Last Day of Invigilation

Yeah, last day for exam invigilation. I am over the moon. Final exam = No more teaching after-wards. Looking at those students, I kinda miss my schooling day. They were sitting for my papers. I thought I came up with super easy questions. However, judging from the reaction of the students - head scratching, hair pulling, finger biting , I think I was wrong. One thing for sure, those who couldn't do well were too lazy to study. I had been asked to compromise by making easier questions and almost 70% came out from the handouts given to them.. There was 20 minutes to go.. They started hitting the snooze button. It was my favorite moment too as I started counting man down. Hoping that all of them put down their pens so they would be more likely to go out after 20 minutes. The bell rang and the result came out- I had to wait til they finished.. sucks

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This article, entitled World: Race war in Malaysia, was extracted from TIME.


MALAYSIA'S proud experiment in constructing a multiracial society exploded in the streets of Kuala Lumpur last week. Malay mobs, wearing white headbands signifying an alliance with death, and brandishing swords and daggers, surged into Chinese areas in the capital, burning, looting and killing. In retaliation, Chinese, sometimes aided by Indians, armed themselves with pistols and shotguns and struck at Malay kampongs (villages). Huge pillars of smoke rose skyward as houses, shops and autos burned.

Firemen drew sniper fire as they attempted to douse the flames, and outnumbered police watched helplessly at times as the street gangs rampaged. One man, trying to escape from his burning car, was thrown back into it by a howling mob, and died. By the time the four days of race war and civil strife had run their course, the General Hospital's morgue was so crowded that bodies were put into plastic bags and hung on ceiling hooks. Government officials, attempting to play down the extent of the disaster, insisted that the death toll was only 104. Western diplomatic sources put the toll closer to 600, with most of the victims Chinese.

No Longer Satisfied. From its inception, Malaysia has been haunted by racial divisions. By tacit agreement, the Federation's 4,300,000 Malays under Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman wielded political power. Economic power was largely in the hands of Malaysia's 3,400,000 Chinese. There are also the 1,000,000 Indians and Pakistanis who make up the third major ethnic group. What made it all work was the Tunku's Alliance coalition, in which Malay, Chinese and Indian parties participated. But for some time the Chinese and Indians had feared that eventually they would be pushed out as laws favoring Malays for schools and jobs bore fruit.

The trouble began two weeks ago, when newly formed Chinese opposition parties cut heavily into the Alliance's majority in parliamentary elections. It became suddenly apparent that many Chinese were no longer satisfied with just economic hegemony, but wanted a protective share of the political power as well. Nothing was more surely calculated to frighten the Malays, in particular the Malay "ultras" (right-wingers), who have long preached the doctrine of Malaysia for the Malays. Alarmed, the ultras began to discuss ways of retaining control. At a Malay post-election meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Chinese onlookers began to taunt those in attendance. Infuriated, the Malays attacked. At least eight Chinese were killed and within 45 minutes fast-spreading riots forced the Tunku to clamp a 24-hour curfew on the capital.

Returning to Singapore. Struggling to restore order as the fighting mushroomed, the Tunku and Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak took power into their own hands. Parliament was suspended, as were constitutional guarantees. Total administrative power was taken by the newly formed, all-powerful National Operations Council headed by Razak, which proceeded to suspend publication of all Malaysian newspapers for several days. Arrests began. Ninety-three alleged terrorists were bagged in a swoop on a Chinese apartment building in Kuala Lumpur, and Razak reported that all Communists and known sympathizers were being rounded up. Razak and the Tunku blamed all the troubles on Communist China, which, they charged, had funneled large sums of money to Communist agitators in Malaysia. Later, however, the Tunku backed off slightly, and praised "loyal Chinese elements," adding that he had been mistaken when he blamed Chinese Communists for all the troubles.


As tensions eased late in the week, curfews were lifted long enough to allow householders to go out and buy food. The fires burned on, however, and there were still occasional racial clashes. For some time to come, Malaysia would be a bitterly divided society. Already many Chinese have given up hope: one senior government official spoke of abandoning everything in Kuala Lumpur and returning to his native Singapore. There was no doubt that if many others followed his example, severe damage to Malaysia's once-prospering economy would result. Beyond that was the question of whether the wounds opened last week would ever sufficiently heal to permit Malaysia's diverse peoples to resume their quest for a working multiracial nation.

Etiqa saving plan

Yesterday, I was really attracted by the Etiqa saving plan. How can I not be moved by such an attractive package (saving plan with free insurance). The interest is about 5.5% to 9% (according to the agents this is the lowest projection rate). I found it is a good long term investment.. Most of the time I don't act immediately. I told the agent i need time to consider although they tried all they could to persuade me.. However, as i surfed the net for its further info., I came across a forum in which ppl were saying how bad this plan is.. some ppl even said this is the worst plan ever.. They said the saving plan is actually a "Life Insurance" plus "Investment Plan". Many of them wanted to cancel the plan after they consulted others. I feel lucky that i haven't signed up yet.

idiotic school system

What do you call a school system? when teachers act like servants to the 'Kings'- which they think they are, just because they pay RM200 ONLY per month .. Wondering what skills they get out of this school - the complaining, vainglorious and self-centered skills. "Teacher, I wanna complain! Am I paying for this kind of shitty classroom. I can't study." (Just because the classroom had only faint smell of socks). "You wanna complain, you can go to the principal after my class!". The former teacher that I replaced was sacked due to students' complaints. There was a time an Indian teacher was told (by the vice principal) to bring dictionary in order to find the meaning in Mandarin as the students complained that they couldn't understand English. (HELLO!! students are the ones to bring dictionaries NOT the teacher! Mr.**). They also never mind giving teachers lecture in front of the whole class. Teachers are the one to bring papers, pens, newspapers, and blah blah blah... I am totally against this kind of school system. How are the students going to learn to be independent? And you can never solve the teacher shortage problem if you continue to ill-treat the teachers.

First day at work

First day at work usually would be heart palpitation. Thinking that i would be presenting myself in front of so many kids.. Feeling it is kinda weird as i never thought that i would end up becoming a teacher.. Anyhow, i have to face the reality.. As i thought i was supposed to prepare a script for the 1st day so of course, i consulted my fellow teachers and the one who set me up in this job..
Most of them told me,'you must be firm on the 1st day so that the students won't climb onto of your head..' Yeah, it sounds kinda hard to me..
Eventually none of their advices came into practice.. All i wanted to do was to bury my head when the vice principal introduced me to every class and told them how good my result was and how smart i am.. well, it was such an honor.. but crap..