NST Online: StreetsJohor

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:20 AM PDT

UEM Land is holding a National Day campaign featuring drawing, mural painting and essay writing competitions for 17 Pintar schools in Gelang Patah

UEM Land Holdings Bhd is holding a Merdeka Day campaign called 1Malaysia for its Pintar schools.

The campaign, which goes on until Sept 12, consists of drawing, essay writing and mural painting competitions.

The Merdeka Day-themed drawing competition is targeted at Year Four and Year Five pupils.

The first, second and third prizes are RM150, RM100 and RM75, respectively.

There is also a consolation prize of RM50. Each of the 17 Pintar schools in Gelang Patah, Johor, will submit five of its best entries.

The Malay essay writing competition is open to Form One, Form Two and Form Four students. Participants can choose any of the following topics -- 1Malaysia Menjana Transformasi, Rukun Negara Amalan Hidup Rakyat Malaysia, Malaysiaku Gemilang, Mengangkasa Tamadun Bangsa: Harapan dan Cabaran and Sejarah Kemerdekaan Negara: Memupuk Semangat Patriotisme. The essays should be between 500 and 1,500 words. Each school is submitting 10 entries.

The first to fourth place winners of the essay writing competition will receive RM350, RM250, RM150 and RM100, respectively. There is also a consolation prize of RM75.

Ten primary and two secondary Pintar schools are taking part in the 1Malaysia-themed mural painting competition. UEM Land, the master developer of Nusajaya and a key driver of Iskandar Malaysia, has given paint worth RM500 to each school. The top three schools will get RM1,500, RM1,000 and RM750, respectively.

SK Taman Nusantara was one of the first schools to complete its murals. A UEM Land team evaluated the pupils' work early last month.

SK Taman Nusantara headmistress Azizah Rahman said the murals had improved the school's atmosphere, making it more cheerful and appealing.

She said the experience of drawing the murals had boosted patriotism among her pupils and given them a greater appreciation of the significance of the Merdeka Day celebrations.

"It is amazing to see the high level of interest generated by this campaign. My pupils are constantly asking the teachers about Merdeka Day and national emblems.

"We are also having our own projects, such as a Malaysian culture exhibition and a Merdeka Day corner, where we have placed related posters and reading materials," added Azizah.

Nur Syafiqah Norhisam, a Year Five pupil of SK Taman Nusantara, said she was more appreciative of her life after reading about the struggles and sacrifices of the country's founding fathers in helping the nation gain independence.

"I had no idea what it was like to be colonised by foreign powers. I did not know much about the value of independence as I took everything for granted," said Nur Syafiqah.

"I am proud of the country's achievements. We must cherish and protect the freedom that we have inherited."

The campaign is one of UEM Land's initiatives to support the government's efforts in instilling patriotism, and promoting multiracial integration and unity among the young.

The campaign also aims to foster a greater sense of pride in events of historical significance to the country.

UEM Land hopes the campaign will help the students to develop a better understanding of the nation's history, which would equip them to become good leaders.

UEM Land's parent body Khazanah Nasional initiated the Pintar schools to promote academic excellence and civic-mindedness among students.

Pintar stands for Promoting Intelligence, Nurturing Talents and Advocating Responsibility.

Animal lover's career goes to the dogs

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:21 AM PDT

I WANTED to make a major career change, from a deejay to a sales executive in an animal clinic cum supplier of pet products and services.

My first two attempts to get a job at Global Pets failed. The company felt that I would not stay long. The reason was simple. The pay was half of what I was getting as a pub deejay in Kulai. I love animals so much that I was willing to settle for a less attractive salary. But, I did not pursue the matter because I believe in fate.

Then, one of my pets got sick. Before I go on, I need to tell the story of how I got my pets. My first pet was a golden retriever. It was a gift from my godfather on my 22nd birthday.

The dog always wore a "smiling" expression. I named it Pig as I wanted a short and simple name. I didn't want to name it Jason or Mike. I felt it would be awkward if someone with the same name were to come to our house in Taman Skudai. I have two elder brothers, an elder sister and a younger brother. One never knows who they might be bringing over.

Later, I got another golden retriever. I named her Hiow Poh, which is Hokkien for slutty.

Hiow Poh and Pig got along just fine. Unfortunately, Pig was with me for only three years. I had to take it to an animal clinic regularly as it suffered from nosebleeds.

Because of my frequent visits to the clinic, I became close to Leong Kee Wee, who is a dog trainer at Global Pets. I went for my third interview in 2007, and this time I got the job.

Shortly after that, Pig's condition deteriorated. It was heart wrenching to watch Pig die on the operating table. To this day, tears come to my eyes when I think of that moment, when Pig died in my arms.

Leong suggested that I adopt a border collie named Wind. I had never owned a border collie, so I was hesitant. Eventually, I decided to invite Wind into my life. It was a decision that I won't regret.

I soon became a dog trainer with Leong as my mentor. Wind is the first dog that I trained. Wind had canine insecurity issues, but Leong taught me how to instil confidence in the dog by earning its trust.

All dogs can be trained and the best time to do it is when they are three to four months old. Training dogs which are timid or have been abused can be challenging, as they do not want to get close to a human.

I learnt that it was not necessary to use a stick to beat a dog into submission. All you need is voice command. My mentor taught me that a high-pitched voice signified approval to a dog, while a firm command, uttered in a low pitch, conveyed the message that it had done something wrong. Being a guy, I found it difficult to speak in a high pitch.

The first time I took part in the obedience trials competition, last year, I came in second in the novice and pre-novice categories. I refused to give up on my dream and decided to hone my training skills. This year, Wind and I scored 100 marks in the pre-novice category, and 103 points out of a total of 105 in the novice category. The competition was organised by the Malaysia Kennel Association.

There are a growing number of animal lovers. Currently, there are four Global Pets retail shops and veterinary clinics, a bulk purchase centre, a medical centre, and a pet resort and boarding centre in Johor.

Alvin Tang, 30, is with Global Pet's grooming academy in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Johor Baru. He is also a district basketball player.

Interview by Chuah Bee Kim

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Jumaat, 2 September 2011

NST Online: StreetsJohor

NST Online: StreetsJohor

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan