SECOND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

My birthday cake

Just like the match. Pang Pua Liap. hehe...

This celebration is 1 day earlier. I should say it is a birthday cum World Cup watching gathering. This time is in Blogger’s Café. Thanks to all who attend. It is so nice to watch Asian team, South Korea together. Never expect girls are so enthusiastic to watch football as well. All also support South Korea. All (including others in the cafe) shouted “GOAL” together when South Korea scored. For me, the feeling is superb nice to watch in a large group. Thanks to, Jon, Ng, Ah Le, Stooi, her sister, Lynda, Yi Ping, May Kee, Soon Chai for celebrating my birthday. Sadly, South Korea gets knocked out in that round. Same goes to Japan today. No more Asian team. Sad… Unexpectedly, I met with Qian Yi in the McD there today too. With Andrew some more. They were not there for football. Just for a yamcha gathering I think. The world is so small. Thanks to Qian Yi for the birthday present…

with guys

with girls

with all

FIRST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR

WAO… It is my 100th post. Not bad to have 3 digits of writings. Anyway, thanks to my junior and her friend for celebrating my birthday. They get number one this year. Hehe… First destination: surely is for FOOD. Hungry already!!! As usual, I don’t really like to choose. So let the two ladies choose it themselves. Hehe… After walking past a few shops, AT LAST, we chose FOOD & TEA HONG KONG RESTAURANT (欢喜地茶餐厅). The food there is quite nice and the price is reasonable as well. Unluckily, I forgot to take pictures of those foods. My lousy phone can’t take picture as well anyway. Sob… We ordered 3 different sets. Each set comprises of main meal, soup, drink and a dessert that I don’t know what to call in English. In Mandarin we call it Gui Lian Gao (龟莲膏). Can say it is a complete set. Like the package. After having our dinner, we proceed for some shopping. I used to accompany girls like my mom and sis in doing their shopping. Wouldn’t really feel that bored for such a short shopping trip. Hehe… Then we turned to our kiddie character. We went into games spot and playing the games there while 2 kids stare at us until the end of our games. Not sure whether they wanted to play the machine as well or they feel it is interesting to smack (just softly press actually. hehe) the buttons on the machine. I think should be the latter. It is an enjoyable and nice outing. Thanks YY aka SY…

REWARDS FOR CHILDREN

Giving your children rewards is your own prerogative. Let say if a kid score well in his examination, parents can reward them by buying them a computer for example. However, this computer doesn’t means that it belongs to the kids forever. If out of a sudden, the kid’s result drops, the parents can take it back at anytime. Even if the kid’s result maintains, they still can take it back without needing to give a reason because that is their money anyway. Whether the action is rational or not, it is another story. To make the parents more respected by the children or others, they should let their kids know the reason for the forfeit. It is their right to know the reason behind it anyway.

10TH MALAYSIA PLAN

Long time didn’t blog about government policy already. Frankly, I don’t really dully understand what the plan is all about. I just get to slightly understand about it from newspapers, forums, internet etc. I am not really sure whether it is the same as 9th Malaysia Plan or not. The opposition keeps on harping that it is another version of 9th Malaysia Plan. The Government bench keeps on praising the plan. For me, I am alright with the plan theoretically. The main question that often arises in Malaysia’s politics is that; can this plan really be executed? Even in a forum named Editor’s Time (it is a very interesting forum provided you understand Mandarin), Tony Pua, a Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara did concede that the plan looks prefect. However, the implementation might have problems in terms of transparency and fairness. The issue of 30% equity for Bumi is another issue that often being questioned by non-Bumis. Frankly, I am alright with those special privileges. I never intended to question their special privileges. I feel they should have that due to our historical and geographical issues. For example in Perak, no matter how many non-Bumi ADUNs are in the government bench, the post of Menteri Besar must go to Malay. The post of Prime Minister must be held by Malay even though it is not written in our Constitution. I feel this is a kind of mutual understanding. We should not take things that belonged to others even though we have chance to do so. The same goes vice-versa. I am alright with the policy of enrolling 90% of Bumi students into MRSM. However, after this affirmative action has been taken, there should not be a second level of affirmative action anymore especially among MRSM students themselves. Other than the principle of fairness, the ideology behind open market should be learned and practised too since Malaysia is going into a global market competition.

HUMANS ARE GREEDY

Are humans greedy? I do think so. When we get something, we tend to request for something better. It is exactly the same as a Malay proverb “bagi betis, minta paha”. I don’t know whether I have satisfied with what I get. Getting it is not easy. Lots of people will be happy with it. But I still feel it is not enough for me. Feel a bit dilemma when get to know about that. Happy because I get it. Sad because it is not good enough for me. Aren’t humans greedy?

FIRST CLASS HONOURS

YEAH…… At least, my final semester result has come out. I manage to graduate with first class. Finally, my nervous has gone after anxiously waiting for a few weeks. Thank God that I get A- for my thesis. Feel happy for that. Until now, still haven’t really got a job that I am really interested in. Either the job that I want hasn’t called me for interview or the job that I get doesn’t suit me perfectly. I am quite confident of getting a few jobs but those jobs either is not in the field that I want or the salary is below my expectation. Until this moment, I still haven’t totally confirmed whether I should continue with master degree or get a job.

DOMINATION VERSUS EQUAL PARTNERSHIP

Just read about an article in The Star discussing about equal partnership in PR. I do agree that PR does practise equal partnership in its alliance but it is something good or bad? When it comes to equal partnership, each party will have its say. Most if not all decisions made must be agreed upon by all component parties. Each party will look strong and not to be controlled or overpowered by another. However, in equal partnership, it is not easy to choose a leader or to come to consensus. After 2008 GE, PKR has the most seats in Parliament, followed by DAP and PAS. It is a good combination and coincidentally, it did happen. DAP Malaysian Malaysia does not goes well with PAS Islamic State; PKR is the one who manage to glue both together. Furthermore, as a multi-racial party with Malays as the top leader, no doubt that putting DAP as second most senior partner followed by PAS can make PR looked to be more balance in terms of racial composition. However, imagine if PKR is not the one with most Parliamentary seat, can DAP and PAS accept PKR leader as opposition leader? For the moment, they said can. But just imagine why a Malay leader from PAS can’t assume the head of PR if its party wins the most seats. Just imagine if Malay votes do not swing towards PR and only Chinese votes does, what will happen to PR next? Will they accept DAP as the head or will DAP accept other parties’ leader as the head? This situation did happened when DAP assumed the position of Parliament Opposition Leader quite often. In Malaysia politics, to be wholesomely represent the whole community, it is important for a political party to have Malays as its top leader and has more Malays MPs (I read it in somewhere and I personally do agree that Gerakan, DAP, PPP etc cannot be regarded as multiracial party). On the other hand, BN can guarantee it. Never in the history (if I am not mistaken) UMNO had less seat than any of its component party. The influence and strength held by UMNO also can guarantee this to happen. Even though for most people, UMNO seems to be over-dominated in BN. However, this domination can make the process of making decision fast. BN has also a clear leader without any dispute. UMNO President surely will become BN chairman and eventually Malaysia PM. However, this kind of domination has its bad side too. Other component parties will be labelled as weak. Therefore, it becomes harder for them to garner their own community’s support.

Whether domination or equal partnership is good, it is hard to argue theoretically. It has to be analyzed according to the situation and sentiment of the surrounding. For the moment, PR’s equal partnership seems to work well with the people compared to BN’s domination. PR might have the luck to win in such a good racial combination in Parliament and PR-controlled State Assemblies (except for Perak). However, if the few questions mentioned above do arise or the situation as in Perak where PR has more Chinese representatives than Malays in a Malay-majority state, can equal partnership still work well?

FINALLY, I AM BACK TO PENANG

Finally, I have come back to my hometown, Butterworth on Monday (yesterday). After completing all my examination papers, I continue to finish off my remaining thesis. Thank God that the deadline for my department to pass up thesis is on 5 May 2010. After that, I had some relaxation for a few days plus debate training before competing for the last time as an undergraduate debater in UKM Intervarsity Debating Tournament, followed by a presentation about UKM English Debate Team blue print. Then, I went to my master’s temple in Kampar. Spent a few days there and get to know a few more new friends; a Vietnamese monk (whom I already know since my last trip to Vietnam), a Cambodian monk and 2 more local permanent monks. All of them are quite nice. Can chat and joke around. Now, I need to think of my future. SHOULD I GET A JOB OR CONTINUE WITH MY STUDY IN MASTER DEGREE??? I am trying to do both at the same time by applying for jobs online. Hope that I can get a job that I am interested in with satisfactory salary or secure a scholarship or research assistant allowance to continue with my study. Either one will do. Just worry for the worst, can’t secure anyone of it. Then I really have to think about which path I should go for. Anyway, hope that Lord Buddha can enlighten me and show me some hint. AMITABHA…

FINAL CONTRIBUTION FOR UKM ENGLISH DEBATE TEAM

Tomorrow will be the do or die day for UKM debate team. PPP requested us to present a blue print to see whether we are a suitable partner for them in their effort to push forward for public speaking. It might be my last contribution for UKM debate family if I were not going to continue with master degree. As Darryl said before, we are so proud to see the development of UKM debate team. The number now is much bigger than the number that we have during my first year. We had recently able to organize a national level tournament. I do really enjoy the family kind of bonding within debate team. Frankly, I really feel a bit heavy –hearted to leave the team. Anyhow, a Chinese proverb said, there is no gathering that would not come to an end. I was really touched by the sentiment during our final team talk on Sunday.

I am not sure whether I was too dominated in some events in the debate team. Just like the presentation for tomorrow (I mean Monday, suppose to call it today). I am not sure whether I should still go for it or not. I am not sure whether I am over eager to do things for the team. It is not easy to call it a day. I still want to be in the team, whether as a debater, adjudicator, member etc. No wonder so many politicians refuse to step down. Now I understand their feeling.

Debate team took a lot of my first time. I hug a girl for the first time. I still remember that it was my first year Royals when we lost to IIUM in our semi final. For those who know me, I seldom have skin contact with girls. Debate family gives me warmness. Debate family caused me to almost cry (but I got my own way to control it. Haha…). I also give my first time in terms of sharing food with people to debate family. I remember I don’t mind to share Haagen-Dazs ice cream with others using the same spoon (which I seldom do it except for my family). I also like the filling of non-racial issues in UKM debate family. All of us can be together sincerely even though we come from different races. It is not easy to have this kind of relationship in other clubs. Our friendship will also not stop within the club. We used to gather together for non-debate stuff like movie, supper etc.

DEFINITELY SURE THAT I AM GOING TO MISS UKM DEBATE FAMILY.

UKM INTERVARSITY

UKM Intervarsity debating tournament is around the corner. It will be held on 7-9 May 2010. The last time UKM hosted a tournament was a few years back for Royals Cup. This definitely will be my last tournament as an undergraduate. Hope that my team and UKM contingent can achieve a better result in this self-organized tournament.