CC Trip

29/09/08, 1.30pm, finally, the long waited CC trip (UM 7th Residential College Chinese Community) has finally came to an end...

The latest CC trip had brought about tonnes of memories and emotional thoughts to me. Suddenly, i realized that i'm already in my 3rd year, the final year of my undergrad in UM. I'm currently in the position of my 3rd year seniors when i first entered UM. I was then, a nobody within the campus, knowing nothing, staring at the seniors and think that they are full of wisdom and experiences, way better-equipped than me. I was wondering how long would it take for me to match their status. Now, as time flies like an arrow (i'm really seriously meaning it), i'm already in my seniors position. Whether am I as good as they are, it is much subject to debate, but certainly, I'm now a better person than I was. I'd experienced lots of memories. And one of the most treasured memories is the CC trip.

When I was in my 1st year, my role was to take part, participate and enjoy the trip. But I do not know anything. I did not know what CC trip is, what's available for me, the activities that was prepared and etc. And above all, I was still not quite close with my seniors. I was just merely knew them, and the interactions was kinda distanced. But, once the CC trip started, I left all the obstacles behind, and aimed at enjoying the trip only. I could still remembered my group members in d trip, all the station games I played, the performance my group made and etc. But what I enjoyed most in the trip was the dancing part (tuan kang). I just love the parts. And even until now, I could still remember all the songs and some of the moves. At that time, we even played until 4am, just for dancing. It was so much fun by then. I cherished all my memories and experience.

And, when I moved into 2nd year, my role changed. I was no longer the participants, instead, being an organizer. I took up the role of deputy director and had plenty of works to do. The experience of being a 1st year and 2nd year are totally different. I could still remember my works during my 2nd CC trip. I was basically the driver, driving up and down hill to deliver all the meals to the participants. I hardly involved in any activities. And the 2nd task that i remembered most is the water boiling task. We had no choice but to boil the water using water heaters. And we just kept on boiling waters till no end. It was tough and tiring, and we even sleep in the canteen, side-by-side with the water heaters. However, there was one moment that I can truly enjoyed the trip was the dancing part (tuan kang). We were the learner in our 1st year, but when we were in 2nd year, we were the teacher. We had to create the moves and teach the participants. Even though it was tiring, but once the dancing part started, I was full of energy and started to play. I really enjoyed it. For me, the most interesting part of CC trip is the dancing.

And now, I just finished my 3rd year CC trip. Honestly speaking, the recent CC trip is the most organized and interesting trip. The concept of using RPG is magnificent, and the make-ups and decoration were great. But, one thing that was missing, is the dancing part. This year, my 2nd year juniors decided to cut down the dancing part, restricting it into just 3 songs. But, it's not any mistakes or wrong. It's just merely a change of style. However, when we, the 3rd year and the 4th year were given a special slot to dance, and showing to the juniors our dances and moves, we were so thrilled and excited. And then, we stand in the middle of a big circle of juniors and started our moves. And when I looked into their position, it reminds me of my 1st year. The memories just floured in. And then, during the live band slot, we danced even more. The atmosphere was terrifying and marvelous! I just love it. And, on the last day of the trip, we sang the CC song. I seldom cried, even though I felt touched. But on that day, I just felt like crying. It was so hard to control my tear drops, although I somehow managed to control it. But I must say that the song really brought back a lot of memories to me, from my 1st day entered into UM, and until now. All the little details and things that I went through, especially with my badge of 7th CC members. All the projects, activities and crazy stuffs. And, when I suddenly realized, it was already almost reaching the finishing point. And from now on, I must even cherish my days in campus more!

Lastly, I must say "WELL DONE" to my 2nd year juniors who organized such a magnificent and successful CC trip. Keep the spirit up and pass on the spirit to the juniors.

And to my fellow 3rd year and 4th year, thanks for everything that we undergone together. Those memories will never be removed from my heart.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

"Pendatang" or Citizen !?

The hottest debated current issue is about a remark made by one of the political party leader in Penang, Mr. A. The issue is about the origin of Malaysian Chinese (a term I would replace with "Chinese Malaysian") and also the "pendatang" claim.

I'm really disappointed with the statement made by this "respected" leader and also the consequence actions made by him after being criticized for this remark. What makes me even more disappointed is his refusal to apology. The reason he gave was that the statement was made when he talked about the pre-independence period, the British Colonization Period. What he was referring at that point of time was that the Chinese were brought by British into Malaya Land and that the unequal treatment provided by the British towards the Chinese widen the gap between the Chinese and Bumiputeras. In the end of the day, the Chinese was controlling the huge piece of economic cake in the country and that the Chinese are "unwilling" to share with the Bumiputeras. Because of this refusal of Chinese, the 513 Incident occurred. And the only solution for the problem is the Affirmative Action, or better known as New Economic Policy (NEP).

For me, this is even more nonsense. I suppose that this leader should have aware that the current situation is that the Citizen Of Malaysia is no longer wanting for NEP and any other race-based policy. What the people want now is equal share of social-economic welfare, regardless of ethnicity, religion, and class. The people has shown their choice in the 308 General Election. If this leader is really aware of this, I think it was a BIG mistake for him to make such a claim to woo voters during the Permatang Pauh By-Election. Making such claims and statements will only intensify the difference and misunderstanding between the people and the Coalition and also, most importantly, the people of these two ethinicities.

Another reason of arguing to his point is that the "willingness" of Chinese to share the economic pie equally with the Bumiputeras. Let me point out this point, that is how many out of the top-ten Public-Listed Company in the BSKL is owned by the Chinese? Less than 5!! And, how can he made such a claim that the Chinese are not willing to share and cooperate? If the Chinese are really unwilling to share, would the Chinese cooperate with the NEP for more than 30years? The opportunity given to the Bumiputera during the implementation of NEP for the pass 30years had even surpassed the opportunity given to the Chinse during the pre-Indenpendece period. Is it still not enough? The problem is not that the Chinese are not willing to share, but the implementation of the policy was failed considerably due to the management and implement of policies. As I had said in my earlier post, we are now the 3rd, 4th or even 5th generation since our forefathers migrated to Malaysia. We share the country and love the country as much as any other citizen of Malaysia do.

The only place I would call home is Malaysia and not China!
Therefore, I hope that this leader would follow the example of our Deputy Prime Minister to apologize to the people who felt hurt by the claim. It might not only be referring to single ethnicity, but also to other minority ethnicies. Hope that Mr. A would really make the wise move and may God bless him.

Communication in Relationship

I just had a dinner with my ex-roommate and his gf. We had our dinner in BBQ Plaza, 1-Utama. While we were walking to the restaurant, my ex-roommate was holding his gf's hand. I'd seen this type of scenario many times, but still, everything i see it, my heart will be soured. I'm not being jealous or envy or complaining to my fellow friends, but just something flash through my mind whenever i see this scenario: holding hands. I sometimes just couldn't stop myself from thinking the relationship problem i'm having now. Why cant I just have a normal relationship just like my friends around me? Why I always face so many problems? Is the problem with me? If it is really so, please tell me. I really wish to know.

I recalled an old saying "the key of a good relationship is communication". And I'm absolutely agree with it. I used to have a very very close friend, X. We talked a lot of stuffs and we never hide our problems and emotions from each other. I thought this kind of relation and trust would persist for a long time. But I was WRONG. We dun talk everything and anything to each other. Whenever we face problems, X and I would just keep quiet. We don't bother to tell each other how we feel and our opinions on the issue. We had since then be guessing on each other thoughts. We don't really communicate anymore. I'm so upset to see us turning into such situation.

X, i just want to tell you that: when we were still sharing with each other about our problems, no matter what problem it was, we could still help each other. Communication is the only way to develop trust in a relationship. No matter how tough the problem was, we faced it together, lending hand to each other , encouraged each other, supporting each other. But it was no longer be seen now. I'm really disappointed now. We do not talk to each other any longer. I afraid that, if this situation persist, the gap between us will be wider. If we do not talk to each other about our problems again, we might well be reaching a point where we really do not talking to each other. I'd seen many relationships turned sour because of not talking to each other. It's just like my situation and my father. And I don't hope that we'll reach that point where we treat each other as invisible.

Communication, key to develope trust.

Aftermath of mid-semester test

I had a mid semester test today. Today's paper is Microeconomics 3, not a tough course, and yet, my careless mistakes proved to be costly. It was 2 careless mistakes that shouldn't had happened, but, ironically, i did it. Well, I think I would be doing moderate in this time around.

I went to a meeting today and we talked about the cc-trip (cc means Chinese Community of 7th Residential College of UM). It was just another ordinary meeting, but there was something that captured my attention. I heard that quite a number of my badge college-mates are not joining the trip. I was quite upset by their decisions. Recalling back my experience as the organizer of the trip a year ago, it was a tough one. I could still remember the major problem that i faced last year was that the lack of participants. Me and my commitee members were scratching our heads to attract the participants for the trip. And what happens now make me feel even more upset. I'm upset because my badge of college-mates had forgotten the hardship they had endured, how they overcame it, how they complaint and how they suffered because of it. I'm really upset. Now, as the senior, or better to be known as ex-officio, the best i could contribute to the current commitee is to try persuade my fellow college mates to join the trip. I just hope that they can put down all the negative thoughts, either it's on the 2nd year's style of organizing, the contents of the trip or any other possibilities. Just give it a try and feel the trip. I believe that this feeling and experience would be very different with ours as 1st year and 2nd year students.

The utmost important of the trip is to folster the unity and ties among us, I mean the whole 7th CC in this context. It's a great platform for us to kow more about our juniors. If this is not the time, when will it be? This perhaps is the final year of us being an undergraduate. Grab the opportunity and not to waste it. :)

Farewell to My Roommate

Today, my roommate of 1 year and 3 months will be moving out. He had graduated from the course and finished his term as UM student council. Finally, the time has arrived and he will be moving out today.

Supposingly he had to move out 3 months ago, but he still became my roommate this semester due to his responsibility in the student council. Now thinking back our time as roommate, it was really enjoyable and nice. I can never asked for a better roommate. We chat and share a lot, and our roommate talk topic is quite different to others. We often talk about issues, politics and even our problems. Frankly speaking, I am really gratitude to have him as my roommate. I learnt a lot from him, and he helped me a lot in guiding me.

But, he would still need to move out today. There is a chinese proverb says:" There will never be a banquet that never ends." My dear roommate, wish you all the best in your career. May God bless you and your family.

Thank you Bryant!