For the final assignment during the Malaysiakini Citizen Journalism course I attended, the participants were asked to create a short clip. This was to apply the knowledge and skills we learnt in video editing. A footage of a courthouse given and we were suppose to come up with our own ideas in using the footage. I chose to link some issues with regards to some legal cases where the public feels injustice being done.

Please don’t hesitate to leave your comments and feedbacks after watching.

The link below will bring you to a YouTube video clip. The clip is the outcome of our group (The Parasites) assignment in the Malaysiakini CJ Training.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaBvV2A_rlA

The clip has been edited so that the sequence of the shots will be more linked. The purpose of the 2-day video shooting class was to expose the CJs to the rules, guides and tips to good video shooting.

The trainer, Mr. Teoh, who has an experience of more than 30 years as a professional cameraman shared with us his great knowledge in this field. It was indeed a very exciting class. Thank you, Mr. Teoh.

My son, Avinash Kumar, performed yesterday (Sunday, August 16, 2009) in a concert arranged  by his kindergarten, MMSB Eduworld Sdn. Bhd., Ipoh. Just like any other parents, my wife and I were excited. This is his first time on the stage. When the curtain opened wide, I saw him smiling with his partner, Christina. The 70’s rock and roll music played and they began to ‘twist’ dance. We enjoyed the show.

There were about 300 people in the hall. Last Thursday, we received a memo from the Management of the Kindergarten to inform that those whom are attending the Concert are to follow a simple guideline. “Steps to contain the pandemic H1N1″, it read. All parents / guardians are to STRICTLY adhere to the rules.

1. Use only front entrance of the hall.
2. All adults attending the concert, MUST put on mouth cover.
3. Children too MUST put on mouth cover except for those on stage during performance.
4. Use the hand solution provided at the front entrance to rub your hands before entering the hall.
5. Scanning for temparature is compulsory before entering the hall.

When we reached there at the hall, I was quite impressed with the way they handled the crowd. There were three groups; one to provide the hand sanitizer, one to scan the temperature and the other to pass the 3-ply masks. It was well organised.

If a kindergarten can be this prepared, imagine what the Health Ministry should be doing. Every day, there are people dying in Malaysia, and it seems the ratio is 4 times more than UK! Why is it that our Government still sticking to the ‘tidak apa’ attitude. Why don’t we see any serious steps taken to contain the pandemic? People are losing lives here but we don’t see the Governement is laying any solid steps in containing the pandemic.

It is really frustrating when they are arguing whether to disclose the details about ‘hotspot’ areas. We are in serious crisis here and you are arguing? Oh man…the number of deaths now stands at 62 and we know that it is still counting.

To the Ministry of Health and the Government, please be really serious…all other issues can come next…

A close friend of mine just sent these two PDF files published by the Ministry of Health, Singapore. Please find the links here, download the files and pass them to as many as possible.

1. AdivsoryForPatients
2. AdvisoryForCaregiversnContacts

I think it was year 2001 when I watched this movie, Men of Honor, with 2 major roles in the movie acted by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Robert de Niro. The story is about how a man was determined to be the first African American Navy Diver in a time where racism was at its peak. I really enjoyed the movie because of its excellent storyline. Despite the many bitter hurdles, especially from the trainer himself (RDN), he(CGJr.) finally achieved his dream because of his steely determination. Finally the years and fate drew the two men together, both with very high respect to each other.

Well, after these many years, I see the same trait of characters when I visited the Kg. Buah Pala villagers. They have the heart of steel in protecting their village land. They have been genuine since the very beginning. They stood together for one cause, which is to save their village. Nope, they never demanded for compensation in any form.

But then, the general public wants the villagers to be hypocrites and lose their dignity. Take the money, lose your dignity, get labelled as greedy and leave. If not, we will find ways to get you out anyway! Sadly, this is the way how things work nowadays.

You may argue that the land is not theirs, and at the same time you know it was illegally taken from them.

Finally, these villagers may lose the land they have so long lived and loved, but they will still walk tall saying they resisted till the end. Though their story will not conclude with their dreams of saving the land realised, they have definitely set a precedence that we should stand for our rights, though it means the whole world is not in favour for us.

Whatever the final outcome be…I am proud of you, the villagers of KBP!

May God bless you.