WHAT IS SUCCESS IN LIFE?

 

Success in life is whatever you define it to be. Maybe for you, you want to determine how to be successful to achieve financial freedom or a flexible work schedule.

Some may want to travel the world while others just want to pursue what they’re passionate about.

Being successful isn’t necessarily about being rich or winning awards, it can be also about personal fulfillment.

If you had to design your perfect day, what would it look like?

Would you be sitting on a bench next to a lake writing your memoir? Do you imagine yourself climbing Mount Kinabalu and taking that big, deep breath once you get to the top? Or maybe you just want to spend an entire day playing with your kids?

Why you want to learn how to be successful in life will be personal to you. Your partner, parents, and friends may have their own definition of success. But their definitions aren’t for you.

Whatever it is that’ll make you feel fulfilled and happy is what you need to focus on while mastering the art of becoming a success. – my.oberlo.com

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.

Pekerja gig boleh ikuti pengajian separuh masa program TVET di GiatMara

 

Pengerusi Mara Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki berkata GiatMara merumuskan satu program TVET untuk pekerja gig menyertai latihan kemahiran seperti selenggara penghawa dingin. (Gambar Bernama)

PETALING JAYA: 

Pekerja gig kini boleh menyambung pelajaran dalam program pendidikan dan latihan teknikal dan vokasional (TVET) secara separuh masa di GiatMara, kata Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Pengerusi Mara berkata, institusi itu sudah merumuskan satu program TVET untuk pekerja gig yang boleh menyertai latihan kemahiran seperti selenggara penghawa dingin.

“Sampai bila pekerja gig seperti penghantar barangan dan makanan akan terus bekerja dalam industri gig yang lebih berupa sambilan.

“Jika melangkau 40-an dan berkeluarga, waktu itu tenaga sudah kurang,” katanya di Facebook.

“Kalau tidak ada kemahiran lain atau sijil pendidikan, sukar mereka meneruskan kelangsungan hidup.”

Asyraf berkata, selain mendapat kemahiran tambahan, mereka yang mengikuti program TVET GiatMara juga akan memiliki Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) diiktiraf.

“Hari ini. melalui Dasar TVET Negara, dengan SKM tahap 3 dan 4 boleh sambung ke peringkat diploma, bahkan ke peringkat ijazah,” jelasnya.

Jun lalu, kerajaan melancarkan Dasar TVET Negara 2030 sebagai panduan pembangunan modal insan dan ketersediaan tenaga kerja berkemahiran tinggi untuk memacu pertumbuhan ekonomi negara mampan. - FMT

3 suspects killed in shootout with police in Penampang

 

Sabah criminal investigation department chief Azmi Abdul Rahim said the shootout happened when a team conducted a raid at the Beverly Hills apartment complex.

PETALING JAYA: 

Three men were killed in a shootout with the police at the Beverly Hills apartment complex in Penampang, Sabah, at 9.13pm yesterday.

Sabah criminal investigation department chief Azmi Abdul Rahim said a team had raided a unit on the first floor of the apartment complex, based on intelligence gathered.

“A shootout occurred between the three suspects and the raiding team, during which the suspects were killed,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

He said the three suspects were believed to be connected to various criminal activities, including a murder case in Sarawak. - FMT

Sikhs feared ‘Allah’ controversy would see holy book ban, bio reveals

 

The Guru Granth Sahib contains the Arabic word to describe God. (EPA Images pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The Sikh community had feared that its holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, would be banned at the height of the controversy surrounding the use of “Allah” by non-Muslims, a new book reveals.

The Guru Granth Sahib also referred to God using the same Arabic term.

The debate over the use of the word “Allah” was ignited when Syed Hamid Albar, who was home minister from 2008 to 2009, sought to gazette a ban on the usage of the word by non-Muslims.

Apart from “Allah”, the government, when led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his first stint as prime minister, had banned three other words: “Kaaba”, “Baitullah” and “solat”.

However, Syed Hamid’s push for these words to be gazetted perturbed several non-Muslim groups, his biography claimed.

The book “Idealis: Syed Hamid Albar”, a biography of Syed Hamid Albar, is published by Ilham Books.

Titled, “Idealis: Syed Hamid Albar”, the book told of how the home ministry’s then secretary-general, Abdul Aziz Yusof, met with 10 representatives from various Sikh groups who had come to inform him that their holy book also contained the word “Allah”.

They were worried that the Guru Granth Sahib would also be banned.

However Aziz, who went on to serve as the Election Commission chairman for seven years, allayed their fears.

“Aziz told them not to worry as the matter had nothing to do with them and that the issue was more with the Christians.

“And they (the Sikh groups) were satisfied,” the book read.

The controversy over the word “Allah” arose because indigenous Christians in Sabah and Sarawak also use the term in their Malay-language bibles and religious publications.

Various Muslim pressure groups have argued that “Allah” is exclusive to Islam, citing a 1986 government directive that prohibits non-Muslims from using it.

However, Christians, especially those who predominantly communicate in Malay, contended that they have used the term for centuries to refer to God.

Syed Hamid’s biography, written by Noor Hasilah Ismail and Firdaus Zainal, is published by Ilham Books. It was launched by Mahathir and is available online as well as from Gerakbudaya and Ilham Books. - FMT

Hidden hands in Sabah whistleblower incident?

 

A few years ago, when studying at a university in the US, two of my contemporaries expressed unhappiness with some of my writings which claimed that the Malays were entirely to blame for the rampant corruption in the country.

I held the view that the Malays, who mainly work in the government sector, were the ones guilty of corruption in the eyes of God and the nation. My friends, however, flatly rejected this, claiming that members of the Chinese community should bear the greater guilt for offering bribes in the form of women, money, property, and travel.

I countered by suggesting that such offers were made simply because the Malay administrators were demanding or expecting them. In my eyes, that would make the Malays still guilty of corruption. My friends disagreed, saying that, not having participated in any business dealings, I was unaware of the many instances of businessmen offering bribes to secure projects. We ended up agreeing to disagree as neither side could be convinced of the other’s point of view.

The Sabah whistleblower incident, however, appears to be a turning point for me. I was aghast to see and hear the latest video released by the whistleblower admitting to giving money to politicians and also clearly asking for projects or licences to be awarded to him.

So, is this the real business world? Is it true that to secure a project, you must offer bribes, and that when your plans do not pan out, you can use blackmail or threaten to report those who accept such bribes to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, or even engage in a trial by media, hoping to take advantage of the ignorance of the public at large?

In the face of such admissions, why has action not already been taken against the whistleblower? Do I lack knowledge of what constitutes a crime and the role of the authorities? Am I missing something? Is there something bigger at play here?

The whistleblower incident seems to have come at a most opportune time in Sabah, which is gearing up for an election. Are there hidden hands moving behind the scenes in a bid to win the election through a trial by media? The fact that an election has yet to be called makes the goings-on sound typically Malaysian, doesn’t it?

And that is my absolute worry. We are not just at the mercy of evil politicians seeking to destroy our country. We may also be victims of attempts by unknown parties to sensationalise the “bad politician” narrative online and through social media for personal gain.

Yes, I am very much aware, having followed the Reformasi movement for 25 years, that we have a number of bad politicians. But that does not mean that all politicians and all political parties are bad and mired in corrupt practices. We must also look to see if there are individuals seeking to profit from the longstanding rivalry between political parties by playing one against the other.

It is not beyond politicians to engineer incidents and illusions to create chaos in the enemy’s camp and then sit and wait to reap the spoils of war – in this case, the administration of the state of Sabah. In this narrative, isolated projects of a few million ringgit are not what is ultimately at stake. It is usually the promise of many billions if they can wrest control of the state.

We Malaysians must be very careful. There are many indicators to suggest that things are not what they seem. Some things may be as clear as day, but others tend to hide the presence of a venomous snake ready to strike with toxic venom. We must analyse information carefully to weed out attempts to misinform.

I have always felt that there was more to the Sabah whistleblower story than meets the eye. It is not just a case of smearing a select few politicians. Hidden from our view is a bigger, more complex story. The real culprit, as they say, may be hiding in plain sight. - FMT

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

PJD Link reveals critical need for local elections, decentralised power

 

Boo Jia Cher

The controversy surrounding the proposed Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) highway project highlights the urgent need for local elections and greater decentralisation of power.

Initially cancelled due to the developer’s failure to meet the conditions of its concession agreement, the project has resurfaced with potential revisions, reigniting concerns about its environmental impact and displacement of local residents.

A major issue with large-scale infrastructure projects such as the PJD Link is that decisions are often made by federal or state authorities, detached from the local communities who will feel the greatest impact.

Petaling Jaya stands out as an exception, where its middle-class residents have the time, resources and expertise to oppose the PJD Link.

However, not all communities share this advantage. The Klang Valley is filled with vast highways, many of which were pushed through without resistance due to local residents lacking the means to protest projects that would hurt them.

Despite promises of reducing congestion, these highways only harm local areas, and over time, most become congested as a result of induced demand: build it, and traffic will follow.

An elevated highway, like the PJD Link, is a direct assault on local communities: it cuts through neighbourhoods, pollutes the air and prioritises the convenience of people passing through while disregarding the health and well-being of those living there.

If local governments were empowered with elected councillors, the dynamics would change.

A local councillor, directly chosen by the community, would be responsible for that area.

This official, hopefully also a local resident, would serve the people of the locality directly, understanding their needs, challenges and aspirations, rather than accept decisions from a distant, disconnected perspective like the federal government.

Local leaders would be held accountable to the residents they serve and would have the power to ensure that infrastructure projects are in line with the needs and values of the community.

Empowering local governments would ensure that infrastructure projects prioritise the community’s needs over corporate interests.

Local authorities could pursue alternatives such as improving public transport, creating green spaces or adopting sustainable urban planning practices, rather than allowing profit-driven developments to bulldoze communities.

Decentralising power would promote greater accountability and transparency, with elected local officials who are answerable to their constituents.

This is in stark contrast to the federal and state governments, which can often be less responsive to the immediate concerns of local communities.

A more localised decision-making process would give people the power to influence decisions on projects that have an impact on their homes, environment and livelihoods.

By encouraging more local involvement, Malaysia could ensure that development projects serve the needs of the people, protect the environment and create a more sustainable, equitable future.

Democracy isn’t just about general elections every five years — it starts in the community.

Is it any surprise that people feel disillusioned with politics after federal and state elections?

During campaigns, politicians often make promises of change — a menteri besar might vow to cancel a highway project, only for it to be resurrected without explanation.

Regardless of which party is in power, many citizens feel powerless and see little of the change they were promised.

Street lamps remain broken, pavements are still absent and trees are recklessly cut down by contractors with minimal community input.

This is a result of a flawed political system. Local elections would give citizens the power to reclaim control and shape the future of their own communities.

The people of Petaling Jaya, and all communities across Malaysia, deserve a say in how their environment is shaped. Decentralising power and local elections are the ultimate step toward achieving that goal. - FMT

Boo Jia Cher is an FMT reader.

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