We are proud to be Malaysians....

...so the song goes, if you were listening to Radio 4 about 10 years ago.

I was just pondering how Malaysian I was, especially since the day I took the quiz in the the Star about "How Malaysian are you?" and didn't get very favourable results.

Anyway, one think I realised was that I can't eat alone. i.e. I have to have company during meal times... how malaysian can that be???

At the dawn of becoming a 4th year medical student...

My 21yo classmate just graduated with 1st class honours in Law from Cambridge...

And another last week graduated with 1st class honours in Biotechnology from UCL, and will be pursuing her PhD soon...

Congrats Joe and Jia Jia!!!

p.s. not to mention the numerous other classmates and formmates in the UK, USA and Australia who have already graduated...

The Annual Begging Season

And so the controversy is stirred up again, year after year, the annual begging season begins, and people start to cry foul because they feel injustice has been done unto them because they were not successful in obtaining a PSD scholarship.

I am frequently amused because in reality, the PSD does not owe anyone anything. It is not obliged to reward a student who has received excellent results with a scholarship... nor is it obliged to reveal how it selects who to award a scholarship to.

I have not read any statement that makes it compulsory for anyone to get a scholarship just because they had some number of A's in their exams...

Then it is also interesting to see how people react to this situation, trying to use political influence to grant them favours, and on the other hand, some people who tell others to be happy with what they have and not ask for more...

But based on my observation, what I am most intrigued at is how, at the end of the day, 6 PSD scholars from some 120 students managed to come up with a common altruistic objective of wanting to serve their student community here in Penang. Certainly the PSD must have got their selection criteria correct somewhere?

This evening...

I have been unable to recommence studying for my next paper....

The hype about Krukenberg tumours aka fibrosarcoma ovarii mucocellulare carcinomatodes (for those of you who know about my fascination with latin) is all over facebook and the chat rooms, but it is not this that actually bothers me.

The time is now 10.30pm, 6 1/2 hours after we finished our last paper, and I lie here on my bed pondering where time how the time has gone past so quickly... It hasnt felt like 6 1/2 hours.

Neither has it felt like 2 1/2 years... with each passing minute the realisation that my time here is about to end haunts me. It is as though Lou Gehrig's is slowly paralyzing me leg upwards, letting me know that death is near at hand, but taking it's time to slowly crawl up to my lungs, where it will suffocate me. Thus, as each day passes, so too am I reminded of my limited time left here (currently 44 days).

And yet, as though one prepared to die, prepared to "go to the Father's house"- a vision of heaven awaits. I too have to admit that I do have some sense of joy to be going home, to be amongst my friends and family once again... in a familiar environment, doing the things I have enjoyed doing since my childhood days, eating at my favourite stalls, visiting my favourite sites...

Oh well, quoting Cicero:

“Saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit”

...it may not be wise sometimes to know the future

Such Animosity l have never realised

Here and Here and worst Here

Come, Now is the Time

We awoke to this SMS:

My friend is looking for a job. He's been working with Msian Govt more than 30 years. Experienced in road works. His name is Samy. As a fellow Malaysian, please help.

A new era in Malaysian politics has dawned, but it has been a long time coming... It's taken a few light years to reach, but it has finally arrived.

For those of you who think that you're not involved or won't be involved in it because you are currently overseas, think again...

This is the time for you to prick up your ears, and take interest because what happens NOW will affect your lives in 10 years (literally speaking)...

Now to Chinatown for a good meal and more talk on the recent events.

Weird and worrying stuff...

Cops go after Hindraf donors
Soon Li Tsin | Jan 9, 08 5:23pm

If you have made a donation to the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) movement, the police may be knocking on your door soon.

The Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) has sent letters to individuals summoning them to give statements at the Bukit Aman police headquarters over a possible offence of funding a terrorist organisation.

The letter stated that the police are investigating this offence under Section 130N of the Penal Code - the funding of terrorist activities.

If found guilty, the person can be punished with death (if the terrorist act results in death), imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years but not exceeding 30 years and a fine.

“The police believe that you can provide a statement about funds given to Hindraf Enterprise,” read the letter signed by investigating officer ASP Rozeni Ismail.

A donor who received the letter and was quizzed by the police recently said references were made to a RHB bank account registered under the name ‘Hindraf Enterprise’.

The donor, who requested anonymity, said the police recorded statement in relation to some other offence - non-terrorism related - committed by the company.

“It is odd that the matter is being dealt by the Commercial Crimes Department because during questioning, they made no reference to the terrorist offences. They said the company could be charged for impropriety in soliciting donations and funds.

“It is also very alarming that the banks can give information about their clients and their transactions to the police without the need for a court order.”

Under the Section 16A of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958, banks are permitted to convey any information in relation to any offences to the police or affected financial institutions.

Many being summoned

However, the donor pointed out that the recording of the statement took only 30 minutes and the police were pleasant throughout the period.

“I don’t think I am the only one. When I asked if there were others, the officer said there were many other people being summoned,” the donor added.

Hindraf gained fame when it organised a protest that saw 30,000 people hit the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.

This was followed by the movement’s leaders and supporters being charged for a slew of offences including sedition, causing mischief and attending an illegal assembly.

On Dec 8, 2007, the Companies Commission of Malaysia revoked the registration of Hindraf Enterprise for using the company for unlawful purposes and purposes prejudicial to national security and public order.

The company at that time had set up a bank account for the public to donate money to the cause and for those incarcerated in need of bail money.

At the height of enforcement action, enigmatic Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar with R Kenghadharan, M Manoharan, V Ganabathirau and T Vasanthakumar were arrested under the Internal Security Act on Dec 13 last year.

They have been detained for two years without trial.

CCID director ACP Mohd Kamarudin Md Din was unavailable to comment on this investigation when contacted.

(C) Malaysiakini.com

Will bloggers be next???

Interregnum

Up to our own times, it has been our constant concern to ensure that this blog offers material of benefit, which proves to be worthy of the reader, to the reader.

Since time immemorial it has been necessary -- as it is also for the future -- to receive feedback and comments from visitors, both invited and uninvited. In the best interest of all, and to provide future uninterrupted service, it was decided that some form of alteration would need to be undertaken not only to avoid future errors but also to portray the character of the author in the way he wishes, because the image of the author that which is portrayed corresponds to his own personality.

Following the insistent prayers of many, after long and detailed deliberation, and after having listened to the views of certain readers, having reflected deeply upon all aspects of the question, invoked the Holy Spirit and trusting in the help of God, with this declaration, we establish the following changes:

1. This current blog, found under the Uniform Resource Locator address www.markwilliamtan.blogspot.com, appearing as "™Ŵί£ЃЇάЩ- Searching for inspiration in life", will undergo a period of INTERREGNUM, after which, a new title and description which has yet to be determined will be entrusted to it. From that time onwards, this blog will carry contents that concern Holy Mother Church and her well being.

2. The current practice of uploading content with regards to the authors life events and social interaction, travels and adventures, musings and articles, in addition to the occasional interpersonal and intrapersonal emotions and thoughts will be TRANSFERRED to a new blog, that can be found under the Uniform Resource Locator address www.marktankiakmin.blogspot.com, appearing as ™Ŵί£ЃЇάЩ'07. This blog will only be able to be viewed by invitation issued upon request by primary friends and colleagues, and selected secondary and tertiary acquaintances.

3. A new blog, under the Uniform Resource Locator address www.insidemark.blogspot.com, appearing as Kr@mmed and Marked Naked has been ESTABLISHED. This blog will catalogue the most intimate feelings and vicissitudes of the author, as well as his thoughts about delicate issues. Viewers of this blog will be invited in pectore.

4. The current practice of uploading content with regards to university life, events and occasions, in addition to the philosophies of our age, as well as selected posts from ™Ŵί£ЃЇάЩ'07 and Kr@mmed & Marked Naked, will be TRANSFERRED to a new blog, that can be found under the Uniform Resource Locator address www.thercsiexperience.blogspot.com, appearing as "Life, the Universe, and Everything". This blog will be co-authored by imsmarterthanyou of Thinkalittlebit and Teoh Tee Keat of A new space to voice.

5. The current practice of uploading content with regards to Uplands International School IB Class of 2006 will REMAIN as usual, through the dormant blog Uplands IB Class of 2006, which current is co-authored by 24 individuals of the class.

6. A side bar will be CREATED on each of the above mentioned blogs to enable easy navigation.

We order that everything We have established with these directives issued as "motu proprio" be considered as "established and decreed," and to be observed from Sept. 20 of this year, feast of Korean Martyrs and our 20th Birthday, whatever there may be to the contrary.

From Penang, July 11, 2007, memorial of St. Benedict, Abbot.

Qualifying exam for doctors-Bollocks

This is utter bollocks... and as usual, a Malaysian cabinet minister who has too much time on their hands comes up with a "brilliant" idea.... First came some National Holiday (*ahem...Service) thingy, and now this... Are they trying to screw my life over? At this rate I rather sit for the seminary entrance exam f there is one...

After 5-6 years of going through medical school, all that studying for exams, and when you think it's all over, when you arrive back home, you realise you have to study for yet another exam... Oh my, think of the people in US (if you went there, you would have been studying for 8 years).

Yes, it may be a noble idea... but for all overseas medical students? Surely you trust the standards of Cambridge University, or the University of Edinburgh or the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, or even the National University of Australia? Hmm, surely not them too??

Who in the first place had the brilliant idea to approve medical schools in Jamaica and Russia? Now look who's complaining. Maybe the attention should be focused on the local graduates? Do they know enough? Are they competent not only in knowledge but in Clinical Skills?

Oh, and if you pass the exam and come from an unrecognised university, that's going to be ok too? Talk about Malaysians losing faith in their doctors...

Malaysia in the headlines again???

Malaysia PM insists Man Utd fixture will go ahead

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Reuters) - Malaysia will defy the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and host Manchester United in July, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi insisted on Friday.

The AFC had angered Malaysians earlier this week by ruling out a United friendly tour match in Malaysia because it would clash with its flagship tournament, the July 7-29 Asian Cup.

Banking on their huge fan base in Asia, United had been due to play in Kuala Lumpur against a Malaysian select team on July 27, two days before the Asian Cup final in Jakarta.

The match had looked to be off when the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) bowed to AFC pressure and said United were no longer welcome.

However, the Malaysian Prime Minister joined in the fray on Friday, telling reporters the game would go ahead as scheduled.

"We want them to visit Malaysia because this year is Visit Malaysia Year... if Manchester United play in Kuala Lumpur, there will be a lot of Manchester United fans around this region, including from Singapore and Thailand, coming here."

"We hope the organisers will not cancel the game. This is the wish of the government as part of Visit Malaysia Year," he said.

For the full report, click here.