Benci Tapi Rindu..Malaysia Dan Indonesia..Konflik??

Tajuk perbincangan berkaitan ketegangan hubungan diplomatik Indonesia-Malaysia. Hubungan Malaysia-Indonesia tidak konsisten; turun naik dan hangat dingin sejak 1960-an bagai kata-kata dalam lagu ‘Benci Tapi Rindu’ Hetty Koes Endang, penyanyi terkenal Indonesia.

Konflik terbahar ekoran tindakan ahli Barisan Demokratik Rakyat Indonesia (Bendera) melemparkan najis ke dalam kawasan pejabat kedutaan Malaysia di Jakarta.
Jakarta daripada perkataan Jawa klasik bermaksud kejayaan tuntas merupakan kota 12 juta jiwa yang tidak pernah tidur. Di kota inilah pada 17 Ogos 1945 kemerdekaan Indonesia diisytiharkan. Di kota inilah juga tercetusnya rusuhan kaum yang dahsyat dari 13-15 Mei 1998 sebelum presiden 32 tahun berkuasa Suharto terpaksa berundur. Dalam peristiwa itu, peribumi Indonesia menyerang kaum Cina sehingga banyak kedai milik orang Cina dibakar dan dimusnahkan oleh perusuh, dan banyak perempuan Cina diperkosa. Orang Cina, sekitar 6 peratus penduduk Indonesia kaya raya dan menguasai 70 peratus ekonomi Indonesia. Ketakutan, maka mereka lari ke luar negara termasuk Singapura, Hong Kong dan Amerika Syarikat waktu kegawatan sosiopolitik itu.
Demonstrasi atau unjuk rasa dalam istilah Indonesia, sesuatu yang lumrah di negara 240 juta jiwa itu. Sebagai orang yang sering berkunjung ke Indonesia, khususnya Jakarta sejak 20 tahun lalu, saya kerap menyaksikan demonstrasi di bulatan di hadapan Hotel Indonesia di tengah-tengah jantung kota yang sentiasa menggelegak itu.
Ganyang Malaysia

Sebenarnya, perasaan benci segelintir rakyat Indonesia terhadap Malaysia berlaku sejak konfrontasi dilancarkan Sukarno pada 1963. Indonesia tidak bersetuju dengan pembentukan Malaysia membabitkan wilayah Borneo Utara (Sabah), Sarawak dan Singapura yang disifatkan Sukarno satu bentuk neokolonialisme dan percubaan menghimpit dan memulaukan negara itu. Konfrontasi dengan slogan ganyang Malaysia selama 33 bulan berlaku sehingga 1966.

Konfrontasi secara rasmi dianggap tamat sesudah termetrainya Perjanjian Pemulihan Hubungan antara kedua-dua negara itu pada tahun 1966. Menteri Luar Indonesia, Adam Malik menyifatkan perjanjian itu sebagai kejayaan besar untuk bangsa Melayu, manakala Tun Abdul Razak, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Malaysia menyifatkannya sebagai satu era baharu dalam hubungan diplomatik dua negara serumpun. Namun, sesudah itu satu per satu konflik tercetus, dan memuncak pada 2002 membabitkan pulau Sipadan dan Ligitan yang berakhir dengan kekalahan Indonesia di Mahkamah Antarabangsa di Belanda. Sepanjang dekad ini satu per satu demonstrasi dilancarkan pihak tertentu di Jakarta termasuk oleh Bendera, Laskar Merah Putih, Forum Kebangsaan Indonesia dan Forum Betawai Rempug.

Berbanding rakyat Malaysia, mengapakah setiap kali tercetus konflik, segelintir rakyatnya unjuk rasa? Adakah ini mencerminkan watak rakyat Indonesia yang emosional, tidak matang, mudah melatah dan mahu mengambil undang-undang di tangan sendiri? Atau mereka mempunyai muslihat atau agenda untuk merosakkan hubungan dua negara serumpun itu? Atau mungkinkan kerana dendam terhadap Malaysia, kalau tidak pun kerana iri hati terhadap kejayaannya? Dalam keluaran terbaharu, 9 Ogos lalu, majalah antarabangsa Newsweek meletakkan Malaysia pada kedudukan 37 berbanding Indonesia nombor 73 dalam penarafan “The Best Country in The World”. Teratas ialah Finland, kedua, Switzerland dan ketiga, Sweden. Sebagai negara 240 jiwa dengan 17 ribu pulau, Indonesia tentu tidak mahu dikalahkan? Ia tentu mahu sentiasa menang. Apabila negara itu kalah, umpamanya dalam tuntutan terhadap pulau Sipadan dan Ligitan, ia merupakan satu pukulan hebat terhadap maruah dan egonya. Ia bagai singa luka yang mahu membalas dendam. Ia tidak mahu diperlekeh, dihina dan dipandang rendah.

Jurang komunikasi
Sebahagian daripada konflik dan ketegangan berpunca daripada jurang komunikasi yang lebar antara kedua-dua negara. Akibatnya timbul salah faham dan salah tanggapan rakyatnya. Keadaan ini diburukkan lagi oleh peranan media Indonesia yang mengikut pengamatan saya cenderung mengapi-apikan sentimen rakyatnya. Sesuatu isu membabitkan penderaan pembantu rumah, tenaga kerja Indonesia (TKI) tidak dibayar gaji, dan terbaharu tiga pegawai maritim dan perikanannya ditahan di negara ini diperbesar-besarkan. Isu terbabit dilaporkan dan dibincangkan secara meluas, tidak objektif dan emosional sekali oleh sebahgian media, termasuk rancangan bicarawara TV.
Kita perlu ingat, 15 stesen TV berpangkalan di Jakarta termasuk TransTV, Indosiar, RCTI, TV ONE dan TVRI. Dan di Jakarta sahaja terdapat sekitar 20 akhbar seperti Kompas, Republika, Pos Kota, Media Indonesia, Suara Pembaruan, Seputar Indonesia dan Jakarta Post. Itu belum lagi termasuk sekurang-kurangnya terdapat empat akhbar di setiap 27 provinsi atau wilayahnya. Media berkenaan sejak jatuhnya Suharto sesudah reformasi dan demonstrasi mahasiswa universiti di Jakarta pada 1998 kelihatan begitu bebas untuk menyiarkan apa-apa sahaja yang mereka mahu, termasuk mengritik presidennya Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Mereka juga tidak teragak-agak mengkritik Malaysia. Bagi mereka, Malaysia perlu diajar dan dibelasah kerana tidak peka terhadap perasaan mereka.

Media Indonesia tidak profesional
Akibat laporan tidak beretika, berat sebelah dan tidak profesional, atas alasan tertentu, termasuk untuk mengejar rating demi pendapatan periklanan, media terbabit sanggup mengguriskan perasaan rakyat negara ini. Maka terbenamlah persepsi dan imej yang negatif dalam kalangan rakyatnya tentang rakyat Malaysia. Antara persepsi dan imej yang digambarkan melalui media Indonesia ialah rakyat kita angkuh, perompak dan penciplak, tidak sedar diri, tidak bersikap sebagai tetangga yang baik, mahu menyakiti tetapi tidak mahu disakiti dan sebagainya. Sebagai pengampang media, editor perlu lebih bertanggungjawab dan bukannya mabuk dalam euforia atas nama kebebasan. Mereka perlu membantu meredakan keadaan dan bukannya mengapi-apikan sentimen rakyatnya. Atau kita memerlukan attase penerangan yang mahir dan berpengalaman di kedutaan kita di Jakarta untuk merapatkan jurang komunikasi dan menangani krisis komunikasi.

Daripada pengamatan beberapa hari di Jakarta baru-baru ini, dalam kes terbaharu, mereka mahu mendesak agar SBY meminta Malaysia memohon maaf. Rakyat dan pemimpin politiknya mahu Presiden Indonesia yang telah berada di kerusi tertinggi Indonesia sejak 2004 itu bersikap tegas, berani dan bijak menangani isu hubungan diplomatik, dan tidak mahu beliau mengalah. Terdapat tuntutan agar dutanya di Malaysia dipanggil balik, serta agar pemerintah Indonesia menurunkan status hubungan diplomatik dengan Malaysia. Malah, terdapat anjuran agar Malaysia dikenakan semacam kejutan terapi. Adakah kejutan terapi itu termasuk melemparkan kotoran manusia – sesuatu yang boleh dianggap keterlaluan, biadab dan merendahkan maruah Indonesia sendiri?
Mungkinkah anda masih ingat bagaimana ahli kumpulan tertentu termasuk Bendera dan Laskar Merah Putih mengikat kepala dengan kain merah putih dan mengadakan sekatan bersenjatakan buluh runcing di Jalan Menteng dan Diponegoro di jantung kota berkenaan untuk ‘membersihkan’ rakyat Malaysia? Buluh runcing merupakan lambang sewaktu Indonesia menuntut kemerdekaan daripada penjajah Belanda. Masihkah anda ingat bagaimana 300 orang pemuda Indonesia dikatakan dilatih menjalani ilmu kebal dan bersedia menyerang dan mengganyang Malaysia? Dan tahun lepas Bendera mengancam hendak menyerang Malaysia, tetapi terbukti kemudiannya ketuanya hanya bercakap besar?
Kembali kepada kewarasan
Oh, Tuhanku, kembalikan mereka ini kepada kewarasan dan akal sihat, dan bukannya dikuasai emosi keterlaluan agar mereka insaf akan kesan perbuatan mereka itu terhadap dua negara berjiran yang menganggap diri serumpun dan adik-beradik.
Media kita dan rakyat kita setakat ini bersikap waras dan tidak mengikut rentak tari penunjuk perasaan di Jakarta dan beberapa kota lain. Penunjuk perasaan terbabit kadangkala boleh bersikap liar, agresif dan emosional dan mengeluarkan kata-kata kesat, biadab dan melampau. Mereka ini merupakan penunjuk perasaan kelas rendah, miskin, kurang berpelajaran dan sanggup menyumpah seranah, memijak-mijak bendera kita dengan bayaran serendah RM10 dan nasi bungkus dengan tempe. Pendek kata, mereka ialah penunjuk perasaan upahan yang sanggup bertindak ekstrem. Sebahagian ahli Bendera dikatakan mereka yang pernah diusir dari Malaysia kerana masuk secara haram atau kecewa dengan segelintir majikan Malaysia yang tidak melayan mereka dengan baik seperti tidak membayar gaji.

Hubungan Malaysia-Indonesia tidak harus dibenarkan untuk dirosakkan oleh segelintir manusia yang tidak berakal sihat. Nasib baik, SBY dan Perdana Menteri Datuk Najib Razak mempunyai hubungan yang baik. Mereka faham bahawa tindakan penunjuk perasan itu bukan mencerminkan sikap atau pendirian kerajaan. Banyak kerugian jika hubungan dua negara itu terus-terusan berkonflik dan tegang, termasuk dari segi ekonomi, pelancongan, dan pelaburan. Dan ingat, terdapat sekitar 1.5 juta pekerja Indonesia di Malaysia.

Selagi ada bulan dan bintang
Namun percayalah, selagi ada bintang dan bulan dan selagi terdapat pekerja Indonesia di Malaysia dan pelabur Malaysia di Indonesia, serta kita masih berkongsi sempadan yang sama di laut dan darat, selagi itu kita akan terus berkonflik. Bak kata P.Ramlee sedangkan lidah lagi tergigit. Soalnya, kita tentu tidak mahu hanya kerana konflik itu, rakyat kedua-dua negara menderita dan kerugian. Hakikatnya, yang melakukan tunjuk perasan itu ialah segelintir rakyat Indonesia. Rakyat Indonesia perlu insaf bahawa rakyat Malaysia tidaklah sekejam dan seburuk yang mereka fikirkan atau persepsikan. Di mana-mana pun akan tetap ada manusia yang tidak baik, termasuk mereka yang mendera pembantu rumah. Banyak juga orang Indonesia yang terbabit dalam kes jenayah, membawa dadah, melakukan pembunuhan dan berkelahi. Mereka lupa peribahasa di mana bmi dipijak, di situlah langit di junjung. Tetapi, apabila tindakan dikenakan sesuai dengan undang-undang negara ini, rakyat Indonesia marah. Di Jakarta pun sering dilaporkan bagaimana orang kaya mendera dan menyeksa pembantu rumah, kebanyakannya orang Jawa.

Sebagai orang yang banyak kenalan di Jakarta dan Indonesia, tanggapan saya, rakyat Indonesia sebenarnya begitu berbudi bahasa dan sopan, sama seperti di Malaysia, terdapat ramai rakyatnya yang sopan dan berbudi bahasa. Jika hendak belajar bagaimana melayan tetamu, termasuk di restoran dan kompleks beli-belah, pergilah ke Indonesia. Jadi, jangan hanya kerana nila setitik nila rosak susu sebelanga. Kita perlu berdamai, bertindak bijak, rasional, tidak berprasangka buruk; sebaliknya Indonesia dan Malaysia perlu sama-sama bertekad menjadi jiran yang baik.

Jadual Perjalanan Bas Mahasiswa Baru Sarawak Dan Sabah 2010

KHAMIS (1 JULAI 2010)

MASA BERTOLAK DESTINASI MASA TIBA DESTINASI
9.00 am UPSI 11.00 am LCCT/KLIA
2.30 pm LCCT/KLIA 4.30 pm UPSI
5.00 pm UPSI 7.00 pm LCCT/KLIA
7.30 pm LCCT/KLIA 9.30 pm UPSI
10.00 pm UPSI 12.00 pm LCCT/KLIA
12.30 am LCCT/KLIA 2.30 am UPSI



JUMAAT (2 JULAI 2010)

MASA BERTOLAK DESTINASI MASA TIBA DESTINASI
9.00 am UPSI 11.00 am LCCT/KLIA
2.30 pm LCCT/KLIA 4.30 pm UPSI
5.00 pm UPSI 7.00 pm LCCT/KLIA
7.30 pm LCCT/KLIA 9.30 pm UPSI
10.00 pm UPSI 12.00 pm LCCT/KLIA
12.30 am LCCT/KLIA 2.30 am UPSI

SABTU (3 JULAI 2010)

BAS A

MASA BERTOLAK DESTINASI MASA TIBA DESTINASI
9.00 am UPSI 11.00 am LCCT/KLIA
12.00 pm LCCT/KLIA 2.00 pm UPSI
2.30 pm UPSI 4.30 pm LCCT/KLIA
5.00 pm LCCT/KLIA 7.00 pm UPSI
7.30 pm UPSI 9.30 pm LCCT/KLIA
10.00 pm LCCT/KLIA 12.00 am UPSI


BAS B

MASA BERTOLAK DESTINASI MASA TIBA DESTINASI
11.00 am UPSI 1.00 pm LCCT/KLIA
2.00 pm LCCT/KLIA 4.00 pm UPSI
4.30 pm UPSI 6.30 pm LCCT/KLIA
7.00 pm LCCT/KLIA 9.00 pm UPSI
9.30 pm UPSI 11.30 pm LCCT/KLIA
12.00 am LCCT/KLIA 2.00 am UPSI




AHAD (4 JULAI 2010)


BAS A

MASA BERTOLAK DESTINASI MASA TIBA DESTINASI
9.00 am UPSI 11.00 am LCCT/KLIA
12.00 pm LCCT/KLIA 2.00 pm UPSI
2.30 pm UPSI 4.30 pm LCCT/KLIA
5.00 pm LCCT/KLIA 7.00 pm UPSI
7.30 pm UPSI 9.30 pm LCCT/KLIA
10.00 pm LCCT/KLIA 12.00 am UPSI

BAS B

MASA BERTOLAK DESTINASI MASA TIBA DESTINASI
11.00 am UPSI 1.00 pm LCCT/KLIA
2.00 pm LCCT/KLIA 4.00 pm UPSI
4.30 pm UPSI 6.30 pm LCCT/KLIA
7.00 pm LCCT/KLIA 9.00 pm UPSI
9.30 pm UPSI 11.30 pm LCCT/KLIA
12.00 am LCCT/KLIA 2.00 am UPSI

Sebarang Permasalahan bolehlah menghubungi saya di talian 0137117477

Iban Tattoo

For Borneo's Dayak peoples, spirits embody everything: animals, plants, and humans. Many groups have drawn on this power by using images from nature in their tattoos, creating a composite of floral motifs using plants with curative or protective powers and powerful animal images.

Tattoos are created by artists who consult spirit guides to reveal a design. Among Borneo's Kayan people, women are the artists, a hereditary position passed from mother to daughter. Among the Iban, the largest and most feared indigenous group in Borneo, men apply the tattoos.

These tattoos are blue-black, made of soot or powdered charcoal, substances thought to ward off malevolent spirits. Some groups spike their pigment with charms—a ground-up piece of a meteorite or shard of animal bone—to make their tattoos even more powerful.

For the outline, the artist attaches up to five bamboo splinters or European needles to a stick. After dipping them in pigment, he or she taps them into the skin with a mallet. Solid areas are filled in with a circular configuration of 15 to 20 needles.


Ritual Tattooing

Traditionally, Dayak tattooing was performed in a sacred ritual among gathered tribe members. Among the Ngaju Dayak, Krutak said, the tattoo artist began with a sacrifice to ancestor spirits, killing a chicken or other fowl and spilling its blood.

After a period of chanting, the artist started an extremely painful tattooing process that often lasted six or eight hours. Some tattoos were applied over many weeks.

For coming-of-age tattoo rituals, the village men dressed in bark-cloth. This cloth, made from the paper mulberry tree, also draped corpses and was worn by widows.

Tattooing, like other initiation rites, symbolized both a passing away and a new beginning, a death and a life.

Head-hunting Tattoos

One Dayak group, the Iban, believe that the soul inhabits the head. Therefore, taking the head of one's enemy gives you their soul. Taking the head also conferred your victim's status, skill and power, which helped ensure farming success and fertility among the tribe.

Upon return from a successful head-hunting raid, participants were promptly recognized with tattoos inked on their fingers, usually images of anthropomorphic animals.

Head-hunting was made illegal over a century ago—but even today, an occasional head is still taken.

Borneo Scorpion Tattoo

One of the great islands of the world, is part of the Malay Archipelago located southwest of the Philippines. It is also one of the few places today where tattooing continues to be practiced in a tradition that may stretch back thousands of years. Although it is but an island, it is home to several native subgroups: the Iban (also called the Sea Dayak), Kayan, Kenyah, and Land Dayak. Often times, though, these peoples are grouped under the single term Dayak, used to refer to any of the indigenous people of the interior of this lush and mountainous island. In the late 1800s, anthropologists started to become interested in the traditional cultures of the peoples of the region and several investigative expeditions were mounted. From these, as well as the work of modern researchers, we are provided a rare glimpse behind some of the symbols at work in tattooing and the meanings that they hold. As with many indigenous forms of tattooing around the globe, the art of tattooing was not simply art for arts sake. Instead, tattooing was an integral part of the culture, a ritual expression, specifically connected with spiritual beliefs. The scorpion symbol, also sometimes known as kala, was noted particularly in Iban tattoo designs by Charles Hose (a civil officer who worked in Borneo over twenty years) and William McDougall (an English anthropologist) in their 1912 publication The Pagan Tribes of Borneo. However, the authors note that the “scorpion” design is actually based on the highly stylized image of the aso, the mythical dog/dragon associated with protection from malevolent spirits. Hose and McDougall suggest that the Iban adopted their tattoo designs from other subgroups on the island and created their own interpretations afterwards.

In the kala design, the claws of the scorpion were originally the back end of the dog while the hooked ends at the back of the scorpion design were originally the open jaws of the mouth of the dog. Although it has no particular significance in the scorpion design, even the rosette-like eye of the dog still persists in the center.

GAWAI DAYAK FESTIVAL

GAWAI DAYAK FESTIVAL
The Gawai Dayak festival is celebrated yearly on 1 June in Sarawak, is both a religious and social festival. Gawaj means ritual or festival and Dayak is a collective name for the tribes of Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut and more.

Tracing its roots back to as early as 1957, the Gawai Dayak festival was formally gazetted on 25 September, 1964 as a public holiday in place of Sarawak Day. The first official celebration being on 1 June, 1965, Gawai Dayak became a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope for the Dayak community and is an integral part of Dayak social life today.

Preparations for the festival begin early with brewing of tuak (rice wine) and traditional delicacies like penganan (cakes from rice flour, sugar and coconut milk). On Gawai eve, glutinous rice is roasted in bamboo known as ngelulun pulut.
The celebration starts on the evening of 31 May with a ceremony called Muai Antu Rua (to cast away the spirit of greediness), signifying the non-interference of the spirit of bad luck in the celebrations. Two children or men each dragging a chapan (winnowing basket) will pass each family’s room in the Iban longhouse with each family throwing unwanted articles into the basket. The unwanted articles are then tossed to the ground from the end of the longhouse for the spirit of bad luck.

Around 6pm, the offering ceremony known as miring will take place, with ritual music; gendang rayah being performed beforehand. The feast chief will thank the gods for the good harvest, ask for guidance, blessings and long life as he sacrifices a cockerel. Dinner will then be served, while everyone talks and mingles awaiting for midnight.
At the stroke of midnight, a gong is sounded and the tuai rumah will lead everyone in drinking the Ai Pengayu (tuak for long life) at the same time wishing each other ‘long life, health and prosperity’ (gayu-guru, gerai- nyamai). A procession to welcome the spirits known as Ngalu Petara ensues with a procession walking up and down the entire length of the longhouse.

The celebration now gets merrier with dancing and traditional music being played. Others will recite pantun (poetry). Other activities that may follow the next day include cock-fighting, blowpipe demonstrations and ngajat (dancing) competitions.
On this day, the homes of the Dayaks will be open to visitors. In the longhouses, a practice called masu pengabang takes place where guests will be served with tuak by the host before they can enter the longhouse.

The Gawai Dayak festival may last up to several days, with visitors being welcomed to the homes of the Dayaks throughout the festival. It is also this
time of year that many Dayak weddings take place, as it is rare for all members of the community to assemble at the longhouse at one time.

In Sarawak’s capital city of Kuching, the festivities and celebrations of the Gawai Dayak commence even a week before with enchanting street parades and cultural activities. On the eve of the Gawai, a beauty pageant is held crowning several Gawai Queens, one for each Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu communities.

Some notable places to visit during the Gawai Dayak festival are The Skrang River, The Lemanak River, Batang Ai and Annah Rais. Gawai Dayak is one of the best times to visit Sarawak as the festivities are aplenty and the lifestyle comes alive, embracing visitors within the celebrations.

PERUTUSAN GAWAI DAYAK 2010 & TADAU KAAMATAN

PERUTUSAN GAWAI DAYAK DAN PESTA KAAMATAN
Exco Perpaduan & Integrasi
Saudara Samuel Sila Mathew Unjah

Salam Sejahtera dan Salam 1 Malaysia. Terlebih dahulu saya mewakili rakan-rakan pimpinan Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar UPSI terlebih dahulu ingin mengucapkan Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak dan Selamat Hari Kaamatan kepada mahasiswa mahasiswi Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

Hari Gawai Dayak merupakan perayaan yang disambut oleh kaum Dayak di Sarawak manakala Pesta Kaamatan pula disambut oleh kaum Kadazan Dusun dan Murut di Sabah. Gawai Dayak mula disambut secara besar-besaran semenjak 25 September 1964 apabila ia diisytiharkan secara rasmi. Bagi Pesta Kaamatan pula ia telah disambut secara rasmi sejak 1960 lagi.

Hari Gawai Dayak dan Pesta Kaamatan mempunyai hubungan yang erat kerana ia berkait rapat dengan musim menuai padi. Masyarakat tempatan menjadikan upacara ini untuk menunjukkan rasa syukur dan berterima kasih atas tuaian padi yang baik pada tahun tersebut.

Kedua-dua perayaan ini biasanya disambut oleh segenap lapisan masyarakat di kedua-dua negeri dengan penuh meriah. Semangat persaudaraan yang sekian lama terjalin masih lagi dipertahankan dengan amalan kunjung-mengunjung sesama rakan. Inilah yang harus kita pertahankankan dan kekalkan untuk generasi akan datang.

Selain itu, atas dasar memupuk integrasi nasional, Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar UPSI menerusi Exco Perpaduan dan Integrasi turut mengambil inisiantif untuk membawa perayaan ini ke UPSI supaya semua mahasiswa UPSI merasai sendiri bagaimana rasanya perayaan ini. Pesta Gawai-Kaamatan 2010 ini dijangka diadakan pada 6-8 Ogos dan berkonsepkan 1 Malaysia, 1 Gawai, 1 Kaamatan.

Justeru itu, saya turut berharap agar semasa Gawai dan Kaamatan yang disambut pada 1 Jun ini akan menjadi titik tolak dalam diri mahasiswa kerana ia mempunyai signifikasi tersendiri. Gawai dan Kaamatan ini diharap mampu mengeratkan tali persaudaraan di kalangan mahasiswa yang berbilang kaum di UPSI.

Selain itu, dalam keadaan kita bergembira semasa perayaan nanti, saya berharap agar mahasiswa terutama dari Sarawak dan Sabah mengunakan peluang Gawai dan Kaamatan ini untuk menyumbang sesuatu kepada masyarakat di sana. Gunakanlah peluang bergawai dan Kaamatan ini untuk berbakti dan memberi input kepada masyarakat terutama di luar bandar. Saya percaya ramai yang akan balik ke kampung masing-masing untuk bergawai dan menyambut Kaamatan. Tonjolkanlah nama UPSI dan ceritakanlah pengalaman sepanjang berada di sini sebagai satu motivasi kepada banyak lagi masyarakat di kawasan luar bandar terutamanya. Secara tidak langsung anda turut melaksanakan bakti siswa anda semasa musim perayaan ini.

Sekali lagi saya ucapkan Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak dan Hari Kaamatan kepada mahasiswa UPSI yang menyambut perayaan ini terutama di Sarawak dan Sabah. Jangan lupa tarian Ngajat dan Sumazau bagi memeriahkan perayaan kali ini, begitu juga Unduk Ngadau dan Kumang Gawai.

Akhir kalam,

Selamat Hari Gawai, Gayu Guru, Gerai Nyamai, Chelap Lindap Nguan Menua, Bulih Limpah, Bulih Tuah, Bulih Berkat Ari Petara.

Dan

Kotobian om Kounsikaan Do Tadau Tagoya Do Kaamatan

Naka tu dulu. Terima kasih

Samuel Sila Mathew Unjah
Exco Perpaduan & Integrasi
MPP UPSI 2009/2010

Learning English outside the classroom

THE English language is commonly referred to as the ‘world’s language’. In other words, it is widely spoken in many countries and is taught as a second language almost all over the world.However, for many, the English language seems to be a challenging language to learn and consequently some even lose hope in learning the language, feeling that their basic knowledge is adequate for communication purposes.
There are many possible techniques to learn the English language, but there are certain techniques that are more effective in developing a level of proficiency.

The main tip to speed up the learning of English is to throw yourself into an English-oriented environment. This helps improve the practice of English learning since there is a constant use of the language. Basically, the more exposure one has to English, the higher the tendency in developing the habit and progressing in the language.

Once they have been familiarised with the language, it will take less effort for them to identify which is right or wrong in the construction of sentences in English.
Similarly, learners will also start to recognise the difference of certain words or phrases used in different situations, which will be used in their own conversations or writing. This practice is very common in professional sports training where the athletes are primarily sent for training to familiarise them with the actual sport. Immersion happens automatically.

Another pointer in learning the English language is to constantly speak in English or to speak with English-speaking friends. This assists learners because it provides a continuous repetition of English words, where the learner is able to use new vocabulary or phrases in conversations.

Apart from conversing in English with other speakers, it is also recommended that English language learners read a variety of English reading materials such as newspapers, magazines, or novels. It is one of the most effective ways English learners can build up their vocabulary since it provides a wide range in addition to practising English through conversations.

Even though there may be words that the learners may not know, one suggestion of understanding the words is not by looking through the dictionary, but by guessing their context through understanding the sentence. Learners may understand the other words in the sentence and come to a conclusion as to what the specific word means.
While all the above-mentioned tips are relevant, it is very important that the language learner must want to learn the English language. A learner must have the interest or intention to learn the language. This will result in effective outcomes for language skills.

It is always important to have fun while learning a new language. When learners have fun learning a specific subject matter, it makes it easier for them and increases their ability to remember.

Learning English outside the classroom

THE English language is commonly referred to as the ‘world’s language’. In other words, it is widely spoken in many countries and is taught as a second language almost all over the world.However, for many, the English language seems to be a challenging language to learn and consequently some even lose hope in learning the language, feeling that their basic knowledge is adequate for communication purposes.
There are many possible techniques to learn the English language, but there are certain techniques that are more effective in developing a level of proficiency.
The main tip to speed up the learning of English is to throw yourself into an English-oriented environment. This helps improve the practice of English learning since there is a constant use of the language. Basically, the more exposure one has to English, the higher the tendency in developing the habit and progressing in the language.

Once they have been familiarised with the language, it will take less effort for them to identify which is right or wrong in the construction of sentences in English.
Similarly, learners will also start to recognise the difference of certain words or phrases used in different situations, which will be used in their own conversations or writing. This practice is very common in professional sports training where the athletes are primarily sent for training to familiarise them with the actual sport. Immersion happens automatically.

Another pointer in learning the English language is to constantly speak in English or to speak with English-speaking friends. This assists learners because it provides a continuous repetition of English words, where the learner is able to use new vocabulary or phrases in conversations.

Apart from conversing in English with other speakers, it is also recommended that English language learners read a variety of English reading materials such as newspapers, magazines, or novels. It is one of the most effective ways English learners can build up their vocabulary since it provides a wide range in addition to practising English through conversations.

Even though there may be words that the learners may not know, one suggestion of understanding the words is not by looking through the dictionary, but by guessing their context through understanding the sentence. Learners may understand the other words in the sentence and come to a conclusion as to what the specific word means.
While all the above-mentioned tips are relevant, it is very important that the language learner must want to learn the English language. A learner must have the interest or intention to learn the language. This will result in effective outcomes for language skills.

It is always important to have fun while learning a new language. When learners have fun learning a specific subject matter, it makes it easier for them and increases their ability to remember.