http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=80072
MASwings rewards UPSR high scorers
by Anasathia Jenis.
Posted on December 12, 2010, Sunday
TWENTY Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) high scorers went on a three-day education familiarisation tour of Kuala Lumpur under MASwings ‘Our Children Our Future’ project to foster academic excellence among Malaysia’s future generations.
EDUCATIONAL TRIP: The students and teachers at Subang airport. In the background is MASwings ATR 72-500 aircraft.
The students were from eight rural primary schools in Sarawak and Sabah. They were and accompanied by 10 teachers.
MASwings also invited the media from the two East Malaysian states along to share the experience.
Among the programmes were visits to Malaysia Airlines Complex in Subang and the Planetarium and Petrosains in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).
The highlight was a tea reception, hosted by Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansur, wife of the Prime Minister, at Seri Perdana.
For the four-hour flight to Kuala Lumpur, the group gathered at Miri Trails Guesthouse where they were met by MASwings staff. It was an exciting moment — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — for the students who got to explore the ATR 72-500 aircraft that flew them to the national capital. Who knows, one day some of them might decide to become a pilot or an air steward.
At Subang airport, the group were warmly greeted by MASwings managing director Dato’ Mohd Salleh Ahmad Tabrani and MASwings staff amidst the beats of kompang.
Souvenirs were presented to the students and teachers. This was followed by a briefing at the Malaysia Airlines Complex from Abdul Rashid Sharif, MAS manager Staff Affairs and Human Resources of Engineering and Maintenance Division.
Later, the group were taken on a tour of the engineering and maintenance building, the hangar and the training centre in the Complex. At the training centre, the group were shown an ATR72-500 aircraft simulator for enhancing crew efficiency.
The following day, the group visited the Planetarium and the tunnel-shaped aquarium before heading to the science gallery. They were treated to a popular cartoon animation ‘Upin Ipin’ at the Planetarium.
The next stop was Petrosains in the same building. Here, the group took about three hours to explore the exhibition gallery, showcasing the ‘wonders’ of science and technology related to the petroleum industry.
At KLCC, the group watched the 3-D animation cartoon of ‘Rapunzel’. It was something new to most of them.
For dinner, the popular Nasi Kandar was served.
Early the next day, before tarvelling to Putrajaya for a date at Seri Perdana, the group toured Kuala Lumpur city in Malaysia’s famous Hop-On Hop-Off bus, soaking in the view in a two-hour drive on the double-decker from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya. Along the way, they saw the new Istana Negara and another landmark still under construction.
Finally, on reaching Putrajaya, the group toured the area and lunched at Alamanda Shopping Mall before arriving at Seri Perdana around 2pm. There, the students performed the ngajat, and a traditional Sabah dance to the tune of a Gunung Kinabalu song for their gracious host.
Rosmah is patron of MASwings ‘Our Children Our Future’ project, a top-priority in MASwings community agenda.
At the tea reception, Rosmah handed over school bags and uniforms to the students. Also present was MAS managing director and MASwings chairman Dato’ Seri Azmil Zahruddin Raja Aziz.
The trip was a great opportunity for the students to experience life outside their rural settings.
A student of SK Pekan 2 Pitas Sabah, Cerollyn Carmila said she was happy to have had the opportunity her to visit other parts of the country.
“Thanks to MASwings for the familiarisation trip. It was an eye-opener,” she said.
Cerollyn’s friend, Beatrice Rinai Joannes, said she was grateful her hard work in obtaining As in UPSR had been rewarded by MASwings.
The eight rural schools from Sarawak are Sk Long Banga, SK Long Akah, SK Ba’Kelalan, Sk Bario, SK Mulu, SK Long Lellang, Long Seridan and SK Marudi. The two schools from Sabah are SK Rusop Pitas and SK Pekan 2 Pitas, in Tawau.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
RM100 mln boost for affordability
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=79745
RM100 mln boost for affordability
by Margaret Ringgit.
Posted on December 11, 2010, Saturday
80 per cent of state to enjoy benefits of Price Standardisation Scheme next year
MIRI: The federal government’s Price Standardisation Scheme will cover 80 per cent of the state next year.
Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said RM100 million had been allocated to ensure that essential items are more affordable state-wide.
“For this year, with a total allocation of RM67 million, we have covered about 30 per cent of Sarawak’s areas, mostly in the interior, which was known as the Community Drumming project,” she said.
With the increased allocation for next year, she said, the number of distribution areas would increase from 191 at present to 269 next year.
Among the areas which will be covered are Mulu, Bakun, Belaga, Sungai Asap, Long Simut, Bario and Tutoh Apoh.
Tan added that the government is concerned and aware of the rakyat’s plight, especially after the increase of the RON95 petrol and diesel prices on Dec 3.
She said the Community Drumming project would help to lighten this load.
Tan told reporters this at Yu Lan Plaza after handing over Letters of Intent (LOI) to 27 appointed point of sale distributors for controlled items such as diesel, sugar, and LPG in rural areas in Miri, Bintulu and Limbang yesterday.
Among those present at the function were Domestic, Trade Co-operative and Consumerism’s state director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman and theMinistry’s head for Miri branch Zakaria Awang.
“Sarawak is our main priority area due to its geographical size. We are serious about this project so that the people living in the interior areas of Sarawak can afford to buy controlled items such as diesel, petrol,LPG or sugar at affordable prices.”
She urged members of the public to be the Ministry’s eyes and ears to ensure that the elected point-of-sale distributors in their respective areas did not hike the prices of controlled items.
“We will not compromise with those who increase the priced controlled items,” she cautioned.
In 2009, Sarawak received RM57 million out of a total RM96 million approved nationwide for the programme, which encompassed 15 per cent of the state.
RM100 mln boost for affordability
by Margaret Ringgit.
Posted on December 11, 2010, Saturday
80 per cent of state to enjoy benefits of Price Standardisation Scheme next year
MIRI: The federal government’s Price Standardisation Scheme will cover 80 per cent of the state next year.
Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said RM100 million had been allocated to ensure that essential items are more affordable state-wide.
“For this year, with a total allocation of RM67 million, we have covered about 30 per cent of Sarawak’s areas, mostly in the interior, which was known as the Community Drumming project,” she said.
With the increased allocation for next year, she said, the number of distribution areas would increase from 191 at present to 269 next year.
Among the areas which will be covered are Mulu, Bakun, Belaga, Sungai Asap, Long Simut, Bario and Tutoh Apoh.
Tan added that the government is concerned and aware of the rakyat’s plight, especially after the increase of the RON95 petrol and diesel prices on Dec 3.
She said the Community Drumming project would help to lighten this load.
Tan told reporters this at Yu Lan Plaza after handing over Letters of Intent (LOI) to 27 appointed point of sale distributors for controlled items such as diesel, sugar, and LPG in rural areas in Miri, Bintulu and Limbang yesterday.
Among those present at the function were Domestic, Trade Co-operative and Consumerism’s state director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman and theMinistry’s head for Miri branch Zakaria Awang.
“Sarawak is our main priority area due to its geographical size. We are serious about this project so that the people living in the interior areas of Sarawak can afford to buy controlled items such as diesel, petrol,LPG or sugar at affordable prices.”
She urged members of the public to be the Ministry’s eyes and ears to ensure that the elected point-of-sale distributors in their respective areas did not hike the prices of controlled items.
“We will not compromise with those who increase the priced controlled items,” she cautioned.
In 2009, Sarawak received RM57 million out of a total RM96 million approved nationwide for the programme, which encompassed 15 per cent of the state.
113 Students from 12 ethnic groups take part in skills training
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/12/11/sarawak/7594112&sec=sarawak
Saturday December 11, 2010
113 students from 12 ethnic groups take part in skills training
By ZORA CHAN
zora@thestar.com.my
JOSEPHINE Bujang, 18, may be the only female trainee among 60 others in an automation technician course, but she is not someone who is easily overwhelmed.
Aspiring to be an engineer, this Berawan lass from Rumah Kajan Sijeh, Long Tru, in Tinjar, about four hours by express boat or car from Miri, said she did not take up a childcare-provider course like her peers as she wanted a more challenging career.
“I’m applying for scholarships to further my studies at diploma and degree levels at a private college in Miri,” she told StarMetro after receiving her certificate from Yahos Sdn Bhd in Kuching yesterday.
Graduation: Fatimah (right) presenting a certificate to Betty Laweng, 22, a Kenyah from Sungai Asap for completing the childcare-provider course.
Yahos Sdn Bhd is a training provider appointed by the Economic Planning Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department via the State Planning Unit under the Chief Minister’s Department to train students from minority ethnic groups in Sarawak.
Its skill-based Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) courses are accredited by the Department of Skills Development.
A total of 113 students from 12 ethnic groups in the state joined the programme which had its first intake in July this year.
The ethnic groups they represent are Beketan, Berawan, Kayan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kiput, Lahanan, Lun Bawang, Murut, Penan, Punan and Sekapan.
A total of 63 students took up the Automation Technician and Mechatronic Level 2 course while the remaining 50 took up the Childcare Provider Level 2 course.
Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah, who officiated at the certificate presentation, said the courses were tailored to meet the needs of industries and the trainees should be able to find employment soon or further their education.
She said the state introduced SKM for the minority groups because of its inclusiveness policy to ensure no ethnic group was left out from the mainstream of development.
Earlier, Yahos Sdn Bhd managing director Natasha Nasa Douglas Uggah said a new course would be introduced next year namely Beautician and Aesthetician Level 1 and 2 to train students in make-up, facial treatment, pedicure, manicure, hair-do and daily operations of a beauty centre.
Another new course would be Culinary Level 1 and 2 to train students to prepare various local and international cuisines, she added.
Saturday December 11, 2010
113 students from 12 ethnic groups take part in skills training
By ZORA CHAN
zora@thestar.com.my
JOSEPHINE Bujang, 18, may be the only female trainee among 60 others in an automation technician course, but she is not someone who is easily overwhelmed.
Aspiring to be an engineer, this Berawan lass from Rumah Kajan Sijeh, Long Tru, in Tinjar, about four hours by express boat or car from Miri, said she did not take up a childcare-provider course like her peers as she wanted a more challenging career.
“I’m applying for scholarships to further my studies at diploma and degree levels at a private college in Miri,” she told StarMetro after receiving her certificate from Yahos Sdn Bhd in Kuching yesterday.
Graduation: Fatimah (right) presenting a certificate to Betty Laweng, 22, a Kenyah from Sungai Asap for completing the childcare-provider course.
Yahos Sdn Bhd is a training provider appointed by the Economic Planning Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department via the State Planning Unit under the Chief Minister’s Department to train students from minority ethnic groups in Sarawak.
Its skill-based Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) courses are accredited by the Department of Skills Development.
A total of 113 students from 12 ethnic groups in the state joined the programme which had its first intake in July this year.
The ethnic groups they represent are Beketan, Berawan, Kayan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kiput, Lahanan, Lun Bawang, Murut, Penan, Punan and Sekapan.
A total of 63 students took up the Automation Technician and Mechatronic Level 2 course while the remaining 50 took up the Childcare Provider Level 2 course.
Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah, who officiated at the certificate presentation, said the courses were tailored to meet the needs of industries and the trainees should be able to find employment soon or further their education.
She said the state introduced SKM for the minority groups because of its inclusiveness policy to ensure no ethnic group was left out from the mainstream of development.
Earlier, Yahos Sdn Bhd managing director Natasha Nasa Douglas Uggah said a new course would be introduced next year namely Beautician and Aesthetician Level 1 and 2 to train students in make-up, facial treatment, pedicure, manicure, hair-do and daily operations of a beauty centre.
Another new course would be Culinary Level 1 and 2 to train students to prepare various local and international cuisines, she added.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Kafe Canaan promisi makanan eksotik
http://www.malaysiazoom.com/kafe-canaan-promosi-makanan-eksotik/
Kafe Canaan promosi makanan eksotik
Posted by admin on Dec 10, 2010
MIRI 10 Dis. – Suku kaum Kelabit dari tanah tinggi Bario sememangnya terkenal dengan sikap peramah dan lemah.
Namun, selain daripada sikap kaum itu kepada masyarakat luar, kesedapan makanan disajikan kepada tetamu juga sukar untuk dilupai sepanjang hayat.
Berteraskan sumber hutan, pelbagai jenis sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan disajikan dalam daun dan buluh beserta nasi lembut yang berbungkus dengan daun.
Selain itu, hasil buruan seperti rusa, kijang atau pelanduk dan ikan dicampur dengan tumbuhan hutan lain juga dihidangkan di atas daun yang menjadikannya kelihatan cukup eksotik.
Namun tidak perlu bimbang, meskipun tidak berpeluang berkunjung ke Bario, hidangan eksotik Kelabit ini masih boleh dinikmati di Kafe Canaan yang terletak di Pusat Komersial Centre Point, Miri di sini.
Pemilik Kafe Canaan, Ranson Ballan berkata, kafe itu menyediakan 80 peratus hidangan tradisi kaum Kelabit antaranya hidangan wajib nubak layak (nasi yang dibungkus menggunakan sejenis daun), sayur-sayuran hutan seperti umbut, daun ubi, pucuk lemidin dan siput sungai.
Selain itu, beras Bario, pekasam dan kuih-muih yang diperbuat daripada beras pulut yang ditumbuk turut disajikan kepada pelanggan.
“Setiap hari, kita menyediakan kira-kira 13 hidangan termasuk daging ayam yang dimasak menggunakan buluh. Pengunjung boleh memilih untuk menikmati nasi Bario atau nubak layak,” kata Ballan kepada Utusan Malaysia, di sini semalam.
Mula beroperasi sejak lima tahun lalu, Kafe Canaan mendapat sambutan luar biasa daripada pengunjung termasuk pelancong dari Korea, Jepun, China, Eropah, Amerika Syarikat dan Australia.
“Tujuan kita ialah memperkenalkan hidangan yang diwarisi daripada nenek moyang kepada orang luar.
“Pada masa sama, kita mahu menyahut seruan kerajaan untuk menambah nilai komersial makanan tradisi tanpa menjejaskan keunikan makanan itu,” katanya.
Katanya, pengiktirafan Miri sebagai bandar raya lima tahun lalu telah memberi idea kepadanya untuk membuka premis makanan yang berbeza daripada yang lain.
Apatah lagi, dengan status sebagai bandar raya peranginan yang mempunyai hampir 30 suku kaum, Miri perlu menampilkan ciri-ciri keunikan itu melalui makanan tradisional.
Kata Ballan, pada masa itu, masih belum ramai di kalangan suku kaum di Miri menceburi bidang perniagaan makanan tradisi berbanding sekarang yang muncul ibarat cendawan tumbuh selepas hujan.
“Usaha ini sejajar dengan langkah kerajaan untuk menjadikan Miri sebagai syurga makanan di utara Sarawak,” katanya.
Menurutnya, dia tidak dapat melupakan pengalaman melihat pelanggan yang terdiri daripada pelancong asing menikmati nubak layak dengan pekasam di Kafe Canaan.
“Tidak semua orang pandai makan nubak layak apatah dengan pekasam yang rasa-rasanya masam dan masin. Justeru satu kepuasan apabila melihat kaum lain dapat menikmati hidangan kami dengan begitu berselera,” katanya.
Pengusaha kafe itu begitu puas kerana dapat mempromosi makanan eksotik Kelabit kepada pelancong luar.
Tambahnya, nubak layak amat sinonim dengan kaum Kelabit dan menjadi tradisi bagi kaum itu membawa nubak layak setiap kali pergi ke hutan atau huma.
Oleh kerana huma atau hutan terletak jauh dari rumah pada zaman dahulu, nenek moyang mereka membawa nasi bungkus yang sengaja dimasak dengan lembut.
“Dahulu mana ada bekas membawa sup. Justeru, nasi tersebut memang dimasak dengan air yang banyak agar ia lembut, mudah dimakan selain senang hadam,” katanya.
Katanya, nubak layak juga merupakan hidangan tradisi Orang Ulu seperti Kayan dan Lun Bawang.
“Apa yang membezakan ialah nubak layak Kelabit mempunyai tekstur yang lebih lembut berbanding nubak layak Kayan,” katanya.
Mungkin ramai yang tidak tahu walaupun kaum Kelabit terkenal dengan penanaman beras Bario, namun mereka menggunakan beras dari jenis lain untuk memasak nubak layak.
“Jangan terkejut jika berkunjung ke rumah panjang di Bario, kami tidak gunakan beras Bario untuk membuat nubak layak,” katanya.
Kata Ballan, beras Bario tidak sesuai dijadikan nubak layak sebaliknya lebih enak dinikmati dengan memasaknya seperti biasa.
Setiap hari, Kafe Canaan menyediakan sebanyak 100 bungkus nubak layak.
Melihat kepada sambutan baik, Ballan berharap dapat memperluaskan ruang perniagaannya memandangkan yang sedia ada tidak mencukupi untuk menampung jumlah pelanggan yang kian meningkat.
Seorang pelanggan, Sherman Meru Palong, 49, dari Lawas berkata, Kafe Canaan menyediakan makanan yang menepati selera orang kampung atau rumah panjang.
“Setiap hari menikmati hidangan di bandar bosan juga. Kita perlukan lebih banyak tempat makan seumpama ini, lagipun ia mendapat sambutan baik daripada orang ramai,” katanya.
Kafe Canaan dibuka mulai pukul 6 pagi hingga 3 petang setiap Isnin hingga Sabtu dan menyediakan hidangan sarapan pagi dan makan tengah hari.
Dipetik dari Utusan Malaysia
Saturday, December 4, 2010
On-board jumble sale and waterfront clean-up in Kuching
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?sec=sarawak&file=/2010/12/4/sarawak/7556424
Saturday December 4, 2010
On-board jumble sale and waterfront clean-up in Kuching
LAYAR Warisan Sdn Bhd and Backtoback Ideas will hold a jumble sale on board the Sarawak River Cruise and a joint exercise to clean up the Kuching Waterfront tomorrow.
Backtoback Ideas is a Malaysian events solution company while Layar Warisan is the owner of Sarawak River Cruise.
Layar Warisan managing director Fiona Marcus Raja said the proceeds from the events entitled Cash In On Cast-offs On Board and The Kuching Waterfront Clean-up will be donated to charitable organisations in Kuching and the Kelabit community in Bario.
The jumble sale would run from 9am to 3pm while the clean-up campaign would be from 3pm to 4pm, she added.
Several corporations are sponsoring the event while Sara Urusharta Sdn Bhd and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation will sponsor the use of the Waterfront Amphitheatre and volunteer manpower for the waterfront clean-up.
Saturday December 4, 2010
On-board jumble sale and waterfront clean-up in Kuching
LAYAR Warisan Sdn Bhd and Backtoback Ideas will hold a jumble sale on board the Sarawak River Cruise and a joint exercise to clean up the Kuching Waterfront tomorrow.
Backtoback Ideas is a Malaysian events solution company while Layar Warisan is the owner of Sarawak River Cruise.
Layar Warisan managing director Fiona Marcus Raja said the proceeds from the events entitled Cash In On Cast-offs On Board and The Kuching Waterfront Clean-up will be donated to charitable organisations in Kuching and the Kelabit community in Bario.
The jumble sale would run from 9am to 3pm while the clean-up campaign would be from 3pm to 4pm, she added.
Several corporations are sponsoring the event while Sara Urusharta Sdn Bhd and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation will sponsor the use of the Waterfront Amphitheatre and volunteer manpower for the waterfront clean-up.
Computer Constraint Behind Race Blunder
http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/The-Borneo-Post-Online/computer-constraint-behind-race-blunder.html
Computer Constraint Behind Race Blunder
Written by Peter Boon and Margaret Apau
Saturday, 04 December 2010 10:52
William Ghani Bina
Kuching: When parents receive their children's report cards, they're usually concerned over grades but last week, six parents were fretting over race when their children received their mid- and yearend report cards.
In a letter to Sarawak Teachers' Union (STU) president William Ghani Bina last week, the parents complained that their children's racial status had been changed from Lun Bawang, Kelabit and Iban to ‘Keturunan Melayu'.
When contacted yesterday regarding the race discrepancy in the six students' report cards, principal Robin Udau explained that the submission of the students as ‘Malay' was non-political, but a makeshift remedy to an administrative problem with the computer programme.
"Since the exam analysis software that we are using is from Johor, it only provides four columns for race: Malay, Chinese, Indian or Lain-Lain," he said.
Since ‘Lain-Lain' did not include non-Muslim Bumiputeras, the school put them under the Malay category for the MoE's statistical purposes.
"That way they can see how each race group fares academically. While the system give us an overview of individual student performance over the course of the year, it also can help us gauge the whole school's academic performance," he said, adding that information on the latter would be forwarded to the MoE.
The computer system has been used for a year now, over the course of which they usually revert back the student's race to the original denomination on the report card.
"Within our own school's registration system, students are registered according to their birth certificates," he assured, stressing that the information on the exam analysis programme would not change the information on the birth certificate.
Ghani took immediate action, meeting up with the deputy director of the State Education Department, Jaidah Alek to discuss the matter.
"On Thursday, I sought clarification from the director-general of education Datuk Ghafar Mahmud on the matter and was told that this was due to the results from the examination analysis system or Sistem Analisis Peperiksaan (SAP) sent by the examination unit of MoE," he said yesterday.
As such, parents need not be unduly worried over the matter as it would be amicably resolved soon, he assured, thanking parents for highlighting the matter.
"We respect Islam as the official religion of Malaysia and, in this country, all races live together harmoniously like brothers and sisters," Ghani noted, thanking Ghafar for his rapid response in the matter.
He appealed to the parents not to blame the school or teachers on this matter as rectifications were underway.
"But I do hope such things will not happen again and hope that MoE will be more careful in handling such matters in future," he said.
Nonetheless, he believed that some schools still face such problems.
"Check with STU or the department concerned," Ghani advised. -- Courtesy of The Borneo Post Online
Computer Constraint Behind Race Blunder
Written by Peter Boon and Margaret Apau
Saturday, 04 December 2010 10:52
William Ghani Bina
Kuching: When parents receive their children's report cards, they're usually concerned over grades but last week, six parents were fretting over race when their children received their mid- and yearend report cards.
In a letter to Sarawak Teachers' Union (STU) president William Ghani Bina last week, the parents complained that their children's racial status had been changed from Lun Bawang, Kelabit and Iban to ‘Keturunan Melayu'.
When contacted yesterday regarding the race discrepancy in the six students' report cards, principal Robin Udau explained that the submission of the students as ‘Malay' was non-political, but a makeshift remedy to an administrative problem with the computer programme.
"Since the exam analysis software that we are using is from Johor, it only provides four columns for race: Malay, Chinese, Indian or Lain-Lain," he said.
Since ‘Lain-Lain' did not include non-Muslim Bumiputeras, the school put them under the Malay category for the MoE's statistical purposes.
"That way they can see how each race group fares academically. While the system give us an overview of individual student performance over the course of the year, it also can help us gauge the whole school's academic performance," he said, adding that information on the latter would be forwarded to the MoE.
The computer system has been used for a year now, over the course of which they usually revert back the student's race to the original denomination on the report card.
"Within our own school's registration system, students are registered according to their birth certificates," he assured, stressing that the information on the exam analysis programme would not change the information on the birth certificate.
Ghani took immediate action, meeting up with the deputy director of the State Education Department, Jaidah Alek to discuss the matter.
"On Thursday, I sought clarification from the director-general of education Datuk Ghafar Mahmud on the matter and was told that this was due to the results from the examination analysis system or Sistem Analisis Peperiksaan (SAP) sent by the examination unit of MoE," he said yesterday.
As such, parents need not be unduly worried over the matter as it would be amicably resolved soon, he assured, thanking parents for highlighting the matter.
"We respect Islam as the official religion of Malaysia and, in this country, all races live together harmoniously like brothers and sisters," Ghani noted, thanking Ghafar for his rapid response in the matter.
He appealed to the parents not to blame the school or teachers on this matter as rectifications were underway.
"But I do hope such things will not happen again and hope that MoE will be more careful in handling such matters in future," he said.
Nonetheless, he believed that some schools still face such problems.
"Check with STU or the department concerned," Ghani advised. -- Courtesy of The Borneo Post Online
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
'Melayu' native kids: Ministry in the dark
http://freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/barisan-nasional/13584-melayu-native-kids-ministry-in-the-dark
'Melayu' native kids: Ministry in the dark .
Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:17 . .
By Patrick Lee and Joseph Tawie
UPDATED KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry is unaware that the race of indigenous children has been changed to Malay in their school report cards.
Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong told FMT this was the first time he had heard of it.
He said the fault did not rest with his ministry, but the National Registration Department (NRD).
"It could not have happened under our education system, because the ministry follows the child's birth certificate,” he said.
“Any correction to this (a child's racial origin) must be done with the NRD, not us. This has nothing to do with the ministry. We have no right to say if you're Malay or Chinese. We've no right.
“As far as I know, a child is registered based on the birth certificate, which is downloaded, or based on the system,” he added.
Wee was commenting on a FMT report that native Sarawakian children were classified as Malays in their school report cards.
Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, who raised the issue, said these children were identified as "lain-lain" in the past.
One parent even told Bian that the status of his child could not be changed back as it was already set in the system.
Wee also said that it was possible that the information in the report cards was not official and that it could have been changed.
"The report card is not an official document, it is a book... So you can change it, but I think it's more to do with amending the information,” he said.
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association livid
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) said the act of altering the children's race was "unconstitutional and wrong".
Taking the Education Ministry to task, Sadia president Sidi Munan said: "The ministry should know about the implications of such an act. This is a sensitive issue and affects us.”
"They should just go back to the constitution. It clearly defines the natives of Sarawak," he added.
Expressing puzzlement over the matter, Sidi said he did not understand why this was being done.
"Have they misunderstood... are they thinking that ‘Keturunan Melayu’ is the same as the Malay stock?
“But that is not what we are talking about here. This document (report card) has nothing to do with anthropological definition of ‘Keturunan n Melayu’. It does not make sense,” he said.
“If he is Kelabit call him Kelabit. If he is Iban call him Iban (Sea Dayak), Bidayuh (Land Dayak), and so on. The word of the constitution is law. It is the supreme law of the land. How can you go against it?” he asked.
'Melayu' native kids: Ministry in the dark .
Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:17 . .
By Patrick Lee and Joseph Tawie
UPDATED KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry is unaware that the race of indigenous children has been changed to Malay in their school report cards.
Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong told FMT this was the first time he had heard of it.
He said the fault did not rest with his ministry, but the National Registration Department (NRD).
"It could not have happened under our education system, because the ministry follows the child's birth certificate,” he said.
“Any correction to this (a child's racial origin) must be done with the NRD, not us. This has nothing to do with the ministry. We have no right to say if you're Malay or Chinese. We've no right.
“As far as I know, a child is registered based on the birth certificate, which is downloaded, or based on the system,” he added.
Wee was commenting on a FMT report that native Sarawakian children were classified as Malays in their school report cards.
Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, who raised the issue, said these children were identified as "lain-lain" in the past.
One parent even told Bian that the status of his child could not be changed back as it was already set in the system.
Wee also said that it was possible that the information in the report cards was not official and that it could have been changed.
"The report card is not an official document, it is a book... So you can change it, but I think it's more to do with amending the information,” he said.
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association livid
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) said the act of altering the children's race was "unconstitutional and wrong".
Taking the Education Ministry to task, Sadia president Sidi Munan said: "The ministry should know about the implications of such an act. This is a sensitive issue and affects us.”
"They should just go back to the constitution. It clearly defines the natives of Sarawak," he added.
Expressing puzzlement over the matter, Sidi said he did not understand why this was being done.
"Have they misunderstood... are they thinking that ‘Keturunan Melayu’ is the same as the Malay stock?
“But that is not what we are talking about here. This document (report card) has nothing to do with anthropological definition of ‘Keturunan n Melayu’. It does not make sense,” he said.
“If he is Kelabit call him Kelabit. If he is Iban call him Iban (Sea Dayak), Bidayuh (Land Dayak), and so on. The word of the constitution is law. It is the supreme law of the land. How can you go against it?” he asked.
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