On Scholarships - let's get down to brass tacks

25th May, 2011

To: All SPM top-scorers in 2011 who did not get the JPA scholarship of their dreams and who are complaining

c.c. editor@thestar.com.my, editor@themalaysianinsider.com, editor@malaysiakini.com, chenghai@thesundaily.com, news@nstp.com.my

Listen here,

Stop whining and moaning. The world has not ended. Scholarships are a privilege, not a right. It's "a grant-in-aid to a student (as by a college or foundation)" (Merriam-Webster).

Yes, you did very well for your SPM exams. Bravo! Getting to study for free overseas in the course of your choice is not a given. Deal with it! People generally do not like those with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement.

Aren't you, the crème de la crème of SPM 2011 eager to prove to us that you indeed ARE smart? You've hit a bump in your road to get an education. Now what? Whine and moan? Is that all your top-scoring brains can come up with?

Make us proud.
Make your parents proud. Think outside the box, strategise, do you research, and find a solution. Life has given you a leg up - you have a decent brain. For goodness' sake, USE IT!!!

I suggest you read the following, because it will help you in the coming years.

Rule No. 1: Life is not fair. Get used to it.

Rule No. 2: The real world won't care as much about your self-esteem as much as your school does. It'll expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

Rule No. 3: Sorry, you won't make $40,000 a year right out of high school.

Rule No. 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait 'til you get a boss. When you screw up, he's not going to ask you how you feel about it.

Rule No. 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity.

Rule No. 6: If you screw up, you are responsible. This is the flip side of "It's my life," and "You're not the boss of me,"

Rule No. 7: Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning up your room and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. And by the way, before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your bedroom.

Rule No. 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers. Life hasn't.

Rule No. 9: Life is not divided into semesters, and you don't get summers off. Not even Easter break. They expect you to show up every day. For eight hours. And you don't get a new life every 10 weeks. It just goes on and on. While we're at it, very few jobs are interested in fostering your self-expression or helping you find yourself. Fewer still lead to self-realization. (See Rule No. 1 and Rule No. 2.)

Rule No. 10: Television is not real life. Your life is not a sitcom. Your problems will not all be solved in 30 minutes, minus time for commercials. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop to go to jobs.

Rule No. 11: Be nice to nerds. You may end up working for them. We all could.

Rule No. 12: Smoking does not make you look cool. It makes you look moronic. Next time you're out cruising, watch an 11-year-old with a butt in his mouth. That's what you look like to anyone over 20. Ditto for "expressing yourself" with purple hair and/or pierced body parts.

Rule No. 13: You are not immortal.

Rule No. 14: Enjoy this while you can. Sure parents are a pain, school's a bother, and life is depressing. But someday you'll realize how wonderful it was to be a kid. Maybe you should start now. You're welcome.

It's not all doom and gloom. Really. Just start doing something constructive. Whining and groaning to the newspapers is NOT "doing something constructive".

The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

To President, Malaysian Bar about Press Statement regarding Utusan Malaysia's "Malaysia negara Kristian?" article

Mr. President,

Good press statement. Very good press statement. A bit long, but good press statement. (http://goo.gl/fBESv)

But as I have asked Murphy Pakiam to chill (http://goo.gl/2yyq8), I think I should also ask you to do the same thing. Your press statement is a bit, ‘angry’ lah. It has the sorta ‘suspicious’ slant when looking at things. I won’t say ‘paranoid’. That’s a very strong word.

But when I read your press statement that says:-

“highly irresponsible on the part of Utusan Malaysia, and is nothing short of gutter journalism”

“Utusan Malaysia appears to be able to offer such so-called journalism in a climate of impunity”

“By immediately investigating the alleged incidents rather than those who made the reports, the authorities have shown favoured irresponsible parties how they can wantonly instil fear and religious disharmony in the country.”

“irresponsible parties seek to manoeuvre and manipulate current events”

“Any independent observer of the mass media would reach the conclusion that Utusan Malaysia is beyond the reach of the law.”

“persistently published intemperate and wild accusations, written in inflammatory language, which threaten Malaysia’s social fabric”

I sense a lot of anger and dismay. That’s not good. You must watch out for your health.

Funnily, your press statement kinda reminds me of this blog post (http://goo.gl/CFP9J) which draws lines of connection between the Bar Council and the Walk for Justice and Lina Joy and Christians and politics. Amazing how different people can view the same events differently. The mind of man – an amazing thing.

I must say, all the above makes for interesting reading. But … penat lah … dan kepala sakit lah bila kita so worried/suspicious about the motif of apa orang nak buat, atau akan buat, atau mungkin akan buat. Betul betul penat. Susah nak focus on perkara macam exercise, riadah, makan on time, dan relax bersama-sama keluarga. You know, the “important” things in life … like the chain emails keep telling us.

Anyway :-) I’m wishing you, and all of us, good health, and much happiness.

“God bless us, every one!” (http://goo.gl/yGvr8)
:-)

Jason Kay Kit Leon
Malacca
J/370

To Murphy Pakiam, on the "Malaysia, a Christian country?" issue

To: Murphy Nicholas Pakiam, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur and President of Catholic Bishops of Malaysia - frantrcakl@yahoo.com

c.c. Herald Malaysia Online - editor@herald.com.my


Hello,

I read your press statement in the 08 May 2011 edition of Malaysian Insider and Malaysia Today. Good press statement. But, I have to nitpick k :-)

You said, “On behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Malaysia, I would like to categorically refute the allegation that such a meeting had taken place or will take place in a Catholic venue in Penang.” Itu cukup lah. Why pulak you have to go and add the following comment, “It is clear that such reporting has the effect of creating religious disharmony, inciting hatred and heaping odium on Christians”? Itu overkill lah bro. Dah refute dah lah.

Then you go on to tell the police what to do: “We therefore call upon the authorities and the police to immediately make a thorough investigation of this matter … yada yada yada”. Hello!!! They know how to do their jobs lah. They are police. They are not dummies. Bernama reported that on 07 May 2011 (i.e. 1 day before 08 May 2011) Home Minister already said police “are taking actions”. Bagi police some space to work lah - they will do their job.

In the meantime, take a chill pill, and dun worry k.

;-)

In Christ,
Jason Kay
Melaka
09 May 2011

========================

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=584728

May 07, 2011 17:46 PM

Hisham: Agenda To Make Christianity Official Religion A Serious Matter

BESUT, May 7 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has described as serious a purported meeting of pastors in Penang allegedly to discuss making Christianity the official religion of the federation.

He said any action by followers of a religion would invite reactions from followers of others.

"The same goes in racial issues. If certain races resorted to raising issues in an excessive manner, it will invite reactions from other races," he told reporters after opening the Besut Umno division meeting, here Saturday.

Hishammuddin, who is Umno vice-president, said he was now awaiting reports over what transpired at the meeting.

"But I prefer to face those who don't understand the actual situation. We should give explanation over such issues that are being fanned by certain quarters.

"If they are adamant on creating disunity even after we have given explanations, then I think the police will make a decision (on the actions to be taken).

"It's the police, not me, (who are taking actions), otherwise we'll be accused of playing politics," he said, adding that in handling such matters, the government gave priority to security.

"I will monitor, not just this group, but also extremists among Muslims who want to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden," he said.

In another development, he said police would investigate claims about the existence of another sex video implicating an opposition leader believed to have been produced in Thailand.

"Police will investigate this and will take action against those found to have committed offences. No one is above the law," he said.

Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, secretary general of the Malaysian Chinese Muslims Association, Ann Wan Seng, cautioned Muslims against attempts by certain quarters to undermine the position of Islam as the country's official religion.

He said Muslims were taking too much comfort over the position of Islam as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Speaking at an Islamic organisations' leadership forum, he said, there were numerous issues affecting Muslims to date which he said should be given attention.

Among them were apostasy, burials of the bodies of Muslim converts and the requirement for new converts to inform their family members before they were allowed to register their religious affiliation, he added.

He also claimed that apostasy issues were connected to what he described as clandestine operations by certain quarters.

Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Datuk Zulkifli Noordin said there were young Muslims in the country who had gotten carried away with liberalism to the point of neglecting their own religion.

He said they were easily confused by the issue surrounding the use of the word "Allah" and attempts to convert Muslims to become Christians.

He added that these groups argued that the word "Allah" can be used by all religions and that changing of religions should be allowed.

"This should be given attention because these young minds are confused by those with self interest who are out to propagate their own religion," he said.

"Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should engage these young people and explain to them so that they are clear about the agenda of certain quarters who wanted to propagate their religion among Muslims," he said at the gathering of Muslim organisations organised by Pembela, a Muslim NGO, in Kuala Lumpur.

In Tumpat, Malay rights group Perkasa said it would lodged police reports nationwide over the alleged attempt to make Christianity the official religion of the federation.

Its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said until this evening, 10 police reports had been lodged, urging the authority to investigate the matter.

"This is about sensitivity and this is very serious. Perkasa calls on the police to investigate this.

"If it is true as reported, then Perkasa is very disappointed because this is about religion, a very sensitive issue," he told reporters.

-- BERNAMA

Surat kepada Pengarang Utusan Malaysia tentang artikel “Malaysia negara Kristian?”

Kepada: Pengarang, Utusan Malaysia - pengarang@utusan.com.my

Tuan Pengarang,

1. Saya merujuk kepada artikel bertajuk “Kristian agama rasmi?” yang disiarkan di mukasurat hadapan edisi 07 Mei 2011 suratkhabar Tuan yang saya percaya diberi tajuk “Malaysia negara Kristian?” di edisi internet.

2. Saya adalah seorang Kristian (Protestan-Methodist).

3. Jika benar 35 paderi tersebut hendak menjadikan Malaysia negara Kristian, mereka adalah bodoh, bebal dan bahlul.

4. Artikel 3 Perlembagaan Negara jelas mengatakan bahawa “Islam is the religion of the Federation …”. Saya percaya (dan berharap bahawa) 35 paderi tersebut sedia maklum tentang implikasi undang-undang perkataan-perkataan tersebut.

5. Saya berterima kasih kepada suratkhabar Tuan kerana mengutarakan isu ini.

6. Saya berharap Tuan boleh memaklumkan 2 penulis blog tersebut untuk membuat laporan polis sekiranya mereka percaya terdapat sebab-sebab laporan polis perlu dibuat selaras dengan Seksyen 13 Kanun Acara Jenayah.

Jason Kay
Melaka
07/5/2011

==========================

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=0507&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_01.htm

Malaysia negara Kristian?

Oleh ROKIAH ABDULLAH dan MOHD. KHUZAIRI ISMAIL
pengarang@utusan.com.my

PULAU PINANG 6 Mei - Ahli Parlimen Jelutong, Jeff Ooi menafikan dakwaan kononnya beliau menganjurkan satu majlis pertemuan paderi dari seluruh negara yang didakwa turut membincangkan agenda menjadikan Kristian sebagai agama rasmi Persekutuan sekali gus melantik Perdana Menteri dalam kalangan penganut agama itu.

Menurut wakil rakyat DAP itu, beliau hanya menghadiri majlis kesyukuran yang diadakan secara tertutup untuk paderi-paderi tersebut di sebuah hotel di Jalan Macalister di sini sebagai tetamu.

Majlis pertemuan paderi-paderi berkenaan dan ikrar menjadikan Kristian sebagai agama rasmi Persekutuan didedahkan oleh dua laman blog hari ini iaitu 'bigdog' di http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/ menerusi entri bertajuk 'Making Christianity the official religion? dan blog Marahku di http://marahku.blogspot.com.

Jeff yang ditanya mengenai ikrar itu mendakwa, ketika majlis berlangsung, beliau sibuk 'melayan' iPad selain menjamu selera walaupun turut bertafakur semasa paderi-paderi itu berdoa.

"Bukankah berdoa itu suruhan tuhan. Apa yang saya tahu, 'bigdog' (penulis blog) tidak sebut nama saya, dia tidak tuduh saya. Kalau mahu tahu lebih lanjut, sila tanya polis Cawangan Khas dan dengar rakaman yang dibuat mereka," katanya melalui khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Difahamkan, majlis makan malam yang dihadiri lebih 100 paderi Kristian itu diadakan di sebuah hotel di sini semalam yang kemudiannya disusuli dengan beberapa konvensyen hari ini.

Malam ini pula akan diadakan satu majlis di Pusat Kristian (Katolik) Pulau Pinang di sini dan satu ceramah perdana pula dianjurkan esok. Pertemuan itu dikatakan dianjurkan setiap tahun.

Dalam majlis makan malam itu, seramai 35 orang paderi dikatakan berdiri dalam bulatan dan saling berpegangan tangan tanda bersetuju untuk menjadikan Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara Kristian dan mahu Perdana Menteri juga dalam kalangan penganut agama itu.

Sementara itu, tinjauan Utusan Malaysia di hotel yang terletak di Jalan Burmah mendapati persidangan sehari itu yang bermula pukul 8.30 pagi berlangsung di Bilik 2 dan 3, tingkat 7 hotel itu.

Kira-kira 10 meja dan kerusi disusun di luar bilik persidangan yang dikatakan diadakan setiap tahun dengan beberapa rahib dilihat berbual-bual sebelum masing-masing masuk ke dalam bilik persidangan.

Kenyataan Jeff itu bagaimanapun berbeza dengan laporan blog 'bigdog' yang mendakwa majlis itu dianjurkan oleh kawasan Parlimen DAP dipercayai Jelutong dan turut dihadiri oleh kira-kira 100 yang lain termasuk wakil rakyat parti itu dari Sarawak dan beberapa pekerja parti.

"Apa yang dilakukan DAP adalah sesuatu yang sangat berbahaya. DAP membawa strategi politik cauvinis mereka ke satu tahap perubahan dan sensitiviti yang sangat tinggi," dakwa blog berkenaan.

Blog tersebut menambah, sebagai satu komuniti minoriti, cita-cita DAP itu jelas membuktikan mereka cuba bertindak sebagai kaum majoriti.

"Ini merupakan lembaran baru dalam politik yang mana kaum minoriti memainkan peranan sebagai kaum majoriti di samping strategi cauvinis DAP menyemai politik kebencian. Sesuatu yang pasti ia bergerak pada landasan yang sangat berbahaya," dakwa blog itu.