Be You & Not A Slave

Bermulanya Kerajaan Pakatan Harapan

Malaysia telah membuktikan pada diri nya sendiri bahawa ia berkeupayaan untuk menukar kerajaan melalui proses demokrasi tanpa sebarang keganasan atau ketidakstabilan politik. 

Mulai 9.30 malam, 10hb Mei, 2018, Malaysia mempunyai kerajaan Persekutuan yang baru.

Sebelum saya  menulis selanjutnya, ingin saya memperingati diri saya serta mereka yang rela di peringati akan satu kebenaran.  Sifat manusia yang masih berilusi dengan “kebolehan” nya semata2 adalah dimana yang menang akan bergembira dan merasa mereka hebat dalam percaturan. Pihak yang kalah pula akan bersedih serta berada dalam kesesalan yang samar2. Kedua-dua manusia seperti ini lupa akan satu kebenaran hakiki bahawa Allah jua yang memberi “kerajaan” kepada siapa yang Dia sukai.  Kebenaran ini jelas dalam Surah Al Imran ayat 26:

“Katakanlah: "Wahai Tuhan Yang mempunyai kerajaan, Engkau berikan kerajaan kepada orang yang Engkau kehendaki dan Engkau cabut kerajaan dari orang yang Engkau kehendaki. Engkau muliakan orang yang Engkau kehendaki dan Engkau hinakan orang yang Engkau kehendaki. Di tangan Engkaulah segala kebajikan. Sesungguhnya Engkau Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu”.

Ahli politik juga harus beringat bahawa apa yang boleh menghilangkan kuasa mereka dengan sekelip mata adalah faktor yang sama yang mengakibatkan Iblis diusir kebumi  iaitu kesombongan atau keangkuhan (Surah Al A’Raaf : ayat 11-13).

Sebagai Muslim saya beriman bahawa ayat2 di atas memperingati Kita bahawa kuasa dan kemuliaan bukan sesuatu untuk di banggakan tetapi satu amanah yang di berikan kepada manusia2 yang dipilih oleh Pencipta nya.

Maka, pada 10.5.2018, Allah telah memberikan amanah kepada kerajaan PH untuk mentadbir Negara Malaysia.  Dalam amanah ini, terdapat harapan Rakyat yang amat besar. 

Dimana kemenangan PH membawa perubahan baru dalam lanskap politik Malaysia, Rakyat juga mengharapkan ia akan membawa perubahan yang bermakna, efektif dan berguna dalam pentadbiran Negara.

Kerajaan yang di pilih adalah kerajaan Semua Rakyat Malaysia tanpa mengira kaum, agama atau kelas ekonomi.  Maka, kerajaan ini tidak boleh membeza-bezakan “anak2” (Rakyat) berdasarkan kategori2 yang disebutkan tadi. 

Pengagihan sumber2 Negara harus lah adil dan saksama diantara anak2 nya dengan mengambilkira keupayaan masing2. Saya percaya Rakyat dahagakan perkara2 perkara-perkara tersebut:

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1. Mengwujudkan satu bangsa Malaysia dimana Kita dapat bersama2 menuju kearah satu “Malaysian Dream” sebagai satu keluarga yang punyai sikap keihsanan (compassion)
2. Reform dalam sistem pendidikan dari segi isi kandungannya, kaedah pengajaran, kos dan sebagainya,
3. Penghapusan rasuah 
4. Mengwujudkan suasana politik dan ekonomi dimana rakyat yang rela berusaha dapat mencari nafkah yang halal tanpa birokrasi yang membebankan
5. Merapatkan perhubungan antara pelbagai agama serta mengwujudkan suasana ukhuwah di kalangan umat Muslim untuk membanteras kegilaan taksub mazhab dan sikap “keterlaluan agama”.
6. Benar2 mengambil langkah untuk menangani masalah kos rumah murah dimana berlaku banyak penipuan dan penindasan terhadap mereka yang berpendapatan rendah dan miskin. Juga saiz rumah kos rendah perlu di nilai semula kerana saiz kini berada dalam zon kezaliman.
7. Melakukan reformasi perundangan untuk merombak kembali undang2 yang menindas martabat manusia dan memastikan undang2 adalah adil
8. Memberi perhatian yang lebih daripada sekarang kepada golongan kanak2,  yang kurang upaya dan juga warga emas - perlu merangka polisi2 yang khusus;
9. Mengenal pasti masalah2 yang di hadapi wanita2 terutama ibu tunggal, keselamatan, keadaan  bayi terbiar dan sebagainya.
10. Melihat kembali kontrak kerajaan seperti pembinaan Jalan raya dan sebagainya yang berat sebelah pada rakyat.
11. Kerajaan yang telus, bertanggungjawab, dan “engage feedback” Rakyat dalam polisi2 yang berpengaruh besar.

INi lah di antara yang saya fikir utama dalam minda dan harapan rakyat yang sempat saya berkongsi.

Saya berharap Kerajaan PH ini akan berpegang pada janji nya untuk berkhidmat pada rakyat sebaik mungkin serta di rahmati Allah.

Salam.

Mengapa Kita menyusahkan Hidup Kita Sendiri?

(Atrikel ini tidak ditujukan kepada semua orang, hanya pada mereka yang berkaitan sahaja.Dalam dunia ini, ada yang baik dan ada yang jahat).

Banyak perkara dalam fikiran dan hati saya yang ingin saya berkongsi dengan mereka yang mahu mendengarnya terutama berkaitan dengan keperitan dan cabaran pengalaman yang di istilahkan sebagai "kehidupan". Mengapa terlalu banyak masalah, kepedihan, penderitaan, kemiskinan dan kekecawaan dalam kehidupan?

Memang kita tahu bahawa kehidupan itu mempunyai cabaran tersendiri, liku-liku yang terpaksa di lalui dan tindakan-tindakan yang perlu di lakukan supaya kehidupan kita tidak menjadi sia-sia dan kita boleh hidup dengan sejahtera dan bermaruah. Ini adalah cabaran-cabaran semula jadi perjalanan kehidupan. Tidak ada sesiapa pun boleh merungut berkaitan dengan perkara semula jadi ini. Kehidupan ini tertakluk kepada Sunnah Allah atau natural laws, samada kita mahu akuinya ataupun tidak. Bukan perkara-perkara ini yang sering merunsingkan saya.

Sepanjang kehidupan saya sehingga kini, saya kenal ramai manusia mulia yang mengorbankan masa, tenaga dan harta mereka yang sedikit bagi meringkan keperitan kehidupan orang lain. Mereka lakukan semua ini kerana mereka tidak mahu makhluk lain yang juga manusia seperti mereka tidak merasai rahmah Allah. Saya hormati dan mendoakan bagi orang-orang seperti ini. Kebanyakkan daripada rakyat marhain merupakan manusia seperti ini.

Perkara yang saya tidak faham ialah sikap setengah mereka yang mempunyai kuasa, yang mempunyai pembelajaran, jawatan, pangkat, gelaran, kedudukan, keupayaan wang ringgit, kesihatan dan banyak lagi rahmah Allah tetapi bersikap menimbulkan masalah bagi mereka yang bergantung kepada mereka atau mengharapkan mereka.

Kesombongan, Keangkuhan, Ketamakan.

Saya kurang faham mengapa ada mereka yang berjawatan mudah menjadi sombong dan angkuh sehingga keangkuhan mereka menahan mereka untuk menjalankan amanah dengan sepatutnya.Saya sudah bersua dengan beberapa pegawai2 kerajaan (bukan semua), pengarah2, ketua2 pengarah macam2 jabatan yang berwatakkan sebagai "orang berkuasa" daripada berwatakkan sebagai "orang yang dipinjamkan kuasa untuk membantu manusia". INi pun bukanlah mereka di minta untuk bekerja dengan percuma tetapi di bayar gaji.

Mengapa boleh orang sombong dengan pangkat dan kuasa? Dari kecil sampai saya dewasa kini, saya masih tidak faham. Saya sebenarnya rasa kelakar bila ada orang yang berpengaruh merasakan dirinya sangat penting kerana dalam minda saya, saya sudah pun nampak keadaan beliau selepas bersara dan jika beliau panjang umur menjadi lebih tua. Bukan kah lebih elok di gunakan kuasa untuk membantu yang marhain dan berusaha meringankan masalah dan beban mereka?

Maka, saya lihat kesombongan dan keangkuhan atau "syok sendiri" dengan jawatan dan panggilan pangkat oleh orang lain lah yang membuat kita lalai dalam amanah sehingga kita menyusahkan kehidupan orang lain.

Saya sudah semakin meluat dengan mereka yang hanya fikirkan tentang diri mereka, kerjaya mereka dan keluarga mereka semasa berjawatan dan berkuasa dan lepas bersara kononnya baru lah nak berkhidmat pada masyarakat atau beribadah dalam masjid - takut mati konon walhal hari yang kita lahir itu adalah pengesahan bahawa kematian itu satu kepastian!

Yang masuk keranda bukan lah orang tua atau muda tetapi mayat. Jadi tidak kah perbuatan sia2 tamak pada kehidupan yang pasti akan tinggalkan kita?

Ramai Terpelajar, sedikit yang terdidik

Ini satu lagi sumpahan yang melanda beberapa orang yang terpelajar sehingga dia menyusahkan kehidupan rakyat kebanyakkan dengan pelajaran tinggi nya. Tidak kira samada orang itu terpelajar dalam bidang agama ataupun bidang bukan agama. jenis manusia ini sama sahaja - mereka lebih mahu di iktiraf sebagai "pandai" walaupun kerja2 yang di usahakan oleh tangan2 mereka itu menyusahkan kehidupan rakyat kebanyakkan. Ini lah antara sebab2 nya saya kadang2 malas nak sertai seminar2 kerana saya rasa saya tidak boleh berlagak pandai seperti mana yang mereka harapkan.

Terdapat lah hakim2, peguam2, sarjana2 agama, engineer, doktor dan lain2 yang terpelajar lebih menyusahkan manusia daripada membantu. Mereka samada tidak sedar atau tidak peduli bahawa tindakan mereka boleh bawa kesan buruk kepada kehidupan orang lain. Mungkin ini berlaku kerana seperti kuda yang pakai "blinkers", mereka membenarkan diri terperangkap dengan keasyikkan kedudukan dan "pembelajaran" mereka bagi menjamah nafsu kepentingan peribadi semata2.

Terlalu banyak seminar2, mesyuarat2 jawatankuasa dan lain2 forum seperti ini yang tidak memberi kesan langsung dalam meringankan keperitan harian yang di alami oleh rakyat kebanyakkan. Yang "pandai2"ini syok melontarkan "idea" yang mampu mengerunkan ramai yang mudah terpedaya tetapi sebenarnya direka khas untuk menonjolkan kumpulan mereka sebagai eksklusif "pandai" dalam masyarakat. Melalui cara2 ini, mereka mencipta peranan dan status bagi diri mereka dalam masyarakat - berkepentingan diri sendiri.

Malangnya, yang daif tetap daif. Sumber2 Allah masih di nikmati oleh golongan eksklusif tetapi rakyat kebanyakan masih serba kekurangan.

Begitu ramai yang terpelajar tetapi kita lihat keadaan rakyat kebanyakkan begitu daif juga. Di merata2 dunia, bukan di negara kita sahaja. Dan dalam banyak hal, saya dapati orang2 terpelajar lah menimbulkan pelbagai masalah dan reka pelbagai perkara yang menyusahkan rakyat kebanyakkan. Fikirlah sendiri apa kah perkara2 ini.

Banyak perkara yang masih saya tidak faham dalam kehdiupan ini
Ini sahaja lah luahan hati saya buat masa ini. Memang sesak nafas saya memikirkan gelagat manusia2 seperti yang saya gambarkan disini.

Salam.

Seriously can we get the country moving again?

OK...there is finally the cabinet reshuffle which most people were wondering before why it never happened ? Now that it has happened, many say many things including being surprised.

Many are surprised that Muhyiddin has been dropped. I find it surprising that these people find it a surprise. Nothing personal to Muhyiddin, I would have thought that Najib was a weakling if he had not dropped his deputy who had made many public statements especially on 1MDB which is not only confusing but downright offensive to the mind of anyone who can think.

Examples: “.....I don’t know what is happening..” – then resign lah as Musa HItam did.

               “......!MDB will cause BN and UMNO to fall” – and how do you intend to make BN and UMNO not fall?

              “......I don’t know what is 1MDB all about..” – and then how in the world did you chair some of the cabinet meetings?

If those above reports are true, he makes it sound like the DPM is clueless as to what is happening and that the other cabinet members are either too stupid or too concerned for their positions to speak up – which is very insulting to the cabinet and to himself.

I do not know this man, Muhyiddin personally enough, so I cannot judge him personally. Of course I have met him and sat down at the same table to chat ...I would rather not comment what I perceived of him – but then again I have never been easily impressed by our politicians.  I may be also prejudiced by thinking that like ALL politicians who have been around for more than 6 years, they think they can walk on water. They think only they have the brains and the right to express what is right for the country. Lebih kurang semua sama je. Cium tangan bos, lepas tu wajib orang-orang bawahan cium tangan dia. Malay first, Malaysian second. So funny and so twisted this last statement when I first heard him say that. What?? He is against 1Malaysia????? That’s the government policy la ooi!

Anyway, I do not want to waste time discussing UMNO politics. What I wanted to write was this -  the new cabinet has been formed..so please, please get to work on serving the Rakyat.

Ok, ok there is 1MDB but do not use that as an excuse to neglect the Rakyat on other MORE important aspects of life.

The new education Minister – please revamp the education policy and system which Muhyiddin complexly failed to do. Let’s have less of the “perjuangkan Melayu” rhetoric of his era and get on with the task of really preparing the Malays to face the new century. This is the challenge for Mahadzir Khalid – bring quality education system to the people of Malaysia. There is no need to be Malay first and Malaysian second, whatever that means. Once you are Malaysian, you are all that la!

There young ones and new ones in the cabinet – please do not get sucked into this typical “UMNO bangsawan political types” with that characteristic smiles, laughter, walk and gestures. Today we can accept you as you are so long as you speak intelligently and start performing.  Also,. No need to get into the “ demi agama dan banga” rhetoric. Demi Negara would be just fine. People today judge you by what you do and not what you say because we have already seen all the previous politicians retire very, very, very rich while many Malays and Malaysians are still very, very poor.

Peace!

Political Leaders Failed our Kids in the English Language Sector !!!

This was troubling me for a long while - why does it seem that the quality of thinking our younger generation ( those in their twenties now) has deteriorated drastically compared to the twenties of my generation.

Not only their command of the English language atrocious, their command of the Malay language is nothing to shout about, the things they talk about and how they talk about it is generally puerile, superficial and sadly reflective of a generation without thinking skills.

I chanced upon a few writings of some 18 year olds of my generation. I was stunned at the depth and deepness of their thinking? I looked at some of my own writings - I was writing philosophical stuff, politics and religion at 16 ! All these was normal for my generation and I dare say those writings would be considered "too high level" even for graduates of today> So, what went wrong?.

1. Firstly,  I think is the politicisation of the National Language. The use of BM as a medium of instruction and thinking has actually hindered thinking abilities and education potentials. The reason is simple - BM is limited in words and in concepts. The less words you have the less you are able to think and conceptualise. There are many concepts in the English language which is alien to the Malay culture (which determines the BM). The potential to think is curbed by the limitation of the Malay language. Matters are made worse by the inefficiency of Dewan Bahasa to churn out effective words in BM.

There are not many quality books in Malay and since it is the Malay officer who decides what books to be allowed to be translated into Malay, the more zealous "nationalist" ones does not allow critical stuff to be translated. Books in Malay or bahasa Indonesia which is critical are banned. So, society's thinking levels is being shaped by the low level thinking of the officers put in charge.

I still shudder with shame when I recall a former KSU of the Transport Ministry saying " Kita Melayu jadi kita cakap lah Bahasa Malaysia" in a meeting when one of the persons explained in English! I later discovered that he can hardly speak English !!!

Could it because of this kind of "culture" and regressive mindset of those in authority that only books in Malay are banned while more critical or controversial books in English are not?

2. Social engineering gone wrong. The various steps and quests taken to produce more Malay graduates have not matched quantity with quality. Quite apart from making local Malay graduates insular, they have been given a wrong impression of excellence by giving mediocrity the semblance of excellence. The entire country is now suffering from mediocre and weak human capital in all of its sectors - private and especially public sector.

3. Politicisation of education - the curriculum itself has been compromised by those in authority who are least qualified to determine the contents of education. There has been no long term educational policy since Merdeka which kept changing with changes in the Minister of Education Manipulation and skewing of facts in the contents of subjects such as "history", "kajian am" and so on.

4. Religiosity in schools - this was and probably is the biggest hindrance to quality education. Pseudo-religious teaching and packaging masquerading as Islam in schools has distracted the teachers to teach relevant subjects effectively and distracted the students from learning. Religiosity seemed to have crept into every sector of the schools. Today this has also crept into almost every sector of the government and ministries to the extent that efficiency and relevance has been compromised.

What do you think ?

Peace !

Apa keturunan kamu Adik ? - Racial Profiling in Government Schools ???

Setiap kali kita dengar pemimpin politik mengatakan bahawa mereka mahukan rakyat Malaysia bersatu.

Tanpa segan silu pemimpin politik akan berceramah mengenai kepentingan patrotisme di kalangan Rakyat.

Apa yang pemimpin politik tidak sedar atau tidak mahu sedar ialah : Rakyat umumnya memang mahu bersatu dan memang menjalani kehidupan mereka sebagai satu keluarga Malaysia.

tetapi...yang gagal dan yang "jahat" ialah pemimpin politik yang sengaja mahu memisahkan dan memecahbelahkan Rakyat kepada suku-suku, kaum-kaum, agama-agama dan sebagainya.

Malaysia telah merdeka lebih daripada 50 tahun, namun apabila anak-anak Malaysia masuk sekolah rendah, dengan serta merta mereka di ingatkan dan diingatkan dan dingatkan bahawa mereka adalah daripada keturunan yang berbeza.

Setiap borang yang perlu di isi disekolah-sekolah perlu dinyatakan keturunan anak, ibunya, bapanya.

KENAPA?

kenapa nak tahu murid itu keturunan jawa ke, bugis ke, boyan ke, minangkabau ke, cina ke, india ke, dayak ke, kadazan ke, murut ke, dan lain-lain ke ?

Saya tahu, bugis, jawa, boyan di lungguk dalam kelompok "Melayu" dan kadang kala India Muslim dan Cina Muslim di lungguk dalam kelompok "Melayu" mengikut kefahaman terhadap Perlembagaan Malaysia oleh pegawai yang berkenaan.

KENAPA PERLU DI CATAT KETURUNAN?

Apakah kaedah mengajar akan diubah mengikut perbezaan keturunan?

Cina atau Melayu atau India atau Murut akan mempunyai cara penerimaan yang berbeza kerana keturunan mereka yang berbeza?

Bagaimana kalau kita tulis sahaja begini:

Keturunan : Adam. Boleh??? 

Bukan kah Negara kita banyak "islamik" itu dan ini dan masing2 nak jadi tuhan di muka bumi untuk "memperjuangkan" islam, so apa kata kita bagi jawapan "Islamik" iaitu dari segi keturunan kita adalah keturunan Adam!

Kenapa lah borang2 kuno dan rasis sedemikian masih digunakan disekolah2????  Adakah sengaja kita ingin besarkan perbezaan kita dari segi keturunan dan tidak mahu menegaskan persamaan kita sebagai rakyat Malaysia???

lain lah kalau doktor yang tanya - mungkin dia nak kaji asal usul sejarah pemakanan dan genetik. Ini sekolah pulak !

Sedih. Amat Sedih. Kerajaan Barisan nasional tidak dapat menangani perkara semudah ini sejak merdeka sehingga kini dan mahu rakyat percaya bahawa mereka mahu pupuk perpaduan dikalangan murid-murid di sekolah..

Susah sangat nak kata kita ini Bangsa Malaysia????

Patutlah Allah tanya samada kita boleh dikatakan sebagai orang beriman sebelum di uji (Quran 29:2)

Dalam konteks borang-borang rasis ini yang dikekalkan oleh Kerajaan BN ujian ini, BN gagal - gagal dalam berusaha mengwjudkan bangsa Malaysia dan gagal dalam hayati prinsip Islam berdasarkan Al-Quran.

Satu Cabaran mudah untuk BN - hentikan raical profling di sekolah-sekolah kerajaan !

Salam.

English medium in elite schools BUT not in National Government Schools ????

I do not understand the rationale either. Good quality education is for the children of ALL citizens, not for a select few.

The Star Online reported as follows:

New MARA college in Parit is first in Perak to offer GCSE certificate

THE newly opened MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) in Parit is the first in Perak to offer the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE).

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said it was also the third in the country to offer the certificate.

The RM80mil school, which was the seventh MRSM in the state, was officially opened by Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah last Saturday.

Built on a 21.85ha land, the school began operations in May last year and has about 800 students.

Mohd Shafie said the model and philosophy behind MARA’s education system was to focus on human capital development and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills that are at par with international standards.

“MRSM has taken another step forward to ensure value-added education be given to students so that they can get a place in the world’s best universities,” he said in his speech.

“We hope to continue producing excellent graduates who will become successful wherever they are,” he said, adding that among the successful people to have graduated from MRSM are Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, Air Asia chief executive officer Datuk Kamaruddin Meranum and Malaysia’s first astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.

Mohd Shafie said the setting up of MRSM was to ensure that young children could get the opportunity to study under a secondary education system that focused on Science and Mathematics.

He also said that several students from MRSM has achieved success at science and technology exhibitions at international level.

“Two MRSM Betong (Sarawak) students have won gold medals at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2013 and International Sustainable World Energy Engineering Environment Project Olympiad 2013 in Houston, Texas for their science project.

“Another two from MRSM Kota Kinabalu also won gold with their robotics project at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition 2013 here and during the 14th International Robot Olympiad in Gwanju, South Korea in 2012,” he added.

In his speech, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said with the latest MRSM branch here in the state, it will further enhance the development of the education system and benefit students.

“We hope that MRSM would continue to churn out more people with calibre. The country needs more human capital with integrity and possess high knowledge and skills.

“The state is fortunate to have MRSMs here that can help realise the country’s vision to be a high-income nation, thus we are aware about the needs to equip our children with the necessary skills and knowledge to compete nationally and internationally,” he said.

“That being said, I also hope more sons and daughters of fishermen, farmers and labourers could benefit from studying here and to be successful,” he added.

Syed Akbar argues convincingly that if English medium is good for MRSM schools then why is it not good for National Government Schools. Read his take here - English Medium For Elites Only?.

Peace !

Education Policy: What is BN's and PR's policy if either wins the GE13?

Education, needless to say is the cornerstone of a country's development and even civilisation. It is an investment into our children to make them good persons, good and useful citizens. WE cannot look at education merely to produce technocrats but weak and valueless human beings.

It is no secret that almost most will agree that generally the education standards in our country, from primary to tertiary is low. We have been having inconsistent education policies for the past many years that has caused major damage to the education of our kids.

Again, I cannot be accused as being excessive when I say that much of our education policy is weak and not well thought out because it has been unnecessarily politicised rather than being focused on quality and proper objectives. The standard of English in our country has declined to an embarrassing low due to politics interfering into our education policy making process. We produce graduates who seem to lack the ability to think and reason.

IF we look at the Government schools, it is plagued with all sorts of problems such as gangsterism, truancy, low quality teachers and school environment. Too much religion in school, especially "Islam", instead of focusing on academic excellence has also contributed in wastage of resources. We seem to lack commitment to give our children the best education possible in the best environment possible.

We may have KLCC and world class physical facilities at KLIA, but our government schools, especially the National Type schools are generally pathetic. This probably explains why there is an increase in private schools. One barometer of how good our schools are is to ask this question: how many of our Ministers and MPs have their own children studying in Government schools?

After more than 50 years, we still have not come up with a solution to the separation and the consequences of having sekolah kebangsaan and vernacular schools.

With all the above problems, wouldnt the Rakyat like to know what is the education policy and plans that BN or PR have before they cast their vote?

Peace !

People are enslaved?

GoAnimate.com: Politicians+Dream%3A+People+are+slaves+of+the+System by calebforever


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Ruang Befikir Semakin Menyimpit ???

Memang kebanyakkan manusia malas berfikir. Kalau kebanyakkan manusia mmembenarkan diri mereka untuk berfikir, maka tidak wujudlah penindasan dari segi fizikal dan rohani. Hakikat bahawa begitu ramai manusia tidak sedar tentang penindasan ini membuktikkan bahawa sememangnya mereka telah selesa dalam zon kejahilan mereka. Begitu juga jika manusia memang rajin berfikir, tidak lah Al-Quran itu mengandungi berpuluh-puluh ayat yang mengajak, mengajar dan memujuk mansusia untuk berfikir. Malangnya dalam bidang agama pun mereka telah menggadaikan minda mereka kepada segelintir manusia lain yang kononnya mempunyai monopoli hidayah Allah. Namun itu persoalan yang lain.

Walaupun manusia amnya malas berfikir, malangnya diNegara tercinta ini kemalasan berfikir bukan sahaja luimrah tetapi telah diinstitusikan sebagai satu budaya yang harus dipertahankan. Kelesuan dan kengganan untuk berfikir telah menular kesegenap lapisan kehidupan kita.

Kita bangga dengan pemimpin-pemimpin yang boleh mengeluarkan kenyataan yang bukan sahaja tidak masuk akal tetapi menghina pemikiran manusia waras. Kenyataan-kenyataan mereka itu dengan bangga disiarkan dalam TV dan media arus perdana seolah-olah kita mahu mensejarahkan kebodohan kepimpinan kita. Begitu kerap sekali saya lihat kebodohan kempimpinan politik diraikan seperti pesta diringi oleh tepuk sorak badan-badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan blogger-blogger upahan yang semestinya "allergic" kepada kebolehan berfikir. Seperti ayat dalam Al-Quran, masing-masing gembira dengan kenerakaan masing-masing dengan memikirkan bahawa itulah syurga!

Lebih teruk daripada dahulu, hari ini kita dapati begitu ramai "cendikiawan-cendikiawan" yang tumbuh sebagai cendawan tanpa sebarang kebolehan berifkir secara berilmiah atau pun mempunyai kebolehan intelektualisme walaupun masing-masing tanpa segan silu memakai gelaran "Dr" dihadapan nama mereka. Saya tidak harian perkembangan ini kerana saya sudah pun menjangkanya berlaku sewaktu saya masih belajar diUKM bertahun-tahun dahulu. Saya sudah  melihat dahulu bahawa satu budaya baru yang menghormati kelulusan daripada ilmu semakain berkembang didalam negara tercinta ini. Kelulusan formal atau rasmi disamakan dengan keupayaan intelektualisme. Malangya juga ramai "cendikiawan" yang tidak faham maksud "intellectualism". Ini lah antara sebabnya yang telah menahan saya daripada belajar sehingga keperingkat PhD kerana saya tidak dapat bayangkan diri saya dinilai oleh puak-puak "superficial" ini walaupun saya begitu cinta dengan ilmu dan proses pemikiran.

Hari ini ramai bangga dengan adanya berpuluh-puluh universiti yang tumbuh bagai lalang yang tidak terjaga dan kehadiran hampir 2000 professor-professor dalam negara tercinta ini. Memandangkan kita mengagungkan dan memartabatkan kejahilan, maka tidak pernahlah kita tanya apakah sumbangan professor-professor ini kepada perkembangan ilmu dan masyarakat? Berapa banyakkah buku-buku ilmiah yang telah diterbitkan oleh cendawan-cendawan ini? Apakah teori atau falsafah yang telah mereka "profess" dalam kerjaya mereka sehingga layak digelar professor? Hari ini, professor adalah jawatan bukanya melambangkan keupayaan pemikiran. Perkara yang sama ini telah saya bincang dengan Allahyarham Professor Syed Hussein Al-Atas, bekas VC Universiti Malay dimana beliau mengelar golongan seperti ini sebagai "educated barbarians".

Apabila kita memartabatkan guru-guru dan pensyarah-pensyarah jahil, adakah kita harapkan penuntut-penuntut keluaran universiti tempatan akan berkembang sebagai pemikir, reformis dan berguna?

JIka kita membuat satu kajian rambang, kita akan dapati bahawa kebanyakkan kita seolah-olah menganggap berfikir itu satu dosa besar yang harus dihindari. Kita katakan "boring". Buku-buku yang memerlukan seseorang itu untuk berifkir dipandang sebagai satu virus yang tidak harus didekati. Kalau ada rakan yang membuahkan satu topik yang memerlukan perbincangan menggunakan akal, kita anggap dia sebagai gila atau ganjil. Mereka lebih minat untuk bercakap-cakap kosong mengenai kejadian didalam kehidupan mereka yang juga sama-sama kosong - hal ofis mereka, gelagat orang lain, wayang yang dilihat, masalah-masalah kecil-kecilan dalam kehidupan mereka yang dilihat besar oleh minda mereka yang kecut, dan lain-lain "mundane topics". 

Sebenarnya bagi orang yang boleh berfikir, topik-topik ini lah amat membosankan kerana ianya dapat dijangka.  Sememangnya boleh jadi "stressful" bagi seorang yang boleh berfikir hidup dalam masyarakat yang menganggungkan kebodohan dan kejahilan.

Paling ketara sekali penyakit tidak mahu berfikir ini adalah dalam hal yang bersangkutan dengan ketuhanan. Amat anih sekali bahawa mereka yang kononnya menganggap agama itu penting tidak mahu meluangkan masa untuk mengkaji atau memikirkan tentang apa yang mereka anuti. Kemalasan mereka itu cuba ditutup dengan alasan bahawa mereka tidak mahir dalam hal-hal agama dan oleh itu membiarkan orang yang leibih "berilmu" itu mengupas bagi pihak mereka. Apakah asas-asas pun tidak tahu? Begitu yakin sekali mereka ini dengan golongan yang dikatakan "berilmu"?  Saya yakin ramai yang tidak akan faham maksud saya disini kerana kita sudah pun di indoktrinasikan  dengan tanggapan bahawa mereka yang berkelulusan daripada universiti semestinya pakar dalam bidang tertentu. Maka, kita tidak pernah mahu berfikir atau menilai mengenai "kelulusan" pakar yang kita idolakan itu. Memang susah ke mendapat kelayakan formal universiti hari in?

Pada saya, masyarakat yang membudayakan kebodohan dan kejahilan mengundang musibah keatas dirinya sendiri. Padahnya akan tiba walaupun mengambil masa yang lama.

Namun mereka yang sudah lazim dengan candu tidak mahu berfikir akan ketagihkan kebodohan dan kejahilan. Seperti semua ketagihan yang merosakkan, kesudahannya amat jelas.

Salam.

Muslims cannot celebrate Chinese New Year with others ???

This 8 year old Muslim boy studies at a Chinese school. He came home one day and told his father “Papa, did you know that Muslims should not celebrate Chinese New Year?”

His father asked. “Who said that?”

He replied, “My Ustazah in school”.

The father explained to him that a Muslim can celebrate Chinese New Year with their Chinese friends. That Chinese New Year is not a religious festival but it signifies the start of the Chinese calendar.  The father told him that he will go and speak to the Ustazah not to say these things.

“But Papa, don’t scold her. She is a nice lady”. His father assured him that he won’t scold the Ustazah.

The father then went to school and the following transpired:

Father (F) : “ Salam Ustazah. Saya ayah A. Ada perkara nak bincang sikit”.

Ustazah (U) : “Mualaikum salam. Sila masuk”.

F: “ Anak saya balik dari sekolah tadi, dia kata orang Islam tidak boleh raikan Hari Raya Cina”. 

U: “Betul lah tu. Saya yang cakap. Kalau ikut kan tak boleh?”

F: “ Maafkan saya Ustazah. Hari Raya Cina tak ada kena mengena dengan agama. Ia merupakan permulaan calendar ciptaan orang Cina berdasarkan pengiraan perjalanan matahari dan bulan. Sepertimana juga kita ada calendar Hijrah, calander Gregorian yang 2011 ni, dan macam2 calaneder lagi. Semua ni menjelmakan rahmah dan kebesaran Allah yang bagi ilmu pada kita untuk mengira masa melalui macam-macam cara”.

U: “Tapi Hari Raya Cina kan untuk CIna. Makanan dia orang tu kan tak halal?”

F: “ Puan, di Cina ada lebih daripada 30 juta orang Islam melebihi kita yang Melayu disini. Pokoknya ialah bukan Cina atau bukan Cina tapi Muslim atau tidak. Bukan semua Cina bukan Muslim”. 

U: “Maksud saya, kalau kita pergi rayakan di rumah orang CIna, kan makanan dia orang tak halal?”

F: “Kita jangan lah makan makanan yang tak halal kalau ada. Kalau kita dijemput, tentu mereka sediakan makanan halal. Kalau mereka tak sediakan, apa salahnya kalau kita pergi tapi tak makan? Kalau was was pun, tolak cara sopan. Tujuan kita kan nak rapatkan siratul rahim dan berkongsi rahmah yang Allah bagi pada kita? Kita orang Islam berupaya hidup dengan segala makhluk Allah secara aman.”

U: “ Ye tak ye juga. Mungkin saya tersilap cakap sebab saya risau pasal makanan. Mungkin tak kena saya cakap macam tu pada budak-budak”.

F: “Saya tak salahkan Puan. Pemikiran kita jadi sebegini kerana system pendidikan kita serta pergaulan kita yang memprejudiskan minda kita. Macam isteri saya juga orang Cina tapi semua keluarga dia adalah vegetarian.  Sampai ada coklat yang punyai gelatin pun dia orang tak makan.  Lagi risau dia orang tentang perkara tu daripada kita”.

The father and the Ustazah greeted each other and parted as friends as they discussed the possibility of her teaching his son Arabic in his home.

I do not blame the Ustazah. She is a kind and good lady but the product of an education system that has been segregationist. There are of course a host of other reasons why such things happen – mostly due to the kind of Islam that is permitted to grow in our country for the past 20 years by politicians, religious people and the institutions.

Peace !

The So-called "Education Policy" - Have we been systematically reduced to an imbecile? Part 3

3. Let us briefly look at the so-called education policy in this country. We have to do this because there is a  mass delusion in this country encouraged by the politicians that the type of education in this country is making us “better all round”. I admit that it is difficult to try to discern any clear policy objective of our education policy for several reasons, primarily because it changes with changes of the Minister. The following characteristics, however, may be observed:

(a)                the policies appears to be largely political than educational;

(b)               after 52 years of Merdeka, we are still grappling with the basic issue of the medium of instruction and learning in the educational system (emotions rather than clear thinking rule this issue) eg Maths & Science in English or Bahasa Malaysia;

(c)                there does not seem to be a coherent, wholesome and long term educational policy that is equally flexible to keep pace with developments in knowledge and needs;

(d)               too many ad hoc, abrupt changes in policies that disrupts continuity and confuses the teachers;

(e)                we have adopted the Prussian education system without much thought http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussian_education_system

(f)                other than the science syllabuses, the arts syllabuses tend to be strongly influenced by mainstream political and religious biasness rather than objectivity, facts and “truth”.

(g)               Strong emphasis on examinations and memorization rather than reflection, and creative thinking. (If you do not like words, you can never do well because your mind may be picture tuned!)

(h)               For years, there has been little priority given to the quality of schools, teachers, teaching and learning materials relative to the other sectors which have received bigger budgets and greater attention.

(i)                 There is very little emphasis on the culture of research;

(j)                 A visit to any school library leaves the visitor worried;

Once upon a time, due to the then Government’s overemphasis on science subjects, even students who were not interested in science we forced into the Science stream or could not apply into the Arts stream.  I was one of them who was placed in the science stream and with immense difficulty, I had to study the Arts subjects myself and finally got into the Arts stream only in Upper Six!

Further, I could never understand the kind of so-called “science subjects” being taught in the universities without corresponding opportunities for application in the real world once they graduate.

I also feel that there seems to be no efforts to motivate or create a motivating atmosphere for teachers in the National Schools. I understand from some teachers I have been speaking to in the last few months that they now being burdened with further paperwork in the name of KPIs ! This is troublesome and distractive as the main focus of the teachers should be to cultivate the learning culture in the pupils and students.

I also find it disheartening that proper thought has not been given to the security of pupils in primary school once the school is over. You can find them loitering outside the school waiting for their school buses or their respective caretakers to take them home. In town, some of these schools are located along busy roads and can be dangerous for the primary school students. It is matters such as this and more that makes me wish that Ministers should be responsible and focus on their tasks rather than making political speeches which is increasingly becoming a bore.

At the University level, the students of today seem to have become more docile than their predecessors – national responsibility awareness and knowledge of general affairs in the country seems lacking. It appears that even University students have become examination orientated with no interest in the acquisition of knowledge. What went wrong?

The vernacular school system is yet another facet of our education system that has to be reviewed to determine its purpose in the light of the multi-racial nature of our society. I am not disputing that there are constitutional guarantees for this but I think we have to try to understand its utility in the larger scheme of things.

Any educational institution that deliberately caters only for one particular ethnic or religious group is not conducive for nation building since it deters the experience of and lessons from interaction between the differing ethnic or religious groupings.

As for agama schools, I do not think that it should be funded from the tax-payers’ money as I do not consider it conducive for nation-building as it only caters for one particular social construct. It creates an exclusive and insular attitude among the students which is anti-thesis to the reality of the Nation.

I can go on but I hope you get the picture – the schools, whether national, vernacular or agama are just floating along with no coherent and united direction.  Hence, these schools are producing citizens who will be inclined to move in opposite directions without even understanding why!

Next, God willing: Have we been systematically reduced to an imbecile? Part 4: Industrial revolution and Prussian style classrooms – our education system and classroom style of education is based largely on the Prussian education system and philosophy.

SIMPLE AND GENERATIVE LEARNING

By Osman Hj. Kamaluddin

  

Simple Learning

There are two main types of learning. The first type is simple learning and in this type of learning, there is a gap between what you know and what you want to know. The learning process would be the actions you take to close the gap and the results are feedback leading to increased knowledge or skills. The feedback lets you know whether you are approaching your goal. If the actions you take bring you nearer to your goal, that is, closing the gap, then you do more of them i.e. the actions you take. But if it is the other way round i.e. the actions you take, increases the gap, then you do less of them. Solving the problem is closing the gap.

Simple learning and problem solving take place within a boundary of assumptions and beliefs about what is possible and necessary. For example, a person may get frequent headaches and because of this, goes to see a doctor. The doctor then prescribes some painkillers to be taken. The person goes home, feeling happy and the next time, he/she has a headache, he/she takes the painkillers. Simple problem, simple solution! An example from business would be a company that wants to invest in a more modern and faster manufacturing machine/plant. They try a number of possibilities and settle on the most cost-effective one. Later, the plant is built and running to full capacity. Another simple problem, simple solution!

Generative Learning

The other type of learning is generative learning. Generative learning brings our beliefs and assumptions about the issues into the feedbacks we received. Feedbacks from our actions lead us to question our beliefs and assumptions! As in the previous examples, the person might question why he/she is getting frequent headaches. That person might find out later that he/she needs to change his/her lifestyle or diet. That person may also be curious about taking charge of his/her own health, rather than looking to the medical doctor to fix all his/her health problems.

In the business example, the company might want to question whether it is worth investing in the new equipment for a product that might be out of date at a later stage. They might question further, whether they are in the right market and think about other/new products rather than assume, they can continue to do what they have been always doing!

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 Osman Hj. Kamaluddin is a marine surveyor who has for the past many years researched and observed on accelerated learning techniques. He is also a Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) & NLP Coaching.

THE LEARNING ZONE

By Osman Hj. Kamaluddin


When you are learning, always make sure that you are in the Learning Zone and this is very important. The Learning Zone usually means that the difficulties that you encounter during learning ‘matches’ your abilities and/or knowledge. If this happens, then you are safe and you will keep on learning. However, do beware of the 2 Danger Zones in learning. There are namely, the ‘Drowning’ Zone and the ‘Slumber’ Zone!

The ‘Drowning’ Zone

This is when the difficulties you encounter during learning are greater than that of your abilities and/or knowledge. When this happen, you would be completely stuck and do not know what to do next! You might feel anxious or helpless! If you are in this zone and do not do anything, then your learning would stop there. So what to do? WELL, GET HELP!

Ask yourself, what other resources do you need? Maybe, you need to get more information! Ask someone to assist you! BOTTOM LINE, PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO ‘IMPROVE’ YOUR ABILITIES AND/OR KNOWLEDGE SO THAT YOU ‘OVERCOME’ THE DIFFICULTIES THAT YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED! ONCE YOU HAVE DONE THIS, THEN YOU ARE BACK TO THE LEARNING ZONE!


The ‘Slumber’ Zone

When your abilities and/or knowledge are greater than the difficulties encountered during learning, when all seems too easy and you can do it with one arm tied behind your back, then you will enter into this zone. You are not ‘stretched’ enough and might feel bored or uninvolved. Your learning would stop again here. So, what to do? IT MAY BE (MAY BE ONLY!), THAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO LEARN THAT SKILL AFTER ALL! ON THE OTHER HAND, GO FOR MORE DIFFICULT/CHALLENGING SKILLS/TASKS OR SET YOURSELF FURTHER ACHIEVEMENT TARGETS. IF THIS IS DONE, THEN YOU ARE ON THE LEARNING ZONE TRACKS!

When you have the abilities/knowledge and when you always feel alert or curious, when you can manage to stay in the Learning Zone and avoid the Danger Zones, then LEARNING WOULD BE REWARDING AND ENJOYABLE!

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Osman Hj. Kamaluddin is a marine surveyor who has for the past many years researched and observed on accelerated learning techniques. He is also a Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) & NLP Coaching.

THE LEARNING PROCESS

By Osman Hj. Kamaluddin

Most of us have learned to ride a bicycle when we were small. Well, let us see the learning process that we went through. First, we told our self, (THOUGHT) that we want to learn and the reasons for our decision would be:

1. It can be done as others have done it.
2. It is fun.
3. It is useful as a mode of transport. (Better than walking!)

From the above, we could say that because of the reasons mentioned, we got motivated (MOTIVATE) and decided (DECIDE) that we want to learn. So, after we made the decision, we took the BIG STEP, that is, learning to ride the bicycle (ACTION).

After we started to learn, we find that we were unable to do it with ease and to some of us (I believe, most of us), we had some ‘nightmare’ and even the ‘scars’ may have remained until now. (Mine, had to drink a couple of gallons of drain water from the drain in Klang back in the 70’s). Even though we had those bad experiences (OBSTACLES/PROBLEMS), we did not gave up! We went on learning even though, we had to go through, some of the ‘nightmares’ again. (PERSEVERANCE). We went on because we kept on ‘putting in our head’, the reasons mentioned above and also, those people who are closed to us gave us some ‘words of encouragement’ (MOTIVATE AGAIN). We learned and learned until we became good in riding the bicycle (PERSEVERANCE AGAIN).

Once we have mastered how to ride the bicycle, we felt the joys of achieving it. So, from the above, we could summarize the simple process of learning as follows:-

A THOUGHT ► MOTIVATE ► DECIDE ► ACTION ► OBSTACLES/PROBLEMS ► PERSEVERENCE ► MOTIVATE AGAIN ► PERSEVERENCE AGAIN ► LEARNING COMPLETE.

However, whether we realized it or not, our learning process we used when we were learning to ride the bicycle, did not stop when we could ride the bicycle! Nobody ‘hung up’ their bicycles immediately when they could ride the bicycles! Did we?

So, what did we do after we have learned the skill i.e. ride a bicycle? Of course, after that, we utilized it. We rode the bicycle to the school, to friends' houses, to shops etc. We rode and rode our bicycles until we had other modes of transportation that we know how to use. That is why, until now, if you have not ridden a bicycle for such a long time and if given one to ride, you could still do it and with ease. This type of learning process puts the skill and/or knowledge that you have acquired not only into your brain but also into your body or system. So, the Re- Summarized Learning Process should be:-

A THOUGHT ► MOTIVATE ► DECIDE ► ACTION ► OBSTACLES/PROBLEMS ► PERSEVERENCE ► MOTIVATE AGAIN ► PERSEVERENCE AGAIN ► LEARNING COMPLETE ► UTILISED LEARNING SKILLS AND/OR KNOWLEDGE.

No wonder I cannot remember my algebra now!

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Osman Hj Kamaludin is a marine surveyor who has for the past many years researched and observed on accelerated learning techniques. 

Respon Dr Ngo Kepada Dr Ridhuan Tee dalam Isu Bahasa Malaysia

Dr. Mohd Ridhuan Tee bin Abdullah (Tee Chuan Seng) menulis dalam blog nya bahawa:

"Saya amat mengharapkan kerajaan tidak akan tunduk kepada desakan Persekutuan Persatuan-persatuan Cina Malaysia (Hua Zong) supaya membantu 60 Chinese Independent Secondary School serta mengikhtiraf sijil yang dikeluarkan (UEC)".

Dan juga bertanya: "Saya tidak menafikan ada segelintir pelajar Cina yang berjaya mendapat keputusan cemerlang dalam bahasa Melayu, tetapi bilangan amat kecil. Itupun setelah diwajibkan lulus. Bayangkan jika syarat itu tidak ada. Apakah belajar bahasa Melayu kerana terpaksa belajar atau semangat sayangkan bahasa kebangsaan? Fikirkanlah".

Dr Ngo Han Chiang memberi respon kepada artikel Dr Ridhuan dalam blog nya dengan menulis:

"Ada banyak cara untuk memperkasakan bangsa. Bahasa merupakan di antara cara yang berkesan. Di Malaysia tidak ada pertikaian langsung soal Bahasa Malaysia sebagai bahasa rasmi. Ia dipelihara , dipertahan dan diperuntukkan dalam Perlembagaan. Cuma di Malaysia, bahasa ibunda kaum lain juga diberi hak untuk digunakan dan diperkembangkan dan ini menjadi titik persoalan di antara pejuang-pejuang Dong Cong,Hua Zong, parti politik, ahli akademik dan persatuan bahasa kebangsaan yang lain".

Dr Ngo selanjutnya menjawab Dr Ridhuan Tee sebegini:

"Walaupun orang Cina dan India baik di kampung mahupun di bandar tidak mempunyai penguasaan BahasaMalaysia yang kononnya tidak baik, namun ini tidak bermakna mereka anti Melayu atau anti bahasa Malaysia. Malah di kalangan mereka, rakan yang paling baik mereka adalah orang Melayu. Bukan semua orang Melayu yang belajar di sekolah kebangsaan juga dapat menguasai bahasa Malaysia dengan baik. Cuba suruh orang Melayu kelantan atau melayu Kedah atau Pinang bercakap atau menulis menggunakan bahasa loghat mereka. Saya rasa orang Melayu lain pun tidak faham apatah lagi bangsa bukan Melayu yang lain!

Penguasaan atau kurangnya penguasaan Bahasa Malaysia tidak menjadikan kita ‘kurang keMalaysiaan’.Ramai orang Cina, India dan yang lain menguasai Bahasa Malaysia dengan baik. Ia bukan lagi satu perkara yang dimegah-megahkan (to shout about) jika mereka ini boleh bertutur dan menulis dengan baik. Sebenarnya kecekapan menguasai Bahasa Malaysia oleh orang bukan Melayu sudah merupakan satu perkara yang lumrah dan semula jadi seperti orang Inggeris bertutur Bahasa Inggeris!"

Baca lah artikel Dr Ridhuan Tee dahulu dan kemudian artikel Dr Ngo di blog masing-masing dan buat penilian - pemikiran siapa lebih berasaskan perlembagaan, nilai universal mahupun nilai-nilai anjuran Al-Quran serta objektif.

Salam.