German Film Week @ AEI

The international movie screening at the Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), University of Malaya is back. I'm sure those of you who read papers already know the screening will be from today until this Friday.

A few years ago, AEI and ATMA-UKM (Institute of the Malay World and Civilization, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) used to collaborate and had regular screening of international movies here in UM. My friends and I loved it very much because it's free entertainment on every Wednesday and not to mention the generous refreshment after the show.

Later, the fellow researcher at AEI who run the programme left UM and formed Kaki Kino. Together with Dr Wan Zawawi, they brought the weekly international movie screening to FINAS. I was very disappointed by the move. Not long after that move to FINAS, Kaki Kino landed themselves in trouble when one of the films screened had explicit scenes.

Anyway, I'm just glad that this programme is back at AEI with new management. Hopefully they will make it a regular event.

Date/Time: 5 - 9 February 2007, 8.30 pm Venue: Auditorium, Asia-Europe Institute Organiser: Asia-Europe Institute, UM and Goethe Institute Contact Person: Puan Joharah (+603-79674645)

Movie Title: Mostly Martha Date: 5 Feb 2007 (Monday) Time: 8.30-10.30 p.m.

Movie Title: Comedian Harmonists Date: 6 Feb 2007 (Tuesday) Time: 8.30 -11.00 p.m.

Movie Title: Good Bye, Lenin Date: 7 Feb 2007 (Wednesday) Time: 8.30-11.00 p.m.

Movie Title: Run Lola Run Date: 8 Feb 2007 (Thursday) Time: 8.30-10.00 p.m.

Movie Title: Nowhere In Africa Date: 9 Feb 2007 (Friday) Time: 8.30-11.30 p.m.

complaint against UM library - part 2

I'm glad that the head librarian and head of customer service department paid attention to my comment the other day.

Although I'm not so satisfy with the answer given, saying that the librarian in charged had accidentally switched off the main power because he thought it was the air-con, at least they take the matter seriously. I've not gone back to the library in the evening to see if they have done any improvement.

Anyway, new semester reopen and I'll be spending a lot of time doing research in the library.

complaint against UM library

I am frustrated with the service offered in UM main library. Even though the library will be closed in 30 minutes, the librarians will start switching off lights and computers and ask students to leave.

I was particularly mad yesterday when one of the librarian purposely switched off the main power in one of the computer lab specially for postgrad. I was on my way out when suddenly the lights were out. Some students were doing their work and of course whatever they were doing or typing, all the data were gone! So rude! At that time, it was just 7.45 pm and the library will only be closed in 15 minutes. Or at least, the librarian should inform the students to save their data as he will close the main power. Even the promoters at shopping centre doesn't chase customers away 15 minutes before their premise is closed so that they have time to pack their stuff and switch off lights.

I've sent an email to the head librarian, the head of customer service and QAMU (Quality Assurance Management Unit) to complain about the matter.

Selamat pagi,

Saya merupakan seorang pascasizwazah ingin melahirkan perasaan kecewa tentang layanan yang diberikan kepada para pengguna di Makmal Komputer B.

Semalam (pada pukul 7.40pm, 21 Jun 2006) setelah diumumkan bahawa perpustakaan akan ditutup dalam masa 30 minit, seorang pustakawan (yang tidak akan saya nyatakan nama di sini) telah masuk ke Makmal Komputer B yang dikhaskan untuk pelajar pasca ijazah. Dengan nada yang tinggi, pustakawan tersebut memberitahu bahawa perpustakaan akan ditutup pada masa itu (sedangkan pengumuman mengatakan akan ditutup dalam masa 15 minit lagi). Saya mula meninggalkan bilik tersebut. Ketika saya melangkah keluar dari bilik berkenaan, pustakawan tersebut dengan sengajanya menutup suis bekalan yang terdapat di dalam Makmal Komputer B. Ini bermakna semua maklumat dalam komputer yang sedang digunakan oleh beberapa orang pelajar yang masih berada di dalam bilik itu telah hilang kerana suis bekalan elektrik telah ditutup tanpa pengetahuan mereka. Paling mengecewakan, pustakawan tersebut membuat seperti dia tidak sengaja berbuat demikian.

Para ketua pustakawan sekalian,
Ini bukannya kali pertama pustakawan berbuat demikian untuk "menghalau" (rasanya tidak berlebihan untuk saya mengatakan demikian) pelajar walaupun masa tutup perpustakaan belum sampai. Pustakawan harus bersikap lebih profesional dan Perpustakaan Utama Universiti Malaya harus menyediakan perkhidmatan yang baik kepada para pengguna. Seperti masa tutup yang dijanjikan iaitu pada pukul 8 pm, perpustakaan UM harus menyediakan perkhidmatan sehingga waktu berkenaan. Masa 30 minit (atau 15 minit sekalipun) sebelum masa tutup bukannya masa untuk pustakawan berkemas untuk pulang. Seperti pasar raya, promoter tidak akan menghalau pelanggan keluar 30 minit sebelum premis mereka ditutup dengan alasan mereka ingin mengemas barang atau menutup lampu untuk pulang.

Universiti Malaya ialah sebuah universiti bertaraf antarabangsa dan begitu juga dengan Perpustakaan Utama yang merupakan gedung ilmu dan tempat yang paling akrab dengan pelajar. Diharap para ketua pustakawan sekalian akan mengambil langkah yang sewajarnya untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan yang terbaik untuk para pengguna.

Sekian, terima kasih.

international film screenings

Starting in February the new home for the film screenings (used to take place in AEI, University of Malaya) will be the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) which is located next to Zoo Negara in Ampang.

The film screenings will take the same format as before. International films will be shown every Wednesday evening at 8.30 pm, while the last Saturday of each month will be used to showcase the best of Malaysian filmmakers.

As usual, they will be providing a short introductory talk, programme notes and refreshments (hurray!). Admission to all films is FREE.

The programme for February will be as follows:



Thursday 2 February at 8.30 pm
THE SEA INSIDE
Spain 2004, 125 mins, Dir. Alejandro Amenabar
Winner of Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards 2005

Wednesday 8 February at 8.30 pm
RAY
United States 2004, 152 mins, Dir. Taylor Hackford
Winner of Best Actor, Academy Awards 2005

Wednesday 15 February at 8.30 pm
THE PIANIST
France/Germany 2002, 150 mins, Dir. Roman Polanski
Winner of Best Director and Best Actor, Academy Awards 2002

Wednesday 22 February at 8.30 pm
DOWNFALL
Germany 2005, 156 mins, Dir. Oliver Hirschbiegel
Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, AcademyAwards 2005

Saturday 25 February at 3.30 pm
MONDAY MORNING GLORY
Malaysia 2005, 87 mins, Dir. Woo Ming Jin

If you know anyone who is interested in the film screenings please get them to send an email to:kaki.kino@yahoo.com

For further information contact:
KAKI KINO (Film Consultants)
Tel: 012 225 1179 (Gareth)
Tel: 019 817 1947 (Wan Zawawi)

UM aiming a higher "Intl Student Score" in 2006

Uni has just reopened for second semester. This is my second year here in UM doing my postgraduate degree.

I've registered for the two final papers. One of them is leadership which I'll be taking together with a new batch of postgraduate students (other coursemates who are in the same batch with me already taken this paper during the first year).

I attended the first lecture last Saturday. To my surprise, 25% of the students in the seminar room are "international students" and they are all from differents parts of China. I thought they must be muslims and from Xian or Xinjiang but I was wrong. Some are from the northern part of China, others from Shenzen and Guangdong.

Perhaps this is a good sign. I believe UM is trying its best to improve the "International Student Score" in 2006.

Classical Tones Modern Touch: in UM

Orchestra's enthusiasts can look forward for a free performance in University of Malaya tomorrow night. I don't have the name of the orchestra performing tomorrow night. All I know is they are going to perform some of the famous numbers such as the Phantom of the Opera and Hijau.

Venue: Dewan Tunku Chanselor, University of Malaya
Date: December 10, 2005
Time: 8.30 p.m.

There's a lot of free performances and movies going on in UM this weekend. Don't waste these opportunities. You don't always get free entertainment in KL nowadays.

film schedule: UNHCR & ICRC film showcase in UM

Probably you have heard and read about the film showcase, themed "War and Flight: The Need for Humanitarian Action" which will feature three movies and documentaries beginning from today to Sunday.

It is organised by UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross). The movies and documentaries will be screened at the Asia Europe Institute, University of Malaya (click for map). Admission is free.

Friday (Dec 9, 2005)
8.30 p.m. Hotel Rwanda (Refreshment and performances after the movie)

Saturday (Dec 10, 2005)
11.00 a.m. Women Facing War: Palestine
11.10 a.m. To Be a Refugee
11.20 a.m. Children of Ibdaa
2.00 p.m. The Killing Fields
5.00 p.m. Moderated discussion with ICRC
8.30 p.m. Women Facing War: Yugoslavia
8.35 p.m. Refugee Women: Don't Look Back
8.40 p.m. Molly and Mobarak



Sunday (Dec 11, 2005)
11.00 a.m. Women Facing War: Afghanistan
11.05 p.m. The Boy Who Played on the Buddhas of Bamiyan
2.00 p.m. A Safe Place
2.15 p.m. The Lost Boys of Sudan
3.45 p.m. Moderated discussion with UNHCR
8.30 p.m. War and Dignity
8.35 p.m. Marooned in Iraq

should I pay for the token of appreciation every end of the semester?

Currently I'm pursuing my master in educational management and by the end of each semester, the leader of each class will ask us to pay between RM5-10 to buy gifts for the lecturers. I'm not sure if this is a norm in other faculties or universities. It's not that I'm a cheapskate but I really believe that this is not really a good practice. I'll tell you why.

There are these class 'leaders' who are usually government officers or teachers who collect money from between 20 to 100+ students in each class. The money collected will be used to buy expensive stuff like branded accessories, batik shirt and even gold bracelets. Imagine, I'm attending one particular class of about 120 students and we are asked to pay RM10 for a gift and dinner (just outside the classroom). Okay, let alone the dinner and the token of appreciation. What I'm really dissappointed was when the leader announced to us about the collection, he mentioned, "Bayar RM10, mana tahu, kita dapat A ke..."

Some government officers and teachers bring along their negative habits into the university. For example, there's one senior officer who is about to retire. Instead of bringing his assignment, he brought in duku and langsat for the lecturer. However the lecturer was smart. The lecturer did not accept it but instead asked him to share the fruits with all of us and reminded him to pass up his assignment on the following day.

Sometimes we just blame entirely on the management or lecturers for the poor standard of our local universities. Perhaps, it's the attitude of its students that should change as well.

the real picture of orientation programme in local university

I refer to the letter Respect Freshmen, too by Malaysian in Foreign Land (StarEducation, Aug 21).

I would like to clarify that when I stated that all orientation programmes are similar in my previous letter, I am positively aware that local universities do organise their formal orientation activities similarly to the experience Malaysian in Foreign Land had in his university.

I will share the kind of experience I had when I was studying in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). When I arrived in UKM, seniors were the ones that greeted all freshmen and parents. After registration at our hostel (college), we were equipped with a case full of necessary information we needed for the one-week programme. Then the seniors directed us to our respected rooms and ensured we were happy with our new living spaces.

During the first day of orientation, we were introduced to the seniors whom we addressed as facilitators. We went through proper ice-breaking activities which were all indoor activities. We formed groups of multi-racial members and each group was lead by a facilitator who shared with us about the life in university. We were constantly reminded by the facilitators to be grateful to our parents and not to take things for granted after all our hard work to enter the university.

We were asked to wake up at 5.30 a.m. every day. Before morning exercise, we were given speeches by facilitators who sounded tough and serious. The real challenge throughout the orientation programme was that we needed to be physically fit to jog in the morning and to go through tough activities in the evening. We also had to walk to the library, faculty or main hall to attend seminars or social meetings. We were told the places around the university that we can go and the transportation service available. These facilitators sacrificed their time and energy to guide us throughout the week. They had to be tough to jog along with us too. Every day we would sleep at 1 or 2 a.m. As for the facilitators, we knew some of them never sleep at all just to prepare for the orientation on the next day.

The problems occurred when some freshmen ignored to instructions or show no respect. They overslept, lack of cooperation among the freshmen, did not greet the seniors, forgot to wear their nametags, played truant, etc. Hence seniors will resolve to scolding or humiliating them in front of everyone. The worst punishment would be from facilitators who were in the Palapes (Reserve Officers Training Unit).

I have family member and friends who studied in UM and USM and they never complain about their orientation programmes. Instead, the UM friends and my brother who studied in USM said they were pampered by their seniors throughout their first year in university. Everything were nicely planned and prepared for them, from second-hand textbooks and notes to assisting them in the PTPTN loan applications.

In my opinion, whether it is orientation programme or even regular motivational activities, there are always some participants who are not interested to get involve and often end up labelling the activities as silly. Some of the activities carried out by the seniors might not be as creative as we want it to be. Perhaps when these freshmen become seniors they can reinforce creativity in the orientation programme. It is more proper to show their leadership skills and pro-activeness to change for the better rather than just complaining and painting the wrong pictures to their parents and public about local universities. Let us not forget that orientation programme is run by students themselves.

nightmare orientation? come on!

I laughed when I read in The Star, a comment by a worried parent about her son's "nightmarish" orientation in UM.

The funniest part was her rather sarcastic bout the seniors in the medical faculty.

Life in UM is not what he thought it would be – it's been rather like living together with a group of gangsters or in a secret society. Medical faculty students are future doctors.

I did not do my undergraduate programme in UM but I can guarantee you that almost all universities have the same kind of orientation. Come on, there is no big deal with about seniors trying to intimidate the freshies just to show them what respect and the real life away from parents might be. The one-week orientation week is just a small challenge to the mostly pampered freshies.

I've been through humiliation as well during my orientation week; I was asked to sing in the public, then being laughed because of my 'Kuantan-Cantonese' (which is slightly different from KL and Ipoh. Not to mentioned the torture of wearing the same orientation t-shirt for days, waking up at 5 am having to jog for hours, having swollen feet, and lecturing from the seniors who never failed to remind us not to be cocky. And yes, we only went to bed at 2 am. And for the guys, there were room service waiting for them every night.

When I looked back or chat with my friends about our uni experience, we loved to talked about the funny and intimidating moments during our orientation. We laughed the fact that we were so naive and weak.

To the worried parents, she just need to let her son to be on his own and learn to be independent. If she wants her son to be involved in motivational activities, asked him to join camps or society. Orientation week is definitely not similar to national service.

orientation week - the nightmare

It's orientation week (or rather registration week) in University of Malaya.

Initially I didn't realise it eventhough I saw a huge number of students (freshies) in their uniforms (some wearing black t-shirts, some in pink and some in yellow). I thought there was an expo or a PMR seminar going on in the campus. These freshies look very young (or in another word childish) and you won't deny that most of them are being treated like secondary school kids by their facilitators.

It reminds me of my orientation week many many years ago. It was a dream come true for me to go to the university of my choice (I went to UKM during one educational trip and immediately had a good image of the university). However, the orientation itself was a nightmare. The facilitators and seniors were so mean that I never seek help from them throughout my entire years there.

The overused word by the seniors which I will remember for the rest of my life was "cocky" (we, the innocent freshies were already scared to death to be away from our family for the first time and this was the word used to address us in their every sentence).

Nevertheless, one thing good about the orientation was I shed a lot of weights due to heavy exercises and torturing. Then of course I didn't get used to the food and I lost appetite to eat. I easily lost 15kg after the orientation week. Pretty amazing, huh?

Coming back to the orientation week here in UM, I realised that a huge percentage of these undergraduates are female. We are aware of the gap between female and male in universities even few years back but somehow I think the issue is getting out of hand now. So, where are the guys?

goddess jolie

Finally I went to watch Mr and Mrs Smith last night. I have to admit that I'm a big fan of Angelina Jolie (and I used to like Brad Pitt a lot when he was first featured in the movie Thelma and Louise many many years ago).

Mr and Mrs Smith was indeed a movie with a simple story line that intend to sell the two sexy hot stars. However, the real star in this movie is Jolie. She simply outshine Pitt himself. She again proves herself as one of the Hollywood A-list action star. Mr and Mrs Smith is indeed a Jolie movie.

However, I still miss the old Jolie. Remember her movies such as Foxfire, Hackers and Gia whereby her characters are much deeper (and often androgynous which is simply nice to watch). Nowadays her films are too commercialise. I wish to see her in dramatic movies that will show more of her acting skills (which she has) and of course earn her an Oscar.

Mr and Mrs Smith is not really my cup of tea although the movie done fairly well. The night before I was at the AEI, UM to watch a rather moving movie called Central Station. It was a 1998 Brazilian movie by the director Water Salles. The best things about watching this movie was I don't have to pay a cent and don't even have to line up to get a ticket (there's even refreshment provided). Central Station was an award winning movie that express the triumph of the human spirit.

The story is about Dora, a single and lonely elderly woman who earns her living by writing letters for illiterate customers at the Rio de Janeiro's Central Station. Things however begin to change when she reluctantly befriend a homeless orphan, Josue. She agrees to help Josue search for the father that he never known. The journey becomes a quest for their own identities, a boy who search for his father and a woman who search for her heart. Indeed a movie with a big heart!

Think I will spend every Wednesday watching movie at AEI rather than trying hard to get tickets at TGV (and M-Cinema doesn't even work at all).

Hotel Rwanda - a beautiful film that touches the soul

Last night I attended the week's international film screening at the Asia-Europe Institute in University of Malaya. This beautiful film directed by Terry George was nominated for three Academy Awards recently.

This story is about an ordinary family man and yet a heroic figure who summons extraordinary courage to save livesof over a thousand helpless refugess by granting them shelter in the hotel he manages.

Ten years ago, some of the worst atrocities in the history of mankind took place in the country of Rwanda. And in an era of high-speed communication and round-the-clock news, the events went almost unnoticed by the rest of the world. In only three months, almost 1 million people were brutally murdered.

This is truly an unforgettable and deeply moving film. Certainly the best film I've watched so far.