She’s Gone

taken from 3g.co.uk
If only women were as simple as cellphones.

Once upon a time, I kept changing them because I could not find one that fit me well.
It was always interesting at first but once I really got to know them, I found out that they could not satisfy my needs. So I left them.
We are individuals. Everyone knows that it’s hard to find one that fits you well.
You may look at one and think. She looks great. But when you get involved, you find that she’s not that great after all.

After 22 years of searching, I finally found one that really fits me well.
When you do find one like that, you spend all of your time, energy & money to make sure that she’s yours.
In the end, when you finally hold her in your arms, it’s the greatest feeling ever.
It’s an ever greater feeling when you find that she’s exactly what you need & you never want to let her go.

Of course, there will always be younger ones, more popular ones, or more superior types.
But I have never looked at them with any interest because the one I had was all I ever wanted.
True, we had our ups and downs. Moments when we broke each other’s hearts.
But the many years we’ve spent together made her so much greater than the newest slimmest ones.

Woe to all of us who hath found true love
Because all good things must come to an end.
This is a tribute to the one who entered my life 5 years ago & left me just as abruptly.
It was involuntary. It was painful. It was her death.

It hurts as I remember the moments we’ve had.
The mistakes I made with her.
The distant lands we roamed together.
Finding another like her would probably take another 22 years…

RIP, my Sony Erickson W950i.
You will be forever remembered.

Off To A Great Start!

I'm out in Sibu this weekend after a fortnight at school without any internet.
Firstly, I'd like to thank all my Birthday well-wishers. All 115 of them. (100 Facebook wall posts, 8 Facebook messages, 4 Blogger comments, 1 email & 2 tweets.)
I know you love me even though you only think of me for 30 seconds in a year on my birthday. Knowing that you took the effort to click on my name & type out a simple message really warms my heart. Really. Thanks.
Besides 115 x 30 seconds = 58 minutes!
That's a lot of time to be thinking about little ol' me! hehehe~~~

Together with me in Sibu are 4 students. If you've been following my blog for a year, you'll have read this post made last year.
I rewarding some of my students by taking them on a weekend trip with me to Sibu.
Will write a dedicated blog post about this later.

How is life at school?
So far so good. The first 2 weeks have been good & it's mainly due to how cooperative the students have been at school.
I was right about the F5 students, they were willing to work with me as long as I had an open dialogue with them.
Even though we face a water outage at school due to the pump being out of service, students have been cooperative & we willing to bathe in rain water or in the river.

This year I'm doing more team building activities to help students identify & get emotionally bonded with the hostels. This includes choosing a colour, mascot & motto for their respective hostel blocks.
A logo will be produced for them as well as T-shirts based on their selection.
The decorations for each room & each block will also vary according to their selected colours.
This will be quite interesting &, of course, I will share this journey here for everyone's benefit.

taken from digitaliq-photographic.co.uk

It has been a great start to the year, I foresee a year where I play psychological games & move behind-the-scenes chess pieces more than ever. I will also be working on my soft approach as well as my push & pull approaches for my future more urban school.
I will not be doing the magazine, I will not lead the English panel nor will I lead the English Language Society this year. I want to focus on the Hostels because it is something way larger & requires even more of my commitment & attention.
 No Internet. No water. No cell reception. But still going strong.
Now, how can I get paid more for all my contributions. hmmm~~~

An Early Happy New Year!

taken from mylot.com

Bad news. Dear colleagues, there is no internet at school.

If there is no internet at school, I will have to access it in Sibu or Song.
I do not plan to spend the weekend away from school until at least a fortnight so if the internet is not fixed by then, I won't be on FB or my blog. There will be absolutely no way to communicate with me whatsoever.
If I was eaten by a crocodile, nobody would know for 2 weeks until I update my status or blog about it.

I R Chief!

I will be going back to my ulu school earlier than most to prepare for the coming year. I need to check on the hostel repair works & prepare the paperwork for the hostels as I am the Chief Warden.
The prefects are coming back on 1 Jan so I want everything planned & ready for their execution before then.

I have a very good feeling about next year because the new F5 students show tremendous potential. Hopefully, with my capable team of wardens, we can mould them into student leaders.
Though they come from poverty & lack exposure, I believe they are meant for great things.

taken from olaabdolhai.blogspot.com

For those of you who are in the know, I'll also be spending my birthday in my ulu school.
For 2 years, I had to go to school the day AFTER my birthday which was already a real big bummer but, this time, I'm going back BEFORE so no words can describe how big a bum this one is.
No cell coverage so don't waste your time texting or calling. Just send me a flying kiss or, even better, BLESS ME WITH PRAYER.
No internet so I wont be able to thank the once-in-a-year well-wishers on FB or on my blog.

I'll be celebrating my birthday & the new year with a very special someone in school this Saturday. I'll blog about it in time & you'll also get to know this person whom I spent a lot of money to get to my ulu school.

Talking about stuff I want to blog about... There's so much!
My Singapore trip, the rest of my Kapit run, me in fashion contacts &, not to forget, there's a new series I'm going to start writing about. Look out for those soon!

taken from aquilogy.net

To my parents & siblings, I love you & thanks for making my 2 week break a good one. I really appreciate you guys even though we are not perfect but we make do with what we have.
To all my greatest friends out there, I love you & thanks for being there whenever I call or need you. You guys are the best support system I have & it's too bad I cant access you guys in the ulu.
To all my awesome friends out there, let's be an inspiration to each other!
To all my students, you're the reason I exist. I'll try not to be so hard on you this year... TRY.
To all my colleagues, let's get down & get jiggy wit' it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
 

A Singaporean Christmas

taken from mike2.com

I'll be in Singapore for the Christmas weekend.
Sorry to all my friends & family who hoped to party with me on Christmas eve.
Maybe next year, okay?

I'll be exploring the infamous Christmas wonderland transformed Singapore.
Hopefully, I'll meet a hot chick or two. **fingers crossed**
Definitely will NOT be shopping... I hope.

Have a good one everyone!
Remember that Christmas was brought to us through the sacrifice of one man & it made all the difference.
Merry Christmas!
=D

SBPA: Now Every Civil Servant Can Be Rich... er!!

The way this transition to SPBA was handled, kind of feels like a get rich quick scheme. They promise you the moon (naik gaji up to 40%, kenaikan gaji tahunan up to RM300 & it's apparently the best in the world), they rush you (15 days), they offer you high returns that are not guaranteed (no official jadual gaji released to date) & refuse to give you details besides big nice sounding words or bombastic acronyms because it's "sulit".

These ivory tower policy makers either think that we do not have any other choice or they're afraid too many people will sign up. Anyway, they spent RM2bil on SPBA. Imagine the zeros.
One of them gives it to us straight. We never force you. You want, you sign la. Not happy, don't sign la.

Back in 2002, when people had to decide on SSM, they were given 30 days to do so. I think this should be the minimum because they had to decide on their long-term financial future. They probably had to discuss it with their families & think it through calmly too.
It was also done in October when everybody would still be at work. Doing it during the last 2 weeks of December, somehow reflects the last minute rush everyone is too familiar with back in uni. Not to mention the worry & frustration caused to officers working in the interiors who are away on holiday. It's the Christmas break for God's sake!

Well, it is not my place to talk about people with power. I have to menurut perintah & you know what they say about power...
I just hope that when whoever is reading this, rises to a position of power, do not forget the plight of the lowly minions like me.
If you want to screw us over, at least do it with a smile & leave us thinking that we're getting a great deal. We actually have brains so you'll have to try harder than promises & mystery gifts.

SBPA (Saraan Baru Perkhidmatan Awam) for Teachers
Here is what I've learned with whatever scraps I could find.
Do take note that I am not an expert from JPA. I am just as confused as you are but I might be slightly more intelligent & possibly possess superior Internet & social skills.
**I may update this post as new information becomes available. Updates will be labelled.**

taken from The Malaysian Insider
I bet you skipped past this wonderfully concise graphic summary of SBPA, didn't you?!
Go back & read it, you lazy bum!

Whatever is already mentioned above I will not explain again because it's the typical sugar coated inspirational writing with low-frequency pompous vocabulary that looks beautiful on paper & is yet to prove itself in application thing we are so familiar with on the ground.

Different Circular Number for Education Dept (DG)
Before we begin, let me clarify that there is a special circular on SBPA just for education officers (DG): PEKELILING PERKHIDMATAN BILANGAN 13 TAHUN 2011
For the others: PEKELILING PERKHIDMATAN BILANGAN 11 TAHUN 2011
Always check the first page & keep this in mind when signing the SPBA forms because they are different!

Teachers are Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan (PPP)
All teachers are now classified as PPP under SBPA.
Used to be PPPS (Degree) & PPPLD (Diploma) under SSM.

No More Hakiki, KUP or Cemerlang.
All will be either Guru Biasa (DG1-1 & DG1-2), Guru Kanan (DG1-4 & DG1-5), Guru Wibawa (DG1-6) or Pendeta Guru (Khas).
However, you can still up your grade based on kecemerlangan tanpa mengisi kekosongan jawatan. Probably means, there will still be a Guru Cemerlang programme but it will be integrated into the new SBPA pay system instead of being something 'special' like it is under SSM.

The 3 Types of Gaji & Their Annual Salary Increments (KGT)
1. Gaji Single Point > Kumpulan Premier
frasa 36: "Gaji Single Point adalah diperuntuk bagi jawatan KPPM (Ketua Pengarah Pelajaran Malaysia)."
This dude will be assessed with KPIs & will get the best deal of all. He wont be reading this so I wont waste my time. Anyway, there is no information on his increments.

2. Gaji Minimum-Maksimum > Kumpulan Pengurusan Tertinggi
frasa 43: "Jadual Gaji Minimum-Maksimum adalah diperuntuk untuk Jawatan Utama / Gred Khas di bawah Kumpulan Pengurusan Tertinggi PPP seperti di Pekeliling Perkhidmatan Bilangan 12 Tahun 2011."
This group will get increments of 5% (Menepati Sasaran), 10% (Melebihi Sasaran) and 15% (Melebihi Sasaran Signifikan) based on their assessment results.

3. Gaji Sebaris > Kumpulan Pengurusan & Professional serta Kumpulan Pelaksana
frasa 60: "Gaji Sebaris - JGS adalah dibentuk bagi menggantikan JGM (Matrix aka. 3 tangga) sedia ada turut terpakai bagi PPP."
Unlike SSM, annual increments for this group under SBPA is fixed based on your grade.
Exp: DG1-1 has an annual increment of RM225 every year.
All you have to do to qualify is receive at least 70 points in your LNPT annual assessment. If you get less than 70 for 3 straight years, you will be vetted & probably given early retirement.
You know what that means! Oh, my nose so BROWN!

Higher Salary Ceiling Under SBPA

click to view a larger image

There used to be a problem of officers reaching the salary cap for their grade & getting increasingly frustrated at not being able to naik pangkat & enjoy annual increments. Not anymore!
Now we have more time to sit in the office, enjoy the air-con & eat kuih until pencen! WOO!

WTH is Jumud?
You will find this low-frequency word used very frequently in the circular.
Check it out in Google Translate.
Okay, now I'll give you the meaning according to SBPA:
Dijumudkan = Dihapuskan = Removed

How Will They Calculate My Pay Under SBPA?
Firstly, your basic salary on 31 Dec under SSM will be increased by 1 step on 1 Jan. Then, it will be matched with the equivalent under SBPA (usually a higher number). FURTHERMORE, you will then receive another increment under SBPA for 2012.
Meaning, you receive two increments in 2012 for accepting SBPA. One under SSM on Jan 1 & another when you reach your Bulan Gerak Gaji under SBPA.

Exp: Me.
Dec 31 > DG41 P1T6 = 2148.10
Jan 1 >    DG41 P1T7 = 2238.55
               DG1-1 T3 = 2375 (SPBA Equivalent)
               DG1-1 T4 = 2600 (My NEW Basic Salary under SBPA)

**17:19 22/12 Update**
THIS IS NOT FAIR!!! I am paid the same as those who came a year after me. What gives?
Apparently they are going to balance it by giving the more senior ones an earlier Tarikh Kenaikan Gaji (TKG) & the juniors a later TKG.
Let's say I am the most senior in my SBPA tangga gaji. When I get into SBPA, my TKG will be Jan while my 1 tangga gaji lower (SSM) junior will get it on the next TKG which is in April & so on.

TKG: Jan, Apr, Jul or Oct.
Based on the above, my actual TKG will be in April.

Tangga Gaji Guru Under SBPA

The Holy Jadual Gaji & Details On The Fastest Time-Based Route Upwards

Here's what you've all been waiting for & the BIG SECRET that nobody wants you to know & they'll psycho you during the taklimats asking, "kamu percaya kah? percaya kah dari internet ni?"
F them. What have you got to lose by arming yourself with some inaccurate knowledge with a JPA logo on the PPT slide & dream about how you're going to squander all of that tax-payer's money?

SO MANY FORMS!!! Which Forms Do I Use?
Based on your situation, you fill in F & one of the other forms.
You may leave some of the details blank because your KJ is supposed to fill them in anyway. Just sign & post. Esp if you live far away from where you work.

You have 11 more days to hand in the forms (deadline 30 Dec). Though, in reality, the time you have de facto is shorter because your school has to process the damm paperwork & key in the details online before a specific date.
**22:53 26/12 Update** The due date to sign up for SBPA has been extended to 15 January 2012.
However, the due date for the Opsyen Umur Persaraan Paksa (Form F) remains at 30 Dec.

You can download circular #13 for teachers here. The forms will be at the end of the PDF file.
DO NOT ASK ME WHAT PDF IS. I will stab you. Seriously.

F: Opsyen Umur Persaraan Paksa
EVERYBODY MUST FILL THIS ONE. 2 copies.
Tick & sign whether you want to keep teaching even when you move slower than a crawling toddler, your teeth & hair are falling out, you have trouble getting it up & your grandchildren are in your classes.
**21:49 19/12 Update** You don't have to retire at 60 to qualify for SPBA. You can get SBPA even though you wish to retire at 58.

G: Skim Perkhidmatan yang Digabung, Dinaik Taraf, Penarafan Semula atau Pemansuhan Fungsi
Most of us would fall into this category if you have been "Sah". 2 copies.
Many schools have asked their teachers to fill in this form.
**20:55 19/12 Update** If your grade is listed here, fill this form.

H: Jawatan Jumud Sebelum Pelaksanaan SBPA & Dihapuskan Jawatan (Pegawai yang Telah Memenuhi Syarat)
I have no idea who this is for but I filled it in anyway. Didn't want to travel all the way back into the jungle or waste my meagre salary on Pos Laju. 2 copies.

J: Jawatan Jumud Sebelum Pelaksanaan SBPA & Dihapuskan Jawatan (Pegawai yang Belum Memenuhi Syarat)
I think this is for those in the DC grade who have not been "Sah". 2 copies.

Further Reading
The SBPA is way bigger than the mere remuneration that I have so eloquently described in this blog post.
Do take some time off the year end break to READ. MALAYSIANS NEED TO READ MORE!

Subsequent Circulars Released After SBPA.
Program Bersepadu Potensi Dan Kompetensi (PROSPEK) - This is how you will be vetted if you want to naik pangkat.
Peperiksaan Perkhidmatan Awam - Not relevant to "Sah" teachers. Maybe for those who are not.
Program Transformasi Minda - Those of you who have not been to Khursus Induksi will have to experience this. I pity you. Though it does sound much nicer & will probably be more interesting?
Penganugerahan Pingat Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (PPC) Dan Pemberian Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (APC) - This musical chair farce is taken to a whole new level. Now, you can calonkan someone to receive a medal from some big shot. Then, he will also receive a cert & RM1k cash as in APC.
**17:26 22/12 Update** Pelaksanaan Dasar Pemisah (Exit Policy) Dalam Perkhidmatan Awam -Very interesting & equally important. If you chose to ignore the others above, you must read this one.

SBPA PowerPoint Slides
I am in possession of 3 PowerPoint slides of information regarding SBPA for teachers.
Hot chicks can send me a flying kiss for a copy. Guys can just ask & get out of my sight.
Seriously, just send me a nicely worded email or, even better, LEAVE A COMMENT!