MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

HOW TIME FLIES? SOON THE GUNNERS CLUB SHALL CELEBRATE ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY. TAKING ABOUT ANNIVERSARIES, THE 1ST ARTILLERY REGIMENT SHALL CELEBRATE ITS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY ON 1ST JANUARY 2012 AT KEM TERENDAK (HOME OF THE PARA GUNNERS). A FULL FLEDGED COLOUR PARADE WILL BE HELD. SOME INTERESTING GUESTS ARE EXPECTED TO TURN UP. WE HAVE THE WIDOW AND SON OF THE LATE LT. COL DAVID PRICE ATTENDING, AND ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL 89 GUNNERS WHO MOVED FROM BALAKANG MATI SINGAPORE TO KAJANG, WHERE THE FIRST HOME WAS. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE A MILESTONE EVENT.     

EX GUNNERS GATHERING AT 1 RAD PARA ON 19TH NOV 2011

Almost a hundred old timers, and some with their wives gathered as early as 1100hrs to meet up for lunch at Wisma Sri Kajang. The CO and Officers/SNCOs played joint host with the Gunners Club to allow a meeting up of these folks who came from Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, KL, and also elsewhere. Maj. Jais as the Zone Head, was the prime mover to gather the flock, ably assisted by some very dedicated retired other ranks. The Regiment did a splendid job on all the arrangements. The lunch was superb and came with an entertainment live Combo. The whole event was lively with lots of memories shared. After the lunch, a short meeting was held to allow the CO of 1Arty Para to outline the Golden Jubilee Celebrations preparations. Brig Gen Dato'Abdul Hadi as the VP of the Club then did the honours of thanking the CO and the Regiment for their hospitality on behalf of the veterans. Maj Ganeson as Club Secretary detailed a short presentation of the club and also drove the membership campaign. It was a very memorable event, andit is also the pre-cursor for the Gunners Club Road Show. Similar events are planned for all the zones throughout Malaysia. As the CO mentioned of requirements for funds to run the celebrations, an immediate on the spot collection as suggested by one of the participants, started the ball rolling. More than RM1,800 was collected. More money was pledged and some even pledged their RM500 bonus at the end of this year.  

WELL DONE GUNNERS!!!! WHAT A SPIRIT!!!!

I would also like to take this opportunity to request all past gunners to step forward and contribute. The Golden Jubillee Celebrations is a once in a lifetime event and is certain to be the Pride of the Regiment.

HIDUP ARTILERI!!!!

GUNNERS CLUB ON THE MOVE

If you happen to be free this Saturday 19th November 2011, you should take the opportunity to drop by 1 Arty for a Lunch Gathering. This event is co- hosted by 1 Arty Para and also the Gunners Club. The lunch will start at 1330 hrs, but you can get there earlier to catch up with old mates. The gathering has also got dual aims, in that, it is to gather ex gunners in the area to sign up to join the club, and also for 1Arty to promote their grand 50th Anniversary Golden Celebrations.  If you have served 1 Arty before, then you must be there to take in the spirit of camaraderie. The lunch and other activities shall be at the Officers Mess and all are welcome.

See you there folks!

TWO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER



Corps Chairman taking the Salute

Saturday 24th September 2011 again witnessed the annual ritual of the Arty Corps Day celebrations at 51 RAD in Gemas. This celebration was postponed from August due to the month of Ramadan. As traditional, the Corps Chairman took the salute and a full fledged parade ensued. Following the parade was the usual gathering in the Dewan for some refreshments. It seemed like a slightly toned down affair this year. Also noticed was a sharp decrease in ex gunners presence. On enquiring, I was later enlightened that it was also the wedding season and most of the old boys were busy organising for their children, relatives etc. I was very happy to at last meet my Mahaguru Capt. (TIG) Jamian and his current better half (his first wife sadly passed away due to illness sometime ago; a lovely lady she was, I recall). Anyway, Jamian or James as we nicknamed him is an icon in the Artillery. I first met him as a YO student in 1975, when he was an Sgt AIG at the Arty Wing in LATEDA, Port Dickson.  Then he was in the regiment (3 Arty) with me, and finally, we were colleagues again at the Arty Wing and then at Arty School Paroi. We were also neighbours at the MQ in Seremban. I fondly share many memories with James.



Capt (TIG) Jamian (Retd) & wife









A Smart Salute





On Wednesday 28th September 2011, again in Gemas, was somewhat a replica parade. This time it was a farewell parade for Maj. Gen. Dato' Haniff bin Othman and the lovely Datin Mazznah. The good Dato' retires from service after almost 38 years. His last appointment was as the Commandant of the Staff College at Haigate.

Dato' and family, and my family, go way back in our relationship. Dato'Haniff and I were young officers together in 3 Arty Taiping during the haydays of the seventies. I still remember Datin and Dato'when they were courting too. Aaah...those were the days of Mess Partys or Yeah Yeahs as we called them.

Dato'and I were also IGs in Arty Wing and later at Arty School Paroi. As we age we only have these memories to link us, and I cherish them all.

HAPPY RETIREMENT DATO'& DATIN! I am sure the Artillery shall always remember you. By the way, I shall drop in to visit the General soon with a Gunners Club membership form.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB DATO'!





A Gunner's Gun Ride of Pride with his Bride

 

THE GUNNERS CALL FOR A CELEBRATION

The Artillery Corps Day celebrations parade this year is on Saturday 24th September 2011. The actual birthday is 15th August, but due to the month of Ramadan, the celebrations were postponed. The parade seems to be the best activity for past gunners to mingle with the serving ones. I am hopeful that there will be a good turnout of past gunners especially as this is a grand opportunity for camaraderie. The venue is the parade ground of 51 RAD at Gemas. Details can be obtained from Mej. Jamaluddin at 03 20713436 or http:/www.rad.mil.my.

SEE YOU ALL THERE FOLKS!

Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C)

The Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C) provides unprecedented responsiveness and lethality to the Unit of Action (UA) commander. The Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C) provides networked, extended-range targeting, and precision attack of point and area targets in support of the Unit of Action (UA) with a suite of munitions that include special purpose capabilities. The Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C) provides sustained fires for close support and destructive fires for tactical standoff engagement.

NLOS-C

While air power, precision-guided bombs and missiles often receive all the glamour on the modern battlefield, cannon artillery still plays a critical role in today's fight by serving as the only 24-hour, all-weather reinforcement for the infantry soldier -a fact proven in recent conflicts.
Combat experience and extensive analyses have shown that the greatest threat to ground force survivability is indirect fire artillery. The U.S. Army currently ranks behind several other countries in cannon artillery capabilities, and U.S. Army after-action studies from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Afghanistan, and Desert Storm have exposed that the U.S Army has a critical need for an advanced cannon artillery solution.
The key indirect cannon system used by the U.S. Army today, although it performed admirably in recent conflicts, is not fully automated or otherwise best configured for a cockpit environment necessary in future manned ground vehicles. To meet this critical shortfall, the U.S. Army is developing the NLOS-C. The NLOS-C will be the key indirect fire support system for the U.S. Army's FCS and will reduce the risk of United States casualties by providing a much-needed artillery system that can outmatch and outsmart any enemy and increase the effectiveness of the entire ground force.
The system's primary purpose is to provide responsive fires in support of the FCS Combined Arms Battalions (CABs), and their subordinate units in concert with line-of-sight, Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS), Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS), external and Joint capabilities. The system provides flexible support through its ability to change effects round-by-round and mission-by-mission. These capabilities, combined with rapid response to calls for fire and rate of fire, provide a variety of effects on demand. This system incorporates technologies that include CARGO rounds and smart sub munitions, and Fire and Forget Seeker technology. Also included is a Self Protection Weapon.
The cannon will be able to move rapidly, stop quickly, and deliver lethal first round effects on target in record time. The Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Cannon will have a multiple round-simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability. The multiple round-simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability, coupled with the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon's (NLOS-C) superior sustained rate of fire, will provide record effects on target from a smaller number of systems.
The cannon, like all Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) variants, can rapidly rearm and refuel, and its system weight makes it uniquely deployable. Fully automated handling, loading, and firing will be another centerpiece of the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C). The Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C) balances deployability and sustainability with responsiveness, lethality, survivability, agility, and versatility.
The Non-Line-of-Sight-Cannon will give the Army a key capability that it currently lacks: a cannon artillery system that is fully automated, highly mobile, and capable of launching multiple rounds precisely on target simultaneously. Moreover, unlike the Army's current artillery systems, the Non-Line-of-Sight-Cannon will be fully integrated into an advanced electronic network shared by Soldiers on the battlefield. This will make the Non-Line-of-Sight-Cannon much more responsive to Soldier mission requirements.
The Non-Line-of-Sight-Cannon also will help to minimize Soldier risk; because it will be much more mobile and deployable than the Army's current-day artillery systems, which employ 1960s-era design technology. Reducing risk is a huge dividend of Future Combat Systems technology overall. Providing Soldiers with near real time situational awareness before they encounter potentially risky or deadly situations will save Soldiers lives. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle will identify for Soldiers if there's a sniper in the next alleyway or cavern. An Unmanned Ground Vehicle will help to dispose of an IED or roadside bomb.
The FCS program is contained in three Program Elements (PEs): Non-Line of Sight - Cannon (NLOS-C), Non-Line of Sight - Launch Systems (NLOS-LS) and Armored Systems Modernization (ASM). PE NLOS-C contains the development effort associated with NLOS-C work and in FY05 some of Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) common components. To meet pre-production Congressionally directed fielding requirements by FY08, the NLOS-C becomes the lead MGV variant. PE ASM contains the development effort for the balance of the common MGV components.
NLOS-C provides networked, sustained, extended-range (30km) cannon fires for precision attack of point and area targets in support of the FCS UA. The Army is executing the FCS program to achieve the earliest possible fielding of the first FCS-equipped UA. The Army plan is to deliver six pre-production NLOS-C systems for limited user and developmental testing in 2008. The first Production units will fielded by CY 2010, with 18 delivered by CY 2012. The UA Capability for NLOS-C will be fielded in FY 2014.
The Army established NLOS-C as the lead MGV of the FCS FoS. The FCS program focus is on providing combat capability at the unit level. Key to this approach is the synergy achieved by integrated development and acquisition of sensors, unmanned vehicles, airframes, and combat vehicles including NLOS-C working together and connected by a network, all operated by skilled soldiers. Commonality of hardware and software within the FCS program is a priority action needed to reduce the Life cycle costs and logistical footprint of the UA.
In late January 2003, the U.S. Army and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency selected United Defense to team with General Dynamics Land Systems and the FCS lead systems integrator (Boeing/SAIC) in the design of the ground vehicle portion of FCS. Under the award, the companies are focusing on assessing the requirements of the eight PCS manned ground vehicle (MGV) variants-infantry carrier vehicle, command and control vehicle, mounted combat system, reconnaissance and surveillance vehicle, NLOS-cannon, NLOS-mortar (NLOS-M), maintenance and recovery, and medical treatment/ evacuation-developing preliminary designs for each vehicle and identifying the components and subsystems that will be common to all.
In December 2003, United Defense received a $2 billion contract from Boeing to begin engineering development and demonstration of five MGV variants: infantry carrier vehicle, maintenance and recovery, medical, NLOS-M and NLOS-C. Emphasizing that "United Defense is pleased to be working alongside General Dynamics Land Systems and Boeing/SAIC to create vital ground combat vehicles for the future Army," a United Defense company representative focused on the support capabilities that the NLOS-C element will provide to tomorrow's soldier.
The key indirect cannon system used by the Army today - the M109A6 Paladin - is operating on a 1950s-designed chassis that has been routinely upgraded, requires manual firing procedures and is not designed to keep pace with PCS units envisioned for the Army's future force, explaining that the automation provided by the NLOS-C will enable a two-person crew to achieve what it currently takes five soldiers to accomplish. Moreover, the automation provided by the NLOS-C will reduce the physical demands and stresses placed on the soldier and provide substantially increased firepower faster and more accurately than ever before.
Specific features will include: increased strategic mobility (NLOS-C will be the first self-propelled howitzer to be C-130 transportable); high tactical mobility to keep pace with all units; networked communication systems; a real-time digital operating environment to enhance situational awareness; a fully-automated howitzer with unmatched rates of fire and increased lethality; advanced projectile tracking system to ensure greater accuracy; an MRSI capability for optimum enemy destruction and suppression; and built-in active protection Systems for optimum crew protection.
Early work had been focused around two technology sets: Electrothermal-Chemical (ETC) guns and Electromagnetic (EM) guns, but these technically challenging concepts soon fell by the wayside. ETC uses pulse power electrical energy to augment and control the release of chemical energy from conventional and advanced propellants. This electrothermal-chemical system uses a plasma generator instead of a primer, with the ignition, and potentially combustion control, of solid propellant achieved by high temperature plasmas. EM gun research (also known as a rail gun) was focused on the acceleration of projectiles solely through the application of electricity to achieve ultra-high velocity without energetic materials.
The NLOS-C was initially conceived as having a 120-155mm cannon. It initially appeared that the FCS NLOS-C will probably be a smaller-caliber gun than the Crusader. Because of recoil and other factors, it was not be feasible to put a 59-caliber 155mm cannon on an FCS-size chassis.
In mid-2004 the Army made a decision about the caliber for the non-line-of-sight cannon (NLOS-C) anticipated to be the cannon fielded in support of future combat system (FCS)-equipped units of action (UAs) and, possibly, in the Stryker brigades. The goal was to improve precision and reduce our logistical tail.
The clear choice for the NLOS-C was the 38-caliber 155-mm howitzer. The 155-mm was 58 percent more effective against personnel targets than the 105-mm and 82 percent more effective against materiel targets than the 105. The 38-caliber was selected over the longer 39-caliber tube, trading four kilometers of range (using the M549 rocket-assisted projectile) to save 1,367 pounds. This will make the NLOS-C C-130 deployable with about 25 percent of its basic load of ammunition.

 

EXCALIBUR

The study assessed the impact of caliber on the ability to meet the NLOS-C mission module priorities. These priorities are NLOS-C Operational Requirements Document (ORD) objectives that specify the system's performance and force effectiveness for transportability, lethality, survivability and sustainability. In making the caliber decision, we also assessed challenges in terms of risk, cost and developmental scheduling.
Additionally, analysis confirmed the overwhelming benefit of fielding a course-correcting fuze (CCF) that will vastly improve accuracy and drive down the logistical tail. With the support of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Commander, the Artillery community worked aggressively with the acquisition and technology communities to provide 155-mm and 105-mm Cannoneers this CCF capability as quickly as possible.
To move from the existing 40- to 60-ton systems of today to an 18-ton system of the future is no minor challenge. The gun mount and cradle still will undergo significant stress and, therefore, must be built of high strength/ strong materials. The tube must have consistent pointing performance. If too rigid, the tube is subject to structural failure during firing. If too flexible, the variable directional pointing of the tube throws inaccuracies into the firing computations.
New technologies and better engineering has resulted in the development of high-quality forged and rolled steel that is selectively wrapped and specially bonded with composites for increased strength, predictable rigidity and less weight.
A request by Congressman Tom Cole to split the non-line-of-site cannon (NLOS-C) from the development track of the Future Combat Systems was included in the 2006 Defense Authorization bill reported out of an Armed Services subcommittee mark up on 12 May 2005. This technical change will ensure full funding for NLOS-C and put it on a faster track than other man ground vehicles. The Tactical Air and Land Subcommittee voted to include several provisions that will protect the non-line-of-site cannon, including a $50 million increase in funding for NLOS-C over the President's request. It also included provisions to maintain objective lethality and survivability requirements and it states that NLOS-C should not be compromised to meet weight requirements of the FCS vehicles.
The NLOS cannon was designed to move rapidly, stop quickly and deliver lethal fire in near-record time. The aluminum-armored vehicle has a diesel engine that provides power to a hybrid-electric drive that propels two extremely quiet 18-inch band tracks. With a two-man crew, the NLOS cannon features an automatic ammunition-handling system and is being designed to easily fit inside the cargo bay of a C-130 aircraft. The NLOS will be more fuel efficient than existing self-propelled artillery systems, according to officials who estimate perhaps as much as 30 percent more.
Manual tasks -- such as having to manually handle projectiles and powder charges, and yank a rope lanyard to fire each round -- have become automated. In the NLOS cannon this entire process is completed by using an automated ammunition handling system which includes a laser igniter, robotics, all-electric drives, networking, and much more. It's a more efficient, faster and less labor-intensive system, according to officials.

Article courtesy of GlobalSecurity

ABOUT TWO "MONSTERS" AND GOLF



WHAT A DAY LAH!



MY KIND OF RSM

A GREAT CROWD



I must relate a tale of two gunner "Monsters". I use this term loosely to refer to people who fascinate me and achieve the almost unachievable (for want of a word). The first, is my mentor in some ways, Col. Allen Lai. Now, you may ask, what the heck has he done? Well, in his twilight years, he completed the KL Half Marathon!! Why? I don't know, but I will surely find out over some cold ones, sometime later, and I am sure I will have another post to write. He is simply so tech savvy now and philosophical too. The second guy, is a bloke I bumped into at the Artillery Directorate. He is WO1Asmawi. I asked him "Encik kat mana ni?"Saya RSM Kor", he replied. I was baffled. RSM Kor? Apa benda ni? He then explained that he is in Arty School and designated as the SMR Kor Artileri. A thought then flashed, "Shouldn't he be then, the RSM of the Regiment of Artillery, rather then the RSM Corps?". Aahh, thoughts ,thunk whilst thinking I say, it doesn't matter.

What impressed me most was his uniform and decorations. I then thought of Col Tan Say Loke and his remark ,"He is decorated like a Christmas Tree". He usually referred this to Commando type officers in the good ole days. Now , coming back to the good RSM.He is a .......now get this.. A FREE FALLER, AIRBORNE,PATHFINDER ETC.ETC. What more can I say? A GUNNER AT THAT!!! then he became my Facebook friend. Then I realised, in my typical expression "Bloody Hell, he was my apprentice in Paroi". This then made me recall "FROM SMALL ACORNS, GROW MIGHTY OAKS." My moral to this story,  folks, is trust the young gunners of today, be they officers or other ranks, they will bring "GLORY" to "EVERYWHERE, WHERE  RIGHT AND GLORY LEADS".
Oh ,I nearly forgot, we had a swell time golfing recently, at the inaugural x gunners golf competition for the Dato'Jaffar Trophy. Well done! Capt Amran of Sime Darby. Hey, check out the use of the cross missile & gun to signify ex gunners on the background banner.

TRIVIA & UP AND COMING

Map of Terendak Camp circa 1962

Some of us may not know this, but there is one milestone event coming up in January 2012. This is the Golden anniversary of 1 Arty. The Regiment is now Para and Lt. Col. Aminullah (the CO) is busy putting the event together. If you have done service with this regiment, then you simply must be there.

The Gunners Club is now fully up and running, and all retired Gunners are encouraged to join up and keep in touch with the "GUNNER FAMILY". The contact details are :

No 307A, Melawati Square, Pusat Bandar Taman Melawati, 53100 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: 03-41084518, 41084586, Fax:03-41083654.

e-mail: xgunners@gmail.com

We also do have a Facebook Page . For your information, note that the Artillery Regiment too has a website as given below:

Lamanweb: www.rad.mil.my

Check these out and be relevant to these developments.

Finally, good luck and safe participation to Col Allen Lai who is participating in the K L Half Marathon. HAPPY RUNNING SIR!!!

WHEN A GUNNER COMES A'CALLING



HOTEL MEET UP



LT JOHN HAINES (seated 7th from left)

The communications started last year in 2010. John Haines and his lovely wife Ann were keen to visit Malaysia. John was a National Service Officer who served the RA as a Lt. in the 50's. He did service in Malaya in 1954/55 in Batu Cantonment with the 11 Independent Light Troop RA.

According to John, the troop was equipped with 4.2 in. Mortars and also searchlights! Strangely, not much information is available on the exploits of this organisation, but with fond memories, John filled in the blanks over many casual conversations over the period of his visit. John was born in Penang and his father was born in Malaya too. A Cambridge science graduate, who ventured into business, related to the agricultural field later, he always had a sentimental wish to walk memory lane. It is no wonder that Ann, taking this cue, put it all together.

Ganeson and I met this lovely couple at their hotel on Saturday February 12th, and over breakfast became quick friends. And, why not? with such great demeanour and sense of humour, they seemed such nice visitors.



ST MARY'S CHURCH



As the Secretary of the Gunners Club, Ganeson took it upon himself to play the perfect host. A quick ad hoc plan was put together, but little did John and Ann know that being a Gunner means membership has its privileges.

The first stop without question was of course Batu Cantonment. An overview was done from the newly built commuter station, before a drive around. John could recall some features of his old "home" for a little over a year, but time and extensive development had changed many aspects of the camp he once knew. The dead giveaway, however, was the chimneys at the MQs and the Officers Mess. They were the standard features of most buildings of those days. A staff officer from the Artillery Directorate accompanied us during this short tour. It was nostalgic for John but it was near to impossible to locate specific features due to the many changes over the years. Since Batu Caves was nearby, a quick trip was done there too.

Next on the plan was a slow drive to Bentong.This was an attempt to trace the old operational areas of Triang that John was familiar with whilst with the RA. A short stop revealed a spanking new camp at Bentong in place of the old one near the golf course, that we used as an LP.Throughout the journey, conversation floated along about the life of the kampung people in the old days, the development now, and how close the CTs operated to Bentong town then. One funny thing though was how John felt that the signages were wrongly spelt in Malay today. We had to enlighten him of the revised spelling system. John also did a short exercise of remembering Malay words and phrases, and I think he did rather well, given the long absence. We decided to have a spot of lunch at a decent halfway point on our return journey which lasted till late afternoon. After the Chinese fried rice meal it was back to the hotel for a rest. There a tea time discussion took place and John's treasured collection of memorabilia was revealed with much enthusiasm. Ann, meanwhile was watching all this with amusement. It was an eventful day, but only the beginning of more things to come. The evening came to a close with a defined plan for the next day. It was lunch with Gen Tan Sri 'Jack' Yaacob (our former Chief of Defence Force) at the Selangor Golf Club, and fate had its way as we shall see.

Ganeson, the very next morning planned to pick up Ann and John and proceed to the Selangor Club (not the golf club you see). He thought that before lunch he could take them to the St. Mary's Church nearby for a look see, and then go across the road to the Selangor Club where the lunch host was expected to be. At the church there was a very unbelievable incident, where by sheer coincidence it was discovered that John's grandfather was the first Chaplain there - FRANCIS WILLIAM HAINES from 1890 to 1899. Now, was that a coincidence, or simply a calling?  Deja Vu, you might say, but I say that it was an act of providence.Then on realising the error of the lunch location, they proceeded on to the golf club, where Gen Yacob and another gunner general as in Brig Gen Dato' Hadi were there. Gen Yaacob was instrumental in passing the message for John's visit (which he received through his friends in the UK) to the Gunners Club. Lunch was a casual affair with much discussion of nostalgia. As it was a Sunday and some rest was in order, John and Ann decided to abort the visit to the parks in KL and retire for the day.



My Grandad's legacy at St.Mary's KL



Monday the 14th of February was Valentine's Day, but the Gunners Club had a plan for John and Ann. The Director of Artillery invited the couple to drop by Mindef in the morning, and later they would be entertained to lunch at the KL Tower by Members of the Gunners Club Committee and some invited "Old Timers" as in QM Zahir and Capt (R) Ahmad Gedang. It was a meaningful lunch gathering which most of us will not forget for a while, at least.Then as all things must come to an end, we said our farewells to the Haines's as they continued their journey to other parts of Malaysia and as well as Singapore, before returning home to Devon on 27th February 2011.

 "FAREWELL DEAR FRIENDS, AND MAY WE BE BLESSED TO MEET AGAIN".



ANN & JOHN HAINES





  

AT KL TOWER WITH GUNNERS CLUB

  

  

 

BENTONG

 

GOLF CLUB LUNCH





CALLING ON ARTY DIRECTOR



HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR 2011

Hi all,

Wishing you all a Happy Chinese New Year 2011. It is the year of the rabbit. It is a prosperous and good year.
All the best wishes and good health to you and all your family.
Take care

Allen Lai

Perils of an English Language Handicap

"MOHD Solihan Badri, Head, Corporate Communications Unit of the Education Ministry, in his replies to many of my letters published in the mainstream English newspapers last year, spoke passionately of our education policy and how amendments and improvements since the introduction of the KBSR/KBSM syllabus in the seventies had benefited our students and people. It has now been perfected even more with the introduction of the "Memartabatkan Bahasa Mal-aysia dan Memperkukuhkan Bahasa Inggeris" (Upholding the Malay Language, Strengthening Command of English – MBMMBI) syllabus which will be implemented in the 2012 school term.

According to him, the original Razak Report on education that formed the basis of our present education policy – which was followed by two amendments over a period of thirty years, culminating in the introduction of the MBMMBI syllabus – has resulted in a vast improvement in the use of our national language, and in an almost total loss of interest in other languages such as English, Mandarin, other local dialects and foreign languages, which meets the aim of the education policy squarely. The popular Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (PPSMI) syllabus was also found to be unsuitable after being used successfully for almost eight years and has since been scrapped. The use of only one language by all, regardless of race or religion, is also designed to be the catalyst to make the 1Malaysia concept fully acceptable to all.

I agree with him on all counts.

However, considering the handicap of our people being proficient in only one language, our ability to communicate with people outside the country will be affected and perhaps even rendered impossible. If the situation is not checked, in future, many of us may not be as equipped as our hearing and speech impaired citizens. We will only be able to speak and write in Bahasa Malaysia, a language which only Malaysians will use; but the hearing and speech impaired would at least still be able communicate with their counterparts worldwide as many people use sign language. Therefore, it can be easily translated into various world languages for use by people who are not hearing or speech impaired.

Since the government is stubbornly adamant about putting aside English Language in order to make our national primary and secondary school students and our people proficient in only one language, and relegating all other languages to an abyss, I urge my fellow Malaysians to learn sign language to remain in communication with people outside the country. When the need arises, I bel-ieve we shall have more than enough people to teach us.

There are many interpreters who can comfortably translate sign lang-uage into various world languages, but few who can do the same for Bahasa Malaysia. In order to do business globally and to enable our diplomats, trade representatives and company representatives, communications remain extremely important.

Our country has vast economic potential, and with our abundant natural resources and having more and more talented people in future, we cannot allow our limitations (inability to communicate normally) to thwart the country’s development; and with sign language, albeit a little slower, will allow us to communicate in order to continue and increase the sales of our products and services overseas. It will also enable us to continue our diplomatic ties and do business as usual.

Our country can also be the world’s future hub and leader in the use of sign language."

STANDARD CHARTERED KL MARATHON 2011

Yes, I have been away for quite awhile. Really off the road to recuperate my injured knees. I had been a good boy and waited. But I could not wait any more. Standard Chartered KL had just opened for registration. Kiasu me. I'm an early bird I am.
Ready or not I'll take part in the half marathon.
Signing off now. Got to start my training this evening. 158 days left. Ayoh !

Join me. Don't be left out. Register TODAy.

Take care

Allen Lai

WAYS TO GET OUR HISTORY RIGHT

MALAYSIA has a relatively short history compared with the United States, Russia, China, India, Britain and Egypt. Many of our history makers or those who contributed to our history are still alive They were around before the formation of the Federation of Malaysia; before, during and immediately after the Second World War including the British occupation of Malaya; the Japanese occupation; the Malayan Emergency; the formation of the Federation of Malaysia and events such as the May 13 tragedy.

These may be ordinary people who served as civil servants, ministers, politicians, worked in the private sector, the military and the police, universities, teachers, writers, journalists, community leaders or members of royalty.They may also have been witnesses to events and incidents which were part of our history. We have people who are going to, or have already hit, the century mark who were either history-makers or who had contributed to our history.If there are doubts about the correctness and accuracy of our recorded history, consult them.I believe they can verify the facts about the events that took place.Perhaps some are direct descendants, relatives or close associates of history makers or people who contributed to our history.

Being privy to such events and incidents, these people definitely know our history.Some of these families, I believe, also have historical records which are now family heirlooms. It is quite unfortunate that the historical records of one of our better known families have been sent to Singapore for safekeeping because the descendants felt keeping them here was not the best option.

Members of the Historical Society of Malaysia and History teachers can also be roped in to help check and verify the accuracy of our recorded history.

So let’s get cracking and start calling up all these people and put our history right once and for all. Stop arguing and start working on other more important things.

HUSSAINI ABDUL KARIM,