2011 SPM results, 559 get straight A+

By: Mohammad Izwan

PUTRAJAYA: A total of 559 candidates obtained the A+ highest grade in all the subjects they sat for in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination last year, up from the 403 for the year 2010, it was announced today.

Education director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafar Mahmud shows a book on 2011 SPM results during a press conference on 2011 SPM results anaysis presentation at the Ministry of education today. -- Bernama photo

Director-General of Education Datuk Seri Abd Ghafar Mahmud said 506 of the candidates were from national secondary schools and 53 from other schools compared to 363 and 40, respectively, for 2010. 

"The overall SPM achievement for 2011 improved from the year before, with the National Average Grade at 5.04 compared to 5.19 in 2010," he told a news conference when announcing the analysis of the results here. 

 

A total of 468,808 candidates sat for the examination last year. 

 

Abd Ghafar said seven candidates obtained A+ in 12 subjects, 72 candidates in 11 subjects, 284 candidates in 10 subjects and 143 candidates in nine subjects. 

 

He said that based on the National Average Grade (GPN), the 2011 SPM results are the best in five years. 

 

The GPN for both urban and rural candidates improved, with urban candidates registering an improvement of 0.22, from 4.89 in 2010 to 4.67 in 2011. Rural candidates registered an improvement of 0.13, from 5.52 in 2010 to 5.39 in 2011.

 

"Nevertheless, the gap between the achievements of urban and rural candidates widened by 0.09," he said. 

 

Abd Ghafar also said that achievement by school showed an improvement, with schools in the excellent and good categories better by 13 and 60 in numbers while those in the satisfactory and potential categories dropped by four and 17, respectively.

 

He said the achievement of schools in the excellent, good, satisfactory and potential categories is based on the School Average Grade (GPS) index. 

 

Abd Ghafar said 662 candidates with special needs sat for the examination last year and 343 of them obtained the SPM certificate compared to 319 in 2010. 

 

"Three visually impaired candidates, one hearing impaired candidate and three candidates with other disabilities garnered Grade A in all the subjects they sat for. 

 

"The success of these seven candidates with special needs shows that all candidates, regardless of their shortcomings, can excel in the SPM examination," he said.

 

In terms of subject, Abd Ghafar said there was an improvement of performance in 63 of the 112 subjects and a drop in performance in 35 subjects. 

 

He said the performance of urban candidates in the five core subjects of English, History, Mathematics, Islamic Education and Moral Education was far better than that of the rural candidates. 

 

"However, the performance of rural candidates in science was much better than that of the urban candidates, 92.6 per cent compared to 91.4 per cent," he said. 

 

Abd Ghafar said that to ensure that the SPM examination was recognised internationally, the Education Ministry utilised foreign evaluation expertise, namely Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) of the United Kingdom, Victoria Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) of Australia and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).  

 

"The evaluators were most satisfied with the processes of setting standards, instrument construction and examination which were undertaken with full professionalism and credibility. 

 

"They felt that all the processes complied with the elements of education evaluation and were managed systematically to ensure a high level of validity and reliability," he said. -- BERNAMA 

Lin Dan wins over Lee Chong Wei shoulder injury

By: Mohammad Izwan

AFTER surrendering his All England crown, Lee Chong Wei must be wary of Lin Dan's fiery form more than his shoulder injury in the run-up to the London Olympics.

It was disappointing to see Chong Wei conceding and give Lin Dan free win in the final but he has time and sports science support to help him recover from the injury.

However, it was the form of Lin Dan that is more imposing as he was far from the same player who looked subdued in Seoul just 10 weeks ago and lost to Chong Wei in the Korea Open.

It was evident Lin Dan has done his homework and has attained the physical condition needed to sustain top class performance and he can only get better.

The next battle between the two will probably be at the Thomas Cup Finals in Wuhan in May, and Chong Wei needs to get back to the drawing board to chart new strategies and to improve his physical condition.

 Liew Daren gave his career and BAM a glimmer of hope with his improved performance in the All England and his quarter-final effort should be built upon with more good results.

The men's doubles final between the world's top two pairs - Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China and Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae of South Korea - was of the highest class.

The match was clearly a sneak preview of the Olympics final in London.

Both pairs played at an unbelievable speed and accuracy and it showed how far they have distanced themselves from their rivals, including Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

The Malaysian duos have to improve by leaps and bounds and there is still no certainty they can outdo the top two pairs, and their recent records against them are hardly inspiring.

Chinese New Year 2012

By: Khairul Zhafri Bin Zuhairi

Chinese new year is one of the largest celebration in the world. This year they celebrate the year of the dragon. The year of the dragon comes but once every 12 years. Each year corresponds with an animal of the Chinese Zodiac. The rotation of the animals is on a 12-year cycle. The animal for any given year holds significance for those who are born in that year.

The dragon symbol of power

In Malaysia, everyone, irrespective of race get to celebrate the Chinese New Year by showing up at open houses held around the country. This is one occasion when even political leaders from opposing camps mingle together, forgetting their differences and share the festive cheer with the people.

 Members of a family are supposed to stay up as late as they can at the new year's eve. Long ago, it was believed that gods in heaven would spread gold over to each family so they kept awake, active and ready to seize it with door closed. The new year's eve is also the best time for the members of a family to talk with each other, report about their experiences and achievements, and exchange their ideas and plans for the next year.

Gather and eat together

In the chinese new year eve they will get together with close family members, open every door and window in your home at midnight to let go of the old year.

The person who not married yet will receive angpao

On New Year's Day, people visit family members and friends to wish them luck in the New Year. They say "Gung hay fat choy," which means, "May you prosper." Children receive red envelopes called lai see with gifts of money inside.

                                        Fireworks in the Chinese new year eve

Firecrackers are the final touch to the entire festive season. Without them the Chinese New Year would be incomplete. There is no denying the fact that the Chinese New Year holds immense traditional importance for the Chinese people.

                                                     The Lantern festival 

Chinese New Year celebrations last for 15 days and conclude with the Lantern Festival. This is when people gather to watch parades of lanterns and dancing dragons or lions. The parades are filled with Chinese New Year songs and dances.

Components of Communication

By: Khairul Zhafri Zuhairi

Communication is process of exchanging verbal and non verbal messages. Verbal means through word and non verbal means in form of smiles, sighs and so on. Communication requires sender, a message, receiver, feedback and channel or medium. Below is the simple model of communication process :

One component of communication is the people which is the one who sending the message and the one who receiving the message. The sender or encoder is the person who send the message and makes a symbol of the message in a term of graphic or visual ads. It is to convey the message and produce the required respond from the receiver. Encoding means the process of putting sequence of character such as number, letter or certain symbols into a specialized format that easily can transmit to the receiver.

Next, the receiver or decoder is the person whom the message is targeted to. The receiver will interpreted the message that they received from the sender. Decoding is the process that reversely from encoding. It is transforming information from one format into another. It is too an interpretation of the message transmitted.

The message is one of the communication component. It is the idea that the sender want to send to the receiver. The message is an idea or sign that will get respond from the receiver. The message or the main idea must be clear to make sure the receiver decoded the message clearly.

Next, channel is one of communication component. Channel means the medium used to exchange or transmit the message from the sender to the receiver. Channel is an important component in communication and it must correctly choose to make sure the message is successfully received by the receiver. Or else, the message might not be conveyed to the targeted recipient.

The channel choices of communication is depending on the features of the communication. For example, written medium can be used in a small group of people. For an oral medium, we can used it when spontaneous respond or feedback is need from the receiver. It is to make sure there is no misunderstanding and the message are transmitted clearly.

The other component in communication is feedback. Feedback is the main and important component of communication process as it is the process which need the receiver to give a respond to the sender. It is to make sure whether the message is analyze successfully or unsuccessfully. It is help the sender confirming the correct interpretation of message by the decoder. The feedback can be in the form of verbal such as through words or non verbal which means in form of sighs and smiles. It is also can be in written form such as memos and reports.

Celebration of Federal Territory Day

By: Marwan Hashim

Kuala Lumpur – Celebration of Federal Territory on January 28, 2012. Themed “United people, progressive Federal Territory” for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

This celebration was accompanied by an antique car parade, motorcycle riding and contingent Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). Dataran Merdeka became the focus of the citizen and to witness the parade and the parade in conjunction with the launch of the 2012 Federal Territory Day celebration.

Ceremony officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has been aparade by 94 contingents with 8000 member representing various government departments, higher education institution, school, NGO’s, and corporate bodies.


 























In conjunction with the Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing with City Hall, Putrajaya Corporation, Labuan Corporation, Director of land and Mines Office Federal Territories to provide gifts.Discounting or deductions to the compound, free rental for sports facilities and community halls, free coupons and discount to public place, a discount for payment of land tax on offer to visitor.