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1.	Study In Australia 2010
	...Thursday, 2nd September 2010
2.	Star Education 2011
	...Thursday, 2nd September 2010
3.	Study USA - The AEO Tour
	...Thursday, 2nd September 2010
4.	ISIC Promotion at Taylor's College
	...Friday, 27th August 2010
5.	200 cheated of RM10mil by Africans claiming to be college boys
	...Monday, 16th August 2010
6.	MSL's Football mania at Dataran Merdeka
	...Saturday, 3rd July 2010
7.	Proud Adelaide
	...Sunday, 27th June 2010
8.	One week drivearound in Western Australia
	...Sunday, 27th June 2010
9.	Brisbane and beyond
	...Sunday, 13th June 2010
10.	Malaysian Education Ministry weeding out below-par institutions
	...Sunday, 6th June 2010
11.	45 Malaysian colleges deregistered
	...Saturday, 5th June 2010
12.	Following in the footsteps of Aristides
	...Monday, 3rd May 2010
13.	Showcasing life abroad - Students from China in NZ
	...Tuesday, 6th April 2010
14.	Air safety - List of airlines banned within the EU
	...Wednesday, 31st March 2010
15.	Strine, anyone? There are many words unique to Australian English.
	...Wednesday, 31st March 2010
16.	Three Malaysian students suffer minor injuries in Moscow bomb blast
	...Tuesday, 30th March 2010
17.	Moscow Bombings:Two Malaysians escape alive – thanks to gut feeling
	...Tuesday, 30th March 2010
18.	2009 SPM Exam Results released on 11Mar10
	...Friday, 12th March 2010
19.	Britain plugs visa loopholes on students
	...Sunday, 28th February 2010
20.	63 Malaysians among deportees from Australia
	...Sunday, 28th February 2010
21.	A. English a must for studies, say USM foreign students
	...Tuesday, 23rd February 2010
22.	KL sightseeing tours for transit passengers
	...Tuesday, 23rd February 2010
23.	B. English a must for studies, say USM foreign students
	...Tuesday, 23rd February 2010
24.	Australia fights terrorism with tough visa checks
	...Tuesday, 23rd February 2010
25.	Caught in middle-income trap
	...Tuesday, 9th February 2010
26.	A distinct profile of Malaysian Overstayers in Britain
	...Monday, 1st February 2010
27.	Malaysia: New currency declaration rule
	...Thursday, 24th December 2009
28.	Malaysia: Ministry plans new varsity calendar in line with the world
	...Tuesday, 22nd December 2009
29.	Visa-free status in Britain at risk, no thanks to ‘critical level’ of overstayer
	...Wednesday, 16th December 2009
30.	International medical varsity for Perak
	...Monday, 14th December 2009
31.	College sued over MBA course
	...Tuesday, 8th December 2009
32.	Unfair to blame foreign students studying in Malaysia
	...Tuesday, 1st December 2009
33.	I made it to a US college
	...Sunday, 29th November 2009
34.	Higher Education in POLAND
	...Sunday, 29th November 2009
35.	Panel to review monitoring of foreign students
	...Thursday, 19th November 2009
36.	Malaysian students coping well in China
	...Friday, 13th November 2009
37.	Another College Closure in Australia
	...Monday, 9th November 2009
38.	Scholarships for Malaysians
	...Thursday, 5th November 2009
39.	Opportunity to study overseas by MSU
	...Thursday, 5th November 2009
40.	Trained for marketability .. Jobless Grads
	...Thursday, 5th November 2009
41.	Down Under still top choice for Malaysians
	...Thursday, 5th November 2009
42.	Australia Self Drive Holidays - Road trippin’ Down Under
	...Monday, 26th October 2009
43.	180,000 youths going in for Change
	...Monday, 5th October 2009
44.	Malaysian Private institutions should not be dumping grounds or degree mills
	...Wednesday, 16th September 2009
45.	Students with STAM can now apply at 20 public varsities
	...Wednesday, 16th September 2009
46.	Test of faith for Syrian students studying in Malaysia
	...Wednesday, 16th September 2009
47.	Malaysia: New school term for 2010
	...Thursday, 10th September 2009
48.	AUSTRALIA TAKES MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD EDUCATION FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS
	...Friday, 21st August 2009
49.	Malaysia-Students need freedom of expression, says science don
	...Wednesday, 12th August 2009
50.	UPM’s oldest grad personifies determination and hard work
	...Wednesday, 12th August 2009
51.	More Aussie students to come for internships
	...Tuesday, 11th August 2009
52.	Australian Education and Immigration Abuse
	...Wednesday, 29th July 2009
53.	Inquiry demands as Australian college fraud exposed
	...Tuesday, 28th July 2009
54.	Perform to public expectations
	...Saturday, 20th June 2009
55.	Girls top Malaysian public university intake - 2009/10
	...Saturday, 20th June 2009
56.	Low-priced London
	...Saturday, 20th June 2009
57.	Message from Prof Richard Larkins AO, Vice-Chancellor & President, Monash Uni
	...Tuesday, 16th June 2009
58.	Make good service a way of life
	...Sunday, 14th June 2009
59.	To travel or not to travel?
	...Sunday, 14th June 2009
60.	Challenges facing private education
	...Sunday, 7th June 2009
61.	Not up to mark
	...Sunday, 7th June 2009
62.	Do-good travel - Volunteerism
	...Saturday, 6th June 2009
63.	Malaysian Students in Ukraine
	...Sunday, 12th April 2009
64.	Malaysian education system is in real dire straits
	...Sunday, 12th April 2009
65.	Malaysia: Decade-old fare structure turns them into rogues
	...Sunday, 12th April 2009
66.	Points-based rules apply to UK-bound students from March 31 2009
	...Monday, 16th March 2009
67.	STPM 2008 Results: Four special students among 12 top scorers honoured
	...Wednesday, 11th March 2009
68.	Breathing golf day and night - Koreans learn golf in Malaysia
	...Sunday, 8th March 2009
69.	SPM results on March 12, 2009
	...Friday, 6th March 2009
70.	China students in a spot over dressing
	...Friday, 6th March 2009
71.	Students get taste of 'awesome' South Pole
	...Friday, 6th March 2009
72.	Protest Against the Teaching of English
	...Thursday, 5th March 2009
73.	A letter of appeal to Malaysians Politicians.
	...Saturday, 28th February 2009
74.	Learning from nature
	...Sunday, 22nd February 2009
75.	STUDENTS ABROAD: A policy change would help
	...Sunday, 22nd February 2009
76.	Malaysia's budget transparency: ‘Surprised and embarassed’
	...Friday, 13th February 2009
77.	Britain visa decision on Monday, 09Feb09
	...Sunday, 8th February 2009
78.	Housemen lack basic know-how
	...Saturday, 31st January 2009
79.	How much is Malaysia ‘Truly Asia’?
	...Friday, 23rd January 2009
80.	Speak out against intolerance
	...Friday, 22nd August 2008
81.	Government to review education fees for Foreign Students Studying in Malaysia
	...Friday, 6th June 2008
82.	Imperial College ditches A levels and sets its own entrance exam
	...Friday, 6th June 2008
83.	Medicine in Russia
	...Thursday, 5th June 2008
84.	Students want University Colleges Act reviewed
	...Saturday, 31st May 2008
85.	Visa deception - 'Students' who come to work
	...Monday, 26th May 2008
86.	Student Visa Deception - 16 colleges Blacklisted in 2006
	...Monday, 26th May 2008
87.	Student Visa Deception: 200 held yearly for misusing passes
	...Monday, 26th May 2008
88.	Law Students say courses focus on exams, not the real world
	...Monday, 26th May 2008
89.	Student Visa Deception: they can work only during semester breaks
	...Monday, 26th May 2008
90.	2008 SPM Results
	...Thursday, 13th March 2008
91.	2008 STPM Results: English main answer choice
	...Wednesday, 12th March 2008
92.	Many students still not fluent in English
	...Monday, 28th January 2008
93.	Speaking another language can open many doors
	...Monday, 28th January 2008
94.	Education in France
	...Sunday, 16th December 2007
95.	Malaysia: Bill on air travel passed
	...Friday, 29th June 2007
96.	Malaysia: One goal, two routes
	...Monday, 11th June 2007
97.	Study in Saudi Arabia
	...Monday, 4th June 2007
98.	Malaysian Immigration Dept issues I-Kad to Students, Workers etc
	...Tuesday, 29th May 2007
99.	Doing medicine in Egypt
	...Thursday, 10th May 2007
100.	Malaysia: Limit on some hand luggage comes into effect May 21 2007
	...Tuesday, 24th April 2007
101.	AGREEMENT BETWEEN UNWTO & WYSETC TO BOOST YOUTH TOURISM
	...Monday, 5th February 2007
102.	Double-decker boost for tourists to KL
	...Friday, 29th December 2006
103.	More Travel Tips for Students Travelling Abroad for Studies
	...Monday, 31st July 2006
104.	Ten tips for studying abroad
	...Monday, 24th July 2006
105.	Your Say: Hygiene is a 'dirty' word
	...Friday, 24th March 2006

Study In Australia 2010

MSL will be participating in Study In Australia 2010 exhibition
The Details are:

Kuala Lumpur:
Date: 02/Sat & 03/Sun October 2010
Place: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre-KLCC,
Hall 1 to Hall 3
Time: 1200 to 1800hrs

Star Education 2011

MSL will be participating in The Star Education 2011.
The Details are:

Kuala Lumpur:
Date: 08/Sat & 09/Sun January 2011
Place: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre-KLCC
Time: 1100 to 1900hrs

Date: 19/Sat & 20/Sun February 2011
Place: Penang International Sports Arena - Pisa
Time: 1100 to 1900 hrs

Study USA - The AEO Tour

Study USA - The AEO Tour will be held at the following venue:

Place: Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur
Date: 22 September 2010, Wednesday.
Time: 1600 to 2130 hrs

ISIC Promotion at Taylor's College

MSL will be having an ISIC promotion at Taylor's College

Date: 28/Tue September 2010

Time: 10.30am to 3.30pm

Location: Near Guardhouse, Subang Jaya Campus

Do not miss out on this opportunity to get an ISIC

Please bring along your photo and student proof

See you there. Offer only available to students from Taylor's College

200 cheated of RM10mil by Africans claiming to be college boys

16Aug10

KUALA LUMPUR: At least 200 people in the city have been conned of nearly RM10mil since early last year by Africans who entered the country on student visas, but never once stepped into a classroom.

Although these so-called “students” are enrolled in top colleges under fake scholarships, they are more often spotted cruising in flashy cars and frequenting nightspots.

These Africans are believed to be conmen who plied their shady trade overseas before dumping their ill-gotten gains in local banks and “settling down” here.

However, once here, they continue their activities by duping Malaysians of their life savings, using bank accounts of locals to cheat their victims, who are mostly single successful women, either divorced or widowed.

Among the most common scams are tricking Malaysians into paying for non-existent gifts, buying coloured water as “vaccines” to keep cattle healthy and disease-free, and “black money” cases.

City Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Asst Comm Izany Abdul Ghany, who revealed this, said it was alarming that despite numerous warnings, Malaysians continued to fall into the conmen’s trap.

He said scams operated by Africans topped the list of commercial crime cases in the city, reeling in the largest amount of ill-gotten money.

the list of commercial crime cases in the city, reeling in the largest amount of ill-gotten money.

“The numbers are rising. Between January last year and June, locals in the city alone were cheated of nearly RM10mil, and the figure could be higher because some victims are still unaware that they are being conned.

“The scams are committed throughout the country but the exchange of money usually takes place in the city,” ACP Izany said, adding that over 100 women and 80 men were conned since early last year.

ACP Izany said checks showed that these Africans had committed similar scams in other countries before coming to Malaysia.

“After these syndicates are busted, they enter Malaysia by using fake scholarships apparently given by their country of origin,” he said.

He added that many of the women conned would freely give up their money after being swept off their feet by Africans who lured them with sweet talk and promises.

“The conmen target single women in their 30s and 40s. The victims include doctors and university lecturers,” he said, urging higher learning institutions and relevant agencies to scrutinise carefully the applications of foreign students.

Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department’s Cyber and Multimedia Investigation Division assistant director ACP Mohd Kamarudin Md Din said in some cases, the victims had met the conmen through social networking websites. They would usually post pictures of other people, sometimes of famous models, just to get closer to the victims.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said there was a “small number” of foreign students involved in crime here, most of whom had entered the country illegally.

He urged the police to provide the ministry with relevant information so that appropriate action could be taken.

MSL's Football mania at Dataran Merdeka

THE launch of the Astro Kulview 2010 was held amid roars from Paraguay and Japan fans at the Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur recently.

Fans were joined by Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin and KL Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail.

Both Nong Chik and Fuad took the opportunity to watch the game between the two countries on the new 70 by 30 feet giant screen with the public.

Football fanatics braved the rain to watch their favourite teams battle it out on the field while sheltering under umbrellas and cardboards.

During the launch, Nong Chik and Fuad signed on a giant ball measuring eight feet in height to mark the launch of the event.

“We organised the Astro Kulview to foster ties between the DBKL and the people, encourage sports among Malaysians and to celebrate the World Cup with the rest of the cities in the world,” said Fuad.

The giant ball was sponsored by MSL Travel, a travel agency that primarily caters to special travel needs for students and the young at heart. MSL is Malaysia’s only student and youth travel bureau.

At half time, spectators were entertained by a dance performance with acrobatic stunts.

All World Cup games will be featured every day on the giant screen and a supporting screen at Dataran Merdeka. To keep fans entertained a host of activities have been planned by the organisers.

Nong Chik also gave out certificates to former Malaysian football legends including Datuk Abdul Ghani Ahmad and Mat Zan Mat Aris. Food stalls have been set up in the area for fans who get hungry while cheering for their favourite teams.
Picture 1:
Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin autographs the MSL ball while the KL Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail looks on

Proud Adelaide

19June2010

Conservative but gregarious; old-fashioned yet progressive. Say hello to Adelaide, the most schizophrenic city in Australia.

My infatuation with South Australia, particularly Adelaide, began in the most unusual of places... a circus tent which reeked of sweat and testosterone.

On the dimly lit stage, three men were dancing the German polka on a floor filled with rigged mousetraps, their expressions racked with agony as these steel contraptions snapped violently at their toes.

Then the spotlights faded, only to refocus on a portly man who looked more like the Pillsbury Doughboy than an artist. He was swaying to the sounds of the ukelele in a Hula skirt and coconut-shell bikini. The Doughboy had two left feet, but then again, dancing wasn’t what the spectators came for.

Having fun at Adelaide’s Fringe Festival.

As he formed a lei by stapling rose-tinted crêpe paper to his chest, the audience hooted wildly. A few shuddered and closed their eyes. Still, even the most lily livered among us could not help but gaze at this sadomasochistic cross-dresser with a morbid sense of fascination.

Welcome to the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Some say it’s the best performing arts fest after the Edinburgh Fringe, but don’t take their word for it. You really need to go there to see it yourself.

Stepping on to Rundle Park — or The Garden of Unearthly Delights, as it is called during the Fringe — was like being transported into a set designed by Baz Luhrmann. All over the park were psychedelic fairy lights, circus tents, fairground rides and, most importantly, over 1,000 ticketed performances in 2010 by 98 performance groups to choose from.

According to the Australian News Website, News.com.au, “Fringe was the anti-establishment yin to the establishment yang of the government-subsidised major arts festivals.”

Fringe shows were peripheral, oddball, grungy, its performers a delightful mix of brawny dwarves, snarky sidekicks, loony magicians and frisky can-can girls from all over the world.

The horse-drawn tram at Victor Harbour.

It isn’t surprising then that, of all places, Adelaide should be the one hosting such an event.

With a population of 1,150,000, Adelaide has, according to Frommer’s Travel Guide, “always been a free-spirited, free-thinking type of place, the first to outlaw sexual and racial discrimination, the first to do away with capital punishment, the first to recognise Aboriginal land rights and legalise nude swimming, and the first state to give women the vote.”

Not everyone thinks it’s hip.

“Adelaide is boring, South Australia is boring,” muttered one friend dismissively when I told him I was planning a vacation there.

“The only good thing about that place is its wine.”

The new pioneers

“Australians who have never visited Adelaide tend to dismiss the city as little more than a large country town, but that is the city’s greatest charm,” states Frommer’s.

With its wide, sweeping streets, stately Victorian buildings and lush green spaces, Adelaide was built with geometrical perfection in mind. Its founder and planner was Colonel William Light, whose father was no other than the founder of Penang, Captain Francis Light.

St Peter’s Cathedral

Light obviously does not inherit his father’s penchant for premeditated chaos. Rather, his town — grid-like and orderly — is touted as one of the last great planned metropolises in the world. Traffic is never a problem, and everything is within walking distance.

But according to Lonely Planet, if you think that’s all there is to it, think again.

“You only need to scratch the surface of this quiet achiever of Australian cities to tap into its hedonistic vein,” it boldly proclaims.

If my time at The Garden of Unearthly Delights is anything to go by, I’d have to agree with them.

Feeling a little worn from the previous night’s pandemonium, I decided to clear my head by strolling from the 19th-century charm of the North Terrace (incidentally, this is where you can catch a tram to hip and happening Glenelg, Adelaide’s very own Bondi and supposedly the place to be on weekends) to the lush, green belt of Adelaide Parklands.

The parklands — so named because they form a loop around the city — are almost three times the size of New York’s Central Park. Here, magnificently sculpted gardens are situated alongside functional playing fields, where high school teams converge to practise before the big game.

After watching a round of Aussie Rules, I did what most Adelaidians would do in the evenings: hang out in a cafe in Rundle Street. I picked what seemed like the most popular Italian restaurant and watched hordes of happy customers chattering excitedly as they streamed in and out of its doors.

The Adelaide Arcade built circa 1885.

“How do you like your food?” queried a waiter, peering at my seafood pasta. He smiled brightly at me when I nodded my head in approval, and quipped “Cool bananas!”

Everyone knows how good South Australian cuisine is, of course. Not only does it taste divine, it is created from the freshest produce available locally. However, it isn’t the food but the curious blend of Aussie speak and Queen’s English that piques my interest this time around.

South Australians, I noticed, have a polished lilt. This “cultivated” inflection was exceptionally prominent in former Adelaide-born foreign minister, Alexander Downer. Some say he spoke like a good, little choirboy. But if he did, so did the rest of South Australia, although I never recalled Sunday mass to be so much fun.

I’m told that this phenomenon exists because Adelaide was the only capital to have been settled by free settlers, rather than convicts, and was totally self-sufficient, receiving no financial backing from the British government.

As Frommer’s put it, the fledgling colony promised settlers civil and religious liberty, a 19th-century vision of Utopia that attracted thousands of European immigrants escaping religious persecution.

“People are still a community here,” says my host for a day, Bob Latimer, 57.

“Unlike other cities, you’re not stuck in a rat race because Adelaide is full of people who genuinely care about one another.”

Latimer, a former private investigator, has lived in Adelaide his entire life, but makes occasional sailing trips to Asia and Malaysia now that he is retired. However, he maintains that Adelaide is, and will always be, his favourite city.

“But remember, we’re in the driest state of the driest continent,” he says. “As a result, we have to adhere to strict guidelines when it comes to washing our cars or watering our gardens. Add global warming to the equation, and we’ve got one big problem on our hands.”

Food for thought

It’s hard to believe that the region faces drought problems just by looking around. We were surrounded by emerald-green farmland, rolling hills, quaint coastal towns and river estuaries. This gives way to white sandy beaches and the glittering aquamarine surf at intervals.

“Because of the lack of water, South Australians are very good in this relatively new method of crop cultivation called dryland farming. Many countries come here just to learn from us,” Latimer says.

True enough, it seems like there was hardly anything that South Australians can’t grow. We were en route to McLaren Vale, the wine-growing region where acres and acres of Shiraz-producing vineyards are situated about an hour’s drive south of Adelaide. But it wasn’t just the grapes that are growing in abundance here. Look carefully, and you will also find farms dedicated to olives, almonds, blueberries, apples and, yes, even horseradish.

It is in one of these that I spotted Obama chomping hay underneath an olive tree.

Obama is one of the thousands of baby alpacas (a queer little Peruvian animal resembling a llama) bred by the Lloyd Brothers Wine & Olive Company. He is so named because of his silky black fleece, which I’m told, could be used to knit a number of things, including quilts and ponchos.

“Alpaca wool is much lighter than sheep’s wool and it is actually warmer. Italian fashion houses are using it and calling it the ‘fibre of the gods’ because it is so beautiful,” says owner David Lloyd, 34.

Because alpacas are protective and affectionate by nature, they also make great pets. Unfortunately, they tend to end up in cooking pots in countries like Peru and China. I was glad to learn that Obama wouldn’t be facing a similar fate anytime soon because he was a source of amusement for the kids.

“Our olive trees range from 30-100 years old,” Lloyd says, as he watched my impassive expression turn into one of surprise after I bit into an olive.

“We produce an array of kalamata olives in different flavours like garlic and Devil’s Chilli. The fruits are all hand-picked to avoid damage, and we do all of our own brining on site without using any chemicals or preservatives.”

A trip to McLaren Vale wouldn’t be complete without tasting some of its fine wines, of course. Whether it is a spicy Shiraz from Lloyd’s or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc from d’Arenberg Wines, the winemakers are committed to their art.

“We’ve been using the same technique since 1926,” says winemaker Nick James-Martin of d’Arenberg.

“Yes, this produces lower yields, but we want our wines to be as authentic as possible. It’s nice how you’re able to get a sense of a place just by drinking certain wines. Well, we want our wines to taste just like McLaren Vale.”

And what a place it is. We could see the blue ocean and smell the sweet scent of processed grapes from the high windswept plateau where we stood. The Fleurieu Peninsula stretched out before us like an artist’s painted canvas, dazzling under the hot afternoon sun.

The Fleurieu isn’t only perfect for gourmands but also nature enthusiasts. The nearby Victor Harbour, a seaside town where we were now headed, is a great place to spot the Southern Right Whales.

As we climbed aboard the historic horse-drawn tram, I was disappointed to learn this was not whale migration season, which only happens from May to October, but never mind that. We were crossing a 600m wooden causeway to Granite Island, where the Fairy Penguins congregated at dusk every night. These creatures may be way smaller, but were no less fascinating.

Back in Adelaide, I felt a twinge of sadness at having to leave the Fleurieu and its food so soon. Little did I realise that my hotel was just a few blocks away from Adelaide’s 140-year-old Central Market, where most of the region’s produce can be bought.

“Ever tried a Scotch Fillet? They’ve been handfed for 500 days and cost up to US$200 (RM654) per kilo,” says chef Mark Gleeson, pointing to a hunk of blood-red meat.

“Many of these food brands have a cult following of their own. Even professional chefs come to the market to source for their foods.”

Gleeson gives hungry-eyed tourists personalised tours of the market under Chef’s Media Tours. The market, I’m told, symbolises Adelaide’s thriving food industry, where a myriad of cultures clash to create an explosion of culinary flavours. Standing proudly amidst the local fare are specialty food vendors of every kind, from Greek to Vietnamese, sold by families who migrated here a long time ago.

Now then, who says Adelaide and South Australia were boring? I’ll get the Doughboy, Latimer and every one of them to show him.

Check out our website:
www.msltravel.com > Download Brochure for Adelaide, South Australia packages

One week drivearound in Western Australia

Western Australia is huge - so huge, in fact, that it makes up around one third of the Australian land mass. Yet it is sparsely populated, with around 2.1 million inhabitants. Almost 75% of these live in the state capital, Perth. Being so large you might expect to travel long distances between the major attractions. While this can be true, there are plenty of places you can see in a week.

Day 1

Spend some time exploring Perth today. It’s a friendly, relaxed city offering river walks and beaches, and a sunny Mediterranean-style climate. You might want to rent a bicycle to explore the city and the pathway that follows the lovely Swan River. Art lovers should pop into the Art Gallery of Western Australia to see its Aboriginal art collection. The Aquarium of Western Australia specialises in showing off some of the sea life found along the state’s coast. A highlight is Australia’s largest walk-through aquarium, with its giant sharks and rays.

A trip through Kings Park & Botanic Gardens is a nice way to discover local flora. The spring wildflower displays here are at their peak between August and October.

There are plenty of beautiful beaches in and around Perth, and you should try to visit at least one. Perth’s most fashionable beach is Cottesloe, which is graced by some pleasant Edwardian buildings, including the local teahouse.

You could spend at least a whole day in the heritage port precinct of Fremantle. Make sure you visit the decommissioned Fremantle Prison, which was built in the 1850s. You can spend time in prison cells and a labyrinth of underground tunnels created by prisoners sentenced to hard labour. Then, board a replica convict punt to explore submerged passageways too. The Shipwreck Galleries is another highlight. It includes the massive remnant hulk of the Dutch ship Batavia, which came aground north of Perth in 1629. There are lots of other shipwreck displays too.

Day 2

You could head south to the wineries and tall forests of the Margaret River region today, or west into the Outback for a visit to the unique Kalgoorlie Gold Fields. But this time we head north along the coast. Between August and November the wildflowers along the route are a visual treat. First stop is the Pinnacles Desert, three hours from Perth. You can walk among thousands of eerie limestone formations scattered over vast rippled sand dunes.

Have a late lunch at the nearby township of Cervantes, renowned for its seafood. Afterwards, relax for a while on the pure white sand, and look out for bottlenose dolphins in the turquoise water. Continue north to Geraldton, the windsurfing capital of the world. You can stay the night here.

Day 3

Directly across the sea from Geraldton are the mysterious Houtman Abrolhos Islands the scene of the famous Batavia mutiny. It’s also one of nature’s most spectacular marine areas. If you had longer you could dive or snorkel above spectacular coral gardens. The chain of 122 islands is also known as one of the country’s best sea bird breeding areas. You can learn more about the murder and mutiny on the Dutch East Indies trading ship ‘Batavia’ in the WA Museum Geraldton. Aboriginal history and local animals and birds are also featured.

Continue northwards along the spectacular coast for lunch in Kalbarri. You could spend some time walking in the Kalbarri National Park, located on the lower reaches of the Murchison River. Expect magnificent gorges, rolling sand plains and dramatic sea cliffs.

Head now to the township of Denham, the main town in the Shark Bay World Heritage area. Visit Shell Beach, a long stretch of snow-white beach made entirely out of shells and bordered by aqua blue ocean waters.

Day 4

It’s definitely worth spending at least two nights around here, especially if beautiful beaches, warm sea, superb fishing, camel rides, and fascinating wildlife whet your appetite. Another local natural wonder is the hyper-saline water of Hamelin Pool, where the rocks are actually alive. The pool houses the best examples in the world of living marine stromatolites. These are slow growing organisms that have existed for at least 3.5 billion years.

Then there’s Monkey Mia, where wild bottlenose dolphins swim around your legs just off the beach. It’s one of Australia’s most talked about destinations.

In the heart of the World Heritage Listed Shark Bay is Francois Peron National Park, which is isolated from the rest of Australia by an electric fence. This is part of Project Eden, designed to reintroduce native marsupials to the arid red-dirt country and eradicate feral animals such as cats and foxes.

Day 5 and 6

Travel further up the coast today to Carnarvon, for another great local seafood lunch, then onwards to Ningaloo Reef. It stretches for some 260 kilometres (161 miles) and protects a shallow lagoon, where fish swim between your legs. It’s one of the only places on earth where you are able to walk from the beach straight onto a true coral reef.

Hire a kayak to explore, go scuba diving, or take a cruise boat across the reef. Look out for manta rays, turtles, dolphins, whales and even dugongs.

From April to June you can snorkel or dive with whale sharks one of the best animal adventures in the world. The whale shark is a slow moving filter feeding shark and the largest living fish. It can grow up to 18 metres (60 feet) long.

Day 7

You could travel onwards to the pealing town of Broome and its long stretch of sand called Cable Beach. From here you could head into the rugged Outback of the Kimberley.

Otherwise, you could drive all the way back to Perth, or drop off your hire car and fly back from Exmouth.

MSL has great self-drive programs for Western Australia
check out:
www.msltravel.com > Download Brochure

Brisbane and beyond

14June10

Brisbane is one of the world’s most livable cities and its many attractions prove it — from cuddling koalas and hot-air ballooning to the theme parks and the excitement of Sunshine Coast.

Touted as one of the best cities to live in and raise a family, Brisbane — or Brissie to the locals — the capital of Queensland, boasts a laidback lifestyle. But if it’s excitement you’re looking for, the city and its surrounds have that by the container-load, too.

One of the city’s perennial attraction is its Sunday markets with their handmade crafts and household items. Why not join the locals at Farmers’ Market at the Powerhouse building, a former power station converted into a gallery, complete with a café offering yummy breakfasts and delightful views of the river?

The Sunday riverside markets are just as enticing for their uniquely Aussie souvenirs — from the stuffed koalas to hand-carved wooden clocks and hand-milled soaps.

Southland Park is a quick escape from the city centre with its lagoon beach, al fresco dining and colourful evening lantern markets. There is no escaping retail therapy here, which explains Queen Street Mall’s existence. There are dozens of shopping centres sprouting and extending from both sides of this car-free area.

You are bound to get lost, so be prepared to wander around aimlessly, watching the buskers and musicians or sipping an expresso. Australia is an island so you really cannot get that badly lost.

Of course, every visitor must try the City Cat — a river ferry that the locals use to commute the way we would the LRT. This is an unforgettable way to get your bearings while soaking in the views and fresh air.

The nightlife is almost as wild as in Sydney. Just go to The Valley and cruise the area filled with clubs, bars and eateries. See a joint that catches your fancy? Just go right in and enjoy a night out. Locals and visitors congregate here nightly to enjoy mainstream music, indie, international deejays, live jazz shows and dance.

These are no doubt fun activities but if you want to make your friends turn green with envy, then spend a day and a night at the Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort on Moreton Island, where dolphins come in nightly to interact with people.

Brisbane is a place to be for leisure.

Tangalooma

There are precious few places where humans can feed wild dolphins but Australia is blessed with two. One is at the quaintly named Monkey Mia on Shark’s Bay in Western Australia and the other at the other end of Australia at the Tangalooma Resort on Moreton island.

Moreton island, 58km and 75 minutes from Brisbane, is 95% a national park, meaning its rugged beauty is meant to be permanently preserved. Take the first ferry out so you can spend all day checking out the various activities on offer — the dolphins only appear in the evening between 5pm and 8pm.

Ideally, you should spend a night at Tangalooma because by the time you feed the dolphins — and yourself — it’s time to call it a day.

Incredibly, Moreton island is also famous for whale watching. The best time is from June to October, so you might want to plan your trip in such a way as to be able to kill two birds with one stone. If you’re into scuba diving, you may want to check out the amazing marine life found around several wrecks that form de facto reefs here.

For a change of pace, you could join the 4WD exploratory tour. The drive into the hinterland is almost like a roller-coaster ride as the driver seems intent on extracting every squeal and shriek out of the passengers. After a bumpy ride through the bush, you reach a huge sand blow called the Desert. Yes, it is devoid of vegetation.

What on earth do you do out here in this barren land?

You trek some 70m up to the top of a sand dune. Then lie down on a piece of plank and hurtle all the way down! This is sand tobogganing. As you streak down, remember to keep your mouth shut or you will end up with a mouthful of sand. Most folks toboggan twice.

Shaken, stirred and satisfied, you are driven back to the jetty in time to freshen up and prepare for the highlight — dolphin feeding!

As people gather to await their arrival at the brightly-lit jetty, the resort staff explain the circumstances that led to the dolphins making contact with people in the early 1990s.

Jim Harris, one of the resort staff trained to care, manage and record the dolphins’ data, says, “The floodlights around the jetty attract baitfish, which in turn attract the dolphins that hunt them. In 1992, a fisherman threw some baitfish he caught to a dolphin nursing two calves.

“The dolphins responded by returning each evening for free and easy food, and it soon became a regular event. The mother was called Beauty and her calves Bobo and Tinkerbell.

“Later Shadow was born. Tinkerbell and Shadow are now mothers and return here frequently with their offspring Tangle, Storm, Phoenix, Silhouette and Zephyr.”

In late 1992, Beauty was joined by another mature female Bess and an old male, Blind Freddy.

“Bess produced two very mischievous males, Rani and Nari. Then came Echo, an orphan which was quickly adopted by this pod. Echo and his partners-in-crime Rani and Nari dominate the pod!” continues Harris.

To me, all dolphins look alike but the resort staff recognise each individual. The Tangalooma pod consists of eight dolphins, and most turn up each night like clockwork.

There is excitement in the air as each visitor takes turn to feed the dolphins. The marine mammals arrive silently, then begin to chase baitfish around for fun. I wade in till I am knee-deep, grab some fish from the pail and hold them out. A dolphin glides in and daintily, swiftly snatches them from my hands.

It’s a sensational feeling! Then it cocks its head to one side, the better to view me with, and gives a grunt of appreciation. An endearing dolphin quality is the permanent smirk. I swear “my dolphin” is wearing a smile as it swims away.

I feed another and resist the urge to pat it on its forehead. We are told to refrain from doing so as this “melon” is extremely sensitive; the dolphin uses it for echo location.

“A dolphin is not a dog!” exclaims Harris. “You pat a dog on its head but not a dolphin. However, if it lets you, you can stroke the side of its head.”

Suddenly one approaches me with a fish in its mouth. It rears its head out of the water and nods at me. Is it returning the fish I gave it? I’m disappointed.

“Accept the fish. Take it or you will hurt its feelings! You are very lucky to be offered a fish by a dolphin!” shouts Harris.

I gingerly take the fish and hold it aloft triumphantly.

“That’s it,” Harris says. “Now eat the fish or you will really hurt its feelings.”

Ya, right.

Amazingly, the dolphins come to Tangalooma because they wish to interact with humans. They catch the bulk of their meal out in the ocean, so they don’t really need handouts. They come, it is believed, because they can tune into our brain waves and know they are in good company. The feeling is mutual!

Packages to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia are available at MSL Travel Sdn Bhd

Malaysian Education Ministry weeding out below-par institutions

2010/06/06
The Higher Education Ministry is coming down hard on private universities and colleges that failing fail to take their role as educators seriously.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the ministry found that some of these institutions were unable to provide quality services due to financial reasons.

“Many of the institutes did not have the financial capacity to operate as they relied too much on payments by students from their National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans,” he said.

Last year, the ministry de-registered 22 of such institutions.

them. Similar action was taken against 56 of them between in 2007 and 2008.

Saifuddin said this to reporters after the opening of the two-day National Association of Private Educational Institutions’ (Napei) 29th Malaysian Education Fair at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.

Saifuddin said the ministry also had to de-register several universities and colleges because they were not taking the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) seriously.

He said when there was insufficient interest in a course, some institutions would drop it and offer a different one.

"We cannot tolerate this such practice because it spoils the market and won’t do justice to the serious industry players.”

he added.

Saifuddin said the ministry was striving to ensure the standards of the private institutions were upheld to bring in quality international students.

He said that both the public and private institutions of higher learning still had difficulty in attracting students from certain parts of the world, like Europe.

With the cooperation of the private education sector, the ministry will be holding roadshows overseas to invite foreign students to study in Malaysia.

In reply to a question, Saifuddin said that he was willing to meet the 500 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students who had complained about not getting places in universities. The students wanted to meet him at Parliament House tomorrow. on Monday.

“SPM results are improving, which is good, but this makes it very competitive
as we have limited space in the public and private institutions of higher learning.”

He also said in the public institutions, entry is was granted not just based on academic excellence but also on co-curricular activities.

“The universities take in students based on their needs, too. As such, , so there may be some who will not get a place.

“We cannot increase the space but the universities they we are trying their best to accommodate as many students of them as possible.” he said.

Napei president Associate Professor Elajsolan Mohan said the education system must be able to identify students who were not academically inclined and provide them with alternativee paths.

“First, we need to find out how many students get a minimum of three to five credits for SPM every year and develop a bridging curriculum for those who do not meet entry requirements.” he said.

Elajsolan said this would give all students the opportunity to for further their education and at the same time, enhance the human capital needs of the country.

Napei awarded three private education institutions with the Napei Academic Excellence Award.

They are Smart Reader Worldwide for the pre-school category, Sekolah Seri Suria for the schools category and Masterskill University College of Health Sciences for the university-college category.

45 Malaysian colleges deregistered

The Higher Education Ministry has deregistered 45 private colleges for flouting the Private Higher Education Institution Act last year, said Deputy Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung.

Another 38 avoided deregistration but other forms of action were taken against them for infringing the Act.

A further 96 institutions are being monitored. Of this number, 33 had been hauled up, given a chance to explain and allowed to continue operating pending observation.

According to Dr Hou, the weeding process, which started last year, was to safeguard the interest of students and maintain a high standard for all courses offered in all private higher education institutions in the coun-try.

“Since last year, the ministry has embarked on the ‘levelling-up and weeding-out’ process among private higher education institutions.

“The ministry will not hesitate to mete out heavier punishment (to errant institutions), for example, to downgrade the status of a university to university college, university college to college, and for colleges, to cancel their registration.

“The performing higher education institutions, on the other hand, will be rewarded with elevation,” he said.

Among the infringements committed were conducting courses without approval or with expired approval, changing premises without prior approval and operating in unregistered premises.

The deputy minister was speaking during the signing ceremony between Education@Iskandar Sdn Bhd, Maritiem Instituut Willem Barentsz, Maritiem Instituut De Ruyter and Maritime Intel Sdn Bhd to set up the Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology at Iskandar Malaysia’s Educity in Johor.

The two renowned Dutch maritime institutions will be joining forces with Education@Iskandar to set up the first Asian Dutch maritime institution.

It will open its doors to students beginning next January.

It will initially offer four diploma courses – Maritime Transport Management, Port Ma-nagement, Shipping Management, and Marine Health Safety, Security and Environment.

The diplomas will be awarded by the Maritiem Instituut Willem Barentsz and the Maritiem Instituut De Ruyter.

The institute will operate at a temporary campus in Kotaraya, Johor Baru, before moving to its permanent premises in EduCity by 2012.

Important Message from MSL:
Always check the credibility of the colleges before paying/enrolling in any college

Following in the footsteps of Aristides

AT YOUR SERVICE

By TAN SRI MOHD SIDEK HASSAN/Chief Secretary to Government, 01May2010
sidek@pmo.gov.my

There are many things that demand the ‘Aristides’ infusion in the public sector including the basics of time-keeping, service delivery and discipline.

WHEN the Spartans handed the government of Greece to Athenians, it required the transferring of common riches and resources to the new government. This included a new policy for governing the treasury, as well as a new tax structure.

The task was to find a person of sufficient virtue and integrity to undertake the duty faithfully, as it was to be an employment so trusted that it related to government matters, yet so public that it mattered to public affairs. A search followed. All eyes were cast on Aristides.

The new government invested in him full powers to levy a tax of his own fixing; such was its confidence in his wisdom, honour, integrity and sense of justice.

Aristides presided over the government’s treasury with the trustworthiness and devotion of a man caring for his own family treasures. He was able to bridge differences sowed by varying visions and opinions.

He explained, he engaged, he reached out. He was renowned for having silenced the critiques and foes, and gained the esteem of all good men. In his later years, he was better known as “Aristides The Just.”

“Aristides”, in its dogma and doctrines, encapsulates dignity, discipline, honour and integrity. These virtues cannot be told, they must be nurtured. They cannot be written, they must be learnt.

They cannot be imposed, they must be inculcated. They cannot be from fear but of belief and conviction. They are virtues we collectively imbue. No one person alone can ensure this. No one system can enable this. It is dependent on the eco-system we collectively foster as a society.

From our homes to our schools to boardrooms, when we each institute, inculcate, demand and act on these simple virtues of life, it will infiltrate into all levels of society. When at every level of our society we call on our own “Aristides”, we wouldn’t need enforcers, arbitrators, and referees to oversee us. We are our own judge and jury.

The characteristics of Aristides are not prophetic, I would concede, but of a simple man who believed he would do unto others as he would have them do unto him. Serve as you like to be served.

Taking this to the present day, and localising it to the public sector, there are many examples that desperately demand the “Aristides” infusion. From the basics of time-keeping, service delivery and discipline, we need to improve radically.

Many a comment has been received, letters written and opinions made on the lack of discipline among public officials. In the main, we appear to be revered for our “teatime-keeping” badge. Our job schedules, it is said, are designed around tea breaks, or coffee, for that matter.

This may be true, in part or in whole. But it may also be true from our own perspectives and predisposition of service. Whichever it may be, the essence of service, in my mind, must be rooted in our own self-dignity, first and foremost.

What one gives out is often and always a reflection of the Self. So when we are faced with a rude bank teller, an uncouth waiter, a lackadaisical public official or a shoddy physician, that service is a reflection of how that person views his/her job.

When there is no pride in our jobs, how can there be in its outcome? This is the essence and crux of bad performance, I would contend. The virus of “lack of pride” is the cancer of “non-performance” and all that it entails.

Governments, organisations and institutions can develop plans, programmes, training and evaluation systems. But the greater responsibility lies with all of us. It lies in the values with which we bring up our children, nurture our employees, and empower our organisations.

Nothing is more soul destroying, then, when a young graduate reports for duty all enthusiastic and ready to make a difference, and is greeted by a sloppy boss. Equally, nothing is more frustrating than a leader “endowed” with a team which lacks a sense of urgency. These scenes, I am certain, play out across sectors and industries, public and private alike.

As leaders, mentors, parents and governments, our greater focus needs to possibly be in imbuing work pride, even the most menial. Menial it may be to you and me, but it is not for the one who gets up and puts his clothes on, leaves his/her family to see that work through for the day.

Our jobs are not only significant when we sit in a leather chair. The one who ensures the water pumps work in a timely manner so that people get uninterrupted water supply, the nurse who oversees a critical-care patient through his rehabilitation when even the patient’s family is not able to, a teacher who goes to rural areas leaving behind comfort for the sake of educating, a waiter who cleans after uncouth patrons following a meal, or a garbage or sewerage cleaner and a soldier in the line of fire – all, yes all, are people of consequence. Their jobs are all significant. They are the components of competitive Malaysia, in part and in full.

When we each encourage job pride, criticism and critiques will be seen positively, tribulations faced optimistically, and struggles overcome with strength. Why? Because in our focus is not self, but responsibility. Our focus is on doing the responsibilities justice.

As people are made to feel important, given regard, they strive towards new benchmarks each time. They will walk the extra mile and go the distance. Talking down, humiliating and showing disdain and indifference do not make us greater leaders, better parents or remarkable teachers.

The magic formula, I feel, lies in how we bring the best out of a seemingly recalcitrant employee, a truant child and a rebellious teenager. The easier route is to sideline, cold storage, and show rage, which we must if all else fails!

The harder task is to reform their characters for better performance. Malaysia must start taking this road less travelled in the public and private sectors, media fraternity and civil society. This would be the bedrock of our innovative culture.

Discipline and precision at work, fortitude and commitment should no longer be seen as a rare trait, commended when seen, sighed over when not. The market must demand that our services, all services, requisite these as basic traits.

We all contribute to Malaysia, on equal terms in our own unique ways. Our expectations of service, from the most senior official to a janitor, must be the same across industries and sectors, for that is only just.

We cannot insist on excellence in one sector, while turning a blind eye to another.

We need to collectively start reforming and evaluating character for optimal performance and productivity. The latter cannot be, without the former. The brains are like muscles, it is said. It can be for hire, one can pay for its use. But character can never be for sale, never be traded.

Harry Truman, the 33rd President of United States of America, had a three-word motto on his desk, “Always do right”. He believed in doing the “right” thing even when no one was watching.

Plato said that of all the great men of Athens, Aristides was the only one that could be admired. A story has it that at one time when the Athenians were voting for whom to be sent into exile, an illiterate farmer who did not know Aristides asked him to write a name on a piece of pottery.

Aristides asked what that name should be. The farmer replied “Aristides”. Aristides dutifully wrote his own name, and then asked what harm Aristides had ever done him.

“None at all,” the farmer replied, “but I’m sick and tired of hearing him being called ‘The Just’ all the time.”

I must call on my own Aristides more!

Showcasing life abroad - Students from China in NZ

04APR10

A recent documentary that touches on issues faced by teens from China studying in Kiwi schools is gaining some attention.

WHEN Chinese student Jane arrived in Wellington, New Zealand (NZ), she did not reset her watch to the local time.

It may have seemed like the most obvious thing one would do upon arriving in another country, but the teen refused to do it because she was homesick, and wanted to be reminded of her family and friends back home.

“I miss home very much,” said the high school student of Szechuan, mingling with only fellow Chinese students — who, like her, were pining for home.

Many of them also use the computer to chat with their friends in China.

Jane is one of the four main characters in a documentary produced by Chinese filmmaker Li Tao, which has created a buzz in schools in the country and the film industry after it was first screened in New Zealand.

Simple yet captivating, Waves: The Diaries of Chinese International Students in New Zealand followed the lives of Jane and three other Chinese students — Ken, Lin and Rose — who had to learn to cope with culture shock, the language barrier and being homesick, while living away from home.

“They are 16 to 18-year-olds whose families have the means to send them overseas for a high school education — an emerging trend among middle-class families in China,” said Tao in in an interview with StarEducation.

Her documentary was screened at UCSI University’s first International Education Conference held during her recent trip to Malaysia. The documentary was also submitted as an entry at the 2006 New Zealand International Film Festival and the 2007 New Zealand World Cinema Showcase.

Study abroad

According to authors Rosalind Young and Steven Young, who presented a paper on problems faced by Chinese students in New Zealand, the country’s international education market was worth NZ$1.8bil (RM4.17bil) in 2002, which was then at its peak and the fourth largest industry in the nation.

In China, high school students are required to sit for the National College Entrance Examination, commonly known as Gao Kao, to gain admission into top local universities or colleges.

Many find the exam extremely tough since they have to compete with high-achieving students from all over the country.

Hence, as soon as the Gao Kao fever hits China, Chinese parents would go all out to ensure their children score well in the test — or, in some cases, even help them avoid it at all costs.

This is when the option of an overseas education comes in, for those who can afford it.

“It is a very difficult test, so some parents would rather choose to send their children away (so that they don’t have to sit for the test),” said Tao.

Another common reason, said Tao, is that some parents feel it would be easier for teenagers to be more proficient in the English language compared to adult learners. Many also see this is as a means of migrating to the country.

Tao’s strong interest in international education prompted her to produce the two-hour documentary aimed at exploring the learning curve of xiao liu xue sheng, a special term coined to describe students who leave China to study overseas while they are teens.

“The documentary is not about whether it is better to live overseas. It aims to present the journey and issues faced by the young students truthfully,” said Tao, who is an associate professor at Fudan University, China.

While working as an international student adviser at the school where Jane studied, Tao conducted a research on Chinese teenagers studying in New Zealand, and how living abroad at such a young age could affect their attitude and social behaviour.

Her interest grew even stronger in 2003 when the mainstream media in China slammed and labelled the teens as “trash”, following several incidents involving drugs, gambling, and even murder among underaged students studying overseas.

Such incidents happen, Tao said, because parents do not know what their children go through while they are abroad.

The school teachers may also lack understanding and experience when dealing with international students’ needs and problems.

“As a result, the teenagers feel that they are trapped because they are not being accepted or understood,” she said.

For Tao, growing up in a military family has not deterred her from pursuing her passion for literature. In fact, it was her father, who was in charge of cultural affairs, who encouraged her to pursue a career in writing.

“It was one of his dreams to see me become a writer. He would make me recite Chinese poems and encourage me to write.

“Life in the military was very simple so there was a lot of time for me to learn, study and develop my writing skill,” she said.

Tao graduated with a degree in Chinese Literature from Zhejiang Teacher’s University before she joined the Wenzhou TV centre as a broadcast journalist and documentary producer.

She then moved to Wellington to pursue her postgraduate diploma of arts in film studies and teachers training qualification.

The privileged lot

Jane was among the privileged lot in China. Money was the last thing that she had to worry about when she was studying in Wellington.

She is among the new generation of children who were born after the one-child policy came into effect in the late 1970s, a government intiative to curtail population growth.

With only one child to care for, China’s middle-class families could afford to provide their only child with the best things in life: best school, private tuition and, eventually, an overseas education.

Some send their children as young as 16 overseas to pursue their high school education and then to universities for higher studies.

This is all done in hope of grooming them to chen long or, in English, literally, rise to become a “dragon” — a symbol of success and power in Chinese culture — and make the family and ancestors proud.

Tao was glad that she was able to gain Jane’s trust while making the documentary.

“As a filmmaker, I have to approach my subjects and encourage them to open up to me.

“It’s about how much the people you’re filming trust you to reveal intimate information about themselves. It’s a challenge for documentary filmmaker,” said Tao.

“A good documentary can help people understand more about themselves. The parents of the four teenagers were very touched when they saw the documentary,” she added.

Air safety - List of airlines banned within the EU

31Mar2010

Effective aviation safety standards in Europe have rendered our safety record amongst the best in the world. Whilst the European Union and its Member States are working with safety authorities in other countries to raise safety standards across the world, there are still some airlines operating in conditions below essential safety levels.

To improve safety in Europe further, the European Commission – in consultation with Member States’ aviation safety authorities – has decided to ban airlines found to be unsafe from operating in European airspace.

These are listed in the document below. The first list includes all airlines banned from operating in Europe. The second list includes airlines which are restricted to operating in Europe under specific conditions.

These lists will be updated regularly and published in the Official Journal of the European Union where they are included as annexes A and B to the Commission Regulation. Before taking any action based on the information in these lists, all users should ensure they have the latest version.

Strine, anyone? There are many words unique to Australian English.

31Mar10

MIND OUR ENGLISH

ORTOTROT? I came across that word while studying at a school in North Head, Manly, New South Wales, Australia, in 1974. It is local slang for Are you ready (to go)?, and it was derived from the sound of a carriage-pulling trotting horse. Upon arrival at Sydney Airport, I asked an attendant the way to the train station and he told me, “Go ask that bloke over there.” Bloke is used commonly in Australia and refers to a person (male). When you go to a club, your host will offer you grog (beer) as soon as you arrive and some fried chook wings (chicken wings) for starters.

Day and die sound almost alike and since “a”, “i” and “o” all sound almost the same, I have always told my Aussie friends, jokingly, that they only need 24 letters in the alphabet, and not 26 like the rest of us.

Australian English began diverging from British English shortly after the foundation of the Australian penal colony of New South Wales (NSW) in 1788. In 1827 Peter Cunningham, in his book Two Years In New South Wales, reported that native-born white Australians of the time – known as “currency lads and lasses” – spoke with a distinctive accent and vocabulary, with a strong Cockney influence. Among the changes wrought by the gold rushes was the “Americanisation” of the language – the introduction of words, spellings, terms, and usages from North American English. The words imported included some later considered to be typically Australian, such as dirt and digger.

Bonzer, which was once a common Australian slang word meaning “great”, “superb” or “beautiful”, is thought to have been a corruption of the American mining term bonanza, which means a rich vein of gold or silver and is itself a loan word from Spanish.

Since the 1950s the American influence on language in Australia has mostly come from pop culture, the mass media (books, magazines and television programmes), computer software and the Internet.

Some words, such as freeway and truck, have even been naturalised so completely that few Australians recognise their origin.

One of the first writers to attempt renditions of Australian accents and vernacular was the novelist Joseph Furphy (a.k.a. Tom Collins), who wrote a popular account of rural New South Wales and Victoria during the 1880s, Such Is Life (1903). John O’Grady’s novel They’re A Weird Mob has many examples of pseudo-phonetically written Australian speech in Sydney during the 1950s, such as owyergoinmateorright? (“How are you going, mate? All right?”).

Thomas Keneally’s novels set in Australia, particularly The Chant Of Jimmie Blacksmith, frequently use vernacular such as “yair” for “yes” and “noth-think” for “nothing”. Other books of note are Let Stalk Strine by Afferbeck Lauder – where “Strine” is “Australian” and “Afferbeck Lauder” is “alphabetical order” (the book is in alphabetical order) – and How To Be Normal In Australia by Robert Treborlang.

Australian English is most similar to New Zealand English, due to their similar history and geographical proximity. Both use the expression different to (also encountered in British English, but not American) as well as different from.

Words of Irish origin are used, some of which are also common elsewhere in the Irish diaspora, such as bum for “backside” (Irish bun), tucker for “food”, (Irish tacar), as well as one or two native English words whose meaning have changed under Irish influence, such as paddock for “field”, cf. Irish páirc, which has exactly the same meaning as the Australian paddock.

Vocabulary

Australian English has many words that some consider unique to the language. One of the best known is outback, meaning a remote, sparsely populated area. Another is the bush, meaning either a native forest or a country area in general. “Bush” is a word of Dutch origin: “Bosch”. However, both terms have been widely used in many English-speaking countries. Early settlers from England brought other similar words, phrases and usages to Australia. Many words used frequently by country Australians are, or were, also used in all or part of England, with variations in meaning.

For example, creek in Australia, as in North America, means a stream or small river, whereas in the UK it means a small watercourse flowing into the sea; paddock in Australia means field, whereas in the UK it means a small enclosure for livestock; bush or scrub in Australia, as in North America, means a wooded area, whereas in England they are commonly used only in proper names (such as Shepherd’s Bush and Wormwood Scrubs). Australian English and several British English dialects (for example, Cockney, Scouse, Glaswegian and Geordie) use the word mate.

The origins of other words are not as clear or are disputed. Dinkum (or “fair dinkum”) can mean “true”, “is that true?” or “this is the truth!” among other things, depending on context and inflection. It is often claimed that dinkum dates back to the Australian goldrushes of the 1850s, and that it is derived from the Cantonese (or Hokkien) ding kam, meaning, “top gold”. But scholars give greater credence to the conjecture that it originated from the extinct East Midlands dialect in England, where dinkum (or dincum) meant “hard work” or “fair work”, which was also the original meaning in Australian English.

The derivative dinky-di means “true” or “devoted”: a “dinky-di Aussie” is a “true Australian”. However, this expression is limited to describing objects or actions that are characteristically Australian. The words dinkum or dinky-di and phrases like true blue are widely purported to be typical Australian sayings, even though they are more commonly used in jest or parody than as authentic slang.

Similarly, g’day, a stereotypical Australian greeting, is no longer synonymous with “good day” in other varieties of English and is never used as an expression for “farewell”, as “good day” is in other countries. It is simply used as a greeting.

Colloquialisms

Diminutives are commonly used to indicate familiarity. Some common examples are arvo (afternoon), brekky (breakfast), barbie (barbecue), footy (Australian rules football, rugby union football or rugby league football), “bottle-o” (bottle shop/off licence), “convo” (conversation), “defo” (definitely) and servo (service station).

Similar variation is also commonly used for people’s names to create nicknames. For example, “Smithy” (Surname: Smith), “Johnno/Johnnie”(John). This is used in other English speaking countries too, but is very common in Australian English.

Incomplete comparisons are common too –“sweet as”, for example.

Many idiomatic phrases and words once common in Australian English are now stereotypes and caricatured exaggerations, and have disappeared from everyday use. Such outdated and occasionally parodied terms include strewth, you beaut and crikey.

Waltzing Matilda written by bush poet Banjo Paterson contains many obsolete Australian words and phrases that appeal to a rural ideal and are understood by Australians even though they are not in common usage outside the song. One example is the title, which means travelling, particularly with a swag. G’day mate!

See Pic1 for British & Australian English

Three Malaysian students suffer minor injuries in Moscow bomb blast

30Mar10

PETALING JAYA: Three Malaysian medical students miraculously survived the two bomb blasts on Moscow’s subways set off by female suicide bombers.

Elaine Chew, Sim Eih Xing and Er Chee Kent, students at the Moscow Medical Academy, suffered only minor injuries in the blasts that brought the city centre to a standstill.

The three, all aged 24, are in the final year of their six-year course at the academy.

According to a Wisma Putra official, the three students were discharged after receiving outpatient treatment at a hospital.

He said Chew and Er, who were together, were wounded in the first blast at 8am (noon Malaysian time), which killed at least 20 people at Lubyanka metro station in central Moscow.

He said Sim suffered minor injuries in the second explosion, which occurred 45 minutes later at the Park Kultury station, where at least 12 were killed.

The official added that representatives from the Malaysian Embassy in Moscow and the Malaysian Student Affairs Department would meet the students.

“They may have been traumatised by the incident,” he told The Star.

The official added that the parents would be informed about the state of their children’s wellbeing.

Malaysian Ambassador to Moscow Datuk Mohamad Khalis Ali Hassan advised Malaysian students to take the necessary precautions but advised parents not to panic.

Mohamad Khalis also said that there were at least l,000 Malaysian students studying in Russia.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Mara had issued a statement that all its 650 students in Moscow were safe.

Mohamed Khaled added that the Malaysian Embassy in Moscow was monitoring the situation of all Malaysian students there.

Picture:
Rush-hour attack: People walking past flowers left in memory of the victims of a bomb explosion at Lubyanka metro station in Moscow yesterday. Two female suicide bombers killed at least 37 people and injured 38 on two Moscow metro trains in the rush hour on Monday, officials said. The blasts took place at Lubyanka and Park Kultury metro stations.

Moscow Bombings:Two Malaysians escape alive – thanks to gut feeling

30Mar10

MOSCOW: A gut feeling saved final-year medical student Hoong Hua Sheng (pic) and his coursemate Sim Eih Xing from almost certain death in the second blast that rocked Moscow at the Park Kultury metro station.

Hoong was travelling onboard the train when he suddenly decided to get off at the station, seven stations before their stop at Moscow Medical Academy.

Just as the two stepped out of the train, the coach exploded. The suicide bomber had been among the commuters in the coach.

The Moscow Medical Academy student said he had felt uneasy after hearing of the first blast which happened 45 minutes earlier at the Lubyanka station.

When the train stopped at the Park Kultury metro station at about 8.30am, Hoong pulled Sim, who was with him in the train, out of the packed coach.

“I was reading a book but I had a bad feeling ... that a second blast could occur.

“I just called out to Sim to get out of the train. When the doors opened, we quickly got off,’’ he added.

“True enough, just as we were walking away, the coach we were in exploded. There were people screaming. We were really, really lucky,” he told The Star in a telephone interview.

Hoong said they tried to stay calm and find a way out from the underground metro to the street.

“It was chaotic as the attack happened during rush hour,” said Hoong, who was on his way to a surgery lecture.

Hoong said he shuddered to think that the suicide bomber could have been really near him in the wagon.

“But I do not recall seeing anyone suspicious,’’ added the 24-year-old student from Banting.

Hoong only had his hair slighty singed from the explosion while Sim suffered injuries to his left leg.

“Sim is okay. I took him to the ambulance after we got out of the station but as the staff had their hands full, we were told to walk to the nearby hospital,” he said.

Hoong said there were other Malaysian students on the same train but they too escaped unhurt.

See Picture: HOONG Hua Sheng

2009 SPM Exam Results released on 11Mar10

12 March 2010

Total number of Candidates:
465,853

Total Candidates who will recieve SPM Cetificate:
364,o46

Total Candidates who passed ALL subjects:
199,155

PUTRAJAYA: The practice of listing top students who excel in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) is back after an absence of a few years.

This year, Gladys Tan Yee Kim from SMK Green Road in Kuching emerged the top SPM student in the country with a score of 10A+’s.

The practice was stopped as the ministry was moving towards a more holistic education system and there were suicide cases involving several students who did not perform well in public examinations.

Announcing the list, Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom added that the country’s top school was SM Sains Seremban

He said a total of 7,987 students obtained a combination of A+, A and A- in all the subjects taken in the SPM last year, adding that 214 students from government schools and 41 students who were either from private schools or private candidates, obtained A+ in all subjects taken.

“We have implemented a more detailed grading system starting from last year’s SPM and an A+ grade is considered a super distinction,” he told reporters when announcing the analysis of the SPM and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) 2009 results at the ministry yesterday.

Alimuddin added that A+ was the highest possible grade, which meant students would have scored more than 90% in the subject

Students are now graded according to A+, A, A-, B+, B, C+, C, D, E and G compared to previously when the grades were from 1A to 9G.

On the number of subjects taken by students, he said 3,052 students sat for 10 subjects, 2,230 took 11, 1,700 took nine while only one student took 17, four took 16, and 13 took 15.

Alimuddin said 538 students with special needs were among the 465,853 who sat for the SPM.

He said Ng Jin Lui from SMK Gajah Berang in Malacca, who is visually impaired, was the top special needs student in the country with four A+’s, three A’s and four A-’s.

In Science, English and Moral Education, Alimuddin said rural students did better than their urban counterparts.

For the overall results, Alimuddin said 364,046 students obtained the SPM certificate this year compared to 347,443 in 2008.

Of the total who obtained the certificate, 199,155 passed all their subjects compared to 181,419 in 2008.

On the overall achievement of schools for SPM in relation to National Key Result Areas, Alimuddin said a majority of them were in the excellent, good and moderate categories.

“About 143 (6.7%) of the schools are in the ‘with potential category’,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said 3,138 students obtained the STAM certificate with the minimum grade of Maqbul (Pass).

“Their achievements mean they will be able to obtain a place at Al-Azhar University in Egypt and other institutions,” he said.

Britain plugs visa loopholes on students

28Feb10

Britain is plugging loopholes in its rigorous points-based student visa system to prevent abuse by those intending to enter and work.

Tougher rules will be enforced from Wednesday on clauses governing English Language ability, the period a student is permitted to work and on entry of dependants.

Fees for international student visas are also being increased from £145 (RM913) to £199 (RM1253).

Britain introduced its points-based visa system last March to prevent the entry of bogus students and to crack down on illegitimate institutions operating there.

The changes involving Tier 4 (student visa) are:

> A MINIMUM English Language requirement equivalent to B1 under CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) or a score of 4.5 under IELTS (International English Language Testing System) for students pursuing courses below degree level (excluding foundation degree courses);

> HALVING the amount of time a student pursuing below first degree-level course (except for foundation degree course) can work to 10 hours during term time;

> RESTRICTING lowest-level courses (A-levels and equivalent) to only “most trusted institutions” and

> BANNING dependants of students pursuing non-foundation or below undergraduate degree courses from working.

British High Commissioner to Malaysia Boyd McCleary said he expected the latest changes to have “minimal impact” on Malay- sia, saying that the measures were introduced following abuses by students in other countries.

“Malaysia is not the country we are targeting as you have been sending us good students.

“We approved 98% of your student visa applications because they followed the guidelines,

63 Malaysians among deportees from Australia

27FEB10

MSL advises all travellers to respect the laws of the country they are visiting

Sixty-three Malaysians were among a group of 76 illegal workers deported back to their home countries from Australia after a mass immigration operation.

The group, who have been working as fruit pickers, were flown home on Thursday night in the largest mass deportation of illegal workers from the country this decade, said a government statement.

The workers, who included 13 Indonesians, were among 85 people nabbed during a raid on a caravan park last week in Mooroopna, just west of Shepparton, where they had been picking tomatoes and pears.

Arrangements were being made to deport the remaining nine illegal workers – five Malaysians, three Koreans and a Nepalese.

Immigration Minister senator Chris Evans said all had entered Australia with valid visas before taking on illegal work.

“The fact that within the space of nine days these people have been located, detained and removed from Australia demonstrates the government’s commitment to stamping out illegal workers,” he said in praising the work of the Immigration Department.

He said employers faced fines of up to over RM40,000 (A$13,200) and two years’ imprisonment for hiring people with no work rights and companies could be docked over RM200,000 (A$66,000) for each illegal worker.

A. English a must for studies, say USM foreign students

23Feb2010

## BECAUSE HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH, CASE WAS POSTPONED.
THIS HAS DRAWN CRITICISMs ... how can a foreign student studying in Malaysia not know English.

Read News Report:

Iraqi doctorate student charged with reckless driving

NIBONG TEBAL: An Iraqi, who is taking a doctorate at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in electronics engineering, was charged in the Magistrates Court here Friday with reckless driving and causing the death of a student at the university, Fadilah Abdul Halim, 27, last Thursday.

Hamood Sheehab Hamid, 45, was charged with committing the offence driving in a reckless and dangerous manner, under section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, at the traffic light exit to USM, at Jalan Transkrian about 9.45am.

Hamood Sheehab Hamid, 45, is studying for a doctorate in electronics engineering.

However, no plea was recorded because Hamood could neither understand English nor Bahasa Malaysia.

Magistrate Mohd Izham Ali ordered Hamood's passport be surrendered to the court and set bail at RM5,000 in two sureties, a local and a foreigner.

He fixed March 23 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Ghazali Muhamad Nadzri prosecuted, while Hamood was represented by lawyer Badrul Hisham Abdullah. - Bernama

KL sightseeing tours for transit passengers

23Feb10

KUALA LUMPUR: Airline passengers on transit for at least five hours can now take Kuala Lumpur sightseeing tours at a price of between RM28 and RM95 per head.

Launching the package dubbed "Showcase KL" here Friday, Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said the package included a KLIA Express train journey and a "KL Hop On Hop Off" bus tour of the capital.

He said up to 43 tourist spots were included in the "Showcase KL" organised by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) with the cooperation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), the Immigration Department, KLIA Express, KL Hop On Hop Off, Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines (MAS).

"This is not a group package that required airline passengers to travel in groups. They can get down at any KL Hop On Hop Off bus stops to have a closer look at tourist spots of their choice," he told reporters after launching the package.

IF 20 percent of transit passengers at the KL International Airport (KLIA) buy the package, it would contribute RM650,000 to the economy, he said, adding that he expected about 10,000 transit passengers would buy the package this year.

The package is sold at the Visit KL Counter at the KLIA satellite building between 6am and 10pm daily, including on public holidays.

The package cost RM95 for 18-year-old and above, RM84 (seven to 12-year-old), RM46 (five to 11-year-old), RM28 (below four years) and free of charge (below one-year-old).

Transit passengers taking the package will undergo Immigration screening before leaving KLIA and upon rejoining their flight.

"They will get free drinks and enjoy discounts at places like Aquaria KLCC, National Museum, KL Towers and Bird Park. As Tourist Reward card members, they are entitled to a discount of between 10 and 20 per cent at KL Pavilion," said Raja Nong Chik.

Earlier, the first batch of 35 Malaysia Airlines transit passengers were received by Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail, MAHB managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general Azizan Nordin and KLIA Express chief executive officer Normah Mohd Noor and KLIA Immigration chief Rohaizi Bahari. - Bernama

B. English a must for studies, say USM foreign students

23Feb10

Comments from other students.

GEORGE TOWN: Post-graduate students in Universiti Sains Malaysia are surprised by a claim that a foreign student could not understand either English or Bahasa Malaysia.

»All my studies are in English, so of course I have to speak and understand the language« HUSSEIN ALBAZAR
Several foreign Masters and doctoral students said English was a must for their studies at the university and they also needed it for everyday interaction.

“All my studies are in English, so of course I have to speak and understand the language.

“If you want to come and study here (from a foreign country), you have to learn English,” said computer science doctoral student Hussein Albazar, 29.

The Jordanian, who has been in Malaysia for the last three years, added that interacting with Malaysians was a bit challenging as most preferred to speak to him in Bahasa Malaysia.

“But I get by with English, the few Bahasa words that I know and a lot of hand gestures,” he said.

Iraqi Masters student Hala Mahdi, 28, echoes Hussein’s comments.

“Bahasa Malaysia is a bit difficult, and I don’t understand it at all but English is no problem as I use it in my studies,” said the pharmacy major.

Mahmoud Jawarneh, 29, said foreign students not only used English for their studies, but also to interact with fellow foreign and Malaysian students.

“I speak Arabic with students from Yemen, Iraq and Palestine.

“But with those from other places like Iran, we all speak English to each other,” the Jordanian computer science doctorate student said.

He added, however, that it was sometimes difficult to understand the local English slang.

“The slang is very different, especially with the Chinese community,” he said.

A check at the university’s Institute of Postgraduate Studies website shows that all foreign students have to take one course of Bahasa Malaysia while a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 or an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Band 6.0 was required for certain programmes.

An Iraqi doctorate student, who was charged with reckless driving and causing the death of a 27-year-old postgraduate student, recently sparked interest, both on campus and in the public, when he claimed that he could not understand either English or Bahasa Malaysia.

The charge against Hamood Shehab Hamid, 45, was put on hold on Feb 19 in order for an Arabic interpreter to be present to translate the charge. The case has been fixed for mention on March 23.

A local doctorate student who only wanted to be known as Ng, 26, however, was sympathetic with Hamood’s situation.

“Knowing enough English to pass IELTS is one thing, but conversing and understanding the formal use of it in court is another.

“I think he should have his day in court and anything to assist justice being served should be provided,” he said.

Australia fights terrorism with tough visa checks

23Feb10

SYDNEY: Australia intends to impose tougher visa checks on people from countries considered at high risk for terrorism as part of an A$69mil (RM214mil) counterterrorism plan released Tuesday.

The new visa requirements, which include mandatory collection of fingerprints and facial imaging data for visa applicants from 10 countries, would help keep terrorists from evading detection, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in releasing the government's counterterrorism "white paper" in Canberra.

"Terrorism has become a persistent and permanent feature of Australia's security environment," Rudd said.

"Prior to the rise of jihadist terorrism, Australia was not a specific target. Now Australia is such a target."

Under the plans, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship would begin collecting the fingerprints and facial images this year, and cross-check them with immigration and law enforcement databases in Australia and overseas, the report said.

It does not name which countries would be subject to the new requirements.

"We're not identifying those countries until the rollout occurs," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.

"There may be a diplomatic effort required in regards to some of those countries, as you would expect."

While the report says the primary terrorist threat to Australia comes from a global jihadist movement, including al-Qaida, it also cites a rise in the number of terrorists born or raised in Australia.

The government notes the 2005 London suicide bombings carried out by British nationals as an example of the growing threat of locally generated terrorism in Western democracies.

Of the 38 people Australia has prosecuted or are being prosecuted as a result of counterterrorism operations, 37 are Australian citizens, Attorney General Robert McClelland said.

"That is an indication that we are not simply looking at the possibility of a terrorist event occurring from overseas," he said.

The government plans to establish a counterterrorism control center to coordinate Australia's domestic and international intelligence efforts.

More than 100 Australians have been killed in terrorist attacks worldwide since 2001. - AP

Caught in middle-income trap

07Feb2010

A graduate teacher starts at RM2,500 per month in Malaysia, compared to RM6,196 in Singapore and RM15,661 in Hong Kong. Malaysian wages have fallen behind partly due to the gross divergence between the suppressed Malaysian CPI and that of the world.

OVER the last few months, there has been much discussion on the issue that Malaysia has been caught in the middle-income trap. In this article, I will discuss the rationale on why Malaysia has been caught in this dilemma, and some of the steps we need to take to emerge as a high-income economy.

"Many countries caught in the middle-income trap have deliberately jump-started their economy through a high wage policy" DR FONG CHAN ONN
From independence to the 1980s, Malaysia progressed rapidly. From an agricultural society in the 1950s, it evolved into an Asian Tiger Economy by the 1980s, mainly through labour-intensive industrialisation.

However, subsequent attempts to further deepen our industrialisation process met with mixed results; and Malaysia’s economic well-being generally remained stagnant, while many other countries galloped away under the scenario of a rapidly expanding world trade.

This is because of the following factors:

Price controls

In 1946, the colonial government enforced price controls in Malaya to avoid economic hardships after World War II. This policy holds until this day.

Price-control items include basic necessities such as rice, flour, sugar, fertilisers, milk, chicken and even bus and taxi fares. Because of controls, these commodities are much cheaper in Malaysia compared to outside.

For example, as of December last year, a kilo of raw sugar in Malaysia was RM1.35, while the world price was RM2.20; that of rice is RM2.75 per kilo compared to world price of RM6.75.

Since basic necessities constitute a large component of the Malaysian CPI, the cumulative effect of price controls for over 60 years has been a gross suppression of our CPI compared to world CPI (see Figure 1).

Workers’ annual pay raises are linked to the nation’s CPI. The gross divergence between the (suppressed) Malaysian CPI and that of the world has also led to a corresponding significant divergence of Malaysian wage rates compared to that of the world.

This, in reality, is the major reason why since the 1980s, Malaysian wages have fallen behind wages of the rest of the world (see chart on Page 28). As an example, a graduate teacher starts at RM2,500 per month in Malaysia, compared to RM6,196 in Singapore, and RM15,661 in Hong Kong.

Besides restraining Malaysian wages, price controls also severely distort the domestic economic factor proportions, resulting in many factories using non-efficient economic production processes. With diesel and fuel prices controlled, and workers’ wages suppressed, manufacturers choose to use more fuels and labour as inputs – instead of more machines – resulting in low-quality Malaysian products and, of course, low productivity growths.

Subsidies

Subsidies began in 1961 under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. Subsidised items include petrol, gas, sugar, rice and other basic items.

In the 1970s, when the price of oil was under US$12 per barrel, petrol subsidy was a bearable cost to the Government. However, with the present high oil prices (over US$75 per barrel), this has become a disastrous predicament for the Government to continue bearing.

As Figure 2 shows, the cost of subsidies has ballooned from 3% of government operating expenditure in 1998 to almost 30% in 2008!

The high cost of subsidies in turn restrains the Government’s ability to upgrade infrastructures such as public transport. It also retards the Government’s ability to provide competitive incentives for attracting high-income activities into the country.

Agriculture sector drag

The dominance of oil palm and rubber in the agriculture sector is unfortunately a significant drag on the nation’s ability to leapfrog into a high-income economy.

Given the plantation terrain, oil palm harvesting and rubber tapping remained manual in nature and (unlike grape or wheat harvesting) not easily mechanised. Up to this day, they remained as low-wage activities, fossilising our dependence on foreign labour (about 300,000) for the continued “vibrancy” of the plantation sector.

The unavoidable presence of these foreign workers in plantations also meant that many labour-intensive manufacturing operations could still continue to exist in the countryside (even in face of local worker shortage) because of the easy “mobility” of these foreign workers from estates to factories. This also means that it is very difficult for the Government to disallow or curtail foreign workers in non-plantation sectors, when it sanctions such a large presence of foreign workers in plantations.

The cumulative effect is that there are now about 2.3 million low-skill foreign workers in Malaysia, making up about 20% of the workforce. They are in the manufacturing, petroleum, construction and domestic-help sectors. Lately, they have also penetrated into retailing, food and beverage, tourism and hotel industries.

The foreign-based Electrical and Electronics (E & E) firms have already declared, in their dialogue sessions with the Government, that they would be forced to move out if foreign workers were to be limited or stopped! This argument, if accepted, will mean that our economy could remain in the middle income trap for the foreseeable future.

Where do we go from here?

South Korea’s GDP per capita is US$16,450, Singapore US$34,346, Hong Kong US$29,559, while Malaysia is still at US$7,469. It must be remembered that in the early 1970s, we were at parity with these countries. In five years’ time they would be even further ahead. What are the bold steps we need to undertake to enable us to leap out of this middle income trap?

I will attempt to elaborate on some of these steps:

Phasing out subsidies and price controls

Price controls and subsidies have created artificial market prices that distort the domestic factor proportions and impede economic efficiencies. The Government has to be bold to find ways to phase out price controls and subsidies; maybe not all at once but over a time frame of say five years. Malaysia is a small country and we cannot live in isolation from the rest of the world economy.

Petrol subsidies, in particular, should be removed within one to two years; while extensive information campaigns are carried out to enable motorists to adjust to living within the context of petrol prices being set in accordance with the world crude prices, as is the practice in many other countries.

In conjunction with the phasing out of subsidies and price controls, the Government must introduce a transparent system of social safety net, providing welfare assistance to the needy, the disabled, the aged, the unemployed and the poor. A coupon-system (together with MyKad) can be introduced where those in need are given subsidies for basic necessities and other essentials such as petrol.

Of course, this implies the need for the Government to create a nationwide data-base of those in need, not unlike the registration system for welfare payments, but more comprehensive in nature taking into account employment status and also proving channels for verification and counselling.

High wage policy

Malaysian wages have been suppressed by market factor distortions for too long. The Government should encourage our wages to be pushed up in line with the rest of the world. When the rakyat can take home more pay, they are then better enabled to adjust to the reality of world prices that will be felt when controls and subsidies are phased out.

Many countries caught in the middle-income trap have deliberately jump-started their economy through a high wage policy. Singapore is a good example; in the 1980s, its economic progress stagnated and the Singapore Government deliberately compelled companies to increase their wages by 50% or more. Though painful at first, this ignited “a second industrial revolution” in Singapore when companies became much more capital-intensive and focused on high-end manufacturing and financial activities. Today, it is a vibrant economic hub of Asia.

We could introduce a similar high wage policy by initially requiring vulnerable sectors such as plantation and agriculture, labour-intensive manufacturing, construction and services (such as restaurants and hotels) to have decent minimum wages.

The plantation companies, in particular, should be required to pay higher wages to attract more Malaysians to work in this sector.

As an example, the 2008 Annual Return of the Asiatic Group – a typical mature plantation company – shows that its total wage payment (RM83mil) constituted only 18% of its before tax profits (RM456mil); and it can certainly even double its wage bills and still remain extremely profitable!

Employers would then have to use more equipment in the new scenario; many of our skilled workers who are now in Singapore can then be enticed to return to these higher skill positions, and in the process uplift the productivity of our economy. The multiplier effects of this would be translated into higher wages for the supervisors, managers and other professionals as well.

Innovative incentives for high-tech activities

The traditional incentives offered by Malaysia in the form of pioneer status and capital investment allowances are not attractive anymore. High-tech start-ups are risky ventures; they need large capital, and hence access to venture capital and government assistance. They also need speedy Internet access and rapid logistics.

They cannot work in an environment where restrictions are placed in terms of equity ownership or employment of expatriates. They, most of all, expect rapid decision-making by us in processing their applications. In early 2000, the Indian information giant Infosys wanted to invest in Malaysia and sought approval for their expatriates to work here; our hesitancy and delay in decision-making caused them to relocate to Mauritius!

We should follow the world trend, and be rapid, decisive and agile in our engagement with high-tech entrepreneurs. We have to introduce innovative incentives to attract them to come here. This includes the offer of cash grants (as a form of venture capital), and R & D research grants to companies to set up their bases here.

In keeping with the common practice of many other countries, the Government must also be willing to offer work permits and permanent resident status to highly qualified scientists and other highly educated individuals to entice them to work in Malaysia not only as a second base but also as a second home.

IT infrastructure and public R & D centres

Malaysia was among the first to recognise the importance of IT by the establishment of our Multi-Media Super Corridor in 2001. But other countries have since superseded us in IT infrastructure. Consider this: our Internet download speed is only 2.2 Mbps, compared to South Korea’s 23.6 Mbps and Singapore’s 8.0 Mbps; our broadband penetration rate is only 30% compared to South Korea’s 97%!

Entrepreneurs now expect to be able to work through their notebooks while commuting in rapid trains and cars. They expect to be able to do video-conferencing while on the move. Our current download speed does not allow for these, and more importantly does not allow the functioning of many of the new IT applications.

The Government needs to quickly bring the state of our IT infrastructure up to parity with the global standard as a precondition for pushing Malaysia towards a high-income economy.

Further, one of the most effective methods for rapid societal debuts of new scientific ideas and innovations is the availability of public R & D centres for niche areas, where high school and university students can be encouraged to experiment with their ideas.

This was how Steve Jobs was stimulated to design the first Apple personal computer in the 1980s in Silicon Valley. And a major reason for the success of the present Korean film industry is the Seoul Animation Center; a centre where Koreans who have interest in animation for movies, computer games, or digital advertising could drop in, play around with their scripts and hopefully end up with viable commercial products.

The Government should follow this trend by setting up R & D centres in 3-D Animation, Computer Accessory Inter-face, Micro and Nano-Technology, Horticulture, Aquaculture and others deemed suitable to our resource endowment. With the proper involvement of schools and colleges, this could lead to the formation of interest groups focusing around the availability of facilities at the centres. Ultimately, this will lead to more passion for science and technology among the young, and the germination of new ideas for products and services.

Leverage on Malaysian professionals and experts overseas

According to an estimate by MEF, there are at present more than 500,000 Malaysian professionals working abroad; and they are in major cities such as New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore working and doing research in areas like medicine, financial services, engineering, accountancy, logistics, construction, venture capital and other services.

In my interaction with many of them, they said that they very much want to contribute to Malaysia’s progress. Given the right conditions, I feel that they could be persuaded to set up base here. Unfortunately, often times, we have not engaged them sufficiently.

As an example, the renowned UK liver transplant surgeon Datuk Dr Tan Kai Chah wanted to set up base in Malaysia but could not do so because, as a Malaysian, he was required to do a compulsory three-year government service. Singapore, having gotten wind of this, headhunted him. His liver centre in Singapore is now very much sought after by patients near and far.

Learning from this, we should attract our Malaysian professionals to return to Malaysia, by the Government setting up a Special Group to identify them and then engaging those who are interested to return or at least set up base here.

This engagement should be done discreetly so that their individual requirements can be assessed and met, and their problems resolved. If their foreign spouses want to work, if their children need special education, if they need R & D grants, etc, all these we should be able to resolve. Then and only then can we gain leverage on the large pool of brainpower that we already have.

We should act quickly in this respect, for such talents are being aggressively headhunted by other governments. The Government should do all it can to ensure that our professionals, with their wide international exposure, will end up on our shores and not become other societies’ assets.

Strategic location

Kuala Lumpur’s location at the heart of Asean and its multi-cultural environment enhance its attraction for many emergent high-income activities. We have often forgotten that KL is only 300km away from Singapore and it also has access to deep seaports and airports. Fortunately, AirAsia did not forget this and, riding on the wave of budget air travel, has developed KL as the low-cost air hub of Asia-Australia. With our current lost-cost structures, KL could similarly be developed into the low-cost shipping and logistic hub of Asia.

The Government should also aggressively promote KL as the focal centre for business transactions between East (China, Korea and Japan) and West (India and Middle East) Asia.

A few enterprising Taiwanese direct-sale companies have already established processing centres and warehouses in Malaysia for export of their products to the Middle East because Malaysian-labelled products are more easily accepted in these markets. This is only the beginning of a new wave of opportunities, as East and West Asia get better connected.

Green energy

Flooded with sunshine, strong winds and free from natural disasters, Malaysia is an ideal location for green renewable energy R & D and manufacturing. Renewable green energy has to be promoted to be Malaysia’s new strength. The world’s top three solar companies have now located themselves in Malaysia. One of them (Sun Power) is building the world’s largest solar power manufacturing plant in Rumbia, in my constituency in Malacca.

The Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) must work hand in hand with the solar companies to come up with incentives and a strategic policy to match that of China, which is currently the world leader in solar power. We must seize this opportunity to nurture a cluster group of ancillary suppliers to provide materials and supporting services to the solar companies, just as we did when we started with E & E in 1972. We must not miss this boat to build a “Solar-con” manufacturing base to equal that of the silicon hub of Penang.

Medical care and pharmaceutical trials

With an aging population all over the world, high quality medical care has become an emergent high-value economic sector. Highly-trained Malaysian medical specialists are working by the hundreds in Singapore, London and Dublin. More importantly, they are highly respected in their fields. They could and should be encouraged to set up base here and transform Malaysia into a world-class international medical centre. The big advantage is that our cost is half that of Singapore, and one-third of that of Hong Kong, the United States and London.

If we reorganise ourselves, we can be among the top in this area. The urgent necessity is for the Government to reconsider compulsory government service for recognised Malaysian medical experts. Isn’t it better to allow them, already in their late 30s, back to create employment and build up our medical base, as opposed to rigidly requiring them to work for three years in government service at great personal and family sacrifice to themselves?

Malaysia, with our multi-ethnic population and extensive bio-diversity, is an ideal place for R & D in pharmaceutical products, particularly in the conduct of trials for new drugs, before their formal acceptance by the authorities. This can be in the area of cancer, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, bone conditioning, and heart diseases. The Health Ministry and Mida should quickly formulate a new strategy to attract pharmaceutical companies to seriously consider Malaysia as their new destination for R & D and trials.

Oil and gas activities

Petronas is known worldwide for being a successful national petroleum company. Petronas has done really well for the country in terms of generating oil and gas revenue from both Malaysian and non-Malaysian fields. Unfortunately, unlike the E & E sector, up-stream oil and gas production has not resulted in the emergence of a corresponding vibrant downstream oil and gas sub-sector. We are still very dependent on foreign oil and gas ancillary suppliers for many of the specialised downstream services, such as rig and platform maintenance and repairs, safety training, search and rescue, and other related R and D activities.

Kemaman, Miri and Bintulu are now vibrant oil-related towns. Petronas can play a more significant nurturing role and spin off more of these related activities (which are now sub-contracted to foreign suppliers) to independent Malaysian entrepreneurs of all races, so that we can begin to transform these towns into mini Houstons. Besides its economic benefits to the country, this would also greatly endear Petronas to the hearts of the average Malaysians.

In this article, I have argued that Malaysia has been inhibited from fulfilling its true potential by distortions (in the domestic economy) caused by various policies since independence; by phasing out these distortions and focusing on our strengths in new areas, we can and would emerge as a high-income economy in the not too distant future.

Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn was Prof of Applied Economics and Dean of Faculty of Economics and Administration, Universiti Malaya. He served in the Government as Deputy Minister of Education (1990-1999) and as Minister of Human Resources (1999-2008). Currently, he is the MP for Alor Gajah.

Pic 1: Figure 1
Pic 2: Figure 2

Pic3: Salaries

A distinct profile of Malaysian Overstayers in Britain

Two groups of Malaysians – restaurant staff and medical students – are believed to form two of the high-risk groups of Malaysian overstayers in Britain.

THERE are two groups. One comprises young, brash, first-time travellers. Some speak a smattering of English, have little education and only a few hundred pounds.

And their main purpose to come to the UK is to work illegally as restaurant chefs and workers, especially in London’s Chinatown.

Syed Abdillah: Concerned about the impact of the visa ruling on the number of Malaysians travelli ng to Britain.
The second group is well-educated and has deeper pockets. More importantly, they could be future doctors and specialists – both very much sought after in Malaysia and Britain.

Most of them are from Penang and Ipoh, and others are from the Klang Valley, Malacca and Johor.

They – restaurant staff and medical students – are believed to form two of the high-risk groups of Malaysian overstayers in Britain.

Of course, it must be pointed out that not all restaurant workers or medical graduates fall into those categories. Many are legitimately employed in the UK.

Yet there are also those who came specifically to work illegally or had chosen to stay back long after their student visas expired.

Even government-sponsored students have been known to “disappear without a trace” after completing their courses.

So, these are the ugly Malaysians who are tarnishing the image of the majority. And they obviously have a distinct profile that sets them apart from bona fide travellers.

Human traffickers

The first group concerns those who are mostly travelling abroad for the first time, aged below 40, speak broken English and do not have sufficient funds to support themselves in London.

Tan: ‘Apply through the proper channels to work in the UK and cut off the syndicates’ oxygen supply’.
Even with £1,000 (RM5,538), it’s difficult to survive in Britain for six months unless you are staying in Malaysia Hall. But only a few rooms are available and these are for short stays.

But while they lack tertiary education, they more than make up for it with their culinary skills and fluency in Mandarin, Cantonese or Hokkien, and they will have no problem working in Chinese restaurants and takeaways.

Westminster City Council Chinese liaison officer David Tan took human traffickers to task for making a fortune out of the situation.

“Malaysians should apply through the proper channels to work in the UK and cut off the syndicates’ oxygen supply, otherwise everybody will be affected,” he said.

He, however, expressed concern that unless the situation improved back home, there could be more people coming over.

As for the medical graduates, their situation is more complex. It basically involves two categories – those working legally as part-time consultants and specialists, and the overstayers.

It is believed that close to 1,000 medical students, including government scholars, have stayed back and worked in UK hospitals after completing their studies.

Malaysia has, in fact, been trying to woo back the government scholars, as it had spent about RM1mil on each student for their six-year medical programme.

As for those whose skills are not in demand, some prefer to overstay and grab any job available.

International image

Of particular concern is that restaurant staff and students form a sizeable portion of the estimated 20,000 Malaysian overstayers in the UK.

And the visa abuse, if not resolved by early next year, may result in Britain revoking the visa-free status that Malaysians currently enjoy.

That would have far-reaching consequences not just for genuine travellers to the UK but also for the corporate sector, including Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia X.

MAS regional manager for the UK & Ireland Datuk Syed Abdillah Syed Aziz expressed concern about the impact it would have on the number of Malaysians travelling to Britain.

London remains a top destination for Malaysians, he said, adding that the airline would continue to monitor the situation closely and “put the necessary plans in place as and when required”.

It is learnt that the ruling might put a dent on MAS’ plans to use the bigger A380 aircraft for the KL-London sector by the second half of next year.

MAS operates 14 flights to London Heathrow weekly and 25 flights a week to Europe, connecting Malaysians to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome.

The visa rule could also affect AirAsia X’s expansion plans in Europe, particularly Paris where it had been granted landing rights.

The low-cost, long-haul airline now flies seven times a week to London Stansted, its sole destination in the continent.

In the worst case scenario, both airlines may need to cut their frequencies to London in view of a possible reduction in passenger traffic.

While the social and economic ramifications cannot be overstated, such a rule may be seen as a blot on Malaysia’s international image.

For once you come under the visa regime, it is difficult to get out. Worse still, the damage has been done.

MSL Travel ADVICE to all travellers:
RESPECT the LAWS of the country you are visiting

Malaysia: New currency declaration rule

24Dec09

KUALA LUMPUR: In line with the global effort to combat money-laundering and terrorism financing, Bank Negara Malaysia has issued a new currency declaration requirement at all entry and exit points in the country.

Effective Jan 1, travellers entering or leaving Malaysia with cash and/or negotiable bearer instruments (traveller’s cheques, bearer cheques) exceeding US$10,000 (RM34,000) must make a declaration in form Customs No. 22.

“The forms will be available at counters located before the Customs checkpoints at all entry and exit points of the country.

“Travellers could be fined up to RM1mil and/or face imprisonment not exceeding a term of one year if they fail to declare or make a false declaration,” it said in a statement here yesterday.

Bank Negara said this was required under section 23 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 and was in line with the Special Recommendation IX by the Financial Action Task Force which required countries to have measures in place to detect physical cross-border transportation of cash and negotiable bearer instruments.

“This new requirement is in line with global efforts to combat money-laundering and terrorist financing activities.

“Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Philippines and Singapore have adopted the same declaration requirement,” it said.

Malaysia: Ministry plans new varsity calendar in line with the world

22Dec09

SEPANG: There are suggestions to adjust the current academic calendar of universities — and start sessions in August — to make it more appealing to international students, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

The current intake, which begins in June and July, sees Malaysia starting ahead of most other countries, hampering international students recruitment.

“Many foreign students have yet to receive their high school exam results during this time, and our different holiday breaks complicate student mobility programmes,” he said after the soft launch of the ministry’s nationwide carnival for 2010 at the Pan Pacific KLIA hotel.

Mohamed Khaled added that a meeting would be held next week with the Education Ministry to discuss the matter.

When contacted, ministry director-general Prof Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said that if the go-ahead was received, the new university intake would begin in August or September to mirror countries in the northern hemisphere.

Education Ministry director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom confirmed that the meeting would take place next week.

However, he added it was unlikely the proposal would be implemented any time soon.

Earlier in his speech, Mohamed Khaled said more scholarship recipients might end up reading their first degrees locally in an effort to keep the best brains in the country.

“To have the best universities, you need the best students. Apart from the 20 public universities, Malaysia also has 45 private ones, including five overseas branch campuses,” he added.

Cost-cutting aside, the local universities, especially the research universities, were ready to cater to scholarship recipients.

“Unless the students are studying strategic courses like medicine or have been accepted by Ivy League institutions, there is no real need to send them abroad.”

Mohamed Khaled added that the ministry had held informal discussions regarding the matter with the Public Service Department and Mara — the two biggest bodies sending students overseas.

Visa-free status in Britain at risk, no thanks to ‘critical level’ of overstayer

16Dec09

LONDON: Malaysia looks set to be included in the list of countries whose citizens require visas to enter Britain beginning 2011.

Malaysian Deputy High Commissioner Datuk Rustam Yahaya said the number of overstayers had reached a “critical level” following a situation update by the British Home Office a week ago.

He said the numbers remained “largely the same or could have even gone up” since Malaysia managed to retain its visa-free status early this year.

Based on the current trend, he said British authorities were likely to impose visa requirements on Malaysians travelling to Britain.

“We are likely to be hit this time,” he said in an interview here.

Earlier this year, Malaysia and five other countries passed the “visa-waiver test”, which allowed their nationals to continue visiting and remaining in Britain without a visa for up to six months.

However in February this year, British High Commissioner to Malaysia Boyd McCleary warned that Britain reserved the right to review Malaysia’s visa-free status “from time to time” despite it having passed the test.

Rustam said the only way for Malaysia to retain its visa-free status for Malaysians was for it to take immediate steps to address the issue of overstayers.

“We have only one year to resolve the problem. Otherwise, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.”

There are an estimated 20,000 Malaysians overstaying in Britain.

Rustam said there was nothing to prevent Malaysians from overstaying and working illegally in Britain and this had contributed to the high number of such cases.

He said some kind of modalities were needed to prevent non-genuine travellers, especially first-timers, from coming to Britain.

Although the British Border Agency had deported about 500 Malaysians during the first 10 months of this year, he said the number was nothing compared to those coming here.

“One jumbo jet can easily take 500 people but there are many more flying here every day,” he said.

If the visa rule is implemented, Malaysians will have to pay RM1,200 in processing fees – which is non-refundable even if the visa application is unsuccessful.

International medical varsity for Perak

14DEC09

LONDON: An RM800mil International Medical University is set to open in Perak next year following a delay caused by the state crisis.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said once operational, the university would eventually have an intake of more than 10,000 students.

He said the state government had some equity in the private university, which would be located on a 120ha piece of land at Gua Tempurung near Ipoh.

“Work started about two years ago but it stalled for a while due to the Perak crisis,” he said after delivering a talk on “The new Pe-rak: Emerging from the Crisis” at King’s College London on Satur-day.

More than 200 Malaysian students attended the session, which was organised jointly by the United Kingdom and Eire Council for Malay-sian Students (Ukec) and Umno UK Club.

Dr Zambry had flown in from the United States where he had previously held discussions with the Harvard Business School and the Massachussets Institute of Techno-logy (MIT) on efforts to forge educational cooperation.

He said the medical university in Perak was undertaken by a local company in collaboration with a consortium of leading medical universities, mostly from India.

“Among them are the University of Madras and MGR Medical Uni-versity,” he said, adding the first intake of students was expected ear-ly next year.

He said the first phase in the establishment of the university alone cost about RM300mil but that total investments could go as high as up to RM800mil once it became a full-fledged university.

Dr Zambry said the new university would benefit not just Perakians but also Malaysians because it would enable more people to take up medical courses locally.

He also said he had been meeting investors almost every day, citing the US trip where he had visited the Silicone Valley and spoke to professors and scientists about Perak’s economic potential.

“They asked me why Perak when we have only 2.3 million people but I told them I’m talking about a 500 million population market in South-East Asia,” he said, adding that he wanted them to use Perak as their launchpad into the Asean Free Trade Area.

Dr Zambry also spoke about his new blueprint called Perak Aman Jaya to restructure the state’s economy from one based on agriculture to that based on services.

“The people are fed up with the political crisis. It’s time we move ahead with economic development,” he said.

College sued over MBA course

08DEC09

IPOH: A former lecturer has sued a private college here for allegedly offering a non-recognised MBA (Masters in Business Administration) course for which he had paid RM21,000.

Manjit Singh, 54, has named Mina Resources Sdn Bhd, which owns Mina Management Institute and its director Dr Adalat Khan as defendants.

He is claiming for damages due to anxiety and mental depression as a result of the fraudulent misrepresentation or alternatively, negligent misstatements on the course.

During the hearing yesterday, Manjit’s lawyer Rabinder Singh told the High Court that Manjit was a lecturer at Mina Management Institute on Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun here when he enrolled in the MBA course purportedly conducted in collaboration with the American University of Hawaii (AUH) in the United States of America.

The plaintiff, he added, was pursuing the MBA from Feb 1, 2000 until July 2, 2003.

“The defendants claimed that the course was recognised by the Public Services Department and approved by the Education Ministry.”

Manjit subsequently withdrew RM21,000 from his EPF to pursue the course.

He had later submitted a viva (oral examination) and written thesis but Dr Adalat, who was also the course director, failed him after he resigned as lecturer from the institute.

“Suspecting the legitimacy of the MBA course, the plaintiff made necessary enquiries with the authorities, which confirmed that the course was not approved.

“The plaintiff also wrote several letters to the AUH which confirmed that the defendants were not their regional representatives,” added Rabinder.

The defendants are counter-suing Manjit for defamation.

Hearing before Justice Wan Afrah Wan Ibrahim continues on Feb 3 and Feb 4.

Unfair to blame foreign students studying in Malaysia

01Dec2009
The Higher Education Ministry has defended foreign students, particularly those from African nations, who have been the target of bad press lately.

Higher Education director-general Datuk Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said statistics failed to support claims that many of the students were involved in crimes and immoral activities.

Police records last year showed only 10 cases involving foreign students while in 2007, there were only two.

Until June, in addition to the case of a Sudanese student involved in the death of a toddler, he said there were four cases, with three being drugs-related offences.

He said commercial crime statistics showed 39 Africans claiming to be students were arrested for scams. Investigations showed only nine were students and none were prosecuted following the arrests.

"The ministry refutes claims that foreign students, especially Africans, are the main cause of social ills and crime in the country as alleged by some press reports.

"The percentage of foreign students involved in crimes in the country is too small. So, is it fair to blame them?

"Was Malaysia free from crime before we opened our doors to foreign students?"

There are 64,203 foreign students in the country, with 9,446 students from China.

Indonesians come second with 8,877 while 6,078 are from Iran.

Radin Umar said the government had various mechanisms to ensure that the quality of higher education in the country was not compromised and that global perception of the sector remained positive.

Among the measures was asking private higher learning institutions to alert the Immigration Department and the ministry when foreign students skipped classes three times in a row without a valid excuse.

The institutions are also to submit a monthly report on their foreign students or have their licences to admit foreign students revoked if they failed to do so.

To date, 29 have had their licences revoked for various offences, including recruiting students for courses without accreditation, not operating at the registered premises as well as for not having a foreign students' affairs department.

He said the Immigration Department processed foreign student visa applications submitted though the institutions.

I made it to a US college

27Nov2009

NURJEHAN MOHAMED gets tips on how to get accepted into an American college

THE trick to being accepted into an American university can be summed up in one word: preparation.

"In a way, you should start preparing as soon as you enter secondary school," says Jay Getz, a volunteer with the Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE).

He recently spoke to parents and students at MACEE about how to put together a solid application for United States universities in conjunction with the organisation and the US Embassy's International Education Week.

Aside from your grade point average (GPA), university admissions officers would also be looking at standardised test scores (such as the SAT or ACT tests) as well as your commitment to extracurricular activities and your essay.

The essay, he adds, is the chance for you to sell yourself and to show admissions officers what you can offer the university.

Early evening on the Yale campus in New Haven, Connecticut. Many universities want their students and faculty to have a diverse experience with people from different cultures and backgrounds.

"It's similar to applying for a job because you're trying to put your best foot forward," he says.

This is not the time to boast about your achievements but neither should you be too modest about what you have done.

The essay, Getz adds, is what would differentiate you from thousands of other applicants who are relatively equal to you academically.

The essay would reveal who you are as a person -- your background, how your life experience will inform your education and the benefit you would bring to the community at the university.

Some common mistakes that applicants make while writing their essays are that they are vague; they philosophise about topics they are not passionate about and which they haven't thought through; and they fail to give concrete examples of how they have developed as people.

Getz recommends that students start planning for the application process while they are still in secondary school.

"They should be committing themselves to extracurricular activities at school or community service outside of it; and they need to start as soon as they can.

"The later students start, the more difficult it is for them to show the kind of commitment universities are looking for," he adds.

But these activities shouldn't be something that students just tick off in a box; they would need to show that they are passionate about what they do as well as exhibit leadership qualities.

Aside from the basic academic requirements, universities generally look for leaders and people who are dedicated to the subjects that they want to study.

"If you do something you are passionate about, it would be easier to continue doing it and communicating about it."

Basic tips for writing the essays include being clear, concrete and concise and to choose your topics carefully.

"Be consistent with the activities listed in your application.

"Choose an activity you did well and avoid writing about adversities you have yet to overcome," says Getz.

Avoid writing about religion and political adversity as well as common topics such as global warming or how Barack Obama's election was important to you.

Getz also advises against putting anything on your blog or Facebook account that you wouldn't want an admissions officer to see.

"They have the technology to go ahead and look at it if they want to," he says.

While some universities give preference to local high achievers, international students sometimes have an advantage over American students trying to get into college.

The number of Malaysian students enrolled in US institutions of higher education has increased from 5,428 to 5,942 in the 2007/08 academic year, according to Open Doors 2009, the annual report on international student mobility.

The total number of international students in US colleges and universities has increased by eight per cent to an all-time high of 671,616 in the 2008/09 academic year.

"Many universities want their students and faculty to have a diverse experience with people from different cultures and backgrounds.

"International students, by that definition, bring that needed variety to a campus."

Dos and Don'ts

+ Do be clear, concrete and concise.
+ Do try to keep your essay positive.
+ Do use your best writing skills and edit your essays.
+ Do let other good English speakers check your work.
+ Do write about something you ’re passionate about and that shows your best side.
+ Don’t use your personal essay to show how modest you are.
+ Don’t share a struggle you had unless you’ve overcome it.
+ Don’t try humour in writing because it rarely translates well across cultures and on paper.
+ Don’t be negative about other races or religions.

MSL has student & competitive fares to the USA. BOOK EARLY !!

Higher Education in POLAND

27 Nov 2009

Malaysian medical students adapt to life in Poland with aplomb, writes DAVID BOWDEN

WHEN Malaysian students Wan Atiqah Wan Abdul Rashid, Muhammad Saifullah Shaarani, Mohd Hamdan Mohd Ibrahim, Mohd Khairul Hanan Mohd Wajiah, Hadi Naqiuddin Subhi and Nursofia Diana Azmi received their tertiary studies appointment notices, it was an atlas that they first went to as a reference.

The students, along with some 60 other Malaysians, were being sent to a specific overseas destination to study medicine. The excitement mounted every day as they awaited their appointment notice but they were surprised when they saw that the university was in Warsaw.

Most scratched their heads and quickly looked at a map to find out just where this remote place was that they had heard of but knew little about.

They quickly discovered that Warsaw is the capital of Poland and the university they were to enter soon is the Medical University of Warsaw (MUW), the largest medical school in the country.

The students quickly made Google searches for information about the place that was going to be their home for the next six years.

The annual cultural show is an eagerly awaited event.

The good news for the Malaysian students is that the faculty has an English Division where the lessons are conducted in English. Medical studies in English are available to those who aren’t Polish citizens.

Each year, approximately 120 students are enrolled on the English programme with undergraduates coming from some 26 countries but mainly from Europe, the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia and now Malaysia. Successful students are admitted on the results of their high school grades, especially those in Chemistry, Biology, Physics and English.

There are now more than 100 Malaysian students studying Medicine in three Polish universities with the Malaysian programme having been in operation for three years. The course started as an initiative of the Polish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. All students receive government scholarships although fee-paying ones can apply to be admitted to the course.

The Malaysian students welcome the opportunity to have immediate contact with patients which is something that isn’t possible for undergraduate doctors locally. Most feel they are receiving a more rounded education as a result of this immediate patient contact.

MUW has 16 affiliated hospitals where students are trained in almost all fields of medicine. There are some 130,000 inpatients in these hospitals every year and the figure doubles when outpatients are also included.

Dean of Medicine Professor Jerzy Polanski claims that three times more students than can be placed apply for positions at MUW.

“Our degrees, which are recognised the world over, offer better value than in most other countries as they cost between Euro 11,000 (RM55,663) and Euro 14,000 per annum.

“While we still need a few additional facilities to make us truly world-class, the university and its teaching hospitals provide an excellent learning environment. We also train our overseas students in Polish as they have to communicate with patients while on the wards during their practical classes,” says Polanski.

Faculty of Medicine (English Division) deputy dean Professor Kazimierz Szopinski speaks emotively of his Malaysian students.

“I would gladly accept a whole intake from Malaysia as the students have been absolutely outstanding and highly motivated,” he says in an interview in Warsaw.

“They have fitted well into university life and have even injected new life and colour into the community. The employees and fellow students eagerly anticipate their annual cultural show which they put on for our benefit.”

WUM has more than 10,000 students and a staff of almost 1,600 academic teachers including 150 professors and 600 lecturers. The university offers nine principal subjects and in four specialties as well as postgraduate education (specialty training and refresher courses).

There are two main medical degrees offered with a four-year plan available to students who already have a relevant primary degree. There's an easy way to plan for retirement. Find out how.

For many years, MUW has collaborated in research with centres all over the world including France, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the US. There are 16 formal agreements on scientific cooperation which involve exchange of research workers, joint research projects and publications.

Most Malaysian students interviewed at MUW like the weather despite it being different to what they are used to at home. Despite it getting quite cold with snowfalls in winter, most have learned to adapt especially as central heating is installed in all buildings.

They are all impressed with the friendliness of Polish people and they can even purchase halal food in some markets as well as in a few restaurants. Nursofia Diana, who grew up in Gombak, says many strangers greet them in the streets and make them feel welcome.

Wan Atiqah commented that there is a shop next to a mosque near the university that sells halal food and her Polish friends respect her religion and avoid serving food and drinks she can’t consume.

Mohd Khairul Hanan, from Kota Jembal in Kelantan, the president of the Malaysian Students’ Society of Poland, likes Warsaw’s public transport system because it is punctual and cheap. Students use it to travel to and from the university and around the city.

Hadi Naqiuddin from KL is one of the Malaysian students who is studying Medicine as a second degree to supplement his first bachelor’s degree in Biomedicine attained from Malaysia’s Management and Science University. He especially likes the relaxed learning environment at MUW.

It won’t come as any surprise to Malaysians to know that the students miss home with family, friends and food high among the things they miss most. Nursofia Diana misses her family and friends most of all and intends to catch up with them when she returns to KL. Mohd Hamdan misses nasi lemak, mee goreng and bihun sup but knows that when he returns to Malaysia as a fully-trained doctor, he will be able to enjoy these dishes and many more as often as he likes.

For more information on studies in English in Poland, visit the websites of the following universities:-

+ Medical University of Warsaw (www.wum.edu.pl/english)

+ Medicawl University of Lodz (www.umed.pl/eng)

+ Jagiellonian University (www.medschool.cm-uj.krakow.pl)

or the Embassy of Poland (www.kualalumpur.polemb.net)

MSL has student fares to POLAND

Panel to review monitoring of foreign students

2009/11/19

PUTRAJAYA: Officials from the home and higher education ministries will hold discussions to review the filtering and monitoring process for enrolling foreign students here.

They would look into the procedural aspect and the entry requirements, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday.

These include setting an academic qualification standard and matching the students' results to the field they want to study in the higher education institutions in the country.

The move was timely as some foreign students had been found to have abused their student visas, he added.

"There are some who no longer hold the passes and have stopped going for classes."

Illegal foreigners were flooding the country, abusing social visit passes, temporary work permits and student visas, he added

"They enter the country through these ways and then overstay, refusing to renew their pass because they know that it will be rejected.

"We also found that large groups of Africans are staying in several parts of the country, especially in Kuala Lumpur, and their presence is causing uneasiness among locals.

"Most of them were found to have come in with student visas. Sometimes, those who come in with a tourist visa will switch to a student visa."

Enforcement officers now deport illegals and store their personal records. They will also be barred from re-entry.

"We propose to upgrade our immigration system by introducing a biometric identification system at every entry point in the country.

"This will ensure that the identities of those who are allowed in are recorded, and those who are not will be identified."

Malaysian students coping well in China

13Nov09

BEIJING is a whole different world for Muhammad Fayyadh Mohd Azmi.

The Malaysian student from Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) gave himself a Chinese name, Fei Ya De, when he first arrived in the Chinese capital a year ago.

He is trying his best to adapt to the local culture and way of life.

“I came here with zero knowledge of the Chinese language and not even a single word of Mandarin,” said the 19-year-old student who is studying the language under a Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) scholarship at BFSU.

“We come from another world with different heritage and culture.”

He makes it a point to mingle with his Chinese college mates during meals or recess. He also plays football with a group of students comprising Chinese and foreigners.

Fayyadh stays at the university hostel and this provides him more opportunities to mix with his Chinese friends on campus.

“So far, my class timetable is quite packed. But I am hopeful that I can go to their homes to know about their family like what we do in Malaysia for homestays.

“I have only visited my lecturer’s house and it was fun. I love it when they teach me their customs and culture,” he said.

Every week Fayyadh also attends Chinese painting classes conducted by famous Chinese artist Du Zhenglin.

He has learnt how to paint subjects like flowers, grapes, chicks and crabs using black ink, Chinese brush and traditional techniques.

Fayyadh is joined by several other Malaysians.

For 21-year-old Soo Yi Jie, the art calms him down and helps relieve some of the pain of being away from his family.

When I first got here, I could not adapt to the surroundings. My mother kept on forcing me to learn Chinese painting because it is quite hard to find such classes in Malaysia, said the undergraduate who is sponsored by the Education Ministry to serve as a Mandarin teacher after graduation.

“My Chinese painting teacher has been learning the art since he was a child. He is now 60 but still practises it every day because it takes a long time to master it,” he said.

After completing a class or practising his strokes, Soo will keep his artworks in the closet or complete the paintings with calligraphy writing before giving them away to his friends and lecturers as gifts.

“Last June, when our Prime Minister came to Beijing for an official visit, I gave him a painting of grapes to wish him a fruitful journey in China.

“Sometimes, I also present the paintings to my teachers to express my gratitude,” he added.

Soo loves to read Chinese classical and history books and communicate with fellow Chinese students whenever he has the opportunity.

Chinese painting master Du said he had taught about 100 Malaysian students the art and he was pleased to see the passion and interest they had in the classic craft.

He said it was natural that the Chinese language students picked up Chinese painting and other cultural arts such as opera, calligraphy, taichi and traditional music instruments.

Not only did they show great interest but they also wanted to bring the art they had learned back to their country, Du said.

Pic:1
Expert advice: Du (right) giving some pointers to Fayyadh during a class at the Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing.

Pic:2
Focused: Two Malaysian students learning traditional Chinese painting in a class at the Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing.

Another College Closure in Australia

07Nov09

Overseas students hit by Australia college closure

Global Campus Management Group, which owns four private colleges in Sydney and Melbourne, was placed into voluntary administration on Thursday

Australia’s image as a top destination for foreign students suffered another setback on Friday after four bankrupt colleges closed, leaving more than 2,000 students stranded. Australia’s A$13 billion ($12 billion) international student sector, the country’s third-largest export earner behind oil and coal, has come under fire after reports some colleges had taken payments for certificates and residency visas.

The issue has caused diplomatic discomfort for Australia, with Indian officials expressing concern over the treatment of Indian students, who make up the largest number of overseas students in Australia.

A spate of attacks on Indian students in Australia earlier this year also sparked angry protests in India and prompted prime minister Kevin Rudd to call his Indian counterpart to assure him of student safety.

Global Campus Management Group, which owns four private colleges in Sydney and Melbourne, was placed into voluntary administration on Thursday.

India’s deputy high commissioner to Australia, V.K. Sharma, said an estimated 300 or so of the affected students were Indians and that the recent collapse of some colleges had led to a sharp fall in student arrivals from India.

“There was also a lot of fraud going on in the system,” he added.

He said the current shake-out of Australia’s education system was necessary to restore the confidence of overseas students, a process that could take a couple of years.

The Australian Education Union said greater regulation of the private colleges was needed.

“There are a growing number of private colleges collapsing and it’s the students who pay the price,” said union president Angelo Gavrielatos.

“The scrutiny of new and existing operators has not been adequate to ensure that they are financially viable and delivering a quality education to international and domestic students.”

Scholarships for Malaysians

Pls pass around for our children, students/friends' children, nephews/ nieces, etc.

MARA Scholarship Programs
http://www.mara. gov.my/english/ division/ BPP/default. htm

Yayasan Proton Scholarship
http://www.malaysia -scholarship. com/yproton. html

PTPTN Education Loan
http://ptptn. gov.my/

The Star Education Fund
http://thestar. com.my/edufund

Astro Scholarship Award
http://www.astro. com..my/v5/ astrolife/ scholarship/

PETRONAS Education Scholarship Programs
http://esu-spmtrial .petronas. com.my/

2007 MNRB Scholarship Fund
http://www.mnrb. com.my/

OCBC Bank Scholarship
http://www.ocbc. com.my/global/ aboutOCBC/ Gco_Abt_Communit y.shtm

Bank Negara Scholarship
http://www.bnm. gov.my/

ABM 50th Merdeka Scholarship
http://www.abm. org.my/

Curtin Sarawak Scholarship
http://www.curtin. edu.my/

The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus High Achievers Scholarships
http://www.nottingh am.edu.my/ students/ MISC/High% 20Achievers% 20Scholarship% 202006-July06. pdf

HELP University College
http://www.help. edu.my/scholarsh ips/index. php

Adelaide Achiever Scholarships International (AASI)
http://www.internat ional.adelaide. edu.au/future/ scholarships/ ug/

Curtin University of Technology Scholarship
http://www.emaac. org/

Charles Darwin University Scholarship
http://www.malaysia -scholarship. com/www.cdu. edu.au/engineeri ng/scholarships_ ug_int_eng. htm

Kolej Disted-Stamford Degree Scholarships
http://www.disted. edu.my/

Leeds University Scholarships
http://scholarships .leeds.ac. uk/

Loughborough University Human Science Scholarships
http://www.lboro. ac.uk/

MAAC Scholarship - La Trobe University 2006
http://www.latrobe. edu.au/internati onal/courses/ ug.html

NUS / Asean Undergraduate Scholarship
http://www.nus. edu.sg/admission s/undergrad/ scholarship/ nus_asean. htm

UCL Pathfinder Scholarships
http://www.ucl. ac.uk/

University of Sheffield Scholarship
http://www.shef. ac.uk/malaysia/ entry.html

UTAR Scholarships
http://www.utar. edu.my/

Nanyang Technological University Scholarship
http://www.ntu. edu.sg/oad/ scholarships/ nanyang.htm

Tasmanian International Scholarships
http://www.internat ional.utas. edu.au/documents /internationalAp plication. pdf

University of Malaya Fellowship Scheme
http://ips.um. edu.my/

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Scholarship
http://www.unimas. my/

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST Discovery Scholarship)
http://apply. embark.com/ kaust/discovery/

Universiti Malaysia Sabah Scholarship
http://www.ums. edu.my/pasca

Opportunity to study overseas by MSU

03 Nov09

The opportunity given by Management and Science University (MSU) to continue my studies at Northwood University is worthwhile. I learnt how to be independent," said Afiqah Lokman (pix) who is on her semester break.
Afiqah was the recipient MSU Presidents Scholarship. She is currently pursuing her studies in Bachelor in International Business with double majors in commerce and marketing at the Northwood University’s Michigan campus.

"Initially it was a challenge to adapt to the demands of the semester system at Northwood. However, the good rapport I enjoy with my counsellors helped me overcome this. I’m particularly indebted to MSU particularly Prof Dato Wira Mohd Shukri and the faculty members who gave me the full support for all this to be possible," she said when asked who inspired her.

Afiqah said a systematic approach and being focused have allowed her to better understand the programme’s requirements. She said one also has to be active in co-curricular activities.

She recalled having taken part in several co-curricular activities during her first and second semester at Northwood University, particularly as a member of the Intercultural Club.

As part of its International Students Exchange Programme (ISEP) arrangement, the MSU provides opportunity for its graduates to continue with higher level studies overseas. MSU students can choose from over 40 universities.

"This year alone more than 30 students have left for Poland, the Czech Republic, Japan, Indonesia, the US and Indonesia," MSU vice-president of corporate communications Rosli Yusof said.

MSU focuses strongly on teaching, research and life-long learning in medicine, health science, information sciences, engineering, pharmacy, computer forensic, games design & animation, accountancy, foundation and post graduates programmes through its Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Faculty of Business Management & Professional Studies, Faculty of Information Sciences & Engineering, International Medical School, School of Pharmacy, Centre for Foundation Studies, Continuing & Extended Education Centre and the Graduate Management Centre.

Contact the Counseling & Communications Unit at 03–55106868, SMS by typing in MSUINFOnamee-mail and sending it to 019–3419152 / 016–3568251 / 012 – 2496551 or log on to www.msu.edu.my

Trained for marketability .. Jobless Grads

03 Nov 09

When graduate unemployment is at an alarming high rate, something must be seriously wrong. Employers’ general view of the problem is that the majority of unemployed graduates lack English Language proficiency, communication skills, social skills, creativity and problem solving skills.
Before you invest your time, money and effort in any qualification, remember that it is the person who makes the qualification, because no paper, however recognised it can be, can guarantee employment.

Most institutional programmes are highly academic where students are taught rather than trained. They memorise theories and are examined in time-constrained tests. There are few opportunities for them to practise what they have learned in the classroom and this limits them in thinking out of the box.

At the training centre of the Institute of Professional Managers & Administrators (United Kingdom) (IPMA) – the Centre for Continuing Studies – programmes from Diploma to MBA/DBA are conducted through seminars and workshops. It uses continuous assessments where all participants enjoy case studies, role play, class debates, analytical and critical thinking, graded assignments, projects and presentations.

Graduates of the nine-month Diploma programme have been accepted for executive positions with good starting salary packages. They can continue with their advanced diploma (assessed at Bachelor Year 2), to become middle managers with salary increments. This way, they can even self-finance for bachelor and master degrees at the IPMA training centre.

Recently, a group of the young Advanced Diploma holders conducted a public workshop on Leadership and received good feedback from participants.

Every module leading to a diploma or MBA or the Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health award that can be completed in about nine months, immerses the students into real life situations. IPMA trainers are all highly qualified and most importantly, experienced in the fields they facilitate. They bring with them past and current issues to share with the class, and together they solve major corporate issues.

Past participants have never encountered problems in seeking managerial positions. The interviewers are mostly impressed with the confidence the graduates carried themselves.

See for yourself how the IPMA has made learning pay off handsomely through the showcase of past students’ work, and their testimonies and success stories. You can also view the profiles of its resource team with students’ feedback.

IPMA can also organise for its Alumni Head to share his experience. One of its recent MSc OSH participant is now gainfully employed in the United Kingdom.

For details on IPMA’s Business, Accounting, IT, Hospitality, OSH and Research programmes, contact its Centre for Continuing Studies at 56A-C, Jalan SS2/72, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Tel: 03-7958 1887. Its Regional Manager, Nicole Yow can be reached at 012-207 0768. Email: ro.asiapac@ipmauk.com Website : www.ipmauk.com

Down Under still top choice for Malaysians

24Oct09

AUSTRALIA continues to be the destination of choice for Malaysian students, with a 10% increase in enrolments of Malaysian students in Australian educational institutions this year compared to last year.

Some 21,000 students are studying in Australia and about 15,000 students are enrolled in Australian programmes offered in Malaysia. To date, about 250,000 Malaysians have studied in Australia.

“The educational relationship is a critical one for us, not just in terms of the number of students studying in Australia … it really underpins the broader bilateral relationship. I would say that educational relationship is one of the pillars of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Malaysia,” said Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Penny Williams.

Australia’s popularity amongst Malaysian students is reflected by the response to last year’s annual Study in Australia education fair, which recorded 4,000 visitors.

The Study in Australia 2009 education fair – themed Explore Australia, Discover Yourself – will have a larger number of booths and exhibitors, and a broader range of seminars, said Williams.

A total of 36 Australian education institutions with more than 60 representatives from Australian colleges and universities will be at the event to provide course and career advice.

Williams said there will be opportunities for Malaysian students to consult people from various Australian universities.

“Universities always have new courses; there are a lot more choices now and students have so many options, that’s why this event can help them by giving them a chance to look at the courses available. It would also give them the opportunity to talk through things like accommodation, living costs and other practical things.

“This year we will also see an increased focus on Vocational & Education Training (VET) as another pathway to gain education qualifications recognised by Australian government and employers.”

According to Williams, the two most popular destinations for Malaysian students are Victoria and Western Australia; the former for historical reasons and the latter for its distance, apart from the many courses available in universities located in these two states.

“In terms of popular subjects, a lot of courses chosen are job oriented such as management, commerce and engineering but there are Malaysian students going into arts and other softer areas too,” Williams said.

Study in Australia 2009 will be held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Oct 24 and 25, from 12pm to 6pm. Admission is free and pre-event registrations can be done online at www.studyinaustralia.org

Scheduled seminars include talks on reasons to study in Australia, new directions of education, industrial expectations and student visas for Malaysian and other foreign students. There will also be a two-hour VET seminar to talk about workplace training in various disciplines on Oct 24, 3.30pm in the exhibition hall.

MSL Travel is participating at the Study In Australia Fair

Australia Self Drive Holidays - Road trippin’ Down Under

26 Oct 2009

Self-drive holidays are growing in popularity in Australia, especially among Asians, and it’s easy to see why — the freedom to go wherever you like without the restrictions of a group tour. You design your own itinerary, bring your friends or family along, turn the ignition and start your adventure.

Ahh, the endless open road! A new adventure awaiting you around the next bend. A journey of discovery and self-discovery. The road trip has been part of our pop culture ever since the Model T Ford became affordable to the masses back in the 1920s. Over the decades, Hollywood has featured it in countless films, mirroring the enthusiasm Americans have for this highly flexible and individualistic vacation.

But it seems the Australians have perfected what the Americans created. Today, our neighbours Down Under hit the road in record numbers to explore the amazing diversity of experiences their vast land has to offer. And more and more Asians are joining them in the fun.

Canberra is beautifully laid-out. - TOURISM AUSTRALIA & ERIK FEARN

Australia is built for road trips. The combination of excellent roads, small towns, awesome scenery and nice B&Bs makes road tripping probably the most rewarding and fun way to explore this vast country. Why? Because anyone who’s had the pleasure of going on their own self-drive adventure knows that the journey is half the fun.

It’s easy to do, too. Do a bit of homework first. Where do you feel like going? Who do you want to join in the adventure? How much time do you have? How many hours do you feel like driving each day? What can you see and do along the way? And where would you like to end up each evening. Then simply book your flight and your rental car. Then go!

One of the very best road trips in Australia is the Grand Pacific Drive/Canberra loop out of Sydney. The easy drive takes you along the uncongested and well marked coastal road that runs south out of Sydney and along the coast. After a couple of days exploring the New South Wales coast, pop inland to Canberra, the nation’s capital, and then back up to Sydney.

It’s the sort of easy yet adventurous trip that allows you to see and do lots of things without spending too much time on the road. If you have at least four to five days to play with, this is the trip to do.

Fly into Sydney and spend a couple of days in this magnificent city exploring the Weekend Market (10am-5pm) in the old part of the city called The Rocks. Or challenge yourself by joining a tour to climb the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. And then settle down in a café in front of the Opera House and perhaps enjoy a cocktail watching the sun set behind the bridge you just conquered!

Driving in the city is easy. All modern rentals come with a very easy-to-programme GPS navigational unit. Just type in where you want to go and — presto! — the nice lady in the GPS will guide you there.

Down the coast

Head south and out of Sydney’s seemingly neverending suburbs and join the scenic Grand Pacific Drive (www.grandpacificdrive.com.au). The interstate road that winds along the beautiful NSW coast south of Sydney is the Princes Highway, which goes all the way to Melbourne in Victoria state. But the most scenic part has been dubbed and duly signposted as the Grand Pacific Drive. Simply by following the signs, you’ll be taken to all that is worth seeing along the stunning coastline. And there is lots to see.

Just an hour into your journey is the animal encounter at Symbio Wildlife Park. You won’t get any closer to Australia’s native wildlife. Cuddle koalas, see wombats up close and hand feed the kangaroos as some of Australia’s beautiful wildlife joins you on your tour in natural bushland.

Small towns along the way have some great little shops worth exploring. - TOURISM AUSTRALIA & ERIK FEARN

Another half hour along the often precipitous drops into the ocean to your left, lies Wollongong, the third largest city in NSW. Strikingly tucked between the mountains and the sea, Wollongong is home to arguably the prettiest harbour in the whole state. Park the car and join locals for a stroll along the splendid harbour. Buy a take-away lunch of fresh fish and chips and enjoy a picnic in the park at the base of the ivory white lighthouse with the deep blue sea and seagulls as the backdrop.

As you continue your journey south, you enter the gently undulating cattle and winery country of Shoalhaven. The jewel in the crown of the entire NSW coast is the remarkable Jervis Bay, home to migrating whales, resident dolphins, a huge national park run by the local aborigines, as well as the Hyams Beach, reputed to have the whitest sand in the world.

Stay the night in any of several boutique B&Bs around the bay. Start the next day on a three-hour whale and dolphin cruise. Dolphin Watch Cruises (www.dolphinwatch.com.au) are the biggest operators here and have an impressive record of being able to show visitors whales or dolphins, or both, on 95% of their outings.

On to charming Canberra

After another leisurely day of cruising along the coast, leave the Grand Pacific Drive at Batmans Bay and head inland and upland along the Kings Highway to Canberra. Being at a slightly higher altitude and inland from the coast, the weather is cool and fresh for much of the year except for mid-summer.

Canberra, the planned capital of Australia, has, in the past, lived with the reputation of perhaps being a bit quiet, boring even. It’s still quiet but certainly far from boring! With huge shopping centres, a vibrant cultural and party scene, as well as universities and the world’s diplomatic corps, Canberra has much of the vibrancy of Sydney or Melbourne, but without the traffic, pollution, overdevelopment and frenetic pace of its bigger cousins.

Climb the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. - TOURISM AUSTRALIA & ERIK FEARN

Start the next morning with a hot air balloon tour and see Canberra city from above (www.balloonaloft.com). Not cheap at about RM800 per person, but the way to rationalise it is that it’s a once in a lifetime experience.

Visit the amazing museums or tour the Parliament Building. For lunch, adjourn to the nearby Pialligo winery for some wine tastings and a bite to eat.

The afternoon can be spent shopping, strolling around Lake Burleigh Griffin, the centre-piece of the city, or, if you’re game, go to the National Zoo & Aquarium where you can actually feed wild tigers and pet dingos and snakes!

If you’re hankering for some Asian food tonight, try the beef rendang at Abell’s Kopi Tiam in the suburb of Manuka. Sedap!

From Canberra, you can either head back, via the Federal Highway, to Sydney just 3½ hours north-east. Or, better still, continue your adventure into the gorgeous Snowy Mountains, just 2½ hours to the west (see: Explore Australia’s high country).

So pack your bags and get ready to experience the drive of your life. With a good mix of coastal scenery, urban landscapes, awe-inspiring mountains and quaint towns, an Australian road trip is a kind of promise. The promise of an extraordinary adventure.

Road trip checklist

Plan itinerary and driving route.

Check the weather and season.

Get visa online and check passport validity.

Book your flight.

Book your rental car and arrange for pick-up.

Book accommodation.

Buy travel insurance
. FURTHER INFO
This site is very useful in finding any self-drive related information plus downloadable itineraries and brochures: www.australianroadtrips.com

Go well prepared on any holiday and you’re bound to get more out of it. Here’s a good place to self-educate before you self-drive: www.australia.com
For the best deals to Australia from Malaysia direct, check with MAS and AirAsia X: www.malaysiaairlines.com OR www.airasia.com

IMPORTANT:
Check with MSL Travel for fantastic Self Drive Holiday Packages

www.msltravel.com

180,000 youths going in for Change

05Oct09

NEW YORK: Inspired by US President Barack Obama’s Change theme, nearly 180,000 young people across South-East Asia have registered support for change in the run-up to the Youth Engagement Summit (YES) 2009.

The summit is the first of its kind in Asia and will bring together youth representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Brunei.

Organisers briefed US State Department officials in Washington DC last week on details of the plans, which include inviting 10 of America’s most promising youth leaders to attend the event.

Expected to be the largest youth gathering in the region, the summit with the theme “South-East Asia Youth for CHANGE”, will connect young people via satellite link-up to giant screens across five South-East Asian leading universities with 6,000 summit participants in Kuala Lumpur.

The two-day conference, to be opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, will feature some of the world’s motivational global change icons.

They include Live Aid concert founder Sir Bob Geldof; world chess legend Garry Kasparov; Twitter co-founder Biz Stone; Nando Parrado, whose miraculous survival of a plane crash in the Andes inspired the movie Alive; and AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.

The organisers have engaged Global Vision, which delivered the Australian Youth Forum last February with Australia’s Youth Minister, hosting a live national discussion simultaneously in 10 locations around the country.

Director of Youth Asia Khailee Ng, a key partner of YES 2009, said roundtable discussions and live Q&A sessions would be held with youth leaders from 200 South-East Asia youth communities.

“Youth of South-East Asia are more connected, ready for change and forward looking than before. These youth will lead their countries in the next five years. We have to engage them now,” he said.

He said organisers were rallying the involvement of over a million youth, between the ages of 15 and 35 years, to share their thoughts in an online Youth Survey to produce the Sea For Change Youth Report.

Organising chairman Harmandar Singh said YES 2009 would begin immediately after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) conference in Singapore and he hoped to attract at least one more world-renowned agent of change as a keynote speaker.

“This movement was inspired by President Obama’s call for change during last year’s election campaign. His charismatic approach has influenced a dynamic shift in long-held perceptions, particularly for South-East Asia’s next generation of leaders.”

For more information, visit www.yes2009.asia.

See Picture for Youth Population in South East Asia

Malaysian Private institutions should not be dumping grounds or degree mills

16Sep09

PUTRAJAYA: Private universities and university colleges have been asked to enrol only qualified foreign students to avoid being branded as “diploma or degree mills.”

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia should not be made a dumping ground for students who could not get placement elsewhere and institutions of higher learning (IPTs) should upgrade their academic management system.

From next year, they will be graded in the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (Setara) to benchmark their performance.

“Their participation in Setara is voluntary now but from next year, there is no excuse for them not to be evaluated,” he told a press conference after meeting the CEOs of local private higher education institutions at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre Tuesday.

According to Khaled, the ministry emphasises quality in the programmes offered by private institutions and under-qualified foreign students should not be enrolled.

The ministry has set a minimum CGPA of 2.0 for all foreign students and private institutions were advised to abide by the benchmark.

“They should turn away unqualified foreign students. This is to protect the good name, image and reputation of the IPTs. Money does not guarantee admission into the IPTs,” he said.

Registrar-General Prof Datuk Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said foreign students should be in the country to study and not to seek employment.

He added that surprise checks would be conducted on private institutions of higher learning to monitor the students.

It is learnt that a Nigerian Education Minister had accused Malaysia of offering low quality degrees at the recent 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Kuala Lumpur.

Students with STAM can now apply at 20 public varsities

16Sep09

PUTRAJAYA: Students with Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) qualifications can now apply for entry into all 20 public universities.

Previously, they were limited to 11 public universities.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Public Services Department (PSD) now recognised STAM as an equivalent to the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM).

“This is good news as previously the students faced some problems,” he told reporters after a meeting with Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin on the future of Islamic Studies at his office here yesterday.

Also present were Minister in the PM’s Department Senator Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom and officials from the Islamic Religious Development Department (Jakim).

Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom had said in March that the examination, which was in Arabic, would measure students’ achievements in the language and Usuludin and Syariah studies for entry into undergraduate degrees at Al-Azhar University in Egypt, other Middle East and local universities.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said a special committee with representatives from several agencies would be set up to streamline Islamic Studies and review several areas, including its curriculum, teachers and their qualifications.

“Islamic Studies in schools is currently under the Education Ministry, which offers Jawi, Quran, Arabic and Fardhu Ain classes to primary school pupils,” he said, adding that Jakim was in charge of Kelas Agama and Fardhu Ain (KAFA) lessons.

He said JQAF was introduced in 2003 to Muslim pupils from Years One to Five, adding that the ministry was studying whether it should be extended to secondary schools.

Muhyiddin said there was a need to continually upgrade Islamic Studies.

He said the committee would also look into offering lifelong learning in Islam to adults, who might not have had the opportunity to study it formally or want to increase their knowledge.

Test of faith for Syrian students studying in Malaysia

16Sep09

Being in a foreign land during Ramadan is a test of faith for Syrian student Omar Kanbar.

The 26-year-old misses his family very much.

“Ramadan is a spiritual test for all Muslims to practice self-control and sacrifice. I believe God put me here for this test, to sacrifice the comfort of my home and the desire for delicious food,” he said.

He was one of the 120 Arabs pursuing further studies at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

“Most of us cannot take the spicy local food, but I do not mind having it once in a while.

“This month, however, is very special as sometimes we are treated to home-cooked food for breaking fast prepared by the wives of the Arab students in the university,” said the telecommunications engineering student.

PhD student Mustafa Musbah, 31, from Libya, said he was very comfortable spending Ramadan here together with his wife.

“It is better to spend Ramadan here because the weather is bearable, unlike my country which is very hot especially during the summer,” said the student studying electrical engineering.

For Iraqi student, Ahmed Aldulaini, 30, this would be the second time he will be spending Ramadan in the country.

“It is interesting how the Malaysians can live together harmoniously and respect the holy event,” he said.

See Picture:
Mustafa (third from left), Omar (second from right) and some of the Arab students gathering in their traditional outfits after breaking fast together.

Malaysia: New school term for 2010

10Sep09

PETALING JAYA: Students will go back to school on Jan 4 in all states next year except for those in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, where classes start a day earlier (see chart).

Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said there would be 210 school days next year.

This is an increase of two more school days compared with this year’s 208 days.

“Schools can apply for four days of cuti peristiwa (occasional holiday) which need not be replaced,” he said.

Alimuddin said students would have 78 days of holiday next year, which is one day more than this year.

He said the year-end break would start on Nov 19 next year for all schools, except for those in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu which start a day earlier.

See Picture for School Holidays , 2010

AUSTRALIA TAKES MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD EDUCATION FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS

21Aug09

Canberra, 19 August, 2009 - The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today warned education providers that they risk being shut down if they don’t comply with rules relating to international students. Ms Gillard was speaking in Parliament at the introduction of an Amendment Bill to the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000.

Under the new rules being considered by the Parliament, all institutions currently registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) will be required to re-register under new, tighter criteria by 31 December 2010. The Bill adds two new criteria for registration: the provider must have the principal purpose of providing education; and the provider must have demonstrated a capacity to provide education of a satisfactory standard.

The process will allow the Government to review the registration of education providers to ensure they are providing quality education services to international students visiting Australia. Most providers are doing the right thing, but this change will help weed out the shonky operators.

The state governments have already started rapid audits of providers, and these will be extended so that all providers working with international students will need to show they have the best interests of the students at heart and not simply a profit motive. The Bill will also introduce new processes to ensure greater transparency and accountability of international education providers, including their use of education agents.

The amendments are the first in a series of measures the Australian Government is taking to ensure Australia continues to offer quality international education. The Government has also announced a full review of the ESOS Act to be headed by Bruce Baird with an interim report due in November. International students will be able to have their say at the upcoming International Student Roundtable in September.

Malaysia-Students need freedom of expression, says science don

12Aug09

KUALA LUMPUR: A scientist and educator has called for the Government to allow students more freedom of expression and to inculcate critical thinking, adding this was critical for Malaysia to attain fully-developed status.

Science and technology are critical to attain the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2020, but the Malaysian education system has not been supportive, newly-conferred Professor Emeritus Datuk Mohamed Abdul Majid said.

And, he said, Malaysia still lagged behind developed countries in science and technology.

“At the moment, our education system is not supporting the development of science and technology.

“When you are talking about science and technology, you are talking about people who can think, people who have intellectual power, logical and critical thinking skills, and creativity,” said Mohamed, who is now attached to the Science Faculty of Brunei Darussalam University.

He said students must have the courage and freedom to acquire more knowledge and not just rely on local textbooks.

“We have got workbooks where you have to answer exactly according to the answer that is given by the teacher in the book,” he said, adding that the school curriculum must allow students to think and express themselves.

“This is what is happening in many other countries like Singapore, the United States and South Korea, which allow the students to have freedom of expression, so there is a lot of creativity among the students (there),” said Mohamed.

He urged the education and higher education ministries to study the school curriculum to raise the quality of education.

“In science, we are below world average, meaning that we are in no way catching up with advanced countries.

“We have to (improve) if we are indeed to become a fully-developed nation by 2020,” he told Bernama in an interview.

The 61-year-old scientist and educator, who has been in the field for the past 35 years, was conferred Professor Emeritus status by Universiti Malaya on Tuesday.

He also suggested that teachers be well paid so that they could give the best to their students.

“We want teachers who are very well-qualified, only then can we expect to get very good students.

“I am suggesting that they have better salary scale, promotion prospects and better status,” he said. -- Bernama

UPM’s oldest grad personifies determination and hard work

12Aug09

KUALA LUMPUR: Gurcharam Kaur has harboured the dream of being a university graduate for more than 40 years. Yesterday, her dream finally became a reality.

Among the 7,597 graduates from Universiti Putra Malaysia this year, none could have been happier at their convocation ceremony than the 66-year-old retired English teacher from Kuala Pilah.

“I always wanted to go to university, I just never had the chance to do it when I was growing up,” said Gurcharam, now a proud holder of a Bachelor of Education.

The second of five siblings, Gurcharam sacrificed her education to take care of her aging parents and young siblings.

Immediately after finishing her secondary education, Gurcharam worked as a temporary teacher for six years before she was accepted to the Malayan Teachers’ College, which she attended for a year from 1967.

Upon graduation, Gurcharam began working on a permanent basis in her alma mater SM Tunku Kurshiah.

In 1980, Gurcharam attended Universiti Malaya, where she obtained a diploma in education in 1981. She continued teaching English in government schools until her retirement in 1997, after which her services were snapped up by Cermai Matriculation College, Serting.

But after her mother passed away in 1998 and her father in 2002, Gurcharam found herself with too much time on her hands.

Under the encouragement of her younger brother, Gurcharam ventured back into education.

Not only did Gurcharam achieve her dream, she did it in style, appearing on the Dean’s List five times in eight semesters.

“I dedicate all of this to my parents, especially my mother, who pushed my father to send me to school when it was not the fashion for girls to go to school,” Gurcharam said.

More Aussie students to come for internships

11Aug09
KUALA LUMPUR: More students from Down Under will come to Malaysia for working stints at Australian companies based here under focus internship programmes.

This is part of a new approach undertaken by the Australian government to expose their students to different working environments.

Apart from short-term internships, Australian students are also encouraged to come in groups under edu-tourism programmes during their semester breaks.

According to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the programme also enables Malaysian students to seek internship with Australian companies.

“The Australian students are welcome and we would like them to mix with Malaysian students as this will lead to mutual character development,” he said after delivering his keynote address at the Australia Malaysia Forum on Quality and Excellence in Higher Education here.

The Australian High Commissioner, Penny Williams, said her government was interested in giving more young Australians the experience of working and studying in Malaysia.

“Many Malaysians are studying in Australia and sending our students for internship here is one way to strike a balance,” she said. “The students will get to experience Malaysia and this strengthens the bilateral relationship between the two nations.”

She added that Malaysian universities had areas of expertise which were ideal for Australian students, such as the tropical environment programme at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

A memorandum of cooperation was also signed at the event by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency and the Australian Universities Quality Agency.

Under the memorandum, both parties will promote understanding of their quality systems, increase collaboration in relation to quality assurance, exchange personnel for professional development opportunities and share best practices employed by institutions which they have accreditation with.

Australian Education and Immigration Abuse

Holy Cash Cows
Reporter: Wendy Carlisle

Broadcast: 27/07/2009

Reporter Wendy Carlisle reveals how dodgy business practices are being used to rip off foreign students seeking legitimate qualifications in Australia. At the same time she also shows how vocational training for foreign students has become an immigration scam allowing thousands of foreigners to come to, and then remain in, Australia under false pretences.

For ten years now Australia's foreign student education sector has been on a massive growth spurt. First it was foreign students seeking university degrees. More recently it's the vocational education sector that's been expanding.

Last year more than 70,000 Indian students came here to buy an education. Egged on by immigration and education agents, many were told if they enrolled in cooking, hairdressing and accounting courses they would not only get a diploma but they could also qualify for permanent residency in Australia.

Now a major Four Corners investigation reveals that foreign students in this country have been targeted by unscrupulous businessmen, who have set up training schools that supply qualifications that sometimes aren't worth the paper they are written on.

"It is a fraud because we were shown so many rosy pictures about the school and it is not what it was really... it was just a scam." - Parent of Indian student

"We all know that they have sardine type cooking classes where there's sixteen students to a frypan." (Corruption investigator)

Bogus courses though are not the only scam going on. If a student wants to apply for permanent residency they must pass an English language test. Four Corners has found clear evidence that unscrupulous immigration and education agents are offering English language tests for a price. In some cases the exam paper is worth up to $5,000.

Another requirement for students in vocational courses, seeking residency in Australia, is a work experience certificate. Each student is required to undertake up to 900 hours of on the job training. Some work for nothing creating a source of cheap labour. Others are offered an alternative. Four Corners reveals an immigration agent was prepared to help procure a fake work experience certificate for students if they were prepared to pay between three and four thousand dollars. This practice clearly makes a joke of the vocational qualification and the integrity of the immigration system.

How is this allowed to happen? Four Corners has discovered evidence that students have made serious allegations to the relevant government authorities and been ignored or worse found themselves subsequently under investigation by government.

"I mean for years I have been writing about dodgy education providers in Sydney and nobody cares... there's certainly been enough complaints lodged that the problems have been there. There's no doubt." - Corruption investigator

For some time now the Federal Government has boasted about the growth in the foreign education sector. But some experts now believe the time has come for the government to stop the corruption. The question is: does it have the will?

"Well basically they've been bedazzled by the dollars ...they could proudly say this is a $15 billion industry, more than wheat, wool and meat put together, there's perhaps an understandable reluctance to look at the foundation of the industry." - Bob Birrell, from the Monash University's Centre for Population and Urban Research

If the government refuses to clean up the scams and the corruption many believe it could destroy the $15 billion industry. As one young student told the program why would you pay for a service that is not provided?

"Obviously I am very angry. I've like taken a loan. It's a big loan and I paid the money to the school. I came here for a purpose... I haven't got anything." - Indian student.

This GAME is not new in MALAYSIA - Poor quality institutions selling immigation student passes to foreign students

Inquiry demands as Australian college fraud exposed

28 July 2009
Concerned international students stand outside a college in Sydney, Australia, after its closure on Tuesday.

Australia's Government is being urged to compensate exploited overseas students

Calls are growing for an inquiry into revelations that overseas students in Australia are being cheated by migration and education agents.

The frauds were exposed by television current affairs program Four Corners, on Radio Australia's parent company, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

There are concerns about the exploitation of International students, with a number of cases exposed in the program.

Genevieve Kelly, from the National Tertiary Education Union, says it is time there was an independent inquiry into the sector.

Refund call

"The whole management of the international student market, if you like, should be looked at very closely," she says.

An independent senator, Nick Xenophon, wants the Australian Government to set up a compensation scheme for international students who are exploited.

"To ensure that if dodgy operators don't do the right thing . . . that students can be assured they'll be able to get a refund."

The country's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, says the government will not abide any abuses of overseas students.

The minister said: "Any of these abuses we, of course, won't tolerate and don't tolerate, and the cracking down so far as the migration agents' regulatory arrangements are concerned will assist in that process."

Perform to public expectations

20June 2009
AT YOUR SERVICE BY TAN SRI ISMAIL ADAM

The public service needs to evolve if it is to face an ever-changing environment caused by intense economic, social, technological and competitive pressures.

THE days of civil servants just pushing files and processing forms are long gone as the people are demanding more.

In order to ensure quality service delivery and client satisfaction, we need a knowledgeable workforce high in thinking and doing.

While high-doing is preferred, it is high-thinking about resolving the people’s problems that ensures greater creativity and value addition in service delivery.

The public service requires its workforce to think of new, better and faster ways to deliver the best outcomes for the people.

We should not only find better ways of doing what we are doing but also question whether what we are doing needs to be done in the first place.

To ensure this calibre of public servants requires the ability to manage talent.

Attracting and retaining the best talents has become the priority of the public service as it attempts to become a world beater.

Our vision is to make the public service world class, excelling in planning, development and management of human resources based on professionalism, integrity and the state-of-art technology.

But getting the best people is not enough as we have to ensure that they are also the right people for the right jobs. Thus, we have introduced competency identification to match a person’s competency with the job requirements.

Accelerated career development for those with higher leadership potential is also just as important. Succession plans have been developed for this purpose.

After all, knowing what is one’s career path is also a sure way of retaining talented staff.

On top of this, leadership development programmes (with institutions such as Intan, Stanford, Harvard and Oxford) as well as joint training programmes with the Civil Service College Singapore and the Civil Service Institute Brunei Darussalam had been instituted.

Civil servants today can also look towards other continuous learning programmes, the pre-service scholarship programmes, the in-service scholarship programmes, short courses, and attachment programmes with private sector companies.

However, we also need to have systems in place to manage, reward and recognise performance.

This include the Malaysian Remuneration System, the incorporation of annual work targets, key performance indicators (KPIs), psychological development programmes and even psychological health programmes.

The Public Service Excellence Model is an over-arching, non-prescriptive one based on nine elements: one driver, three enablers, and five results.

The driver of this excellence model is the need for exemplary leadership that is coupled with shared vision and value.

It is towards this end that the public service inculcates leadership and high-concept skills of seeing the forest for the trees and seeing “around the corner” among its senior managers.

As such, there is a need for continuous review of existing structures, schemes of service and posts as a measure of capacity enhancement.

To enhance the capacity and capability of the talent pool, the Competency Level Assessment (PTK) was introduced.

The PTK seeks to encourage the use of knowledge, skills, creativity, and innovation at work while promoting a culture of teamwork and organisational learning.

It also provides due recognition to public servants through salary increment and career advancement.

However, just as important is to shape a high performance work culture through focusing on the inculcation of good ethics and values.

The public service also dwells on customer-focused services through such channels as multimedia services and one-stop centres, harmonious employer-employee relations and the creation of a conducive work environment.

Such a complete system of excellence should enable us to attract and keep top talents so that they can best serve the people.

> Tan Sri Ismail Adam is the Public Service Director-General and is effectively the number two in civil service. He welcomes any comment or complaints which can be sent to ismail@jpa.gov.my.

Girls top Malaysian public university intake - 2009/10

20 June 2009

PUTRAJAYA: Female undergraduates continue to dominate local universities if this year’s number of successful applicants is anything to go by.

Of 40,366 successful applicants for the 2009/2010 academic session, 65 per cent or roughly two out of three were females.

“We are not gender-biased but there is no way the ministry can stabilise university intake involving genders as admission is strictly based on meritocracy,” Higher Education director-general Datuk Dr Radin Umar

Radin Sohadi said in a lighthearted manner when announcing this year’s successful applications for first degree programmes at his office yesterday.

Meritocracy for admission to local universities is made up of 90 per cent academic scores and 10 per cent co-curriculum.

“Let the system run its natural course as we have been facing this so-called phenomenon almost every year,” he said in jest.

A total of 61,027 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and matriculation students as well as those with equivalent qualifications had applied for places at local universities this year.

“However, only 40,366 or 83.6 per cent have succeeded, an increase of 0.4 per cent from last year’s academic session.

This includes 3,599 places offered by Universiti Sains Malaysia.”

Of the total number of successful applicants, 27,829 were Bumiputeras, 10,116 Chinese and the remaining Indians.

He said 24,581 were science stream students and the remaining were from arts stream.

For competitive programmes, 945 students had been offered medicine, 194

dentistry and 288 pharmacy.

A total of 1,184 will study chemical engineering, 2,672 electric and electronic engineering, 2,455 mechanical engineering, 369 law and

1,182 accountancy.

Radin Umar said 69 new programmes relating to engineering, education, management and entrepreneurship, applied sciences, arts and fine arts, economy, marketing and statistics had been introduced.

Offer letters have been issued, starting yesterday.

“They must let us know if they accept the offers before or by Thursday (June 25).”

Those who fail in their applications can forward their appeal within 10 days from yesterday. Closing date is on June 28.

The relevant websites can be surfed at http://jpt.uum. edu.my, hp://www.jpt.utm.my or http://upu.mohe.gov.my.

For enquiries, they can call the ministry’s hotline at 03-88835858, its helpline at 03-88835848 or send SMS by typing UPU RESULT (MyKad number) to 15888.

Low-priced London

20 June 2009

Travel, sightseeing and, yes, shopping in London does not have to impoverish you. The canny tourist will find some comfort in these tips.

With all those glitzy shops and grand hotels, London is a city where you can easily spend a fortune. But you don’t have to.

Few of the world’s great cities offer so much scope to have a good time for absolutely nothing — or very little money. With a little bit of planning, and by keeping your eyes open when you arrive, you can get excellent value for your hard-earned money in England’s capital.

Getting around

Travelling around London is easy with public transport. Just get on the underground or hop on the public buses. If you hop on Lines 9, 11 or 15, these will take you past many of the central sights.

For travelling within London, get an Oyster card. The Oyster reusable travel card will always charge you the cheapest fare for your journey and is valid on all London overground, underground, buses and DLR routes. If you make multiple journeys in one day, it will not charge you more than a one-day travel card.

You can also load your Oyster with a weekly travel card if you’re staying longer. And don’t forget, under 11-year-olds travel free when getting about with an adult. You can buy Oyster cards before you arrive in the UK from www.visitbritaindirect.com

Walk!

London is a huge city, but central areas are compact enough to explore on foot. Information centres can provide plenty of ideas for self-guided walks. For an inexpensive sightseeing tour, take one of the many organised walks on offer. They typically cost around £7 (RM40) per person (some are free). Check out www.walks.com.

There is also London’s first Walking Pass, which gives visitors five guided walking tours of the capital for just £12 (RM69). Valid for two days, they take pass holders on themed walks, including The Da Vinci Code, James Bond, movie locations and Ghosts by Gaslight.

The pass is the idea of the Big Bus Company, and customers of its London bus tour (£20/RM115) get the walks free of charge. For bookings, call: 020 7233 7797 or visit www.bigbustours.com

Affordable accommodation

Accommodation is likely to be your biggest expense, but there are ways to cut costs. Pre-booked packages or special breaks can be excellent value, especially if arranged on-line through a reliable operator. For the best deals, book well ahead, or at the last minute.

London is busy more or less all year round (mid-Jan/Feb is the nearest it gets to low season), but many business hotels charge lower rates at weekends. It’s always worth asking for a discount on rack rates. Check whether breakfast, VAT and service charges are included.

Sample English charm and hospitality. A bed-and-breakfast or guesthouse can save quite a bit, especially if you’re prepared to stay outside the centre. Various agencies organise stays in private homes, which can be a pleasant and personal experience. Check the website of At Home in London for some ideas.

Opt for self-catering. Apartments are good value for families or groups of friends. If you need more than one room, this can work out to cheaper than a hotel — and some have hotel style benefits such as Internet access or reception facilities, plus you can cook your own meals. If you choose an apartment within walking distance of the sights you want to visit you’ll save time and money on public transport, too.

Experience the city

There are literally thousands of things you can do in London. At any time of year, London seethes with activity and spectacle. Each of its neighbourhoods is different — even those well off the tourist trails can be full of surprises.

A sharp-eyed stroll through London’s historic quarters reveals a fascinating array of architecture and public monuments.

Sightseeing doesn’t have to cost a pence. Walk through the streets and look out for “Blue Plaques” on the buildings. They indicate the celebrity status of former residents. Discover the Square Mile’s mazelike alleys, where Roman walls rub shoulders with Wren churches and glittering office blocks.

Follow the river along the Thames Path, or take a panoramic overview from any of its bridges. Soak up the scent of summer roses in Regent’s Park, or the jewel-bright rhododendrons of Richmond Park’s Isabella Plantation.

Enjoy London’s free attractions. The capital has some of Europe’s best museums and galleries. These are landmark buildings both old and new, and filled with priceless treasures and intriguing art. Entry to most of Britain’s top museums and galleries is entirely free.

From the best modern art at the Tate Modern, to the designs and fashions through the ages at the V&A, to the works of the Old Masters at the National Gallery, you could have a full day visiting these. There are also lots of free talks at the museums.

Get access to hundreds of attractions with a sightseeing pass. If you’re an avid sightseer and want to catch lots of pay-to-enter attractions as well as free ones, consider one of the inclusive deals, such as the London Pass (50+ pay-to-enter attractions).

Catch a theatre show. You can watch a Shakespearean play for £5 (RM29) in an accurate replica of Shakespeare’s original Elizabethan Globe Theatre on the south bank of the Thames near Southwark Bridge. Ask for a “groundling” ticket: you have to stand throughout the performance, but you are in amongst the action at the front of the stage (www.shakespearesglobe.com).

Theatre-lovers can also head to the Tkts ticket booth in Leicester Square or Canary Wharf, which have seats for many West End productions available on the day of performance at half the box office price (www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/tkts).

Travelex and the National Theatre also offer tickets at £10 (RM58) for some of the best theatres in London (http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/42966/production-seasons/travelex-10-tickets-2009.html).

Watch the pageantry. Ceremonial occasions like the Changing of the Guard, the State Opening of Parliament and the Lord Mayor’s Show attract many visitors, as well as street festivals and annual events. Chinese New Year, the London Marathon, the Notting Hill Carnival and the Great River Race are regular fixtures on the capital’s social calendar, while jugglers, buskers and mime artists please crowds all summer in Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square or the South Bank.

And why not visit a film location? Many visitors come because of a film they’ve seen, and it costs nothing to stand where the actors and directors have stood. An American Werewolf in London, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter are just some of the movies filmed in London.

Shop till you drop

There’s no charge for window-shopping. You can visit the Silver Vaults and ogle designer wear at Harvey Nichols or jewellery in Hatton Garden without a penny in your pocket. Sales hit London in January and July, when canny shoppers turn out in force.

Designer label fashions can be purchased at discount chain stores such as T. K. Maxx and Matalan. Cool clothing can be bought for low prices at the popular Primark stores. Best-value department stores are John Lewis and Marks and Spencer. Also, check out second-hand or discount shops like Rokit or Beyond Retro for vintage and designer clothing.

Hunt for bargains in a market. Visit Columbia Road for fresh flowers, Camden Passage and Portobello Road for antiques and collectibles, Greenwich and Covent Garden for arts and crafts. The best hunting grounds for second-hand books are Charing Cross Road or Riverside Walk under Waterloo Bridge (South Bank).

You can also check out London’s open-air markets like the Sunday (Up) Market in the Old Truman Brewery, off Hanbury Street. The market is a platform for designer-makers selling unique goods direct to customers.

Visitors who live outside the European Community and leave within three months can claim back the VAT (currently 17.5%) charged on most goods sold in the UK. You need to fill in VAT 407 refund form from the store and have it stamped by the VAT refund office at the airport or port.

Filling up

Top quality eats need not break the bank. Try home-grown favourites such as tea and scones, steak pies and of course, fish and chips.

Or sample the world’s cuisine. International restaurants have long been the source of good cheap eats in the UK — choose from Indian and Chinese to Thai and Turkish, and everything in between. Brick Lane’s Bangladeshi curries and Jewish bagels are famous, while in Chinatown, you can stock up on dim sum for very little money.

If you love Indian food, walk into any one of Masala Zone’s six restaurants in London. Dine on authentic Indian dishes inspired by Indian street food, and don’t miss the delicious thalis! Expect the bill to come to £10-£15 (RM58-RM86) per head for dinner, and even less at lunch.

Grab great food from London’s Farmer’s Markets. Not only do these markets sell the freshest, tastiest and healthiest produce, but there are plenty of opportunities for free sampling before you buy (www.farmersmarkets.net). Borough Market is known for specialist food products — keep your eyes peeled, you may just bump into any one of the celebrity chefs who frequent the market for their morning shopping.

Dine in a gastropub. These offer diners high-quality meals in an informal pub setting at reasonable prices. These offer value for money rather than being cheap, and beers and other long drinks are available as well as full wine lists (www.squaremeal.co.uk).

How about packing a picnic? Several chains such as Marks & Spencer and Pret à Manger sell a delicious range of take-away foods, which you can take to the local park, riverbank or other public area.

Travel tips

VISIT MSL Travel Sdn Bhd
www.msltravel.com

1. Airport Transfers Dot2Dot
2. ISIC for Student Benefits
3. NX2 Card for National Express discounts
4. YHA Card for stay at Youth Hostels
5. Golden Tours for Sightseeing
6. MSL London City Stay

● Visitors can find more information on these and other vacation ideas in Britain by visiting www.visitbritain.com.my

Message from Prof Richard Larkins AO, Vice-Chancellor & President, Monash Uni

16June09
Like me, you are no doubt alarmed by the recent attacks on Indian students in Australia. As a country of immigrants, Australia has generally been successful as a diverse and tolerant nation. Sadly, these attacks diminish Australia’s reputation for tolerance and diversity.

Monash has one of the largest international student populations of all Australian universities, with around 18,000 of our 56,000 students born overseas. The safety of all our students is paramount and I have urged all students to be careful after the recent rise in attacks on Indian students in Melbourne. We value the happy, mutually supportive multicultural environment at Monash and will do everything we can to further enhance this. Fortunately, there have been very few reports of violence or racist comments relating to our students, but any such events are unacceptable.

We continue to strive to create a safe environment at all of our campuses. I have recently reminded all students and staff of campus security arrangements and how to access an immediate response to any threatening situations. For help in non-urgent situations, Monash has established a new Community Care Line as part of its commitment to providing a safe study environment. We have also organised additional briefings for students by the University’s Crime Prevention coordinator, Craig Mentiplay. This adds to our regular information sessions for international students presented by the Victoria Police Multicultural Liaison Unit. These sessions are held at the start of each semester.

Monash University will continue to make every effort to provide a safe and inclusive environment on our campuses for students, staff, alumni and visitors.

Make good service a way of life

AT YOUR SERVICE WITH TAN SRI MOHD SIDEK HASSAN - Chief Secretary of the Malaysian Government

Keeping the customer satisfied should be the most important consideration for any service provider – be it in the public or private sector.

A COUPLE of days ago I received an e-mail from a service provider. They gave me three options to activate my service; do it via e-mail, SMS or by telephone.

I chose to confirm by e-mail, as that would have been the most convenient given my job demands. Lo and behold, I get back an e-mail message asking me to confirm my confirmation via, SMS and telephone.

On another occasion, now as an internal customer, I was invited to a meeting via e-mail only to be told that I had to confirm my attendance in the attached form that was to be faxed back to the organisers.

Whether an internal or external customer, I found the complete absurdity of bureaucracy in full action in both instances.

Service must make sense.

Common sense must always prevail in service rendered to us common people. It must serve people of all walks of life, in all income clusters from various histories and family backgrounds, and nationalities.

Service must be time-sensitive and it must be agile to times as well. What may work today may no longer do so tomorrow as priorities change, expectations grow with maturing public and global demands.

This holds true in any country, any service and no less any public service delivery.

In each of our defined daily roles — be that of a hawker, a housewife, an unemployed or a student, a CEO or a public official like myself, we each look for one thing and one thing only when we seek a SERVICE.

That when we turn up to a point of service, it is delivered as promised by the provider with basic human courtesies extended.

No amount of technology advancement can replace this elementary and essential need we all want from a service — public or private.

I have received many complaints of public service delivery and its officials – not on lack of technology advancement and modernity – but mostly on the runarounds given to the public by our officials.

Whilst we must work and hold to laws inscribed there is nothing stopping anyone from making life comfortable for a customer when he/she visits a foyer with a long waiting queue.

Officials could do the” McDonald” for instance where a staff would go down the line to take orders. By the time you are at the counter your order is ready for collection.

We could offer refreshments to make the wait less taxing. Even seemingly inconsequential actions such as answering the telephone courteously could calm a somewhat irate customer. Nothing beats the pressure gauge more than to ring a line with no answer or when it is answered, you find that you need to call another number for your problem to be solved.

Recently, when the systems failed at the Immigration Department in Pusat Bandar Damansara (PBD), the whole team decided to compensate the customers – who were kept waiting – by working the next day, a Sunday, at the nearest office to complete the interrupted work.

In its simplest form of service innovation, this action would leave a long term positive emotional impact on a customer.

The fundamental essence of service to me is respecting the sacredness of time itself; sacredness of the customer’s time. The customer is the most important person, not the provider.

When we keep people waiting without notice and set expectations (in whatever form), it displays total disrespect for that person.

Arguably, strength of character is the main denominator to extending “boutique” service.

Where there is strength in character, integrity follows. Where there is integrity, what is expected of one in any situation and of any task is delivered and delivered to nothing less than excellence and fineness.

When we have people with the right attitude and character delivering service, their quest for success will be driven by making life as simple and comfortable for customers.

Even when things break down, technology flounders on a bad day, your customer service remains intact. In the instance of the Immigration service, even when systems failed, the service itself did not break down!

How one handles and manages the customer can make a potentially explosive moment into a “it’s not a big issue” second.

Based on this rule — we make for an environment where officials will always look to innovate, improve, refine the delivery system.

Making it simpler, efficient and no doubt satisfying for our CUSTOMERS. The quest for modernity and hardware advancement will be driven by the software needs — i.e. the customer’s convenience and comfort. There is order to the rule. Things are not done in vacuum and on a perceived need any more. When we have these basics of SERVICE in our tenets and charter, the public service delivery would move Malaysia to great heights globally, making it a formidable brand.

Public officials must reach out across the aisles to all our partners and critiques. Every one of them is our customer; even our harshest critiques.

As service providers we must accept criticisms as a gift, a gift for improvement without which we remain stagnant and torpid. We must work off humility and integrity as our points of reference.

Every public official must have the competency of a “Public’s Complaint Bureau.” Complaints management must be the “problem” of every official.

Engagement with stakeholders, including the media, must be the scorecard of everyone in the service.

Without engagement, we will continue to operate in our own world view — an ineffective proposition by any means, not simply for the Public Service but for the public and country at large.

When public officials revert to the basics of real service we inculcate a culture of quality, precision and excellence in the public service of Malaysia.

On a day when all is broken, the fineness of our Service Delivery will remain remarkably intact!

Contact Him at:
sidek@pmo.gov.my

To travel or not to travel?

14June2009

For most of us, this is our first experience with a pandemic. Hence, the many questions on holiday and travel plans. Should we risk travelling under such circumstances? Sunday Star seeks the advice of the experts to answer some of these queries.

IT seems like such a wonderful opportunity – cheap airline tickets to distant destinations and lower fuel surcharge!

Despite this, family and friends are advising against holidays and unnecessary travel because the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the influenza A (H1N1) a pandemic.

While the more cautious ones have delayed their holiday plans and are even willing to lose their deposits with the travel agents, many are keeping to their travel plans made months ago. And there are some who are gleefully taking advantage of the low fares and hope the situation remains that way for a few more months.

“I can’t believe that I can get a ticket from London to KL at such a low price. If such prices keep up, I will definitely be travelling between these two cities a couple of times this year instead of just making an annual trip,” says a homemaker with two sons studying in England.

Although WHO has not advised against travelling, even to the 193 infected countries, the Health Ministry recommends that all non-essential travel to those countries be deferred.

However, with the summer breaks in the United States and Europe, many are also expecting friends and relatives over for a holiday in Malaysia.

Thousands of Malaysian students and graduates overseas are also expected to return home with the end of their academic year.

As the world gets into gear to prepare for the worst, Sunday Star has been flooded with queries on the pandemic and its implications on travel.

At hand to answer public concerns are Universiti Malaya senior research fellow and virologist Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Lam Sai Kit and Health Ministry Disease Control Division director Datuk Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman.

> My son who is studying in Melbourne is due back at the end of the month. Should I ask him to stay back in Australia? Serena Chong, Kuala Lumpur

Datuk Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman: There is no restriction to travel back to Malaysia; he is welcome to return. But if he has symptoms of influenza, he should delay his travel until he is fully recovered.

Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Lam Sai Kit: This is where the exit screen is important. Don’t get on board a plane if you have any flu-like symptoms. Practise social responsibility and don’t spread the germs. Wear a mask at all times. Don’t offer to shake hands. If there is no travel advisory, then there is no reason not to travel if you are healthy.

However, if you have any symptoms like fever, you run the risk of being put in quarantine, flu or no flu, especially if you are flying in from an endemic country. Why take the risk? Just postpone the trip till you have fully recovered.

> My sister is pregnant and works at an office where someone who just returned from an overseas trip is undergoing tests for H1N1 flu. What are the risks of swine flu for people who are pregnant? Ana Aziz, Alor Star

Dr Hasan: The risk of infection is the same if your sister is in close contact to the person (close contact refers to within one metre of the person having illness). The severity of infection may be higher in pregnant woman, especially if the pregnancy is complicated with other illnesses such as asthma, hypertension or diabetes.

Prof Lam: ‘Don’t get on board a plane if you have any flu-like symptoms’
Prof Lam: The risk of severity is higher in those who are pregnant. If there are cases of flu-like illness in the office, then she will have to take extra precautions. Wear a mask at all times while in office, wash or sanitise hands, avoid transferring the virus to your nose, eyes or any parts of your face (easier said than done, I am afraid).

> If you had another illness such as the common cold or another type of influenza at the time of contracting H1N1 flu, are you likely to become significantly more ill with the virus? Ahmad Idris, Kuala Lumpur

Dr Hasan: Usually, yes. Illness with multiple infections will be more severe than illness caused by a single infection. That is why you shouldn’t travel if you have any flu symptoms.

Prof Lam: Dual infections by similar or related viruses can happen but we are not sure that this will result in a worse clinical outcome. If a person is infected with two influenza A strains, for example, H1N1 and H3N2, then the most worrisome situation is genetic mixing, resulting in a totally new strain of flu A virus that possesses genetic traits of both. This can happen in animals (pigs, poultry) or man. Hopefully, it will not be a cross with the more pathogenic H5N1 bird flu strain. Then we really have grounds for concern.

> I suffer from asthma. Am I more at risk and what precautions should I take when I travel? Amril, Ipoh

Dr Hasan: Asthma is one of the risk factors. You should avoid close contact with any person with influenza-like illness.

Prof Lam: People with chronic chest problems can ill afford to get the flu. If you have made holiday plans, postpone the trip unless it is absolutely necessary. Wear a mask throughout the trip and take other precautions as listed above.

> I have a nine-month-old and a four-year-old. We have made holiday plans to visit my sister in Australia. How does the virus affect children of this age? P. Larita, Kuala Lumpur

Dr Hasan: All age groups are susceptible to the infection. The mode of the infection is still the same, which is droplet to the upper respiratory tract. That is why personal hygiene is very important.

Prof Lam: Children have a lower resistance to flu, hence the severity and deaths associated with this age group. Remember that anatomically, the respiratory system (as well as the immune system) is still under-developed and the virus can therefore spread lower down faster.

It is difficult for parents to know whether the child has merely a cold or flu, so parents must really educate themselves to recognise what to look out for. If you are ever in doubt, consult a doctor. If the elder child goes to a playschool or kindergarten, that can be a source for spreading of germs and bringing it back to infect the younger child, and even parents.

> I recently returned from a business trip in New York and I have been exhibiting signs of flu after I returned. However, now my symptoms appear to be decreasing and I feel a lot better. Should I bother to see a doctor at this point? JJ, Penang

Dr Hasan: All persons with symptoms of influenza should seek treatment as soon as possible. By doing so, he will help to control the spread of disease and at the same time get appropriate treatment for the illness.

Prof Lam: Definitely yes. The symptoms are very typical of flu and the authorities must know about it so that they can check out those whom you have been in contact with and give them advice and treatment if necessary. It is a social responsibility you must bear. Remember that you may still be infectious even though your symptoms are subsiding. Keep indoors and avoid infecting others.

Dr Hasan: ‘All age groups are susceptible to the infection’
> We are due to travel to Hong Kong in July to holiday there for two weeks. Is it wise to cancel our holiday or are we just being overcautious? Wong, Klang

Dr Hasan: Currently, Hong Kong does not impose any restrictions on tourists. If you have symptoms of influenza-like illness, however, it is advisable to delay the visit as Hong Kong may place you under quarantine if they find that you have symptoms of influenza on arrival.

Prof Lam: There is no advisory not to travel to Hong Kong, Australia or anywhere else although this can happen overnight if the situation warrants it. Australia, for example, is going into the peak months of flu with the arrival of winter, so the risk of a bigger outbreak of H1N1 or seasonal flu is there. It is also quite obvious with the increasing number of reported cases daily. You travel at your own risk. You are the best judge, to go or not to go, but make sure you know the risks involved.

> I am expecting relatives from the UK for a holiday. Do I ask them to cancel their trip or put them up in a hotel when they are here so that they don’t contaminate my house? Leong, Shah Alam

Dr Hasan: If they are free of influenza-like illness symptoms, they are welcome to come to Malaysia. If any one of them demonstrates any of the symptoms, they should wait until they are fully recovered and cleared of A(H1N1) suspicion before making the trip to Malaysia.

Prof Lam: As mentioned earlier, travelling should be on a need basis to avoid getting infected. Going on holidays means moving in crowded places, making many new friends, many more handshakes, etc. Will you have peace of mind under the circumstances? At Level Six, we should really review our activities.

> I’m going on my honeymoon to Europe in six weeks’ time. Should we get Tamiflu to take with us as a precaution? If yes, where can we get it? Susan, Kuala Lumpur

Dr Hasan: Tamiflu is only for people with symptoms. The best practice is good personal hygiene, including washing your hands after sneezing or coughing. Avoid crowded places, or if unavoidable, wear face masks.

Prof Lam: Tamilfu is not recommended as a prophylaxis if you are just a routine traveller. It is only prescribed to those who have been in close contact with a patient suspected to have H1N1. Do not abuse the use of Tamiflu or we run the risk of virus developing resistance rapidly. Then we will have nothing to use when it is really needed. Remember, Tamiflu is not a flu vaccine!

Challenges facing private education

07June2009
Demand for higher education in Malaysia will surely grow as its population rises and in tandem with the Government’s emphasis on human capital development. The question is, can the private education sector take for granted it will have ample space to prosper?

IMAGINE Malaysia suddenly without private higher education. Our tertiary student population would shrink drastically, and hundreds of thousands of people would have no way of gaining the knowledge offered in certificate, diploma and degree courses. In other words, it would be a human capital disaster.

»The public system has become our competitor because the number of public universities and community colleges is increasing« ELAJSOLAN MOHAN

According to the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (Mapcu), there were some 450,000 students at private institutions of higher learning as at December last year. This accounted for slightly more than 50% of the total enrolment in both public and private universities and colleges.

There are no two ways about it: the private sector’s involvement in education over the last few decades has contributed significantly to the nation’s progress.

“Private education has been absolutely central to the development, stability, and harmony of Malaysia for the past 25 years,” says Mark Disney, chief operating officer, Asia, of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), which provides vocational and business qualifications.

“It is the engine room for developing outward-looking graduates and it is the reason why Malaysia can legitimately call itself a regional educational hub.”

The National Association of Private Educational Institutions (Napei) president Elajsolan Mohan points out the powers that be would have to bear a huge burden if tertiary education was in its hands solely.

He adds: “Developing human capital is the Government’s responsibility, but here, the private sector has a big part in complementing and supplementing the Government’s role.”

Of course, it is not merely a case of sharing a social obligation. To the business world, the capacity shortfall in the public higher education system translates into market demand. It is an opportunity to make money, and there are lots of it at stake.

Education player, HELP International Corp Bhd, gave an indication of just how much the business is worth when it went for listing two years ago. Its prospectus conservatively estimated the annual industry turnover at RM2.1bil, assuming a student base of 300,000, with each paying average fees of RM7,000 a year.

»It is hoped that private institutions of higher learning are provided with tangible support to ensure their continued growth« DR PARMJIT SINGH

Things have changed quite a bit since then. The student numbers to be used in such a calculation now should be 50% larger, and those in the know say the average annual fees ought to be between RM10,000 and RM12,000. This is how Mapcu has arrived at a ballpark figure of RM5bil for total fee income.

In addition, says the association, the tuition fees from the some 550,000 foreign students in 200 private higher education institutions (PHEIs) generate about RM1bil in foreign exchange earnings. The spin-off income (in areas such as healthcare, transportation and food) is estimated to be close to RM1.5bil a year.

A Napei study a few years ago found that foreign students added about RM4bil to Malaysia’s economy.

And let us not forget that higher education leads to plenty of other economic activities such as education fairs, advertising, publishing (directories, guides and periodicals) and property rentals.

Degrees of success

The story of private higher education in Malaysia is that of entrepreneurship, ingenuity and adaptability. The industry has had its ups and downs, and through it all, the key determinant of success remains the same – the ability to attract and retain students.

This is vital in a crowded and competitive arena. There are about 500 PHEIs in the country. At the peak about nine years ago, there were 700. Despite the consolidation over the past decade or so, few players will tell you that it is any easier these days to woo students.

On top of that, the number of places available in the public tertiary education system has been rising rapidly. In 2002, public universities, polytechnics and community colleges took in 89,500 students. Last year, the number of admissions was more than double that.

Says Elajsolan of Napei: “It’s becoming more and more challenging for us. The public system has become our competitor because the number of public universities and community colleges is increasing. Previously, the private sector played a complementary role to the public sector. Now the public sector is challenging us.

“But it’s good for the industry because we have to become more creative and innovative.”

Indeed, amid the tough competition, the pioneering spirit often makes a difference. Fortunately, this seems to be a speciality of the private higher education industry.

Mapcu president Dr Parmjit Singh reminds us that it was the private institutions of higher learning here that came up with the 1+2, 2+1 and 3+0 twinning degree programmes, thus providing Malaysians with more affordable options to study for degrees awarded by foreign universities.

Says Disney of LCCI Asia: “Remember, Malaysian edupreneurs have always been at the forefront of transnational education.”

According to Parmjit, some PHEIs have boosted their profile in other ways, such as commercialising their research and development, and venturing abroad to establish branch campuses.

Another element of the private sector’s success is its broad and flexible offering, particularly when compared with public universities. There was a time when students mostly went to PHEIs by default; it was Plan B when they could not get into public universities. Apparently, that is no longer the case.

Elajsolan explains: “With the public system, you may not get the course you want. So what do you do? Are you going to spend years studying something you don’t like?”

In fact, students are increasingly more likely now to bypass Form Six and head straight to private colleges and universities after their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations.

“The private sector offers an array of options and opportunities to choose from after SPM. Students are able to make earlier and more informed decisions about their career and study choices due to the vast amount of information available,” says Parmjit.

“This is why they prefer to move into tertiary education immediately after SPM, instead of the traditional route of applying for admission to universities after completing the STPM (Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia) exams.”

It helps too that they can individualise their courses by selecting from a diverse menu of subjects and programmes, some of which are unique and tailored to industry requirements. In addition, the operators are attuned to market needs and are quick in rolling out new programmes.

A discerning market

However, it is not purely a matter of running popular courses. Quality is critical, maybe more so in education, where reputation is a make-or-break factor.

An industry analyst warns that the growth of PHEIs may not always be accompanied by improvements in the delivery of quality teaching and research. “Some of these institutions have expanded so fast that their quality of education has failed to keep up,” he says.

He advises that in deciding on the institutions to send their children to, parents should weigh criteria such as the investment in libraries and faculty members’ qualifications, instead of being dazzled by claims of high student enrolment. He says the big numbers may not necessarily mean that the PHEIs are successful.

Adds Disney of LCCI Asia: “The need to balance quality with quantity is always pressing, made harder by the fact that commercial imperatives are impossible to ignore. The intense competition for students is still a problem because it makes it more difficult to establish and maintain a critical mass of students.

“Operators have to keep one eye on the bottom line and the other on the education process. The Klang Valley, especially, is over-crowded with providers.”

It is understandable then that the presence of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), the Government body in charge of the accreditation of higher education programmes, is widely regarded as a positive for the industry.

Parents and students are now more conscious of quality, and they seek some assurance in the form of MQA accreditation. Napei’s Elajsolan is convinced that this has vastly altered the private higher education business – for the better.

“In the past, you could just offer a diploma course or a certificate course, and you could start running the college. But today, there’s the accreditation process, and the students and parents are more demanding. They really shop around before they make a decision because there’s so many to choose from,” he says.

“So, if your quality is not good or if your facilities are poor, they won’t come. I remember when you could set up a college with less than RM100,000. Today, if you don’t have RM5mil, forget about it. That’s the kind of investment students are looking for before they will sign up.”

The future course

The demand for higher education in Malaysia will surely grow as its population rises and in tandem with the Government’s emphasis on human capital development. The question is, can the private education sector take for granted that it will therefore have ample space to prosper?

Mapcu reckons that the industry is at the crossroads in its development because of the expansion of the public tertiary education system.

Parmjit says the PHEIs have invested a lot in infrastructure and resources in anticipation that they will have a bigger role in educating Malaysians. However, when the public sector increased its capacity over the last seven years, the private sector had to deal with a surplus of seats.

“It was fortunate that growth was then shifted to the increasing demand from foreign students, which helped in taking up this surplus. This has led to most of the larger private sector institutions becoming dependent on a higher proportion of foreign students in comparison to local students,” he adds.

“It is hoped that private institutions of higher learning are provided with tangible support to ensure their continued growth, and to participate meaningfully alongside, and not in competition with, the Government’s efforts to provide further opportunities for higher education.”

Says Elajsolan of Napei: “The Government should stop building new universities and send students to us. Under the National Higher Education Strategic Plan, the public and private sectors are supposed to provide for the human capital needs of the country. That’s why the plan makes no distinction between private and public institutions. The objectives are all the same.”

Disney agrees that the private sector needs foreign students because at the industry’s current size, the local population is too small to sustain it.

“This means we have to be a lot better at putting out a co-ordinated message that attracts international students. Allowing them to work, or to remain for a period of time, would be a good start because it is the single biggest attraction for countries like Singapore and Australia,” he says.

There is also some impetus for PHEIs to merge. The mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan says the institutions will be encouraged to consolidate and merge in order for them to be more viable and competitive.

Napei supports this because it will protect the interests of the students and the operators. “If there are incentives for mergers and acquisitions in education, it will be healthier. Students can transfer and the investments will not be lost,” says Elajsolan.

“We have told our members that the landscape is changing. If you don’t have the means, it’s better than you merge with others or sell your businesses to somebody who can take them to a larger scale.”

Pic 1:
See Chart

Not up to mark

07June2009

With about 100,000 graduates being churned out every year, a university degree can’t be all that hard to get.

IT’S in the media, it’s in the coffee shops and everyone seems to have an opinion about the quality of education in the country.

With the increasing number of higher education institutions and graduates, increasingly one of the measuring rods held up is student assessment.

Lecturer John See feels there is a tension between maintaining standards and pleasing students as they are ‘customers’.

Nor’s* nightmare began when she only passed two of her students in a Syariah law exam.

“The dean told me that we don’t have to follow the marking scheme strictly as it is ‘just a guideline’ and he told me to be lax about the English language because they (students) come from Agama (religious) schools,” says the ex-lecturer of law from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim).

“The dean told me it would affect our university ranking if too many students fail.”

She claimed she was told to give her students who failed a ‘B’ grade if they regularly attended class.

Recently, Kosmo! highlighted her case and Usim has adamantly refuted her claims, stating that the university did not give out ‘mercy marks’.

In a letter to Nor, the university management stated it was not wrong in asking for a review of student assessment, and did not ask her to add marks.

Nor says she has tried her best to give marks to her students – but they do not warrant it.

“Their answers did not answer the basic questions, and I didn’t even ask them analytical questions, I asked them ‘route’ questions like giving definitions, examples, instances and so forth,” she says.

Shocking discovery

Reading through the students’ answer papers, question paper and marking scheme, this reporter discovered a shockingly high number of questions that required straightforward memorisation and even more shocking unrelated answers.

“What would the world think of me if I pass these students? It would be unethical of me,” she adds.

Nor claims she has been subjected to verbal abuse, accused of being mentally unstable, with people even poking fun at her personal life.

It is not just Nor, however, as a few lecturers would share similar experiences when probed.

Shanta Perumal* taught in a variety of well-known public universities and a private college before she quit lecturing out of sheer frustration.

She recalls her lecturing days at a private college, where although the passing rate for their exams were high, only five out of a hundred students would pass the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) required for them to continue their twinning degree in a partner New Zealand university.

For some lecturers, the hassle of writing a report to explain every student failure, arguing with the management, dealing with student appeals and having to possibly re-mark the paper, causes them to resort to unethical practices.

“Instead of going through all that, might as well just add five marks and let the student pass,” says Shanta.

The same sometimes happens in the public universities she has taught English in, she says.

Hard to fail

She thinks that for some courses, “it is impossible to fail” because the breakdown of the marks allocated would easily allow an average student to pass; such as awarding 5% for attendance, 10% for participation and marks for appearance.

Prof Syed Ahmad says using the bell curve as a guide is normal, and in situations where many students get an ‘F’ or an ‘A’, the university senate has the power to investigate why this is so.
She recalls the time she refused to pass a matriculation student who handed in a torn fullscap paper scrawled with some sentences for his essay assignment for her compulsory module. The university passed him on her behalf.

There was also another hilarious occasion where the students were required to answer an exam question “give reasons to your cousin why he should join this course”, in order to test their critical thinking skills.

“We expected them to write things like ‘it opens your mind’, ‘you will gain new experiences’ and so forth.

“But instead, they wrote ‘you will get money from the government and you can buy yourself a motorcycle, it’s a guaranteed pass here, so don’t worry, and later you can work for the government or if you can’t get a job, you can come back here and lecture at this university’”.

The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) says that in its accreditation processes, they look into student assessment systems, even reading samples of student papers to ensure the marking is fair and follows the scheme.

“It’s quite common around the world to use the bell curve as a guide,” says MQA chief executive officer Prof Datuk Dr Syed Ahmad Hussein. “Usually a small group of people would do well, most would be average and some will fail.”

He says in situations where every student gets an ‘F’ or and ‘A’, the “alarm bells” should ring and this would usually call for an investigation by the university senate on why this is so.

“The university senate has the authority to do this because there are many possibilities — maybe the exam was too easy or hard, maybe the question papers were leaked, or the lecturer was not fair,” he explains.

Varsity can rectify

Should such situations occur, the university is allowed to make rectifications like asking students to re-sit exams, scale the grade brackets upward or downward, or making changes to the student assessment system.

Yeoh says lecturers are given autonomy in marking students’ papers but have to follow strict guidelines.
“If the senate decides to, say, add 10 marks across the board, it is allowed for and it is legal,” he says.

Prof Syed Ahmad doesn’t deny cases where people have complained about standards or non-consistent marking schemes, but he thinks these are isolated cases and not a trend.

He is sceptical of claims that the standards have deteriorated as opposed to “back then”.

There are 100,000 graduates a year these days compared to the 70s, he says, which means that the number of both half-baked graduates and competent graduates would rise as well.

So far, Dr Syed Ahmad reveals that MQA has not received any complaints of conspiracies to pass students.

At the end of the day, he feels that consumers are the best judges of quality.

“After a while, people will start to say that graduates from this college or university don’t get employed, then word will go round and the college will die.”

Public universities such as Universiti Malaya (UM), use the bell curve as a guide, although UM’s examination section (academic division) senior principal assistant registrar Yeoh Siew Wan says it’s not necessary for all courses.

Depending on programmes, UM (like most universities) awards marks to students in a continuous assessment framework which includes not only written examinations but also presentations, quizzes, assignments, fieldwork and projects.

The university’s quality management and enhancement centre’s director Prof Dr Fauza Abdul Ghaffar says UM has in place certain quality management procedures such as internal and external audits, submitting papers to external examiners for input, and vetting the examination papers and marking schemes before students sit for them.

Lecturer’s discretion

Yeoh reveals that the way a lecturer awards marks, however, is left to the discretion of the lecturer.

“The lecturer knows best how to give marks to the students because he or she taught them,” she says, adding that there are strict guidelines and the decision to give extra marks to a student is the committee’s decision, not the lecturer’s.

A student completing an essay assignment in the library. Universities usually award marks to students in a continuous assessment framework which includes not only written examinations, but also presentations, quizzes, assignments, fieldwork and projects.

The same system is practised in Multimedia University, where IT lecturer John See says though the university has the auditing or vetting processes in place, the department heads would not have time to look through or sample the answer sheets, so the lecturers would have to be “responsible”.

“It’s up to the lecturers to set a hard or easy paper, and no one would say much,” he says, adding that there used to be a stricter guideline of what was deemed a “normal” rate of passing and perhaps lecturers were fearful of failing students to adhere to the bell curve, but MMU does not practise that anymore.

“We felt we had to maintain our standards, regardless whether students are lousy or not.”

In UM, there are chances for students to appeal for their paper to be re-marked and also to “redeem” themselves upon failing a subject, if their past performance has been good.

“The lecturer can set him a test, an assignment or interview him — but he can only redeem one subject if he has failed a few,” says Yeoh.

International Medical University (IMU) and Monash University Sunway Campus (Monash) do not use the bell-curve guide but rather, criteria referencing — which assesses a student based on criteria, rather than on the performance of the overall student body.

IMU Faculty of Medicine and Health executive dean Prof Victor K E Lim simply describes it as “if everybody meets the outcome, everybody must pass, but if nobody meets the outcome, everybody must fail!”

He believes the bell-curve guide is not suitable for professional courses like medicine which needs to judge expertise, but is more appropriate for entrance exams where many types of students are taken into account.

Dr Crosling believes rigorous vetting and standardisation processes would do away with the issue of tampering with marks or scaling the grades to follow a bell curve.

To maintain the exam standards across the years, IMU question papers undergo double vetting by lecturers and deans, before being sent to an external examiner for corrections.

After the students sit for the exams, the answers also undergo double marking before sample answer sheets with high, low and average marks are sent to the external examiner to check for marking consistency.

“We don’t really find ways to pass a student,” Prof Lim says. “If they want, they can re-sit the exam.”

And to ensure a student is rightly assessed in other areas such as practicals and interaction with patients, they are assessed by multiple lecturers and staff, rather than just one person.

Monash has rigorous vetting and sampling processes, as director of education quality and innovation Dr Glenda Crosling believes that the event of having to scale the grades up or down according to a paper’s level of difficulty shouldn’t happen after students sit for the exams.

“I think the paper should be set at the right level beforehand to prevent that from occurring,” she says. “And marks shouldn’t be adjusted just because there are many who fail.”

But if there are unusual trends, the chief examiner would have to explain to the board of examiners why this occurs.

Student assessment obviously does not depend solely on examinations, as assignments and projects play a big role.

A time for learning

From his experience in MMU, See finds that students who fail in his course don’t have the fundamental grasp of the basic concepts in programming.

“I think usually the problem stems from secondary school. If the quality of students is low, we can’t help it,” he opines.

The complaint of low standards in the schooling assessment to begin with is not an uncommon one.

“We know of students who got straight As for PMR coming into our centre and they literally can’t string together sentences properly,” says Tan Poay Lim, principal of Creative Horizons Language Centre.

“Numbers of distinctions now are so high but the performance is still so low. Put the two and two together and you know that our standards have dropped.”

With 20 years of teaching experience behind him, Creative Education Consultancy managing director Alagesan Arumugam has seen certain trends in the public school examinations.

“I have assessed some of my students and find it hard to comprehend that they are distinction students,” he says. “On my tests, they would get 55% but end up getting 1A in SPM. It does look like it’s relatively easy to score an A these days.”

Alagesan points out that this could be due to a few factors – perhaps the students “bucked up” before the exam, perhaps his own standard was too high or perhaps the marking scheme was lenient.

His suggestion for fairer awarding of grades would be to give A’s to the top 10% of the nation’s scorers according to subjects, to decrease the likelihood of many students getting a string of As.

“Because at the moment, a student may be in the top 1% in Physics but only the top 20% in Chemistry but he gets 1A for each subject.

“So you may get a situation where two students in a class – one who always scores 90% in school exams and another who scores 60% – both getting 1A in SPM. It’s not fair to the first student, isn’t it?”

For Shanta, the root of the problem lies in the low entry requirements for universities and colleges.

She thinks that the government should consider implementing minimum prerequisites to study at matriculation centres, colleges and universities.

“Let’s say most of the class at university got an F in the SPM English paper, the possibility of two thirds failing is very high,” she explains. “But if so many fail, the programme is questioned, the lecturer is questioned and the university has to blame somebody. At the end of the day, lecturers want to hold on to their jobs.”

See believes the general public’s attitude is partly to blame for the occasional lapse of standards.

“I don’t think the public values standards very much,” he says. “When I talk to parents sometimes, they are always asking for the fastest way possible to finish a course.”

He feels there is a tension between maintaining standards and pleasing students as they are “customers” and therefore the pressure is greater, with some students even forming petitions and setting up blogs to contest their results.

Some believe that it is really up to a student himself or herself to make the most of university education.

“The only difference between good students and under-achieving students is whether they put in the effort,” says Owen Yap, a subject matter expert for Basic Interpersonal Communications at Open University Malaysia (OUM).

“I’ve never been pressured by the university to pass students, but my students have begged me before! But I always tell them that they should have done their assignments in order to secure their marks,” he says.

It boils down to attitude, Prof Lim reckons. “Sometimes, it’s not really about knowledge or skills, a very important component is professionalism.

“But assessment of professionalism is difficult. You can’t assess students in an exam, they are bound to give all the right answers!’

And because it’s harder to detect or train attitude problems, Prof Lim claims “we have crooks in our medical system” who would resort to unethical means for money.

It’s not just attitudes of students, of course, it applies to anyone. But it might come at a price, as Nor found out.

“You know, I could have done what was wanted of me and I would still have my job today,” Nor admits ruefully, having resigned from her posts since last year.

“I’ve lost my pension, I’ve lost my chance to study abroad but a life with no conscience is not the way to live

Pic 1:
This is a portion of the marking scheme for a Syariah law examination used in Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.

Pic 2:
This is an example of a student’s answer sheet in response to a question in the question paper of a Syariah law examination at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.

Do-good travel - Volunteerism

07June2009

Voluntourism — the act of giving back when you travel — is all the rage for astute travellers searching for Zen experiences. But does this benefit the local community?

Just over six months ago, Alistair Clarke and Maria Browne led the frenzied lifestyles of typical Londoners — long, stressful working hours and little time for anything else.

Then came the economic downturn. The couple shut down their property development business, packed their bags, leased out their home and hit the road for one year. Something they had wanted to do for a long time.

“It’s very easy when you travel, to observe the world out of the window of a bus and not get to interact with the locals,” says Clarke, 41.

“But we wanted to do some volunteering and understand more about the community. It’s nice to be able to give something back.”

I met Clarke and Browne in Kg Kipouvo, a Kadazandusun village in Sabah’s Ulu Moyog area, about an half-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu. The couple had signed up for a two-week volunteer holiday programme with UK-based Camps International (CI).

Founded in 2002, CI runs community, marine conservation and wildlife ecotourism projects in Kenya, Tanzania and Borneo. The volunteers, who work from two weeks to three months, comprise school groups, the 18-24 gap year community and adults taking a career break.

In Sabah, CI partners with local NGO Pacos Trust to help local communities develop alternative income via ecotourism, for instance, and to increase their living standards.

A small village of about 450 people, Kg Kipouvo depends largely on subsistence farming and rubber tapping whilst a small number of locals work in the civil service.

The average monthly income in Kg Kipouvo ranges from RM200 to RM450, according to Pacos. In 1995, under the guidance of Pacos, a group of villagers formed the Kipouvo Socioeconomic Group to set up a sundry shop, sell kuih (local pastries and cakes) and cater for wedding feasts. Profits are ploughed back into a trust fund which doles out interest-free loans to the needy.

Volunteers stay in a guest lodge owned and run by the committee, providing jobs for the cooks and housekeepers. For every volunteer to Kg Kipouvo, CI contributes RM6 per day to Pacos for their development fund.

Guests help out with simple chores and projects like building furniture, painting the community centre and teaching conversational English.

The era of ‘voluntourism’

Clarke and Browne make up the spate of do-gooders who are searching for a sense of purpose during their travels. As Brian Mullis of Sustainable Travel International says, we’re moving from “the age of chequebook philanthropy into participatory philanthropy.”

Taking a holiday that includes volunteer work is spawning a whole new industry of tour operators offering all kinds of trips and reaping in huge profits as well.

Building wells in Africa? Check. Teaching English to orphans in India? Check. Tracking snow leopards in Central Asia? Check.

UK-based responsibletravel.com, an on-line booking company that sells ethical holidays worldwide, reports a 30% annual increase in sales of volunteer holidays. One of the world’s largest volunteer travel companies, I-to-I, also sees a 40% increase in its sales too.

But this growing trend raises some questions — does it benefit the local community or is it simply a way to make travellers feel good? How does one assess if a project is worthy and how much goes back to the community?

There is no simple answer.

For now, there’s no international certification, regulation or checklist to assess a volunteer holiday project. Travellers just have to do some research, check with past volunteers or, best of all, see for themselves, as Clarke and Browne found out on their first volunteer holiday to Nepal.

“We worked in a village in Pokhara and the project was badly run and organised,” says Browne, 41.

“We knew that money wasn’t getting to the community and the organisation was profiting from the volunteers.”

After the trip, the couple complained to their UK travel agent who booked their programme.

“The difference is, when you’re 18 and travelling for the first time, it’s all a great experience,” explains Clarke.

“But the older you get and the more you travel, you become more discerning. You start to question how things work, you want to know where the money goes and how they benefit people on the ground.”

The Kg Kipouvo experience

Clarke and Browne came to Kg Kipouvo with the simple aim of gaining insight into the Kadazandusun way of life.

Clarke built a table for the community centre and painted the walls. Browne mingled with the women, giving them nutrition tips, held some exercise classes and discussed women’s issues.

In the evenings, they ran informal English classes for the kids and women. Their stay coincided with some village celebrations — a fishing festival, sports day and the preparations for the ethnic group’s largest celebration, the Kaamatan (Harvest Festival).

Clarke learned to tap rubber and got to understand how the commodity helps the local economy.

“Since the volunteer programme was barely one month old, there were some small teething problems,” says Browne.

“It was initially projected as a women’s project but Alistair didn’t want to discuss women’s issues. He wanted to use his skills in construction.’’

After a quick discussion, the women-dominated committee quickly found some chores for Clarke.

“As the week progressed, it just got better and better for us,” says Browne smiling.

“Most of the villagers have a reasonable grasp of English. It’ll be helpful if we can spend half a day learning their dialect.”

What the locals think

In a span of less than two weeks, the couple and the villagers became fast friends. On my visit, the couple’s last evening in Kg Kipouvo, Browne and the women were giggling and cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

The villagers taught Browne how to whip up a Sabah specialty called hinava, a raw fish salad with a dressing of lime juice, ginger, bird-eye chillies and shallots.

Clarke and Boy, the unofficial carpenter in Kg Kipouvo, were chatting and knocking back some cold beers in the backyard.

“At first, we were shy to speak English or approach them. But they encouraged us to speak up,” says Baitina Joannese, 40, in Bahasa.

“We realised we took our health for granted,” Doreen Ogos chips in. “Maria showed us how to eat the right food, stay healthy with exercise and feed our kids nutritious food.”

On her first week, Browne noticed the school canteen was serving processed sausages and instant noodles to the children.

“After our talk, Pacos also brought in a nutritionist to the village,” says Browne.

“Here, we’re so laid-back but they’re so fast and efficient,” grins Doreen, 41. “We learned to take work seriously and not laze around.”

Through the partnership with CI, Pacos’ objective is for the villagers to learn how to set up a community-based tourism project.

“Even if we don’t earn money, Kipouvo can be an ecotourism learning centre for us,’’ says Pacos’ Ann Lasimbang who also lives in Kg Kipouvo with her family.

“In this short span of time, the women have learned to share their knowledge and solve problems as a group.”

They have also cultivated a herb garden.

“The villagers need to appreciate what they have, to be confident with their knowledge and culture,” says Ann. “Once they have internalised that and share their pride with others, I think this project can be deemed as successful!”

Changing mindsets

A volunteer holiday could be as much about how it changed the travellers as it did the local community.

“What has really shone through is the kindness and open-heartedness of people here,” says Browne.

“They are so different from the way the British are, private and reserved, especially in the city,” adds Clarke who admits he takes time to open up to people.

In this tranquil village far from their London life, Browne and Clarke learned to “exist for the moment”.

“It’s taught me some good lessons — to lead a simple life and to spend time getting to know people. It has opened me up as a person and made me think how I want to live my life when I go back to the UK,” says Browne.

“It’s all about the heart and not always about the head. In these two weeks, we have built a very close bond with these people.”

On the couple’s last day, tears rolled down the women’s cheeks as they hugged and said their good-byes. As the car pulled away, Browne waved and wiped away her tears while Clarke gave her a warm squeeze.

RETHINK Travel is a series of articles on responsible tourism in collaboration with Wild Asia, a Kuala Lumpur-based conservation group. Hopefully we can help promote sustainable practices in Asian travel destinations and challenge common perceptions and ideas on travel. Click on www.wildasia.net for resources on responsible travel.

Picture:1
Maria Browne made friends with the women of Kg Kipouvo in less than two weeks.

Picture:2
Alistair Clarke (and Maria) began English conversational classes for the village kids.

Picture:3
Clarke encouraging the talented ‘Boy’ in carpentry.

Malaysian Students in Ukraine

A group of Malaysian medical students in Ukraine recently organised a charity drive to raise funds for the Regional Children’s Hospital in Crimea, which cared for the many orphans in the poverty-stricken republic.

Helping orphan babies must have been the sweetest pill for a group of potential Malaysian doctors in Ukraine. For them, happiness is being able to donate medical supplies to these children, although it might seem like a drop in the ocean.

Mind you, reports of some 120,000 children living in orphanages in the poverty-stricken former Soviet republic make for sombre reading.

Abandoned by parents and receiving inadequate nutrition, many orphans are said to be suffering from poor health care in the Eastern European country.

And that’s precisely the reason that the Malaysians – mostly medical students of the Crimean State Medical University – came together to raise funds for the Regional Children’s Hospital in Crimea.

Helmed by the MCA Ukraine Club, they organised a charity drive and collected a total of 2,500 Ukrainian hryvnia (RM1,500) from the sale of Chinese calligraphy and art pieces recently.

Part of the money was also donated by the club, which went towards the purchase of antibiotics, antiseptic solutions, disposable diapers and bedsheets for the hospital.

“We hope to at least provide the orphans with temporary relief from their illness and misfortune,” said club co-ordinator Loh Wei Chao, a final-year medical student of the university.

He said they planned to hold more events for the children with the aim of bringing some comfort, as well as improving the health and quality of life that every child deserves.

The club decided to donate towards the hospital because of its poor conditions due to lack of funding by the local authorities.

Being one of the largest in Crimea, the hospital also acts as a shelter for orphan babies to be rescued from sickness and major health complications.

Loh thanked everyone for their support and donations, including Khiu Fu Lung and Jonathan Goh for their Chinese calligraphy works and the Yoga Club.

Cultural shock

While raising funds in a foreign land is one thing, being able to recruit members for the club is quite another.

For a start, the Malaysian community in Ukraine is not really large. It numbers only about 1,400, including some 230 Malaysian Chinese, mostly medical students.

Although the majority are in Crimea, there are also those studying in universities in Kiev, Lvov, Odessa, Lugansk and Ternopil.

Having lived in Ukraine for six years where hardly anyone speaks English is no easy task for Loh, the founder and two-term president (2007/2008) of the club in Crimea (www.mcacua.org).

“When I first arrived, I had to bring along my pen and paper to draw pictures and communicate with the locals,” recalled the 25-year-old student from Baling, Kedah.

And the biggest cultural shock faced by Malaysians arriving in the country for the first time was the vast number of casinos – literally one in almost every street!

“Beer is cheaper than drinking water. There are totally no signboards in English,” he said, adding that everyone was expected to understand the Russian language.

Well, if Malaysians usually start their day with a cup of kopi-o or teh tarik, it’s vodka for the average Ukrainian.

Oh yes, many locals have not heard of Malaysia before, let alone tasted the country’s exotic cuisine.

“We’ve to tell them that Malaysia is located to the south of Thailand,” he said, adding that the locals now know more about the country due to various activities organised by the students.

Imagine Penang hokkien mee (noodles), nasi lemak, roti canai and even Seremban siu pau (dumplings) being snapped up like hot cakes at a pasar malam (night market) in Ukraine.

Indeed, that’s one of the most popular annual events which showcased Malaysia’s melting pot of culinary delights to the locals.

Driving force

It’s no wonder that the irresistible hawker fare was a hit as the nearest Malaysian restaurant is said to be in Frankfurt, Germany, more than 1,500km away.

“The restaurant’s menu comprised mainly Malaysian food. However, it’s a bit pricey with a plate of kangkung belacan costing 13 euros (RM62),” lamented Loh.

Thanks to the Malaysian Students Council as well as the MCA, Umno and MIC clubs in Ukraine, the locals are now exposed to the country’s delicacies.

“They find our food tasty but just a little spicy,” said Loh of the locals whose staple diet comprised mainly bread, yogurt and cheese.

The club has come a long way since it was founded in 2007 with 30 members. It now has 78 members.

“Our target is to get the entire Malaysian Chinese community to join the club,” he said, adding that they hope to set up branches in Tenopil, Zaparazhe, Lyiv and Kiev.

Under the guidance of Malaysian Ambassador to Ukraine Datuk Abdullah Sani, the club works tirelessly with other Malaysian societies to organise various activities for their fellow countrymen.

For instance, members of the Umno and MIC clubs gave their full support towards the club’s recent Chinese New Year celebrations.

After all, the driving force behind the club’s success was its ability to help improve the students’ welfare and foster stronger unity among Malaysian students.

Malaysian education system is in real dire straits

Malaysia faces many challenges in the coming years in the run-up to Vision 2020, it would come as no surprise that an issue like education is lost in all the political commotion and in light of more pressing issues like corruption.

I think politicians have to wake up to the fact that our public education system needs to be improved. Thus far, the Government has been taking a “if it ain’t broke why fix it” approach to the matter.

I applaud the increased Government expenditure on education infrastructure, but it seems like yet another case of the notorious tagline attached to our country - “first world infrastructure, third world mentality”.

The Government seems to be under the impression that education can be improved by throwing money at it. What it doesn’t see is that we need to invest in our educationists.

I have great admiration for anyone who devotes his or her life to teaching. It is an extremely respectable profession.

As such, we need to ease the burden on them. Poor wages deter them from wanting to teach in schools. Very often, teachers in our schools are not so much people who love teaching but rather people who can’t find jobs elsewhere and end up in schools as a matter of circumstances.

As a result, we have English teachers who barely speak English and Geography teachers who don’t know the fundamental issues regarding Geography.

We could learn a thing or two from Singapore. Our neighbour offers complete scholarships for anyone in college opting to become teachers. They are well paid and are often given exposure overseas.

In Singapore, students compete intensely to secure places in public institutions of higher education.

In Malaysia, the best students pay their way through private education because they have lost faith in the public system.

We have to come to terms with the fact that the teaching of proper English in our schools is a must if we wish to remain competitive at the global level.

While I agree that Bahasa Malaysia is essential to our national identity, we must not ignore English. I do not believe that teaching Science and Mathematics in English is sufficient as these subjects hardly require the use of proper English. Students can easily get by without having to string a proper sentence together.

Finally, we must not spoon-feed our children and expect them to regurgitate the facts. This is not what education is all about. They must be allowed to think for themselves.

I currently study in the United Kingdom and my university is culturally diverse. Despite having so many people from all over the world, it is not difficult to spot a Malaysian in my seminar groups.

They are the ones without an opinion. They are so used to being spoon-fed that they cannot adapt and or think for themselves.

We need intelligent, outspoken people who can think outside the box to power our country forward so that it remains competitive with the advanced nations.

I love my country and it pains me to see young minds with so much potential being squandered. It is my hope that the new Education Minister will take note of the urgent need for change.

CONCERNED CITIZEN,

Britain.

Malaysia: Decade-old fare structure turns them into rogues

The Malaysian Transport System is the result of years of political abuse lacking the one thing all Malaysians want:
AN EFFICIENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Taxi drivers are calling for a fare restructure, saying that the rates have not increased from the RM2 flag fare for more than 12 years.

Yet many taxi drivers, especially those who rent from taxi companies, need to pay about RM50 for rental and RM20 for natural gas each working day.

This does not take into account the vehicle’s maintenance cost and the drivers’ daily expenses.

It is learnt that the daily income of most taxi drivers totals an average of RM75 for about 12 hours of work.

The result? Ninety-eight per cent of taxi drivers – checked in a two-week Road Transport Department (JPJ) operation – flout the rules such as not using the meter and overcharging.

The biggest offence of all is refusing to pick up a paying passenger.

The Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board chief, Datuk Markiman Kobiran, even admitted in a recent press conference that it was running out of solutions to bring “rogue” taxi drivers to heel.

In fact, he likened the situation to a “war with no end like the war between the Israelis and the Palestinians”.

Markiman also said that a proposal had been sent to the Cabinet to review the fare structure of not just the taxi but also of rental cars, mini buses, stage coaches and express buses.

“We have not decided on anything. After extensive studies, we have submitted a paper to the Cabinet,” was all he could say when contacted on Thursday.

JPJ director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan said nothing less than a complete overhaul of the taxi system would solve the problem of the worsening quality of taxi services.

“The Government has got to overhaul the system to raise the standards (of taxi service),” he told The Star recently.

Solah said everything from the traffic flow system, locations of taxi stands and drivers’ ethics had to be reviewed.

In the meantime, Solah said taxi companies had to take self-regulation more seriously.

“Do you wait until the health enforcement officers come and tell you to close shop before you wash your shop? Of course not. This is my point,” he said.

“Owner-operators and cab companies should have stringent measures to vet their drivers. They should look at the background of the driver. You hired the fellow, you must make sure that he behaves.”

As for the individual permit holders, Solah said they could take different jobs if they felt being a taxi driver was too difficult to earn a living.

“And if you’re part-time, have you gotten permission from your employer to take on another job?” he said.

“If they still can’t earn a living, why not do other jobs? Did someone force them? Is it really true that you cannot earn a living?”

Responding to a suggestion that JPJ place more officers in taxi “hotspots” where most of the offences are being committed, Solah said they could only effectively watch over 30% of the drivers.

Furthermore, he pointed out that it was unrealistic for JPJ officers to ask every taxi driver whether they were using the meter.

“The driver would just tell his passenger that there was a JPJ officer earlier and promptly change the charged fare. This will make things worse,” he said.

Solah also revealed that the JPJ had only 650 enforcement officers to watch over Klang Valley’s 25,000 taxis and their drivers, not to mention the heavy vehicles, private vehicles and buses.

Points-based rules apply to UK-bound students from March 31 2009

15MAR09

It will be a new experience for Malaysians applying to study in Britain with the points-based visa system to be enforced from March 31.

Under Tier 4 (student tier) of the system, foreign students will have to pass an online points-based assessment (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk) and need 40 points to qualify for a general student visa.

Thirty points are awarded if a letter of acceptance is issued by a British institution registered with the UK Border Agency, and 10 points if the student shows proof of enough funds to support course fee and living expenses for the first year.

This time, the minimum amount of funds needed is listed (see chart). There was no fixed amount stated in the past.

The new rules state, among others, that an approved student can swap courses at the same institution without contacting the agency but must seek its permission to change institutions. UK Border is a shadow agency of the British Home Office.

A student who is denied a visa can seek an administrative review which must be done within 28 days of the refusal notice.

British Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Moody said the new system was “much simpler, and more straightforward and transparent.”

“Students will be protected as there will be quality assurance, and only go to an approved education provider which will have to get a licence from the UK Border Agency.

“This makes it much safer for them, as there will be no bogus outfit involved,” he said.

“The self-assessment system is much quicker too as there is a very clear checklist of things. All a student has to do is to be honest.

“For example, if you have been refused entry before you must say so, as we will have a record to check against it,” he said in an interview.

Also present was UK Border Agency visa manager Nicola Bowling, who is visiting local educational institutions to brief students on the new points-based system.

Last year, the High Commission issued 8,380 student visas. Despite the gloomy economy, the High Commission expects more Malay-sians students to apply to study in Britain due to the better exchange rate now.

Moody said nine out of 10 Malaysian students who qualified went on to obtain their student visas.

“This year, we will ensure that there is enough staff so that visas can be issued within the normal time range, which is between five and 15 days,” he said.

STPM 2008 Results: Four special students among 12 top scorers honoured

12Mar09

Total Candidates in 2008:
53,638

Total Candidates who answered in English:
49,722 or 92.7%

Total Candidates in 2007:
66,048

KUALA LUMPUR: Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) special top scorer Hashim Mohamad was in a state of disbelief when his examination results were announced.

The bubbly 20-year-old, who suffers from spastic cerebral palsy, scored 3As and 1B to emerge as top special student in the spastic category.

He was among 12 top scorers honoured at the STPM results announcement ceremony held here yesterday. Four were special students.

Each received a certificate, plaque as well as a cheque for RM1,000.

Hashim said he owed his success to the teachers, workers and fellow students of SMK Kuala Krai in Kelantan.

“But my biggest idols are my parents,” he said. “My father is a humble rubber tapper who worked hard to look after our family and ensure that his children do well in life.”

Two of Hashim’s elder sisters are engineers, while another is currently studying medicine in the Czech Republic.

Fellow special top scorer Nur Aisyatul Radiah Alidaniah said her vision started failing just before her Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examinations in 2006.

However, she went on to be named the special top scorer for that year in her home state of Sabah.

Nur Aisyatul, who aspires to be a teacher, only learnt to read Braille at the age of 16 and had to approach each subject as if it were written in a different language.

“I never saw myself as disabled – I just had to do more work to keep up with those who can see,” she said.

Her mother, Halimah Othman, 43, said that she never gave her daughter special treatment and encouraged her to work hard.

Malaysian Examinations Council chairman Tan Sri Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said about 20 special students sat for the STPM examinations last year.

Among them were students who have low vision, are deaf, spastic and blind.

Meanwhile, former deputy head prefect of SMK Datuk Patinggi Haji Abul Gapor, Kuching, Nicholas Sim Keyi, was quite sure that he would be able to obtain five As.

“I attended tuition for all the subjects as I wanted to reinforce what I had learnt in school,” he said.

A former Interact Club president, Nicholas said he had applied to study at Cambridge University in Britain.

“I have received an offer to do medicine and hope to be able to obtain a scholarship to do so,” he said.

Former SMK Tun Dr Ismail, Muar, student Lim Chew Sia said she was shocked to be the top scorer in the rural category, as she was not sure if she did well in the examinations.

“Initially, I just hoped that I would do well enough to secure a place to do business studies in Universiti Malaya,” said the 20-year-old who scored five As.

Breathing golf day and night - Koreans learn golf in Malaysia

08Mar09

The Koreans have been coming in large numbers to the sleepy town of Bukit Beruntung, all in the name of perfecting their golf skills. They end up enjoying Malaysian hospitality and some leave with very serious golfing ambitions.

Sharifah Mordiah Sayeed Alwie

THE schedule is punishing but the syllabus is fun.

From dawn till dusk and beyond, it's nothing but golf for its students.

It might seem like any other golf course but the Aman Golf School at the Bukit Beruntung Golf and Country Resort is a serious educational institute with an enrolment of both local and international students.

And for the last seven years they have been in business, they have attracted a huge number of Korean golf enthusiasts to our shores who want to perfect their game.

Principal Sharifah Mordiah Sayeed Alwie said the school was established to train professional golfers as well as those who just wanted to learn the game.

But it was the Koreans who were the most eager in signing up with the school, she said, desiring to learn the game from Malaysian, Korean and other foreign professionals.

Registered with the Education Ministry and the only one of its kind in Malaysia, the school started offering courses to students and tourists after the nearby Aman English School closed.

Students studied English at the school and played golf at the resort.

"When the school closed, we began offering golf training and English to Koreans," said Sharifah Mordiah.

"We have been doing some hard selling in South Korea and as a result, have become a popular training ground for Korean students."

Twice a year, in July and December, the school gets at least 40 students each semester.

"They come to Bukit Beruntung during the cold months of winter which is from December through March and then again in summer, for three months from July.

"After completing their course here, they will enrol for diploma and degree programmes at either Kon Kuk or other universities in Korea."

The school has students from Vietnam, China and Japan but the numbers are small compared with the Koreans, said Sharifah Mordiah.

It's all work and play for the students seven days a week, with each day starting as early as 7.30am and ending about 9pm. Students go from classrooms to the driving range and then back to the classroom for sessions on golf studies.

"We also have evening and night classes to cater for Malaysians who come for training after school hours."

The Aman Golf School is the preferred golfing education destination for the Korean students simply because it is affordable.

In Korea, a similar package would cost RM2,500 per day, said Sharifah Mordiah.

Picture:
The school's chief pro Shin Seung-Chui (right) teaching his young student the importance of swinging the golf club right

SPM results on March 12, 2009

06Mar09

The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) results will be released on March 12.

Students would be able to obtain the results after 10am from their respective schools, said Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom.

“Private candidates will receive their results through the post,” he said in a statement yesterday.

A total of 442,936 students sat for the SPM examination, while 6,240 students sat for the STAM papers last year.

China students in a spot over dressing

06Mar09

Several students in strapless evening dresses seen in a video clipposted on the Mahasiswakini website.

The so-called "half-naked" undergraduates who were at Universiti Malaya's 8th College Ladies Day were Chinese students from Beijing.

Event director Nur Fadhilah Ayob said the undergrads did not plan to be a part of the controversial fashion show where they paraded sexy attire.

Photographs of students in strapless evening dresses, posted on the Mahasiswakini website, riled several parties, including Padang Terap member of parliament Nasir Zakaria.

Nasir had raised the issue in Parliament on Thursday claiming that "it was morally wrong to hold such a function in the university's premises".

Nur Fadhilah, in her reply to the Feb 24 blog posting by Mahasiswakini.com, said that while the students had modelled decent clothes, the organisers had failed to stop Chinese foreign exchange students dressing in sexy outfits.

UM management declined to comment, saying the university was "still gathering information".

Malaysiasiswakini.com editor Syarifah Balqis Syed Asmuni said she had been instructed to close the issue by her superiors.

"We are not going to publish the YouTube video clip as proof (showing the undergraduates parading in skimpy clothes)," she said in the website two days after the event.

UM student council representative Shum Khai Yeap regretted that the phrase "half-naked" was used.

"It is common for non-Muslims to dress like that," he said, adding that students did not dress in like manner when attending lectures.

Students get taste of 'awesome' South Pole

06Mar09

KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysian students left the comfort of their homes two weeks ago to set foot in one of the harshest places on earth -- the South Pole.

The two, from Universiti Malaya, were among 69 students and 18 researchers from Germany, Canada, Australia, the United States and New Zealand, who were on a study tour of the South Pole to learn and explore the majestic glaciers, icebergs and wildlife.

It was not an easy trip for Munira Shaipudin Shah, 24, and Thary Gazi, 21.

First, they had to endure 25 hours of flight, and then two days on a ship in which they were constantly hit by seven-metre high waves, before they finally reached their destination and met up with the others.

Thary said their ship was "as small as an ant compared with the icebergs which were either blue, white or transparent".

"It was awesome. We kept hearing the sound of ice breaking, the popping sound which was as loud as a thunderstorm.

"We were told this phenomenon was not unusual. It would happen at 10-minute intervals. It was a real experience," said Munira, who came home two days ago.

The Behavioural Biology masters student was also surprised by the penguins as they would playfully come up to them and peck their pants.

Thary, who is majoring in Ecology and Biodiversity, said the region was becoming a popular tourist destination with thousands of visitors annually.

"There is one souvenir shop. It sells about 70,000 postcards and it takes about four to six weeks for the mail to get to you," he said.

Munira and Thary were chosen for the trip to the Antarctic after they won an essay competition on the polar regions.

Their trip was under a programme by the Students on Ice Expedition, an award-winning educational organisation based in Quebec.

UM and the National Antarctic Research Centre, which coordinates the Malaysian research in the Antarctic, jointly organised and sponsored the trip.

As ambassadors for UM, Munira and Thary will hold talks in schools and colleges to create awareness on global warming and the impact it could create worldwide

See Picture:
Munira Shaipudin Shah (left) and Thary Gazi (second from left) being welcomed back by fellow students Siti Sarah Sharuddin, Abiramy Krishnan, Wong Chiew Yen and Leelatulasi Salwoom yesterday.

Protest Against the Teaching of English

05 March 2009
Cops warn against illegal gatherings

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have warned people not to take part in several planned illegal gatherings this Saturday.

Kuala Lumpur City Chief Deputy Comm Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman said the gatherings, planned at Central Market, Sogo Shopping Complex and Masjid Negara, did not have permits.

He said roads leading to those areas would be closed in efforts to curb the group from gathering.

DCP Muhammad Sabtu said two political parties were behind the gatherings to protest against the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English.

The group planned to march to Istana Negara to submit a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

A letter of appeal to Malaysians Politicians.

26 Feb 2009

Dear Malaysian Politicians,

Please stop the power chase, call for a truce and focus on the economy.

I do not claim to speak on behalf of all Malaysians, but I have strong convictions that many share my sentiments.

Our concern today is not who rules the country or heads the state governments but the looming bad economy.

Whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat leads, it is meaningless if Malaysians have no job to go to, no money to pay rent and no means to put food on the table.

I am a business owner, like other business owners and managers of corporations I have a responsibility to ensure people under my care and payroll continue to have jobs and a decent income to take home. We work hard and willing to go the extra mile to make sure our nation not only survive this crisis but come out stronger and wiser. We need your help.

Let me explain. I am in the business of Training, Development and Consultancy and have 20 people in my team.

Saedah is 42. She keeps the office clean and helps organise the training rooms. She has four children and her husband is unemployed. She was first hired on a part time basis, because she is very hard working and has a great attitude, we offered her a full time job to help provide a stable income for her family. Even then, when her third child started school this year, it was a struggle for her to buy new school uniforms and other necessities. Saedah lives on a ‘kais bulan, makan bulan’ basis, so, if she is jobless, her tap runs dry.

Samsuri is 27 years old. He lives with his sister and her family in a low cost government flat in Sunway. He does our despatch, helps with various clerical works and occasionally acts as a driver. During the first week at zubedy, we learned that he not only did not have money to buy new clothes and shoes for work, he had no money for lunch. Like Saedah, if he has no job, his tap runs dry too.

Alicia in Client Servicing turns 26 this year. She lives with her dad who is 71 years old and retired. Her mom passed away when she was little. Alicia is a hard-working team member, has a gentle caring outlook and fun to be with. (We like to poke fun at her as she blushes easily). Last May her dad went through a major operation, thank God he has recovered well. Alicia needs a job, both for herself and her dad.

Sudesh, 38, is one of our facilitators. When his father passed away last year, he moved back and lives with his mother in Seremban. He shuttles between Kuala Lumpur and Seremban daily, leaving home sometimes as early as 4 in the morning and returning late at night. He is no stranger to hard work and sacrifice, he knows what he needs to do to survive and to care for his mother, but he too needs a job.

Like fellow Malaysians, every one of us in zubedy needs employment, those that live from hand to mouth like Saedah and Samsuri and others like Alicia and Sudesh with family to care for. We Malaysians need the Malaysian economy to be strong. We need you, our leaders, to work hard and to work together to make our economy viable.

So this is my plea.

Pakatan Rakyat, please stop your attempts to take over the federal government and persuade BN’s lawmakers to join you. Stop all legal proceedings, no more 916 and let go, just let go. The nation can wait till the next general elections if they want change. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and gracious and give you their support in the next elections.

Barisan Nasional, please stop any attempts to take over PR states and win over PR’s lawmakers. You have proven your point with Perak. The nation can wait for the next general elections if they want your party. Focus all your talent, energy and hard work in steering the country out of an economic downturn. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and smart and give you their support in the next elections.

BN and PR! Call for a truce. Get together and compromise. Someone has to give in. Or has hate consumed your heart till it blinds you? You can do it. You have enough intelligent people between you. I am sure you can find solutions. Take the nation to heart. That is why you are in politics in the first place.

Focus on the people.

Focus on the economy.

Anas Zubedy
Managing Director
Zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd

MSL full supports Mr Anas Zubedy Statement

Learning from nature

22Feb09

THE future of the environment rests in the hands of the young. And where better to start than at school?

This is where the learning of basic environmental science concepts can create environmental awareness, understanding and genuine concern about the conservation of nature.

Dr Gan will be giving a workshop at Rimba Ilmu on Thursday.
Although many organisations have projects that expose students to good environmental practices, classroom material on the topic is lacking. So, a role-play simulation courseware for teachers — called What is your decision? — may come in handy.

The courseware focuses on environmental education and aims to promote skills like critical thinking, collaborative learning and decision making.

Its author, Dr Gan Siowck Lee, says the quality of learning can be greatly enhanced when students role-play and discuss in small groups.

“The courseware promotes better methods of teaching environmental education. Education is not about coming to know but learning to think. The focus of education should be on developing the mind.”

What is your decision? is a revised and updated version of a courseware that Dr Gan authored in the national language. It includes a CD, teachers’ manual, activity sheets for students as well as role-play cards.

To ensure that the courseware is utilised fully, Dr Gan, together with the Malaysian Nature Society, will hold workshops nationwide for teachers who are advisers to their schools’ Kelab Pencinta Alam (Nature Clubs). One will be held at Rimba Ilmu in Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, on Feb 26.

Longman Pearson is providing free copies of the courseware to every school that takes part. Participants will also take home a copy of Al Gore’s Academy award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, for their schools. The DVDs are sponsored by The East West Centre Alumni Association, Chapter of Malaysia.

Universiti Putra Malaysia is also giving away 100 saplings of shade and ornamental trees to teachers. Personnel from the university will instruct them on the proper method of planting and caring for the trees. This is in line with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Billion Trees Campaign.

For more information, contact MNS senior education officer Evelyn Lim at
eedu@mns.org.my, call 03-2287 9422, or go to
www.mns.org.my.

Dr Gan can be reached at
ganslee@eastwestcenter.org or at
www.geocities.com/siowcklee/EWC.html.

STUDENTS ABROAD: A policy change would help

22Feb09

Many students borrow money for higher education abroad but fail to pay up.

THERE must be something wrong in our system when our scholars are not returning home to serve the government after graduation from foreign universities.

The government is still dragging its feet on how to recover the funds. Do we need to impose such heavy penalties to entice them to come home?

Malaysia is a beautiful country. We do not have natural disasters. Foreigners like it here. Strangely, our scholars do not like it here.

The government is paying a heavy price for its wrong policies. We must rebrand our economic models as we are losing our best brains to other countries.

We should work hard at improving this feeling of being Malaysian and not harping on issues that polarise people.

We need to focus on efforts to help national integration. Rewards should be given to the good workers irrespective of race and religion.

If we do it right, the best and brightest students will not be denied scholarships and other academic opportunities.

Then we should have them coming home in droves because there is a bright future for everyone.

If not, they will continue to stay away. We will continue to lose our best human capital to other countries because there is inequality in our society.

Malaysia's budget transparency: ‘Surprised and embarassed’

Malaysia scored a dismal 35 out of 100 points in the Open Budget Index (OBI) 2008 and is ranked 53rd out of 85 countries, prompting Centre for Public Policy Studies chairman Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam to declare he was “surpised and embarassed.”

Malaysia is now listed under the “minimal information” category on Budget information provided by the Government, behind countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

“I am surprised and embarassed to know that our Budget is not as transparent as it should be,” Navaratnam said.

“I urge the Government to make the Budget more transparent,” he said, adding that information should trickle down to the grassroots, especially those in rural areas.

On that note, he said there is a general feeling that people do not know much about the first stimulus package, and that the Government should provide more information such as which states and areas are getting the funds and who are getting them.

Foreign investors are also interested because it would reveal the risk factors in doing business.

Navaratnam pointed out that there were two main documents that lack public accessibility in Malaysia -- the Citizen’s Budget (a simplified version of the enacted Budget) and the mid-year review on revenues and expenditure.

He said he will bring up the matter with Treasury officials, and consult the Washington-based International Budget Partnership, the non-governmental organisation that compiled the OBI Index.

He will also consult countries that are doing well on ways to improve the Malaysian index.

According to the report, the minimal information provided by the Malaysian Government makes it quite difficult for citizens to hold government accountable for its management of the public’s money.

The Budget information used was based on information in 2007 and in providing information, with the categories being extensive, significant, some, minimal or no information.

Britain, South Africa, France, New Zealand and the United States ranked the highest in the OBI, where their governments provided “extensive information.”

It was found that 80% of the world’s governments failed to provide adequate information for the public.

The key documents that should be made accessible to the public are the pre-Budget statement, Executive’s budget proposal, Citizen’s Budget, In-year Reports, Mid-year Review, Year-end Report and Audit Report.

The survey covered 124 questions on budget development -- formulation, legislative approval, implementation and audit.

This was the second time the OBI was compiled, and the first time Malaysia participated.

Britain visa decision on Monday, 09Feb09

08Feb09

KUALA LUMPUR: After an eight-month anxious wait, Malaysians will know tomorrow if they will need visas to visit Britain.

The British Home Secretary will make an announcement in London, following which the Malaysian Government will be officially informed.

There is no indication yet as to what that decision would be. The six-month visa-free status could be retained, revoked or the duration reduced.

Another option for Britain is to opt to extend the visa waiver test period to give Malaysia more time to comply with its security requirements.

It is learnt that British High Commissioner Boyd McCleary has informed Wisma Putra that the Home Office would make the announcement tomorrow.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, when contacted in Kota Kinabalu yesterday, confirmed that McCleary would relay the British Government’s decision to him.

“Britain and Malaysia enjoy close historical links and we hope the decision would favour this. We have done our best to comply with Britain’s requirements,’’ a senior Wisma Putra official told The Star.

Malaysia is in a group of 11 non-European countries, which include Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela, whose visa-exempt status was reviewed by Britain from mid-2008.

Nationals from these countries were said to pose a risk of illegal immigration, crime and security, and all 11 countries had a six-month period to significantly reduce these risks.

McCleary said that preliminary investigations by Britain identified Malaysia as one of the countries posing a risk in terms of illegal entry, visa abuse and crime.

Meanwhile, the student tier (Tier 4) under Britain’s tough new points-based visa system will be enforced in March.

“Malaysian students wishing to study in Britain will have to apply for student visas online and will receive merit points based on their answers.

“This is to ensure that only genuine students get to go,’’ said a British High Commission official.

Housemen lack basic know-how

31Jan09

Some medical universities, both local and overseas, are churning out doctors who cannot carry out common medical procedures, have no proper clinical exposure, cannot communicate effectively and cannot even take down the history of patients properly for diagnosis and treatment.

Senior medical consultants in government hospitals are now saddled with the task of having to retrain these people to ensure they meet the country's standard of medical practice.

Some of these fresh doctors are retained in their houseman training postings for years, some even up to six years, because they cannot meet the standards. The compulsory housemanship is two years.

In view of this problem, the Malaysian Medical Council has issued letters to all heads of department in government hospitals where housemen are posted to open a file on each of them, containing information on the university they graduated from, their performance and shortcomings.

It is learnt that by the end of the year, the MMC and Health Ministry will nail down the sub-standard medical universities and tell them to buck up.

Kuala Lumpur Hospital's Medical Department head, Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai, said housemen come from 300 medical colleges all over the world. These colleges churn out 1,200 doctors a year and this number is expected to increase to almost 2,000 next year.

"When they come back to work in Malaysia we have been forced to extend the period of housemanship from one year to two years in order to ensure the standard of medical practice is maintained in this country for the safety of our patients," he told the New Straits Times.

Dr Jeyaindran handles about 140 housemen a year and he noticed that some 15 per cent of them do not have enough experience to take down the medical history of patients.

"When they are taught to take the history properly and put the findings and various symptoms in a sequential order they can come to a proper diagnosis very rapidly," he said.

However, he added, this was seriously lacking in many new doctors because they have not been trained during their years in clinical exposure. Thus, during their housemanship training programme they needed to be retrained to do this properly.

"Because they have to be retrained, some of their postings are extended," he said.

Dr Jeyaindran has come up with a syllabus where a house officer must have core knowledge and experience before he leaves for his next posting.

"A houseman who comes in for training should be able to manage hypertension, asthma, diabetes and common medical emergencies appropriately based on current clinical practice guidelines, besides acquiring adequate generic skills," he added.

He said some were never taught this properly during their years in medical school and hence they were taught and assessed in a fair and objective manner during their training.

"We want doctors to examine patients properly and not take notes from the nurses' chart.

"We also do not want doctors to be over-dependent on investigative procedures which is time-consuming and expensive.

"One loses the ability to use clinical acumen to make judgment when he becomes too dependent on procedures for a result and diagnosis," said Dr Jeyaindran.

He also expressed great concern that some house officers were not able to perform even the most common procedures such as setting up an intravenous line, central line, and inserting a chest tube.

There have been complaints from patients that there were housemen who cannot even draw blood for a blood test and had to seek the help of nurses.

"Miscommunication with patients can also lead to a lot of problem and this we have encountered with housemen," he said.

"To be a good doctor it is not how much knowledge you have... it is clinical acumen and the skills developed in treating a patient.

"Medicine is not black and white but lots of grey in between and in order to identify the grey areas the only way is the more you see, the more you do, the more you understand," he added.

Dr Jeyaindran said housemen have become something like a production line.

"They come, they take some history of patients and go away.

"They never come back to check whether their diagnosis of the patient was correct or wrong," he added.

see table

How much is Malaysia ‘Truly Asia’?

QUESTION TIME
By P. GUNASEGARAM

Small things at times highlight disturbing, distressing shifts that have moved values, attitudes and actions over the years by incremental, almost imperceptible, changes.

I LIKE the slogan “Malaysia Truly Asia”, which has been used by the Tourism Ministry in numerous advertisements internationally to promote the potpourri of culture, language, religion and food of its varied people.

The idea is that Malaysia is a microcosm of Asia where the major cultures and races of the most populous continent are represented and practised freely, with its inhabitants coming from all corners of the Asian continent into one happy country.

But how happy is “happy” these days? And how much tolerance do we have these days for the different racial and religious attributes of our diverse people who collectively make up what some people proudly call the Malaysian race? Indeed, is there such a thing as a Malaysian race in the first place?

How much is Malaysia “Truly Asia”? I am afraid my own answer is not terribly positive although it holds out hope for the future. For me, the inescapable conclusion is that things have deteriorated – and by a lot, and they are crying to be turned around.

Let me highlight that small event that is a sign of what we have become, which ironically took place at the Tourism Ministry’s Malaysian Tourism Centre or Matic, a historical building on Jalan Ampang with a number of delightful facilities.

It was here that inauguration of four of Malaysia’s kings were conducted. TV Malaysia was launched here in 1963.

Currently it has a number of halls, meeting rooms, theatre and amphitheatre, a restaurant and shops.

On Jan 17, at a theatre here, Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman, an Indian classical dance performance – of the Bharatha Natyam – was scheduled in the evening. Just outside this hall is an amphitheatre where a Sarawakian cultural performance was also scheduled.

For the Indian dance performance, among the decorations in the foyer of the hall, separated by a glass door from the amphitheatre, was a statuette of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha, commonly known as the elephant god. Ganesha is revered for his ability to remove obstacles and the statuette is symbolic of his presence at the function.

The eagle eye of an employee at Matic spotted Ganesha and the employee told the organisers that a dignitary was opening the Sarawak cultural performance later.

His boss, he continued, did not want the dignitary to see Ganesha and he wanted the statuette removed!

What kind of an unreasonable demand was that? The hall had been booked months in advance and in fact a reception during intermission had been scheduled to take place in the amphitheatre area. It is traditional for Indian classical dances to have such an image of Ganesha present.

Despite protests by the organisers, the Matic employee instructed the decorators to remove the statuette ahead of the dignitary’s arrival.

Since when have we become so intolerant that an official of no less than the Tourism Ministry which proudly promulgates the “Malaysia Truly Asia” slogan all over the world has to remove a Hindu deity from the view of a (presumably) Muslim dignitary?

How have we got into a situation that there seems to be so little respect, tolerance and acceptance for the beliefs, practices and rights of other religions in Malaysia when there was so much goodwill before?

What has got into us that we stress the differences and let that drive wedges between us Malaysians rather than enjoy and celebrate the diversity among us which brings so much richness into our lives as we experience other cultures intimately and daily?

Three days later, I was watching US president Barack Obama’s inauguration speech live on TV, where he mentioned that he – a black - became president although 60 years earlier his father may not have been served in a restaurant.

So much has happened in moving forward race relations in the US but here in Malaysia, it has worsened from the time of Independence in 1957.

The unity of purpose which brought all the races together in one front to press for Independence from British colonial rule rapidly deteriorated over the years, as racial and religious differences were whipped up by politicians to keep themselves in power.

Racial and religious tolerance declined over the decades as policies and politics emphasised the divides. Post the May 13, 1969, racial riots, new policies to redress racial inequalities, which were poorly implemented, exacerbated the situation and gave rise to patronage politics.

Now not a day goes by without Barisan Nasional members quarrelling over racial issues.

And one official in Matic deemed it necessary that the statuette of Ganesha at a private performance of Indian classical dance should be removed lest a dignitary catch a fleeting glimpse of it through glass doors and take offence.

To what depths have we descended over the years! If this is what we have come to, how on earth are the problems of abuse and discrimination against some communities going to be sorted out?

Even as we write, there are reports of a Indian Malaysian who died under questionable circumstances while in police custody.

Signs are that Malaysians of all races, creeds and religions are getting tired of this bigotry and policies that divide instead of unite. The results of March 8 reflect the frustrations of the people.

On the night of the dance performance, the Kuala Terengganu by-election results came in. No, it was not the choice of candidate that lost Barisan the election – it was that after March 8, Barisan had nothing fresh to offer, nothing new.

Incoming Umno president and future prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said in the wake of that loss – again – that Barisan needed to change: “If we fail to deal with these challenges (meeting people’s aspirations) effectively, punishment awaits us in the 13th general election.”

And as Obama said humbly after his inauguration as president of the United States, without a doubt the most powerful position in the world: “The world has changed and we must change with it.”

But will anyone listen?

> P. Gunasegaram is managing editor of The Star. He is happy to report, that despite that incident, his daughter Shobna’s dance performance that night went very well.
23Jan09

Speak out against intolerance

THERE is no doubt that Islamisation has moved beyond the mere absorption of Islamic values to demands that are beginning to distress not only those outside the faith but also those of the faith.
When it began in the 1980s, the values that Malaysians were encouraged to absorb and practise in their daily lives were universal ones like honesty, hard work, respect, kindness and generosity. Unfortunately the policy played into the hands of bigots who wanted to see a more formal Islam practised throughout the country and who also wanted to see it become more visible than just the domes and the minarets.

Thus more of Islam has entered educational institutions and work places. Almost unnoticed, Islamic elements have also entered many state constitutions. Gradually, Islamisation takes on a form that begins to alarm many people. It has moved from mere exhortation and persuasion to a crude enforcement of laws that prohibit Muslims from, among other things, drinking or serving alcohol, gambling, singing and dancing, and punishing them for not praying and fasting.

In their overzealousness, the Islamic religious authorities send out enforcement teams to raid entertainment outlets – the latest being the pub in a hotel in Glenmarie, Selangor on Friday – to discourage Muslims from patronising these places. But in the process they annoy and inconvenience foreign visitors and other Malaysians who are not of the faith.

Malaysia used to take pride in its multireligious character and the easy co-existence that prevailed among people of the various faiths. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s visit to a church on Christmas eve almost five years ago was cheered by almost everyone, including those in other countries as a strong mark of Malaysian religious tolerance. But then came the raids, the end of efforts to set up an interfaith commission, and the end of discussion over Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution which gave the Syariah Court jurisdiction over matters concerning conversion to Islam and because of it, the tussle over the dead.

All these have emboldened the religious authorities and it looks like they have now assumed control of the government Islamisation agenda. In the interest of national unity, harmony and peace, these authorities must be reminded and told that they cannot go overboard. Above all, those who want the halcyon days of religious tolerance to return must be forever vigilant and brave.
Updated:

09:45AM Wed, 20 Aug 2008 / The SUN

Government to review education fees for Foreign Students Studying in Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA: The Government will review the fees paid by international students at public universities to reflect the true cost of their studies.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin said only Malaysians should be subsidised and not foreign students.

?Foreign students should pay whatever is equivalent to the cost of their studies. We will look into the current fee structure,? he said in an interview.

The Government subsidises 90% of the cost of educating a local undergraduate at public universities. Currently, public universities are allowed to have up to 5% of their undergraduate intake from overseas.

Tuition fees paid by foreign students at the universities vary. At Universiti Malaya, for instance, foreign undergraduates pay about three times more than locals, and their fees range from RM12,000 for Islamic studies to RM21,000 (engineering) for the duration of their course.

Khaled, however, said that any review must be balanced with Malaysia?s aim to become an educational hub for foreign students.

?Our priority is to get more international students to come to Malaysia.

?Once Malaysia has become a popular destination for further studies, even if we increase the fees, foreign students will still come,? he said.

The Government has set a target of 100,000 foreign students enrolled in both public and private education institutions.

Currently, there are about 50,000 but the figure includes those in primary and secondary schools.

A strong foreign student presence on local campuses is also important for university ranking purposes as it is often used as a criterion. Khaled also said foreigners were not allowed to enrol in certain critical courses to ensure that only Malaysians benefited from them.

Imperial College ditches A levels and sets its own entrance exam

One of Britain's leading universities is to introduce an entrance exam for all students applying to study there from 2010 because it believes that A levels no longer provide it with a viable way to select the best students.

Sir Richard Sykes, Rector of Imperial College, London, suggested that grade inflation at A level meant that so many students now got straight As that it had become almost ?worthless? as a way of discriminating between the talented and the well drilled.

Last year one in four A-level marks was a grade A and 10 per cent of A-level students achieved at least three As.

?We can't rely on A levels any more. Everybody who applies has got three or four As. They [A levels] are not very useful. The International Baccalaureate is useful but again this is just a benchmark,? Sir Richard said.

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He added: ?We are doing this not because we don't believe in A levels, but we can't use the A level any more as a discriminator factor.? The move will make Imperial, which specialises in science and engineering and ranks third in the UK after Oxford and Cambridge in The Times Good University Guide, the first university to introduce a university-wide entrance exam since Oxford scrapped its own version in 1995.

Some universities, including Imperial, use entrance tests to select students for medical schools and both Oxford and Cambridge use specific subject-based entrance tests for certain degree courses. But there is no other institution in the UK offering a university-wide test.

Sir Richard said that the test would be piloted this summer for use in selecting students for entry in 2010 to Imperial, which has 12,000 full-time students. Apart from candidates for medical degrees, who must sit an entrance test called the BMAT, all Imperial applicants will sit the same exam regardless of which subject they intend to study.

The tests would seek to examine students for their innate ability and problem solving skills rather than subject knowledge. ?We are going to have entrance exams that will test ability. We are looking for students who really will benefit from an IC education. The examination will look for IQ, intelligence, creativity and innovation and will not be too dependent on rote learning,? Sir Richard said.

But he added that students would not be able simply to stop doing A_levels, as the university would still require evidence that they had studied their chosen subjects in depth.

Sir Richard said that Imperial had been in talks with other universities about the entrance test and suggested that eventually it may be introduced nationally.

He also told the Independent Schools' Council annual conference in London that many students in state schools were short-changed by the state education system, which educated 93 per cent of pupils. He suggested that the Government should offer scholarships to enable the brightest pupils to attend fee-paying schools.

?We have got to do something radical if we are to save the children in our schools who are just not getting the education they deserve. We have in this country one of the best secondary educations in the world, but only a few percentage of people benefit from it,? he said.

Imperial's new exam is bound to increase pressure for the introduction into Britain of American-style scholastic aptitude tests (SATs) as the key qualification for university entrance.

A level facts

246,675 A levels out of 744,675 taken last year were in so-called softer subjects

20 A-level subjects are regarded by Cambridge as ?less effective preparation? for its courses

14 subjects are listed by London School of Economics as ?non-preferred?. Students are advised against applying with more than one

23,313 A levels were taken in media, film or TV studies last year

70 British schools offer the International Baccalaureate

Medicine in Russia

RUSSIA has for the past few years been gaining recognition as a ?preferred choice? for medical education, compared to when medical education in the country first became available to Malaysian students in 1996.

That is also how long Russian Resources has been focusing its efforts to help students with limited income realise their dreams of becoming doctors.

More than 1,550 medical students, both government and privately sponsored, have with the assistance of Russian Res-ources, gained entry into four world-class medical universities ? Moscow Medical Academy (established in 1758), Volgograd State Medical University (1995), Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy (1920) and Russian State Medical University (1906).

These institutions are among the top 10 medical universities in Russia. The Moscow Medical Academy is also ranked second in the world by the United Nat-ions Educational, Scienti? c and Cultural Organisation and the World Health Organisation.

More than 40 doctors as-sisted by Russian Resources are serving in national hospitals throughout Malaysia. Affordable fees have been the key attraction.

Conventional medical insti-tutions such as those in the UK and Australia are costly, not only in terms of tuition fees, but also living expenses which amount to not less than RM1 million for the full five to six years. Even local private medical institutions cost more than RM400,000.

The total cost in Russia, inclusive of tuition fee, hostel and living expenses and annual return ticket home varies between RM250,000 and RM300,000 for a six-year degree programme conducted in English.

Russian medical universities strongly emphasise on clinical exposure from the third year onwards, so that students can handle real life medical experi-ences after graduation.

As a professional agency, Russian Resources provides student counselling and place-ment services, which include university application and reg-istration, visa processing, travel arrangements, accommodation and assistance in obtaining approval from relevant gov-ernment departments. It also conducts language training for students prior to departure, with a full-time staff in Moscow coordinating communication and ground transfer arrange-ments. Parents can be assured of their children being properly settled in, and the agency will act as a liaison between parents, students and the university.

The 2008 September/October intake for both pre-medical and the ? rst year is open for registra-tion. Seats are limited. You can also choose to enrol for a pre-medical course locally, commencing in early January 2009. Students can be admitted based on actual or forecast SPM results.

Visit www.russian-resources.com or call 04-226 0127 (Penang), 03-2171 1226 (KL), 082-575 5786/019-888 3388 (Sarawak), 088-720 018/019-822 9720 (Sabah), 05-253 1678/012-525 8846 (Perak), 07-235 8141/013-706 1008 (Johor), 016-962 8901/017-249 9400 (Terengganu).

See Picture

Students want University Colleges Act reviewed

PUTRAJAYA: University students must be given more freedom to enable them to play a constructive role in society.

Universiti Malaya (UM) Student Representative Council president Afandy Sutrisno Tanjung said this was among the issues raised by student leaders at their closed-door dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Thursday.

?We want the Government to consider our views when amending the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971,

?It is very restrictive as we are not even allowed to get involved in non-governmental organisations now,? he told a press conference.

The student leaders want Sections 15A, 15B, 15C, and 15D, 16B (1), 16B (2) and 16B (3), 16C and 51(1) to be reviewed.

The student leaders from 19 public universities later presented a memorandum on their demands to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Besides UUCA, they also asked that the administrative fee collected by the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) be reviewed and that the ceiling for loan amounts are increased.

?We want a decision on the administrative charge to be made by the National Fatwa Council to determine whether it is Islamic or not. We would prefer that Islamic banking principles be used when disbursing loans,? said Afandy.

The students also called on the Government to provide free, high-width broadband access at all public university campuses.

?We are also asking that public university campuses be declared ?low price zones?. Sometimes the food sold on campus is more expensive than what is available outside,? added Afandy.

Visa deception - 'Students' who come to work

When Malaysia announced its intention to become an educational hub, students from all over, especially Asia, flocked here. But over the last few years, alarm bells have been ringing as hundreds, if not thousands, of these students are never seen in college after Day 1.

So serious is the matter that Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin recently announced measures to ensure foreigners on student visas are genuinely here to study. MARC LOURDES reports.

"LONG, long. Cheap, cheap." Colleges in the city are inundated with foreigners who walk in asking for courses that are cheap and long.

It is not the pursuit of academic excellence they are on, but rather to obtain a precious student visa.

With the visa in hand, the "students" are rarely, if ever, seen in the college again.

Instead, they can be found working in the city - taking up blue-collar jobs or running their own businesses. Some even turn to crime.

A senior manager at a major college said there used to be a steady flow of foreigners, mainly Bangladeshis and Nigerians, to his college about two years ago.

"They used to ask for 'long, long and cheap, cheap' courses. Their objective was very clear. They just wanted a visa.

"They did not even have the most basic academic qualifications. They promised us that if they were accepted, they would get another 10 students to come in. They would try to negotiate for lower fees.

"When we told them that we didn't do such things, they stopped coming here," said the senior manager who did not want to be named.

He said he had also been asked if there were beautician courses for Chinese students who could conveniently work as guest relations officers in nightclubs while "studying".

He added that there were colleges in the city that were thriving on this kind of business.

"We have heard of some colleges with hundreds of foreign 'students'."

He said such practices badly affected the image of genuine foreign students.

There may be good news on the horizon though, as Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin recently announced that the government is taking steps to ensure foreigners on student visas are genuinely here to study.

He said they would have to provide letters from their sponsors or letters indicating their parents' income to prove they were indeed bone fide students, a move that is practised in the United Kingdom.

Khaled also said he would meet private colleges to discuss the plan, which is expected to in effect by the end of the year.

The country has about 50,000 foreign students. The ministry hopes to double this by 2010.

See picture of Table of Foreign Students in Malaysia

Student Visa Deception - 16 colleges Blacklisted in 2006

Student visa deception: 16 colleges blacklisted for offence in 2006

ACTION can be taken against colleges that obtain visas for foreigners who have no plans to study, but the penalty seems to be nothing more than a minor rap on the knuckles.

Immigration Department enforcement director Datuk Ishak Mohammad told the New Straits Times that errant colleges would be blacklisted by the department.

"We can blacklist them. We have done it before.

"In 2006, we took action against 16 colleges for doing this," he said.

Ishak explained that once blacklisted, the college cannot accept foreign students again until they are removed from the blacklist, depending on how quickly they clean up their act.

He said the Higher Education Ministry had to be more stringent in verifying foreigners who entered the country on student visas.

"The Immigration Department can't do anything as long as the students' papers are in order.

"We want to make the country an education hub, so how can we reject an application if their papers and the ministry's approval are in order?"

According to statistics, from 2005 to this March, the countries with the most students in Malaysia were from Indonesia (32,550), China (27,105) and Bangladesh (19,503).

Student Visa Deception: 200 held yearly for misusing passes

Student visa deception: 200 held yearly for misusing student passes
POLICE have welcomed the government's move to tighten regulations involving the issuance of student visas to foreigners.

Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin said the move was timely as foreigners in the country on student visas had been a thorn in the side of police for some time.

"We think they intend to study here, but in fact they are doing something else," he said.

Mohd Bakri also said that the problem arose in part because of the laxity shown by colleges in ensuring the students registered with them attend classes regularly.

He said the number of foreign "students" involved in crime such as drug trafficking and vice was alarming.

Immigration statistics reveal that 100 to 200 students are caught each year for misusing their student passes to work.

Those statistics pale in comparison with those who have been caught for their involvement in serious crime, mainly vice and drug trafficking.

For example, a Chinese accounting student moonlighting as a guest relations officer in an entertainment outlet was nabbed during an Immigration raid in early March.

In the same month, it was reported that six foreigners, all of whom were in the country on student visas, were arrested for drug-related offences.

Last December, police revealed that foreign drug traffickers were operating in the country under the pretext of studying in educational institutions.

Law Students say courses focus on exams, not the real world

Students say courses focus on exams, not real world

KUALA LUMPUR: Several law students accepted that there is an element of truth to the statement by judge Datuk Gopal Sri Ram that they are receiving low-quality training.

They agree that the main problem with the system is that it is too examination-oriented.

A fresh graduate, who is in chambers at a top law firm, said his education did not prepare him for what he was now facing.

"Local institutions focus too much on exams. They do not give you the proper picture of the legal profession and there's no exposure to the real industry.

"When I started chambering, it was a completely different world. Processes, such as the proper way to address judges and the actual art of advocacy, are not taught and it takes years to master."

However, he said, solely blaming the training of local graduates was an unfair generalisation as there was no guarantee that an Oxford-trained graduate would be better than a locally-trained one.

"That said, I do think that local institutions can buck up and do better.

"The fact that there are no Malaysian universities ranked in the top 200 of the Times Higher Education list says a lot about how much we can improve," he said.

A second-year Universiti Malaya law student agreed that there was too much focus on examinations.

"A better idea would be to have a system that is evenly split between course work and exams.

"There are advantages to using assignments as a benchmark because students often do more in-depth research and studying when preparing an assignment," the part-time student said, adding that during examinations, students often just mugged and regurgitated facts and cases.

She said more debates were needed in law school to prepare students for the real world.

"But, it is unfair of Gopal to say that many lawyers these days are of low quality since there was plenty of deadwood in the legal profession even during his time."

Asked if his comments could be demotivating to law students, she replied that they were not.

"Why should they? I look at them as a challenge to prove him wrong."

Student Visa Deception: they can work only during semester breaks

IN Malaysia, as in most countries, many foreign students have to work part-time to make ends meet.

The problem is that the law only allows them to work during their semester break.

Immigration Department enforcement director Datuk Ishak Mohammad said foreign students could only work in four sectors - kiosks, restaurants, petrol pumps and in non-frontline hotel jobs.

"They cannot work more than 20 hours a week and can only work during their semester breaks.

"They must also get our approval via their college."

A Nigerian student, who only wanted to be known as King, said many foreign students worked part-time in order to survive.

"It is really difficult to survive without any income here as most foreign students come from countries with a lower currency exchange rate.

"We need the extra money as our families cannot fully support us.

"The government should allow students to work for an hour or two a day to earn some pocket money."

However, King condemned those who misused students visas to work full-time or commit crime.

"The government must come down hard on these people," said the 24-year-old computer science student.

Another foreign student, who declined to be named, said giving out visas to those not planning to study was a normal practice in many institutions.

"It's like a business for many colleges, especially those who don't have a good reputation academically.

"They offer programmes from obscure overseas universities and charge students the full fees.

"When students don't turn up for classes, they just cover up the attendance records," he said.

2008 SPM Results

Kedah student scores most A?s

PUTRAJAYA (March 13, 2008): How many A?s can one score in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia? Answer: 21.

Azali Azlan from SMK Agama Yan, Kedah, obtained 20 1A?s and one 2A, in the examination held last year, setting a record for the most 1A?s.

He scored in Bahasa Melayu, English, History, Malay Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Pendidikan Islam, Additional Mathematics, Mathematics, Geography, Commerce, Economics, Accounting, Science, Pendidikan Syariah Islamiah, Pendidikan Al-Quran dan As-Sunnah, Tasawwur Islam, Bahasa Arab Tinggi, English for Science & Technology and Arts.

?I thank Allah and my parents for achieving such results,? he said yesterday after the announcement of the SPM results at the Education Ministry.

Azali also credited his teachers who had helped him find the relevant textbooks to study for the subjects that were not taught in school.

Was he forced to take so many subjects? ?I took up the subjects on my own accord, and received the blessings of my parents and teachers.

?I did get cold feet in the beginning, but after meeting the school counsellor and
family members, they gave me encouragement to do my best, and by persevering, I did it.?

Does he have a secret recipe? Azali said he took dates and honey, and fasted before the examination.

?I also don?t believe in a timetable, as it has its restraints. I studied at my own pace,? Azali said, adding that he concentrated best in early morning and at night.

The bright student, who had scored 18 1A?s and three 2A?s in the trials, scored nine A?s in the Penilaian Menengah Rendah.

Azali intends to study a biotechnology- related course overseas.

Another top achiever was SMK Hwa Lian, Mentakab, student Quek Khai Ren, who scored 16 1A?s.

The 18-year-old sat for Bahasa Melayu, English, History, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Moral Education, Accounting, Chinese Language, Economics, Arts, Chinese Literature, Science and English for Science and Technology.

Realising that the tuition fee at private colleges is expensive, Khai Ren pushed himself to take up more papers than he was supposed to have sat for.

?I discovered that if a student gets 11 1A?s, colleges waive their fees and offer scholarships. I am trying my best not to burden my parents with the college fees,? he said.

Despite taking 16 subjects, Khai Ren still found time to surf the Internet and chat online, and play badminton and basketball.

His advice to those sitting for SPM this year was simple; concentrate in class and do not take the midterm examinations lightly.

?Some students think the monthly tests and midterms are not important. But it helps to maintain your performance,? he added.

Khai Ren, who aspires to be a businessman, is studying A-levels at a private college in Subang Jaya.

A total of 439,255 candidates sat for the SPM examination last year, out of which 382,286 passed, an increase in the passing rate compared to 319,670 candidates in 2006.

?From the total, 6,247 candidates scored straight A?s in contrast to 5,685 last year,? said Education Ministry director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom.

He said from the list of straight A?s candidates, 1,072 obtained 1A?s.

Alimuddin said candidates were also more confident answering the questions in English rather than providing the answers in both English and Bahasa Melayu.

He said this can be seen from the table (see page 11) which showed more candidates answered Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology in English.

2008 STPM Results: English main answer choice

KUALA LUMPUR: About 91.9% or 60,697 students who sat for the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination last year opted to answer the Science and Mathematics papers in English.

Malaysian Examinations Council (MEC) chairman Prof Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said this was an increase of 6.2% compared to 2006.

?This shows that the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English has not affected performance,? he said, when announcing the STPM results yesterday.

Prof Dzulkifli: ?Urban candidates performed better in both the Science and Arts streams compared to rural areas?

Since 2004, candidates have been given the choice of answering the Science and Mathematics papers ? Mathematics S, Mathematics T, Further Mathematics T, Computing, Physics, Chemistry and Biology ? in either English or Bahasa Malaysia.

Prof Dzulkifli said although candidates were allowed to take five subjects, the majority took four last year, as the Higher Education Ministry?s requirement for entry into public universities is four subjects, including the General Paper.

He said 25 candidates obtained As in all five subjects taken last year compared to 34 in 2006.

?A total of 59 candidates obtained four As out of five subjects taken and 361 obtained As in all four subjects,? he added.

Prof Dzulkifli said that 437 candidates obtained a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 compared with 503 in 2006.

In terms of candidates? performance in urban and rural areas, Prof Dzulkifli said there was still an obvious difference.

?Urban candidates performed better in both the Science and Arts streams with 13.71% obtaining all As compared to 4.62% in the rural areas,? he said.

He said this could be due to a lack of facilities and infrastructure when asked why there was a difference.

Prof Dzulkifli who is also Universiti Sains Malaysia vice-chancellor, said six subjects; namely Chinese Language, Literature in English, Malay Literature, Accounts, Physics and Sports Science showed an improvement in the passing rate.

Four subjects; namely Arabic, Usuluddin, Computing and Further Mathematics T showed a decline.

?There was a 0.75% increase where 56,896 candidates passed at least one subject,? he said.

There was a decrease in the number of candidates who sat for the STPM from 73,691 in 2006 to 66,047 last year, he added.

A total of 16 top performers received RM1,000, a certificate and a plaque from Prof Dzulkifli in a presentation ceremony.

The MEC also presented prizes to students who achieved a Band Six in the Malaysian University English Test.

Many students still not fluent in English

PETALING JAYA: A total of 40,222 or 47.79% of all candidates achieved Band Three or higher in the Malaysian University English Test (MUET).

According to a statement from the Malaysian Examinations Council, 37 obtained Band Six, 1,424 Band Five, 9,702 Band Four, 29,059 Band Three, 32,656 Band Two and 11,271 Band One.

A total of 84,149 candidates sat for the test.

MUET, which tests listening, speaking, reading and writing, classifies candidates according to six bands or levels of achievement, from Very Good User (Band Six) to Extremely Limited User (Band One).

Those wishing to retake the test can register at their respective state education departments or district education offices by Jan 30.

Speaking another language can open many doors

KUALA LUMPUR: Many Malaysians speak more than one language, and there is real benefit in learning another ? especially in this increasingly globalised world.

Lim Sep Neo, a part-time lecturer at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar), explains some advantages of learning French.

?Malaysia has a lot of relations with French-speaking nations such as the African countries of Chad, Senegal and Algeria.

Lim Sep Neo
?We have people coming from these countries to do business or work at government missions, and we need people who speak French to deal with them.?

It is even more relevant if the country wants to promote itself further as a tourist destination.

She said if there were more locals learning foreign languages, tourists would be drawn to the country and the economy could grow even more. ?Tourism brings big money,? added Lim.

Additionally, those who learn French may find their English improving as well.

?There are many words in the English language that are derived directly from French such as fait accompli and esprit de corps.?

Those learning French will then not only learn the proper pronunciation of these phrases, but have a better understanding of its meaning as well.

Another benefit of learning French is the literary world it opens.

?France has a great tradition of literary works. You can read the works in their original language instead of the English translations, which tend to dilute the essence of the story,? said Lim.

She added that there was no reason to be intimidated by French language classes.

?We also learn by singing French songs and watching French movies, which makes the whole experience very enjoyable.?

Lim has 20 years of experience in education and is proficient in French, English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Conducting lessons in the Korean language is her colleague Jane Teoh, who has travelled extensively in Korea since 1999.

The beginner-level classes for both Korean and French languages is 30 hours over 15 weeks at the Centre for Extension Education, Utar. The course fee is RM400.

Korean language classes begin on Feb 20, and French classes on Feb 22.

For more information, contact Utar at 03-7357-2818/03-7955-5181 or e-mail your enquiries to cee@mail.utar.edu.my or visit www.utar.com.my.

Education in France

A fascinating mix of age-old traditions and modern vibrancy, France is also a place with exciting educational options.

TO SAY that food is a passion in France will be stating the obvious. Escargots, wines and the famed Brie and Roquefort cheeses are just a few of the items on offer to tantalise the taste buds. Cafes are as ubiquitous as litter is not and with the number of Michelin star restaurants spread across the country, one is assured of gastronomic indulgence.

And Paris has the distinction of being one of the world's fashion capitals and is the base for big names such as Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes, Givenchy and Dior.

Haute cuisine and couture aside, France also has a long tradition in scholarship, giving the world thinkers like Jean Jacques Rousseau and Jean-Paul Sartre. Moreover, French used to be the language of European high society, commonly used in the royal courts up to the 19th century.

It should therefore come as no surprise that France is among today's global leaders in education.

With an estimated 265,000 foreign students, it is only behind the United States and Britain in international student figures and offers a considerable breadth of programmes.

The system in France

The French university curriculum system sees students obtaining a Licence, the equivalent of a basic degree in three years, a Master in another two years and a Doctorat after a total of eight years of study.

France has a total of 3,000-plus institutions of higher learning that include 240 engineering schools and 230 business schools. Around 2,000 of the total are devoted to the niche fields of art, fashion, design and architecture.

There are also 87 public universities, ranging from the venerable Sorbonne in Paris, which dates back to 1179, to the high-tech Nice-Sophia-Antipolis, founded in 1965.

Research is an integral feature in the university system, covering the entire range of academic disciplines and involving more than 300 doctoral programmes and over 1,200 research centres and laboratories.

French doctoral programmes have always held international appeal and the number of foreign doctoral candidates have been on the rise, going up by 7.5% between 1999 and 2004.

Also, there are uniquely French institutions known as the grandes ?coles (specialised schools of higher education). Created in the early 19th century, the elite grandes ?coles are extremely selective and offer education of a very high standard.

Unlike the public universities, which are obliged to accept all candidates who hold a Baccalaureate, grandes ?coles consider applicants solely on the results of competitive oral and written exams.

There are 226 grandes ?coles in France and students who sit for the admission tests often undergo preparatory school, often for two years.

?Normally, 90 to 95% of grandes ?coles students come from preparatory schools while the remainder come from various instituts universitaires de technologie (IUT), known in English as university institutes of technology,? says Universiti Teknologi Petronas lecturer-cum-researcher Dr Mohamad Naufal Mohamad Saad, who studied in France from 1995 to 2005.

Dr Mohd Naufal studied first at IUT de Colmar and later at Ecole Nationale Sup?rieure d'Ing?nieurs de Limoges (National Higher School of Engineers of Limoges).

?Chances of being accepted through the IUT route are slim and I was very fortunate to be accepted,? he admits.

Specialising in a single subject area, mainly in the humanities, business and engineering, grandes ?coles are moderate in size with student populations of 2,000 to 3,000.

All students in France's public institutions, both foreign and local alike, are beneficiaries of a generous amount of government aid that sees them paying a mere ?160 (RM780) to ?500 (RM2,440) per year for tuition when the actual fees are an estimated ?6,000 (RM29,240) to ?15,000 (RM73,100).

Cost of living in France is around ?800 (RM3,890) to ?1,000 (RM4,870) per month, going up to some ?1,200 (RM5,840) in Paris.

This makes France one of the least expensive countries in Europe for international students, who enjoy other benefits such as low-cost dining facilities, student housing, and discounts on transportation and cultural events.

However, bear in mind that the private grandes ?coles charge a high tuition that can cost ?4,000 (RM19,500) to ?10,000 (RM48,730) and beyond.

Apart from business and engineering courses, France is also noted for social science programmes that expose students to the different schools of thought.

A notable institution is the Sciences Po in Paris that is a partner of the Global Public Policy Network together with Columbia University in the United States, the London School of Economics and Political Science and the National University of Singapore.

Agricultural studies are also becoming increasingly popular and France also has some 2,000 schools devoted to the niche fields of art, fashion, design and architecture.

Another interesting feature of French education is the presence of its many ?competitiveness clusters?, a system that sees different regions specialising in various fields of study.

?Each province has its own distinctive academic specialisation,? says Malaysia-France University Centre project coordinator Simon Cordonnier.

?For example, Burgundy specialises in nuclear industries, Brittany in marine biology due to its coastal proximity, Toulouse in aeronautical engineering as the Airbus headquarters and main factory are there, and the Agropolis in Montpellier in agricultural studies.?

It can be tough

There are, says Cordonnier, currently about 500 Malaysian students in France, with some 300 sponsored by the Public Service Department and other government agencies.

Given France's reputation in engineering, most of the Malaysians there are furthering their studies in this field.

Being thousands of miles away from home in a foreign land can be daunting and Malaysians ? and Asians in general ? often have quite a lot of adapting to do, both academically and culturally.

?French education stresses a lot on application,? continues Cordonnier. ?Taking maths as an example, the way to get to the result is more important than the result itself.?

The French emphasis on application, an unfamiliar approach for many Asian students, is aimed at moulding graduates who think critically at both the theoretical and practical levels.

There is also the question of studying in a language that is quite foreign to most Malaysians.

According to Cordonnier, Malaysian students often need to undergo one year of intensive French classes to reach a proficiency level acceptable at university.

?Language is still an obstacle. Efforts are being made to address this and there are some programmes in English at French institutions as well,? he says.

Demands of the classroom aside, there are also the countless stories of how unfriendly your average Frenchman can be to those who do not speak his lingo.

Dr Mohamad Naufal, however, has a different take on this, citing a rather comical episode from those days when he was still a greenhorn in the language,

?I was behind an Asian couple who were asking a Metro personnel some questions in English but he answered them in French. Although my French was not good at the time, I managed to form a question and to my surprise and the couple's annoyance, the Frenchman answered me in fluent English,? he recalls.

?The French people are not unfriendly, but they are definitely proud of their language and appreciate it if you make an effort.?

But there are rewards

It is the home of breathtaking architectural styles reflected in the likes the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and Louvre Museum, which also houses iconic artworks such as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

For football fans, there is of course the Stade de France, the venue of French football's finest moment ? the 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup Final.

And if what France has on offer is not quite enough, the country is right next to nine others, namely Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Britain, Monaco and Andorra, so travel options during the summers are aplenty.

?I had a great experience in France mixing with the locals, and my 10 years there can be summarised as a great adventure,? enthused Dr Mohamad Naufal.

For more information, contact the Malaysia-France University Centre at 03-27315880 or e-mail: info@mfuc.org or go to its website at www.mfuc.org.

MSL Travel has student fares to France

Malaysia: Bill on air travel passed

THE House has approved the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill 2007 to enable the country to be a part of the 1999 Montreal Convention which provides for higher compensation and benefits to passengers such as claims for flight delays.

Compensation for lost luggage, flight delays and cancellations were among the concerns raised by MPs during the debate on the Bill.

Once enforced, passengers can claim for higher compensation such as RM5,000 for mishandled or missing baggage and RM20,000 for flight delays, which were previously not allocated under the Warsaw Convention, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar.

Tengku Azlan said the Bill also covered compensation for missing baggage at KL Sentral.

He said Malaysia currently practised the international carriage by air liability system based on the 1929 Warsaw Convention, which limits the amount of claims.

The Bill was amended following the government?s decision to join the Montreal Convention (Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air) and the related Protocols, which would supercede the Warsaw Convention.

?The Warsaw Convention is no longer in tune with the current economic and legal needs. Its system of having a low liability rate had caused injustice to air passengers especially when there is a crash, damage or loss to luggage or cargo caused by delays or mishandling by air carriers.

?For example, the compensation would be given based on the weight of the luggage or missing items and not on the value of those items,? he said when explaining the Bill.

Currently, the Warsaw Convention states that passengers could claim RM48 per kg for mishandled check-in baggage and RM980 for mishandled cabin baggage, he added.

Among the new things introduced by the Montreal Convention was the introduction of reservation facilities via the Internet and electronic systems, abolition of arbitrary liability limits and imposing strict liability for cases involving death or physical injuries.

Under the Warsaw Convention, compensation for death or injury was limited to RM48,000, which was arbitrary but the Montreal Convention states a figure of RM500,000, he said.

Tengku Azlan said low-budget airlines were also subjected to giving out compensation, and passengers need to declare their baggage items before boarding the plane to facilitate compensation claims.

Several MPs including Datuk Razali Ismail (BN-Kuala Terengganu) and Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjong) highlighted the fact that cases of missing baggage were on the rise.

?We have to ensure that baggage don?t go missing especially in KLIA where syndicates are at work as this can affect the country?s image,? said Chow.

Malaysia: One goal, two routes

The most popular pathway to a degree is through public varsities. Up to 70,000 students enrolled last month in its two main feeder programmes, Form Six and Matriculation. StarEducation checks out the competition on the ground.

For most people, adds the former SMK St John Form Six student, ?efficient? essentially means being able to guarantee arrival at the coveted destination. The length of study, demands of the programme and quality of the curriculum are secondary.

The destination in question here is local public universities. This year, there are up to 50,000 places up for grabs in these institutions, not including those in diploma and a few restricted programmes. There are two main pathways: the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and the Matriculation programme. The growing number of top scorers or those with a flat 4.0 CGPA ? more than 1,660 from both STPM and Matriculation programmes are estimated for this year ? further intensifies the fight over seats, particularly in critical programmes like medicine, engineering and pharmacy.

This does not include those with other equivalent pre-university qualifications such as diplomas.

In two weeks or so, the Higher Education Ministry will announce the university admissions list. Inevitably, some will be disappointed.

A storm brewing?

A 47-year-old parent remembers the feeling well ? her daughter was one of the 108 STPM top scorers in 2004 who were not accepted into medicine at public universities.

?After the public furore, she was finally given a scholarship to study at a local private university and is doing well, but the experience was really stressful for the whole family,? she says.

The common perception, she adds, is that students from the Matriculation programme have an edge over their STPM and diploma counterparts.

?Now, my younger daughter is doing A-Levels at a private college. We just don?t want to risk her not getting into university.?

Twenty -year-old Karina Lim is undeterred.

After obtaining straight As for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations two years ago, she could have gone to any pre-university programme of her choice but opted to sit for the STPM despite knowing that competition would be stiff once she completed her studies.

?STPM is the only choice I have since I want to go to a local public university to do medicine. I think they have the best courses and my parents cannot really afford to send me overseas or to private universities,? says the Kuala Lumpur resident.

The ministry?s Students Admissions Management Division (BPKP) has given its assurance that selection is conducted based on merit irrespective of what the route is and room for mistake in the process is minimal.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed has also said there are enough places in university, with sought-after courses limited to the best candidates.

However, there are predictions that the same scenario will play out when the varsity places are announced, with disgruntled parents and students swarming the BPKP, political education bureaus and other complaint outlets.

The same arguments ? you can't compare two different assessment methods; one is harder than the other, so it is better; and so forth ? will be tossed around.

Then there are the usual rumblings about students from the predominantly bumiputra matriculation programmes getting special preferences for university placements.

Asked about it in March, Mustapa had stressed that the Government practised education for all.

?The national agenda is to have a good mix of professionals and people at all levels as the national policy is to ensure socio-economic balance,? he had said.

Cut from the same cloth

Both the Malaysian Examinations Council (MEC) and the Matriculation Division assert that all pre-university programmes in Malaysia, particularly the STPM and Matriculation programmes are equivalent as they are benchmarked against international pre-university examinations.

The only reason STPM is not accepted by most foreign universities, says MEC chief executive Omar Abu Bakar, is because it is set in Bahasa Malaysia.

?All around the world, many different pathways to university are being implemented because everyone wants to democratise higher education. It will be wrong for us to go the other way and restrict the pathways,? he adds.

Matriculation qualifications, meanwhile, is increasingly recognised by foreign universities, particularly with various government-to-government initiatives.

If having one common entry requirement is not practical, then perhaps the Government needs to have a more transparency selection process, says a public university academic who declined to be named.

?It feels like there is so much secrecy about matriculation programmes ? the entry requirement, who can apply and especially what the results are,? he says.

Most people, he observes, want to know how many Matriculation students are getting a CGPA of 4.0. ?The STPM results, meanwhile, are splashed in the newspapers every year, so everyone can see what it is all about.?

However, the science lecturer feels there is no disparity in the work quality of the two groups of students in his programme.

?I don?t think that one is better than the other. It depends on how willing they are to work hard,? he says.

A study conducted by the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) medical faculty last year also showed that there was no difference between the achievements of Matriculation and STPM holders in the medical programme.

UKM medical faculty dean Prof Datuk Dr Lokman Saim points out that it takes more than academic performance to be a good student and succeed in workplace.

?To be a good doctor, for example, you need to have good people skills, be caring and communicate well,? he says.

Universiti Malaya anthropology lecturer Kamal Solhaimi concurs.

?I don?t check if my students are from Matriculation or Form Six. How well they do depends on their level of maturity, expectations and capability in handling pressure. I find that the biggest problem with all our students is that they expect to be spoon-fed.?

This, he concedes, depends to some extent on how well their schooling and pre-university programme has prepared them for higher education.

However, he disagrees with the notion that older students, namely STPM holders, do better in university.

?Age has nothing to do with your level of maturity or intelligence. In most developed countries, students enter university at the age of 18,? he says.

?The root of the problem lies in our rigid school curriculum. Many students still expect to be told what to do in university.?

Study in Saudi Arabia

FANCY studying in Saudi Arabia? Well, you may get the chance sooner than you think.

For decades, Malaysians have gone over to study religion and Islamic sciences at schools and universities in Saudi Arabia. Lately, however, new opportunities have emerged due to the country?s impressive technological and economic growth, as well as expansion in higher education.

A few students will definitely get the opportunity soon to pursue postgraduate studies at Saudi?s oldest and biggest university, King Saud University (KSU), in an area of their choice.

This golden chance is the result of an offer of 22 postgraduate scholarships for masters, PhD and post-doctoral research made to Malaysian Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed during his visit to KSU last month.

?The university made the offer on the spot. It was a pleasant surprise. The offer demonstrates their confidence in our higher education system, and reflects the commitment of both countries to fostering educational partnerships,? says Mustapa.

KSU, or Riyadh University as it was originally known, was established in 1957 as the first Saudi university not dedicated to religious subjects.

It started with the setting up of the College of Arts, followed by the College of Science the following year. Other colleges followed soon after ? from the College of Engineering and Business to Medicine and Information Technology.

Currently, there are more than 25 colleges covering diverse disciplines including community service, nutrition science, archaeology and tourism.

In the early 1980s, a new campus was built, and KSU opened its doors to female students as the original university buildings in central Riyadh were converted into a campus for the women's branch of the university.

Today, women are only barred from KSU?s engineering programme, on the premise that a profession in engineering would be impossible to pursue in the context of sex-segregation practices.

Since the early 1990s, KSU has started offering postgraduate studies in 61 areas of specialisation, and doctorates in Arabic, geography, and history.

The scholarships offered to Malaysians, covering tuition fees and living expenses, comprise six each for masters and PhD, and 10 for post-doctoral research.

Mustapa says his ministry has been asked to nominate candidates by early this month, and selection has been in process.

The KSU scholarship scheme is expected to see greater exchange of students and academics, as well as research collaboration, between Saudi and Malaysian institutions.

There are currently 19 universities in Saudi, with four new ones set up in 2005 to meet the growing demand for higher education in the country.

The realisation of the need to develop its human resource has also led to the development of more colleges for girls in the country.

On his trip, Mustapa also visited the King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah and University Um Al Qura in Mekah, where he met with Malaysian students.

In terms of research collaboration, the minister feels that Malaysians need to open their minds to tap into emerging areas in Saudi Arabia such as technology and engineering.

There are opportunities aplenty, he stresses, particularly with the research centres set up by the Saudi Government at public universities, in areas like water studies, Islamic economics, technologies related to the discovery and economic utilisation of natural resources, Hajj and Umra studies (pilgrimage studies) as well as nanotechnology and biotechnology.

Another area is the exchange of expertise such as the one-year exchange stint awarded to International Islamic University Malaysia ICT Faculty dean Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Adam Suhami to teach and undergo practical work at Taibah University in Madinah.

In addition, the Saudi Government has agreed to send its science and mathematics teachers to Malaysia for training in the teaching of the two subjects in English

Malaysian Immigration Dept issues I-Kad to Students, Workers etc

PUTRAJAYA: Foreigners here to study or work will be easily ?identified? under a new high-security, colour-coded card system.

Called I-Kad, the sophisticated card has 17 security features and the colour represents the sector the holder is in.

The card is also embedded with a microchip that has a biometric thumbprint of the holder to determine the authenticity of identity.

Yesterday, the Immigration Department issued the I-Kad to a pioneer batch of 29 students from several higher learning institutions. Their colour code is green.

The colours for those in the construction, plantations, service and domestic maid categories have not been decided.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said the colour-coded identification card for foreign workers and students was mooted last year to help the authorities check on illegal immigrants, and prevent abuse and forgery during the permit renewal process.

?We hope to be able to issue the card to all 66,000 foreign students here over the next three months.

?The new card uses Malaysian technology and there will be no room for unscrupulous parties to duplicate, copy or forge it,? he told reporters after he and Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed presented the I-Kad to students at LimKokWing University College.

Radzi said the card would initially be issued for free to the students but they would have to pay if they lose it.

He said it had not been decided if a charge would be imposed in future for the card, adding that the cost involved was high.

Radzi said it would take some time before all foreigners were issued with the card, as there were about two million of them here.

?While we welcome them here, we still need to ensure the country?s safety and that all form of security elements are being carried out efficiently and effectively. The creation of I-Kad is truly important, both for the security of the international students and the country,? he said.

Mustapa said the I-Kad was to provide the ?best education service? to foreign students.

He also said that from Friday, foreign students could apply for their visas online when the Student E-Pass system becomes fully operational.

Under the E-Pass system, students can also check if the programmes they are interested in are accredited.

See Picture:
(From left) Selenge Chuluun from Mongolia, Ibtissam Habib Shaikh from India and Helen Merete Simm from Iceland, students of LimKokWing University College in Cyberjaya, showing a mock card of their I-Kad for foreign students which was launched by Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamad and Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad yesterday. The new high-security colour-coded card system is meant for foreign workers and students

Doing medicine in Egypt

CAIRO: The Higher Education Ministry will standardise its procedures to facilitate the sending of students to study medicine in Egypt.

?Last September, 499 first-year students arrived in Egypt to study medicine at seven universities. This is our first big batch, so there are many logistical issues that need to be ironed out such as minimum entry qualifications, errant agents and housing,? said Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed who was on a week-long working trip to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Speaking to The Star after a dialogue with about 500 Malaysian students at the Malaysian Hall here on Monday, he said Malaysia has been sending students over to Egypt for religious studies for decades and has just started sponsoring students to take up the highly in demand, critical programme in the Northern African country because of its wide advantages.

?Studying medicine in Egypt is unique because students learn in English and use Arabic in the society so they can improve their proficiency in both. And for some universities like Al-Azhar University, they need to study and memorise the Quran too,? he added.

There are currently more than 640 public and private Malaysian students taking up medicine in the country.

Mustapa also had a special dialogue with 250 Malaysian medical students to get feedback on the problems they face such as their difficulty in the Arabic language and delay in the payment of fees which bar them from sitting for their exams.

To help address the problems, a committee that will be headed by the Malaysian Ambassador to Egypt and student leaders has been set up.

On the issue of errant education agents, Mustapa said he had met with the relevant sponsors in Malaysia and proposed a new system to avoid abuses.

Mustapa also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Egyptian Higher Education Minister Dr Amr Ezzat Salma to foster more exchanges in medicine between the two countries.

Malaysia: Limit on some hand luggage comes into effect May 21 2007

PETALING JAYA: Effective May 21, liquids, aerosols or gels (LAGs) in airline passengers? hand luggage will be limited to 100ml per item on all international flights departing from Malaysia.

LAGs carried in containers larger than 100ml will not be allowed, even if the container is partially filled and these containers must be placed in a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of one liter.

Malaysia Airports Berhad security & airport fire and rescue services senior general manager Datuk Kamaruddin Mohd Ismail said these bags measuring 20cm by 20cm will be provided free of charge to passengers.

?We expect to be providing these bags free for the first three to six months of implementation, after which passengers must get it by themselves from any supermarket.?

Kamaruddin said the containers must fit comfortably in the bag and that the bag should be presented for X-ray screening separately from other hand luggage.

?Exemptions will be made for medicine, baby milk/food and special dietary requirements needed during the flight,? Kamaruddin said, but added that those carrying medicine or special dietary would need to show proof for verification purposes.

?LAGs purchased at duty free shops or on board the aircraft are exempted from this, but the items must be packed in a different sealed tamper-evident plastic bag with the receipt attached.

?The bag will be provided at the retailers expense at all points-of-purchase that sell LAGs and the receipt attached must be for the day of travel or transit.

?This bag is also much larger and completely different from the transparent, re-sealable plastic bag.?

Kamaruddin said airport staff would be on hand during the initial stage to assist passengers who might not be familiar with the process and added that the smaller re-sealable bag, but not the tamper-evident bag, could be reused.

Kamaruddin urged passengers to take note of the new ruling so that there would be less inconvenience and delay.

Kamaruddin said the new rule followed recommendations by the International Civil Aviation Organisation that was issued to all Contracting States on Dec 11, 2006.

?The recommendations are a result of reports concerning the alleged terrorist plot on August 9, 2006 in the UK.?

Countries which have implemented such restrictions include the United States, Britain, European United nations, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and the Philippines with China starting on May 1 and Singapore on May 8.

The airports in Malaysia where this ruling will take effect are KLIA, Penang, Langkawi, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Redang, Tioman and Malacca.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN UNWTO & WYSETC TO BOOST YOUTH TOURISM

The growing significance of youth tourism has been highlighted by the signing of an historic agreement between UNWTO and WYSE Travel Confederation.

From February 1st 2007, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and WYSE Travel Confederation will work in partnership to promote and develop the multi-billion dollar youth and student travel niche market.

"Youth tourism contributes to the development of young minds and international tolerance. The UNWTO has recognised the economic importance and social value of youth travel. Young travellers of today set travel trends for the future, they travel with a purpose and make a unique contribution to sustainable tourism practices and poverty alleviation" says David Jones, Director General of WYSE Travel Confederation. "We look forward to a fruitful partnership with UNWTO and to delivering this message to governments and industry worldwide??.

Throughout 2007 and beyond, the partnership agreement between WYSE Travel Confederation and UNWTO will provide Confederation Members with an unprecedented opportunity to make government leaders and tourism authorities around the world more aware of the importance of youth, student and educational travel.

This will be achieved by:

Compiling research and publishing a ?Youth Travel Compendium of Research? which includes data on the behaviour of youth travellers and the impact of youth travel experiences on attitudes and values, as well as a survey of youth and student tourism policy worldwide. This report will be used to encourage governments to actively support and market youth tourism products and services.

Organising seminars and events for government officials, national tourism authorities, educational specialists and commercial sector leaders to increase awareness of the importance of the youth and student travel niche market.

Promoting responsible travel habits, practices and the sustainable development of tourism.

Mr. Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General of UNWTO and David Jones, Director General of WYSE Travel Confederation signed the Co-operation Agreement on 1st February during the FITUR Travel Fair in Madrid, Spain.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Cooper, Communications Officer, WYSE Travel Confederation T: +31 20 4212800 stephanie@wysetc.org

Double-decker boost for tourists to KL

Tourists can now go to 42 major attractions in Kuala Lumpur in just one bus ? KL Hop-On Hop-Off ? a uniquely designed, Malaysia's only semi-glass roofed double-decker bus.

Passengers can stay on for the full circuit, or hop on or off at any of the stops. This one-of-its-kind city tour is complemented by on-board commentary in eight languages.

The bus was unveiled by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor yesterday at the Malaysian Tourism Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Also present were Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib, Raja Puan Sri Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah, City Hall deputy director of development Zulkifli Ibrahim, Elang Wah Sdn Bhd executive director Toh Muda Rizal Ashram Tan Sri Ramli and managing director Syed Azhar Syed Nadzir.

Elang Wah is the first company granted the permission to operate the tourist bus. The company also built the body of the buses.

?The KL Hop-On Hop-Off bus service will not only improve the quality and convenience of KL's public transportation, but is also an additional tourist attraction that will definitely give tourists a whole new experience,? said Tengku Adnan.

He said the Government had allocated RM149mil from the 2007 Budget to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2007 in the hope of achieving 20.1 million tourist arrivals and an estimated RM44.5bil tourism income.

?Therefore, the implementation of the Hop-On Hop-Off city tour is suitable and timely.

?I believe Elang Wah will ensure that the service will always be there by heeding various aspects like punctuality, cleanliness and friendly service. These are all in line with Tourism Ministry's ?Malaysia Welcomes The World? campaign.

?I hope all Malaysians will be the frontliners to receive guests, so that they will always think and act tourism,? he added.

Tengku Adnan boarded the bus while Toh Muda Rizal Ashram Tan Sri Ramli and Syed Azhar Syed Nadzir gave explanation on the bus' features.

Syed Azhar said the tourist bus service was planned since four years ago.

For a start, four buses will be operating now while two other buses will be added in by April.

?We target 500 passengers per day and the number should increase by day,? he said.

The bus installed with disabled friendly features will operate from 8.30am to 8.30pm every day. It goes to major attractions and main hotels in Kuala Lumpur through 22 stops at 30-minute intervals.

Tickets valid for 24 hours are priced at RM38 each for adults (RM32 each for group purchase of five and above), RM17 for students, senior citizens and disabled persons. Children under five can board the bus for free.

Mykad holders can enjoy the tour at promotional rate of RM19 per person during the school holidays.

Tickets can be bought on the bus and from travel agents, major hotels, official agents that display the logo or through the internet at www.myhoponhopoff. com

Elang Wah Sdn Bhd can be contacted at 03-2691 1382 or email inquiry@myhoponhopoff.com

More Travel Tips for Students Travelling Abroad for Studies

HEADING off to a new country can be intimidating ? especially if you are braving it on your own.

Not only do you have to deal with a lot of red tape and procedures, there are also new friends to make and different cultures and lifestyles to adjust to.

As the ?season? for students to fly off to the United Kingdom and the United States to pursue their studies approaches again, there is the usual confusion about what to do and when to do it.

However, a little research and preparation can go a long way towards making the situation more manageable and pleasant.

It also helps to speak to experienced students and advisors to get practical tips on what to expect.

Getting ready

The first, and possibly most important, thing to sort out and get in order will be the official documents. After that comes the student visa.

Students check carefully on the type of documents needed and to take along both the originals as well as photocopies of documents when they apply for visas.

?The UK, for example, can be very strict when it comes to the issue of funding for studies. Students have to show proof that they have sufficient funds for the entire term of study. The FUNDS must have a legitimate source. Failing to explain where the funds come from can have your visa application being turned down.

Students should buy TRAVELLERS CHEQUES and carry only sufficient cash to tide them over for the first few weeks. BANK DRAFTS take time to clear .. unless you take bank drafts from the same bank - the one in Malaysia and the one in UK as the clearing period will be shorter.

Medical check-ups are usually part of the visa application process too. Although it is not compulsory to get a check-up when applying for visas. MSL ADVISE STUDENTS TO GET THEIR MEDICAL DONE AS IT IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD before embarking for your studies abroad.

?The immigration in UK might conduct random medical checks, and if you are not carrying your health report with you, you may need to waste time, taking the tests there.?

Students should also undergo dental and eye examinations here, as these are very expensive abroad.

Students going to the UK carry their bank drafts with them, in case they are asked to produce evidence of their ability to pay the fees. All students should also carry their university admission letters.

Travelling to your Destination

Next comes the matter of actually getting to the university.

Students should scout around for flights that suit their itinerary and destinations. Visit MSL Travel Sdn Bhd offices in Kuala Lumpur & Penang as they have negotiated student fares on quality airlines.

?For example, Malaysia Airlines does not fly to Manchester, so many students fly into London and request for university transportation from there. This can be really expensive. It might be advisable to fly to Amsterdam, Dubai etc. where you can take a flight straight to Manchester."

Students should also make arrangements with their universities for airport pick-ups in advance, and provide them with accurate arrival information.

Settling in ... participate in the Orientation Program

Orientation programmes organised by the university are the best way to familiarise oneself quickly with the ins and outs of student life on campus.

These programmes help international students make friends more quickly and adapt to the new environment.

All students who studied in the US and UK agree that Malaysians need to speak up and be independent, both in and out of class.

?Active participation can contribute up to 20% of your grades, so you really do need to speak up in class.?

?Get over being shy or else, opportunities will pass you by. Americans value your ability to say what you think.?

Cornell University (US) graduate stresses that students also need to work independently.

?You have to take the initiative and be responsible for your own learning because the lecturers will not chase after you for your work. It?s entirely up to you how you study and whether you complete assignments.?

Students should not expect ?tips? from their lecturers but should instead cultivate a professional relationship with open communication.

Be open to new experiences

One good way to assimilate into student life is to participate in lots of campus activities and events.

?Make a point of joining societies that interest you, and remember to socialise outside the Malaysian circle,? says University of Bristol, UK, student. ?Getting a part-time job, especially in your first year, is also a good idea, as you usually have a lot of free time then.?

Learn about all the resources available at your university, advises student studies at the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor in the US.

?There are many avenues where you can seek assistance, such as the international students? centre, course advisors, student counsellors, professional bodies and so on. It?s surprising how much help and information is available.?

?Take any subject that interests you. Don?t limit yourself to only your required units.? ?Basically, you should take advantage of all the opportunities available.?

Studying abroad? Here are some more tips...

#Winter clothes from Malaysia are often not suitable for the winters in the US and UK. Just buy one or two here and the rest when you get there (factory outlet stores are a good, budget-friendly option).

#Choose hardy luggage that is easy to transport.

#Clothing and toiletries should be kept to a minimum. Most items can be obtained there. Clothes are especially cheap during sales.

#Students get free medical coverage in the UK only if your course/studies are more than 6 months. This is only at PUBLIC hospitals. If you want immediate attention & care get an Overseas Students Insurance Cover

#A handphone is not strictly necessary, as there are many plans you can sign up for that come with free phones.

#There are many Asian food stores around, so do not bring food unless it is something you cannot live without.

#If purchasing a laptop, ensure it comes with an international warranty.

#Comfortable walking shoes may be helpful as university students typically do a lot of walking. A good umbrella will be useful too.

#Bring copies of important documents and passport-sized photos.

Living on a budget:

# Do not for your ISIC - International Student Identity Card for your student benefits worldwide. The ISIC is available at MSL Travel

#Buy transportation tickets for getting to your university from the airport in advance, online if possible. You might get some good deals. MSL sells the NX2 Card which offers up to 30% discounts for travel on National Express coach services in Britain.

#Buy stationery in Malaysia as it is much cheaper.

#Purchase international editions of your textbooks here if possible, as they are cheaper. You can also buy them second-hand from your seniors.

#Scout around for phonecards that let you make cheap calls home. www.phonecardsforsale.com allows students studying in the US to buy cards cheaply. Your ISIC is also a phone card offering LOW COST phone calls with ISIConnect

#If travelling within the country, look out for deals and packages online.

#Familiarise yourself with the local public transport system. And if you can walk to a destination, do so.

#Look at the university noticeboard for second-hand items (books, electrical appliances) that you can purchase.

Look out for:

#Inadvertent racist or sexist remarks. They are very much frowned upon in the US and UK.

#Credit card trap. It is easy to swipe your card without realising how low your funds are getting.

#Alcohol. The legal drinking age in the US is 21. Also, drinking is a common social activity in both countries, so exercise self-control, and decline if you are not comfortable.

#Dodgy accommodation. If you are living off-campus, do sufficient research before deciding to stay somewhere.
ALWAYS STAY SOME WHERE WHERE YOU ARE SAFE & COMFORTABLE

#Contracts. When signing up for plans or deals (handphone call plans, accommodation, etc) make sure you read the fine print. You don?t want to end up losing money instead of saving.

#Being on time is expected; functions and events do not follow the ?Malaysian time? concept.

Departure checklist:

Travel tickets from MSL Travel

Passport

University admission letter

Bank drafts in your name (especially for UK students) and sufficient cash for at least one week

Medical report (especially for UK students)

An extra set of clothing in your hand luggage

Contact information for your university (not in your check-in luggage)

Visit the MSL Travel Website:
www.msltravel.com

MSL Travel offers great student fares for students travelling for education. MSL student fares come with additional baggage allowance.

Ten tips for studying abroad

IT IS your first day in a foreign land. You are not too sure where to go, what to eat or which bus route to take. You pull out your glossy little Lonely Planet guidebooks and curse yourself for not trawling through more of these before flying halfway across the globe.

Of late, more and more young people are taking up the option of studying abroad as exchange students, eager to take on the role of globetrotting scholars.

Now, being an exchange student can be very exciting and an important highlight in one?s academic journey. It is also a character building opportunity as youngsters learn to be independent in a place filled with unfamiliar faces.

However, from experience, I have discovered that exchange students have a unique set of concerns to contend with and, without adequate preparation, may end up experiencing a bumpy ride.

1. What to pack

How can you possibly know what you will need for the next six to 12 months?

Should you pack along a duffel bag filled with instant noodles and your favourite John Grishams? What if they don?t have Kit Kat bars where you are going?

Be practical and pack only what you need. You are not going to read all those paperbacks and survive on instant noodles when you are trying to experience a new culture.

Remember, food is every country?s biggest love affair and the best way to participate in a local culture is to eat its food.

Find out what the weather is like and bring suitable clothes. If you plan to jungle-trek and camp, bring outdoor attire and a sleeping bag.

Can?t live without your trusty hair dryer? Check if you will need to bring a power adaptor. The same goes for your handphone charger.

As you pack, throw in some ziplock plastic bags and keep your toiletries sealed in them.

You can also keep your camera and films in these, for if all else gets wet, there will still be proof of your fun-filled trip, all the way to the photo album!

Another must-have is a first aid kit. Choose one made of fabric like soft canvas for easy storage.

If you need to bring along specific medicine, make sure you have sufficient supplies. Label the medicine clearly and carry with you the necessary prescriptions. Customs officers might get suspicious of packets of unlabelled pills in your possession.

Also, pack along a palm-sized sewing kit as wear and tear can take its toll on your backpack and clothes.

2. Carry identification

Apply early for your passport and visas, and photocopy all identification documents before you leave your home country. Give one set to your parents and another to your home country?s exchange programme counsellor.

Keep at least one set for yourself. This makes it easier to process another batch of identification should the original documents get lost or stolen when you are away from home.

Never keep the copies together with the originals.

Also, make it a point to register with the nearest embassy or consulate upon arriving at your host country. This will make your presence known in case of an emergency.

3. Health matters

Ensure that you have sufficient medical insurance to cover various needs, particularly if you plan to indulge in high-risk sports such as jumping off towers and racing down rivers.

Identify your host country?s immunisation requirements, and see your physician, dentist and optometrist prior to your departure. It is also advisable to take along an optical prescription, in case you need to order new glasses or contact lenses.

If you need to see a doctor while abroad, consult with locals first, or you may well end up with a huge bill.

4. Research your host country

It is essential to get your facts right, especially when it comes to practical information such as the average cost of living, latest exchange rate and the best way to move around. Some students are keen to take up part-time jobs abroad.

Whatever it is, be it making sense of a subway map or finding out about a special work visa, the host country?s exchange programme counsellor is often the best person to consult.

Take the effort to find out about your host country?s geography, people and culture. Knowing your host country?s problems and current national affairs will help you communicate better with the locals.

Speaking of communication, the choice of country in the first place depends on a student?s desire ? or hesitation ? to speak in a foreign language. For instance, if you wish to learn Spanish or take up French, make sure you know at least the basics of the language before you pack and go, unless you wish to look like a lost tourist with the IQ of a cupcake.

Bear in mind that some countries are notorious for their insistence on ?helping? foreigners polish up language skills by speaking only in their language.

5. Getting over culture shock

Alas, no matter how much research you?ve done, you are still bound to experience a certain measure of culture shock once you are there. Almost everyone abroad goes through this ? from getting used to the food and language to buying fruit and figuring out how to cross the road without breaking the law.

Basically, there are four stages of culture shock ? the ?honeymoon?, rejection, adjustment and recovery. The ?honeymoon? sees you enthralled by the exotic sights before you. Once your initial passion diminishes, however, you will start to feel frustrated, edgy and a tad homesick.

Among the few things you can do to get through this period is to expect the unexpected. Allow yourself the liberty to mess up ? it is impossible to fit into a new culture immediately, no matter how hard you try.

Make friends with other exchange students as well as local ones. Group together and organise outings like a weekend getaway, a game of tennis or even a carefree night out in the city.

And finally, be ready for anything. You never know when you may find yourself in the midst of a local custom your guidebooks did not warn you about. Keep your sense of humour and an open mind, but set limits. If local customs involve dancing on broken glass or eating fermented squids and you?re just not up to this, respectfully decline.

6. Academic freedom

In many Asian countries, university students find their academic paths set for them ? there is not need to consider options because decisions are made for them.

In contrast, students in Europe manage their own academic affairs and are given a great deal of freedom to choose courses.

But don?t let this throw you off balance. You will soon come to terms with the system and discover the advantages of being able to develop according to your interests.

7. Living on a budget

Most exchange students are on a tight leash where budget is concerned but do not fret. There are ways to eat out without having to spend like a duke.

Forget tuxedoed waiters, crystal chandeliers and leather-bound menus ? look beyond these luxuries and start ?eating on the cheap?. Check out where local students and average Joes eat. Authentic local cuisine need not be expensive if you know where to go.

Ultimately, takeouts are the way to go for anyone on a really strict budget, so be sure to identify bakeries and mini-marts close to where you live.

As for accommodation, in-campus hostels are the best choice if you are looking for safe, affordable accommodation, plus the chance to socialise with your peers.

The next best bet is sharing an apartment with other students.

Again, check with your host country?s exchange programme counsellor and look out for notices put up on bulletin boards reserved for students.

8. Keeping records

Documenting your experience abroad is a must! Pen your thoughts about the places you visit and the people you meet.

A fantastic way to beef up your journal is to accompany your jottings with a collection of ?trip bits? ? subway maps, phone cards, ticket stubs, restaurant receipts and even playful sketches of, say, views from your apartment window or you at the beach with sand between your toes. Have your journal close at hand when you need to take down street directions, scribble out restaurant suggestions or exchange contact information with new friends. This is another way to spice up your travel memoirs.

9. A little piece of home

Try to bring souvenirs from your hometown ? key chains, postcards and little trinkets with a local flavour. These gifts are easy to carry and excellent gestures of appreciation. You can give these inexpensive gifts to, say, a helpful taxi driver or an innkeeper who points out a fantastic cafe known only to locals.

Last but not least, don?t forget to pack along pictures of your family and friends back home as they do wonders for striking up conversation with new friends.

10. ISIC

Usually, students on exchange programmes are bitten by the wanderlust bug. For example, if you are studying in Paris and enjoying life as a baguette-and-Brie backpacker traversing all over France, why not go the extra mile and see the rest of Europe?

For many, nothing is more associated with youth travel than owning an ISIC (International Student Identity Card) ? you immediately become part of a global community made of millions of students who share a passion for travel and adventure.

The card allows you access to over 30,000 discounts and benefits in at least 100 countries worldwide, including access to a 24-hour multilingual emergency helpline service.

For more information on ISIC, visit www.msltravel.com

You can apply for the ISIC at MSL Travel. You require:
a. complete an application form
b. Attach PROOF of your full-time student status
c. MYR 20.00

Information & Application Form can be downloaded from the MSL Website:
www.msltravel.com

MSL Offers Student Fares ... check it at the MSL website.

Your Say: Hygiene is a 'dirty' word

MALAYSIANS (well, at least some of us) seem unclear on the difference between cleanliness and hygiene.

Here?s an example: You soak a rag in water mixed with laundry soap, and use it to wipe a table where food was served. For many, that?s cleanliness.

However, do that repeatedly and that rag, having scraped up all sorts of little leftovers, surely becomes infested with germs and other unsavoury microbes. That?s unhygienic. But this, unfortunately, is routine at most roadside stalls.

With such a standard of hygiene, it?s obviously a dirty word to many Malaysians, especially those who can?t understand the fuss until they start throwing up or are diagnosed with cholera.

The MMS reports sent to us reflect the state of hygiene in Malaysia: The dirty back lane stall, the cat sleeping by the vegetables in a grocer?s market, and the rubbish strewn all over the roadside in a small town. Hygiene is an alien concept.

Then again, most Malaysian stomachs have been toughened and their immune systems boosted after having eaten at these places for so long. It?s the tourists who suffer, if they dare venture to eat there. ? Ed.

Welcome to Malaysia

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