THERE seems to be no end to the UEC recognition farce. The prime minister now tells us that “the recognition of UEC needs to consider the feelings of Malays.” This is after the education minister had set up a special committee “... to gather views on recognising the Unified Examination Certificate”. The justification for selection of the committee members was never spelled out nor were the terms of reference clear. The minister had earlier said that formal recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) will only be made “after a comprehensive and holistic study on the issue has been completed ... whether the formal recognition of UEC could potentially compromise unity and harmony among Malaysians ... the status of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language ...” Isn’t it amazing that the Cambridge O levels and A levels have been held in our country since Independence but we don’t hear anyone voicing consternation about how these … [Read more...] about Hopes fade in the UEC recognition farce
Foreign language jobs in indian government
Chinese Navy makes waves, spreads wings over Gulf, Indian Ocean
The 31st task force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy is heading for the Gulf of Aden, in the western Indian Ocean, to conduct anti-piracy operations and escort commercial ships. The task force consists of a guided-missile frigate, an amphibious transport dock and a supply ship. It also has three helicopters, and is supported by 700 officers and soldiers, plus dozens of special operations troops. The dailyReport Must-reads from across Asia - directly to your inbox It is a significant force, doing an important job and gaining essential experience of blue-water operations. But China’s growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean has sparked debate as to whether Beijing is using anti-piracy operations and convoys escorting commercial vessels to project power away from its traditional sphere of action in East Asia. Anti-piracy mission December 26 marks the 10th anniversary of the PLA Navy’s deployment to the waters off war-torn Somalia. In that decade, … [Read more...] about Chinese Navy makes waves, spreads wings over Gulf, Indian Ocean
How a new party trumped the ruling PDP in Bhutan’s primary polls
Come October 18 and Bhutan will witness a close fight between one of its oldest political parties – Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) – and Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT), a new party that has gained popularity in the recent past. The tiny Himalayan kingdom – called Druk Yul in Bhutanese (Land of the Thunder Dragon) – is nestled between economic rivals China and India. It opened up to the world as late as the 1970s. Before Bhutan became a two-party parliamentary democracy in March 2008, the Wangchuck hereditary monarchy wielded power from 1907. On September 15, Bhutanese came out in large numbers to oust the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) run by Harvard-educated Tshering Tobgay. This was Bhutan's third election as a full-fledged democracy, a decade after its fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, decreed it. Togbay, 52, who was hoping for a second consecutive term as prime minister, conceded defeat soon after the shock results were announced. "The people of … [Read more...] about How a new party trumped the ruling PDP in Bhutan’s primary polls
In India’s citizenship test, a spelling error can ruin a family
DHUBRI, India: Riyazul Islam says he had to produce family documents going back to 1951 to prove he was an Indian and not an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant. But a draft list of citizens released in July excluded him and his mother, among a total of about 4 million people left off.A wiry 33-year-old living in the northeastern state of Assam, Islam says he and his mother have no further documents left to prove they are Indians, although his father and many others in his family have been included in the National Register of Citizens (NRC)."If my father is an Indian citizen how come I am not?" said Islam in an interview in the small Assam town of Dhubri, close to the border with Muslim-majority Bangladesh. "What more proof do they need?"Anguish like this is now commonplace in Assam, where the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi accelerated work on the citizen's list after coming to power in the state two years ago, promising to act against immigrants accused of … [Read more...] about In India’s citizenship test, a spelling error can ruin a family
What’s new in business news: October 29, 2013
Collapse of Credit Co-Op shows regulation needed, India outsources English language voice to Philippines & Bangkok Makkasan land to clear State Railway debt. This bird’s-eye view taken in April 2013 shows a green tract of land in Bangkok’s Makkasan area owned by the State Railway of Thailand, which wants to turn it into a high-end commercial complex, but city residents want it to become a public park. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) BANKING Credit Co-Op's collapse sign that regulation needed Credit union cooperatives have mushroomed in Thailand, but regulation has failed to catch up with rapid growth. Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative's recent 12-billion-baht embezzlement scandal has underscored the lax regulation and enforcement, signalling a problem that could snowball in the future and cause major damage if regulations are not fixed. Even though credit cooperatives run similar operations to banks in terms of deposits and lending, they are not … [Read more...] about What’s new in business news: October 29, 2013