Bumiputra Rule in Malaysia's English Debate Competition - Word by word

Remember about the Bumiputra Rule I brought up a while ago that nobody knew existed in Malaysia's Secondary School English Debate competitions? Yeah, the very one that I got really angry at. Here it is in all its glory, word by word. I only have one thing to say: Read it and decide for yourself if it's even justified at all. And if you really think it's a rule that should be there, please do let me hear of your logic, if there even exists such a logic in the first place.

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Debate Postponed Without Official Letter 4 Days Before Actual Date?

Those who have been following the Happy O-Meter on the left(the ad just expired so I'm not when I'll put it back up) would know that our dear Ministry of Education has just postponed our English Debate competition. Darn! And do you know when we got the cofirmation? On wednesday, 2nd of July, 4 days before the original date of the competition! Yes, that's 4 days before the competition without any idea of transportation, any information of funding! Nothing! Except for the date, state (notice that it's not place, not venue, but state!) and the 4 motions.

And the best part is? We never received any official letter regarding this matter! You know how we found out? By word of mouth! From hearing bits and pieces of rumours from other debaters in other states till finally us picking up the phone calling them up! Oh, and what's even better? Apparently, they said, they already received the letter and have yet to send it out! What the heck? Hey man, it's 4 days before the competition. How can you not send such an important document when there's only 4 days left till the competition?

Until today, I'm not even sure if they've actually sent the mail. I suppose us calling them up probably saved them the trouble. But still, this is an official matter. At least it should be in black and white. Even I, a mere 17 year-old know of such a protocol.

Seriously, I'm not trying to nit-pick, but this is way beyond comprehension and logic! I was really pissed back then, but of course I've calmed down now. My only main concern is, how can such a thing happen in our ministrial departments? It shows a lack of organisation and planning! Don't tell me it was on purpose? Then it'd be even worse! That's sabotage!

But of course, there's nothing much we can do. All this shouting and rambling makes no difference as it's already postponed and we're still participating. I just hope they won't postpone it a second time.

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Zune As Teaching Aid? What's Next? Handphones?

Now here's an interesting teaching approach. Using Zune as a teaching aid? Laughable right? It's almost as if handphones were used as teaching aids! But seriously, this is what happened in a rural school down in New Mexico.

Almost all the roughly 100 students at Fort Sumner High School and 25 at South Valley Junior High in Liberty, Mo., were outfitted in February with the Microsoft Corp. gadget - Zune, which for those who don't know (not surprising considering they're not really popular here in Malaysia), is a media player that plays songs, videos and displays pictures.

Yes, this is the Zune..but seriously they lack Apple's Ipod in both popularity and style...xD

Apparently, the idea was to have the devices on during class hours, bus rides home and school trips and listen to podcasts that were related to the subjects being taught or those created by the teachers themselves.

And the best part? A teacher proposed the whole idea! Woah! I'm waiting for one of ours to pitch the idea of using handphones as teaching aids. Now that would be something to shout about!

You've realy got to envy those darn American kids. No school uniform, relaxed rules, flexible syllabus, relaxed teaching environments, and now this? But of course, this is just a test case and has not been implemented nationwide, so I suppose it's really nothing to get excited about. Realistically, I think this is more of a marketing gimmick for Microsoft to boast their lagging Zune sales. And knowing students, most probably would be using it to listen to their favourite tunes, swap pictures or watch some movies instead of using it for the educational purpose it was meant to be in the first place.

To sum it all up, here's what the school's superintendent Patricia Miller has to say.

"Is it the next great thing? I don't know. Maybe. But it is another tool."

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2 Projects Done, 1 Add Maths Project Comes Bugging Me

Just when I thought my project days have come to an end, right after polishing off my long overdue moral project and rushing to complete my PJ project, here comes yet another project - The SPM Form 5 Additional Mathematics Project 2008.

This year, it's more of a physics project than a add maths one. The topic is about the pendulum, which is basically what was taught in our Form 4 physics chapter 1. I still have fond memories of how one single project was basically shared throughout the entier Form 4 students of Chung Ling High School, and later scattered around all of Penang amongst different schools. Pretty cool huh? One single project, thousands of variations all over the island. (Yes, I know I'm exaggerating)

We've got a week to complete this darn project, and yes, even with a group of I think 6, it's still a daunting task. But fear not, informers tell me that there are in fact sample answers on the net! And no, I won't be providing the link here (to avoid looking as if I'm condoning cheating and copying), but you know, Big Brother Google is a powerful tool and you all do know how to use it, right?

I suppose this shows just how 'resourceful' we Chung Ling Kias are eh? Before this we had the infamous JPN Exam Paper leak, and now we probably have quite a number of people copying their way for this project. (Ok, maybe not, it's bad to make accusations, but oh well, takes a Chung Ling Kia to know a Chung Ling Kia, not that I'm suggesting anything...xD) Oh well, have fun this weekend completing your projects guys. For me, I'll see if I can even get my readings (teacher gave it to our group leader - whoever that is when I wasn't in class) Till then, do subscribe to the Chung Ling Feed.

Dead Ends & Frustrations Pre-Debate Competition

Man! English debate is driving me up the walls. After over a week of research and sifting through tons of information, I just realised how distorted the truth has become regarding EQ. Meeting so many dead ends, I doubt we can pull this off and this gets me really frustrated.

And what maddens me even more is the utterly illoigcal Bumiputra Rule that is crippling our team (I have no offence against you, Ebby). I shall not elaborate more as it gets more frustrating each time I try to say it out, but you can check out my previous post to see it. All I can say is, this messes up the very logic of selecting the best to speak as you're instead forced to select speakers based on their 'bumiputra' status.

Tomorrow a few people from Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri will be visiting us to supposedly train us and probably check in on our progress. We'll see how it goes. I'm praying it's going to be able to pull us out of this brink, but maybe I'm just hoping too much. Time will tell though.

I seriously wish to have a good experience as this is after all my first time participating in the national level English Debate competition. Is it so much to ask that we be given the fair chance of fielding our best, instead of handicapped team? I suppose not, but let me not forget that this is Malaysia, less I immerse myself in a far-fetched dream that I live in a place with equality.

The Bumiputra Rule in Malaysia's English Debate Competition

In my last post, I said we were finally allowed to represent Penang for the National Level English Debate. Noticed the word 'allowed'? Ya. The truth is, the reason why we were never allowed to represent in the first place back in 1999 and 2000, and nearly in 2008 was because there is this rule stipulating that there must be a bumiputra as the main speaker in the team. And for the last 2 times we have won the state competition, we've had no bumiputra in our team, let alone one as a bumiputra. So on both ocassions, the runner-ups were instead selected to represent.

Now here's the part where some would say gets funny. Runner's up representing? Who has ever heard of that happening? It's only logical that the best represent the state, and naturally the best has to be the team which won the state competition. But I suppose rules are rules. And unfortunately, for the sake of representing the state this time, we resorted on a 'bumiputra hunt'. I know it sounds a bit racist, but hey, our team this time around doesn't have a bumiputra either and we had no choice but to go searching for one. And as you all know, Chung Ling being a chinese school, there weren't many to select and we had to pick the best out of the 'worst'. But I must say that our new recruit is performing quite well above my expectations.

This rule is a sensitive rule, and as such, I don't want to be commenting too much on it, less I provoke the wrath of ISA or the Sedition Act and be sent to Malaysia's greatest five-star resort with bottomless teh tariks and nasi lemak. But I do have this to say: A rule like this is akin to the Olympics banning the participation of athletics of a certain race, because either way, it's still a race-related rule and no matter how tries to paint it in whatever tone or light one wants, it's still racial discrimination. But of course, I do understand what nation I live in and the reason behind such a rule. And I must respect such a rule because it's after all a competition and as a participant one is supposed to respect the rules of a competition. But that of course doesn't really justify accepting such a rule.

Still, the sensitivity of this issue unforunately has made me hold silent my trail of thoughts, and therefore I shall say no more. I believe the most important thing now is to be able to enjoy the whole process and look it at a more positive light. I shall take it as challenge, that even with a handicap, we shall be able to win it, and win it good. That's what I think, should be the spirit and no rule, no matter how unfair it may seem should ever dampen that.

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Motions for English Debate National Level

Just back from the 2-day gruelling ASEAN Scholarship Selections Test and not even a few days to rest, our motions for the English National Debate just came in. Yes, we're now officially representing Penang, something which was impossible in 1999 and 2000 when we were State Champions for the Piala Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abdul Rahman Arshad back to back. I'm proud to say, our English Debate team finally made history. For the first time, Chung Ling is representing the state in the nationals for English Debate. But of course, that's not really the full story, something which I'll ramble on in my next post. Suffice to say, there were things that were changed, because if not, surely back then in 1999 or 2000, we would have been able to represent.

Anyways, here are the 4 motions.

First Round: This house believes that EQ, not IQ determines how successful a person will become.

Quarter-Finals: This house would let the information superhighway runs free

Semi-Finals: This house believes that well done is better than well said.

Finals: This house believes that good things come to those who wait

It's going to be held on the 7-10 of Julai in Kelantan, so that leves only a mere 3 weeks for preparation. 4 motions, 8 sides, 3 weeks. Sounds like herculean task to me, not to mention a certain handicap we have now (more on that in my next post). But no matter how, I'm sure we'll put our hearts into it and I'm sure something we'd be proud off will be achieved.

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ASEAN Scholarship Selection Test - Review & Thoughts

Just came back from the ASEAN Scholarship's 2 day Selection Test, or should I say, 2-day thorough 'screwing'. Tired and exhausted, not to mention feeling pissed at myself for not performing in the Maths paper. Ah well, life's like that, we all have our off days.

From what I observed, there were about 200 over students taking the test, about 70% of those taking the pre-u test. All of us were tested on the very same subjects, which are English, Maths and a general ability test which I'll elaborate later. Maths was pretty tough and I totally underestimated the standards of the Singaporean Maths. And now, it has come back with vengence and totally bit off my a**. For starters, I couldn't finish the 25 questions on time, and with 2 freaking chapters not yet taught but tested, I guess my scores for this test would surely absymal.

English was, as expected, a level above ours. Vocabulary was not madly difficult, though the summary was not what I was accustomed to doing. Essay on the other hand was a rush against time. Why? You know how long they gave us to write the 350-word essay? Half an hour. There was totally no time for any planning, let alone and draft work. It was full speed ahead from the very moment we got our papers. And the topic? Let's see, there was something about 'Elders have their role to play in society' and the other was 'Computers have benefited mankind in every aspect. Do you agree?' Yes, factual essays and only HALF-AN-HOUR to write. Practically broke my hand trying to finish the darn essay.

That was yesterday. Today we had what was known as the general ability test. In actual fact, it was more like an IQ test or some sort of logical test. But the truth is, it's actually almost the same, if not the exact paper given by MENSA for their admission test, or at least one of the question sets available. I suppose those who recently took the MENSA test and passed would have found it strangely familiar and probably managed to ace through the questions without much hiccups. Then again, I couldn't really see from the faces of those who walked out of the room today whether or not they were confident of their two-day performance. Then again, this being a highly competitive scholarship, I suppose most had their poker face on.

Ah well, I suppose in life all we can do is work hard and pray that god takes care of the rest. May the best get the scholarship.

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