Mentally Tired-Part II

I have 3 responses, but what Jenna mentioned was that I was too fast in expecting things to be done, in other words, speed is my main concern, and ask me to slow down a bit. Simplicity, for sure I agree, but you can be simple and yet fast or efficient. Actually, I am very simple person, but with some expectation for example on my job, and colleagues reporting to me, otherwise, I think you will not achieve anything.
My Mental tiredness is more towards the environment where when you talk, many rounds of it, and yet, people seem not to understand or do not act in the manner you expect them to. They simply do not understand or never try to, even something very basic. And also when people interpret in the manner they want to, or wanting to cover up their asses, by bad mouthing intention that is good in the first place.
Or when you have many infernal affairs taking place (those 无间道) in the company and you do not know who is trying to attack who or backstabbing who, this is even more mentally sick and tiring. I think right over here, if you are not mentally prepared and if you are not ready with the emotionally challenging working environment, it is better you do not come or it is better to stay out from this working environment. You can be simple but others are not. They might look very simple, but before you realise that, you will be totally wiped out. That is how the game goes.

And this is very tiring, and mentally disturbing.................but I will be able to stand this for sure.

Choong, Beijing

Mentally Tired

When you are physically tired, it is understandable that you need physical rest, for example, by having more sleep, more relaxation, may be exercise, may be just do nothing, and I guess you will recover soon. A bit of body massage and SPA might help to revitalize and rejuvenate yourself.
But when a person is mentally tired, what will happen? How can you reduce this? How can you help to overcome this problem? Do you exercise your brain or your mind a bit? Will it help by taking a break itself? Will it help by not thinking of anything at all? But I think if one is mentally tired, the best thing is to walk the path back to the BASIC, possibly this could help a person to recover better.
What say you...........?

Choong, Beijing

A Career That Has Never Happened....Modelling

The pictures are my personal favorites, I mean current ones. Feel happier now, and back to myself..............maybe, hopefully. But something that I can't do already... a career in Modelling, though I was Ivy's first model, I suppose for her wedding photo gallery many years ago....not bad, at least have tried that out when I was much much younger. May be one of these days, I will publish that photos, just may be. Hei, who knows, some people still can model when they are older, there is still a demand, as long as you keep yourself well.....hahaha.

Choong, Beijing

Taking A Break-Some Nice Pictures

Deepest Condolence-Takziah

Here you are, the news on the passing away of one of my favorites movie directors of all time, Puan Yasmin Ahmad. Films like Sepet, Gubra, Muallaf are a few examples, which you will definitely have watched or have heard before, and also perhaps, Petronas' advertisements during festive seasons (Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali), I am sure most of us have watched these before.
Sad to hear that. She is one example of true Malaysian and who makes me feel very much a Malaysian first and proud to be one, and I will miss her though I do not know her personally. Life is short, and that we take for granted that she will always be there to churn out more films, but it seems it will not be the case anymore.
May you rest in peace and I will miss Yamisnthefilmmaker, you will always be in my mind.


Choong, Beijing

Tibet-Part One

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Finally, a chance to share this, but will only discuss more later.
After coming back to Beijing, I flew to Tibet directly, just to find some space for myself, grieve a bit, think a bit, and pray a bit, a little bits of every thing, here and there. Just to think about the meaning of life, esp. after the demise of my dad.

Some photos taken during the trip to Tibet.


Please take note that due the altitude, and thin oxygen level in Lhasa, which is 3000m above sea level on average, you will have some breathing difficulty, headache, just like when you are in a crowded room with no air circulation, but with very good view and scenery. Actually, as soon as you arrived, the best is to rest and have minimal activity. Let your body adapt, and rest first. You can walk very fast either, even if you wanted to. Will share some experience of my visit to Lhasa later, meanwhile, enjoy.

Choong, Beijing.

Article From Other Blogs-From Art Harun's Blog

Please read this article, A Tale of Two Tuns. I enjoyed it a lot, and please share with friends if you like. Happy reading :)

If ever there was a wish which I could be granted when I grow really old, - this is not to say that I am not already old, it is just that I am not that old, yet - that would be a wish that I could be given the wisdom of knowing when to keep my mouth shut. Because really, people who are pass their "best-before" date could really sound curious and funny, especially when what they are saying now goes against what they have been saying and doing while they were younger.

Amidst all the grief and disbelief caused by the tragic lost of life of an innocent son of Malaysia in the past week, two Tuns were also hogging the headlines over what they said. In a way, these two Tuns had almost connived to provide me - and many others, I believe - with much needed comic relief in times when such relief was really needed.

And so, I should have perhaps thanked both of them but for the fact that their statements were laced with so much irony and insidiousness.

Firstly it was Tun Abdullah. He was apparently conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Democracy by Universiti Utara Malaysia.

It is now of course fashionable within the ruling elite to have the prefix "Dr" somewhere between the array of prefixes preceding their name. Like Tun Tan Seri Datuk Seri Dr Hj So and so. It gives them the comfort of being in possession of something extra. Something which others do not have. Or so they think. Like when they buy a Mercedes, they must buy a Brabus. Things like that. Sorry, I digress.

Anyway, yes, Tun Abdullah was conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Democracy by UUM. I would not go into whether or not such conferment was justifiable - because this article would be too long otherwise - but what he said during his acceptance speech was what, in my opinion, precipitated the saying "silence is golden".

Upon being conferred, our newly minted Doctor in Democracy proceeded to the microphone and, in what was believed to be nothing short of an astounding moment, called for the abolishment of the ISA. I really hope he had read his prepared speech before delivering it. And if he had read it, I hope he understood what he was saying. If anything, I hope he was awake while he was doing so.

That call would have, in the normal course of things, been met with jubilant celebrations of orgasmic proportion. However, coming from an ex Premier under whose administration there were 82 arrests; 76 new detention orders and 87 renewal of detention orders under the ISA as at the end of 2007 (figures are from the SUARAM's Human Rights Report 2007), that call was as funny as - if not funnier than - a drunken kangaroo spinning like a top on its tail while shouting "kangaroo boleh!"

Added to that, under his administration, the ISA was abused beyond anything which was thought possible when Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Teresa Kok were arrested for apparently "insulting Muslims and Islam". Raja Petra, as we all know, was later detained at Kamunting before a brave Judge, Justice Dato' Syed Helmi of the Shah Alam High Court, released him (the government's appeal against that release is still pending in the Federal Court).

To top it up, it was under Tun Abdullah's administration that the ISA, an Act which was designed to protect the security of the nation, had managed to morph itself into PSA - short for Personal Safety Act - without sanction of the Parliament, when a journalist of Sin Chew Jit Poh, Ms Tan Hoon Cheng, was arrested under the Act in order to protect her own safety.

Not enough with killing the audience with that call, the good Tun said he felt compelled to now give his "honest view" on the matter. Which begs the question, has he been dishonest about the matter all these while, particularly when he was the PM?

He then was reported to have said that the ISA should be replaced with a law which allows preventive detention and - hold on to your seats guys and gals - "at the same time protects fundamental rights." It's like saying Hitler should be allowed to kill the Jews in a way which protects their fundamental rights to live. Awesome. I suppose only great minds could understand the depth of this statement. I must confess I am can't.

A day later, the good Tun continued by saying that he would have reviewed the ISA had he been given more time. Which begs the question, how long did he need? And what was he doing all those time?

Then he was reported by NSA to have said:

"There was not much pressure to abolish the system at that time but if I had continued my term up to the next general election, I would have eventually reviewed it (ISA) myself,"

Thank you Tun for finally revealing to us that you were a man of "reaction" rather than "action". That you only worked when you were pressured to do so.

If I had the ability to invent something useful, I would love to invent a "Talk Cock Eater", which would work in the same manner as an odour eater. I would spray it on Tun Abdullah and watch him disappear after a few seconds.

The next stand-up comic over the past few weeks was none other than Tun Mahathir.

Firstly, this doyen of listen-to-the-people-movement started a poll on his blog in order to find out what the public thought about the present government's move to abolish the teaching of Maths and Science in English in 2012.

During your time as Prime Minister dear Tun, how many times have you sought public opinions over anything? Did you hear the public outcry over the Cheras toll? How about the public outcry over Operasi Lalang? Or Bank Bumi scandal? Or the Tun Salleh Abas' dismissal and the subsequent molestation, rape and sodomy of the judiciary? And speaking of sodomy, did you ever notice what the public said and continue to say about Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case? About Konsortium Perkapalan having to be rescued by MISC and later, Petronas? About Putrajaya? About the removal of judicial power from the Courts? About whoever whatever and howsoever?

Now that you have retired and become insignificant, you are turning back to the people. The very people whom you ignored, time and time again, during 22 years of you being the Prime Minister.

Not enough with that, he recently bemoaned the fact the Malays are apparently not the "real masters (Tuan)" in their "own" country. He lamented that after 39 years of the NEP, the Bumiputeras only hold 20% of corporate wealth when Bumiputeras form 60% of the total population while the non-Bumis hold 50% of the wealth while they only form 26% of the total population.

Let me tell you, dear Tun, that the 39 years of the NEP's life consisted of a good 22 years of your rule, which amounts to 56.5% of the whole time the NEP was implemented. Thank you for telling us that you have failed Tun, Sir.

I have one question. As far as I know, every corporate exercise involving the public listing of corporations and also involving privatised projects under your famed EPU, at least 30% of the shares (wealth?) must go to the Bumis. If so, how come 20% are now being held by the Bumis? Where have the 10% gone to? They (the Bumis) disposed them?

You see, you don't teach people to drive well by giving them Ferraris and expect them to transform themselves into the Schumachers of the world. You have got to teach them how to drive, how to take corners, when to brake, when to change gear and appraise them on things like a smooth weight transfer, the danger of over-steering and under-steering, counter steer and the likes. You give them Ferraris and what will they do? They will sell it!

That was what happened Tun. The Chinese gets better and better because they were the ones who actually did all the works, the very works which under your policy, were dished out to some well known Bumis, who would make a quick buck by promptly sub-contracting those works to the Chinese. Why are you screaming now?

Speaking of categorisation, Malaysia is not only divided into Bumis and non-Bumis. There were also, under your rule, registered Bumis (registered with the MoF) and non-registered Bumis. Only registered Bumis will be able to share in this so called "corporate wealth" of yours.

What happened to the actual Bumiputeras on the buses, in the LRTs, riding bicycle in the kampungs, in the rubber estates, in the sawah bendang in Kedah, who toil under the sun in their small rented perahu in the middle of the sea, who "kais pagi makan pagi and kais petang makan petang"? Compare them to the Tajuddin Ramlis of the world. The Halim Saads of the world. The Amin Shah of the worlds. The Daims of the world. I wonder out of the meager 20% of the "corporate wealth" which the Bumis have, how many percent are held by these people?

Oh, the non-Bumis (non-Malay?) are the one who are the real "Tuan"? How about 22 years of you being the PM? Are you saying that you are not a Malay?

For Tun Mahathir, I wish I had the ability to invent a virus. I could upload it on my laptop. It would then infect all computers in the world and erase all articles and writings by Tun Mahathir, his pictures and news about him and what he said. The virus would then come out into the air, infect everybody, and erase him from their memory.

How peaceful.

3rd-7th Day, Pa's Passing Away

Times passes, and now is the 3rd 7th day (三 七).
Only prayers that I can offer, and May Buddha guides Pa to the path of Nirvana.

May Pa be happy and May Pa be peaceful,

Have A Good Weekend.............

我的天空,为何挂满湿的泪

我的天空,为何总灰的脸

飘流在世界的另一边

任寂寞侵犯,一遍一遍

天空

划著长长的思念......

你的天空,可有悬著想的云

你的天空,可会有冷的月

放逐在世界的另一边

任寂寞占据,一夜一夜

天空

藏著深深的思念......

我们天空,何时才能成一片

我们天空,何时能相连

等待在世界的各一边

任寂寞嬉笑,一年一年

天空

叠著层层的思念

但愿天空

不再涂上灰的脸

Choong, Beijing

One Of My Favorites

Find me out, please..................If you can
Thanks to Poh Jen, for keeping the promise.
This photo really makes my day, and happy weekend.
Ha-ha-ha-ha, 哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈!

Choong, Beijing

Deepest Condolence To Family Of The Late-Mr. Teo Beng Hock

picture copied from Mr. JeffOoi's blogsite


Again, as I said, I am not a politician, but the news on the death of a fellow Malaysian without a clear, apparent reason really saddens me. And I trust at this period of time, his fiancee will be in a state of shock, hope she will be able to overcome this and his family members too. As a Malaysian, I hope we have a clear explanation on how the late Mr. Teo Beng Hock was found dead in the state/manner as reported in local newspapers.

May he rest in peace.

Amitabha.

Choong, Beijing

One Of My Favourites

I am back recalling, ......

Those were the days, one was when we were in Form 4, and another one, Form 5.
Poh Jen, I am waiting for the one we had in Form 3, right after our S.R.P examination.

I was so young................hahahaha.


Choong

Flowers

Flowers,
They are soothing,
They are comforting,
They are beautiful,
And they help to make your days better........................


Choong, Beijing
And they are

GoodBye Pa.........

These were the hardest words to say, when we (especially sister and myself) walked my Pa to the funeral parlour. But we have to face it anyhow, no matter how. But during this period of time, I just could not believe that, I have so many friends that called, that visited, that sent messages/mails, and even one friend that drove from KL just to chat with me for 1.5 hours, and then drove back again, and my best friend in S'pore who talked to me until 3am on the way back from Beijing to Penang. And so many wreaths that were sent to us, just the way I hope the funeral to be for my pa, with flowers and simple Buddhism ceremony.
And all the support from relatives and cousins that come from near and far, since day 2, my uncles and aunts, all of them were there in the house.
Some times, we might not believe in life after death, but you knew the presence of his spirit in many forms. And we could not explain why there was a butterfly, a big one, on the nite I came back, and before we 'sent' dad off to crematorium. But anyhow, there is no need to explain this further, as long as we know and feel his presence, it is more than enough.
The most painful thing throughout this period of time, was when dad's coffin was being pushed into the incinerator, that was went our tear drops fell, like free flow water. In fact, it was hard, as the monks and nuns asked us not cry or shed any tears, you imagine that. Biting your lips and tear drops fell without ever making any crying sound. That is hard baby!! And the worst part is not over, the nite after the funeral, and nites after that were even worse. When I was at Penang airport waiting for flight to Beijing, I could not contain my sadness, not even talking on the phone with friends who called to wish me well.
As I write this, my heart is still painful, but letting go after grieving for a period of time helps a lot.
And I am grateful too that I manage to take a short time break to Potala temple in Tibet, and here I managed to offer some prayers, for Pa.

I am wordless now, to friends and relatives that came over during my dad's passing away, and messages that I received after that. Domo arigatou, I appreciate it a lot and my sincere thanks from the bottom of my heart. And also to my dearest sister and my cousin for being with Pa until his last breath.

Dad passed away on 2 July 2009 (Chinese calendar, 5月初十)
Funeral was on 6 July 2009.
Cremated in Berapit Crematorium, and laid to eternal rest at Tanah Liat Siamese temple, with new address of 1708 (that was the date for first seventh day, 头七).

With sincere thanks,

Choong, Beijing

English In Malaysia

Please find the time to read this article which I think is very good and of which I copied from Mr. M. Bakri Musa's blogsite.
When I first started my blogging, I wrote of the importance of English for all of us, and I think we are in dire needs to improve our command of English. If our government thinks by having extra learning hours for English language will help, then there has to be a solid commitment to realize this plan.
And the future is what we are talking about here, and this involves a lot of investment, of our time, resources, etc etc for this to take place. We cannot change our policies as and when we like without really considering the full impact it has on the younger generations of Malaysia. Our national language is beautiful and its importance as our national language cannot be denied, but English is an important International language. I feel proud reading a Bahasa Malaysia novel in China, but that alone will not bring me to work in China if I do not have a good command of English and know Mandarin at the same time. Just a point to ponder.


Chaining The Children of The Poor
July 12th, 2009

Chaining The Children of The Poor

M. Bakri Musa

The ancient Chinese bound the feet of their baby daughters so they would grow up with deformed tiny feet, thus limiting their mobility and participation in life outside the little world of their homes. These women would then be totally dependent on their men.

In rescinding the policy of teaching science and mathematics in English, the government is likewise binding the intellectual development of our children. They and future generations of Malaysians would grow up with warped intellect. They would then be totally dependent on the government, just as ancient Chinese women with tiny feet were on their men.

My friend and fellow commentator Azly Rahman has a more apt and colorful local metaphor; we are condemning future generations to the Pekan Rabu economy, capable only of selling pirated versions of Michael Jackson albums. That would be the extent of their entrepreneurial prowess and creative flair. They are only subsistence entrepreneurs and ‘copy cat’ creators.

Make no mistake about it. The government’s professed concerns for the poor and those from rural areas notwithstanding, reversing the current policy would adversely and disproportionately impact them. The rich and those in the cities have a ready escape; the rich through private English classes, urban children from the already high levels of English in their community.

The most disadvantaged will be the poor kampong kids. That means Malay children. Thus we have the supreme irony if not perversity of the champions of Ketuanan Melayu actively pursuing a policy that would ensure Malay children be perpetually trapped economically and intellectually. I thank Allah that I grew up at a time when the likes of Muhyyuddin were not in charge of our education system. Otherwise I would have been trapped in my kampong.

The idiocy of the new move is best illustrated by this one startling example. In 2012 when the new plan will be implemented, students in Form IV will be taught science and mathematics in Malay, after learning the two subjects in English for the past nine years. Then two years later when they will be entering Sixth Form or the Matriculation stream, they will again have to revert to English.

Pupils in the vernacular schools would have it worse. They would learn the two subjects in their mother tongue during their primary school years, then switch to Malay for the next five while in secondary school, and then switch again, this time to English, in Sixth Form and university!

Had these policymakers done their homework and diligent downstream analysis, such idiocies would not crop up. Then again this is what we would expect from our civil servants. They have been brought up with their minds bound up; they cannot think. They have depended on others to do the thinking for them.

Najib Razak’s flip-flopping on this major national issue eerily reminds me of similar indecisiveness and lack of resolve of his immediate predecessor, Abdullah Badawi. No wonder he supports Najib in this policy shift. Najib should not take comfort in that, unless he expects a similar fate as Abdullah’s. Abdullah was kicked out by his party; with Najib, it would be the voters who would be kicking him out. Public sentiments are definitely against this policy switch.

Failure of Policy Versus Failure of Implementation

The cabinet reversed course because it deemed the policy did not produce the desired results. However, in arriving at this pivotal decision the cabinet failed to address the fundamental question on whether the original policy was flawed or its implementation ineffective.

It just assumed the policy to be flawed. Muhyyuddin and his senior officers relied heavily on the 2005 UNESCO Report which suggests that “‘mother tongue first’ bilingual education” may (my emphasis) be the solution to the dilemma of members of minority linguistic groups in acquiring knowledge.

Muhyyuddin and his advisers seriously misread the Report. It was concerned primarily with the dilemma at the societal level of members of a linguistic minority having to learn the language of the majority (“national language”) versus the need to maintain linguistic diversity generally and minority languages specifically. UNESCO was rightly concerned with the rapid disappearance of languages spoken by small minority groups. The report was not addressing specifically the learning of science and mathematics.

Malay language is not at risk of disappearing; it is the native tongue of literally hundreds of millions. To extrapolate the UNESCO recommendations for Malay language is a gross oversimplification and misreading of the report.

The UNESCO Report does not address the issue of when and how best to introduce children to bilingual education. Later studies that focused specifically on the pedagogical and psychological aspects instead of the sociological and political have shown that children are quite capable of learning multiple languages at the same time. Even more remarkable is that the earlier they are exposed to a second language the more facile they would be with that language. They would also learn that second language much faster; hence second language even at preschool.

The acquisition of bilingual ability at an early age confers other significant cognitive advantages. These have been documented by clinical studies with functional MRIs (imaging studies of the brain). Malaysia should learn from these more modern studies and the experiences of more advanced societies, not from the UNESCO studies of backward tribes of Asia.

The other basis for the cabinet’s decision was ‘research’ by local half-baked and politically-oriented pseudo academics. They should be embarrassed to append their names to such a sophomoric paper. The quality is such that it will never appear in reputable journals. As for the Ministry’s own internal ‘researchers,’ remember that they came out within months of the policy’s introduction in 2003 documenting the ‘impressive’ improvements in students’ achievements!

The one major entity that would be severely impacted by the cabinet’s decision is our universities. Yet our Vice-Chancellors have remained quiet and detached in this important national debate. They have not advised the cabinet nor lead the public discussions. Again that reflects the caliber of leadership of our major institutions.

Had the cabinet decided that the policy was essentially sound but that the flaws were with its implementations, then measures other than rescinding it would be the appropriate response. This would include recruiting and training more English-speaking teachers and devoting more hours to the subject.

What surprised me is that when Mahathir introduced the policy in 2003, he was supported by his cabinet that included Najib, Muhyyuddin, Hishamuddin, and over a dozen of current ministers who now collectively voted to reverse the policy. Likewise, the policy was fully endorsed too by UMNO’s Supreme Council then. Like the cabinet, many of those earlier members are still in that body today. Yet today the Council also voted to disband the policy. Muhyyuddin, Hishamuddin and the others have yet to share with us why they changed their minds. The conditions that prompted the introduction of the policy back then are still present today. This reversal will do not change that.

Najib, Muhyyuddin and Hishamuddin are “lallang leaders,” they bend with the slightest wind change. Unlike Margaret Thatcher’s famed resolve of “This lady is not for turning,” with Najib, Muhyyuddin, et al., all you have to do to make them undertake a U turn would be to blow slightly in their faces. Blow a bit harder and they would scoot off with their tails between their legs. These leaders will never lead us forward.

This reversal will not solve the widening achievement gap between urban and rural students. The cabinet has yet to put forth new ideas on ameliorating that problem. So, just as ancient Chinese women were physically handicapped because of their bound feet, rural or more specifically Malay children will continue to be intellectually handicapped by their warped and small minds, the consequence of this policy shift. Perhaps that is the real objective of this policy reversal, the shackling of the intellectual development of our young so they will forever be dependent on their ‘leaders.’

I Am Back To Beijing and THANKS!

I am back to Beijing, and thanks to all friends and relatives for their care, concern and warm messages to cheer me up and supported me throughout this 'event'.
I am deeply touched and lost for words and will always remain in my heart.
I will share some of my thoughts later, cause there are simply too many things to do now, in office.
I will be back..........


Choong, Beijing

Leaving Behind

I am now in S'pore airport, on the way going back to Beijing, back to 'normal' life.
And my thank you message will be sent out later.
A lot of friends asked me to be strong and though, and I always trust I am, well, if you know me well enough. Otherwise, I would not be where I would be.
But most of them forgot, that I am a normal human being first, and having said that, it means I need some time (not too long hopefully, to grieve, to mourn the loss and to recall some memories that I have with my dad, and to shed a few tears, before I put all these into my memories, and start moving on with life. And that does not mean I am not strong, does it?
Anyway, thanks and I am glad, during this testing period, I have realised that when you do goods, you get bountiful good things in return.

Thanks.

Nite from S'pore airport

Choong

This Period Of Time

Dear all (friends, relatives),

Thanks to all, for the visits, calls, messages, flowers, wreath, etc.
I will not write much and will do so once I have the time, but just to say that, I am doing fine.
It is not easy, for you know my dad's departure is good, but at the same time, for my sister and myself, it will be forever.......we will never have him at the house waiting for our arrival home, or picking up our telephone calls anymore. He will, however, appear in our memories......forever.

That is all for now.

Thanks, and sincerely,
CHoong, Bukit Mertajam, Penang

My Dad

Got a call from my sister, dad, after suffering for sometime, has passed away.
Preparing to go home now.
Sad now, but of course, I am happy also at the same time he need not go through further suffering and leg amputation.

Choong, Beijing

It Is Very Taxing

When your hands are tied, and when you have only 1 hour to relax before your sleeping time, when you do not have freedom to do things you like and want to do, and when you go home, it is always the dark sky, then there is something wrong with your life? Or is it not?
And when you have a group of staff that is suppose to reduce your job load but on contrary, makes or gives you more problem and need more of your support in terms of time and attention, what would you do?
Think about that, a dilemma, is this not.

I am but the man, in the mirror.................

Choong, Beijing