Lim Kit Siang – The Longest Served Opposition Leader

Lim Kit Siang first emerged as a politician when he was National Organising Secretary of the DAP from 1966 to 1969. The course of the political landscape changed when he was promoted to Secretary-General in 1969 after being acting Secretary-General for a short period during an unstable period in the country's history.

Lim was first elected as an MP for the Kota Melaka seat in 1969. His election was initially held to be void, however, because the law prohibited an election agent who had previously failed to discharge his duties from standing for election in the future.

Apart from 1999 - 2004 where he lost his seat due to the Chinese disenchantment with DAP entering into a political pact with the Islamism PAS for the general elections, Lim represented various constituencies in four states:

• Bandar Melaka (1969 - 1974)

• Kota Melaka (1974 - 1978)

• Petaling Jaya (1978 -1982)

• Kota Melaka (1982 - 1986)

• Tanjong (1986 - 1999)

• Ipoh Timur (since 2004)

In 1969 Kit Siang was detained under the Internal Security Act for 18 months. Ten years later, in 1979, he was convicted of five charges under Official Secrets Act for exposing an inappropriate arms deal between the government and a Swiss company. He was one of the people arrested during "Operation Lalang" in 1987 for inciting racism. He spent some years in prison under the ISA.

Lim Kit Siang served as opposition leader from 1973 to 1999; he lost his seat in 1999 election and his seat succeeded by Dato Fadzil Noor from PAS. He retain his seat in 2004 general election and appointed as opposition leader again until 2007 general election. By convention, the Leader of the Opposition comes from the political party that secures the largest number of seats in the Dewan Rakyat, and which is not in government. The Leader of Opposition is often seen as the Prime Minister in waiting. The present Opposition Leader is Wan Azizah Wan Ismail of the People's Justice Party (PKR). Together with Democratic Action Party (DAP), the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) formed Pakatan Rakyat.

Government Scholarship Ratio

A shouting match over the PSD scholarship ratio erupted after Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, announced that the new Public Service Department scholarships would go to students of all races, religions and economic status. AS the government unveiled a scholarship scheme for top Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia students, the 55:45 scholarship ratio between Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras became a point of arguement in the house.

However, as he detailed the new scheme, Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) interjected to say that he was against the current scholarship ratio as it purportedly compromised the rights of Bumiputeras guaranteed under the constitution. Two opposition MPs described Tajuddin's statement as racist because it did not consider the plight of poor Chinese and Indians. This was because any use of economic status as a yardstick would discourage the best minds from staying in the country.

The new ratio was introduced last year to replace the previous quota of 90 per cent for Bumiputeras and 10 per cent for non-Bumiputeras. With the 55:45 scholarship ratio, clearly shows government realise that they need to create more opportunity to minorities. It’s important to ensure every Malaysian citizen regardless of races get equal chances to further their studies in critical courses. I hope goverment will be more open minded in higher education field in future, not only in PSD scholarships but also public universities intake.

Datuk Seri Mohammad Nazri Abdul Aziz: "if they score 15As, we will just close our eyes and let them have the scholarships".

Obama's Links in Malaysia

Barack Hussein Obama , a man who has captured the imagination of millions around the world. The supreme white racists, I mean the white supremacists, will try to everything they can to knock him off before the election in November but it looks like it is Obama's destiny to be the US first black president. Here's a little story about Barack Obama and his Malaysian connection. His brother in law, Konrad Ng, 34, is a Canadian born Chinese. His wife is Maya Soetoro - the step sister of Obama, whose father is an Indonesian. Maya, a Buddhist, is now a teacher in Hawaii, with Ng, who is an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii.

Here's the Malaysian link - Konrad's father, Howard, migrated to Burlington, Ontario, from Malaysia. He is now a retired scientist who lives with his wife, Joan, in the little Canadian town. Both Konrad and Maya campaigned for Obama during the campaign trail for the Asian votes. The couple has been telling voters that Obama, with his family links, has been the most multi-racial American presidential candidate.

Mandela: 8 Lessons of Leadership

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in fully representative democratic elections. As President from May 1994 until June 1999, Mandela presided over the transition from minority rule and apartheid, winning international respect for his advocacy of national and international reconciliation.

Read Mandela: His 8 Lessons of Leadership at Time.Com.

This week's Time magazine cover features Nelson Mandela at 90 years of age. It contains 8 leadership lessons that current Malaysian political leaders of any shade and, business leaders, will do well to abide by.

1. Courage is not the absence of fear — it's inspiring others to move beyond it.

2. Lead from the front — but don't leave your base behind.

3. Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front.
4. Know your enemy — and learn about his favorite sport.
5. Keep your friends close — and your rivals even closer.
6. Appearances matter — and remember to smile.
7. Nothing is black or white.

8. Quitting is leading too.

Marvelous Debater - Anwar Ibrahim or Ahmad Shabery?

Anwar looked cool at the event. Ahmad Shabery's posture was to be the "protector" of Petronas. But Anwar made it clear he wasn't attacking Petronas and, in fact, lauded its achievements. That left Ahmad Shabery with making personal and barbed remarks about Anwar's rebellious history. The televised debate brought a balanced, cool, intelligent, articulate and persuasive Anwar into the living rooms of all M'sians. Here was the "monster", the "Devil incarnate". But, guess what? He had no horns. He was not spewing smoke and flames. Instead he was cool as a cucumber. He had a boyish smile. He looked charismatic. Given that he has an appointment with the police tomorrow based on the sodomy charge, Anwar's poise made him the winner tonight. It's my opinion anyway. It doesn’t mean that I am supporting any political party by delivering such opinion. Judge yourself on the 1 hour debate and do vote in the poll that I have created.

ANWAR IBRAHIM VS AHMAD SHABERY CHEEK

Its confirm that the debate on the recent petroleum hike by the government between PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek on 15 July 2008 which is organised by Agendadaily.com in Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in Kuala Lumpur. It’s going to be an interesting debate to view.

This is an great opportunity for each side to explain and defend their arguments – one side to justify the Government’s decision to raise fuel prices and the other claiming the prices will go down if the Opposition gets into power.

Anwar had recently said that if the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition took over the government, it would reduce fuel prices the very next day, adding that PR would announce the mechanism at the appropriate time and that he would resign if he failed to do so.

Using the US presidential elections debate format, a moderator would be appointed soon while Ahmad Shabery and Anwar would each select a journalist to join in the panel to ask questions. Only 200 people will be invited while our two debaters will be allowed to bring along 50 guests each.

It will be a live telecast on TV 1, TV 3,TV 9 and ASTRO (AWANI and BERNAMA) at 9 p.m. Enjoy the debate!

Black Day For Human Rights-Ops Lalang 1987

The operation saw the infamous arrest of 106 persons under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the revoking of the publishing licenses of two dailies, The Star and the Sin Chew Jit Poh and two weeklies, The Sunday Star and Watan. Operation Lalang carried out on October 27, 1987 by the Malaysian police to crack down on opposition leaders and social activists.

The political developments which brought this second largest ISA swoop in Malaysian history since the May 13 riots were sparked ostensibly by mounting political tensions having strong racial overtones. According to the White Paper explaining the arrests, various groups who had played up "sensitive issues" and thus created "racial tension" in the country had exploited the government's liberal and tolerant attitude. This racial tension made the arrests necessary and further, forced the government to act "swiftly and firmly" to contain the situation.

The sensitive issues were brought on by what appeared innocently enough as Education Ministry appointments of some 100 senior assistants and principals to vernacular Chinese schools. This provoked a storm of protest when it was learnt that those appointed were Chinese whom were not Mandarin-educated.

Operation Lalang resulted in the arrest of 106 people under the Internal Security Act. Among the more prominent detainees were opposition leader and DAP Secretary-General Lim Kit Siang, ALIRAN President Chandra Muzaffar, DAP Deputy Chairman Karpal Singh, MCA Vice President and Perak Chief Chan Kit Chee, PAS Youth Chief Halim Arshat, UMNO MP for Pasir Mas Ibrahim Ali, and UMNO Youth Education Chairman Mohamed Fahmi Ibrahim. Other prominent non-political detainees included Dong Jiao Zhong (Chinese Education Associations) Chairman Lim Fong Seng, Publicity Chief of the Civil Rights Committee Kua Kia Soong, and WAO member Irene Xavier. Besides that, there was also another detainee called Hilmy Noor, a Malay Christian, who was accused for "disrupting the Malay culture by being a Christian", while the Federal Constitution of Malaysia defines Malay as someone who is a Muslim, speaks Malay, and practices Malay culture. The detainees were kept at the usual place used for ISA detainees, at Kamunting Detention Center.

Although most of the detainees were released either conditionally or unconditionally, 40 were issued detention order of two years. Included were Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh plus five other party colleagues, a number of PAS members and many social activists. A categorization of the initially named detainees, numbering 97, gives the following breakdown:

• political parties: 37

• social movements 23

• Individuals: 37

The 1987 Ops Lalang mass ISA detentions was a black day for human rights in Malaysia.

World Heritage City-Penang(George Town) and Melaka

GEORGETOWN CLOCK TOWER-A HISTORICAL LANDMARK

Two natural heritage sites in Malaysia made it to the World Heritage List in December 2000: the Gunung Mulu National Park in the State of Sarawak and the Kinabalu Park in the State of Sabah. After few years Melaka and Penang highlighted in the World Heritage list.

The inscription of a property on World Heritage List is creating many benefits for Penang and Melaka, and in particular, for local communities. World Heritage Listing develops local and national pride in the property and develops feelings of national responsibility to protect the area.

THE 17th CENTURY DUTCH STADHUYS

The site which is being nominated in Penang is within George Town. Referred to as the historic centre, the site comprises the 18^th century town grid close to the waterfront, and the historic multi-cultural neighbourhoods. The site covers approximately 108 hectares. In Melaka the site which is being nominated in represents the historic core which includes the ruins of the 16^th century fortress town and the neighbouring historic and traditional settlements. The site covers approximately 42 hectares.

ST.PAUL'S HILL,MALACCA

While this listing will no doubt boost economic activity in the inner city and expand the economy,
I urge federal government and state government will join effort to make full use of this precious prospect, political parties must always bear in mind that peoples and nation’s interest comes before party’s ideology especially Penang state. The state lead by nation’s opposition party, allocation of financial must be given without fear or favour by federal government and at the same time state government must welcome the plan and strategies that introduce by federal government.

FORT CORNWALLIS-THE FIRST BRITISH SETTLEMENT ON PENANG

Smart School... The main Challenges

Malaysia intends to transform its educational system, in line with and in the support of the nations drive to fulfill vision 2020. The smart school project is one of the main development to support Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC).
To be a smart school, consider the following challenges:

1. Leadership is the key ingredient; school management must be committed to education system on the idea of Smart School.
2. The technological infrastructure is more than enough to replace the traditional way of teaching and learning.
3. Schools are supposed to have enough technical expertise to maintain the ICT infrastructure.
4. Teachers need more training on ICT programs than the students. It’s important to ensure teachers capability to deliver their curriculum. ICT facilities accessible to the school community even when the school is not in session, thus students able to explore their studies at all the time.
5. Educators create enough digital contents for used in new learning environment. At the same time, connectivity stable enough to support information anytime and anywhere so that teaching and learning is not just confine to the four walls of the classroom. It must be a teaching and learning community that extends beyond the traditional school walls.
   

At the same time, it’s not all about equipments. China and India students have some of the worst equipment I have ever seen but their abilities are just amazing. Frankly, I see a lot of poor rural parents know the importance of education. What they lack is proper educational influence and role-model. They are surrounded by poorness in everything and expectation of them. So with the first-class equipment there are no reasons for students to be unsuccessful in their studies. I’m sure I will do my part as a future teacher by accept the teachers challenges to help creating the smart schools. The teachers must fully utilise the Technology Infrastructure and capable of
delivering to the students in best method.

STUDENTS IN SMART SCHOOL

IPTA vs IPTS

It won't take too long before the number of students in private colleges and universities (IPTS) in Malaysia outnumbers those in the public universities. The ratio is approaching 1:1, according to a recent Star report. What are some of the implications? What are some of the challenges? Is it creating a huge impact on national education standard? How about job opportunities?

With as many students entering IPTS compared to the IPTA importance will only grow and will have a big impact on the job generate potential in the education sector the skill levels of the work force and the research activities in our universities.

There are another layer of IPTS who don't have research aspirations but will be known for offering good facilities, courses and teaching. In addition, I suspect that there will also be some specialized IPTS which focus on certain types of courses – design (LimKokWing) or IT (Informatics). And then there will be a scattering of smaller IPTS which offer 'value for money' courses. These colleges have been growing rapidly since decades ago.

There will be a different in the quality and reputation of private colleges and universities. In fact some of this is already happening. There will emerge a handful of IPTS which will challenge the IPTA as research universities. Sunway Monash and Nottingham are obvious candidates. There will be other 'home grown' IPTS which will want to or be pushed to the direction of being research universities. This is another good move by private colleges and universities to competing each other in various sectors.

But there are also many concern associated with the rapid development of the IPTS, including: Generally, I think the quality of lecturers must be equal standard with IPTA. The types of courses being offered are commercially viable. The growing number of foreign students is the problems associated with this are above the limit.

The development of the IPTS has more positives than negatives, in my opinion. It provides another avenue of job creation for the country, it gives different options to Malaysians who want to earn a degree, it earns foreign exchange for the country and it can contribute towards human capital development as nations agenda that we searching for.

ONE OF THE TOP UNIVERSITIES IN MALAYSIA