adrianism...

Curtin Phase 2

Ask any Curtin student about Curtin Phase 2, chances that you're going to hear:

1) some grumble (when is it sprouting?!!), or

2) a blank stare (with the "what phase-2" look?), or

3) "It's coming soon. It has already been approved" (answers from patriotic Curtinians :P)

If you asked me, I would sway between answers 3 and 1 (sometimes response 3, and sometimes number 1)

You see, a day before our beloved PM visited Curtin, i was shocked to see what looked like a crane, to be set up across the AL building. In my heart, i was like: "WHAT?!!! Another groundbraking ceremony for phase 2? We already had 2 in the past!!! One between AL and LT building, and another on the same spot where this crane is" To sooth my heart, i just thought "Ah well, perhaps they were for different stages of the laucning/officiating of phase 2 construction"

Taking a closer look at the erected billboard, i noticed that this time, the ceremony was the "official commencement of Curtin phase 2 development" WOW! So this isn't another groundbraking! This is the official commencement of Curtin phase 2! This is the day the first pile is knocked into the ground! And i hope to see more piles going down!!! :D

If all this while i've been whining as to why there are no sign of development, this is the answer. We are waiting for the PM and CM to sign and officiate it...hehe. Well, i hope to see more development. For those coming back anytime soon, just know that up to the time this entry is entered, there hasn't been any new structures at the phase 2 site.

But there is one piece of good news though. Remember this entry on Curtin Updates? The extension along the convinient shop has been completed (i think about 2-3 months already). Plenty of chairs inside - looks like it's going to be a classrooms :P Oh ya. Instead of only 1 printing station at the helpdesk, the area now has 2 printing stations. Besides that, it seems that the "underground residents"* of the student coucil room has been evicted, so the incoming council members can use the room in peace (*termites la!).

Before i end this post, just a picture to share. This picture was taken after Pak Lah's visit. A "Kancil" (noun - the smallest version of the Malaysian made car, oh ya, i own one) can be a police's best friend :D (notice the back portion of the car is lower than the front)

I LOVE K-A-N-C-I-L! ;D

Prime Minister's Visit to Curtin

It seemed to me that the Prime Minister's visit to Curtin was quite a last minute decision on his part (he happened to be in Miri to open the PBB assembly). But well, he came! :) And we Curtinians (and some orang luar :P) got to meet him (for a while).

The crowd that gathered in Curtin were basically Curtin staff & their families, Curtin students (mostly the diploma and IEP students, and some degree students who happen to be around), representatives from the contruction company which is suppose to built phase 2 of Curtin, members of the press and some members of the public. It was actually raining heavily on that day, and although he was scheduled to arrive at 2pm, as usual, VIPs in Malaysia arrive much later (i was made to understand by my grand-uncle, who is a reporter, that there was a delay in the PBB assenbly, so hence the delay in Curtin).

I couldn't recall what time he arrived, but everyone was anxious to meet him. For my part, i was hoping to at least shake his hand (which i did!!! Not everyone got to shake his hand - ah well, i was just lucky because a group of students from Dubai in their national clothing happened to stand in front of me. And somehow, these group of Curtin students got so much attention from the ministers, haha! And there i was, standing behind them :D).

His arrival was a rather silent affair - no MC to annouce his arrival. The only sign of his arrival was the sudden rush of photographers to the main entrance (click-click, flash-flash). He then got to sign something (which loked like a black tile), and was ushered to the mini-exhibition on Curtin Phase 2 plans (in the process, stopping to make a few hand shakes). From there, the entourage went upstairs to the council room for a formal session (which was live-telecasted to the library reading area, where we sat to watch (while eating, hehe) what was going on in the council-room). Datuk Sri George Chan gave a speech, and then Pak Lah delivered his. Then there was presentation of some memento. By then, Tiang told us to move outside to say bye2 to him. And so we gathered outside, waiting for him to come down. He did more signing, this time to officiate the commencement of Curtin's phase 2 construction (in other words, now, construction is really going to start! I HOPE SO!!!). It was a nice opportunity to meet him :)

 

p.s. International students were told to use their national costume, while local students, their local costume. So i used a 'Tapong' a Kenyah hat :) Wished i had more 'Kenyah Gear' :)

Just as i was about to rejoice....

Just as i was about to rejoice, that my phone was alive, but now, IT'S DEAD AGAIN! After merely 3 days (and 2 nights) since Telekom contractors were seen busy fixing back the cables, the 'cable thief(ves)' has struck again! Well, i really don't know how TM is going to deal with this problem, but this problem sure is causing lots of hassle to the users (especially those who do not have handphone, and those who use the internet a lot, and those who rely on the use of fax service). I'm really curious to know who are those behind these events...

Anyway, are other reasons to rejoice! The Prime Minister of Malaysia will be visitng Curtin University, Miri Campus on Saturday the 10th of February 2007. i will definitely be going - it's an wonderful opportunity to meet the PM :) For those interested to come, know that YAB Dato' Seri is expected to arrive campus at 2pm (we should be there at least half an hour before he is expected to arrive). Btw, Dato' Seri was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Curtin University of Technology of Western Australia sometime in 2006.

Today as i drove to campus, many people were busy preparing for the PM's visit: the road sweepers were seen busy sweeping the road leading to the uni (from the roundabout near DPS), the grass cutters cutting the 'lallang' beside the 2 sides of the road nearer Curtin, the 'makcik' cleaners wiping the outer side of the doors of each room (well, at least for the G2 block - i saw this with my own eyes ok, no exageration), and Mr. Rama, the director for Media studies was also busy preparing the media lab (it was the only time i saw the doors to the media lab open, and i managed to peek into the room and look at the spohisticated media instruments, video cameras, lightings, and that huge 'apple computer' which only the media students have the privilage to touch :P) And other staffs seem to be busy as well.

Oh ya, and on Sunday (11/2/07), the Higher Minister of Education will also be visiting Curtin. He is expected to arrive the campus at 10:15am. Not sure if i will be able to make it for this one though.

I've always liked to meet VIPs - especially leaders. The last the when Tun Dr. Mahathir visited Curtin, i was very happy to be present as part of the campus' community and at least shake hands with him :) However, i missed the King's visit to the uni.

Ah well, getting back to the phone line story. i just hope that this time i won't have to wait for another 3 weeks before my phone line to be restored. It is very inconvinient, especially when i'm the only one having a handphone in my family. I really hope that this issue can be resolved. On the other hand, i'm looking forward to shake hands with the PM :)

i miss my telephone! (line)

Okay, okay. Let me put it straight: MY HOUSE PHONE IS DEAD!!! Not because i didn't pay the bill (i mean my dad) but because,  (according to Telekom Malaysia a.k.a TM) the phone cables have been subjected to theft. It seems that some people have discovered that phone cables are made from copper, and copper has high value. So to earn some cash, why not "harvest" some phone wires that are hanging nicely from the poles, or "dig out" the ones that are nicely submerged underground? After all, a kilo can fetch to about RM18-RM20 (no, i don't have experience doing this. i got the info from BP. Go find out what's/who's BP). Sigh, it has now been 3 weeks since my house became somewhat "phoneless".

Poor TM - they loose money because they have to replace the cables. Poor customers - they can't make phone calls or use internet. Poorer those customers who needed to make an emergency or important call, but can't do it. And poorest the cable thefts - even thought they get some money, they have caused the others to become "poor" by disrupting businesses,  communication and day-to-day affairs. It's sin you know to do such thing? I don't know what reasons you do it...maybe you have a family who has been starving so you resort to this technique to get money. If so, come and see me. I can bring you to the welfare. Or maybe i can give you some money. If welfare doesn't do anything, i'll fight for you! (talking about welfare deparment - hmmmm, i feel that they have to be more proactive. If people don't come to them, go and find people who they can help). Argh!

Okay back to topic - so what needs to be done to address the issue of cable theft? Again info from BP: Some suggests to make copper wire a controlled item. TM suggested that they might go wireless! WOW!! (Terbeliak mata!). Another said we need to amend the current laws. And i know a group of TM workers in kuching set a trap to capture a few culprits! An dthey did it! They manage to catch 2 culprits! These TM workers ought to get some kind of recognition for their bold initiative. But i fear for their safety. I hope they can cooperate more with the police where this "catching" business is concerned.

Ah well, what say i? i think i would do what the group of kuching TM workers did. But do we have to go cathing people forever? I think there must be a shift of mentality among our people. I don't kow why these culprits do not think a step further - that their actions can cause so much difficulties to others! I was surprised when i was told that phone disruption occured this time in the whole of Lutong area and spread to some Pujut areas as well!!! My goodness. Don't we learn pendidikan moral in school?

Anyway, thank God for handphones. Thank God for this "experience" of being "telephoneless". I begin to appeciate the telephone - a gadget which i always took for granted. I miss my (slow) internet connection too. So nowadays, everyday when i reach home, i'll walk towards my telephone, lift up the reciver (takes a deep breath), put it towards my ear, and when i don't hear any tone, %^*$^%%###$@& (translation of %^*$^%%###$@& - AIYA, STILL NOT WORKING!!!) :P

Phoneline, i really miss you. i miss your tone. Phone, i miss you too. Even though i see you, i don't hear you. So please, come back soon, k?

Da Vinci Antidote

I've yet to read the full book (but i've read the condense version), and i've seen 3/4 of the movie (something happened somewhere in the 2nd quarter *sigh*). Dan Brown's style of writing has captivated me, and naturally i enjoyed the book more than the movie. I enjoyed it just as a story and not as factual work.  After reading the condense version of the book, i knew the 'facts' in the books were worthy of laughter. When people ask me what do i think about the book, i would say "it is a work of fiction, but much of the storyline includes actual figures and places". Let's just say someone wrote "Adolf Hitler did not commit suicide after World War 2. Till this day, he is being hid in Germany". There may be a possibility to that claim, but do we concrete proofs to point to that? Similarly, there are possibilities to the claims of the book, but proof have proven otherwise, and the orthodox beliefs of Christianity still stand to the scrutiny.

Anyway, i recently read two books refuting or rather setting straight the information presented as 'factual-fiction' in the 'Da Vinci Code'. One is entitled "The Da Vinci Deception" (by Ted Sri), while the other is "A quest for answers - The Da Vinci Code" (By Josh McDowell). I enjoyed the former more - which was presented in a Q&A format, while the latter was written as a dialogue between 3 fictitious people discussing the issues in the book. Oh ya, i'm supposed to lend them to Lionel Goh!

Uproar over caricature of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)

The recent publication of a caricature of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) published in a Danish newspaper had drawn reaction among Muslims worldwide. Personallym, these are my views:

1) On the person who made the caricature, and the newspapers which published it - in the first place, why make such a drawing? i mean, to draw a cartoon which depicts a great religious leader in an unrespectful or taunting manner should not be done - worst still published! i really think all those invovled in the drawing and publication must appologize to all Muslims for the action, and retract the cartoon, taking into consideration the sensitivity, culture and religion of the Muslim people. Even though freedom of press exist, "Freedom of press should not be abused" (Datuk Sri Syed Hamid Albar, Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs). Freedom does not mean the ability what you want to do, but rather the ability to do what you need to do (and of course this brings the question of how can we categorize what is a 'need' and what is a 'want'? i won't discuss that here).

2) On the reaction the Muslims - It's normal to protest in such a situation. But how a protest is carried out can be a problem. From the media reports i read and heard, i notice 2 different reactions - one group have reacted QUITE violently (pls notice the word QUITE - what i mean to say that there is NO killing involved, so far), by holding protest which involves the burning of the Danish flag, throwing rotten eggs into the Danish embassy and breaking into the compound of some Danish establishment in Indonesia, while the other group, which i think are the 'moderates' have reacted by strogly condemning the drawing, and have called on other Muslims not to turn the issue into a major brouhaha. One such moderate organization is the 'Nahdathul Ulama', Indonesia's largest and most influential Muslim organization. President Harmid Karzai of Afghanistan stressed, while commenting on the issue, that "As Muslims, we must have the big heart to forgive" (Wow!!! His statement really strucked me! Ok, some mght think he's biased, since he is 'Americanised' - he became President because of the American's intervention in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, i totally agree with him - so all humans must learn to forgive).

3) On the Danish government - At first, i was taken aback when they first said they CANNOT apologize on what has happened. Then when i heard their explanation which goes, (my paraphrase) "we cannot apologise for what has happened because the issue is between an independant and free newspaper with Muslims". Ok, excuse accepted. But see! what can so-called press freedom or uncontrolled press can lead to? But if i were the government, i would just apologise for my people's mistake - but again, surely an apology isn't enough, they must take action against those behind the issue. And this will put the government in the tight spot - the media will cry "WHERE'S FREEDOM OF SPEECH?" So i reckon that the government is refraining from making any comments aside from the one mentioned.

4) On the other newspapers who republished the cartoon (in Norway, Italy, Britain) - they did so just to reaffirm their stance of press freedom, inspite of protest from Muslims. I just don't understand humans..... why hurt other people's sensitivity on purpose?

My hopes:
1) Apology from those who drew and published the caricature. And please STOP PUBLISHING THOSE CARTOONS AGAIN!
2) The first group of Muslims 'cool down'. Violence isn't the answer. After all, Jesus (for Christians) have been made fun of much more times and in worser manners - but still Christianity is growing. Don't let violent responses be a further hindrancefor people to understand Islam.
3) The world, especially Europe begin to re-examine their brand of freedom, and come to know and embrace freedom in the right sense.

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oh Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, grant us Your peace Amen.

joint Christmas Parade

Last Saturday, the Association of Christian Churches (Miri Branch) organized a joint Christmas Parade - uniting Anglicans, Methodist, Roman Catholics, SDAs and SIBs. The event began at Miri City Fan at 5pm with Praise & Worship, followed by a speech from the Bishop of the RC church (this year, the RCs were the main organizer. Last year were the Methodist). Then, all leaders from respective churches lit from tehir candles from 1 big candle (actually the Easter Candle from the RC church) and the light was then spread to all people gathered there symbolizing our unity in Christ. I was really thankful that here in Miri, we still can have a christian parade in peace. Half way thru our praise and worship, the Muslim started to pray, and the cry of Azan could be heard. Such understanding and tolorence, where can we find? I am also thankful for the beautiful weather that evening. as the prade started, we walked from City Fan toward Miri City Centre, and back to the City Fan. It was i joyous occasion - people got to see our unity, and most imnpotant, to proclaim Christ to the city in one way or another. God bless Miri City!