FSTEP MoU Signing Ceremony

FSTEP created history in Malaysia when it successfully arranged an MoU Ceremony between IBBM (Institut Bank Bank Malaysia) and universities in Malaysia. The ceremony was held in Lanai Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia, and witnessed by

1. Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister of Higher Education

2. Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia
3. Tan Sri Azman Hashim, Chairman, IBBM

The MoUs were signed between IBBM and the following universities:
A) Public universities represented by MOHE (Ministry of Higher Education)
B) 12 private universities

1. Curtin University of Sarawak Malaysia
2. HELP University College
3. INTI Laureate International Universities
4. Management & Science University (MSU)
5. Monash University Malaysia
6. Multimedia University
7. Sunway University College
8. Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus
9. Taylor's University
10. The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
11. Universiti Teknologi Petronas
12. Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)


Click to view photo album "FSTEP MoU Signing Ceremony"


Video of the proceedings:

Young Entrepreneurs

*Fom right: Ivan Ooi and John Lim, winners of the Silver award 
HSBC Young Entrepreneur Awards Malaysian final 2010

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I marvel at the awesome duo from UTAR (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman) - Ivan Ooi and Lim Boon Seong. They won the Silver Award in the HSBC Young Entrepreneur Awards (HSBC YEA) Malaysian final on 06 May 2010. And, they won it against all the odds!

Both are final year undergraduates at UTAR. Both are sitting for their final exam in their Bachelor's degree course.

Of all things, the HSBC YEA Malaysian final is held during the exam period. On top of that, they have less than a month to put their presentation together.

Amazingly, these two young men have crystal clear objectives and directions. They give top priority to their studies, and use the competition as a form of relaxation.

It is their destiny to participate in the HSBC YEA. The Malaysian final is held on a non-exam day. The day before the final is also a non-exam day. So, they strategically use the free day to polish up their presentation.

What strikes me is their passion, intelligence and eloquence. I admire them for their abilities to

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1. package their innovative ideas intelligently and systematically.

2. enhance their presentation with interesting images and animation.

3. use their public speaking skills to dramatize, inform and persuade.

I'm sure Ivan and Boon Seong are an inspiration to their generation. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

The awesome duo

Michael Jackson, Timeless Thriller

Michael Jackson's influence reaches far and wide.

In 2007, a prison consultant in The Philippines, Byron Garcia, introduced a morning exercise routine in the Cebu provincial jail. He taught the prisoners the dance movements shown in Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. The "Prison Thriller" video became an internet sensation with over 23 million hits.

According to AFP, tourists flocked to the Cebu jail to watch 1,500 inmates perform a special dance tribute to Michael Jackson who died yesterday at age 50.

To these prisoners and countless people around the world, Michael Jackson is a music legend, a pop sensation and a global icon.

He is a timeless thriller.

Hand in Hand

This dance called “Hand in Hand” is performed by two physically-challenged dancers, Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei. Both lost their limbs in car accidents. Ma Li lost her right arm and Zhai Xiaowei his left leg.

Watch their spectacular dance and splendid choreography - a breathtaking interpretation of how people overcome life’s frustrations and reap the joy of love.

Watch it on full screen to enjoy the full impact of the dance. It's okay if your eyes are misty. We cry not for broken bones but cry in celebration of the unbroken human spirit.

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"Don't Tell My Mother"

This is Diego Buñuel standing at the wall built by Israel to keep out Gaza Strip. He is the host and director of the NAT GEO series "Don't Tell My Mother".

Last night, I watched the episode "Don't Tell My Mother I'm In the Balkans." I found it most enlightening. I appreciate how the story was told, how the scenes were filmed, and how the interviews were done. I am heartened that certain people were introduced in recognition of their selfless contributions to the people around them. The show has helped me to gain new insights into the tragedies and atrocities of the Balkan War.

I hope more people will watch the episodes of "Don't Tell My Mother" and reflect on the ongoing and never-ending human strifes and conflicts.

Diego Buñuel's Profile

My name is Diego Buñuel, host and director of the series, "Don’t Tell My Mother", on the National Geographic Channel. I am a French foreign news correspondent, and the grandson of the renowned Spanish film director, Luis Buñuel. I was born in Paris, and have bachelor degrees in journalism and political science from Northwestern University in Chicago, USA. After graduating, I did an internship at the Chicago Tribune before moving to Florida to handle the police beat for the Sun-Sentinel in Miami. The French military drafted me to serve in Sarajevo. I worked for NATO’s weekly armed forces newspaper and travelled all over the war-torn Balkans. My 10-month experience in the service inspired me to become a war correspondent. In 2001, I joined the Capa Television Agency where I produced and reported for French television. My assignments focused on international affairs from Afghanistan, Congo, Iraq, Indonesia, Israel, China and North Korea.

Susan Boyle - from charity to celebrity

Susan Boyle appeared on the TV reality show Britain’s Got Talent on 11 April 2009 and sang ‘I Dreamed A Dream’. She is a 47 year-old heavy-set woman with thick eyebrows and unkempt hair. She walked up to the stage wearing a frumpy dress and looking more like a comedian than a singer. Everybody in the audience was certain that she would massacre the song and turned herself into a laughing stock.

When Susan Boyle began to sing, the sceptical and sniggering audience was stunned. Her mesmerising voice resonated through the theatre. The audience started to applaud thunderously. Finally, they rose to their feet, cheering wildly.

Susan is unemployed, unmarried, and lives alone with her cat in a small town which she described as a collection of villages.

Within the first 24 hours, her YouTube video has been viewed over 5 million times. As of 18 April 2009, it has been viewed nearly 30 million times. Within the span of a week, she has been interviewed by Good Morning America and Larry King Live show. She has also been invited to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Susan sang ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, and her dream to sing like Elaine Paige shows that nothing is impossible.

Susan Boyle website