Nazri, another potential member of Pakatan Rakyat?

Quite frankly, I thought by now everyone would have got over the BTN issue and move on. But with Mahathir now jumping into the fray and slugging it out with Nazri and vice versa, I told myself, "Hey, this is something else!" It's not like everyday you have two heavy weights punching themselves blue and black for the whole world to see, almost like a Muhammad Ali vs Joe Bugner fight. And if this is not good enough, you get a Mahathir sidekick like Toyo who has got into the ring to clown himself silly, as usual.

Mahathir true to form is always at his best when tested. This time in his row with Nazri, he applied reverse psychology. In any heated argument, one side will blame the other for something, and the other side will retort back in denial. So when Nazri called Mahathir a racist, the latter admitted. Nazri to Mahathir : "You are a racist!" Someone would expect Mahathir to reply, "Who said so?" Instead, he said, "Yes I am!" like, SO WHAT?! Nazri by now would have been caught off guard with a "Er.......", and if this was not enough, Mahathir further taunted Nazri by saying that UMNO was a racist party and that he, Nazri should resign from it. The reasoning being, since Nazri is so adamant in calling Mahathir a racist, then Nazri could not be a racist himself because if you are one, then it would be like the pot calling the kettle black. So if he was not a racist, then what is he doing in UMNO? Hence, Mahathir's call for him to quit UMNO. Remember that incident when our MIC fella Sothinathan was suspended from Parliament for raising the issue about the predicament of the Indian students pursuing their medical studies in Russia and Nazri stood up and shouted "racist" 28 times? An interview was conducted later in which he claimed that he was not a racist at all. Aha, we have that famous Lingam quote again, "Sounds like him, acts like him but it is not him". With his on-going feud with Mahathir and at the same time, claiming he was not a racist, he sounds more to me like a potential Pakatan Rakyat candidate. Read here, Nazri, the darling of the opposition.

South Africa has since done away with racism vide the apartheid policy of the whites but in Malaysia, racism seems to be a staple diet, like rice. If this is not bad enough, the Malay rights and Ketuanan Melayu issues are once again brought to the fore by those Malay right wingers. Now we can understand why Malaysians are sceptical about Najib's 1Malaysia. I do not want to sound pessimistic but with these bozos around, it will never see the light of day.

TMNet and the response Malaysian style

Actually, I would have posted this as one of the hilarious moments in Malaysian life but since it is too good, I would like to share it with you. But you will have to visit this page to understand how our TMNet, broadband and "Potong" works compared with the American AT&T. You must also read the comments by the readers and the response by our famous blogger.

Malay and Indian students use word cards to learning Mandarin

BUTTERWORTH, PENANG: Teachers of SJK(C) Kuang Yu came out with creative teaching methods to help Malay and Indian students to learn basic Chinese language. They turned all student into "mobile dictionaries" by requiring them to wear word cards.

When students met at schools, they had to address each other according to the words that they were wearing. They could guide and correct each other if they pronounced the words wrongly.

Principal Zhong Yueyin said that basically, the cards will be changed every two days. However, if the students cannot not read the words, they will have to wear the cards until they can pronounce the words correctly.

"Students always learn fast if there are any pejorative word such as cunning and treacherous. As they are afraid to be teased by others, they hope to get rid of the cards as soon as possible."

She said that it is a special situation in SJK(C) Kuang Yu. Because of population outflow of Chinese in the fishing village, two-thirds of students are Malays and Indians. In other words, 31 out of 44 students are non-Chinese.

"Fishing" word cards to learn vocabularies

However, a lot of Malay and Indian students did not know Chinese. Teachers had to find a lot of creative teaching methods to help them learn the basics so that they could catch up the syllabus in secondary school.

“Word cards can help them to increase vocabulary and improve language skill,” she said.

Zhong said that students can also play “fishing game” with the word cards. Teachers will make some special fishing rods with a magnet attached at the end, while each word card will be attached with a paper clip.

"Teachers will let students to "fish" the word cards and read the words on it. Once they find it interesting, they will be willing to participate in the game. It can also be a competition.

“Besides, teachers will also shuffle the cards and ask the students to chose a card and read out the words,” she said.

In addition to word cards, teachers here also used a method called “morning reading” to enhance children's interest in reading.

Students would be divided into two groups according to their levels and they would have to read children's songs for 15 minutes before class every morning.

“Sometimes, we will choose short article for them to read or to have a dictation.They are required to translate Malay sentences into Chinese, too."

Zhong claimed that some non-Chinese students always cheat. Their attendance rate is poor and they do not submit their homework or bring their textbooks.

Teachers were annoyed by their passive and negative attitude.

Zhong, with 20 years of teaching experience, said that it is the first time for her to come across with such problems.

She told Guang Ming Daily that a year four Indian students had absent for 44 days in 190 school days last year. He did not submit his homework and tried to use the excuse of stomachache.

"If a student does not bring his or her textbook to school for several days, I will take him or her home to get the textbook."

She believed that more than 50% of the students do not do their homework after school. However, no matter how bad their results are, the teachers will never give up.

"We will do our best to help them and gradually improve their academic performance. We will not give up any of the students, teachers will do their best to care for and love them."

Zhong said that in order to enhance the reading atmosphere, students are required to introduce new books during the weekly assembly to attract more students to borrow books from the library. Every student has 3 minutes to share their reading reports on the stage.

"Non-Chinese students are having problems to read, write and understand in Chinese. Therefore, the school has to put more efforts in teaching methods. Fortunately, there is a group of caring staff and teachers in Kuang Yu. They are willing to teach the students from the very beginning, and we have gradually seen the results."

Five students, including two Malays, sat for the Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) this year, and they got a 100% passing rate. The principle was gratified but at the same time, she was stressful.

She said that the average result of non-Chinese students is always pulled down by Chinese language. Once they do not understand the meaning of the words, they will have difficulties to answer the exam paper, such as Science.

Students usually speak Bahasa Malaysia

"As non-Chinese students are more than Chinese students, they usually speak Bahasa Malaysia in class. Every Chinese student can speak Bahasa Malaysia fluently after a period of time.

“However, the school will keep on promoting the Chinese speaking campaign to encourage Malays to speak Chinese,” she said.

The two Malay examinees that got all pass in the UPSR were so happy during the interview.

They did not speak Chinese at home and most of the time, they communicated in Bahasa Malaysia.

To them, the most difficult part during the process of learning Chinese was comprehension. They found it difficult to answer the questions as they did not understand the article.

They hoped to continue learning Chinese when they are in secondary school.

Treat students like own children

Zhong said that children in the fishing village only learn at school. They never take any tuition class. Most of the non-Chinese parents do not pay much attention in education, causing the school to get half the result with twice the effort.

She always encouraged teachers to be patient and care for the students. "We want to treat the students like our own children. If their results are poor, what will you do?"

“If you are angry, take a deep breath,” she said.

She never gave negative comments on the children in front of their parents. She hoped that parents will cooperate with the school in order to get the best result(Translated by YOU HSUEH LIN/ Guang Ming Daily)

MySinchew 2009.12.04

Geronimo's Take: Needless to say, these will be the children that will be ahead of the pack in the years to come, and to take on the challenges of globalisation. With our education system in such a kelam kabut state, and UMNO leaders who have so little faith that they have to resort to sending their children overseas, our national type schools will never churn out world beaters. It's so sad, especially when we used to be at the very top using English as a medium.

Monday Humour

The mysterious circumstances of the collision combined with the punning potential of golf have provided plenty of material for internet wits to work with.

Here are five of the funniest Woods gags posted online so far. You can suggest your own favourites in the comment box below:

• Tiger Woods is so rich that he owns lots of expensive cars. Now he has a hole in one.
• What’s the difference between a car and a golf ball? Tiger can drive a ball 400 yards.
• Tiger Woods wasn’t seriously injured in the crash, but he’s still below par.
• What were Tiger Woods and his wife doing out at 2.30 in the morning? They went clubbing
• Tiger Woods crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree. He couldn’t decide between a wood and an iron.
• After the last three, another five birdies are expected.

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AN MCA QUIZ .....

1. When did MCA start to lose its say?

a. Since the Neo Yee Pan - Tan Koon Swan infighting in 1984.

b. When the party president was given a no-confidence vote yet refused to step down in 2009.

c. When Ong Tee Keat asked for Najib's blessings with his "Greater Unity Plan."

d. How could a 60-year-old nanny remember when she first lost her virginity?

2. Why is Ong Tee Keat so afraid that MCA will lose its say?

a. Only when MCA keeps its say can the stomach have its say.

b. The sovereignty of MCA equals the sovereignty of Ong Tee Keat.

c. The party's sovereignty overrides everything else.

d. The party's sovereignty is its last straw.

3. Why did Ong's GUP need the PM's blessings?

a. Because the issue of sovereignty was non-existent then.

b. With the hope he could subdue the crowd with the big boss' consent.

c. All he wanted was to get over the whole thing fast.

d. No one else seemed to trust him.

4. What has possibly caused MCA to lose its say?

a. The Chinese community has not defended it hard enough.

b. Out of the party's own accord.

c. At the expense of some leaders' personal gains.

d. You don't lose anything you have never possessed.

5. Who should represent MCA's sovereignty?

a. President: Ong has all the say.

b. The presidential council: Still the president's yes-men.

c. The central committee: Behave, or get removed.

d. Central delegates: Behave, or there'll be no EGM.

6. Why has Ong stepped in and out of the hospital so often?

a. Even warded in hospital, he is still serving the nation and party conscientiously.

b. Because hospital is the most public, but also the most private of all places.

c. He is planning to take over the health ministry.

d. "Stop it! My stomach has the say!"

7. Why did he slip out of hospital, attend a dinner in Ipoh, and then go back to hospital again?

a. Intermittent breaks from his gastric upset.

b. The poor quality of hospital food intensifed his gastric upset.

c. As a form of protest for health minister Liow Tiong Lai.

d. The food at Unity Dinner helped relieve his stomach problems.

8. How to salvage MCA's sovereignty?

a. Surrender the power back to the delegates and hold fresh polls.

b. Surrender it to Ong, and let him do the chop and grill again.

c. Keep fighting, to prove that MCA indeed has its say.

d. Cut up the party into three parts, each side taking one.

9. Why is Ong so insistently against the fresh polls?

a. Someone is eyeing his chair.

b. Chua Soi Lek might kiss him goodbye.

c. Central delegates might make the wrong choice.

d. The delegates might drown themselves in material enjoyment in KL.

10. If Najib were to summon the feuding factions, the best venue should be:

a. PM's office: Official things should be settled in office.

b. PM's residence: To create a homely feel.

c. MCA headquarters: To prove that MCA still has its say.

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BOTTLE OF WINE

A woman and a man are involved in a car accident on a snowy, cold Monday morning; it's a bad one. Both of their cars are totally demolished, but amazingly neither of them is hurt. God works in mysterious ways.

After they crawl out of their cars, the man is yelling about women drivers.

The woman says, "So, you're a man. That's interesting. I'm a woman. Wow, just look at our cars! There's nothing left, but we're unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should be friends and live in peace for the rest of our days."

Flattered, the man replies, "Oh yes, I agree completely, this must be a sign from God! But you're still at fault .... women shouldn't be allowed to drive."

The woman continues, "And look at his, here's another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn't break. Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune." She hands the bottle to the man.

The man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman.

The man asks, "Aren't you having any?"

The woman replies, "No, I think I'll just wait for the police ...."

MORAL OF THE STORY

Women can be cunning & unforgiving

Don't mess with them.

Malaysian Muslims and Catholics meet

Since today is Sunday, a holy day for Christians, let me share with you this encouraging news which I obtained from The Herald, the Catholic newspaper.

Parishioners of the Church of the Divine Mercy (CDM) had a three-hour dialogue session with their Wakil Rakyat Oct 2, at St Faustina Hall in Wisma Divine Mercy.

Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Member of Parliament (MP) for Shah Alam, Khalid Abdul Samad received a rousing welcome when he walked into the hall with several of his PAS members for the follow-up dialogue session. This is the second visit of YB Khalid to CDM. The first was on Mar 27, 2008.

Making their first time appearance to CDM were MP Ampang, Zuraida Kamarudin from PKR, YB Hannah Yeoh the Selangor DAP State Assemblyman for Subang Jaya and Peter Chong the Private Secretary to MP Subang. They too received a warm welcome by CDM parish priest, Fr Paulino Miranda and his parishioners.

Fr Paulino opened the session with a prayer. The assembly observed a moment of silence to pray for the victims of natural disasters in the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.

“We come here as a community to pray for our political leaders — the good and not good ones. May God’s grace fall upon the not-so-good so that there will be a change of good governance,” said Fr Paulino. He hoped the dialogue session with Wakil Rakyat would be fruitful.

Mary Magdaline Pereira, the head of the parish Justice & Peace Committee (JPC) was the moderator. In her opening remarks she said this session is a follow-up after a year and a-half ago, after the General Elections where MP Khalid Samad visited CDM to meet and thank the parishioners. She said JPC under the PIHD mooted the idea to have a follow-up session with these political leaders- PKR/PAS/DAP — to see if they have kept up their commitments.

Jason Ho, PPC of CDM gave a brief summary of the issues raised at the last meeting with YB Khalid, namely in relation to permission to put up a cross on the church roof, road signage to direct people to CDM, lack of public transport to CDM. Other issues raised were related to local issues relating to green lungs, land development, apostasy, usage of ‘Allah’ and freedom of religion.

Ho said some parishioners do not have their own transport especially those living in U5 and Sri Muda and they find it difficult to come to CDM for worship.

There are no bus stands in the Glenmarie Industrial Estate and many visitors especially from other parishes find it difficult to locate where the CDM is, as the church building looks exactly like a factory and there are no signages to indicate that there is a church nearby.

YB Yeoh thanked the church for inviting her and said she is one of the four Assemblymen who sit in the Non- Muslim Affairs Department who meet every two months before making recommendations to the state Exco. Her role is limited at the state level though many issues raised touched on Federal policies. Her personal stand is that she agreed that we should be free to display the cross sign on the church building. She will raise the issue in the state assembly. However, she said that the road signages is under the jurisdiction of JKR.

Another issue is that it took the CDM some 26 years to see reality, yet the conversion of the land from industrial land has yet to be done due to several issues yet to be resolved. YB Yeoh suggested the conversion of usage of premises and asked that an application be put to the local council, although the building has been operating as church for some time.

She gave an input about the problems faced in Selangor, lack of land for religious worship. She added that the state government has earmarked 70 plots of land for religious worship since March 8, 2008 and have not torn down any house of worship, except one temple in Ampang due to misunderstanding. But they have been given a new land to rebuild. She also gave an overview on how to make the application for land for worship purposes.

YB Yeoh explained that the state government has given a RM4 million grant each to Tamil, Chinese schools and Sekolah Agama in Selangor. She said state level Exco and backbenchers are united, having a good relationship as they have a very diplomatic Menteri Besar. She also gave her personal views that people should be free to choose whatever religion they want and said we should fight for our rights through the proper channel, not through violence.

As for lack of public transport, she said it comes under the purview of the Ministry of Transport.

The next speaker was YB Chong who gave an input on behalf of MP Subang, YB Sivarasa who is overseas. Chong touched on several issues like lack of freedom of press saying they are definitely ‘controlled’. He said there is a lot of unity on the ground, among the people. He and YB Sivarasa went to visit three different mosques during Ramadan and received good reception from the Muslims there.

He said PAS sponsored and paid for Bukit Gasing Raya/Tunglung and Hungry Ghost festivals. “We are fed with lies and lies to put fear in us about disunity.” He also praised Fr Paulino for standing up for the truth at the anti- ISA vigil. He said he also attends the Petaling District monthly meeting and council and will follow up with YB Yeoh on the cross issue. Chong who is a practising Christian urged all to stand up for people who have lost their rights, and be courageous. He suggested that we should go back to our Bible and read and get inspiration and strength.

One parishioner questioned why it was taking so long for the cross and signboard; another parishioner from Subang Jaya complained about the Subang Ria Park green lung.

Fr Paulino clarified saying the problem is not with MPSA but with JKR, as the signage or directional road signs issue is ‘stuck’ there. The application for the cross has not yet been made as they are waiting for approval for the signboards first.

YB Zuraida, Head of the Women Wing of PKR said it won’t make her less Muslim by coming to the church. She said she knows how to carry herself. A real Muslim is one who values the universal values of life — to be trustworthy and honest — is the basis of Islamic teachings. It doesn’t make a Malay, Chinese or Indian different as everyone comes from Adam. She stated that the teaching of Islam in Malaysia is not wholesome.

YB Zuraida said that a Church is a church and crosses should be allowed. “We need to respect each other’s religions, and others by virtue of our good deeds and values.” She also said that there shouldn’t be any problem on the road signage that the CDM wants to put up.

YB Yeoh who is only 29, said she promised to remain clean, the stand she upholds. She said, if you want clean leaders, as people now demanded competency and service, it will take time. She said OKU now has free public carparks across Selangor which she championed.

YB Chong said CDM sits on the border of Shah Alam and Subang Jaya, and the parishioners are asked to know their local councillors and give them a week for problems to be resolved once a report has been made; otherwise write to their MPs or Assemblymen as KPI has now been implemented in MPSA.

He said all should be participative by submitting questions they want to ask in Parliament through their MPs. They can pass them to YB Sivarasa or YB Zuraida, etc as the MPs will take up the matter there.

YB Zuraida concluded by explaining the tudung issue.