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The Star
5 days ago
- General
- The Star
Letters: Aces go places
I REFER to the letter 'Straight As but at what cost?' by Dr Pola Singh published in StarEdu on May 11 ( While I understand the writer's apprehension about the high number of 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) top scorers, I would like to congratulate each and every one of these aces. I assume you not only did well in the SPM, but were active in various school activities and showed consistency in your academic performance probably since your primary years. Your peers might have teased you for being a bookworm or an introvert, but deep down inside, the hurtful words probably came from a place of envy and admiration, wishing they could shine like you. Learn to accept the expectations that come with being a straight A student but be modest. Did you get a scholarship? Which college will you attend? What course will you take? Can you cope with a new environment? These and many more will be asked of you (and your parents) to the point where you may start to feel that your achievement is a double-edged sword. Don't allow others to make you nervous. Feel good about yourself and focus on the positives. Be confident and believe in yourself because the pressure will continue to mount. If you are sent abroad to pursue your tertiary education, you are likely to be homesick. There you are, alone in a foreign country, experiencing a different environment and culture for the first time in your life. Your heart will tell you to take the first flight home but you know you must persevere to discover a new world filled with unique opportunities and life-changing moments. With your excellent academic results, you are likely to be accepted by prestigious institutions that demand only the best of you. You and your parents will constantly be asked about your progress. Some who ask are genuine in wanting you to succeed. Others are just waiting for signs that you are faltering so that they can begin raining negative comments on you. Don't ever doubt yourself because you have made it this far. Set a high standard for yourself and stay focused on the future. Never get complacent. When you are intent on achieving your dreams, do not be afraid to strive for it. Skills can be acquired and honed, knowledge can be collected and wisdom comes with time. But it is only by having a passion for your studies that you will succeed and be better than the competition. And again, you will find yourself the envy of others. DR ARZMI YAACOB Ex-academic
Daily Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Preventing illegals entering best solution
Published on: Sunday, April 27, 2025 Published on: Sun, Apr 27, 2025 Text Size: Filipinos being deported via Sandakan after lengthy detention paid for by taxpayers. Reports about immigration raids on foreign workers without valid documents are quite regular these days, reflecting the scale of the issue. While law enforcement teams deserve credit for their efforts, these reactive measures are resource-intensive and only touch the surface of the problem. After apprehending undocumented foreigners, there are additional costs involved in housing, feeding and managing them in detention centres while they await deportation. This process can take weeks, even months, during which the financial and logistical burden on the government increases. In the first place, we must ask why are there so many undocumented foreigners? It has been reported repeatedly that some immigration officers are complicit in allowing undocumented foreigners through without proper checks. These officers have betrayed the trust placed in them and brought disrepute to the Immigration Department. Transferring these errant officers to other postings is not an adequate response. Networks and connections remain, and the same practices often continue under different faces. The public is left wondering why investigations into their cases take so long, and why the outcomes are not made public. Meanwhile, the damage to the integrity of our Immigration Department continues. National security cannot be compromised. We simply cannot afford to let our borders become gateways for illegal entry, facilitated by corruption. The government should focus on prevention at the points of entry. Immigration procedures at airports must be tightened using biometric verification, automated systems, and real-time monitoring. Officers should be held accountable through digital logs, and their actions subject to independent oversight. At the same time, cases involving dishonest immigration officers must be expedited. There is no excuse for delays. These are not ordinary disciplinary issues; they are national security threats. The outcome of such cases should be given the widest publicity possible to serve as a clear and strong warning to others who may be tempted to abuse their positions. It is time to shift from reactive to proactive enforcement. If we want to reduce the number of undocumented individuals in the country, we must prevent their entry in the first place. Dr Pola Singh The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
