Putera MIC launches first FT division

THE MIC’s Putera wing added another feather to its cap with the launch of the Segambut Putera MIC division recently.

Putera MIC has a total of 20 divisions nationwide and the Segambut division is the first to be set up in the Federal Territory, with more divisions coming up.

Putera wing national coordinator P. Kamalanathan said more divisions would be set up in the FT in the next few months, and they had been going on a massive recruitment drive since the wing was created in 2007.

“The wing was created to provide an avenue for young Malaysian Indians to help the community in social and educational issues.

“Those aged between 18 and 30 are encouraged to take part in social services and welfare work and carry out programmes that benefit the community,” Kamalanathan said.

According to Segambut Putera MIC head S. Yogendran, the division has a total of 50 active members who are professionals, and they hope to carry out their social obligation via education.

“That is our core aim – to help our youth in education, ICT and career development,” he said.

“We want to steer them in the right direction. If they want to pursue their studies, set up a business or pick up computer skills – we can help,” Yogendran said, adding that members would guide these youngsters so as to minimise, and ultimately rid, the community of social problems related to gangsterism, and drug abuse, among other things.

For details, email yogendran@puteramic.net.

Education fair in Penang

WHAT to study and where, are two questions that students often ask, especially when it comes to tertiary education.

The fair organized by The Star , to be held at the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) on Feb 28 and March 1, offers 220 booths featuring courses and programmes available at local and international educational institutions.

For those who can’t quite make up their minds on which path to take, there’s help from experts in the field. They will give talks on choosing the right pre-university and subject options; funding further education through loans from the PTPTN and the Star Education Fund; studying in Australia and Germany, and macro trends in the employment market.

Those who have their minds set on specific subjects, like nursing, pharmacy, medicine, engineering, psychology, dentistry, mass communications, physiotherapy and radiography, can find what the courses entail, and whether they’ve got what it takes to pursue careers in those fields.

Admission to the fair, open from 11am to 7pm over the two days, is free. Watch out for more information in Metro North.

Demoted but not defeated

P. Kamalanathan

Source :NST

KUALA LUMPUR: From a senior clerk to a typist. That is the story of P. Kamalanathan, who had to accept a demotion so he could cling on to a job in the late 1980s.

"I refused to leave when the company began retrenching during the financial crisis," said the 43-year-old, who was working for a cement manufacturing company in Rawang then.

He was given two options: a voluntary separation scheme or a demotion.

"I had a family to feed and I knew if I resigned, there were no jobs outside. Since I needed the money, I accepted a job as a typist. Not only was my pay cut by half, I was also transferred to Chemor, Perak," said Kamalanathan, who was earning RM800 as a clerk.

Kamalanathan left his family for three years. "During that time, I realised the importance of education and saved up money to take up distance learning."
He said three years later, things changed for the better when he hosted a sports event here which caught the eye of his boss.

"My boss saw my performance, especially my communication skills, and offered me the same clerical position I once held."

He said the transfer did not only teach him valuable lessons about community relations and the importance of higher education but also gave him the chance to learn an additional skill.

"If I did not take up that offer, I don't think I would have started blogging or begun communicating online."

Kamalanathan leads Putera MIC and is a public relations manager with Serba Wangi Sdn Bhd.

"If you are demoted, do not let go of the job, especially during a financial crisis. There may be a skill or two that you can learn from it that would help you in the future."

Perak Back to BN

After almost a year full of unstable politics in Perak state, the end is here. Perak MB has declared to dissolve the state assembly. Whether there would be a re-election or not is in the hands of Perak state's Sultan. On 4/2/09 at 3.50pm, Perak's MB visited the palace. At 4pm, Datuk Seri Najib arranged a press conference in his office to declare the fall of Perak to BN. In the other hand, Perak’s MB says that he will stay remain as MB untill this Friday’s exco meeting. In mean time, Datuk Seri Najib will meet the Perak Sultan soon to discuss about BN taking over Perak.

So let’s discuss about this, is Perak government really weak as what BN claimed last year? Will this happen to other states as well? Should we have re-election in Perak state & Why? Let’s talk about this; comments are opened for this post. Sincerely we are putting our both hands together, please do not use any vulgar words.

Let’s have a constructivism building Blog and discussion.Thank you

Happy Blogging
Shashi

A Bloggers' Code of Ethics

I guess this is the right time to write about this. A bloggers Code of ethics. Since we have a lot of bloggers in country all mixed up with professional and new bloggers, all this blog's getting miss used to backstabbing ,humitalting other races and so on. Since not all bloggers are journalists and the Weblog form is more casual, they argue they shouldn't be expected to follow the same ethics codes journalists are. But responsible bloggers should recognize that they are publishing words publicly, and therefore have certain ethical obligations to their readers, the people they write about, and society in general.These are just guidelines in the end it is up to individual bloggers to choose their own best practices.

So my message to bloggers like sammy the bammy,Pendekar Tanah Air, and other bloggers, Integrity is the cornerstone of credibility. Bloggers who adopt this code of principles and these standards of practice not only practice ethical publishing, but convey to their readers that they can be trusted. Before reading this guidelines, can anyone give me the real meaning of blog and it's ussage?

A BLOGGERS' CODE OF ETHICS

Be Honest and Fair
Bloggers should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Bloggers should:
• Never plagiarize.
• Identify and link to sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
• Make certain that Weblog entries, quotations, headlines, photos and all other content do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
• Never distort the content of photos without disclosing what has been changed. Image enhancement is only acceptable for for technical clarity. Label montages and photo illustrations.
• Never publish information they know is inaccurate -- and if publishing questionable information, make it clear it's in doubt.
• Distinguish between advocacy, commentary and factual information. Even advocacy writing and commentary should not misrepresent fact or context.
• Distinguish factual information and commentary from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

Minimize Harm
Ethical bloggers treat sources and subjects as human beings deserving of respect.
Bloggers should:
• Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by Weblog content. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
• Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
• Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of information is not a license for arrogance.
• Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy.
• Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects, victims of sex crimes and criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.

Be Accountable
Bloggers should:
• Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
• Explain each Weblog's mission and invite dialogue with the public over its content and the bloggers' conduct.
• Disclose conflicts of interest, affiliations, activities and personal agendas.
• Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence content. When exceptions are made, disclose them fully to readers.
• Be wary of sources offering information for favors. When accepting such information, disclose the favors.
• Expose unethical practices of other bloggers.
• Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

Shashi