The online applications to public universities of three former SMK Seri Teja students will not be affected although their eight choices had all been changed to Islamic Studies by an unidentified hacker.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung gave the assurance after receiving their appeal letters.
“We will process their applications based on their choices and not their online applications that were tampered,” he told reporters after attending the dialogue between MCA leaders and Chinese guilds and associations leaders at Wisma MCA yesterday.
He said the ministry was looking into the online system to ensure that this incident did not recur.
Last Friday, the university hopefuls were shocked to find their online applications had all their eight choices changed to Islamic Studies. They were also unable to amend the changes.
The students said they had received SMSes from an unidentified person who admitted to making the changes to their applications
March 18, 2009
Students’ online application for public varsity tampered with
Three university hopefuls were shocked to find their online applications to public universities tampered with.
The former SMK Seri Teja students, who had just received their STPM results on Thursday, had all their eight choices filled with Islamic Studies.
To make matters worse, they were unable to amend the changes.
Chow Hon Mun, 21, said they could only make changes to the details on the online application website three times.
“I panicked when I could not make any changes and told my teachers about it,” said Chow when met at the Gopeng MCA service centre yesterday.
“My teachers then advised me to lodge a police report,” he said, adding that his first choice was engineering and that he had no intention of taking up Islamic Studies.
Chow added that recently he and his two friends had also received SMSes from an unidentified person who admitted to making the changes to their applications.
“I initially thought it was a prank but soon realised the person was telling the truth,” he said, adding that he was puzzled that the person had managed to procure confidential information about him and his two friends.
The other two victims were Chai Yick Loong, 21, and Ang Chun Heng, 20.
Chai said he wanted to take up an engineering course, and hoped the Higher Education Ministry could help them with their predicament.
Ang said he wanted to change the list back to his primary choices before the public university acceptance application ends on March 23.
“I hope the relevant authorities will upgrade the security system on the website so that it won’t be so easily hacked by people,” he added.
Gopeng MCA division chief Albert Chang said he would refer the matter to Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung.
“We will help them gather all their result slips, application forms and official school letters and send the documents to Dr Hou through our education bureau,” said Chang.
He urged all public university hopefuls to check their online applications to ensure their forms were not tampered with.
The former SMK Seri Teja students, who had just received their STPM results on Thursday, had all their eight choices filled with Islamic Studies.
To make matters worse, they were unable to amend the changes.
Chow Hon Mun, 21, said they could only make changes to the details on the online application website three times.
“I panicked when I could not make any changes and told my teachers about it,” said Chow when met at the Gopeng MCA service centre yesterday.
“My teachers then advised me to lodge a police report,” he said, adding that his first choice was engineering and that he had no intention of taking up Islamic Studies.
Chow added that recently he and his two friends had also received SMSes from an unidentified person who admitted to making the changes to their applications.
“I initially thought it was a prank but soon realised the person was telling the truth,” he said, adding that he was puzzled that the person had managed to procure confidential information about him and his two friends.
The other two victims were Chai Yick Loong, 21, and Ang Chun Heng, 20.
Chai said he wanted to take up an engineering course, and hoped the Higher Education Ministry could help them with their predicament.
Ang said he wanted to change the list back to his primary choices before the public university acceptance application ends on March 23.
“I hope the relevant authorities will upgrade the security system on the website so that it won’t be so easily hacked by people,” he added.
Gopeng MCA division chief Albert Chang said he would refer the matter to Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung.
“We will help them gather all their result slips, application forms and official school letters and send the documents to Dr Hou through our education bureau,” said Chang.
He urged all public university hopefuls to check their online applications to ensure their forms were not tampered with.
Decision known by mid-April on language for Maths and Science
The Cabinet is expected to make a decision on the language of instruction for Mathematics and Science in mid-April.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hisham-muddin Tun Hussein said this was the earliest he could possibly present it to Cabinet, in reference to whether the teaching of the two subjects continues in English or reverts to Bahasa Malaysia and mother tongue (Chinese and Tamil).
"There is no hurry anyway as we have spent RM3bil since the introduction of the policy in 2003."- DATUK SERI HISHAMMUDDIN TUN HUSSEIN EDUCATION MINISTER
“It is not possible to table it this Friday as a memorandum is being circulated to various ministries for feedback.
“There is also time to hear what the delegates have to say at the Umno assembly next week,” he told The Star.
Hishammuddin said parent-teacher associations nationwide were also holding their annual meetings and he had asked that they make this a part of their agenda.
“There is no hurry anyway as we have spent more than RM3bil since the introduction of the policy in 2003,” he said.
Almost 100,000 teachers were involved and over six million students had gone through the policy, he added.
“Two-and-a-half months since the release of the UPSR results for the first cohort (who were taught the two subjects in English from Year One in 2003) is not long,” he said.
On a report in online news portal, Malaysian Insider, quoting sources that the policy was likely to revert to Bahasa Malaysia and mother tongue for primary schools, Hishammuddin said this was not possible.
“Any policy decision must go through the Cabinet. The decision in 2003 was also made by the Cabinet,” he said.
Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom urged the public to refrain from speculating on the policy.
“A memorandum on the policy was circulated to several ministries for feedback last week,” he said.
The Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (ETeMS or better known by its Malay acronym, PPSMI) policy was implemented in phases, beginning with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students in 2003 during the tenure of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
It was reported last week that Dr Mahathir defended the use of English to teach Science and Mathematics, saying it was necessary to ensure Malaysia could keep up with the rest of the world.
He said it would be better for people to know the language so they could get the information themselves.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hisham-muddin Tun Hussein said this was the earliest he could possibly present it to Cabinet, in reference to whether the teaching of the two subjects continues in English or reverts to Bahasa Malaysia and mother tongue (Chinese and Tamil).
"There is no hurry anyway as we have spent RM3bil since the introduction of the policy in 2003."- DATUK SERI HISHAMMUDDIN TUN HUSSEIN EDUCATION MINISTER
“It is not possible to table it this Friday as a memorandum is being circulated to various ministries for feedback.
“There is also time to hear what the delegates have to say at the Umno assembly next week,” he told The Star.
Hishammuddin said parent-teacher associations nationwide were also holding their annual meetings and he had asked that they make this a part of their agenda.
“There is no hurry anyway as we have spent more than RM3bil since the introduction of the policy in 2003,” he said.
Almost 100,000 teachers were involved and over six million students had gone through the policy, he added.
“Two-and-a-half months since the release of the UPSR results for the first cohort (who were taught the two subjects in English from Year One in 2003) is not long,” he said.
On a report in online news portal, Malaysian Insider, quoting sources that the policy was likely to revert to Bahasa Malaysia and mother tongue for primary schools, Hishammuddin said this was not possible.
“Any policy decision must go through the Cabinet. The decision in 2003 was also made by the Cabinet,” he said.
Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom urged the public to refrain from speculating on the policy.
“A memorandum on the policy was circulated to several ministries for feedback last week,” he said.
The Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (ETeMS or better known by its Malay acronym, PPSMI) policy was implemented in phases, beginning with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students in 2003 during the tenure of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
It was reported last week that Dr Mahathir defended the use of English to teach Science and Mathematics, saying it was necessary to ensure Malaysia could keep up with the rest of the world.
He said it would be better for people to know the language so they could get the information themselves.
March 15, 2009
School with one pupil all set for relocation
A Chinese school with only one student in Batu Pahat will be relocated to Horizon Hills in Nusajaya next year, said MCA vice-president Tan Kok Hong.
The relocation of SJK (C) Ming Chih would begin next month and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Tan said the first phase of the project would be a canteen and a four-storey building which would have 16 classrooms, a library, computer room and science laboratories.
He said the school would be able to accommodate 1,200 pupils.
He said the sole student of the school was in Year Six this year and they hoped to take a fresh batch of students by 2010.
“The registration for Year One to Year Three students for the school will be held next week at SJK (C) Pei Hwa and SJK (C) Kuo Kuang 2,” he told reporters after the presentation of plans for the school in Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club here yesterday.
Tan added that the 2ha land and the construction cost for the school would be borne by Gamuda Land and UEM Land, which jointly developed Horizon Hills.
Tebrau MCA deputy chairman Senator Khoo Soo Seang said he would apply for tax exemptions for the building so the money could be channelled to improving the school later.
Gelang Patah MP Tan Ah Eng, who was also present, said the new school would support the needs of pupils as the population in Nusajaya was growing rapidly.
Horizon Hills senior marketing manager Jim Woon said they hoped to continue working with the MCA and school authorities to organise charity drives to raise funds for construction of following phases.
TS
The relocation of SJK (C) Ming Chih would begin next month and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Tan said the first phase of the project would be a canteen and a four-storey building which would have 16 classrooms, a library, computer room and science laboratories.
He said the school would be able to accommodate 1,200 pupils.
He said the sole student of the school was in Year Six this year and they hoped to take a fresh batch of students by 2010.
“The registration for Year One to Year Three students for the school will be held next week at SJK (C) Pei Hwa and SJK (C) Kuo Kuang 2,” he told reporters after the presentation of plans for the school in Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club here yesterday.
Tan added that the 2ha land and the construction cost for the school would be borne by Gamuda Land and UEM Land, which jointly developed Horizon Hills.
Tebrau MCA deputy chairman Senator Khoo Soo Seang said he would apply for tax exemptions for the building so the money could be channelled to improving the school later.
Gelang Patah MP Tan Ah Eng, who was also present, said the new school would support the needs of pupils as the population in Nusajaya was growing rapidly.
Horizon Hills senior marketing manager Jim Woon said they hoped to continue working with the MCA and school authorities to organise charity drives to raise funds for construction of following phases.
TS
February 07, 2009
Check matric status online
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school-leavers who have applied for the Matriculation Programme for 2009/2010 can check the status of their applications via the Educa—tion Ministry’s website at http://www.moe.gov.my from Feb 9 to 20.
Applicants who applied by filling in the optical mark reader (OMR) form or through the Internet can also amend and check their particulars and the stream of studies by logging on to the same website.
Students are required to key in their identity card number or Examination Board Number and their SPM index number.
They can also call the Matriculation Division’s helpline at 03-8884 4100 between 8.30am and 4pm on weekdays
Applicants who applied by filling in the optical mark reader (OMR) form or through the Internet can also amend and check their particulars and the stream of studies by logging on to the same website.
Students are required to key in their identity card number or Examination Board Number and their SPM index number.
They can also call the Matriculation Division’s helpline at 03-8884 4100 between 8.30am and 4pm on weekdays
Check matric status online
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school-leavers who have applied for the Matriculation Programme for 2009/2010 can check the status of their applications via the Educa—tion Ministry’s website at http://www.moe.gov.my from Feb 9 to 20.
Applicants who applied by filling in the optical mark reader (OMR) form or through the Internet can also amend and check their particulars and the stream of studies by logging on to the same website.
Students are required to key in their identity card number or Examination Board Number and their SPM index number.
They can also call the Matriculation Division’s helpline at 03-8884 4100 between 8.30am and 4pm on weekdays
Applicants who applied by filling in the optical mark reader (OMR) form or through the Internet can also amend and check their particulars and the stream of studies by logging on to the same website.
Students are required to key in their identity card number or Examination Board Number and their SPM index number.
They can also call the Matriculation Division’s helpline at 03-8884 4100 between 8.30am and 4pm on weekdays
No certs – and no school
Ten-year-old K. Tharsini wants to go to school. But she can't.
The Arutperum Jothi Children's Welfare Home resident does not have a birth certificate.
And despite an Education Ministry announcement in February that children with no birth certificates can be enrolled into schools, no school will take her.
Caught in a bind: (From left) Tharsini, 10, N. Pandian, seven, S. Velan, 11, N. Roja, five and N. Dineshkumar, six, posing for journalists in Ipoh Thursday. They were all abandoned by their parents.
Her guardian Babaji Indhu Adigalar said that besides Tharsini, his four other charges aged between five and 11 years were also facing the same problem.
"I have been trying to enrol them into primary schools since 2004 but the children were turned away because they do not have birth certificates," said the 60-year-old, adding that he had documents proving the children were born in Malaysia.
Speaking to reporters from their home in Buntong here yesterday, Babaji said he thought his problems were over when the ministry made the announcement.
"However, the children and I were again left disappointed when the schools that I approached refused to admit them as they claimed there had been no circular on the matter," he added.
Babaji, who sought the assistance of Perak MIC, said the five children had been abandoned by their parents.
"Because of that, I face difficulty in getting them birth certificates," he said, adding that attempts to get in touch with the children's next-of-kin had failed.
As a result, the children have only attended kindergarten.
They are currently being home-schooled, he said, adding that he did not know what to say when the children asked him they could not attend school like their friends.
On Feb 22, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein announced in Putrajaya that the Cabinet had decided that children from estates or rural areas without birth certificates could be enrolled as long as they got a letter from the village headman or security and development committee members saying they were citizens.
All school heads have been directed to accept such pupils, he had added.
However, State MIC chairman Datuk G. Rajoo said a check with the Education Department on Monday confirmed that such a circular had not been issued.
"I urge the Ministry to do so fast as the children's future is at stake," he added.
The Arutperum Jothi Children's Welfare Home resident does not have a birth certificate.
And despite an Education Ministry announcement in February that children with no birth certificates can be enrolled into schools, no school will take her.
Caught in a bind: (From left) Tharsini, 10, N. Pandian, seven, S. Velan, 11, N. Roja, five and N. Dineshkumar, six, posing for journalists in Ipoh Thursday. They were all abandoned by their parents.
Her guardian Babaji Indhu Adigalar said that besides Tharsini, his four other charges aged between five and 11 years were also facing the same problem.
"I have been trying to enrol them into primary schools since 2004 but the children were turned away because they do not have birth certificates," said the 60-year-old, adding that he had documents proving the children were born in Malaysia.
Speaking to reporters from their home in Buntong here yesterday, Babaji said he thought his problems were over when the ministry made the announcement.
"However, the children and I were again left disappointed when the schools that I approached refused to admit them as they claimed there had been no circular on the matter," he added.
Babaji, who sought the assistance of Perak MIC, said the five children had been abandoned by their parents.
"Because of that, I face difficulty in getting them birth certificates," he said, adding that attempts to get in touch with the children's next-of-kin had failed.
As a result, the children have only attended kindergarten.
They are currently being home-schooled, he said, adding that he did not know what to say when the children asked him they could not attend school like their friends.
On Feb 22, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein announced in Putrajaya that the Cabinet had decided that children from estates or rural areas without birth certificates could be enrolled as long as they got a letter from the village headman or security and development committee members saying they were citizens.
All school heads have been directed to accept such pupils, he had added.
However, State MIC chairman Datuk G. Rajoo said a check with the Education Department on Monday confirmed that such a circular had not been issued.
"I urge the Ministry to do so fast as the children's future is at stake," he added.
February 02, 2009
Majority wants Science, Maths taught in English
Although there have been objections from sections in the public on the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, a recent poll conducted by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research suggests that the majority are for it.
Of the 1,018 participants of the Fourth Quarter 2008 Peninsular Malaysia Voter Survey, 57% agreed that the subjects should be taught in English.
“This means people recognise the importance of the language in the education system,” said the centre’s programme director Ibrahim Suffian yesterday.
He, however, added that the results were just a “scratch of the surface” because authorities should explore other aspects of the policy like the challenges it may pose to students as well as ways to improve the quality of teaching in English.
The survey also revealed that the public had mixed reaction on whether they were pleased with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s performance as Prime Minister, with 46% saying they were and another 46% expressing dissatisfaction.
Ibrahim said the results reflected the current political mode of society whereby the public recognised the Opposition as an alternative to the country’s leadership.
Some 41% of the respondents believed that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would make a good prime minister when he assumed office, as opposed to 36% who disagreed.
“The numbers show that Najib enjoys more support from the Malays compared with the non-Malays.
“This indicates that the non-Malays are still uncertain about his capabilities and are waiting to see what he can do,” Ibrahim said.
The public was also split about the newly-formed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, with 43% expressing confidence in the body to succeed in fighting corruption while another 45% were sceptical.
Of the 1,018 participants of the Fourth Quarter 2008 Peninsular Malaysia Voter Survey, 57% agreed that the subjects should be taught in English.
“This means people recognise the importance of the language in the education system,” said the centre’s programme director Ibrahim Suffian yesterday.
He, however, added that the results were just a “scratch of the surface” because authorities should explore other aspects of the policy like the challenges it may pose to students as well as ways to improve the quality of teaching in English.
The survey also revealed that the public had mixed reaction on whether they were pleased with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s performance as Prime Minister, with 46% saying they were and another 46% expressing dissatisfaction.
Ibrahim said the results reflected the current political mode of society whereby the public recognised the Opposition as an alternative to the country’s leadership.
Some 41% of the respondents believed that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would make a good prime minister when he assumed office, as opposed to 36% who disagreed.
“The numbers show that Najib enjoys more support from the Malays compared with the non-Malays.
“This indicates that the non-Malays are still uncertain about his capabilities and are waiting to see what he can do,” Ibrahim said.
The public was also split about the newly-formed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, with 43% expressing confidence in the body to succeed in fighting corruption while another 45% were sceptical.
January 28, 2009
Only 12 but Victoria has written eight books
Schoolgirl Victoria Siaw Wei Yah has been writing stories since she was nine years old.
Now, at the age of 12, she is the author of eight children's books with titles including The Lonely Lion, The Cunning Thief and The Naughty Brother.
Child author:
Victoria showing reporters some of the eight children's books which she has written since she was nine years old.
The books were published by Future Text Publications Sdn Bhd at the beginning of this year.
A Form One student at Lodge School here, Victoria said writing stories is her hobby.
"I feel good when I'm writing because it helps me express my feelings," she said, adding that it usually takes her a few hours to write a story, depending on inspiration.
She also enjoys reading and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is one of her favourite books.
As for her published stories, Victoria said about half of them started out as schoolwork while the rest were written in her spare time.
Of the eight books, the one she likes best is The Special Cake, which is about a maid who returns home after working for the Tan family. She bakes two cakes, one for herself and one for the family as a farewell gift. However, she forgets to bring her cake home and the Tans have a surprise when they eat it later.
Victoria, who wants to become a scriptwriter one day, said she is now working on a novel.
"I've written about 20 pages so far. It's about a girl who is kidnapped by a giant and the adventures she has in Giantland," she said.
According to her mother Roselind Wee, Victoria has many ideas which she turn into stories.
Wee, an English lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak, added that the initial run of 1,000 copies was intended for libraries.
Now, at the age of 12, she is the author of eight children's books with titles including The Lonely Lion, The Cunning Thief and The Naughty Brother.
Child author:
Victoria showing reporters some of the eight children's books which she has written since she was nine years old.
The books were published by Future Text Publications Sdn Bhd at the beginning of this year.
A Form One student at Lodge School here, Victoria said writing stories is her hobby.
"I feel good when I'm writing because it helps me express my feelings," she said, adding that it usually takes her a few hours to write a story, depending on inspiration.
She also enjoys reading and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is one of her favourite books.
As for her published stories, Victoria said about half of them started out as schoolwork while the rest were written in her spare time.
Of the eight books, the one she likes best is The Special Cake, which is about a maid who returns home after working for the Tan family. She bakes two cakes, one for herself and one for the family as a farewell gift. However, she forgets to bring her cake home and the Tans have a surprise when they eat it later.
Victoria, who wants to become a scriptwriter one day, said she is now working on a novel.
"I've written about 20 pages so far. It's about a girl who is kidnapped by a giant and the adventures she has in Giantland," she said.
According to her mother Roselind Wee, Victoria has many ideas which she turn into stories.
Wee, an English lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak, added that the initial run of 1,000 copies was intended for libraries.
Hopes firms will sponsor needy students
The corporate sector can help poor students continue schooling, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
He said he did not want these students to stop schooling especially during times of economic uncertainty.
"I truly hope to get the collaboration from all parties to make the educational programmes a success, especially in the outskirts. I do not want poverty to be the cause of our children not going to school," he said.
Hishammuddin said the ministry has taken several steps to counter the global inflation trend.
This included postponing projects that could not be completed within the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), he said, adding that those affected included construction of school projects with land problems.
"The projects were put on hold pending solutions to the problems and the allocation can be used for more needy programmes such as the textbooks scheme," Hishammuddin, who is also Sembrong MP, told reporters at a community programme at Felda Ulu Penggeli here yesterday.
He said the additional allocation of RM1bil obtained after the Mid-Term Review of 9MP would be used in education-development projects, focusing on outskirt areas.
"We also make sure that the supplementary assistance such as food and tuition voucher schemes of nearly RM1bil per year go into the right hands," he said.
In Johor Baru on Saturday, Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong scoffed at speculation that the construction of SJK (C) Kulai 2 was halted.
He said his ministry was adjusting the cost due to the price hike on construction materials.
hasEML = false;
He said he did not want these students to stop schooling especially during times of economic uncertainty.
"I truly hope to get the collaboration from all parties to make the educational programmes a success, especially in the outskirts. I do not want poverty to be the cause of our children not going to school," he said.
Hishammuddin said the ministry has taken several steps to counter the global inflation trend.
This included postponing projects that could not be completed within the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), he said, adding that those affected included construction of school projects with land problems.
"The projects were put on hold pending solutions to the problems and the allocation can be used for more needy programmes such as the textbooks scheme," Hishammuddin, who is also Sembrong MP, told reporters at a community programme at Felda Ulu Penggeli here yesterday.
He said the additional allocation of RM1bil obtained after the Mid-Term Review of 9MP would be used in education-development projects, focusing on outskirt areas.
"We also make sure that the supplementary assistance such as food and tuition voucher schemes of nearly RM1bil per year go into the right hands," he said.
In Johor Baru on Saturday, Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong scoffed at speculation that the construction of SJK (C) Kulai 2 was halted.
He said his ministry was adjusting the cost due to the price hike on construction materials.
hasEML = false;
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