Monday, November 27, 2006

Happy B'day Kavitha

happy birthday!!!!!!!! :)

Sunday, November 26, 2006

New rules to work in Britain

LONDON: Malaysian professionals must possess a British degree and speak good English under new rules to work in Britain, effective Dec 5.

The move will affect mostly doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers and entrepreneurs under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP).

Westminster City Council Chinese Liaison Officer David Tan said the revised regulations would supersede the old criteria which was scrapped on Nov 7.

Until then, all decision-making on cases in this category has been suspended, he said in response to Malaysians showing an increasing interest in applying to work in Britain under the HSMP.

Tan said the decision was made during his recent meeting with British Home Office officials where they discussed several measures to restrict the number of non-European Economic Area nationals coming to Britain.

With more than 100,000 Romanians and Bulgarians expected to flood into Britain next year apart from the estimated 200,000 Poles already in the country, the British government is increasingly tightening its regulations in a bid to check the massive flow of immigrants.

Tan said, however, HSMP applications received up to Nov 7 would still be dealt with and considered against the old criteria.

Furthermore, anyone already in receipt of the HSMP approval letter could still apply for entry clearance at a visa post for up to six months from the letter's issuance date.

He said in the past, HSMP applicants could still be entertained if they had university degrees from outside Britain.

“But now, you’ve got to have a British degree or MBA from a designated institution such as those from the United States or Germany,” he added.

Tan said there was also a mandatory English language requirement, where applicants need to have an International English Language Teaching System certificate.

“You must be able to speak English properly before you can practice as a doctor, dentist, accountant or lawyer,” he said.

Tan said the redesigned HSMP scheme would be the first part of a five-tiered points based system for all future migration routes to Britain to work or to study.

The full system, scheduled to be in place by April 2009, covers five tiers.

Tier One is for highly skilled individuals who contribute to growth and productivity; Tier Two for skilled workers with a job offer and workers to meet specific overseas requirements; Tier Three is for limited number of workers to fill low-skill shortages; Tier Four for students aimed at improving British education and research and Tier Five covering temporary categories such as visiting workers, selected development schemes and youth mobility/cultural exchange programmes.

Tan advised Malaysian chefs or those in the catering and food businesses who planned to work in Britain under Tier Two to submit their applications well before April 2009.

“My message is simple, you have up to two years' grace to find a potential employer in Britain who can sponsor and apply for a work permit for you under the present rules,” he said.

He feared the new earnings rule would effectively exclude potential applicants as it might require them to have a minimum starting salary of £18,000 (RM122,000) per year in their home country.

In an average Malaysian restaurant, no matter how skilled or experienced the chef is, I doubt many are able to command that level of pay, he said.

He said even top chefs working in five-star hotels in Malaysia would probably earn only RM4,000 or RM5,000 a month.

Tan said the tough work permit rules would have a huge impact on British restaurant and food scene, as fewer successful entrants would cause a staff shortage as more earlier generation of chefs retire or give up for health or family reasons.

“Under the new system, unless you can demonstrate a very high level of skills, plus academic qualifications which will serve to benefit Britain in the long term, you are unlikely to get anywhere,” he added.

Hisham: The keris is here to stay (from The Star)

DATUK Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein’s face is deeply tanned after a short break in Pangkor with the family where he caught “the biggest fish of my life.”

When he saw the sceptical faces around him, he did not stretch his arms wide as is the case in most stories about a catch from the sea but held them apart at a realistic chest width.

The weeks leading to the party general assembly had been stressful for the Umno Youth chief.

“It is such an important forum for Umno and my speech before the Youth wing is always my most important in the year,” he said.


STANDING BY HIS GESTURE: Hishammuddin who brandished the keris at the recent Umno general assembly (inset) says : ‘What is it about the keris that makes people so uncomfortable? It is the symbol of Malay culture’
He had walked into his office in a cornflower blue baju Melayu in preparation for Friday prayers later on. As he went past a painting of a pair of keris, he joked: “Baju Melayu also cannot, is it? Okay, okay, take down this painting (of the keris).”

Inside his Education Minister’s room, his aides joked that he had better remove a massive tongkat ali root – a gift from a supporter – sitting on the side cabinet since it resembled the keris.

It has been a week since the assembly but public disquiet over the content and the tone of the debate has yet to dissipate.

The 45-year-old son of a former prime minister has come across as rather “ultra” to some but in person, he is erudite, sophisticated and, hard as it may be for his detractors to believe, rather reasonable.

In the interview with JOCELINE TAN, he argued why it was necessary to allow the Umno grassroots to release their fears and uneasiness in the controlled environment of the assembly rather than let it get out of hand elsewhere. He defended the keris as a Malay cultural symbol and spoke about the impact of the assembly on race relations and ties with the other Barisan Nasional component parties.

Q. This general assembly saw the Malay Agenda come out stronger than in previous years.

A. Two questions I get everywhere I go – why more so this year, and why I did what I did. Any leader in a complex society like Malaysia has to feel the pulse of the constituency. It’s like what one of the delegates said about the duck swimming in calm waters but paddling like mad to stay afloat. It’s the same with ensuring stability – it requires a lot of work that is not seen, there’s all this furious paddling beneath the water surface.

What happened this year was because issues raised in the past year or so have created resentment, frustration. I could feel the Malays were very restless over issues like the Lina Joy and apostasy case, the IFC (Inter-Faith Commission), the status of Islam.

SMSes going back and forth about Christian conversions and the Azhar Mansor thing. Geo-politically, there are the issues of Palestine, Iran, Israel. Then there were vocal criticisms from Asli (Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute) and Lee Kuan Yew.

There is also the process of more transparency and freedom of the press. All these played on the Malay psyche. If they had not been allowed to release their feelings in a controlled channel, it could have been even worse. We are in control of the situation.

If you look at what happened, there was the opening speech, then the delegates spoke, then I pulled them back on track with my closing speech. It’s not about starting a fire and letting it go out of control. I told them Umno Youth has never been as strong as today and that it has to be translated into strength in the Barisan.

Of course, a few of them got out of control like Shamsul (Najmi), who asked Zam (Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin) to resign. I was so upset but when I met him the next day, I told him to apologise and Zam had accepted it.

Q. The target seemed to be non-Malays rather than Umno’s political opposition.

A. If you read my speech in detail, you will realise the targets are those who were wrong in their assumptions and arguments such as Asli and Lee Kuan Yew. People tend to look at things from what one, two, three delegates said. You have to also look at the leadership.

I am the leader of Umno Youth. Do I look like somebody out to target the non-Malays? And would I do that intentionally? For what purpose? Pemuda Umno (Umno Youth) is at its strongest. I don’t need that kind of record. We have built up Pemuda to the extent that it is respected. My relationship with the BN Youth is so good. Why would I want to jeopardise it?

Q. But do you have to keep brandishing the keris?

A. What is it about the keris that makes people so uncomfortable? The keris is on the Umno flag. There are two keris on the Umno logo. It is the symbol of Malay culture. It’s not Umno. It’s not Pemuda. You give keris as gifts to non-Malays and non-Malays give them to me at functions. (Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh) Tsu Koon showed me a huge keris during our Penang convention.

Q. Will you carry it again next year?

A. Yes, I will carry it again next year. The keris is here to stay. I told Liow (MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai), give me your kungfu sword and I will carry it. I am doing it on a question of principle, until people realise the keris is not there to threaten non-Malays but to motivate the Malays. These are all symbols to get Malays to move.

We will do whatever it takes to bring them to a point where they don’t feel they are alienated in their own country. We’ve tried everything and if it can help Malays be more focused on what they can do, then my conscience is clear. I did it for the future. I want non-Malays to understand that our doing this is not to take anything away from anybody. That is also enshrined. Allowing the release will help the stability of the country. It won’t drive off investments.

Q. Is the keris not also symbolic of Malay supremacy?

A. Far from it. Unless I keep going on, every day, every year, people will not get out of thinking about the keris this way. If I can’t do it, I don’t think anybody else can.

If I can’t do it when I’m leading Umno Youth, with Pak Lah (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) as the PM and Najib (Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) as the DPM, when our economy is going strong, and we are rolling out the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), then when? Wait till our rubber and palm oil prices go down before voicing our fears about apostasy and the IFC? By then people will be hungry; they don’t want to talk anymore.

Q. MCA and Gerakan may lose votes at the expense of Umno releasing tension.

A. We have to get our priorities right. It’s not just about winning elections but building a society and a very complex one that requires strong leadership. We are in it together. Even if Umno wins a lot of seats and the component parties do not win, it is not going to make us happy. We have to deliver as we build up to the elections.

Q. What does all this say about race relations after almost 50 years as a nation?

A. If you were talking to me when I was (Youth and Sports Minister), I’d say we could do it in our lifetime. But now I am more realistic because you get pulled in so many directions. You have to look at things from so many angles. It is very difficult being in a society that is very complex, but there is strength in diversity. If we galvanise that, we have something to offer the world.

Q. There was so much about Malay issues and too little on meritocracy, competitiveness or the push against corruption.

A. It’s all relative. If Dr Mahathir (former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) had been there, you probably won’t be talking about the keris, or the New Economic Policy. But people expect too much of a three-day gathering. How much more (do) you want to say about fighting corruption? Pak Lah is moving in that direction.

As for meritocracy, Johor Umno has said that we are worried about Malays in the rural areas who cannot get the same level of opportunities in education.

Reducing the gap between rural and urban areas is the right way. As for teaching Mathematics and Science in English, we cannot decide till 2008 even though the Malays and the Chinese don’t want it.

On competitiveness, we are telling them: “Buck up, we’ve got only 14 years (till 2020). Don’t worry about your rights and religion. For now we have to implement the 9MP.” Lecturing them to work harder, telling them they are lazy and corrupt, those days are over. Pak Lah’s approach is different and we have to go with the new leadership.

Q. What did this assembly mean for you personally?

A. This is my eighth assembly. The early part was trying to rebuild the wing (after the sacking of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim). Morale was so low, some didn’t even want to wear the Pemuda uniform. After eight years of hard work, we have the strength to move on. In my speech, I told them not to look back but to move forward.

Q. Your deputy Khairy Jamaluddin had a controversial run-up to the assembly. How do you think he fared?

A. He did very well. I told him, now that people outside have heard the real grassroots speak in Umno, they are probably thinking that Khairy is not so bad. Yes, he is Oxford material and people expect more of him. But he’s back in Malaysian society and he has to address the concerns of the constituents. An Oxford degree is not going to help if your country is in shambles.

But he will need to prove himself, and if he learns, he’ll get wiser. Sometimes people come back and feel they want to change things. Then you realise it is not so simple and you really sit down and learn. He has learnt a lot but he’s still got a lot more to learn. He’s so lucky he has Pak Lah as his father-in-law.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

common sense is rare these days

lets start with sumthing easy k?
1. If there are 5 apples on the counter and you take away 2, how many do you have?

simple rite? post your answer as a comment and ill tell u if ur right..

moving on....
2.
What English word can have 4 of its 5 letters removed and still retain it's original pronunciation?

still too easy? this one is surely to burn ur brain cells.
3.
What is neither inside the house, outside the house, but no house is complete without it?

haha... post ur answers as comments. and ill see which one of u gets it right!! ill tell u the answer once sumone gets it right

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

SOS

Hey guys....some of PM1 still haven't received the invitation to the blog. Kavitha hasnt...as far as I know. Joon, or anyone else try help out~

Monday, November 20, 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIEW N KAI NING!! (so many ppl born in november one.... lolz)

Sunday, November 19, 2006

lalalalala...

yea... hApPy BuRfDaY ser yin!!!!!! so gonna belanja all of us some drinks anot??? kla... in RM la.. not pounds.... haha...

You're finally 18!!! no more underaged.... can drink... well.. legally, that is..

To all others out there... whats up??!! hey.. u guys.. especially those in UK.. joined Facebook yet?? i just found out my cousin in Cambridge added William as her friend... talk about small world..tsk tsk..... dont worry... i 'warned' her about william already... haha.. kidding..

Thursday, November 16, 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SER YIN!!

The interesting country we were born in

Here's something I found reading the Star Online... something I thought was marginally hilarious...

Malaysia's first astronaut to do what no one in space has done before
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's first astronaut will do what no one in space has done before: play traditional Malay children's games without gravity.
The astronaut - yet to be selected - will play "batu seremban,'' or "five stones'' and spin traditional Malay tops in space, Agriculture Ministry parliamentary secretary Rohani Abdul Karim told parliament on Wednesday.
Rohani, who was replying on behalf of the Science, Technology and Innovations Ministry, said the astronaut would also do batik painting and making teh tarik.


Makes you wonder sometimes what we're actually aiming for, doesn't it?? Painting batik in space... *faint*

Anyways... less than 3 weeks before I'm coming back!! I sooo need the hols... never imagined I'd have this much catch-up studying to do... haihz... and need to rest too... :D

Hope I get the chance to meet you guys in those weeks when I'm home!

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

ironic

the annual UMNO assembly took place yesterday and i was flipping thru the channels and saw hishamuddin talking.
i heard "kalau ada pemimpin yang oportunistik yang ingin menggunakan isu perkauman untuk memecahbelahkan parti , kita tak payah lagi banyak cakap, tak payah lagi soal, tak payah lagi laga-laga. kita tidak mengalu-alukan masuk ke parti UMNO."
i tot: wah not bad lar..

THEN..... he started talking about lee kuan yew and the seemingly wrong accusation of malaysian chinese being marginalised. " tuduhan lee kuan yew langsung tidak berasas! kita jangan biarkan cakap cakap kosong ini merosakkan kemajuan parti."

WHOA! WAIT A MINUTE! KEMAJUAN PARTI? he was not even the slightest concerned about the people. tidak berasas? bullshit! total crap!

and if u think im pissed for nothing.. wait till u hear this...
setakat ini sahaja saudara saudari sekalian..
(starts shouting) HIDUP UMNO! (not barisan nasional. but wait.. the theme was perpaduan rite?
HIDUP MELAYU (hey! not bangsa malaysia tt they so want to implement u noe but hidup MELAYU!)
ALLAHUHAKBAR
so its ok for them to gather around and shouting their slanderous remarks but when WE do it its an offence. its TIDAK BOLEH.. MEMBUAT AKTIVITI YANG BOLEH MENGUGAT KEHARMONIAN ANTARA KAUM.


Monday, November 13, 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN AND MADELINE!!

Crushes

You both like basketball, listen to the same music, and eat strawberry ice cream with chocolate chips. How could anyone else have so much in common?

He has the coolest hair, and he is so funny, but every time you see him, you feel shy and embarrassed.

You don't even know her, but you feel nervous whenever you see her. Your face feels hot and your cheeks get red.

If a girl or boy is making you feel this way, you might be wondering, "What is going on?" Well, it sounds like you have a crush.



What Is a Crush and Why Do I Have One?

Just as our bodies grow as we get older, so do our feelings. They change and mature as we become preteens, teenagers, and adults. A crush is a word used to describe special feelings you have for another person, a classmate, or friend that you really like. Noticing your first crush is an exciting time in life, because you're beginning to understand how it feels to like another person - a lot!

Sometimes, feelings for a crush can be confusing, because they're new to you, and you aren't sure how to act. You could have mixed feelings. When you see your crush, a part of you might feel embarrassed, and you might want to run away and hide. Another part of you might imagine your crush noticing you and sharing the same feelings.

Crushes are a little bit like the romantic love adults feel toward one another. And in a way, a crush can help us think about the kind of person that we want to love when we grow up. They help us understand which qualities we notice and like in another person, and maybe a few that we don't like.


The Object of Your Affection

You can't choose your crushes. Sometimes they sneak up on you and - wow - who was that? Your crush might be a classmate, a neighbor, your best friend's crush, an older kid, a friend of your brother or sister, a sister or brother of a friend, or a teacher at your school.

Your crush could even be on someone you don't know, like a professional athlete or a celebrity. When the crush is on someone you don't know, you might imagine what that person is like. Maybe you think about what it would be like to meet that person, even though you know you probably never will. It's still fun to imagine!

You might find yourself writing the name of your crush over and over again in a notebook or telling a good friend about that special person you like so much. Crushes might last a few days, weeks, months, or longer.


What Does It Feel Like to Have a Crush?

If you feel strange around your crush, you're not alone. That's how most people feel around their crushes. You might feel shy or giddy or maybe even shy and giddy all at once! Some people can't remember what they want to say when they see their crush. They feel speechless, or tongue-tied.

Some kids might chase their crushes around the playground, call them on the phone, or tease them to get attention. This might make a person feel uncomfortable. Have you ever felt this way? It can be hard to control how you feel, but the rules of good behavior still apply. If your crush doesn't want to talk with you or it seems like you're making the person uncomfortable, it's time to back off.

Likewise, never let anyone behave in a way that makes you feel funny or uncomfortable. It's never OK for anyone - a kid or a grown-up - to do or ask things of you that don't feel right. That's not a good crush.


If I Have a Crush, What Do I Do?

When you develop special feelings toward someone, it can change your world. You might want to talk on the phone or ask your crush to your birthday party, or a school dance. As you get older, and your feelings change, you might be ready for your first boyfriend or girlfriend, and even your first kiss! But for now, you might just be friends with your crush, if your crush wants to be friends with you.

You might or might not want to tell other people who your crush is. It can be fun to talk with friends about it, but sometimes kids tease other kids about crushes. Getting teased is never fun, so if you know about other kids' crushes, don't give them a hard time!

Some people call first loves or first crushes "puppy love." But when your feelings seem real and strong, it may not seem like puppy love to you. It's called puppy love because these feelings are new to you, you're young, and you don't have much experience with life. You're the puppy! Get it? Think about how a puppy is so excited and happy with everything new in its life - from a rubber bone to an old shoe.

If you need someone to talk with about a crush, a parent can be a good choice. Remember, they were kids once, too, and they know what it's like. Can you imagine who your mom or dad's first crush was? Maybe they'll tell you about it!


What Do I Do When Someone Breaks My Heart?

When you have a crush on someone and you find out that he or she likes you, too, it's a wonderful feeling. But sometimes it doesn't work out that way. It's hard to find out that the person you like doesn't feel the same way about you. You might feel sad, disappointed, and rejected. That sad feeling is called heartbreak, even though your heart isn't really breaking into pieces. If you feel heartbreak, those feelings can last for a while, but they will fade.

Another word about heartbreak: Try to be kind if you're on the other end of a crush - when someone likes you. It's a compliment when someone thinks you're special. If you don't feel the same way, try to tell him or her in a nice way.

Crushes are new and exciting, so enjoy them while they last. Someday, you'll be telling your own kids about your first crush!

Reviewed by: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD



*peAce*

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Join Facebook!!

Hie everyone.. there's a new site where we can keep in touch with ya old sch, college, uni and even kindergarten frens.. the website is http://www.facebook.com

Register quick quick!!


*peAce*

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

missing you

y so quiet adi...

i miss u all lar.. bery bery much..=(
i miss the break time every day when we go asia makan
i miss market!
i miss watching movies together...
i miss skipping breaks to go dota
i miss talking football with u guys
i miss toilet visits =D
i miss kap lui time(even if i dun do it but its fun watching u do it)
i miss kacauing hardip and danis
i miss prayer meeting every tuesday morning
i miss hearing leong yee pak's stories
i miss hearing mr murali telling miss annie's secrets
i miss miss suzie!!
i miss sleeping in my car every morning until a sohai will come and wake me up at 7.45
i miss thrashing u all in futsal ;)
i miss the blurness of abel and william
i miss the times justin and jia huan fetch me back when i no car
i miss going into class either being the first or seeing hardip and kiew or sumtimes mad adi there and then see u all one by one come in. abel and william always late one
i miss cheng yee's 'stupid' questions
i miss lab! i really really miss doing titrations
i miss being in taylors
i miss a lot of things...................................................... but most of all i miss being with u all

Friday, November 03, 2006

New Look!

*Shock!!*

What happened to the old PM1 blog?

Well, here's the deal...

This is Jo-Shua here using Joon Heng's Blogger account. A few days ago, Joon Here here asked me to help him decorate his class blog.

So here it is!!!


Ye Oldie Look


New Improved PM1 Class Blog!!

Well, some of you would probably be now wondering who the heck am I? Why got some stranger go edit my class blog?

Hehe.

Anyways, I'm Joon Heng's friend. Met him during the JPA's BTN Course sometime in August.

And here's my blog!

http://joshuahum.blogspot.com/

Well. I hope you guys like the new look because it took me quite sometime to get it right (especially the picture at the centre there). But if you guys don't like it, its ok. I can help to edit it some more or even change it back to its original layout.

Anyways... This is still not the completed one. I can still add in some of your class photos. So, if you guys want any photos to be added in, send your class photos to Joon Heng and he will email it to me. I'll try to add it in if its possible.

Oh! And, I need feedback please. Comments are appreciated.

Ok, Thats about it.

Happy blogging

Cheers!!

Jo-Shua.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

# 4

hi hi hi hi hi hi ppl..

thanks for ur wishes....
i just finished my stoopid lecture today about ultrafiltration and reabsorbtion.. i think the lecturer SUCKS!!! miss annie is so much better... i din understand a BLOODY FREAKIN thing that was taught..

zzz and then when i went to the library i suddenly had a gastric attack... so i rushed home. the journey was so excrutiatingly pain, luki no accident..

ANYWAY... CAN ANYONE GIMME MP3 URLS? SO THAT I CAN PUT IN THIS BLOG? U SEE THE SMALL MP3 LIKE THINGY ON THE SIDE.. ITS NOT WORKING!! COZ I DUN HAVE URLS...