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Informal Letter

G12 Jalan kampung Plentong Baru 2,Kampung Plentong Baru,81750 Masai, Johor.1 April 2010

Dear Fill Ilmi,

How are you getting on in your new school? I’m sure you’re quite used to it by now. Thank for your letter telling me all about your new school. I received it last week. I’m sorry i could not replay to it immediately as I was busy preparing for my school, Annual Sport Day.

Let me tell you all about Sport Day which was held on 14 of April, last Friday. It was fine, sunny day. But before the actual day, we were busy putting up tents for the participating athletes. Each of the school sports house had put up one tent each. We decorated the tents gaily with flags and balloons.

The quest of honour for the Sport day was Director of Education,En Amir Hussein.He came at about 2 pm and stayed till the end.

My favourite event were the track and field event. My house, Hang Tuah ,won the first prize for the 200-metre relay and the 400-metre relay event. Everyone was cheering loudly for their teams during the track event. I participated in the 400-metre race, and was the champion.

The prize-giving ceremony was held at 6 pm. All the students gathered in front of the grand stand. My house, Hang Tuah emerged as the overall champion. We clapped and cheered loudly when the house captain went to receive the championship trophy from the Director of Education. The school principal then gave a closing speech to mark the end of the day. All of us where exhausted but happy. We look forward to the next Sport Day.I’ve got stop here for now. Do write to me and tell me more about the activities in your school. Till I hear from you again, take care and goodbye.

Your friend,Nik Mohamad

Zhafran

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10, Jalan Mega Minang, Taman Minang Sari, 68000 Ampang, Selangor. 7th September 2010

Dear Nik Effah,

Thank you for your last letter. All of us miss you very much. Mum and Dad are happy that you will be coming home next month.

       In your letter you complained that co-curricular activities are very tiring. Well, let me tell you that these activities have many benefits. Firstly, they will help you become a better person. They will instill discipline in you. This is important if you want to become a good citizen.

       Besides, you will learn good values such as cooperation and respect for others. Co-curricular activities will help you to develop leadership skills. You will also learn to organise activities.

       Moreover, co-curricular activities provide you with opportunities. They help you develop social skills. Extra-curricular activities also give you opportunities to take part in competitions. Co-curricular activities can keep you healthy. Most importantly, you will get a good testimonial.

I hope you will take co-curricular activities seriously.

I have to stop here. Till I hear from you, take care.

Your elder brother,

Nik Mohamad Zhafran

 

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Formal Letter

31,Jalan 17/3346400 Petaling Jaya________________________________________________________________________

The Director,Ampang Jaya Municipal Council,Bangunan Mentari,Ampang Jaya,68000Selangor. 15 SEPTEMBER 2010

Dear Sir,

Poor Maintenance of Taman Jaya

I am writing this letter on behalf of the residents of Taman Jaya to complain about the dismal conditions we have been putting up with for the past three months.

2. One of the main grouses of the residents concerns uncollected rubbish. Initially, rubbish was collected three times a week. However, since June this year the garbage collectors have only been coming once a week. Our litter bins are always filled to the brim and we have no choice but to leave our bags of rubbish next to the bins. The rotting waste causes a terrible stench . Worse still, stray cats and dogs scatter the rubbish while looking for food. This is not only unpleasant but also unhealthy.

3. Most of the drains in Taman Jaya are clogged with rubbish resulting in the water becoming stagnant. It is not uncommon to see plastic bags, bottles and dry leaves in these drains. There is an urgent need to clear these drains as the stagnant water is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. The residents are worried as there has been a sharp increase in dengue cases in the last two months.

4. The street lights along several roads are also not working. This has caused several accidents at night, mostly involving motorcyclists as they are unable to see in the dark. Unfortunately, the dark streets have also led to another problem – an increase in crime. Several residents, especially women, have fallen victim to snatch thieves.

5. The one and only playground in our area is also not well-maintained. The grass is overgrown as it has not been cut for almost three months. Besides, the playground

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equipment is damaged. Many of the see-saws and swings have been spoiled by vandals.

I hope the council will look into our complaints and take prompt action to solve our problems.

Thank you.Yours faithfully,

Nik Mohamad Zhafran(Nik Mohamad Zhafran)

G12 Jalan kampung Plentong Baru 2,Kampung Plentong Baru,81750 Masai, Johor.________________________________________________________________________

The Manager,Gopeng Tin Berhad ,Bangunan Ahmad,Jalan Tunku Ali,31600 GopengSelangor. 2 MARCH 2010

Dear sir,

Educational Visit to the Gopeng Tin Mine

On behalf of the Geographical Society of my school. , i would like to enquire whether we could visit Gopeng Tin Mine.

2. We would like to go on an educational trip to Ipoh during the school mid-term holiday and would like to visit your tin mine. We are interested in visiting your mine because we would like to know how tin is extracted and processed.

3.There are thirty-five students who are studying in Form 3 and Form 5. Two of our Geography teachers will also be coming along on trip.

4. We would like to visit your mine on Saturday,18 March 2010 at 1 March 2010 at 10:00 am. If this is not convenient, please suggest an alternative date and time.

We hope to receive a positive replay soon.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

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Nik Mohamad Zhafran(Nik Mohamad Zhafran)Secretary,Geographical Society

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News

KUALA LUMPUR: The family of comedian and popular radio presenter Din Beramboi is saddened that irresponsible people have made postings on social networking website Facebook that he had died.

Rozana, 39, the younger sister of Din Beramboi, 43, whose real name is Mior Ahmad Fuad Mior Badri, said such a thing should not have happened as the postings were made by mature adults.

She told this to Bernama when met at the Selayang Hospital here Thursday.

However, Rozana said the family did not intend to take action against the culprits, who had made the postings Thursday.

Asked about the health condition of her brother, who was admitted to the hospital for dengue haemorrhage fever on Tuesday, she said his liver and kidneys were no longer functioning fully and that he needed the assistance of a ventilator to breathe.

She said he was able to open his eyes and communicate with the family using eye signals.

Rozana said the family hoped all Malaysian would pray for his quick recovery.

Among those who turned up to visit him Thursday were actress Sharifah Shahira (Shira) and her actor husband, Zulkifly Azari (Ijoy).

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KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor urged women to work tirelessly, and don't give up hope, so as to ensure that the future would bring them what they so richly deserved.

They must equip themselves with knowledge and skills to become a powerful force in achieving their goals because nothing is impossible and no barrier is insurmountable, she said during a "Apa Kata Wanita...bersama Zamzarina" programme at Wisma TV Angkasapuri here.

The Prime Minister's wife was interviewed during a visit to RTM in conjunction with RTM's 64th anniversary today.

"We must work hard and continue with our ambition, be always united as one force and not be divided. If we unite and voice out, the government will listen to what the women have to say, not this person says one thing while another says something different," she said.

Rosmah said women must also respect each other without any racial bias, be it a Malay, Indian or Chinese and continue contributing to the nation in the spirit of 1Malaysia.

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LANGKAWI:Eighteen teams, including from abroad, have confirmed their participation in the 7th KFC Langkawi International Regatta Perdana 2010 at the National Sailing Training Complex here on Jan 27-31.

The president of the Kedah Sailing Association, Datuk Paduka Abu Bakar Taib, said countries participating were Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, India, Belgium, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong and host Malaysia.

A total of 200 sailors were set to participate with Singapore having the highest number at 70.

"As the organising association we target getting 260 participants," Abu Bakar, who is also Langkawi Member of Parliament, told reporters here on Sunday.

He said categories were the Optimist, Laser, 420, 470, Byte and Wind Surfing.

Malaysia will send their elite and second tier sailors numbering 25 in total for the regatta that is the curtain raiser for the international circuit for the Malaysian Yatching Association (MYA).

National coach, Abdul Rani Idris, said Malaysian sailors needed to be given wide exposure to face strong winds of up to 20 knots and above.

This was so because at the Australia National Sailing Championship national sailors faced problems with such winds.

He said discussions with MYA will be held to draw up training programmes before they were presented to the National Sports Council.

Abdul Rani said the national squad were proposed to compete in the United Kingdom and 9

German competitions in May and June besides training in New Zealand in August and September before participating in the 2010 Asian Games in China in November.

KUCHING: The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) will initiate the Creativity and Innovation Media Awards in collaboration with journalists' associations in Sarawak to promote innovation as part of the local lifestyle and culture, said Deputy Minister Fadillah Yusof.

He said the competition would look into innovative and creative ways of media coverage, especially in effectively disseminating government programmes and policies to the public.

"My ministry will finalise the details of the inaugural awards with the Kuching Division Journalists' Association for a start," he said at the Mosti media appreciation night here on Saturday's night.

He said the ministry recognised the role of the media in adding value to innovation, which created jobs and boosted national competitiveness.

In advocating a new economic model based on innovation, creativity and high value-added activities in the 2010 Budget, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has designated 2010 as the Year of Creativity and Innovation.

One Student Drowns, Four Others Missing After Boat Capsizes

PENANG: A student drowned and four others are missing after a dragon boat carrying 18 students capsized in waters about 500 metres off Pengkalan Weld here on Sunday, police said.

Timur Laut deputy police chief Supt Gan Kong Meng said 12 of the students swam to shore while one was plucked out of the sea following the incident at about 8am.

The students, all aged 16 or 17 years, from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Chung Ling, Air Itam, here were training for a dragon boat race when the boat was hit by waves, he said.

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"One student was found dead but has yet to be identified," he told reporters here.

A search-and-rescue team comprising personnel from various security units and the Civil Defence Department were scouring the sea for the missing students, he said.

Gan said the boat apparently capsized when the students were trying to turn it around.

He said preliminary investigation showed that several of the students had not worn life jackets.

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Dissatisfaction with School Library

As the head librarian, I would like to convey to you the students’ dissatisfaction with the poor facilities in the school library.

Many of the students complain that the library is hot and stuffy. This is made worse by the dry spell we have been experiencing in the past few months. The students are unable to do their homework or revision after school hours when the temperature is at its peak. The few fans that we have are inadequate and do not help circulate the air.There are also insufficient tables and chairs in the library. Moreover, some of the chairs are shaky and on the verge of collapse. As a result, the students have resorted to sitting on the floor between the bookshelves. Another major complaint has to do with the computers in the multimedia room. These computers are at least six years old and many are slow and not functioning. Even the Internet connection is slow and students feel discouraged and disheartened when they cannot get web access. Consequently, many are forced to frequent the nearby cyber-cafes to complete their assignments.

There have been many complaints about the books in the school library over the years. Many of them are torn and tattered beyond repair. Worse still, some irresponsible students have removed small sections from some of the books, especially reference books. It is very annoying to read a book with missing pages and pictures. The fiction books that we have are also rather outdated. Authors like Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie do not appeal to the students.There have also been numerous complaints about inadequate reference books, especially from students taking the public exams. Many of our students who cannot afford to buy reference books depend on the red-spot lending services provided by the library. It is disheartening to see the look of disappointment on their faces when the book they want to borrow is not available.

To overcome these problems, the students have made several suggestions. They feel it is timely that the library be fitted with air-conditioners as the exam season is around the corner. Many students prefer to do their revision in the library as it is peaceful and quiet. The school should also purchase more tables and chairsand discard those that are wobbly.

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It is high time the school upgraded the computers. Some of the students who are computer-savvy have offered their services for free. All they ask for is the right software and hardware. Spoilt computers should be discarded and replaced with new ones. We, the librarians, are willing to source for new computers from the local community. The school should buy new books. There should be a ratio of four books to every student in school. The teachers should buy books that the students like to read. This can easily be done by getting feedback from students on their favourite authors and the type of books they would prefer to read. Finally, the problem of inadequate reference books can be solved by purchasing multiple copies of such books.

We hope the school authorities will look into our complaints and consider our suggestions in improving the conditions of the library.

Reported by:

Nik Zhafran

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Integrated Leadership Camp

The Co-curricular Unit of SMK Setia recently organised an Integrated Leadership Camp at Perimbun Resort, Cheras, from 27-29th July. The objectives of the camp were to instil leadership qualities and improve teamwork among the 50 participants who attended this camp. The activities at the camp were handled by several youth leaders from a local university.

All participants, presidents and secretaries of the various clubs in school, had gathered at the school hall at 2pm. From there, they were taken to the campsite in two buses. They were accompanied by five teachers, including the senior assistant of co-curricular affairs Puan Ng. Upon arrival at the campsite, they were given a briefing by the facilitators. Then, they were put into groups and asked to set up tents. By 7pm, most of them had accomplished this task successfully. After dinner, the participants had to engage in their first group activity. They were required to come up with names and theme songs for their groups. 

The second day of the camp was much more hectic. The participants had a rigorous exercise session which involved aerobics and jogging around the campsite. Then, after breakfast, they had to display their survival skills. In the afternoon, the participants had another round of physical activities. They engaged in canoeing in the nearby lake. 

The night programme was the most interesting. Participants had to take part in a night hike. 

There was only one activity on the third day of the camp ? the feedback session. The participants rated the programme highly and hoped that it would be held annually. 

The leadership camp was a huge success because all participants showed tremendous support by actively participating in all the activities throughout the duration of the camp.

Written by, Nik Mohamad Zhafran

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A good afternoon to all.I am very happy to be here with you today for what must be an exciting occasion for many of you. The best part of any contest is the prizewinning and i consider myself fortunate to be able to be with the prizewinners of the Perdana Leadership Foundation’s essay contest.

As Chancellor of the Multimedia University, I am deeply involved in the development of thousands of young men and women, not just in terms of their academic achievement but also in terms of their character and leadership skills. I think that all of you will agree that the ability to communicate and motivate is an essential component of leadership but what is often overlooked, in favour of charisma and oratory skills, is the ability to communicate in writing.

But it is the ability to write, and to write well, that allows leaders to communicate ideas, vision and worldview in a form that can be referred to even in the leader’s absence. A big part of leadership after all has to do with changing mindsets and perceptions, and the written word is a powerful, far-reaching weapon of influence. In many cases, the ideas and concepts carried through writing can last generations, fueling debates and discussions long after its printing date.

An example that is very close to home is of course “The Malay Dilemma” which was written in 1970 but which is still being referred to and argued about today, almost forty years later. There have been books and articles written about the book but what is more important is that the words that were written forced fresh examination of the state of the Malay race and encouraged a new way of thinking.

Students, ladies and gentlemen:

The ability to write well is a craft just like any other. You become better at a craft by learning from example: by reading good writing produced by other people, and by constant practice: the more you write, the easier it becomes to articulate your thoughts to paper.

So, plenty of reading – of good books and intelligent, thought-provoking articles – and plenty of writing are the prescription for those who want to be good writers.

I believe this contest has encouraged both reading and writing. I congratulate everyone who participated and hope that you found the process of researching and writing out the essay topics a mind-opening experience.

I believe the topics, which centred on youth leadership and your hopes for the future, invited deeper reflection into your present and future role in nation-building. As the saying goes, “youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow but are the partners of today”.

I congratulate once more the participants of the essay contest and wish to commend the Perdana Leadership Foundation for successfully organising this second essay contest.

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To all the students here, I wish you all the best in your present and future endeavours. I am sure that your parents and teachers will do whatever they can to help you achieve your goals in life.

Thank you.

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