A Malaysian Speaks Up

I am a female Chinese Malaysian, living in the Washington DC area in the United States . I have read many of the letters that often talk about foreign countries when the writers have no real knowledge of actually living in those countries.

Many draw conclusions about what those countries are like after hearing from someone else or by reading and hearing about them in the media or after four years in a college town in those countries.

I finished STPM with outstanding results from the prestigious St George's Girls School in Penang . Did I get a university place from the Malaysian government? Nothing.. With near perfect scores, I had nothing, while my Malay friends were getting offers to go overseas.

Even those with 2As got into university. I was so depressed. I was my parent's last hope for getting the family out of poverty and at 18, I thought I had failed my parents.

Today, I understand it was the Malaysian Government that had failed me and my family because of its discriminatory policies.

Fortunately, I did not give up and immediately did research at the Malaysian American Commission on Education Exchange (MACEE) to find a university in the US that would accept me and provide all the finances. My family and friends thought I was crazy, being the youngest of nine children of a very poor carpenter. Anything that required a fee was out of our reach.

Based on merit and my extracurricular activities of community service in secondary school, I received full tuition scholarship, work study, and grants to cover the four years at a highly competitive US university.

Often, I took 21 credits each semester, 15 credits each term while working 20 hours each week and maintaining a 3.5 CGPA. A couple of semesters, I also received division scholarships and worked as a TA (teaching assistant) on top of everything else.

For the work study, I worked as a custodian (yes, cleaning toilets), carpet layer, computer lab assistant, grounds keeping, librarian, painter, tour guide, etc. If you understand the US credit system, you will understand this is a heavy load.

Why did I do it? This is because I learnt as a young child from my parents that hard work is an opportunity, to give my best in everything, and to take pride in the work I do. I walked away with a double major and a minor with honours but most of all a great lesson in humility and a great respect for those who are forced to labour in so-called `blue collar' positions.

Those of you who think you know all about Australia , US, or the West, think again. Unless you have really lived in these countries, i.e. paid a mortgage, paid taxes, taken part in elections, you do not understand the level of commitment and hard work it takes to be successful in these countries, not just for immigrants but for people who have lived here for generations.

These people are where they are today because of hard work. (Of course, I am not saying everyone in the US is hardworking... There is always the lazy lot that

lives off of someone else's hard work. Fortunately, they are the

minority..)

Every single person, anywhere, should have the opportunity to succeed if they want to put in the effort and be accountable for their own actions. In the end, they should be able to reap what they sow.

It is bearable that opportunities are limited depending on how well-off financially one's family is but when higher education opportunities are race-based, like it is in Malaysia, it is downright cruel for those who see education as the only way out of poverty.

If you want to say discrimination is here in the US , yes, of course it is. Can you name a country where it doesn't happen? But let me tell you one thing - if you go looking for it, you will find it.

But in Malaysia , you don't have to go look for it because it seeks you out, slaps you in your face every which way you turn, and is sanctioned by law!

Here in the US , my children have the same opportunity to go to school and learn just like their black, white, and immigrant friends. At school, they eat the same food, play the same games, are taught the same classes and when they are 18, they will still have the same opportunities. Would I want to bring my children back to Malaysia ?

So they can suffer the state-sanctioned discrimination as the non-malays have had for over 50 years?

The injustice the non-Malay have to suffer in frightening silence is the most damaging problem one has to face throughout one's life. You just have to look at the mighty govt structures which completely favours only one race, the Umno Malay.

The Chinese and Indians are treated no better than the illegal Indonesians.

Racism and corruption are openly practised by the Malay politicians everywhere, Courts, schools/Uni, police, govt offices, contracts, GLC, NEP, ISA, local govt.

It's so powerful and intimidating that you walk with fear and keep your mouth shut on anything and everything political.

Religion is taboo unless you talk good about Islam.

As for being a slave in the foreign country, I am a happy 'slave' earning a good income as an IT project manager.

I work five days a week; can talk bad about the president when I want to; argue about politics, race and religion openly; gather with more than 50 friends and family when I want (no permit needed) and I don't worry about the police pulling me over because they say I ran the light when I didn't.

Have we seen the light at the end of the tunnel yet (Anwar Ibrahim)?

Or is it the head light of an oncoming Umno train ?

Lets hope its the former for the sake of all fair-minded Malaysians.

The dream of a Malaysian 'race' in the future is nowhere in sight with the present BN govt.

Where is Negara-Ku???

sumber : Hooi Chin Gian

P/s : apa pendapat korang semua? fikir2 lah

Minit 2.46

Hi guys, tengah aku jalan2 kat youtube tadi aku sempat buka channel aku “GlamourZombie” sebab nak tengok stats video SBB yang aku upload hari tuh, believe it or not aku punya channel dapat title Top 40 Most Viewed Today in Jordan, hoho. Thanks to all viewers, tanpa korang xmencanak la channel aku walaupun baru 151 views dah dapat title top 40 (xberkembang langsung Jordan nih, channel orang lain dah ratu ribu views pun xdapat top 40 lagi).

Time aku usya channel aku tuh aku nampak 1^st video yang aku post kat youtube. Video nih memang banyak kenangan la dengan dalip, lutfy & epoi. Waktu nih memang kitorang punya high tengah mencanak naik (havoc & happening). Kalau ikutkan banyak video yang kitorang record malam tuh including Drama, Sha Na Na, Wanita, Seiring & Sejalan, Cinta, & lagu nasyid pun ada tapi aku xingat pe tajuk lagu dia, yang aku pasti dari kumpulan Mawaddah (semua lagu perempuan) haha, tapi yang diluluskan untuk tontonan umum hanyalah Don’t Wanna Hancur A Thing (nih jer satu lagu lelaki). The best part about this video on minute 2.46 so guys stay tune.

Credit to Madd plusT!K (Cameraman)

Aku Menyesal Kahwin....

Ini cerita aku.. Aku (bukan nama sebenar) baru je kawin, ngan pilihan mak aku. Aku tak penah kenal pon dia (bukan nama sebenar gak). Tapi mak punye pasal kan, aku terpaksa follow je la. Arghh, nyesal giler kawin..

Kalau dulu masa belom kawin, ikut suka aku je nak tido kol brape, nak bangun kol brape. Pastu kadang2 sampai tengah hari tido, sampai terlepas kuliah.. haha. Tade orang marah pon. Lecturer pon tak marah.

Tapi skarang, nak tido lewat sikit je ade orang sound. "Jom la bang tido...". Pastu kalau tak bangun Subuh memang kena cubit peha la aku ni. Kesian kena buli..

Kalau dulu masa belom kawin, ikut suka aku je nak makan kol brape, nak makan ape. Boleh makan best2, sebab beli kat kedai.. Tapi skarang, huhu.. Macam budak kecik je, kena ikut jadual makan! Dah la kadang2 dia masak masin la, pahit la.. Pastu kadang2 dia bagi aku makan sayor je bebanyak. Tak makan kang kecik hati lak, pastu tulis kat status facebook dia. Arghh, nyesal giler kawin..

Kalau dulu masa belom kawin, ikut suka aku je nak shopping bile, kat mane, nak beli ape.. Kira berbelanja tanpa waswas la. Tu yang shopping kejap je melayang 2 3 ratos skelip mata. Hohoho.. Tapi skarang, nak pegi shopping je, dia dah siap2 ngan list barang nak beli. Tade dalam list, tak leh amik!! Dah la berejam-jam pusing.. Leceh tol la orang pompuan nih. Muka dia takyah citer la, memang ceria je kalau masok shopping mall. Aku je yang muka tensen. Arghh, nyesal giler kawin...

Kalau dulu masa belom kawin, rambut aku ni macam2 pesen la bleh buat.. Ala Korea bleh, ala Carles Puyol (Kapten Barcelona) pon bleh buat, tade orang sound. Tapi skarang, panjang sket je kene sound.. panjang sket je kene sound.. Dia kata x hensem la, x kemas la.. Tak potong kang dia tanak ironkan baju aku lak. Haisshh.

Ade satu hari tu, masa makan kat JUSCO, ade la sorang awek comel melintas depan kitorang. Aku pon terpandang awek tu tanpa niat (ikutkan tak berdosa la kan?..) ADEH!! Terus kena cubit peha aku dari bawah meja. Cemburu buta lak bini aku (mentang-mentang la aku hensem..). Ape lagi, menjerit la aku kat situ.

Maunye tak kuat, satu foodcourt tengok kitorang, termasuk awek tadi.. Arghh first time kot rasa malu giler camtu. Rasanye muka aku lagi merah dari sos cili atas meja. Sakit wooo bini aku cubit. Huhu.. Kesian la kat bakal anak-anak kami nanti. Haha..

Tapi yang bestnya, skarang aku dah xyah basuh baju, iron baju sendiri.. Sume dah ready made. Hehe. Bab-bab iron baju ni memang aku x berapa sket. Kalau dulu masa belom kawin, skali iron baju, sebulan aku pakai. Haha. Malas basuh sebab tanak iron lagi! (Oppss kantoi..). Pastu baju2 bergelimpangan atas katil. Aku memang suka tido atas kain baju ni (padahal malas kemas). Skarang... hehehe.

Lagi yang best, time aku demam ke, x sihat ke, rasa diri ni cam dihargai je.. Yela, kira ade orang take care la. Totalcare!! Hehehe.. Kalau masa belom kawin dulu pepandai la bawak diri kalau demam. Huhu, sadis3..

Pastu kan, skarang kehidupan aku kira tersusun la.. Maklum la dah ade 'PA'.. Kalau banding ngan dulu, hmm.. x produktif sangat la kehidupan aku. Sekali-sekali dia kejut aku bangun solat malam, kadang-kadang dia tegur kalau aku lama tak baca Quran.. Hmm sejuk hatiku. Maklum le kita ni bukan malaikat, iman turun naik. Jadi kena ade yang tolong ingatkan. Ini la pentingnya cari isteri yang solehah!

Buat isteriku yang comel dan tercinta

Terima kasih kerana marah kalau abang tido lambat

Boleh la abang bangun awal-awal pagi

Then kita solat Subuh sama-sama..

Tapi kalu abang tak bangun gak,

ayang cubit je pehe abang

abang xkan murka..

Lagi abang sayang ade la..

Buat isteriku yang comel dan tercinta

Terima kasih kerana jaga makan minum abang

Tengok skarang abang da nak gemok da

Takde la kurus je macam mula2 kawin dulu..

Ke memang nak abang jadi gemuk ni?

Ayang takut orang lain berkenan kat abang ek?

Jangan bimbang atau ragu okeh,

Cintaku hanya eksklusif untukmu sayang..

Buat isteriku yang comel dan tercinta

Terima kasih kerana tolong iron baju abang

Sebab abang memang allergic sket bab iron2 baju

Jangan risau la nanti abang potong rambut..

Skarang abang dah tak selekeh macam dulu

Rambut da kemas, baju da kemas, senyum memanjang

Hidup terurus, amal pon terjaga, badan pon berisi juge

Argghh, nyesal giler kawin LAMBAT!!!

(Ini cerita tade kaitan ngan penulis okeh. Penulis masih seorang yang selekeh)

Sumber : Tuah Mohd Bakheet

SBB Video Promotion

Haha, kali nih kualiti video ok sikit nak banding dengan video yang pertama. Hope you guys enjoy watching it.

Do I look like Aznil Nawawi?

Do I look like Aznil Hj. Nawawi? Nih la persoalan yang selalu muncul kat otak aku nih bila ada function yang memerlukan aku bergaya but before that, aku nak minta maaf pada semua pembaca sebab blog aku nih mencampur aduk bahasa, Bahasa Melayu + English Language, bukan apa aku cuma nak improve aku punya English jer. Sambung balik pasal aznil tadi, time aku bergaya sikit mesti ada orang cakap “he look like Aznil la”.

Aku ingat lagi BKAPJ pernah buat grand dinner tahun lepas kat Karak Hotel & Restaurant, & time tuh aku pakai kemeja putih + jeans hitam + jumper belang hitam putih + tie belang hitam putih + kasut kulit putih, memang glam habis la malam tuh & ada budak irbid Tanya senior dia “abang tuh macam aznil”.

Tuh cerita yang pertama, yang kedua pula baru2 nih aku dilantik jadi emcee untuk Mu’tah Charity Dinner aka Mcd & diorang ada buat video promo untuk Mcd tuh & terselit la gambar aku sebagai pengacara untuk malam tuh. Lepas tuh diorang post video tuh kat FB & ada la komen2 kat bawah tuh, dan salah satu komen berbunyi “pelapis aznil nawawi tuuuu” oh tidak.

Aku rasa aku terkena badi la waktu aku berlakon sketsa dulu, time aku belajar kat KUSZA dulu (sekarang nih UNISZA) aku pernah berlakon sketsa dalam minggu bahasa waktu tuh & watak yang aku kena jiwai tuh watak aznil nawawi & Lutfi pula berlakon watak azwan dan percaya atau x, sketsa kami menang dan xpasal2 aku kena panggil pergi bilik dekan fakulti bahasa (pasal dekan nih aku cerita lain kali la).

Yang terakhir nih bukan pasal aznil, sekarang nih pasal faizal tahir pula. Aku ingat lagi waktu tuh program MBO (Management By Objective) kat Palmyra Hotel dan aku sebagai peserta kena pakai coat la tapi sebab waktu tuh aku xada coat lagi so aku pinjam jacket kulit ZARA member aku la kan, dan ada seorang pekerja kedutaan nama dia Miss Chia & aku agak rapat dengan dia so bila dia nampak aku waktu tuh terus dia cakap “hello Faizal Tahir” & aku pun smile jer la pada hal dalam hati nih berfikir sejenak celah mana aura Faizal Tahir tertempek kat muka aku nih. Aku rasa banyak gila kot perbezaan antara aku & aznil or faizal, hehe. So guys aku nak tanya korang la kan, do I look like aznil? Jawapan tuh korang simpan sendiri sebab jawapan aku = NOPE.

SBB sneak peek

Assalamualaikum guys, baru2 nih aku dilantik jadi ketua kontijen atlet mu’tah untuk ke KARISMA IV di irbid. Pada yang xtahu apa tuh KARISMA, ia singkatan untuk Karnival Sukan Mahasiswa. Mula2 aku ingat kerja ketua kontijen nih senang jer, kumpul nama budak2 lepas tuh prepare untuk perarakan. Last2 bila buka e-mail, mak aih!! banyak gila kerja yang aku kena buat. Salah satu benda yang aku kena buat dalam must-to-do list tuh memang bagi otak aku bergerak sikit, aku kena buat video promosi untuk atlet mu’tah.

Aku dah tengok video promosi budak irbid punya, memang terbaiklah lagipun video tuh hasil sentuhan ajaib Abu Malik Studio (video dia semua memang terbaik). Dalam video promosi irbid tuh ditayangkan semua jenis game yang akan dipertandingkan.

Untuk video promosi mu’tah pula aku cadang nak buat bersiri, video yang pertama aku akan buat tentang bola sepak & team SBB. Untuk shooting & video editing dah settle & aku shoot time diorang tengah buat fitness and training. Untuk muzik background pula aku guna lagu “Price Tag” by Jessie J, kalau sesiapa yang perasan aku ada post lagu tuh sebelum nih. Kali pertama dengar lagu nih aku dah jatuh cinta pada rentak & liriknya that’s why lar aku choose this song. So harap korang enjoy dengan video nih erk walaupun kualiti gambar kurang, hehe.