HRP memo to abolish STPM

/* June 17th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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HRP handed over a memo to a representative of PM Najib at the parliament yesterday to call for the abolishment of STPM in favor of single program (matriculation) for all.

Abolishing a tougher program for the lesser one doesn’t seem to be a wise move, but maybe HRP is just trying to create some heat to force reaction from the authorities.

Its only fair that a single point of entry is provided, or if there’s multiple entry points, then every rakyat is given equal and fair opportunity to make use of the entry point. Any attempts to defend or justify otherwise is just excuse to practice discrimination.

So, for me, make only one way to enter IPTA – STPM (UEC also should not be used to enter IPTA). Other routes must be removed. OR, open matriculation to all and close down STPM. Not enough places, well, convert all STPM classes into matriculation classes, just need to retrain teachers and change the syllabus.

They also handed over a list of 48 names of students who did not get any offers:

NO NAME IC ADDRESS RESULT
1 Deborah Anne a/p John Philip 920608-14-5120 SMK Covent Bukit Nanas 13 As
2 Mohana Priya a/p Kasanathan 920122-14-5390 SMK Ibrahim 13 As
3 Shobanaa Rubini a/p Ganesarao 920305-08-6522 SMK Perempuan Methodist, Ipoh 12 As
4 Elwinder Singh a/l Jasvir Singh 920121-14-6017 SMK Sri Dasmesh KL 12 As
4 Sasvin a/l Manimaran 920816-10-5717 SMK Taman Sea 11 As
5 Sharmalla a/p Subramaniam 921218-05-5124 SMK Senawang Seremban 11 As
6 Gomalah a/p Ganeswaran 920728-05-5082 SMK Tuanku Jaafar Seremban 11 As
7 Sangitha a/p Elango 921218-05-5474 SMK King George V Seremban 11 As
8 Thenmoli Hanbrasi a/p Jothy 920520-08-5180 SMK Tawar 11 As
9 Deepashini a/p Rajindran 921106-08-5580 SMK Methodist (ACS), Sitiawan 11 As
10 Arvind a/l Rajan 920605-14-5045 SMK Kepong 11 As
11 Santhini a/p Ramani 921012-10-6096 SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1 11 As
12 Shivanashini a/p Mathiyalagan 920428-02-5914 SMK Covent Father Barre 11 As
13 Prabagaran a/l Kanapathy 920829-08-5539 SMK Anderson Ipoh 10 As
14 Santhira a/p Vijaya Kumar 920814-14-5156 SMK Tengku Ampuan Rahimah 10 As
15 Divya Mala a/p Shanmugam 921118-10-5358 SMK Tawau 10 As
16 Serena Susan a/p Peter Manickom 920528-01-5078 SMK Iskandar Shah 10 As
17 Eiswaran a/l Ramasamy 920125-05-5227 SMK King Gedage V Seremban 10 As
18 Komathi a/p Muniandy 920719-02-5094 SMK Kulim 10 As
19 Pavithiraen a/l Segeranazan 921225-08-5903 SMK Dato’ Haji Hussein 10 As
20 Jayasri Nair a/p Janardanan 921219-07-5338 SMK Bedong 10 As
21 Ravind a/l Amaresan 920928-14-5867 SMK Ibrahim 10 As
22 Prabagaran a/l Kanapathy 920829-08-5539 SMK Anderson, Ipoh 10 As
23 Mogan a/l Mahadevan 921022-07-5641 SMK Datuk Haji Abd Kadir P.Png 10 As
24 Yuana Rooja a/p Murugah 921002-02-6092 SMK Ibrahim 10 As
25 Moganpriya a/p Thillamuthu 920924-02-5868 SMK Covent Fat

.+her Barre

 10 As
26 Thulasi a/p Palakrisnan 920310-08-6412 SMK Sains Raja Tun Azlan, Taiping 9 As
27 Uneshddarann a/l Nagandran 921125-01-5123 SMK Buloh Kasap 9 As
28 Nageeshvari a/p Tachinamurti 920129-14-6142 SMK Damansara Damai 1 9 As
29 Kesevaan a/l Morgan 920717-14-5947 SMK Raja Abdullah KL 9 As
30 Ghaithrie a/p Subramaniam 920312-01-5140 SMK Tinggi Kluang 9 As
31 Pavitra a/p Sehalinggam 920926-07-5658 SMK Convent Pulau Tikus Pinang 9 As
32 Priyatharisan a/l Balaraman 920609-05-5153 SMK Bukit Mewah Seremban 9 As
33 Yogeswary a/p Gunasegaran 920808-14-5416 SMK Convent Jalan Peel KL 9 As
34 Nandarcobini a/p Rajendran 920917-01-5662 SMK Dato Penggama Timur 9 As
35 Tarashini a/p Suthesan 920228-14-6682 SMK Convent Kajang 9 As
36 Lingeswaran a/p Ratnam 921110-01-6027 SMK Dato’ Penggama Timur 9 As
37 Rupini a/p Manoharan 920418-04-5428 SMK Undang Rembau N. Sembilan 9 As
38 Narmatha Darshini Nanthini Subramaniam 920903-14-5238 SMK (P) Sri Aman 9 As
39 Pavitra Sri a/p Ramaya 920202-02-5866 SMK Taman Ria Jaya 9 As
40 Parthiban a/l Perumal 920520-07-5105 SMK Kulim 9 As
41 Yasheera a/p Vasudevan 920103-14-5950 MAKTAB 8 As
42 Thennarasei a/p Pannir Selvam 920373-07-5018 SMK Tinggi Bkt Mertajam P. Pinang 8 As
43 Saraniah a/p Kalidasan 920624-08-5324 SMK Covent Father Barre 8 As
44 Kogulavarman a/l Asokan 920302-14-5195 SMK (L) Bukit Bintang 7 As
45 Dineshwary a/p Nadthan 920121-10-5370 SMK Subang Jaya 7 As
46 Kalaimalar a/p Perumal 921113-14-5502 SMK Seri Garing 7 As
47 Gadura Kishdra a/l Viswenaden 921103-14-5015 SMK Hillcrest 7 As
48 Navindren a/l Murugasen 920614-14-5135 SMK (L) Bukit Bintang 7 As

So, what do you think?

I doubt 7As can be considered as excellent results due to number of As easily accumulated by students. However it would be a good achievement for students coming from challenging backgrounds. While we can argue that only the best should given scholarship or only deserving ones given place in matriculation, it should be true for all, and not applied selectively. That’s the contention point, not because we are jealous or want to grab other people’s opportunities.

Thought of uploading the photos of the memo submission, but since its at HRP website, view it there:

http://www.hrp-my.org/2010/06/15/photos-memo-to-pm-najib-razak-at-parliament-15610/

http://www.hrp-my.org/2010/06/16/photos-2-memo-to-pm-najib-razak-at-parliament-15610-abolish-stpm/

Here’s a video from Youtube:

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Statistics for IPTA 2010 intake

/* June 17th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions 2 comments »
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Malaysian Insider’s article provides some basic statistics on IPTA intake this year.

28,633 (bumiputra), 9,569 Chinese,  2,304 (Indians & others), 43 (Orang Asli). Firstly, why Indians end up with others? Orang Asli not bumiputra?

The above translates into 70.69%, 23.62%, 5.69% and 0.11% respectively. As usual, we ask for more transparency in terms of more statistics, breakdown of applicants etc. But this goes unanswered year after year. The clamor for more transparency speaks volumes of how much the public trust institutions like IPTA. Sad indeed.

A total of 40,506 of 61,228 applicants have been offered places at public institutions of higher learning for the 2010/2011 academic session.

Department of Higher Education director-general Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said today 49,234 of the 61,228 were eligible but after vetting only 40,506 met the criteria and were offered places.

“Of those offered places, 28,633 were bumiputeras, 9,569 Chinese and 2,304 Indians and others,” he told a news conference here.

Dr Radin Umar said 66 Orang Asli applied and 43 were offered places while 656 disabled people applied and 282 were offered places.

“Orang Asli applicants not eligible for the first degree will be considered for suitable diploma programmes provided they put in a fresh application,” he said.

Dr Radin Umar said 2,088 applicants with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.00 had applied to enter the apex university, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and 404 were offered places.

He also said that 1,550 national and state athletes had applied and 934 were offered places.

Students can check on the status of their applications from noon tomorrow at the http://jpt.uum.edu.my, http://www.jpt.utm.my and http://upu.mohe.gov.my websites or contact the 03-8883 5858 hotline, 03-8883 5848 helpline or send a short message service (SMS) to 15888 by typing UPU RESULT and the identity card number.

The official offer letter to successful applicants will be issued on Saturday while the e-appeal application for unsuccessful applicants will open at noon tomorrow.

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Flying Sikh dumps DAP

/* June 15th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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Well, would you believe it! The Sikhs in DAP would be incensed after Malim Nawar (my mother’s hometown actually) assemblyman Keshvinder Singh (a lawyer too) quit from DAP to be independent (i.e. BN friendly and firm supporter of PM Najib, Menteri Besar Zambry, and 1Malaysia). I believe Keshvinder is also the first Indian rep to quit DAP and be independent. Well done!

And for what purpose? For the “kebaikan of the rakyat” of course 🙂

According to him:

He also said he was leaving because he was “very disappointed” with the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leadership and the “excessive politicking” that got in the way of him carrying out his duties.

“I found it very hard to work with the Pakatan Rakyat people to serve my constituents,” he said, adding that he could not get any allocation for his constituents.

“I now realise that only Barisan can bring progress and prosperity to the people. I hope this decision will help me serve my constituents better,” he said at a press conference at a hotel here Tuesday.

“I will be going to my constituency soon to explain my decision,” he said, adding that he gave his resignation letter to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng earlier Tuesday.

In Malaysiakini, the following is mentioned:

Keshvinder said he chose to defect now instead of February last year – along with Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang), Mohd Osman Jailu(Changkat Jering) and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) – because he didn’t know how serious the problems were at his constituency then. 

“When I started doing work there (after February 2009) I found that there are severe poverty issues that really need to be solved,” he said.

Keshvinder said he hoped the BN state government will provide financial aid so that he can serve his constituents. 

“The state and national DAP did not assist me in helping the people. I couldn’t do anything for my constituents as an opposition state assemblyperson,” he said, adding that he had been using his own funds thus far.

Good for him, until we find out (or remember) that he was one of the people who claimed there were offers to buy him over last time:

On Feb 5 last year, five Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen, including Keshwinder, had claimed they had been approached by agents to cross over to Barisan Nasional.

Keshwinder had said then that he had been offered RM10mil plus the position of the Perak MIC chief and a place on the state executive council.

So, which is which?

If really for “kebaikan rakyat”, why not just resign and force a by-election? We can literally see money falling down from sky (or podium) whenever there’s by-election. The people can get new school, new road, new surau, new temple, new bridges, etc. Maybe the voters in Malim Nawar should think about this. The amount of goodies they could get from by-election should last them till the next general election.

I’m curious too, in case the PR wins GE13 and Perak state, would he realign himself to be PR-friendly (assuming he stands under BN banner then)?

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Maha Mariamman Temple Batu 14 Puchong Kumbabhishegam

/* June 15th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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From Maha Mariamman Temple Batu 14 Puchong Kumbhabishegam

The 105 year old Maha Mariamman temple Batu 14 Puchong had its Maha Kumbhabhishegam last month (23rd May). The event was from 10am onwards, but we went a bit early. About 20,000 people were expected, but I don’t think it was more than 5000 during the day.

I noticed that quite a number of youths were involved in the crowd control and miscellaneous work, something seldom seen in other temples. In fact, crowd control was quite good.

Highlight of the day was the helicopter which showered flowers on the devotees.

From Maha Mariamman Temple Batu 14 Puchong Kumbhabishegam

The interior was quite spacious and nicely designed.

From Maha Mariamman Temple Batu 14 Puchong Kumbhabishegam

The kodi maram had glass panels on the ceiling to allow sunlight to enter. Similar to Bala Thandayuthapani temple in Seremban.

From Maha Mariamman Temple Batu 14 Puchong Kumbhabishegam

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FRIM Visit

/* June 13th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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June 5 was World Environment Day, and so, to do something in tune with nature, we decided to pay a visit to FRIM. Only 3 people actually made it to the trip, including yours truly. Then and Parimala were the other two.

From Visit to FRIM

Initially, I was skeptical of FRIM since the fees quoted on the website was crazy. I called up FRIM to clarify and was informed that day trippers, casual visitors etc. are not charged as mentioned in the website. You just pay RM1 per hour for parking (if you choose to park within the FRIM area), while the canopy walk costs RM5 per person.

So, we left home around 7.50am, picked up Parimala and took LDP to Kepong. Unfortunately, the usual “lack of proper signage ” problem cropped up. I missed the turn and ended up making two u-turns before finally arriving at FRIM (also stopped at petrol station once to ask directions). The overlapping flyovers near Kepong can really intimidate drivers, so make sure you ask around for directions before going to FRIM. Arrived at FRIM around 9.35am. We parked just after the main guard house and walked from there.

While taking pictures, one of the guards came up to us and asked if we had permission to take pictures. He claimed that there is a notice at the guard house regarding this. I didn’t notice any signboards, actually. Anyway, he said that we should check with the Service Center (at block D6) just to be sure.  So, off we went to the service office, where the lady at counter dismissed any notion of needing to get permission or pay for using camera. I think for those planning to take wedding photos or shoot movies, you need to pay a certain fee (as mentioned in the website), but casual visitors need not.

Luckily too, we realised that tickets to the canopy walk must be bought at the service center (which also houses a souvenir shop). Bought the tickets there and managed to get my gang members to start walking as the canopy walk closes around 1.30pm. So, we huffed and puffed through the nature trail. The walk is quite pleasant but tiring if you are not used to exercising often. We walked for about 1.5 hours (with plenty of stops to take photos) before reaching the canopy walk area. There was a long queue ahead of us since only limited number of persons are allowed to be on the canopy at one time. Took us about 30 minutes before our turn came. While waiting, Then had an encounter with the blood-sucking kind 🙂

From Visit to FRIM

The canopy walk is about 20 to 30 metres above the ground, and not scary 🙂 you can capture a view of the city from the canopy. Its about 150 metres in length, but not continous. There are 3 platforms along the way which allows you to rest.  NOTE: get your tickets at the Service Counter much earlier!

From Visit to FRIM

The trip down was slippery as it rained the night before.  Took us about 15 minutes to reach ground level. To the right would be the small waterfall. Spent some time here and got a new friend, Radzi. He was quietly reading his novel, until we came and invaded his privacy 🙂

After spending about 45 minutes here, we made our way back to the main area, passing by the camp site. We stopped at the traditional malay house and met Radzi again there. We ended up having tea over there (and they have lots of unique flavors!). I would surely recommend visitors to have a cuppa there (costs about RM5 a mug, but tastes great). Had a good chat with Radzi who shared his experience of holidaying in India (Himalayas), Kinabalu and so on.

From Visit to FRIM

Left the Malay traditional house and walked back to the main visitors area, taking more pictures along the way. We stopped at the Arowana pond, but it was tiring to wait for the fish to emerge. Only can see glimpses of its tail and body. I spotted two big fishes and a small one.

From Visit to FRIM

The trip was supposed to be only 3 to 4 hours, but imagine our shock when we left FRIM at 5pm, a good SEVEN hours after arriving!

All in all, it was a good trip, and I hope to make more visits to FRIM, not only to take photos, but also to burn some fat 🙂

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