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Tuesday, 21 June 2011

Rebuttal

Assalamualaikum dan hello semua. Post ini mungkin akan menimbulkan kontroversi tapi saya perlu cakap apa yang saya fikirkan/rasakan.
Diambil daripada harakahdaily.net (saya seorang politically-neutral person jadi saya baca je semua (Utusan, Berita Harian, Harakah whatsoever)
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Jun: Dewan Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan (DPPWP) mengulangi tuntutan rakyat supaya Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) dihapuskan dan pelajar-pelajar yang melanjutkan pengajian dalam negara diberikan keutamaan untuk menerima biasiswa atau pendidikan secara percuma.
“Hanya inilah jalan terbaik untuk kerajaan melabur bagi mempercepatkan pembangunan modal insan demi masa depan negara,” kata setiausahanya, Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusoff.
Justeru, pihaknya memandang serius masalah agihan biasiswa Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) 2011 yang penuh kontroversi hingga menyebab ramai pelajar cemerlang SPM 2010 yang layak tidak menerima biasiswa itu.
DPPWP, katanya mendapati jumlah dana biasiswa yang diberikan kepada JPA setiap tahun amatlah terhad, dan Kerajaan BN lebih cenderung mendidik pelajar-pelajar cemerlang ini berhutang dengan Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) sebagai salah satu langkah bagi melepaskan tanggungjawab sosial kepada rakyat.
Sehubungan itu, ujarnya DPPWP mencadangkan supaya JPA mendedahkan jumlah peruntukan sebenar yang diberikan oleh Kerajaan BN untuk dana biasiswa ini setiap tahun.
DPPWP juga, katanya menuntut agar Kerajaan BN meningkatkan peruntukan dana biasiswa JPA selari dengan jumlah pelajar cemerlang yang kian meningkat saban tahun.
“Sekiranya jumlah pelajar cemerlang semakin bertambah dan jumlah biasiswa diperuntukan masih sama atau tidak mencukupi, maka sampai bila-bila pun masalah ini tidak akan selesai,” katanya.
Tambahnya, dalam masa yang sama kerajaan BN juga harus akur dengan tuntutan rakyat yang mahu PTPTN dihapuskan dan ditukar kepada biasiswa.
Dalam bab yang lain, katanya DPPWP juga menuntut agar JPA mendedahkan jumlah peruntukan yang diberikan kepada setiap pelajar yang melanjutkan  pengajian di dalam negara berbanding yang pergi ke luar negara.
Ini, ujarnya kerana DPPWP melihat kos pengajian di dalam negara lebih murah berbanding kos pengajian diluar negara.
“Berdasarkan pengalaman alumni universiti dalam dan luar negara, ramai yang mengakui bahawa dengan kos setiap pelajar yang ditaja keluar negara, Kerajaan mampu untuk menaja 4 orang pelajar belajar di dalam negara,” katanya.
Pada hari ini, katanya negara memiliki lebih dari 20 Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Awam, diikuti dengan puluhan Universiti Pengajian Tinggi Swasta serta pelbagai kolej-kolej dan politeknik yang menawarkan tempat untuk pelajar Malaysia.
Malah, kata beliau kebanyakan bidang yang diajar di universiti luar negara seperti kedoktoran, kejuruteraan dan perakaunan kini sudah ada ditawarkan oleh IPT tempatan.
Ini, ujarnya berbeza dengan tahun-tahun 50-an hingga 80-an kerana pada masa itu jumlah dan bidang kursus yang ditawarkan oleh IPT tempatan masih terhad.
Oleh itu, tambahnya ada baiknya kerajaan memfokuskan untuk menarik lebih ramai pelajar-pelajar cemerlang ini untuk menyambung pengajian di IPT dalam negara dengan memberikan mereka bantuan biasiswa.
Menurutnya, dengan dana yang terhad kerajaan boleh menawarkan biasiswa kepada lebih ramai pelajar di dalam negara berbanding ke luar negara.
DPPWP, jelasnya tidak menolak jika ada permohonan biasiswa kalangan pelajar yang mahu melanjutkan pelajaran ke luar negara, tetapi biarlah kursus yang mereka ditawarkan itu adalah kursus yang tidak ditawarkan oleh IPT dalam negara yang mana kita tidak mempunyai kepakaran yang mencukupi untuk mengajar mereka seperti bidang berkaitan kajian tenaga nuklear, kejuruteraan industri aeroangkasa, dan yang seumpamanya.
“DPPWP juga berharap agar Kerajaan Persekutuan membuat penyelarasan dengan kerajaan-kerajaan negeri yang turut menawarkan biasiswa untuk anak-anak negeri mereka supaya agihan yang dibuat tidak bertindih hingga menyebabkan keciciran peluang bagi pelajar lain yang juga berhak.
“Agihan juga haruskan adil bagi semua kaum dan tidak dipengaruhi oleh ahli-ahli politik yang memegang kuasa dalam kerajaan,” katanya.
PANDANGAN SAYA
Okay, macam ni. Kita jangan emosional. Biasiswa yang JPA tawarkan setiap tahun memanglah terhad. Dan selalunya biasiswa itu diberikan kepada pelajar-pelajar cemerlang. Dalam lebih kurang (ok, katakanlah sejuta) pelajar-pelajar universiti dan politeknik di Malaysia bukannya semuanya mereka itu cemerlang. Apa faedah yang JPA boleh dapat kalau bagi semua biasiswa yang bernilai lebih kurang RM 3000 (at least) setiap semester kepada pelajar-pelajar yang dapat CGPA bawah 3.00? Dan selalunya biasiswa yang JPA bagi ni adalah supaya pelajar-pelajar tajaan JPA tu dapat berkhidmat dengan kerajaan. Dan tu sebabnya mereka bagi kepada kos-kos kritikal seperti Medic, Dentistry dan Pharmacy sebab negara memang perlukan mereka.
Pelajar-pelajar PTPTN pun ada juga peluang nak dapat biasiswa JPA. Tapi mereka kenalah cemerlang. Kalau kos tak kritikal pun kenalah cemerlang. Dah kerajaan bagi duit free kan, kenalah cemerlang (banyaknya perkataan cemerlang). Tapi yang dalam artikel ni cakap seolah-olah semua pelajar universiti kat Malaysia ni cemerlang dan semua kena dapat pendidikan percuma iaitu tajaan daripada JPA dan melupuskan PTPTN kerana kononnya mendidik mereka berhutang.
Kenapa mereka fikir macam ni? Adakah mereka tak bersyukur sekurang-kurangnya ada juga PTPTN nak bagi pinjaman kepada pelajar universiti walaupun keputusan mereka bawah 3.00. Biasiswa secara universalnya yang ditafsirkan oleh orang-orang tak kira di luar atau di dalam negara adalah bantuan insentif kepada pelajar-pelajar cemerlang untuk belajar. Biasiswa tu yang membezakan di antara pelajar cemerlang dan tak cemerlang. Lagi sekali, bukan nak cakap pelajar PTPTN tak cemerlang ok. Tapi faham kan? 
Kalau semua program (termasuk muzik, seni lakon dan yang sewaktu dengannya) diberi biasiswa habislah bankrap kerajaan Malaysia. USA pun mana ada bagi SEMUA pelajar-pelajar universiti bantuan biasiswa? Mereka PTPTN pun bukan semua dapat (eh, ada ke PTPTN? Well, study loan pasti ada). Mereka memang dah simpan duit sendiri untuk ke universiti (tak percaya tengok cerita Hollywood yang selalunya memaparkan ibu bapa buat akaun untuk pembiayaan anak-anak mereka ke universiti). 
Jadi, silalah bersyukur PTPTN tu pun dah ada. Pelajar-pelajar PTPTN pun boleh je nak dapat biasiswa JPA tapi mereka perlu menunjukkan tahap akademik yang cemerlang. Biasiswa ni macam satu insentif supaya pelajar-pelajar bukan tajaan ni berusaha lebih gigih untuk mendapatkan biasiswa. Barulah lahir pelajar cemerlang, gemilang dan terbilang. Kalau semua satu juta (lagi sekali, ni nombor rawak) dapat biasiswa JPA ramailah yang relax je. Tak payah nak belajar. Kan dapat JPA kann??? Boleh enjoy.
Lagi sekali, JPA ni bagi keutamaan kepada kos-kos kritikal. Nak buat macam mana, dah kos-kos kritikal tu ada 3 tu je. Kalau seni lakon bukan kritikal, janganlah salahkan kerajaan. 
Lepas tu, bila mereka cakap 'JPA ni jangan taja pelajar pergi luar negara. MAHAL!'. Tempat dalam negara pun bukannya semua cukup. Tu sebab mereka kena hantar pelajar-pelajar ke luar negara. Lagipun perasan tak sekarang ni JPA banyak hantar pelajar belajar di negara-negara Asia je? Dan ada yang letak dekat public university dalam negara je. Tu salah satu langkah nak mengurangkan perbelanjaan. Oh ya dan perasan kan yang RAMAI pelajar universiti awam di Malaysia ni pelajar bumiputera? Silalah bersyukur. 
Ada jugak yang saya setuju pasal pengagihan biasiswa tu tak boleh berat sebelah. Bukan semua saya tak setuju.
Saya cuma tak puas hati bab 'Kena lupuskan PTPTN tu dan bagi SEMUA pelajar universiti di Malaysia ni biasiswa'. It's impossible! And a bit ridiculous to tell the truth.

Saya pun tak puas hati jugakla kenapa kerajaan belanja berjuta-juta untuk emel 1Malaysia yang ridiculous tu. Dengan duit tu kan at least boleh bagi biasiswa kepada budak-budak Nursing (universiti awam) ke, boleh tambah biasiswa untuk course-course lain.

Tapi lagi sekali nak cakap, agak tak relevanlah nak lupuskan PTPTN dan gantikan dengan biasiswa. 
Sekian, terima kasih. Ada apa-apa pandangan dan komen sila beritahu. :D

Monday, 20 June 2011

Recycled Post #3: Zaman Darjah Satu

Eek, I'm so pathetic for recycling my old posts just for the sake of updating this blog. 
Anyway, Assalamualaikum and hello all. :)

Blogged on Sunday, 31st of May 2010, at 5.05 a.m

Macam nak tiru Zack Zukhairi pulak. Takdela. Ni tiba-tiba bangun pukul 3 pagi sebab panas tak bukak kipas lepas tu sakit tekak. Tiba-tiba ada ilham nak tulis blog. 

Sewaktu saya berumur 7 tahun hingga 8 tahun (1997-1998), saya bersekolah di SRK Convent Muar Johor (macam karangan budak sekolah rendah). Bila umur saya 9 tahun, satu keluarga saya telah berpindah ke Sungai Petani Kedah. Dan saya bersekolah rendah dan menengah di SRK dan SMK Convent Father Barre Sungai Petani Kedah.
Ok, sila jangan jadi skema. Believe it or not, saya masih ingat nama-nama semua cikgu yang ajar saya dalam setiap subjek (ok, tipu) di Sekolah Rendah. Mari imbas kembali zaman kanak-kanak ribena.



Convent Muar Picture credits:Click

Darjah satu. Kelas 1 Mawar. Kelas terakhir sebab masuk kelas ikut masa pendaftaran/diorang sumbatkan je korang kat mana-mana kelas ataupun kalau diorang nampak budak tu cerdik, masukkan ke kelas pertama. 
-________-

Guru Kelas. Puan Aida. Puan Aida ni sangat best. Dia ajar subjek Bahasa Melayu dan Matematik. Cikgu paling prihatin. Dulu ustazah agak garang(lupa dah nama ustazah sapa suruh garang, LOL) jadi setiap kali kelas Ustazah wajibkan semua orang bawa buku teks. Dan pada satu hari ni lupa bawak buku teks. Maka call mak berulang kali di rumah dan sekolah mak. Time tu mana ada handphone. Huhu. Mak tak dapat datang sekolah bagi buku teks maka menangis ketakutan dan kegerunan. Puan Aida tanya kenapa menangis? Lepas tu jawab tak bawak buku Teks. Then Puan Aida pinjamkan buku teks budak kelas lain untuk saya. Waktu kecik pergaulan tak bebas. Hanya 'restricted to budak-budak sekelas je.

Guru Bahasa Inggeris. Puan Hanum. Puan Hanum ni sangatlah garang. Berapa kali kena denda dengan dia, LOL. Kalau dia lukis pagar mesti buat corak tiga segi tu aje. And she's quite cold. Satu hari tu tersedar yang terhilang duit SERINGGIT. Lepas tu kawan suruh bagitau dia. Maka buat muka sedih bagitau duit hilang. Cikgu ni bukannya nak sedekah seringgit ke apa. Seringgit je kot. Tapi dia tanya dengan muka tak boleh blah 'Bila hilang?'



Entah apa-apa. Kalau mak datang sekolah baru cikgu buat muka baik, senyum kat saya. Huh, orang dewasa memang begitu *sila rujuk entri Sarah Vs Weird Woman*. Lepas tu bila balik rumah ekk, ada pulak duit seringgit tu dalam poket baju. Hahaha. 

Guru Muzik. Cik Sabariah. Cik Sabariah ni la cikgu yang paling tak garang dekat sekolah tu. Muzik tu matapelajaran paling best. waktu time Muzik, cikgu bawak pergi Bilik Muzik, pasang video 'Bunyi Gitar' dalam cerita 'Tiga Abdul' tu. Lepas tu nyanyi lagu pasal gunung ke apa ntah. Then cikgu tanya 'Gunung apa yang tertinggi di Malaysia?' Budak-budak sekelas pakat-pakat jawab 'Gunung Everest, cikgu!'
Lepas tu saya pun jawab 'Gunung Kinabalu, cikgu?' Lepas tu cikgu senyum cakap 'Hah, betul!'
Ceh, macam mana entah boleh tau pengetahuan am waktu umur 7 tahun. Kalau tanya budak sekarang entah diorang tahu jawab ke tak? Silap silap tanya 'Malaysia tu hape?'

Ingat setakat tu aje. Akhir tahun ada pertandingan persembahan antara kelas. Puan Aida yang handle. dia pun siapkan dawai dengan styrofoam yang cat warna pink lepas tu buat macam cekak dekat rambut kitorang. Kiranya macam sesungut. Lepas tu kelas kitorang menang. Bangga, bangga.
Bila time nak bagi markah muzik, cikgu suruh nyanyi depan kelas. Maka dengan konfidennya nyanyi.

Bapaku pulang dari kota,
Bapaku belikan kereta,
Kereta kecil warna merah,
Bolehku bawa ke sekolah
Pon Pon Pon Pon 2X (kalau time umur sekarang nyanyi benda ni mesti orang ketawa huhahuha)
kereta kecil ku berbunyi
marilah adik mari naik
Bolehku bawa jumpa nenek. 

Show off betul lagu ni. Bapak beli kereta kecik pun nak bawak tunjuk kat sekolah. 



 Pertandingan bercerita.
Dengan konfidennya cerita pasal Mahsuri jual epok-epok lepas tu kena seberang sungai ada banyak buaya. Ni semua sebab dulu bapa saudara asyik cerita benda-benda macam ni.

'Siapa nak bercerita?' Puan Aida tanya
'Saya, cikgu!' saya angkat tangan.

Pergi depan 'Pada satu hari, Mahsuri nak jual epok-epok,'
 Epok-epok tu orang Singapore dengan Johor taulah pebenda. Karipap la. 
Satu kelas ketawa. Puan Aida pun gelak. Aduhai, mesti la Puan Aida tahu kisah sebenar. Mana ada mahsuri jual epok-epok.

Waktu tu rasa best sebab satu kelas gelak. Boleh masuk Raja Lawak. Zaman tu pun mana ada Astro. Cuma ada TV1. TV2, TV3. NTV7 pun takde lagi. CD pun mahal. So asyik tengok videotape ajela. Ok, dh terkeluar tajuk. 
Lepas tu sambung 'Sungai tu ada buaya,' bla bla bla.
'Last-last, mahsuri menyorok bawah meja' lepas tu saya pun masuk bawah meja kat depan tu nak tunjuk gaya. Pandai-pandai improvise. 

Lepas tu tiba-tiba cikgu masukkan nama untuk persembahan bercerita. Persembahan, bukan pertandingan. Satu sekolah tengok.Malu sangat. Waktu tu rasa gementar.

Ok, kat depan ni. Dari Darjah Satu sampai 3 tengok (sesi petang). 
Cikgu pun halakan microphone. 'Pada satu hari, Mahsuri jual epok-epok'. Satu dewan ketawa. Cikgu-cikgu pun gelak guling-guling.
Apahal semua orang gelak ni? Macam mana orang nak cerita? Waktu tu baru rasa malu. Lepas tu tak habiskan cerita. Cikgu tengok muka macam nak nangis je.
The next week ada persembahan lagi. Baru tau macam mana cara nak bercerita. Budak tu buat dengan suara dan gaya sekali. Cerita pun relevan. 'Pada suatu hari, si luncai terjun dengan labu-labunya'. Huhu, best.


Waktu Rehat
Lepas tu boleh dikatakan tiap-tiap waktu rehat mak datang sekolah makan sekali. Bila rehat dah habis, sedih aje sebab kena cakap 'Bye-bye kat emak'.
Kantin pun jual roti and stuffs. Waktu kecik selera tak besar. Setakat beli karipap je pun dah boleh survive. Lepas tu air jual seposen je. kalau air tertumpah, boleh bagitau makcik tu lepas tu dia ganti balik. Kalau zaman sekarang, makcik-makcik semua kedekut. 

                                                                  Waktu Balik

Abah pun, waktu balik mesti dengan setianya tunggu kat pagar sebelum loceng berbunyi. Huhu. Dulu beg roda tu popular. Easybag. Ingat? Waktu tu memang popular. Tauke-tauke kat kedai beg semua pakat gantung easy bag suruh orang beli. Kat sekolah pulak asyik bunyi bising je sebab semua orang tarik 'Easy bag'. Budak sekolah menengah pun guna easy bag. Lepas tu Abah pun belikan saya easy bag. Huh, bangga gila waktu tu tak boleh blah, hahahaha. Kalau abah or mak belum sampai. Kitorang buat aktiviti sendiri. Ada bangsal yang penuh dengan meja-meja kat sekolah dulu. Kitorang susun meja lepas tu main buaya-buaya. Best! Lepas tu ada budak cakap pasal dia tengok cerita Titanic. Fuyyoo, kecik-kecik dah tengok Titanic. Dulu popular gila Titanic. Waktu hari Guru pun pengawas-pengawas semua nyanyi lagu Celine Dion 'My Heart Will Go On'




Kena Pukul
Tapi ada jugak perkara pahit. Puan Aida yang selama ni good mood tiba-tiba jadi garang. PMS kot. Puan Aida tulis soalan dekat papan hitam(rindu papan hitam dengan kapur. Dulu selalu kalau kasut tak putih amik kapur kaler kat kasut). Tapi saya dengan budak sebelah buat dek je. Tak salin pun sebab takde buku. Bukannya reti nak bagitau cikgu buku takde pun.
Budak kat depan pulak, asyik sembang-sembang. Puan Aida nampak kitorang takde buku lepas tu tanya 'Buku mana?' kitorang cakap 'Takde, cikgu'. Lepas tu cikgu naik angin. Cikgu nampak budak kat depan dok sembang tulis 'Tarikh dengan hari' je lepas tu cikgu Hot ajak kitorang semua pergi Bilik guru jumpa Guru Besar dengan P.K Hem. Tau tak guru besar tu buat apa? Guru besar ke P.K Hem entah lupa. Buku daftar pelajaran yang tebal  tu dia pukul kat bahu saya. Sakit. Tapi tak rasa apa-apa pun. tak rasa nak menangis, tak rasa sedih. Cuma pelik. rasa tak bersalah. Memang tak bersalah pun. Lepas tu cikgu suruh tandatangan borang demerit atas kesalahan 'tidak membawa buku bahasa Melayu'.

Rupa-rupanya memang kitorang tak bersalah pun. hari sebelumnya, kitorang tak datang sekolah. jadi cikgu simpan buku kitorang dalam almari kelas. Free je kena pukul dengan buku daftar pelajaran. rasanya cikgu tak sedar kot kesilapan dia. Takpe takpe, dimaafkan. Guru Besar yang tak boleh blah sebenarnya. Budak zaman sekarang kalau complain kat parents mesti 'See you in court'. Tapi saya tak bagitau mak saya pun. Takut dia lagi marah. Dekat saya. Bukan dekat cikgu.


Classmates
Dulu ada kawan baik nama Nur Fairuzi Suhana Yahya amik ko. Haha. Jumpa dia kat facebook dah. Hehe. Lepas tu ada kawan baik jugak nama Rafeeqa Raihan. Chinese look. Tapi darjah 2 dia dah takde sebab pegi pindah U.K. 
Ada sorang ketua kelas ni cantik sangat. Ada lesung pipit kat pipi dia. Kitorang yang kempunan nak lesung pipit ni pun 'suck air' supaya pipi kitorang nampak 'hollow'. Konon-konon ada lesung pipit la tu. Dia baik.
Penolong ketua kelas ni pulak nama dia Syarifah apa benda entah. Suka buli orang. Dia selalu suruh saya siapkan homework dia dalam kelas lepas tu Puan Aida tanya 'Eh, macam tulisan Sarah ni. Sarah, kenapa awak buat kerja Sharifah?' ok, lupa dah jawab apa.

Waktu darjah satu dulu, abah pergi U,K sebab kerja. Lepas tu bagitau kat Sharifah ni.
 Dia cakap 'Oh, kita pun pernah pergi U.K,'
'Oh, yeke? Bila?'
'Waktu kita baby dulu. Naik kereta,'
"Oh, ok,' . Entah apa-apa.

Waktu Matematik cikgu suruh hafal sifir. Best. Sifir 1 dengan Sifir 10 paling best. Sifir 5 pun best. Dulu cikgu bagi pensel yang cantik (pensel kayu je) kalau dapat Hafal Sifir 1 sampai 5. Maka semua orang pun pulun menghafal. Yes, saya dapat pensel cantik tu. :) 


Lepas tu tiap-tiap minggu ada 'Kuiz Uji Minda peringkat sekolah'. Kalau nak beli borang tu kena bayar 30 sen. Entah macam mana tiba-tiba menang pulak kuiz tu. Hairan. Lepas tu dapat hadiah pensel 2B satu kotak. kawan-kawan semua mintak satu batang tengok-tengok eh? dah tinggal 3 batang je dalam kotak tu? -____-

Last sekali dapat nombor 3 dalam kelas. Lawak je. Rasanya mana ada belajar sangat. LOL. Maka parents pun datang ke Majlis Anugerah Cemerlang. Maka tamatlah kisah Darjah Satu. Nanti cerita pasal Darjah 2 dan 3 pulak.

The end.

P.S. Like seriously, I'm going to write a new post about Zaman Darjah Dua. Wait for it! :D


EDIT: Baru jumpa satu video youtube about SMK Convent Muar. SRK dengan SMK Convent Muar sambung bangunan. So, lebih kurang sama la. Kantin kita org share. Kelas, toilet semua sama je designs. RINDU!  Background music tu lagu sekolah. 


Sunday, 19 June 2011

Nobuta wo Produce Drama Review

A #recycled post, originally written and posted on 27th of May 2009.
Just to remind myself that this is one of the best J-Dramas I have ever watched, and to tell the rest of the world that this is one of the best J-Dramas ever existed. :P

Assalamualaikum and hello all. :)

I was a J-Dramas fanatic back then. It's not like I stopped watching any of them anymore. It is more to, limiting the intake of J-Dramas, haha.But really, those who intended to watch at least ONE Japanese Dramas throughout their whole life should watch this particular drama. Nobuta wo Produce.

Blogged on the 27th of May 2009, Wednesday at 11.33 a.m


Nobuta wo Produce is the most inspirational, warm, touching Japanese Drama I've ever watched. And it's not an exaggeration if I do claim that it is the most inspirational, warm, heart rending, touching, moving DRAMA I've ever seen. It is the BEST Japanese Drama I've ever set my eyes to to date. It's even BETTER than Hana Yori Dango and Hana Kimi. And this is the first ever drama that I ever shed my tears for.

It is not a love story, nor is it about scandals and conspiracy. Unlike Malay dramas, it isn't about those guys who left their wives, have mistresses, social issues and all those gibberish talks about businesses. Unlike Indonesian dramas too, it is not about irrelevant fairy stuffs, where the stereotyped plots are the ones showing the scandals and arguments over the rights of inheritance, evil stepmothers with heavy make ups and nor does it showcased the phony acts of crying and moaning each time something bad happened.

It is more than that. It is a complete series, compactly packed in just a 10 episodes drama. It is a series about friendship, overcoming obstacles, being what you what you want to be and being true to yourself.

Nobuta wo Produce tells about the main protagonist, Shuuji Kiritani (Kamenashi Kazuya) who is a popular guy at school who dates a girl he doesn't even like just to maintain his popularity. He is always the one whom everyone seeks helps from, as he is the one who emphasizes on pleasing others, putting others ahead of himself without realising that he is not being true to himself.


Another guy, Akira Kusano (Yamapi) is a loony guy who got high over 'bean' milk (soya bean). He is an outcast in his class but he doesn't really care about all those absurd popularity-clamouring stuffs, as long as he is happy himself. He has a very jovial characteristics that can be shown by his weird yet funny laughter. He is the son of a company's president who refused to take over the company. Shuuji is constantly irritated with Akira's behaviour.

Then comes Kotani Nobuko (Maki Horikita), an extremely shy, timid girl who has no confidence at all towards herself due to the impact of being rejected by her stepfather when she was young. This in turn, results to a series of constant bullying, of which she received and patiently endured since kindergarten until now.


Shuuji who can't bear to see Kotani being bullied, made a plan with the unlikely Akira, of which they vowed to spend their youth wisely by doing something that they will be proud of when they grow up. And so, a friendship is slowly formed between the three different characters who are unlikely to be friends if not given such circumstances. They made a project ' Nobuta wo Produce'. That is, producing Nobuta (Kotani's nickname) to become the most popular girl at school.

Shuuji who gave too much priority over his popularity, secretly helped his new made friends and pretending that nothing ever happened. He was afraid that his popularity will be diminished if they (the students) were to find out that he was hanging out with the two most unpopular students at school. While they were determined to execute each plans accordingly, there will be someone, someone that is unknown until later on, someone that always destroy every plans that were carried out to make Nobuta popular.Shuuji later realised that he can show his true self instead of pretending to be a Mr. Nice Guy when he was with Akira and Nobuta. He feels that he is most comfortable being with both of them. An unfortunate event occurred where Shuuji lost his popularity and is being ostracised in class. No one believes him except for Akira and Nobuta, who will always believe him no matter what.
Akira had developed feelings towards Nobuta but forget all about it later on as he realised that he will not make Nobuta happy. Nobuta on the other hand, secretly shows a liking towards Shuuji.

The main antagonist who destroyed all their plans earlier on is now being discovered. She is Aoi-san, a girl that is also Kotani's first friend. She hated seeing the three of them together and in order to break the three of them apart, she used various despicable methods. 




 But, none of them are able to break apart such strong relationship that is tightly intact. She finally realised her mistake and everything is coming back to normal. It seems like their 'Nobuta project' is slowly becoming successful as Nobuta is slowly gaining popularity.

Until, Shuuji discovered that his dad had to be transferred to the other side of Japan, of which he has to follow through. This comes one of the most heart wrenching part. The whole class bid him farewell but he had his eyes only towards Nobuta and Akira who were standing at the back.

" Everything in life is a game. Those who stopped in the middle and couldn't continue are idiots,"

Shuuji started his new life in a totally different environment.

"We can live our lives wherever we are,".

And when he started introducing himself, he saw something surprising. Someone who was standing at the back of the class. Apparently, Akira decided to transfer to the same school the day before, just so he can be with Shuuji, his best friend. And when Shuuji asked what will happen to Nobuta when both of them are not there with her, Akira said that Nobuta told him that she will be fine. She might be crying for the first three days but she will go through it all.

At the same time, Nobuta was with Mariko- Shuuji's popular ex girlfriend. She has forged a new relationship with her and is now able to carve a smile on her face.

Shuuji and Akira were at the seaside when Shuuji looked up at the sky and say " Somewhere
beneath the same sky, Nobuta is there,"

In class, she saw the empty seats left by Shuuji and Akira. She went up to the top floor, the place where the trio spent their time together before, creating plans and agendas in producing her, the new Nobuta. She looked at the sky and say " I can now smile," and she smiled.

Shuuji looked at the sky and said to Akira " Hey, can you see the sky smiling at us?"

" We can live our lives wherever we are,"

This is the most unforgettable drama about friendship that I've ever watched. And I couldn't suppress my happiness when this critically acclaimed drama won many awards.

47th Television Drama Academy Awards Japan

Best Drama: Nobuta wo Produce
Best actor : Kamenashi Kazuya (Shuuji Kiritani)
Best supporting actress: Maki Horikita ( Kotani Nobuko)
Best Director: Iwamoto Hitoshi( Nobuta wo Produce)
Best Scriptwriter: Kizara Izumi (Nobuta wo Produce)
Best Musical Arrangement: Nobuta wo Produce

I would highly recommend you to watch this drama. 
The message is effectively conveyed (at least that is what I thought). You want to prevent bullying, you want to instil confidence in students, you want them to be good people when they graduated from school, this is the way to convey the messages. You want to prevent social issues, you don't go and produce movies such as 'Bohsia' or 'Rempit'. ( A confession: I watched Bohsia, boohoo).

Please produce something that is close to the teenagers' hearts. Something that made them realised that they are missing something important in their lives. Something important like family, friends and the joys of being youths. 

As for me, I want to grow up being 'abnormal'. Hoho, don't get me wrong. Meaning, I do not stick to the status quo and I do not want to forever go on with the flow. So what's the big deal if you can't score 4 flat or even 3.5 above for every exams? They are important, of course, but don't devote yourself too much towards such slavery. This is our youth. Enjoy it. =)

My verdict: 10 out of 5 stars. :P. It IS, the BEST Japanese Drama I've ever watched.

The end.

Saturday, 18 June 2011

Recycled Post #1 : The Wonderful World of CFS

Assalamualaikum and hello to all. :)
Just for the sake of updating, muahahaha.

Okay, here. Blogged on the 23rd of October 2008 at 9.13 p.m. 

Syidah and I once played a game to entertain our guest (neighbours who come to our room). And they did agree that we are HILARIOUS! Thanks for the compliments though.

What activities did we actually do when they come to our room?

Nabilah recorded a video of us (Syidah and me) roleplaying some real life scenes. For example, we imitated each others' ways of speakings and expressions. :P

We (Yours truly, Syidah, Aishah and Nabilah) once held a horror stories night. The four of us would gather in my room and we would spook each others with creepy stories that we have heard or encountered. But later when we realized it, it’s already 2 a.m! And we have classes tomorrow!
Sometimes, we would just listen to stories.
Sometimes, we would just laugh for no reason.

Okay, the game. It’s a creatively created game. Syidah and I created it. :P We imagined that CFS is the most wonderful place on Earth. Everything is provided here. Our lives are filled with luxuries and comfort.

Zainab College is actually Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel. We are living in big suites. And since the fourth floor is unoccupied, we assumed that the fourth floor is the penthouse and no one stayed there because they can’t afford to pay the high rate.

Kiosk ZC is actually One Utama. We could spend the whole day there browsing and wandering around the BIG and SPACIOUS mega shopping mall and then, ending up at the same place(sarcastic!). Sometimes, there would be sales, we assumed.

Cyber Café ZC is actually- I forgotla. Haha.

Café ZC is actually Starbucks. The prices of food are high there. Of coursela, it’s Starbucks, what? *shook my head in disbelief*

Madam Asmeza, the principal of ZC is the owner of the hotel. Syidah and I bragged that Madam once invited us to dinner at her suite(whatever). Well, it’s true. That incident happened during the Eid celebration in ZC. I saw Madam and greeted her. She invited me to try the Laksa Johor of which she served at her house. As I could only find Syidah and Aisyah was nowhere to be found, the both of us went to her house(though Syidah was reluctant at first) where there were two other fellows there. Yes, and we ate Laksa Johor there. During the game, Syidah bragged that the both of us got to sit on the chairs, whereas the others had to sit on the floor! We both laughed while Nabilah and Syakila rolled their eyes.

The CFS Library is actually MPH bookstore. 3 storeys! It could also be the National Library.

The ATM machines are the Bank Negara.

The Al-Malik Faisal Hall is PWTC.

The clinic is Pantai Specialist Hospital.

The small optometry kiosk is Focus Point.

EDIT: ZC Gymnasium is Fitness First. Yes! We have a gym! Unbelievable, right??
There are Jacuzzis in our bathrooms. Nabilah interrupted us by saying “ There are also bathtubs right?” Syidah waved her hand dismissively and said “ Bath tubs are low class, we have jacuzzisla!”

The TV areas in ZC are Golden Screen Cinemas.
Everyday, there would be housekeepers who come and clean our rooms and bathrooms ( Indonesian maids)

Blok E is British Chalet-eh, it’s true!

Our window is facing ZC’s badminton court. In the middle. It’s like a courtyard, you know. And the court is a badminton stadium, I think, Really? Syidah bragged that she once saw Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan played there. They came here by a helicopter. Everyone was cheering and drooling over Lin Dan but she only has her eyes for her ex-husband, Lee Chong Wei.

You know the nursery? And that there is a mini pool and slide for the little children to play with? That’s SUNWAY LAGOON! "Daniel Bego pernah berenang kat situ!!" as what claimed by Syidah. 

The football field in front of UKC is Stadium Negara. Haha, as if!

As the people here are so wealthy, rich and loaded, we are guarded 24-hours by the top security guards.The FBIs. Lo and behold, The PAKCIK GUARD AND MAKCIK GUARD!

ABC is Zoo Negara. Dunno why. That's what Brother Mahathir said anyway. Haha
What else? I can’t remember. Okay, we’ll play the games again! And will strive our best to imagine that CFS is the BEST PLACE ON EARTH!

The end.


More recycled posts to come, just for the sake of updating this blog. Pathetic, huh? :P
P.S. English dulu grammar teruk. (sekarang pun =__=)

Thursday, 16 June 2011

I forgot how much I loved blogging!

Assalamualaikum and hello to all. :)

Well, whoa, the last time I ever updated this blog was last month. In May!
To tell the truth, I don't really have the mood to blog. Blogging doesn't seem to be fun anymore.
It's because the number of people (Strangers. Those who don't really know me and judged me based on what I wrote) reading this pathetic piece of crap is increasing than it was before.

You might ask this question: Then why did you create this blog in the first place? Blog is public. EVERYONE in whole wide world could read it (mine)! 
My answer: I don't know. I love blogging! I love sharing stuffs! I love typing! It's just that I have to limit the things I share with the public la.I'm not really complaining why people read my blog la hadoihhh.. 

Readers, please keep reading this blog. I'm not mad at you guys. Quite the contrary, I'm mad at myself! xD
Sometimes I'm contradicting myself and I HATE IT! 

And thus, I feel a bit insecure, restricted, constricted with the things I wrote here, with the stuffs that I've exposed (though I didn't expose that much. I didn't even post a single private photo of myself here, haha). 
I think too much about what people would think of me, just by reading what I've written (for example, numerous grammatical errors, hahaha) 

I should not feel that way, I supposed. But being the introvert me, I prefer to keep my innermost thoughts and feelings private and I tried my best to limit the things I decided to tell to the public. And often, I went over the limit, telling stuffs that I should have only tell my close friends and family members or err, my diary. I got excited easily and I wanted to share the 'things' (ceh,limited choice of words) I'm excited about with the public. But later on, I got ashamed of being excited with little stuffs like that (again, limited choice of words T___T). And I've deleted some of the posts I feel a bit ashamed off. :P

Followers, don't get me wrong. Thank you for following and reading my blog. Viewers too, thank you! I don't know who kept on googling my name and managed to get directed here but anyway, thank you. I'm flattered, really. I'll try to improve my writings up to your expected standard (is there any, really?) Now I need to blog about well, general things. Books, snippets of my university life, the good old days, public stories worth mentioning, movies, music, whatever that is not embarrassing la. xD I got embarrassed easily, yeah. That's the main reason. Even exposing my real name in this blog is already considered as embarrassing for me. I'm a shy person okayyy... :P And that's why I could never become a youtube celebrity (not that I wanted to). :P

Oh yes, I changed the title of this blog. There were several attempts in renaming my blog.

1. A Spoonful of Sugar and Vinegar (deep, poetic and yet LAME, not a single word that represents me)
2. A Spoonful of Sarah (somebody had this already, T___T).
3. Sarah is not Sarcastic (derived from the old blog name-Sarcastic is My Middle Name-remember? :) ). I decided to go ahead with this title anyway. The main reason: I wasn't as sarcastic as I was before. Huhu. And it's quite catchy, don't you think? ^^

Sarah is not Sarcastic (anymore). Sarcastic WAS my middle name. :P

Thank you for reading and may you have an awesome day. :)