A heart to help

Weeks ago, me and my friends volunteered to help in a very meaningful event called the Pertiwi Soup Kitchen food distribution event through the Welfare And Charity Keen Youth Society(W.A.C.K.Y.) of our college. It was actually a collaboration between the Pertiwi Soup Kitchen and the Rotary Club of Selangor to help the needy whom sometimes struggle to make ends meet in order to let them have a warm and nourishing meal for 3 days in a week regularly. Our task is actually very easy, we just need to help them distribute the prepared food for people whom are facing poverty and the homeless city dwellers in different stations. We go to a road in KL, I think it is Jalan Chow Kit perhaps and then headed to Kota Raya before going back to my apartment.

 

This is the first time where I realized that there are so many poor people living in this big city of KL. I suddenly realized that are so many people in this world whom are desperate and can barely earn enough to sustain their families' expenses. Everyday, they kept worrying of their family's rice bowls and their children's education fees while we may worry about whether we can score well in our next test or whether we managed to complete some insignificant tasks when compared with them that need not matter life and money. 

We should stop grumbling and worrying about not important things but rather be grateful of our personal conditions if we need not worry about what to eat and how do we have to live everyday. Instead, we should live everyday as happy and positive as possible because we are meant to live like that. We should also try to help others whom needed our help sincerely and spontaneously without hoping others to repay our kindness. May the angelic wings of kindness grow in your heart. :)

     

Malaysian Studies Essay: Equality in Malaysia, does it exists?

It has been 55 years since our country had gained independence. As we gaze back into the past decade of our nation’s humble history, we can see many progressive developments happening in our country. Despite the political, economy and social stability in our country, many of us are still unsatisfied by the issues regarding equality of Malaysians in opportunities of education, government service and the distribution of special privileges to certain ethnics. Is our country equal? Does our government practice social equality in maintaining the rights of its denizens? 

Before we look into this issue, I would like to ask you to pause and ponder about the following question: Is being 'equal' same as being 'fair'? Being 'fair' means that you act accordingly to the conditions before satisfying all sides whereas being 'equal' means that regardless of everything, you satisfy all sides unconditionally. Hence, we should bear in mind that there is a great difference between this two words.

Well, in my context, equality means people of different identities being given the similar  treatment and respect regardless of their sex, age, race, ethnics, cultures and historical backgrounds. Each and every one of them is given the same opportunities and aids that result in positive growth and development, thus enabling them to discover their true potential and increasing their competency and versatility to assist Malaysia in its future developments. 

Well, do you think that our country practices equality for every citizen? The easiest way is to look at the constitution of Malaysia. According to Article 8 of the Constitution of Malaysia, all persons are equal before the law and entitled to its equal protection and there shall be no discrimination against citizens. However, the article also mentions that “affirmative actions” are taken to protect the special position of Malays and indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak. This reflects the opportunity crisis that befalls the non-bumiputeras whom their next generations have long officially became the citizens of our country since independence.

Sad to say, but inequality does exist in many forms and ways that are powerful enough to shape the fate of these descendants of so called “immigrants” that had assisted the country in gaining the independence of the nation. For instance, many opportunities in education such as the places in many renowned government universities such as the University of Malaya and University of Science, Malaysia are reserved for Malays based on the quota system. Bumiputera students whom have average results in their SPM examination can apply for the matriculation program, a 1 year pre-u course that accepts 90% bumiputera students, which is tailor-made for them. Their access to major government universities is guaranteed and they will be faster than any other post-high school students in getting a degree. Many scholarships are also offered by the government to help the bumiputera students. 

In business, business license application is easier for  bumiputeras when compared to the non-bumiputeras. They can also apply for relatively low interest rate loans compared to the other races. In the New Economy Policy, foreign companies whom want to invest in our country by establishing manufacturing factories must recruit 30% of the bumi's to work in their factories and hold their assets. Job opportunities in government sectors are also in the favor of bumi's. More than 80% of the positions are granted for them. Everything in this country works based on the rigid quota system that benefits the major race in Malaysia that is burgeoning in a rapid rate. Our country should embrace upon meritocracy and not thinking of going to please the majority for political purposes. So, do you think that our country is equal? It is all up to you to decide.

We, Malaysians had been living in this strange system that does not support equality for many years and yet continue to live on it. If this persists, I feared that disunity and division among us will continue to progress and not dwindle. Hence, I really hope that there will be a drastic change in the equality systems of our country for the betterment of our life and our future.

Malaysian Studies essay: Role of education system in reducing crime rates of Malaysia

          An old proverb says that “knowledge is power”. True as gold, this proverb clearly reflects the massive impact of knowledge on a superior race like us, humans. Isn’t it rational to say that the control over vast extends of knowledge is the only thing that enables us to think and have conscience which will enable us to bring forth major improvements and developments that makes our life easier and comfortable. Knowledge is the thing that makes us dominant over all living things that flourished in this world.

          Well, what gives us knowledge? The answer is education. Education is the process of delivering knowledge, making people understands the fundamental principles that are being delivered and enables them to practice and apply it in life. That is why education is a very important element that has the capability to change the fate in the hands of anyone whom has been exposed to it. Education can be divided into parental education and formal education done by institutes such as schools, tuition centers, colleges, universities and religious institutes. Our focus today is on how formal education done by these institutes especially educational institutes ran by the government such as schools and universities is able to lend a helping hand in reducing the crime rates in our country.

          As we can see, formal educations all share a similar pattern. They are delivered by educational institutes with a specific objective and mission. They are uniformly delivered using a specific medium of language and approach. Most of them have their own syllabus and grand target that usually produces more effective results than parental education. In the context of decreasing crime rates in the country, they can assist by cultivating their students with positive yet empowering mindsets for the betterment of the country. This approach is a strategic one as it teaches them to differentiate between right and wrong, value kindness and dignity, besides having the ability to think on their own which is having self-conscience in short. Consequently, this will produce productive yet well-mannered citizens to assist the country in shaping major developments to the country.

          Formal education delivered can also reduce crime rate of Malaysia by implementing the policy of disciplining students as a strategy to curb pre-matured or juvenile crimes. As we all know, the society can only be harmonious if order existed in our daily lives. This order can only be attained if everybody does not breach the limit of freedom granted by their country to them and lives in accordance to the rules and regulations imposed. Everyone must learn how to live with others in a society basis, and this is practiced in school life. The structure of a school is a reflection of not entirely but part of the society. The government and enforcers of laws are the teachers and principals of the school. They should make sure that all students are following the laws set by them and punish those whom break or fail to obey it. This will discipline the students and alert them to learn how to “do the wave” by following the decisions made by the authorities which is extremely crucial in determining their future when they enter the society.

          Education institutes such as schools should also monitor the spiritual development progress of its students alike. They should not hesitate in providing guidance and support for their students in the form of motivation and counseling. They should also treat every student equally without being biased. This is because in the context of psychology, everyone subconsciously doesn’t realize that they thirst for attention and love being acknowledged or recognized by others. Hence, any unfair treatment will give them a major impact and may cause a trauma or the development of a spiteful, malicious yet vengeful personality. This is the precursor of any other crimes in the world.

          Formal education can also decimate the rate of criminal behaviors by taking religious approaches. Institutes such as religious institutes can inject a strong faith towards God to give its worshippers awareness of supernatural forces that govern their life in a daily basis. They will know the concept of Heaven and Hell and the rewards or punishments that they are about to face when they are dead. They should also learn that doing acts of crime are actually sins that will subject them to be hated by God. This makes them think twice whenever they are about to do acts of crime.   

          In conclusion, all education institutes pose an important role in preventing and curbing crime rates in our country. This is because education has the ability to change a person’s thoughts, point of views and shape his or her personality. Hence, education institutes should collaborate and cooperate with other authorities such as the law enforcers and with parents to bring this unhealthy phenomenon to its brink so that we can all live in a much better society, country and world.