Monday, November 29, 2010

Ye ke?

Baca blog Mazidulakma di sini  pasal pemerhatian beliau di Kelantan. Tak terkejut pun bila beliau merakamkan ketergamamannya



"Satu hari saya ternampak budak perempuan berseragam sekolah  masuk ke rumah  dengan 6 budak lelaki. Saya datang jumpa dan halau semua budak lelaki. Bila saya tanya umur, budak perempuan tu jawab, 12 tahun. Kemudian saya tanya, tak takut ke kalau kena 'main'? Dia jawab dah biasa, pecah dara dulu katanya, dia kena 'main' 7 lelaki. Lepas bersembang dan dia mula percaya dengan saya, dia mengaku datang ke rumah tu sebab nak 'main'. Dengan 6 lelaki sekaligus ke? Dia jawab, tak, dalam dua tiga orang lah. Dia kata dia ketagih 'main', kalau tak dapat dia gelisah dan kena cari juga lelaki nak main dengan dia"

Saya terdiam.

Tergamam."


Terbaca pulak rencana ini di Utusan Malaysia [rencana penuh di sini] pasal keluhan seorang remaja 12 tahun. Ingatkan isu yang sama dengan apa yang diutarakan Mazidul rupanya it's the other side of the coin.


Budak ini mengeluh kerana bosan tiada aktiviti masa cuti sekolah panjang dan menginginkan buku cerita untuk dibaca.


Rasa macam tak percaya di zaman ini ada budak umur 12 tahun mengeluh ingin baca buku cerita.


Memang tidak dinafikan apa yang dikatanya pasal perpustakaan sekolah. Selain dari kurang buku, masalah besar yang saya perhatikan ialah masa penggunaan perpustakaan.


Perpustakaan sekolah dibuka waktu sekolah sedangkan logiknya waktu pelajar di sekolah penuh dengan jadual waktu matapelajaran dari waktu mula sampai sehingga waktu balik dengan 15 minit waktu rehat.


Beratur di kantin untuk sepinggan mee goreng dan segelas sirap pun dah memakan keseluruhan 15 minit waktu rehat.


Bila kala seorang pelajar ada masa nak ke perpustakaan?


Siapa pulak yang jaga perpustakaan? Cikgu? Pustakawan? PAR?


Siapa pun ... masa tetap merupakan masalah.


Pilihan terbaik ialah perpustakaan awam.


Setahu saya kini banyak diirikan perpustakaan desa.


Ada juga perpustakaan bergerak.


Hendak seribu daya ...

Thursday, November 25, 2010

MCMC - Errr! Say that again Mr Minister

The Star today reported [source]


THE price of netbooks under the 1Malaysia Netbooks Computer Initiative has been capped at RM1,000 each.


Information, Communications and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the sum was not only for the computers, but also for the software and six months’ broadband subscription.


“The 1Malaysia computer programme was allocated RM1bil under the Universal Service Provider (USP) fund to supply one million computers to those deserving, as announced by the Prime Minister on March 24,” he said in a written reply to Wee Choo Keong (Ind-Wangsa Maju).


Dr Rais also said that as at Nov 3, RM11.05mil had been disbursed to the USP license holder under the first phase of the programme.

“As at Nov 2, the USP fund had RM4.53bil in cash reserves,” he added.


On 09/11/2010 NST ran this report [here]. 


CYBERJAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) revealed yesterday how the RM4.15 billion Universal Service Provision (USP) fund was spent. The bulk was used for the purchase of netbooks.
USP division acting senior director Zulkarnain Mohd Yassin said RM1 billion was spent to buy the netbooks as MCMC could not achieve some of the fund's objectives.

The MCMC came under scrutiny as questions were raised over the use of RM1billion from the fund to finance the netbooks when the allocation was meant for developing infra/connectivity in underserved areas, especially rural areas.


USP-funded projects are related to communications and multimedia, such as basic telephony, cellular coverage, Community Broadband Centres (CBC), Community Broadband Libraries (CBL) and People's Internet Centres (PIR).

As at Sept 30, the cumulative contribution from eligible licensees to the USP fund stood at RM4.15 billion.

Of the total, RM629.23 million was for basic telephony, telecommunication towers for expansion of cellular coverage (RM1.87 billion), CBC and CBL (RM573.7 million), Mini CBC and PIR (RM10 million) and 1Malaysia netbooks (RM1 billion).


Another RM150 million was for the expansion of broadband network coverage areas to the communities surrounding CBCs and CBLs, while some RM520 million had been set aside for collective broadband network and Kampung WiFi.

Another RM40 million was for "other collective broadband network projects".

This will leave a cash balance of RM380 million by next year.


Earlier, MCMC chairman Tan Sri Khalid Ramli gave a welcome address, noting that there had been much interest generated in the press relating to its work as an industry developer and regulator of the communications and multimedia sector in the country.

He was at the briefing conducted by Zulkarnain but was absent during the question-and-answer session.

Zulkarnain said 123,000 netbooks had been distributed under the first phase (2002-2008).

The remaining 300,000 netbooks under the second phase (2009-2011) would be distributed from next month. Students and low-income earners are expected to receive them by February.

A netbook costs RM830, with an additional RM80 for installation of Microsoft software and another RM2 for anti-virus software.

The remaining allocation will be spent in the third phase, where some 500,000 netbooks will be bought.

The third phase will be launched after the study on the effectiveness of the project in the first two phases is completed.

Zulkarnain said suppliers had stated that there would be no hiccups in supplying some 100,000 units a month under the second phase.

He named well-known manufacturers such as Dell, Samsung, Acer and HP. It is understood that the netbook has been rebranded as Idola.

"Logistically, it may be difficult as it will be the school holidays and monsoon season, but we are confident of distributing some 100,000 machines every month and will complete the roll-out in three months."

He said the recipients would be thoroughly vetted, not only by government authorities but also by community leaders and MCMC officers.

About 60 per cent of the recipients will be secondary school and university students. The rest of the netbooks will go to those in the low-income group.

Flanked by four senior MCMC personnel who interjected every now and then, Zulkarnain stopped short of saying there was nothing MCMC could do to ensure recipients made good use of the netbooks instead of selling them for a quick buck.



There is a difference of the price reported. 

In thestar report, The Honourable Minister himself announced the price of the netbooks as RM1000 each including the software and six months broadband subscription. 

Earlier nst reported the netbooks cost RM830 plus RM80 for installation of MS software an RM2 for antivirus.

Doesn't tally.

And I am still waiting for telephone landline.

Pot calling kettle black

The Star carried out this article about a tussle between rival sides in Selangor DAP for control in all state party posts. [read here].


" ... the establishment group led by senior state exco member Teresa Kok held a open rally where her line-up, endorsed by the party’s top leadership, was made public at a dinner in Serdang.
Their rivals, a group of disgruntled veterans purportedly led by Selangor state assembly Speaker and Sungei Pinang assemblymen Teng Chang Khim and calling themselves the Justice and Reform Group, have mounted a challenge exploiting numerous issues to dethrone Teresa’s line-up."
What struck me is that these are the people who barked the loudest at what they call undemocratic practice by the government, used it to garner support and went on to wrestle five states from BN in the last general election.


The party's supremo father and son the advisor and secretary-general are backing up the establishment group and been calling up supporters and grassroots leaders to "preserve party unity".


“They urged delegates to see the larger picture and not get emotional and back the rebels ...” 


These people were never bothered at a larger picture where once Malaysia was on the way to the other side of development divide.


I prefer the Italian's version Il bue che dà del cornuto all'asino  ("The ox calling the donkey horned").

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

White Elephant

Just came across this issue on rocky's bru here.


Finally I am getting some answers to my wonderings here

I have stayed at my present location since 2003. 13 km away from the nearest town and I couldn't get landline telephone. 


Enquiries at the TELEKOM office yielded one answer - no line


Offered me CDMA. I took it and subcribed to internet. 


Fixed line wireless dial-up which afforded a connection at a speed of about 20 kbps 


Sometimes my internet bill ran up to RM700-RM800/month.


Couldn't afford it. Terminated CDMA after about 3 years subscription. 


I was "lucky" because Maxis build their tower about 5 km away.


Right away got myself a Samsung SGH-E590 [that was 2007] and subscribed to Maxis wireless broadband RM99/month unlimited access.


The phone gives me 486 kbps. 13 km away my friends enjoy 3G internet connection at less than half the price I am paying.


My niece received one of the MCMC'c RM1 billion netbook schema.


A pity really. She had to register with a Community Broaband Center to get the netbook running. Charged RM5. [Hmmm ... 1 million netbook x RM5 is a lot of RM]


Compulsory to pay RM20.00/month for 2 years to entahapakenama company. for internet connection.


Wonder beyond yonder! 


Where she is staying [which is 13 km from the nearest town] has NO basic telephony. No broadband no WiFi.


How can she get connected to the internet?


Her father bought a prepaid Digi wireless modem. Buy a RM5 credit and she can log on to her FB.


What the ***k is the RM20/month being paid to entahapakenama company?


Maybe someone should lodge a police report about this ...

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Bagai Belanda Minta Tanah

Peribahasa tradisional Betawi yang dikiaskan kepada orang atau orang-orang yang licik dan serakah atau rakus. Diberi sedikit minta banyak, diberi banyak diambil semuanya. Ada dua versi cerita rakyat yang berkaitan dengan pepatah ini.
Versi pertama: Orang-orang Belanda minta izin memakai sebidang tanah. Mereka hendak mendirikan kantor dagang dengan minta tanah hanya seluas kulit sapi yang mereka bawa. Setelah mendapat izin, maka diukurlah tanah yang diminta oleh orang-orang Belanda itu. Panjang dan lebar tanah diukur dengan tali yang terbuat dari kulit sapi yang mereka bawa yang ukurannya tentu jauh berbeda.
Versi kedua: Orang-orang Belanda minta ijin mendirikan benteng mereka yang didirikan pada tiga tempat yang berjauhan letaknya. Benteng-benteng itu lalu diakui oleh Belanda sebagai tanah yang diberikan kepadanya, bahkan Belanda juga mengakui tanah yang luas itu sebagai hak miliknya. Cerita ini menunjukkan betapa licik dan serakahnya orang-orang Belanda. Diberi sedikit mereka mengambil banyak dan kemudian mengambil semuanya. [dari sini]
Penggunaan perkataan Belanda dalam peribahasa ini mengundang label rasis kepada penggunanya walaupun pilihan perkataan itu ada akar umbi nya.
Bagaimana pula bila ada sebahagian rakyat negara ini yang bukan setakat bermati matian mempertahankan sekolah vernakular, kini dengan nyaringnya mau kan pula supaya Bahasa Inggeris dijadikan bahasa rasmi kedua bagi P Pinang memandangkan ada keinginan menjadikan George Town satu bandar antarabangsa.
"Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Datuk Keramat) said English was also important because it was the lingua franca in most countries of the world.
"I am not dismissing Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and official language of the country, but English is also important, and I ask the state government to consider making it the second official language in Penang," he said during the debate on the Supply Bill 2011 in the state assembly." [berita penuh di sini]
Agaknya peribahasa lama ini boleh diberi versi baru ... 'Bagai **** diberi kewarganegaraan'.
Dah hampir seminggu jemaah dubuk nih menayangkan warna sebenar mereka, hanya beberapa blog yang ambil 'pot'.
Mana pergi pejuang bangsa yang berguling guling mahukan PPSMI dimansuhkan?
Menyedihkan bila hanya seorang ahli akademik berani bersuara tentang ini. Mana perginya legislator yang makan gaji untuk menegakkan undang undang negara ini.
**Satu lagi hal yang menyebabkan telinga bernanah ialah bila ahli ahli sukan yang mewakili Malaysia ke sukan komonwel 2010 dan sukan Asia bertutur dalam bahasa Cina [tak tahu lah Mandarin ke Cantonese].
Wakil Malaysia. Untuk penonton Malaysia. Orang Malaysia ke?

SENGAL !!!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Pandai nyerrrr

Update. Read this statement from Rais Yatim  


THE price of netbooks under the 1Malaysia Netbooks Computer Initiative has been capped at RM1,000 each.
Information, Communications and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the sum was not only for the computers, but also for the software and six months’ broadband subscription.
“The 1Malaysia computer programme was allocated RM1bil under the Universal Service Provider (USP) fund to supply one million computers to those deserving, as announced by the Prime Minister on March 24,” he said in a written reply to Wee Choo Keong (Ind-Wangsa Maju).
Dr Rais also said that as at Nov 3, RM11.05mil had been disbursed to the USP license holder under the first phase of the programme.
“As at Nov 2, the USP fund had RM4.53bil in cash reserves,” he added.


Ni yang buat den terbakar.


Sejak tahun 2002 den minta talian telefon ke rumah, TELEKOM jawab tak de 'line'.


Den tanya bila nak dapat line, TELEKOM jawab tak tahu bila, kena tunggu pembangunan infrastruktur.


Bulan lepas, tetiba je orang kampung den heboh bebudak sekolah dapat netbook percuma tapi wajib kena bayar langganan broadband [entah apa apa brand].


Anak sedara den ada sorang yang dapat netbook.


Malangnya tak dapat capai internet sebab TIADA talian telefon tetap. Harapkan wireless telco yang kelajuannya tak sampai 200kbps. Orang KL dah dapat guna 4G.


Tapi masih wajib bayar RM20 sebulan selama 2 tahun.


Pandai MCMC 'berniaga' tanpa modal.


Kalu gitu, den pun pandai!


Bulk of fund went to netbooks


The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) revealed yesterday how the RM4.15 billion Universal Service Provision (USP) fund was spent. The bulk was used for the purchase of netbooks.
USP division acting senior director Zulkarnain Mohd Yassin said RM1 billion was spent to buy the netbooks as MCMC could not achieve some of the fund's objectives.

The MCMC came under scrutiny as questions were raised over the use of RM1billion from the fund to finance the netbooks when the allocation was meant for developing infra/connectivity in underserved areas, especially rural areas.

USP-funded projects are related to communications and multimedia, such as basic telephony, cellular coverage, Community Broadband Centres (CBC), Community Broadband Libraries (CBL) and People's Internet Centres (PIR).

As at Sept 30, the cumulative contribution from eligible licensees to the USP fund stood at RM4.15 billion.

Of the total, RM629.23 million was for basic telephony, telecommunication towers for expansion of cellular coverage (RM1.87 billion), CBC and CBL (RM573.7 million), Mini CBC and PIR (RM10 million) and 1Malaysia netbooks (RM1 billion).

Another RM150 million was for the expansion of broadband network coverage areas to the communities surrounding CBCs and CBLs, while some RM520 million had been set aside for collective broadband network and Kampung WiFi.

Another RM40 million was for "other collective broadband network projects".

This will leave a cash balance of RM380 million by next year.

Earlier, MCMC chairman Tan Sri Khalid Ramli gave a welcome address, noting that there had been much interest generated in the press relating to its work as an industry developer and regulator of the communications and multimedia sector in the country.

He was at the briefing conducted by Zulkarnain but was absent during the question-and-answer session.

Zulkarnain said 123,000 netbooks had been distributed under the first phase (2002-2008).

The remaining 300,000 netbooks under the second phase (2009-2011) would be distributed from next month. Students and low-income earners are expected to receive them by February.

A netbook costs RM830, with an additional RM80 for installation of Microsoft software and another RM2 for anti-virus software.

The remaining allocation will be spent in the third phase, where some 500,000 netbooks will be bought.

The third phase will be launched after the study on the effectiveness of the project in the first two phases is completed.

Zulkarnain said suppliers had stated that there would be no hiccups in supplying some 100,000 units a month under the second phase.

He named well-known manufacturers such as Dell, Samsung, Acer and HP. It is understood that the netbook has been rebranded as Idola.

"Logistically, it may be difficult as it will be the school holidays and monsoon season, but we are confident of distributing some 100,000 machines every month and will complete the roll-out in three months."

He said the recipients would be thoroughly vetted, not only by government authorities but also by community leaders and MCMC officers.

About 60 per cent of the recipients will be secondary school and university students. The rest of the netbooks will go to those in the low-income group.

Flanked by four senior MCMC personnel who interjected every now and then, Zulkarnain stopped short of saying there was nothing MCMC could do to ensure recipients made good use of the netbooks instead of selling them for a quick buck.

Read more: Bulk of fund went to netbooks http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/6betk/Article#ixzz14jlK9ptM