Tan Sri Muhyiddin (picture), who is also the Education Minister informed the press that the decision taken to implement the Upholding Bahasa Malaysia, Strengthening the Command of English policy, (BMMBI), which would have replaced PPSMI was supported by all members of parliament, including those from the Opposition.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin pointed out that s study conducted by the Education Ministry shows that a total of 5 – 7 per cent of schools under the Ministry had implemented the PPSMI when the policy was introduced in 2003, while the majority resorted to a mixed-language medium, and some had even conducted full lessons in Bahasa Malaysia.
Question now is who caused the failure of PPSMI? Who is going to take responsibility for the failure of its implementation? For the wastage of millions of Ringgits? Who jeopardized the education of students for last 8 years? Teachers? Students? HMs? PTAs/PIBGs? Ministers? Senior officials? Some junior officers?
If I’m not mistaken in 2003, the Education Minister was Musa Muhammad (1999 – 2004), followed by Hishamuddin Hussein Onn (2004 – 2009), and now Muhyiddin Yassin (2009 till present).
Next question: What is the guarantee that MBMMBI would be successfully implemented? Would it cost wastage of millions before we make up another complicated acronym of a policy?
Saw 7am Arivu today at IOI Mall Puchong, about a 10 days after its release, the cinema was about 75% full. The highly anticipated movie starring Surya Sivakumar, and introducing Shruti Haasan (Kamal Haasan’s daughter) to Tamil cinema, also stars Ashwin Kakumanu (Mankatha) and Johhny Tri Nguyen (Vietnamese actor/stunt director),is directed by AR Murugadoss.
First the story: The movie starts with a background narration about a story set 1600 years ago, where Bodhidarma (Surya), a Buddhist priest of the 3rd Pallava King in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu is sent by his guru to China. Bodhidarma is well known for his medical knowledge using herbs, martial arts knowledge and power of hypnotism (Nokku varnam). He goes to Nanyang, and helps the local villagers battle diseases and robbers. When time comes for him to leave the village, they try to poison him in order to keep him in the village because they think that keeping his body there will be good luck. Bodhidarma (now known as Damo in China) accepts the poisoned food and dies. The villagers bury him. Story then cuts to present day where the public are interviewed about Bodhidarma and practically every Indian interviewee have not heard of him, but the Chinese interviewees have heard about Bodhidarma or Damo. The directors wants to impress upon the audience that Tamils have forgotten their might history and others have taken over them.
The story now focuses on a Chinese plan to infect India with a virus (same one that Bodhidarma cured 1600 years ago) as a bioweapon, in order to subjugate India, named operation Red. The planners choose a Shaolin temple exponent, Dong Lee (Johnny) to activate the virus in Tamil Nadu. Why Tamil Nadu? Because Dong Lee has a second task – to kill a genetic engineering researcher, Subashini (Shruti Haasan). Subashini has been researching about Bodhidarma’s DNA and her research indicates it is possible to activate the genetic memory of Bodhidarma’s descendants, thus able to tap into his medical knowledge which can be used to find cures for many diseases. Her research thesis reaches China and they think her research can be a threat to their Operation Red plan. So, off Dong Lee goes to Tamil Nadu, injects the virus into a stray dog and causes the death of few policemen (Day 0).
The story now goes back 93 days from the day Dong Lee goes to Tamil Nadu. Here, we see a circus promotion and we are introduced to Aravind (Surya) via a hip-hop song. He is part of the circus troop. Then we see Subashini’s research team trying to “borrow” a monkey from the circus, and then Aravind awestruck by the girl, and then some following around by the hero. To make it short, they become friends, and soon the hero misunderstands it for love. As he is about to confess the love the next day, his relative who coincidentally sees the couple together, alerts him that Subashini had come to their village in Kanchipuram about 1.5 years ago, for a research. She was interested in Aravind after seeing his picture and close resemblance to Bodhidarma. Aravind, sensing something wrong goes to meet Suba and gets the truth out of her. She’s pretending to friend him in order to get him to agree to be part of the research into Bodhidarma’s DNA. The get into a heated argument after Aravind becomes upset at the idea of being “used” and that she’s not in love with him. He goes off, and a sad song follows.
The next day, Subashini comes looking for him and asks him to help her. She explains her project and convinces him to help. She presents her research to a committee for approval for human testing, but is ridiculed and storms out the meeting. Some of the younger researchers (4 of them including Ashwin) console and support, offering to help. The story now shifts back to current day (remember, earlier was flashback for 93 days). The police came looking for Subashini for an inquiry. The go to the police station and a neighbor says that a China guy came looking for her at home and suddenly the people died. The China guy (Dong Lee) comes to the police station and makes the police kill each other using his hypnotic power. The couple manage to escape. They follow him and finds out that Subashini’s professor is helping the Chinese and getting paid in return. Aravind blackmails the professor to meet up the next day. The next day, he kidnaps the professor, and manage to evade Dong Lee. The couple along with the 4 researchers get the truth from the professor. They also find out that the virus has started to spread and rush to one of the hospital. Dong Lee also arrives at the hospital and finds that his hypnotic powers doesn’t work on Aravind. The couple escapes and Dong Lee calls back his temple. The temple master warns him that it won’t work on Damo’s bloodline and asks him to come back immediately. Dong Lee ignores his master and says will get rid of the bloodline. What follows next is some car chase, and plenty of hypnotism based attack by Dong Lee on Aravind and Suba, using cars, lorries, motorbike etc. Plenty of damaged vehicles and dead people but the couple manage to escape.
The team decide to proceed with the research within 12 days in order to invoke Bodhidarma’s knowledge. They come out with some plans to stay undetected from Dong Lee. At this point, there’s some dialogue by To cut the story short, Dong Lee manages to find their location, killing 2 of the researchers and also the professor. As the remaining 3 researchers carry Aravind to escape from Dong Lee, he attacks their vehicle. He continues to attack Aravind who is still recovering from the research. Suddenly, Aravind fights back and kills Dong Lee after a series of kung fu style fight.
The story cuts to news report that a cure for the virus was found by a circus artist, and ends with an TV interview with Aravind and Subashini, where Aravind says we must do more to educate ourselves on our rich history and knowledge.
I found that the audience were quiet and stay muted after the movie ended. Maybe the masala and glamor was not enough or the message too serious.
Summary: A good effort since its a different story from the usual masala stuff. However, the expectation was high and the movies just fell below such high expectation. I’m not sure how long the “Tamils are great” motivation will stay among the audience.
Story: A bit of history, a bit of science fiction, a bit of thriller, a small bit of romance and some touching bits on Tamil civilization is the recipe for this movie. A bit long and some parts like the stunts and fights could have been reduced. It seems the story had about 1.5 years of research, but I think the director took some creative liberty on the history and science parts, thus it weakens the plot in some moments.
Direction: The director tries to instill “Tamilism” into the the movie and reduced the masala. Story tries to be serious but some of the scenes are flawed – stunts that are repetitive and artificial, the science parts which are not realistic or half-truths, the dialogues which are not strong or believable. Some of the fast camera movement seems to interrupt the flow, and I think caused my headache.
Acting: Surya did well and seems like he did some of the circus acts too. However, its seems like typical acting as to his other movies. like Ayan and Singam. Surya’s acting managed to carry the movie well. Shruti looks like a less beautiful version of Tabu, and the voice doesn’t seem to suit, other than that she did well for a newcomer to Tamil cinema (must be the genetic memory of the parents 🙂 ). Good thing she didn’t overdo the glamor aspect. And she also got plenty of screen time which helped to display her acting skills. Villain Johnny was too robotic (maybe overdid the super soldier aspect?), but he excelled in the fighting scenes. The rest of supporting actors acted well. All three main characters had a good character development, screen time and scope to act in a versatile manner.
Songs: The sad song Yemma Yemma by SPB was interesting even though it had less airtime. Reminds me of the love failure song in Varanam Ayiram. The others like Ringa Ringa and Yellae Lama are catchy songs for youngsters. There’s also a song sung by Chinese singer Hao Wang for the historical period. Mun Andhi song is for the romantic ones. The background music was excellent and apt for the scenes.
Conclusion: Worth watching if you don’t have a very high expectation from the team of AR Murugadoss, Harris Jayaraj and Surya. Good acting by the cast, but story lacks more strength.
Cast: Surya Sivakumar, Shruti Haasan, Johnny Tri Nguyen, Ashwin Kakumanu.
Genre: Historical, Sci-Fi, Action.
Acting : 7/10
Story : 6.5/10
Special Effects: 6.5/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Overall Oomphness: 6.5/10
The censored part where Malaysia is mentioned as among the countries where Tamils are attacked is below:
As mentioned by Senator Ramakrishnan, its probably a first time a Prime Minister attended so many Deepavali open house on the day. Makkal Osai, Hindu Sangam and MIC open house, after arriving from Riyadh (Saudi prince funeral) and flying off to Australia (for CHOGM). That’s shows some extra commitment from PM.
“Nambikai” would be a common word now for the politicians and likes to woo Indian voters.
While there are changes being made to overcome the neglect in last 4 decades, I think the community has to evaluate if the changes (or transformation) are holistic, permanent, appropriate, on par with those for other communities, impactful and swift. No point if you get RM1 million if others get 10 times more than that. Can’t be no budget for you but got for others right?
Nambikai works both ways, you know. Its not easy to earn it. We don’t to want to have the case where “nambinor kai vidda pattar”. That applies to any coalition who is wooing the voters.
What matters now to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak are the Indian voters who had sided with Pakatan Rakyat out of anger for Barisan Nasional. It is their trust, confidence or hope’ that he seeks at the next general election.
NAMBIKAI. It’s a frequently-used Tamil word by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during his Deepavali rounds.
Warm reception: Well-wishers flocking to shake hands with Najib at the MIC Deepavali open house in Batu Caves on Wednesday.
Variedly translated as “trust, confidence or hope” the word, as used by him, refers to the high level of confidence the Indian community had in the MIC, Barisan Nasional and Najib’s predecessors prior to the 2008 political tsunami.
He wants the community to return to that level, saying that the Government was doing much to help the Indians overcome their issues by providing them with government jobs, blue identity cards, birth certificates and, above all, attention from the Government.
Soon after he flew home from Saudi Arabia, where he had attended a royal funeral, Najib criss-crossed the capital to attend Deepavali open houses. He then left for Perth to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Nambikai featured prominently in his messages, suggesting he wants the community to believe in what he is doing and to have confidence in the Government, especially in what it can do for them.
Before 2008, nearly 80% of the Indians in the country had backed the ruling party and their votes were considered a “fixed deposit”.
Right up to the Ijok by-election in Selangor in April 2007, the Indian voters still believed in the Government although, by that time, the urban Chinese votes had already swung to Pakatan Rakyat.
It all changed with the Hindraf protest seven months after the Ijok polls.
The Indians gathered in their thousands in the capital and protested against marginalisation, discrimination and loss of jobs.
They lost their nambikai in the Government. In its place was disenchantment, disillusionment and disbelief in anything that the Government did or said.
The MIC and especially then president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu came under heavy shelling.
Barisan was punished over policies that allegedly included breaking temples, demolishing squatter homes and denying jobs even low-skilled jobs for Indians in the Government.
Pakatan gained tremendously from the Indian revolt but since Najib took over as Prime Minister, they have begun to lose out to Barisan’s charm, campaign and the transformation plans.
The Indians who voted for the Barisan in 2008 remain hardcore supporters of the coalition.
What matters now are the rest of the voters, who had sided with Pakatan Rakyat out of anger at Barisan.
It is their nambikai that Najib seeks as the drum beats of a coming general election grow louder.
On his campaign trail in the 2008 polls, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wore dark glasses and self-styled himself as Sivaji, after a character in a Tamil movie. He was a hit.
But after winning the Indian voters, almost by default because they were angry with the Barisan, Anwar has virtually forgotten them.
Najib, on the other hand, is working hard to earn the community’s trust.
He set up a special implementation task force and proceeded to redress some of the most glaring wrongs that the Indian underclass had suffered from.
Gradually, he worked his way through meetings with various ethnic groups living under the “Indian community” label, i.e. the Sikhs, Telegus, Jaffa Tamils, Malayalees and the Tamils.
He met and embraced their leaders and offered vital financial help to their organisations.
For example, the Sri Murugan Centre, which helps poor Indian children in education, got an injection of funds. Likewise, the Temple of Fine Arts.
Four years after 2008, the winds of change have begun to blow in the community and the Indians are warming once again to Barisan and the MIC, as believed by the party.
More than just his policies to repair damages, Najib has gone to the ground to mingle with the ordinary people.
The challenge is to translate his popularity into votes for Barisan.
How Najib will do it is yet to be seen but for now, he is asking the Indians to have nambikai in the Government, and they are beginning to respond.
Losing nambikai is easy but winning it back is hard, as Najib knows.
My experience with HYO is way back nearly two decades ago, when I attended their computer class at Port Klang branch while waiting for SPM results. After that, I’ve seen them at some of the religious festivals at temples, but never been involved in their programs.
One of the founders of HYO passed away yesterday. Condolences to his family. Read about the late Mr Vijayaratnam here.
Malaysian Hindu Youth Organisation (HYO) founder, Vijayaratnam Saravanamuthu, passed away Wednesday at the Gleneagles Hospital here from respiratory complications.
He was 77.
Vijayaratnam, fondly referred to as the “Father of the Hindu Youth”, founded HYO in 1949 and had contributed immensely to its growth, which has some 90 branches nationwide now.
During his lifetime, Vijayaratnam had organised many Hindu Youth conventions in various parts of the country and he was elected the first secretary-general of the Malaysian Youth Council in 1962.
HYO in a statement said Vijayaratnam leaves behind a wife Pushpavathy Chinniah and two sons, Datuk Vijay Eswaran, 51, and Vijaya Vicknesh, 49.
Parliament sitting on eve is cancelled. All questions for the day to be replied in writing. The request was made by DAP MPs to Speaker and Minister Nazri last week, which the cabinet also discussed and agreed to postpone in view of the religious festivals the next day. As you may know, parliament sittings can drag to night, especially nowadays. So, not only MPs affected, but also various other staff, journalists, drivers, etc.
While the decision is good, one should always take in the “lesson learnt” so that its not repeated in future. As per my suggestion, time to send officials for sensitivity and common-sense courses. No point talking about creativity and innovation when much more simpler things also we are lacking.
Read about my earlier article on the parliament sitting issue here.
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