|
|
|
|
|
       |
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carolyn Hong
Malaysia Bureau Chief
BN's bold new (virtual) universe
July 10, 2009 Friday, 05:57 PM
Carolyn Hong exchanges tweets with a couple of Barisan Nasional politicians.
In KUALA LUMPUR WHEN I first spotted (and voted) in the poll on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s blog on Thursday afternoon, there were only a few hundred votes. By the evening, it had shot up to over 10,000. Twenty-four hours later, it was over 35,000 and counting. Every few minutes, a couple of hundred votes are added. The poll asked readers to vote whether they agreed with the Malaysian government’s decision to switch the language of instruction for Math and Science back to Bahasa Malaysia and the vernacular languages. It is now in English. More than 80% voted against the move. Dr Mahathir had uploaded the poll, saying "Seems to me like the Government is not listening to the voice of the people. Perhaps a blog poll might enlighten the Government as to the opinions of the people." Online polls are not new, of course, but they are new to BN politicians who tend to view the new media with suspicion. It’s still new to many of them, and they are also unused to the clamour of dissenting views. But they have been forced to change by the new political climate. In recent weeks, some BN politicians have even begun interacting with the public through the Internet, going one step further than their opposition counterparts who have had a long headstart in this area. On the same day that Dr Mahathir uploaded his poll, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin took part in a live Internet chat hosted by the New Straits Times. It was short – just half an hour – but this is the first time I recall such a senior Minister doing so. Mr Muhyiddin is the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister. Other BN politicians who have taken part in the NST’s live chat include the Malaysian Indian Congress president S. Samy Vellu who even gamely answered questions about his hairdo. Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has been tirelessly Twittering away to explain the switch in the education policy, and has responded to scores of comments from his ‘followers’. It’s a new world, and on Thursday, after a breathless string of tweets posted during a break in campaigning in a by-election in rural Kelantan, Mr Khairy mused: "Updating Twits esp debate on #PPSMI in car from Laloh to Manek Urai Lama. 2 universes. Deep, rural heartland & deep, profound Twitterverse." Mr Khairy and the Federal Territories Minister Raja Nong Chik have also held live chats on their facebook profiles, although the volume of comments tends to overwhelm them. Today, Prime Minister Najib Razak uploaded three videos on his blog where he replied to questions about his first 100 days, the environment, and his plan for key performance indicators for his Cabinet. Truth be told, these were not terribly exciting – and Mr Najib’s tweets are more pedestrian. Today's example: 5.00pm - Appointments. But it is an astounding change from a year ago when the BN barely seemed to notice that the Internet existed. Tags: barisan nasional, malaysia, social media 
Your comments are welcome. The following rules apply: |
|
|
Other blogs by Carolyn Hong
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Best viewed at 1152x864 resolution with IE 6.0 or
FireFox 2.0 and above Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co.
Regn No. 198402868E | Privacy Statement
| Terms & Conditions
|
|
Hainanese says : nang bo ti nang, kui bo ti kui.
Tun Mahatir is the one who had changed it to Malay language when he was the Education Minister in the 1970s,
Implemented in 2003, for 6 years we are about to see the result and now is back to Malay language again, hope that my 3 kids can cope with it.
That's the standard of our English, please read ,,,
1.
4th UiTM INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FIESTA
19 – 23 November 2009 FUTSAL-RUGBY 7- TENPIN BOWLING-BADMINTON
Dear Sport Friends,
Regarding about the global issue H1N1 happens around the world, sadly to be informing that our UiTM International Sports Fiesta will be postponing to 19-23 November 2009.
For all teams which have been confirm to participate in our events, we have to say sorry for this announcements and our Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Health also advise to us to change the date for this current situation.
By the date have been confirm incoming this November hopefully your teams still can participate in our event and don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.
And again, we would like to say sorry about the date change for the sake of our health among us.
See you in this November at UiTM Malaysia!!
Regards,
Mr. Mustaza Ahmad
Director
Sports Centre
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Malaysia
2.
Horror of Malaysian Education System
ADVERTORIAL
New Straits Times
23 August 2008, page 43
HONORARY DEGREE AWARD
7TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY UNIVERSITY TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA
TO
YANG AMAT MULIA RAJA ZARITH SOFIAH BINTI ALMARHUM
SULTAN IDRIS AL-MUTAWAKIL ALALLAHI SHAH
D.K.II, S.P.M.J., S.P.C.M.
Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakil Alallahi Shah has born on 14th of August 1959 in Hospital Batu Gajah, Perak. Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith is a third son to Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Perak Darul Ridzwan and Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Mazuwin binti almarhum Raja Arif Shah.
Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah get early education in Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Datin Khadijah Kuala Kangsar in the state his birthplace namely in Perak. After end of the education in primary school, Yang Amat Mulia continue the education to form one at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Raja Perempuan Kalsom Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
In the month of September 1972, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah have set forth to England for further education in Chaltenham Ladies College, Gloucestershire to form six. Then, Yang Amat Mulia continue learning it in Davies College London in September 1977 and his following year in receive enter to Somerville College, London after having passed Oxford Entrance Examination.
After graduated at Oxford University with Bachelor of Art in June 1983 and follow the traditional University of Oxford, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith will receive Master of Art after three years in 1986. Yang Amat Mulia also is a linguist follow several courses including language Mandarin at the tertiary level, French and Italy language.
As his father, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah is a person that talented in picture arts. Refinement of soul, Yang Amat Mulia always watching natural beauty environment immortalize in the form photograph and painting to make look and reference. Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith performance become guide to deliver the message education to general public. Yang Amat Mulia concern on women and natural world and it custody aspect in become deep theme in painting.
Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah comply have interest profoundest field documentation. Apart from producing book, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith doubled up guest writer in the The New Straits Times newspapers and in personal column it “Mind Matters” in The Star newspaper. Besides writing, Yang Amat Mulia comply active presenting a working paper at the conference national level and international.
Education from her father and mother over concern to the people, make Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah likes engaged in voluntary activities about as Deputy President of Majlis Wanita Johor (ROSE), Chief of Persatuan Pandu Puteri Malaysia Johor branch, Chairman of Nationalistic Community Service Red Crescent Malaysia, Patron of Spastic Children School in Johor Bahru, Patron Rotary Club of Tebrau Foundation, Advisor of Traditional Arts School International in London and become Pro Chancellor University Technology Malaysia (UTM) and becomen Royal Felllow Faculty of Language and Linguistic University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
As the appreciation towards her contributions of ideas and efforts in the development of education in Malaysia, Chancellor of University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Duli Yang Amat Mulia Tunku lbrahim lsmail lbni Sultan lskandar, Tunku Mahkota Johor, has approbation to presented the awards to Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakil Alallahi Shah the Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Education at 7th Convocation Ceremony of University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia in this year. Congratulation from us, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia members.
Click on the image to download the scanned advertorial (pdf).
Send article as PDF to