as Mr. Karpal, yet, people still know him as a lawyer. But he became even more popular when several videos regarding the appointment of judges burst out. A lawyer interfering in the appointment of judges?! Wow... That WAS really great. Seriously. If you had watched The Runaway Jury , just imagine Lingam as the juror who controlled the jurists. Great isn't it?

Well. I don't quite agree with the Deputy Prime Minister's view yesterday about this issue. According to him, persons mentioned in the inquiry do not necessarily be prosecuted in court. He said let the A.G does his job.

My view is that, the second sentence is right. As the A.G has a VERY wide power under the Federal Constitution to prosecute people, let he does his job. However, the fact that Najib had given a view where the persons may not be charged in court could affect the A.G's decision. We all know that no matter what the law is, the authority in Malaysia tends to follow the order of the higher officer.

So, the A.G might not prosecute some people as he MAY think that the DPM does not want these people to be prosecuted. As in Karpal Singh's case. When the PM said that the A.G shall take immediate action, people might think that Karpal is already wrong and he is just waiting for his punishment.

No... I read somewhere in the newspaper where a minister said that the law in Malaysia is that all persons are innocent until found guilty. Karpal had yet to be prosecuted. So, he is innocent, right? Unless we have changed our law with one that all persons are guilty until found innocent...

Anyway, did I tell you that my 3 year old sister can now speak in English. Well, at least she knows the word correct,correct, correct although it sounds more like korek,korek,korek... ;D

File 3 : UiTM and other IPTAs still not world class...

An abstract of my comment published in Education Malaysia blog...

I TOTALLY AGREE with your comments. Sometimes, it is not that we want to lower down our own races, but sometimes we have to say something that is truth in order to get things better. There is a Malay idiom which says that "Kebenaran itu memang pahit untuk ditelan".

Yes, it is hard for us to accept the truth, but the truth is the truth. UiTM is still not a world class university, as well as other Malaysian universities. We use a system which is not systematic. Our education system is too exam oriented, and until this system remains unchanged, non of our universities will gain a world class status. Malaysian students will be like a robot, non progressive and just follow the order without really knowing what they are suppose to do.

I don't think that all 'you people' are that prejudice. Let me tell you something. when I was in kindergarten, I was sent to a Chinese oriented kindergarten which is Eden Child Development Centre. I learned Chinese, I learned other cultures, and we, Malays, Chinese and Indians in the kindergarten (although of course Malays are the minorities) ate together and played together.

When I was in primary school, I mixed with other races, and I learned my english in primary school. This is due to the fact that most of my friends are non-Malays and we speak in English.

However, when I entered secondary school, which was a boarding school (Sekolah Berasrama Penuh), all the students are Malay Muslims. It is not that I want to say bad things about my own race. For God's sake, NO! But honestly, when I learned in a monoethnic surrounding, I've found some 'horror' things:

1) Malaysians who live in their own race enclave tend to be VERY PREJUDICE to other races
2) They do not know about other races
3) They do not like other races

That's why I missed my primary schooldays where there is NO RACES BOUNDARY! We used to live together with harmony. And not to forget, when I entered six-former for 4 month, I was in a relationship with a Chinese girl... So, STOP FROM BEING PREJUDICE TO OTHER RACES! To have a strong Malaysia, we need to have a strong UNITED MALAYSIANS!!! And not to forget, a world-class education system...

And, yes! Our universities are not world-class enough. Let us work together and have a better Malaysia!

I LOVE MALAYSIA!

File 2 : The story of the ISA...

ISA. A big issue. The PR MP's said last week that they want to submit a motion to repeal the ISA. When I had my public speaking course last semester, my topic was the ISA. My lecturer, Assoc. Prof. Bhajan told me that I am a rebellion. I do think so.. ;p Even topics for my public speaking during my Pre-Law days were anti-government. Hehe.. But I could not be totally outspoken as I am studying in a very-strong-pro-government university.

Briefly, the ISA had to be repealed because:

1- According to the history of the ISA, the ISA was meant to combat the communists during those days. Are there any communists nowadays? I bet the oppositions and the communists had no similarities at all [except for the fact that both are opposing the government]

2- Malaysia is one of the countries who supported the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Article 11 of the Declaration prohibits any detention without trial. So, the ISA is contradicting with Article 11 of the Declaration.

3- Article 5 of the Federal Constitution clearly stated that every people are equal before the law. Is there equality if some people are detained without having proper trial by the authority?

4- Probability of misuse of power. The Home Minister has the absolute power to sign the detention paper. So, he might use the power to eliminate his political enemies. It is possible! In the case of Mohd Ezam bin Mohd Nor v Minister of Home Affairs, the court held that the plaintiff be released from the detention camp. This is because, the detention made under the ISA was mala fide[bad faith], and he has to be released. The detention was made in bad faith as during the interrogation, he was asked about his involvement in reformasi and no single question had been asked about national threat, the reason alleged for his detention.

So, does the ISA still relevant?

File 1 : Voices of Young Malaysians..

Welcome to this very new blog. I created this blog so that all young Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, belief, could gather together and have our views published. This blog is not specially mine as I would like my fellow young Malaysians to contribute by writing your views to kirullnisme.2007 [at] blogger [dot] com. Your views will be published automatically.

Kindly write your name, so that all readers will know who are the writers of the entries...

Thanks frens!