Che Dat

Gosh! Dr.M wrote the following text in his blog....surprised me, especially point No.3, perhaps, after he stepped down from the PM throne, he mix together with the rakyat more frequently, hence, he could adopt a way of rakyat thinking. If every Malaysia politician could do a little reflection on the text, Malaysia will truly become 1Malaysia, sooner or later. For Dr. M, if he could think intently about this earlier,perchance, 1Malaysia has already come to fruition.

OPEN HOUSES
By
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on September 29, 2009 5:15 PM Permalink Comments (162)


1. I don't know whether we should copyright open houses but they are certainly a Malaysian invention.

2. I was gratified to see everyone, Malays, Chinese and Indians congregating at open houses during Hari Raya. They all seem to get along fine with each other. The Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sabahans and Sarawakians all seem to behave like true Malaysians, greeting the Malays with "Selamat Hari Raya" and being thanked by the Malays. Even little Chinese and Indian children were taught by their parents to shake hands and try to say Selamat Hari Raya.

3. It makes we wonder whether the country would not be better off if we don't have politicians. Of course I am one. But it does seem that it is the politicians who keep on stoking the fires of racism. Left to themselves the people would accept the way of life that has kept Malaysia almost conflict free all these years.

4. Malaysia has different schools for different races. They also live in racial ghettoes, speaking their own languages and promoting their own cultures. Few have friends not from their language groups. They really never get a chance to truly mix with each other. We are truly different from Thailand or Indonesia or the Philippines or indeed any other country in the world.

5. But the religious or racial festivals are celebrated together. We had four days to be together for the Raya. And the open houses would continue for at least one month, giving us a chance to forget racial politics and be just Malaysians. Even leaders of the opposition parties went to the Prime Minister's residence.

6. Maybe we should have continuous festivals throughout the year. Then we would come together the whole year long to celebrate and get to know each other. Maybe then we would be able to create a bangsa Malaysia.

7. Selamat hari Raya, Kong Hee Fatt Choy, Happy Deepavali and Merry Christmas to everyone.

Percutian semester

Setibanya masa percutian semester...Universiti sekali lagi menjadi sunyi sepi dengan ketiadaan pelajar bergerak ke hulu ke hilir....sememangnya bagi para pensyarah Universiti, ada yang bercuti panjang dan ada yang masih bekerja keras seperti biasa...terpulanglah kepada cita rasa masing-masing.

Pensyarah merupakan satu kerjaya yang nak kata senang, senang juga....nak kata payah, payah juga..... Bagi saya, dalam dunia fana ini, semua tugasan, pekerjaan atau peranan sememangnya memenuhi konsep Taiji, bahawasanya, tiada apa apa dalam dunia ini yang memenuhi sifat "absolute".

Contohnya, sebagai seorang ibu yang tidak usah menyusu, tidak mengambil kisah tentang anak kelahiranya, mahupun dari segi pendidikan, agama ataupun sahsiah, bukankah tugas sebagai seorang ibu seakan-akan senang. Cuma dengan melahirkan anak ke alam fana ini...dah...dinaik pangkat secara automatis menjadi seorang ibu...sekian terima kasih....ish ish ish...alangkah senangnya menjadi seorang ibu yang tidak bertanggugjawab.... dan sememangnya tidak dinafikan di persekitaran kita ada si ibunda sebegini.

Sebaliknya, bagi seorang ibu yang bertanggugjawab, dia bukan sahaja perlu mengasuh, menyusu, mendidik, mencari rezeki, resah dan bimbang akan masa depan anak kesayangan mereka, membantu dan menyokong darah dagingnya...Kebiasaanya, sokongan, bantuan dan keresahan ibonda tersebut cuma akan redha pada masa kembalinya ke rahmatullah dengan keberadaan badannya dalam liang lahat. Berani dan wajarkah dikatakan tugas dan tanggugjawab sebagai seorang ibu senang?

Begitu juga dengan amanah sebagai seorang pensyarah, adalah kurang adil sekiranya seseorang pensyarah bekerja keras tetapi masih mendengar desas desus di persekitaranya berkata:" ala...senang je jadi pensyarah"...sememangnya menjadi seorang pensyarah senang sekiranya pensyarah tersebut mengambil sikap sambil lewa dalam tugasan sebagai seorang pendidik.

Selepas menghadiri Kursus Asas Pengajaran pada 24-29 November 2008, saya lebih memahami menjadi pensyarah mungkin...cuma mungkin mudah pada masa dulu, di mana tugas mereka dianggap setakat datang 'berceramah" kemudian balik rumah....tidur. Tetapi, pada zaman sekarang, dengan perubahan dasar pendidikan institusi pengajian tinggi dari "teacher centered" kepada "student centered", para pensyarah telah diminta mengubah cara syarahan kuliah dengan mengambil kira penglibatan pelajar. Kita sebagai penyarah generasi baru telah "dilarang" mengendalikan kuliah dengan syarahan yang diaggap boring....kita kena memerah otak memikirkan teknik-teknik yang boleh menarik minat siswa siswi dalam pembelajaran, dengan permintaan Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA), kita turut diminta menjalankan dasar Outcome Based Education (OBE) bagi mengorak langkah mementingkan hasil graduan dengan memperbaharui sillibus dan kursus dari masa ke semasa.

Selain daripada tugasan lahiriah sebagai pensyarah, iaitu memberi syarahan, pensyarah juga diminta meminta grant penyelidikan, menjalankan penyelidikan, menulis buku, kertas cadangan, journal, melibatkan diri dalam konsultasi industri, menjadi pengawas peperiksaan, berkhidmat untuk komuniti dan banyak lagi. Saya dengan sedaya upaya mengorak langkah cuba memenuhi kehendak yang diberikan oleh Universiti, ini menyebabkan masa yang diperuntukan seolah-olah tidak mencukupi.

Apabila saya berkongsi maklumat ini dengan sesetengah pihak, mereka mengatakan "no one bother about it"," why you wana make your own life harder", "ala...no one will change ", "they talk only la"...dan banyak lagi komen yang negatif diberi oleh mereka. Sedih dan kecewa. Saya memahami perubahan adalah payah dalam institusi gergasi seperti Universiti, tetapi saya tetap akan terus berusaha, sebab kalau orang lain tidak mahu akan perubahan, biarkanlah kita sebagai generasi baru memulakannya.

Here in my Home

The story of Here in My Home

Pete was juggling tomatoes. bored. so he telephoned a few friends. “how about getting together to make an anti-racism national unity song and music video?” all said yes without hesitation. not because pete threatened them with a sharp and rusty knife. but only because they love malaysia.

The song was co-produced by greg henderson and pete. it was recorded at greg’s studio in kuala lumpur. nick lee, a regular collaborator with pete on his albums, mixed and mastered it at ark studio. justin lim and jamie wilson played organ and slide guitar. greg and jamie are australian citizens. like many expats living in our country, despite being married to malaysians and having lived here for years, they have to date not yet had their permanent residency or citizenship applications approved by immigrationthe video was shot at the kuala lumpur performing arts centre. yasmin and ho yuhang co-directed it. the shoot involved about 120 people.
(Sources from: http://www.malaysianartistesforunity.info/)




AND.............below is the piece of art work made by the students noted in my last post....Enjoy the students' version of "Here in my Home"....Aren't they cute?....(^_^) the cunning manoeuvres leading to their success....

Uitm, the new way of life

Time flies like an arrow, without noticing it, I have been in Uitm for 2 months since I reported in on 15/8/2008. Before I joined in the lecturing life, I though it is a distinguish career with a minimal workload, where they just need to give lecture, scolding students, talking, bluffing and do research. But now I find myself was on the wrong assumptions, besides the "common job scopes" mentioned above, there are so many meetings (in Ministry, University, Faculty, Department, many other sub-committees and students) and paper works (review the syllabuses, prepare portfolio, prepare proposal and etc). Out of so many tasks, personally I consider the toughest task is the confiscation of the authority to teach a subject, which is not our proficient field of study. Hence, we have to crush our head to study before we can impart our knowledge to them.

In my past University life, I noticed the chasm between lecturer and students is infinite, unlimited. That is because lecturer hold the power to fail and to pass. Students fear and respect, in some instances, frankly inexplicable. In facing lecturer, students encounter with a veil of mystery and enignma are inevitable. As a new-age lecturer, I prefer to be the one with avuncular character, benign and blandly tolerant. However, in certain condition, I have to enunciate the precept of students' responsibilities to excel in their academic performance. The students have to distinguish the precepts between counsel and nag. What is noteworthy is to note most of my students not only perform well in their academic but also responsed to the counsels given.

Last Sunday, the students successfully organised a farewell in a grand ballroom, all the Food Tech lecturers were given the honor to walk on the red carpet, accompanied by knocks of Kompang. That was my first time in my newly bought batik manoeuvring into the ballroom, the feeling is inexplicable. In the black-tie function, I noticed that my students are creative in film and video making,I burst out laughing when I lo and beheld their video show. It was a remarkable show of skill. I will show their piece of work in the near future. Pray for them, so that they can be a prominent and outstanding individual in the job market.

Togather with my fellow colleagues

(sit from the left: P.M.Dr.Noriham, P.M.Dr. Halimahton, Dr. Aishah and P.M.Dr. Cheow)

(stand from the left: Mdm. Azizah, Ms. Rohasmizah, Mr. Woon, Mdm. Fuziah, P.M. Dr.Norizzah, me and Ms. Suzaira)

Having dinner with one of my colleague-Mdm. Fuziah

My birthday, my charaters

My mum introduced me a website yesterday. It is a website distinguishing our characteristics and styles base on our date of birth....she said I am truly acquired the assertions made by them....am I? :D

Your Birthdate: September 7

You are an island. You don't need anyone else to make you happy. And though you see yourself as a loner, people are drawn to you. Deep and sensitive, you tend to impress others with your insights. You also tend to be psychic - so listen to that inner voice! Your strength: Your self sufficiency Your weakness: You despise authority Your power color: Maroon Your power symbol: Hammer Your power month: July

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

人生转变的六、七月

之前的四、五月，我人生处于黑暗和不明朗阶段，生活也格外平静，平静到我向尤娟姐说这是否暴风雨前的宁的静，静得如此令人担忧，静得令人发荒。母亲这几个月对我分辨人生去向的追问，国家经济不景气，政局动乱，使我在这不明郎的时段，倍感前途茫茫的压力。但所幸，母亲大人在我要求展缓“追查”下，放缓了查问。

23/6/2008，玛拉工艺大学（Uitm)聘用lecturer通知书交到了我手上，感谢上主让我守得云开见月明，犹然记得，去年前往槟城圣亚纳堂朝圣时所求的其中一个祈祷要泡汤了，如此一来，我可要在今年朝圣时还愿，感谢她为我代祷。将成为讲师的我，心情又是兴奋，又是忐忑不安。兴奋是因梦想成真了，工作稳定了，将要重新过新生活的期待，不用在为送朋友而伤心了，诸不知在毕业后，同龄好友一个接一个离开，谁不心痛，谁不感慨...忐忑是因为，将要离开熟悉的环境，将要离开SCC的一群朋友，干姐，干弟，干儿子，auntie, uncle，青年，小朋友....

在士古来9年了...好长的一端日子，在工艺大学里呆了9年，由大学生，到毕业后成为Research Officer的研究工作，到成为研究生，再到毕业后再次成为Research Officer，整整9年呀! 时光冲冲，时节如流...因此我的离去使得我的上司激动非常，让我看到了一个大男人，情感流露的一面，令我感动。程辞事件让他消化一个星期后，上司才点头让我离开，这才使我开始收拾，打点...还有拔鸟毛的管理工作(其实是清理燕窝的工作)还得找人来顶替，这些“拔毛”的kakak们，虽然常complaint 这个complaint那个，但她们还是很可爱，希望能找一个能照顾他们福利的一个人来管理他们...放下手头5年的工作真是不知如何下手...头痛头痛!

在SCC也呆了8年了，由在求学时期只参与弥撒到成为MCG member, 加入GIFT 天主教工大生团体，后，在工作时加入教理班，曾一时成为校长，到今天我要离开时，得携下青年团顾问，教理班老师，歌咏团团员，华文理事会主席，基信团和读经员。携下这些职务，让我有“无官一身轻”的感觉，但想到在新的工作环境里，是否还能遇到如一家人的教友时，让我犹豫了好一阵子。加入华人天主教友5年，看着小baby成为跳上跳下的孩童，看着本是小孩的成为青年，看着好些青年已升学工作，看着教友们互相接纳，不管多大的问题或冲突，本着基督的爱，不曾到翻脸的地步，看着其中成员患难时，立即伸出援手，看着节庆和欢乐时光互相分享的的精神，让我将要离开这团体的我，拥有很多感触，让我明了主内一家的博爱精神。如没有这一群教友相伴，5年离乡背景工作的日子相信不能够如此多姿多彩，也不知怎么过。望他们继续本着主爱，相亲相爱，直到我们大家在天国相见的那一天。

My neighour, my friend, my angel

Peter Azam and Lucy Yennie, a newly married couple with me, my mum, my sis and my bro after the matrimony in Sts Peter & Paul Church.


On 7/7/2008, my friend-Azam who grew up togather with me and my bro get married. Her wife, if not mistaken is his secondary school girl friend-Yennie...after a vast search for his partner of life, in the end, Yenny is still the one. For most of my friend who getting married in Sarawak, I did not manage to go over to attend their weddings, as too costly and too far, but of cause the wishes and blessing will never less. For this very special friend of mine, although we did not get in touch frequently, but I have a strong passion to fly from a far to attend his holy matrimony, as he is no more an ordinary friend, but is an angel of mine and my family. Below is my letter dedicated for him and wish him all the best.

7/6/2008

Dear Azam Kong

Although I am not the first to present my congratulation to you and your wife on your marriage, but I have not been unmindful of you. My heart has repeatedly wished you all that my pen can express, may the Holy sacrament of marriage bring you and your wife a new relation in which the providence of God has placed both of you be blessed in every respect, promote your spiritual progress, and enlarge your sphere of usefulness in the world and in the church.
I sincerely wish you and your wife much happiness together; that you may be mutually helps, meet, and assist each other in walking as fellow-heirs of the hope of eternal life. Your cares and trials I know must be increased; may your comforts be increased proportionally! In the future, no matter how hard is the trial for life, remember who love the Lord, and are guided by his word and providence, have nothing to fear; for in every state, relation, and circumstance in life, he will be with you, and will surely do you good. His grace, which is needful in a single, is sufficient for a married, life.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to you too. We get to know each other since we are youngster. When we were young, we played, we shared and all these become the permanent memories in me. Do you know that you are not only playing role as a good neighbor of mine but also as an angel for my family. In many circumstances, I appreciate the time you be at our side when we need your helping hands, and I am very glad that you and your family always lending it without hesitation. Especially the moment when my dearest father departed, the support given by you and your family means so much to us, thanks God for giving us such a good angel for our family. No matter how far am I, there have an urge in my heart that call me back, witness our angel-Azam’s last second sacrament of his Catholic faith- the marriage J.

That’s all for this letter, may your future marriage life like the many fairy tales stories... living happily ever after. Peace be with you and your new family.


Love in Christ,

Eddie Tan