A boy and his (many) books: Big Bad Wolf, Selfish Crocodile, and Logos Hope
For me, the month of October 2011 is the “Month of Book Sales.” First, the world’s largest book sale, Big Bad Wolf Book Sale, was held from Oct 7 – 16, 2011. Boasting 1.5 million books, coupled with 75...
View ArticleDecline or rise in English proficiency in Malaysia?
Update (Dec 8, 2011): A modified form of this blog entry was published today in the New Straits Times newspaper. Few people would argue against the importance of English language today. It is the...
View ArticleMalaysia’s education system: Waiting for Superman
“One of the saddest days of my life was when my mother told me Superman did not exist.” She said, “Superman is not real.” I was, like, “He’s not? What do you mean he’s not?” “No, he’s not real.” And...
View ArticleThe involvement of the Chinese in Malaysia’s agriculture sector
The book “Land to Till: The Chinese in the Agricultural Economy of Malaysia” by Tan Pek Leng is a welcome find in the local bookstores. This book is a welcome addition because it tells about the role...
View ArticleReview of car security systems to reduce risks of car theft in Malaysia
Update (26 Feb. 2013): My two blog articles on car security and car theft statistics in Malaysia were used in ntv7’s The Breakfast Show today (Episode 41). Go to tonton (search for the show — free...
View ArticleNewsflash: Malaysian government concedes to Bersih 3.0
“So, how credible is it – this Bersih 3.0?” the Prime Minister looks at the three men in his office. “Very credible,” the Inspector General of Police answers, “It is all over the internet: in blogs,...
View ArticleLittle (or no) difference between petrol brands in Malaysia in terms of fuel...
This blog entry is an update to my first report on my car’s fuel consumption (FC) for various petrol brands. Background of study About one and a half years ago, I started to measure the fuel...
View ArticleTanarata International School (TiS) – A school in an oil palm plantation
Update (Dec. 14, 2012): Read my review of this school after one school term. International schools in Malaysia are expected to grow, so says M. Bakri Musa in his article “The impact of growth in...
View ArticleWhere’s my water? Water rationing and water shortages in Selangor
Update (Jun 28, 2012): This blog entry was published today in the New Straits Times newspaper. There may be talks about water rationing soon in this country, but for my family and I, our neighborhood...
View ArticleMalaysia General Election 2013: Ubah? Be careful what you wish for. You might...
Some say ignorance is bliss. But that is not true. Ignorance makes us stupid, and stupid people make wrong decisions. But in the coming General Election 2013, I am afraid we Malaysians are voting out...
View ArticleManipulating the net: How much can we trust what we read on the net?
Evgeny Morozov’s “The Net Delusions: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom” is one of the most important books I have read. Having read it two years ago, I now often treat web news, in particular those...
View ArticleThe many ways to kill a communist: Indonesia’s communist purge 1965-66
Joshua Oppenheimer’s “The Act of Killing” is the most unsettling documentary I have ever watched. This documentary focused on a group of men in North Sumatra who were involved in Indonesia’s purge of...
View ArticleMy Bella TV interview: Encouraging children to read, the importance of...
I was very fortunate to be invited to appear on Bella, a TV programme by ntv7, on my opinions about ways to encourage a reading habit in children, the importance of reading, and about reluctant book...
View ArticleWhy my son will leave Malaysia: Rise of racism, prejudice, religiosity,...
“No country can take care of Malaysians better than Malaysia.” I am not sure who said this first; perhaps it was already a common dictum long before when I first heard it at a young age. Even after...
View ArticleCourage: How much is your PhD worth?
I first met Amir (not his real name) in my office about six years ago when he told me that he wanted to do his PhD under my supervision. While I do not remember much what we discussed, I do remember...
View ArticleMalaysian social media regulation? Welcome to the dark side of social media
We thought the social media such as Facebook are a boon to finding out only the truth. We believe this because information flows unrestricted and uncensored from an open, diverse, and hyper-connected...
View ArticleWaiting for Bernie Sanders: Igniting a political and social revolution in...
Let’s face it. There is not going to be political or social revolution in Malaysia anytime soon—not for at least one generation. Here are the facts. Nearly 60% of Malaysians are apathetic to politics,...
View ArticleWe are not special
Let’s face it. We are not special. We like to think we are, that our goals, rants, aspirations, and struggles really matter. But we are stardust, as Neil deGrasse Tyson reminds us. Sounds poetic but...
View ArticleSmall acts of resistance
I recently picked up “Small Acts of Resistance”, a book by Steve Crawshaw and John Jackson. This book is a collection of stories around the world about individuals, groups of people, and citizens...
View ArticleDear parents, are our children being taught computer coding the wrong way?
Last Thursday, I registered my 11-year-old son Zachary for a free three-hour trial in computer coding. This trial class was held at KidoCode at Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur. This preview class was not just...
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