Kuala Lumpur Shocking Incident

I have withnessed something very shocking today. While I was walking to Pavilion KL for dinner just now, when I reached the fountain area at the main entrance (around 6.50pm), I heard a very loud glass breaking sound. Everyone, including foreign tourists were shocked to see a man trying to break the windscreen of a bus.

Looking at the incident, I belief it must be a minor accident where the bus have knocked a Proton Wira from the back. The man were shouting to the driver while keep hitting the bus windscreen with the stick for at least 5 times. Very obvious, this guy is very emotional, equipped with a long stick in his car and it was an unlucky day for the bus driver.

Anyway, this is not the main point. Everyone was so shocked (can see from the expression of all the folks around, especially the tourists) because there were policemen standing from far witnessing the incident but did not take any action to stop the man. A tourist asked me is that guy in blue color uniform a policeman. I answered yes to the tourist, and then he went to ask the policeman why he is not stopping that man. The policeman  answered "I am a police hired by Pavilion KL (polis bantuan Pavilion) and the incident is across the road near Starhill side, can't do anything". The tourist (and people around who heard their conversation) were speechless.

Then, a traffic police officer came, but he was standing at a distance from the angry man. Again, that man hit the bus but the officer did not stop that man. He was trying to do his job by directing the traffic, getting other cars to move. I wonder why policeman didn't stop that angry man hitting the bus. What if that guy hit on people? I think everyone there has the same question too?! After awhile, the man got into his car and drove off...and guess what, the traffic police officer also drove off on his motorcycle, left only the bus driver (helpless).

In movie, incident like this, we normally see the policeman will take action on the man, at least ask for his ID or license, check the man background by intercom to HQ, question him on reasons of possessing a long stick in his car, or even charge him for attempting to damage others properties. Somehow, that man have committed an offence...but can drove off. So many tourists saw the incident. If next year is Visit Malaysia year, do you think incident like this encourages inbound tour?!

If I didn't witness this myself, I wouldn't belief things like this can happen....Seeing is Believing!!!

Cultural Diversity

While I was having dinner at Madam Kwan restaurant in Pavilion shopping mall, I saw a couple came in and seated next to my table. Immediately, the guy took off his shoe and put his leg on the chair while going through the menu. People around, including the staffs were shocked.

Minutes later, when their orders came, the girl also did the same thing; took off her slippers and put her leg on the chair too. While she was eating, she starts to shake her legs (sorry, I didn't take any photo because my Lumia cannot take it). I guess she was enjoying the food while satisfying her self-actualisation needs.

At this point of time, you may be wondering where do they come from. Very obvious, they are not Malaysian. Surprisingly, this couple is from Korea. I do have Korean friends and taught some Korean students before but I don't think anyone of them will sit and shake legs like this couple. Dealing with international culture and diversity are always challenging. There are a lot for us to understand and to study in order for us to deal with the international stakeholders in business.

For some, this behaviour might be acceptable; but for others, they may get offended. I can 'simply say' that we all should respect and adapt to the local culture or practices wherever we go. Even when someone tells you to make yourself like home, that doesn't mean you can do anything you like. Having some sense of respect and courtesy to learn the local customs may helps to create an esprit de corps environment.

No offence to this couple, but it is something good for all of us to ponder on.

McDonald's Happy Meal - Paul Frank Go Bananas with Julius

McDonald's is now targeting on more market segments,  The 'Paul Frank Go Bananas with Julius' Happy Meal promotion starts on 14th November 2013 until 11th December 2013, the last series for the year 2013. There are magnets, watch, luggage tag, figure, calendar, notebook, stationary kit and bracelet for the fans to collect.

Julius Magnets

Paul Frank is a California-based lifestyle product company, specialising in fashion apparel and accessories. With such collaboration, it shows that McDonald's is taking a step further in growing its Happy Meal market; extending the product to the lifestyle fashion young adults customers. Meanwhile, it helps to promote Paul Frank as a young and attractive apparel brands to the growing Asian children and young-adults market.

We can SIMPLY SAY that fast food restaurant like McDonald's is no more selling food and beverages, and serving it fast..but also retail merchandising (toys and accessories). Businesses are evolving!!!

The Most Embarrassing Fair in 2013

When we heard about public exhibition or fair, we can imagine that there will be massive crowd, lots of booths, promoters, products, games, showcases and many exciting events. However, I find this fair is so special. Here is why:

The Malaysia Sports and Health Fair 2013 at Mid Valley Exhibition Hall 1 & 2, Kuala Lumpur. This fair started on 8th until 10th November 2013 and one of the special highlight of the fair is on the 9th, an autograph session with Dato' Lee Chong Wei, Malaysian top badminton player. I just wonder how our Dato' feel when he attend the autograph session. To all the few exhibitors, thumb up for showing the commitment and motivation to run the show, even with such situation (felt sorry for them).

Looks like there are very few companies or organisation in Malaysia that specialises in Sports and Health...even there are Malaysian who are interested with it, we don't have much options except for these few companies who participated.

(Photos sponsored by CK)

Reading Academic Textbooks for Undergraduate Studies

While I was having dinner with my ex-colleague, another lecturer, we were having a debate over the use of textbooks for undergraduate studies. I got so engaged in this debate because before I went for the dinner today, I just told a few of my current students (Gen-Y) about the importance and usefulness of reading academic textbooks.

Personally, I always think that one of the best way to improve on academic writing is to start with reading the subject related textbooks. Althought there are various alternatives for readings, such as online journals, websites and even blogs; these are all good to have alternatives for reference purposes but it is not the core materials and blogs cannot be used as academic reference. 

I agree that some of these alternatives sources may be easily accessible and very looks informative but the scope can be very wide too as there are uncountable websites when searching by keywords. Also, a lot of web publishers simplify the subject information to make it easy to read, keeping it short and simple. By doing so, it will only provide some points or even without appropriate explanation on any concepts or models.

Web sources can be very specific on explaning some terms, concepts or models that myay provide limited elaboration or justification. Many web authors simply extract points from textbooks (in note form), similar to a student taking their notes in the class or while reading a text.

In this circumstances, how can a student learn the subject matters properly and able to see how the topic area can be explained or elaborated? Therefore, students only able to provide answers in point form and if essay is required, the student will just combine all the points they learned from the Internet in a paragraph, without taking into consideration the efforts of writing an essay.

At this point of time, I am not against the use of Internet as the medium for undergraduate studies. There are benefits of using the Internet for research or reading e-book too. However, how many students or even lecturers prefer to read e-book online and use the e-book as a main source of reference for assignment and preparing for exam? I am referring to academic e-books, not fictions or online magazine. Maybe there are some who prefer to do so, but how about you? Does your university or college provide e-books?

I belief the fundamental of learning comes from reading, and if it is for academic purpose, it should start from reading subject related textbook. This helps to build cognitive skills and expose the student to the fundamental academic writing style. Only when this is achieved, the student may go online to identify and read more sources to extent the knowledge and scope of the subject area. Textbooks provide definitions, explanations, implications, pros and cons, and illustration using valid examples, which are all critical for developing strong foundations of subject matters. Being in undergraduate means a student should build on the foundation of degree specialisation. To achieve this, there is no other better way but to read textbooks or e-books (as long as it is a published subject related book).

My philosophy is very simple. If someone want to think out of the box, this person should fill up the box with content before thinking out of the box. Think out of the box doesn't meant must go away from the box and never come back. A great mind can think out of the box only if this person has gained significant knowledge inside the box. If want to go to the world wide wide to look for answers for your studies, first thing to do is to understand the basic subject matters from textbooks, which are dedicated for teaching the subject purpose. This is the reason why textbooks still exist today (for a reason).