SHARP MIND

 

The importance of keeping your mind sharp cannot be overstated. We are all part of a fantastic intellectual and information economy, which thrives on ideas, creativity and intelligence. Keeping your mind sharp is sure to give you the edge over the competition, and more importantly lead to your own higher levels of happiness.

When your mind is in top shape, you will:

• Have greater motivation and focus
• Get more done
• Come up with more creative ideas
• Find inspiration more often
• Remember more
• Experience a better quality of life

A FEW PRACTICES EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL IN KEEPING YOUR MIND SHARP ARE:

Continue reading, absorbing knowledge and experiencing culture
Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself. It should be something pleasurable and done for intrinsic reasons above all else. Read blogs on subjects both within your field and in new fields you know nothing about; read books; watch lectures on fascinating new subjects; read about ancient societies; take in a new form of art you have never experienced; you get the idea. Challenge your mind to continually broaden your horizon and soak up new information like an infinite sponge (that is pretty much what it is, you should use it to do just that).

Learn a skill or craft you have never tried before like playing an instrument, composing music, painting, building a model airplane, or even coding computer programs.
Engage your mind in learning a new skill. You are never too old to do this, but this is definitely something you should start as young as you can. You could have started composing your own music at a young age, and in retrospect you wish you had started even younger. You would be surprised how much learning a new skill will open up many new paths in your mind and help you become even better at whatever you are already an expert at. You will also open yourself up to tons of new connections and intellectual social circles by engaging yourself in a new hobby, form of art, or trade.

To improve memory do not write everything down
If you can, try this for a week: write down everything you need to do at the beginning of the week, as you normally would, but take your list and put it out of sight. Instead of keeping that list visible at your desk, internalize your projects and simply remember and know what needs to be done, prioritize it in your mind, and do it. Your brain is extremely powerful and you will find that, in time, you may not have to write anything down to remember everything (you can still keep a list for reference, but it is great not to need it).

Give your mind time to assimilate knowledge
We live in a culture where we are constantly experiencing and learning new things and taking in new information. This is a great thing, you are not going to go into the information overload spiel, you do not really believe in that anyway (you are in total control over how much information you take in at once). But in your process of absorbing new skills, knowledge and life experiences; internal analysis of yourself, what you have learned and where you are going is vital to put everything in proper perspective. Some people do it well during running, others through listening to music, and some people through making art. Find your own place that allows you to assimilate all you have learned and frequent it often.

Eat well, sleep well and exercise often
Giving your mind the proper rest and energy is essential to getting the best performance out of it. This one is pretty self-explanatory, but people often forget that you need proper fuel and proper rest to function optimally. Also, putting your physical body through the paces is a surefire way to rejuvenate yourself mentally. If you are ever feeling stressed, out of inspiration, or depressed, a few days of nutritious food, good sleep and vigorous exercise will put you back to your full self soon enough.

As usual, we remind you to take your Memo Plus Gold daily. It will help to keep you alert and mentally sharp. For more information or to order for Memo Plus Gold, please visit : https://oze.my.

After 61 years, welcome to 2 Malaysias

 

It’s been 67 years since the Federation of Malaya attained freedom from colonial rule and 61 years since Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore came together to form the Federation of Malaysia.

Singapore, of course, was asked to leave in 1965.

Every year those in Peninsular Malaysia celebrate both Merdeka Day on Aug 31 and Malaysia Day on Sept 16. Interestingly, Aug 31 is called National Day.

That raises a question: Shouldn’t Malaysia Day be National Day as it covers the whole nation? Aug 31 does not have the same significance for Sarawakians and Sabahans as it does for those in the peninsula.

Last year, Sabah celebrated Aug 31 as Sabah Day to mark the day Sabah gained self-governance from British rule, on the road to the formation of Malaysia. However, Sabah Day was only officially gazetted this year.

In 2016, Sarawak gazetted July 22 as Sarawak Independence Day and a public holiday, although the state observed the 50th anniversary of Sarawak’s independence from Britain with pomp and ceremony on July 22, 2013.

If Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak had been granted independence on the same day – as was initially planned – we would all have only one day of independence to celebrate.

But thanks to opposition to the formation of Malaysia by Indonesia and the Philippines, the United Nations decided to send a fact-finding mission to the two Borneo states to ascertain if the people really wanted a Federation of Malaysia, and the formation of Malaysia was pushed to Sept 16.

The existence of a Sabah Day, a Sarawak Day and a Merdeka Day just goes to illustrate the reality of the situation: Malaysia is not just divided between East and West by the South China Sea, but also by emotional attachment.

The disconnect between Peninsular Malaysians and those in Sabah and Sarawak has not been fully eliminated even after 61 years.

There are a significant number of Sabahans and Sarawakians who are suspicious of the motives of Peninsular Malaysia political leaders and parties just as there are a significant number of Peninsular Malaysia parties and politicians who are frustrated that Sabah and Sarawak are demanding greater autonomy.

Sabah and Sarawak have recently been talking about a Borneo bloc to safeguard their interests in negotiations with leaders in Peninsula Malaysia. They are, in fact, already collaborating in furthering their interests.

The four PAS-ruled states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis have formed their own bloc called SG4, and earlier this month even announced the establishment of a company called SG4 Group Sdn Bhd.

The rest of the Malaysian states are ruled by Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional and their allies.

And, of course, Malaysia continues to be divided along racial lines. At the time of Merdeka, people in the peninsula spoke of Malays, Chinese, Indians and others. Today it is almost always Malays and non-Malays.

In 1957, most people thought of themselves as Malaysian first. Sadly, 61 years later, an increasing number identify themselves with their race or religion first, pushing their Malaysian identity to second place.

If one were to bring in the indigenous people of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak into the equation, we, again, have two categories of Malaysians: bumiputera and non-bumiputera. And this dichotomy, for all practical purposes, is official.

The differences between these two groups have been exacerbated by political parties, bureaucratic requirements, government policies and, in Peninsular Malaysia, by Malay supremacist groups.

The disconnect between these groups has greatly widened since the 1980s, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia.

In addition, a new dividing category has come into play in the last 40 decades, one which gained traction in the last two decades: We are now either Muslim or non-Muslim too.

The situation has become worse because many politicians and political parties use religion to win votes, and in the process further dig the pit of separation.

Recently, a new element that divides has been added into the mix, although it has been present for a while in an understated manner: halal certification.

On Sept 6, minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic religious affairs), Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department, or Jakim, was considering a proposal to make halal certification compulsory for restaurants and food establishments that did not serve pork or alcohol.

That set off a heated debate both in the media and at eating and drinking outlets, further deepening the schism between Malaysian Muslims and non-Muslims.

Lest you think it all boils down to geography, race and religion-related issues, let me point out the vast gap that separates the very rich from the very poor.

The rich can be found in all states and in almost all ethnic communities, including among the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazandusun and Melanau.

The poor too can be found in every state. The very poor include among their numbers Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazandusun, Ibans, Melanau, Bidayuh, Bajau, Penan and Orang Asli.

There is yet another non-racial and non-religious division that has developed in recent years – that between progressives and conservatives.

The Malays especially are increasingly divided into progressives and conservatives, although one can also find conservatives among the Chinese, Indians, Kadazandusun, Ibans and others.

Today, we have a situation where progressive Malays and conservative Malays disagree on issues, policies and ideas, especially those regarding the implementation of Islamic policies.

Progressive Malays, Chinese, Indians and others fear that Malaysia may become an Afghanistan.

Currently, a battle is progressing between these two groups for control over the direction of Malaysia. But it is a subtle battle. Right now though, the conservatives are in ascendancy.

Superficially, of course, everything seems to be fine in Malaysia. But I can’t shake this feeling that we are more divided than we were in 1963; and that we are now living in two Malaysias, if not more. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

Video tunggang basikal lajak secara berbahaya disiasat

 

Polis siasat video tular memaparkan sekumpulan remaja tunggang basikal secara berbahaya.

ALOR SETAR: 

Polis menjalankan siasatan berhubung satu klip video tular yang memaparkan sekumpulan remaja menunggang basikal secara berbahaya sehingga salah seorang daripada mereka hilang kawalan dan terjatuh di atas jalan raya.

Ketua Polis Kota Setar, Siti Nor Salawati Saad, berkata pihaknya menerima makluman awam berkenaan klip video berdurasi 20 saat itu pada 9.24 pagi tadi.

“Siasatan awal berdasarkan rakaman tersebut mendapati kejadian dipercayai berlaku pada Jumaat lalu sekitar 5.30 petang yang memaparkan kira-kira lapan remaja menunggang basikal dipercayai jenis basikal lajak.

Mereka dilihat berlumba sesama sendiri semasa menuruni jambatan Jalan Teluk Wanjah di sini tanpa menghiraukan pengguna jalan raya yang lain,

 katanya dalam kenyataan.

Setakat ini polis tidak menerima sebarang aduan daripada mana-mana pihak berkenaan kejadian tersebut.

Justeru, beliau meminta kerjasama orang ramai yang mempunyai maklumat berkenaan remaja terbabit supaya tampil tampil menghubungi pegawai penyiasat trafik Inspektor Ifzam Mohd Zaini di talian 012-4043373 atau Balai Polis Trafik Kota Setar di talian 04-7321222. - FMT

Non-Muslim businesses cannot be forced to obtain halal certs, says Zahid

 

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he understands the concerns of certain quarters as he was once the Islamic affairs minister.

SHAH ALAM: 

Non-Muslim business operators cannot be forced to obtain halal certification, says deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid said he understood the concerns being raised as he was once the Islamic affairs minister.

Islam says, your religion is for you, my religion is for me. It means that for other religions to respect yours, you must respect theirs,

 he said at the MIC annual general assembly today.

He also clarified that no decision has been made to mandate halal certification for food establishments, and that the Cabinet will discuss the matter at its meeting on Wednesday.

The question of halal and haram has long been a part of this country. Some non-Muslim business owners already voluntarily seek halal certification, but no decision has been made to make it mandatory for all restaurants nationwide,

 he said.

That’s why the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) has tasked the religious affairs minister, Na’im Mokhtar, to provide an update on the status of the proposal during Wednesday’s meeting.

Last week, Na’im said the Islamic development department (Jakim) was considering a proposal for halal certification to be made mandatory for eateries that do not serve pork and alcohol, adding that it was currently being done voluntarily.

In response, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok called for halal certification to remain voluntary, saying the government should allow business operators to decide based on market demand rather than forcing them as it would add to the cost of doing business.

Her remarks irked several parties, including Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, while Anwar distanced himself from Kok, saying her views were personal and not that of Pakatan Harapan.

Yesterday, Na’im advised against unnecessary disputes over the proposal, stressing that it was still in the early stages of consideration. - FMT

60 rescued at Gunung Ledang waterfall after trapped by water surge

 

The fire and rescue department brought all the victims safely across the river using ropes. (Fire and rescue department pic)

TANGKAK: 

The fire and rescue department rescued 60 people who were picnicking at the Gunung Ledang waterfall here this afternoon when they were trapped following a water surge.

Tangkak fire and rescue station chief Rafiah Aziz said they received an emergency call regarding the incident involving the 60 factory workers at 12.50pm.

“On arrival, our personnel found that the factory workers were trapped due to the surge of water that came down from the top of the mountain following heavy rain.

The team brought all of them safely across the river using ropes,

 he said in a statement, adding that the rescue operation ended at about 3.20pm. - FMT

Sabah, Sarawak must push for one-third of seats in both Houses, says analyst

 

An analyst said major legislations are introduced and tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, and this is where the real debates occur. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Political analyst James Chin has rejected an advocacy group’s proposal that Sabah and Sarawak be allocated one-third of seats in the Senate since this would be 

more feasible

 than making similar changes in the Dewan Rakyat.

Chin, a professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania, said the East Malaysian states should insist on being allocated a third of seats in both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara.

He said the Dewan Negara had minimal political legitimacy given that all its members were appointed rather than elected by the people.

“That is why, for many years, debates in the Dewan Negara have received less attention than those in the Dewan Rakyat. Furthermore, many nominated to the Dewan Negara are viewed as being ‘rewarded’ for their service post-politics.

Hence, the significant number of retired politicians in the Dewan Negara,

 he said in a statement.

Chin also said major legislations are introduced and tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, adding that this was where the real debates occur.

He said the major political players were mostly from the Dewan Rakyat, having been elected as MPs during general elections.

Ministers from the Dewan Negara are commonly regarded as ‘backdoor’ ministers because they are appointed to the Senate in order to serve as ministers,

 he said.

This alone demonstrates that the political establishment views the Dewan Rakyat as more significant than the Dewan Negara.

He also pointed out that the Senate did not have the authority to block bills but can only delay them.

Article 68 of the Federal Constitution provides for bills from the Dewan Rakyat to be brought to the king for his assent without going through the Senate, under certain conditions.

For money bills, the Dewan Rakyat can bypass the Senate if there are unresolved differences on the bill after one month of being sent to the upper house. Non-money bills can only take this passage if the impasse over the bill remains for a year.

However, all constitutional amendments must go through the Senate.

Fifthly, it is clear that the original intention of the framers of the constitution wanted Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak to hold a veto over Malaya. This was to keep Malaya from altering the Federal Constitution at will,

 said Chin, citing the 1962 Inter-Governmental Committee Malaysia Report.

He also pointed out that the Dewan Rakyat’s composition under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 would see 104 seats allocated to Malaya, 24 to Sarawak, 16 to Sabah, and 15 to Singapore.

He said this was aimed at ensuring that Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak had veto powers in the Dewan Rakyat. However, when Singapore left the federation in 1965, its 15 parliamentary seats were not redistributed to the Bornean states.

As time went by, the number of parliamentary seats for Malaya grew to more than two-thirds of the total number of parliamentary seats,

 he said. - FMT