Saturday September 27, 2008 MYT 6:39:59 PM
Mother-tongue education in Malaysia would be better developed if it were not politicised, MCA deputy president Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy said.
He said its politicising had brought about many obstacles that restricted its development.
“Mother-tongue education in this country could have seen more improvement,” he said Saturday at the launch of SJK (C) Kuen Cheng 2 here. Chan said the country needed to rectify the situation by looking at the issue from a different perspective.
“If we can look at it as a platform that develops human capital, I am sure it would have done better,” he said.
He said no one could deny the importance of the Chinese language any longer due to various global developments including the success of the Beijing Olympics and the launch of Shenzhou 7 space mission.
“In 1970s, many people, including Chinese leaders, agreed that Chinese was just a communication tool among the Chinese.
“However, if anyone were to have the same thinking these days, it will only show how ignorant they are,” he said.
September 27, 2008
September 21, 2008
Doing Malaysia proud in Dubai
Monday September 22, 2008
Malaysian Muhammad Ahmad Zahid’s mesmerising recital of the Quran has helped him win the best recitation category at the 12th edition of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (Dihqa).And the 13-year-old hafiz (a person who knows the Quran by heart) was given the honour of reciting verses of the Quran at the prize-giving ceremony graced by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the end of the competition yesterday.Looking smart in a baju Melayu and songkok, Muhammad, from Sekolah Darul Hikmah in Ampang, Selangor, was all smiles as he was congratulated by government officials, fellow contestants and others who were at the Cultural and Scientific Association Centre, the venue of Diqha, in Al Mamzar.Muhammad took three years to memories the Quaran. - Bernama
The teenager, who took three years to memorise the Muslim holy book, received his prize at a separate ceremony a few days ago.The overall winner of the Dihqa, which began early this month, was Yemeni Fares Al Aagam, followed by Libya’s Noor Al Deen Al Younsi and Khalid Al Ainati from Kuwait.The first three winners of the Quran recitation competition received 250,000 dirham (RM235,000).A total of 85 contestants took part in the competition.
Muhammad said he began memorising the Quran at seven.
“It was really tough in the beginning but it got easier along the way. And a keen interest in what I was doing also helped me greatly,” he said.
He counted his legal adviser father and mother, a dentist, as among his biggest supporters.
Asked what were his secrets of success, Muhammad said: “Hard work, doa (prayers) and perseverance.”Besides Dubai, his talent had taken him to places like Austria where he was invited for a Quranic performance in 2006.He often receives invitations to lead in prayers at mosques in Malaysia.The teenager, who spent much of Ramadan in Dubai, said he was looking forward to returning home to be with his family for the remainder of the fasting month and Aidilfitri celebrations.
TS
Malaysian Muhammad Ahmad Zahid’s mesmerising recital of the Quran has helped him win the best recitation category at the 12th edition of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (Dihqa).And the 13-year-old hafiz (a person who knows the Quran by heart) was given the honour of reciting verses of the Quran at the prize-giving ceremony graced by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the end of the competition yesterday.Looking smart in a baju Melayu and songkok, Muhammad, from Sekolah Darul Hikmah in Ampang, Selangor, was all smiles as he was congratulated by government officials, fellow contestants and others who were at the Cultural and Scientific Association Centre, the venue of Diqha, in Al Mamzar.Muhammad took three years to memories the Quaran. - Bernama
The teenager, who took three years to memorise the Muslim holy book, received his prize at a separate ceremony a few days ago.The overall winner of the Dihqa, which began early this month, was Yemeni Fares Al Aagam, followed by Libya’s Noor Al Deen Al Younsi and Khalid Al Ainati from Kuwait.The first three winners of the Quran recitation competition received 250,000 dirham (RM235,000).A total of 85 contestants took part in the competition.
Muhammad said he began memorising the Quran at seven.
“It was really tough in the beginning but it got easier along the way. And a keen interest in what I was doing also helped me greatly,” he said.
He counted his legal adviser father and mother, a dentist, as among his biggest supporters.
Asked what were his secrets of success, Muhammad said: “Hard work, doa (prayers) and perseverance.”Besides Dubai, his talent had taken him to places like Austria where he was invited for a Quranic performance in 2006.He often receives invitations to lead in prayers at mosques in Malaysia.The teenager, who spent much of Ramadan in Dubai, said he was looking forward to returning home to be with his family for the remainder of the fasting month and Aidilfitri celebrations.
TS
September 19, 2008
Transvestite teacher to be transferred
Friday September 19, 2008
A TEACHER who admitted in a Syariah Court in Bachok last Sunday to taking part in a beauty contest for transvestites would not be returning to teaching, but would be transferred to an administrative post, Berita Harian reported.
Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom said transvestite teachers were not suitable for the job.
Teachers, he said, had to be good role models for their students.
"This case will be given priority because it could damage the pro-fessional image of teachers," he said.
He said the decision would be finalised by the Education Ministry's disciplinary committee, which is chaired by the secretary-general.
Alimuddin was responding to a report on the teacher being hit with a RM1,000 personal and a good behaviour bond for two years by the Bachok Syariah Court on Sunday.
A TEACHER who admitted in a Syariah Court in Bachok last Sunday to taking part in a beauty contest for transvestites would not be returning to teaching, but would be transferred to an administrative post, Berita Harian reported.
Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom said transvestite teachers were not suitable for the job.
Teachers, he said, had to be good role models for their students.
"This case will be given priority because it could damage the pro-fessional image of teachers," he said.
He said the decision would be finalised by the Education Ministry's disciplinary committee, which is chaired by the secretary-general.
Alimuddin was responding to a report on the teacher being hit with a RM1,000 personal and a good behaviour bond for two years by the Bachok Syariah Court on Sunday.
Ministry urged to reconsider decision on SPM timetable
Friday September 19, 2008
By KAREN CHAPMAN
Parents and students are asking the Education Ministry to reconsider its decision not to change the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) timetable.
Many wrote to The Star to complain about the timetable which they claimed gave students insufficient rest-time between papers.
On Nov 18, SPM candidates would be sitting for Additional Mathematics 1 from 8am to 10am, Additional Mathematics 2 (10.30 am to 1pm) and Moral Education 1 or Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah Education 1 (2pm to 4.30pm.)
The parents and students want the Moral Education 1 paper to be rescheduled to Nov 19.
Mother Chris Au appealed to the ministry to be more sensitive to the needs of the students.
"These students will be mentally exhausted and their hands will also be tired after writing for so long for the Additional Mathematics papers," she said.
Student Lisa Ho said she and her classmates had complained to their teacher after getting the timetable last month.
She said that students have to write a lot as they need to answer eight structured questions and two essay questions within two-and-a-half hours.
As a teacher and father, A. Lai said he thanked education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom for his suggestion that the Moral Education 1 and Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah Education 1 papers be held half-an-hour later than stated in the SPM timetable.
"Instead, I hope the ministry will issue a notification for the adjustment of dates for the Moral Education 1 paper.
"The chief invigilator at each examination centre can then inform the students and there would be no need for the papers to be reprinted," he said.
Lai said changing the paper to another day should not disrupt the flow of the timetable, he said, adding that students would benefit from the decision.
On Tuesday, Alimuddin said the Moral Education 1 and Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah Education 1 papers would now be held half-an-hour later.
He said the examination had to finish by 5pm as it would be dark in in rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak by then.
On why the Moral Education 1 paper could not be postponed to Nov 19, Alimuddin said this was because the examination dates had already been approved and the question papers printed.
There are a total of 141 question papers for the 110 subjects that would be be offered during the SPM, which will be held from Nov 11 to Dec 5.
TS
By KAREN CHAPMAN
Parents and students are asking the Education Ministry to reconsider its decision not to change the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) timetable.
Many wrote to The Star to complain about the timetable which they claimed gave students insufficient rest-time between papers.
On Nov 18, SPM candidates would be sitting for Additional Mathematics 1 from 8am to 10am, Additional Mathematics 2 (10.30 am to 1pm) and Moral Education 1 or Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah Education 1 (2pm to 4.30pm.)
The parents and students want the Moral Education 1 paper to be rescheduled to Nov 19.
Mother Chris Au appealed to the ministry to be more sensitive to the needs of the students.
"These students will be mentally exhausted and their hands will also be tired after writing for so long for the Additional Mathematics papers," she said.
Student Lisa Ho said she and her classmates had complained to their teacher after getting the timetable last month.
She said that students have to write a lot as they need to answer eight structured questions and two essay questions within two-and-a-half hours.
As a teacher and father, A. Lai said he thanked education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom for his suggestion that the Moral Education 1 and Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah Education 1 papers be held half-an-hour later than stated in the SPM timetable.
"Instead, I hope the ministry will issue a notification for the adjustment of dates for the Moral Education 1 paper.
"The chief invigilator at each examination centre can then inform the students and there would be no need for the papers to be reprinted," he said.
Lai said changing the paper to another day should not disrupt the flow of the timetable, he said, adding that students would benefit from the decision.
On Tuesday, Alimuddin said the Moral Education 1 and Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah Education 1 papers would now be held half-an-hour later.
He said the examination had to finish by 5pm as it would be dark in in rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak by then.
On why the Moral Education 1 paper could not be postponed to Nov 19, Alimuddin said this was because the examination dates had already been approved and the question papers printed.
There are a total of 141 question papers for the 110 subjects that would be be offered during the SPM, which will be held from Nov 11 to Dec 5.
TS
35,000 teachers to be hired to meet acute shortage
Thursday September 18, 2008
Thirty-five thousand new teachers will be recruited by the Education Ministry to meet the acute shortage of trained teachers in primary and secondary schools.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail, who announced this, said the recruitment was vital to improve the teacher-to-classroom ratio from 15:10 to 17:10.
Stressing a point: Razali (seated centre) speaking to reporters while behind him are representatives from various teachers unions in George Town yesterday.
"This move is one of the ways to lessen teachers' burden in managing their daily teaching routine," he said after meeting 72 representatives from 24 teachers unions at a hotel here yesterday.
Razali said the ministry was always prepared to listen to issues raised by the teachers unions.
Among the matters raised was the need to reduce teachers' workload.
On the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, Razali said at least 50% of students living in urban areas had shown significant progress in the subjects.
"Only those living in the rural areas are facing difficulties in coping. There is also a lack of good English teachers and the ministry is looking at these weaknesses," he said.
However, Razali said, teachers should not be entirely blamed over the issue.
"This is because all this while they have been using Bahasa Malaysia as the teaching medium. They need time to master the language," he said.
Razali also said the ministry was looking at ways to increase the number of support staff to manage computer labs.
"We need more hands to run the labs to enable teachers to concentrate on their work in classrooms," he added
TS
Thirty-five thousand new teachers will be recruited by the Education Ministry to meet the acute shortage of trained teachers in primary and secondary schools.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail, who announced this, said the recruitment was vital to improve the teacher-to-classroom ratio from 15:10 to 17:10.
Stressing a point: Razali (seated centre) speaking to reporters while behind him are representatives from various teachers unions in George Town yesterday.
"This move is one of the ways to lessen teachers' burden in managing their daily teaching routine," he said after meeting 72 representatives from 24 teachers unions at a hotel here yesterday.
Razali said the ministry was always prepared to listen to issues raised by the teachers unions.
Among the matters raised was the need to reduce teachers' workload.
On the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, Razali said at least 50% of students living in urban areas had shown significant progress in the subjects.
"Only those living in the rural areas are facing difficulties in coping. There is also a lack of good English teachers and the ministry is looking at these weaknesses," he said.
However, Razali said, teachers should not be entirely blamed over the issue.
"This is because all this while they have been using Bahasa Malaysia as the teaching medium. They need time to master the language," he said.
Razali also said the ministry was looking at ways to increase the number of support staff to manage computer labs.
"We need more hands to run the labs to enable teachers to concentrate on their work in classrooms," he added
TS
Only 10% use English to teach Maths, Science
Thursday September 18, 2008
A RANDOM survey by the Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies showed that only 10% of Science and Maths teachers used English to teach the two subjects, reported Sin Chew Daily.
The daily quoted the centre director, Voon Phin Keong, as saying that the remaining 90% of teachers used Malay and Mandarin when conducting their classes.
"These teachers found that the teaching of Science and Maths in English is not very practical," he said.
The survey showed that 20% of the teachers admitted that they lacked confidence and faced difficulties in using English.
"A Maths teacher and two Science teachers don't use English at all to teach," Voon said.
He also revealed that 8.4% of Mathematics teachers and 13.5% of Science teachers admitted that more than 80% of the classes were not conducted in English.
The respondents of the survey were 443 Mathematics and Science teachers and 787 Year Five students in 20 primary schools in three states.
It also sought the consultation of 13 principals and seven deputy principals.
He said the centre's stand is that the two subjects should be taught in the mother tongue in primary schools while secondary schools could continue using English to teach Maths and Science.
TS
A RANDOM survey by the Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies showed that only 10% of Science and Maths teachers used English to teach the two subjects, reported Sin Chew Daily.
The daily quoted the centre director, Voon Phin Keong, as saying that the remaining 90% of teachers used Malay and Mandarin when conducting their classes.
"These teachers found that the teaching of Science and Maths in English is not very practical," he said.
The survey showed that 20% of the teachers admitted that they lacked confidence and faced difficulties in using English.
"A Maths teacher and two Science teachers don't use English at all to teach," Voon said.
He also revealed that 8.4% of Mathematics teachers and 13.5% of Science teachers admitted that more than 80% of the classes were not conducted in English.
The respondents of the survey were 443 Mathematics and Science teachers and 787 Year Five students in 20 primary schools in three states.
It also sought the consultation of 13 principals and seven deputy principals.
He said the centre's stand is that the two subjects should be taught in the mother tongue in primary schools while secondary schools could continue using English to teach Maths and Science.
TS
Out to even the score
Thursday September 18, 2008
By ALLAN KOAY
Women are excelling in previously male-dominated arenas.
IT'S no longer a man's world today, that's for sure. Many women have entered professions which were previously perceived as solely male domains.
The message is clear, women are saying to the men: "Whatever you can do, we can too, maybe even better."
More recent examples include Linda Cook, director of gas and power on Shell's executive committee. Women consist of only 11% of total directorships of blue chip firms in Britain's FTSE 100 index. But they're there, and Cook's position is all the more notable in an industry with a perceived masculine image.
Then there's Angela Merkel, the first woman to be chancellor of Germany who ranks number one on Forbes' list of the world's 100 most powerful women.
Women today are aiming for the world stage. Three women who are not inclined to just sit back and be perceived as the fairer sex speak to Star Two.
Commercial airline pilot
Nur Moana Ishak is flying high these days, literally. She is one of the first female commercial airline pilots in Malaysia and is now a first officer with AirAsia.
Her small frame belies her ability to control and fly multiple-tonne hunks of metal high above the earth. She says she certainly gets surprised reactions from people.
"At first, they don't believe me because of my size," she says, smiling. "When I meet people and tell them I work with AirAsia, they immediately respond, 'Stewardess?' I'd tell them 'no, I fly the aircraft'. I do get that a lot."
Her interest started when she was 11 years old. She says she loves the sound of the aircraft engine, for reasons she herself can't explain.
Defying stereotypes: When commercial airline pilot Nur Moana Ishak tells people she works with AirAsia, they automatically assume that she is a flight attendant.
"At first, I wanted to become a fighter pilot," she reveals. "I sent in my application but was unsuccessful. Then I applied to be a commercial airline pilot. After finishing school, I had my training in Malacca at the Malaysian Flying Academy. I went through 15 months of intensive study, both theory and practical, and had to accumulate 200 hours of flight."
Nur Moana was one of the pioneer batch of female pilots to graduate from the MFA. She recalls that there were only three women in her batch of 21 students.
In AirAsia, there are currently 10 female pilots, while three are still in training. Asked if her male colleagues treat her differently, Nur Moana says they treat as just one of the guys.
"During training, everyone has to be on par with each other."
For Nur Moana, the most difficult thing about flying is going through bad weather, which is when her skills are really put to the test. But she says the responsibility towards her passengers is really what drives her confidence.
"It drives me further to take them safely to their destination," she says.
While some pilots might think that commercial flights are not "real flying," because everything is programmed, Nur Moana believes otherwise. The human touch is always needed, she says.
"We still have to monitor the system, every minute, every second," she says.
As for being one of the very few female pilots in the country, she says: "I do feel proud of what I've achieved. I've had this dream since I was a kid."
Malaysia's top female rock climber Salfarina Mohd Drus in action during the X-Games Asia in Shanghai, China last year.
Rock climber
Anyone who has followed the Asian X-Games would be familiar with Salfarina Mohd Drus, Malaysia's No.1 female rock climber. At 26, she ranks 58 in the world and seventh in the Speed Category at the Asian X-Games. She has also been a semi-finalist in the Expert Difficulty Category in the World Cups held in Singapore and Malaysia.
Salfarina says she has been interested in climbing since her school days. Back then she did a lot of mountaineering and trekking, before a friend introduced her to wall-climbing.
"It was only after I finished school that I actively participated in competitions," she says. "In 2000, I won a competition in the novice category. I enjoyed it so much that I persevered until the advanced level."
Salfarina, who works as a full-time instructor, is currently in grade 7A; the highest and toughest grade in rock-climbing is 9A. In competitions, the men are usually given higher grades to climb.
She participates in international competitions four to five times a year. She says European competitors are the toughest to beat because they actively compete around the world. She trains three times a week for local competitions, but for international ones, she trains eight hours a day, six days a week.
Rock climber Salfarina sometimes competes in the men's events, despite the tougher grade.
But she laments the lack of competitions in Malaysia, especially for women. Locally, there are currently six women climbers who are actively competing, although when she started out, there were 15 to 20.
"Sometimes I have to compete with the guys because there are no women's competitions here. Usually the organisers don't allow it, but I plead with them," she laughs.
The men's grades are higher than the women's, therefore it's psychologically and physically tougher to compete with the guys.
"But I can't just stop at competing with women. For me, that's not enough. I need to beat the guys!" she says with a snigger.
When asked how many male competitors she has beaten before, she replies: "Oh, many."
And how do they take being beaten by a woman?
"Some of them are quite shy about it and some tell me, 'Sal, you're not a girl!' But still, they are supportive and we learn together," she says with a big smile.
Artist
Lee Hui Ling is the daughter of famous artist/sculptor Lee Kian Seng. At the young age of 26, Lee has already had shows in Kuala Lumpur and New York. She had her first solo exhibition in KL when she was only 19.
The young prodigy currently works out of a studio in New York. She was the recipient of the prestigious Sarah Lawrence College Board of Trustees Scholarship and the Gaylord Donnelley Family Scholarship.
Hailing from Klang, Selangor, Lee says she was homesick a lot when she first went to New York to study at Sarah Lawrence College, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States.
"But the exposure was wonderful," she says. "You get to see all kinds of art. It was good to see other people's art and to see where you stand. Also it was a big culture shock. When I first got there, I was such a country bumpkin!"
New York-based artist Lee Hui Ling held her first solo exhibition in Kuala Lumpur at the age of 19.
She spent a lot of time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, did a lot of sketches and hung around galleries.
After college, she continued to develop her art, had a couple of shows, and also presented some papers for the Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention in 2005 and 2007. She decided to base herself in New York because she finds it "an amazing place, full of vibrant energy and creative people."
Lee's first exhibition in KL in 2001 featured her paintings of people and places in Klang, and by her third exhibition in 2003, her work had grown in maturity, with a collection of sceneries, flowers and sculptures done in charcoal, ink, watercolours and oils.
As for growing up with parents who are artists (her mother, Shoko Lee, is an illustrator), she says: "Naturally you get lots of advice, a lot of insider tips and a lot of know-how. And the best art materials!"
Lee says even though there's great support for the arts in New York, and there's no shortage of exhibition spaces, an artist has to keep working and be original.
"You have to have your own vision, and you must know what you're about, what you're doing, and what you want to show to the public," she says.
She says she has to constantly challenge herself to do new things and to explore different mediums and subjects.
"It's always been a matter of expressing my personal style," she explains.
"I feel that there are the yin and yang energies within us and it manifests itself in the artwork according to the intention of the artist."
These young Malaysian women were selected by Dutch Lady to inspire other women in its "It Starts in Me" campaign.
TS
By ALLAN KOAY
Women are excelling in previously male-dominated arenas.
IT'S no longer a man's world today, that's for sure. Many women have entered professions which were previously perceived as solely male domains.
The message is clear, women are saying to the men: "Whatever you can do, we can too, maybe even better."
More recent examples include Linda Cook, director of gas and power on Shell's executive committee. Women consist of only 11% of total directorships of blue chip firms in Britain's FTSE 100 index. But they're there, and Cook's position is all the more notable in an industry with a perceived masculine image.
Then there's Angela Merkel, the first woman to be chancellor of Germany who ranks number one on Forbes' list of the world's 100 most powerful women.
Women today are aiming for the world stage. Three women who are not inclined to just sit back and be perceived as the fairer sex speak to Star Two.
Commercial airline pilot
Nur Moana Ishak is flying high these days, literally. She is one of the first female commercial airline pilots in Malaysia and is now a first officer with AirAsia.
Her small frame belies her ability to control and fly multiple-tonne hunks of metal high above the earth. She says she certainly gets surprised reactions from people.
"At first, they don't believe me because of my size," she says, smiling. "When I meet people and tell them I work with AirAsia, they immediately respond, 'Stewardess?' I'd tell them 'no, I fly the aircraft'. I do get that a lot."
Her interest started when she was 11 years old. She says she loves the sound of the aircraft engine, for reasons she herself can't explain.
Defying stereotypes: When commercial airline pilot Nur Moana Ishak tells people she works with AirAsia, they automatically assume that she is a flight attendant.
"At first, I wanted to become a fighter pilot," she reveals. "I sent in my application but was unsuccessful. Then I applied to be a commercial airline pilot. After finishing school, I had my training in Malacca at the Malaysian Flying Academy. I went through 15 months of intensive study, both theory and practical, and had to accumulate 200 hours of flight."
Nur Moana was one of the pioneer batch of female pilots to graduate from the MFA. She recalls that there were only three women in her batch of 21 students.
In AirAsia, there are currently 10 female pilots, while three are still in training. Asked if her male colleagues treat her differently, Nur Moana says they treat as just one of the guys.
"During training, everyone has to be on par with each other."
For Nur Moana, the most difficult thing about flying is going through bad weather, which is when her skills are really put to the test. But she says the responsibility towards her passengers is really what drives her confidence.
"It drives me further to take them safely to their destination," she says.
While some pilots might think that commercial flights are not "real flying," because everything is programmed, Nur Moana believes otherwise. The human touch is always needed, she says.
"We still have to monitor the system, every minute, every second," she says.
As for being one of the very few female pilots in the country, she says: "I do feel proud of what I've achieved. I've had this dream since I was a kid."
Malaysia's top female rock climber Salfarina Mohd Drus in action during the X-Games Asia in Shanghai, China last year.
Rock climber
Anyone who has followed the Asian X-Games would be familiar with Salfarina Mohd Drus, Malaysia's No.1 female rock climber. At 26, she ranks 58 in the world and seventh in the Speed Category at the Asian X-Games. She has also been a semi-finalist in the Expert Difficulty Category in the World Cups held in Singapore and Malaysia.
Salfarina says she has been interested in climbing since her school days. Back then she did a lot of mountaineering and trekking, before a friend introduced her to wall-climbing.
"It was only after I finished school that I actively participated in competitions," she says. "In 2000, I won a competition in the novice category. I enjoyed it so much that I persevered until the advanced level."
Salfarina, who works as a full-time instructor, is currently in grade 7A; the highest and toughest grade in rock-climbing is 9A. In competitions, the men are usually given higher grades to climb.
She participates in international competitions four to five times a year. She says European competitors are the toughest to beat because they actively compete around the world. She trains three times a week for local competitions, but for international ones, she trains eight hours a day, six days a week.
Rock climber Salfarina sometimes competes in the men's events, despite the tougher grade.
But she laments the lack of competitions in Malaysia, especially for women. Locally, there are currently six women climbers who are actively competing, although when she started out, there were 15 to 20.
"Sometimes I have to compete with the guys because there are no women's competitions here. Usually the organisers don't allow it, but I plead with them," she laughs.
The men's grades are higher than the women's, therefore it's psychologically and physically tougher to compete with the guys.
"But I can't just stop at competing with women. For me, that's not enough. I need to beat the guys!" she says with a snigger.
When asked how many male competitors she has beaten before, she replies: "Oh, many."
And how do they take being beaten by a woman?
"Some of them are quite shy about it and some tell me, 'Sal, you're not a girl!' But still, they are supportive and we learn together," she says with a big smile.
Artist
Lee Hui Ling is the daughter of famous artist/sculptor Lee Kian Seng. At the young age of 26, Lee has already had shows in Kuala Lumpur and New York. She had her first solo exhibition in KL when she was only 19.
The young prodigy currently works out of a studio in New York. She was the recipient of the prestigious Sarah Lawrence College Board of Trustees Scholarship and the Gaylord Donnelley Family Scholarship.
Hailing from Klang, Selangor, Lee says she was homesick a lot when she first went to New York to study at Sarah Lawrence College, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States.
"But the exposure was wonderful," she says. "You get to see all kinds of art. It was good to see other people's art and to see where you stand. Also it was a big culture shock. When I first got there, I was such a country bumpkin!"
New York-based artist Lee Hui Ling held her first solo exhibition in Kuala Lumpur at the age of 19.
She spent a lot of time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, did a lot of sketches and hung around galleries.
After college, she continued to develop her art, had a couple of shows, and also presented some papers for the Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention in 2005 and 2007. She decided to base herself in New York because she finds it "an amazing place, full of vibrant energy and creative people."
Lee's first exhibition in KL in 2001 featured her paintings of people and places in Klang, and by her third exhibition in 2003, her work had grown in maturity, with a collection of sceneries, flowers and sculptures done in charcoal, ink, watercolours and oils.
As for growing up with parents who are artists (her mother, Shoko Lee, is an illustrator), she says: "Naturally you get lots of advice, a lot of insider tips and a lot of know-how. And the best art materials!"
Lee says even though there's great support for the arts in New York, and there's no shortage of exhibition spaces, an artist has to keep working and be original.
"You have to have your own vision, and you must know what you're about, what you're doing, and what you want to show to the public," she says.
She says she has to constantly challenge herself to do new things and to explore different mediums and subjects.
"It's always been a matter of expressing my personal style," she explains.
"I feel that there are the yin and yang energies within us and it manifests itself in the artwork according to the intention of the artist."
These young Malaysian women were selected by Dutch Lady to inspire other women in its "It Starts in Me" campaign.
TS
September 01, 2008
D-G: More scientists needed
Monday August 25, 2008
Malaysia needs a ratio of at least 60 researchers, scientists and engineers to every 100,000 people to achieve Vision 2020, said Higher Education Department director-general Prof Datuk Dr Ir Radin Umar Radin Sohadi.
He said the current ratio is 17 to 100,000 people as compared to Singapore that has 87 and United Kingdom with 76.Higher learning: The group of Malaysian students who will leave for universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland after attending the preparatory programme in Kuala Lumpur yesterday."At only 17, we simply don't have the numbers. The research field in the country is a rather 'vague' field. Other developed countries practice an industrial-based research and development field."Students who are studying overseas need to come back and serve the country to reach the critical mass of such experts," he said.
He was speaking at a preparatory programme for local students who will leave for universities in Britain and Ireland organised by the ministry at the Putra World Trade Centre here, yesterday.
Other panel members were Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department director Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Razak and Maybank chief executive Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar."Some of us want to stay (in the foreign country) to further studies or just to prolong the cultural experience there.
This should be taken in a positive light but eventually, the students must come back," said Prof Radin.He added that students who opted to remain a few more years at the foreign country would then come back with more experience."This way, it will be 'brain gain' instead of 'brain drain'," he said.An equally important issue, said Prof Radin, was "burnout" before graduation.
"The students have studied so hard to achieve excellent results. Once they reach university, they are already exhausted," he said, adding that balance in studies and life was important.
TS
Malaysia needs a ratio of at least 60 researchers, scientists and engineers to every 100,000 people to achieve Vision 2020, said Higher Education Department director-general Prof Datuk Dr Ir Radin Umar Radin Sohadi.
He said the current ratio is 17 to 100,000 people as compared to Singapore that has 87 and United Kingdom with 76.Higher learning: The group of Malaysian students who will leave for universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland after attending the preparatory programme in Kuala Lumpur yesterday."At only 17, we simply don't have the numbers. The research field in the country is a rather 'vague' field. Other developed countries practice an industrial-based research and development field."Students who are studying overseas need to come back and serve the country to reach the critical mass of such experts," he said.
He was speaking at a preparatory programme for local students who will leave for universities in Britain and Ireland organised by the ministry at the Putra World Trade Centre here, yesterday.
Other panel members were Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department director Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Razak and Maybank chief executive Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar."Some of us want to stay (in the foreign country) to further studies or just to prolong the cultural experience there.
This should be taken in a positive light but eventually, the students must come back," said Prof Radin.He added that students who opted to remain a few more years at the foreign country would then come back with more experience."This way, it will be 'brain gain' instead of 'brain drain'," he said.An equally important issue, said Prof Radin, was "burnout" before graduation.
"The students have studied so hard to achieve excellent results. Once they reach university, they are already exhausted," he said, adding that balance in studies and life was important.
TS
Varsity expansion good for Score
Monday August 25, 2008
KUCHING: The state's demand for a highly educated and trained workforce, particularly for its regional corridor of development, will be partly met by the Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) was expected to create 1.6 million jobs by 2030 in 10 high-priority sectors including petroleum, aluminium, metal and glass production, tourism and engineering.
"The demand for highly-skilled human resources for the industrialisation of Sarawak is both a challenge and a huge opportunity for us," he said at the opening of Swinburne Sarawak's expanded campus at Jalan Simpang Tiga here on Saturday.
Taib said the new RM110mil facilities had taken tertiary education in Sarawak to a higher level.
"Today, Sarawakians do not have to travel abroad to further their studies," he said.
Earlier Swinburne University of Technology chancellor Bill Scales said the opening of the expanded campus marked a new chapter for Swinburne Sarawak and thanked the state government for inviting Swinburne Australia to establish a campus in Sarawak eight years ago
The expanded campus has eight new buildings including the Chancellery, lecture theatre, student hostels and a multi-purpose hall
TS
KUCHING: The state's demand for a highly educated and trained workforce, particularly for its regional corridor of development, will be partly met by the Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) was expected to create 1.6 million jobs by 2030 in 10 high-priority sectors including petroleum, aluminium, metal and glass production, tourism and engineering.
"The demand for highly-skilled human resources for the industrialisation of Sarawak is both a challenge and a huge opportunity for us," he said at the opening of Swinburne Sarawak's expanded campus at Jalan Simpang Tiga here on Saturday.
Taib said the new RM110mil facilities had taken tertiary education in Sarawak to a higher level.
"Today, Sarawakians do not have to travel abroad to further their studies," he said.
Earlier Swinburne University of Technology chancellor Bill Scales said the opening of the expanded campus marked a new chapter for Swinburne Sarawak and thanked the state government for inviting Swinburne Australia to establish a campus in Sarawak eight years ago
The expanded campus has eight new buildings including the Chancellery, lecture theatre, student hostels and a multi-purpose hall
TS
Foundation picks 50 undergrads for scholarships
Wednesday August 27, 2008
Fifty undergraduates have been selected to receivescholarships worth RM2mil by the Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation thisyear.Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who isfoundation chairman, said the good response and increased quality ofthe applicants had resulted in 20 more recipients being awarded thisyear."This is a prestigious and exclusive scholarship. The recipients mustmeet strict criteria and go through a rigorous selection processbefore they can be declared Tunku Scholars," he said after launchingthe ministry-level Merdeka celebrations at Universiti Putra Malaysiain Serdang near here.This year, a total of 816 applications were received with 508 meetingthe criteria. Of this number, 100 were short-listed to attend a campand 68 were called for an interview.The scholarships are offered annually to undergraduates who havecompleted their first year of study at public or private universities.The scholarships cover all the students' fees as well as a livingallowance of RM1,000 per month. The foundation also provides a RM500book allowance per semester and an annual return air ticket for Sabahand Sarawak students studying in the peninsula and vice versa.The foundation was set up in 1966 to provide financial assistance totertiary-level students. Since 2006, the foundation has been givingout scholarships instead of educational loans.
TS
Fifty undergraduates have been selected to receivescholarships worth RM2mil by the Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation thisyear.Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who isfoundation chairman, said the good response and increased quality ofthe applicants had resulted in 20 more recipients being awarded thisyear."This is a prestigious and exclusive scholarship. The recipients mustmeet strict criteria and go through a rigorous selection processbefore they can be declared Tunku Scholars," he said after launchingthe ministry-level Merdeka celebrations at Universiti Putra Malaysiain Serdang near here.This year, a total of 816 applications were received with 508 meetingthe criteria. Of this number, 100 were short-listed to attend a campand 68 were called for an interview.The scholarships are offered annually to undergraduates who havecompleted their first year of study at public or private universities.The scholarships cover all the students' fees as well as a livingallowance of RM1,000 per month. The foundation also provides a RM500book allowance per semester and an annual return air ticket for Sabahand Sarawak students studying in the peninsula and vice versa.The foundation was set up in 1966 to provide financial assistance totertiary-level students. Since 2006, the foundation has been givingout scholarships instead of educational loans.
TS
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