JULY - AUGUST 2014
Bi-monthly Magazine | Issue 23
by
Soar like a
LEGAL EAGLE Christopher Wong
Senior Partner of Cheang & Ariff
MORE IN THIS ISSUE:
FEATURED
HIGHLIGHTS
CEO SEGMENT
MBA, MPhil or PhD? Dr Chong Yee Lee
UTAR-OTH pact sets off new chapter
Through Deaf Eyes James Chua Tuan Sek
ISSN 2232-0342
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MBA, MPhil or PhD? Dr Chong Yee Lee
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Business & Finance, University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
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Through Deaf Eyes James Chua Tuan Sek
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EDITOR’S NOTE
heritage and clout. But because of the dynamic market forces today, you have to be more visible and bring forth your personality into your work rather than go purely by the book. You have to be three-dimensional in the sense that you have to create impressions. Be prepared to be different.” Christopher has been instrumental in shaping Cheang & Ariff’s brand as a law firm with a conscience, especially after the firm moved into heritage Loke Mansion.
EDITOR’S NOTE Shortly after I quit my corporate job to pursue a writing career, I hit the panic button when I realized something: there are a LOT of freelance writers out there, even in Malaysia. Compared to them, yours truly barely knew a soul in the media, unless you counted newspaper editors that I had sent letters to once a year (and who probably can’t tell me apart from the other thousands of wannabe writers who bombard their mailboxes). Why on earth would they engage me in a sea of better-qualified, more well-connected writers who had light years of experience ahead of me - how was I going to stand out? Fortunately, I stumbled upon an American website by successful freelance writer Carol Tice called www.makealivingwriting.com. As the name suggests, the author’s aim was to empower hungry but inexperienced writers with practical, ready-to-use advice.
One of the many tips that caught my eye: set up your own website. No one had told me to do this so far, but maybe that was because I hadn’t done any active searching. I did a google search for Malaysians writers... and was surprised when I could barely find more than a handful of local writers’ websites. Instantly, I knew that I would stand out if I had my own website. So I created one, and I can tell you that it’s more than paid for its hosting fees many times over. “Think and act different” could very well be the theme of our three main stories this issue. With thousands of lawyers graduating every year, it’s difficult to imagine a field more saturated than law, and one that’s harder to stand out in. Yet stand out is exactly what Christopher Wong, senior partner of Cheang & Ariff, has done. As a young lawyer, he realized that he needed to go against the grain if he wanted to accelerate his career. He says, “As a lawyer you are entering a venerable profession that carries a long
We also get up close and personal with another extraordinary individual, James Chua Tuan Sek, who was born Deaf with only one good eye. Mainstreamed into a hearing school at the age of 9, James grew up in challenging school environments throughout his life. But armed with a passion for the English language, he finished all the major school examinations, a feat that no one expected him to ever achieve, and today teaches and swim-coaches for a living. Indeed the possibilities are endless if we persevere and think out of the box. In fact, if you’re altruistic as well as ambitious, you can test your creative juices by embarking on a PhD, where you’re expected to develop new knowledge to help a community to live better. Find out more in our interview with UTAR’s Dr Chong Yee Lee. Until we meet again, stay healthy and productive!
Alexandra Wong
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CONTENT
COVER STORY 08
Soar like a LEGAL EAGLE Christopher Wong Senior Partner of Cheang & Ariff
Featured
Highlights
Showcase 15 Universities Educational Tour Showcase
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Dato’ Michael Tio, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of PKT Logistics Sdn Bhd One Logistics HubTM
Interview MBA, MPhil and PhD? Dr Chong Yee Lee Assistant Professor Faculty of Business & Finance, University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
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UTAR-OTH pact sets off new chapter
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UTAR and Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) ink a historical MoU.
Eugene Loh Chin
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Siah Kea Joe
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Chua Ming Jim
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Lim Boon Ping
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CONTENT
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HIGHLIGHTS Malaysia, Asean’s Next Logistics Hub? PKT Logistics Group brings the first ASEAN Logistics Symposium to Malaysia
Through Deaf Eyes Meet James Chua, Malaysia’s answer to Nick Vujicic and Helen Keller
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THE CEO SEGMENT 7
Soar like a
LEGAL EAGLE
T
here is no shortage of legal firms in Malaysia, but when it comes to those that command the respect of the media, peers and the public at large, Cheang & Ariff is a name that comes up frequently. The 28 year old firm, helmed by Dato’ Loh Siew Cheang, has fought many landmark cases some of which have changed the façade of the legal landscape and rewrote legal precedents in Malaysian law. These accolades and achievements have in the 28 years of service made Cheang & Ariff what it is today. Carrying on the tradition of CSR-grounded law practice established by its founders, Cheang & Ariff’s senior partner, Christopher Wong, talks to MBA Edge Postgraduate about what it takes to be a lawyer today, the grey areas of law, and his passion project, the Loke Mansion.
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COVER STORY
Christopher Wong
Senior Partner of Cheang & Ariff Christopher Wong holds the qualification of LL.B. from the University of Hull was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law of Gray’s Inn. A partner in Cheang & Ariff since 2001, he began as a dispute resolution lawyer and currently specializes in Corporate & Commercial, Banking and Finance. He has, throughout his practice, advised various local and foreign bodies/corporations, including but not limited to private limited companies, public listed corporations and NGO’s.
Q1
Why did you become a lawyer?
If you ask me whether I had a passion for law in the beginning, the answer is no. It was more about what I could do between the choices I had at that juncture - I was never good in science-related subjects. Law was the obvious choice. But the more I delved into the field, the more passionate I found myself becoming. After I completed the course and did my professional Bar exams, I noticed that
sometimes people look at law in very absolute terms. The law is the law. Or it’s only confined to certain areas. But for me, I decided that I wanted to be different. In a sense, I adapted my perception to the needs of the legal course and at the same time I actually expanded it out of the box. A lot of people look at law in black and white. But to me, law has always been about grey areas. Grey is a combination of black and white. You can go either way depending on how you help out the needs of the clients.
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COVER STORY
Q2
Tell us about your journey as a lawyer.
I was fortunate to join Cheang & Ariff and work with people who also turned out to be the best lawyers I know. Thanks to the company’s culture and reputation, there were opportunities for me unmatched anywhere else. From then on I began to attract a growing pool and variety of clients requesting my services as a lawyer. One memorable case involved advising the
Indonesian government on restructuring their IMF loan. I was recommended by a financial adviser and shortlisted from five lawyers. It was the first time we had to deal with many levels of politics and international law. Unfortunately six months down, the deal fell through, but I was grateful for the opportunity to work on a case of this international scale.
BUT TO ME, LAW HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT GREY AREAS.
Q3
You started practising in 1994 and in 2001 you were made partner. Is that considered fast-track?
There’s no golden rule to how much time it takes for a lawyer to be promoted to partner in any legal firm, though for an established medium size firm, 7 years can be considered quite fast. Then again, I have a partner
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who was made a partner in 5 years. Normally, most people are offered partnerships only after ten years, more so in an established firm. In a small firm, it may happen faster out of need.
COVER STORY
Q4
How can a lawyer with partnership ambitions fasttrack his career?
Lawyers are a dime a dozen, whether you like it or not. We have close to 20,000 lawyers in Malaysia so you can imagine how competitive the field is! In order to stand out, you have to be able to take risks, go against convention, be bold. If people say go right, go left if you have good reason. Take calculated risks. When everyone is saying you can’t do it, say, you may be able to do it and explore avenues of trying to make it happen.
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COVER STORY
Q5
How have your responsibilities changed since becoming a partner?
As a partner, we have to take care of the administration and management of the firm. It doesn’t become just practice per se anymore. Everything must have due consideration. Practice is like a business and in business, you must have business intuition. The challenge is, in selling legal services, you’re dealing with a very intangible product. Because of that, being a partner, just like being the director of a board, you need to be able to create the commercial aspect of the practice. In other words, you have to play your role as a rain-maker.
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COVER STORY
Q6
Most law firms offer the same suite of services, so how do they distinguish themselves from their competitors and peers?
I agree that legal services are very generic. So how do you differentiate yourself from your competitors? You must identify your own unique brand and take it to market. A unique brand shows what you stand for, tells potential clients what they can expect from you, enhances the value of your services and puts you on the short list for certain kinds of work. Why would you pay RM5000 for an Armani suit but only RM400 for a midrange brand? We would like to pride ourselves on catering
to the more exclusive set of customers who care about their image because our name carries a certain weight. The other point of differentiation is our longstanding reputation. We have accumulated credibility and goodwill that give (credibility and goodwill) customers a lot of confidence. In the later years, Cheang & Ariff began to distinguish itself as a legal practice involved in CSR, especially after moving into Loke Mansion.
Q7
What is the significance of Loke Mansion to Cheang & Ariff - and to Kuala Lumpur?
When we came in here, it was abandoned for ten years. It was a nightmare to even consider doing up the place bearing in mind that you are expending your resources on a place that doesn’t belong to you. We were and are still having a long lease from the landowners. A lot of people will look at it as a headache. But we felt differently and thought this is a good risk to take. The end result of what we see now is our practice has become very unique not just by virtue of the type of work that we do, but the type of lawyers that we are. We market ourselves as lawyers who don’t just think about practice, but also CSR, taking on a role of preserving a part of KL history. As far as South East Asia is concerned, we’re the only legal firm in a heritage mansion which has a such a significant and colourful history. To throw money into a place like this, you need passion. At the end of the day, it’s all about dollars and cents. You’ve got to be very confident about taking on the financial risk to come into. Now that we’ve moved in here, we consider this as one of our crowning glories.
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COVER STORY
Q7
What is your role in Loke Mansion?
I’m the unofficial spokesperson. I answer enquiries about the place, its history and the mansion per se. I’m also the designated Loke Mansion tour guide! This role and responsibility has been entrusted onto me due to my passion about Loke Yew and the Loke Mansion. I had done extensive and thorough research on the mansion when we moved in. A lot of time and effort had been spent on understanding the history of this place and so I believe I have sufficient knowledge about the place. Through my research, I found that Loke Yew was instrumental in the development of Kuala Lumpur during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Yet few people know this. He is not even featured in history books when in fact he was very influential in shaping and driving KL to become such a vibrant city. One of my projects for 2014 is to produce a coffeetable book that will create greater awareness about Loke Yew’s contribution.
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COVER STORY
Q8
Would you still encourage people to take up law?
As a lawyer you are entering a venerable profession that carries a long heritage and clout. But because of the dynamic market forces today, you have to be more visible and bring forth your personality into your work rather than go purely by the book. You have to be three-dimensional in the sense that you have to create impressions. To excel, you must be prepared to be different. Don’t be one of the many faces. Be colorful, not monotone. Go left when others are going right. With great risks, come great rewards.
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COVER STORY
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COVER STORY
Q9 As a lawyer you are entering a venerable profession that carries a long heritage and clout. But because of the dynamic market forces today, you have to be more visible and bring forth your personality into your work rather than go purely by the book.
What are the career options for someone with a law degree?
Having a law degree doesn’t mean we can only practise as a lawyer. The law degree has always been used as a legal stepping stone especially in merchant banking and corporate positions. These are the more relevant, nonlegal professions that many law students jump into. The other option is to be an inhouse lawyer, where you don’t practise but act as a legal adviser. Lecturing is another option. Some join politics.
Q10
What do you look for in law interns?
Go beyond academics. Between a first class student who doesn’t dare to take risks, and someone who has lower grades but has gone through a lot in life, experienced ups and downs, won’t look at life as if it would be handed on a silver platter, I would prefer the latter. I always believe that studying is only one part of our knowledge base. Your experience in life makes you a better practitioner. I won’t be the universal voice for Cheang & Ariff, but for me, personally I’m looking for these types of people. As far as training and mindset is concerned, it must start from the day you decide to do law.
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COVER STORY
Q11
What is your advice to law graduates seeking a firm to intern with?
Start by making a good internship choice. Choose a firm with mentors that will let you participate. One of the reasons I chose Cheang & Ariff was because I wanted something that was not too big and impersonal. In some big firms, interns are just put into a little corner and asked to do menial tasks. Sometime,they don’t even know their master (legal term for mentor). In some big firms, most of the masters don’t even know who their interns are! However, here you still have a warm homely culture. We deliberately keep the numbers small because of that reason. We do monthly drinks every last Friday of the month where lawyers and partners and interns can catch up and loosen their collars.
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COVER STORY
Q12
What kept you in the field of law for so many years?
I have stayed because I love the nature of the work, the clients, the bosses and my coworkers. I love solving legal problems for my clients – to me it’s like a treasure hunt. I enjoy training and counseling younger staff and attorneys in the community. The work takes all of your intellectual abilities and it takes all of your physical abilities too so you must look after your own personal wellbeing too. I make sure that I take vacations (I just got back from the happiest country in the world - Bhutan!), spend time with two children, and have other outlets. I lead an active life, I sit on the Board of Trustees of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Malaysia), and I help out at charity causes and environmental campaigns, like planting seeds for future generations and protecting turtle hatchery from poaching, etc. One thing that has helped me tremendously is the practice of the ancient Japanese art of kendo, a form of martial arts that teaches us to practise life in accordance with the principles of Budo or the martial way. Life is more important than just work. This is something I believe deeply - “Every man dies, but not every man truly lives”. That is why I tell people, that I do not practice law, but I practice life. By looking at things outside the domains of your career, it will help in your in your perception and practice of law.”
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INTERVIEW
STUDENT INTERVIEW Eugene Loh Chin Wei University:
Why made you want to study an MBA?
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
A degree has become a very common qualification nowadays. In order to outperform others, there is a need to further my studies. MBA is a programme which covers a wide range of areas and it could equip me with the knowledge to advance in my career, especially in terms of management skill and leadership style.
Occupation: Banker
Brief Job Description: Banking Frontline Operations.
What inspires you? Love and support from my family and friends inspire me the most. MBA is not an easy journey, especially since I pursue it on a part-time basis. The support given is an invisible strength which helps me to overcome numerous obstacles.
Favourite Quote Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you are not really losing it. You’re just passing it to someone else. ~Mitch Albom~
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INTERVIEW
STUDENT INTERVIEW Siah Kea Joe Why made you want to study an MBA?
University:
I believe every human has their own dream; my dream is to run my own business in the future. MBA is the first stage to prepare myself for the future business challenges. As an engineering student, I found out that I lacked knowledge in operating a company. An MBA provides the individual with necessary skills for advancement e.g. in management, human resource, marketing, business research methods, etc. On the other hand, this program provides a strong platform on a wide range of management issues and techniques plus specialized knowledge in many areas of today’s global business environment that enables me to develop a holistic view. Last but not least, I strongly believe that having an MBA will improve my confidence in self-attainment, both academically and commercially.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
What inspires you? Strong family and friends’ support inspired me to take up postgraduate studies. Besides that, there are a number of successful entrepreneurs who shared with me about the joys of business, sparking my curiosity. Learning is a neverending process. This encourages me to accept the challenge of furthering my studies although I have started working.
Occupation: Technical Sales Engineer
Brief Job Description: Supply of utilities to Oil & Gas and Road Maintenance industry while providing live demonstrations of our company product such as Radio Detection (RD8000) and Ground Penetration Radar (GPR), metal detector, etc. Also, following up with existing customers to ensure that they are fully utilizing our products and provide training for their employee. Finally, reporting of new and existing customers’ sales orders.
Favourite Quote Nothing is impossible, be confident in yourself, be patient, always try your best, keep the passion and never give up – all these will lead you to success in life. 23
INTERVIEW
STUDENT INTERVIEW Chua Ming Jim University: University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
Occupation: Fraud Prevention Analyst
Brief Job Description: Fraud Prevention Analysts work on different queues to identify potentially fraudulent accounts and take appropriate actions. We are required to complete investigations using multiple resources including customer contact (both senders and recipients to validate the authenticity of transactions and activities), contacting banks and credit card issuers and reviewing company activities, various websites and documentations.
What do you consider the best takeaway value from your postgraduate programme? The program is intended to provide intensive, high level training in principles of mathematical sciences. In particular, the program will develop individuals’ research and analytical skills, and substantially broaden the knowledge gained by balancing both the coursework and research project. Furthermore this program will equip individual with a range of skills demanded by today’s employers, and will provide a means of obtaining necessary preparation for further research in Mathematics.
What is your advice to prospective postgraduate students to prepare for this programme? They better be prepared to absorb lots of formulas and maintain their curiosity to explore, and exercise their powers of observation and critical thinking to discover creativity and problem solving skills.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 5 years from now I will be a more experienced, responsible and knowledgeable person even in my industry. I won’t limit myself from getting to know other businesses of the organization and developing a comprehensive view of the organization along with expertise in each business which I work in.
What is your motto in life? Better to fail than to regret.
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INTERVIEW
STUDENT INTERVIEW Lim Boon Ping What do you consider the best take away value from your postgraduate programme? Project management is the discipline of organizing and managing resources in such a way that they deliver all the work required to complete a project within defined scope, time, cost and quality constraints within acceptable levels of risk. Project managers can be found in all industries. In Malaysia, Project Managers usually can be found in Construction and ICT industries, but are not common in the education industry. Hence, my postgraduate programme guides me to apply Project Management knowledge to education administration, academic programmes and any other soft skill related development.
What is your advice to prospective postgraduate students to prepare for this programme? First of all, understand your personality and your career pathway and contribution. Try not to limit yourself to the programme; actually knowledge of all industries are needed for a Project Manager to handle some specific project which will bring profit, increase the efficiency of operations and build up the core value of the organization.
University: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
Occupation: Made Offer Account Manager
Brief Job Description: Manage day to day Made Offer requirements for University clients of the Services Unit, including workload, quality assurance and client and student liaison
What is your motto in life? Choose what you love, love what you choose.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? When I started my MPM programme, I had a chance to move on to a better career. Currently, I work in the Admission and Services Unit of an overseas university. I feel that, this is a good opportunity for me to experience different cultures and management from overseas education industry. In 5 years, I will able to focus on studying and research the Project Management in Education Industry and bring in the project management concepts and skills from various institutes, then study and modify them to match with local institute.
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MBA, MPhil or PhD?
S
o you want to do your postgraduate studies but can’t decide on what to go for? Then this interview with UTAR’s Dr Chong Yee Lee is a must-read. Among her enlightening pieces of advice: If you want to progress further in the corporate world, choose the MBA. But if your goal is more altruistic – to develop new knowledge to help a community to live better - do a Master of Philosphy (MPhil) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) instead. 26
Bio
Dr Chong Yee Lee is an Assistant Professor for the Faculty of Business & Finance, University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia. She received her Master of Business Administration degree majoring in Marketing from the Universiti Putra Malaysia. She has completed her PhD (Tourism) at the Faculty of Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in Oct 2011. Her research interests are tourism’s economic and socio-cultural benefits as well as marketing aspects.
FEATURED
Q1
Prior to academia, you worked in a range of industries, from computers, advertising to heavy equipment, in administration and finance. What made you jump to academia?
To be a lecturer was my dream in my undergraduate years. But before that, I wanted to gain industrial experience. As much as I admired some lecturers, I found a few were too fresh in terms of industrial experience and they couldn’t share enough relevant examples with students. By accumulating industrial experience, I can guide students in the real working world and tell them what outside people really need. Before the economic downturn in 1997, I was very busy. Then the crisis hit. I had lots of spare time
– a sure sign that something was wrong. I thought, since I’m over 30, I better take an MBA so that I have a better chance to look for career advancement or enter a new business area. After completing the MBA, I managed to switch from heavy equipment business trading into advertising. I wish to thank the advertising company management team for giving me the opportunity to explore an entirely new business area and apply the advertising and promotion’s theoretical knowledge into the real working world.
Then after one year, my previous company called me back to handle the company’s finance and administration matters. Since I worked there before and was comfortable with the work culture, I went back. I worked for five years but the heavy equipment never quite recovered its old glory. When construction suffers, we also suffer because we supply heavy equipment. I began to think I should go back to chasing my dream and that’s why I did my PhD.
Q2
You did a PhD in Tourism at the Faculty of Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia. You chose to research on the Regional Tourism Economic Impact in Penang. Why did you choose this topic? First of all, my hobby is travelling. I try to travel every year after graduating my students. When I was asked to submit my research proposal, I wasn’t sure what to study. Then, they suggested that I research the area of my hobby interest. That’s how I ended up doing tourism.
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FEATURED
Q3
Did you consider its commercial potential?
Not really. PhD is not really concerned about how to make companies or businesses earn more money. Basically, a PhD researcher should investigate ways that can make a community or society which the government is concerned of – for example, a nation, poor people, indigenous people, and single mothers – to live better. I chose Penang because, dubbed as “The Pearl of the Orient,” Penang is a popular tourism destination in Malaysia since the colonial days. The situation has somewhat changed as it is now
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losing out to other destinations. The local government is aware of the economic contribution of tourism; the contribution composes of (1) direct effect – revenues generated from tourist expenditure and (2) indirect effect – creation of additional output sales and employment for the local community. However, assessing the indirect economic benefit of tourism is difficult. The PhD thesis aimed to estimate the direct and indirect effects of tourist expenditure on the tourism sector in Penang,
The thesis’ findings can provide policy implication to the local government and guidance to other tourism interests for the development of tourism.
FEATURED
Q4
What were your findings?
Some of the research empirical findings fit nicely into wellknown literature and can be summarized under three empirical patterns: (1) The more developed a tourism destination is, the more tourism and supplies firms will be established within the region’s economy. (2) More tourist expenditure can take place within the region’s economy if the local economic structure is diversified. (3) Though seasonality – implying seasonal increase in labour – is much less of a problem in Penang, the domination by many small scale establishments operated by family members also means that not much job opportunities can be created. Consistent with the literature, the low technical coefficient values show that the linkages between local tourism sectors are weak because the
By accumulating industrial experience, I can guide students in the real working world and tell them what outside people really need.
input supply chain practiced by these tourism firms is short. Expanding the tourism industry in Penang will increase the tourist expenditure within the region’s economy. Attempts should be made to broaden the area’s tourist attractions and to diversify the tourism businesses. As a result, more
tourists may come and may also extend their length of stay and therefore spend more money within the local area. To reduce the dependency on imported goods, the shopping establishments need to introduce more locally produced crafts or souvenirs or agricultural products.
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FEATURED
Q5
What about tourists’ spending behavior?
By percentages of total expenditure, foreign tourists are willing to pay more for accommodation, but less for food, shopping, and miscellaneous services. The domestic tourists, on the other hand, tend to spend more on food – possibly because of the local cultural love for good food. It is interesting to find out that 86.5% of tourist respondents – local and international - will
leave the region after only one to five days. Perhaps, the lack of attractions in the destinations has reduced the tourists’ motivation to extend their length of stay. There is a significant relationship between tourists’ expenditure per person and the tourists’ country of residence. Comparatively, the westerners are willing to spend more
in the region’s economy. Such spending habit can be due to their preference for enjoying long holidays in the study region. This finding corroborates the government’s decision to promote “My Second Home” program in western countries – to encourage foreigners to buy houses in Malaysia for their own extended length of stay. Therefore, customizing the tourism services for the western tourists may be profitable. Targeting the Middle East tourists is also recommended because about 80% of these respondents may revisit the region and they are big spenders too. Better customization for their needs may make them extend their stays to more than five nights.
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FEATURED
To reduce the dependency on imported goods, the shopping establishments need to introduce more locally produced crafts or souvenirs or agricultural products.
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Q6
So what were your recommendations to increase the indirect economic effect?
The economic benefit of tourist expenditure is a major reason for enhancing the development of tourism. There are a number of ways by which the thesis findings can help improve government policy decisions with regards to tourism marketing and economic development for Penang. It would be more beneficial to develop the recreation, entertainment, or the miscellaneous sector, if the government intends to improve the local community’s economic income. This is because these sectors allocate a higher proportion of their output sales for wages compared to other sectors. On the 32
other hand, developing the miscellaneous sector and/or building more shopping areas will be useful if the region has high unemployment. The final decision is determined by the region’s economic policy. Service firms don’t require long supply chain for value-added products. Therefore, rather than attempting to improve the level of tourism business integration in Penang, the local government should attempt to broaden the area’s tourist attractions or diversifying tourism businesses. Such improvements can entice more tourists’ arrival and expenditure in Penang. Introducing more local products – including arts, crafts, and processed food – can reduce
the dependency on imported goods. In this way, more local manufacturing firms can be developed. The economic impact of tourism is more beneficial to the local community if a bigger part of the tourism development can be absorbed by the existing economy. In the long run, the region’s economic structure needs to be diversified in order to minimize the leakage effect. Policy makers should therefore encourage the tourism sectors to buy inputs from and pass spill-over activities to local players. As for new products or attractions like famous foreign theme parks, the state government should negotiate for more local “components” or inputs that make up the total product or services of those theme parks.
FEATURED
Q7
Though you did your PhD thesis as a requirement to obtain your PhD, did you manage to impart any of your recommendations to any related body of policy-makers in tourism?
In a recent presentation to Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, I pointed out that KL is too focused on shopping. The problem with shopping is that the leakages are very high, mainly because the products
Q8
sold are not produced locally. Malaysia needs to find a more effective way to promote local products in a centralized and high-traffic location.
With your rich working experience, you must have been able to share a lot of reallife examples
Yes. I tell students what really happens out there is not so simple. When I ask them to propose how to develop
a service or product for a company, I find that they can be a little naïve. There are so many things to think of - not just buy one free one as promotion. This should be the last resort. We never touch price or give free if there are better solutions. Instead, we give a value-added product. If you have a slow-moving product, bundle it with another product. At its core, it is buy one free one but we don’t reduce the selling price. Instead, we position it as value add.
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FEATURED
Q9
Among topics that you teach is research methodology for postgraduate studies. What is the difference in research for MBA, MPhil and PhD?
MPhil and PhD are very research-intensive. It’s not about making money. The goal is to help a community live better, not really helping a business to be richer. We must develop new knowledge as academics and for policy makers. That’s why PhD and MPhil can play a role in nation building. We research something that is unknown, so that the government can come up with a policy that will benefit the nation or a society. That’s why MPhil and PhD have such high dropout rates; many go in surprised by how tough they are. Globally, only 20% of PhD students can graduate. For MBA, the standards are not as high when it comes to research
Q10
Many people think they come in, attend class and can pass. Sorry, that won’t work. They should have a brief idea of what PhD is about. When I interview students over Skype, I ask them to be prepared to deviate from literature. You cannot take other researchers’ work and copy and paste. What you produce must be new and useful; this is called contribution of new knowledge. When I did my PhD, I didn’t watch any movies or do any travelling because every minute counts. I managed to complete it in five years.
How do you decide whether to take the MBA or MPhil?
If you want to progress further in the corporate world, do the MBA. It’s less about lecturing and more of sharing knowledge. For example, if you have some problems in your company, you can go to class and share with others. Lecturers function more like facilitators. We let you know the theories, and you discuss how to implement the theories.
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depth and quality because the research portion only constitutes 20%.
Human networking is important as well. If you need help, it’s not just the lecturer but likely one of your classmates who can help you now or in the future. If you want to go into the academic line, then you should choose MPhil. In academic institutions, research and development of new knowledge are top priorities.
FEATURED
Q11
What do corporations want most out of a student?
Definitely more than academic achievement. I met an internship company which told me that local graduates are more obedient or hardworking, but they are not so creative or outspoken. Also, their English is not as good as that of foreign
Q12
graduates. Nevertheless, UTAR has implemented activities and coursework to improve students’ English and confidence. For example, English is the medium of instruction used in UTAR. Many foreign students are coming to UTAR
to study because they can improve English here. Other than being “obedient” and confident, corporations also expect postgraduate students to be able to think out of the box as well as be aware of changing trends in the business environment.
How should academic institutions encourage students to be more creative?
They should assess students’ academic progress by using continuous assessment rather than exams. Continuous assessment involves an on-going observation and documentation of students’ work while they are engaged in inquiry investigations and discussions. In brief, one of the lecturer’s main tasks is to help students to understand and integrate new and better ways to solve problems.
Building team spirit is important as well. Team spirit is very important in any field of life because it creates the unity in human beings to improve their work. It helps to prevent misunderstandings which will affect their performance. If students request to change their team mate because of the person’s laziness or other attitude problems, I would encourage them to discuss the matters so that a win-win
solution can be reached. In reality, it is likely that a team would work with at least one uncooperative colleague. When you work outside, you can’t tell your boss you don’t want to work with so-and-so! Through coursework and co-curricular activities, we hope to nurture team spirit and creativity from the group.
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FEATURED
Q13 Other than being “obedient” and confident, corporations also expect postgraduate students to be able to think out of the box as well as be aware of changing trends in the business environment.
In your opinion, has the corporate world changed a lot in the last ten years? When a graduate goes out, do they have to raise the bar?
Twenty years ago, businesses were competing with each other. “If I live, you have to die.” They always try to be the winner. Today, you see people and businesses from the same or related fields are collaborating with each other. For example, hospitals partner with tourism-related sectors so that they can offer a conducive and complete package to their
Q14
Your dream was to be a lecturer. Are you living your dream now?
Yes. Lecturers are not out of the loop. We still need to research all the time to upgrade ourselves. We have to know what’s going on outside and read a lot. I also rely on my MBA and other postgraduate students to furnish me with the latest information about 36
international patients. Hotels are collaborating with each other to create new packages. Instead of cannibalizing the market, the trend now is to create a bigger or new market. It’s not about building a competitive advantage to be better than others. In other words, successful strategies never last long; and new graduates have to be better than old ones.
the market, since I have left the corporate world for some time. Indeed, we also have industrial advisors to update us. People say lecturing is a boring job. I disagree! You have to be dynamic and keep on updating yourself.
FEATURED
Q15
What is your educational philosophy?
Learning and teaching are reciprocal. You’re not just teaching. You’re learning as well. Students are not just absorbing what is taught by lecturers. They also learn together and from each other. In MBA, most of the students are working people so they have plenty to teach each other. They learn how to share. Education never ends.
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HIGHLIGHTS
UTAR-OTH pact sets off new chapter
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istory is in the making for UTAR and Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, Germany, after both parties took their collaborations one notch higher through the inking of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UTAR Perak campus on 28 May 2014. Signing on behalf of both universities were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik and OTH Regensburg President Prof Dr Wolfgang Baier. The ceremony was witnessed by UTAR Council Member Hew Fen Yee, UTAR Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, UTAR Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology
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(FEGT) Dean Dr Yap Vooi Voon, German National Agency for International Academic Cooperation (DAAD) Director Dr Guido Schnieders, Infineon Technologies (Kulim) Sdn Bhd (IFKM) Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Halm Peter, IFKM Technology Director Tan Soon Keong, OTH Regensburg Faculty of General Sciences and Microsystems Engineering Dean Prof Dr Walter Rieger and academic counsellor Prof Dr Rupert Schreiner, DAAD staff, UTAR staff and students.
Prof Chuah delivering his speech to the audience prior to signing the MoU
HIGHLIGHTS
Prof Chuah (fifth from left) and Prof Baier exchanging the signed MoUs flanked by (from left) Tan, Dr Yap, Prof Lee, Hew, Peter, Prof Rieger, Dr Schnieders and Prof Schreiner
“It is an auspicious day because we are having not only one but two functions, which are the signing of the MoU between UTAR and OTH Regensburg and the German Day,” said Prof Chuah in his speech. “We already have credit recognition at undergraduate level from universities in Japan, Korea, France, the United States, and many others. However, this recognition at postgraduate level is the first for UTAR and I would like to take this
opportunity to thank OTH Regensburg. With the mutual recognition of credit hours for the International Master’s degree in OTH Regensburg and the Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) in UTAR, this will further enhance student exchanges and promote inter-cultural learning as well,” elaborated Prof Chuah who also expressed his appreciation to FEGT and OTH Regensburg staff for laying the ground work for the MoU.
Prof Chuah also thanked IFKM for fostering the connection between UTAR and OTH Regensburg, and to DAAD for supporting UTAR through a substantial grant for the university’s academic leadership programme.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Prof Baier addressing the audience during his maiden visit to UTAR
Speaking on his first visit to UTAR, Prof Baier said that OTH Regensburg is proud to host German Day in an impressive university like UTAR. He enthralled audience with slides of the panoramic historical town of Regensburg, eventually drawing their attention to one particular landmark which is an old stone bridge. “The bridge is nearly 900 years old and is one of the most famous landmarks in Germany. In the middle age, the bridge played an important role in the economic and cultural development of Germany. After it was completed, the bridge became a huge boon for the development of the city as it connects not only two shores but also two economic regions,” said Prof
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Baier. “That is the reason behind me choosing the bridge as a symbol for our cooperation project, which will converge two different cultures from today onwards,” he elaborated. Apart from disclosing the history and milestones of OTH Regensburg, Prof Baier also mentioned that a growing number of OTH Regensburg students are seeking internships abroad, and that the university receives very good rankings in the international student barometer. The MoU recognises subject credits earned by students of both institutions to facilitate student exchanges for those enrolled in the UTAR Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) and the OTH Regensburg International
Prof Baier (right) presenting a memento to Prof Chuah
HIGHLIGHTS Master’s programme. Students enrolled in the UTAR Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) can apply to study in the OTH Regensburg International Master’s programme as an exchange student, subject to fulfilling the credit and admission requirements prior to transfer. Similarly, students of the OTH Regensburg International Master’s programme can seek to enroll in the UTAR Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) programme, also subject to fulfilling the credit and admission requirements prior to transfer. Students of the UTAR Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) who seek to embark on this exchange must complete at least 70 per cent of the total credit hours at UTAR and at least 30 credits from the curriculum of OTH Regensburg International Master’s programme, not including credits obtained for the Master’s thesis. Students enrolled under this MoU will receive recognition and benefits as regular full-time students of both institutions. Upon completion of the Master’s programme and having fulfilled all the requirements of both institutions, students will be awarded a Master’s degree from both UTAR and OTH Regensburg.
The ceremony concluded with a memento exchange between Prof Chuah and Prof Baier and a group photo-taking session for the VIPs. The German Day which comprised a booth exhibition and a series of talks on education opportunities in Germany was held later in the afternoon. Dr Schnieders kick-started the talk series with an informative session titled ‘Postgraduate Studies and Research in Germany’.
“Germany is known for its high quality products and a number of high-tech companies with strong local and international presence,” enthused Dr Schnieders who pointed out the country’s track record in research excellence as the main driving force behind its industrial success. “Our emphasis on research and development has led us to offering the Master’s programme only by research and not coursework,” said Dr Schnieders, who also
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HIGHLIGHTS
Dr Schnieders (front) encouraging students to consider postgraduate studies in Germany
divulged the rising figures of international students in Germany and the list of academic cooperation between German and Malaysian universities. The fact that German universities are wholly funded by state government and large corporations has enabled them to provide world-class education at competitive costs. There are no or near moderate tuition fees for postgraduate studies in Germany. After Dr Schnieders’ session, Prof Rieger entranced the audience with a descriptive talk titled ‘Introduction to Regensburg’. “Regensburg is
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FEGT Student Development and Industrial Training Deputy Dean Dr Tan Kok Tat (right) presenting a souvenir to Prof Rieger after the talk
a place where history meets future with a strong focus on innovation, high quality life and Italian-like atmosphere. Seated to the north of the Danube River, Regensburg is now home to approximately 150,000 inhabitants, most of whom are employed within the city’s global players and small and medium enterprises,” began Prof Rieger, who went on to showcase sought-after products made in Regensburg and the city’s
higher education landscape which comprised mainly the technical university or OTH and the University of Regensburg. He also provided a glimpse of the amenities and achievements of OTH Faculty of General Sciences and Microsystems Engineering before ending his talk with a fascinating picture and tagline on Regensburg which read, ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site: You will fall in love with Regensburg!’
HIGHLIGHTS
Prof Schreiner
It was the third talk titled ‘Introduction to Master Programme and Student Exchange Programme’ that had students sitting upright. Jointly delivered by Prof Schreiner and FEGT Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) programme head Dr Teh Peh Chiong, the talk offered elaborate information for students who have registered for the programme, and for those intending to do so. “The duration of the programme is two years and students are required to spend a minimum of five months in OTH Regensburg to be awarded the Master’s degree qualification,” declared Prof Schreiner. The programme also includes a nine-month practical training in one of OTH’s international partner companies in Germany or Malaysia. Prof
Teh, on the other hand, stressed on the programme structure and minimum credit hours that must be taken at UTAR before students head to OTH Regensburg and the compulsory subjects for those interested in joining the programme. For the fourth session, Tan took centre stage with an insightful talk titled ‘University Collaboration: Nurture Future Talent’. “There are several objectives that drive the collaboration between IFKM and local universities,” said Tan, adding, “We collaborate with local universities by way of joint research postgraduate programme, industrial attachment, university-industry partnership, R&D funding and delivery of higher learning education such as PhD to Infineon staff.
FEGT Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) programme head Dr Teh Peh Chiong
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HIGHLIGHTS
Dr Teh and Prof Schreiner (front) relating substantial information about the programme
We want to equip students with relevant skills, knowledge and exposure to ensure smooth and fast transition into industry workplace after graduation. As key industry partner, IFKM has the opportunity to influence the curriculum of universities to ensure that it is up-to-date and relevant to the industry. IFKM can also promote Infineon’s public standing as a leading high-tech frontrunner and an employer of choice.” Tan also spilled the beans on his friendship with Prof Schreiner which led to the establishment of ties between UTAR, IFKM and OTH Regensburg. Peter ended the day on a high note with his thought-provoking talk titled ‘Zero Defect – Culture
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or Mission Impossible’. “Zero defect is the ability for each item to fulfill specification and purpose as defined and expected, from the beginning to the end. It aims to reduce waste of time, money, material, capacity, effort, environment, energy, and emotion,” said Peter, who later explained why zero defect is important in the semiconductor industry. “Failure in the semi-conductor industry is termed as the experience of non-fulfilling expectations. There are millions of functions (transistors) and features hidden in most applications. Combination of various influences might lead to failure over time,” claimed Peter, who also maintained that zero defect culture is achievable when
everyone adheres to this threestep philosophy: Do it right the first time and every time, anticipate the risk and mitigate it, and prevent the defect rather than correct it. OTH Regensburg is one of the largest technical universities of Applied Sciences in Bavaria, Germany. It works closely with numerous business enterprises to offer a wide range of research-oriented academic programmes, and is well recognised for its high-quality teaching and research, industrial partnerships and a track record of facilitating inbound and outbound student exchanges through its established and wellconnected international office.
HIGHLIGHTS
Dr Teh and Prof Schreiner
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MALAYSIA, ASEAN’S NEXT LOGISTICS HUB? PKT Logistics Group brings the first ASEAN Logistics Symposium to Malaysia
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n 26th June 2014, the Centre for ASEAN Logistics Studies (CALS) kicked off the ASEAN Logistics Symposium, themed Malaysia – the next ASEAN logistics hub. Sponsored by PKT Logistics Group as part of their corporate social responsibility programme, the ASEAN Logistics Symposium is a joint research programme, the result of a powerful collaboration between the University of Hull from England, Universiti Utara
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200 subject matter experts from the top local logistics companies and the two tertiary institutions.
Malaysia and home-grown ALC College, which was sealed in April 2014. Held from June to December this year, the symposium consists of a series of 5 Labs, gathering and uniting
Today’s first symposium was officiated and launched by the Chief Executive of Northern Corridor Implementation Authority, Dato’ Redza Rafiq. This symposium will be a cluster of 3 educational parties that has committed to the research and development of making Malaysia the next ASEAN Logistics Hub.
HIGHLIGHTS
Dato’ Redza Rafiq exchanging hand shake with Dato’ Michael Tio after the opening.
Professor Dr. Zulkifli Mohamed Udin, Dean, School of Technology Management & Logistics represented University Utara Malaysia, Mr. Neil Maynard, Director of the International Office represented University of Hull and Mr. Edmund Edward represented ALC College. There are two key result areas (KRA) which will be the focus in this first Symposium of the series of 5, which are ‘Governance & Regulations’ and ‘Human Capital’. In later Labs, the KRAs will cover Infrastructure & Facilities, Green Issues and CSR, Technology & Information Interchange,
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HIGHLIGHTS
Security & Risk Management, Land Transport, Local vs Foreign 3PL, and include a Malaysia vs ASEAN SWOT analysis. With the formation of the AEC (Asean Economic Countries) in 2015, it becomes strategically more critical that top logistics companies and tertiary institutions should form partnerships to consolidate their market position. For companies that want to retain their market share, they must be willing to learn, innovate and implement change fast.
Touxing the warehouse
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HIGHLIGHTS
The team
Established with the main mission of helping position Malaysia as the next regional logistics hub. CALS, the Research and Development centre of ALC College, will carry out research on logistics issues, and develop solutions for further advancement of this industry. CALS aims to be the catalyst for the formation of industryacademia collaborations by gathering and uniting all the key industrial and academia partners in this symposium.
The meeting of international and local universities is expected to accelerate intrauniversity technology transfer and commercialization. With increased networking and business opportunities, coupled with live information and findings from the industry, Malaysia will offer a most conducive environment for the development of more adjunct professors and expert logisticians for the logistics industry.
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Universities Educational Tour Showcase DATO’ MICHAEL TIO
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director PKT Logistics Sdn Bhd One Logistics HubTM
With the positive response from students and corporate organizations from the past year, PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd (PKT Logistics) continues to encourage this particular target group to visit their corporate headquarters, the One Logistics Hub located 1 kilometer along the KESAS Highway. As part of their uniquely tailored Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the group will showcase their way of running the logistics business. The tours have been able to create a following especially among students, fresh graduates and upcoming SMEs. PKT Logistics is also emphasizing on the importance of nurturing and molding the young talents which will eventually be future leaders in the society. PKT’s FB Fan page has over 25,000 fans with mainly the students who have visited them being the majority. In the past 4 years, PKT has hosted close to 250 student tours with a estimated total of 10000 students who have visited. By 2015 they believe that all this fans will be their ambassadors out there marketing for them after the motivational tour to their hub.
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SHOWCASE
Dato’ Michael Tio, Group Chief Executive & MD of PKT Logistics is venturing into education by creating a teaching culture in a working environment. With his tagline towards education, “If doctors can be taught in a hospital environment, why not our future logisticians in a logistics centre”, he has acquired ALC College in Klang to realize this dream. He is also in discussion with the University of Hull, UK and has signed a Memorandum of Intent last year to bring the leading university to Malaysia.
With his philosophy being Dream of It, Talk about It, Plan for It, Work on It and Get It, he is certainly a man who loves to dream big while being the motivation factor to all his students, staff and friends.
University Utara Malaysia
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SHOWCASE
UITM Puncak Alam (Human Resource Management)
POLISAS 56
SHOWCASE
UITM Merbok Kedah
UITM Puncak Alam 57
SHOWCASE
GC University Lahore
Elite International College 58
SHOWCASE
Putra Intelek International College
Malaysia University of Science & Technology 59
SHOWCASE
SMK Convent Klang
UITM Puncak Alam (School of Business) 60
SHOWCASE
Putra Intelek International College
Politeknik Shah Alam 61
SHOWCASE
Jabatan Pengajian Politeknik
UCSI University 62
THE CEO SEGMENT
FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE BUSINESS SEGMENT
CREATIVE | ENTREPRENEURIAL | OUTSTANDING
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THE CEO SEGMENT
THROUGH DEAF EYES
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very now and then, there will be someone whose life has been fraught with obstacles and difficult circumstances, and yet triumphed over them with extraordinary passion and determination, and in turn inspires us to be the best we can be. Think Nick Vujicic, Helen Keller, Beethoven – the list goes on. Chua Tuan Sek, or James, as he is called by friends, is our local version.
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THE CEO SEGMENT
Born Deaf with only one good eye, he grew up in challenging school environments including being mainstreamed into a hearing school at the age of 9. Armed with a passion for the English language and books, and great support from his family and friends, James persevered and finished all the major school examinations (PSLE, O and A Levels), a feat that no one could predict or expect him to ever achieve. Today, James is happily pursuing two of his great passions: teaching and swim-coaching Deaf students. The MBA Postgraduate Edge Magazine spent an enlightening afternoon with James to talk about his challenges, experience and the Deaf community in Malaysia.
Q1
Growing up Deaf, what were the main challenges you faced, especially in education?
Yes, a lot of people tend to think that I can hear and talk because I wear hearing aids, and so cannot be Deaf. But at the end of the day, when I take off my hearing aids, I really am stonedeaf, and so consider myself Deaf. Lip-reading with one good eye (I have a lazy eye) can be a difficult process especially when the person keeps moving around or talks very fast. Even when I requested to sit in the front row so as to lip-read the teacher better, I often missed out on certain information when I copied down notes. Thankfully, most teachers had been really accommodating and tried to speak slower for my benefit; some of them even stayed
back to repeat their lessons just for me despite their busy schedules. One guy teacher even trimmed his moustache so I could read his lips better! I am really grateful for their kindness extended in so many ways; that was what kept me going on throughout my education. If there was one challenge I struggled with the most – it was the class discussions. Imagine 40 voices flying here and there like ping pong balls! It can be very taxing on the
brain and eyes, especially when your classmates forget that you cannot hear, and you are straining to keep up with the flow, and sometimes your buddies cannot write as quickly on paper.
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Q2
Looking back at your education, you have come very far. What did you study, and what you liked best about your university studies?
I did a BA in Mass Communications (double majoring in Film & Television, and Journalism) at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in a twinning partnership with Curtin University of Technology, Australia. I am grateful to my parents for allowing me to do something I really wanted to study. I liked the group projects
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the best – I was accepted by my peers as an equal and we all had fun helping each other creatively do up the presentations. I am also very proud that I founded the Deaf
Students Society there, to help Deaf university students have a voice, and create awareness about Deaf culture. The society is still active now.
THE CEO SEGMENT
Q3
Were there any moments where you wished you could have changed any aspect of your university experience as a Deaf student?
Yes, I wish I had access to sign language interpreting. I find sign language much easier to “read” than lip-reading, which can be really tiring if you have to concentrate for 3 solid hours.
Q4 If there was one challenge I struggled with the most – it was the class discussions. Imagine 40 voices flying here and there like ping pong balls!
How has your Deaf identity shaped your past and present careers?
My classmates and I were put in a mainstream primary school after being educated in a Deaf school for 4 years. Although the oral approach was implemented in my first school which helped me ease in the mainstream setting, it was a huge culture shock to suddenly move to a class 10 times bigger than my usual class, and constantly mug the books and compete with some of the brightest minds. So much textbook information was processed everyday yet I had no time to balk and cop out. I simply had to push myself to work harder. My family also encouraged and supported me to do my best despite all those difficulties.
science. I also want the Deaf students and community to see there is a much bigger, more exciting world beyond their school and home.
I think that sums up my work ethos. Work harder to prove we can do anything except hear. I use my passion for words to inspire Deaf students to love the beauty of language and
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THE CEO SEGMENT
Q5
You used to be a journalist for several magazines. Can you share with me your experiences as a Deaf (and the only award-winning one in Malaysia) journalist?
It was a huge challenge to conduct a face-to-face interview, lip-read and try to write down their responses as accurately as possible. I always emailed the interviewees for double confirmation. But I enjoyed the whole process, partly because I love interacting
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with people and finding out what makes them tick, and being able to craft a readable story from all that . The Red Ribbon Media award in 2009 was totally unexpected because I was up against some very established media names,
and I was just a rookie. To win this award at national level and be recognised for my journalism skills was a great once-in-a-lifetime honour that I will never forget.
THE CEO SEGMENT
Q6
What is the general status of Deaf high school and tertiary education here in Malaysia?
Generally speaking, very few Deaf high school students make it to tertiary level. There are several different schools, with their own teaching methods across Malaysia. An education that nurtures the
Deaf student’s talents and has dedicated teachers and family members who support Deaf communication in an open environment is generally the best option for Deaf students.
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THE CEO SEGMENT
Q7
Would you further your studies here or overseas?
I would love to further my studies overseas because there are more opportunities to access disability services. That said, I cannot afford to further my studies so if a scholarship is offered to study overseas or locally, I would be really happy and grateful.
Q8
As a freelance teacher for this The Community Service Centre for the Deaf, what are the challenges you face on a daily basis? What inspired you to become a teacher?
Helping them learn English grammar, understand literature (which is abstract, generally difficult for Deaf students to master), and explaining Science concepts, all of them in sign language within limited class time.
Q9
My teachers really went the extra mile to help me succeed in school. Their loving patience and determined belief in me inspired me to become this kind of teacher for my current students.
What are your proudest or fondest memories of teaching here in this school?
The fact that all of my SPM 2013 students passed Science in the English medium with one scoring an A. Also, the students being able to correctly recall and explain to me literature plots and concepts without being prompted.
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THE CEO SEGMENT
Q10
I understand you are a freelance swim coach for Deaf people. What made you take this up, and why do you want to teach swimming to the Deaf community?
I love swimming and I want more people to see that swimming can be a fun exercise. Many Deaf friends asked me to become a coach so that they could learn via sign language. The opportunity to become a coach arose, and the rest is history.
Q11
Are there any special qualities that you think one should have in becoming a teacher or coach for Deaf people? What are the career options available 1) locally 2) internationally?
Passion. Patience. Purpose. There are many career options here and internationally; it depends on what and where you want to teach or coach Deaf people.
Q12
What are your dreams for this Deaf community?
To be able to enjoy fair wages and have more access to educational institutions with caring teachers and helpful disability services (sign language interpreting) and supportive work environments with understanding colleagues.
Q13
Lastly, if someone wants to become a teacher or writer or swim coach, what advice would you give to him/her?
Chase your dreams with all your heart, one day they will be realised. Your passion will ultimately be why you work to live.
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