Aces High

Postus prolificus continues.... This is a very rare burst from me. Enjoy it while stocks last.

My head is awash with stuff that I absolutely HAVE to write about. Must clear the clutter.

I read some interesting opinions and editorials just now in some local papers. Columns like this one about Nur Amalina and other aces in the last SPM (our local O level/SAT equivalent).

For some background, Nur Amalina is the top ace from the last round of public examinations held last year. She scored 17 A1s (straight A for seventeen papers), which is the absolute best result possible. Most kids (like myself) usually take between 8 to 10 papers.

First of all, congratulations to her. Her parents must be so proud right now. Secondly, her friends are right. She is nuts. But she did it anyway and did well.

And thirdly, once the whole houha settles down, we should leave her alone to do whatever that she wants.

From what I gather from all the stuff in the papers lately, I'm pleased to note that she's just a normal, well adjusted kid and not some dorky freak or some kind of scary religious person. I'm secretly pleased that she admits to doing stuff like watching tv, listening to music and hanging out at malls.

I'm pleased because she's proven a lot of people wrong about kids. Kids can be "normal" and exposed to the outside world and NOT end up on skid row or dead or in some gang or become delinquents. Kids can be regular and do kid stuff like hang out and read trashy entertainment magazines and still do well. Despite all the horror stories told by some of our out of touch, air headed, dumbass politicians, there is still hope for our kids yet.

I detest how some people in the government try to either blame youth for all the country's troubles or try limit their freedom of choice and movement "for their own good". Remember the so-called "Anti Lepak" (anti loafing) campaign a few years back ?

Way to go government ! What better way to get our kids to respect the law and the police by having cops bust their asses for going to KFC on Saturday morning. Many years ago, I remember I was at the KFC at KP when a whole squad of cops busted in and hustled all the kids under 18 into waiting vans.

I think 18 kids were busted that day just because they were hanging out at the mall. Guess how many of them still hate cops now ?

Crazy right ? Instead of asking the cops to bust criminals and make our city safe, they make them go after children instead.

Happily, they stopped doing that when someone realised that this would only demonise our kids and make it impossible to recruit new cops, among other things.

I forgot who's f**ked up idea that was.

I'm digressing here. Today I don't really want to discuss the government and the crazy things that they do.

Anyway, aces yes.

I agree with that article, leave Nur Amalina alone. Be happy for her, give her that well deserved scholarship (DBKL has made a pledge, good for them), let her study in Ireland and not make her or her choice of place of study into some political issue.

Incidentally, the politicising has started already. Some dumbass asked a question about why the PM commented that she is now able to get into any FOREIGN university or college since she aced her SPM. Why foreign ? Why not make her study at a local U ?

Well, let's see... Where is better for an ace to get a degree, UITM or Oxford ? USM or MIT ? UPM or Yale ? UM or Edinburgh ? I don't get why people get so worked up over this.

Our local Us don't suck as badly as some people make it out to be. I came out of UTM and I turned out okay. But to insist that USM, UM etc is on par with Harvard or Oxford is insanity.

These places are world reknowned for quality and tradition of excellence. We should be proud that we have people who can get in there. We should be proud instead of questioning the patriotism of students who seek to enter such institutions.

Ok I'm digressing again.

Anyway, yes Nur Amalina and her friends. Give them presents, shake their hands and give them free notebook (better make sure it's NOT an Acer one) and scholarship.

When all that is done, wish them well and leave them alone. They have their whole lives in front of them. They don't need people butting in.

Perhaps in the future, they'll make us proud again.