Posts Tagged: views

Nonsense Friday: Teachers as Politicians?

I’ve been reading the papers, browsing through columns, opinions, news and articles. And for the past 2 days, the hit-topic has been on Teachers as Politicians. I don’t know how you’d be feeling if you had a teacher who was a Politician, of if you child is placed under a teacher whom is a Politician. I personally think is such a bad move to allow teachers to actively be involved in politics; just as if the politics here in our country is not bad enough. A teacher’s duty is to educate, teach and to serve the students and to bring up kids/students in the right way and right path. So, now. How can the government organisations complain that teacher has heavy workload while they are trying to add another heavier burden on them. Put yourselves in the shoe of the politicians, do you ever once think it is easy? It is so ironic how one can complain on the workload and yet agree to this foolish decision. Enlighten me if you think that being a politician will give the teachers lesser workloads. Furthermore, teachers should always be respected by students. And being respected does have an impact in influencing the thoughts of the students. So, how can we teach students to be democratic and to have freedom of speech if, for example the teacher is from the government or even the opposition. How do you justify that? For example, a student choose to speak against an issue that is against the government, where the teacher (politician) is supporting. Hence, how would that class be like? A parliamentary debate? It does not also take a genius to know that our education system is getting from bad to worst, what more when/if the teachers are involved in politics? Teachers will probably spend much time politicking in class than any other things and will not bother about their professional duties. In addition, what happens when general election comes? WIll all classes be cancelled? Or be replaced? Where will these politician teachers be? Giving speeches, promising manifestoes? Won’t that neglect school duties? Yes, in previous years in history, teachers are often politicians but in this generation, this no longer works. If a teacher can complain the heavy burden in school, why even add additional burdens? School those days ain’t like school these days. Politics those days ain’t too like politics these days. It can’t be compared. Is not justifiable to say that voice of teachers on issues would be heard more at the political level and that they should be given the opportunity to play a constructive role in politics. There are many ways to do that, but not using our kids and students as the medium. Do we have to go to this extend? Tell me your views! :)

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Discrimination or Not?

If you have been following the media closely, I think you’d have read or came across the news on the “Disabled would could Not get Her Date”. If you’ve not, here was the article that this person wrote in to the Editor:

I WISH to highlight an incident where a disabled person was discriminated against. I participated in the "Win A Date with a Bachelor" contest hosted by CLEO magazine in April. A month later, a sales coordinator from CLEO called me to inform that I was one of the winners.
In my entry, I had stated that the preferred location for the "date" was Starbucks, but the coordinator suggested True Fitness instead. I told her that I was disabled and that the location was not convenient. She said she would consult with her manager and contact me again. As she failed to call me, I contacted her on May 13. She told me that my award had been given to another person since I was disabled. This is discrimination against the disabled and abuse of their rights. I am making this complaint on behalf of the disabled community as a whole. Read more: Magazine took away my date http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/21disabled/Article/#ixzz0t6X4zhAO

I actually came across this column or write up while I was eating my breakfast. And I seriously was pondering on the issue – Should a Disabled be Denied their Date; just because they are disabled? Please don’t shoot me, but a part of me did try to put myself into CLEO’s shoes. But the other half of me says that CLEO should not have done that. But my conscience told me, CLEO should not have reacted this way. I came into such conclusions without knowing or digging into details. Should a company like CLEO really deny the rights of the handicapped and disabled? Personally, I don’t think so. I’ve always been a person who believes that handicapped people should be given the same opportunity as a normal person. Or perhaps, they should probably be given more opportunities in today’s world. In a developing country like Malaysia, I often feel the lack of care towards the disabled. However, I must commend the effort by various parties who have been trying very hard to improve on this. Previously, there were not many malls with special car parks or even lifts. But recently, I’ve been observing that most malls in our country already have these special car parks and lifts for disabled. One thing that I see is coming up is also the special lifts for handicap to get to the hotel by just driving in their wheelchair (if they are not capable of walking). My guess on why such a scene is occurring in Malaysia is because of the lack of this issue in our education system. Just take a look around you, disabled kids or children are rarely allowed into normal schools. This is because they are deemed to be a burden to the teachers or their classmates. Hence, normal students never get a chance to mingle with them. When I was in St John’s, there was a special class called “Resos Centre” just for the disabled (whether be it blind, deaf, dumb etc.) However, we really get a chance to mix or mingle or even spend time with these students because they are often in one side. They are also in a special class where they were given special teachers as well as special attention. I see so much love, care, effort and commitment in these teachers. But we really never got a chance to work with them or speak to them. I am not sure if it was because of the barrier in communication or the culture just made us that way. Nevertheless, I had to say that St John’s “Resos Center” has made the school proud numerous times with their results and their sporting activites. This really proves that one that is disabled may not be useless or may not be as good as a normal person. I believe that God made each of us equal and we have our own gifts, talents and capabilities. Why must people be discriminated just that they are not as fortunate as we are? They did not choose to be this way; and we can’t choose what we like or what we want in life either – and this is what makes our life fair. Coming back to the CLEO issue, CLEO should not have done such an act (if that was the truth). Their Public Relations had soon release a reply regarding the statement above:

Sirs – We note the letter “Magazine took away my date" from Ms Pua Ghin Chu of Petaling Jaya, Selangor, posted on nst.com.my on July 6 and published on July 7, 2010. To clarify some of the points raised by Ms Pua:
1) We did not deny Ms Pua a date because of her condition.
2) A CLEO representative telephoned Ms Pua to let her know she had been selected following an in-magazine contest as the winner of the CLEO Most Eligible Bachelors’ Gym Date. She told our representative that she is wheelchair-bound and would prefer the café date.
3) Unfortunately the café date she requested had already been awarded to another contestant. This fact was not yet known by the CLEO representative she was talking to. As such we could not offer the cafe date to her.
4) CLEO did not follow up with Ms Pua as we assumed she was not interested in the Gym Date.
CLEO contests and promotions generate many entries. This contest was particularly popular and we had many entries for only a limited number of set dates, which filled up quickly. These dates are sponsored by third parties. As such CLEO is unable to award more than the occasions pre-arranged with these sponsors.
We were informed of Ms Pua’s unhappiness over the incident on June 24. We telephoned her on June 24 to discuss the matter and, as a result, another date was arranged for her with a CLEO Bachelor. We understand Ms Pua has already been on this date and to our knowledge she is satisfied with this outcome. In fact, we believe Ms Pua has also written to your department on July 7 informing as such. A copy of her letter is attached below.
Nevertheless, we regret that the communications’ process caused Ms Pua some distress and we have undertaken an internal review of these procedures to ensure they are more effective.
CLEO prints in excess of 70,000 copies every month with the aim of entertaining and informing our readership. We value every one of our readers highly and greatly appreciate the trust and affection they place with us. We know this is not to be taken lightly, and regret having caused any unhappiness with our actions. Certainly they were unintentional and we sought to rectify the situation as soon as we were made aware of it.
We trust this clarifies the matter.
Sincerely,
Charlotte Goh
Marketing Communications Director
ACP Magazines Pte Ltd

I don’t know how true this is, but I think I should be fair in writing showing the whole issue – and for you to make your own judgement. Yes, I am studying Public Relations and I have been convinced that many PR Executives should be using ways to overcome Crisis – Crisis Management, they call it. But, I am giving it a benefit of the doubt? Here’s Ms Pua’s response thereafter,

Miss Pua’s letter as attached in the original response:
Date: Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 7:49 PM
Dear NST editor:
In regards to the previous post titled ‘Magazine took away my date’ dated on 6 July 2010, i wish to express my gratitude to the consumer tribunal of Malaysia for his precious help in sorting out this matter for me.
CLEO Magazine had took immediate action and currently they are in the process of compensating what they had promised the readers in the contest form to my friend and I. Last Saturday, they had arranged my date with Dr Nanda (one of the CLEO Bachelor) and also they are in the process of arranging the prizes for me and my friend now. Finally, I will get what I deserve as promised in the contest form!
Once again, thanks for your concern.
Best regards,
Pua Ghin Chu
*****
Miss Pua’s next letter to NST to clarify some things:
Thursday, 8 July 2010 11:11 AM
Dear NST editor:
In regards to my previous email yesterday, I am so sorry to make such a big mistake which is I thank to wrong national body.
I would like to clarify again here.
In regards to the previous post titled ‘Magazine took away my date’ dated on 6 July 2010, i wish to express my gratitude to the National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) for his precious help in sorting out this matter for me.
Once again, thank you!
Regards,
Pua Ghin Chu

Whether it is true or not that CLEO had done that because of the act of discrimination, I can’t be sure. But let’s all Malaysians – not discriminate the disabled, the poor, the needy or even the weak. Let’s make Malaysia a better place.

Demolition of Pudu Jail

I am just a little late to post on my views on this issue. Apart from that, I am also in the process of sorting out some other event’s pictures to be in my upcoming blog posts. And if you are wondering where my Hong Kong posts are, I can tell you – it’s coming. The aeriel view of the compound of Pudu Jail 1Aerial And some background history of Pudu Jail: The 114years old Pudu Jail was built in 1891 (completed in 1895) on 10 hectares of land. It was then closed in 1996 where the prison was shifted to Sungai Buloh for operations. As a city KL boy, Pudu Jail has its significance in my life. I grew up seeing the long wall paintings as I heading to and from church. I can’t believe it with my eyes that it is (gonna) be demolished and torn down. My parents or friends that were older than me used to say this. “If you naughty, I send you/bring you to Pudu Jail, ok?”. You constantly hear this phrase, especially if you are misbehaving in the car. Or maybe, everytime you bring a foreigner guest to the city, you would show them with pride the mural art on the wall painted by the prisoners themselves; and tell them about the story and history of the prisoners and what happened at that time. Undeniably, Pudu Jail has much of an impact to all KL citizens. The main entrance to Pudu Jail2The inside view of Pudu Jail 3 Many parties in our country (or even in other countries) has criticised the the demolishing of Pudu Jail – due to the obvious reasons (read on). The different voices that has spoke against the project seemed to be unheard; or not responded to. 4Mural1 One of the many reasons that the Pudu Jail is being demolished is because of Traffic Congestion.But traffic congestion is not something which those of us who live and work in Kuala Lumpur are unfamiliar with. I mean, it could be good after all – to smoothen the traffic through destroying our own heritage. Is it worth it after all? What got me angered is this quote that I was reading:

Don’t worry; the Pudu Jail is only 114 year old. Just like the Bok House, age is not a contributing factor. As long as it is has nothing to do with the official religion or the native’s culture, demolish it! Rename all the roads and cities!

In the next 10 years, the site will be developed by UDA for the Bukit Bintang Commercial Centre project which includes a transit centre, apartment, offices, recreation centre, hotel and commercial buildings.

“If we are always demolishing, how are we going to build our history? What is going to be build at the Pudu Jail site, apartments? Who will want to buy property where thousands have been hanged?” – Bernama

I have no idea what the next 10 years is gonna be; but I have to say that Pudu will never be the same without Pudu Jail. Remebering those times where Pudu Jail used to be the landmark or “icon” of the city; especially in giving directions. Early of this week, the demolishing of the walls of the jail at 10pm:5 6 It is such a sad scene to see this building being torn down; I will definitely miss the wall especially. It may be too late to save Pudu Jail, lets hope that the awareness raised by this will strengthen the public’s resolve to be conscious of how fragile our heritage is and to speak up for its protection, conservation and preservation. – Bernama A last tribute to the ever famous Pudu Jail:

Photo from Google.

Oh, Where Am I Going?

Guess where I would be heading to tomorrow:

I’ve scheduled the post to tell you the answer! 😛

Shortcut to Fame?

You know, I’ve been thinking hard (and deep) on what to blog about on my next post because I wanted to give “events” a break from my blog. And guess what, the thing that popped up in my mind was – ‘Justin Bieber’ and ‘Fame’.

Well, undeniably true that, Justin Bieber got into my mind when I saw him singing on American Idol (click link to watch) just last week and when I heard his song again at Pavilion at Bola-Bola event. You know, I went ‘Baby, baby, baby Oh…’ after those 2 days. It was like so addictive and it was going round and round in my ears till I kinda hated it. And I guess this was how phenomenal he was, watch this:

But hey, have you ever wondered if Youtube was the ‘Shortcut to Fame’? Apparently so, Justin Bieber got famous via Youtube. This guy has got a whole long queue of haters and yet he also had another long queue who is in support of this young chap. I’m honestly neither at both parties. Maybe how I go on writing, you can decide whether I am for him or against him.

On the critics side, many have claimed that this boy does not deserve to be there because of his immaturity and his voice. But does immaturity really matters in the entertainment industry? On the supporting party, many also claimed that this guy is talented and he can sing. As a singer (kononlah) myself, I actually think ‘singing’ is a very subjective matter. Mr A may think you can sing but Mr B may think you can’t. And before I finish talking about this guy, just watch the below video to see how much people really “adores” him (note that sarcasm)

But hey, enough of Justin Bieber (I think some of you might be hating me now already :P).

There were actually many people who actually made it famous via Youtube after some reading and some researching.

One of them includes: Marie Digby. Although she was already signed by Disney, the song allowed her to be snapped up by Hollywood Records. She was asked to play on Star 98 Radia LA, performed on the Carson Daly show and the song was also featured on the MTV show ‘The Hills’.

Does Youtube still really can make us famous?

There are actually many others who made it via Youtube; but there are obviously others who also make a fool out of themselves on Youtube. Yes, I’ve seen some things you wished you never see.

Okay, my blog today is messed up because I woke up early and didn’t get my nap. Forgive me please 😛

Before I leave, let me leave you with this, I think she’d make it big too, or she probably is already a star-in-the-making

Why not you tell me if Youtube can me the Shortcut to Fame? Maybe I can go try my luck one day 😛

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