REACHING OUT TO THE INDIAN COMMUNITY - ASTI CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SOLID ACHIEVEMENT IN PROMOTING SCIENCE AND INNOVATION AMONG TAMIL SCHOOL CHILDREN.

'All people have great capacity to effect progress when they decide to change what is in themselves'.  

TO THE INDIAN COMMUNITY AND ALSO OTHER MALAYSIANS (THERE IS A FINAL MESSAGE AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THIS POST).

Over the years I have featured the Association of Science Technology And Innovation (ASTI)  a few times in this Blog. ASTI runs the wildly successful Science Fairs for Young Children (SFYC) for Tamil schools in the country. This year is their 20th anniversary. The man behind ASTI is my good friend Dr Yunus Yassin a PhD in engineering from Cambridge University.

Over the years the Tamil schools have not only won many international science prizes but Tamil schools scored the highest in Science and Mathematics achievement at primary school level.  

I have attended the Science Fairs and of course I am in close contact with Dr Yunus. Every year tens of thousands of Tamil school children take part in these Science Fairs. This year the number of participants were 40,000 students. 

Even the COVID years did not slow them down because they went online.

The level of competence and sophistication in Science is admirable for these primary school children. Not only do the children design, build and present their Science projects but a good part of their grading includes maintaining a detailed log book of what they do - which has to be presented. They are also limited by a certain spending limit - so they learn to work within budget.  

Another marvel which I have noticed is that their parents participate actively in these Science Fairs, almost always the mothers. So their parents too contribute and pick up a certain level of sophistication about science education. And I should also mention the teachers and the headmasters of the Tamil schools who have been enthusiastic supporters. Considering that many Tamil schools are located in the States and in rural areas these Science Fairs have really contributed to the awareness of Science education among the larger Indian community. 

This Sunday 25th October 2026 ASTI is holding their Science Fair for 2026 in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.  Details below.

Here is some brief information and promotional material by ASTI:

Twenty Years of Curious Minds: The Science Fair for Young Children Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary

For two decades, the Science Fair for Young Children (SFYC) has run on a simple belief: every child can be curious, ask questions and discover something new. In 2026 the movement, organised by the Association of Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI), reaches its 20th anniversary. 

What began as a modest initiative has grown into a national programme that has reached more than 540,000 students from Tamil schools across Malaysia.

A Year of Remarkable Reach

The 2026 numbers show how far SFYC has come:
 Over 40,000 students took part in School Level Science Fairs across Malaysia.

20th Anniversary Special #1: Science Starts in Preschool
The most far-reaching new initiative this year 2026 is the first-ever Pre-School Level Science Fair.

20th Anniversary Special #2: The Teacher's  Paper Writing Challenge
Teachers are at the heart of SFYC, and this year they got a stage of their own. For the 20th anniversary, ASTI organised the Science Fair Teacher's Paper Writing Challenge 2026. 

20th Anniversary Special #3: An Anthem and a Theme Song
For the first time, the Science Fair for Young Children has a song of its own.
The SFYC Theme Song in Tamil is called  (Imagination Becomes Reality!)

ASTI is also launching their official SFYC Theme Song! 🎶*

HERE IS MY FINAL MESSAGE.

Every year the Science Fairs cost plenty of money. The team at ASTI manage things on a shoe string budget - for 40,000 participants!!   Often when I meet Dr Yunus his lament is 'I am short of funds bro'.  'For this year I am short so much' or 'I have to look for funds for next year'.

Raising funds is a constant struggle and a constant effort. 

So to the Indian community especially - this is a good thing. Over the past 20 years ASTI and the Science Fairs have contributed significantly towards Science and Maths education in the Tamil school ecosystem. I say ecosystem because the parents - mothers and fathers - and the teachers, are part of the Science education awareness that has permeated the Tamil school community. And they have motivated scores of Tamil school kids who have gone on to achieve better things in life.  

So you are welcome to attend this year's Science Fair for Tamil Schools and satisfy yourselves about what they have achieved. Here is the venue, date, time etc.

National Science Fair for Young Children 2026 🌟
https://www.asti.org.my/nsfyc2026/

Come and celebrate 20 Glorious Years of amazing creativity and innovation! Join us to witness the scientific thinking of young brilliant minds from Tamil schools across Malaysia as they showcase their exciting science projects. 🚀🧬

🔬 Public Viewing Details:
📅 Date: 25th October 2026 (Sunday)
🕒 Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Venue:  IMBI CONVENTION HALL
Jalan 39/119, Taman Taynton View, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
Bring your family and friends along to support our young innovators! See you there! 👋

• - Website: www.asti.org.my 
• - Address: No. 16A, Jalan 21/12, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
• - Telephone: 03-7877 8571 / 03-7865 5557.
• - Email: asti2510@gmail.com

And finally, any discretionary support that the community may wish to extend to ASTI would be greatly appreciated, not only by ASTI but also by the thousands of Tamil schoolchildren who benefit from its Science Fairs.

All people have great capacity to effect progress when they decide to change what is in themselves.  

All the best to ASTI on their 20th Anniversary. And all the best to all the budding scientists in the Tamil schools. 

FRIDAY NOTES (23/10/26) FROM THE QURAN - SURELY THE UGLIEST VOICE IS THE VOICE OF THE DONKEY

Non Muslims can read this too. It will take less than a minute.

Surah Luqman 31:18  وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ

“And do not turn your cheek in contempt toward people and do not walk through the earth boastfully. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone who is self-deluded, boastful.”

Surah Luqman 31:19   وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ وَاغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ الْأَصْوَاتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِيرِ
“And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys.”

Semoga Allah mencurahkan segala Berkat-Nya atas mereka, memberikan mereka petunjuk dan mengurniakan kebahagiaan atas mereka. آمين.

 Sila perhatikan video yang ringkas ini.

Video ini sedang tular viral. Video ini ada di YouTube. Beratus-ratus gadis Melayu muda beratur untuk apa yang kelihatan seperti peluang pekerjaan di sebuah pasar raya. Mereka semua wanita muda, tetapi tidak semestinya remaja atau lepasan sekolah. Ada antara mereka yang kelihatan lebih berusia. Di manakah kaum lelaki? Pemandangan seperti ini semakin biasa dalam negara kita. Beberapa bulan lalu, terdapat satu lagi video yang menunjukkan beratus-ratus atau beribu-ribu pemohon beratur untuk mendapatkan pekerjaan di sebuah kilang. Majoriti besar mereka anak muda Melayu.

Kepada ahli-ahli politik yang confirm low IQ atau tahap kecerdasan otak sangat rendah, dengar baik-baik. Pelaburan asing, terutamanya Data Center, tidak akan mampu menyediakan peluang pekerjaan untuk semua anak muda kita. Tiada Data Center di Raub — tempat orang bodoh dan gelojoh menebang pokok-pokok durian. Tiada kilang pelaburan asing FDI di Cameron Highlands, tempat mereka memusnahkan kebun sayur yang tidak mempunyai permit.

Negara ini memerlukan pelaburan domestik — businessman kita sendiri dan industri tempatan kita mesti melaburkan wang mereka dalam industri tempatan, dari Kuala Lipis ke Kluang ke Kangar. Begitu juga di Sik, Lenggong, Bidor, Saratok, Kapit dan Keningau. 

Jangan belenggukan atau menghalangi perniagaan dan industri tempatan melalui peraturan bodoh seperti e-invois, cukai yang tidak perlu, peraturan itu dan peraturan ini. Kerajaan dan pihak berkuasa jangan menjadi pengacau. Jangan hancurkan industri SME dan pelaburan baru dengan mewujudkan monopoli, oligopoli dan francais yang dianugerahkan kepada kroni serta syarikat GLC, sehingga menyebabkan industri tempatan gulung tikar. 

Atau menggubal undang-undang bodoh (seperti  Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998) yang menyusahkan klinik dan hospital swasta yang kecil-kecilan dan new entrants untuk terus bertahan. Itulah sebabnya, apabila jumlah penduduk kita terus meningkat melepasi 34 juta orang, ekonomi negara ini tidak mampu menjana peluang pekerjaan baharu yang mencukupi untuk menyediakan pekerjaan kepada semua wanita muda dalam video di atas. 

Inilah harapan saya — saya berharap semua anak-anak muda dalam video itu akan mendapat pekerjaan dan kebahagiaan hidup. Dan saya berharap semua monyet ber-IQ rendah yang menyusahkan kehidupan kita akan masuk jahanam. Itulah harapan saya.

HYENAS AND GOATS DO NOT GO WELL TOGETHER

 

AFRICAN WISDOM