Global Warming?

Storm closes hundreds of schools across Northeast US

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SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. (AP) — Thousands of schoolchildren around the Northeastern United States had one of the earliest snow days in memory on Monday after a snowstorm dumped as much as 30 inches of wet, heavy snow that snapped power lines and trees, causing widespread power outages that threatened to disrupt Halloween trick-or-treating.

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Communities from Maine to Maryland went into now-familiar emergency mode as shelters were opened, inaccessible roads were closed, regional transit was suspended or delayed and local leaders urged caution.

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The storm's lingering effects likely will outlast the snow. Temperatures are expected to begin rising Monday and the heavy, wet snow will start melting, the National Weather Service says.

Tabung Haji Tergelincir ?

I received the following article from a reader. I am running the story as written. My comments are at the end.

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Dear Syed,

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On your invitation, here's something I thought would be of interest to followers of your very popular blog. Appreciate if you could keep my identity confidential.

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Subject: Meant for the Small Man, Ending Up Serving the Rich

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In 1960, in the absence of syariah-compliant banks, and realising the rural poor had to sell off their property to perform haj, Prof. Ungku Aziz proposed the establishment of Perbadanan Jemaah Haji to enable the rural poor to gradually save their meagre income for purposes of going for haj. The government's response was prompt and positive. Two years later, Perbadanan Simpanan Wang Bakal-bakal Haji was established and placed under the Ministry of Rural Development. Amongst the incentives given were government ringgit-for-ringgit guarantee on deposits and tax exemption on profit derived from investment thereto. The nature of the exercise was rural-poor centric.

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In 1969, the Perbadanan was merged with the Lembaga Hal Ehwal Haji, then based in Penang, to form what was known as Lembaga Urusan dan Tabung Haji and placed under the Prime Minister's Department.

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The success of Tabung Haji's investment efforts had led to the abandonment of its raison d'etre. In the last ten years or so, Tabung Haji had transformed itself into a faceless bureaucracy identifying itself more with the likes of GLCs and financial institutions rather than the small man's fund manager. It even prides itself of playing an important role in the government's developmental efforts. It goes great lengths in securing as much deposits from rich Muslims who gleefully reciprocate with their flushed cash in return for government ringgit deposit guarantee and tax-exemption of profits derivable from investment theref.

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The concept of haj as a social and spiritual leveller had, of late, also deserted Tabung Haji. The queue for haj, the result of the quota set by saudi Arabia, is now something like fifteen years. But that is for the ordinary folk. If one has enough money to afford a haj package, which ranges from twenty thousand to a hundred and sixty thousand ringgit per pax, one can buy oneself out off the queue.

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With the present Tabung Haji corporate identity, money is not the only creature that talks. Hand in hand with money, social and economic status is definitely an asset to have. With it some can wriggle themselves into Tabung Haji's inner recesses. Many a VVIP are known to have unofficially usurped into the Official Haj Mission, although they are mere hujjaj, doing nothing except making themselves felt and demanding, and invariably getting, special facilities, including official transportation, etc. The lesser VVIPs that cannot be accommodated together with the Official haj Mission are accorded better quality accommodation and services compared to ordinary Mamat.

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Other questionable practices of Tabung Haji includes subsidy paid to each hujjaj which is not in consonance with the fact that haj is obligatory only on those who can afford it. Also contentious is the non-optional payment for meals, outside of Arafah/Mina. A family of four, for example, can save a few thousand ringgit in expenses were they given the option to share their meals or to opt for some outside meals.

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Considering that conditions that led to the establishment of the savings and investment arm of Tabung Haji had rendered it redundant, viz. the proliferation of syariah-compliant banks all over the country, it is only logical to limit Tabung Haji's functions just to haj management. In the meantime, a strong representation of depositors on the Board of Tabung Haji ought to be a minimum immedite requirement. Otherwise politicians and meek civil servants, in the absence of hawk-eyed genuine stakeholders, could be tempted to conspire for their own ends.

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My comments : Thank you Sir for writing this article. Lately we are hearing more doubts and complaints about Tabung Haji's raisson de'etre or nawaitu. For example the suggestion for them to buy hotels in places like London and Australia seem very detached from Mecca and Madinah. Why not buy or develop hotels in Mecca and Madinah? Some say, the 'GLC korporat' who now run Tabung Haji just want an excuse to visit London and Australia on Tabung Haji's expense - Business Class with full accomodation also provided of course.

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In the 90s in Kulim, Kedah members of the "exco" who oversee one of the two local authorities there, decided to spend tens of millions to build a golf resort in Kulim. Few people played golf in Kulim. Most of these "few" golfers in Kulim were also the same "exco" people. Eventually they became about the only people who played golf at that golf club. Of course the company went into receivership - "bankrap". They had used taxpayer's money to build a golf resort which had few paying customers (which of course they too enjoyed). I believe this type of behaviour is repeating itself throughout many of the GLCs. The people who run these GLCs are spending taxpayer's money for whose benefit exactly?

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For a very, very long time, the services provided by Tabung Haji to the pilgrims were second to none. They are still top notch.

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But I think something more nefarious is creeping in. As you say, they are now serving the rich. Worse I think the management is beginning to behave as though they are very rich. They are forgetting that Tabung Haji is set up to serve the ordinary man.

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I think it is a good idea that Tabung Haji depositor's (or their professional representatives) be given places on the Board of Tabung Haji. Then the Depositor's will have a direct say into the affairs of the Tabung of which they are the owners. It will also be a good idea to rotate them - say two years at the most. In this way, it will be more difficult for anyone to be 'co-opted' by any naughty people.

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We have to keep an eye on Tabung Haji.

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UPDATED : Tamat PPSMI : Komen Pengundi Marah

(Here is an update from The Star newspaper, Monday Oct 31, 2011 :

Parents push for option via cyberspace

PETALING JAYA: Parents and students have taken to cyberspace in their quest to push the Government to make the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) an option. . . PAGE has also started a “Yes to PPSMI option” on its website.As at 8.30pm yesterday, 94,000 members had “Liked” the “1M Malaysians Say YES to PPSMI as an OPTION” Facebook page. There is also a move to hit one millions “Likes” for the page.

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The Facebook site is here. As of this morning there are 104,559 members already who have shown their support. This is our last chance. December 31st is just over 60 days away. Then the new school year begins - minus PPSMI. So please go over to Page's Facebook site and register your support. Lets take it past one million people.)

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Saya telah menulis berkenaan isu PPSMI ini sebanyak tiga kali. Ia itu :

1. The Great PPSMI Mistake

2. Mansuh PPSMI Akan Jejas Undi

3. Government Ignoring The Rakyat

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Saya melihat bahawa lebih ramai pembaca yang sokong PPSMI dikekalkan daripada pembaca yang sokong PPSMI di mansuhkan. Dari gaya mereka, pembaca yang sokong pemansuhan PPSMI hanya penjawat awam (Civil Servant) atau penyokong politik pro-pemanushan PPSMI. Maksudnya komen mereka memihak kepada agenda tertentu. Maksudnya komen mereka tidak mewakili hasrat majoriti rakyat.

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Blog ini telah membangkitkan isu PPSMI ini untuk maklumkan kepada rakyat marhaen akan kegelapan masa depan anak-anak kita tanpa PPSMI. Dan Blog ini juga telah memberi ruang kepada pembaca menyalurkan pendapat dan fikiran mereka berkenaan PPSMI. Saya harap Kerajaan akan akur dan mengambil kira komen pembaca ini.

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Sehingga kini, jelas bahawa hujah untuk menamatkan PPSMI tidak berasaskan fakta yang betul ataupun mewakili hasrat majoriti ibu bapa dan pelajar sekolah.

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Misalnya, kajian survey oleh UPSI dipertikaikan terlalu ramai orang sebagai tidak tepat dan mempunyai kelemahan ketara. Dan jika majoriti penjawat awam (Civil Servant) di kalangan professor UPSI sudah pun menyuarakan sokongan mereka untuk menamatkan PPSMI, maka sudah tentu UPSI tidak boleh diharap untuk membuat kajian atau penilaian yang neutral terhadap PPSMI. UPSI tidak boleh dianggap pihak yang neutral atau profesional dengan secukupnya untuk menangani isu ini. Jadi jika Kerajaan bergantung kepada survey UPSI saja (yang cacat cela itu) untuk menyokong penamatan PPSMI, ianya akan menjejaskan lagi kredibiliti Kerajaan.

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Hujah bahawa pelajar berpeluang belajar bahasa Inggeris di peringkat universiti sungguh tidak lojik atau masuk akal. Kenapa pula hanya mahasiswa university diberi peluang belajar Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris? Bukan semua pelajar sekolah akan layak masuk ke university. Setiap tahun, peratusan pelajar yang layak memasuki university kurang daripada 2% daripada keseluruhan bilangan penduduk negara. Apakah kurang daripada 2% saja daripada bilangan penduduk negara harus diberi peluang menjadi orang yang berpendidikan dan berkebolehan dalam Bahasa Inggeris?

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Pendekatan seperti ini tidak pedulikan nasib rakyat marhaen. Pemikiran seperti ini lebih rela untuk mewujudkan golongan elitis dalam negara kita ia itu golongan berpendidikan university yang menguasai Bahasa Inggeris, berbanding dengan marhaen yang mempunyai kebolehan terhad dalam semua perkara. Dan secara sedar atau tidak, pendapat seperti ini juga mengakui bahawa Bahasa Inggeris adalah bejana untuk memajukan generasi muda, tetapi dikhususkan untuk mereka yang layak memasuki University sahaja. Rakyat marhaen boleh menjadi penjual pisang goreng atau pengusaha keropok lekor dan tom yam - kerjaya yang tidak memerlukan penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris.

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Penduduk kampong dan luar bandar boleh terus menjadi peneroka, ahli ekonomi kampong dan sebagainya, tidak perlu bagi mereka menguasai atau menggunakan bahasa Inggeris (selain daripada pelajaran sekolah sahaja).

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Baru ini, kita di nasihatkan untuk mencontohi Singapura dalam beberapa perkara termasuk cara mereka majukan industry pelancungan. Harus kita faham bahawa keseluruhan sistem pendidikan Singapura menggunakan Bahasa Inggeris. Dan Bahasa Inggeris bukan bahasa ibunda orang Singapura pun.

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Dan sekarang rakyat Singapura sudah menduduki tempat No. 3 dalam dunia mengikut pendapatan GDP per capita. (International Monetary Fund 2010, purchasing power parity) .

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Pendapatan GDP per capita rakyat Singapura melebihi Amerika Syarikat, Britain, Australia, Norway, Jepun, Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy dan banyak negara lagi. Malaysia pula menduduki tempat No. 58.

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Jadi hujah yang mengatakan bahawa Sains dan Matematik harus diajar dalam bahasa ibunda sahaja adalah hujah yang tidak berasas atau lojik. Tambah lagi bahasa Mandarin (bahasa pengantar di sekolah Cina) bukanlah bahasa ibunda orang Cina pun. Bahasa ibunda rakyat Cina di Malaysia kebanyakannya bahasa Hokkien, Kantonis, Teo Chew dsbnya. Jika dipanjangkan hujah yang tidak lojik itu, apakah kaum Iban, Dayak, Kelabit, Kadazan dan Murut di Sarawak dan Sabah juga patut diajar Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa ibunda mereka? Jadi saya harap hujah 'bahasa ibunda' itu tidak perlu diulang lagi.

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Sudah tentu pada PRU13 nanti, isu PPSMI ini akan diambil kira ramai pengundi yang tidak setuju PPSMI ditamatkan. Di sini saya ingin memaparkan semula komen daripada sebilangan pembaca Blog ini yang sokong PPSMI diteruskan. Dan kemungkinan besarnya mereka tidak akan mengundi Kerajaan BN jika PPSMI ditamatkan.

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Samaada Kerajaan peduli atau tidak akan luahan hati oleh umum ini terpulang-lah kepada Kerajaan. Blog ini hanya menyalurkan pendapat dan pemikiran orang berkenaan PPSMI.

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Kerajaan cuma perlu memikirkan perkara berikut : jika PPSMI dikekalkan, Kerajaan tidak akan KEHILANGAN sebarang undi, terutama sekali undi orang Melayu, atas isu ini. (Makhluk anti-PPSMI itu yang berjambang putih dan berkelakuan ganjil seperti orang kurang siuman yang kerap merayau di kawasan Masjid India itu tidak akan mengundi Kerajaan, walau apa pun berlaku. Makhluk ganjil itu sudah sah penyokong Pembangkang).

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Tetapi sebaliknya jika Kerajaan menamatkan atau mansuhkan PPSMI, kemungkinanya paling ramai juga pengundi (terutama sekali pengundi Melayu) akan membantah tindakan ini dengan TIDAK mengundi BN. Sebenarnya "Mansuhkan PPSMI" ini bakal menjadi isu besar pada PRU13.

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Kerajaan seolah tidak peka bahawa isu pendidikan dan masa depan anak-anak kita adalah isu yang sangat besar dan sangat penting bagi terlalu ramai orang. Ini bukan perkara sia-sia atau isu remeh. Dan majoriti ibubapa Melayu inginkan anak-anak mereka menguasai Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris.

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Jadi sebenarnya pilihan bagi Kerajaan sangat mudah dan jelas :

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Pilihan Pertama : Tamatkan PPSMI, jejaskan peluang majoriti paling besar rakyat marhaen (yang tidak akan memasuki university) untuk menguasai Bahasa Inggeris yang akan seterusnya mengurangkan peluang mereka untuk mencapai kejayaan hidup. Maka oleh itu, BN akan menghadapi risiko kehilangan undi secara besar-besaran pada PRU 13.

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Pilihan Kedua : Teruskan saja PPSMI yang akan disambut dengan tepukan dan siulan meriah oleh majoriti orang Melayu, majoriti besar orang China, hampir kesemua orang India, majoriti penduduk Sarawak dan Sabah; PPSMI yang akan membina generasi muda yang mahir berbahasa Inggeris, yang akan peka sains dan teknoloji dalam bahasa Inggeris, yang akan mempunyai daya saing untuk mencari pekerjaan dan peluang niaga sehingga ke peringkat antarabangsa dan akan baik segala-galanya. Tambah lagi, jika PPSMI di teruskan, golongan yang begitu besar dan ramai ini tidak akan mempunyai alasan untuk memarahi Kerajaan BN (atas isu ini) di Peti Undi pada PRU13 kelak.

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Bagi saya, walaupun memerlukan cermin mata untuk membaca, tetapi penglihatan saya masih jelas untuk memahami bahawa pilihan yang paling mudah, terbaik dan betul adalah Pilihan Kedua.

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Bagi saya Pilihan Pertama adalah Pilihan Maut (Death Wish). Apakah Kerajaan kita rela membunuh diri?

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Sekarang saya mengulangi beberapa komen daripada pembaca Blog ini (yang juga pengundi) yang tidak setuju dasar menamatkan PPSMI.

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1. Anonymous said...

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Saya menyokong PPSMI diteruskan dan amat merasa dukacita mengapa DS Najib dan TS Mahyuddin Yassin begitu berat hati untuk menerima kehendak rakyat demi kejayaan masa depan rakyat ini. Lebih-lebih lagi merasa terkilan bila Mahyuddin Yassin mengeluarkan kenyataan kononnya peratusan yang menyokong PPSMI adalah terlalu sedikit, mengapa tidak diadakan undian secara telus tanpa bias untuk mengetahui jawapan sebenar?!!

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Mari ramai-ramai kita sokong PPSMI 100% jika PPSMI ditolak saya sebagai mewakili sebahagian dari rakyat Malaysia khususnya orang Melayu berjanji akan menolak BN khususnya UMNO sebagai protes kami dipilihan raya ke-13 nanti.

Thursday, October 27, 2011 5:01:00 PM

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2. Anonymous said...: Just take it easy lah Tuan Syed, may be it will be a blessing in disguise, BN akan hancur come GE13.

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Thursday, October 27, 2011 7:34:00 PM

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3. Anonymous said...: Tobat lahum saya tak akan pangkah BN--- Rahim Bakar

Friday, October 28, 2011 7:47:00 AM

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4. Vote for PPSMI said...: Salam Tuan Syed. We, the parents knows whats best for our children. PPSMI is the best option. Borrowing the statement from anon 4:43 'Lets fight for PPSMI!'

Friday, October 28, 2011 9:56:00 AM

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5. Anonymous said...: Saya tak mahu undi BN lagi dah,pemimpin nya tak farsighted.

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6. Anonymous said...Macam ni sajalah Tuan Syed, kita golongan marhaen ni bertegang urat cakap dengan harapan mata dan fikiran pembesar negara terbuka. Hakikatnya, dia orang hantar anak2 ke sekolah swasta dan antarabangsa! Cuba buat survey anak pembesar mana yang hantar anak ke sekolah jenis kebangsaan dan sekolah kebangsaan. Boleh dibilang dengan jari, beb! Hatta yang the so called pejuang bahasa tu pun anak2 depa mengaji sekolah swasta dan sekolah berbahasa pengantar inggeris. Yang hantar anak2 ke sek kebangsaan dan sekolah jenis kebangsaan pun boleh dibilang dengan jari.

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Itulah sebabnya mereka tidak merasai kegetiran hidup masyarakat marhaen sebab pembesar kita duduk diam2 di puncak. Kalau turun pun ke bawah siap dengan segala hulubalang dan pencacai yang jaga mereka sampai pijak lumpur pun tak boleh.

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Kenanga

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7. CheWal said...: I've done similar online survey about PPSMI with about ~ 3,000 respondents. Its not big, but bigger then survey being done by Merdeka Center normally.

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the survey result is here and it covers different type of community.

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http://chewal.blogspot.com/2009/03/keputusan-survey-terhadap-ppsmi.html

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The result shows 86% support PPSMI. The teachers support PPSMI, the students support PPSMI and the parents support PPSMI.

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so far, I've never seen surveys that do not support PPSMI.

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yet, the government still want to hear the street buggers that have nothing to do with the education.

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Sunday, August 28, 2011 1:06:00 PM

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8. Anonymous said...

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Najib boleh revoked plan take over of Chinatown depleting buildings on lease land for MRT. After presure by MCA. Tak kan abolition of PPSMI tak boleh reversed. Tak mau dengar rintihan Middle class Malays. Kami tak akan pangkah BN PRU13.

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Prof Awe Kecik

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Saturday, August 27, 2011 3:37:00 PM

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9. sharifah said...

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Salam Tuan Syed, Minta tolong coordinate all bloggers to buat campaingn to pressure the Govt on this issue. We can get volunteer parents to gather signatures from every neighbourhood/taman. They can ignore surveys but kalau ada signatures, takkan dia ignore juga. I am a concerned parent who would like to do something but dont know where to go and who to turn to.

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Sayang rasanya nak vote for the incompetents just because saya tak setuju dengan polisi the ruling Govt. So, bagaimana kita nak roar so that the Govt will hear our concerns.

Rgds, sharifah.

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Sunday, August 28, 2011 11:38:00 AM

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10. Anonymous said...: BN will be at a disadvantage if it decide to cancell PPSMI.

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So sorry for you BN, my children education is my top most priority and sure you know whom we will vote even if we don't like them. U make us not voting for you.

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11. Zaini said...: Pak Samad Said Janggut tu Indonesian (well, he speaks with an Indonesian accent anyway). Why are we following him? We want PPSMI for our children/grandchildren. It's their future we are talking about. There is no compromise. Vote for whoever is championing PPSMI!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 6:12:00 AM

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12. Anonymous said...:I agree with - Vote NO BN. To all parents who have children in Year 5 and Year 6 who anticipate the anguish of transition Math and Science from English to BM in 2012 and 2013 – I urge them to vote No to BN in the coming elections.

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13. Anonymous said...: The BN govt will definitely loose my vote because of this decision ALONE. Just thinking how many other families are there swayed because of this dumb-ass decision!

Wednesday, October 05, 2011 5:40:00 PM

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14. Anonymous said... I fear that the PPSMI decision will cost the BN govt a whole lot more than it calculated or assumed. I for one am going to garner enough voters/parents to make a statement on PRU-13. You have been duly warned.

Wednesday, October 05, 2011 5:54:00 PM

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15. Vote for PPSMI said...: Salam Tuan Syed. I want PPSMI for my children and grandchildren. Why dont kita tunjuk perasaan in front of the Education Ministry? Why don't we make an angry video like whose that guy and use all the four letter words. Maybe then they will notice us parents. Cakap lembut lembut tak lut la sekarang ni.

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16. Anonymous said...Let vote BN out this time. If every one of us can influence 10 friends to vote against BN and this 10 get another 10, and another 10 gets 10 sure we can vote BN out.

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We have to teach BN a lesson, because they mess up with our children's future.

Wednesday, October 05, 2011 8:40:00 PM

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17. Anonymous said...: Dear Parents, We all know that our government is playing politic with our education system for theirs own political survival.....I am tired of their antics, I have decided to move my both of my children to private school. I believed our minister sent their children to private school while they continues to play with the rest of Malaysian. What can we do because they seem not even want to listen to parents...they will just do wayang a bit here and there...I am not rich but I promised to give best education to my children and I will work hard to support them since our government playing around. I finally decided cukup lah......ini punya kerajaan betui betui tak boleh harap.

Wednesday, October 05, 2011 8:49:00 PM

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18. rafa's revolution said...: Dear Tuan Syed, I like this part.. I think u hv to exert, reinforce, reinstate this part over and over again until it goes into the dungu heads of the ministers..

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'....Before we changed the education policy in the 70s and 80s, thousands of students at Government schools learnt Maths and Science in English. At that time our Government schools were no different from schools in Australia or England in terms of the quality of the education that we received. We took the same Cambridge 'O' Levels and 'A' Levels to the same levels of English proficiency as any student in England or Australia...'

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I agree with u. If back then our father's generations could do it why not now or even the future generation? All because of 1 dumb policy done by 1 dumb Minister to ruffle the feathers has gotten us into what we are today...

Wednesday, October 05, 2011 11:05:00 PM

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Jadi, ambo rokyat doh. Dont say I did not tell you.

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Tunisian Elections

First the news. After starting the Arab Uprising and throwing out it's corrupt leader, Tunisia just had its first free democractic elections. But guess who won?

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• Islamist party won 90 of 217 seats in landmark elections
• Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party Ennahda, emerged the official victor in the nation’s first free elections, taking 41.47 percent of the vote and 90 of 217 seats in an assembly
• Second place, and 30 seats, Congress for the Republic party, founded in 2001 by noted human rights activist Moncef Marzouki, a doctor who had lived in exile in Paris.
• The third-placed party was the center-left Ettakatol, or the Democratic Forum for Labor and Freedoms, led by Mustapha Ben Jaafar, also a doctor. It won 21 seats in the constituent assembly.
• In Sidi Bouzid, soldiers fired warning shots . . . Protests spread to nearby Menzel Bouzayane where more than 1,000 people demonstrated
• Ennahda has vowed that democratic liberties such as gender equality will be respected in line with Muslim Tunisia’s strong secular tradition
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• In the run up to the elections the religious extreme also took to the streets :
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• A violent face of Islam : ..in the past couple weeks, Tunisians have been confronted with a much more violent face of Islam.
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• The Oct. 14 demonstration by the salafists was prompted by anger over the airing of the animated film Persepolis by a Tunisian TV channel, Nessma.
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• What drew the ire of the salafists – and many ordinary Muslims as well – was a short scene in which the main character imagines a conversation with God, who is represented as an old man with a long beard. In Islam, all depictions of God are strictly forbidden.

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Here is more news about the salafis in Tunisia:

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"..thousands of angry salafists -- radical Muslims -- marched through the streets of the capital, Tunis, with many in the crowd shouting: "The people want an Islamic state."

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So the salafists or wahhabis are there in Tunisia as well. (Folks the wahhabis or salafis are also increasing in influence in Malaysia). Tunisia was in the Club Of Doom. They threw out their leadership and initiated the Arab Spring. Now they are trying to crawl out of the Club of Doom.

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The problem with many Islamic countries that have problems is that very problematic Muslims live there. I believe that is why they ended up in the Club of Doom in the first place. And now the "moderate" religious party has won the biggest chunk of the vote in Tunisia.

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I dont believe there is any such thing called "moderation" among these religious parties. (Please note very carefully that I do not use the word "Islam" very easily for all these political parties. I prefer to call them religious parties. While they are certainly religious, only God knows if indeed they are Islamic or not. So I dont want to hasten my tongue and label them Islamic).

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And there is no such thing as "moderation" in religion. It is like being pregnant. Once you are pregnant, you are pregnant. There is no such thing as being 10% pregnant, 25% pregnant or moderately pregnant. Once you are pregnant, it is 100% pregnant. WE will just have to wait and see what will manifest itself at the end of the pregnancy. If you are a donkey, you will give birth to a donkey, if you are human you will give birth to a human. If you are a monkey, you will give birth to a monkey. Knowing this difference or being able to predict it is the crux of the matter.

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My prediction for Tunisia is that they have just started another journey of fumbling along for a very long time. They will possibly do wild stuff like switch their education system to a 100% Arabic system (it is now strongly French influenced) and they will get their students to learn more religious history and other religious subjects in school. (Does this sound familiar folks? That is why I am making this prediction - because I have seen it before).

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I dont think the corruption will go away or that the elites that are influential in Tunisia will give up their positions so easily. The problem is not really the Government. The problem is in the people - how they think, their attitudes, their belief systems. This is the real problem in these Islamic countries.

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Dont believe me? Iran had its revolution in 1979 - 32 years ago. What has happened in Iran today? Any Iranian who has half an opportunity just runs away from Iran. In Bukit Jalil, just behind where we live, another Iranian kebab restaurant has opened up. Young Iranian people, guys and girls, sell chicken kebab, beef kebab, Iranian bread and the hubble bubble pipes. They are all economic refugees from Iran - trying to make some kind of living outside their country. There is little opportunity in their country.

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What surprises me is that the restaurant always has at least 10 Iranians helping out or just hanging around with nothing much to do. Anytime of the day, they are there.

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In Masjid India and around the Sri Hartamas area, there are Iranians (who live in KL) with plenty of money in their hands - usually US Dollars. I dont want to bad mouth them but only an idiot will not know that Iranians are the biggest importers of drugs and 'shabu' pills into the country. A lot of them are drug couriers.

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Just stand outside any money changer's counter and wait. Soon enough an Iranian girl will come with a stack of US Dollar bills and get it changed. Have you ever seen an Iranian with a camera here? Meaning they are not tourists. They are resident in Malaysia. Doing what?

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We digress. The point I am trying to make is that after 32 years of their 'revolution' their country offers little hope for too many Iranians. Not only are they in Malaysia but they are also in Japan, the US, Australia, Canada and elsewhere. They are all running away from their country.

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This is what happens when 'Islamic' countries try to reinvent themselves. There is nothing wrong with the weather, the hills, rivers, trees or the water and the soil in those countries. Everything is perfect. How? Because Allah perfected His Creation and put it there.

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The problem with the Islamic countries is that the Muslims live there. Changing their Governments or they migrating to other countries is not going to fix the problem. They must change what is inside their heads. That is the real problem.

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Gimme Your Money !!

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Please read the story here

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I have said it before folks : NO MONEY NO "RELIGION".

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What does the Quran say ?

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[38:86] Say, "I do not ask you for any money, and I am not an imposter.

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[52:40] Are you asking them for any wages, and they are burdened thereby?

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[11:29] "O my people, I do not ask you for any money; my wage comes only from GOD. ..

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[11:51] O my people, I do not ask you for any wage. My wage comes only from the One who initiated me. Do you not understand?

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[23:72] Are you asking them for a wage? Your Lord's wage is far better. He is the best Provider.

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[26:109] "I do not ask you for any wage. My wage comes from the Lord of the universe.

[26:127] "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes from the Lord of the universe.

[26:145] "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe.

[26:164] "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe.

[26:180] "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe..

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[34:47] Say, "I do not ask you for any money; you can keep it. My wage comes only from GOD. He witnesses all things."

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[36:21] "Follow those who do not ask you for any money, and are guided.

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[6:90] These are the ones guided by GOD; you shall be guided in their footsteps. Say, "I do not ask you for any wage. This is but a message for all the people."

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[10:72] "If you turn away, then I have not asked you for any wages. My wage comes from GOD. I have been commanded to be a submitter."

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Al Gore Mentor?

Here is something from The Unspinners

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2011

"Anwar Kini di London bermesra dengan Pejuang Gay!

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kini berada di London untuk menghadiri mesyuarat dengan salah orang rakan baik dan mentornya, Al Gore, bekas Naib Presiden Amerika Syarikat."

The Twit says : “London: perbincangan sehari dgn Al Gore, Mitch Kapor, Jonathan Nash – mengenai pembangunan mampan dan beretika, pendidikan bermutu”, kata Anwar dalam twitternya 11 jam yang lalu.

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So Al Gore is his mentor, rupanya. Here is something else about Al Gore :

"Gore Defends Same-Sex Marriage

By ARIEL ALEXOVICH

Taking a quick break from his environmental activism, Al Gore has spoken out on his Current TV site about same-sex marriage. He’s all for it. . Mr. Gore, chairman of Current TV, posted a one-minute speech on the video-sharing site stating why he thinks gay marriage should be legal. We’re not sure why, exactly, he chose this topic matter or this particular time to make such a strong case."

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So Anwar Ibrahim hangs out with the "same sex marriage" advocates as well. Cool. If the shoe fits, why not wear it. (Yo, I am not passing judgement ok, just stating the facts).

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I learn two things from this episode. The first thing is that mamak macam Anwar ini masih tak boleh fikir dengan menggunakan otak sendiri. Unlike Tun Dr Mahathir, who was an original thinker, people like Anwar have to constantly cium the b**tot of the Mat Salleh. They cannot think for themselves.

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"..perbincangan sehari dgn Al Gore, Mitch Kapor, Jonathan Nash – mengenai pembangunan mampan dan beretika, pendidikan bermutu.."

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There is a very strong psyche among this type of people to always tabik the "Tuan Orang Putih".

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Rudyard Kipling called them 'the white man's burden', "natures children", the "westernised oriental gentlemen" who will always need the white man to help them wipe their noses and behinds.

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The second thing to note is Anwar has Twitted (twittered) his cium b**tot meeting with Al Gore to his supporters back home. This is done on purpose to impress them.

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'Wah, Dato Seri jumpa Al Gore lah. Hebatnya Dato Seri'.

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"Dato Seri cium b**tot Al Gore lah. Hebatnya Dato Seri'. Hebat.

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Nakusa ?

Here is a news report from India. Very sick and very sad.

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MUMBAI, India – More than 200 Indian girls whose names mean "unwanted" in Hindi have chosen new names for a fresh start in life.

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..renaming ceremony Saturday that it hopes will give the girls new dignity and help fight widespread gender discrimination that gives India a skewed gender ratio, with far more boys than girls.

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The 285 girls -- -- receive certificates with their new names ..from district officials in Maharashtra state.

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In shedding names like "Nakusa" or "Nakushi," which mean "unwanted" in Hindi, some girls chose to name themselves "Aishwarya" or Hindu goddesses like "Savitri." . . .as "Vaishali," or "prosperous, beautiful and good."

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..a 15-year-old girl who had been named Nakusa by a grandfather disappointed by her birth. . chose the new name "Ashmita," which means "very tough" or "rock hard" in Hindi.

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..nation's sex ratio had dropped over the past decade from 927 girls for every 1,000 boys under the age of 6 to 914.

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Maharashtra state's ratio ..just 883 girls for every 1,000 boys -- down from 913 a decade ago.

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Such ratios are the result of abortions of female fetuses, or just sheer neglect leading to a higher death rate among girls.

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..reason Indians favor sons is the enormous expense of marrying off girls. Families often go into debt arranging marriages and paying for elaborate dowries.

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A boy, on the other hand, will one day bring home a bride and dowry. Hindu custom also dictates that only sons can light their parents' funeral pyres.

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Activists say the name "unwanted," which is widely given to girls across India, gives them the feeling they are worthless and a burden.

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Here are some comments from American commentators :

1. NSA : Even Animals love there youngs! and if they could speak they would not name them Unwanted!

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2. NSA : Indian hindooes that name there kids unwanted suck!

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3. Slings : What about their younger sisters, named "OhCrapAnotherOne" ??

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4. Layla • Houston, United States : so many girls thrown away and killed, many americans would adopt them if we could, indian law make it next to impossible to do this, I guess they prefer what is happening to the girls than make adoption easier....very very sad, recently they uncovered a pit of hundreds of female babies buried by a nearby abortion clinic, shame on the indian government and anyone that would participate in this and in china as well, all children are precious

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5. R • Denver, United States : This is among the worst you can do,every day of your childs life will be hell,you can beat someone but the pain goes away. Unloved and unwanted, scarred the rest of their life. You people writing negative comments can kiss my butt.

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6. Grandma : Most of that country is so wrong... so wrong... in their thoughts that females aren't worthy except to be man's slave.

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7. Sounds like peace, love, hope, karma, respect animals is a buch of #$%$ Bunch of walking turds.

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8. Patricia B • Rumford, United States : Instead of making ultrasounds illegal, why don't they eliminate dowry's and other #$%$ like that? I'm sorry but it is the 21st century even in India. There is no excuse for any culture anywhere in this world to still be acting like a group of animals

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Folks, India is a pretty mixed up country. This country has serious problems because the leaders do not really care for their people. They have over 600 million homes which do not have toilets or indoor plumbing. Yet they have a space program and they have shot rockets to the moon. And Indians are proud that their country is the largest democracy in the world. I think they are totally screwed up. And thoroughly confused too. They have the freedom to name their girls 'Nakusa' or "Unwanted".

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Since they are a democracy, what their leaders do or do not do for their own people represents the will of the Indian people. Why? Because they are a democracy.

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Sadly, despite this being the 21st century, things like this 'Nakusa' episode still define India. 285 unwanted girls changing their names from "Nakusa" to "rock hard" or "Aishwarya" in a nation of 1.3 billion people is nothing. WE do not know of the horrors that still go on among the remaining 1.3 billion people.

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Killing girls has been around for a long time. The Quran mentions it :

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Surah 81:8 The girl who was buried alive is asked:

Surah 81:9 For what crime was she killed?

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When a society treats its own children and women in this way, please do not expect them to show any useful leadership for anything else. They will be embroiled in their caste based, racial and other prejudices. A very sad lot.

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Mansuh PPSMI Akan Jejas Undi

I was invited to attend a meeting and a Press Conference organised by Datin Azimah Rahim's PAGE (Parents' Action Group for Education) which seeks to ask the Government NOT to abolish the PPSMI (the teaching of Maths and Science in English). The Government has said that the PPSMI will be abolished for the school year beginning January 2012.

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You can visit PAGE's website here

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The Governmenmt has to really ask itself whose interest they are representing when they want to abolish the PPSMI? Indications are the majority of the population, especially the Malays support the PPSMI.

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I think this is also why the Government is shying away from conducting a referendum to directly ask the people their views. The Government knows that a referendum will support the PPSMI. The Government is taking a huge risk with the future of the nation, especially the Malays, just to avoid embarrasment.

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PAGE is trying to raise one million signatures in a petition to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to keep the PPSMI. You can read the Petition online here .

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Please go to the page and sign the petition. It will take not more than one minute. It is for the future of all Malaysians. Here is the short petition :

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To: Malaysians

To,

YAB Datuk Seri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak

The Prime Minister of Malaysia.

YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin bin Yassin

Education Minister of Malaysia.

cc.

Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohammad

Former Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE).

PETITION TO MAINTAIN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN ENGLISH (PPSMI) IN SCHOOLS

I, the undersigned, am in favour of maintaining the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) in schools.

This letter endorses my mandate and full support to any representing party that is seeking to maintain PPSMI in schools.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

(Datin Azimah, I think we need one in Bahasa Malaysia as well. Many parents who cannot speak English still want to support this petition).

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DEAR BLOG READERS, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AT CITIZEN AWARENESS AND CITIZEN GOVERNMENT. PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS PETITION AND THE WEB ADDRESS IN YOUR BLOGS, IN YOUR EMAILS AND POST IT TO ALL YOUR CONCERNED FRIENDS. LET US HELP PAGE GET THE 1 MILLION ONLINE SIGNATURES.

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This is a Vote for the PPSMI. Please lets hang together on this one or our kids will surely hang separately.

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We are already close to the Club of Doom. If we abolish the PPSMI we are much closer to the Club of Doom.

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Talking and listening to so many people at the meeting, there is a huge undercurrent against abolishing the PPSMI. The majority of Malaysians, especially Malays, support the PPSMI. They really want their children to be educated in English, at least in Science and Mathematics.

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I think for the Government to ignore all these voices of protest is to take significant risks. Abolishing the PPSMI may become yet another election issue. People are already not happy with the Government over so many things.

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People will vote FOR the PPSMI and they will vote against any attempt to abolish it.

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If the Government abolishes the PPSMI, the Government stands to lose a significant number of votes. The Bloggers are still fighting to regain support back for the BN Government. So I dont think it is advisable, at this juncture, for the Government to alienate a substantial block of voters who want the PPSMI.

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There were two big surprises for me at the PAGE meeting. The first was seeing Suara Perkasa (the newspaper of the ultra right wing Malay rights pressure group) writing a page length in support of PPSMI.

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Titled 'PPSMI : Apabila emosional mengatasi rasional' the article took issue with certain parties who have made the most emotional and nonsensical claims to support the abolishment of the PPSMI. One such person is the muallaf and very confused ustaz Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, a Chinese convert who is now more Arabic than the Arabs and more Melayu than the Melayu.

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Suara Perkasa makes it clear : "Ibubapa, guru dan pelajar bersetuju dengan PPSMI. Cubalah Dr tanyakan kepada pelajar-pelajar yang menduduki ujian SPM, apakah bahasa yang mereka pilih untuk menjawab soalan sains dan matematik".

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Even Perkasa shares the view that "Ibubapa, guru dan pelajar bersetuju dengan PPSMI". Coming from the most extreme ultra right wing Malay NGO in the country, with a following in excess of 300,000 (YB Zulkifli Noordin the MP for Kulim - has just been elected a VP of Perkasa) this endorsement for the PPSMI by Perkasa is more proof that the Malays are in support of PPSMI. I hope the Government is listening.

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The other surprise was the presence of another Malay NGO Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) whose president Azwanddin Hamzah showed the results of a survey done by the JMM covering 27,200 parents from predominantly rural areas. 70% of the people surveyed were Malays. Their 4 month research findings showed that 55% of PARENTS wanted to retain the PPSMI.

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Only 13% of parents are opposed to the PPSMI. 32% said 'Belum Pasti'.

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Of the students who were surveyed in the same areas (mostly rural areas) 79% of students said that they wanted the PPSMI to continue.

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Therefore, when the Government says they want to abolish the PPSMI, I am curious to know whose voices are they representing? It is NOT the suara rakyat.

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Is this a Government of the people or not? If the majority of the people and the majority of students want the PPSMI to continue, then why is the Government going against their wishes? What is wrong with the Government?

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Someone said there is no need for the Government to conduct a referendum for or against the PPSMI because the Government knows what it is doing. I think the person who said this will not qualify to audition as a clown for Malaysian Idol. He is making sick jokes. Even the Prime Minister has said that 'The days of 'Government knows best' are over'.

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I agree fully with the PM. And on this PPSMI issue, the Government has totally lost the plot.

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OK you can disagree with me. I can disagree with you. That is ok. But why does the Government refuse to listen to the majority who want the PPSMI? Why doesnt the Government conduct a free and fair referendum on this matter. Or at least the Government engage an independent consultant and conduct a wide ranging survey to get at the truth? The people want the PPSMI.

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And here is something else. While Maths and Science in English is being abolished, the Maktab Rendah Sains Mara or MRSM will have entire campuses devoted to teaching in the English Language !! Macam mana pula?

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"Di samping itu mulai tahun 2011, MARA juga aka melaksanakan program Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) di MRSM Tuan Abdul Razak, Pekan, Pahang. Pelaksanaan program Cambridge IGCSE di MRSM bersesuaian dengan hasrat MARA melahirkan pelajar yang global, cemerlang dan kompetitif" Sijil Cambridge IGCSE merupakan kelayakan peperiksaan yang berprofil tinggi dan bereputasi cemerlang serta diiktiraf di kebanyakan universiti di peringkat antarabangsa".

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So the IGCSE will "melahirkan pelajar yang global, cemerlang dan kompetitif". Habis anak orang lain semua boleh jadi kurang global, kurang cemerlang dan kurang kompetitif. Banyak cantik lah.

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There is already an MRSM centre in Seremban that prepares students for the International Baccalaureate examinations in English.

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Then we have also allowed the International Schools which are now mushrooming all over the country. Rich people, anak Menteri and anak VIPs can now send their kids to International Schools where children are educated in English and prepare for the British 'O' Levels, 'A' Levels and such.

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The ordinary people can send their kids to Governmenmt school where they will get a more ordinary education yang mungkin kurang global, kurang cemerlang dan kurang kompetitif. How does the Government answer this little oversight?

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Pasai apa pula kita wujudkan sistem pendidikan yang mempunyai aliran elitis dan aliran untuk marhaen (rakyat biasa)? Aliran elitis seperti MRSM Pekan dan Seremban mengajar pelajar terpilih dalam bahasa Ingeris, dan untuk mengambil peperiksaan peringkat antarabangsa (IGCSE dan International Baccalaureate). Kemudian "International School" pula dibenarkan untuk orang kaya, anak Menteri dan anak VIP. Anak orang biasa pula boleh jadi haprak ke? Pasal apa bahasa Inggeris dikhususkan untuk golongan elit saja?

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There is something seriously wrong with the Government's thinking here.

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There were many other things discussed. The Kamus Dewan Bahasa is a disgrace to the Malay race. The kamus Dewan Bahasa is written by pengkhianat bahasa. The Kamus Dewan Bahasa has ciplak hundreds and thousands of words from the English language, mostly scientifik words or "saintifik" words. Words like saintifik, genetik, DNA, elektron, mikron, fizik, mikroskop are all ciplak words from the English language. And the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka fellows say that they are pejuang bahasa! Pi dah mabuk!

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There is a simple reason why the pengkhianat bahasa at the Dewan Bahasa continue to ciplak words especially scientific terminology, from the English language and put it into their kamus. Because there is no "language infrastructure" yet in the Malay language to support concepts like saintifik, DNA, electron orbits, valence and such. "Konsep" atau concept pun belum ada bro. So that is why the Dewan Bahasa ciplaks words from the English language.

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But there is a major problem here. The kids in the towns, cities and kampongs cannot go home and engage their parents, uncles and grandparents in simple everyday conversation using words like elektorn, mikron, mikroskop and such. Why? Because not only these words but the concepts behind them are still alien in the Malay language. It is going to take time, a long time, before the Malay language evolves to abosrb and even create these concepts by itself.

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So without a supporting language infrastructure, it will be that more difficult for the kids to grasp these ideas. The Malay langauge spoken at home cannot accelerate their understanding of scientific concepts yet. Why? Sebab bahasa Melayu masih belum mempunyai kapasiti untuk membawa konsep besar disebalik setiap perkataan saintifik yang baru diciplak dari bahasa Inggeris.

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But the English language can. So instead of Dewan Bahasa 'stealing' words like saintifik, elektron, mikron, DNA, genetik, fizik, konsep, hipotesis, tesis and such from the English language - which has contributed very little to moving our nation forward, the easier (and more effective option) is to teach the kids science and mathematics in the English language. Orang kita akan maju dengan lebih cepat lagi.

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Tujuan kita ialah untuk majukan bangsa kita, bukan untuk membantu Dewan Bahasa menjual kamus yang penuh dengan perkataan yang di ciplak daripada bahasa Inggeris.

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Some very poorly informed people have also said that we can translate English materials into Malay. These are very poorly informed people who do not understand many simple things. Out of interest, I buy and read English books about Nuclear Submarines. I know of only one other person who may read such books. So I know only two people who may read books on submarines.

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If we wait for Malay translations, no one in their right mind will translate and publish a book about nuclear submarines when only two people or a handful of people will read those books in Malaysia. The same goes for solar energy, DNA genetics, animal husbandry, hydroponic farming etc. The market will be too small to translate such books from English to Malay. So if I cannot read English, I will not be able to access these books in Malay. I will become a katak di bawah tempurung. Worse I may become poor.

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We must just stick to the PPSMI. We switched from English to 100% Malay sometime in the 1970s. The result is there for everyone to see. Are we happy with our achievements? We are producing unemployable university graduates and school leavers who cannot even count.

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In 2003, we switched back to English (for Science and Mathematics only). It will take time but we are beginning to see some results. This PPSMI generation is moving up the learning curve, faster than the previous generations. To switch back now will be disastrous.

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There will also be an English speaking and non English speaking divide in the country. The International School kids, the elite MRSM schools that teach in English and those who send their children overseas will become the elite. The non English speaking will end up working for the English speaking (just like now).

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Sadly it will be the Malays who will get the short end of the stick. This is a certainty.

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