Meme: Save Yvonne's Sight

I've been tagged by Marina Mahathir for the Save Yvonne's Sight Meme.

Yvonne Foong Ming Niang received 'Her World Young Achiever 2008' (read here) award early this year, for she has achieved more than most people have done in a lifetime.

Her continuing fight against neurofibromatosis (NF) is legendary.

Yes Yvonne is suffering from neurofibromatosis (NF) which causes tumours to keep growing inside her body.

In fact Yvonne has received a long list of awards for her tireless work to go on living & help others along the way, for she is a fighter, a feisty wonderful young lady.



To know more about Yvonne, here are some write ups:

Marina Mahathir has blogged about Yvonne : please read this

Sharon Bakar has also blogged about her plight before : please read this.

Yvonne has lost her hearing and now she faces losing her sight too. She is scheduled for an operation between 1 and 4 December 2009. But of course she has to raise the funds by herself. The cost of surgery is USD44,000 or RM154,770, and the cost of staying in hospital for two weeks is USD915 or RM3219.

She has raised about RM10,000 of this and is hoping to raise the rest by republishing her book I'm Not Sick; I'm Just a Bit Unwell in English and Chinese. The books are now available in Malaysian bookshops and from her web site store. She is also selling T-shirts at bazaars and via her web site store. You can read about her surgery and donate to her fund here.

You can also help by sending on this meme. If you do, please follow these meme rules:

1. Create a blog entry titled "Meme: Save Yvonne's Sight"

2. List three things you love to see. Add in the picture of Yvonne's book cover. The URL is http://www.yvonnefoong.com/images/banner/my-story.jpg

3. End with the line, "Yvonne Foong is in danger of losing her eyesight thanks to neurofibromatosis (NF). Please find out how you can help her by visiting her blog at http://www.yvonnefoong.com.

4. Tag 5 blog friends. Be sure to copy the rules, OK?

5. If you have a Facebook account, please check out Ellen's new invention, a "feme" pronounced FEEM, a meme designed for Facebook here. And if you want to blog about NF, that would be great too!


Three things I love to see :

1 Wonderful faces of people I love, care & adore (both family& friends)

2 A clear blue sky

3 My collection of colourful beads

The people I'm tagging are my caring & wonderful blogging friends:


Pak Idrus
X-Matters
Jacqui's Curve
Rita Ho
Stupe

If anyone else out there would like to meme or feme this - please feel free.

Yasmin Ahmad the movie genius

The late Yasmin Ahmad

People shy away from change, not realising the only constant is change.

On our Malaysian shores we had to endure mediocre local movies till the brave & ultra-talented Yasmin Ahmad came along & bowled us over with 'Sepet' & other genius of movies such as 'Gubra', 'Mukhsin' & the latest 'Talentime', that brought changes in local movies, braving controversies & challenging thoughts.

Yasmin also brought corporate ads to a new level of classiness. Her ads are memorable & usually so effective, that they become conversation pieces everywhere.


Umi Nasir, Ruby Ahmad, Yasmin Ahmad (I met the late Yasmin at a function)

Yasmin's movies & ads are endearing as the philosopher in her never failed to inject simple but frequently forgotten universal values, where she would highlight that:

1 the simple common people can go on living together beyond race, creed & religion in their everyday lives quite harmoniously contrary to what the politicians think, as they flag racial issues so frequently. She's truly the 1Malaysia icon in the true sense of the word.

2 people can live honestly & not merely living & working towards societal acceptance, thus living a life of double standards, as that is tiresome living.

3 when taboos were allowed to be perpetuated, such taboos would rob people of happiness, & she illustrated in her movies how to break away from taboos (religious & cultural taboos).

4 one does not need a big budget to produce quality movies ('Sepet' was so low budget). It is about content & talent & not mere hype.

5 it is intelligent, classy & most of all natural acting & not sexiness & tartiness that would sell (ha ha...don't throw rotten eggs at me please..LOL).

6 we need humour & have to learn to take the mickey of things to survive this dog-eat-dog world.

7 we must seek simple pleasures

8 we must seek commonsense again, that was made uncommon all these time due to our ultra material-driven society & how we have allowed ourselves to be sucked into such an artificial society. Yasmin warned us to break-away quick!

9 we must embrace beautiful imperfections as perfections & live life to the fullest (get some tissues & watch the ad posted below to understand this..sob).

10 ahh..the list is getting long. Suffice that we stop here, as I like to stop at no 10..seems complete.

With all these, just when we were excited & craving for more thought provoking movies, she was taken away so suddenly.

Yes Yasmin Ahmad died last night peacefully (at 11.25pm, Saturday)...

...Al-Fatihah...

Read more here.

Note on her recent ad:

Why so many of us don't know & don't seem to care to realise that 'beautiful imperfections' are already perfect, for the abundance of love that we have & usually, we don't care to know that we already have the abundance in us!

Our late Yasmin Ahmad drove so many to tears with this realisation in her ad, 'Funeral' (posted below).

God bless Yasmin for making all the common things, that unfortunately became uncommon, due to our current ultra-materialised world, common again.

Yasmin, you dug them gems up again, for us to be aware of once again.

Thank you & God bless....& yes we know, it would certainly take a long time for us to get another movie genius!

A Stone in My Shoe

Pix 1: The Godfather Part 3

As I watch and ponder over the current UMNO elections, my mind wanders to recent democratic elections, ours and the United States in particular, as well as the upcoming Indian and Indonesian (Presidential) elections.

My mind wanders to a scene in Godfather 3...

Don Altobello, an ageing New York Mafia Chief as well as an old friend of the Corleones, but in reality was scheming against them (Lesson numero uno...your most trusted ally in life, can be your most dangerous foe!), was plotting to kill Michael Corleone and had hired Mosca da Montelepre, a master assassin.

The conversation goes like this...

Mosca: What can I do for you...?

Don Altobello: I have a stone in my shoe. You can remove it.

Mosca (leans over menacingly): Only one stone?

A stone in a shoe.

Well, you see, I have a stone in my shoe and it hurts! The stone has a name too...no, not Michael Corleone. It’s called the ignorant voter. The ignorant voter in a democratic process.

Consider this.

Pix 2: One vote!

Mr ABC is a young father. He graduated from University, nothing great. No First Class Honours but made it nonetheless. Found a job, salary OK but no complaints. Married his school sweetheart and has a child (or two) whom they adore and spoil as much as they can. He reads and keep abreast with the goings on around him. He reads the local daily and magazines (off the shelf at the newsagent…too expensive, ha ha). He’s aware. He knows who are the political leaders in this country, ruling and opposition, and tries to determine what’s good for him in his own way with discussions with friends, all races, at work and after hours.

He gets ONE vote.

Pix 3: One vote too!

DEF did not graduate from any meaningful education institution with any qualification to speak off. No matter…that’s the fault of the Government (he says). He has no job. No matter, he has a motorbike and some of those illegal night race, where they tear down a road in the early hours, gives out money prizes. At any rate, kopi tarik and Maggi mee goring is not expensive. No family. He reads but only to find out which starlet is going out with which prominent VIP, whom he can’t remember nor place. The sordid details are what he is after. As for the current rulers of the country...Nope…don’t know so and so, but he knows they are corrupt. How does he know this...err, well, of course they are corrupt...(someone told him, no need to check, hearsay must be true!!)

He gets ONE vote.

And there is my stone, my gripe with the democratic voter.

Pix 4: Voting.

OK, OK, I know I know...all of us are entitled to the vote. I am all for that but consider this. DEF does not care, is not interested, is not in the least motivated to care for this country. His vote, due to his indifference and sorry state, is open to manipulation and is indeed bought over by unscrupulous tactics of any political party. His vote, however, is also a determinant factor as to where we are headed. Indeed in a democratic system, where ONE vote may make a difference, he is important. Very important.

Now, I ponder...is that fair?

In the United States, I dare say the Hollywood factor is a strong determining force. The voters, though more educated and probably accessible to more media coverage, are probably still swayed to a certain degree by this factor. Though educated, they are swayed by a dream, dreams conjured by films, music videos and the likes.

In the UK, I have come across reports that Gordon Brown is too dour looking! What’s that got to do with performance?

An uneducated voter profile is open to manipulation. The end results are clear to all of us.

In Thailand, the urban voters have installed a new government, through allegedly undemocratic means, as they claim the rural 'uneducated' voters (who are in the majority) were tricked into voting the previous government.

India is next. The world’s largest democracy? Really. Are we to pride ourselves in the fact that everyone can vote one in a few years when these very voters have no idea nor clue as to what these politicians represent? Politicians whom they will see again till the next election?

I read a Bloomberg report recently that there is an actress in Indonesia who made a name clad in a mermaid suit who will contest!!

The vote is sacred. It’s not to be given away freely...oops shades of dictatorship huh? The vote, if you will, must be earned. Indeed everyone must have a vote but the vote...dare I say it…must come with points. Sort of, DEF gets one vote. ABC gets 1.5 votes etc etc. Done social work…add 0.25 to the vote...Like a driving license. Points deducted for wrongdoings!

Wishful thinking?

Either that or we need to educate voters as in creating awareness through quality education but… I’m pragmatic. It’s NOT going to happen. My guess is the current situation serves politicians, of any shade, well.

What could be more easier than to say to DEF…'Hell, you are a good guy actually but have suffered some social injustices...let's parachute over the North Pole!’.

There you go, ONE vote in the pocket! As for ABC…arghh…he’s the difficult one, reads around. Write him off. There’s plenty of DEF. It’s democracy after all...majority wins.

Ouch, this stone hurts like hell!

www.nineoverten.com
www.daylife.com

My Valentine's 'Minekey' Opinions

'Love is in the air'...ahh..

This year especially this whole week, every which way I turned, I was being reminded of that song 'Love is in the air' by John Paul Young

This whole week, every other status report on Facebook would report some manner of 'Love is in the air!'

'Notes', being the new 'Blog' on Facebook would include some anecdotes be it sad, happy, funny, on 'Love is in the air!'

'Minekey' one of the many applications on Facebook, is inundated with opinions connected to 'Love is in the air!'

Now you know I'm rather hooked on facebook!

For the uninitiated I wrote an entry on (click here) Minekey fomerly known as iThink sometime back.

Currently Minekey, is still one of my favourite applications on Facebook, as it is an interactive & intellectual platform where we could post our opinions & real people could join in to vote & comment & sometimes enjoy some heated arguments to generate some adrenaline flow, that some scientists say could keep us youthful! Ha ha.

I derive a lot of joy & fun there. Honest.

Of course I have my reasons for mentioning Minekey, as lo & behold, I managed to write a few opinions (practical ones..he he) between my work breaks. Move over Kahlil Gibran...ha ha ha

Yes Minekey organised a whole loooong week for Minekey-ers to have absolute fun to craft opinions specially dedicated to Valentine's Day!

To celebrate this day of love, let me share some of them here with you...

Here they are...

1 The only one time one is forgiven for being insane is when one is in love.

"It is great to be insanely in love, how else should it be?"

2 Valentine's could be a perfect opportunity for those who had misunderstandings before, but pride somehow kept them apart.

"Go on then, send that 'I miss you note' quick!"

3 It is nice to celebrate love, so Valentine's day is the only commercialised day I accept well.

"A week of it, is welcome....ahh....love is so thick in the air. I can smell love from everywhere now!"

4 Relationships tend to last for those who are aware that 'love' morphs into different forms in time between the couple.

"It started out as passion only between the two, then there will be three, with baby. Only the ones who could adapt & accept changes, that intense romance will morph into care & accommodation & realise that such feelings can be as good as 'excitement in love making' physically & mentally (I could not write the 'O' word here somehow (why?)..he he, but I could on Minekey! Hmm..), will grow old together.

It takes great depth & philosophy to understand that people can derive satisfaction & fulfillment in giving & accommodating selflessly for one another."

5 Valentine's gift tip: Don't get excited & over do or splurge, on the gift. Make sure you can do same next year or else?

"Surely if one made it to the next Valentine's, one would be expected to do better on the next gift (after all we are in a materialistic world), so don't over do or splurge this time! Ha ha..just a thought!"

6 Valentine's gift tip: Any person would melt with a gift of an original, dedicated poem from the heart.

"Move over flowers & chocolates. A poem is forever. Go on then, write away people. "

7 A serial dater's regular breakup line would be, 'I was looking for a meaningful relationship'

'Yeah right indeed!

8 There are some people who meet that somebody that they can never stop loving, no matter how hard they try.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand that, or even believe it, but trust me, there are some love that don't go away. And maybe that makes them crazy, but we should all be lucky to end up with that somebody who has a little of that insanity. Somebody who never lets go. Somebody who cherishes you forever." (I have to add this gem of a love expression from Ally McBeal, forwarded to me by a friend a while ago).

No amount of love opinions/quotes is complete without the last word from the Master himself:

9 Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation. Kahlil Gibran.

So here's wishing everyone....

Happy Valentine's

Blue rose, I just fell in love with it!

Taj Mahal

...the Monument of Great Love!


The first thing I remember about a trip that I made to Agra is the landing. It was on an internal flight from Delhi and instead of a slow smooth descent, the plane dived (almost nose-dived) at the last minute! I had read or was informed somewhere that some of the Indian Airline pilots had received training from the Indian Air Force. Evidently, the pilot had not forgotten his flight manoeuvers in his MIG! Ha ha ha! (It was not funny on t-h-a-a-a-t day!)

I was in Agra of course to see the famed Taj Mahal, the monument that the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, had built in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. First, however, we made our way in the reliable Indian car, the Ambassador, to our hotel, the Mughal Sheraton. This was in itself an interesting building as it had received Asia's first Aga Khan Award for Architecture. It is a beautiful resort hotel spread over 35 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens.

After checking in, we hurried to our first appointment which was a visit to a famous artisan who was involved in the art of inlaid marble. The Taj Mahal is, of course, full of these intricate work and we wanted to see for ourselves the actual process. It is still very much cottage industry and can only be described as a laborious, skilled and precision work of art.

The lace-like art work is first drawn onto marble after which the design is carved out. All sorts of gemstones or other coloured stones are then cut to similar and inserted into the carved portion of the marble. This involves a lot of of grinding and after insertion, the finished work is then made smooth so that no stone stands out of the marble. Today, these work is limited to basically coffee tables as it is time consuming and when you are equipped with this knowledge that one would appreciate the amount of work that went into the building, the Taj Mahal, where inlaid marble is everwhere.

We then had time to see the Taj at dusk. What can I say? Words cannot really describe the sight of this wonder monument to love. It was breathtaking and not for nothing. It is described as one of the most beautiful building in the world. The eighth wonder of the world!



The Taj Mahal took 21 years to build! It took a workforce of 20 000 and included craftsmen from Italy, Persia ad Turkey. The whole structure is in white and yellow marble and the monument itself is flanked by two buildings, one a mosque and the other a rest house. We could not see the actual building itself as it was closed but ahhh, the Taj Mahal at dusk...

The next day, we went to explore the Taj Mahal and its surrounding buildings at closer view. The actual complex is made of five components, the Taj Mahal and the two adjacent buildings, the garden and the Gateway to the Taj Mahal itself. Exploring the garden and seeing the monument from different angles was in itself a treat. Built on the bank of the River Yamuna, I was informed that the Emperor had ideas of building an identical monument on the opposite side of the river bank!

It is inside that the intricacies of this monument is of fine carvings decorated with precious and semi precious stones...sapphire, agate, cornelian, topaz, jasper, coral, lapis lazuli and more. A lot of the interior decorations are also made of transparent marble. Below in the basement is the actual cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal itself, also built of marble inlay work.

In the garden, right at the centre is of course where the late Princess Diana took the sad forlorn photo...digression! In any case, it is an obligatory site to take a photo. I could go on and on about this monument and still do not do justice to it! Sigh!

From Agra, we travelled to Jaipur by car, stopping by Fatehpur Sikri...

but that's another story....

New Politics by Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah

Pix 1: The launch of 'Politik Baru' or 'New Politics' by the Deputy Prime Minister

I first met Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah, the current Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur & Cooperative Development (MECD), at my alma mater, Tunku Kurshiah College.

No, he was not a student there!

Pix 2: Dato' Saifuddin, introducing Anis Yusal Yusuf to me, while multi-tasking signing books..ha ha
Actually he was coaching our basketball team on a volunteer basis and that I suppose speaks a great deal of the man….energetic, unpretentious, highly approachable with a deep sense of concern of where our youth, and consequently our country, are heading in the future.

Pix 3:Dato' Saifuddin, busy signing yet another book for Dato' Abdul Ghafar Mahmud (Ketua Nazir), while Dato' Saifuddin's wife, Datin Norlin Shamsul, looks on.

Of course with Dato' Saifuddin’s coaching, our basketball league, improved by leaps & bounds to the delight of my alma mater. This goes to show what positive changes, passion & commitment, could bring forth.


Pix 4: Ruby, Daud (MECD), Zini (MECD)

He was also actively involved with the coaching of both the Bahasa & English PPM (Piala Perdana menteri) debating teams & helmed as Chairperson for the Cluster School Committee. Certainly a respected, committed & dynamic member of my alma mater's PTA (parent teacher associations).

Pix 4b:Dato' Seri Najib Razak (Deputy Prime Minister), Dash, Michael, Ruby, Razak

Many of us on the committee agreed that it is such a joy to work with such an affable personality. (In any case I'm a strong believer in that the true strength of character in a person, is in the way one delivers the small, un-glamourous tasks & in the way one treats the 'small' people. Only when one gets these right, one certainly has strength in character!)

Pix 5:Catching up:Ruby, Lina, Razak, Datin Norlin

Dato' Saifuddin, I am happy to say, has gone on to greater heights. At the last General Election, he won the Temerloh Parliamentary seat and hence his current post as a Deputy Minister. More of him, I say!

Pix 6:Madeline, Zam, Ruby, Shamsul (MECD), Dash, Imran

A few weeks ago , I met him at the (click here) Global Entrepreneur Malaysia launch and true to form, he dispensed with all protocol and chose to sit on the floor listening to amongst others, yours truly (!), speaking on various topics concerning the challenges our youth are facing today, especially in the line of business.


Pix 7:Ruby, Dato' Alimuddin Mohd Dom (DG of Education, Ministry of Education), Razak

Apparently, he’s a writer too!

Today, I was at the launch of his book, 'Politik Baru' or 'New Politics' at the Shangri La Putrajaya.

Officially launched by Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the Deputy Prime Minister, I must say I thought the timing of this book is rather apt seeing how Barisan Nasional was roundly trashed, although maintaining its majority in Parliament, in the last General Election.


Pix 8:Dash, Ruby, Redza

It is also apt as we seem to be searching, for want of a better word, a new direction in politics! I feel both camps, BN as well as Pakatan, need to tread carefully as our very strength ie our multi racial composition which has brought Malaysia success can also be our ultimate weakness if things are not handled carefully.


Pix 9:Ruby, Datin Norlin

As Datuk Johan Jaafar (writer, columnist & journalist) puts it: ...'He (Saifuddin) talks about integrity, new governance & the rise of civil society, notions that are perhaps as obscure to most politicians as they are to the public'...

Pix 10:Ruby, Dato' Johan Jaafar

Jocelyn Tan (Star columnist) also said: 'Saifuddin has travelled a long road from NGO to mainstream politics. This frank & at times critical effort at understanding the imperatives of the new politics is interesting in that it is coming from within the ruling coalition'..

Pix 11:I managed to chat up with some Umno Puteri members from Temerloh who came to support their MP:Noriza, Zurianti, Wawa,Hasnah, Miza, Naa, Zie, Nurul

In the review of the book by Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad ((Rtd.) Chief Justice) picked this from the book: 'Even if such (intellectual-added) programmes are indeed organised, too much time, energy & funds are wasted on the officiation ceremonies, in which more often than not, the front seats are occupied by individuals who are not interested in knowledge, but are rather more concerned with keeping up appearances with the official officiating the ceremony'..

..'as soon as the official leaves the ceremony, these people would then leave as well.'


Pix 12:Sabarina, Ruby, Fahreen

Suhaimi Sulaiman (TV personality) said: 'Pandangan beliau tentang governans baru, politik dan kejujuran bukan lah satu yang baru kerana dalam diri beliau sendiri telah ada ciri ciri tersebut'...('His views on new governance, new political thought & transparency, are not new issues with him as he himself has embraced these values')

...that I think, many of us, who have worked with Dato' Saifuddin, will concur totally with Suhaimi.

I shall not divulge too much now, as I feel one must read the book, to get the big picture & enjoy the almost no-holds-barred-back-to-basics book.

Do get the book soon please.


Pix 13:Imran, Ruby

Pix 14: Michael, Ruby

Pix 15:Ruby, Dato' Alimuddin Mohd Dom, Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah

Note:

Here's an excellent review by Datuk Johan Jaafar on Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah's new book 'Politik Baru' or 'New Politiks', in the New Straits Times today 24-01-09.

Please click here: Johan Jaafar: Bringing sanity to political culture

Pix 16:Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah with his new book 'New Politics'

Pix 17:En Mohd Khair Ngadiron (Chief Executive National Institute of Translation, ITNM)

Pix 18:Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah busy signing books for guests




Pix 19-21:Room was overflowing with guests, showing great support & interest for Dato' Saifuddin's book pushing for dynamism in our society

My Wish for 2009 for The Media

All of us acknowledge the immense power of the media...

…from individuals at the lowest level

…to the inner corridors of power and all the way to governments all over the world.

We can see this at play when for example News Corporation, the media giant owned by Rupert Murdoch buys yet another newspaper, magazine or television station.

Cries of media monopoly will be heard at what is perceived to be control of our life being held by an organization. Yet today, governments court Rupert Murdoch and lets get real here, he does influence the way the general population, in a word…us, think. Translate that to votes and voila….!

Pix:Elliot Carver, the media megalomaniac in 'Tomorrow's Never Dies'


In the film ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ a media megalomaniac, Elliot Carver, goes even further by attempting to start a world war in order to increase his ratings!

Now, before you go on about this being a mere work of fiction, I tend to think that Bond movies in fact reflects the times we are in and issues before us!

Pix:James Bond(s)


In the latest Bond flick, another scoundrel attempts to control that vital commodity….no, not oil but water!

I digress!

All sectors of our community complain about the media, the main grouse being its lack of fairness.

Wishful thinking, I’d say.

I do find it a trifle amusing that there are still those amongst us who actually believe in this concept of a ‘free and independent’ media!

There is no such thing……

Nope, not even in the West.

The very underlying concept of any form of media is the dissemination of ‘knowledge’ by a person or organization or party and even governments.

Think about it and ask yourself. Why on earth would ANY creator of the media, IN WHATEVER FORM, be it print, electronic, visual et al want to pass on news that goes against his beliefs or ideals, however twisted?

I say this as a background to my wish for 2009.

No, none of that ‘peace on earth, goodwill to all’ jazz, though we all still need it.

Through with being naïve!

None of the personal ‘lose weight, go on a diet’ thingy as well! Doing well on that front! Hah! In your face!

No, none of those.

I am going for something else.

The media.

I am going to be fair as well.

My wish for the media transcends all.

The incumbent and the opposition.

The secular as well as the religious.

All races. Phew!

So, my wish is directed to the media, in all its glorious forms. Newspapers, television, radio, magazines…heck even blogs!

Here goes…..

1. Language.

Pix:'Mind Your Language' a very popular British sitcom


Sigh…A while back, I remember reading this headline from a mainstream daily….’$1.2 billion up for grabs!’

Now, you’d think that it was about some project or grand prize like the recent El Gordo lottery in Spain but No..No..No. It was actually about the amount lost by retailers from shoplifting! Now, I may be confused or my English is failing me, but I can’t for the life of me see the relevance of the headline.

Language used today by the media is basically about attention grabbing to the detriment of the language itself.

It’s about selling, no harm in that, but at the lowest level of communication.

At the other end, rude, crass and downright filthy language is used without any thought to the feelings or mental state of mind of readers.

So, first wish…

An improved language delivery in all media, please.

2. Opinion of the ‘Silent’ Majority.

Double sigh.

I am all for the media highlighting that there is a minority out there who live their lives with their own idiosyncrasies but well….if their story is played out on a daily basis…phew!

Take tattooing. First, there’s LA Ink. Next, London Ink and wherever.

You’d think we’re all tattooed to the tips of our fingers from the way the media, as in TV, is playing this out!

Another example would be where the media (films & tv shows), have aired a lot on issues of mysticisms.

Pix:With some students/participants for elocution contest, where I was involved as one of the many judges (elocution this time) at SEA Forensics 2008, where 16 schools (as far as HK & Thailand) participate for debate, drama, elocution contests, organised by ISKL (International School Kuala Lumpur), at Ampang.


I just find this disturbing & so have many people I have spoken to, with regards as to the influence on the impressionable youth.

Somehow tattoos, mysticisms have regressive & negative elements (there are other examples but these will suffice, or we'll go on pages & pages..ha ha).

Moreover, there is always the call for progress, moving forward.

On that note...

Second wish….can we have some real stories (for the majority) instead.

Or, will it be KL Pole Dancing, Singapore Pole Dancing, Manila Pole Dancing next? Hmm…will we ever change?

3. Tone. Any media, especially in Malaysia owes it to this wonderful country to highlight the positives of this nation.

I know, I know…stories of blood, wars, disasters. They sell.

But at some point, there must be the reminder, the line between empathy & turning an event into a circus need great thought, sensitivity & sophistication.

Pix:Tosai (yum)


I suppose stories of say a Malay going out with his Chinese best buddy to have tosai for breakfast is downright boring, right?

I am a firm believer in the saying ‘Be careful what you wish for. You may just about get it!’

Pix:Goose with Golden Egg...wow


In any case, please let’s ‘Not kill the goose that’s laying the golden egg!’.

It’s a no wonder these days, I’m watching more of ‘Travel & Living’ & ‘AFC’ nowadays. Less stressful.

So, at the risk of criticisms that we should have no censorship and all that (another naïve concept!)…

…the third wish….

Tone it down a bit, huh.

It’s stressful enough as it is, going to work day in day out and then opening a newspaper or switching on television and getting plastered with ‘So and so is a threat’ or ‘Disaster is round the corner!’.

4. Professionalism. Ahh, the last wish. Can we have some professionalism in the actual journalism bit.

For example, in the financial pages? It’s amazing how financial journalists (some) play up future earnings potential of companies, especially those looking at listing and then….kaboom!

Investigate!

Don’t just accept those press releases at face value!

When it comes to features, can we have some substance please?

Pix:Multi millionaires behind American Idol


I know featuring idols (stars (movies, sports, singers), beauty queens) sells well.

But hey there must be balance.

Pix:I was invited by the Principal of my alma-mater, Tunku Kurshiah College (Seremban), to give a talk on 'Leadership' to 63 newly elected prefects in Port Dickson.


Have a thought for our impressionable youths.

Pushing such dreams in all manner, without emphasis of the need for good education will not serve our society well in the long run.

How else are we going to eradicate dropouts who then might turn to crimes of snatch thefts & rempit-ism?

That could only be done through motivation & one of the ways would be via the media’s responsible portrayal of substance & content, & not mere shallow sensations.

Highlight & feature personalities who could have positive influence on our youths, our nation’s treasure.

Media too have a heavy role in social consciousness.

Media have a big influence, that could help the nation in building a dynamic & civil society.

So a fourth wish for the media, is to be professional.

There you go.

Four wishes for the media in 2009!

Ok let's get ready for the countdown

..10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..

Happy New Year, everyone!