Tuesday, September 18, 2012

It's been three years I was working towards getting the PTPTN loan repayment exemption.  Having gone through all the hassles, I was extremely happy that the authority had finally taken our plead seriously,  Yesterday, I log onto the e-fes account in the PTPTN website and found that my account was finally adjusted, last 15th September 2012, and it's time for wait for the black and white from the authority.  Whether or not the 'swift' response was due to the approaching General Election, I do appreciate all those who had contributed to the policy change by including our batch to enjoy the privilege of repayment exemption.  Well Done! and Thanks a BUNCH~~


Friday, February 17, 2012









I didn't receive any flower this year, nor did I receive any physical present.  Nevertheless, I've got one precious gift, an extremely bz si gemuk allocated his time, cramped his working schedule until super pack before and after the special occasion, flew to Singapore and had the sumptuous Tony Roma's pork ribs dinner with this si kurus. 


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

I'm neither an IPhone nor IPad owner, not even an Android phone user.  To me, the function that I most often use with my ordinary phone is only to make and answer phone calls, sms, and listen to songs, sometimes, taking picture with the build-in camera.  I know it may sound a bit old-fashioned, but that is basically what mobile phone means to me.

Having been here in Singapore for 3 months, I found that IPhone, IPad and Android phones are extremely common among the people here.  Perhaps I really can't understand the charms these electronic devices carry, because I don't own one.  Perhaps life in Singapore is just too boring that people need these devices too fill up their lives.  Everyday when I board the public transport to uni, I can see most of the people carrying their electronic devices, busy pointing/tabbing, or just merely "looking" at the devices.  Most of the times, they are just being so indulged with the devices that they tend to ignore the surroundings.

I can still recall my experience in Singapore during my last visit here, which was a couple of years back.  People are friendly and polite.  I tend to greet the people I met in the same neighbourhood and they always returned with a smile or "morning" or "Hello".  Sometimes, they greeted me even before I did so.  Some will listen to their MP4/IPod later on, but still will at least nod their heads towards each other.  In the public transports, occassionally I would see people giving away their seats to the elderly/pregnant women etc.  All and all, it gave me a very good impression of Singapore, that this is a civilized and caring society.

Today, I could hardly feel this sort of atmosphere in Singapore.  Some of people remain friendly, but only when you take the initiative to nod, or to say "hi".  That's fine.  Most of the time, however, they tend to be busy with their IPhone, IPad and electronic devices only.  A few occassions that I came across, young people (even university students - a social group which is supposed to be well-educated and considering and caring and observant) occupying the reserves seats first whenever they board the public transport.  Again that's fine.  Yet, the most common scenario I witnessed is that, they never intend to give away the seats to those who need.  Some of them pretend not seeing the old lady in front carrying a few plastic bags in her hands, some of them pretend to be sleeping, but most of them were busy with their IPhone, IPad and electronic devices.  I personally felt very much irritated for such ignorance.

Another scenario I saw very often is that, a family of four going out for dinner.  They sat down, the father was doing the ordering, the mother and the two kids were just busy, again, with their electronic devices, whether it's FB-ing,  chatting, sms-ing, "looking" at some interesting videos, or playing gawmes.  Dinner time is such a great family moment, but everyone ended up with their very own world.  Communication is gone.  I wonder how family institution can sustain without communication.

Maybe I'm too out of fashion, maybe I'm too conservative, maybe I'm too stubborn on holding up the importance of moral and norms.  I just can't understand why these people are so obssessed with their electronic devices which blind their senses towards the environment.  We are not heading towards a caring society.  Does the advent of information communication technology and globalization bring us closer, or has it actually created more invisible walls around us to reach out to the others?  I seriously think that one should ask oneself, how much time are you spending on your electronic devices, rather than with your family members?  Are you too obssessed with your electronic devices?

Thursday, August 4, 2011

After two years of working, I'm back to student life. It is a mixture of complicated feelings of excitement as well as anticipation, pressure, happiness etc...

The idea of pursuing a postgraduate degree was pinned down during the early stage of my undergraduate study. However, knowing that experience counts in today's labour market, I declined a PhD offer from UUM instead, heading towards working life in the private sector for three months, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for two years. There might be questions for instance, what can you learn in two years? Does it worth to spend the two years working before going into postgrad study?

The answer is certain. The working experience I've attained is priceless. Working in the different entities was an eye-opening experience for me. It helps in building up the soft skills, i.e. interpersonal, communication, team-working, business ethics etc. As my background is International Affairs Management, no doubt that the working experience has helped me to decide which area I wanted to focus/specialize in. For this, I have chosen International Political Economy.

Living in Singapore is totally different from Malaysia. I used to drive, but driving in Singapore is a bit too costly as I'm only a student here, not earning much from my monthly stipend...haha. I could still recall the first day going to university myself. I went to the bus station early, but I missed the bus. Yes, I missed the bus, for one reason - I didn't flag stop the bus. This indeed, realizes me that it's been years I never board public transport and I was laughing at myself that I forgot the basic of taking a bus. Now, I must not forget my umbrella and water bottles with me, inside my bag despite the fact that they used to be in my car. Oh, I miss my car....

Secondly, the food in Singapore.....Sigh. I must say that, being here for three weeks, I still can't get used to the oriental food in Singapore. It is weird. Singapore and Malaysia are so close to each other, but when it comes to flavour, they are extremely different. The fried kuey teow here is sweet for instance. Yet, I enjoy the canteen in NTU as the food is value for money. At this point, I still opt for western/japan/korean cuisine whenever there is a choice. Apart from that, the canteens and hawker centers are very hygiene/clean. I have no doubt about food safety in this country.

It will be a new beginning for me here in Singapore. For I have to, adapt myself quickly into the lifestyle here.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Recently, the press media had revealed countless reports on parents mistreating/abusing/torturing their children. Such issue deserves serious attention from the community, especially the parents-to-be, are you really prepared to be a mother/father?

In a very recent tragedy of a babysitter, who is also a mother, hang herself in front of the kids. reported in the newspaper, it reminded me an incident which I came across few years back when I was still a trainee reporter with a Chinese Press in Malaysia. I remember that it was an afternoon when the senior reporter in the office brought me to the scene where the tragedy took place. A mother, locked her three kids in the house, while she herself standing in the car porch, set herself on fire, in front of her three kids, who are still very young, at their schooling age. The incident left me a great impact, especially on my perception of the responsibility of parents.

Yes, it is about committing suicide in front of their own children. How could a mother/father do such cruel thing to their kids? To witness a person dying helplessly, I believe, is the most mental-torturing abuse to a human being. In my understanding, parents should safeguard their children, BY ALL MEANS, give them love, care for them, protect them. However, nowadays, we are reading news about parents committing suicide in front of their children, leaving behind indelible impacts on the children. The kids might be in horrifying nightmare for the rest of their lives. Questions surrounding the death of their beloved parents may bother them for the rest of their lives. The suffer might be never-ending.

In short, I would say, "If you are not ready to become a mother/father, don't risk to be one; If you happened to be, take the responsible by all means; Do not ever leave behind your responsibilities on them, because, it was you who brought them to this world; Everybody can abandon them as they like, EXCEPT YOU".

Monday, June 28, 2010

Dear All,
First of all, I wish to express my sincere apologies for the unintended delay regarding the above matter. Anyhow, I had finally put up a letter and had already emailed to the Political Secretary (Dr. Oh Ei Sun) of the Prime Minister's Office as below:
Dear Dr Oh,
With reference to the above matter, I am pleased to represent my colleagues to bring our appeal for PTPTN (Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional) loan repayment exemption to your kind attention.
2. As a First Class Honours (CGPA 3.89) graduate from Universiti Utara Malaysia of the enrollment session of July 2005/2006, my academic achievement had qualified me for the loan repayment exemption. However, my application for the loan repayment exemption on 29 June 2009 was officially rejected by a letter received on 11 August from the PTPTN (Ref: PTPTN/SPP/851127085124, dated 17 July 2009). The reason for the disqualification was such that only borrowers whose loan had been approved before 1 July 2005 AND graduate with a First Class Honours Degree are eligible for loan repayment exemption.
3. Following the announcement of budget plan of 2010, I sincerely believed that all the university students were delighted, nevertheless, motivated by the news that First Class Honours graduates would be exempted from the loan repayment as the loan would be automatically converted to scholarship. Unfortunately, after checking with the authority from PTPTN, we were informed that only graduates who complete their study in 2010 are eligible to that privilege.
4. In this regard, I hope that your good office could assist to bring this issue to our Most Honorable Prime Minister’s kind consideration to waive PTPTN loan repayment for First Class Honours Graduates. Before the new condition for the eligibility of loan exemption was enforced, First Class Honours graduates had been exempted from the loan repayment all these while. There had been cases whereby Second Class Upper graduates (whose CGPA was slightly away from First Class Honours) managed to obtain special consideration from PTPTN to repay only 50 percent of the loan. The new condition for loan repayment exemption and the loan conversion in the budget plan of 2010 had eventually left ONLY the First Class Honors graduates who obtained their PTPTN loan after 1 July 2005 and graduated in 2009 not being granted the accessibility to this privilege which had been enjoyed by all the First Class Honors graduates.
5. In my earlier effort to seek assistance from the Honorable Senator A. Kohilan Pillay on this matter, we are informed that the Ministry of Higher Education is studying the explicit impact of the implementation of PTPTN loan repayment exemption for First Class Honors Graduates (letter as enclosed--Please request by email if you wish to have a look at the said letter). However, we had not heard from the relevant office since then.
6. Attached herewith a name list of affected students whom I knew for your reference (confirmed attached, not deciding to reveal here). We sincerely hope that this loan repayment exemption reconsideration could also be extended to all the unnamed students who are affected as well. Your attention to this letter is highly appreciated.
Thank you very much in advance for your kind assistance. We hope to hear from you soon.

Your Sincerely,
(My Real Name...Forgive me as I do not wish to reveal it here) @ TRACY
H/P No.: (Also not consider to reveal here..hehe)

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

To PTPTN borrowers who graduated with First Class Honours but not entitled to loan exemption:
All these years PTPTN borrowers were exempted from loan payment provided they graduates with a First Class Degree Honours. However, things changed in 2005. If one were to refer to PTPTN website, it was stated that "Exemption of repayment will only be considered for borrowers who obtain first class honours for loans approved prior to 1st July 2005 ONLY by submitting an application". And I was among the unfortunates.
Following the announcement of budget plan of 2010, I sincerely believed that all the university students were delighted by the news that First Class Honours graduates would be exempted from the loan repayment (again). Unfortunately, after checking with the authority from PTPTN, only graduates who complete their study in 2010 are eligible to that privilege. How could this happen? It is extremely unfair to the a few batches of students whose loan was approved after July 2005, and graduated in 2009.
In a letter I received from the office of the Higher Education Ministry recently, it was stated that: "Kementerian sedang mengkaji beberapa impak khusus kepada kerajaan apabila pengecualian daripada membayar balik pinjaman daripada PTPTN bagi pemegang Ijazah Kelas Pertama dilaksanakan. Perkara ini akan dibentangkan kepada YAB Perdana Menteri dan keputusannya akan dimaklumkan kelak."
I hereby appeal to all PTPTN borrowers who graduated with First Class Honours but not entitled to loan exemption to leave me a message, with your name/University/program/graduation year stated. I sincerely hope that we could be connected to each other via FB, united we stand and spell out our wish to be exempted from the loan repayment. I hope that we could at least put up a letter by the second week of June 2010.
Many thanks!
Best Regards,
Tracy
(tracy.gwen@gmail.com)