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independent bumiputras and jpa scholarships

September 5th, 2007
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“Najib said he was confident that the day was not far away when bumiputras would come forward to tell the Government that they no longer required help. “

– wishful thinking?

“For example, the Government has been giving out JPA scholarships to more deserving non-bumiputras as we feel that non-deserving bumiputras that get help were wasting our money and time,”

– you mean all this while undeserving useless people got scholarships and its was known to the leaders? no wonder the rest of us have such faith in the system!

Independent bumiputras
source

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has expressed hope that a day will come when bumiputras will no longer need privileges from the Government.

Najib said he was confident that the day was not far away when bumiputras would come forward to tell the Government that they no longer required help.

He said he wanted to see bumiputras become more independent in carrying out their tasks and not just rely on the Government for help.

Najib, however, said that the New Economic Policy (NEP) was designed for deserving bumiputras and non-bumiputras and hoped that only deserving ones received help.

He said the NEP was to boost small-time businesses, those from the lower-income group and was not for those people who had already established their businesses.

“We want the policies in the NEP to be accepted by all ethnic groups and if there are ways to further enhance it, then please let us know,” he said in his closing remarks at the Khazanah National Development seminar yesterday.

Najib said Malaysia had come a long way in the last 50 years, and to obtain the status of Bangsa Malaysia, there was a need to “de-racialise” things by looking at the quality of a person’s personality rather than the skin colour.

“For example, the Government has been giving out JPA scholarships to more deserving non-bumiputras as we feel that non-deserving bumiputras that get help were wasting our money and time,” he said, adding that he believed if people followed that basis, then the concept of Bangsa Malaysia could be achieved.

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My wish for malaysia’s 50th independence day

August 30th, 2007
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we all have wishes, let them be big or small, grand or simple. since our 50th independence day is just few hours away, i thought of listing out my wishes for this wonderful day in our country.

1. removal of the words “gender”, “race” and “religion” in any language in all application/registration/survey/entry forms used in our country except for those that requires specific characteristics e.g. imam must be a muslim.

2. free education up to secondary school for all students regardless of type of school and location.

3. improved, seamless, reliable, energy-saving, less-polluting, and efficient public transportation system throughout the country which reduces the need for privately owned vehicles.

4. to reduce dependency on foreign workers by training the locals to be skilled.

5. to provide fair distribution of services and benefits to all deserving citizens based equal rights.

6. to reduce working hours and encourage more time for families to bond together.

7. to have sets of law that provides access to information and guarantees freedom of rights of individuals.

wishful thinking…you say?

what do you wish?

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Higher pay, better life abroad

August 27th, 2007
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i suppose the results will be same for many other professions – teachers, doctors, researchers, taxi drivers, plumbers, cooks, pilots etc.
 
basically the salary in our country has not improved in tandem with the cost of living for all kinds of jobs.
 
Higher pay, better life abroad

By K. KASTURI DEWI and ROYCE CHEAH

PENANG: By the time Malaysia achieves its expected developed nation status by 2020, the country may have a shortage of 60,000 accountants. 

The accounting industry is already feeling the pinch as several countries are luring Malaysian accountants with salary offers of four times their earnings here. 

Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) Penang branch chairman Adelena Lestari Chong said the industry faces the big challenge to retain these accountants.  

“Other than higher salaries, Malaysian accountants are also drawn to the quality of life in countries such as Australia and Britain,” she told The Star. 

She said China has the most number of Malaysian accountants working there, adding that other countries pinching these professionals include Singapore and the Middle East countries. 

“This is making it difficult for local companies to employ qualified accountants. 

“If the trend continues, the country would be short of 60,000 accountants by 2020,” said Chong. 

Ernst & Young Malaysia partner Simon Kua said the phenomenon was due to globalisation and that it was not just Malaysia losing its accountants. 

“For example, Singapore loses its accountants to China and the rest of the world. So, our accountants end up going to Singapore to fill the gap there.” 

Accounting firm KPMG partner Ooi Kok Seng said a ccountants from Malaysia were sought because their qualifications conform with the globally-recognised International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). 

“Being multi-lingual, our accountants also have the advantage,” he said.  

Malaysian accountant Kelvin Yap, who now works in Britain, said while the higher salary was enticing; it was more the international exposure and greater opportunities that took him there. 

Long-term success, measured by wealth or professional recognition, made the offer by a British recruiter three years ago irresistible, he said in an e-mail interview. 

He used to work with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Kuala Lumpur for three years before moving to London, saying that the job progression is good despite people thinking there would be a glass ceiling for non-English professionals. 

Yap, 26, from Petaling Jaya, now works as an investment professional in HarbourVest Partners, a global private equity of funds.

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Stories of those without birth certificates

August 27th, 2007
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Uncertain future for those without papers
 
S. Mariamma is stateless because her birth was never registered.
S. Mariamma is stateless because her birth was never registered.

KUALA LUMPUR: M. Vishnu, 7, has never seen his mother..

Soon after his birth, she went back to Indonesia with promises of coming back with other documents to register his birth.

Lilik Yulianingsih, an Indonesian who married M. Maran from Puchong in a common law marriage in 2000, has not returned — and Vishnu still does not have a birth certificate.

All efforts to contact her over the years have proved futile.

Her neighbours in Surabaya told Maran that she had moved.
"The officers at the National Registration Department told me that I needed the child’s mother to register him. I have looked for her and waited seven years. I’m worried about my son’s future," said the 33-year-old.

Facing the same dilemma is G. Prema, 32, from Ipoh who could not register her eldest daughter’s birth four years ago as her marriage had not been registered.

But it was different when her second daughter was born recently.

"I took a bus to the NRD in Putrajaya. I showed them my wedding photos and explained the situation to them and managed to get a birth certificate for her," she said.

However, her eldest has yet to get a birth certificate.

S. Mariamma, 26, is stateless as her birth was never registered.

She cannot prove that she was born here as she was sent away to work as a child.

"I was seven and was studying in a Malay school when I had to stop schooling and work at our neighbours’ homes.
"As I got older, I stayed with a family and worked full-time. I soon lost contact with my family," she said.

When she was 12, her employer brought her back to see her father for Deepavali.

"I bought a shirt for my father and gave him RM50. That was the last time I saw him," she said.

"Being a stateless person, I am always at the mercy of others. I have worked for a family who made me sleep at the entrance to their house where they put their shoes.

"They walk over me and treat me like a door mat," she said, adding that her mother left them when she was young.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Indian

Not every Chinese is rich

August 24th, 2007
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The MCA is fed up with the thinking that all chinese are rich and being made scapegoat by others. Even though the chinese have higher income levels in the country, not all are rich or well off. And to think that MIC says " indians are well off" 🙂
 
But i respect the effort by the people interviewed below – taking insurance policy, focused on education ofr children, and doing extra work to supplement income. i'm sure many of us regardless of race try to do the same…only that it is made easier for some than others.
 
 
Not every Chinese is rich

KUALA LUMPUR: Ledang MCA division delegate Tee Kin Boon clapped earnestly when party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting – in a heartfelt off-the-cuff moment during the opening speech – mentioned to the Prime Minister that it was not true to assume that the Chinese were a rich lot. “People keep on assuming the Chinese are financially well off compared to other races. “I also wish it was true, I really want to be rich. But, there are many folks out there struggling to make a decent living,” said Tee, 31. 

The father of four earns about RM1,200 as a general clerk for the Ledang division. His wife brings home another RM1,000. A big chunk of RM650 goes to his parents to take care of his four children, aged between four and one. Life insurance premium and car loan repayments take up another RM300 each. “Luckily, we stay with my parents. We have no money to buy a house,” said Tee. He supplements his monthly income by working part-time as a trumpet player in funeral bands and is paid RM80 per session. Tee says there is no cash left for emergency funds or even for the children’s higher education. “I hope providence will be kind by giving me a financial break. I am only a secondary three graduate from a Chinese independent school. “I will make sure my children stay in school until they enter university. I believe higher education is the way to a better life,” said Tee. 

Chew Lee Goh, the delegate from Serdang division, said Ong’s situation was quite common. “I am from the Women and Children Aid Unit of Selangor Wanita MCA. We provide counselling and legal aid to poor folks but everyday, we will get many single mothers, old people, struggling families pleading for us to give them financial help.  “Poverty is real for many people, Chinese, Malay, Indian or Eurasian. It is not true to say one race is richer than another,” said Chew. She agreed with Ong that poverty eradication measures should target the poor regardless of race. Chew added that many young parents also did not dare have more than two children because they worry about the financial burden of raising the kids. 

Lumut division delegate Yew Hin Hiong, 80, said Ong empathised with the poor because he was born into poverty. “The family was from a new village in Perak. Many new villagers are struggling to survive. “I have four grown-up children. I do not force them to give me monthly allowances because I know money is so ‘small’ nowadays. “Instead, I tell my children to save for my grandchildren’s education. But my children are lovely, they still give me pocket money when they visit,” said Yew.

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