Tiada lagi

Kord Gitar: Amy - Tiada Lagi

G        D
 Sia sia sudah
F           C
 Kita jalin cinta
       G              D
 Bila hati selalu berbeda

G            D    
 Sampai kapan lagi
F             C
 Aku harus menahan
          G             D
 Rasa kecewa di dalam dada

     C                 G        
 Seandainya kita masih bersatu
 C          D        G     
 Tak mungkinkan menyatu
       C           G
 Walau masih ada sisa cinta
   C               
 Biarkan saja berakhir sampai
      D
 Di sini

 C       G               D
 Tiada lagi yang ku harapkan
         Em             Bm
 Tiada lagi yang ku impikan
 C             G             D
 Biar aku sendiri tanpa diri mu

 C       G            D
 Tiada lagi kata cintamu
          Em            Bm
 Takkan lagi ku bersama mu
 C                  G
 Biar ku simpan semua
          Am D      G
 Kenangan ku bersamamu


p/s: tetiba aku minat gila lagu neh..layan sat..hehe

Tawaf Is a Cosmic Law

Allah Almighty says: [And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They float, each in an orbit.] (Al-Anbiyaa’ 21: 33)

This glorious verse refers to a scientific fact concerning the system of the universe. Scientific discoveries have proved that we live in a huge universe that depends on revolution. The earth revolves round the sun once a year, the moon revolves around the earth once per lunar month, and the other planets of the solar system also revolve round the sun, each in its own orbit. Besides, most of these planets have moons that revolve around them, each, also, in its own orbit. Astronomers have discovered more than 60 of these moons so far.

The solar system, likewise, orbits a center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. This galaxy consists of more than 130 billion stars. Galaxies, in turn, revolve round a center that only Almighty Allah knows.

The law of revolution applies also to atoms, the smallest units of elements that cannot be seen even by microscopes. An atom is composed of a nucleus whose diameter is less than a millionth of a millimeter. An atom is surrounded by electrons that move round the atom in an orbit. Since all matter in the universe-whether solid, liquid, or gaseous-consists of atoms, this means that the law of revolution applies to everything: stars, planets, moons, animals, plants, sand, seas, air, and so on.

This includes cells as well. The cytoplasm in the cell moves around the nucleus.

There is a common factor between the orbital movements of all the objects referred to above, this is, their revolution is counterclockwise.

Contemplating the above lines, we come to realize that revolution is a cosmic law.

With a believer’s meditation upon such a scientific fact, another image of revolution is brought to one’s mind: the pilgrims’ circumambulation of the Ka`bah, which is a basic ritual of Hajj in Islam.

Circumambulating the Ka`bah is a symbolic act of worship, whose wisdom may be hidden form some. It indicates the believers’ utter submission to Almighty Allah alone. The pilgrims go to Hajj in response to the divine order that Prophet Abraham (peace and blessings be upon him) conveyed to people. Allah Almighty says: [And (remember) when We prepared for Abraham the place of the (holy) House, saying: Ascribe thou no thing as partner unto Me, and purify My House for those who make the round (thereof) and those who stand and those who bow and make prostration. And proclaim unto mankind the pilgrimage. They will come unto thee on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep ravine.] (Al-Hajj 22: 26-27)

This signifies that the Ka`bah is the spiritual center of the believers. It refers to the close bond that should be between a believer and his Lord. A believer turns toward the Ka`bah five times a day during the prescribed ritual Prayers.

A pilgrim circumambulates the Ka`bah as if he or she is a celestial body orbiting another greater body. Circumambulation of the Ka`bah is to be performed counterclockwise. This indicates that there is a joint factor between a pilgrim’s expressing his ultimate faith in Almighty Allah by circumambulating the Ka`bah in that way and between the cosmic law of revolution discussed above. This indicates that there is consistency between the obligations of worship in Islam and the natural laws that govern the universe, which indicates that they all belong to only one source, that is, Almighty Allah.

This proves the truthfulness of the call of Islam that there is no god but Almighty Allah. Thus, Islam is the true religion that provides humankind with a comprehensive view in conformity with the divine truth that is apparent in the natural laws of the universe.

this article was taken from :

http://www.islamonline.net/English/hajj/Reflections/1425/08.shtml

selamat hari raya haji!!

mancing...

rilex japs.. lame dah x g mancing..ehehhehehe..thanx nasoha 4 the pic..

p/s: i'll be m.i.a for two weeks..so no update from me for my blog between that time :))

Nation-building involves all

Nation-building involves all

10 Dec 2006
Tunku Abdul Aziz
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Sunday/Columns/20061210094304/Article/index_html

---

I WAS turning 12. The war against Japan was finally over, and I was excited at the prospect of going to an English school, the Sultan Abdul Hamid College, no less. No more for me the nightmare of having to grapple with the Japanese and Siamese languages.


In school, I found myself with 30 others under the tutelage of Khir Johari, my history master, and a remarkable young man who was to play an important role in the fight for Merdeka.

Tan Sri Khir’s death recently was a matter of sadness to those who knew him as a wise and liberal man who also happened to be a great nationalist, in the best possible sense.

Years later, when I became his friend, I was allowed certain liberties with him. I often joked with him that all I ever knew of history I had learned from him. He had a way of making history come to life, "inventing events on the trot". It was always anti-colonial in tone, and I was not surprised that he left teaching soon after to devote his life to politics.

One morning, he asked us, unexpectedly, if we wanted to go along with him to listen to Dato Onn Jaafar who would be speaking later that morning on the padang opposite the Balai Besar, Alor Star, as the spelling was then. Needless to say, the response was a resounding "yes" — anything for a little diversion.

And so, a gaggle of the most unlikely looking anti-British fighters walked behind Pak Khir to hear Malaya’s greatest orator and man of destiny call on the Malays to unite against the proposed Malayan Union.

The huge crowd, mainly of rural Malays, like the rest of us, listened with rapt attention. Onn was as charismatic as he was articulate, and had complete mastery of Malay and English. In a speech that was laced, for all it was worth, with histrionics, and sprinkled liberally with "Hidup Melayu!", passions were being aroused slowly and you could almost feel the tension building as the ranting continued unabated. It was a masterful display of playing to the gallery to good effect.

Personally, I will not claim to have taken in everything the great man had said; my mind was on something else that I considered more delectable on that hot and sticky morning. The ais kerim potong peddler was ringing his brass bell just behind us, and I am afraid, Onn lost out to the humble Ah Pek in the battle for our attention.

The shouts of Hidup Melayu made me cringe. I was confused. There I was, a Malay from an old Kedah family growing up in a home that welcomed my Chinese, Indian and Malay friends and taught to treat race purely as an accident of birth, and suddenly being told that they were, perhaps not in so many words, potentially dangerous and untrustworthy, and we had better be careful.

Sixty years on, looking out of my 30th floor office in the UN Secretariat overlooking the skyline of Manhattan, and thinking about Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and his lurid keris-wielding performance at the recently-concluded Umno general assembly, I am struck by the similarity in the emotional and mental make-up of Hishammuddin, the rising star of Umno of 2006 and his illustrious and mercurial grandfather.

What Hishammuddin shares with Onn is unbounded passion in the principles he espouses, and complete openness and sincerity of purpose.

His sense of honour is never in dispute. He has all the makings of a great leader of Malaysians. He has to remember, though, that while he naturally wants the best for his race, and which leader does not, the feelings, sentiments and rights of his fellow Malaysians must be respected scrupulously.

It is unfortunate if his propensity to play to the gallery will mark him out as immature and unpredictable which I know is an undeserved reputation to bestow on Hishammuddin.

This leads me to a consideration of what it means to be a Malaysian in today’s Malaysia. The idea that one can become a useful citizen of Malaysia while opting deliberately to adopt a self-imposed system of social apartheid in the mistaken belief that the other races should be politely avoided is a recipe guaranteed to enhance mutual suspicion and misunderstanding.

Many of our fears and misunderstandings spring from ignorance of other people and their way of life.

Unless we are prepared to go out of our way and engage people of other races and religions, we will never understand that their fears, apprehensions, hopes and ambitions are not so different from our own. Underlying it all is a belief in common humanity, in our own self-respect, and the same self-respect that we must concede as a right in others.

We must all accept the fact that this is a country that sustains us; a country that expects us to contribute to its development and stability. If we sit idly by, and allow our own indifference or, worse, those forces bent on weakening our resolve for reasons not always readily understood, then we have ourselves to blame when our international reputation takes a further beating.

Polarisation must be stifled before it gets worse and consumes the very substance that is intended to nourish Bangsa Malaysia and all that it implies. The time to recover and re-establish our sense of "Malaysianness" is now.

Nation-building is a process. It is not a product that you can pick up at a pasar malam. We have to work at it, and not be distracted by those issues that, upon mature reflection, are not important but are nevertheless divisive. Let us all concentrate on those that matter to our long-term goals.

All of us — Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Ceylonese, Eurasians and all people of Sabah and Sarawak — must keep an open mind and adopt a positive attitude to the rebuilding of a new Malaysian nation, based on equality of opportunity, equal treatment under the law, and all the rights enshrined in our Constitution as well as those in the United Nations Charter and conventions.

The Malays, as the majority race, have a sacred duty to protect the weak, irrespective of race or creed, and to ensure that their rights are protected.

I despair when some Malays adopt an exclusive approach to nation-building, implying that non-Malays should remain mere onlookers in determining the sort of Malaysia we should work towards.

Malaysia is no more Bumiputera than it is Chinese or Indian. It belongs to us all who make her "the object of our love and loyalty," as Tunku Abdul Rahman used to say when Malaysia was a less divided country.

As I often reflect, the only visible national asset that is still officially designated "Melayu" is "Keretapi Tanah Melayu". With this, I urge Hishammuddin and other Umno worthies to sheath their keris, and think what we can all do to make this God’s great little acre for generations to come.

The writer is former president of Transparency International and Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General in the Ethics Office.

Rise to Political stardom

Whether you dream of running for president or just for a local city council seat, the world of politics is a whole new ballgame, complete with enough unwritten rules and cunning tricks to rival just about any secret society. Navigating the dos and don'ts of political life can make running for office a daunting endeavor, but if you take on the challenge and do it right, you too can enter the slick world of democracy.

The end result -- the celebration party and the photo ops -- might seem pretty glamorous from the outside, but you can't ignore the hard work and behind-the-scenes maneuvers of a political campaign. Preparing for any race at the polls will take a lot of time, effort and maybe even treachery. If you're planning on diving in, here are some of the things you'll need to keep in mind for a successful run for political office.


Choose a position

Before you start practicing your gracious winner's speech, you'll need to lay the groundwork for your rise to political stardom. Your first decision is whether to become a career politician (someone whose sole occupation is their elected status) or maintain your day job while holding office. This choice will help narrow down your options in terms of which races you can enter. Obviously, most of the high-profile political jobs, such as state governor or senator, will only be options if you're looking to make it a full-time job. If you only want a sideline project, you might want to consider a local council seat, trusteeship or board position for a local organization.

When trying to decide what type of position you want to pursue, it's a good idea to look into candidacy requirements to find out which ones you're eligible to run for. Because politics aren't just about handshakes and interns, plenty of strict laws and regulations are built into the system to monitor the democratic process. Everyone knows that a U.S. president has to be born in the United States, but that isn't all; every elected position has standards you have to meet.


Research your predecessors and opponents

Once you've figured out what office you're striving for, it's time to do a little research. Look into who has the job now and who's had it in the past in order to get an idea of what it takes to be elected, and what you'll have to do once you are. You might think that information will only be available on past presidents and senators, but your local media and library can offer up plenty of background information on recent mayors, city councilors and various other elected officials.
Look for similarities: Were most lawyers or family men, college grads or military servicemen? Pick out the characteristics that seem to pop up the most often and try your best to incorporate them -- or at least parts of them -- into your own persona. Don’t forget to hide the skeletons in your closet and dig up dirt on your opponents

Speaking of research and your character, some of the most important work you will have to do is on yourself. You must run through your own sordid history to spot any potential skeletons in your closet and figure out how to keep them hidden. You might also want to dig into the history of whomever you're running against. Knowing your opponents is one of the most critical factors in just about every aspect of life, and during an election, their dirty laundry can be a particularly valuable asset. Keeping a few secrets in your back pocket can be good insurance if things don't go your way and you need to sideline an adversary.


Plan your campaign

Now that you know the goals and the players, it's time to figure out exactly how to get to where you want to go. Your campaign must have a lot of different facets if you expect to be successful. Politics is a fierce game that is far removed from the sparkly posters and lunchtime campaign promises of your run for senior class president. The one thing that does remain the same is that most elections really are just popularity contests. Sure, some idealists believe in the right person for the job and a commitment to making a difference, but most of us know that he with the most friends wins.

Before you head out to make the “friends” that will ultimately be casting votes in your favor, you need to decide on your campaign platform; that is, what you actually plan to accomplish while you're in office. To get elected, you won't need to cover every single topic in detail, but you'll want to have a solid stance on the important, hot-button issues of the day.

Scan newspapers, watch the national and local news and political programs -- or you can cheat and scan the internet for buzz words and hot topics to use in your quest for power. You're more likely to gain attention if you take a stand on an issue that is already in the headlines.
However, steer clear of topics that are out of the breadth of your position, like abortion or assisted suicide. If it isn't something you will be able to do anything about once in office, it's best not to give people ammunition against you. Topics like these are contentious, and you can be assured that no matter which side of the issue you fall on, you would offend too many people to make it worthwhile.


Perfect your look and form alliances

Before you head out on the campaign trail, there are a few more things you'll have to prepare. First, you have to look like a politician, which includes a conservative haircut, great teeth, a nice suit,and if possible, an attractive man/woman at your side. You’ll also get bonus points for some cute kids for photo opportunities; nieces and nephews will do in a pinch.

Next, you need to form some alliances; a united front and noteworthy references are the cornerstones of a winning political career. You have to seek out as many friends (aka supporters) as possible, particularly high-profile ones. Mine your contact list for anyone who might be able to help you out or who might know someone who can. Old school friends, former coworkers, friends of your parents -- anyone who could possibly give you an introduction into the world of politics or grant you access to the people with the cash and know-how to help you get started.

How to build your campaign team… What you're looking for is access to your target demographic, and some free campaign publicity and support. Remember: Exposure is the only way to get votes, so you're looking for volume. Why go door to door stating your case to the individual voter when you can speak at your uncle Herb’s monthly union meeting and grab 200 voters in one shot? People are more likely to vote for someone they feel a connection with -- regardless of how brief their contact with them was or how far removed they are -- so start making lists of all your strategic alliances and supporters, and their strategic alliances and supporters, and so on. Your goal is to build your very own six-degrees- of-separation grid, one that will hopefully connect you with enough voters to win your election.


Build your team

Now that you have the avenues for getting your message out there, you will need some help bringing all the pieces together. Only the smallest of campaigns can be run single-handedly, so you will most likely need to surround yourself with a staff of savvy organizers and eager worker bees. When it comes to staffing, there are some key players you'll want to have around, although the exact number will depend on the level of office you're aiming for.

Political advisers and campaign managers are going to cost you. Six-figure salaries are the standard for most advisers for a national or state campaign -- such as for senator, governor or president -- but their salaries are much more reasonable for smaller campaigns and they can be invaluable resources for the first-timer. Sound advice and years of experience can add polish and refinement to what could otherwise be a haphazard campaign, making an adviser worthwhile for those shooting for a high-profile, media-worthy position.

Other areas you might consider assigning to someone with experience include fundraising coordination and press management. In a pinch, troll your local universities and colleges for political science or marketing majors that could help you out. Your focus should be on the big picture while your staff works to ensure that all the pieces of the puzzle are taken care of and in line with the overall vision.

As for the hands-on volunteers, look for quantity rather than quality. Since their duties will mostly consist of mundane poster distribution or envelope stuffing, screening and recruitment can be done fairly quickly. One of the easiest ways to get many bodies working for you is to use your platform perspective to your advantage; it shouldn't be too hard to find a special-interest group -- for example, an environmental action group if that's your thing -- to poach volunteers from. Politics is all about the exchange of favors, so most organizations will be more than happy to provide members to work with you toward your “shared” goal. If you can promise visibility for their cause, they'll be sure to send over some free, able-bodied workers.


Assemble your campaign materials

Now that you have the workers, you need to get your campaign materials sorted. Fliers, posters, signs, and commercials; there's no limit to the ways your name can get out there. For inspiration, all you have to do is look around you. Think like a marketing machine; it's all about logos, slogans and sound bites. Easily identifiable characteristics are the political equivalent of the breakfast cereal jingle. There's a reason why some politicians are always being parodied on Saturday Night Live: They've made themselves into such caricatures that the slogans and symbolism they‘ve surrounded themselves with can practically stand alone. That's your goal: brand recognition.

How to get more votes on the last few days leading up to the election…
A catchphrase (remember “No New Taxes”?) or a gesture (the Bill Clinton thumbs-up) can become a powerful tool to get your name on every voter's lips. The media isn't going to sift through a half-hour speech looking for something to say about you -- you need to hit them over the head with your main points. Repetition is the quickest way to make this happen. If you make it easy for the media to quote you and the voters to understand you, you'll be a step ahead of your running mates who are too busy trying to outtalk and overpromise their way into office.


Work the media

The stage has been set for your rise to political stardom, and the final days leading up to Election Day can be hectic and exhilarating. Whether you're running for the Senate or City Council, you'll be in the media spotlight to some degree. Politics is fascinating for those watching from the outside, and it's up to you to put on a good show. Working the media is your last shot at reaching the voters and locking in votes, and no time is more critical than the last few days before ballots are cast. Plenty of well-qualified candidates have thrown races down the drain with a poor on-air presence or a botched interview, so be sure to keep your wits about you every time the camera is pointed in your direction.

Your final push to the polls will be a success with these camera-ready tips:

• - Smile as often as you look serious. People want to vote for someone who is trustworthy, but they also want to see his friendly, human side. Bridge the gap between easygoing everyman and assured leader. Keep your face expressive and your speech patterns inflective; no one wants to listen to a stone-faced, monotone speaker.
  
  - Remember that honesty and disclosure aren’t the same thing. Omission isn't a lie; therefore, keep the bad hidden and continually tout the good.
  
  - Clichés and catchphrases are your friends. Popular political ones you'll want to throw into your speeches include, "In these difficult times…" and "What my running mate fails to understand is..."
  
  - Wear glasses if you have them; they look scholarly and intelligent.
  
  - For the most part, people want to believe what you're saying, so speak slowly and with authority, and never look to others for answers. Remember that voters don't need to understand the political issues; they just need to believe that you do.
  
  - When in doubt,quote other great thinkers and politicians. This makes you sound trustworthy and honorable by association, as well as well-read and intelligent.

become a leader

No matter how high you've set your sights, running a good campaign can be more important than what you actually stand for or how much experience you have. A campaign is just a stepped-up version of a marketing plan -- with you as the product. Keeping that in mind and managing all aspects of your image on the campaign trail can make you a real political contender.

source :----> from my email

Michael Backman

Michael Backman "really understands why businessevolved the way it did in Asia."
http://www.michaelbackman.com/

Below are links to other recent columns that relate to Malaysia written by him:

New Column on Malaysia (Nov 29, 2006)
A note for Malaysian readers (Nov 17, 2006)
Column on Malaysia (Nov 15, 2006)
On the role of Women in Malaysia and SE Asia generally (August 23, 2006)
On Tun Mahathir's Outbursts (July 12, 2006)
On Meeting Tun Mahathir (November 2, 2005)
On Rafidah Aziz and the AP scandal (August 10, 2005)

ps:--> those article had been blame publicly by the gov..btw, ape salahnya kalau kita baca..mahu tahu juga pandangan orang.. =P

Learning from China's mistake

Learning from China’s mistakes

By TAN TENG BOOCEO, Capital Dynamics Sdn Bhd

ALTHOUGH China is only the third nation to man spacecraft, the success of that country's first manned space flight has global implications. Why?

The first is at the military and thus political level. We all know that since the break-up of the USSR, there is in effect only one superpower. Such a monopoly can be very unhealthy and unproductive for the whole world, as can be clearly illustrated by monopolies in the business world.

A visitor to the National Museum of China in Beijing looks at a wax model of spaceman Yang Liwei.The fact that China is now capable of launching its own astronaut has created a new chapter in theglobal balance of power – AFPpic

The fact that China is now capable of launching its own astronaut, or yuhangyuan, has created a new order, a new chapter in the global balance of power. While it is not a major technological achievement like Yuri Gagarin’s historic orbit in 1961, the success of China’s space efforts means that it is a serious player on the global scene, one that has the technological and management know-how and clout to undertake such a complex exercise.

For the first time since the demise of USSR, the US faces a serious and credible competitor. The emergence of China in the technology and military dimension has to be seen in connection with its emergence as an economic power.

China’s economy is now a major engine of global economic growth. While Japan and the US keep focusing on its booming exports, imports by China have been booming too. The Australian economy, for example, has benefited significantly from China’s fast rising consumption. Many agricultural and industrial commodities have benefited from rising prices as China’s consumption surged, benefiting producers from Latin America to North America to the energy producers to Japan and more. The millions of Chinese tourists are also pouring their spending power into the global tourist industry.

What is of even greater significance is what the future holds. China’s space programmes will definitely not end with mere manned flights. It has greater ambitions. The moon, space stations and the list go on. This is not surprising. The space programmes are not just scientific adventures. Their success with these leads to a multiplier effect. They have immense technological, military, commercial and political implications on a global scale.

Each future space success will catapult China to a higher level. It is not inconceivable that China will, in the future, overtake Russia and the US in space exploration and technology. It has the potential and the clout to do so. It is already ahead of Europe and Japan in space programmes.

At the same time, China’s rapid economic growth, like its space programme, still has a long way to go before it matures. As China’s economy races ahead, it will, alongside the US, be the engines of world economic growth. China is already a very important engine of global economic growth. It is just that in the future, China’s economy will be an even more important world engine and will one day surpass the US in terms of contribution to world economic growth.

So, if one peers into the rest of the 21st century, we will see the world becoming more balanced with two superpowers in place. However, while such a balanced structure may not lead to a less tense world, the world will be more peaceful because it will be in equilibrium. It will be in equilibrium precisely because the single superpower will now have a counterweight.

For Asia, in general, and Malaysia, in particular, such an outcome can bring many wonderful opportunities. But before Malaysia can take advantage of these endless opportunities, it has many lessons to learn from China’s experience in transforming itself from a gigantic has–been to a credible superpower.

First, Malaysia has too many hang-ups. To aggravate this entrenched problem, its leaders try to overcome them with short-term measures and short cuts. Just look at the number of ludicrous attempts to enter the Guinness Book of Records. In trying to create the spirit and culture of Malaysia Boleh, Malaysia has given its citizens the dangerous impression that all it needs to do in order to succeed is to sail one time round the world or send an astronaut to space or have the tallest building just for a few years.

To cure our hang-ups, Malaysia needs to eat humble pie first. No, we have to swallow the humble pie (let us hope that we do not choke as the humble pie has become really big).

China invented fireworks, the basis of modern rockets. It also invented compass. The West copied and improved on them and used them to conquer the rest of the world. As the emperors of China wallowed in false pride and complacency, the West learned and copied from a more advanced civilisation, caught up and raced ahead. A few centuries later, the leader became the laggard while the imitator became the boss.

What China has painfully learned and is still learning is that it must get rid of its hang-ups and be willing and open-minded to learn from the rest of the world. While China developed its own intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear capability, it had to learn from Russia when it comes to space technology.

i Capital hopes that our Government can learn from the mistakes of China and overcome our many silly hang-ups. For example, Malaysians have this notion that by learning English, one becomes westernised. Malaysians think that by learning and embracing science and technology, one becomes less religious. Malaysia cannot have more press freedom because it worries that every criticism is ill intentioned and directed to destroy the country.

China’s economy has succeeded precisely because it is willing to undertake and undergo reforms. Despite the pain and suffering, China has and is reforming day by day, month by month, year by year and decade by decade. It is this willingness to continuously reform that will propel China to further success, be it space, economy, politics, etc.

Do not get us wrong. i Capital is not looking at China through rose-tinted glasses. China has to undergo so many reforms now because of the endless list of mistakes that it has committed in the past. In trying to tell Malaysians that they can do it or can succeed, the message has become “it is so easy to succeed”. No wonder we go for cheapskate stuff like the longest chee cheong fun or the roundest thosai or the highest teh tarik.

i Capital hopes our Government can bring the mindset among Malaysians down to a more earthly level. Having the least number of potholes in our roads or being able to achieve the cleanest toilet in South-East Asia would be an excellent start. Malaysia has no choice but to reform. i Capital places its faith in the Government to take the lead in this do-or-die mission.

UKM mercu tanda kualiti pendidikan negara

Oleh MOHD. ANAS ALI

UNIVERSITI Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) yang terletak di Bangi, Selangor mempunyai satu formula kepimpinan yang sangat prihatin dalam mewujud dan mengekalkan sistem nilai kualiti.

Dari satu kepimpinan ke satu kepimpinan yang lain, usaha ke arah peningkatan dan pengekalan kualiti diamalkan. Pemimpin di setiap peringkat di UKM begitu komited dan cekal dalam usaha untuk mencapai kecemerlangan. Kepemimpinan UKM juga berjaya mewujudkan suasana serta galakan kepada warga universiti tentang usaha peningkatan kualiti dan menjana persaingan yang sihat dengan meletakkan agenda kualiti sebagai salah satu daripada tiga agenda utama universiti iaitu penyelidikan, pengantarabangsaan, dan kualiti atau ringkasnya RIQ.

UKM telah melaksanakan proses jaminan kualiti di setiap peringkat yang dilihat berkait dalam usaha peningkatan kualiti, antaranya jaminan kualiti pensyarah, jaminan kualiti pelajar, jaminan kualiti pentadbiran dan jaminan kualiti kakitangan sokongan. Di setiap peringkat ini, dilaksanakan pelbagai tindakan dan program yang dapat menjamin kualiti dalam persembahan kerja serta penyampaian perkhidmatan di peringkat masing-masing. Ia seolah-olah melahirkan kualiti dan mutu di peringkat akar umbi sesebuah organisasi.

Dalam menjamin perancangan strategik dapat direalisasikan, UKM telah menggubal pelan tindakan jangka panjang iaitu Pelan Strategik 2000-2020. Hasil daripada semakan semula, UKM merangka Pelan Strategik UKM Perspektif 2006-2010, yang sejajar dengan perubahan semasa dan Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan yang telah dirangka kerajaan. Pelan Strategik UKM ini adalah pelan tindakan yang akan memandu UKM dalam menghadapi perkembangan baru dan perubahan semasa. Keharmonian dalam perancangan strategik yang selari dengan misi dan visi universiti ini dilihat menjadi nadi kepada pencapaian dan peningkatan dalam kualiti pengurusan UKM.

Pelbagai mekanisme digunakan dalam mengukur pencapaian objektif kualiti. Instrumen soal selidik dan aduan pelanggan digunakan dalam sistem pengurusan kualiti ISO 9001:2000. Antara mekanisme yang utama diaplikasikan adalah seperti Sistem Aduan Dalaman Pelajar (SADP), Sistem Aduan Dalaman (SAD) dan Sistem Aduan Kerosakan (SAK). Selain itu, pelbagai petunjuk digunakan dalam menentukan tahap kepuasan hati pelanggan dan pelbagai kaedah digunakan untuk mengukur kepuasan hati pelanggan. Antaranya ialah melalui maklum balas seperti surat, e-mel dan lain-lain, kaji selidik tahap kepuasan, keratan akhbar, dialog, perjumpaan berkala bersama perwakilan pelajar serta laporan dari agensi-agensi luar. Kaedah yang telah diamalkan ini telah membantu UKM dalam menambah baik sistem pengurusan dan kualiti kerja di semua peringkat.

Sebagai sebuah universiti yang begitu prihatin terhadap semua pihak dalam pentadbirannya, semua pihak boleh mengakses kemudahan Internet dan Intranet yang dibangunkan oleh pihak universiti. Sistem yang dibangunkan ini membantu pengurusan universiti menyebarkan maklumat- maklumat serta agenda-agenda yang akan dibawa UKM dalam usaha melibatkan semua pihak dalam penjanaan idea. Daripada kakitangan sehingga ke pelajarnya, kemudahan ini membantu menghubungkan pihak atasan atau pengurusan tertinggi dalam perkongsian maklumat dan sekaligus dapat menilai kualiti dalam penggunaan sistem teknologi maklumat di UKM.

Agenda penyelidikan juga telah menjadi salah satu agenda utama UKM. Dalam melaksanakan agenda penyelidikan ini, UKM telah memutuskan supaya pengurusan penyelidikan mengamalkan sistem pengurusan berkualiti bertaraf dunia dan berlandaskan piawai yang diiktiraf di peringkat antarabangsa.

Pengiktirafan UKM sebagai antara 100 universiti terbaik di dunia dalam bidang penyelidikan juga memberikan gambaran bahawa segenap pihak telah berusaha keras dalam bidang yang kini dianggap penyumbang kepada kemajuan negara. Hasil usaha pihak-pihak terlibat dalam bidang penyelidikan UKM ini tidak terhenti di situ apabila UKM telah dikenal pasti sebagai salah sebuah universiti penyelidikan di negara ini sempena Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan. Pencapaian ini bukanlah untuk mendabik dada tetapi inilah yang UKM peroleh setelah usaha demi usaha di pelbagai peringkat yang melibatkan banyak pihak dilakukan.

Jika dilihat dari aspek pengantarabangsaan yang juga merupakan agenda utama UKM, pihak pengurusan telah banyak menjalinkan kerjasama khususnya bidang akademik, dengan universiti-universiti di Asia dan seantero dunia. Melalui jalinan kerjasama yang wujud, jelas menggambarkan pengiktirafan dunia terhadap kualiti pendidikan UKM di persada antarabangsa. UKM juga banyak terlibat dengan badan-badan antarabangsa dengan menjadi ahli kepada badan tersebut. Antaranya, “The Global University Network for Innovation” (GUNI-AP), “International Association of University Presidents” (IAUP) dan lain-lain badan antarabangsa. Selain itu, dalam bidang akademik, kualiti pendidikan dapat dilihat melalui pelaksanaan program dwi-ijazah dalam bidang kejuruteraan dengan Universiti Duisburg Essen di Jerman dan pelbagai lagi program-program akademik yang melibatkan antarabangsa.

Jelasnya, UKM kini mendahului bidang pengajian tinggi di Malaysia dalam usaha menjadi universiti yang sentiasa terkehadapan melangkaui zamannya melalui penekanan aspek kualiti. UKM yang memartabatkan bahasa Melayu, mahukan anak didiknya diperlukan oleh segenap sektor sebagai modal insan yang mantap dan berkuailiti. Kini, UKM sudah pun mencapai impiannya mengeluarkan modal insan berkelulusan ph.D seramai 100 orang pada setiap tahun. Ciri-ciri kualiti yang kini dipamerkan oleh UKM memang selayaknya mendapat pengiktirafan negara. Anugerah Kualiti Perdana Menteri 2006 yang diterima oleh UKM menunjukkan bahawa organisasi ini telah memenuhi segala kriteria-kriteria yang telah ditetapkan melalui pengaplikasian amalan kerja berkualiti dalam pengurusan dan persembahan kerja.

Sebagai sebahagian warganya, sekalung ucapan tahniah dan terima kasih kerana membawa UKM ke arah kegemilangan yang berkualiti.

- PENULIS adalah mantan Presiden Persatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

sesi 2005/2006.

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/archive.asp?y=2006&dt=1130&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=rencana&pg=re_06.htm&arc=hive

p/s -->> ukm semakin kukuh..tapi alumni ampeh~~ kosian den

Most bloggers are women

Most bloggers are women

KUALA LUMPUR: If you are a Malaysian and you have your own blog, the odds are that you’re a woman, aged 25 or under.
Sixty-four per cent of local bloggers are female and 74% of them are in that age group. This is a finding of an international online survey involving more than 25,000 Microsoft MSN web portal visitors in August and September. The survey, Blogging Asia: A Windows Live Report, was conducted in Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. It found that 41% of Malaysians who went online also blogged. Malaysia’s bloggers primarily do it for entertainment and to share their lives with family and friends.

“Blogging has moved into the mainstream in Asia and Malaysia, and has become a popular way to stay in touch with family and friends,” said Grant Watts, Microsoft South-East Asia general manager for online services group.

The survey found that 56% of Malaysians blogged to express passionately held views, while 49% blogged to keep friends and family updated. Some 34% just like having a little corner of cyberspace to call their own. Only a small number, about 3%, said they were practising “citizen journalism.” As for blog-reading habits, 63% of respondents said they read blogs for entertainment, while technology, travel and music were the three most widely read blog topics across Asia and in Malaysia.

The majority of blog readers, 81%, are most interested in blogs written by friends or family. Far behind in popularity are blogs by celebrities, pop stars and workmates. Blogs by business leaders and politicians garner the least interest. Blog readers said they looked for good writing and plenty of pictures.

ps-> i'm not a girl..not yet a woman :P