Harry Styles teases school-themed visual for “Kiwi”

Harry Styles teases school-themed visual for “Kiwi”

It seems Harry Styles is heading back to school in his upcoming video for “Kiwi.”

The singer teased some still images from the visual, which is set to drop Wednesday, November 8. In one , he poses as the teacher in a retro-looking class photo taken in a school gym.

The other photos feature young kids in colorful clothing posing in various school locations.

The “Kiwi” video is only the second music video Harry has released for his solo material. The clip for his first single, “Sign of the Times,” came out in May.

Copyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Chinese students are better

Chinese students are better

I read with particular interest this posting Why Chinese students stay away from anti-PTPTN demo by Rocky of Rockybru.

It was based on a translation from a Nanyang Siang Pau's editorial about paying back what one owes.

In this case, the PTPTN loan which payment was demanded to be waived by a bunch of Malay "students", backed by some Malay politicians.

These Malay "students", most likely being asked to do so by the politicians, demand for the government to provide free education for university students. Good one, they must have thought to be turned into a political point for the coming election.

Anyway, the article reminds me of a conversation I had with someone close to me about nine years ago.

We were arguing about all those freebies and scholarships given to bumiputera (especially Malay) students. Especially those undeserving mediocre students.

I did my degree without getting any such financial assistence, but since she was sorts of attacking the Malays, I felt it was my duty to put up a defense.

It was the usual bumiputera defense about being left behind and given the assistence to catch up with the more advance and richer Chinese. I know it was a bit of a flimsy defence but at that time it was all I can thought of.

Deep down inside at that time, I know she was right. We can't continue pouring money to help undeserving people. They will just ask for more and more. They are just incapable of thinking responsibly and will always believe that everyone else need to give them everything that they want. These are the shameless Malays. These are the type that are camping at the Dataran Merdeka.

Don't they realise that the money they demand be given to them actually belongs to all Malaysians including the poor who pay the taxes in one form or another? Yes, that include the Petronas money. That one is also duit rakyat, ok?

Don't they have any maruah claiming that they can't be paying back that money once they graduated and have a good job?

Don't they realise that they already have it easy?

The person I had that argument, for instance, spend two years as a waitress at a restaurant in Singapore before saving enough to continue her studies in Taiwan. No scholarships or even loan despite her being among the top students in her school.

If she is a Malay, definitely she can get a place in UiTM, complete with PTPTN loan. I am certain she will gladly pay back the loan once she finished her studies, and probably think how wonderful of the government to provide such a loan facility for her.

But as it turned out, the tough road she went through turned out to be a blessing for her. It trained her to be tough and street wise....much better than me, in fact. She is now successful and as far as I am concern have the bragging right of being the winner of our past arguments on this matter. Well, good for her.

To all those stupid Malay "students" camping at Dataran Merdeka - STOP BEING STUPID. NOTHING IS FREE IN THIS WORLD.  

Muhyiddin on Chinese schools

Muhyiddin on Chinese schools

Here is the report in NST today -

'Vernacular schools here to stay'

By MASAMI MUSTAZA AND ROZANNA LATIFF | news@nst.com.my

UNIQUE FEATURE: Chinese, Tamil schools not sidelined as they are vital to education system, says Muhyiddin

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin being greeted by participants at the Selangor Hawkers’ Association strategic group meeting in Shah Alam yesterday. Bernama pic

SHAH ALAM: THE government is not sidelining vernacular schools,  as alleged by some quarters, said  Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday.
   He assured the Chinese and Indians that the government had always placed the interests of Chinese and Tamil schools close to its heart.
   Muhyiddin said vernacular schools were an integral part of the education system.
   "Vernacular schools are our legacy. You will not find a unique education system such as ours in any other country.
   "There are people who try to create confusion since the general election is nearing, but I assure you that vernacular schools are here to stay.
   "They are an important part of our system. We can't reduce or change that."
   He dismissed the perception that national schools were Malay schools.
   "They are not; you can find all races in national schools.
   "The misconception is what led to claims that vernacular schools were 'dianaktirikan' (sidelined), but the government has never treated vernacular schools any differently," he said at a gathering with about 1,100 teachers from vernacular schools near here yesterday.
   He said the average expenditure for a vernacular school was not much different from that spent on a national school.
   On the average, the government spends RM2.23 million per Chinese school a year and RM1.99 million per Tamil school a year.
   In comparison, the government spends RM2.26 million per national school a year.
   The bulk of the expenditures goes towards paying teachers' salaries.
   He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in Budget 2012, had announced an additional allocation of RM900 million for public schools, with RM500 million going to national schools, and RM100 million each for Chinese schools, Tamil schools, mission schools and government-aided schools.
   Touching on the shortage of teachers in Chinese schools, Muhyiddin said this was something faced by all schools.
   "If a teacher retires or goes on maternity leave, it takes time to find a replacement. In a year, about 20,000 teachers go on maternity leave. We have only 480,000 teachers.
   "There is also a shortage of English language teachers in some schools, but many are reluctant to uproot themselves. This is why there are more English teachers in urban areas."
   He said the ministry had taken steps to fill the 1,700 vacancies in Chinese schools with 1,400 interim teachers. Heads of Chinese schools were also given permission to recruit teachers to fill the vacant positions.
   Muhyiddin said finding teachers for Chinese schools was not easy as the schools required all their teachers to converse in Mandarin.
   "Even Bahasa Malaysia teachers must know Mandarin to replace other subjects," he said, adding that Tamil schools were not as strict as Chinese schools when it came to teaching requirements.
   On the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI), Muhyiddin said there could be no reversal of the policy when the subjects were taught in mother tongues in vernacular schools.
   He said many students in national schools were more comfortable learning Mathematics and Science in their mother tongue, which was Malay.
   He said the ministry would soon roll out an information and communication technology learning tool called Bestari Net.
   He presented mock cheques for RM5.28 million to 30 government-aided Chinese schools in Selangor and RM21 million to 37 government-aided Tamil schools in Selangor.
   Muhyiddin, who is Barisan Nasional deputy chairman, said the coalition's "pro-business" government was prepared to assist businesses to boost economic development.
   "There are too many (initiatives) to mention, from financial grants and loans, business courses and training to working with funding bodies such as Mara."
   "All of it is aimed at making sure businesses can grow and develop," he said when meeting the Selangor Hawkers' Association strategic group.
   He said the government had taken steps to reduce red tape for small businesses, such as simplifying the issuing of licences.
   He announced that RM740,000 in administrative assistance had been allocated for 74 associations (RM10,000 each) in Selangor.

Dr Yap's cap ayam doctorates and the smart DAP (UPDATED)

Dr Yap's cap ayam doctorates and the smart DAP (UPDATED)

As I had feared in this posting Racial extremists endangering Chinese schools, the foolish decision by Dong Jong Zong to collaborate with the DAP in making several unreasonable demands, including some, which are outright racist in nature has put the Chinese schools and its system once more in serious danger.

For every action, there will be a reaction. Racist demands such as pressuring the government to immediately remove all non-Chinese speaking teachers from the schools will definitely backfires.

Now, the general perception among most non-Chinese (even among the majority of non-Chinese Pakatan supporters) is that the Chinese educationists are demanding for Chinese children to be educated totally within a Chinese environment.

That, if you ask me, is the end result of the stupid DAP-backed DJZ rally in Kajang that day.

And also, those who are against the existence of Chinese schools find it as an opportunity to renew their attacks and find faults with the Chinese education system.

The easiest target are the Chinese educationists themselves, many of whom are ill-equipped to deal with such attacks.

 The first casualty is Dong Zong chairman himself whose credentials were put under the microscope here -
Dr Yap should resign if ..

Serves him right for using the Chinese schools, which he was supposed to protect, as a tool in DAP's fight against BN.

Dr Yap is now easily the symbol of Chinese chauvanism - a cheat, arrogant, boorish, narrow minded and racist. They don't say it out loud but, just look at Dr Yap's picture and think about his questionable doctorates from a university of ill repute which he has all these while proudly bandied to project himself as a leading Chinese educationist . He didn't even bother to get his cap ayam doctorates from China but got those from the USA.

 Doesn't he now looks like all those labels ?

Well, that is the image of the Chinese educationists now. among many who previously did not care much about the Chinese schools issue.

Maybe Dr Yap and his gang don't care about all that. Go to hell with all these non-Chinese people, they may have thought. The Chinese are after all the political king maker in this country now. We can get whatever we want. We got DAP, the unifier of Malaysian Chinese, backing us what. See, the DAP people came in the thousands to the rally in Kajang that day and almost chase out that useless Wee Ka Siong what.

But with such an attitude among the guardians of Chinese education in this country, what will be the future of the Chinese schools?

Do they think the BN government will let itself be thereatened like that and bow to their racist demands?

Now, the call for the closure of the Chinese schools will be louder than ever with more will be joining the Satu Sekolah Untuk Semua chorus.

As all these are going on, DAP is at the moment sitting smugly by the sideline as DJZ took all the flak They know they have now secured thousands more of Chinese votes for backing the DJZ rally.

DAP said they support the DJZ rally, but when DJZ came under attack for making those racist demands, I don't see any DAP leader coming to their defense.

This is something all Chinese school graduates and those who support their schools should remember when DAP project itself as the defender of the Chinese community. and its education system.

They will cheer as you march to the front line and reap the rewards of your support, but when the shooting starts and the chips are down, they will be nowhere to be found.

Think again. Do you all ever remember DAP being sincerely supportive of the Chinese schools? How much have that party contributed to the Chinese education system?

(UPDATED)

I wrote too soon about the DAP not standing by their Chinese brothers in arms. Blogger Stop the Lies just posted this  Racist DAP ADUN Ng Wei Aik Comes to Yap’s Defence 

But, "He was quoted as saying that the Chinese community was not interested on whether Dr Yap was holding any bogus degree." This Ng really thinks the Chinese community don't care that the person leading their community's educationists is a conman? Is this true?

I have always believe that the Chinese always put the highest priority on education. How can they let a conman represents their education system?

Sorry about that. But, whatever it is,  how I wish Guan Eng was the one making the statement in support of DJZ's demand for all non-Chinese speaking teachers to be immediately removed from Chinese schools.



Note:  The comment function of this blog had been fixed.

Chinese schools and students in harm's way

Chinese schools and students in harm's way

Since I can't seem to be too humorous about Johor politics today without causing any offense to someone, I think I want to instead put up another posting on the Chinese schools issue.

Got a call earlier in the day from my friend who is a Chinese school graduate and we talked a bit about the issue.

"I think they are getting a bit too much," she said, in reference to the uncouth behavior of the crowd at the DAP-backed Dong Jong Zong's rally in Kajang yesterday.

It was heartwarming to know that my friend, who is also a DAP supporter could still think rationally and not be blinded by party loyalty.

The Chinese educationists, who aligned themselves with DAP in the hope of becoming heroes of their community may find that they are not fully supported in their actions by even DAP supporters such as my friend.

Putting the Chinese schools and their students on the firing line in the political battle between DAP and its Pakatan allies against BN could turned out to be quite disastrous for the DJZ. 

Also here, I would like to extend a salute to MCA's Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong for being very brave while facing the hooligans at the rally yesterday. He handled himself admirably considering the circumstances.

 Here is a report from the Star which indicated that not all Chinese are with DAP and their racial extremists gang -

YONG PENG: Over 100 people gathered here to show support for Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong over the treatment he received at a rally over the shortage of Mandarin teachers in Kajang on Sunday.
Dr Wee, who is Ayer Hitam MP, was verbally abused at the rally organised by at the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) to address the teacher shortage issue.
A few protesters allegedly threw water bottles and one tried to punch him. Dr Wee later that he was only “lightly hit on the face.”
A resident, Sam Hin Hoo, 70, said such incidents should not have occurred.

Residents and NGO representatives showing their support for Dr Wee at a gathering in Kampung Baru Yong Peng.

 

"Manners are very important and violence is definitely not our culture. We are not against the rally but it should be fair and peaceful.
"We know how much Dr Wee as an elected representative has done for Chinese education," he said at the gathering of non-governmental organisations and residents of four new villages in Jalan Meng Seng here on Monday.
They held placards condemning the violent acts against Dr Wee, with some saying "Ka Siong, we are with you."
Chinese temple representative Lee Tee Siong said resorting to violence would not help in resolving issues.
"We are also concern about the future of Chinese education but violence is not the way. It must be stopped at once, otherwise it will continue to happen, he said.
Ayer Hitam Gerakan division chairman M. Nathan, who led some 20 members, said the protesters should have respect for each other when expressing their views.
"Dr Wee is approachable and problems can be resolved in a proper way," he said.
Batu Pahat Kwangsi Association chairman Howard Lee said in a statement that one should not act for political gain because Malaysia is a multiracial country.

Malaiyoo teachers and their Chinese students (UPDATED)

Malaiyoo teachers and their Chinese students (UPDATED)

UPDATED

So, Dong Jong Zong are now claiming a conspiracy by the government.

They claimed at the rally today that the Education ministry have deliberately not trained enough Chinese school teachers.
Dong Zong president Yap Sin Tian said this is so that the government could send non-Chinese speaking teachers to those schools and change their Chinese identity.

This for me shows that the government is indeed inefficient. It has been more than half a century since BN has been in power, yet their conspiracy to  destroy the Chinese schools has not yet worked out.

That is why we need to change the government to the one helm by DAP. They will be more efficient. If they want to shut down the Chinese schools, they will just do it like their parent-party, the PAP of Singapore. Just bloody well shut them down. No need to have all sorts of conspiracy ma. Of course not now la, later ya when got power. Now need votes leh.


ORIGINAL POSTING

Today is the big day - the DAP-backed Dong Jong Zong's Save Chinese Education Rally is held in Kajang today.

One of their demands is to get rid of teachers who can't speak Mandarin from Chinese schools.

I'm not going to say much about it anymore. Enough lah...tired already

I'm just sad now.

After this, when my non-Chinese friends talked about the Chinese schools being the breeding ground of racists, I'm not going to say anything. To me they are still wrong, but if I want to argue with them, I know they will remind me of what happened today and it will be very difficult for me to counter them.

I will still personally support the existence of Chinese schools in this country, as I still believe they are part of the multi-racial reality of Malaysia. But I will no longer try to convince others to do the same.

It's a tragedy that DJZ had choosen to allign themselves with DAP and banking on the perceived anger of the Chinese community towards the BN government to get what they want with the general election just around the corner.

I don't think blackmailing the government will do the Chinese schools any good. There will be a price to be paid for DJZ's foolishness, and that will likely be paid by those who truly appreciate the Chinese education system...and not  those DAP politicians who only care about getting the Chinese votes.

I actually wanted to end this posting with a video clip of students and teachers (including Malay teachers) of Foon Yew 4 Primary School in JB which shows them having a good time playing gasing. However, this useless, just repaired, second hand netbook I'm using simply refused the function. Too lazy to go to the cybercafe to post this on this lovely Sunday.

If you want to watch it, google "Foon Yew gasing" or find it here at.suyi99

 The video was made by one of the students, sweet little Cheng Shu Yi. She set up a blog to thank me for using her video to convince readers of this blog that Chinese schools are not breeding ground of racists in my previous posting here A message from a Chinese school graduate. The video clip I attached in that posting had also went missing. Sorry.

Anyway, thanks a million back to Shu Yi.

Probably all those racial extremists cannot tahan watching the Chinese kids and their Malaiyoo teachers getting along fine together. In that video, I think the kids are really fond of that particular teacher wearing the yellow tudung.

This picture of these Chinese students and their Malay teachers  is from http://zsmissthemoment.blogspot.com.

The Chinese slap and talk gambit

The Chinese slap and talk gambit

I have to admit that I'm at the moment feeling a sense of dread whenever I think of what's going to happened this Sunday.

The DAP-backed  Dong Jong Zong's Save Chinese Education rally looks ever more likely going to proceed.

This was an excerpt of an article by The Sun -

DONG Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) president Dr Yap Sin Tian says the rally planned for March 25 in Kajang is just an additional means to voice its concern over the shortage of teachers in Chinese primary schools.

He said the question of it shutting its door on having dialogues with the government to highlight Chinese schools' grievances does not arise, Chinese dailies reported today.

Yap said this in response to the fear expressed by Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Tan Sri William Cheng that the so-called "325 Rally to Save Chinese Education" might block the channel of communication between the Chinese education group and the government, at a press briefing on the gathering.


The article by the Chinese-own The Sun however did not mention anything about the DAP factor behind the rally and made it as if it's going to be purely motivated by Chinese education issue.

How the newspaper failed to see the real danger posed by the possible outcome of the scheduled rally was beyond me. OK, DJZ said they will also invite non-Chinese to speak at the rally, let's wait and see what type of non-Chinese these individuals are, and how many of them will be there.

I had expressed my fear of the whole thing being turned into a racially dividing wedge between us Malaysians in these postings -
A plea to young Chinese school graduates
Racial extremists endangering Chinese schools
DAP's Chinese back-up plan
Race relations' scary future

So, DJZ said they are still going to negotiate with the Education Ministry after the rally.

Isn't t that like slapping someone in the face and then to sit down and talk nicely with the person? Isn't that like the Israeli bombing the Palestinians (or the other way around) to bits and then calling for them to negotiate peace?

What makes the DJZ think that they can strong armed the ministry to concede to their demands? Can't they see that the government would only harden it's own stance as it will be under pressured by the other side of the divide not to look like sissies being bullied by some Chinese gangsters?

Being a supporter of the Chinese education system, I'm at a loss as to why DJZ decided to go down this path where a right thinking person will know it would not end nicely for the Chinese schools. The schools will be seen more than ever as the breeding ground of Chinese chauvinism after the rally this weekend.

What could we expect from the majority of non-Chinese when they see thousands of Chinese shouting and demanding on the streets for only Chinese speaking teachers be allowed to teach in the Chinese schools? What would they think of the Chinese school graduates after that?

The answer by the racial extremists within the Chinese community would probably be that the Chinese don't give a crap what others think of them as long as they get what they want. The Chinese are after all, the political king makers of this country at the moment. The rally is to show everyone else that if they can't get what they want, then there is a price to be paid for it.

With that kind of attitude, what will happen to this multi-racial country?

As far as I am concerned, DAP will be the sole beneficiary of the rally. It will win big among the Chinese voters for being perceived as the defender of the Chinese interests. That is all that matters to them.

My final question to the DJZ crowd - Throughout the history of the Chinese education system in this country, what had DAP contributed to the Chinese schools that now with the general election around the corner, they are to suddenly become the champions of those schools?

Race relations' scary future

Race relations' scary future

In my last two postings about Chinese schools, I had suggested an initiative on how to solve the shortage of Mandarin speaking teachers here -  A plea to young Chinese school graduates

and expressed my worries about the future of the schools here - Racial extremists endangering Chinese schools.

Probably it seems weird to many that a non-Chinese, like me should be so concerned about the Chinese schools. Especially that I'm not a former student of such schools and can't speak a proper word in Mandarin.

I had written about my support for Chinese schools in my previous postings. You can find them here - Chinese schools.

The reason for my support for the Chinese schools is simple - some of my best friends are former students of those schools. None of them are more racists than my other friends from sekolah kebangsaan. All are decent people. For me, the country's Chinese education system is a unique aspect of this country's overall education system. It's part of this country's heritage and should be preserved. As for unity, it should be nurtured, instead of forced (such as by closing those schools).
  

Ok, back to my last two postings on the Chinese schools, they seems to have attracted the attention of  書 政 shuzheng , a Chinese blogger, who writes mostly in English.

You can read his/her latest posting on the Chinese school issue here Pig Pure Shiite, Amok in the Sty.

These are two paragraphs from that article which made direct reference to me -

"There is of course this ‘brilliant' solution – temporary hire – that MOE officers throw up each time teachers are needed quickly. But, without an existing pool of hanyu teachers, there would be no takers naturally whether the positions they offer are temporary or permanent. BigCat’s bellyaching about there being no no-takers showed not only her gullibility and ignorance into the situation. But it especially revealed her Malaiyoo stupidity (such as believing in Anwar Ibrahim in her halcyon days)."

" One call (BigCat) made out to Chinese school graduates to join the teacher-force was typical of Malaiyoo mentality – appealing to race loyalty. Worse for it, teacher availability is treated like Campbell bean production from a factory. Press the button, machine comes alive, more beans.

These bloggers… so naive. Where did they go to school?"

I'm actually bringing up shuzeng's response here to highlight the hardening stance of  ultra-Chinese such as the blogger towards the BN government. Well, the way shuzeng writes, I don't think he/she minds too much if I describe him/her as an ultra-Chinese.

As was mentioned in that article, the problem with the shortage of teachers at Chinese schools started years ago. Why then the scheduled Save Chinese Education rally is to be held only now? With the support of DAP? With the general election around the corner?

Is the rally really about saving Chinese education or is it about flaunting Chinese political muscle?

Will the rally help solve the shortage of Mandarin speaking teachers at Chinese schools?

Based on the language used, I don't think my support for the Chinese schools and suggestion on how to solve their problem are appreciated at all by Chinese individuals such as shuzeng.

But really, if graduates of Chinese schools themselves are not interested to return and teach at their own schools, what do you expect from the incompetent Malaiyoo teachers? Want them to master Mandarin some more....sheeesshh....and then blame Umno, blame MCA, blame the government....will all the blaming around increase the number of Mandarin speaking teachers in those schools?

Well, I'm fine if the likes of shuzeng think that my suggestion was typical of Malaiyoo stupidity. Just that it's too bad if the rest of the Chinese community share the same attitude as the end result I'm quite sure will be the vanishing  middle ground of race relations in this country.

Racial extremists endangering Chinese schools

Racial extremists endangering Chinese schools

Chinese schools in this country are now facing the biggest threat to their existence....and this threat comes not from the ultra-Malays or other Chinese-hating group of people.

Chinese schools are actually protected by the government from those sorts of nasties.

What the government can't protect the Chinese schools from, were threats posed by the extremist elements within the organisation which is supposed to be their guardian, the Dong Jiao Zong, which is the combination of DongZong (federation of Chinese schools associations) and JiaoZong (federation of Chinese teachers associations).

As I had heard earlier, they are going to have a rally to protest what they described as the government's dishonesty in solving the shortage of teachers at Chinese schools. The rally was supposed to be held at Kolej New Era, Kajang Selangor on March 25.

I had written about it and made a recommendation on how to solve the problem here -
A plea to young Chinese school graduates

Now, what really got me worried was when DAP declared their open support to the protest by Dong Jong Zong, which is almost certain will turn the whole thing into another anti-Lynas sorts of a rally - a legitimate cause hijacked by unscrupulous politicians.

DAP vice-president Tan Kok Wai said the party will mobilise its members to attend the rally in full force.

This is one of my takes on DAP's manipulation of the anti-Lynas issue -
DAP's victory in Kuantan last weekend

Unlike Lynas which was masked by its environmental theme, this so-called "Save Chinese Education" rally will be purely racial in nature. Chinese protesting against a perceived threat against their Chineseness.

With a political party like DAP taking an active role in the rally, the atmosphere will definitely be very combustive indeed.

The rally will be aimed at protesting the government's plan to send teachers, who are not well-versed in Mandarin (read - non-Chinese teachers) to Chinese primary schools. It was also reported that the rally was also aimed at forcing the government to pull out non-Mandarin speaking teachers out of Chinese schools.

If those objectives are not those of racialist extremists', then I don't know what I should call them. Don't they ever think how the non-Chinese will react when they get to know about such demands by the Chinese educationists who are supposed to be the most respected people within the Chinese community? Why must they want to chase away those non-Chinese teachers just because they can't speak Mandarin?

Why can't they at least organise Mandarin classes for those teachers instead of organising the rally?

I have to admit that I am totally dissapointed with especially members of JiaoZong for letting the whole thing be hijacked by the extremists among their rank, and those of DongZong. I have always respected teachers of Chinese schools for their ethics and dedication. Letting themselves be dominated by the extremists is really sad.

Their reckless act of opening the doors to DAP political opportunists who have no sincere love for the Chinese education system will definitely endanger the Chinese schools.

I hate to imagine what will be the future of the Chinese schools once they were stigmatised by the taint of DAP and their hypocritical racialist political posturing.

A plea to young Chinese school graduates

A plea to young Chinese school graduates

My friend dropped by in JB last night to see me on her way to Singapore.

This is my friend I had previously written about here...What a DAP girl want

Yup, the very same pro-DAP girl who wanted Guan Eng instead of Anwar Ibrahim as the next PM.

We had dinner at an expensive Japanese restaurant in Taman Pelangi. Her salary is twice bigger than mine, so, she was the one who paid for it.  Very nice dinner leh.



Ok Ok, I know the pictures look different. Of course those are not her real pictures. You all think I'm crazy ka want to put my friend's real pictures here? The pictures I put here are actually the closest I could find which resembles her. Last time she used to have this eye make-up which made her eyes look so big. Last night however she looked normal.

Anyway, as usual we talked about politics.

Being a Chinese and passionate DAP supporter, she enjoys my feed-backs, particularly because I seems to be a rather liberal non-Chinese. Probably it's no fun to talk to fellow DAP gang all the time as they will just agree with one another.  With me, my views from her differ but I do not hantam her too much for her political stand as I understand her background and the reasons why she dislikes the BN government.

And as usual, she complained about things such as what she described to be the discrimination against the Chinese community, corrupt BN government, stupidly arrogant Umno people, useless MCA guys etc etc. I just let my friend go on and on, except interrupting her here and there a bit to explain my side of pro-BN argument. Just the usual DAP-BN ding dong. No need to elaborate on those lah.

Ok, the one I am really interested about what my friend told me last night was the shortage of teachers at Chinese schools. I understand why she got quite agitated about the whole thing. She is a Chinese school graduate and was passionate about it.

I had read somewhere about the issue....about the United Chinese School Committee's Association (Dong Zhong) accusing the government of purposely assigning teachers who are not fluent in Mandarin to teach in Chinese schools and thus being dishonest about solving the shortage of teachers at those schools.

I even heard that Dong Zhong is even planning to hold a huge demo soon on the issue. Something like the DAP-led Lynas demo in Kuantan that day.

It just so happened that several days earlier, I met a friend, who is a high ranking official in the Education Ministry and we happened to talk about the Chinese school issue.

He explained that the government had since last year revoked a requirement which made it a must for anyone who want to be a teacher , including those to teach at Chinese schools to score a credit in Bahasa Malaysia of the SPM. This is so because many Chinese school graduates didn't do well in that subject.

The revocation of that requirement however didn't do too much good to the enrollment of teachers trainees from among Chinese school graduates.

"There are simply no takers," my Education Ministry friend said.

"We got no choice but to send those Malay teachers who are not well verse in Mandarin to the Chinese schools to help overcome the shortage of teachers there," he added.

If he is telling the truth, I think Dong Zhong could do well to plead to Chinese school graduates to apply to be teacher trainees to help their schools overcome the shortage instead of having to endure the government's "lack of sincerity" in overcoming the issue as it keep sending Malay teachers instead.

Of course I am not asking people like my friend, the DAP supporter, to quit her well paying job to become a teacher at a Chinese school. That's asking too much, despite her having a degree in education from a very prestigious Taiwan university. The pay of a teacher is pittance compared to her salary.

I am instead just asking for the younger Chinese school graduates who just started life to consider becoming a teacher instead of aspiring to set up a beauty saloon or automobile workshop.

I know, even selling pirated DVDs can earn more than being a teacher but this is for the sake of the Chinese community. A sacrifice most noble. You may not become rich like your friends, but you will earn the respect of your community.