Bullying beyond schools and workplaces

This write-up was published in the Sun on 17 Oct 2024 pg.10

Bullying in schools, workplaces, and on social media has been increasingly highlighted in recent headlines. Is this issue more rampant now? Not necessarily. Bullying has long been a significant problem, but increased awareness and expanded reporting platforms have brought it more into the spotlight. Social media, in particular, has extended bullying beyond traditional environments, allowing cyberbullying to occur anytime and anywhere. This makes it more pervasive, persistent, and harder to escape, which can give the impression that bullying is more common today.

Bullying is often viewed as a social malaise, but it is actually both a social and psychological problem, involving complex interactions between individual behavior and societal dynamics. Its causes are multifaceted, including power imbalances, social hierarchies, and psychological factors like insecurity, aggression, or a desire for control. Women and girls, especially, are often disproportionately affected by bullying, typically by men in positions of power. Factors like power dynamics and psychological motivations often contribute to this behavior, where traditional gender roles and societal norms perpetuate male dominance. Men who bully women often have underlying psychological issues such as low self-esteem, a need for validation, or past experiences of abuse. These issues can drive them to project their insecurities onto others, particularly women they perceive as vulnerable.   

In Malaysia, school and workplace bullying are handled by the Ministry of Education and other relevant ministries and government agencies, while cyberbullying is addressed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Despite these efforts, improvements in policies and enforcement are needed to more effectively address bullying in all its forms.

One overlooked area is perhaps bullying within private sports and social clubs, as well as thousands of societies/associations such as Residents’ Associations; including political parties and NGOs, all of which come under the purview of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) in the Ministry of Home Affairs. These entities play an important role in community bonding, but bullying can lead to divisions and a less cohesive community. Addressing bullying in these settings will foster healthier communities and reinforces positive social standards.

A recent case of blatant bullying of a lady member through abuse of power by its leadership in a prominent sports and social club of Royal status in the Klang Valley has underscored the need for ROS to take a more proactive role in ensuring good governance in clubs to curb this bullying issue. Bullying within a club, particularly when involving individuals in authority/power who selectively enforce rules or apply discriminatory punishments, -- to the extent of breaching club constitutional rules to impose a wrongful conviction -- undermines the integrity of the club and alienates members. The Societies Act provides a framework for overseeing club activities, but enhancements to this oversight could offer better protection to members, especially if good governance based on the rule of laws is emphasized. Suggestions include:

1. Strengthen Oversight and Monitoring Mechanisms

Enhanced Reporting Systems: ROS could implement a reporting mechanism (much like the ADU@KL of DBKL) where members can complain and report instances of bullying, discrimination, or unfair treatment without fear of retaliation. This would allow issues to be addressed at an early stage before they escalate to legal suits in court.

Regular Audits and Inspections: ROS could conduct more frequent and unannounced audits of clubs -- especially for those with a track record or history of disputes and court cases with members -- focusing on compliance with constitutional rules and byelaws. Audits could include reviews of how rules are enforced and whether there is evidence of discrimination or bias.

External Ombudsman: Establishing an independent ombudsman for clubs and societies could provide a neutral party to whom grievances can be reported. This role could ensure that all complaints are investigated fairly and that corrective actions are taken in a timely manner.

2. Clearer Guidelines on Governance and Accountability

Transparent Rule Enforcement: ROS could mandate that clubs provide clear, written policies on how rules are enforced, including specific criteria for punishments and disciplinary actions. This would help ensure that enforcement is consistent and fair. In the case cited above, the lady member was punished disproportionately with 3 months’ suspension and RM 500 fine based on a wrongful conviction. This double punishment is rare and unprecedented in the club, and is widely perceived by club members as a case of bullying, selective prosecution and victimization.

Mandatory Training for Club Officials: Implementing mandatory training for club officials on ethical leadership, anti-bullying, and anti-discrimination practices would help foster a more inclusive environment. This training could be required by ROS as part of the process for elected or appointed club positions.

Governance Audits: Periodic governance audits by ROS could assess the fairness and transparency of decision-making processes within clubs. These audits could be used to evaluate the extent to which officials adhere to ethical governance standards and rules of law.

3. Enhanced Legal Recourse and Enforcement

Stronger Legal Consequences for Misconduct: ROS could work with legal authorities to establish clearer legal consequences for club officials who engage in bullying or discriminatory practices. This could include penalties for clubs and individual officials that fail to take action against bullying or are themselves involved in bullying!

Empowered Mediation and Arbitration Services: Offering mediation and arbitration services through ROS could provide a formal pathway for resolving disputes between members and leadership. This could be an alternative to legal action, providing a quicker, less costly way to address grievances.

In conclusion, it goes without saying that regular reviews of the Societies Act would help keep governance practices of clubs and societies up-to-date with current challenges, including the issues of bullying. This review process could include input from members of the public, legal experts, and civil society to ensure a broad perspective on needed updates.

East West Center Alumni & Friends Get Together

 

Date: 29 August 2003 Time: 7 pm to 9 pm KL time Hosted by President of the East West Center, Suzanne-Vares Lum

Venue: Element Kuala Lumpur 8 Lorong Binjai Kuala Lumpur 50450 Malaysia About 50 alumni and friends turned up for the reception.

ChatGPT cannot solve math problems?

According to a test done by someone in the US, ChapGPT cannot solve a simple Grade 5 math problem. I am not surprised, as it is not built for math, it is an AI language model. 

Anyway, here's the problem posed to ChatGPT:

Q:  Klein read 30 pages of a book on Monday and 1/8 of the book on Tuesday. He completed the remaining 1/4 of the book on Wednesday. How many pages are there in the book?

Here's the answer from ChatGPT, after a long few minutes!

Let's represent the total number of pages in the book by "x".

Klein read 30 pages on Monday, so the remaining number of pages in the book is (x - 30).

On Tuesday, he read 1/8 of the book, which is (1/8)x pages. So the remaining number of pages in the book after Tuesday is (x - 30 - (1/8)x) = (7/8)x - 30.

On Wednesday, he completed the remaining 1/4 of the book, which is (1/4)(7/8)x = (7/32)x pages.

Since Klein completed the entire book on Wednesday, we can set up an equation:

(7/8)x - 30 - (7/32)x = x

Simplifying this equation, we get:

(21/32)x = 30

Multiplying both sides by (32/21), we get:

x = 45.71 (rounded to two decimal places)

Therefore, there are approximately 45.71 pages in the book.

A simple solution made complex!!! What is your answer? 48? 

My conversation with ChatGPT about China and the US

Just how "intelligent" is ChatGPT? The following is a Q & A session I had with ChatGPT to find out a bit about how it works. My ultimate goal is, of course,  to determine how CharGPT can be used as a tool to enhance teaching and learning. Looks like I need to do much more testing to come up with a workable model for this purpose. 

For starters, the prelim test of a simple Q & A was done to set the parameters within which ChatGPT works:  

Q: What is China's 12 point peace plan for Russia-Ukraine war in 2023?

I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, I do not have access to current events beyond my knowledge cutoff date of September 2021, and I cannot predict future events. It's best to consult reputable news sources or diplomatic channels for information regarding any developments related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

And now, here's my  Q & A session with ChatGPT: 

One China Policy and the US

Q1: Does one China policy mean that US recognise Taiwan as an integral part of China?

Yes, the One China Policy is a diplomatic policy in which the People's Republic of China (PRC) asserts that Taiwan is an integral part of China. As a result, countries that adhere to the One China Policy do not officially recognize Taiwan as a separate sovereign state but instead recognize the government of the PRC as the sole legal government of China. The United States recognizes the One China Policy and officially acknowledges the government of the PRC as the only legitimate government of China, including Taiwan as part of China.

Q2: If the US adheres to the One China Policy, doesn't it mean that it should not interfere if China takes over Taiwan to rule it as a province of China?

The One China Policy does not imply support for any specific actions or policies regarding Taiwan, including the use of force by China to take over Taiwan. The policy is primarily a diplomatic stance that acknowledges China's position that Taiwan is a part of its territory, and it does not prejudice the U.S. position on the future status of Taiwan.

The U.S. has long supported a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue, calling on both sides to engage in constructive dialogue to find a peaceful solution that is acceptable to both parties. The U.S. has also maintained its commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act, which provides for the U.S. to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons to help maintain its self-defense capabilities.

In summary, while the U.S. recognizes the One China Policy, it does not necessarily imply that the U.S. will not take action to defend Taiwan or support a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue.

Q3: Isn't it interference of China's sovereignty and internal or domestic governance if US insists on preventing China from re uniting with Taiwan, a part of China?

The issue of Taiwan is a complex one, and the question of whether it is a part of China or an independent sovereign state is a matter of dispute. While China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, Taiwan operates independently and has its own government, military, and economy.

From the perspective of the U.S. government, the question of Taiwan's status is a matter of international peace and stability. The U.S. recognizes the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, and any unilateral attempt to change the status quo, including the use of force, would be a serious concern for the U.S. government.

The U.S. has a long-standing policy of supporting a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue through dialogue and diplomacy, and it has made clear that any resolution must be acceptable to both sides. The U.S. also maintains its commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act, which provides for the U.S. to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons to help maintain its self-defense capabilities.

In short, while the U.S. acknowledges China's claim to Taiwan as a part of its territory, it also recognizes the importance of preserving peace and stability in the region and supporting the democratic values and human rights of the people of Taiwan. As such, the U.S. may take actions that it deems necessary to protect those interests.

Q4: Why should US protect the democratic rights of Taiwan people if it recognises Taiwan as a part of China? 

The U.S. government recognizes Taiwan as a vibrant democracy with a strong commitment to human rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law. Taiwan is a valued partner of the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region, and the U.S. has an interest in ensuring that Taiwan remains a peaceful and stable society that is able to exercise its democratic rights and freedoms without interference from outside forces.

The U.S. has a long-standing policy of promoting democracy and human rights around the world, and it believes that these values are essential to maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the international system. As such, the U.S. may take actions to protect the democratic rights of the people of Taiwan and support their ability to participate fully in the international community.

While the U.S. recognizes the One China Policy, it does not preclude the U.S. from taking actions to support the democratic values and human rights of the people of Taiwan, or to defend Taiwan from external threats. The U.S. has a responsibility to protect its interests and those of its allies in the region, and this may require the U.S. to take actions that support the democratic rights of the people of Taiwan.

Q5: I think your views about US protecting Taiwan against PRC are warped and rather illogical....

As an AI language model, I do not hold opinions or views, but rather provide information based on available sources and facts. I strive to present a balanced and objective perspective on the topic at hand.

Regarding the question of the U.S. role in protecting Taiwan, it is a complex issue with differing perspectives and opinions. The U.S. has a longstanding commitment to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and has maintained close ties with Taiwan since the establishment of the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979.

While the U.S. recognizes the One China Policy and acknowledges China's position on Taiwan, it also has an interest in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the region, which includes protecting the democratic values and human rights of the people of Taiwan. The U.S. has stated that it does not support unilateral changes to the status quo, including the use of force, and that any resolution to the Taiwan issue must be peaceful and acceptable to both sides.

Ultimately, the question of the U.S. role in protecting Taiwan is a matter of international relations and diplomacy, and it will continue to be debated and discussed by experts, policymakers, and stakeholders on all sides.

So, what have you learnt about the limitations and strengths of ChatGPT based on the prelim simple test above? 

Seniors' Wildgoose Chase for Sinovac Booster

December 2021

One of the recent announcements from the MOH (Ministry of Health) is that all seniors aged 60+ who have received two doses of Sinovac earlier will have their fully vaccinated status withdrawn in February 2022 if they do not get their booster shots by then. It is not mentioned though if the booster must be Pfizer which is provided free. Given such urgency as reflected by the stern warning, does the authority wonder why many seniors are still dithering?       

When 40% of the seniors did not show up for their booster shot appointments in November last year, for whatever reasons, the authority responded quickly with various announcements. It was from the horses’ mouths, through their tweets or media statements, we learnt that Sinovac boosters would be approved soon by the MOH and made available at PPVs (Pusat Perkhidmatan Vaksinasi) nationwide, in STAGES. Seniors, especially those who cannot take Pfizer boosters because of medical issues, can now request for Sinovac at the PPVs they are assigned to. However, up until end of December last year, when these seniors received their booster shot appointments – some for the 5^th time!!! -- they found that Sinovac booster is still either unavailable at the PPVs, or they have to PAY for it! Some irate seniors quipped that announcements by the various authorities in November last year were like smoke screens, ambiguous and lack clarity, leading to confusion and false expectations. Perhaps it was a case of the media reporters misquoted or misinterpreted the tweets and announcements? We hope the authority will quickly clarify this matter by stating explicitly if it is MOH or Cabinet decision that seniors must either take the free Pfizer boosters or PAY for Sinovac boosters.

Given that worldwide, vaccine booster is a highly politicized issue, with experts and various studies offering conflicting opinions and conclusions, it is important that rakyat are not forced to accept the mandate “take the Pfizer booster for free, or PAY for Sinovac booster if you need it”.

One can understand the need to speed up the booster program before the huge stockpile of costly vaccines expires. But the MOH must get its priorities right and be more systematic in the booster roll-out operations. It is really not a Herculean task to find out the reasons behind the 40% no-show for booster appointments, and follow up with appropriate actions. One just needs to look into the database, identify those who need Sinovac boosters because of medical issues or fear of heterologous boosters, and let them get their desired boosters soonest possible. As it is, until quite recently, boosters have been offered to walk-ins of all ages rather randomly. A friend who accompanied her mother for her booster appointment at a PPV found the venue so crowded that they had to stand and wait in the hot sun for hours. It is no surprise that the duo decided to just return home to wait for another appointment!

Over the past two month or so, there was sporadic news of free Sinovac boosters being given in PPVs in the Northern states of Kedah and Penang, Triang in Pahang, and even in Senawang Convention Center in Seremban. There were reportedly long lines of walk-ins, including some anxious seniors who started to queue from as early as seven in the morning to ensure getting the Sinovac boosters. Surely the authority should feel some compassion for them, especially if they are the ones who cannot take the Pfizer booster because of some medical issues? Why subject these seniors to such hardship and unnecessary risk? This aside, why is there still no clear plan or schedule of where the ‘promised’ Sinovac vaccines are being sent to nationwide? Why such a haphazard way of distribution? Can ProtectHealth website do more than just listing the PPVs? Perhaps they can include contact information and also state clearly what vaccines are available for FREE at which PPVs and when? This will save a lot of frustrations having to find the contact information of PPVs and then call them – often to no avail-- to find out what vaccines are available.

Sometime last month, Selangor started offering about 15,700 free Sinovac boosters, supposedly to complement the effort of the Federal Government. However, it seems to be for walk-ins too with no priorities for seniors. It is not clear where the state government has acquired or purchased the Sinovac boosters. Whatever, this program presents a glimmer of hope for many seniors in the Klang Valley who had been frustrated with their wildgoose chase for the elusive free Sinovac boosters ‘promised’ since November last year.  After turning down two or three appointments, many just gave up the wait for more appointments from MySJ. They either paid for the Sinovac boosters or just tried their luck with Selangor Government’s offer through Selvax/Selangkah. For the latter ‘lottery’, some had to wait till end of January and even February for the booster appointments.

There is also this urgent question about the two million doses of Sinovac donated by China recently. Together with the one million or so doses donated earlier last year, there are now perhaps a total of 3 million donated doses in the stockpile? Surely we must try to use them up quickly before the need to extend expiry date once again? Interestingly, some photos of China-made Sinovac vials have been circulated on social media, allegedly taken in PPVs and private clinics where payment is required. Could this be malicious fake news? We hope so because all rational right thinking people know that it is unethical and morally wrong to make the rakyat pay for donated vaccine boosters. What more when vaccination is a national public health service that should be FREE for all rakyat? To quash such ‘rumors’, it is time the MOH starts making the distribution of these donated Sinovac boosters more systematic and transparent. The rakyat and tax payers have the right to know where exactly these three million doses will be sent to and when, who will get them for free and who will have to pay. If not, lack of transparency will only fuel more speculations and undermine the MOH’s effort in speeding up the nation’s vaccination program.

Booster Shot Concerns

(An abridged version with a different title was published in The Sun/ The Star 15 Nov 2021)

News that the Ministry of Health will be giving booster jabs to all frontliners and seniors is welcome by most quarters. Unfortunately, the recent announcement by the Minister of Health that Pfizer booster jabs will be given to seniors who already received two doses of Sinovac has created a lot of anxiety and uneasiness. This is especially so for those who are well read. They have strong apprehension about the safety of such heterologous booster shots. To add to their alarm is the press statement by the minister that this heterologous administration will be part of the government study, done in an off-label manner, meaning this booster jab is used in a way other than officially approved for. So, can we blame the seniors for the perception that they are being used as guinea pigs?!

Even though it was barely a few days ago that MySejahtera  has started notifying these seniors about their booster jab appointments, the ministry should have got the drift by now. Many seniors either did not confirm their appointments, or they    confirmed but did not show up for the vaccination. MySejahtera only asks recipients of booster jab offers to click a button to confirm, no other options are available. (Sounds like hard selling snake oil, take it or leave it, as one senior quipped!)  Those who found the date and time of jab appointment unsuitable tried calling helpline, but like before, to no avail. Some just clicked to confirm, out of anxiety, and then decided not to show up. One senior complained that he was given two doses of Sinovac because of health issue, but now they want to give him Pfizer as booster!

Many people are of the opinion that the decision to mix two Sinovac jabs with Pfizer as booster shot is not substantiated by findings of any study or analysis of data collected by the Ministry of Health thus far. It is callous to say the least, subjecting the vulnerable seniors to unknown and unnecessary risks. This is especially so in the midst of many experts, including a WHO scientist, warning and cautioning the use of heterologous vaccinations by individuals. (https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-warns-against-mixing-matching-covid-vaccines-2021-07-12/..... ) The Chinese government is also very prudent and responsible, stating that there will be no mixed booster shots until scientists are sure.  (https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3153424/no-mixed-covid-19-booster-shots-china-until-scientists-are-sure)

Therefore, our burning question is: Why not give a third Sinovac to these seniors as booster? After all, a study in Turkey involving 30 million vaccinated citizens has indicated that the highest level of protection was seen in people who received three doses of inactive vaccines (Sinovac), rather than in those who received two doses of inactive vaccines and one booster shot of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer). (https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/COVID-vaccines/3-doses-of-Sinovac-is-better-than-mixing-with-Pfizer-Turkish-minister) Our neighbor Singapore down south is doing just that now, giving three doses of Sinovac to those who do not want mRNA vaccine as booster. Can we do the same here?

 

What's the SOP for administering vaccine jab?

(Published in the Star 24 May 2021)

Of late, several video clips have been making the rounds on social media, alleging that some people were injected with empty syringes or that insufficient doses were administered. Although at least one of such video clips had since been found to be a case of misunderstanding, others are still awaiting investigations. This has naturally alarmed the public, prompting some to take precautionary measures when they turned up for their vaccination. One of my friends, a retired dentist, asked to see the bottle and the syringe after her jab, as she wanted to take photos, but was refused and told to respect the nurse’s job! A very delicate situation indeed. Another friend who went to another vaccination center had no such problem. The nurse was very professional, showed her the vial and syringe both before and after the jab.

Such different experiences at two vaccination centers beg the question: Does the SOP for the nurses who administer jabs require them to show the vial and syringe before and after each jab? If yes, well and good, ALL nurses should just follow the SOP and no questions will be asked. If no, I think it is high time the authority reviews the SOP to ensure such transparency in the vaccination process.

In conclusion, it must be emphasized that although we have utter respect for and confidence in our thousands of dedicated frontliners, there is no denial that such malpractice though rare, can happen, as has already been found out in some other countries.        

Speeding up Second Phase Registration and Vaccination

Elderly wary of vaccines 

(A slightly edited version with this title was published in the Star 16 April 2021)

The Minister of Health is wondering why most of the seniors have not registered for the second phase vaccination. Although I have not done a survey to find the exact answer, many people including medical and other professionals from this age group have shared with me their thoughts related to this matter. One of the main reasons is that they are waiting to see if the authority will eventually be “enlightened” and “caring” enough to give them the choice of what vaccine they want to be inoculated with. Many feel outraged that they do not have a choice of what is injected into their bodies!

Given that most of the vaccines now available worldwide have not been ADEQUATELY tested, and that some involve relatively new technology; their preference for a vaccine they deem more widely “tried and tested” and therefore “safer”, is perfectly understandable.  Besides, there is also the perception that some ministers, both past and present, have used the “delay strategy” – not to mention other covert ways -- to get their preferred vaccines. So, these seniors harbor the hope that if they wait and see, they too may get their choice vaccine later!

What can the government do to speed up registration and vaccination for the coming second phase involving these “wait and see” seniors? Firstly, let us bear in mind that seniors are a very vulnerable group, many with complicated or even multiple medical pre conditions that warrant careful considerations when it comes to vaccination. Secondly, risk factors have to be minimized when choosing a vaccine for them, in light of various negative reports about undesirable and longer term side effects of some new tech vaccines, whether proven or not at this point in time. As such, those seniors who are well informed would surely be more willing to register for vaccination if they are given a choice. As it is now, it does look to them like “register now, and you risk not knowing what vaccine you are going to be injected with!”

At this juncture, I would also like to refer to a letter to the editor “Don’t deny right to choose vaccine” (The Sun, 22^nd Feb. 2021). Various people have also voiced similar opinion since then, but all to no avail so far. Not too long ago, the government finally announced that they will be getting the private hospitals involved to speed up registration and vaccination. This is good news.  Perhaps now is the time to seriously consider giving the public, especially the seniors, a choice. The MOH can just announce which hospital is using which vaccine so that people who prefer that particular vaccine can register with the hospital concerned. This will kill two birds with one stone: Speed up registration and vaccination, and at the same time, give people a choice. From what I heard recently, in Singapore, each vaccination center only carries one type of vaccine. So, the public effectively get to choose the vaccine they prefer when they register with the center of their choice. Is this not something we can do here in Malaysia?  In addition, since the government is looking into setting up vaccination centers in big factories and workplaces, why not include recreational clubs with sizable senior membership, such as the Royal Lake Club and Royal Selangor Club in the Klang Valley?

Finally, to protect the vulnerable seniors and to attain herd immunity nationwide as soon as possible, we cannot wait for the private hospitals to procure their own vaccines. It will be too long a wait, knowing that currently there is an acute shortage of vaccines worldwide. We have to start the government vaccination programs in private hospitals NOW and not later.

Don’t deny right to choose vaccine

 Published in The Sun, 22nd Feb. 2021

Amidst the rush to get ourselves vaccinated against the corona virus, many are wondering why is it that we the taxpayers are denied the right to choose the type of vaccine we prefer. Is it not a tenet of democracy that we should have this right of choice? Maybe both the legal experts and the medical professionals can weigh in with their views and enlighten the public? We heard that in some countries, Republic of Serbia for one, people there actually have a choice of which vaccine they prefer to be inoculated with.

Perhaps this is also an opportune time for the Malaysian government to carry out a survey to find out which vaccine is preferred by the rakyat of Malaysia. This can be easily incorporated into the registration process, whether in MySejahtera or other platforms. We also believe that this whole exercise of vaccination should be carried out with absolute transparency, making public details such as the distribution of the different vaccines by phases, and by states in the country. In this context, needless to say, we are particularly interested to know what kind of vaccine all the ministers --  especially those who were involved in vaccine procurement -- will be receiving, for the sake of accountability, if nothing else. Last but not least, as recipients of the vaccine, we would like to know if the authority will inform us about which vaccine we are receiving, before we turn up for the vaccination.

A solution to the Jawi Conundrum

(Published in The Sun 23 December 2019)

The implementation of Jawi script in the BM curriculum of vernacular schools is still mired in controversies, with many questions still unanswered and ambiguities not clarified. The conundrum has been festering since July with no quick end in sight. There is an urgent need now to find a solution, especially when the new school year is just round the corner! If this disagreement between the government and the stakeholders persists, the whole issue may well spin into a cesspool that will pose more challenges and problems for the MoE and the government at large in years to come. As it is now, there is a lot of confusion among members of the general public, but what is more alarming is that judging by the statements they made, even some Cabinet Ministers seem confused!

If only the MoE or the Cabinet is willing to provide honest answers to questions asked which they have evaded thus far, there is probably a quick and easy solution to the conundrum.

For starters, the MoE or the Cabinet should answer ONE very important question which this writer has asked, and perhaps many others have followed suit and asked, repeatedly. (Whither education reform? The Sun Aug 14). If it is addressed clearly without ambiguity, it will allay all fears and suspicions that learning to read and write Jawi script will eventually creep into the vernacular school curriculum, against the best interest of the pupils.

It must be reiterated that stakeholders do not oppose learning ABOUT Jawi, they only oppose the learning of Jawi, an Arabic script/alphabet for writing BM. These are two entirely different things. Most people with common sense can understand this opposition to and apprehension about learning Jawi script, as it is common knowledge that as it is now, vernacular school children are already overburdened with learning two entirely different language coding systems: Chinese/Tamil (each with a unique coding system of its own) plus English and BM using the same Roman alphabet for spelling. Requiring them to learn the Jawi script/alphabet for spelling is without doubt imposing an additional burden and hardship that these young pupils can do without. What happened to the concern about an overloaded school curriculum expressed so often by the MoE and the Cabinet?  

As pointed out repeatedly, these young pupils should just focus on learning BM in Rumi. The story about Cikgu Nor says it all quite clearly (In the best interest of pupils, The Sun Dec 9). To put it very simply and bluntly, what is the point of learning another spelling system for BM unless we plan to regress and revert to using the Jawi script instead of the current Roman alphabet? It is a fact that today, many Malaysians, whether Malays or non-Malays, cannot read or write Jawi. Does it make any of us less Malaysian, less patriotic, or less productive? In all honesty, how many of our Cabinet Ministers can read and write Jawi? Are they also taking lessons now to learn reading and writing BM in Jawi? 

So what is this magical ONE question that begs to be answered? It is simply: Is the much brandished and now clichéd mantra of “no compulsion, no learning, no examination” applicable to not only Jawi in Standard 4 BM curriculum, but also Jawi in Standard 5 and 6 BM curricula? If the answer is a definitive YES that is irrevocable, cast in stone, and stated clearly in the DSKP KSSR Bahasa Melayu (SJK) Tahun 5 and 6, then voila! We may now have a solution to the Jawi conundrum.  Stakeholders are likely to agree to the implementation of Jawi in the standard 4 BM curriculum, as reflected in the new Standard 4 textbook, and all the ongoing bickering about who is to decide about the option to teach Jawi in vernacular schools or not can be a non-issue?

However, the caveat is, like the current existing Standard 5 BM textbook, it must be strictly learning ABOUT Jawi, with no compulsion to learn the Jawi script/alphabet to read and write. At this juncture, it should be pointed out that “no learning” has all this while been peddled by the government, and understood by the stakeholders as “no learning of Jawi script/alphabet”.  However, this writer has her reservation about the veracity of this claim after examining the expected learning outcomes and performance standard stated in the amended version of DSKP 4.4.1 and 4.4.2. Yes, after the amendment,  pupils are still required to recognize many words written in Jawi (on our flag, banknotes etc), which means pupils must learn the Jawi alphabet to be able to do this! Perhaps the MoE should organize a class for our Cabinet Ministers to teach them the “three pages”, so they can fully comprehend what kind and how much of learning is required for them to attain the learning outcomes and performance standard as stated in DSKP 4.4.1 and 4.4.2. Then they can tell us if it is really “no learning of Jawi script”.

Many people are still befuddled why the government of the day which has been elected for reform is so adamant about implementing a curricular change that has no real educational value for pupils in the vernacular schools. Will learning Jawi script improve their BM reading and writing skills? NO. Will the dismal and below average PISA scores of our Malaysian children improve by forcing them to learn Jawi? NO. More importantly, does such a curricular change have the best interest of the pupils at heart? NO. If anything at all, it only adds extra burden to the poor pupils!

Finally, many of us are curious as to who has initiated this 2017 curricular change which has now come to be perceived and suspected as insidious, no thanks to all the ambiguities and even prevarications! Was it a top-down directive from the then Cabinet or Minister of Education? Or was it just the sloppy work, or whim and fancy of some Little Napoleons within the MoE? Curriculum development always begins with the first step of identifying and defining a general objective. Just what was their objective then? Are the basic principles of curriculum development adhered to? Whatever the answers may be, we the stakeholders who have the best interest of the children at heart, would like to urge the Cabinet and the MoE to answer the ONE question above truthfully, or better still, just scrap the change and go back to teaching/learning  ABOUT Jawi, as in the existing Standard 5 BM textbook. Please, this is good enough, don’t fix it if it ain’t broke. The vernacular school pupils must be allowed to focus on mastering their BM reading and writing skills without this extra burden of learning to read and write Jawi script. We as Malaysians want to continue to enjoy peace and harmony without all this unnecessary and irrelevant brouhaha.

                                                         AN APPEAL TO THE PM TO REVISE THE NEP

by Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam

Chairperson Asli Center of Public Policy Studies

June 27th , 2018 

Most Malaysians , especially the Bumiputras, will welcome the statement made by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad , in the Channel NewsAsia  interview recently that the  - `Affirmative Action is still needed to bridge the gap and avoid  conflict between Bumiputras and other races`.

This has  been the  policy adopted  in our  socio economic planning and implementation since the New Economic Policy was introduced in 1970 .

However , the socio economic scenario  has improved considerably over time . The Affirmative Action has  significantly reduced the risks of conflicts that can be caused by socio economic and wealth  disparities .Today the gaps between the Bumis and Chinese and many  others  have  been largely narrowed . 

The greater challenge now is the growing gap in incomes and standards of  living  and the quality of life of the rich and poor  Malaysians of all races between and also within   ethnic groups . There are very poor Malays, Chinese , Indians and other Minority Groups all over Malaysia  ! Its more  a national issue and not confined to any racial group as such !

Appeal to PM

Thus many Malaysians , regardless of race , l therefore Appeal to the Prime Minister and his able Cabinet and wise the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) ,  to review and revise the NEP , to adopt and adapt to  the new socio economic and political realities   , after their most impressive  and welcome electoral GE 14 victory !

Currently , the economic  disparities or socio economic gaps ,  are  based  more on income disparities, rather than race differences . Since we are  blessed with a New Government after 61 years of the same Government , this  is the New Malaysia Era  (Malaysia  Era Baru ) . Therefore  we will need to express the  vast  political tsunami, and sea change in more practical socioeconomic terms for a better future . 

Hence , the New Government  will need to adopt more socio economic policies that are  income based and  related to fulfilling the basic needs and human rights of all Malaysians . our new policies need to be founded on our  sincere conscience and religious values of fairness and fraternity , for all Malaysians .

We can no longer afford to be exclusive , but have to be inclusive  in all our policies and implementation , for all Malaysians  and not only to some exclusive  groups to benefit  from our future national development . We have now to be much more Inclusive in all our policies and practices or we will revert to past policies and practices which were rejected by the voters ! 

New Malaysia Economic Policy (NMEP)

Indeed the New Government  in the New Malaysia,   could  devise and introduce a New Malaysia Economic Policy (NMEP)  that   will contribute to more genuine and sustainable  national unity.  The previous NEP had unfortunately  and regretfully caused much national division , disparities and disunity  , not only  between our races, but also within the Bumiputra/ Malay  and other Racial  and Minority groups , all over the country .

While we would follow the advice of the Prime Minister to accept that  Affirmative Action is still needed in Malaysia   , we  fervently hope  that our new Government will now  ensure  ,more than ever before , that all Malaysians , regardless of Race , who deserve  Affirmative Action  treatment , will enjoy  the new Affirmative Action . This New Affirmative Action should   be meant  for all deserving Malaysians , based on Basic Needs and not Race. Most Malays /Bumis would also gain by this Needs Based Affirmative Action Policy , while the  poor  Non Malays would also benefit  from the new and revised  NEP  !!.

This New Malaysia Economic Policy  is essential , in order  to promote greater national unity  and a more peaceful , prosperous , progressive and Happier New Malaysia (Malaysia Baru ) 

We pray that the Almighty , will Bless and Guide the New Government Leaders , to be Fair to all Malaysians and especially all the poor and underprivileged Malaysians .

An Enchanted Evening at The Royal Lake Club

This musical event, co-organised by Science for Healthy Living (S4H) and the Library Subcommittee of the Royal Lake Club, was held on 27 July 2017 at the Banquet Hall. It was a sold-out dinner show, attended by enthusiastic music lovers from both the Royal Lake Club and S4H. The performance was preceded by a simple yet delicious dinner, which included a chicken curry that everyone still raved about many days later!    

Aptly titled “an Enchanted Evening”, it was indeed an enjoyable evening of enchanting classical songs and popular Broadway musicals, performed by Sonnia Chaing Yiling and her talented 15-year old student, Jared Ngoh Jie Ern. Sonnia Chaing is an international opera singer (mezzo-soprano) and a soloist/opera singer with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and Kuala Lumpur City Opera, as well as the OperaSiam. (Jared Ngoh, who is very passionate about music and the performing arts, had passed his piano grade 8 with distinction and is now preparing for his upcoming grade 8 singing examination with the Trinity College of London. He was awarded a Gold Medal from the Musa Musica Young Musician at one of their recent contests.)

Sonnia is currently also the adjunct music lecturer of UCSI, as well as the Sunway University. True to form, she managed to cleverly weave a program for the evening that was not just entertaining, but also educational for some in the audience. She introduced the theme of the evening program as “Sun, Moon and Star”, and illustrated it using anecdotes -- including a short pop quiz! -- about the three great composers Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart. Moving on to a small dose of classical music appreciation, she talked about their life stories, personalities and compositions that are associated with the Sun, the Moon and the Star respectively. This “lecture” was interspersed by snippets of  music “Sunrise Quartet (Haydn)”, “Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven)” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variation (Mozart)”. (By the way, contrary to what many believe, Mozart did not write this famous melody, but he did compose some 15 variations on it!) 

With the tone of the evening thus set, Sonnia and Jared went on to sing various classical songs, opera arias and Broadway musicals. There was also sing-along or audience participation for songs like “You are My Sunshine”,“O Sole Mio”, and the immensely popular “Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin” (“月亮代表我的心”), loosely translated as “The Moon Represents My Heart”, certainly very appropriate for the theme of the enchanted evening. However, to many in the audience, the highlight of the program had to be Sonnia’s exhilarating rendition of “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (Habanera or “Love is a rebellious bird”) from Bizet’s “Carmen”. Yes, no mezzo-soprano worth her salt would ever pass up a chance to perform on stage this famous aria of all time.  It was indeed a superb performance by Sonnia who literally came alive as Carmen, the vivacious man-magnet of Gypsy descent. The audience was enthralled, bowled over by her beautiful voice and singing, not to mention the impressive vocal range. Everyone craved for more, but alas, the performance came to end soon, with the duo singing the all-time classical crossover hit “Time to Say Goodbye”, made popular by none other than Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.

In a simple survey carried out after the show by S4H, 92% of the respondents rated the performance as very good, even though the music accompaniment was at times less than satisfactory.  Many of them commented that more of such musical events should be organized in the club for the enjoyment (and health?) of members. Why not? After all, the President of S4H, Tan Sri Augustine Ong did remark in his opening address that music has been proven by science to be vital for healthy living!

Please follow the link https://youtu.be/vrEBDA1ATTA  to view the interesting five-minute footage of “An Enchanted Evening”, as well as listen to “Love is a rebellious bird”. Who knows? This “seductive” aria may help you tune in to the life-affirming force of classical music, and perhaps entice you to turn up for more enchanted evenings in the club in the near future. 

  

               

Please Support Fund-raising Cantonese Opera Performance in KL

 

粤剧演出-筹款单位 - 吉隆坡中国小学 和 狮子会洗肾中心
Cantonese Opera Performances - Fund raising for Chung Kwo Chinese Primary School & Renal Centre Foundation of Lions Club

 

Yik Sang Amateur Musical Society, 54th Anniversary & Charity Performance

Sunday 18 August 2013, Buffet 12 noon; Performance 1.30 pm - 6 pm

Temple of Fine Arts, Brickfields (beside the Buddhist Temple)

Tickets RM 50 & RM 100

Charity for SJK(C) Chung Kwo and Renal of Lion's Club

Ticket Booking:  Lim 016-2988410

 

Program as follows:
 

粤剧折子戏 - 红菱巧破无头案之对花鞋（娇俏，调情戏），凤阁恩仇未了情之投亲骗婚与读番书（诙谐爆笑剧），梨花罪子（大锣大鼓古腔粤剧传统戏），娱乐昇平 （大团圆喜剧）
折子戏演出时附有中文和英文字幕

粤曲妙韵 - 天涯合璧庆月圆，火网梵宫十四年之庵堂诉情，楚江情之西楼错梦，胭脂巷口故人来之孤雁再还巢，火凤凰


Cantonese Opera Performances Excerpts - Matching the Embroidered Shoes, Endless Love-Marriage Cheat & Translating the Foreign Letter, Li Hua's Punishment of Her Son, Celebration of Happiness
Both Chinese and English subtitles are available for during the excerpts' performances

Cantonese Opera Songs - Reunion Under the Full Moon, Love Recount at the Temple, The Dream of West Chamber, Returning to the Yanzhi Alley, The Sacrificing Lovely Couple

 

 

Security Alert!

Security Alert! Is Crime Rate On the Up or Down in Malaysia?

This afternoon I was eyewitness -- for the first and I hope the only time -- to a snatch theft in broad daylight, at the busy junction of Petaling Street, Sultan Street and Jalan Hang Jebat, pretty near to the Bali Polis Tun HS Lee. That is a place bustling with tourists, but in retrospect, how come we didn’t see any policeman on patrol?

My friend and I were walking towards YuYi Book store on Sultan Street, and mind you, we were walking on the wide pavement of the road shoulder, NOT on the road itself. As we walked, we were chatting, when suddenly I heard the loud vroom of a motorbike…..Before I knew it, this bike was already ON the pavement, and the rider was ripping and pulling off the chains from my friend’s neck! It all happened in a split second…we were both stunned as we watched the thief speeding away on Jalan Hang Jebat. However, I did catch a glimpse of the guy, he was dark, rather burly, and in his late 30’s, not the typical scrawny drug addict. I thought he is Indonesian, but the jaga kereta boys in the two parking lots nearby told us that he is a local “professional” who have already preyed on a few people in the past week. So, be very careful and alert if you are anywhere near that area.    

The financial loss was close to RM 6K, but my friend was more upset by the loss of some lockets of sentimental value. He also suffered a minor scratch and some redness on the neck that disappeared in nimutes. I on my part could only thank God that nothing worse happened, as I remember another snatch theft victime, a friend who is ex-principal of BBGS. In a snatch theft incident in February 2011, she was pushed, hit her head on the pavement and is now still under medical care and rehabilitation, unable to speak or walk. I am not even sure if her brain is functioning like before. L 

Fortunately, all is NOT lost. At the bookshop, my friend discovered that his treasured locket, pendant and talisman were still trapped and stuck between his belt and t-shirt! These were items that he has been wearing for the past 40 years or so, which explain why he never thought of taking off the gold chain. L I too wear a gold chain – which is flimsy and worth a few hundred ringgit only -- because of two pendants of sentimental value. This incident is reminder that I should probably replace the chain with a worthless black string! Who knows, when people are desperate, even a few hundred ringgit is good enough for them.  

We analysed the situation and concluded that the thief could have observed and stalked us. Or, he could be stationed there looking out for victims. At the right moment and place, he moved in and hit his target. He didn’t even need to have an accomplice as the pillion rider, he was so prepared that he could do it all by himself! We are usually very alert and wary when we walk by ourselves, but because we were with company today, we got distracted, thus becoming the easy target. [sigh] This is a costly but perhaps timely lesson for us. Times are really getting bad…..we must be more careful.  

I must commend my friend for his calmness, or perhaps nonchalance, “what has happened has happened….the chain can be replaced, the items of sentimental value are not lost….” So, in spite of this unfortunate incident, we were still able to go enjoy our wantan noodles at Koon Kee, and buy our favorite famous durian puffs down the road. His bonus was, of course, some delicious carrot muffins that a mutual friend has asked me to pass on to him! J  

Excerpt of A Cantonese Opera, a treat from PCCO  

For those of us who attended the MPO concert featuring PCCO (Professional Cultural Center Orchestra) on last Thursday 30^th August, we were given a treat and a pleasant surprise. Not only were we entertained with some really melodious Chinese music, there was a folk dance and an excerpt of Cantonese Opera to boot!  

The folk dance accompanied the musical piece “Harvest Drums”. The Cantonese Opera excerpt (fairly long, 20 minutes) was the very popular “Meeting of Yeung Chung-bo and Muk Kwai-ying” from the famous opera about the Yeung/Yang family of warriors in the Sung Dynasty. The costumes of the couple were beautiful, both the acting and singing were superb! It was an enjoyable evening well spent at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas. J 

 

Another thing worthy of a special mention: While the orchestra was playing the piece “Jasmine Flower” (which Puccini included in Turandot), a narrator walked around the musicians on stage to give brief introductions about the various instruments used in the performance. It was very educational and informative, especially for the uninitiated. For me, I now know of this newly invented Chinese musical instrument called Wen Qing (文琴). I think it is probably easier to play than a lot of other Chinese musical instruments, especially the erhu. J

 

The next MPO concert I am looking forward to is the ever popular La Traviata....this coming weekend!  

 

 

Getting forgetful? Read on....

Headline in Dots, Sunday Star (14 Jan 2012) screamed: Mental decline sets in at 45 not 60, says study. So, little wonder that you now begin to worry about your memory, or more precisely, the loss of it. Here’s news for you: Another research report published in the Daily Mail of UK – I read about it in the Sin Chew Daily -- has identified different degrees of forgetfulness:

Normal or slight forgetfulness

1.     Need a few minutes to remember where you have parked your car

2.     Momentarily forget the name of somebody or something

3.     Forget to return a phone call (or reply to an e-mail or sms)

4.     Can’t find something which you have just put away

5.     Forget something trivial that a friend told you 2 days ago

Moderate forgetfulness

1.     Forget the name of someone close to you

2.     Misplace things, or forget to remove the keys after unlocking a door

3.     Do not recognize faces

4.     Repeat questions you have just asked

5.     Change in personality

Serious forgetfulness

1.     Pour yourself a cup of tea, not realizing that you already have one

2.     Forget your grandchild’s name, but memory of your own childhood remains vivid 

3.     Don’t know how to do household chores, such as washing dishes

4.     Confused about relationships of family members

5.     Problems making  simple judgment, e.g. put on thick clothing on a hot day

6.     Don’t recognize family members  

So, don’t worry if your memory lapses are confined to those listed under normal or slight forgetfulness! Be happy……J