From switchblade to scalpel: School ‘gangster’ is a neurosurgeon thanks to teacher, a lesson in Kindness begets Kindness

 

Kindness nurtures brilliance: Dr Parthiban visiting Lioe at the retirement home he pays for. With him are his son Laxmirayan and mother Sampuranam Ponalagu, 70.

PETALING JAYA: From a mischievous child in his early years and then a gangster in secondary school, nobody would have imagined that Parthiban Navoo would someday be performing brain surgery and saving lives.

With his poor grades, his school teachers had given up on him and often remarked that he would fail “even as a labourer.”

But an act of kindness and compassion by his favourite teacher at a Chinese vernacular school was all it took to motivate and transform the unruly child to the renowned neurosurgeon he is today.

Dr Parthiban, 56, and his three siblings grew up in a shophouse in Sungai Lalang, Kedah, a small village surrounded by estates and populated predominantly by Chinese-Malaysians, about 10km from Sungai Petani.

His parents ran a small sundry shop in the village which he describes as a “cowboy town,” and struggled to make ends meet with meagre earnings from the business.

Dr Parthiban said there were days his family had to settle for just a single meal.

Most days, it was just black coffee for breakfast before he took a five-minute walk to his school SJK Chung Hwa, which he attended from Year One until Form Five.

He had very few friends and showed little interest in his studies, often failing all subjects in every exam.

“It was in the 1970s and I got enrolled in the school as it was the closest to home. My parents could not afford to give me any tuckshop money and during recess, I was the only ethnic Indian student in the school and would spend my time alone sitting on a guava tree in my school compound,” said Dr Parthiban, who is a neurologist at a private hospital.

The spark for change came in Year Three, when his class teacher Lioe Sie Luan saw his potential.

Lioe, whom Dr Parthiban fondly refers to as “Low Ser” (teacher in Chinese), asked him what he was doing up a tree every day during recess.

After Dr Parthiban told her about his plight, she led him to the teacher’s room.

“She took out a tiffin carrier from her bag and served me some mee hoon she had packed from home.

“She told me that I no longer had to go hungry as she would bring food for me every day.

“There were stares from the other teachers, but Low Ser told me to ignore them.

“ She gave me words of encouragement and made me feel special, as if I was some top student in school when I was a complete failure and all my marks were in the red,” he added.

The 50-something teacher also gave Dr Parthiban a Chinese name.

“She said with the right name, I would succeed and go very far in life. Hence, she named me Mah Der Ven, which means as energetic as a horse, knowledgeable, and wise,” he said.

However, Lioe retired two years later and Dr Parthiban was back to his old ways, even joining a street gang upon entering secondary school.

“I was notorious and beyond control. I got into confrontations with other gangs and was arrested several times by the police, ending up for days in the lock-up.

“However, because I was underaged, I was let off all the time,” he said.

His turning point was in Form Three when he was reprimanded by his teachers for his dismal grades, and was told that he couldn’t even make it as a kacang putih (nut snack) seller.

“On that day, I remembered Low Ser’s advice, and started focusing on my studies day and night. I decided it was time to turn over a new leaf. When I scored straight As for my SRP and SPM exams, there was no turning back.

“I went on to pursue Form Six in another school in Sungai Petani, and emerged top student for the STPM,” he said, adding that his results enabled him to obtain a seat for medicine in Universiti Malaya.

He managed to locate his former teacher and stayed in contact with Lioe until she was placed in a nursing home in Sungai Petani after her husband passed away.

“She lost her house to her in-laws after her husband died. Both her children, a son and daughter, migrated overseas and never returned to Malaysia.

“She ended up in a low-cost nursing home with poor living conditions as she could not afford a better one,” said the surgeon who has a 17-year-old son.

Dr Parthiban, who by then was a doctor in public service, promptly returned to Sungai Petani and visited Lioe at the nursing home before moving her to a more conducive retirement home, footing the extra costs for the improved care until today.

“She is 90 years old now. Every time I visit her, she keeps telling me that she’s a burden to me. To me, it is nothing compared to what she did for me. I am where I am today because of my dear Low Ser.

“It is the least I can do for a great person who changed my life. She showered me with love and compassion.

“Her kind act gave me hope that there was someone out there who believed in me. This spurred me to change and give up my wayward ways.”

by CHARLES RAMENDRAN, The Star

CES offers glimpse of how Chinese tech goes global

 

A view of the west hall of Las Vegas Convention Center in the US on January 8, 2024 Photo: VCG

The biggest driving force behind China's The biggest driving force behind China's progress in chip industry comes from the US blockade

Even as geopolitical tension remains a risk factor that global industry chains can hardly ignore, Chinese tech companies are making a comeback at this week's 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the US, a reminder that Chinese manufacturing's technological innovation will continue to march toward global markets.

As a platform known for showcasing cutting-edge technology from companies all over the world, exhibits at the CES capture global trends in the consumer electronics industry, which has evolved from personal computers and smartphones to wearables, virtual reality devices, new-energy vehicles, autonomous-driving technology and artificial intelligence over the years.

Chinese tech companies have become important forces at the CES, impressing attendees with innovative products and technological applications. According to the US Consumer Technology Association, the CES 2024 attracted over 4,000 exhibitors from more than 150 countries and regions.

At least 1,100 are from China, more than double the number last year.

Unsurprisingly, the return of Chinese tech companies drew a lot of attention at this year's CES with their new launches and novel products, including the latest AI-integrated apps and devices, smart cars and high-end displays.

Each year, the CES gives the world a glimpse into Chinese tech companies' advances and innovation strength, and the increased number of Chinese exhibitors and their cutting-edge tech products highlight the continuous development of Chinese manufacturing.

Many Chinese exhibits represent the direction of industries where Chinese players hold advantages, such as electric vehicles.

The development shows that despite US sanctions and containment, Chinese manufacturing has still managed to take an important position in global industry chains, with some Chinese manufacturers even able to compete with American peers in some areas.

If anything, US pressure has strengthened the resolve of Chinese companies to seek their own technological and business breakthroughs.

Even companies such as telecommunication giant Huawei, dronemaker DJI and some semiconductor firms that are missing from the CES due to US sanctions haven't slowed their pace in pursuing technological progress and market expansion. For instance, as the world's leading provider of telecommunication technology solutions, Huawei has become a global giant in terms of 5G, cloud computing and other fields, with businesses covering more than 170 countries and regions.

From another perspective, the absence of Huawei and DJI highlights how fiercely China and the US are competing for the future of global markets, and the absence of the world's leading companies also shows that the CES doesn't present the world's leading technologies as objectively and truthfully as it used to, a sign of the waning glow of American manufacturing and the American market.

Meanwhile, it is emerging technological advances that have provided strong support for the transformation and upgrading of Chinese manufacturing, which has become increasingly competitive in the global market. With outstanding advantages of technological innovation, more and more Chinese tech companies have seen new development opportunities and accelerated their expansion in the global markets.

Moreover, the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing in the global markets lies not only in technology innovation, but also in the efficiency of industry and supply chains. For a long time, China's complete and mature industry chain has provided stable production capacity and supply capacity for Chinese manufacturing, helping lower production costs and improving products' competitiveness.

Chinese technology companies still face many challenges as they seek to expand their reach in global markets. Chinese manufacturing is at a crucial juncture of seeking breakthroughs in technological innovation and also international economic and technological cooperation.

Due to the uncertainties of the global political and economic environment and the rise in trade protectionism in the US and Europe, Chinese manufacturing is bound to face tough challenges when it comes to going global and consolidating its position in the global industry chain. Chinese companies need to be fully prepared for what's to come and have a firm determination to resist external pressure.

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Business trumps politics for Chinese firms at CES

Making a comeback: People visiting an exhibit during the gadget extravaganza in Las Vegas. About 500 of the 3,500 exhibitors at the CES are from China, more than last year but still not at pre-Covid numbers. — AFP

Las Vegas: Xiaoyu Fan smiled as she looked around a bustling China Pavilion at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Wednesday as gadgets like bladeless fans were displayed and deals were being made.

Hundreds of Chinese companies were at the annual CES gadget extravaganza, shrugging off US-China political trade tensions and focusing on taking care of business.“I believe all the people in each country are very good, the civilisation of each country is very nice, very friendly,” said Fan, who was with the Zhejiang Crossbow Brand Electric Appliance Co from Wuyi, China.

“We don’t care about the governments; that’s not our business” she added, a necklace around her neck spelling out the word “peace.”

About 500 of the 3,500 or so exhibitors at CES are from China, more than last year but still not at pre-Covid numbers, according to the Consumer Technology Association that runs CES.

“The Chinese are back,” association president Gary Shapiro said in the lead-up to the Las Vegas show that ends today.

Chinese titans like TCL and Hisense dazzled CES goers with stunning televisions while less well-known companies showed off robots, drones, electronic bikes, charging cables and much more.

TCL’s partnership with the US National Football League was the main theme at a CES press event, complete with appearances by sports legends.

“They certainly seemed like a red-blooded American company that drinks beer and watches football,” said Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart.

Chinese business leaders at CES included Appotronics chief executive Li Yi, whose company specialises in laser display technology used by major companies including car makers BMW and BYD.

To Li, it seemed tension between the United States and China on the trade front was beginning to stabilise, and that the issue was more a battle over high technology than the type of consumer tech packing CES.“For Chinese brands, being in the United States is tough in today’s climate,” Li acknowledged to AFP.

“But there is also an emerging opportunity; components technology companies are starting to see this as a chance to emerge.”

Chinese companies at CES played up innovation, wanting their country to be seen as a technology leader rather than just a place where things can be made cheaply.

“People typically think we are a manufacturing powerhouse, and then people think we are copycats,” Li said of attitudes towards Chinese entrepreneurs.

“There are still probably people doing that, but more companies like us are trying to be innovative; we really don’t want to reinvent the wheel and sell it at a lower price.”

Futurum Group research director Olivier Blanchard saw advanced computer chips used for artificial intelligence (AI) as the heart of trade friction between the United States and China.

That technology is a far cry from what is used in the cornucopia of AI-infused gadgets at CES from pet trackers to smart beds, baby bottles and electric bicycles.

“The whole the United States versus China thing takes a very distant backseat to the dialogue that happens at CES,” Blanchard said.

“Whether you’re from China or from anywhere else, if you have a good product you’re gonna find the market.”

Despite political tensions between the United States and China in regard to AI, national security and Taiwan, it would be unwise to decouple the two economies since they benefit so much from each other, according to Blanchard.

“I love the fact that they keep coming here every year, whether they’re from China or anywhere else, and they keep trying,” Blanchard said.

“It’s this weird churning layer of startups that are all competing to become the next big thing.” — AFP

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China JUST SHOCKED The Entire World With Rise .

increase your earning power

 You could work and at the same time, pursue a degree in another field that interests you

GRADUATING with a higher education degree is crucial if you want to increase your chances for success in life. Having a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or at the very least, a diploma, will open doors that might otherwise remain firmly shut.

The last thing you want is to be struggling in a manual labour job or getting stuck in a dead-end job while your friends and workmates surge ahead in their careers.

Do you know that many people are trapped in low-paying jobs because they haven’t acquired the right skills for higher-paying roles? According to 2022 labour statistics, diploma holders make 17% more than secondary school-leavers while bachelor’s degree holders earn 24% more than diploma holders.

Meanwhile, those with a master’s degree earn 29% more than bachelor’s degree holders. PhD holders earn the highest salary – 23% more than master’s degree holders on average while doing the same job.

Thus, you can do so much better for yourself by going to university, if you haven’t already.

Obtaining a degree can seem like a daunting challenge. One of the biggest deterrents is lack of time. You probably have a full-time job and a family to take care of. Some of us are part of the sandwich generation, whereby we need to not only take care of our children but also our aged and ailing parents.

 

When will you have the time to study if you leave home for work at 7am and return at 7pm, only to spend the evening cooking dinner, doing the laundry, and sending and fetching your kids for tuition, right?

Here is where Open University Malaysia (OUM) could help. This digital university offers all of its programmes in fully online mode, which means you get to attend classes, hold discussions, do your assignments, and even sit for your exams without having to physically travel to a campus.

However, lack of money could also be holding you back. Household expenses, children’s education fees, medical bills, and other costs can quickly add up, leaving little room for additional expenses. And let’s not forget the rising cost of living.

OUM’s online programmes are great value for money as you need not relocate or travel to a physical campus and you don’t need to buy expensive textbooks, as all the learning materials are available online.

Moreover, the university offers various rebates and discounts upon registration. For example, at present OUM offers up to RM300 in rebates and a 5% discount every semester.

If you are a school-leaver, don’t sell yourself short and just settle for a job that doesn’t require a degree. Even if you enjoy that job now, there’s no guarantee you will continue to enjoy it. As we age, we change, and having a degree gives you options.

Getting a higher qualification can also help if you already have a degree and are working full-time but still feel unhappy. Many people are not working in a field they like because they don’t have the required qualification. If you are one of them, there is a way out.

You could work and at the same time, pursue a degree in another field that interests you. When you switch fields, it doesn’t mean you are a failure. On the contrary, it means you have the guts and determination to explore a new path and improve yourself.

OUM offers 55 programmes in the fields of business and management, technology and applied sciences, social sciences and humanities, and education.

These programmes are recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, Public Service Department and numerous professional bodies.

If your interest is in any of these fields, you would do well to start your student journey with OUM, as its lecturers comprise both industry and subject matter experts.

Sometimes, real life makes it hard for us to accomplish what we are capable of. It’s very important not to let yourself get discouraged. If you need help, or just want to know what your options are, reach out to OUM. The university has 35 learning centres throughout Malaysia to guide and assist you, from the moment you register for a programme until the moment you walk out of the convocation hall with a scroll in your hands.

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PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IMPACTING THE WORLD

 

Proud achievement: USM occupies fourth spot in the THE Impact Rankings 2023 overall top 100 list and ranks first in Asia.

 Global recognition for USM, UTM and UM

THE latest edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings proves that Malaysian universities are making a positive mark with research involving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For the second consecutive year, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) maintained its position in the top five universities, sitting comfortably at number four on the THE Impact Rankings 2023 overall top 100 list.

Ranked first in Asia, it also came first for SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). This was based on its research on peace and justice, participation as advisers to the government and policies on academic freedom.

In addition, USM is the country’s highest ranked varsity for eight other SDGs. It ranked sixth for SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals), seventh for SDG 2 (zero hunger), eighth for SDG 1 (no poverty), 42nd for SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), 51st for SDG 14 (life below water), 55th for SDG 3 (good health and well-being), 65th for SDG 15 (life on land), and 89th for SDG 13 (climate action).

As the country’s sole Accelerated Programme for Excellence (Apex) university, USM, said its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed, understands that sustainable practices extend beyond the confines of academia, and aims to inspire its students and staff to become responsible global citizens.

“By embedding sustainability principles in its teaching and research, USM empowers individuals to address complex challenges through innovative solutions and to become advocates for sustainable development in their respective fields.

“We are proud of this achievement as it underscores our dedication to creating a sustainable future, driving positive change, and inspiring a generation of leaders who will shape a world that prioritises the well-being of people and the planet,” he said in a statement following the release of the rankings on June 1.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia ranked first for SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy).

The fifth edition of the rankings by THE, publisher of the globally recognised THE World University Rankings, assessed institutions worldwide on their commitment to the world’s greatest challenges as listed in the UN 17 SDGs.

It assessed university commitment to sustainability across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.

Universiti Malaya (UM) ranked third globally for SDG 5 (gender equality), marking the first time the varsity has achieved a top five position in any of the SDGs featured in this ranking.

It also ranked 13th for SDG 7, 50th for SDG 1, 60th for SDG 6, 72nd for SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 73rd for SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), 81st for SDG 17, and 85th for SDG 14.

UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor said the rankings show where the varsity stood against other institutions of higher learning in addressing global issues such as poverty, hunger, health and well-being, gender equality, quality education for all, and climate change.

THE chief knowledge officer Phil Baty said: “The growth in participation from Asean has been rapid and hugely impressive, with participation more than tripling since 2000.

“This gives rise to real optimism that Asean can become a global hub of excellence in the drive for a better, more sustainable future for us all.

“It is inspiring to see even more universities participate and see countries that don’t normally rank so highly do so well.”

A record 1,705 universities from 115 countries or regions were assessed, with Western Sydney University in Australia emerging the world’s overall top institution.

For details, visit https://www.timeshighereducation.com/rankings/impact/2023/overall.

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Debate emerges over college students raising children; Chinese demographers call for more open-mindedness

 

Children ride hoverboards at a kindergarten in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province on April 21, 2023. Photo: VCG

 

Getting married and childbearing in college is not something unusual in the modern world, but a student raising a child on campus still being a holder of multiple scholarships is mind-boggling.

Smiling and a sense of happiness can always be seen on face of Xiaoli who is now in her college senior year from Southwest China's Guizhou Province when she brought her suckling child in her dormitory and had her roommates playing with the infant or spent leisure time around her campus.

Seemingly she is able to handle the child-raising, a heavy work in nature while not letting her study fall behind. She was even awarded with university scholarship and national ones for high grades in study.

Xiaoli posted about just 10 videos on her social media account about her child-raising student life in university, but it has already made her story one of the most-discussed controversial subjects in the country.

Some netizens are amazed at how the 23-year-old is able to be a mom while being a student with good grades at the same time, exclaiming that's "a coolest life that they ever saw."

But some criticized raising a baby at an age when normally even they could not figure out whom themselves are, is merely irresponsible. Others argued Xiaoli's story should not be encouraged considering the costs of raising a child in the country, not to mention for a student.

More open-mindedness

Getting married and bearing a child at an appropriate age has always been a reasonable option for university students since a regulation on university students by the Ministry of Education in 2005 has scrapped previous requirement that an approval must be obtained from their university when they register for a marriage.

Though getting married and having a child is an option for marriageable students, the average age of young generations to enter into their first marriage has actually been gradually moving back over years.

A report on China's population development was released by the YuWa Population Research think tank last year showed comparing with other countries China has the highest legal age for marriage, with male in their 22 and female in their 20. But the average age of first marriage in China is 28.67, the data a decade ago was 24.89, according to "China Census Yearbook 2020" released by the National Bureau of Statistics in June 2022.

"In Chinese society, the mainstream cognition on marriage tends to link with personal career. For students who have yet financially independent, getting married and even raising a child is not a common option for Chinese college students," Song Jian, a demographer from the Center for Population and Development Studies of the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.

The fact that Chinese students usually live in dormitory in some way also restricts them to consider having a child on campus a top priority in their study time. Some other obstacles are natural difficulties to balance a heavy study load and raising a child, Song noted.

But Chinese students still value marriage. A survey result showed that university students believe that having 1.86 children in a family would be ideal, and more than 80 percent of them believe two children are ideal as part of their future family.

However, the average number of children actually sought by college students themselves in the future in this survey was 1.36, and nearly 50 percent of college students wish to have less than two children.

The gap - between the ideal number of children and the desired number of children - mirrors the obstacles and reluctance of young generations to have children, Li Ting, a professor at the School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China and lead author of the controversial survey, told the Global Times.

To boost fertility rates among young people, at this year's two sessions, a Chinese political advisor suggested making available birth insurance services to Chinese college students.

Society should provide more support to students with master and doctoral degrees to arrange their marriage properly, such as allowing them to alter their study schedule, and offering financial assistance and allowing them to enjoy birth insurance and medical allowances, He Dan, director of China Population and Development Research Center, who is also a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), noted in the proposal.

Official data showed in 2021, a total of 125,800 doctoral students were enrolled, 509,500 were studying and 72,000 were graduating.

"For the young generations, getting a job, building a family and then getting married usually overlaps with each other in a short period of time. If the university or the society could ramp up efforts to help students who have the desire to realize their marriage in university, I don't think it is a bad thing," Song noted.

"But I won't say getting married and raising a child in universities is an act should be discouraged or encouraged. We just need more open-mindedness to accept that it is one of available options for college students," Song said.

"What the country can do is able to clear the way for students who would like to get married and have a child in their college through some policies, but down to earth, getting married and bearing a child boil down to personal choice," Yuan Xin, a professor of demographics from the School of Economics at Nankai University told the Global Times.

A commentary piece by the Beijing Youth Daily proposed to provide some convenience to students who opt to get married and bear a child in university, such as allow those students to choose fewer lessons or receive a gap year so as to reduce their pressure.

The greater the independent choice space for students, the more diversified the learning and growth of college students will be. In a pluralistic environment, public opinion will no longer make a fuss about college students getting married and having children, the commentary noted.

For Xiaoli, she believed raising her child while studying is a rational decision for her to make. "I got married legally and having a child is a normal. Childbearing in college was a decision supported and blessed by every member of my family."

"I'm not from a rich family but my husband can take good care of us financially. Grandmother of the child also helps me take care of my child."

Xiaoli said she has never regretted her choice, but she does not encourage others to follow her way of living. "We're not running everything in a smooth way. But life is ours. I go for it when I believe I can handle it, no matter how others see it." 

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Starting salaries are higher now

 

Having what it takes: Among the criteria that recruiters look at before hiring were if prospective employees were willing to take up the challenges and go the extra mile to execute and deliver their work. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

 

https://cdn.thestar.com.my/Content/Images/job_vacancies_19052023.jpg

GEORGE TOWN: Starting salaries for fresh graduates entering the job market has risen by about 30% compared with before the pandemic due to lifestyle and high cost of living, say recruiters and human resource practitioners.

In Penang’s hotel and tourism industries, starting salaries for fresh graduates now are at RM2,500 onwards while in the manufacturing sector, the starting salary for engineers can be RM4,000 and as much as RM5,000.

Malaysia Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chairman Tony Goh said the higher salary is due to the supply and demand in the tourism industry and taking into account the current higher cost of living.

“For us now, salaries are definitely higher compared with before the pandemic. We don’t expect them (new graduates) to work with a basic salary of RM1,300 to RM1,500 like before.

 “The second thing is, people must be able to sustain the lifestyle they need while working with us, hence the need for higher basic salaries,” he said.

He said the minimum wage rule imposed by the government last year contributed to the generally higher salaries for all other positions now.

He said new graduates who are eligible and qualified would be paid a basic salary of around RM2,500, excluding allowances.

Since May 1 last year, employers with five or more workers were required by the Minimum Wages Order 2022 to increase the minimum wage to RM1,500.

Goh said among the careers sought by new graduates in the hotel and tourism industries are receptionists, executives, sales coordinators and administration executives.

In an exclusive report yesterday, The Star revealed that industry research showed that fresh graduates’ salaries ranged from about RM2,600 to almost RM2,900 in the Klang Valley and Johor Baru, while it was about RM2,400 in Melaka.Leaders of business NGOs interviewed opined that fresh graduates should manage their starting salary expectations, on top of reviewing their life goals.

But a check in Penang’s manufacturing sector showed that graduates with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) capabilities might enjoy a much better starting point.

Factories can pay fresh graduates as much as RM5,000 if they are involved in the design and development of integrated circuits, said Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association’s Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai.

“Generally, any STEM graduate working in Penang’s factories can expect a starting pay of about RM3,500,” he said.

He urged parents to help their children develop a passion for STEM to give them a good starting point after getting their first degree.

Pentamaster Corporation Berhad group executive chairman Chuah Choon Bin said the median salary for STEM graduates in Penang now is about RM4,000, and this is due to the surge in foreign direct investments (FDIs) in Penang last year.

“Because of the high FDI, there is a lot of competition for manpower, so multinational companies increase the offered pay to attract skilled workers and fresh graduates,” he said.

Chuah, however, said this year, the hiring wave is down a bit due to the slowing global consumer market, the trade war and the war between Russia and Ukraine.

He said some companies have started slashing down their workforce by implementing voluntary separation schemes and shortening operating hours to cut costs.

Chuah said he expects the slowdown to continue until the end of the year, depending on the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war and how intense the trade war between the United States and China would be.

Human resource specialist Azimah Aziz said that normally starting salaries are based on job scope and the candidate’s experience.

“For example, for the starting salary of a research assistant in aquaculture, the basic pay starts from RM2,900 for a fresh graduate,” she said.

She said among the criteria that recruiters look at before hiring were if prospective employees were willing to take up the challenges and go the extra mile to execute and deliver their work. 

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Fresh grads want too much

thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/05/19/fresh-grads-want-too-much

Employers unable to meet fresh grads' high salary expectations

We want liveable wages, not merely high salaries’

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Fresh grads earning higher starting salaries now know their market value: HR expert | THE BIG STORY

A New Zealand story that Asean can learn from

 

New Zealand - Wikipedia

Wellington

 

 New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reacts following the announcement of her resignation at the War Memorial Hall in Napier, New Zealand, on Jan. 19. (Reuters/AAP Image/Ben McLay) 

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won the hearts of Muslims across the globe when she, wearing a headscarf, comforted the families of victims of the massacre in two mosques by a white supremacist in Christchurch in 2019. Last Thursday, she again astonished an even larger audience with her abrupt resignation, although she stands a great chance to win the upcoming election in October.

The mother of four-year-old Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford has undoubtedly made a name for herself as an icon of statesmanship. She has played a role model of a leader who not only does her best for her nation, but also knows when to fade away to ensure a sustainable succession. She could have sought a third term, but she shows she is not hungry for power.

"The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not. I know what this job takes. And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It's that simple," the 42-year-old politician said of her reason to step down.

With a population of 5 million, New Zealand is a tiny nation. But its economic size ranks the country among the world’s richest. The country is a permanent dialogue partner of ASEAN along with the United States, China, the European Union, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Russia and India. Unlike close neighbor Australia, which acts as the deputy sheriff of the US, New Zealand has distanced itself from the rivalry of major powers.

Through her exemplary decision, Ardern has taught politicians, male and female, a lesson that they should be ready to leave office when the public do not want them anymore, or else the people will force them to go. Some leaders are willing to step down but prepare their own men or children as successors, but this is clearly not the case in New Zealand under Ardern.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo may have to ask his die-hard supporters who have been pushing for his term extension to reflect on Ardern’s bold decision. To prevent rampant abuse of power, which was rampant during the New Order authoritarian rule, the Constitution was amended in 1999 to limit presidential tenure to only twice.

In fact, Indonesian political culture knows no resignation. Politicians or officials tend to cling on power as long as possible by justifying all means.

Ardern won the Labor Party leadership shortly before she won the 2017 election. Her party further won the 2020 election. At that time she was facing at least three major challenges which she could overcome: The 2019 shooting spree of Muslims, the COVID-19 pandemic and the eruption of the White Island Volcano. Her strict lockdown policy to contain the COVID-19 transmission was much criticized, but later she proved she was right and her critics wrong.

The Labor Party elected Education Minister Chris Hipkins as Ardern’s successor on Sunday. The party hopes Ardern’s graceful exit will help it win the October election.

The world loves to see her as a true mother of New Zealand. Her ability to simultaneously perform her state and personal responsibilities, as a mother and wife, inspired and was looked up to by women all over the world. From the beginning, she has proven that women can break the glass ceiling when it comes to the highest office, which in advanced democracies like the US has not yet happened.

She has taught a precious lesson to world leaders that they should know when to call it quits. A true leader will not wait until his or her people force them to go. And we all owe it to Ardern’s beautiful mind.

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What you can do with an MBBS

 

Smiling female doctor with lab coat in her office holding a clipboard with medical records, she is looking at camera

MEDICINE is still a career of choice for young Malaysians leaving high school, but does pursuing an MBBS necessarily mean you would need to become a practicing doctor?

.

The 3D anatomy and virtual dissection table help build stronger anatomy knowledge aside from cadaveric dissection.

Students actually have multiple pathways - they can choose to remain in practice, advance into research, go into corporate organisations by becoming a hospital manager or administrator, become an occupational health specialist or choose to serve the community by being in public health.

Qualifying with an MBBS is merely the first step as it is no longer a fixed road to being a practicing clinician.

The practitioner

With the growing population, the doctor practitioner is still much needed in all sectors of society. While the hours may seem long and un-family friendly, it comes back to the individual. As the saying goes, “do what you love, and you would never feel as if you’ve worked a day!”

 

.Professor demonstrating a procedure to students during Obstetrics and Gynaecology class.

In a future where technology dictates, those skills that are distinctly human will be among the most valuable and it is these skills that are enriched through postgraduate study. Considering how vital this is, Manipal University College Malaysia organises workshops for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) and various Royal College Fellowship/Membership exam prep courses at its campus in Melaka, so students can prepare for them before graduation with minimal travel involved from their on-going routine.

The researcher

For the doctor who is constantly intrigued by how things start and how things can be resolved or diseases cured, becoming a researcher would be a good choice. As the world shrinks with ease of travel, so looms larger the threat of infectious diseases. Research work is also more structured today, whereby evidence collected is based on a cross-section of causes. With the advent of the systematic review, the physician research is now part of a larger multidisciplinary team.

The community advisor

If it has always been your dream to treat communities, the role of a doctor as a community advisor by way of being in public health would then be the right path. Strong love of medicine coupled with mathematics and statistics are the core ingredients to excel in this pathway. By being able to read into trends and form analytical solutions, a public health physician would be better able to formulate strategic preventive measures.

The right place to do your MBBS

MUCM’s resort style campus provides students with an environment that is conducive for learning.MUCM’s resort style campus provides students with an environment that is conducive for learning.

With over three dozen medical schools in Malaysia to choose from, Manipal University College Malaysia (MUCM), formerly known as Melaka-Manipal Medical College is miles ahead as a top medical school. 

Students strolling along swimming pool after class.

The name Manipal has resonated with the Malaysian healthcare system for the past 68 years with thousands of medical doctors graduating from Manipal in India and over the last 25 years from Manipal University College Malaysia (formerly known Melaka-Manipal Medical College) in Melaka. The contribution from the graduates to the healthcare services is time tested within the country with many others creating a mark in the US, UK and Australia.

Students are guided to find their true paths before graduation, being continuously exposed to the real lives of doctors, researchers and public health individuals through the college’s annual postgraduate fair and monthly seminars and exhibitions.

Fulfil your dream with Manipal

The pursuit of medicine is a marathon, not a sprint. As such, parents and students are invited to visit Manipal University College Malaysia and experience for themselves life as a future Manipalite.

*For more details on the programme, call 1700 811 662 or visit www.manipal.edu.my

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A unifying PM is what we need , Rebooting the economy

  

 

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New Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been welcomed by many like a breath of fresh air. But can he cleanse the nation of the many ills it now suffers? It remains to be seen.

MY retired brother called from Penang the other day. He had yet to get his pension and needed some cash. Why? I asked. “Anwar has won and I want to celebrate with my friends,” he cheered. He is just one of many who are anamoured of our new Prime Minister.

There is also this man in Bukit Mertajam, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s hometown, who is buying everyone meals at restaurants around town.

Elsewhere, a large non-Muslim crowd gathered outside a mosque as Anwar prayed inside. And they mobbed him when he came out. Everywhere he goes, the PM is being cheered.

He’s probably the most welcomed Malaysian chief executive in living memory. It’s all quite exciting, but I think the celebrations are also a bit premature.

Yes, it has been a long wait for him, his supporters and those who have been rooting for him all these years. He has been the underdog, facing failure after failure, falling every time he believed he had reached the pinnacle.

It’s the kind of story that would touch any heart.

But it’s only the beginning. Now is not the time to put him on a pedestal. He has much to prove, and he could fall off that high horse any time, just as the last three prime ministers did.

The plotting is going on. Those who do not like the idea of him being PM will do their best to bring about his downfall.

It happened before in 2020 with the Sheraton Move; and even days after Anwar’s appointment, there was talk of a Tropicana Move.

That has been denied, but his performance will be under intense scrutiny. There will be little room for relaxation.

His first task just got done. He has named his full Cabinet, obviously done with much juggling, putting together a unity government that will keep everyone happy and yet meet his promise of a small Cabinet.

If that was hard, the really herculean task awaits now.

There is so much wrong with our country now – an economy in the doldrums, a ringgit that’s floundering, an education system that’s well off the mark, and a population that’s deeply divided.

There’s so much to do – or undo.

I say undo because Anwar himself may be responsible for some of those maladies. He was once Education Minister – way back in 1986 – and started a revolution in the system.

He is the man credited with Islamisation of our schools, and the growth of religious schools, while working with then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Those actions have come back to bite him, say analysts. Two weeks ago, his daughter lost the Permatang Pauh seat, held by members of his family since 1980, to a tahfiz teacher.

Anwar, and his Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), were the driving force behind such schools.

The children in many of these schools are being taught to only vote for a certain party, and with Undi18 now law, there was a flood of such voters, the analysts say.

With the mushrooming of religious schools, the days when children of all races laughed, played and mixed in schools seem to be long gone.

Now, schools are divisive. Even the syllabus has been questioned with Malays themselves asking why there are so many religious classes and too few teaching modern-day living skills like English, science and technology, computer know-how and things like that. 

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The Chinese and Indians are flocking to vernacular schools, leaving the national school system largely to the majority Malays. So many Malays are also migrating to these vernacular schools.

Already, there is a call for one stream of education for all. I think it’s too early for that too. We first need to make the national school system the one of choice. For that, a good Education Minister is needed, as is a revamp of the school syllabus. Fadhlina Sidek and Datuk Seri Khaled Noordin have a lot to do.

We have heard the perennial complaints – discrimination in matriculation places, the closure of canteens during Ramadan, children forced to eat in the toilet and odd corners, non-Muslim children being left to their own devices during agama classes ... the list is long.

Public universities too need to be places where a Malaysian identity can be forged, not where differences are reinforced.

A National Unity Minister who sincerely believes in his job could be a big help. Aaron Ago Dagang, a man from Sarawak, could be the right choice.

There is a lot we can learn from the Borneo states, which have retained much of the old-world charm that places like George Town, Klang, Johor and even Kuala Lumpur once had; the days when Chinese coffee shops housed nasi kandar stalls and people of all races sat together at the same table, eating and drinking together.

Even my mee jawa man had prawn and beef broth for his different clientele, each with a different wok.

Then there’s the minister for Religion. We have all heard about the one from Indonesia; his mantra is that he is a minister for all religions – Islam, Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism.

It was not so the last time for the minister in Malaysia. He believed his job was only to cater to the religion of the federation.

What we need is a minister who looks at the similarities among religions, all of which preach peace and unity, not one who considers his religion superior and therefore untenable with the others.

The Rulers have got it right. They have called for an end to all extremism, religious or racist, and for unity to be the main consideration. It is important that the government works towards bringing the bitterness to an end.

“I hope there are no more leaders who will raise racial or religious issues to provoke the people,” said Negri Sembilan’s Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir.

They also want the Rukun Negara, whose first tenet is “Belief in God”. It does not say which religion. The supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law are also important.

Now, it is up to the new PM. He has his job cut out for him. The honeymoon with the voters and adulation of the supporters will be over real soon.

The work – and it’s a lot of hard work – will have to begin. The pitfalls and booby traps are many. His supporters have faith that he will make it.

Five years from now – if Anwar succeeds as a unifying PM – we can celebrate as a nation. For now, though, I am holding that champagne, or non-alcoholic beer as the case may be. 

 by Dorairaj Nadason  

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Rebooting the economy 

 Anwar says he took Finance Ministry to bring new policies 

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who appointed himself Finance Minister in his new Cabinet, is hoping to restore economic confidence through new policy approaches.

“I was not inclined (to take on the post), but I want to embark on new policy approaches and restore economic confidence among local traders as well as foreign investors.

“I will be assisted by a strong team that isn’t only civil servants, but also a group of advisers who will not burden the government’s coffers,” he said in announcing his Cabinet at Perdana Putra here yesterday.

In the follow-up press conference, Anwar said the Finance Ministry will be assisted by several advisers led by former PETRONAS president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the new Cabinet members will be sworn in at 3pm today.

“I will have a special meeting with the ministers so I can convey several matters to them, such as new rules, direction, and new methods,” he said.

Anwar said ministers should begin their duties soon and he advised them to avoid wastage, bribes and power abuse.

“I have made it clear to the Cabinet that the unity government prioritises good governance and the need to reduce the people’s burden, as well as stimulating the economy,” he said.

The Prime Minister said his Cabinet, which comprises 28 ministers, is a clear signal to the people that the unity government, together with the civil service, will ensure its promises to the people are fulfilled.

The last prime minister who also served as a finance minister was Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Anwar had served as finance minister and deputy prime minister to then premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad before being sacked in 1998.

By TARRENCE TAN   Source link

 

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