BAC Gala Night 2011 (Preview)

BAC Gala Night 2011 Committee

It is with utmost pride and joy that I present the students of Brickfields Asia College with our annual promenade this year and it has been such a great experience working together with a team from scratch. Before that, allow me to first say abundant thanks to Mr Raja Singham for helping my team and me to be able to be successful on organising this very event. Special thanks also go to our teacher advisors namely Mr William, Miss Nalina and Miss Kimberly for helping us with every step we took along the way. My gratitude and praise also goes hand in hand to all the respective committee members. I deeply appreciate the hard workeveryone has put in.

What makes me so attached and proud of this committee is how we all bonded over the course of putting everything together bit by bit although most of us were new to organising an event as such. In just within two months, I’ve watched the committee members learn and apply their newly acquired skills. Through mini-seminars, briefings or meetings, each committee member has given their entire focus, mind and heart into getting where we are today. Honestly, these are the moments that I will look back on sometime far in the future and I know these memories are what will put a smile on my face as we go on with our own respective paths in the future.

Taking time to pen down my thoughts about the upcoming Gala Night gives me a moment to pause and take a precious break from my chaotic schedule and appreciate all the work and effort that every team member has put in. Being part of the organising team presented me not only a slice of bitter-sweet victories but also a huge platter of humility and responsibility. Experiences are indeed the most prized possession a man has and this is indeed an experience that has been worth the endurance and time.

With that, I would like to hereby apologise a thousand times if I have offended anyone directly or indirectly. I hope that the night of the event will be as successful as we have planned and that the students of BAC will have a blast. Cheers!

Angela Lim

BAC Christmas Project 2011 (Preview)

Have you thought of what you want this Christmas? An iPhone or a brand new laptop?

All eleven-year-old Earlene wants for Christmas is a pair of track pants for PE class in school.

This Christmas, look beyond your needs to the needs of children from Philea Home and Rumah Charis. The BAC Christian Fellowship with the support of the college invites you to bless them with gifts through the project.

What you can do:

1)  Get gifts for the children. The gifts can be left under the Christmas tree at BAC 1 Level 2 or

handed over to Celine Yap or Lim Yi Wen (UOL Intermediate). (Please refer to the wish list

below.)

2)  Donate monetarily through Yi Wen.

3)  Donate items to the orphanage, namely:

- Table-top gas stove

- Blender

- Cake mixer

- Water tumblers

- Food containers

- Raincoats and umbrellas

- Plastic book wrappers

- Cellophane tape

- Alarm clocks

4)  Attend the Christmas Party!

Date: 9 December 2011

Time: 6.30 pm – 9.00 pm

Venue: BAC 2 Rooftop

Sixty children will be coming to our college. So, take this opportunity to put a smile on their faces and

joy in their hearts this season by joining in the fun and fellowship!

There'll be lots of games, caroling, performances and food. Admission is free, but don't forget it's a

charity night, so, there'll be a donation collection box.

To attend, please RSVP with Celine (016-7554880) or Yi Wen (016-4419179) to receive a coupon for the

dinner. (In light of the rampant food wastage in Malaysia, we're trying to avoid wastage as much as

possible! )

We look forward to seeing you there! Volunteers will be contacted within this week for job delegations.

Lim Yi Wen (LLB UOL Intermediate)

THE INTERROGATION - CLP Edition

Questions:

1, It was recently ruled that a law banning college students from political activities was unconstitutional. Your thoughts?

2. Who’s your dream date for BAC Gala Night 2011?

3. What do you think of the current pro-democracy movement in the Middle East?

4. What scary creature/monster/politician were you for Halloween?

5. Tell us why you deserve to be Malaysia’s Next Top Lawyer.

NAME: Beh Huey Ching

1. There is this wind of change in our country and this decision is part of that change. The people want to be heard and they mean it this time. It is clear that the younger generation wants to be a part of this vital phase and finally, the courts are acknowledging it.

2. Adam Levine from Maroon 5. He knows how to work hard and play hard ! Look at how he rocks in the Moves like Jagger and Cosmopolitan UK cover !

3. It is for the better in the future. The people should decide how they want to be governed and not be controlled by one single power or man.

4. People thought I was dressing up as the sexy,dead nurse. But I was really an injured-in-a-crash air stewardess. 

5. I can tell you for sure that I don't deserve that (yet) because I am not a lawyer. But definitely a good goal to jot down in my list. =)

NAME: Alvin Kei

1. If college students are allowed to vote, why can't they take part in political activities since 'voting' is considered picking a political side which you favor.

2. Johnnie Black.

3. True democracy isn't being practiced at all even in developed countries, so how successful can it be in a post-war country with Western intervention, who are only interested in siphoning out the black gold and not sincerely taking into account of the citizens' needs? 

4. Justin Bieber

5. There are two kinds of lawyers. One who knows the law, and the other who knows the judge.

NAME: Neil Tan

.
1. I don't really keep up on what exactly happened back then, from what I have read, my view is that it's true that students nowadays do have a much matured mind than before, so if you say the law is "necessary to prevent infiltration of political ideologies among students who were vulnerable, capable of being subjected to peer pressure and easily influenced," that statement would appear flawed, by saying that you might be referring to those who has attained 21 years of age and still an university student are actually not a legitimate person to vote.

2. I don't really have such a "dream date" though.

3. I always believed there's some sort of "underground network" which controls the almost everything for example the government, banks and etc and directing them to maximize their interests, also they will crush anyone or nation or any organisation trying to stand against them, so probably the middle east has been trying to resist against the network, and as a result a bloodshed has occurred 

4. Woops sorry, never been to a Halloween party, so probably I'm just being the "Creature Neil" or "Monster Neil" or "Neil MP" throughout the day.

5. Ah sorry, I don't wanna be the next top lawyer in Malaysia, as long as I can still sit back and enjoy my life while the cash is still coming it like a tsunami, why become a top guy which you might subject yourself to "work like a dancing monkey and at the end of day, your client is asking you 'can discount ah?'" 

(credit to Mr Chia Chee Hong, an awesome BAC lecturer for Company Law and Conflicts Of Law :) )

NAME: Vijayandran B.

1. Banning college students from political activities are unconstitutional as it hinders people's freedom of expression. However, regulations must exist in controlling such an issue. At such an age, a person is very easily influenced by peer pressure. 

2. Some dreams should be left a dream.

3. It shows how power of the people can overcome dictatorships and maybe the youths of our country can learn a thing or 2 from them.

4. Take a look at the picture and try to figure it out.

5. No one deserves to be Malaysia's Next Top Lawyer. If you are hardworking and understand the game, being a top lawyer will be a certainty.

NAME: Natalie Chong

1. It is long enshrined in Article 10 of our Federal Constitution that everyone is entitled to freedom of expression. Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971 clearly contravened this, in a similar manner that Internal Security Act violates human rights principles.

Our revered Prime Minister, in his 1Malaysia movement has pledged to abolish this repressive and archaic law in promise of greater respect for civil liberties – this must certainly be applauded.

But my thoughts on this matter is that this abolishment has long been overdue and should have never been in place at all. Since majority of the voters are from the age group of universities’ students – could this be a strategic tactical step for the upcoming election? Whatever it is, I’m elated that students, being the future leaders of the country, are free to participate in political activities now.

2. Patrick Dempsey. His naturally wavy hair, slightly scruffy stubble and of course his McDreamy eyes just drives me crazy. He is not just a macho man, he is certainly someone charismatic and of exemplary character.

3. The Middle East has long been embedded with the idea of democracy. I agree with revolutionist who argued that democracy is incompatible with Islamic culture and values simply because of the lack of a clear cut difference between religion and the state stifles democracy in the region.

I personally think that the current pro-democracy movement is merely a cosmetic upliftment, played by the politicians to distract the eagle-beagle eyes of the media because in the Middle East, the economic and social soil is still not deep enough to enable political democracy to strike root and flourish. What needed are not merely constitutional or administrative reforms, nor just a change in government machinery and personnel. It is not even the adjustment of an obsolete political structure to bring it in line with a new balance of forces reflecting changing relations between various social classes, as was achieved by the Reform Bills in 19th-century England. What is required is a great economic and social transformation which will strengthen society and make it capable of bearing the weight of the modern State. Such a development is a necessary, condition for the establishment of genuine democracy in the region. For, in politics as in religion, a Reformation must be preceded by a Renaissance.

In the meantime, while it is futile to lament the absence of democracy in a region still unprepared for it, it is absolutely necessary to set in motion the forces which will transform Middle Eastern society in the desired manner. Great efforts must be made to improve means of education and as far as possible, bring about a cultural and spiritual unity which will bridge the chasms separating the linguistic groups and religious sects. Great efforts must also be made to develop the economy of the different countries in order to raise the general level and to create opportunities which will allow the individual to emancipate himself from the grip of the family, tribe, and village.” Then, and only then, genuine democracy can be achieved.

Closer to homesoil, whilst we lament so much about genuine democracy, no matter how imperfect it is, we are still fortunate to be in a perfectly imperfect one and the Middle East is definitely pale in comparison.

4. I'm going as sexy devilish lawyer for Halloween. Have the suit, a pitch fork, paint myself red, with horns and of course a pointy tail. If I have an option to resurrect Lord Denning from the dead, I will do so too – so that we can play trick-or-treat on legal judgment together!

5. Being competitive is a key feature of a next top lawyer. Clients today are driven by choice. Choosing among multiple options is always based on differences, implicit or explicit, so you ought to be different for a client to pick you.

Practicing law is by its very nature adversarial, and for me, I will always persevere on winning in an argument. I will never give up until no stones are left unturned. Being a top lawyer also means that you must be persistent as you will not get your way the first time around. You will need to write letter after letter, draft motion after motion, in order to succeed for your clients.  Beware of irate judges, angry clients, and vicious adversaries. You must be able to take a fair share of abuse.

Being a lawyer always mean that you must be sharp in drafting briefs, contracts, motions, pleadings, and demand letters. I’m fortunate to be blessed for a flair of it.

Lawyers negotiate on a daily basis. Whether you are a sports lawyer negotiating contracts for professional athletes, or a personal injury lawyer negotiating settlements for injured clients, or a criminal defence attorney negotiating plea bargains, all this comes with practice. Being a shopaholic at a flea market, I’m glad to say I put this into practice pretty often.

Motion practice and trial work is all about persuading people to your side of the argument. Whether you are persuading a judge or a jury, it takes a great amount of skill and practice. Being an avid debater and an active public speaker, I’m pleased to say that I’ve honed this skill close to perfection.

Born in the Tiger year, I’m characteristically very aggressive and being a lawyer will definitely work in favour of me. I will be a pit bull as poodles will never be in the game. No client wants a lawyer who is a pushover, or a lawyer who waits for things to happen. Clients want lawyers who are hungry and unafraid of a fight. They want a lawyer who is aggressive – that clearly epitomises me.

Lastly, I’m an all-rounder. I’m good at managing my time because this is essential as a lawyer - I will need to juggle between paperwork, courtroom appearances and of course telephone calls.

So, what is stopping me from becoming the next top lawyer?

Questions by Nigel Lim. Special thanks to Bey Huey Ching.

THE INTERROGATION - UOL YR1 Edition

Questions:

1. What’s your take on our nation’s Budget 2012?

2. Did you attend BAC Freshers Night 2011? What do you think of it?

3. What are your thoughts on the ongoing Occupy Wall Street Movement?

4. How was your Deepavali?

5. Why did the chicken cross the road?

NAME: Ng Xue Jen

1. I think that the Budget 2012 is quite people-oriented but less emphasis has been put on the pressing needs of the senior citizens, the middle-income group and the low-income group.

2. I did, but I left pretty early so I don't think that I'm in a very good position to comment on this.

3. Even though their main goal is not achieved (yet), the world has heard their voices and the protesters have managed to create awareness about their plight. This is the very first step towards reaching their main objective in narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor.

4. I was invited to a friend's open house and everyone was required to wear traditional Indian costumes. Three guys failed to do so and we forced them to don on sarees! They looked really funny! That aside, we had a good time bonding over games and the Indian food. 1Malaysia indeed!

5. I think the real question is why did the road cross the chicken's path?

NAME: Vincent Lai

1. Well what can you say? It's the combination of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and also Chinese New Year. Gifts Gifts Gifts. But, yes BUT the thing is, we all forgot that it is actually our own money they're using for the giveaway. What can we say? Malaysia Boleh!

2. Great event, great job, great performances by our very own great performers in the greatest night. And also not to forget the great job done by our MCs. On a personal note, Mr Raja Singham did sent a chill down to my spine!

3. It will be too lengthy to analyse and summarize the whole movement,so all i can proudly say is that the rally of protest actually started in our very own KUALA LUMPUR! Just hope that it will end in the way it started--in a peaceful manner.

4. First of all I would like to wish all my friends a Happy Belated Deepavali. Regarding that special day, it was rather uneventful to me. Slept late the night before (thanks to the non-stop bombardment of firecrackers), woke up late in the morning, studied a bit, Facebook a lot,and slept even later in that night (again thanks to the firecrackers).

5. To FEEL the THRILL. As human we climb the cliff, jump of the plane and climb Twin-Towers. SO WHAT? Chickens cross the road!

NAME: Eying Low

1. Quite inspiring if practiced in a proper manner.

2. Nope, therefore regret enough when i saw the photos and videos.

3. Chaos all the time.

4. As simple as usual as I'm not an Indian.

5. To go to the other side.

NAME: Chew Yongxian

1. Could have been better. Could have been worse. But nothing wrong with a little candy given out before the elections. ;)

2. Sort of. Was gymming with my buddy when we heard Mr.Raja singing plus the smell of food. Then we decided to attend. :D

3. Idealistic. But futile. Unless the government does start making changes. Which would be difficult due to lobbying from the rich not to do so.

4. Assignments. Nuff Said.

5. KFC was on the same side he was on. >:)

NAME: Mohd Fahazrul

1. Let me Malaysian-haiku this answer.

Increase good, increase bad

Like the winds, she blows many directions

but stays nowhere, she is not at home

Everything is peach and flower blossoms

Election will come soon like rain

Wash over promise into rivers of despair

*sigh*

2. Attended. Should be able to sum it up in a few points.

Most memorable moment: Mr. Rajasingham singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" ala Rod Stewart plus Rodney King meets Stevie Wonder power combo. It still gives me eargasmic shivers at night thinking about it.

Least memorable moment: "Sorry guys, no more plates" said the caterers to the hungry group of boys who have waited in line for half an hour.

BAC Freshers Night was... A time for newbies like myself to make my utmost first impression count and connect with people I might spend years with plus some food and an open mic night.

It was like speed dating on steroids accompanied by two stand-up comedians, karaoke and ONLY alt-rock music played in the background.

Plus who would refuse a party on the roof top of a law school? Who would? Tell me.

3. Goes to show that there is no place like home, there is no place like home, there is no place like home... as said by Dorothy (Wizard of Oz, 1939)

The American Dream is long gone. Post-capitalism issues and troubles has finally catch up to the entire nation and revolt should be inevitable. Should be.

The question is... Will this movement be a movement of the masses? Will it have a bigger impact than Oprah's final telecast show?

If you ask me, my answer is no.

Ignorance is bliss and ignorance is suffering for the majority of that nation's populace.

The current Bull and Bear, the master and his minions will prevail as long as main stream America is addicted to the dollar sign.

The other, more powerful hands who controls the economy are far rooted in the governance for it, capitalism and capitalist ideals, to ever really fail and fall.

What am I doing in law school, right? Hahaha.

4. As a Malaysian who enjoys his Indian food fare, I went on a food-trip to a few of the open houses by the government or local municipal councils on the morning of Deepavali. Entertainment and event venue differs, but the Malaysian represented spirit was prevalent at all the venues.

The spirit of 1Malaysia, loving free food.

I am not belittling Malaysians, I was just amazed at the sheer volume of people willing to line up for sponsored food early in the morning. Maybe it was a special day, special occasion. Maybe they knew that it was their tax dollars at work. Who knows. Hmmm...

5. Which road? Highway or federal roads? City or village? Road conditions? Rush hour or non-peak hours? Which chicken of which origin and nationality? Migrant chicken? Does the chicken have proper permit to be outside of the 'reban' (coup)? Was the road built or maintained by the current state government recently or was it not? (in reference to the surely coming elections in the near future) Literal rule or golden?

And thousands of more questions were asked back.

Why? Because we are proud lawyers-to-be.

Seek the truth. Seek the truth's truth. Seek it like a heat-seeking missile on steroids.

Hahaha.

NAME: Wong Fu Sheng

1. On a very serious note, the Budget seems to have crippled the nation as a whole as a short term solution to our country's long term financial problems. This "Welfare cum Election Budget" as it is dubbed aims at giving welfare benefits to the lower income group, improving the pay of civil servants and ash handout to students yet, very little is allocated to education and public transport. I myself, as a student/citizen who travels to college daily by commuter, the least the government can do is improve it's services by mitigating delays and increase the number coaches available. If Malaysia can have a large extensive expressway (PLUS highway) why not inject some funds into the public transport system?

It seems like a budget design to please the group majority and to avoid a vote of no confidence from the general public. Little to no allocations were used to further develop rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak although they were promised with more substantial developments. Is this what a government should do if they actually do keep the interests of the rakyat in mind?

With the fall in commodity prices, it is highly speculated that the government would be borrowing money to finance the budget, which seems rather unwise, in my opinion.

I was very surprised and appalled when some local economists praised the budget for being a good budget. Malaysia's debt currently stands at 144.6 billion dollars and this amounts to 53.8% of the country's GDP and deficit is at 7% of the nation's GDP. As compared to many developing nations, for debt to be almost half of the country's GDP and having a 7% deficit is acceptable, but it also almost tips to the economic red zone. Perhaps the reason why the budget was made as such is because of the government may have felt that they can support it, albeit barely.

I feel the application of this budget is foolhardy as it pours too much money into welfare where economic development is neglected, I hope the the budget can be revisited for the betterment of the rakyat.

2. Nope, unfortunately i couldn't make it. So I cannot really comment on it :(

3. It is a good endeavour by the 99%, however I see little point in protesting. The fact is they pretty much acknowledge the problem and insist fairness in redistributing wealth which the rich people will not do. However, I feel the movement doesn't do it well as they do not seem to have a focal objective; their demands change from time to time, and sometimes at a whim. What can be done though, is to find ways to attain wealth through efficient yet scrupulous ways. I suggest reading 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' by Robert Kiyosaki for further insight on this, it presents solid arguments whereby the middle and lower class can choose to be wealthy to, if they know how to.

4. Spent my Deepavali working my part time job. Triple pay on public holidays baby!

5. How many roads must one chicken cross?

NAME: Alyssa Siew

1. The budget really needs more plans in helping the low and the middle income people, the issues of minimal salary, tax reduction for vehicles and fuel, increase prices in goods, unemployment, loan for education, expensive housing areas and many more which are not addressed seriously. Not much has changed, still stuck in the same rut.

2. Yes, I attended it. Overall, it was a good first try for organizing such an event on such a short notice. Ice-breakers (games) was a little difficult to carry out with such a large group, may not be as effective as one would hope it would be.

3. I'm not well-equipped to answer this question.

4. My deepavali was a quiet one. I wasn't invited to anyone's house so I had my own chapati and mutton curry for dinner.

5. To boldly go where no chicken has gone before.

Questions by Nigel Lim. Special thanks to Elaine Lee.

Weary of Being Wary?

Lim Yi Wen taps into our paranoia of crime.

One night, my aunt was watching telly and I was, as usual, in my room. Suddenly, I heard a few loud gasps. My aunt came rushing to my room and told me about a child in China who was run over multiple times by a van and then a truck, while passers-by just stood, watched and did nothing. Clearly, she was deeply distressed by this piece of news. I mean, it was just written all over her face. And I'm not being dramatic.

I just brushed it off and shrugged. People. And then it hit me. I was so nonchalant about the death of a three-year-old and the ignorance of people. I have been desensitised. Now, it was my turn to be distressed as I pondered upon my eroded humanity.

So I looked at our country and the state it is in. Crime has become a norm, an everyday occurrence. Are we fearful? Yes. Are we worried? Yes. But have we accepted that crime will always be a big part of our lives? YES.

There isn't a need to refer to statistics to show the magnitude of criminal activity in Malaysia. Just take a drive around Petaling Jaya. Advertisements for the sale of spanking new houses list the 'GATED & GUARDED' feature in bold, capital letters. Potential buyers wouldn't  even consider un-gated and unguarded neighbourhoods. Even old neighbourhoods which were not 'gated and guarded' initially are now. Green chain-link fences surround the area and most access roads are barricaded by crude metal barrels. Security guards from private companies are hired by residents to monitor the in- and outgoing traffic. By night, the guards do their rounds on motorcycles. So, the crime rates drop and we say, 'Yes, this is a mighty good approach!'

But does it not strike you as wrong? Where are the police in this? Is it not the duty of the law enforcement officers to nab the bad guys? It seems that we, the people, have taken the duty of protecting ourselves upon ourselves.

Before you think I'm going on a tirade of denunciation against the police force, you must know that I commend our police force for being absolutely efficient at busting local and international drug syndicates. But security for the general public has been neglected. When was the last time you left your house feeling completely secure? The Malaysian house has an average of three types of security locks on just the front door. Ladies tightly clutch their purses, which are filled with 'weaponry' – triple packs of pepper sprays, batons, and Tasers for the more extreme ones. The police force tells us to keep watch for our safety and teaches us methods to do so. But what is lacking is the tough crackdown on these criminals who terrorise the public. 

I grew up reading stories about spunky British kids who never age and solve mysteries every school break. Virtually every book had the phrase "a policeman at the corner of the road". As a child, I would wonder why policemen at the corners of roads. It would be a forgivable thought because here in Malaysia, even to catch a whiff of police presence on the streets is difficult. Any Malaysian will say that they could go for days or weeks without seeing a single policeman.

At times, the police would conduct roadblocks for security purposes (usually after a burglary has occurred in that area). What is your first reaction? 'Buckle up, those behind! Don't look suspicious.' Fear. We've become fearful of the authority that is supposed to protect us simply because we're not accustomed to seeing them around. This is an adverse reaction. By right, we should feel safe having them around. It is sad that most of the time when we see policemen around, it is because a crime has already happened.

If we were to look at 'prevention' and 'cure', the former is certainly simpler than the latter. If the police force was initially stringent in the area of enforcement by deploying police officers around town to curtail criminal activity, we wouldn't be at such a severe state of rampant lawlessness. But the damage has been done. The task to eradicate crime is a monumental task that the force has no choice but to undertake now.

In general, the regard for the police is low. In the US, police procedural drama series like Blue Bloods and Law & Order receive high national ratings. The success is an indicator of the high regard of the Americans for their police force. This isn't the same case for our local TV series Gerak Khas.

Gone are the days when children could cycle around the neighbourhood or play badminton on the road without parental supervision. Intense paranoia has overtaken us. Just the sight of a car slowing down gets us geared up to fend away potential kidnappers, only to find out that they just wanted to ask for directions. I believe that all Malaysians are weary of be wary all the time. It isn't a matter of "If I have money, I would buy security". We are already doing that by hiring security guards in our neighbourhoods. It is a matter of the police force coming to the fore and doing what they are legitimately meant to do, that is to be the preventive force that they are. When crime goes, society will shun it and no longer see it as a normalcy. That is when our sense of humanity returns.


Lim Yi Wen is a UOL Intermediate student. She calls herself a sporadic eidetiker.