Inter-Research And Studies (IRAS)

By Soong Phui Jee The people's first reaction to the SMK Sacred Heart's practice of rewarding a brand new Perodua Myvi car to the Best Teacher and Best Student of the school was, would it cause the deterioration of education? After awarding cars today, would they give diamond rings or sport cars tomorrow? Awarding such expensive gifts for students might distort the purpose of education. If children study only to receive gifts and rewards, would they understand the true meaning of studying? Would they study for themselves, or to receive material rewards? In fact, not only the above mentioned school, but many other schools nationwide have gradually tended to seek for quick success and instant benefits. For example, some of the so-called "elite schools" stress much on examination results and refuse to let students with poor results take government examinations to prevent them from pulling down the school's average grade. Shouldn't schools teach all childr...

By P.Ramakrishnan, President of Aliran Twenty five years ago, Malaysia witnessed what one person could do to sustain his lust for power. His unabated lust for power unleashed the worst traits in the Barisan Nasional to imprison 106 innocent Malaysians to keep the BN in power. The man behind this dark episode in our history was none other than Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. On 27 October 1987 the rule of law was discarded, natural justice was ignored, the role of the judiciary was overridden, parliamentary democracy was sidelined so that he could cling on to power at all costs and by all means. As Prime Minister, Home Minister and Justice Minister, Mahathir rode roughshod so that his position would remain safe and sound and that there would be no one to challenge him. Today, more than ever, we must remember this shameful part of our history and wonder whether this will be repeated when the results of the 13th general election are announced. ...

By Richard Loh This article is about the latest implementation of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) which many people and MPs from both sides of the divide have wanted postponed pending more detailed evaluation. I fully support the AES provided that it is carried out professionally, it can educate the public about the dangers of speeding, running against the red lights and other misdemeanors related to driving. The reasons for my objection to its present implementation are as follows: 1. Privatisation Privatizing to two companies without giving sufficient details and claiming that this is not about issuing summons or profiting certain companies but implementation at zero cost to the government is unacceptable. The first question that comes to mind is this : Would two private companies be willing to invest over RM700 million if they were not making a profit? The second question is : If the system is not about issuing summons, what then is it for? for and if the sys...

Canada blocked Malaysian state oil company Petronas’ C$5.17 billion (RM15.8 billion) bid for  gas producer Progress Energy Resources Co yesterday, a surprise ruling that could have implications for a much  bigger offer by China’s state-owned CNOOC for oil producer Nexen Inc . “I can confirm that I have sent a notice letter to Petronas indicating that I am not satisfied that the proposed investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada,” Christian Paradis, Canada’s minister of industry, said in a late-night statement. Petronas has up to 30 days to make additional representations that could make its deal more palatable. Petronas said it was not ready to make any comment. “Due to the strict confidentiality provisions of the (Investment Canada) Act, I cannot comment further on this investment at this time,” Paradis said. The Petronas bid for Progress had not been expected to run into hurdles in a review process that asks the government to exami...

DRB-Hicom Bhd will announce a working plan to remedy problems faced by national carmaker Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton) next month, said its chief operating officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh. The plan is paramount and if not implemented could bring serious negative consequences to DRB, a major investor in Proton, said Che Khalib. “Proton is in trouble and if we don’t solve Proton’s problem, not only Proton would go down but the whole DRB will go down,” Che Khalib said after his presentation at the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountant-Bursa Malaysia Business Forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. He, however, did not elaborate on the details of the problems faced by Proton. The problems, if not resolved, would affect its 11,000-plus employees and the whole automotive ecosystem surrounding Proton, he said. Meanwhile, a newswire reported yesterday that DRB’s group managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Kamil Jamil said Proton’s performance would have an impact on ...

To our very surprise, the Gerakan Youth had sprung up in public last week to voice their displeasure over the current Gerakan's branches and divisional leaderships which its party youth chief Lim Si Pin claimed that they are still being dominated by local party warlords and these local leaders had refused to make way for younger leaders within the party to take helm the branches and divisional leadership. Just like their larger BN colleagues, Umno, MCA and MIC, it seems Gerakan is also suffering from the same kind of situation from within its ranks. Yes, factionalism and warlordism in the party is very strong when the party has been in power for decades long. During Gerakan's years in Penang (as the state government and the party's power base) until 2008, factional feuds and warlords within the party's ranks in branches and divisions are widely known. It is believed that until today, there are about 6 factions still active in Penang Gerakan with each of these fac...

Despite historical facts affirming the Chinese as the rightful owner of the Diaoyu Islands, the Japanese government had continue to flex its muscles over these disputed islands by claiming that these islands are theirs, of which they called Senkaku Islands. Japan is again flexing its imperial muscles onto China after their Second World War defeat in 1945. What right does Japan has to claim that these islands belongs to them? Based on the history of their empire build up? Everyone knows, the Imperial Japanese Empire was built with blood, war and conquering using their military might and aggression against other countries. So, does that mean those conquered territories belongs to them legally? No, certainly not. If they wish to claim that the Diaoyu Islands belongs to them, then they should also claim that most of the Asian continents belongs to them too, as Imperial Japan had once conquered this region before and during Second World War, of which includes many parts of China. T...