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	<title>Global Voices &#187; Syafique Shuib</title>
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	<itunes:summary>The world is talking. Are you listening?</itunes:summary>
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		<title>Global Voices Online &#187; Syafique Shuib</title>
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		<title>Does Malaysia Need a Youth Parliament?</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/06/03/does-malaysia-need-a-youth-parliament/</link>
		<comments>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/06/03/does-malaysia-need-a-youth-parliament/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:22:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Syafique Shuib</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bahasa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Citizen Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[East Asia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Governance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Malaysia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weblog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Youth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=229240</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Malaysian Prime Minister has proposed the creation of a Youth Parliament in order to inspire and mobilize young people to contribute in the governance of the country. Bloggers share their thoughts on this issue.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>During the recent &#8220;One Million Youth Gathering&#8221; which took place on May 27-29, 2011, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak outlined six new initiatives, which includes the formation of a <a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/5/29/nation/8782510&amp;sec=nation">Parliament of Youths</a>. The said parliament would be a venue for the government to solicit the views of the youth about politics, governance, and other national issues.</p>
<p>What are the reactions of bloggers?</p>
<p><em>Point Blank Rambler</em> says <a href="http://muehmueh.blogspot.com/2011/05/parlimen-belia-asas-politik-untuk.html">youths should have more say</a> towards the direction of the country:</p>
<blockquote><p>Dan aku sangat berharap bahawasanya Parlimen Belia ini tidak bias - dikuasai oleh kerajaan sepenuhnya. Sebab, sebagai negara yang mengamalkan Demokrasi, setiap rakyat adalah berhak menentukan hala tuju sesebuah negara dan benda ni termasuklah golongan belia sendiri, betul tak?</p>
<p>Kalau dah tujuan asal pembentukan Parlimen Belia ni adalah untuk melatih generasi belia dalam menentukan halatuju negara, maka mereka perlu menghormati hak kita dalam membuat keputusan tanpa sekatan.</p></blockquote>
<div class="translation">
<p>I hope the youth Parliament will not be biased; to be fully controlled by the government. As a country that practices democracy, each citizen has his/her rights to decide the direction of the country, and this include the youths, right?</p>
<p>If the aim of the youth Parliament is to allow the young generation to decide the country&#39;s direction, then they have to respect that right without any restrictions.</p>
</div>
<p><em>The Flying Kick</em> says <a href="http://theflyingkick.blogspot.com/2011/06/parlimen-belia-satu-lagi-projek-untuk.html">the opposition will have more control</a> of the youth parliament:</p>
<blockquote><p>Bila Najib Abdul Razak memutuskan untuk mewujudkan Parlimen Belia bagi mendedahkan belia-belia negara ini kepada proses demokrasi yang sebenar, ramai yang menyambut baik. Dan sudah tentulah yang paling gembira dengan penubuhan Parlimen Belia itu adalah pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat.</p>
<p>Sedangkan UMNO pula sekadar boleh berbangga kerana telah mewujudkan Parlimen Belia. Pengisian dalam Parlimen Belia tidak akan ke mana-mana, seperti mana yang berlaku dalam agensi-agensi lain seperti KEDA, KESEDAR, KETENGAH dan sebagainya. UMNO hanya menubuhkan tetapi akhirnya yang menguasai adalah puak-puak Pakatan Rakyat.</p>
<p>Parlimen Belia juga bakal menerima nasib yang sama. Kebanyakan pemimpin UMNO hanya aktif apabila mereka hendak meminta jawatan tetapi untuk mengisi tanggungjawab jawatan yang diminta, biasanya mereka tidak ada masa. Masa mereka banyak dihabiskan untuk perkara-perkara lain termasuklah untuk golf!</p></blockquote>
<div class="translation">
<p>When Najib Abdul Razak announced the creation of a youth Parliament as a way to introduce young Malaysians to the democratic process, many applauded the idea. And the happiest group would be the Opposition.</p>
<p>UMNO (the leading political coalition) can only be proud for creating the Youth Parliament. It won&#39;t go anywhere just like other agencies such as KEDA, KESEDAR, KETENGAH, etc. UMNO creates it but the people from the Opposition will control it.</p>
<p>The youth Parliament will receive the same fate. UMNO leaders will be active when they want to hold the posts but they will not have time to fulfill their duties. They will spend more time doing something else, including golf.</p>
</div>
<p>Followers of <a href="http://www.motivationmy.com"><em>motivationmy.com</em></a> share their <a href="http://www.motivationmy.com/2011/05/question-of-day-what-do-you-think-of.html">thoughts</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>@Azziskandar a great idea as long as it isn&#39;t too politicized. Hope the youths work out actual needs rather than “personal” agendas</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p>@shusshshussh: A youth parliament is a good idea to exchange/debate laws/opinions to decrease generation gap. But not for legislation.</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p>Abdul Rahim (via Facebook): Good idea&#8230;so that in future parliamentrians are more responsible, attend all sessions, dont make it into a circus and argue with facts, not emotions&#8230;.</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p>Dhallan (via Faceboook): I believe it&#39;s just a hype for publicity. By now that proposal is already shelved. Dont think it&#39;s gonna happen</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p>@sherylhosulynn: I think it&#39;s a good idea, but they should let us say what we have in our minds, and not limit us if they do make this happen!</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p>@JFJuhari: my first motion is please remove censorship act. Thank you</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p>Ilhan Hikaru (via Facebook): It will be a success as long as they refer to Islamic Law</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p>@zulfadly (from Brunei): Wow. Your government proposed that? Amazing. Hope it happens. Will be a momentous achievement if it happens. #YouthPower</p></blockquote>
<p>As of now, there are no official updates on the Youth Parliament.</p>
<div class="notes">Thumbnail used is from the Flickr page of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amrufm/4880675811/">amrufm</a> used under CC License Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)</div>
<p class='gv-rss-footer'><span class='credit-text'><span class="contributor">Written by <a href='http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/syafique-shuib/' title='View all posts by Syafique Shuib'>Syafique Shuib</a></span></span> 
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		<title>Malaysia: Boot Camp to &#8220;Help&#8221; Effeminate Boys</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/04/26/malaysia-boot-camp-to-help-effeminate-boys/</link>
		<comments>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/04/26/malaysia-boot-camp-to-help-effeminate-boys/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:16:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Syafique Shuib</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[East Asia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[English]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gay Rights (LGBT)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Malaysia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weblog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Women & Gender]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Youth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=219399</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Based on their effeminate tendencies, 66 schoolboys from the state of Terengganu in Malaysia were recently sent to a boot camp aimed at "helping them behave in a proper manner". The boys were identified by their schools, who were instructed last year to identify students who displayed feminine qualities. The blogoshere in Malaysia is divided over this issue.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Based on their effeminate tendencies, 66 schoolboys from the state of Terengganu in Malaysia were recently sent to a boot camp aimed at &#8220;helping them behave in a proper manner&#8221;.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/16eff/Article/"><em>New Straits Times</em></a> writes:</p>
<blockquote><p>The four-day camp in Besut, the first-ever to be held here, started yesterday. It is to help address the problem afflicting secondary schoolboys.</p>
<p>&#8220;They were listed by their schools who were instructed last year to identify students who displayed feminine qualities,&#8221; said department director Razali Daud.</p>
<p>He said the remedial effort was prompted by the rising number of effeminate schoolboys in the state.</p>
<p>&#8220;The severity of the symptoms vary, but the 66 schoolboys were showing behaviours that is not usually displayed by a normal male of their age.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>In a separate article published by <a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?sec=nation&amp;file=/2011/4/20/nation/8514839"><em>The Star</em></a>, the country&#39;s Women, Family and Community Development Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil says that the boot camp should be abolished:</p>
<blockquote><p>“It is in clear violation of the Child Act,” she said, adding that under the Act, every child was entitled to protection and assistance in all circumstances, regardless of characteristics like race, language and physical, mental or emotional disabilities.</p></blockquote>
<p>The blogoshere in Malaysia was divided over this issue. <a href="http://whimsylair.blogspot.com/2011/04/boot-camp-for-effeminate-boys.html"><em>Whimsical Lair</em></a> writes:</p>
<blockquote><p>I really think there should be a clear division between morality / legality / politics / religion. Whilst the government in any nation is charged with maintaining order (hence the difficulty in distinguishing between law and politics), do they really have any right to dictate social norms and morality? Freedom of expression (whether verbal or actions) whilst to a certain extent curbed to maintain peace may be a necessary evil, does GT really think that they have a right to intrude on how I choose to walk, eat, think, like, etc?</p></blockquote>
<p>Some Malaysians are still homophobic. <a href="http://uglymalaysiana.blogspot.com/2011/04/comment-about-besut-boot-camp-for.html"><em>Ugly Malaysiana</em></a> explains:</p>
<blockquote><p>well i dont really care if someone becoming gay or not, its not matter, really, that just left me with more chick i guess, but i still concern, but try to imagine if all of the human being becoming gay? what would happen to this world? what would you do to reproduce? tube baby? uuuhhh&#8230;yes i am homophobic, you guys not believe in god, thats what you are, gay people are disgusting, period</p></blockquote>
<p>On Twitter, @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/motivationmy">motivationMY</a> asked their followers what they think of the camp, here are some of the responses:</p>
<blockquote><p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/niennessa">@niennessa</a>: that will make them even more outcast than accepting. trust me it will do no good to anyone at all, such a stupid idea.</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/weejunt">@weejunt</a>: Singling them out like that is likely to make them more confused and probably rebel against authority</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/fabiannarcis">@fabiannarcis</a>: they need friends and people to understand them, not help dude</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/weejunt">@sherylhosulynn</a>: I think that it is ridiculous and a form of oppression of self-expression!</p></blockquote>
<p>After much criticism from various quarters, in his latest press statement, <a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/26/nation/8550182&amp;sec=nation">the program director of the boot camp Razali Daud has said</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>[&#8230;] the programme was aimed at boosting the self-confidence of students who are inactive in co-curricular and sports activities, but it had been misconstrued as a boot camp for effeminate boys.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p class='gv-rss-footer'><span class='credit-text'><span class="contributor">Written by <a href='http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/syafique-shuib/' title='View all posts by Syafique Shuib'>Syafique Shuib</a></span></span> 
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		<title>Malaysia: Should schools abolish examinations?</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/10/12/malaysia-should-schools-abolish-examinations/</link>
		<comments>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/10/12/malaysia-should-schools-abolish-examinations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Oct 2010 01:20:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Syafique Shuib</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[East Asia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Malaysia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weblog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Youth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=167569</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Malaysian government plans to revamp school examinations and replace them with a school-based assessment system. Bloggers and tweeps debate on the introduction of a new syllabus to replace the current exam-oriented system]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A few months ago, the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin, <a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/07/01/malaysia-education-ministry-plans-to-scrap-two-exams/">announced the possibility</a> of introducing a school-based assessment to replace the current exam-oriented approach by scrapping the UPSR (Primary School Evaluation Test) and PMR (Lower Certificate of Education). </p>
<p>A committee was formed to study and examine the effectiveness of both exams and it was recently announced that the government will retain the UPSR exam and change the PMR exam to a school-based assessment. Muhyiddin, however, says that the changes <a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/10/nation/7198579&#038;sec=nation">will not be immediate</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>“We reckon that it will take six years for such a major transformation to really work because it in­­volves changes in syllabus and books as well as training for teachers so that they are not so examination-oriented,” he said, adding that the pilot project for school-based assessment had been carried out at some 550 schools since 2008.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://oneandonlyclon.blogspot.com/2010/10/upsr-and-pmr-to-have-new-format-at-2016.html">Clon&#39;s Blog</a> supports the government&#39;s decision:</p>
<blockquote><p>My personal point of view is that first of all, it is a good news. The students will not be burdened just to study for their exam and pay hundred and hundred of ringgits for their tuition fees every month! Although we may not know the outcome or result of this decision but I hope that this would not decrease the quality of our future generation. Actually, the reason we are studying now is not solely for the examination but it&#39;s the purpose of learning. So what for learning the subjects we don&#39;t need in future?</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://roystancepointofview.blogspot.com/2010/10/dear-pmr-and-upsr.html">Roystance&#39;s Point of View</a> provides a different viewpoint: </p>
<blockquote><p>For your information, by having the examination life of Malaysian student, it could keep them aware with the future challenge. We do not need to seek for majority vote because it is obvious that the exam hold a very big responsibility for our nation.The consequence of scrapping exams for the whole country at one go is a highly risky move. </p></blockquote>
<p>Readers of <a href="http://educationmalaysia.blogspot.com/2010/07/scrapping-upsr-pmr-moe-roundtable.html">Education in Malaysia</a>, a blog that provides thoughts and opinions on both public and private education in Malaysia, share their thoughts on this matter:</p>
<blockquote><p>Anonymous said… I believe Malaysian youngters are as potential as their counterparts in our parts of the world. Hence, please don&#39;t pamper them by let them studying less. Else, in the future, when they grow up, our students who grown up to be scholars cannot compete with other scholars from advanced countries.</p>
<p>Passionate About Blogging said… Children have different gifts, talents, inclinations. I don&#39;t think PMR or UPSR is bad for the children. The problem has always been the stress put on their young shoulders by their parents&#39; expectations. Learning should be fun, it should be a discovery, not a burden or a shame.</p>
<p>Aifa said… The exams shouldn&#39;t be abolished instead why don&#39;t they just sat and re-modified or upgrade it. What I notice that the children in schools nowadays become more robotic and their purpose of going is not to learn anymore but to get straight A&#39;s. I&#39;m not saying that getting A&#39;s is a bad thing but they&#39;re just kids. Parents, communities and politicians are putting too much expectations on kids to succeed.</p></blockquote>
<p>Malaysian tweeps also took the chance to voice out on this issue within the 140 characters limit:</p>
<blockquote><p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ecachan">@ecachan</a>: I&#39;ll become the Minister of Education and I&#39;ll make sure PMR and UPSR will stay! LOLOL</p>
<p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/britksy">@britksy</a>: #nomorepmr? JOKE. Even as a student I would want to sit for PMR. Or else, from UPSR, everyone will slack until SPM year.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/manmohanjit">@manmohanjit</a>: The gov wants to abolish UPSR and PMR, good decision. It&#39;s about time.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/DonovanFoong">@DonovanFoong</a>: now only one to abolish PMr and UpsR ! argh</p>
<p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ctaudreylim">@ctaudreylim</a>: Why abolish? REVAMP! Argh!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/suebahrin">@suebahrin</a>: yes. Gov retain UPSR but goin 2 make it harder. PMR replaced w school based xm</p>
<p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/Farveen">@Farveen</a>: Hoyehh..less stress for the kids! </p>
<p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jannahtesl">@jannahtesl</a>: School Based Assessment VS A Sijil [certificate] I Can Never Use for Work Application?</p></blockquote>
<div class="notes">Thumbnail used in the post is from the flickr page of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/clf/178293711/">CLF</a></div>
<p class='gv-rss-footer'><span class='credit-text'><span class="contributor">Written by <a href='http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/syafique-shuib/' title='View all posts by Syafique Shuib'>Syafique Shuib</a></span></span> 
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		<title>Malaysia: Blogging To Promote National Unity</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/07/07/malaysia-blogging-to-promote-national-unity/</link>
		<comments>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/07/07/malaysia-blogging-to-promote-national-unity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:34:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Syafique Shuib</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arts & Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Citizen Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Digital Activism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[East Asia]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Malaysia]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Youth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=149234</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The 1Malaysia Foundation recently unveiled a brand new website , Yayasan 1Malaysia, as a platform to generate conversations with young Malaysian netizens on national unity and other current issues.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/imalaysia.png"><img src="http://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/imalaysia-375x212.png" alt="" title="1malaysia" width="375" height="212" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-149382" /></a></p>
<p>The 1Malaysia Foundation (also known as Yayasan 1Malaysia) recently unveiled its <a href="http://www.yayasan1malaysia.org">new-look website</a>, as part of its mission to interact with young Malaysians to promote national unity and realize <a href="http://www.1malaysia.com.my">1Malaysia</a>, a concept founded by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak</p>
<p>According to a recent <a href="http://yayasan1malaysia.org/blog/press-release/2010/06/15/yayasan-1malaysia-launches-new-look-website/">press statement</a> issued by the 1Malaysia Foundation:</p>
<blockquote><p>“Our brand new interactive website aims to reach out to the tech-savvy young Malaysians who are already accessing blogs and social media platforms. With the new website, Y1M aims to be part of the ongoing conversations and fulfil its role in encouraging public awareness and participation in critical social development and public policy issues and programmes,” said Professor Dr Chandra Muzaffar, Chairman of Yayasan 1Malaysia.</p></blockquote>
<div id="attachment_149239" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 385px"><a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/1Malaysia-a.jpg"><img src="http://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/1Malaysia-a-375x281.jpg" alt="" title="1Malaysia (a)" width="375" height="281" class="size-medium wp-image-149239" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Visitors are encouraged to share their stories and photos on the website</p></div>
<p>To keep the conversation going, the website has a section called &#8220;<a href="http://yayasan1malaysia.org/blog/category/borak-borak/">Borak-Borak</a>&#8220;, a short Q&#038;A session with young Malaysians on national unity and current issues. </p>
<p><a href="http://yayasan1malaysia.org/blog/borak-borak/2010/06/23/borak-borak-daphne-iking-on-being-malaysian-a-kadazan-from-sabah-and-dan-lain-lain/">Daphne Iking</a>, a popular Television personality, shares her thoughts on her identity via the &#8220;Borak-Borak&#8221; section:</p>
<blockquote><p>Honestly? I say I am Sabahan. I’ve been approached and asked why I don’t speak Chinese. I say, “cause I’m not Chinese.” Then they say, “but you eat pork wor?” So I tell them kindly, “Oh…I am Sabahan. A kadazan from Sabah. I’m Catholic. I am the “dan lain-lain”</p></blockquote>
<p>While many are sceptical of the 1Malaysia concept, <a href="http://yayasan1malaysia.org/blog/borak-borak/2010/06/24/borak-borak-1malaysia-is-a-time-machine-every-malaysian-should-take-a-journey-on-says-razman/">Razman Rahim</a> explains why the country needs to embrace this concept: </p>
<blockquote><p>1Malaysia, the program, the foundation and the people whom is behind it, had idealized a refresher prerogative for the Nation, which could not had been initiate at a more ideal time. Living in a world now, where cultural anomalies are constantly building mutations on our unique and distinguished heritage, from which Malaysia on inception was found upon, the unique collective strength, acceptance, the honor of compromise and tolerance found amongst the champions, though born of different identities and cultures, but found one common cause, and comforts in the differences that overlaps, the differences they championed, and they all sacrificed all but, their Malaysia. </p></blockquote>
<p>On the other hand, <a href="http://yayasan1malaysia.org/blog/borak-borak/2010/06/29/borak-borak-positive-discrimination-is-still-discrimination-says-emma/">Emma Chong</a> says that positive discrimination is still discrimination: </p>
<blockquote><p>If you’re trying to achieve the perfect Muhibbah picture by having one person of each race in it, that still means you’re focusing unnecessarily on their race.</p></blockquote>
<p>The 1Malaysia Foundation also <a href="http://www.youtube.com/yayasan1malaysia">produces videos</a>, inviting Malaysians to talk about national unity and current issues like the one below: </p>
<p><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W2HKWvWgBe4&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W2HKWvWgBe4&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></p>
<p>The website is doing well in terms of the number of daily visitors and pageviews, despite minimal coverage from the mainstream media. </p>
<p>Apart from the website, the foundation will also use <a href="http://www.twitter.com/yayasan1msia">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/yayasan1malaysia">Facebook</a> as a platform for young Malaysians to share their thoughts and stories. </p>
<p class='gv-rss-footer'><span class='credit-text'><span class="contributor">Written by <a href='http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/syafique-shuib/' title='View all posts by Syafique Shuib'>Syafique Shuib</a></span></span> 
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		<title>Malaysia: Education Ministry Plans To Scrap Two Exams</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/07/01/malaysia-education-ministry-plans-to-scrap-two-exams/</link>
		<comments>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/07/01/malaysia-education-ministry-plans-to-scrap-two-exams/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:53:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Syafique Shuib</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[East Asia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=148012</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Education Ministry of Malaysia announced the possibility of scrapping two public school examinations to improve the country's school system. Bloggers debate whether this proposed reform would benefit the students]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Education Minister of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin, recently announced the possibility of scrapping two examinations under the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Malaysia">current education system</a>: the Primary School Evaluation Test (known as UPSR) and the Lower Certificate of Education (known as PMR). The Education Ministry believes that the current education system is too exam-oriented and will be replaced by a school-based assessment to encourage a more holistic education.</p>
<p>In an article published by <a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/24/nation/6532047&#038;sec=nation">The Star</a>, Muhyiddin, who is also Malaysia&#39;s Deputy Prime Minister, says: </p>
<blockquote><p>The changes should lead to improved creativity, innovativeness and students involvement in sports and co-curricular activities. “The move will also discourage rote learning which places less emphasis on thinking capability,&#8221; he said. </p></blockquote>
<p>According to <a href="http://educationmalaysia.blogspot.com/2010/06/scrapping-upsr-pmr-good-move.html">Education in Malaysia</a>, the government should examine several other factors that could contribute to the failure of the education system: </p>
<blockquote><p>I am in complete agreement that we should reform our education system to prevent it from “producing robots”. However, we need to first understand the cause of failure in our education system which isn&#39;t a result of having examinations per se. Firstly, without first changing our teaching systems to encourage creativity, critical thinking and innovation, removing examinations will make little or no difference to the quality of education for our students. For example, if the quality and ability of the teachers remain unchanged, then quality of output will make little difference.</p></blockquote>
<p>If there were no more exams, <a href="http://jasmineyow.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/abolishing-upsrpmr/">Through My Eyes</a> wonders if the young ones will still be motivated:</p>
<blockquote><p>Can Malaysians be trusted with the responsibility of freedom? Are we hardworking and motivated enough? We’ve become so result-oriented as a society. With carrots and sticks gone, I could see many helplessly lost, especially the young. Would the masses sail through six years of primary education without a thing to show, or would they actually benefit from the freedom of exploration through play? Would they know how to appreciate the opportunity? Or would they complain all the more of being bored, a word almost synonymous with students I know?</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://tunkuaisha.blogspot.com/2010/06/abolish-upsr-and-pmr-exams.html">Tunku Aisha</a> supports the removal of UPSR and PMR examinations to nurture creativity:</p>
<blockquote><p>I think it is best that UPSR and PMR be abolished. We want our student to be more creative in their thinking instead of being exam oriented all the time. Our education system must change in order for our new generation be able to excel globally. The ministry can introduce a new method to measure the achievement of student for residential schools or streaming.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://undergroundsquare.com/topic.php?id=432">Kim via UndergroundSquare</a> says students should compete with themselves, instead of with each other: </p>
<blockquote><p>There are a few schools in Taiwan/HK whichever it is, that have this system whereby students don&#39;t compete against each other. They compete with themselves. So basically the way they assess is rewarding one who has improved his/her marks from the last test. It makes a lot more sense than competing with someone who is blessed with photographic memory for instance.</p></blockquote>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/MajoritywantUPSR_PMRscrappedbutmoreviewsonexamssought/Article/">New Straits Times</a>, Muhyiddin Yassin suggests for a roundtable discussion to be held from all stakeholders before a decision is made. <a href="http://www.syafiqueshuib.com/syafique/?p=2232">This author</a> believes that it is a good idea to get the input from various parties, but the Ministry should also get input from the young ones: </p>
<blockquote><p>Input from them is just as crucial as they are the ones that are going through the education system. The decisions that are being made today are for the benefits of Malaysia’s future generation.</p></blockquote>
<div class="notes">Thumbnail used in the post is from the flickr page of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/clf/178293711/">CLF</a></div>
<p class='gv-rss-footer'><span class='credit-text'><span class="contributor">Written by <a href='http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/syafique-shuib/' title='View all posts by Syafique Shuib'>Syafique Shuib</a></span></span> 
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		<title>Malaysia: Petrol station blamed over girl&#039;s death</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/06/07/malaysia-petrol-station-blamed-over-girls-death/</link>
		<comments>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/06/07/malaysia-petrol-station-blamed-over-girls-death/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:20:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Syafique Shuib</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Digital Activism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disaster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[East Asia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Malaysia]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=143138</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A girl was trapped in a burning car in Malaysia. A bystander rushes to a nearby gas station to borrow or buy a fire extinguisher but was refused. The girl's death was blamed on the gas station. A boycott campaign was launched. Bloggers react]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Malaysian bloggers and social media users react to an accident that took place in the capital city in the early morning of June 3. A 27-year-old student by the name of Florina ak Joseph was trapped inside her burning car, after an accident involving a car and a lorry. </p>
<div id="attachment_143151" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 385px"><a href="http://ondscene.blogspot.com/2010/06/mangsa-sempat-mengucap-sebelum-hangus.html"><img src="http://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ondscene-375x280.jpg" alt="" title="ondscene" width="375" height="280" class="size-medium wp-image-143151" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo from ondscene</p></div>
<p>Teo Chai Yong was the first to arrive on the scene. Local daily <em>The Star</em> <a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/5/nation/6410518&#038;sec=nation">has the details</a> of Teo&#39;s attempt to save the girl:</p>
<blockquote><p>Teo, 31, had driven to the 24-hour petrol station that was near the scene of an accident to look for a fire extinguisher after he heard screams from the trapped woman and saw sparks under the car. Teo had pleaded with the attendants and even offered to buy the extinguishers but was rejected. He rushed back to the accident scene, only to see the car engulfed in flames with the woman still inside.</p></blockquote>
<p>After the story was published in various mainstream newspapers, many are blaming the petrol station for refusing to lend the fire extinguishers that could possibly save the girl&#39;s live, but are they to blame? </p>
<p>The Malaysian blogoshpere is divided over this especially after a note written by Teo was posted on a Facebook account venting his anger and asking for a boycott of BHP (the post has seen been removed). Blogger Kwong Fei has an <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qN-S-DmN8-U/TAgpzGMFw8I/AAAAAAAAJs0/CVKBOk9bvho/s1600/cheras+accident+1.jpg">extraction</a> of the note. <a href="http://kwongfeimind.blogspot.com/2010/06/jalan-cheras-accident-bhp.html">He believes that</a> BHP cannot be held accountable for the death of the girl: </p>
<blockquote><p>The BHP staff may be morally wrong for not lending the fire extinguisher despite being told it was a real accident and Witness A is willing to give them his IC to prove it was a real scenario. However, the BHP staff did not do any wrong legally. </p>
<p>Creating FB page and making a blog post asking the public to boycott BHP petrol is legally not wrong if your judgement is that the staff lack of humanity, True enough how much a fire extinguisher would cost compared to a life of a person. As a consumer, you have the power to decide and to choose you products. </p>
<p>Claiming the BHP staff as murderer is legally wrong. The real murderer is the driver of the Toyota Vios who hit the car of the victim. You may be sued for tarnishing the image of the company. (in my opinion)</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://ernamahyuni.com/musings/malaysian-politics/we-a-nation-of-zombies/">Erna Mahyuni</a> provides her thoughts on this issue: </p>
<blockquote><p>Rather than hand over a fire extinguisher, staff at a BHP petrol station cited directives not to open the kiosk’s doors after hours. Their caution did have some basis. Holdups are common occurrences at petrol station kiosks and mini-marts in Malaysia. The reality, though, is that a woman’s life might have been saved if a fire extinguisher had been on hand. Instead, she burned alive while helpless onlookers watched. It’s a sad reflection of how Malaysians have become so used to not using their heads. We toe the line, we play it safe.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.point2e.com/2010/06/boycott-bhp-petrol-stations.html">Point2Entertainment</a> still calls for a boycott of all BHP Petrol stations:</p>
<blockquote><p>I read with great anger, sympathy and sadness at this probably avoidable death (photos, more news). My only help is to boycott ALL BHP PETROL STATIONS throughout Malaysia, not just Tmn Pertama/Cheras stations. How cruel and insensitive. How stupid. And what a waste of a good life. Are they accountable? Legally, no. But morally, yes. Legally is the VIOS driver. To think being burned alive; that scares me to no end. And I am driving a Myvi too. Better pack a fire extinguisher in the car?</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/5/nation/6410518&#038;sec=nation">Other reactions from netizens</a> were published in The Star: </p>
<blockquote><p>Netizen Tan Loon Wern demanded that BHP make a formal apology to the victim’s family while Justin Tan said it should also compensate the woman’s family.</p>
<p>Another Netizen, Chong Kit Ling, expressed sadness that a human life was not valued, while Kelvin Wong Jing Zhi said petrol stations should place fire extinguishers at accessible spots.</p>
<p>Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said he could understand the anger showed by the public and Netizens.</p>
<p>“A life could have been saved if the attendants had lent Teo a fire extinguisher. This is a very unfortunate incident,” he said.</p>
<p>MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong said the attendants could have used their judgment to decide if Teo’s pleas were genuine.</p>
<p>“They should have just lent him the extinguisher. Instead, they did nothing. This is very sad,” he said.</p></blockquote>
<p>Also frustrated with the situation, Brunei-based Filipino blogger <a href="http://johnreydangilanjr.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/malaysian-burns-alive-due-to-fear-of-robbery/">John Rey</a> could only offer his prayers: </p>
<blockquote><p>I personally do not have anything else to say about this without pointing a finger at someone but this is just sad. My prayers go out to the family and friends of the victim.</p></blockquote>
<p class='gv-rss-footer'><span class='credit-text'><span class="contributor">Written by <a href='http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/syafique-shuib/' title='View all posts by Syafique Shuib'>Syafique Shuib</a></span></span> 
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		<title>Malaysia: State government introduces &#8216;1Toilet&#039; policy</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/21/malaysia-state-government-introduces-1toilet-policy/</link>
		<comments>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/21/malaysia-state-government-introduces-1toilet-policy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:22:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Syafique Shuib</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102244</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Borrowing the branding of 1Malaysia, the state government of Terengganu recently introduces the ‘1Toilet' policy as a move for both teachers and students to share toilets to promote a sense of oneness. There were mixed reactions from the blogosphere regarding this topic]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak introduced the One Malaysia concept, popularly referred as <a href="http://www.1malaysia.com.my">1Malaysia</a>,  when he took office. Being a multi-racial country, the main aim of 1Malaysia is to promote national unity and to strengthen the ties between various ethnic groups.</p>
<div id="attachment_102248" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 258px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-102248" title="The 1Malaysia Logo" src="http://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/1_malaysia-248x300.jpg" alt="1Toilet policy is based on the 1Malaysia concept" width="248" height="300" /><p class="wp-caption-text">1Toilet policy is based on the 1Malaysia concept</p></div>
<p>Borrowing the branding of 1Malaysia, the state government of Terengganu recently <a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/15/nation/4906693&amp;sec=nation#">introduces the &#8216;1Toilet&#39;</a> policy as a move for both teachers and students (of the same gender) to share toilets to promote a sense of oneness.</p>
<p>“When students share the toilets with the teacher, they (students) will believe that they are on par with academicians and this automatically invokes a sense of being important to an organisation, which, in this case, is the school,” says State Education, Higher Learning, Human Resource, Science and Technology Committee chairman Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman in local daily <a href="http://www.thestar.com.my">The Star</a>.</p>
<p>The policy will also extend beyond the loo as teachers are also encouraged to eat at the school’s cafeteria with the students. It is a way for both parties to mingle during recess.</p>
<p>There were mixed reactions from the blogosphere regarding this topic. Some took it as a joke, while others thought it was a positive initiative.</p>
<p><a href="http://asiancorrespondent.com/jeff001/2009/10/littleuse_chameleon.php">Jeff Ooi</a>, who is a prominent blogger and now a Member of Parliament says:</p>
<blockquote><p>This time, 1Malaysia&#39;s product extension is where you pee.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://liangseng.blogspot.com/2009/10/liang-seng-and-one1.html"><em>Life And Ti(m)es Of Liang Seng</em></a> could not believe that the state government is actually introducing the 1Toilet concept:</p>
<blockquote><p>I would understand the sharing of canteen part. But to share toilet to instill a sense of belonging and create excellence? Come on. We can do better.</p></blockquote>
<p>Journalist, blogger and Global Voices author <a href="http://www.nikicheong.com/blog/1thing-to-many.html">Niki Cheong </a>writes in his personal blog:</p>
<blockquote><p>Which nutcase came up with this brilliant idea […]  I think sharing a toilet with the teacher won’t help a student excel in his or her studies, proper teaching will!</p>
<p>What’s the heck is going on? Are we going to have to start eating 1ton mee after this? Or only listen to 1Buck Short? Or are we going to get people registering names like 1Sharina for birth certificates?</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://siamooi.blogspot.com/2009/10/1toilet-1malaysia.html "><em>Thots Here And There</em></a> believes that leaders should walk the talk before implementing any policies:</p>
<blockquote><p>Why don&#39;t we start with the elite groups first before going to the majority? In my school, the upper crust get a special key to their own special toilet [&#8230;] I know in certain companies in the private sectors there is such a privilege too. I remember a friend being all excited because he had reached that privileged level of having his own key to that special place! Now, if we want to implement such a thing as 1toilet in school - imagine queueing up with the students to use the toilet - let us start with the upper level of administrators first. Leaders talk about 1Malaysia&#8230;come on, walk the talk. Show us, leaders of Malaysia that we are one in all ways inclusive in the use of toilet!!!!</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://joesimple.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/from-1malaysia-to-1toilet"><em>Voices Inside My Head</em></a> explains the positive aspect of the 1Toilet policy:</p>
<blockquote><p>When I was in school I did wonder the same thing, how come teachers get to pee in seperate toilets. Do they pee differently? Do they have something else we don’t have? I think it should be done across the board, even at work places top management sharing the same toilets! Perhaps even ministers should share the same toilets as other government staff and that’s when I would really say our politicians are walking the talk!</p></blockquote>
<p>This author, via his <a href="http://www.syafiqueshuib.com/syafique/?p=1068">personal blog</a>, says:</p>
<blockquote><p>Teachers should also lead by example and getting the best from their students. If a student is already having an inferiority complex feeling in the classroom, how can he/she invoke a sense of importance with the 1Toilet policy?</p></blockquote>
<p>Do we have to share the toilet to have a feeling of oneness between students and teachers? Should this solidarity start in the classroom itself?</p>
<p class='gv-rss-footer'><span class='credit-text'><span class="contributor">Written by <a href='http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/syafique-shuib/' title='View all posts by Syafique Shuib'>Syafique Shuib</a></span></span> 
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		<title>Malaysia: Reshuffling in the education system</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/06/01/malaysia-reshuffling-in-the-education-system/</link>
		<comments>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/06/01/malaysia-reshuffling-in-the-education-system/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:55:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Syafique Shuib</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=77560</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The government recently announced a reshuffling in the education system by requiring students sitting for the SPM examinations (Malaysian Certificate of Education) to take a maximum of ten subjects from 2010 onwards. Are Malaysian students ready for the change?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The government recently announced a reshuffling in the education system by requiring students sitting for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sijil_Pelajaran_Malaysia">SPM examinations</a> to take a maximum of ten subjects from 2010 onwards. SPM, short for <em>Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia </em>(Malaysian Certificate of Education) is the equivalent to the British General Certificate of Secondary Education. It is an examination for fifth form students before entering pre-university studies. </p>
<p>Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister <a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/29/nation/4007375&#038;sec=nation">Muhyiddin Yassin says</a>, “We want to streamline this as it will also be an easier way to determine the awarding of scholarships.”</p>
<p>In recent years, however, there are students scoring straight A’s for as many as 17 and up to 20 subjects, prompting many Malaysians to query the grading system as well questioning whether students and parents are merely interested to break the record for having the most A‘s. </p>
<p><em>AhWee.com</em> <a href="http://ahwee.com/spm-to-reduce-maximum-core-subjects">summarizes the current education system</a> and comments on the Education Ministry’s recent move: </p>
<blockquote><p>Maximum subjects will go from unlimited to ten and to compensate for that, core subjects will go from six (Malay, English, Mathematics, Science, History and Islamic Studies/Moral Studies) to four to allow more space for electives. All the four core subjects are yet to be determined [&#8230;] The fact that a limitation of 10 subjects was introduced in SPM also allows me to think it as an act to limit the intelligence of Malaysian citizens. If a student has the capacity to take 15 subjects and score A in every single one of them (scaled or not), let it be. Why limit their potential to excel academically?</p></blockquote>
<p>The recent move came weeks after announcing that a local student, Nik Nur Madihah, <a href="http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/3/19/north/3492196&#038;sec=north">scored 20 A’s</a> in the SPM Examination 2008. <em>Cyza Sector</em> <a href="http://cyza.us/2009/05/recommended-catatan-hati-nik-nur-madihah-book/">writes</a>: </p>
<blockquote><p>If you wonder who she is, let me briefly introduce her. Nik Nur Madihah is a fantastic, brilliant and superb girl who scored 20As in SPM 2008. She’s currently the national record holder for SPM candidate with the highest amount of “A”. She’s the oldest of 4 in a simple and poor family dwelling in Kelantan […] Nik Nur Madihah story of success and the way she lead her life should be an example to everybody, I mean parents and children. </p></blockquote>
<p><div id="attachment_77561" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 235px"><a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/nik-nur.jpg"><img src="http://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/nik-nur-225x300.jpg" alt="Nik Nur Madihah&#039;s Memoir" title="Nik Nur Madihah" width="225" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-77561" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Nik Nur Madihah&#39;s Memoir</p></div>While she is an inspiration to many students, there are <a href="http://amirmu.blogspot.com/2009/05/shes-gotta-have-it.html#comments">other Malaysians</a> who think otherwise: </p>
<blockquote><p>Vaijanthi: 20 A&#39;s! My God! It&#39;s almost as if these government exams are becoming meaningless these days. Every other kid is scoring a string of perfect A&#39;s. Best part is there aren&#39;t enough spots in universities for them all, so I wonder what the point is sometimes.</p>
<p>Pakmet: Before Madihah, there was Nur Amalina, who got 17As (or was it 18? who&#39;s keeping count anyway) and she just disappeared. It&#39;s a good thing that they&#39;re trying to limit the number of subjects now, as these kids have more in them than just studying 24/7. </p>
<p>Alhariesz: She ACHIEVED! Hopefully she won&#39;t be having those bad dreams saying &#8220;I wish I could have done better,&#8221; while end up being a cleaning lady</p></blockquote>
<p><em>MySarawak</em> manages to get many <a href="http://www.mysarawak.org/2009/05/30/decision-on-spm-subjects-draws-mixed-reaction.html">viewpoints from Malaysians</a> regarding this recent change in the Education system that will take affect only in 2010: </p>
<blockquote><p>Teo Eng Hock, a father of three, gave his thumbs up to the move, saying it would benefit the parents as it meant less pressure on the students.“Having less subjects to study will help reduce the pressure and on top of that, can help parents save money as children need not go for additional tuition classes,” he added.</p>
<p>Single mother Catherine Loh, however, felt the move might not augur well for the students as it would deprive children of the opportunity to showcase their talent in their best subjects.With only 10 subjects to take, Loh said some students might have to give up their favourite subjects like Art and Chinese which were not under the compulsory subjects lists.</p></blockquote>
<p><em>The Sanctuary</em> <a href="http://zikri-zainal.blogspot.com/2009/05/10-subjects-4-cores-2-electives.html">questions the purpose</a> of taking more than five subjects: </p>
<blockquote><p>What do you think? 10 subjects not enough? Pfft. Some people couldn&#39;t even get 5 straight As. Yet you want more than 10 subjects? Well, for me taking more than 10 subjects such as Nur Amalina Che Bakri who scored 17 1As in 2004 and Azali Azlan, 21 As in 2007 is rather a personal challenge than to break a record in the country. I mean, 21 subjects? What for? At certain point, 9 As are enough to settle for a scholarship. </p></blockquote>
<p><em>Malaysia Rocks</em> agrees with the government decision as it is <a href="http://malaysia-rocks.com/2009/05/22/education-ministry-need-to-limit-the-number-of-subjects-taken-by-spm-students/">important for students to understand</a> the subject he/she is studying: </p>
<blockquote><p>It is time for the education ministry to limit the amount of subject that a person can take in the SPM examination. If swift action is not taken, students might be misled to believe scoring countless of A’s is the key to tetiarary success but the working world has proven it otherwise. I would rather have students scoring 10 A’s who knows and understand what he is studying rather than scoring 50 A’s just to break the previous students record.</p></blockquote>
<p>Lastly, as scholarships are awarded based on SPM results, <em>Observer</em> thinks it is <a href="http://thenewspeculator.blogspot.com/2009/05/spm-10-subjects-whats-objective.html">harder now to award scholarships </a>to the most deserving students: </p>
<blockquote><p>Let&#39;s say you have 2 students, one scored 10 As and another 16As. In the new system, both would score 10A&#39;s, does that make it any easier to distiguish one another? Highly questionable in terms of the logic provided.</p></blockquote>
<p>As the new system will only be implemented starting next year, there will be at least a few students who will be trying to beat Nik Nur Madihah’s record as the top scorer and receive nationwide media attention.  As the new system will eliminate the ongoing rife competition among each other, are Malaysian students really ready for the change?</p>
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		<title>Malaysia: Yuna Changes the Face of Indie Music</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/05/26/malaysia-yuna-changes-the-face-of-indie-music/</link>
		<comments>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/05/26/malaysia-yuna-changes-the-face-of-indie-music/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2009 00:21:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Syafique Shuib</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arts & Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[East Asia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Malaysia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weblog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Youth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=76301</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In recent years more and more independent musicians are gaining popularity thanks to social networking websites such as YouTube and MySpace. Meet Yuna from Malaysia. She is the talk of the local blogosphere for not only producing great music but also her wholesome image. She causes a stir, in a positive way, in the indie music scene for wearing the tudung, a scarf worn around the head by women in Malaysia.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The independent music scene in Malaysia is blossoming. In recent years, more and more independent musicians and bands are gaining in popularity thanks to social networking websites such as YouTube and MySpace. </p>
<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BRjkC_OKoRo&#038;hl=en&#038;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BRjkC_OKoRo&#038;hl=en&#038;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>
<p>Meet <a href="http://www.myspace.com/yunaroomrecords">Yuna</a>. You might think Yuna as a typical Malaysian youth, but one check in her diary (or should it be her MySpace calendar?), she has a list full of upcoming performances and she has her debut EP to promote, which is produced under her own recording label, Yuna Room Records. She is the talk of the blogosphere for not only producing great music but also her wholesome image. She causes a stir, in a positive way, in the indie music scene for wearing the <em>tudung</em>, a scarf worn around the head by women in Malaysia. It conceals the hair but not the face. This is similar to the hijab, worn by Muslim women elsewhere, especially the Middle East. </p>
<p><em>Nat Nat</em> gives the inside scoop on Yuna’s <a href="http://ayumi10689.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/listen-to-this/">rise to stardom</a>: </p>
<blockquote><p>Fairly unknown by the rest of the population at first, she then gain widespread attention after her debut track from her demo, <em>Dan Sebenarnya</em> were played at one of the top radio stations in Malaysia. Soon after, majority of the radio stations began to play her song. She has officially become mainstream.</p></blockquote>
<p><em>Lin Loves</em> tries to give an <a href="http://noradlina.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/yuna">objective view </a>on Yuna’s music: </p>
<blockquote><p>She’s really a great singer, even the guy over the counter said so, and I was really lucky to get like the last copy in the store. You know the first time I listened to her I was like, “Hey this girl is fantastic, I love her voice and her music.” Then I stepped back and wondered if I’m judging her based on the fact that she dons the hijab and I know that there is a great, great possibility that i am biased. So I tried being as objective as possible and I think she great.  </p></blockquote>
<p><em>Indra</em> is <a href="http://thatevanderguy.blogspot.com/2009/02/nowi-am-sitting-on-couch-while.html">surprised by Yuna’s image </a>but loves Yuna’s Norah Jones-like voice: </p>
<blockquote><p>I checked out her profile on Myspace and what surprised me was, she wears <em>tudung</em>! She is so unique, with a Norah Jones-like voice I know she can go far (like I know, I just can feel it). Pretty calming, the songs of Yuna&#39;s. Try and listen to her songs, her English accent during singing and talking was so different. If she speaks, she sounds so Malay-ish, but when she sings, well that&#39;s when she jumbles up her accent and it really make her sounds like an English woman.</p></blockquote>
<p><em>The Baju Kurung Adventure</em> <a href="http://thehanani.blogspot.com/2008/12/addiction-is-fatal.html">salutes Yuna&#39;s image </a>and can serve as an inspiration to all: </p>
<blockquote><p>[Yuna] is an indie singer/songwriter who just launched an EP. Tell you the truth all her songs were really great. Never seen her ‘live’ neither, but I have downloaded her songs and watched her on YouTube and to make my grin bigger, she wears hijab, which is very rare for indie girls, an inspiration. Besides, hijab or not, she is very talented. That&#39;s what count most.</p></blockquote>
<p>Yuna is also well-liked by other races in the country. <em>Tragic. Fairy. Tales.</em> <a href="http://tragicfairytales.blogspot.com/2009/05/yuna.html">is shocked to find out</a> Yuna&#39;s ethnicity:  </p>
<blockquote><p>My sister recommended this new indie singer to me Yuna. I was shocked when I knew she was Malay.  (It’s not that I&#39;m racist) Well, I must admit that she did have a great voice even though she&#39;s not exactly the prettiest chick and she&#39;s not exactly what I expect her to look like. In my opinion, our local music scene need more singers like her.</p></blockquote>
<p>Her song is so infectious that some bloggers decide to <a href="http://boundlesspromise.blogspot.com/2008/12/take-me-to-deeper-conversation.html">use it as a background music </a>to keep their readers entertained. <em>Boundless Promise </em>writes: </p>
<blockquote><p>You know the song you&#39;ve listening here in my blog. It calls <em>Deeper Conversation</em> performed by Indie singer, YUNA. Seriously, she is so talented and all her songs and her voice were like SUPERB!!! And she wrote and composed them all by herself. She&#39;s 22 and wearing tudung and currently performing in London.</p></blockquote>
<p>Will there be a time in the future where people will only be talking about Yuna&#39;s music, not her image?</p>
<p class='gv-rss-footer'><span class='credit-text'><span class="contributor">Written by <a href='http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/syafique-shuib/' title='View all posts by Syafique Shuib'>Syafique Shuib</a></span></span> 
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