Monday, October 13, 2014

Chinese Schools


Yesterday, two Chinese community leaders shared with me their views on the Budget 2015 which had allocated RM56 billion to the Education Ministry for developing human capital.

Foon Yew High School's board of directors chairman Tong Sing Chuan said he was disappointed the government did not include independent schools in its budget allocation.
  "After graduation, we will do a follow-up on the students after they have sat for the Chinese education system's Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) examination.
  "In 2012, 97 per cent of them pursued further studies in universities or colleges that recognise the UEC.  
  "In 2013, nearly 100 per cent pursued further studies."
  "Last year, a total of 5,502 students applied for a place in Foon Yew High School in Johor Baru and in our other campus in Kulaijaya.  We had to turn away 3,902 students.
  "Beside UEC, we also encourage the students to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) although we did not make it compulsory.
  "The 3,902 who were turned away either had to further their studies in international schools, schools in Singapore or national schools," Tong said, adding that independent schools should get some  allocation as they too are producing graduates for the workforce, who will contribute to nation building.


Johor Chinese School Association expressed gratitude for the RM50 million allocation for Chinese primary schools under Budget 2015, but said a bigger allocation was needed.
  Its chairman Wang Toon Jui said the allocation was not in proportion with the number of students studying in Chinese vernacular schools nation-wide, in tandem with the number of students in Tamil vernacular schools and national type schools.
  In Johor, there are about 110,000 students in Chinese vernacular schools.
 

Saturday, October 11, 2014

See Ya


The eye bags and unkempt hair says it all. 

休息是为了走更长的路

Hope to see the world with new eyes in 2015.

Selamat Malam or is it Good Morning?


Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Nam Wah Kangkar Pulai Johor



The Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat Complex in Tampoi was owned by former Information Minister the late Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat. Pic by Dazar Suarman

JOHOR BARU: SPORTS and recreational enthusiasts will soon have a place they can visit if they want to learn taekwando, silat or lion dance.
Pulai member of parliament Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed plans to open the Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat Complex in Tampoi for the public to learn traditional martial arts and lion dance said his special officer Goh Teck Kuan.
Nur Jazlan is the son of the late Umno veteran and former Information Minister Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat, who owned the complex.
“We are in the process of looking for coaches.
“We not only want to have such classes, but we hope to get people of all races to sign up for lessons.
“We want the Chinese to learn the silat and the Indians to learn lion dance and so on.
“We feel that this would strengthen bonds in the community,” Goh said.
Goh said Nur Jazlan was supportive of sports and cultural activities and believed youths should have more opportunities to do so instead of idling their time away.
The plans for such classes to be held at the complex was timely as sports enthusiasts in the state had recently complained of a lack of venues to conduct activities.
Goh said this at a send-off ceremony for the Nam Wah Kangkar Pulai lion dance troupe, which will be representing Malaysia in Bali, Indonesia next week.
The ceremony was held at the SRJK (Cina) Pulai in Kangkar Pulai here on Sunday.
The troupe will compete in the third Asia Lion Dance Championship from Saturday to Oct 16.
The Nam Wah Kangkar Pulai troupe has more than 50 members, including non-Chinese.
However, only eight members of the troupe led by Datuk Ong Chi Kin would be going for the championship.


From left: Gan Tek Hing, Kew Yin Min and Lee Song Twee.

JOHOR BARU: A send-off ceremony was held on Sunday for the award-winning Nam Wah Kangkar Pulai lion dance troupe which flew to Bali to represent the country in the Third Asia Lion Dance Championship.
About 100 people, including Kangkar Pulai village head Lee Song Twee and former village head Kew Yin Min, turned up at SRJK (Cina) Pulai in Kangkar Pulai to show their support for the eight-member troupe.
The championship will take place from Saturday to Oct 16.
Troupe chairman Yong Yii Yaak said their biggest rival would be from China.
The inaugural championship was hosted in Johor Baru two years ago while last year's event took place in Jakarta, Indonesia.
On both occasions, the Nam Wah Kangkar Pulai lion dance troupe emerged in the top three spot. By Chuah Bee Kim

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Symbol Of The Owl

Hear the hidden meaning of what others are not saying but is conveyed in their silence.  Trust your instincts about others. - symbol of the Owl


Baby Wendie is the star of the day. She is the sixth generation of owls born in Le Grandeur Palm Resort Johor. The little darling isn't able to fly yet so she's just waiting.

This is Wendie's family. As soon as they're able to fly they'll take flight. Some come back, some don't.  Mummy Mollie can be spotted nearby at times watching over Baby Wendie, and bringing her food.


Meanwhile, everyone wants to have a picture with Baby Wendie.

Look carefully. Wendie is in all the photos below.

This is Strawberry Yam, Le Grandeur's cute and bubbly Group MarComm executive. 



Mary and Baby Wendie.


Le Grandeur's MarComm manager S. Darshini, who loves to travel, and also has a travel blog http://wvtraveller.wordpress.com/



Have a good day, everyone.


Preserving Classic Cars



JOHOR BARU: A bevy of vintage beauties beckons as one walks into the workshop set up by S. Weerasinghe and his friends. 

Located in Jalan Datin Halimah here, the workshop does everything from repairing, servicing to welding.

Weerasinghe used to work in the United Kingdom as a truck mechanic for 45 years before returning to Malaysia.


Antiques: Among the Humber Sceptre and the 1965 MG BGT which were at the workshop was this 1923 MGTF (pictured above). The old dame will get a new lease of life once the original parts arrive from the UK.




Sunday, October 5, 2014

Bored And Overwhelmed


Woke up and saw some comments and feedback regarding the new Society Page in Johor Streets. People loved it! I'm glad. 



Yesterday was World Animal Day and this cute three-month-old Chow Chow was getting its ears checked and cleaned, courtesy of Global Pets Sdn Bhd.

The owner told me he bought the Chow Chow at RM3,800.


One can also adopt a stray at the event. Give these puppies a decent home and the love that they deserve. 

Today is Hari Raya Haji, a holy festival of sacrifice. Wishing the Muslim community "Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha". 


A prayer for the slaughtered offered as sacrifice. May they have peace and bliss in the hereafter.