DISQUS

kiasu andrew · 2 years ago

ish.

Cat-chan · 2 years ago

With regard to Datuk Rafiah Salim: What on earth? The way she addressed you guys, it sounded as if she was talking to a bunch of pre-schoolers, not young adults. Geez. And honestly, what is one supposed to do when one doesn't agree with the status quo, if not protest? Or does she want us to use a synonym for it? *blinks*

That aside, the whole talk does sound very good and I wish I'd been able to make it back to go for it. Such is life, I guess. As soon as I leave the country lots of really interesting things happen. Humbug. Being smack in the middle of my second sem doesn't help either. rar.

Otherwise, have a great time~ All the best from down under! =^^=

kiasu andrew · 2 years ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Boos and catcalls greeted Datuk Rafiah Salim when she said public university students had the freedom to express their thoughts and ideas.
Several hundred dissenting voices rang out when the Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor, when taking a question from the floor, said there was "no such thing as students being unable to address their concerns".

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/N...

Michelle · 2 years ago

Typical... typical...

Lalita · 2 years ago

I'm trying to place Dr Shamsul - I am so sure he was one of my lecturers at UKM! Unfortunately, I cannot find a pic of him to jog my memory. Uni seems like it was so-oooo many years ago - yeah, 10 years next April.
It's really encouraging to hear that youngsters are making an effort to ask questions and familiarise themselves with the systems etc of the country (aiyah, make me sound so old!!!). It would be so nice to see a Malaysia of equal rights and no discrimination. It would be great if Utopia did become a reality. Or am I being to idealistic??!! Malaysia is a wonderful beautiful place to live - except for the damn discrimination. I miss it more than I can say.

Lalita · 2 years ago

Hi Su Ann, it's me again. I found a pic of Dr Shamsul! Remember him now - short-ish bloke - had him as one of three lecturers sharing a course. Phew - that would have bugged me!

lishun · 2 years ago

glad it went well. be sure to let the organisers know you enjoyed it ok?

sheon · 2 years ago

if i went to such a summit....i'd end up in ISA. i think they did a background and character check on me back then, thats why i never got invited to attend such conventions!

but....good for you to have had such a chance. envy envy....

Asyraf Lee · 2 years ago

Maybe I should turn into a politician and turn this country into something else, republic maybe.

Then everyone calls me Bapak Asyraf.

Then probably something would happen, for a better change.

Then again, I might end up being another lobbyist.

wilzc · 2 years ago

HAHAHA lovely sleeping pics!!!!
whoah shit.. theyre still DOING THIS SHIT!!!
MAN!! years and years and yeaaaarrrs ago..
when the summit was held in Johor!!! i represented the Selangor contigent... Perhimpunan Pemimpin Pelajar konon...
great.. great memories there..... ahahha..
met new chick.. strolled around the beaches (stayed in a beach resort) at 1am wif her, nearly got caught by uztaz making a round, then found out she was 2 years my senior the next mornin :D

sheon · 2 years ago

Sigh....most of you ppl here are still not eligible for voting. You guys are the apparent new generation of think-tankers malaysia so badly need.

My generation still has alotta political ignorant voters, thanks to the obsolete education/propaganda system malaysia have implemented since merdeka. it saddens me everyday to see how deeply injustice has saturated into the fabric of our nation.

happy merdeka everyone...........

kennysia · 2 years ago

Wah! Why you go and boycott the TV3 Environmentalist's speech! You don't care about global warming do you, Miss Su Ann?!

whisperer · 2 years ago

Very good write-up, like an old hand. And summed it up excellently with that 2 pics. You left the pros banging their heads on the wall :D Way to go, lady.

jimmy · 2 years ago

isn't nazrin shah the guy who rejected state funding for his wedding?

i think he should be appointed as pm hehe

Michael · 2 years ago

wtf!!!i oso wan to go~then i can ask some whopping questions!!!
yeah~i cant go...cos i came from some "extremist chinese schools" that emm..disagree with the gov so many years ago~ Emm...i like the "Boos" part~boo~~~~

sheon · 2 years ago

yes, DYTM Dr Nazrin Shah...........respect.........(and he's quite a looker too!...and so is his wife....woohoo)

Jon · 2 years ago

This is a great summit, i really wish i can fly back to Malaysia to attend such summit. All the influential people in their certain field. I do agree that some people are knowledgeable, but they just have some problem dispersing their aura of knowledge to the ...reminds me of all the professors in my course...

and all this summits are very "sleepable"...**ponders on the pictures**

Jeff from LA · 2 years ago

Wow, you must be pretty well-connected to be able to get in on as influential a symposium as this one seems to be. How did they choose the student-participants?

Also, I wish that we would have some equivalent symposium in the U.S. where significant political/corporate leaders would speak on the leading issues of the day.

Jeff from LA · 2 years ago

I also feel that it is truly sad that the VC of UM feels that it is necessary to censor and restrict the freedom of speech of its students. If no one protested injustices, no one would know about them, and if no one learned of them, who would fight against them? Also how can students develop independent thought if they are forced to conform to the viewpoints that are "accepted by the university." I am glad that you guys were smart and brave enough to boo her.

Jun · 2 years ago

jt a note of caution about conferences as such, esp when political interests come to play, and what's more, targeting at students, who are usually the easiest lot to brainwash. of course, all the topics are thundering and evoke utopian hopes among participants, but here's hoping that those who attend are able to sieve thru the speeches for any hidden messages :) gosh i sound like a cynic don't i? ;p

Chris · 2 years ago

Eh PinkPau, I link you through Facebook and UKECOnline on this post yeah? thanks thanks =P

Michelle · 2 years ago

And that lady Rafiah Salim deserves to be booed.......
If our education system is so uniform, they should have put more Chinese and Indian elements into our history textbooks instead of bombarding them with 6 topics of Islamic studies....
And if it is so uniform, then my teachers would have encouraged us to enter local unis....
And if it is SO uniform, why the hell the quota system is still floating around like a buoy in our waters of Malaysian education system?????

clem · 2 years ago

sounds like a really interesting summit, though i'd only come for tony fernandes. air asia x baby!

Jeff from LA · 2 years ago

*threadjack alert*

Su Ann, you also need to see the Bourne Ultimatum. It is really a well-filmed thinking man's thriller.

pinkpau · 2 years ago

andrew : haha i cant believe they actually highlighted that. good on NST

cat chan : she probably meant we should submit a nice black-and-white, make some follow up emails and phone calls, schedule a meeting for civilised discussion. haha. hey shouldnt you be on holidays now? when do nz students go on hols?

michelle : what is?

lalita : haha this dr shamsul guy is pretty funky! he must have made a cool lecturer. but his jokes were like really lame :P

lishun : already have :D

sheon : i dont understand; why would you end up in the ISA for attending a summit?

asyraf lee : bapak asyraf hahahha eh do it lah do it!!!

wilzc : was yours organized by UKEC too? and how did you avoid the uztaz! also, why is there an uztaz making rounds??

sheon : for now, us under-21s can still make a difference and create awareness :) thankfully we're not handicapped by our youth. but then of course we cant wait to be eligible to vote

kennysia : i care i care :( :( :(

whisperer : haha i didnt mean to say that the summit was boring by putting up those 2 pics :P coz it wasnt!

jimmy : YES that's the guy!

michael : you can go wan lah :) many of the participants are not pro-status quo anyway.

jon : no no no i didnt intend to imply that the summit was boring!! it was really interesting in fact. even the less powerful speakers held our attention due to the good content presented

jeff : she didnt exactly say it was necessory to restrict freedom of speech, but it is a wellknown fact that malaysian universities do not actually encourage or stimulate thought and debate within their student body. such a system gives birth to an unthinking, mild and opinionless majority; and so when questioned about the validity of this, the VC denied it. she's just face-saving, i suppose, what with the presence of media in the hall and all

jun : there was very minimal brainwashing going on, but i think this summit would have been the wrongest place to attempt that :P

chris : sure go ahead!

michelle : ya exactly. i anxiously await the day such biased policies will be removed.

clem : haha his session was awesome

jeff : it isnt out here yet, but will most definitely catch it when it is!

sheon · 2 years ago

pinkpau: i'll be detained under ISA coz i would be too trigger happy in bombarding the panel with questions.....highly volatile questions. :)

aiman · 2 years ago

i'm really glad you enjoy the summit. after all the hard work... its very nice to read ur comment on it, that people enjoy/benefit from it. =)

songjun · 2 years ago

sheon: dont think you'd go to ISA because ur not a political activist and anyway this forum was meant to ask questions. Its a good thing that the UKEC ppl have good credibility (and also times have changed in this country) or not this forum would not have been possible at all.

pau: eh i spoke to some of my friends regarding the UKEC prez, he used to be a debator haha apparently my friend picked up debating skills from him

melvin · 2 years ago

nice to meet u in nikko. wish we could have chatted more but not enough time. anyway i cabut after lunch time on sat itself..and went to PC fair at KLCC..haha. thanks for the review above:)

songjun · 2 years ago

michelle : as much as we hate this racial thingy.. we have to understand that our country is still very young and is rather diverse. All multi racial countries have their birthing pains ( Look at the US in history, numerous numerous problems including the period of when there were lots of WHITES only institutions.)

So far, the only REAL pain we've had so far is the 1969 riots. Multi racial USA had civil wars, slave labour, racial fights, prohibition, many riots ( watch gangs of new york, although not a historicaly accurate movie, the animosity depicted is correct at that time).

As u can see also, the US had no prior 'imperial ' experiences such as the French, Dutch and English thats why their causing a big fuck up in places they shouldnt be whereas the british know how to deal with 'locals in a war' from experience.

So people, like shi huang ti, although known as a tyrant and iron fisted, one has to understand that sometimes, small unethics have to be done to stabilise the big picture before one can move on from then.

Personally, although still with the quota system and crap, i still see the chinese and indians making it out there. We're a resilient and hard working lot. And yes our education system may produce no very VOCAL people, it will take time. And anyway, its not just the system, 30% is the system , 70% is your own personality and effort :)

songjun · 2 years ago

Actually lucky didnt call the police in to have a talk :P SURE kena lambasted left right center hahaha

Michelle · 2 years ago

songjun: Well, we still can make it but then how about those people out there who had to enter to local public universities because their parents couldn't afford to send them to private universities or abroad?

I mean, just look at the problems which arise every year due to the quota system. The Chinese who apply to become doctors fail to become doctors and end up in what... accounting?
It is just plain dumb excuses the local unis are giving like "Oh, this course is fully occupied!" and "Oh this course is this and that..." and "Oh, they miss out an A!" while they give full liberty to their own people even though they got only an A.

Yes, I do agree the fact that we can still swim our way through these sharks but how about those who can't? Are they going to die there and let their talents be restricted because of these sharks who simply bite at people with them?

And this quota system is also the factor that Malaysia football is in a devastating position. And other things too.....

Even though our country does not suffer from intense racial problems but if you're involved in such procedures, such discrimination is palpable.

cher wee · 2 years ago

good entry, gal.

Cat-chan · 2 years ago

Black-and-white emails, phone calls, meetings... bzuh? but where's the fun in that? Jokes aside... I just find it kinda sad. Have you heard about that fiasco regarding the "Negarakuku" rap? It's a video on youtube by a M'sian student studying in Taiwan and it mocks the current situation in M'sia. So much for parody.

I had 2 weeks off at the end of June/beginning of July. I go on holiday properly at the end of the year, starting in mid-Nov, which goes on until mid-Feb the next year. NZ unis tend to stint on hols in the middle of the year. Oh, and I get a week off at the end of August. That'll be my mid-semester break. *cries* I started in July! Where's the time gone?

All the same, have fun~ =^^=

songjun · 2 years ago

michelle : lol my dear, even to enter in medicine overseas right, they have a quota. And its a common misconception that those who dont score too well dont get in, most of the students on scholarship here (malays included) are really top class students. Yes, there maybe a few that dont get all A's and get in compared to many other races who are 'more deserving' to get in..

but let me ask you. If you were chinese in China, and at least 60% of the wealth of the country is in the hands of 20% of the minority.. u as the 80% majority of the country wont you do something about it? Yes i agree its unfair. And yes , it kinda makes the malays handicapped. But without the initial boost .. do u think there will be a middle class of malays now?

Its a phase our country is going thru. Once there is a big enough middle class of educated and well fed malays, these people will be the ones to rise up and implement a newer unbiased system.

songjun · 2 years ago

and eh. Life is unfair anyway.

And as inhumane and mean as it may sound..

Its the survival of the fittest. Always has been. Always will be.

sheon · 2 years ago

songjun: i agree that, somehow the quota system is 'necessary' for the sake of the country. however, not with the expense of the students that REALLY deserved it! The quota system if implemented as it is, i believe will gain more supporters. But, when politics and racial sentiments come into the equation, how can you reason when a 4A's student gets scholarship and a 11A1's student doesnt? I can attest to this, my ex is a straight A1 student, she only secured the medicine scholarship frm PSD becoz the family is politically connected (still have to pay some kopi duit nonetheless). her classmates consist of some of the top non-bumi students around the country, BUT, her bumi classmates ranges from 11A1s, to 3-4As. They are the bottom of the class for every exams, and they cant even speak proper english.
I have a bunch of engineers reporting to me, bumi+chinese+indian....most are from UTM......the bumi engineers, cant even construct a decent English phrase off their tongues! how do you expect me to take them seriously? how do you expect me to let them attend meetings on my behalf?
yes, quota. but at least make sure the ones taking up their allocated seats deserve it, and not become a farce to their eventual profession.

songjun · 2 years ago

sheon : lol if u think that those ppl cant speak english is a problem.. wait till you talk to people in europe. 70% of people in europe do not speak english. 80 - 90 % may understand you, but only 40 % roughly can actually reply u decently.

There are lots of german, italian and french professionals who dont speak a word of english but are yet fluent in other euro languages (ie in their local homeground per se) So yes, before i came to the UK i also had the impression that everyone in the world spoke english.. especially in europe.

Not true at all lol

songjun · 2 years ago

And i dare say in italy, public schools stop teaching english after primary school. Some italian from Tuscany i hitched a ride with said that most italians his age only learn english until that level.

He's quite old though (circa 40) so maybe the system has changed now

Jeff from LA · 2 years ago

I'm not sure the fact that German, Italian, and French professionals do not speak English is an excuse for others not to learn English. These professionals can function perfectly in their own home countries while being unable to speak English, but if they wish to engage in international business, or work outside their countries, they must be able to speak at least a minimum amount of English.

As business becomes more globally interconnected, the inability of French, German, or Italian professionals to speak English will put them at a greater and greater disadvantage. It is true that not everyone in the world speaks English, but excluding Chinese, English is becoming more and more the lingua franca of the modern world.

Jeff from LA · 2 years ago

Of course, by this, I definitely do not mean that everyone should be required to speak English, merely that in today's world, it can definitely be economically advantageous to do so.

sheon · 2 years ago

everything here is in English. The building/structure design code that all engineers here adhere to is in english. all meetings are conducted in english. all reports are presented in english. all correspondence are in english. all drawings are in english. Only ONE question in my mind: "does he/she understand what he is doing/told to do?"....

those european countries are different. germany for instance, their technology is so advanced, the rest of the world is gasping just to keep up. they can afford to be ignorant to the english language. japan, china, russia....they are all able to stand on their own.
malaysia is different, we NEED foreign input, we NEED foreign technology, we NEED foreign funds, we NEED foreign support. and what is the universal language? english. If i hire an engineer to help me run the show, do i have to hire another interpreter to help his comprehension?
and......all engineering courses (in malaysia) are in english medium (as far as i know)....and you know lar..all the technical jargon and stuff, how is it possible, that a student can fully understand what is taught in class and in the text book, if he/she doesnt even speak english? let alone graduate and practise.......

Michelle · 2 years ago

I do agree with sheon regarding this matter about the foreign input.
And yes, songjun, life is unfair but it doesn't mean the government should make it worst.
We can learn to accept it but it has taken a toll on a lot of the non bumiputera. I, being a seventeen year old girl, feels the pressure too living in such a state where everything is in the quota.
And those parents out there including mine, are striving in this dilemma too because they don't get what they give. They pay like so many taxes and the privileges end up in the hands of others. ( You get what I mean )
The scholarship system is too biased, I must say. They only give to their own kins and push us to the sidelines.
And if this were to go on and on, when can our country be free from the wraths and the label, "Third World Country"?

And, to add note, we cannot compare ourselves to countries of the European Union. Try speaking our National Language in the States. Do you think that they will understand? If you were to converse French in the States, they will. It is one of the world's prime languages, you know. And like what sheon said, we still depend on foreign input.

And this will not end until the government decides to use local talents in a just manner and not shun us aside with the quota system.

Michael · 2 years ago

ok.
I study in a private chinese school.
I never had any gov help.
My A-levels cert are recognised all over the world,
except Malaysia, my home country.
I had the honour to being offered scholarships
from many countries. again except Malaysia.
Now i'm studyin in HK. Everyone is equal.
Everyone is free.
Why should i live in the quota system,
while there is other place that treat me fairly.
So if u ask me would i go back
and contribute to my home country?
No. i surely wont.
Or maybe one day, as a corrupted politician.

wilzc · 2 years ago

aha, coz they heard noises out on the beach when they were having chats wif the guards at desaru. Cant really remmeber lar, im old, its too long ago. All i know is i got in trouble coz they saw mw scramble into cover. I was wearing a red cap and im the only one having a red cap.

Organized by who? i cant remember, all i know is i was stationed in johor, had many boring seminars, met many local leaders. Represented Selangor along with say 30-40 others?? the trip lasted a good few days i think. t'was a blast coz we went wild!. i remember one of the guys who represented penang was this upper6 guy from St.Xavier's in penang and he sneaked out, took a cab from johor to singapore to meet his girlfriend and never came back ahhahahahaha.

Jayelle · 2 years ago

ohmigod!! u know waikin one ar?
he was my junior in school..:) was supposed to meet up with him before he left for US. oh well. small world;D

johnleemk · 2 years ago

Re the quota system, etc.: this is why you guys should have gone for the summit. A lot of this stuff was apparently hashed out in the NEP discussion group, and Prof Shamsul from UKM did a good job of providing some intellectual backdrop for these things.

Suffice it to say that there is a middle ground, but unfortunately this middle ground is often unpalatable to both sides of the political divide. Malaysia cannot have a pure meritocracy yet, but at the same time neither can it have apartheid. At the moment, we are closer to apartheid than we are to meritocracy, but switching to pure meritocracy would, IMO, be almost just as bad.

Michael · 2 years ago

So, since 2 sides would be just at bad, thats why i leave this country. My favourite quote "I love my country, but my country dont love me". i cant fight the system, and it would be impossible for me to "join" the system. So, the only way is to leave the system.

shuey · 2 years ago

dato' johan r0x0rs. come come join PwC, su ann.. whilst i'm still there. or ask ur hottie friends to apply..

em · 2 years ago

if you give up and leave the system, the system will never get better.
this country is better than it seems, if you walk away, you will never be able to discover what it trully has to offer.

shuey: yes dato johan yum... kam yummier... some PwC people actually tried recruiting us by the bus loads, even after we told them we're no where near graduating yet...!!!

shuey · 2 years ago

well.. i wished i had the opportunity to attend such a summit. would've been an eye-opener. lucky u

em: haha! we're always looking for new people. the cycle never stops. well, if any of you peeps decide on the accountancy..well, u know where to go :)

pinkpau · 2 years ago

shuey : only if i get to work directly under johan raslan wtf /shameless

hanna · 2 years ago

it was nice to be able to read a good review. planned to go for the MSLS, but didn't make it. looks like it was a good one and i wish i went!

anyway, just wanted to say contrary to popular believe (on this comments page) the forum was open to all students and not merely by invitation only.

Alex · 2 years ago

hihi...
amaizingly you are closely connected with me through your friendship with amy..
hehe..
she is my ex-high school mate and we are in the same class...
i saw you during the time you taking andrew's sleeping picture..
and i am the blur face beside it..
hehe...
karam singh is one of the best speaker...
hehe...you really miss it...
i am looking forward for next year's MSLS..
are you?
take care..

from
Alex

Angeline · 2 years ago

have a nice time at s'pore hey? Not sure if you're still here tho.

pinkpau · 2 years ago

hanna : you so should have gone :( i dont think i've seen you since that first time at Big Boss' place!

alex : haha hello blur-faced friend of amy! do you mean amy soon? and yeah i so regret missing karam singh walia's speech!

angeline : i had a great time :) just arrived home yesterday.