I seek temporary leave

>> Monday, September 21, 2009

I sincerely apologize for not having updated this blog for sometime now. The truth is that this blog will not be updated for until at least the end of 2009.

I have been rather busy in office as my partner has been and still is on maternity leave and I have been commuting from Raub to Penang to supervise renovation works now being carried out in my soon to be launched Penang branch office.

I am also, at this moment, making last minute preparations for Haj pilgrimage. GOD willing.

I nonetheless, promise to post interesting and fresh stories once my partner returns, my office in Penang is set up completely and upon my return from the Holy land.

In the meantime, I take this opportunity to wish "eid mubarak" to all my followers.

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Speaking in schools

>> Thursday, August 13, 2009

I elected to stay away from the demonstration for the abolishment of teaching mathematics and science in English. I am not against this particular government policy and neither do I support.

I have elected to do this posting in my personal blog rather than in my political blog lest I be accused of politicizing the language issue. I do not have any intentions of doing so.

Why am I harping on an issue that is dead and gone? The government has decided to scrap off the teaching of mathematics and science in English, so, why am I making my stand at this stage? To me, the issue is not dead. It will not die until 2012. Atleast, that is what Mr. Minister of Education had said. Again, while the government may have intentions to scrap that one issue, another bombshell was recently dropped on us - this time, making English compulsory in schools.

Should English be made compulsory in schools? The whole idea is actually very simple. I always ask myself one question – is it a sin or a crime to master a foreign language? I am tri-lingual and I have no problems with that. I speak Hindi when I am in India. English when in English speaking countries and Malay, when I am in countries where the national language is Malay. I am now industriously learning Japanese and Arabic.

The issue however, is, - are we ready to make English compulsory? Or will Mr. Minsiter of Education again stand up and say - we may have made a mistake. From where I stand, I feel that the government ought not rush as we do not have qualified persons to teach English in the English language. Period ...

I was watching the International Tilawah Al Quran on TV last night and to my surprise the commentator was speaking horrendous English. Was the commentator the best we could offer? I suppose the slot was telecasted all over the world or at least to the countries that participated in the assembly. I am sure listeners were having a jolly good time laughing at our product. In simple terms, majority of the younger Malaysian generation does not have good command of the English language.

It is not that we do not have good English commentators. Mahadzir Lokman is a good example. I am sure there are many more out there. These are the old school of thought. They are from the school were every subject, except for Malay, was thought in English. We, the old school, have the ability in speaking good English but the younger generation?

There is no denying that we want our younger generation proficient, in not only the Malay language, but in other languages too. However, if the teaching generation's English is going to be like that of the commentator, I really feel we should forget about the idea, atleast for now. We really do not have the resources and the infrastructure to pursue this issue.

Just look around you. Do you find the teaching generation available today able to teach English? I doubt it. Their command of English is at the lowest. Every sentence uttered by this generation is grammatically wrong. They are from schools where the medium of instructions were never in English. How would one expect a non English speaking person to teach English? However, it is happening in schools today. English is thought in the Malay language. I am surprised with the ingenuity of the teachers who are able to teach English in Malay. Beats me.

While I appreciate the fact that English is important, the future of our younger generation is also important. Do not spoil the future of the younger generation by teaching them things the teachers themselves do not know.

Maybe in 20 years time, when the now young generation has gone through the acid test and have taken control of the English language, English can be made compulsory. Now? We are not ready, believe me.

For the sake of mentioning. I was in the Court of Appeal the other day. The Honourable Gopal Sri Ram made an Order in the following terms - "I Order that the deposit be cheated ....". This young lawyer was blinking. Deposit be cheated? I suppose that was the question playing in his mind. What on earth does this Order mean?

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Do work

>> Tuesday, August 04, 2009

How would you feel if you are reminded by your host to remove your shoes before entering into his house? Isn't it a norm in Malaysia that we remove our shoes before entering someone's house?

How would you feel if you are told by your host to behave when in his house? Isn't it normal for one to behave when in someone's house? Do you need to be reminded of something natural?

Likewise, how would you feel if you are reminded that you need to work once you are in your office? Does it not follow that you are paid to work? Has it now become obvious that those employed in the Judicial Department are paid monthly wages for not working?

You may ask, why all these questions all of a sudden? Actually, these questions are not all of a sudden. For the past year or so I have been asking myself - is there a real necessity to remind all those who enter the Court premises that they are there to work?

For those who frequent the Courts will know what I am talking about. Large banners hang at the entrance of all Court premises with the word "buat kerja" (do work). These banners glare at the employees each morning as they enter the main gates, even before they can punch their cards.

Employees? Why am I limiting myself to employees? What about the Magistrate's, Sessions Judges and High Court Judges. They too use the same entrance and therefore, they too are reminded each time they pass by.

I am not sure if the same banners are displayed at the entrance of Putra Jaya. I did not realise the last time I went there. However, if the banners are there, then the warnings are also meant for the Court of Appeal Judges and the Judges of the Federal Court.

Is this an indication that all those who work in the court premises are not performing? Your guess is as good as mine.

Anyway, buat kerja !!!!!!!

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The wonders of Surah Al-ikhlas (Final)

>> Sunday, June 21, 2009

Please feel free to try out the, sort of rituals, stated in the below 9 series. However, you must, before reading or reciting Surah Al-ikhlas, read the opening phrase - Bismillahir rahmanir rahim.

It happened in Makkah, one day, where someone had a dream that he saw hundreds of pigeons flying above Makkah city. Surprisingly, non of the birds had heads. The following day the dream was brought to the attention of a person who had the ability to translate dreams. The translator said - "perhaps you religiously recited Qul Huwallahu Ahad but did not begin the recital with the opening phrase - Bismillahir rahmanir rahim".

Bismillahir rahmanir rahim has 19 alphabets, as many as Angel Zabaniyah, the guard in charge of hell. Therefore, whosoever reads or recites Bismillahir rahmanir rahim before commencing anything permitted in Islam, he will be protected from Angel Zabaniyah.

Surah Al-ikhlas is a short quaranic verse and the transliterated version is thus: -

Qul Huwallahu Ahad
Allah Hu Shomad
Lam Yalid Walam Yulad
Walam Yakullahu Kufuwan Ahad

Try out and rest assured you will not regret.

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