Being Corteous just isn't the Malaysians way- generally

I think Rapid KL should put this in the bus!

I've been commuting the Light-Rail Transit and bus to work for the past few weeks, and I noticed something that I never would have notice while commuting as a tourist previously.

While queuing up to board the bus(which I'm glad people do queue), I was confused when a middle age woman (aged around 40 something to 50 something) standing in front of me in the queue, asked me to go ahead, while she continue to stand in the queue. At that time, I thought: "maybe she is waiting for someone." But that is not the case, as I was about to find out the truth, some days later.

While queuing, I overheard the conversations between the senior citizens couple. The uncle said:" cannot lar, the queue so long, I can't stand for the whole journey!" Then his wife replied:" queue 1st lar, if really no seat, wait for the next bus lar!" Finally, I know why some of these people just skip this round of the bus, because they can't bear to stand for the whole journey.

While I admired their independence and their "not using their senior citizen status to get advantage" (there is a proverb in cantonese "yi lou mai lou"), I wonder whether it's because they know people just aren't courteous enough to give away seats to them. I got to prove this point when an aunty, who boarded the bus, but found no place to sit, told her teenage companion who just sit down: "I have to go down, I can't stand for the whole journey." Oh my god! Even the companion doesn't offer her the seat?! Then what can be expected from a perfect stranger?

I'm not trying to say that I'm a saint, in fact, I'm a bit reluctant to offer my seat and stand for the one hour bus ride. But deep in my conscience, I felt the need to be just a little bit more courteous, and this is my point, "Please be a little more courteous!".. Maybe we can put the poster in the bus too!

Why we should not put a cap on the number of subjects allowed to be taken for SPM candidates?

SPM, is actually the beginning of our future path, where we finally have to make decision, and choose out career path. While we all may have childhood ambition, to become a professional like doctor, lawyer, engineer, and accountant, how do we know whether we are up for it, or do we really have the right attitude or fundamental to be successful in this line?

We don't really know, so how do we decide? By taking the extra subjects, to determine whether one is actually good in physics, or economy. While I have to admit that most of those who scored 16 A's and 21 A's did it because they want to break the record, we just can't ignore the small portion of the people where they want to know how they stand in certain subjects, and decide on their future career path!

Again, I want to stress is that, scholarship should be offered to the brightest mind in the field, and also needy! We do not need Jack of all trade, but master of none! If one is master in all trade, surely he deserved to get the scholarship, and no one will questioned about it! It's as simple as that!

So why put a cap?

Whose stupid idea to limit the number of subjects allowed to be taken by SPM students?

I'm just amazed, yet again just where is the common sense of our government officials?! Recently, the Education Ministry/Minister came out with an idea to limit the number of subjects to be taken by SPM candidates. They said this is "for fairer Public Service Department (PSD) Scholarship selection.

I'm not sure what their real motive are, but this idea actually showed the lack of common sense, or even the lack of critical thinking and problem solving sense in their part!

First of all, PSD Scholarship selection issue is not a new problem, it has been going on and on for many years now, and no (education or prime) minister tried to find a solution to solve it! And now with this idea, I can be sure that not that they can't solve this, they actually didn't put this issue to thought at all!!! They just ignored it all these years, and only now with the new Prime Minister and cabinet trying to win back the people, they are giving this issue a thought.

But this is a stupid idea, no matter how you see it! And most importantly, it wouldn't solved the problem even it is implemented! They ministry just didn't use their mind to find solution and identify the root of the cause, instead trying to suppress the rights of the people!..

First of all, what caused this PSD Scholarship selection problem? Obviously, it is not the number of subjects that the students take, but is the selection criteria that caused all these problems! If you get your criteria right, then this issue doesn't arise at all! How?

Ok, a student, X scored 17A1, and 1A2, and another student, Y scored 10A1. X scored 'A1' in Physics, Chemistry, Science, and 'A2" in Biology, while Y scored 'A1' in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. So who should get the scholarship for Medical studies? Common sense will tell you that Y should get it, eventhough X scored 17 A's. Simple, right? So why care about how many subjects the student is taking, if you get your criteria right?

Actually we are already using this concept in selection for our local uni. For example, for engineering courses, they required applicants to get at lease B and above for Mathematics, so even if you score C for your General Paper, it doesn't really matter, unless there is a condition when there is a tie between the applicants.

The Beer-less 7-Eleven?

So, now the local council in Shah Alam is banning the sale of beer in 7-Eleven and other shops, simply because...it is a Malay-majority area?!!

So next time, when you walk into a 7-Eleven that doesn't sell beer, then you know that area is Malay area! Great! Another way to divide the Malaysians! So when are we going to achieve One Malaysia?

Actually this is not really new..in a small town in Parit Raja, Johor, the 7-Eleven there also not selling beer..but it's not because the local council is banning it, but simply because there are no demand for them!.. At lease, the near-by shops are still selling it!

This act of banning the sale of beer in 7-Eleven and other shops definitely infringes the rights of the non-muslims!!! Can you be a bit more considerate and respect the rights of the non-muslims there?!! I'm certainly surprised that this actually happened in a developed state like Selangor?!! I think the "developed" status should be withdrawn! It seems like the people in the Shah Alam local council still do not have the developed mindset..

Please!..Don't infringe the rights of the people!! If it's really so majority, then there will be no demand right? By then, you think 7-Eleven will still stock up beers in this area?

Please, the Pakatan government, and also to the Shah Alam local council! Be sensible, use common sense, we can make this country a better place!

The final days in uni.. rush, rush and rush!

There is only one word to describe the final days of my uni life..RUSH! The rush for the viva, the rush for thesis submission, and the rush to get things packed and prepare for industrial training!..

In my case, it was probably my busiest period of my uni life, and the stakes are so high that, any unexpected incident can derail my graduation. But these final few days didn't happened as I hope for (btw, I never seem to get what I hope for!). I would have like to spend more time, just to look at the scenery and have a drink with the friends in familiar circumstances, before things change for good.

While I can't hold on to time, but I do hope to hold on to the friendships that I made, and also the memories.. those days, are "a point of no return", as Jackie said..

So, thank you all for the help all these years..thanks for being a part of my life.. and as we all move on, I hope we can still keep in touch!

The final week in uni..

It has been almost one month since my last post.. and thinking back, it feels just like few days back.. the past one month has been one of the busiest period in my 4 years in uni.. so busy that I have no time to look into the emotional side of life..and suddenly, I'm starting at the last few days of my uni life.. I'm...mystified, confused, and in a way..don't know how to react to this reality...maybe numb is the word to describe how I feel..

It's incredible how work can really blinded our feelings..making ourselves deaf to the voice in our heart, and caused us to miss other important things in life besides work..

In my heart, I still have a few things that I wanna do.. have some wine with friends, have a meal together, watch football together...just like we used to be... Luckily, the friends around has been doing it, organizing steamboats (which I almost miss it), having meals together, which will surely be a part of my memory..

In what was probably my last exam paper on 30th, I was seated next to Afifee, a friend that, I've known since the 1st week of uni life. He was in the same group under the same academic advisor, and today he still shares the same academic advisor with me. At that moment, I couldn't help but looked back on those days when we, in a group, did all kinds of ice-breaking activities. Looking back, some may looked stupid, but it is these stupid things that, after 4 years, you will still recall.

So..before we chart our own path after this few days, let us, have a great time and enjoy the days together!