Pathetic Management in Malaysian Education System.

Lately everyone has been anxious about their university's result : first it was NUS, NTU, then it was USM. Everyone was happy when NUS announced the result. Then they had their world tour to invite international students. NUS done their job properly as though its their life's job. All the preparation was so precise and packed with content meant for us students. Whatever questions that we asked was answered by the seniors with whatever knowledge they have. Besides that, all questions that I posed was answered ASAP with full details. Instead of knowing how to solve my problems, I was able to understand how their systems works. This is what I call transparency.

That's the opposite for Malaysia... NUS was so professional in whatever they are doing, but Malaysia's management in the education sector is utter rubbish. This is why brain drain is happening. Because of all the useless people working in there caused to much havoc, it is encouraging brain drain rather than brain gain. Look at how Singapore is doing! Everything is so efficient. They are actually "importing" potential people to Singapore because they know how to appreciate the talented ones. Unlike Malaysia, the quota system is preventing potential people from moving forward which can benefit the country.

Well, the main reason why I am writing this blog is not to compare Singapore and Malaysia, but to criticize USM management in the admission unit. Let me tell you something, the people working in there are "robbers". Don't get the wrong picture, they don't rob money, because they are to rich until they don't even know what to do with their money; instead, they rob away peoples hopes and dreams.

1st case: I was so happy that USM got the Apex title, so thinking that it was a good university, I applied for pharmacy in USM, hoping that I will get it. Then they had this Munsyi test which was compulsory to take if you want to enter USM. Instead you have to tick in a small box right after you have send your application. So some people might have overlooked it and they did not send it. So these people now don't stand a chance in entering USM. 1st batch to be eliminated from entering USM. The flaw is that, why do you want to make this test compulsory and yet you have to tick in one small little miserable box AFTER you have send your application? If it is that important then make sure that you make it mandatory, all the ticking and confessing is done or else we wont be able to send the application.

2nd case: Any important news regarding anything about the result, date of application, date for interview, etc. was not published in ALL newspaper. Why must they publish in Utusan Melayu? Why only the couple of newspaper? Does it mean that only those who read those newspapers will be informed? There, 2nd batch of people eliminated from entering USM. I don't get it! Is it that expensive so publish in all newspapers?

3rd case: This is by far the WORST case I've ever met. And from here I will be swearing and cursing USM. SO get prepared. On Friday, the university entrance result is out. Some of my good friends were happy... no, overjoyed should be more like it, that they were offered the course that they have always wanted. Without further ado, they prepared all necessary documents to be send back to them. The most idiotic thing is that all documents must be sent to them by Tuesday, when Saturday and Sunday is not a working day. #1 No brains. Then this morning(Sunday), a friend of mine told me to check again because the admission unit has just retract the offer from some people. I was shock when I got to know a lot of my friends' offer was retracted. Imagine it's like giving a bright ray of hope to people and then just take it back, leaving them stranded in darkness. Don't you know what kind of impact USM gave to those who are affected. Is like the people in the admission are sadist, seeing people suffer, seeing them feeling disappointing, seeing the hopes and dreams crushed! How dare you do such a thing, you bastards. Do you have any feelings or are you just plain dumb assholes? What kind of fucking nonsense are you doing by just apologizing and say that this is a technical error? Haven't you people plan out first before publishing the result on the net? Its so pathetic so see THE Apex university doing such a lousy job, as though you are not taking it seriously. Come on! This is the future of potential leaders of Malaysia we are talking about!

Unless you want to create a half pass six leaders in the future, then stop this sort of management system. It's humiliating if the news spread to other peoples ear. I wonder whether the Apex title should be given to USM in the first place now, or is this kind of thing going to happen in UPU too. If that's the case, I urge those who can go oversea, please go and don't come back to this pathetic place. It's sad enough to see how corrupt it is already, and now out future is being played around like this mercilessly. It's not that I am encouraging brain drain but for your own future, for your own sake, if you can get the opportunity to work oversea, in a more developed and more advanced country, why come back?

To all my friends whose offer was retracted, I am so sorry to hear that. I hope that UPU will offer you the same course and that you can pursue your dreams to be someone successful and able to contribute back to the society. All the best in your UPU result. OH, and USM, you sux.

8 Toxic personalities to avoid

Although we like to think that the people in our lives are well-adjusted, happy, healthy minded individuals, we sometimes realize that it just isn't so. Personally, I've had moments where I'll be skipping through my day, happy as can be, thinking life is grand and BAM, I'll be blindsided by someone who manages to knock the happy wind out of my sails. Sometimes it is easy to write it off and other times, not so much.

Maybe you are a positive person, but when you are around a certain individual, you feel negative. Or, maybe you have an idealistic view of the world and when you are with certain people, you are made to feel silly, unrealistic or delusional. Or, maybe you pride yourself in being completely independent and in control of your life, but when you are around a certain family member, you regress into a state of childhood.

Some of these situations, and yes, these people, can have a tremendously negative impact on our lives. And, although we are all human and have our 'issues,' some 'issues' are quite frankly, toxic. They are toxic to our happiness. They are toxic to our mental outlook. They are toxic to our self-esteem. And they are toxic to our lives. They can suck the life out of us and even shorten our lifespan.

Here are the worst of the toxic personalities out there and how to spot them:

1. Manipulative Mary: These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics. Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your 'buttons' are, and push them to get what they want.

• Why they are toxic: These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don't necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities.

2. Narcissistic Nancy: These people have an extreme sense of self-importance and believe that the world revolves around them. They are often not as sly as the Manipulative Marys of the world, but instead, tend to be a bit overt about getting their needs met. You often want to say to them "It isn't always about you."

• Why they are toxic: They are solely focused on their needs, leaving your needs in the dust. You are left disappointed and unfulfilled. Further, they zap your energy by getting you to focus so much on them, that you have nothing left for yourself.

3. Debbie Downers: These people can't appreciate the positive in life. If you tell them that it is a beautiful day, they will tell you about the impending dreary forecast. If you tell them you aced a mid-term, they'll tell you about how difficult the final is going to be.

• Why they are toxic: They take the joy out of everything. Your rosy outlook on life continues to get squashed with negativity. Before you know it, their negativity consumes you and you start looking at things with gray colored glasses yourself.

4. Judgmental Jims: When you see things as cute and quirky, they see things as strange and unattractive. If you find people's unique perspectives refreshing, they find them 'wrong'. If you like someone's eclectic taste, they find it 'disturbing' or 'bad'.

• Why they are toxic: Judgmental people are much like Debbie Downers. In a world where freedom rings, judgment is sooo over. If the world was a homogeneous place, life would be pretty boring. Spending a lot of time with these types can inadvertently convert you into a judgmental person as well.
  

5. Dream Killing Keiths: Every time you have an idea, these people tell you why you can't do it. As you achieve, they try to pull you down. As you dream, they are the first to tell you it is impossible.

• Why they are toxic: These people are stuck in what is instead of what could be. Further, these individuals eat away at your self-esteem and your belief in yourself. Progress and change can only occur from doing new things and innovating, dreaming the impossible and reaching for the stars.

6. Insincere Illissas: You never quite feel that these people are being sincere. You tell a funny story, they give you a polite laugh. You feel depressed and sad and they give you a 'there, there' type response. You tell them you are excited about something and you get a very ho-hum response.

• Why they are toxic: People who aren't sincere or genuine build relationships on superficial criteria. This breeds shallow, meaningless relationships. When you are really in need of a friend, they won't be there. When you really need constructive criticism, they would rather tell you that you are great the way you are. When you need support, they would rather see you fail or make a fool of yourself.

7. Disrespectful Dannys: These people will say or do things at the most inappropriate times and in the most inappropriate ways. In essence, they are more subtle, grown up bullies. Maybe this person is a friend who you confided in and uses your secret against you. Maybe it is a family member who puts their busy-body nose into your affairs when it is none of their business. Or maybe, it is a colleague who says demeaning things to you.

• Why they are toxic: These people have no sense of boundaries and don't respect your feelings or, for that matter, your privacy. These people will cause you to feel frustrated and disrespected.

8. Never Enough Nellies: You can never give enough to these people to make them happy. They take you for granted and have unrealistic expectations of you. They find ways to continually fault you and never take responsibility for anything themselves.

• Why they are toxic: You will spend so much time trying to please them, that you will end up losing yourself in the process. They will require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out and your own needs sacrificed.

All of these personalities have several things in common. 1) the more these people get away with their behavior, the more they will continue. 2) Unfortunately, most of these people don't see that what they do is wrong and as a result, talking to them about it will fall on deaf ears, leaving you wondering if you are the crazy one. 3) Most of these people get worse with age, making their impact on you stronger with time.

Frankly, life is too short to spend your time dealing with toxicity. If you can, avoid spending mucho time with people who are indicative of these behaviors and you'll feel a lot happier. Have you encountered these personalities? What have you done? Any personalities you would add?

HOT! HOT! HOT!

As we all know Malaysia is just slightly north from the Equator, so it's freakin' hot especially time time around the year. The highest temperature was 35oC, so if u can imagine its like being baked alive in an oven (nah, just exaggerating). There have been a couple of nights which was so hot that I couldn't sleep, end up... hehe... PS2 till 4am. Insane as it may sound but how am I to kill time?

The increase in temperature has not only cause us to feel uneasy and uncomfortable, I think it is about to start a forest fire again. SHOOT! That means haze again! This phenomena has been occurring every year. People getting sick, accidents happen more frequent, etc etc etc. *sigh* Is life that miserable?

So to avoid all the suffering, the media advised us to hide in shopping malls... SHOPPING MALLS! That means all the ladies will spend more! Are they encouraging us to spend more in times like this? Weird...

What ever it is, just bear with it for the next ermmm.... 3 MONTHS! Great, that means at least 90 days of suffering bad weather conditions.

Makeover.

I have finally found the initiative to change my blogs look. I would like to thank Bryan Kwon for teaching me how to upgrade it and also Regina for supporting me. Well, currently I don't have any handsome *cough* pictures of me to put up yet (not over-indulging) so bear with it a little (or maybe longer) while more. Thanks guys.