Memories <3

Pictures of me, Pictures of you:]

2008-12-24T20:51:00.000-08:00

These are some of the pictures that are taken during our trip to Malaysia!:]

Trip to the cave.

Twin tower.

With host!

D and T project

Looking at batik cloth

The performance.

walking down the memory lane.

2008-11-28T05:07:00.000-08:00

W A L K I N G D O W N T H E M E M O R Y L A N E !

Due to a lack of natural resources, a declining entrepot trade and a rapid increase of demand for jobs, a merger was thought to benefit the economy by creating a common free market, eliminating trade tariffs, solving unemployment woes and to support new industries. Therefore, on 16 September 1963, Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak were formally merged and Malaysia was formed.

However, racial tension started to grow as PAP requested for equality between all races as financial and economic benefits were preferentially given to the Malays. Meanwhile, the Malays in Singapore were being increasingly incited by the federal government's accusations that the PAP was mistreating the Malays. Indonesia then conducted sedition activities to provoke the Malays against the Chinese. Numerous racial riots resulted and curfews were frequently imposed to restore order in the country.

Despite earlier agreement to establish a common market, Singapore continued to face restrictions when trading with the rest of Malaysia. In retaliation, Singapore refused to provide Sabah and Sarawak the full extent of the loans previously agreed to for the economic development of the two eastern states. The situation escalated to such intensity that talks soon broke down and abusive speeches and writings became rife on both sides.

Seeing no other alternative to avoid further bloodshed, the Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman decided to expel Singapore from the federation. The Parliament of Malaysia voted 126-0 in favour of the expulsion on 9 August 1965. On that day, a tearful Lee Kuan Yew announced on a televised press conference that Singapore was a sovereign, independent nation. In a widely remembered quote, he uttered that: "For me, it is a moment of anguish. All my life, my whole adult life, I have believed in merger and unity of the two territories." The new state became the Republic of Singapore.

Education Socio-economics

2008-11-24T20:55:00.000-08:00

I N T E R V I E W !

I interviewed my buddy (Rachel) and Jing. I asked several questions on their education system and noted it down:

Valery: In Wesley they pay about 5000 Ringgit per semester and Malacca High school fees are fully subsidized by the government. What do the students in Wesley pay for?

Rachel & Jing: We pay for the teachers as they are more experienced; they have good teaching methods which results in interesting lessons. The teachers in private schools also pay more attention to the students. There are more activities and extra lessons available. For instance, Science night is a day when students get to see science experiments that are done by other students from their school. These students will look up interesting science experiments on the internet and try it. They also have frim trips where they learn about different types of plants. And we also have air conditioning!

Valery: Why do some students prefer to apply to Wesley instead of Malacca High?

Rachel & Jing: Wesley gives us a comfortable study environment, it also has a good reputation and for a private school, the fee is cheap!

Valery: Give us some feedback about some of the subjects you’re studying. Eg, Reader’s Digest is given on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Dewan siswa on other days. How about the other subjects? What do the teachers do to strengthen your curriculum?

Rachael & Jing: Our teacher take us on educational trips to historical places.

Valery: How about discipline? Does the school allow students to bring handphones?

Rachael & Jing: We get detention for small matters such as inappropriate hairstyles etc. Yes, we are allowed to bring handphones.

Valery: How do the girls ensure the length of their skirt is always at their knees? Do they have to purchase a set of new uniform every year?

Rachael & Jing: No. We’ll alter it at the tailor’s which is really expensive!

Valery: When are the entrance exams in Wesley?

Rachel & Jing: On the 9th of August.

Educational Between Xms and Wms.

2008-11-21T21:36:00.000-08:00

E D U C A T I O N A L D I F F E R E N C E S !

General comparison:

Education in Malaysia may be obtained from government-sponsored schools, private schools, or through homeschooling. The education system is highly centralized, particularly for primary and secondary schools, with state and local governments having little say in the curriculum or other major aspects of education. As in other Asian countries such as Singapore and China, standardized tests are a common feature, contributing to the high numbers of school dropouts. Malaysia's education system has been criticized for a myriad of problems, including low standards in the English language, "leaked questions" from key examinations, racial polarization and the resulting brain drain, all of which stem from obscurantism.

Education in Singapore is managed by Ministry of Education (MOE), which directs education policy. The ministry controls the development and administration of state schools which receive government funding but also has an advisory and supervisory role to private schools. For both private and state schools, there are variations in the extent of autonomy in their curriculum, scope of government aid and funding, tuition burden on the students, and admission policy.

Children with disabilities attend special education (SPED) schools run by Voluntary Welfare Organizations (VWOs), which are partially funded by the Ministry of Education. Education spending usually makes up about 20 per cent of the annual national budget, which subsidizes state education and government-assisted private education for Singaporean citizens and furnishes the Edusave programme, but the costs are significantly higher for non-citizens.

In 2000, the Parliament of Singapore passed the Compulsory Education Act,[2] which codified compulsory education for children of primary school age, and made it a criminal offence if parents fail to enrol their children in school and ensure their regular attendance.[3] Exemptions are allowed for homeschooling or full-time religious institutions, but parents must apply for exemption from the Ministry of Education and meet a minimum benchmark. Special needs children are automatically exempted from compulsory education.

As Singapore is a small country, the ability to manage different aspects is naturally higher. On the other hand, some have voiced displeasure with Malaysia’s ruling government's failure to properly manage the country's education system.

Our own personal comparison:

The differences between Xinmin Secondary School and Wesley Methodist School is:

• In Xinmin Secondary School, students who are in the express stream are required to study for 4 years while students in the normal stream are required to study for 5 years. However, in Wesley Methodist School, all students are required to study for 5 years.

• Malay language is not compulsory in Xinmin Secondary School, but in Wesley Methodist School, it is required as it is a national language.

• Xinmin Secondary School is a public school while Wesley Methodist School is a private school.

Economic difference between Singapore and Malaysia

2008-11-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

E C O N O M I C D I F F E R E N C E S !

After the failure of the merger, both states developed their economic growth separately. Although the merger ended on a rather unpleasant note, both states have put aside their feud and co-operate whenever the need arises.

Malaysia and Singapore are both open economies, however Malaysia has a ready amount of natural resources on hand whereas Singapore has to rely on purchasing of natural resources to keep the state running. Due to the limited amount of natural resources available in Singapore, cost of living is higher compared to that of Malaysia’s.

As one of three countries that control the Strait of Malacca, international trade plays a large role in Malaysia’s economy. At one time, it was the largest producer of tin, rubber and palm oil in the world. Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy.

Exports, particularly in electronics and chemicals, and services provide the main source of revenue for the economy, which allows it to purchase natural resources and raw goods which it does not have. Singapore could thus be said to rely on an extended concept of entrepot trade, by purchasing raw goods and refining them for re-export, such as in the wafer fabrication industry and oil refining. Singapore also has a strategic port which makes it more competitive than many of its neighbors to carry out such entrepot activities. The Port of Singapore is the busiest in the world, surpassing Rotterdam and Hong Kong, In addition, Singapore's port infrastructure and skilled workforce, which is due to the success of the country's education policy in producing skilled workers, is also fundamental in this aspect as they provide easier access to markets for both importing and exporting, and also provide the skill needed to refine imports into exports.