Saturday, July 23, 2016

May be young Malaysian do not see this note anymore.

Who cares !!! BUT for nature lovers, conservationist, those who are involves in nature protection and conservation need to work hard. Nature conservation awareness among public need to be enhanced, more research need to be done. Attract more young scientists, more grants, respect those seniour scientists in order the knowledge is well transfered to the young one. All leaders related to the issues must aware and take actions.

Dead Tapir (Tapirus indicus) found in the waters of Hulu Sg. Persep (tributary of Sg. Merapoh, Merapoh, Pahang) outside of Taman Negara.https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1354905317871488&set=a.181662341862464.47830.100000560982233&type=3&theater!!!

I missed this issue because I was out station and cannot be reached by phone. I saw many miss call from KOSMO. We need to reformulate the function of orang asli, buffer zone and permanent forest reserve. We need data and reactivate the monitoring activities by the authorities or relook at the approach and policies.

Talking to about 400 Body Combat participants at Kota Damansara. We need more support from youth for nature protection and conservation. MNS and all cannot stop from giving awareness to public especially the young ones.

Malaysian government instituted the 60:40 Science/Technical: Arts (60:40) Policy in education in 1967 and started implementing it in 1970 The target not achieved. 45% Science stream + technical & vocational, 2014. Met the requirement but chose not to do science in the upper secondary increased to 15%. May be we extend STEM in to ESTEEM. What is ESTEEM? it is English, Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship and Mathematics. The authority must think a long this line in order to attract young generation into science and creating their own career in Science based industry or entrepreneurship. Call experts to come out with ideas and way to do it effectively in short period. Don't call the actors or those who are in position to lead. Call the right person with confident to implement. Time is running out for Malaysia. Less politic and more active actions.


Malaysian STEM programme under the Ministry of Education Malaysia aims to Prepare students with the skills to meet the science and technology challenges and To ensure that Malaysia has a sufficient number of qualified STEM graduates. BUT since 1970 after government has donne various actions and approaches, the percentage students go in to sciences are decreasing. A serious thought is needed in STEM approach. We need right person to lead and doing it. The process is not a ceremonial but truly apply for STEM. Probably we need to enhance STEM in to ESTEEM to meet current demand and interest of the young generation.

We are talking about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) from school children to the policy makers, from parents to professors, BUT how far we achieved? We need to move aggressively if we want to compete with other developed countries especially with our neighbour. We must have dynamic thinking in science teaching approach make young students attracted ton sciences. As I mentioned many times, environmental education can make students thinking about science and fulfill government mission on HOTS etc.

Four years a go I highlighted golden apple sials issues in MADA area and was well covered in the local news paper. I am very sure the article was read by many including officers from MADA. May be at MADA level is not an issues but at farmers levels there is a big issues especially for the small scale rice planters. The issues are water management and snails control, pest on paddy, pesticides, cost of pesticides, killing non target organism, toxicological effects on the environment including human health and economy in general. MADA need to look into this matters seriously and have an integrated approach. Health effects on human due to chemicals used to kill golden apple snail (Pomacea) need to be handle wisely. Need experts to advise.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Actor and Professor, both are studied in Jenan before. And my friends said we are celebrities. I said may be because I have more than thousand students all over the world. If all like my facebook I have more than thousand likes including their friends and families. May be among them are the politician, artists, journalists, teachers, etc.

Hari raya is a celebration day. Everybody wearing new and colourful cloth and eating good food after one month fasting in Ramadan. Family getting together visiting friends. This year my family visiting those are in the hospital.


How we can help to improve our health services in our general hospital? You will know if you have an opportunity to stay overnight (at least) in the hospital. I hope this will be discussed in this coming parliamentary session. We need a continuous training.

Many commented in the facebook after 4 years. Among the comments: Aini Khairiyah Sharakal 10 hrs · AddThis Sharing · “Bahkan kurikulum di universiti mengajar penuntut supaya berdikari mencari maklumat, menganalisis dan membuat tafsiran manakala pensyarah memberi panduan mencari maklumat, menganalisis maklum balas pelajar dan menilai pencapaian mereka berasaskan tugasan diberikan dan masa yang diberikan,” ujar beliau. Prof Ahmad Ismail ni pensyarah masa di universiti. Sesiapa yang ambil subjek dengan beliau, wajib cari sendiri maklumat subjek. study sendiri subjek tu.xada maknanya nak dapatkan nota lecture dari beliau. Time quiz, test atau exam subjek beliau adalah paling merisaukan sebab xda hint lansung soalan apa akan keluar. But the best thing is, beliau ajar kami independent , thinking skill, problem solving skill. Beliau adalah seorang pensyarah yang menongkah arus dalam mengajar student beliau.Dalam erti kata, cara pembelajaran dan pengajaran sangat berbeza.. Ohoi...memang ku ingat subjek wildlife hanya 5 org je aku, Mus Izyan Latifah Musa Hafizah Osman dan Lily Ana ke? atau Nana Furzanne Amin? Entah darimana aku dapat keberanian ambil subjek dari beliau.

Another case of road accident involving wildlife in particular tapir. Serious actions needed immediately. Habitat, roaming areas, breeding, protection, laws and education. Please refer to local experts not just waiting for foreign scientists.


Budaya bodek di tempat kerja: Mainan pekerja tidak berkualiti. This article was in 2012 and now become viral in face book.

http://www.sinarharian.com.my/mobile/nasional/budaya-bodek-di-tempat-kerja-mainan-pekerja-tidak-berkualiti-1.88174#.V4TmwzxhXNo.facebook
Presiden Persatuan Pegawai Akademik Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail
Jika seseorang itu selesa membodek sejak peringkat belajar maka ini akan menjadi kebiasaan individu itu akan membodek ketika dia bekerja kelak. Ini menyebabkan berlaku kes kerja tidak selesai, curi tulang, dan pencapaian diragukan.

“Ini tidak menggambarkan profesionalisme. Budaya bodek, menipu, belas kasihan hanya akan menghasilkan generasi yang tiada integriti, malas, menyeleweng dan rasuah.

"Perlu ditekankan, bodek boleh berlaku kerana  seseorang individu itu  tiada kualiti, kurang ilmu dan kemahiran, kurang tanggungjawab dan malas. Untuk mewujudkan situasi ‘menjaga hati’  bos atau majikan  mesti ada tetapi  profesionalisme mesti mengatasi segalanya,”
 
Mengapa ada individu yang tidak tahu hendak bekerja secara  profesional tetapi gemar membodek?

Presiden Persatuan Pegawai Akademik Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail berkata, persoalan itu berlaku kerana pekerja di dalam situasi tersebut tidak memahami tugasan dengan sebetulnya ketika di pejabat, tidak bertanggungjawab tetapi ingin mendapat perhatian lebih.

Menurutnya, seseorang pekerja itu tidak tahu hendak berbuat apa-apa berikutan tidak berilmu, kemahiran, kreativiti serta proaktif, melainkan hanya tahu menunggu arahan daripada bos atau penyelia.

“Oleh kerana hendak menjaga hati bos dan majikan, maka dia membodek. Ini berbeza dengan seseorang yang jelas tugasannya dan profesional. Pekerja sebegini tidak bergantung atau perlu membodek bos atau majikan, kerana hasil kerja sudah terserlah cemerlang berdasarkan kepada tugasan yang diberikan,” ujar Prof Ahmad dalam memberi pandangan beliau berhubung amalan bodek di pejabat.

Tegasnya, sepatutnya perbuatan bodek membodek tidak perlu berlaku kerana setiap individu yang terlibat di dalam sesebuah organisasi perlu profesional dalam kerja walaupun hubungan kemanusiaan itu wajib ada.

“Berbalik kepada peringkat sekolah dan universiti. Pelajar dilatih mengikut kurikulum yang dibina khas untuk pembangunan  sumber manusia dan keperluan profesional negara untuk masa depan.

“Sistem pendidikan mempunyai takwim, panduan, skim, sistem dan kriteria khas mengenai penyampaian kurikulum, penilaian dan pengredan atau pemarkahan. Dalam sistem pendidikan, isu bodek untuk pemarkahan tidak timbul. Setiap pelajar sepatutnya tahu berapa
markah yang beliau dapat dan sejauh mana dia perlu berusaha untuk mencapai markah yang diperlukan.

“Bahkan kurikulum di universiti mengajar penuntut supaya berdikari mencari maklumat, menganalisis dan membuat tafsiran manakala pensyarah memberi panduan mencari maklumat, menganalisis maklum balas pelajar dan menilai pencapaian mereka berasaskan  tugasan diberikan dan masa yang diberikan,” ujar beliau.

Prof Ahmad berkata, itulah proses membentuk profesionalisme yang diterima generasi muda. Jika seseorang itu selesa membodek sejak peringkat belajar, maka ini akan menjadi kebiasaan individu itu akan membodek ketika dia bekerja kelak. Ini menyebabkan berlaku kes kerja tidak selesai, curi tulang, dan pencapaian diragukan.

“Ini tidak menggambarkan profesionalisme. Budaya bodek, menipu, belas kasihan hanya akan menghasilkan generasi yang tiada integriti, malas, menyeleweng dan rasuah.

“Perlu ditekankan, bodek berlaku kerana seseorang individu itu tiada kualiti, kurang ilmu dan malas. Untuk mewujudkan situasi ‘menjaga hati’ bos dan majikan itu mesti ada, tetapi profesionalisme mesti mengatasi segalanya,” ujar Prof Ahmad.

Justeru, katanya, untuk mengelak bodek, tugasan kena jelas dan bertanggungjawab serta dinilai pada akhir masa yang ditetapkan berasaskan sistem yang ada. Setiap pekerja sudah ada senarai semak kerja harian, mingguan atau bulanan dan perlu dilaporkan kepada majikan atau ketua mereka,” akhiri Prof Ahmad.

What Alumni say about my posting six years a go. For me very slow and they are just living for their survival. If they donate RM100 per year to Biology Alumni Fund. May be we already have more that RM1,000,000.00. So far we got zero RM. I hope all alumni will change their attitude towards Depatmrnt of Biology UPM and start donating RM100.00 a year.

Kekuatan alumni Jabatan Biologi UPM tidak perlu disoal lagi. Sejak penubuhan jabatan Biologi dan Fakulti Sains mengeluarkan beribu-ribu guru-guru terlatih dan sekarang sudah ada yang pencen. Bayangkan berapa ramai murid/remaja/pemimpin generasi akan datang telah dilatih dan sekarang sedang menyumbang kepada negara. Alumni boleh datang sekali sekala ke Jabatan Biologi untuk "refresh" tenaga dan kepakaran.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

What my friend said in NST recently.http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/07/155949/experienced-professors-needed-achieve-better-rankings

Experienced professors needed to achieve better rankings 1 JULY 2016 @ 11:01 AM Facebook 1 Twitter Share 1 I REFER to the letter “A focus on students boosts world rankings” (NST, June 29). Although doing so can help, one cannot focus only on students to achieve better rankings. Passionate and dedicated students can achieve good grades in universities, and subsequently, these students will be successful in their future endeavours. However, students must also be exposed to a wide range of reading materials, be competent in English and be taught or supervised by a senior professor who is a world authority on a subject. Such eminent professors are an asset to the nation. We should have more of such professors, who have written books, have had their articles published in journals and have supervised more than 50 graduate students, among others. They should be appreciated not only by academic communities, but also by learned society. Perhaps, the top universities in the world have high rankings mainly due to new discoveries by their professors. Additionally, all nations, too, depend on new ideas forwarded by professors. For example, China has poured in billions of dollars to invite top senior professors from all over the world to be attached to its universities, paying them handsome salaries. Perhaps, to be included in the list of the world’s top universities, a lot of financial “help” is required. No wonder Chinese universities are approaching top-class status. However, it is unfortunate that in Malaysia, due to economic constraints, most of the country’s well-known professors are being laid off. Due to this, most faculties in local universities are without “champions”. This leaves them without quality research and teaching. For example, the practice of graduate students’ theses being evaluated by eminent academicians is lacking. Therefore, the standard is being compromised. In the long run, most of our students are not marketable. MASHHOR MANSOR,   professor, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/07/155949/experienced-professors-needed-achieve-better-rankings

When visiting the minister every body like to take picture, a group photo for record. BUT the most important is followup from the discussion and actions for resolution or significant results. The minister will be very happy.

When visiting the minister every body like to take picture, a group photo for record. BUT the most important is followup from the discussion and actions for resolution or significant results. The minister will be very happy.!

Know how your pet Black Pond Turtle reached you? Likely taped up, stuffed in bags or boxes and smuggled by air or sea. Malaysian authorities in Port Kelang found 508 in a container of potatoes from Pakistan in early June and 55 more in May, at KLIA in bags from Dhaka. this may be released to the wild and become intruder species?

https://www.facebook.com/malaysianwildlife/?ref=all_category_pyml_rhc

The birds seized included a Burung Murai Batu, Burung Punai Daun (both protected species), Burung Lang Sewah (Elanus caeruleus), Burung Daun, Burung Merbah Luris Leher, three Burung Ayam-Ayam and a Burung Sintar (all totally protected species.) The man would sell the birds between RM2,000 and RM8,000 each to interested parties.

Perhilitan officers tagging the seized birds.
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/06/02/perhilitan-seizes-protected-birds-worth-rm50000/

Another conflict between conservation, biodiversity, laws and enforcement, authority, integrity, public education and international networking.The pangolin, which looks like a cross between an anteater and an armadillo, is the world’s most trafficked mammal. The Southeast Asian variety, the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), is critically endangered. The creature is poached for its scales and blood, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine, and for its meat, a delicacy in China and Vietnam.

A live pangolin stares out from the poultry cage it had been locked in by illegal wildlife traffickers, while an Indonesian law enforcement agent looks on. Photo by Paul Hilton/Wildlife Conservation Society.
Image courtesy of UNODC, World Wildlife Crime Report: Trafficking in protected species, 2016.
https://news.mongabay.com/2016/06/trafficking-indonesian-soldier-caught-with-8-pangolins-in-car-backseat/