Toll Review?

News by The Star, Thursday 8th May 2008:

Ministry's study on highway concessions may see lower rates

KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry will review highway concessions which may result in lower toll rates.

Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said he would call for a detailed study to be carried out before reviewing the concession agreements.

Some of the important factors to be considered were the traffic volume forecasts, toll rates and period of the concession, he said.

“We will compare the toll collections, and maintenance and operational costs, as well as ‘heavy’ maintenance costs,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Read more here>>

Well, this is something that has impressed me this morning if they're really going into what they have said. Yeah, better late than never, rite? The Malaysians have suffered too much because of the high toll rates. In fact, certain parties have actually gained profit for millions, perhaps billions of ringgit from the toll collections, more than enough from the original cost of building and maintaining the highways. The Malaysians would certainly support the steps taken. Hope that the news is not merely news on paper, but to be put into actions very soon.

Extension of Maternity Leave

By BERNAMA

Five Pakatan Rakyat States Agree To Extend Maternity Leave

SHAH ALAM, May 4 (Bernama) -- The five Pakatan Rakyat-led state governments have agreed to extend the 60-day paid maternity leave for public sector employees in their states, and are to work out the number of additional days according to the needs and demands in each state.

The new leave will only be implemented after the leaders of the five states -- Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Penang and Kedah -- sit down together to fine-tune the needs and demands in each state.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin asked to be allowed time to fine-tune the matter at state level "and then we will sit down together and decide what's best for the five states".

He spoke at a news conference after a workers assembly here Sunday. Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim; Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin; PAS Vice-President Datuk Husam Musa who represented the Kelantan menteri besar; Kedah Rural Development, Entrepreneur Development and Public Works Committee chairman Phahrolrazi Zawawi who represented the Kedah menteri besar and Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud.

Women employees in the public sector are now entitled to 60 days of paid maternity leave for a maximum of five times.

Mohammad Fairus said the Penang government was considering extending the leave up to 75 days by taking into account locality and the people's acceptance in the state.

Abdul Khalid said the Selangor government planned to implement a 90-day maternity leave and between seven and 10 days additional leave for men whose wives were on maternity leave.

"The state government, MTUC, public and private sector workers' organisations or Cuepacs have to hold further discussions so that no one will lose out when the facility is implemented," he said.

Husam said the Kelantan government proposed to give 10 days of additional leave prior to delivery to women who found it difficult to work in an advanced state of pregnancy.

Mohammad Nizar said the Perak government was compiling data to determine whether it was possible to extend the maternity leave to 65 or 70 days.

Phahrolrazi said the Kedah government might adopt the measures to be implemented by the Kelantan government in the matter.

-- BERNAMA

Penang CM flying in economy class

I was impressed enough when I read this news in today's The Star:

Travellers impressed to see Lim flying economy class

PENANG: Some things have not changed with Lim Guan Eng, although he is now the Penang Chief Minister.

And among that is his penchant for economy class air travel.

As the chief executive of Penang, Lim is entitled to a business class seat but he is having none of it.

Ning posing with Lim at KLIA on Wednesday in a photo taken from Jolly's blog

As travellers queued to get into the airplane, many are surprised to see Lim standing in line with them, just like in the days before the DAP wrested Penang from the Barisan Nasional in the March general election.

Among those who were surprised to see the Penang CM in economy class were songbird Ning Baizura and her manager Vernon Kedit Jolly, who were at KL International Airport last Wednesday.

Jolly was so moved that he wrote about it on his blog, which spurned off reactions among other bloggers.

Lim, who has adopted a “no formalities” approach since assuming the CM’s post, said he said he had told his staff to book him economy class tickets whenever he needed to fly.

“I hope to lead by example. If I can reach my destination and save some money at the same time, why not?” he asked.

That is not all. The Chief Minister also does not check into luxury-class rooms in hotels.

“I usually request for a room that is at least one level down from what I am accorded,” Lim said.

Jolly, who flew in First Class with Ning on that flight to Penang, said Lim had earned their deepest respects.

------- Source: The Star, 4th May 2008

I wish that our leaders could see and learn the good things from what has Lim shown. Don't we remember that our Prophet and Mulims Khalifah have demonstrated this simple and humble living style thousand of years ago even they were at the highest position? Those leaders were the most respected leaders in the history.

Tribute, Farewell to Dr. Anis Shobirin

Wednesday, 30th April 2008 was the last day for Dr. Anis Shobirin, a friend, elder sister, and mentor of mine, at UIAM. That day, we held a small farewell party for her.

Dr. Anis has been working as a Research Assistant for Prof. Dr. Farouk since August 2007 after she finished doing the lab works for her PhD degree. My warm congratulation to her for has successfully obtained the PhD in last March, and for has been appointed as a lecturer at UPM. Not forgotten, for her 4th coming soon baby, insya Allah.

I got to know her when I was doing my final year project, supervised by Prof. Dr. Farouk. We were working in a same lab, namely Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering Lab. Lot of things I have learnt from her. Her advices, tips, and guides particularly in doing research would always be useful to me.

Chocolate Indulgence from Secret Recipe

Syahida, Shima, Faizal, Nazri, Dr. Anis, Dr. Hamzah

We wish her the very best in all future endeavors. May Allah's blessings be always with her and her family.

Exam Results ~ Normal Distribution

Friday 2nd May 2008, 10:35 am

Note: I was in the middle of Biotechnology Departmental Meeting when I started writing a draft for this post.

I was supposed to type down the minute of the meeting this time (as I am still the departmental secretary). Yeah, I was focusing on the meeting, but now I don’t have the feel of doing it. The lecturers have started arguing each others on the matter of Final Year Projects grading. Guideline has clearly stated that there’s certain limitation in the number of students who should get A. The Dean himself has challenged any lecturers who would like to defend that his/her grades which comprises a high number of A students to bring all the students to him and let him grade them. Let the dean evaluates their reports and let them present in front of the dean. Tough, right?

Well, let’s have a break. I would only type down something which is well worth and most important, unanimously agreed by departmental members.

Normal curve

What does it mean? Does it mean that it's unethical for lecturers to normalize the graph, i.e., in case of too many students get A, by multiplying the grades by certain factor? Well, it can't be helped since most institution would not accept it as normal if there are too many students get A. For me, it's true that everything occur would likely to follow the normal distribution. And when certain thing does not follow the rule, it shouldn't be forced to be normal. It's a matter of how to make it naturally normal , not by force.

I would humbly say that, if the grades are not normally distributed, it's not students' mistake, but lecturers'. Lecturers should know how to set the question based on their students' capability, so that the results would appear in a normal distribution. It's true that very tough to have a situation where, let say, 50% of students gets A. If it happens, then there must be something wrong with the questions, i.e., perharps too easy, or rather the same questions of previous semester. Lecturers have the guideline on how to set the questions. For example, there must be few questions which could only be answered by very smart students, i.e., only 10%. The rest should be average, as well as easy questions. To force the graph to be normally distributed is not the correct way.

(11:05) Huh.. they were still arguing. When were they going to stop? Could they just agree on a mutual decision? Or was it just because some of them who still din't (or didn't try to) understand the issue and guidelines provided by the kulliyyah or rather didn't want to acknowledge their mistakes? At one moment, seemed that all of them were talking. Then how should I catch what they were talking about?

(11:20 am) Alhamdulillah, at last they managed to stop it. The HOD stressed that lecturers should thoroughly study thesis/report assigned to them, page by page, and consider them as an amanah from Allah before coming to presentation. Marks should only be given according to the overall performance of the students.

Summary: We (lecturers) have not been doing our job well because it’s still full of emotional elements attached in it. A rational suggestion: go back and read the guidelines, and consider this as a normal course and treat it fairly as an amanah from Allah.

----- and the meeting has adjourned at 1:00 pm (it began at 9:40 am)

Berapa berat gelas ini?

Suatu pagi, seorang guru berdiri di hadapan kelas sambil mengangkat segelas air. Dia bertanya kepada murid-muridnya; “Cuba kamu teka, berapa berat gelas ini?”

Jawab murid yang duduk di hadapan kelas: “50 gram, cikgu!”

Guru tersebut tersenyum. “Yang lain?” sooalnya.

“Saya rasa mungkin 100 gram,” jawab seorang pelajar perempuan.

Bangun pula seorang pelajar lelaki di tengah-tengah kelas, “Jawapannya mesti antara 50 hingga 500 gram.

Siapakah yang berjaya memberi jawapan yang betul? Adakah berat gelas itu 200 gram? 300 gram? 410 gram? atau 100 gram?

Jawab gurunya, “Jawapan kamu mungkin betul dan mungkin juga salah! Sebenarnya, berat segelas air ini tidak begitu penting sebab ianya bergantung kepada berapa lama kamu memegangnya. Jika kamu pegang gelas ini satu minit, tak jadi masalah. Kalau satu jam, tangan kamu akan sakit. Sehari! Kamu perlu diusung ke ambulans.” Ketawa murid-muridnya mendengar kata- kata guru itu.

Sambung guru tersebut; “Murid-murid sekalian… berat segelas air ini takkan berubah tapi semakin lama kamu memegangnya, ia akan menjadi semakin berat.Apa yang patut kamu lakukan ialah letakkan gelas itu ke bawah, rehat beberapa minit dan sambungnya kembali."

“Begitu juga dengan kehidupan seharian kita. Jika kita ada masalah, selesaikannya secepat mungkin. Kalau kita masih gagal menyelesaikannya, rehat sebentar. Lupakan masalah itu untuk seketika."

“Jangan terlalu memikirkannya kerana ia akan menyebabkan fikiran kita tidak tenang dan terganggu. Ketenangan amat penting sebelum kita memikirkan masalah itu kembali.”

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Sumber: eyeniey83

Kekeliruan Identiti Menjadikan Kita Hilang Arah

Artikel Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin seperti yang dimuatkan dalam Mingguan Malaysia 20 April 2008.

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Saya baru sahaja berjumpa dengan YAB Perdana Menteri secara peribadi di pejabatnya pada hari Khamis lepas. Saya memberikan pandangan dalam beberapa perkara. Antaranya mengenai tuntutan memaklumkan keislaman seseorang yang baru menganut Islam kepada keluarga. Saya bertanya maksud beliau, kerana saya amat tidak bersetuju jika itu dijadikan syarat.

Beliau memberitahu kepada saya itu bukan syarat pengesahan pendaftaran. Beliau akan membuat penjelasan nanti. Saya berterima kasih dan lega. Jika tidak, saudara-saudara muslim kita yang baru akan menjadi mangsa, sama ada tekanan keluarga atau tekanan undang-undang. Maka betapa Islam yang menjadi agama rasmi negara ini, penganutnya pula tertindas. Di manakah identiti islam dalam negara ini?

Teruskan membaca di sini>>

Bola Sepak: Warga Israel ke Malaysia?

Satu keputusan yang dikira agak mengejutkan telah dibuat oleh pihak kerajaan dengan membenarkan dua Warga Israel, iaitu Avram Grant (Jurulatih Chelsea) dan juga Tal Ben Haim (midfielder Chelsea) datang ke Malaysia pada Julai ini sempena mini-Asian Tour pasukan bola sepak Chelsea. Lihat di sini untuk berita penuh: Chelsea’s Grant and Tal cleared to come to Kuala Lumpur

Keputusan ini walaubagaimana pun dibantah oleh banyak NGO di Malaysia kerana di samping tidak mempunyai sebarang hubungan diplomatik dengan Israel, kita juga sebagai umat Islam harus sentiasa peka pada isu keganasan/kekejaman/rompakan Israel di bumi Palestin dan penderitaan saudara kita di sana yang dinafikan hak mereka oleh Israel. Satu berita telah disiarkan di MalaysiaKini yang membantah kedatangan mereka dan meminta pihak Kementerian Luar menimbang semula keputusan tersebut. Lihat Israel: Rais tidak peka isu Palestin

Kita sebenarnya bimbang kalau hari ini kita membenarkan mereka datang, kelak di kemudian hari kita akan beri lebih daripada ini. Israel dan Yahudi adalah musuh Islam & umat Islam yang sangat nyata!

Wassalam.

Message to Malaysian students out there..

As published by The Star on 13th April 2008, many of Malaysian students sent abroad to study on government scholarships, refuse to return and serve the government. Hmm..what's the problem?
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Sunday April 13, 2008

Grads prefer to stay on overseas

PUTRAJAYA: More and more medical students sent abroad to study on government scholarships, many costing more than a million ringgit each, are breaking their 10-year bond by refusing to return and serve in public hospitals.

“This is a sore point with us. In 2006, 21 medical students in Britain did not return. Last year, the number was 63. For those studying in Ireland, three students did not come back in 2006 while last year, 27 did not return,” said Human Capital Development division director Datin Madinah Mohamad.

She said these students cost the Government up to RM1.1mil each in funding for the five-year course.

“The number has been steadily increasing each year since 2003. The excuse these undergraduates often give is that they want to do their two-year housemanship over there and continue with sub-specialisation courses.

“But when they do so, they may then get employed and become eligible for registration in Britain. With the pay they are getting there, it’s highly unlikely they will come back and serve here,” she said in an interview here yesterday.

Since 2003, 145 students from Britain and 85 from Ireland have not come back. However, only three from Russia, two from Jordan and one from Japan failed to return.

Another reason many students chose to stay back could have been due to PSD’s perceived lenient treatment of such students in the past and a paltry penalty of RM160,000 each before 2003, she said.

“It encouraged undergraduates, who have seen many of their seniors being let off, to follow suit,” she said.

Although the department had officers in Britain and Ireland to track down errant medical students, some in the last year of studies ignored notices and others did not bother to show up when called for interviews.

She said tougher measures were needed to make them come back and serve or pay their bond.

The department was now seriously considering suggestions to make errant students repay twice or thrice the sum of their scholarships as punishment.

“We need to study this recommendation,” she said, adding the department had also handed 30 such cases since 1989 to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for legal action and had even declared one former student bankrupt.

But legal action was slow and guarantors would be taken to court only as the last resort, she said.

Since PSD’s Overseas Scholarship Programme started in 2000, RM2.15bil in scholarships had been given to 10,485 students up to the end of last year.

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Even the news was focusing mainly on Medical students who refuse to return, but it somehow generally reflects Malaysian students who are studying abroad. Not to be denied, of course the amount of salary paid there is much higher compared to our salary in here. It must be one of the main reason they refuse to return. Consequently, some voices might suggest, then Malaysian government should counter-back by increasing the salary, as well as the benefits given to them. But, will it be the best solution?

In my personal view, since the government has spent around RM1 million for each (medical) students (as reported in the news) for the whole period of study, hence we at least should come back and serve the Malaysians for a period of time, part of the feeling and responsibility as one of Malaysians. There's no harm of contributing back to the nations. Yeah, people tend to forget to say at least "Thank you" after they get what they have asked for. For Muslims, recognizing and appreciating others' contribution is also part of being grateful to Allah. Whenever we dare to leave something (which we think good for us, but not in the right way) to Allah, then Allah will surely replace it with something better in the future. I pray that I shall always be one of those grateful people, amin..

Wassalam.

Jika Kita Tidak Dihina Orang, Jangan Menghina Diri Sendiri

Seperti yang diharap dan dinantikan oleh kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia yang peka & sensitif, Dr. Mohd Asri akhirnya menulis sesuatu untuk tatapan serta renungan kita semua berkenaan penghinaan ahli parlimen Belanda ke atas Islam & Qur'an. Selamat membaca...

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Oleh: Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

Di Malaysia agak menarik, mereka yang sebelum ini tidak pernah sensitif dalam isu-isu yang seperti itu, tiba-tiba muncul mengangkat sepanduk bantahan di muka hadapan akhbar. Mungkin semangat baru telah muncul dalam diri masing-masing untuk membela Islam. Itulah yang kita harapkan.

Atau, sebagai salah satu ubat yang cuba ditelan bagi memulihkan diri akibat hentakan demam pilihanraya yang ramai belum dapat ‘kebah’. Apapun sebabnya, saya amat bersetuju dengan bantahan tersebut dan juga kempen memboikot barangan Belanda.

Namun, seperti biasa saya ingin mengajak kita melihat isu ini dari sudut-sudut yang lain juga. Kita perlu jelas, bahawa apa yang kita bantah bukanlah hak untuk individu atau syarikat menerbitkan sesebuah filem. Kita percaya kepada hak dan kebebasan yang dimiliki oleh individu, atau syarikat atau negara dalam batasan yang wajar.

Teruskan membaca>>

An insult to Islam & Qur'an ~ Dutch Products: boycott or not?

Due to the release of a 15-minute anti-Islam movie by a Dutch MP, Geert Wilders, on a video-sharing website recently has drawn much attention from Muslims all over the world. Muslims have shown great sensitivity on this issue. One of the most aggressive responses by Muslims is the calls on to boycott Dutch products. Muslims are seen to be very sensitive on any offensive actions against Islam. Protests against this film have been made in most of Muslim countries. And in fact, the President of Indonesia, on behalf of the government and the people, has barred Wilders from entering Indonesia, while screenings of the movie were banned.

In Malaysia, we have seen that the Muslim Consumer Association of Malaysia has urged all Muslim to boycott Dutch products. List of the products are now being spread all over the country, which are available at their official website (Note that Dumex & Nutricia have been removed from the list. For details, please refer the website). Meanwhile, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad called Muslims to unite and boycott the products as a 'punishment' to Holland. Then, the famous wholesaler in Malaysia, Mydin stores, has also put the red label on all Dutch products at their premises and branches as a sign of protest and to remind the consumers not to buy the products. However, they would not be removed from the shelves since it is the right of each consumer to choose which brand to buy. Latest, the National Fatwa Council of Malaysia has called on Mulims to protest by boycotting Dutch products.

At Islam Online.net, Prominent Muslim Scholar, Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi refuted allegations by a far-right Dutch lawmaker that the Noble Qur'an incites murder and hatred, outlining five ways to stand up to Islam offenders. He addressed that there are 5 ways can be used by Muslims to defend the Qur'an, and to response to such insult to Islam, as well as to the Prophet Muhammad:

>> "We need scholarly refutations to claims that Prophet Muhammad incited the killing of men and women. This should be done in several languages to reach all those who do not know the truth about the prophet of mercy."

>> "Heavyweight Muslim countries should have a manly stance in defense of Islam and its prophet.

>> "The peoples need to pressure their governments to take such a stand and prove to the world that the Muslim Ummah is still alive."

>> Need for artistic and media responses - "Movies and TV shows play an important role in clarifying the true image of a much-stereotyped Islam."

>> Boycotting the products of countries that allow its citizens to bash Islam

Source: IslamOnline.net

However, different opinions and arguments have been put forward towards the issue by independent writers, columnists and bloggers, particularly in Malaysia. Some may have said and agreed that to boycott Dutch products is not the right way to response, by questioning that what if one day, Malaysian products will also be boycotted by people all over the world just because of harsh and improper words or actions of a Malaysian MP. The insult has just been done by a Dutch MP, and not all the people there. We should also consider the sensitivity of Muslims, who are currently in Holland. Orang Melayu kata, "jangan cepat melatah". In fact, the Prime Minister of Holland has also made a clear statement that the government is against what Wilders has committed. Thus, approaches other than boycotting the products should be prioritized. Look here.

Hmm...what do you think? My personal view, I don't see any harm of boycotting the products. At least we have shown them that Muslims are sensitive enough when Islam is attacked, and not to just stay calm and cool (kononnya nak menggunakan pendekatan yang lebih hikmah). Refer an article written by Ustaz Zaharuddin on his webpage regarding this issue and to know what is his stand. But obviously, one thing to be highlighted, to boycott the products is not the only way. Of course, at the same time, we as Muslims must use other approaches in defending Islam, as outlined by Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

In fact, we have plenty of alternative products currently in the market, produced by Muslim. It does not necessary that our vehicle will run better and more efficient if we use Shell, compared to Petronas. Try to read an article written by Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abdin, entittled "Isu Denmark dan Jihad Ekonomi" atau "Tanggungjawab Menyokong Perniagaan Muslim". Perhaps, people are waiting for him to say something on this current issue. We'll see..

The choice is yours..but Muslims should always unite!