All set to move into higher gear

The Star, Sunday December 23, 2007
by WONG CHUN WAI

The Christmas break will be cut short for many politicians as they prepare to woo voters; signs are strong that the elections will be held at the end of February or early March.

THE Cabinet meeting was held on Tuesday last week instead of the customary Wednesday. At the same time, Members of Parliament were wishing each other farewell, believing it would be the last time they would meet before the next general election.
For the ministers, many wanted to clear their work before the Hari Raya Haji celebrations while some had taken leave.
One minister took his family to Europe for a week, telling MPs that he would be busy campaigning once he is back.
For some, they have already hit the campaign trail, taking advantage of the holiday season to meet their supporters and constituents.
Others wanted to register their presence at flood-hit areas and have even cancelled their vacations.
There are already enough signals – the general election is likely to be held in the next two or even three months.
The Bersih and Hindraf protests, which led to the use of the Internal Security Act, may have its impact on urban votes but are unlikely to drastically affect the leadership’s showing in the elections.
According to some, the Hindraf issue may have even strengthened Umno, particularly among the electorate in the Malay heartland.
Some survey findings show that these Malay voters were unhappy with the demonstrations, particularly the appeals to Queen Elizabeth II, and are supportive of the ISA against the leaders.
At a recent meeting of Umno grassroots leaders in Kuala Lumpur, some even questioned why the Government had not used the ISA earlier.
PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang had to issue a late statement to condemn the Hindraf demonstrators, apparently after the Islamist party found out that it had misread the political mood among the Malay voters.
PAS leaders also refused to condemn the demolition of an illegal Indian temple, just before Deepavali, which was a core issue of Hindraf, as it would be at odds with the Islamist cause pursued by the party.
With the majority of parliamentary and state seats in rural and semi-urban areas, the Umno leadership must have done their homework.
As for the urban areas, with predominantly Chinese voters, the MCA and Gerakan would have to work harder as anti-establishment sentiments are still strong, particularly in Penang and Perak.
In the Klang Valley, the demography has changed over the past years.
There are now sharp increases in Malay urban voters and in some constituencies, the Malays have formed the majority in Kuala Lumpur.
The Chinese and Indian votes would be crucial for Umno candidates in these areas and the party should also not take for granted these Malay voters whose social consciousness and world view are not necessarily those of Umno.
Luckily for Umno, most of these Malay urbanites do not support PAS while some find that PKR lacks credibility; but if these Malay voters stay away, it may affect the percentage of votes.
The Indians may not have a single majority seat but their votes would still have an impact in many seats in Perak and Negri Sembilan.
A recent survey showed that the Hindraf issue generated interest among all races but in the case of Bersih, it appealed mostly to Malay respondents, presumably because it involved PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat elements.
The Bersih rally generated little interest among Chinese and Indian respondents while a huge number did not even know the march took place.
The bets are on the elections at the end of February, after the Chinese New Year celebrations, and early March.
To hold back the elections because of the Hindraf and Bersih rallies make little political sense because the impact of price hikes would be more politically damaging as it would cut across all races.
Analysts should not just talk to urban voters and bloggers to have a better reading of the political mood as the issues and needs differ.
Rural voters, especially smallholders, are reasonably happy with the Government as the prices of commodities, especially rubber and palm oil, have been strong.
It will be a short Christmas for many as preparations have began for the next general election.
Correction, the coming general election.

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On 28/11/2007 B.ED ( Educational Management) Cohort 1 had a field trip to Titiwangsa Lake and had Lunch in Nelayan Restaurant. It was a buffet lunch. Everybody enjoyed the lunch. Some of us even had three helpings.

SOME OUR B.ED(EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT) COHORT 1 BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR BUS TO LEAVE FOR SUMMIT HOTEL IN BUKIT MERTAJAM FOR THREE DAY LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT COURSE UNDER CCLM. THE BUS LEFT IIUM AT 12.20PM AND WE REACHED SUMMIT HOTEL AT 6.00 PM ON 17/11/2007

The 8 Keys of Excellence

The 8 Keys of Excellence provide a framework for success in life. Success in all aspects of life depends on you. Whether you are a parent or a student, you are the master of your world. You create the direction and outcome of your life, and that's the good news!

1. Integrity

The state of authenticity when our values and actions are aligned. Integrity happens when

what we value is evident in our actions.

2. Failure Leads to Success Feedback from failures provides the information we need to learn

so we can succeed.

3. Speak with Good Purpose Speaking in a positive manner. Being responsible for honest and

direct communication and focusing on truth-telling, and maintaining integrity.

4. The commitment to focus our attention on the present moment and the willingness to make

whatever we are doing most important.

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Flexibility allows us to choose the best option to accomplish the outcome.

8. Balance Balance is our personal 'bank account' of meaning and fulfillment within our life. To

stay in balance we must make the choices that give the greatest meaning to us.

PRINCIPAL
P - Polite
R - Righteous
I - Inquisitive
N - Noble
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P - Potential / Perseverant
A - Active
L - Loving

OPENING CEREMONY OF CCLM ON 17/11/2007 AT CCAC AUDITORIUM OFFICIATED BY DR. ABDI, DIRECTOR OF CCAC AND CHAIRED BY BRO. JAYAPALAN SUPPIAH

MOVE TO MAKE SURE ALL DOCTORS HAVE REQUIRED SKILLS

PUTRAJAYA: Newly-qualified doctors will have to undergo two years' compulsory housemanship from next year. Currently, they only have to do a year of housemanship.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who announced the Cabinet decision yesterday, said the move was considered important to increase the knowledge, skills and experience of graduate medical officers. “This will improve the quality of services and healthcare standards,” he said.A rotation system of four months in six departments will be implemented. With the newest inclusion being the accident and emergency department, the rest are medical, paediatric, general surgery, orthopaedic, obstetrics and gynaecology. “We have observed that in the past few years, about three to five per cent of graduate medical officers do not get full registration because they have weaknesses in knowledge or skills,” he told reporters before chairing his ministry’s post-Cabinet meeting. “We cannot let this continue. We hope the move is seen as a positive one by future graduates and we are confident the rakyat (people) will support us.” After the two-year housemanship, the doctors would have to serve their three years' compulsory service with the Government or its agencies, he said. Dr Chua said the ministry would apply to the Government to place them under the U43 grade upon completing the two years' housemanship compared to the current U41. The U43 pay scale is RM500 more than U41. He said the doctors would be able to pursue their specialist courses or Master’s after serving two years' compulsory service compared to the current situation whereby they can only apply to further their studies after three years. About 1,200 local medical students graduate annually. Dr Chua also announced the Cabinet’s decision to disallow the future setting up of private cord blood banks because while it was a new service with huge potential to treat specific diseases, there were still ethical issues to be scrutinised. He said the existing centres would have to apply for a licence from the ministry within the next two months and would be registered under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.

TRIP TO PENANG NATIONAL PARK ON 18/11/2007 FROM SUMMIT HOTEL, BUKIT MERTAJAM

MALAYSIA : A LAND OF WONDERS

Malaysia a multi-cultural country with 3 main races namely Malays, Chinese and Indians. They have been living in harmony for the past 200 years. Malaysia gain its Independence in 1957. It has been 50 years, Malaysia has under went development process. Now it is going towards the aspiration of gaining " Developed Nation"