By Ng Ai Loon
April 8, 2011
APRIL 8 - What is your opinion towards our Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak concept, “one Malaysia”?
Honestly, I personally like it much. The concept of one Malaysia, no need to further explain, in short, it is a guiding principle to build a united and progressive Malaysian nation in 21st century. It is to inculcate the sprit and values of togetherness and a sense of belonging among Malaysian, regardless of race, religion, and creed.
As a Malaysian, i love my country which there is no war and any internal disorder. As a Chinese in Malaysia, i didn’t expect that i can be the first class citizen. But at least, we need a fairly treatment. However, does everyone have the same thought with me especially the non- bumiputra?
Recently, there is a case which was blaze out the Chinese and Indian community in anger. Siti Ishah, which is the principal claims the sentences that Chinese students are not needed in the school and can go back to China. Besides, she makes a teasing towards the Indian community belief as well.Does this consider as racist statement? Depends. However, Namewee, a rapper which was making response to this by creating a song was arrested and questioned for over 10 hours. Does he deserve this enforcement? Who knows?
However, in this issue, the concept of one Malaysia was bringing out by public. To appeal, to critic or to laugh at? What make senses? Probably is the unfair treatment between the person who make the sentences and who give the comment.
Where are Najib’s pledge and his slogan of one Malaysia when there could be such great contrast between the treatment meted out to the two errant school principals and Namewee?
“Why double standards against Namewee, questioned for over 10 hours, for his anti racist outburst as compared to treatment of the two errant school principals?” people ask.
For me, I don’t really deny that Namewee used the wrong way to express. Nevertheless, he did take the word out of many people mouth especially Chinese community.
However, this was linking me to another issue. Bank Rakyat which was imposed double standard interest against all non bumiputra Malaysians. This means that they are forced to pay higher and different interest rate if they are borrowing from the bank.
By this, how the government expect the non bumiputra to think calmly for this unfairly treatment? How the government trying to persuade the citizens that One Malaysia is feasible?
Going to the bottom of it, is the Bank rakyat does not heed the call of one Malaysia concept or the concept of one Malaysia is a lip promis?
Going to the bottom of it, is the Bank rakyat does not heed the call of one Malaysia concept or the concept of one Malaysia is a lip promis?
Again, do we love our country? I can answer you definitely, yes, we do. In badminton match, no matter the player is Lee Zhong Wei or Mohammad Hafiz Hassim, three races was shouted and cheer together.
If we love our country, we should love people within this society. In the other hand, we should not be provoked by the criticism. On the contrary, we should treat it as something constructive and positive and not something that could create disharmony among the people in the society.
If the people follow and live with this direction, One nation, one Malaysia, I hope and I do believe, it not far away and our country could be achieves it in the future.
By Ng Ai Loon
7 April 2011
In general, fast food can be also known as junk food, which is food that is perceived to have little or no nutritional value. A group of scientists at the Scripps Research Institute, who was study on the human eating behaviours are conducted on a study towards fast food, which is tremendously become a trend in the world. In the study, researcher divided rats into three groups and all three were given unlimited access to standard rat food. A second group was given foods like cheesecake, fatty meat, sponge cake and chocolate snacks for an hour a day while the third group was given “unlimited access” to these option. Finding shows that the rats given free access to junk food was quickly became obese and when researchers applied an electric shock to the rats’ feet in the presence of food, the rats in the first two groups were frightened away while the obese rats were not, their attention was solely focused on consuming food.
Question rise up, why did the obese rats act so differently? According to researcher observation, they found that those obese rats brains’ chemical makeup had changed and their brains need more food to trigger the release of Dopamine. Dopamine is normally acting on the sympathetic nervous system and producing effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure. So, do you feel this is similar with the drug addiction?
No doubt, many of us know that fast food is unhealthy for our body. Fast food is fattening and fast food is dangerous. But how, people just can’t stop their desire to eating it. Moreover, why do people like to eat fast food and what make fast food restaurants really popular years after years?
Affordable? Fast food has become popular as fast food companies can provide food to customers at very low price? I don’t think it is the reason. In Malaysia, fast food is definitely not cheap, not everybody can afford to eat out at fast food outlets as the prices are even higher than preparing the meal yourself or eating at traditional food stalls. Yet, this was not the reason that makes it remain popular since many decades ago.
Convenient? Undeniably, people will look for fast food whenever they want a quick and convenient dine to filling their stomach. Just to make an example, student and worker which may consider as their supporter, hence, it is understandable for them to visits McDonalds, KFC and pizza hut rather than spending hours in the kitchen to cooking and cleaning as they do not have the luxury of time. Thus, this food which is easy to serve and supplied quickly is good for people who are already famished.
Undeniably, fast food influences our lives as well as our culture since the last few decades especially affects the most on younger generation like high school students and teenagers. According to a research paper, it stated that the relationship between fast food culture and teenagers is inseparable. McDonald, Pizza Hut and KFC are branched out in the whole world as well as Malaysia in which the number of the fast food outlets is increasing over the years.
Based on the research, approximately 23% of the population eats one of the day’s meals away from home. This phenomenon could be seen especially for high school students. Hence, it is foreseen that over the next few years, the number of people eating fast food will be even higher, particularly in urban areas. This impact on our lives as the people lifestyle will be changes, these change in eating habits may also caused the imbalance diet as well as the diabetes and obesity. Fast food, definitely failed in health inspection however, people seem to be addicted to it and can’t avoid or escape from its lure.
No doubt, people are getting influenced by the westernized culture, thus, the attitudes of eating fast food represent a popular culture which is the culture that youngster look forward to. Besides, the fast food marketing strategy in which their marketing channels like internet, promotion which often targeted on youth is the major reasons why the trend is going towards. Just look at those advertisement on internet especially from McDonalds, they are posing an image of cool and fresh. Furthermore, western country might perceive fast food as cheap or it is for low income people, however, in Malaysia, we would not feel that fast food are low class even they are cheap. In fact, some may be proud of it when they told their friends that they had fast food as their meal especially for children or even some of us. Hence, fast food is not merely food or drinks, it represent a set of popular culture, a sense of belonging as well as youngster preference entertainment. A few decades ago, people went to fast food restaurant pretty often, even until today, fast food remains to be a popular choice within the society.
Back to the point, asking people to quit fast food was just like asking people quit smoking and drinking. So, when will be the end for the glory result and outstanding achievement of fast food trend? No one knows. Probably there will be no ending and it will continuously become more brilliant in the future.
By Winnie Tang
KUALA LUMPUR - Fundamentally, Earth Hour is the one hour in the year dedicated to drawing world’s attention to the dire need for the human race to learn to live in harmony with our environment.
In the long evolution of Homo sapiens we have learned how to use the resources which our planet offers to our own advantage, but, increasingly, to the detriment and destruction of our natural environment in all its forms.
This has only been recognised as a real threat to the long term future of our environment relatively recently.
Now there is a general consensus among the scientific community that we are, in the long term outfall of the 18th century industrial revolution, growing populations, and rising standards of living, changing our environment irrevocably. And that, for our own long term future, action to reverse this situation is essential.
Looking back for a moment, as you know Earth Hour was heralded in 2007, by the token gesture of some 2 million people in Sydney simultaneously turning off all non-essential lighting for an hour in the evening, to draw universal attention to the need for action on ‘climate change’.
Last year, some 156 nations took part with an estimated one billion people showing they recognized the need for action by turning off all non-essential lighting in their homes from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, and public authorities switching off lighting illuminating iconic buildings and landmarks, one being the Niagara Falls.
The World Wildlife Fund and the nations of the earth have made Earth Hour 2011 even more meaningful by opening a ‘billion acts of green’ campaign in the form of ‘Personal, organizational and corporate pledges to live and act sustainably’.
Looking beyond mere tokenism or ‘feel-good’ aspects of the gesture of turning off none essential lighting for an hour, this en masse action makes it clear to the leaders of the nations of this world that the public do expect action not only at the individual level, but also at the national and international levels to find satisfactory and effective solutions to possibly the greatest threat to our collective future.
And not only our collective future but that of the flora and fauna on this earth, so much of which has been and is being sacrificed to the relentless ever growing demands of our species.
Last night all of us who observed Earth Hour turned off all non-essential lighting for one hour from 8.30pm to 9.30pm to show that we care.
And to echo that caring, I do hope all those in charge of non essential flood lighting and illumination of public and commercial buildings and venues will follow suit.
It may be a good idea to restrict all forms of flood lighting and illumination to buildings on important festive occasions only.
That would be the universal public sector’s significant contribution to fight against climate change.
KUALA LUMPUR - Fundamentally, Earth Hour is the one hour in the year dedicated to drawing world’s attention to the dire need for the human race to learn to live in harmony with our environment.
In the long evolution of Homo sapiens we have learned how to use the resources which our planet offers to our own advantage, but, increasingly, to the detriment and destruction of our natural environment in all its forms.
This has only been recognised as a real threat to the long term future of our environment relatively recently.
Now there is a general consensus among the scientific community that we are, in the long term outfall of the 18th century industrial revolution, growing populations, and rising standards of living, changing our environment irrevocably. And that, for our own long term future, action to reverse this situation is essential.
Looking back for a moment, as you know Earth Hour was heralded in 2007, by the token gesture of some 2 million people in Sydney simultaneously turning off all non-essential lighting for an hour in the evening, to draw universal attention to the need for action on ‘climate change’.
Last year, some 156 nations took part with an estimated one billion people showing they recognized the need for action by turning off all non-essential lighting in their homes from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, and public authorities switching off lighting illuminating iconic buildings and landmarks, one being the Niagara Falls.
The World Wildlife Fund and the nations of the earth have made Earth Hour 2011 even more meaningful by opening a ‘billion acts of green’ campaign in the form of ‘Personal, organizational and corporate pledges to live and act sustainably’.
Looking beyond mere tokenism or ‘feel-good’ aspects of the gesture of turning off none essential lighting for an hour, this en masse action makes it clear to the leaders of the nations of this world that the public do expect action not only at the individual level, but also at the national and international levels to find satisfactory and effective solutions to possibly the greatest threat to our collective future.
And not only our collective future but that of the flora and fauna on this earth, so much of which has been and is being sacrificed to the relentless ever growing demands of our species.
Last night all of us who observed Earth Hour turned off all non-essential lighting for one hour from 8.30pm to 9.30pm to show that we care.
And to echo that caring, I do hope all those in charge of non essential flood lighting and illumination of public and commercial buildings and venues will follow suit.
It may be a good idea to restrict all forms of flood lighting and illumination to buildings on important festive occasions only.
That would be the universal public sector’s significant contribution to fight against climate change.
By Tay Pang Chong
Without a doubt, school is a very important place to nurture a future good citizenry of a country and for the government to overlook the dereliction of duty by teachers. It may do so over small indiscretions that might affect the efforts to nurture the children to becoming future model citizens. The school environment must be made to be an ideal situation where good character, mutual respect between the races, respect for the law and loyalty are nurtured. The environment must not be allowed to degenerate into something that could affect efforts to inculcate the 1Malaysia spirit.
Thus, encouraging indeed and most commendable that the Education Ministry has sent out circulars to schools that it is taking a serious view of teachers making racial remarks. It should have been done much earlier but it is still not too late even though the circular was sent out only after some teachers were making racial remarks especially a headmistress in Johor calling her non-Malay pupils penumpang and a headmaster in Kedah telling his Chinese pupils "to go back to China" on last year.
Racial polarisation in schools has been a problem for a long time and a lot of approaches are being attempted to make the children of the various races can interact, cooperate and mix with each other. Naturally their attitudes that keep them apart are a reflection of the attitudes and prejudices prevailing in homes and in the environment outside their homes. Therefore, it is very important for the schools to be places where the negative attitudes are discouraged so that the pupils will discard their prejudices among each others.
In a multiracial, multicultural and multireligious society like Malaysia, there is no place for sensitive racial, cultural and religious remarks and innuendos. Just as remarks deemed sexist are being outlawed so must remarks considered racial be avoided. This is important if we are to move forward in our efforts to promote racial harmony.
There is no denying that the best place to nurture this attitude is in the schools. They are the true incubators of the 1Malaysia spirit. If we are serious about promoting racial harmony and the 1Malaysia spirit we should not hesitate to deal strongly with teachers standing in the way of schools becoming a model Malaysian environment. At the same time the ministry must be careful when recruiting teachers. In this view, only those who have the right attitude for the profession and believe in multiracial Malaysia should be recruited.
