Adult fun: Ti enjoying a slimy experiment while Dr Hermann looks on.

The Star

Friday August 14, 2009

Carnival of school creativity

By KEVIN KAM

KUANTAN: The EMaS (E=English, M=Maths and S=Science) Fest organised by BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd with the collaboration of the Kuantan district education office was aimed at creating a platform for students to learn through creative activities and relate to their school syllabus.

The event at Taman Pertanian Jubli Perak in Indera Mahkota here was launched by special officer to the Mentri Besar (Chinese affairs) Datuk Ti Lian Ker.

“The importance of English cannot be understated in a globally-challenging environment.

“As such, the EMaS Fest is timely and in line with the Government’s aspiration to develop world-class education and develop students’ full potential in English, Maths and Science,” Ti said in his speech.

Enlightening: Nanda explaining the importance of the eco-system to a student.

More than 1,600 students from 40 secondary schools participated in the event.

Games, riddles and puzzles related to English, Science and Maths were aplenty.

Students who registered for the activities were given a passport with which they could travel from booth to booth to complete tasks and earn passport stamps to qualify for a certificate.

BASF Petronas had a booth called Kids’ Lab where simple experiments related to everyday life could be conducted by students to understand the role of chemistry in improving the quality of life.

“With the supervision of well-trained facilitators, the students are guaranteed lots of fun and hands-on experience in chemical experiments,” said the firm’s managing director Dr Hermann Brandt.

“We make the learning of chemistry very interesting,” he said.

Prizes in cash, vouchers and hampers were presented to the outstanding booths.

The most creative activity (English) prize went to SM Tengku Panglima Perang.

Its booth named To Be or Not To Be – Learning English Through Literature had book characters such as Mathilde and Madame Forestier coming alive to teach students the many elements of literature.

“We are happy to see them learn English while being exposed to elements of poetry like personification and alliteration,” said teacher Saminder Kaur said.

SM Tengku Afzan won the most creative activity (Maths and Science) prize with its Water Surface Tension experiment.

Engaging: Students attempting to solve a puzzle at a booth.

Participants were invited to do the experiment while being briefed on the science behind it.

SM St Thomas bagged the most attractive booth title.

Using Michael Jackson’s Earth Song as a visual stimulus, their booth incorporated all the three fields of English, Maths and Science.

Students who participated in games at the festival were tested on their knowledge of the eco-system and attitude towards the environment with emphasis on the use of English.

“The Rubik’s Cube puzzle at our booth was a hit with the students,” said SM St Thomas principal P. Nanda Kumaran.

取缔啤酒越法越权

取缔啤酒越法越权

马华中央委员郑联科律师针对沙阿南市政局充公便利店所摆卖的麦酒啤酒发言说：这是越权的作为，行动党行政委员刘天球不应该沉默不采取行动。郑联科强调，既然马来西亚法令明确的规定零售啤酒是被允许的，执法人员就应当规矩的遵法执法，而不应该以个人的立场或观点 （或对含酒精饮料类似的偏见歧视）檀自扫酒。

马来西亚关税法令允许罐装瓶装啤酒的销售，零售酒精浓度底的饮料是不需要特别执照的。市政局在法令许可下针对啤酒作出的取缔动作可是轻慢不慎重。说喝酒对身体不好？喝酒败坏道德？ 我们应强调酗酒醉酒是个人选择的问题，是自制的问题，而不是许不许可喝酒的问题。就是说，若以个人的基本信仰或价值观不准许饮用酒精饮料，那人应该身心适应无酒精的生活，而不是被周围有喝酒的人引诱而难受。

试问马来西亚是一等级的国家吗？若是，国民也应该彰显出相当的个人素质--戒酒人士以不饮酒作为他们的行为标志，同时饮酒人士适量饮酒维持健康振作精神。只要人喝酒而不是酒喝人，只要不制造纠纷和平的喝酒，我国法令所给的自由是不容许任何人凭种族或宗教理由践踏的。

再试问杂货店在马来甘榜里零售啤酒在法律上有问题吗？答案是绝对合法的！有没有销量是经济小题。技术性的问题大部分出在市议会上门扫酒导致合法经营的便利店不方便卖酒，这不是极大的不便吗？

顾虑到少数回教徒卖酒喝酒的问题，执法机构应当明确这罪案是信徒本身不谨守戒令，就应当对个人施行回教法令所提供的惩罚，而不是以滥权的方式来给大众一个下马威！

参阅 Beer raid by council conflicts with federal laws，Rule by law, not sentiments。

Rule by law, not sentiments

Friday August 7, 2009

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/7/nation/4472676&sec=nation

Rule by law, not sentiments

By ISABELLE LAI

PETALING JAYA: PAS cannot extend the provisions of the Syariah Enactment and impose it on non-Muslims, said MCA non-governmental organisation liaison bureau chairman and central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker.

“We are ruled by law and not sentiments based on race or religion,” he said, adding that PAS was effectively extending Syariah laws on non-Muslims under the pretext of Muslim sentiments.

He referred to recent calls by Selangor PAS exco member Datuk Dr Hassan Ali that a blanket ban be imposed on the sale of beer by convenience stores in Muslim-majority areas.

Ti also referred to Dr Hassan’s argument that non-Muslims could easily buy their beer from the many shops outside Muslim-majority areas as arrogant and non-tolerant of the rights of non-Muslims as provided for by law.

He added that Dr Hassan’s argument discarded the existence of DAP as a political partner.

“The Syariah Enactment is enforceable only on Muslims. Non-Muslims have their civil and criminal laws and it is clearly provided that non-Muslims can buy and sell beer without any restrictions or licences,” he said in a press statement yesterday.

He added that as PAS could not respect an express provision of the law, “how can we ever trust PAS to rule the nation and be fair to the non-Muslims? How can DAP falsely assure the community into voting for PAS?”

“The rule of the majority must be with due respect to the minority. The continuous insistence by PAS that the minority give in and sacrifice our rights and liberties in the name of respect to the majority is tantamount to bullying,” he said.

He added that PAS cannot rule the country based on the sentiments or emotions of a few aggressive intolerant leaders who are out to be heroes in their communities.

“What if this Muslim neighbourhood decides to chase out non-Muslims from the neighbourhood one day? What about the right, liberties and sentiments and feelings of non-Muslims?”

Ti said Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu should advise his Pakatan partners (PAS leaders) to concentrate on their dakwah activities and not impose additional restrictions or prohibitions on others.

MCA slams PAS for infringing rights of non-Muslims

MCA slams PAS for infringing rights of non-Muslims
Karen Arukesamy

PETALING JAYA (Aug 6, 2009): MCA today hit out at PAS’s outcry and use of "Muslim sentiments" on the "brewing beer conflict" in the Pakatan Rakyat-ruled Selangor and for infringing on the rights of non-Muslims.

Dr Hasan Ali

Its central committee member and non-governmental organisation liaison bureau chairman Datuk Ti Lian Ker said in a statement yesterday Selangor PAS’s proposed guidelines regulating beer sales be made in tandem with the Syariah Enactment (Selangor) 1995 is "flawed and bad in law".

In calling for a blanket ban on beer sales in Muslim-majority areas, he said: "PAS is effectively extending syariah laws onto non-Muslims on the pretext of Muslim sentiments.

"We are ruled by law and not sentiments based on race or religion. PAS cannot in effect extend the provisions of the Muslim enactment and impose it on non-Muslims," said Ti.

Referring to the civil law for non-Muslims, he said it clearly allows non-Muslims to buy and sell beer in cans and bottles without any restrictions or licence.

"If PAS cannot respect an express provision of the law, how can we ever trust PAS to rule the nation and be fair to non-Muslims? How can DAP falsely assure the community into voting for PAS?" asked Ti.

He said enforcement officers cannot act based on the sentiments of a Muslim-dominated neighbourhood.

He also slammed Selangor executive councillor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali for his statement on Tuesday asking non-Muslims to travel outside Muslim majority areas to buy beer and blamed Barisan Nasional for failure of such implementation.

An MBSA officer confisticating the beer cans and bottles in a 7Eleven outlet in Section 8, Shah Alam.

"PAS, as usual, is one up against Umno when it comes to showing their arrogance and non-tolerance in absolute disrespect of the rights of non-Muslims rights as provided by the law," said Ti.

He said Hasan’s arguments that non-Muslims have to drive further away to buy beer "is retarded and discards the existence of DAP as a political partner".

"(Selangor executive councillor) Ronnie Liu should advise Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners, PAS leaders, to concentrate on the dakwah activities and not impose prohibitions and penalties on non-Muslims," he said.

On Tuesday, Hasan had urged Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to impose the beer ban in Muslim-majority areas in Selangor and called for Liu’s portfolio be reviewed after accusing him of "interfering" in local council enforcements on the sale of beer .

The controversy had resulted in a gag order by Khalid on all the state excos until today when he will announce a solution for the problem.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, when contacted, said he would issue a statement later on the matter.

Teach secondary students Maths and Science in English

Friday July 17, 2009

MCA man: Teach secondary students Maths and Science in English

By SIMON KHOO

KUANTAN: An MCA leader here has called on the Government to consider a more liberal approach by allowing a two-tier system pertaining to teaching of Science and Mathematics in English.

MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker said teaching of the two subjects in secondary schools should be maintained in English.

He said at the primary level, schools should be given a choice based on the local demand or needs of the local market.

“I am of the opinion that we must provide diversity. After all, education is everything.

“There must be different approaches and choices for Malaysians,” he said here recently.

Earlier this month, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the two subjects would be taught in Bahasa Malaysia from 2012.

In Chinese national-type primary schools, Maths and Science will be taught solely in Chinese and no longer bilingually as has been the practice since 2003. Tamil schools will revert to the mother tongue as the medium of instruction instead of English.

Ti said the educational system must be liberated in tandem with the 1Malaysia concept mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He added that he had received numerous complaints about the command of English among Malaysian undergraduates studying locally and abroad.

He said their weakness in the English language had resulted in the overall drop in the prestige of local universities and a poor perception of the country’s education system.

“Our local undergraduates studying abroad, by and large, have a lot of catching up to do.

“They have to put in more effort and time for their studies compared to others as a result of language deficiency,” he said.

Prior to the announcement, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and his executive councillors had also expressed their support for the two subjects to be taught in English.

“The policy should be continued for the benefit of the people.

“Although there are some weaknesses in the implementation, the policy has achieved its objectives and brought about positive development.

“We must be aware of the need to learn and master more languages, particularly English to compete with the world,” Adnan was quoted as saying.

Proposed TNB transmitter tower to be moved

Tuesday June 9, 2009

TNB transmitter tower to be moved

By SIMON KHOO

KUANTAN: Residents in Lorong Kubang Buaya 77 here have succeeded in persuading a utility company to relocate plans to build a main power transmitter in the neighbourhood.

The decision came about after an emotionally-charged dialogue between representatives of Tenaga Nasional Bhd and the residents recently.

Special assistant to the Mentri Besar and former Teruntum assemblyman Datuk Ti Lian Ker stepped in as the mediator. Also present were officials from the Kuantan Municipal Council and state Economic Planning Unit.

When met later, Ti said TNB had earlier proposed to set up a transmitter tower with the capacity of 132kW /33kW in the neighbourhood.

The utility company claimed the project was a necessity and the exercise was also carried out in parts of the Klang Valley.

“However, residents here are all up in arms against the proposal; citing their comfort and sense of security are put at risk.

“They had spent their lifetime savings to buy a bungalow lot in the area and there was no such proposal made known to them earlier,” he said, adding that the residents also took the local council to task for approving the project without consulting them.

Ti said after much discussions, the utility company decided to give in and source for an alternative site.

He urged TNB to respect the wishes of the residents as there was no guarantee of any untoward incident in case of a power surge or lightning occurring.

A resident Datuk Dr Harban Singh said they strongly objected to the proposal due to health and potential fire hazard.

Dr Harban said the residents were also prepared to file a case in court and bring the matter up to the higher authorities should the project be carried out.

Another resident Alex Tay said he had a personal experience when a TNB lamp post caught fire due to lightning recently.

“Some of my home appliances were damaged and the proposed site is just too close for comfort,” he said, adding that the project was just directly behind his house.

Kempen Kesedaran Penyakit A H1N1

Kanan ke kiri (Laow Weng Choon, Timbalan Pengerusi MCA Ktn, Encik Chai Guru Besar SRJKC Chung Ching, Datin Tai, Chin Meow, Lee Weng Hui Chief Editor China Press, Andy Chiew Ahli Majlis MPK, En. Toh )


murid-murid seluruh daerah kuantan


bersama murid sekolah di SRJK(C) Chung Ching