It's been a long time since.....

It's been a long time since i last posted out views in my blog. Had been through a very hectic life. Had graduated from Kuching Polytechnic last year's June (had my convocation last April ) then received offer from Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia for a diploma course in Medical Assistant. Gladly i accepted the offer and enrolled last January. So now, here i am, a Medical Assistant trainee at Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu Kuching, located 13 miles from the city.

Thank God, as i'm typing in my blog now, i'm doing my semester two. Although i don't really get quite remarkable result in semester one, i thank God for guiding me through. Life has been more hectic here in this semester. Being elected as students representative in Majlis Bersama Pelatih (MBP), life has been running up n down for me. With all the syllabus' and works, i had to plan my time to work it all out.

I can say, i had a quite remarkable life now. Just got myself a DSLR, Canon EOS 1000D, i made myself even more busy freelancing around the college. Sometimes going out along with my dear sweet girlfriend (Miss Phoebe Nelly) freelancing around the city, carrying my DSLR bag all along with me.

Hopefully, i'll have more spare time for this blog in the future. Will be uploading some snaps i'd taken for view.

Students And Movements

As a student myself, i'd been experiencing the atmosphere of being in the student's Christian religious movement during in my studies. During the first gathering, there will be a full house students attending the gatherings. And as times pass by, the number dwindles week after week. After a few years going through all these, now i understands why most Christian students shunned these kind of movements and their gatherings. Everytime there will be the same agenda going on; singing, praising, clapping, reading the verses from the bible, etc.

Some of the actively involved members will always remind each other how important faith formations are in our daily life. Yes, spirituality is good, but it must also be grounded with the reality of life. Strong logic rational plus a good positive spirituality will make a fair world for all.

Students movement is for thinking, for if they don't use it as the thinking medium, what for they they enrole themselves as a student and join the organizations or movements when all they want to do is just sing, clap, sing and clap? Students must think bigger, they must think outside the box. They must also be the critical thinkers. Slowly, from a critical thinker, it will develop them to act. Act towards the social injustices happening around them. They should stop complaining and move on to do some action!

So if we can pray as a movement, why can't we Act as a movement too without too much complaining? Go back and focus on Jesus and his life - all His teachings comes with actions, not a harsh action. But actions with love and the desire to change.

Students must also immerse themselves more into the society. Apply all the faith you have sow and learn to commit yourself to the society. Or in other word, giving back to the society. Dedicating life to the welfare of others. Students must be able to listen and understand and being open to ideas.

BE EMPOWERED!
SERVE THE PEOPLE,WITH THE PEOPLE!

The 4A's In Malaysia Education System

1) Availability

a. Between people who are living in rural & urban
Those staying far away in the rural area don't get the full access to education, but schools in the cities are better equipped.

b. Between the 'bumiputera' s and the non-bumiputera' s'
The bumiputeras consists of the Malays, indigenous and natives (Orang Asal) in the Borneo. The non-bumiputeras are the Chinese, Indians, Eurasians, etc.

Those in the bumiputera sectors has a higher chance of entering a local universities than anyone else. This is through a discrimination system which we called it the quota system. Under this system, 90% places in the local public higher learning institutions are reserved for the bumi' s; while the rest are for the non-bumi' s. This is the most talked about issue in our public education. Education availability for the bumi students are very much greater in terms of sponsorship, financial availability, etc.

But at the same time, i want to highlight this the most, there are also discrimination exist within the bumiputera sector. The indigenous and natives (Orang Asal) do not enjoy the same status as the Malays. And this 2 groups especially the indigenous are being continually marginalized right to this day.


2) Accessibility

a. Cost
The cost of education is rising up, like what is happening in other countries due to the globalization. The accessibility for students who did not excel in their studies, they will not be able to enter the public higher learning institutions. Then they have to opt for the private colleges which charges exorbitantly. And the high cost of education is a setback for them. Even now, with the study loans being given out in big amount, the less affluent students from rural area still stand to lose out due to the lack of information of the loan offered.

The current social consequences of study loans need to be examined because of the repayment period can take up even up to 20 years. In a way, the culture of debt is imposed on the students without they realizing it and the vicious circle of relative poverty continues.

b. Geography
For the rural students, there is much problem of getting to the nearest schools due to the distance. for example, the indigenous who lives in the jungle terrain has a lot to go through before reaching the schools. Transportation is a problem because of the accessibility. Due to this, many of them dropout and this is one of the reasons why the dropout cases are high among them.


3) Acceptability

a. The study of Islamic Civilization
This subject, which is offered in the universities, is forced upon the students and a pre-requisite for them to graduate. This is the part of the govenrment policy; the policy of Islamization. This happens for 2 reasons; (1) As part of the ruling Malay party (UMNO) to show that they are propagating the religion of Islam better than the more radical Islamic opposition party who has been making in roads in our political system, (2) Also to influence the non-muslims students to know more about Islam and thus convert them.

b. The displacement of the indigenous and the natives students
As they are pulled into the mainstream of society, they will slowly losing their culture and heritage identity. When this happens, students who are unable to adapt to their previous lifestyles will start to leave their native homeland for the urban area. This will contributes not only losing their lifestyles and sense of history, but also their land. This is unacceptable because all this are being done subtly.

c. Students as customers???!
We the students are supposed to be the customers in the higher level education because we are paying fees!!! But yet, we are not being heard. We are told to be quiet which is totally unacceptable at all. The imposition of culture of fear through the various laws such as the AUKU. So, who is being heard before an education policy is reviewed or implemented? The real customers of our education system are the business sector!!!

d. No schools are catered to the indigenous/native community
As they have a different lifestyle and world view, the education for them need to be specialize so as to compete with the urban students. If not, they will stand out loose out in the outside world where intense competition is the name of the game but theirs is community living.


4) Adaptability

a. The teaching of Moral education and Bible knowledge among the non-Muslim students
This is good as the Muslims students too learn Islamic studies right from Primary One. But the question here is about the accessibility. How many teachers are well qualified to teach this subject and how are the students going to sit for this exams coz' many schools do not offer this subject in their classrooms.

In campuses, non-Muslim students are banned from organizing activities and gatherings. For example, the Christian students group are not allowed to have any gathering or Bible class in the campus. So there are no balance with the input they get from their studies in the Islamic Civilization subject. Why must this happens? Are our fellow Muslim friends are treating us as the second class citizen? But yet they say everyone are equal in God's eyes.


Those are the 4A's scenarios of education system in Malaysia that i observed. Comments are most welcomed.

Universities And Colleges Students In Malaysia Are Controlled By The Law

Do you know anything about AUKU or Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti? I bet most of you don't know anything about it and don't even bother to know about it. Well i hope this article can open your eyes and 'wake' you up from your slumber.

Once studenst enter public universities or colleges, they are forced to sign an agreement, which is also called the "Letter of Understanding". This letter is just a reminder for the students that they cannot join any society, organization or movement while in the university or college. Students have also no rights to express themselves for any organization support, sympathy or opposition to any group. [Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti 1971]. With this law, meaning to say, students cannot initiate any organization or movement and do gatherings in the campus. As you all know, the non-Muslim students in the public higher learning institution here in Malaysia are not allowed to do any gatherings in the campus. But at the same time, the Muslim groups are free to do their own gatherings. Do you think it is fair for us all? Where is the spirit of the so called "1Malaysia"?

Students will be worried and scared. By this, they will have to continue to obey to the ministry or authorities of whatever decision decided on them because the students are bound to the law. It is also mentioned in the agreement that students cannot take part in the politics. The students voices will not be heard and from time to time, the students will forget about their concern for the marginalized, the poor and the needy. The government did say that we are the pillar of the nation and the future leader of the country. So why don't the government let the students voice out their concerns as they know that the youths will take over the country in the future? The students are the consumers to the education but yet they have no rights to voice their needs, just because they are bounded to the AUKU.

I will share more on the education crisis happening in Malaysia soon. So be alert!

Sarawak and Sabah 20 Points Agreement

Point 1: Religion

While there was no objection to Islam being the national religion of Malaysia there should be no State religion in North Borneo, and the provisions relating to Islam in the present Constitution of Malaya should not apply to North Borneo

Point 2: Language

* a. Malay should be the national language of the Federation
* b. English should continue to be used for a period of 10 years after Malaysia Day
* c. English should be an official language of North Borneo for all purposes, State or Federal, without limitation of time.

Point 3: Constitution

Whilst accepting that the present Constitution of the Federation of Malaya should form the basis of the Constitution of Malaysia, the Constitution of Malaysia should be a completely new document drafted and agreed in the light of a free association of states and should not be a series of amendments to a Constitution drafted and agreed by different states in totally different circumstances. A new Constitution for North Borneo (Sabah) was of course essential.

Point 4: Head of Federation

The Head of State in North Borneo should not be eligible for election as Head of the Federation

Point 5: Name of Federation

“Malaysia” but not “Melayu Raya”

Point 6: Immigration

Control over immigration into any part of Malaysia from outside should rest with the Central Government but entry into North Borneo should also require the approval of the State Government. The Federal Government should not be able to veto the entry of persons into North Borneo for State Government purposes except on strictly security grounds. North Borneo should have unfettered control over the movements of persons other than those in Federal Government employ from other parts of Malaysia into North Borneo.

Point 7: Right of Secession

There should be no right to secede from the Federation

Point 8: Borneanisation

Borneanisation of the public service should proceed as quickly as possible.

Point 9: British Officers

Every effort should be made to encourage British Officers to remain in the public service until their places can be taken by suitably qualified people from North Borneo

Point 10: Citizenship

The recommendation in paragraph 148(k) of the Report of the Cobbold Commission should govern the citizenship rights in the Federation of North Borneo subject to the following amendments:

* a) sub-paragraph (i) should not contain the proviso as to five years residence
* b) in order to tie up with our law, sub-paragraph (ii)(a) should read “7 out of 10 years” instead of “8 out of 10 years”
* c) sub-paragraph (iii) should not contain any restriction tied to the citizenship of parents – a person born in North Borneo after Malaysia must be federal citizen.

Point 11: Tariffs and Finance

North Borneo should retain control of its own finance, development and tariff, and should have the right to work up its own taxation and to raise loans on its own credit.

Point 12: Special position of indigenous races

In principle, the indigenous races of North Borneo should enjoy special rights analogous to those enjoyed by Malays in Malaya, but the present Malays’ formula in this regard is not necessarily applicable in North Borneo

Point 13: State Government

* a) the Prime Minister should be elected by unofficial members of Legislative Council
* b) There should be a proper Ministerial system in North Borneo

Point 14: Transitional period

This should be seven years and during such period legislative power must be left with the State of North Borneo by the Constitution and not be merely delegated to the State Government by the Federal Government

Point 15: Education

The existing educational system of North Borneo should be maintained and for this reason it should be under state control

Point 16: Constitutional safeguards

No amendment modification or withdrawal of any special safeguard granted to North Borneo should be made by the Central Government without the positive concurrence of the Government of the State of North Borneo

The power of amending the Constitution of the State of North Borneo should belong exclusively to the people in the state. (Note: The United Party, The Democratic Party and the Pasok Momogun Party considered that a three-fourth majority would be required in order to effect any amendment to the Federal and State Constitutions whereas the UNKO and USNO considered a two-thirds majority would be sufficient)

Point 17: Representation in Federal Parliament

This should take account not only of the population of North Borneo but also of its seize and potentialities and in any case should not be less than that of Singapore

Point 18: Name of Head of State

Yang di-Pertua Negara

Point 19: Name of State

Sabah

Point 20: Land, Forests, Local Government, etc.

The provisions in the Constitution of the Federation in respect of the powers of the National Land Council should not apply in North Borneo. Likewise, the National Council for Local Government should not apply in North Borneo.

Why Abolish ISA?

ISA was set-up in 1960 to fight against the insurgency of the communists in Malaysia. But as now there are no more communists around, the use of the ISA had been ABUSED, restricting concerned Malaysian their freedom to speak out. With the ISA, there are no freedom of thought, no freedom of conscience and religion, no freedom of opinion and expression, no freedom to manifest our own religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance, no freedom to organise peaceful assembly and association, etc. ISA also violates the human rights. With the ISA law, people can can simply be detained without trials. According to the UN Articles on Declaration of Human Rights No. 11, Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to the law in a public trial at which he or she has had all the guarantees necessary for his or her defence. So, without any trials upon detention, ISA violates the human rights and goes against the UN Articles on Declaration of Human Rights. Regarding the Rally for the Abolishment of ISA last Saturday, 1st August 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, the government says that it is not our culture to organise and attend any rally, but in my opinion, ISA is also not the culture of the Malaysian. Detaining people without trial are against the teachings of religion, not only the Christians, but also the Muslims and the others. I will share more in another post. Fight for your rights and never give up!