Saturday, June 13, 2009
PKFZ
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
extraordinary
Extraordinary - is how I would describe the Deputy Minister of Intl Trade and Industry, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s comments when asked about the further decrease in exports for April.
“The drop in export is still something of a concern to us. We will try to get information from the industries from where demand has fallen.”
One would have thought he’d be one of the first to have the information. One would have hoped that by the time the information is released to the public, the people in charge would already be hard at work on a plan. Specifically, what other information would he need? I’m not an economist but I know our E&E exports have fallen because our largest trade partner, the US is in a recession.
How about making economics a compulsory pass subject for politicians? Alternatively, bring in the technocrats.
On a happier but mundane note: Point of View has new furniture for the set - a two-seater sofa and a couple of armchairs thanks to Khazanah (the furniture shop not the country’s investment arm).
Monday, June 8, 2009
PKFZ
Next episode on Point of View – Lee Hwa Beng, Chairman of the Port Klang Authority will be in the studio to answer questions on the PKFZ. A representative from PWC and the Secretary-General of Transparency International (Malaysia), Loi Kheng Min will also be here.
Post your questions here or email pointofview@ntv7.com.my
Tune in to ntv7 (Channel 107 on Astro) to watch Point of View at 6.00pm on Sunday, 14 June. Repeat Monday, midnight.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Is sports in Malaysia on the decline?
Shebby Singh, Football pundit
Datuk Dr. Ramlan Aziz, Director-General, National Sports Institute
It's all well and good to be proud of Nicol David but can we really lay claim to her? Did she become a world champion because of the system or despite it?
So, Shahidan Kassim withdrew from contesting for the presidency of the Olympic Council of Malaysia. Should politicians be involved in heading sports associations anyway?
National cyclists preferring to train with their own teams rather than with national coaches. Apparently, the methods used are "ketinggalan zaman".
Ah, if only the Minister could have made it to the programme.
Thank you to Randhir Singh and Rizal Hashim for very patiently answering my questions. But thanks most of all to Sleme for his insights into the world of cycling. M Insider may not publish your comments but I will. Just remember, if you want me to run in the Malakoff event, you'd better not be too nasty to me.
Next week: It's the economy, stupid.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Upcoming topics
Am also planning to do a topic on police powers but I feel that this would only work if the IGP himself agrees to come onto the show. So, we shall wait and see.
Anyway, upcoming topic is on the state of sports in Malaysia. What do you think? Going the wrong way down a one-way track? Suggestions for improvement?
To cane or not to cane?
Hashim Adnan, President of the National Union of the Teaching Profession
I hope Shakespeare is not too upset about my cavalier use of his oft-quoted phrase. I'm in the ntv7 studio, updating this blog, as the tape of this episode is being rolled.
We spoke to school principals and disciplinary teachers in preparation for this episode. Most of them support caning.
A science teacher and disclipinary teacher told us that pain sensors is proof that human beings are meant to be able to learn from physical punishment. What a fantastic soundbite that would have made! Sadly, he didn't want to be on tape. You may not agree with his stand, but he's been able to show results. He's managed to turn his school around from being a school with a reputation for ill-disciplined students to one where the number of applications far exceeds the number of places. There's been an improvement in exam results and less discipline problems among students. And he's been voted "Most Popular Teacher" several times.
One headmaster said he's never caned a student because he never saw the need for it but also said he was 100 percent behind corporal punishment.
Most of the students we spoke to said being caned didn't bother them. I don't know if it's boys wanting to be macho and not telling the whole truth. But male colleages who remember being caned, also said more or less te same thing. They treat the whole thing as a bit of a lark.
It was more of a challenge finding someone who still felt mad about being caned.
UNICEF was very helpful in the making of this episode by giving us a lot of useful leads. I'm not sure I agree with their stand entirely that corporal punisment is a form of violence.
Anyway, here's a question for you. Do you think they'll ever come a day where it'd be illegal for you to smack your child? And would you welcome that?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mat Rempits - a menace to society or misunderstood youth
Khairy Jamaluddin, Umno Youth chief and MP for Rembau