Been awhile!

It has been a long while since I have last posted anything up and I think it is about high time I did. Firstly, apologies to my dear readers that has been coming in once in a while to see if anything has been posted...I am truly appreciate your dedication from the bottom of my heart! With out further-a-due, from the last time I last posted and sort of story, comments or images, here are some of the accounts that I have done since then…in a nut shell.

Roughly around mid 2008 I ended my time in Curtin Miri, and continued my studies at Curtin’s mother branch in Perth, Western Australia. The process to transfer to Perth was such a hassle. Firstly my transfer papers were delayed on the account that it was printed with the wrong name, suddenly I became a Chinese man or girl by the name Xing Li Kang. That took another extra 3 weeks or more to change as it was delivered from Perth.

Then after that it was waiting for the C.O.D. or a letter of approval that stated that I have paid my tuition & admin fees. That too took its sweet time being processed and sent to me from Perth, but luckily at Curtin Miri, the International officer (shelvi) helped me push along for it, if not it would have taken much longer. Anyway, by the time I got the C.O.D. semester at Bentley campus was about to start and the orientation for the new international students has already begun and the following week would be the main orientation for all the new students, local and international alike. So now, at that time, the current task list all I have to do is get my student visa approved, buy my flight ticket to Perth. For the visa, like ever one else there is the medical check-up, and the online application to complete. And one would have to do all in order.

To cut the story short, by the time I got my visa and ticket I only had one day to pack for my final semester (6 months) stay in Perth and fly to Australia. It was already the final day of the main orientation and the next flight out was on Thursday, so basically I have missed the International students and new students orientations for semester 2, 2008… What a great way to start the semester…


TO BE CONTINUED....

[Photos will be added at a later date...currently looking for a site to host my images, for free...any suggestions?]

Debate in Kota Kinabalu: 3rd Borneo Cup Debate

This year started of with more or less a bang. New Year was celebrated in Miri. Came back to Curtin, Sarawak. Came back to more responsibility; Student Council at the vice sectary (which has more work then I was told…THANKS MEL!), Curtin Volunteers! as the President for this year. So many things to organize run and participate in. But for now I will go in to a new era, or a new chapter to add to my long list of experience.

DEBATE….

Yes, Somebal has gone and gotten himself into a debate competition. More precisely the 3^rd Borneo Cup Debate Championship at UMS or better known as University Malaysia Sabah.

That’s right… I am in the land beneath the wind, the home of beautiful coral reefs and the tallest mountain peak in Borneo, Mt. Kota Kinabalu (KK for short). Finally I can say I have set foot in KK and have visited all the major cities on Borneo Island.

Now on to the debate,

February 18^th, half way through degree orientation week I received a call from the ‘University life’ assistant, asking me if I would like to take part in a debate. Well I sounded more like that I didn’t have a choice, ‘Either you say yes or yes…I’ll give you till four later to decide and I’ll call you back.’ Naturally I had a choice…said or not… Morpheus standing before me and presents me two pills; the blue pill that puts me back into cryogenic state and leave me be in my world of one sided bickering; or the red pill that will pull me out of my comfort zone and into the world of debating.

Downed the red pill, I found myself in the ‘meeting room’ of the school of business with two other current students, Farah and Shu Qing. Not long after Serina a lecture from the School of Pre University joined with the previous director of Pre-University. Doing all the pleasantries and getting started with the real issue of why we were gathered at the meeting room. We got information that we needed, as in when will it be (a week later), what style (parliament style: 3 speakers each side) and when are we training (everyday except on the weekends).

Background story: Curtin has been invited previously but did not send a team based on two things 1.) Budget, there was no budget set to send a team, 2.) Information about the debate was not informed / disseminated properly or as early enough, hence the last minute call. Farah volunteered herself for it… she was doing her summer course and happen to see the notice on the board…Shu Qing took summer course too but was busy with all the work. And myself, I was not on campus as I was on the semester break and did not take summer course.

Fast forwards, a week later:

Curtin agreed to help us with transport to M.I.A. (Miri International Airport), the driver was to pick us up about an hour before the initial flight (Air Asia) but what happened was that the driver picked us up at least 3 hours before boarding time… OMFG! 11.30am…I was still on the way back from campus from class. Cut the story short I got back finish packing, and left with the driver, same case as with Farah and Serina were caught of guard of the earliness.

Kota Kinabalu…

At arrival there was no one to greet us at the arrival hall of the ever-so-small KKIA, made some calls and was told that the shuttle service is only 10minute away. We were lucky, as I heard that the other groups that arrived later that day had to wait 3 hours or so… Read from Choulyin's blog & Audrey's blog.

Place of rest

Summer Lodge, is a neat backpackers lodge, clean & is situated in the heart of KK town... Jalan Gaya 5min walk away from Burger King (my main purpose for going to KK…partially). I am quite impressed with the lodge, for two reasons; 1) The rooms are neat and clean, way better then some 2 or even 3 star hotels, 2) I am very particular about toilets, if i have to go i will find a 4 star hotel and do my business but at the Summer Lodge I had no problems!

Summer LodgeJust outside summer lodge

Rating of Summer Lodge would be 4 stars out of 5.

Match Ups

There were 18 teams in total. Some institute sent two teams to this event, sort of if team ‘A’ does on get in then team ‘B’ has a higher chance of getting in (vice versa)…sort off.

Institute listed were:

• UMS (2);
• UiTM Sabah (3) & Sarawak (2);
• Swinburn (2);
• UNIMAS (2);
• Curtin (1);
• Sinaran (1);
• ATI (1);
• Swing (1);
• Sanzac (2);
• Keningau (1).

Rules

This debate was a parliamentary style debate, where on the government side was the Prime Minister (speaker 1), Assistant to the PM (2^nd speaker) and the government official (3^rd speaker) or also known as the whip (to backlash the opposition). On the other side was the Opposition Leader (speaker 1), Assistant to the opposition leader (2^nd speaker) and the opposition member (3^rd speaker- the oppo. whip).

P.O.I.’s are Point of Information, this is where any members are able to give comments or question the speaker at that time, 15secs only. But mostly this was used to shoot and attack the opponent. Its shows sportsmanship that the speaker of that time accepts at least 2 P.O.I.’s, but if the speaker does not accept the P.O.I.’s marks will be deducted.

Each team will grade by their manner, matter and the amount of P.O.I.’s taken and given.

Manner is the way they argue, behavior during the whole debating session, and the approach and structure of their speech. Matter is the content of the their speech, and not just hot air.

Round 1-4 is compulsory to all teams; those that got top 8 spots will go onto the quarter-finals, then the semi-finals which would be the top 4 teams and finally the Finals.

The matches

Round one started and we were matched against Swinburn 1, naturally we were all nervous, esp. when I heard that this team was good, had two great speaker, one who participated in the golden debate, (not too sure if this is the correct name) a team visiting UK and went head to head with debater from Oxford and Cambridge and the likes…WOW. Another who was a fierce debater.

Topic was ‘THB that smoking should be allow on campus’ (THB = This house believes), and we were government.

Team Curtin

The Judicators

Team Swinburn (1)

The debate ended in which seemed like a dispute of each views, but as we left the door the other team burst out in a laugh and we started to converse on how we felt we did while inside the panel of judges or the judicators discuss the scoring and out come of the debate. One debater, Izzu, was telling Farah how intimidating she was and how ferocious she was, he didn’t even want to accept any P.O.I. from Farah, at one point he didn’t even look at her when she was about to stand for an P.O.I. When we were all called back in and result was given with our performance. Curtin Won! In total all teams had 4 rounds, in which we won 2 and 2 loses.

Some images of the others participants:

Team UNIMAS (Audry looks so cool...)

Team UiTM (Hotties w\ brains)

Watching the quarterfinals

On the 3^rd day (Friday) we had a grand dinner at the Chancellors Dome. The place was grand, the seating company was wonderful, food was good, plates and glasses were not as grand…paper based… When it was time to release the standings for each groups for the quarterfinals we were ranked 9^th place…Damn! What’s worse was that we were one point shy of being in the 8^th place and partake in the quarterfinals…O the humanity!

Images from the 'Grand Dinner'

Team Curtin: Farah, Iqbal & Shu Qing

Izzu & Bal

Team Curtin & Team Sinaran

In the end it was a battle between UiTM Sarawak (1) & Swinburn (2) with the motion TH would make Voting for the Malaysian General Elections Compulsory. In the end UiTM won that duel. Read more from Choulyin’s blog.

Team Swinburn (2) - 1st runner up

When ever anyone goes abroad, they must take advantage of the things that can't be found in the area where one lives. In my case I am currently living in Miri, Sarawak, and we have a lot of things that can't be found here...

1) Burger King... I almost cried when i saw the menu!But was disapointed that they didnt have mozzi sticks in any of the outlets!

2) Starbucks...Mel eat your heart Out!

3) New York's BIG APPLE donuts!

The team & I took back a total of 32 donuts...

4) Lots of franchise restaurants

The Japanese restaurant was not a franchise but none the less it was fantastic.

Evey Sunday in KK, locals would set up stalls to sell their trade to other locals and tourist, Sunday Flee market...Before leaving KK the team decided to take a look around and see what is there in this flee market as it was just at our door step. Miri does not have an actual flee market, the closes they would have to a flee market would be the pasar malam & veggi market on Sunday mornings.

Shu Qing's giraffe taking a last look of KK town....

All in all I personally had lots of fun. It was an eye-opener for me, took another step outside my comfort box and found out more of my own weaknesses, gained more experience and widen my networks at the same time and I hope that other may follow and take part in debating, it will change the way you look at things as a student.

KK.... I will be back!

***
Special thanks to Shu Qing & the camera person at UMS for passing me the pictures.
***

Curitn Media Students Visits KL media centers 2006

This was almost write a year ago...wow can't believe that its been that long since i last blogged...Well here it is... a way overdue blog about my media trip to KL last year....

Recently, 20 media students from the school of business, Curtin University of technology Sarawak completed their journey to Malaysia’s capital, lead by their lecture Mr. Mawi Tarip.

This trip consists of the student visiting key media areas in Malaysia. On the list of places to visit was Bernama, News Straits Times Press Group (NSTP), RTM, TV3, Astro and UiTM (University of Technology Mara)

Datuk Azman Ujang showing the works

First on the agenda was the visitation to Bernama, where we were brief on what Bernama does and showed there cooperate video. The presentation was lead by Datuk Azman Ujang editor-in-chief for Bernama. He advised the media students to

"have good general knowledge in any background in whatever field that the students may pursue in the future."

Following the presentation, we were lead around Bernama office to key places such as the Image sector, video processing unit and the journalist room. On top of that, they were also shown how news was shot for Astro. Then we were then treated to lunch after the tour.

Image of gunung Merapi provided by Bernama

Next was the visitation to NSTP. Where we were shown NSTP’s cooperate video and a short presentation about their facilities and the process of producing newspapers for Malaysia and neighbouring countries. Then questions and answers sections lead by Datuk Manja Ismail News Straight Times, Bertia Hairan, Metro Harian, and the Malay mail which unfortunately are only distributed in the Klang Valley area only.

After the visitation to NSTP, the media
students…ous… had an appointment at Astro, Shah Alam. Where they became the participating audience for the show “Top 10 Hits, Live” airing every Wednesday at 3pm on channel 16. Here the student viewed and learned first handed how to produce a show of its kind. We were aired on Wednesday the following week! (Added info...I won the 'most funkiest fan')

"At the back gates of Astro""Bella and Somebal""A bunch of ous with the hosts on Top Hits live"

RTM, the national television and radio station, which is located at Ankasapuri, was next on the 20 media students’ agenda [feels kind of wearied to talk about our self in third person view]. Here they were brought on tour around the facilities.

"Camera rolling!""Look ma...I am on Tele"

We manage to observe an interview that was being recorded in one of the television studios, and had a chat with Nigel Green (DJ Greenman) and Gary Ratnam (Dj Scamboy) of Traxx FM live on air.

After RTM, the next big television station in Malaysia was their target, TV3. The students were accordingly invited to watch and view the live recording of TV3’s live show “Muzik-Muzik” that airs every Thursday at 4pm at one of their studio at Shah Alam. The visiting students were shown the process of what was going on and off stage through the producer’s eyes and later were invited to take part in watching the program.

On our final day of visitation, we pay a visit to Curtin’s rival ‘in a friendly manner’ University of Technology Mara, Shah Alam Selangor. The head of advertising programme, Mr. Khairuddin Othman, the media staff at UiTM and a few PR programme students warmly greeted us. After Mr. Khairuddin’s presentation the visiting students was brought around to view UiTM’s 3-camera studio that was recently completed, we were awed. Now why can't we have that back on campus...

It was and experience, that i would love to do again in the future...

"Newspaper clipping from Berita Harian"

Around the corner

It’s been almost 6 months since my last blog… who ever said life as a media student is free… Well let me start it off with a recent happening *hint: subject title*

For you readers that do not know what a ‘JPJ’ is? Well they are, in a sense, the road police in Malaysia.

On to the story…

Week free is on at campus, as exams are just around the corner. I decided to come to campus to check up on things from the student council office and head back home. As leaving campus, about to reach the security guard house, one of my friend highlighted me and wave me down from his car…*window winding down*

“…hey bro, seatbelts on…JPJ up ahead…” speed off’s

Puzzled, I look to the security guard for confirmation…He nods…I reached for my seat belt… “Ha ha ha…orang Brunei pun pandai takut…Ha ha ha” boomed the security guard.

“Ha ha ha” *drive past guard, expression changed “grrrrrr”

Driving pass the two humps and around the corner there I saw two JPJ cars parked on both sides of the road, bright orange cones littered between the JPJ’s cars and the officers. A number of fellow Curtin’ians was a head of me, so all I could do was to queue and wait for my turn. Got to one of the officers, roll window down…officer looks at license plates …opens to speak… “O, u oreng Brunei...ada jalan dari situ?” *pointing to the off road with is face*

Reply: Tak, saya belajar kat Curtin.

Officer: O….selalu pulang balik to Brunei?

Reply: No, terlalu banyak assignments.

Officer: assignments?

Reply: *just look at the officer with a question mark on my face…*

Officer: Liecen

Reply: * hand over my paper licence*

Officer: *studies “liecen”*

Officer: IC?

Reply: *hand over IC*

Officer: (My P.O.V.) *thinks hard to summon me, and start to sweat*

Officer: *About to ask another question…got cut off*

Reply: *produced my international driving licence….smirk*

Officer: *nothing to say…signal that I could go on my way*

This concludes this log…feeling lazy to continue…