Ahad, 5 Januari 2014

Anak Muda Kampung Nak Senang

Anak Muda Kampung Nak Senang


Apa agaknya komen Mufti Perak terhadap anak Tun Dr Mahathir nanti?

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 08:49 PM PST


Najib patut umum batalkan PLKN sebagai langkah berjimat cermat

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:37 PM PST


Kerajaan telah membelanjakan sebanyak RM 4.36 bilion untuk melahirkan 629,052 pelatih PLKN. Dengan RM 4.36 bilion juga sepatutnya boleh menampung kos pembiayaan pinjaman PTPTN untuk pelajar ijazah pertama di IPTA selama setahun kepada seramai 670,769 orang mahasiswa serta mahasiswi.

Lagi berita kes gaduh, rusuhan, melahirkan anak luar nikah, keracunan makanan di PLKN di http://beritaplkn.blogspot.com

Dua kem PLKN tak patuh syarat ditutup
5 Jan 2014
Kota Kinabalu: Dua daripada 81 kem Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) iaitu Kem Muadzam Shah di Pahang dan Kem Marang di Terengganu ditutup pada sesi pengambilan pelatih Kumpulan Pertama Siri 11/2014 yang bermula semalam.

Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, berkata penutupan itu dilakukan selepas Jabatan Latihan Khidmat Negara (JLKN) mendapati kedua-dua kem gagal memenuhi syarat keselamatan dan keperluan infrastruktur yang ditetapkan.

RELA pun macam pengawal keselamatan, ada yang jadi perompak

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 04:36 PM PST


DUA ANGGOTA RELA SASPEK CUBA PECAH MASUK RUMAH TIMBALAN MENTERI DALAM NEGERI
5 Jan 2014

KUCHING – Dua anggota Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Rela) merupakan antara tiga suspek yang ditahan polis petang semalam berhubung kes cubaan memecah masuk rumah Timbalan Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar baru-baru ini.

"Siasatan awal mendapati suspek pertama berusia 34 tahun mempunyai 12 rekod jenayah lampau manakala suspek kedua memiliki dua rekod jenayah.

"Kedua-dua suspek ini juga merupakan anggota Rela yang ditugaskan untuk mengawal keselamatan di kediaman tersebut," katanya ketika dihubungi Kosmo Ahad! di sini semalam.

ANGGOTA RELA DIDAKWA MEROMPAK WARGA ASING
22 Okt 2013

SEREMBAN - Seorang anggota Pasukan Sukarelawan Malaysia (Rela) dan dua adik iparnya didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen Seremban dekat sini hari ini atas dua tuduhan merompak dua lelaki warga asing di sebuah rumah kongsi, minggu lalu. Md. Lisam Md. Razali, 34, bersama Emir Yusran Abdul Jabar, 22, dan adiknya, Muhamad Lut Bosni, 21, masing-masing mengaku tidak bersalah selepas pertuduhan dibacakan kepada mereka di hadapan Hakim Datuk Anita Harun.

Mengikut pertuduhan, ketiga-tiga mereka yang bersenjatakan kayu besbol, cota besi dan sepasang gari didakwa merompak wang tunai RM1,000 daripada seorang lelaki warga Indonesia yang hanya dikenali sebagai Tutik. Mereka didakwa melakukan perbuatan itu di sebuah rumah kongsi di sebuah ladang di Batu 4, Jalan Labu, Nilai dekat sini kira-kira pukul 11 malam, 14 Oktober lalu.


Konstabel polis didakwa rompak pelajar

Posted: 03 Jan 2014 06:09 PM PST


4 Jan 2014 KUALA LUMPUR: Tiga lelaki termasuk seorang konstabel polis mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen, di sini, hari ini, terhadap pertuduhan melakukan rompakan berkumpulan terhadap seorang pelajar kolej, Disember lalu.

Konstabel Md Harris Abd Rashid, Azly Abd Aziz dan Rozali Ahmad bersama-sama
tiga lagi yang masih bebas didakwa merompak satu unit telefon bimbit jenis iPhone 5 milik Farith Rayyen Akop, 19, di sebuah bilik hotel di Jalan Cheras, di sini, pada 12.45 tengah malam, 25 Disember lalu.

- Bernama

Siapa lagi bijak dan jimat kos, ibu tunggal atau Mahathir?

Posted: 03 Jan 2014 01:38 AM PST




Tun M syor cara atasi banjir
3 Januari 2014

Bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad mencadangkan agar tingkat satu bangunan dan rumah ditinggikan untuk mencegah dilanda banjir. Bagi mengelak kenderaan ditenggelami air pada musim monsun, Dr Mahathir mencadangkan agar tanjakan dibina bagi membolehkan kenderaan naik hingga ke tingkat satu.
  
Ibu tunggal bina rumah rakit hadapi banjir
6 Disember 2013

JERANTUT - Seorang ibu tunggal dari Kampung Paya Garuk sanggup menghabiskan RM4,000 untuk membina sebuah rumah rakit bagi menempatkan barangan dan harta benda daripada ditenggelami air setiap kali musim banjir tiba. Hanisah Mat Sarif, 45, berkata, dia membina rumah rakit itu sejak tahun 2005 bagi persediaan awal untuk menghadapi banjir yang berlaku di kampung mereka.

Pelajar rambut punk serang guru dengan kerambit

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 11:32 PM PST

Sepatutnya pelajar punk, remaja punk dikawal seperti mana di Indonesia, dimana kumpulan punk ini tidak diberi muka langsung. Polis Indonesia tangkap remaja punk dan potong rambut mereka. Ini tidak, macam-macam fatwa dan fitnah dilemparkan terhadap peserta perhimpunan aman TURUN tanpa gaya rambut punk.

Pelajar rambut punk serang guru dengan kerambit
3 Jan 2014

Kuala Perlis: Seorang pelajar Tingkatan Lima menjadi buruan polis, selepas mencederakan muka guru dengan kerambit, hanya kerana berang ditegur sebab hadir dengan gaya rambut punk pada hari pertama persekolahan, semalam.

Kejadian bermula jam 7 pagi semalam, ketika guru berusia 50 tahun itu mengawasi kehadiran di pintu Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Kuala Perlis, sebelum menegur gaya rambut punk berwarna pelajar terbabit kerana menyalahi peraturan.


Pembeli Rokok Halal Tidak Akan Didenda

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 07:53 PM PST




Pembeli Rokok Haram Berdepan Denda, Hukuman Penjara
Jumaat Januari 3, 2014

Pindaan kepada Peraturan-Peraturan Kawalan Hasil Tembakau 2004 di bawah Akta Makanan 1983 menetapkan bahawa bukan hanya menjual rokok dalam paket yang tidak mempunyai amaran kesihatan kerajaan dan gambar yang menyalahi undang-undang, tetapi membelinya juga menyalahi undang-undang.

Di bawah pindaan yang diwartakan pada Jun lepas, pembeli adalah sama seperti penjual yang mana mereka boleh dikenakan denda maksimum RM10,000, penjara sehingga dua tahun, atau kedua-duanya.

Difahamkan peruntukan baru ini bertujuan untuk membanteras kegiatan penyeludupan rokok haram ke negara ini.

Berdialog dengan gereja bersama Dr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 07:02 PM PST




Berdialog dengan gereja bersama Dr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa
Tarikh: 6/1/2014 (Isnin)
Tempat: Thoyyib Cafe, Nilai, N.Sembilan (berhampiran Alson Klana dan Bank Islam Nilai)
Masa: 5 hingga 7 petang

Anjuran: Mahasiswa Progresif (Sispro)

Bekalan kurang, harga ikan naik

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 03:16 PM PST


3 Jan 2014

Harga ikan kembung di Kedah meningkat sehingga 50 peratus dan bekalan kurang di pasaran sejak tiga minggu lepas.

Tinjauan di beberapa pasar di bandar raya tersebut dan Kuala Kedah mendapati, ikan kembung yang biasa dijual di bawah RM8 sekilogram kini dijual antara RM10 hingga RM12 sekilogram.

- KOSMO

Bot sampah Terengganu RM300,000, Melaka cuma RM20,000

Posted: 01 Jan 2014 11:34 PM PST




Macamana kerajaan negeri Terengganu beli bot untuk kutip sampah berharga lebih RM300,000 sebuah sedangkan Melaka boleh buat dengan harga RM20,000 sebuah?

PPSPM cipta bot kutip sampah
2 Januari 2014

Perbadanan Pembangunan Sungai dan Pantai Melaka (PPSPM) memperkenalkan kaedah terbaik mengatasi masalah sampah sepanjang Sungai Melaka bagi menggantikan kaedah konvensional yang digunakan sejak hampir tujuh tahun lalu.

Pengurus besarnya, Datuk Baharom Majid berkata, "Kos pembinaannya tidak sampai RM20,000 dan ia cuma dikendalikan oleh dua kakitangan sekali gus dapat menjimatkan masa serta belanja pengurusan sehingga 50 peratus," katanya dalam sidang media, semalam.

Bot Sampah Bersih Sungai
26 Februari 2010

Kerajaan negeri akan mengadakan perkhidmatan bot sampah bagi membersih dan mengutip sampah yang terdapat di dalam sungai di negeri ini. Pengerusi Jawataankuasa Perindustrian, Perdagangan dan Alam Sekitar negeri, YB Toh Chin Yaw berkata, kertas kerja cadangan membeli bot beserta peralatan telah disiapkan.

"Sebagai permulaan, kita mencadangkan untuk membeli dua buah bot dengan kos lebih RM300,000 sebuah," katanya kepada pemberita pada majlis Penyerahan Peralatan dan Pengawasan Kualiti Air di bawah program satu sungai satu DUN (Dewan Undangan Negeri) di Wisma Darul Iman hari ini (23 Februari).

Melaka cipta bot kutip sampah untuk bersihkan sungai

Posted: 01 Jan 2014 11:15 PM PST


Jabatan kerajaan perlu lebih kreatif seperti PPSPM. Buat sendiri bot ni baru RM20,000. Agaknya kalau bot ini diimpot dan ditenderkan termasuk komisyen mungkin harga bot ini boleh sampai RM200,000 sebuah atau mungkin lebih lagi.

PPSPM cipta bot kutip sampah
2 Januari 2014

Perbadanan Pembangunan Sungai dan Pantai Melaka (PPSPM) memperkenalkan kaedah terbaik mengatasi masalah sampah sepanjang Sungai Melaka bagi menggantikan kaedah konvensional yang digunakan sejak hampir tujuh tahun lalu.

Pengurus besarnya, Datuk Baharom Majid berkata, kaedah itu yang menggunakan sebuah bot hasil ciptaan kakitangan PPSPM mampu memungut sampah lebih senang, cepat serta menjimatkan kos.

"Kos pembinaannya tidak sampai RM20,000 dan ia cuma dikendalikan oleh dua kakitangan sekali gus dapat menjimatkan masa serta belanja pengurusan sehingga 50 peratus," katanya dalam sidang media, semalam.


Warga Johor sahut seruan kerajaan untuk berjimat cermat

Posted: 01 Jan 2014 08:41 PM PST




Disamping dapat mengurangkan beban dengan mengguna kaedah teknologi hijau !

Kenapa Haji 1MDB perlu diberi kuota dan ditaja?

Posted: 01 Jan 2014 07:58 PM PST




Najib sepatutnya mengumumkan sebagai langkah penjimatan bermula tahun 2014 ini tiada lagi kuota dan tajaan haji 1MDB. Lebih baik 800 orang yang ditaja ini duitnya disalurkan kepada mereka yang memerlukan dan terjejas dengan kos sara hidup, tarif elektrik, minyak yang naik. Beratus ribu rakyat Malaysia yang menunggu nak pergi haji dengan duit sendiri tetapi tiada kuota !

800 LAGI CALON PROGRAM KHAS HAJI TAJAAN 1MDB TERIMA SURAT TAWARAN

PUTRAJAYA - Seramai 800 orang terdiri daripada imam, ketua kampung dan pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK) hari ini menerima surat tawaran menunaikan fardu haji 1434H/2013 tajaan Yayasan 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Majlis penyerahan surat tawaran itu disempurnakan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak.

Beliau berkata ini merupakan kemudahan yang diberikan kerajaan kerana mereka yang terpilih turut diberikan elaun serta satu majlis juga akan diadakan sebelum mereka berlepas ke tanah suci.

Tukar pegawai tak selesai masalah rasuah, patutnya solat jemaah

Posted: 01 Jan 2014 07:28 PM PST




Macam-macam pendekatan dilakukan oleh kerajaan untuk menangani rasuah terutama di kalangan kakitangan kerajaan khususnya polis, kastam dan imigresen. Dulu BPR , kini SPRM, juga tak selesai masalah. Apa kata pastikan semua polis, kastam, imigresen tunaikan solat yang wajib, diimamkan oleh ketua masing-masing. Hanya solat yang mampu mencegah fahsya dan munkar termasuklah rasuah !

Tukar pegawai kastam lebih kerap
2 Jan 2014

Bagi mengelak pegawai dan anggotanya bersekongkol dengan sindiket penyeludupan dadah, Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia (JKDM) akan melakukan pertukaran penugasan mereka lebih kerap pada masa depan.

Ketua Pengarahnya, Datuk Seri Khazali Ahmad berkata, langkah itu bagi mengelakkan pegawai dan anggotanya terdedah untuk menerima tawaran anggota sindiket.

"Penahanan empat pegawai penguat kuasa JKDM (baru-baru ini) kerana disyaki terlibat dalam dua sindiket penyeludupan dadah antarabangsa, antara kes yang kita terlepas pandang kerana modus operandi yang sindiket gunakan.

Pantai Port Dickson , antara maksiat dan banyaknya jin di sini

Posted: 01 Jan 2014 05:01 PM PST



Wanita mengilai jam 4 pagi

2 Jan 2013 - Port Dickson : "Lepaskan saya, saya nak menari, jangan pegang saya… tolonglah," kata seorang wanita berusia awal 20-an yang secara tiba-tiba diserang histeria ketika tidur di dalam sebuah khemah di Batu 4, Jalan Pantai, di sini, awal pagi semalam.

Wanita terbabit yang mengikut teman lelakinya menyertai Pertandingan Bola Sepak Pantai Sepanjang Malam anjuran Majlis Perbandaran Port Dickson (MPPD), mengejutkan orang ramai yang menyaksikan perlawanan itu apabila diserang histeria dan menari 'ulik mayang' pada jam 4 pagi.

Wanita berkenaan yang kemudian meraung sekuat hati dan berlari seperti mengejar sesuatu menyebabkan perlawanan terhenti seketika dan beberapa pengunjung terpaksa menenangkan wanita itu.

Saksi kejadian, Yusri Hassan, 35, berkata, sebelum kejadian dia sedang menyaksikan perlawanan bola sepak yang diadakan sempena sambutan tahun baru 2014.


50 anggota JPAM kena rasuk

11 Nov 2013 -  Port Dickson: Persembahan kuda kepang dan ulik mayang, dipercayai antara punca hampir 50 anggota Jabatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia (JPAM) mengalami histeria di kawasan perkhemahan dekat Jalan Pantai di sini, malam kelmarin.

Orang Islam walaupun tiada kerakyatan Malaysia patut dibantu

Posted: 01 Jan 2014 03:09 PM PST


Persaudaraan Islam tidak mengenal batasan kerakyatan. Umat Islam yang menetap di Malaysia walaupun belum atau tidak mendapat kerakyatan Malaysia sepatutnya dibantu sama adilnya dengan rakyat tempatan sekiranya mereka ini miskin, daif dan memerlukan bantuan.

Sehubungan dengan itu Pertubuhan Anak Muda Islam (AMIR) sedang menjejaki keluarga yang miskin dan daif di Rembau termasuk mereka yang bukan rakyat tempatan, lebih-lebih lagi dengan harga barang dan kos hidup yang semakin meningkat tahun 2014 ini.

AMIR telah menjejaki satu keluarga miskin yang mempunyai 3 orang anak yang tidak bersekolah kerana tiada kerakyatan di DUN Kota yang memerlukan bantuan. Juga terdapat ibu tunggal dengan empat orang anak yang memerlukan bantuan kita.

Mereka yang ingin menyumbang sila salurkan ke akaun CIMB : 05010004140204 Muhammad Allif (Presiden AMIR)

Untuk PM atau maklumat lanjut di www.facebook.com/mynameispaan

Remaja mati akibat kencing tikus, tempat rekreasi kotor, lampin bayi dibuang merata-rata

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:28 AM PST


Teenage boy dies of leptospirosis after visiting recreational area

NST - 30 Dec 2013 : A teenage boy was believed to have died of leptospirosis on Dec 25 after visiting the Sungai Kedondong Recreational Centre in Hulu Selangor on Dec 14 and 15. The victim's five other friends, who were also suspected to have contracted the disease, have been treated at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Jemaah, Sabak Bernam, and are currently healthy.

Selangor Health Department director Dr Azman Abu Bakar said the department had issued an order to close the centre on Dec 26 as a prevention and control measure following the death of the teenager.

"The place where they showered was a risk for leptospirosis infections as there was stagnant water and rubbish left behind by visitors in the area.


Bom dah dapat, saspek dah ditangkap !

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:39 PM PST




Sekarang rakyat nak tahu siapa saspek tersebut ! Siapa dalang disebalik saspek tersebut ! Ada ke mana-mana penganjur perhimpunan tahu nak buat bom canggih macam ni ?

Generasi lama Adat Perpatih yang ego, tidak bijak perlu letak jawatan

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:03 PM PST




Setelah beberapa kurun adat perpatih ini diamalkan di Negeri Sembilan, kini ia semakin dilupakan terutama generasi baru yang lahir sekitar tahun 60-an ke atas. Rata-rata anak watan Negeri Sembilan kini tidak memahami adat perpatih, inti pati dan pengajarannya secara mendalam.

Mereka tidak tahu suku, pemimpin adat masing-masing apatah lagi perjalanan adatnya.

Anak muda tidak ditarik untuk memahami adat perpatih malah generasi lama selalu menganggap adat perpatih adalah hak mereka sahaja, hingga timbul istilah siapa dahulu makan garam, menurut Pensyarah Kanan, Jabatan Bahasa dan Kesusasteraan Melayu, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Prof Madya Datuk Paduka Dr Rosli Saludin.

Ujar pengkaji sejarah Negeri Sembilan itu, pendapat dan pandangan generasi muda mengenai adat perpatih sering dipinggirkan.

Malah anak muda yang mula berminat kepada adat perpatih dianggap cabaran bagi mereka yang lama hingga timbul suara-suara nakal yang menyatakan anak muda itu ingin merampas jawatan.

"Golongan cerdik pandai dalam kalangan anak muda memang sudah terpinggir kerana dibimbangi mereka ini akan banyak cakap dan sering bertanya kepada kepimpinan adat.

Ujarnya sangat penting membuang ego generasi lama dan baru bagi mencari titik persamaan dan apabila sudah ada titik persamaan itu, baharulah boleh duduk semeja berbincang.

Selain itu, sudah tiba masanya kerajaan Negeri Sembilan menubuhkan Akademi Adat atau Institut Adat atau Yayasan Adat dalam bentuk yang serius dan tidak ada kepentingan peribadi di dalamnya.

"Kita perlu hidupkan semula idea Datuk Undang Abdullah Dahan dari Rembau yang mahukan semua kepimpinan adat ada ilmu setinggi yang boleh. Jika mereka dilantik jadi pemimpin adat perlu amanah dan jalankan tugas dengan baik.

"Jika bermasalah perlulah letak jawatan dan diganti dengan yang baharu," katanya pendidikan adat perpatih juga perlu dijadikan subjek tambahan di peringkat sekolah rendah dan menengah di negeri ini.

PM umum 11 langkah penjimatan sektor awam

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 07:35 PM PST




31 Dis 2013

Kuala Lumpur: Datuk Seri Najib Razak mengumumkan pelaksanaan 11 langkah bagi mengurangkan perbelanjaan sektor awam, berkuat kuasa esok.

Langkah berkenaan ialah:

1. Pengurangan 10 peratus elaun keraian menteri

2. Pengurangan lima peratus kos utiliti elektrik di semua kementerian

3. Pengurangan RM50 hingga RM100 atau 30 peratus kemudahan bayaran tol bagi pegawai kanan kerajaan (Gred JUSA C ke atas).

4. Pembekuan permohonan baru bagi pengubahsuaian ruang pejabat kementerian, jabatan, agensi dan premis kerajaan.

5. Mengetatkan pelantikan juru perunding untuk projek fizikal kerajaan

6. Pengurangan penggunaan syarikat pengurusan acara dan pemberian cenderamata

7. Pindaan kelayakan tiket penerbangan domestik dan antarabangsa.

8. Mengurangkan penyediaan makanan dan minuman semasa penganjuran persidangan

9. Pengurangan penggunaan kain pemidang bagi penganjuran persidangan

10.  Mengoptimum penggunaan ruang pejabat sedia ada untuk mengurangkan sewaan premis.

11.    Mengguna pakai pendekatan Strategi Lautan Biru Kebangsaan (NBOS) dengan mengoptimumkan penggunaan Pusat Latihan 1Malaysia (1MTC)

YURAN PIBG SESI 2014 BELUM BOLEH DIKUTIP !

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 04:29 PM PST



Untuk makluman yuran PIBG 2014 belum boleh dibayar dan dikutip. Yuran PIBG 2014 hanya boleh dikutip setelah selesai persetujuan Mesyuarat Agung 2014 dan diluluskan pihak Jabatan Pendidikan. Mana-mana sekolah yang dah kutip Yuran PIBG 2014 telah melakukan satu kesalahan dan boleh didakwa di mahkamah dan pendaftaran PIBG tersebut boleh dibatalkan oleh ROS. PIBG Sekolah yang dah kutip sila pulangkan semula kepada ibu bapa.

Yuran khas perlu dipersetujui PIBG
31 Dis 2013

Semua pentadbir sekolah perlu mendapatkan persetujuan ibu bapa, sebelum membuat sebarang kutipan bayaran tambahan yuran khas bagi sesi persekolahan baru yang bermula esok dan lusa.

Timbalan Menteri Pendidikan II, P Kamalanathan, berkata yuran tambahan khas itu tidak termaktub dalam pekeliling diedarkan kementerian kepada Jabatan Pendidikan seluruh negara.

"Setiap urusan pembayaran yuran tambahan perlu mendapat persetujuan ibu bapa dan Jabatan Pendidikan, sebelum pentadbiran sekolah boleh mengutipnya daripada pelajar masing-masing.

"Berdasarkan prosedur sedia ada, yuran tambahan itu perlu diluluskan mesyuarat Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru (PIBG) dan kemudian dimajukan kepada jabatan untuk kelulusan sebelum boleh dikutip daripada setiap pelajar," katanya.

TMM 2014 Tidak Akan Terjejas Dengan Perhimpunan Haram

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 01:38 AM PST


30 Dis 2013 :  Menteri Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz yakin Tahun Melawat Malaysia (TMM) 2014 tidak akan terjejas dengan perhimpunan haram yang dirancang diadakan di Dataran Merdeka di sini malam Selasa.

Beliau berkata ini kerana kebanyakan pelancong asing telah mengenali budaya negara ini dan mempunyai pandangan serta pemikiran positif terhadap Malaysia.


Sambutan Tahun Baru di N.Sembilan tiada doa selamat, hanya konsert

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 11:39 PM PST




SAMBUTAN AMBANG TAHUN BARU 2014
Tarikh : 31 Disember 2013 (Selasa).
Masa : 8.30 malam.
Tempat : Mini Stadium Kuala Klawang, Jelebu, N.Sembilan

Atur cara
6.00 petang : Persembahan band The Braderhood dari CCRC Jelebu.
                    : Pertandingan karaoke.
9.00 malam : Ucapan aluan YB Dato Haji Yunus Bin Rahmat.
                    : Ucapan YB Dato Haji Jalaluddin Bin Haji Alias.
                    : Ceramah GST.
                    : Persembahan band.
12.00 malam: Persembahan bunga api.
12.30 malam: Bersurai.
           

TENGOK MAHARAJA LAWAK, KONSERT TAK BUANG MASA?

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 10:56 PM PST




Himpunan jalanan hanya buang masa, tenaga - Ahmad Shabery
30 Dis 2013

Menteri Penerangan Komunikasi dan Multimedia, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek berkata rancangan untuk menghimpun rakyat untuk berarak di jalanan pada malam 31 Disember ini adalah satu perbuatan yang sia-sia serta membuang masa dan tenaga.

Beliau berkata adalah lebih baik masa dan tenaga itu digunakan untuk membantu mangsa banjir di beberapa negeri baru-baru ini kerana ia lebih berfaedah daripada membuat bantahan di jalanan.

http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/Himpunanjalananhanyabuangmasa_tenaga-AhmadShabery/Article/?bh

Kenderaan bomba perlu dikecualikan tol

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 08:28 PM PST




Kesatuan Pekerja Bomba dan Penyelamat Semenanjung Malaysia (KPBPSM) memberi tempoh 14 hari kepada syarikat pengendali Lebuh Raya Utara Selatan, PLUS Expressways Berhad (PLUS) untuk mengecualikan bayaran tol kepada semua kenderaan rasmi Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat.

Jika tiada tindakan diambil, kesatuan tersebut akan menggunakan Lebuh Raya Persekutuan sahaja dan berhenti daripada menggunakan Lebuhraya PLUS jika berlaku kecemasan.

Malah pihak kesatuan juga merancang mahu mengenakan caj tertentu kepada PLUS sekiranya khidmat mereka diperlukan pada musim perayaan.

"Sejak September lalu, PLUS hanya mengecualikan bayaran tol kepada kenderaan JBPM yang bertugas dalam keadaan kecemasan tetapi tetap mengenakan tol bagi kenderaan lain jabatan walaupun ketika tugasan rasmi.

"Saya hairan mengapa PLUS berkira sangat dalam pembayaran tol sedangkan lebuh raya lain tidak mengenakan sebarang tol"

"Jangan salahkan kita kalau terjadi apa-apa jika kenderaan bomba tidak memasuki PLUS walaupun ketika kecemasan," katanya.

Sementara itu, Mohd. Sayuthi berkata, pihaknya menerima banyak rungutan daripada anggota bawahan yang terpaksa menggunakan wang sendiri untuk membayar tol bagi tugas rasmi.

Sabtu, 4 Januari 2014

Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim


Islam tidak ajar ganggu tempat ibadat agama lain, kata bekas Mufti

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 02:38 AM PST

TMI

Bekas Mufti Perlis Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (gambar) menegaskan agama Islam tidak mengajar penganutnya untuk mengganggu tempat ibadat penganut agama lain.

Dr Mohd Asri, 42, yang dihubungi The Malaysian Insider bagi memberikan komen mengenai kontroversi serbuan Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais) serta rancangan berdemo di gereja Selangor, berkata walaupun semasa perang pun agama Islam melarang umatnya daripada menyentuh rumah ibadat.

“Dalam agama Islam, hatta dalam masa perang pun, orang yang sedang beribadat pun tidak boleh diganggu… inikan masa aman kenapa pula perlu diganggu?” kata Dr Mohd Asri.

Tengahari semalam, Jais menyerbu pejabat Persatuan Bible Malaysia (BSM) di Damansara Kim dan merampas kira-kira 320 Bible berbahasa Melayu dan Iban.

Dua pegawai BSM iaitu pengerusinya Lee Min Choon dan Sinclair Wong diarahkan ke Balai Polis Damansara untuk diambil keterangan mereka dan hanya dilepaskan dua jam kemudian.

Dalam pada itu, Umno Selangor juga telah mendesak Pengarang Herald, Paderi Lawrence Andrew, menarik balik kenyataannya yang tetap mahu menggunakan kalimah Allah di semua gereja di Selangor.

Umno Selangor juga merancang untuk mengadakan demonstrasi di hadapan pejabat Lawrence di Klang pada Ahad ini sekiranya tidak tunduk kepada desakan mereka.

Ketua Umno Shah Alam, Azhari Shaari berkata kenyataan paderi itu bertentangan dengan enakmen syariah negeri malah ia juga melanggar titah Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, yang melarang penggunaan kalimah Allah oleh orang bukan Islam di negeri itu.

Dr Mohd Asri menyifatkan rancangan tersebut bukanlah berlandaskan ajaran Islam bahkan tidak mengajar penganutnya menyentuh mana-mana rumah ibadat bukan Islam.

“Agama Islam tidak pernah ajar penganutnya berbuat perkara-perkara begini, tempat-tempat ibadat Islam ajar supaya tidak sentuh.

“Apa yang mereka lakukan tersebut bukan berlandaskan ajaran Islam,” tambah Dr Mohd Asri lagi.

“Jangan sentuh tempat ibadat bukan Islam.”

Dalam pada itu, Ahli Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa juga menggesa Putrajaya halang badan Islam keruhkan hubungan antara agama susulan kontroversi terbaru yang tercetus di Selangor baru-baru ini.

Beliau menyeru kerajaan merujuk Majlis Perundingan Perpaduan Kebangsaan yang ditubuhkan Kabinet baru-baru ini, yang dijangka mengadakan mesyuarat mengenai kontroversi penggunaan kalimah Allah pada Isnin depan.

Mujahid, yang turut dilantik Putrajaya sebagai ahli panel majlis tersebut, berkata insiden hari ini perlu dibincang pada mesyuarat itu.

Jelas beliau, badan agama Islam tidak harus bertindak oleh kerana isu penggunaan kalimah Allah masih dibicarakan di mahkamah.

Journos brave rain to demand media freedom

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 02:30 AM PST

Malaysiakini

A group of journalists, media practitioners and activists braved the rain today to demand the Home Ministry withdraw its suspension of news weekly The Heat.

Dubbed the ‘Red Pencil Protest’, some 200 protesters clad in red assembled at Market Square adjacent to Jalan Leboh Pasar in Kuala Lumpur ar 2pm under unforgiving weather.

The protest was organised by Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm), a loose coalition of journalists in response to The Heat’s suspension following reports critical of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s spending habits.

The Home Minister denied that the said report was the reason for suspension, instead blaming it vaguely on the news weekly failing to abide by its publishing permit.

Geramm had rubbished the explanation, pointing out the same reason had been used to silence other publications in the past.

During the protest, participants snapped red pencils as a symbolic gesture of media freedom being under attack.

“The red pencil represents journalists who were injured (in the past, by the authorities) and a culture of control by the powers that be.

“Listen to the breaking sound. That is the suffering of journalists and the media when it is ‘broken’, as how they were treated violently during the Bersih rally in 2012," said Geramm spokesperson Fathi Aris Omar (above, with microphone), who is also Malaysiakini chief editor.

During Bersih 2.0 protest in 2012, at least 11 media personnel were assaulted by police and one was beaten up by unidentified individuals at the rally. The responsible parties were never apprehended till today.

Egypt: 2013 in review

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 02:28 AM PST

Patrick Galey

N.B. This is not an attempt at an exhaustive run down of everything that happened in Egypt in 2013. Firstly, that would take too long and, more importantly, people have already done that for you. Here. This is a run down of memorable moments from 2013 that I had a hand in covering. 

Egypt's annus horribilis started poorly and got worse. It was the year the popular revolution asking for bread, freedom and social justice was finally squished under the boots of the military, the year liberals showed their true colours by openly supporting a military coup they knew full well would usher in a murderous phase of tyranny not seen since…well, since the military was last in power in Egypt. It was the year a boy was jailed for having a ruler; where a group of girls who had protested in Alexandria were jailed for 11 years. Even Bassem Youssef was banned.

2013 was the year the revolution died.

January

EGYPT-POLITICS-UNREST

At least 30 people are killed and hundreds are injured in clashes in Port Said and two Nile Delta cities following the sentencing to death of 21 football fans accused of killing Ahly supporters in the Port Said football massacre in 2012. Most of the deaths came after a group of relatives of defendants attempted to storm the city's main prison and torched police buildings.

Having been one of the first reporters on the scene in Port Said in the hours after the 2012 massacre, I can tell you that there was no quarter given to Ahly fans as they were butchered, shot and thrown from the bleachersby people who came from the Masry end of the ground. The police did less than nothing. It was a massacre – and it annoys me when it gets termed "clashes" or merely "violence." Anyway.

A day later, President Mohammed Morsi declares a state of emergency in three Suez Canal governorates and repeats his call for national dialogue with the National Salvation Front (the opposition that only knew how to boycott). It refuses. Morsi, during a televised speech, praises the efforts of the police and the armed forces.

February 

Destroying any lingering chance of boosting Egypt's dire tourism economy, a hot air balloon crashes in the southern town of Luxor, Upper Egypt, killing 19 people.

March

At least seven people are killed in sectarian violence between Coptic Christian and Muslim residents of the town of Al-Khosous, north of Cairo. A subsequent clash outside a funeral in Cairo kills at least another one.

April/May

Following pressure from opposition groups, Morsi announces nine new ministers in a cabinet shuffle that fails to assuage the wrath of liberal and Salafist parties. Their main criticism is that the reshuffle fails to demote Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim, whom Morsi installed at the start of the year. (That decision probably comes back to bite Morsi post-July. Don't read ahead or you'll spoil it).

June

Three days before a planned mass protest organised by a group called Tamarod (more on them later) Morsi, inanother televised speech, announces the formation of a cross-party committee to review his apparently universally unpopular 2012 constitution and pledges, among other things: 4bn EGP development of the Sinai, raising the minimum wage to 700 EGP and the distribution of ration cards for the very poor.

All of which, you'd think, sound like good ideas. But people have stopped listening by this point. The army-backed Tamarod – funded and accommodated by felul businessmen and advised by senior members of Mubarak's entourage - have grabbed the default sympathy of the liberal elite, who then proceed to claim (and preposterously are believed) that 30 million people marched against Morsi on June 30. I mean, you actually had normally sensible people repeat this. Credulously. (For people who prefer calculation to wild speculation, the maximum number of protesters you can fit in all Egypt's main squares at any one time – using simply algebra – is 2.8 million).

If only there was a way to reliably and democratically calculate the number of supporters and opponents a given individual or party has. Oh, yep. I remember: Elections! (Morsi and the MB won five of them. Tamarod and every other liberal/felul party combined? Zero). But, as you'll see throughout the last six months of 2013, people will tell you elections don't mean anything. They say so with a straight face and still claim to value democracy.

July

This photo was taken on Qasr al-Nile Bridge, Cairo, at the very moment people were saying that the July 3 overthrow of Mohammed Morsi, was not a coup.

This photo was taken on Qasr al-Nile Bridge, Cairo, at the very moment people were saying that the July 3 overthrow of Mohammed Morsi, was not a coup.

To precisely no one's surprise – especially the army-backed Tamarod – General Abdel Fatah al Sisi announces a coup, giving Morsi 48 hours to abdicate. Tanks roll through the street, state TV and media buildings are stormed by military police and the sitting president is placed under house arrest. Yet apparently it's not a coup. It's a "revolutionary moment."

In the ensuing hours, dozens of journalists are rounded up and arrested, Muslim Brotherhood members are hunted down on the streets (as some of more transparently felul "liberals" had fantasised about), arrest warrants are issued and Sisi and his SCAF return to unalloyed, unaccountable power. It's not long before the murders begin, as we knew they would, as some people tried to stop and many "influencers" goaded on.

You can read my full thoughts on this (and by thoughts, read "total disgust" here.

Pro-Morsi Supporters Killed In Shooting Incident Outside Presidential Guard Barracks

In the early hours of July 8, 51 Muslim Brotherhood supporters are shot dead by security forces outside the headquarters of the Republican Guards in Cairo. At the time, coup supporters were keen to frame this massacre as a provoked attack. Some of the more famous ones said the deaths were a Muslim Brotherhood publicity stunt(he went on to win a press freedom award, naturally). Anyway, the facts are the facts, and thanks to excellent investigative work by several, including The Guardian's Patrick Kingsley, the lie the liberals peddled was exposed. Security forces attacked with murderous force on unarmed protesters. And still, it wasn't a coup. (Some choicer pro-massacre tweets from liberals can be seen here, here and here).

Repeated massacres of civilian protesters then occur.

August

By now, hundreds of protesters have been shot dead on the streets by security forces. This doesn't stop US Secretary of State John Kerry from declaring, in spite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, that Egypt's army are restoring democracy. It must have been the part where the army forcibly overthrew Egypt's first democratically elected president, declared martial law and began the pogrom of any dissenters that made up Kerry's mind.

On August 14, and after goading from the liberal elites (comme toujours) the Egyptian army and police services disperse two pro-Morsi sit in protests at Nahda and Rabaa al-Adawiya squares in Cairo, killing at least 595 and as many as 2,600 civilian demonstrators.

Horrific accounts, photos and videos emerge of the worst single day of killing at the hands of security forces since the 2011 revolution.

rabaa1rabaa2

rabaa3You can read my reaction to the massacre everyone waited for here.

Dozens of churches were attacked, killing at least four people – acts many blamed on the Muslim Brotherhood directly. The massacre sparks further anti-coup protests and spawns perhaps the symbol of the anti-coup alliance, the raising of the four fingers (Rabaa meaning "four" in Arabic). And, of course, the coup government, being a little embarrassed about how much the world knows about all the people that it killed, cracks down on this freedom of expression, too.

One of Ahly's best players is banned and put up for sale after celebrating a goal with a four fingered salute. A school boy is arrested after the sign is found on one of his rulers. They even arrest his father. Who could make this up? This is post-coup Egypt, fortunately, so you don't have to.

footy

A few days later, 120 protesters were killed after being fired upon by security forces in Ramses Square, Cairo.

ramsesAnd, to add further insult to the murder of protesters who died standing up for their freedom from tyranny, and as if further proof that Tamarod/SCAF executed the counter-revolution, former President Hosni Mubarak isreleased from prison.

September

SPY DUCK! (And spy stork).

spystork

And, continuing the regime's bizarre anthropomorphic month, a man is arrested in Qena Province for naming his donkey Sisi.

October

More pro-Morsi demonstrations are brutally put down by Egyptian security services, with a single assault on another demonstration in Ramses Square killing 57.

And, proving that any "war on terror" is a self-fulfilling prophecy, Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim survives and assassination attempt that is immediately blamed on the Muslim Brotherhood (most of whom are arrested) and Morsi (who is in jail and appointed Ibrahim in the first place. Doesn't matter. Anything bad that happens in Egypt is now the fault of the Islamists. "It's just like the old days" I can hear the placated well-heeled "activists" of Zamalek purr.

November

Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's only democratically elected president sees a courtroom in a trial where he is accused of inciting the deaths of protesters outside the Presidential Palace last December, all of whom are supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood. Go figure.

Deciding it's tired of all the negative headlines (internationally, not in the press it controls, naturally) it gets from shooting endless protesters, the coup government decides it's actually far easier to be done with the whole protesting thing altogether and bans demonstrations without prior consent (which means it bans all protests that aren't staged shows of government support).

And to make absolutely sure people get the message (If you're liberal/secularists and you protest, we'll arrest you for the night; if you're an Islamist and you protest we will shoot you or wreck your life) a court in Alexandria sentences 14 girls to 11 years in prison (EACH) for handing out fliers in the Mediterranean city. Puppet President Adly Mansour, after severe international condemnation, issues a presidential pardon.

December

After the bombing of a security headquarters in Mansoura, which kills 16 police officers, the Muslim Brotherhood is designated a terrorist organisation, just as it was under Gamal Abdel Nasser and subsequent military dictatorships. This is despite the organisation condemning the attack and the attack being claimed by a totally unaffiliated group. Again, this doesn't matter: Sisi won 2013 and his gurning supporters cheered on his pogrom on the Islamists.

And, in the very manifestation of "when hell freezes over" snow fell in Cairo for the first time in 114 years.

snow

2013 is the year Mubarakism returned and the year the felul got back in the saddle. It was the year the liberals reverted to their natural state of supporting secular autocracy backed by murder and torture of political opposition. The year, basically, where the military and social elite who had had their noses put out of joint by successive Islamist election wins decided democracy wasn't ready for Egypt.

I hope everyone involved in the organisation, support, justification and explanation of 2013?s military coup and the orgy of murder, torture, arrest and intimidation it brought is proud of what they did this year. Because history certainly won't be.

Suara Sri Andalas

Suara Sri Andalas


Cleanliness a Problem in Selangor Hospitals

Posted: 03 Jan 2014 12:00 AM PST

The situation at some of our hospitals in Selangor is turning chaotic, not only in terms of the number of patient but now there seems to be a problem of cleanliness and rubbish collection.
 
It's been brought to my notice that in 2014, Radicare who has been contracted to clean all hospitals have cut manpower. From the usual 120 workers, it's now 20 only. This gives rise to dirty toilets and general uncleanliness in hospital wards. This goes to show how privatisation to crony companies is now affecting government agencies.
 
Hospitals are places where the sick go to, if even these institutions are not kept clean because companies are cutting down on manpower, it's high time to review the contract given to these companies. People's health and safety should come first and not monetary gain. We again called upon the government to review all contract given to private companies by the MOH, to cut cost and to become more efficient.

YB Dr Xavier Jayakumar
ADUN Seri Andalas

Selasa, 31 Disember 2013

Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim


In Putrajaya’s budget trim, a story of too little, too late

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 10:36 PM PST

TMI

After weeks of complaints about subsidy cuts in the face of higher government expenditure, Putrajaya finally conceded to an afterthought and decided to trim some allowances for ministers and government servants – a small sum that would be an insult to the rest of Malaysia.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced yesterday the 11 measures to curb government spending will start from tomorrow, ranging from trimming their entertainment budgets and travel allowances to catering expenses and electricity budgets. They will also freeze applications to renovate offices.

That’s about it.

Putrajaya’s back-of-napkin list to trim the fat is, to put it charitably, a shocking knee-jerk reaction to the angry voices that have filled his Facebook page, his twitter account and columns in online news portals.

Is this the best his pricey consultant can come up with after working out that the government needs to cut more subsidies to improve its finances and avert a credit-rating downgrade?

At the onset of the Asian currency crisis in 1997, the Mahathir administration took austerity measures and had a plan of action to balance subsidies and government spending.

The message was clear then: government ministers and civil servants will lead the way in cutting expenditure and be an example for the rest of the county to take the pain.

There was no preaching that people should learn to earn more and cut costs while government fat cats go about in motorcade convoys or foreign holiday trips, or have extravagant launches and events.

There was no talk that a lack of complaints in the official channels meant that people supported or understood the price hikes, which were delayed until after the general election.

The thing is, Barisan Nasional’s election manifesto promising, among others, efforts to reduce intra-city toll rates has gone the same way as its election campaign “Promises Fulfilled” tour – the dustbin of history.

The Najib administration’s move now is an afterthought: a concession to criticism that ordinary Malaysians have been asked to accept price increase and cuts in subsidy while ministers have been sheltered from any hardship.

It is shocking that any government did not think that the first step would be to cut costs and for leaders to set the example, rather than vice versa. Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been moved to say the same.

Putrajaya should have detailed an austerity drive to show how much fat can be trimmed and then ask the people to help take the pain and ride through the economic storm that no one talked about before the polls.

But Malaysians should not be surprised at the ineptitude of this government.

It seems so out of touch with the common people that it thinks cutting down on teatime curry puffs is a better solution than watching its budget on big-ticket items.

Putrajaya’s cuts a knee-jerk reaction to public anger, says PKR

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 10:33 PM PST

TMI

Putrajaya’s austerity measures is simply a knee-jerk reaction to the rakyat’s anger and does not actually touch on the major issues, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) said today.

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli (pic) said if Datuk Seri Najib Razak was serious about cutting costs, there were four simple measures which could be implemented that will help Putrajaya save billions of ringgit in taxpayer funds.

“Reducing the vehicle excise duty by 30% with the ultimate aim of doing away with the excise charges will help the rakyat… Hire purchase loans are one of the main burdens shouldered by the public and the reduction of excise duty will result in lower monthly repayments,” Rafizi said.

“Another simple way of cutting cost is to renegotiate the toll concession agreement with the concessionaires. They have already recouped the cost of building the expressway and there is no reason to increase toll rates.”

Rafizi said allocations for projects which gave ministers the room to spend without a clear objective should be cancelled. The same goes for the National Blue Ocean Strategy, which has an allocation of RM278 million in the 2014 Budget.

“Putrajaya should also freeze plans to privatise University Technology Mara (UiTM) campuses nationwide. The privatisation exercise will burden the public and the government as billions of ringgit will have to be paid in rent to the concession holders in the future.”

Rafizi said the four measures he had proposed were good examples of simple actions which Putrajaya could carry out if Najib really empathised and sympathised with the rakyat’s predicament.

Najib’s announcement yesterday was a knee-jerk reaction to the rakyat’s anger and not really an effective solution, he said.

“Reducing the entertainment allowance of ministers and deputy ministers by 10%, and that of senior government officers on the Jusa C Grade between 5% and 10% ,does not actually help plug the already existent wastage and leakages.”

Even if the cuts were carried out as Najib announced, Rafizi provided a calculation of the estimated savings, which amounted to RM600,000 annually. He said Najib only cut RM1,698 from his own entertainment allowance when his own allocation was RM6.8 billion.

“Najib was allocated RM6.8 billion for various projects and not a single cent has been reduced from that figure. It is this type of spending which has incurred the rakyat’s wrath as this is public funds which is going down the drain.”

Rafizi also said Najib's austerity measures such as reducing electricity usage gave the impression that Najib blamed government servants for his own failure in financial administration.

“The main reason for Malaysia’s financial woes is that Najib’s administration has not been serious in battling corruption. In fact, it seems to be involved in graft. Because of corrupt practices, many projects funded by Putrajaya cost more than double the original amount or does not actually benefit the rakyat.”

If Najib was serious about standing together with the rakyat to resolve the cost of living crisis, he must take immediate action to stop agreements which are unfair, those that shift a heavy burden onto the public, said Rafizi.

Malaysians struggling to cope with the hike in prices of goods and services on Monday vented their anger and frustrations by posting their complaints on Najib’s Facebook page.

Netizens remain unconvinced about Putrajaya’s attempt to justify price hikes and subsidy rationalisations. One user went as far as saying Najib and his entire Cabinet should step down if they could not resolve the issues plaguing the rakyat since they were useless and inefficient.

(The public had already been incensed by the wastage and leakages revealed in the 2012 Auditor General Report.)

Following the various postings, Najib later told Bernama that Putrajaya would be implementing 11 measures to slash public sector expenditure beginning January 1 next year.

The measures include reducing electricity utility cost, amending the eligibility of civil servants for domestic and international flight tickets and reducing the toll facility for senior government officers.

The Malaysian Insider described Najib’s actions as an afterthought as the small sum saved by trimming allowances of ministers and government servants was an insult to the rest of Malaysia.

PISA results and stark reality of Muslim countries

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 09:52 PM PST

The results for the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) that were presented in early December showed that of the 10 countries that topped the performance, not one of them is a Muslim country. As a matter of fact, of the final results tabled, not one Muslim country was placed in the top 40.

Half a million pupils in 65 countries and local administrations were tested in the three core areas of mathematics, science and reading. Shanghai scored the best result with 613, followed by Singapore and Japan.

With the exception of Turkey which took the 43rd spot scoring the highest among the Muslim countries followed by UAE, of the rest of the Muslim countries that took part such as Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Jordan, Tunisia and Indonesia, suffice to say that they were placed within the bottom 50 and 60 jostling with Columbia, Peru and Albania for the award of worst performer!

Before anyone jumps the gun by blaming this OECD study as essentially biased and Eurocentric, let us be reminded the top three performers are Asian. It is indeed noteworthy that the results for 2012, 2010, and the 2009 Assessment showed that Shanghai students scored the highest in all categories.

According to the OECD, this study considers Shanghai a pioneer of educational reform, having transformed their approach to education. Instead of focusing merely on the elite, it appears they have adopted a more inclusive system. In other words, the democratization of access to quality education is a key factor.

Below is the table for the 2012 results:

Programme for International Student Assessment (2012)
Maths Sciences Reading
1 Shanghai, China 613 1 Shanghai, China 580 1 Shanghai, China 570
2 Singapore 573 2 Hong Kong, China 555 2 Hong Kong, China 545
3 Hong Kong, China 561 3 Singapore 551 3 Singapore 542
4 Taiwan 560 4 Japan 547 4 Japan 538
5 South Korea 554 5 Finland 545 5 South Korea 536
6 Macau, China 538 6 Estonia 541 6 Finland 524
7 Japan 536 7 South Korea 538 7 Taiwan 523
8 Liechtenstein 535 8 Vietnam 528 8 Canada 523
9 Switzerland 531 9 Poland 526 9 Ireland 523
10 Netherlands 523 10 Liechtenstein 525 10 Poland 518
11 Estonia 521 11 Canada 525 11 Liechtenstein 516
12 Finland 519 12 Germany 524 12 Estonia 516
13 Canada 518 13 Taiwan 523 13 Australia 512
14 Poland 518 14 Netherlands 522 14 New Zealand 512
15 Belgium 515 15 Ireland 522 15 Netherlands 511
16 Germany 514 16 Macau, China 521 16 Macau, China 509
17 Vietnam 511 17 Australia 521 17 Switzerland 509
18 Austria 506 18 New Zealand 516 18 Belgium 509
19 Australia 504 19 Switzerland 515 19 Germany 508
20 Ireland 501 20 Slovenia 514 20 Vietnam 508
21 Slovenia 501 21 United Kingdom 514 21 France 505
22 Denmark 500 22 Czech Republic 508 22 Norway 504
23 New Zealand 500 23 Austria 506 23 United Kingdom 499
24 Czech Republic 499 24 Belgium 505 24 United States 498
25 France 495 25 Latvia 502 25 Denmark 496
26 United Kingdom 494 26 France 499 26 Czech Republic 493
27 Iceland 493 27 Denmark 498 27 Austria 490
28 Latvia 491 28 United States 497 28 Italy 490
29 Luxembourg 490 29 Spain 496 29 Latvia 489
30 Norway 489 30 Lithuania 496 30 Luxembourg 488
31 Portugal 487 31 Norway 495 31 Portugal 488
32 Italy 485 32 Italy 494 32 Spain 488
33 Spain 484 33 Hungary 494 33 Hungary 488
34 Russia 482 34 Luxembourg 491 34 Israel 486
35 Slovakia 482 35 Croatia 491 35 Croatia 485
36 United States 481 36 Portugal 489 36 Iceland 483
37 Lithuania 479 37 Russia 486 37 Sweden 483
38 Sweden 478 38 Sweden 485 38 Slovenia 481
39 Hungary 477 39 Iceland 478 39 Lithuania 477
40 Croatia 471 40 Slovakia 471 40 Greece 477
41 Israel 466 41 Israel 470 41 Russia 475
42 Greece 453 42 Greece 467 42 Turkey 475
43 Serbia 449 43 Turkey 463 43 Slovakia 463
44 Turkey 448 44 UAE 448 44 Cyprus 449
45 Romania 445 45 Bulgaria 446 45 Serbia 446
46 Cyprus 440 46 Serbia 445 46 UAE 442
47 Bulgaria 439 47 Chile 445 47 Thailand 441
48 UAE 434 48 Thailand 444 48 Chile 441
49 Kazakhstan 432 49 Romania 439 49 Costa Rica 441
50 Thailand 427 50 Cyprus 438 50 Romania 438
51 Chile 423 51 Costa Rica 429 51 Bulgaria 436
52 Malaysia 421 52 Kazakhstan 425 52 Mexico 424
53 Mexico 413 53 Malaysia 420 53 Montenegro 422
54 Montenegro 410 54 Uruguay 416 54 Uruguay 411
55 Uruguay 409 55 Mexico 415 55 Brazil 410
56 Costa Rica 407 56 Montenegro 410 56 Tunisia 404
57 Albania 394 57 Jordan 409 57 Colombia 403
58 Brazil 391 58 Argentina 406 58 Jordan 399
59 Argentina 388 59 Brazil 405 59 Malaysia 398
60 Tunisia 388 60 Colombia 399 60 Argentina 396
61 Jordan 386 61 Tunisia 398 61 Indonesia 396
62 Colombia 376 62 Albania 397 62 Albania 394
63 Qatar 376 63 Qatar 384 63 Kazakhstan 393
64 Indonesia 375 64 Indonesia 382 64 Qatar 388
65 Peru 368 65 Peru 373 65 Peru 384
                 

 

Take-home lessons

If we take ourselves off the intellectual pedestal, let us ask what lessons we can take home from this study, apart from other indicators in different studies.

Firstly, there is no basis for the conventional argument that because Muslim students have to attend extra classes for religious studies over and above the routine academic lessons in the schools, they have less time to study and prepare for exams and hence perform not as well as non-Muslim students. In Malaysia, for example, Chinese students who also attend extra classes for Chinese-based subjects over and above the national-type syllabus do just as well in both.

Pedagogy and quality of teaching

Finland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland were among the best of the European nations. Studies have shown that students from Finland produced very good results in various subjects when compared to students from the United States and other countries. This was attributed mainly to the fact that in Finland, the very best graduates were recruited to become teachers.

Also important is the question of content and curriculum, including pedagogy. The quality of teachers is a matter of concern. The teaching profession needs to be given greater priority by the state.  A proper incentive scheme must be introduced and to restore the profession to its earlier recognition. As it stands, apart from infrastructure constraints, Muslim countries suffer from a shortage of good teachers. But the issues should be more than that just a question of material resources.

Spending on education

The conventional belief that greater spending on education would yield better performance was also shown to be not always true. Thus, the analysis of the 2003 results showed that Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Japan and South Korea, which had spent less on education than the United States actually did better. While this should not be taken as an excuse to spend less on education, allocation of such funds for Muslim countries must be beefed up with the rider that the resources are to be spent effectively.

Governance

The issue of governance remains a serious problem in Muslim countries. For example, cases of misappropriation of funds allocated for poorer students continue to be a source of embarrassment. Poor governance also breeds corruption which then leads to wastages and leakages. Where financial resources get mis-channelled or misused, schools suffer and students become victims.

Bad governance in the running of schools also impacts on the quality of teaching when for example school authorities haphazardly transfer teachers to other areas without considering the effect on both the teaching and the teachers themselves.

Confucian ethic

Yet another lesson is probably the obvious one considering that the top three performances are connected one way or the other to the Confucian model of learning. Surely, Muslim countries should be able to draw some lessons from this phenomenon. Muslim intellectuals worth their salt must get off their high horse and study the Confucian model, adapt it according to Muslim requirements, if need be, and start preaching a culture of diligence in the pursuit of knowledge. The defensive response about reminding people of Islam's glorious history of learning and advancements in science serves no purpose if all it does is encourage us to rest on past laurels.

Conclusion

While it is known that Muslim countries are facing a crisis in higher education, this study is significant in showing that even in the formative mid-secondary school stage, we are seeing a crisis of alarming proportions. The fact of the matter is that Muslim countries are occupying the bottom rungs in higher education and advancement in science and technology. The PISA results are therefore a precursor to worse things to come.

Failure to take immediate remedial action may lead to a deeper crisis. In this regard, we call on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take the lead in addressing this problem.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

27th December, 2013