I believe this question has not only pop up out of the blue for me, but to everyone else who blog. Why do we blog?
Some people blog for political reason, some for fun, some for popularity, some for creativity, some for their own personal expression of what they felt inside and I guess there is more others…. Whom I haven’t mentioned.
Today I came to a conclusion why I blog… I blog not for fun nor for popularity but just to express myself… to show how much I love my gf, how much screw up my life is… what I am so confused about… in life… so I title my blog living a confused life.
So why do anyone blog?... haha... why do my fren blog... let them express themselve.. ask urself why u blog?
Sunday 13 November 2005
Wednesday 26 October 2005
Jack Jack & Yo Yo. PART 2
As semester 2, 2004 continued, Yoyo and I have more memories come in.
5) The delivery of “puppies”
Few days after the dinner, I was chatting with you online from home at Bentley. You were so stress and so insecure about yourselves. You feel there is no one you can talk to or share your feelings with. So I decided to bring you my two puppies, Daisy and Spunky.
Well is it a really puppy of cause not! You were thinking of separating them and said that Regina also like the puppy and I told you, no you can’t separate themselves from the same house. They need one another and cannot be separated. Lame but its’ work on you cause I wish you kept two of them to you.
So that very night, I told you in MSN. BRB. Then I drove my car to your house and drop them outside your doorsteps and drive away. Then I called you to go to your doorstep and collect it, well since I am away you can’t return it back to me. :).
6) ISC Pasar Malam
One of the nicest nights for two of us, you were the Events Manager back then. Going thru so much stress being scolded and shouted but its’ all make up when the day just goes out fine.With your time and effort, although there is a little bit of mess up at the program, you manage to put in a good show. I remember that I gave you, lilies one of your favourite flowers. While back then I don’t know but now I know, because you told me.
7) ISC Araluen Trip
Looking at flower enjoying the beautiful spring in Perth, We wen
t to Araluen Trip together. I was the Convenor back then and you a normal volunteer. I am so happy that day; we enjoy the nice weather with all the flowers. Most importantly to me was your very presence. It was time with no regrets. Dear dear, I wish to go there again with you alone, just two of us in the park spending out wonderful time together.8) ASIA cocktail
Hm… well one night that I will remember kinda forever I think, 30th September 2004. J. For the first and only time, we went clubbing together. Very very rare, but it is a big night out though. We among hundreds of students coming to the events, join the crowd and party thru out the night. It is just a very magnificent night for two of us I think. You being that naughty girl, ask you not to drink so much kept drinking and later got high giving me difficulties to send you home only. Hehehe. Well, the worst of all was that you refused to dance with me. L nvm I will make sure next time you will dance with me.
Well this conclude part 2 for now. But there will be more!!!! For interested reader about jack jack and yo yo stay tune for part 3.
Saturday 22 October 2005
Jack Jack & Yo Yo. PART 1
Lately so many things happen between my dear one.. Her Ex-bf has came back to the picture and it was a major setback between our relationship. Although now it is all over but the pain and uneasy feeling in two of us still exist. Furthermore, we are so far apart, which i decided to do this cause i can't think of a better way to express myself.Since the day we met in February 2004, we has unintentionally start a story of our own. We met during my ISC orientation trip sem1, 2004 and never met again after
that. It was not till you actively get involved in ISC as events manager for MCW. During that time, i was not noticing that much just knowing that you have a japanese name, YOSHIKO. I have heard of you from everyone else but still never met you. Finally one day i met you during our sausage sizzle session. I was like this gal is cute and pretty... of coz at that time, i never thought you will be anyone who is so important to me nor i ever thought we will get together.
Well... finally the moment of unreveal love occurs. Semester 2 came. First, you were so hard to talk to cause you have a bf and all you can think of is not to go out with guys alone. SMART!!! me finally planned a dinner at my West Perth house when Candice was away. You, Hui Lin and Regina came to my house and eat. Well i should say i really want to thanks Regina and Hui Lin. If not for two of them, i beleive we won't have the moment we have in Perth and also be together now.Why Regina? It was her who gave me your contacts and allow me to chat with you at MSN and got your freindster contacts.
Why Lin? It was her who allow me to see you and make you go out. Further to that, it was her who always been for us and help us go through the hard time and moment. She has been a valuable part to our relationship.
Our special moments.
1) Mylanta Incident
Do you remember dear dear, when you are having gastric middle of the night, that i brought the mylanta to your place. Imagine what silly stuff i have do at the time?
I actually drive all the way to Vic Park and try to buy for you but all they sell was the liquid bottle one. So i was force to drive all the way to City and get for you. It was like 1am. Remember, you were so worried cause its' already 30mins and i told you i will be there soon and when i was chatting with you, i was at uni.
This was the first time, i ever do anything for you dear. MYLANTA!!! for my dear.
2) Bubble Tea (Bubs) @ Tea Fusion
Our moment of going to bubs. It was like a weekly rountine or should i say almost daily routine for us to go bubs. We were having so much fun going out in a group drinking our bubs!!! We have our very own drink, Winter Kiss!!!! well i believe it goonna be in my book for the rest of my life!!! the moment we have during Winter!!! and the KISS!!!! :). Mine has evolve from Winter Kiss with green tea jelly to Winter Kiss with GTJ and Sago. WHY!!! it is the mixture of yours and mine. You have always drink Winter Kiss with Sago. Dear, it is our moment in bubs @ Tea Fusion.
3) Moon Cafe
Another of our hangout place other than Tea Fusion. Our favourite order there have always been Ice Chocolate and Fries!!!! We have so much memory here that before you go, we actually have to come to Moon Cafe one more time. We have so much memory at this place, where we all Gossips, talk back about our moment and story from the past, catch up and have a break from the rest of the stressful place.
4) Vickery House
Your home sweet home in Perth in 2004. I beleive most memorable time will be your place where you actually cooks for me and i drop by everyday. You and i study together in your room. You and i spend our time together at your place. There is so much memory at this place and i feel it is like the beginnning of our relationship although we really got together at 18th August 2005. But this place @ 18th September 2004 i feel has mark the beginning of our story. Our very own book, Jack Jack & Yo Yo.
I guess i should stop here... There is so much to write about us... i have decided to do it in part. So this will be Part 1. Our Book. JACKJACK and YOYO:)
ISC PASAR MALAM, CURTIN UNI
Well... Firstly i would like to say thank you to my very MCW Committee for putting up such a magnificant show!!!
This year it is one of the best Pasar Malam and creating a NEW BECHMARK for International Students Committee MCW Committee. As chairperson, i was so impressed when we see a double in numbers of vistors coming into PASAR MALAM.
You see everyone queuing up buying thier foods and drinks, people watching the bands performing, enjoying the moment with thier love one, kids running around, families spending they time out with thier families. The best part is when you realise you and your committee made all this happen is just the best things ever happen to you. You feel that you have just put in sucha great show that everyone can just enjoy thier moment and time.
The best part for me was that my dad and mum actually came for my event, they can see with thier very own eye that i organised this event and make all this happen with my committee. Running here and there to ensure all parts covered. :)
Pasar Malam at Curtin Uni, Organised by International
Students Committee. I wish you all the best for next year. i have been part of the organising committee for the past three years now and i am now saying my last bye to you and to my BELOVED ISC. I wish you all involving in International Students Committee all the best, i will no longer hold any position in ISC except for my honarary title in ISC hehehe!!!The greatest moment of all is when you know you did something right for the betterment of the community... Thank you Tiffany, Sam, Renee, Gline, Lin, Shue Vern and the rest of you in my committee.. Thank you.... and the most important of all is My beloved Gf, Yoshiko Tey Mee Ho, whom is currently in KL, your continous support and love has provide me with the additional strength to move on. i love you with all my heart and no one can replace your moral support and effortless action you are doing for me now......
For those who miss out, Come next year. It will be on 1st week of october.. OKIE? hehehe i am sure you will enjoy it.... CURTIN VERY OWN "PASAR MALAM"
NEW Beginning, Graduations!!!!
Well... Pplll Finally free to update now... Man... tell me what can be more interesting then to see yourselves walking up the stage and receive your certificate.
I still remember the moment early this year when i was just a participant for my friends graduation and my girlfriend graduation. I was like i wish to be there together with them but unfortuantely, i have a bumping ride while doing my degree. I wouldn't i am the best student on earth but it was the first time in myself that i see myself failing units.
That moment was like the end of the world when you realise you flank. You were like looking for every opputunity to find all sort of excuses to comfort yourself why you fail. You blaming everyone you can think of and finding every single way to pass your unit. Well it all make up now. We move on!!! and GRADUATED.
Well.... 8th October 2005, My very very own graduation for my Degree in Global Economics and Finance. Every moment on the stage, sitting down and that particular moment when you receive your cert. was all how you wish the time stops.
Interesting enough, thats' what i wish for but too bad i can't. Well, that what i wish for unfortunately, my moment kinda backlash when the ending of my ceremony came. It like the flare shooting up the stage and THAT's IT>>>> and bye bye graduates.... :( kinda sad right... you were like expecting they would put up a big show... :(
Well fine... i have my cert now... i am running away with it hehehe. GOOD NEWS!!! is i have my pic with the Vice-chancellor and Chancellor.... I ROCKS!!!!! not everyone will ahve the moment but i have it... YES!!!!! it turns my day back on when i actually took that pic. :).
So WHAT NEXT? everyone will asked that question when you finish. For me, i am still doing my Master In International Relations, and till i obtian that cert. it will not be the end of my time in Curtin. I been here since 2001 and so i will continue and make my time a memory.... JACKY TEO KIAN KEE>>> A DEGREE HOLDER NOW YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday 1 October 2005
WEEK OF DOOM
Nothing can be as bad as this week... the world is full of shitty stuff for me now.... my multicultural week has just gone haywire.... all the probelms just shoot up......
nevertheless i haven't even work on my assignment.... i am dead.... well worst of all.... i am so confused with my love life...... anyway this is my personal blog and dairy... if ppl choose to read it... they r more than happy to read...
Here is where i express out what is all inside me... :) no secret no lies.... hahahaha.
STRESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.............. BUT MCW IS COMING COOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
nevertheless i haven't even work on my assignment.... i am dead.... well worst of all.... i am so confused with my love life...... anyway this is my personal blog and dairy... if ppl choose to read it... they r more than happy to read...
Here is where i express out what is all inside me... :) no secret no lies.... hahahaha.
STRESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.............. BUT MCW IS COMING COOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Wednesday 28 September 2005
How to be a good BF?
Many of us, guys must have wonder how can we be a good bf?
Gals, will always complain things like
Why my friend did this to his gf and you can't?
Why u don't call me always?
Why u always like to hang out with your friends?
Why u don't treat me as nice as before?
Why you always go out with this gals? Is there something you r hiding from me?
Why do i hear romours of you with (her)?
Why do you come back so late?
Why, why, why..... and man... you will have endless list of why sometimes....... some will never think about the question what... such as..
What have my bf done for me?
What have my bf done to keep me happy?
What have my bf gone through just so that he can call me?
What have we gone thru to be at where we are now?
What is more precious then to have someone love u truthfully?
What keep my bf and i so so close?
What have my bf done that is better then anoyone else bf?
What, what, what...
Today, guys have to go through this test of rumours, gossips and backstabbing of the so-called world of gals. How can a male become a good bf? What justify a good bf? What makes up an ideal bf?
Everyone knows, Men are from Mars, Womyn are from Venus. REMEMBER... communication is the key to bring this two together....
To my understand as a guy, and having a gf myself. I think to be a good bf today seem so much harder than long time ago.
Telecommunications
Decade ago, guys can have excuses of saying, no phoneline, no internet and no mobile so cannot have this instant communications. As technology improves, so did our gals moving with it, expectation of reply of hearing from the bf increased... must recevie SMS, must receive call, must receive e-mail or chat online. either one of those if not all. GUYS well most of them, r expected to pay all, except for some cases where the GF is damn... rich... or just (too understanding)... then well either pay all (when they r blind by the power of love, HA!HA!) or part sharing.
Magazines, their source of informations
Gals mag... welll one of mens... worst nightmare sometime.... it give the gals so much information and sometime too generalised information that, many gals cannot use thier own originality and common sense to differentiate what is good or bad.
Have anyone wonder why... gals magazines.. salesss increase by double... welll guys are buying it to understand what thier gf is learning and absorbing hehehehhehe...... POOR Guys...
Friends
I guesss this happen since long time ago, PEER PRESSURE... one of the most common threat and enemy of guys...... Guys a tip for you.... never make enemy or offend your gf's friend. If you did, just prepare for the worst scenario sometime.... GALS POWER.... the new-age power... all want to be on top all want to be well-respected. So guys... do respect and accept the changing world. EQUALITY is the word... and dealing with gals remember to add in another E, EQUALITY-EMOTIONAL. :D...
Never offend a gal unless u feel the gal have no connection to u in anywhere. Many gals are now...... so powerful that whats' bite you, you don;t even knows..... Want to win the heart of you gf, remember to treat your gf's fren nicer.... but NOT to fall in love with them okie... or else.. u will have a CAT FIGHT outside ur doorway later hehehhee.
Caring and Loving
Many have wonder, how to justify caring and loving, when you think you done enough, somehow ur gf will come out with more ideas of how they justify caring and loving. The list of caring and loving seem... so long and endless... hm..... so some tips...
To show u care and love to a gal sometime is not hard... it depends which category r u at 1st. There it will justify ur requirement
1) Totally hopeless bf
In a long distance situation
One sms a day will do fine, even if it is identical will be cool. Well if plus one call even better. A daily one communication is cool.
In a normal situation
Call or go and see your gf once a day will be fine for her...
2) Average bf
In a long distance situation
Well... a constant communication has to be establish. Has to be pretty active communication, e-mail, sms, call online and another other mean of communication u can think of...
In a normal situation
Well sure expect you to spent at least couple of hrs with her, if both of u r working... maybe for dinner then go and watch movie, not neccessarily outside, can be at home also, Then go for GALS "Retial T."
3) Well and good bf
In long distance situation.
More and more communication. Not only has a good communication but also have to do much more like remembering all the anniversary dates, buy gifts for her, surprise her when she is really miss u, 24/7 on call....
In a normal situation
Well... gifts....surprises... be there... 24/7 on call.... anniversary....calll.... bring her out... give her some time break.. when she wants... understanding her behaviour and attitude... undertsand her way of living.... understanding how she works... and etc.etc.....
Welll this is just some of my tips... and my tips okie... not neccessarily true for you... hahaha so find out ur own GF needs...and thinking... MY GF... hm... yet to discover.. very complicated... this is my expereince with my other ex-gf and talking to my frens....
GUYS.. remember... when u r broke.... never to have a gf.. if you want to have a gf remember try to be loaded.... LOOK AT ME i am broke... and not sure why my gf think now... sure i guess thinking i am not caring etc... coz, expectation of calling or sms is not done... well... it cost money.. when talk about money.. sure end up quarrelling.... man.... i don't know how... now... i am not a money printing machine nor i am well-loaded person... lately been living of remaining home food and frens.. treating..... thanks to all my fren who treat me... like hui lin, sam and renneee. man... i feel sometime.,... why can't anyone undertsand my situation. i wish my gf to understand, she seems to undertsand but yet.. sometime.. seems like not...well gals... told ya... complicated being... hehehe
Gals, will always complain things like
Why my friend did this to his gf and you can't?
Why u don't call me always?
Why u always like to hang out with your friends?
Why u don't treat me as nice as before?
Why you always go out with this gals? Is there something you r hiding from me?
Why do i hear romours of you with (her)?
Why do you come back so late?
Why, why, why..... and man... you will have endless list of why sometimes....... some will never think about the question what... such as..
What have my bf done for me?
What have my bf done to keep me happy?
What have my bf gone through just so that he can call me?
What have we gone thru to be at where we are now?
What is more precious then to have someone love u truthfully?
What keep my bf and i so so close?
What have my bf done that is better then anoyone else bf?
What, what, what...
Today, guys have to go through this test of rumours, gossips and backstabbing of the so-called world of gals. How can a male become a good bf? What justify a good bf? What makes up an ideal bf?
Everyone knows, Men are from Mars, Womyn are from Venus. REMEMBER... communication is the key to bring this two together....
To my understand as a guy, and having a gf myself. I think to be a good bf today seem so much harder than long time ago.
Telecommunications
Decade ago, guys can have excuses of saying, no phoneline, no internet and no mobile so cannot have this instant communications. As technology improves, so did our gals moving with it, expectation of reply of hearing from the bf increased... must recevie SMS, must receive call, must receive e-mail or chat online. either one of those if not all. GUYS well most of them, r expected to pay all, except for some cases where the GF is damn... rich... or just (too understanding)... then well either pay all (when they r blind by the power of love, HA!HA!) or part sharing.
Magazines, their source of informations
Gals mag... welll one of mens... worst nightmare sometime.... it give the gals so much information and sometime too generalised information that, many gals cannot use thier own originality and common sense to differentiate what is good or bad.
Have anyone wonder why... gals magazines.. salesss increase by double... welll guys are buying it to understand what thier gf is learning and absorbing hehehehhehe...... POOR Guys...
Friends
I guesss this happen since long time ago, PEER PRESSURE... one of the most common threat and enemy of guys...... Guys a tip for you.... never make enemy or offend your gf's friend. If you did, just prepare for the worst scenario sometime.... GALS POWER.... the new-age power... all want to be on top all want to be well-respected. So guys... do respect and accept the changing world. EQUALITY is the word... and dealing with gals remember to add in another E, EQUALITY-EMOTIONAL. :D...
Never offend a gal unless u feel the gal have no connection to u in anywhere. Many gals are now...... so powerful that whats' bite you, you don;t even knows..... Want to win the heart of you gf, remember to treat your gf's fren nicer.... but NOT to fall in love with them okie... or else.. u will have a CAT FIGHT outside ur doorway later hehehhee.
Caring and Loving
Many have wonder, how to justify caring and loving, when you think you done enough, somehow ur gf will come out with more ideas of how they justify caring and loving. The list of caring and loving seem... so long and endless... hm..... so some tips...
To show u care and love to a gal sometime is not hard... it depends which category r u at 1st. There it will justify ur requirement
1) Totally hopeless bf
In a long distance situation
One sms a day will do fine, even if it is identical will be cool. Well if plus one call even better. A daily one communication is cool.
In a normal situation
Call or go and see your gf once a day will be fine for her...
2) Average bf
In a long distance situation
Well... a constant communication has to be establish. Has to be pretty active communication, e-mail, sms, call online and another other mean of communication u can think of...
In a normal situation
Well sure expect you to spent at least couple of hrs with her, if both of u r working... maybe for dinner then go and watch movie, not neccessarily outside, can be at home also, Then go for GALS "Retial T."
3) Well and good bf
In long distance situation.
More and more communication. Not only has a good communication but also have to do much more like remembering all the anniversary dates, buy gifts for her, surprise her when she is really miss u, 24/7 on call....
In a normal situation
Well... gifts....surprises... be there... 24/7 on call.... anniversary....calll.... bring her out... give her some time break.. when she wants... understanding her behaviour and attitude... undertsand her way of living.... understanding how she works... and etc.etc.....
Welll this is just some of my tips... and my tips okie... not neccessarily true for you... hahaha so find out ur own GF needs...and thinking... MY GF... hm... yet to discover.. very complicated... this is my expereince with my other ex-gf and talking to my frens....
GUYS.. remember... when u r broke.... never to have a gf.. if you want to have a gf remember try to be loaded.... LOOK AT ME i am broke... and not sure why my gf think now... sure i guess thinking i am not caring etc... coz, expectation of calling or sms is not done... well... it cost money.. when talk about money.. sure end up quarrelling.... man.... i don't know how... now... i am not a money printing machine nor i am well-loaded person... lately been living of remaining home food and frens.. treating..... thanks to all my fren who treat me... like hui lin, sam and renneee. man... i feel sometime.,... why can't anyone undertsand my situation. i wish my gf to understand, she seems to undertsand but yet.. sometime.. seems like not...well gals... told ya... complicated being... hehehe
Monday 26 September 2005
I LOVE YOU
I wonder... why i love u so much... my dear, yoyo... i wish you can be happy and can stay happy.....
Lately, it seem probelms happen one after the another one.
I wonder who tell you about me and samantha.... and the rumours about all this "untruth" in PERTH. Appparently there has been too many misunderstanding and made you feel unhappy. I really wish you can telll me who tell you all these unbacked informations...
It is hard enough already to deal with long distance relationship. i just hope those ppl can give me a break... don't judge anything by the cover... read the content pls...
Then later, the probelm with KEN... ur ex. i really don't know wat to say. He is ur past why does he want to make someone feel unhappy and guilty. If he really love you and been with you for more than 2 years, should know better that, you will be upset...and soft hearted.
I am not blaming him or anything.. but i think it is not neccessary to bring it back up about the issues of when we started, when we take our photo etc. Then play this "kolian" games of wish u happy, thought u feel the same for me etc....
Personally, i feel this is a "pok tong cheng" strategy... he might not be thinking of it, but i feel so much like it... Man give me a break, don't anyone tell this person, stop pastering and get over with it.. MOVE ON!!!!!
Anyway, i know you, my dear will be upset and pissed with my update. i wish you to know.... i love you and i will do watever i can't to keep u beside me.... those rumours ask who ever tell u to "shut the F#$% Up" if got probelms and really think for u should talk to me 1st. not report to u untrue or non-factful information... see and understanding it is different.
i know you might be upset now dear... but i hope u will feel better and keep this in ur mind.... i love u, and will try my best t give u happinesss anddddd hope.... :D. i will love u more than anythign else... except MY FAMILY.... hehehehe... i love u dear.... love u... so much.... pls don't let anyone cause any trouble to our relationship and hurt us....
Lately, it seem probelms happen one after the another one.
I wonder who tell you about me and samantha.... and the rumours about all this "untruth" in PERTH. Appparently there has been too many misunderstanding and made you feel unhappy. I really wish you can telll me who tell you all these unbacked informations...
It is hard enough already to deal with long distance relationship. i just hope those ppl can give me a break... don't judge anything by the cover... read the content pls...
Then later, the probelm with KEN... ur ex. i really don't know wat to say. He is ur past why does he want to make someone feel unhappy and guilty. If he really love you and been with you for more than 2 years, should know better that, you will be upset...and soft hearted.
I am not blaming him or anything.. but i think it is not neccessary to bring it back up about the issues of when we started, when we take our photo etc. Then play this "kolian" games of wish u happy, thought u feel the same for me etc....
Personally, i feel this is a "pok tong cheng" strategy... he might not be thinking of it, but i feel so much like it... Man give me a break, don't anyone tell this person, stop pastering and get over with it.. MOVE ON!!!!!
Anyway, i know you, my dear will be upset and pissed with my update. i wish you to know.... i love you and i will do watever i can't to keep u beside me.... those rumours ask who ever tell u to "shut the F#$% Up" if got probelms and really think for u should talk to me 1st. not report to u untrue or non-factful information... see and understanding it is different.
i know you might be upset now dear... but i hope u will feel better and keep this in ur mind.... i love u, and will try my best t give u happinesss anddddd hope.... :D. i will love u more than anythign else... except MY FAMILY.... hehehehe... i love u dear.... love u... so much.... pls don't let anyone cause any trouble to our relationship and hurt us....
Saturday 24 September 2005
Guild Election Curtin
Wel... now is the end of the most hectic election in Curtin Student Guild history... one fo the closest one of all... Although my team, International Association Lost the election in many position. We still secure 4 councillor, 3 nus delegates and ISC convenor for 2006. The opposition secure all Div rep and Guild Exec and 5 councillor and 4 Nus delagtes.
The vote was like 600-700 for us and thiers like 700-800. So unfortunately due to the 100 votes differents we lost all the office beaerers positions. :(.. but i feel my team has did a good job and I know one day we will beat this team... and win.
Anyway they win because of Supporting Tics, We lost because we have not fake team... :). in my heart we win!!!!
The vote was like 600-700 for us and thiers like 700-800. So unfortunately due to the 100 votes differents we lost all the office beaerers positions. :(.. but i feel my team has did a good job and I know one day we will beat this team... and win.
Anyway they win because of Supporting Tics, We lost because we have not fake team... :). in my heart we win!!!!
Thursday 15 September 2005
About Brunei From the US. Department of State
BruneiCountry Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and LaborFebruary 25, 2004
Brunei Darussalam is a small, wealthy, Islamic country ruled by the same family for over 600 years. A British Protectorate from 1888, it became fully independent and sovereign in 1984. After a failed rebellion in 1962, the then Sultan invoked an article of the Constitution that allowed him to assume emergency powers for 2 years. These powers were renewed regularly, most recently in June 2002 under the present ruler, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. Although not all the articles of the Constitution were suspended, the state of emergency places few limits on the Sultan's power. The Sultan also serves as Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Minister of Finance, Chancellor of the national university, Superintendent General of the Royal Brunei Police Force, and Head of the Islamic faith. The Constitution does not specifically provide for an independent judiciary and the Sultan appoints all higher court judges and has the authority to remove them, although he has never done so. The courts appeared to act independently.
The police force and an Internal Security Department report to the Sultan, who maintains control over both.
The country's large oil and natural gas reserves, coupled with its population of 341,000, gave it a high per capita gross domestic product of approximately $12,500. The Government used its substantial oil and gas revenues and investment income to provide a wide range of services and benefits to citizens, including free schooling and medical care, subsidized housing, and jobs. During the year, the non-oil and gas component of the economy suffered its fifth year of stagnation.
The Government generally respected its citizens' human rights in several areas; however, its record was poor in other areas, particularly with regard to civil liberties. Citizens did not have the right to change the Government, and they generally avoided political activity of any kind because of the official atmosphere of disapproval concerning such activities. Citizens did not exercise freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, or freedom of association. Labor rights were circumscribed and foreign workers sometimes were subjected to exploitation, although the Government took steps to protect foreign workers. Other human rights problems continued, including restrictions on religious freedom. Occasional spousal violence against women remained a problem, although the Government addressed the issue at many levels. Discrimination against women was a problem. In October 2002, a reform nationality law was passed that allows women to pass on their nationality to their children.
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From:
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
There were no reports of the arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life committed by the Government or its agents.
b. Disappearance
There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The law prohibits mistreatment of prisoners, and there were no reports of such mistreatment. Caning is mandatory for 42 drug-related and other criminal offenses, and was included as part of the sentence in 80 percent of criminal convictions. Canings are carried out in the presence of a doctor who has the authority to interrupt for medical reasons. Prison conditions generally met international standards. There was no overcrowding. Juveniles typically served their sentences in adult detention centers but several young offenders were housed at a government welfare center. During the year, construction began on a correctional facility for young offenders. Male and female offenders were housed separately. Prisoners received regular medical checkups. Remand cells at police stations were Spartan.
Human rights monitors were not reported to have requested prison visits; however, foreign diplomats had consular access to detained nationals. Family members were permitted to visit prisoners and bring food.
d. Arbitrary Arrest, Detention, or Exile
The law provides for a prompt judicial determination regarding the validity of an arrest. However, those provisions, like the Constitution itself, may be superseded, either partially or wholly, through invocation of the emergency powers. The Internal Security Act (ISA) permits the Government to detain suspects without trial for renewable 2-year periods. Information on a detainee usually is published only after his release.
Normally a magistrate must endorse a warrant for arrest. On rare occasions, warrants were issued without this endorsement, such as when police were unable to obtain the endorsement in time to prevent the flight of a suspect. Police officers have broad powers to make arrests, without warrants, of persons caught in the physical act of committing a crime.
There were no known arrests for publishing or distributing anti-government literature during the year. However, in the past, the Government has arrested and interned citizens for such activities.
During the year, six individuals were detained for suspected association with a banned Muslim organization, Al-Arqam. In late 2000 and early 2001, the Government used the ISA to detain at least seven Christian citizens, several of whom had converted from Islam, for alleged subversive activities. All were released in 2001. Government officials maintained that the detentions were for security rather than religious reasons (see Section 2.c.). Two of the Muslim converts to Christianity were believed to have reverted to their original faith after undergoing "rehabilitation." Rehabilitation may entail pressure, ceremonial renunciations, or schooling.
There were no reports of political prisoners, but information on possible detainees was very hard to obtain.
Under a colonial-era law, the Sultan may forcibly exile, either permanently or temporarily, any person deemed to be a threat to the safety, peace, or welfare of the country. Since independence there have been no cases of banishment of citizens.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
The Constitution does not provide specifically for an independent judiciary, but the courts appeared to act independently during the year, and there were no known instances of government interference with the judiciary. All higher court judges are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Sultan.
The judicial system consists of five levels of courts, with final recourse in civil cases available through the Privy Council in London. Procedural safeguards include the right to defense counsel, the right to an interpreter, the right to a speedy trial, and the right to confront accusers.
The civil law, based on English common law, provides citizens with a fair and efficient judicial process. Shari'a (Islamic law) supersedes civil law in some areas, including divorce, inheritance, and some sexual crimes. Shari'a law is not applied to non-Muslims. During the year, lawyers trained in both civil and Shari'a law were working on a proposed alignment of the country's two legal systems into a comprehensive legal code. A "Law Society" (bar association) to promote lawyers' public accountability was established in July. The civil law lacks provisions to allow companies or individuals to sue the Government, which traditionally resolves disputes with generous, non-negotiable settlements, or, in some cases, simply refuses to settle. There is no legal provision to provide affordable legal counsel for poor defendants, except in capital cases. Such defendants may act as their own lawyers in court.
There were no reports of political prisoners.
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
Civil law permits government intrusion into the privacy of individual persons, families, and homes. However, such intrusion rarely occurred. Shari'a law permits enforcement of "khalwat," an Islamic prohibition on the close proximity of a Muslim and a member of the opposite sex other than a spouse. There were numerous reports of religious enforcement officers entering homes, buildings, and vehicles to detain suspects.
Section 2 Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
Under the emergency powers that have been in effect since 1962, the Government restricts significantly freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
In 2001, legislation that codified existing practice further reduced press freedom. Among other restrictions, it requires that the local newspapers obtain operating licenses, as well as prior government approval of foreign editorial staff, journalists, and printers. The law also gives the Government the right to bar distribution of foreign publications and requires distributors of foreign publications to obtain a government permit. The law allows the Government to close a newspaper without prior notice and without showing cause. Journalists deemed to have published or written "false and malicious" reports could be subjected to fines or prison sentences.
Prior to the promulgation of this new law, foreign newspapers or magazines with articles that were found to be objectionable, embarrassing, or critical of the Sultan, the royal family, or the Government were not allowed into the country at times. Magazine articles with a Christian theme reportedly were censored (see Section 2.c.). The growing use of fax machines, the Internet, and access to satellite transmissions made it increasingly difficult to keep such material from entering the country.
The country's largest circulation daily newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, practiced self-censorship in its choice of topics to avoid angering the Government. However, letters to the editor often included comments critical of the Government's handling of certain social, economic, and environmental issues. The Government on occasion responded to public opinion on some issues concerning social or environmental problems. There was 1 Malay-language press, the Media Permata, which circulated approximately 5,000 newspapers. There was also one Chinese-language newspaper.
In 2002, a second daily English-language newspaper, the News Express, lost a suit for slander and defamation brought against it by a law firm. The company that owned the newspaper declared bankruptcy and closed. The newspaper had featured a letters page where citizens and residents expressed their views and complaints, often about government services and, increasingly, about government policy. The newspapers' willingness to publish these expressions of opinion represented a modest extension of press freedom. Prior to its closure, the Immigration Department raided the newspaper on several occasions; and its management and several workers were subsequently convicted of a number of immigration and labor offenses.
Although the only television station was government owned, three Malaysian television channels were received locally. Two satellite television networks were available, offering a total of 28 different channels, including the Cable News Network, the British Broadcasting Corporation World News, and several entertainment and sports channels.
The Government's tolerance of political criticism was not tested because there was no organized opposition. The English-language newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, was advised by police not to publish any stories about the activities of the Consumers' Association of Brunei (CAB), a quasi-human rights organization (see Section 4). In the past, the Government arrested those who attempted to propagate unwelcome political views.
Internet use became widespread. During the year, a third Internet board, hosted outside the country, added another avenue through which citizens expressed critical opinions, albeit under pseudonyms. In May, the Internet forum BruneiTalk was blocked for approximately 10 days apparently for discussing business dealings of senior officials. The country's primary Internet service provider was state owned.
The Government generally respected academic freedom; however, some researchers chose to publish from overseas and under a pseudonym when they perceived that subject matter pertaining to the country would not be well received. There were no politically oriented student associations.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Under the emergency powers in effect since 1962, the Government significantly restricts the right to assemble. Freedom to assemble for political purposes was not tested during the year.
Political parties are allowed, but may not engage in "activities that endanger people." Civil servants and security force personnel, who together make up 60 percent of all employed citizens, are not permitted to join political parties. There are two registered parties in the country: The Brunei Solidarity National Party (PPKB) and the Brunei People's Awareness Party (PAKAR). Both parties pledged their support to the Sultan and the system of government, although they criticized administrative deficiencies. During the year, the parties largely were inactive, their few activities often went unpublicized, and they were hindered by membership restrictions.
The country had few nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), all of which were based locally and were generally professional, business or social associations. Any NGO seeking to operate in the country is required to apply for permission under the Companies Act. The activities of international service organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, and the Lions, which developed out of the established business community, continued to be restricted by the Government. Religious regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the State Mufti's Office prohibited Muslims from joining these organizations.
c. Freedom of Religion
The Constitution states that "The religion of Brunei Darussalam shall be the Muslim religion according to the Shafi'ite sect of that religion: Provided that all other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony by the person professing them in any part of Brunei Darussalam." However, the Government routinely restricted the practice of non-Islamic religions and of non-Shafi'i Islamic groups.
The Government investigated and used its internal security apparatus both against persons whom it considered to be purveyors of radical Islam and against non-Muslims who attempted to proselytize. For example, the Islamist Al-Arqam movement and the Bahai faith remained banned. Citizens deemed to have been influenced by "deviant" preaching (usually students returning from overseas study) were assigned to study seminars organized by mainstream Islamic religious leaders. The Ministry of Religious Affairs prepared the weekly Friday sermons delivered in mosques countrywide.
The Government reinforced the legitimacy of the hereditary monarchy and the observance of traditional and Islamic values through a national ideology known as the Melayu Islam Beraja or "Malay Muslim Monarchy." Despite the constitutional provisions providing for the full and unconstrained exercise of religious freedom, the Government routinely restricted the practice of non-Muslim religions by prohibiting proselytizing; occasionally denying entry to foreign clergy or particular priests, bishops, or ministers; banning the importation of religious teaching materials or scriptures such as the Bible; and denying requests to expand, or build new churches, temples, and shrines. There has been a Catholic apostolic prefecture in the country since 1998 headed by an ethnic Chinese Bruneian Prefect. During the year, two Christian churches were given permission to repair and expand premises on safety grounds. However, two Christian groups were denied permission to register, which is required by law to worship communally.
Non-Muslims who proselytize may be arrested or detained, and possibly held without charges for an extended period of time. As an example, in December 2000 the Government used the ISA to detain at least seven Christians, two of whom were converts from Islam, for allegedly subversive activities. Three detainees, Malai Taufick bin Haji Mashor, Awang Yunus bin Marang, and Mohd Freddie Chong bin Abdullah, were released in October 2001, after spending 9 months in detention. There were credible reports that one of the Christian detainees, Taufick, was tortured and beaten during his first month of detention, while a second was subjected to intense psychological pressure to return to Islam. When released, Taufick was placed under 1-year house arrest. A second detainee, Yunus, was not permitted to speak in public or travel outside of the country. Government officials maintained that the detentions were security-related (see Section 1.d.).
The Government routinely censored magazine articles on other faiths, blacking out or removing photographs of crucifixes and other Christian religious symbols during the year. In addition, government officials prevented the public display, distribution, and sale of items featuring non-Islamic religious symbols.
The authorities conducted raids sporadically on clubs frequented by foreign residents and foreign workers to confiscate alcohol and foodstuffs that were not prepared in accordance with "halal" requirements (the Islamic requirements for the slaughter of animals and the prohibition on inclusion of pork products in any food). The authorities also increased raids on karaoke establishments operating without a license.
The Ministry of Education requires courses on Islam or the national ideology, the Malay Muslim monarchy, and prohibits the teaching of other religions. The Ministry requires that all students, including non-Muslims, follow a course of study on the Islamic faith and learn Arabic script. The International School of Brunei and the Jerudong International School are exempt from these requirements. Private Christian schools were not allowed to give Christian instruction and were required to give instruction on Islam. However, the Government did not prohibit or restrict parents from giving religious instruction to children in their own homes. In 2000, the Government responded to objections from parents and religious leaders and set aside tentative plans to require more Islamic courses in private, non-Islamic parochial schools.
The Government requires residents to carry an identity card that states the bearer's religion. Visitors to the country are asked to identify their religion on their landing cards.
For a more detailed discussion see the 2003 International Religious Freedom Report.
d. Freedom of Movement within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
The Government restricts the movement of former political prisoners during the first year of their release. Generally the Government does not restrict the freedom of movement of its citizens, visitors, and permanent residents. Government employees, both citizens and foreigners working on a contractual basis, must apply for approval to go abroad, which was granted routinely.
No legal provision exists for granting temporary refuge or refugee status to those seeking such refuge or asylum. Under the law, persons arriving without valid entry documents and means of support are considered illegal immigrants and are refused entry. There were no reported cases of individuals seeking temporary refuge during the year.
Section 3 Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government
Citizens did not have the right to peacefully change their government. Under the continuing state of emergency, there is no parliament, and political authority and control rests entirely with the Sultan. Members of the Sultan's appointed Cabinet serve as his principal advisors.
Individuals sought to express their views or to influence government decisions and policies by writing letters to a local newspaper or by petitioning the Sultan or handing him letters when he appears in public (see Section 2.a.).
The country has attempted to institutionalize a form of popular representation based on a traditional system of village chiefs who are elected by secret ballot by all adults. Candidates must be approved by the Government and must be Malay. These leaders are expected to communicate constituents' wishes through a variety of channels, including periodic meetings chaired by the Home Affairs Minister, with several officials appointed by the Sultan. Regular meetings between senior government officials and "Mukim" (a group of villages) representatives allowed for airing of local grievances and concerns. In 2000, the Foreign Minister confirmed that a review of the Constitution was submitted to the Sultan for approval, and that "an element of an election" was in this report. However, at year's end, there had been no word on when the revised Constitution might be forthcoming.
The lack of a representative, democratic government seriously limited the role of both men and women in government and politics, although women were limited to a greater extent. There are no women ministers in the Government, although the Sultan's sister, Princess Masna, was the second ranking official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there were women ambassadors, judges, and other senior officials.
Section 4 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
The Consumers' Association of Brunei (CAB), established in 2002, attempted to address human rights but was impeded by the Government from doing so. Beginning in May 2002, the CAB publicized poor working and living conditions of foreign workers involved in protest work stoppages (see Section 6.e.), the organization received a letter from the Commissioner of Police requesting CAB to show reason why it should not be deregistered for exceeding its mandate, which primarily focused on consumer rights. Senior CAB members were reportedly subjected to surveillance. The Association was able to show evidence of its mandate to address workers' rights, but subsequently the local media did not publicized the association's activities.
Section 5 Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Disability, Language, or Social Status
The Constitution does not contain specific provisions prohibiting discrimination based on race, sex, disability, language, and social status.
Women
The extent of spousal abuse is unknown. During the year, cases of abuse occurred, although specific figures were not available. The criminal penalty for a minor domestic assault is 1 to 2 weeks in jail and a fine. An assault resulting in serious injury is punishable by caning and a longer jail sentence.
A special unit, staffed by female officers, existed within the police department to investigate domestic abuse and child abuse complaints. A hotline was in service for persons to report domestic violence. The Ministry of Culture's Social Affairs Services (SAS) Unit provided counseling for women and their spouses. During the year, approximately 18 female domestic abuse victims were sheltered at the Taman Noor Hidayah, a shelter run by the SAS unit.
According to press reports, the female victims were restricted to the shelter while waiting for their cases to be brought to court. The reports increased pressure on the shelter residents to leave the shelter and drop charges to avoid social stigma.
Islamic courts, staffed by both male and female officials, offered counseling to married couples in domestic violence cases. Officials did not encourage wives to reconcile with flagrantly abusive spouses, and the Islamic courts recognized assault as grounds for divorce.
Female domestic servants, most of whom were foreign workers (see Sections 6.c., 6.e., and 6.f.), were also subjected to abuse. While the level of violence in society generally was low, the beating of servants--or refusing them the right to leave the house on days off, sometimes on grounds that they "might encounter the wrong company"--was more prevalent. Since most foreign female domestics were highly dependent on their employers, those subject to abuse often were unwilling or unable to bring complaints, either to the authorities or to their governments' embassies. However, when such complaints were brought, the Government generally was quick to investigate allegations of abuse and impose fines and punishment as warranted. Several workers settled assault cases out of court with their employers. One foreign embassy maintained a shelter for domestics involved in disputes with employers and was active in protecting their citizens' rights.
Prostitution is illegal. Women entering the country for purposes of prostitution generally were tried, sentenced, and deported swiftly (see Section 6.f.).
In accordance with certain Islamic traditions, women are denied equal status with men in a number of important areas such as divorce, inheritance, and custody of children. In 2002, an amendment to the nationality law permitted female citizens to pass their nationality on to their children.
Although men are eligible for permanent positions in government service whether or not they hold university degrees, women without university degrees are eligible to hold government positions only on a month-to-month basis. While some previous inequities have been eliminated, women in month-to-month positions received slightly less annual leave and fewer allowances than their male and female counterparts in permanent positions.
There were no separate pay scales for men and women, and in recent years there has been a major influx of women into the workforce. Women served in a wide variety of capacities in the police and armed forces. The number of female university graduates increased, and nearly two-thirds of the national university's entering class was female.
Religious authorities strongly encouraged Muslim women to wear the "tudong," a traditional head covering, and most women did so. Most government departments and the uniformed services require female Muslims and non-Muslims to wear the tudong as part of their dress code. All government schools, as well as the national university and other educational institutions, also pressured non-Muslim students to wear the tudong as part of these institutions' uniform.
The 1999 Married Women's Law significantly improved the rights of non-Muslim married women with respect to maintenance, property, and domestic violence. The 1999 changes to the Islamic Family Law (particularly in regard to Women's Position in Marriage and Divorce) facilitated divorce proceedings for women and permitted women to retain the family home after their divorce.
Children
No statistics were published regarding the welfare of children. The strong commitment to family values within society, the high standard of living, and government funding for children's welfare provided most children a healthy and nurturing environment. Education is free, compulsory, and universal for the first 9 years; after which, it is still free but no longer compulsory. With a few exceptions, involving small villages in extremely remote areas, nutritional standards were high, and poverty was almost unknown. Medical care for all citizens, including children, was subsidized heavily and widely available. Approximately 20 young female rape and sexual abuse victims, between 9 and 15 years of age, were housed at the government-sponsored Taman Noor Hidayah women's shelter. The penalty for the rape of a minor is imprisonment for from 8 to 30 years and caning with not less than 12 strokes.
Persons with Disabilities
The law does not mandate accessibility or other assistance for persons with disabilities. The Government attempted to provide educational services for children with disabilities, although these efforts were not up to international norms.
Indigenous People
Indigenous people comprised 6 percent of the population; they were integrated into society, and enjoyed the same rights as other citizens.
National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities
There are a sizeable number of "stateless" persons and permanent residents, mostly ethnic Chinese, including those born and raised in the country, who were not automatically accorded citizenship and its attendant rights. They had to travel abroad as stateless persons and did not enjoy the full privileges of citizenship, including the right to own land. Stateless persons and permanent residents also are not entitled to subsidized medical care. In June, a reform to the nationality law allowed some older, stateless persons and some permanent residents over age 50 to acquire citizenship by passing an oral rather than a written nationality test. All stateless persons and permanent residents became entitled to free education at government schools and other vocational and technical institutions.
Section 6 Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
Trade unions are legal and independent but must be registered with the Government. All workers, including civil servants other than those serving in the military and those working as prison guards or police officers, may form or join trade unions. However, in practice there was no union activity in the country. The three registered trade unions were all in the oil sector, had a total membership of less than 5 percent of that industry's work force, and were inactive. There were over 80,000 foreign workers in the country, including almost 20 thousand garment industry workers, none of whom are members of any trade union. The law permits the formation of trade union federations but forbids affiliation with international labor organizations. The country has ratified none of the ILO's eight Fundamental Conventions.
b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively
Since there was no union activity in the country, questions of government interference in union matters and employer discrimination against union members did not arise. There is no legal foundation for collective bargaining, and strikes are illegal. Wage and benefit packages were based on market conditions.
There is a free trade zone in Muara Port, known as the Muara Export Zone (MEZ). The labor laws are fully applicable in the MEZ.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Bonded Labor
The law prohibits forced or bonded labor, including by children; however, there were reports that some foreign domestic workers worked under conditions that resembled bondage (see Section 6.e.). Other workers, most notably in the garment industry, signed contracts with employment agents or other sponsors in their home countries that reduced their promised salaries through payments to the agencies, or sponsors. In response, the Government forbade wage deductions to agencies or sponsors and mandated that employees receive their full salaries.
d. Status of Child Labor Practices and Minimum Age for Employment
Various laws prohibit the employment of children under the age of 16. Parental consent and approval by the Labor Commission is required for those under the age of 18. Females under age 18 may not work at night or on offshore oil platforms. The Department of Labor (DOL), which is a part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, effectively enforced laws on the employment of children. There were no reports of violations of the child labor laws.
The Government adheres to the standards of ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor.
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work
Due to the ongoing economic downturn and reduced government hiring, unemployment has grown in recent years. However, most citizens who had employment still commanded good salaries. There is no minimum wage. The standard workweek is Monday through Thursday and Saturday, with Friday and Sunday off, allowing for two 24-hour rest periods each week. Overtime is paid for work in excess of 48 hours per week, and double time is paid for work performed on legal holidays. Occupational health and safety standards are established by government regulations. The DOL inspected working conditions on a routine basis and in response to complaints. The DOL generally enforced labor regulations effectively. However, enforcement in the unskilled labor sector was lax, especially for foreign laborers. The DOL may close any workplace where health, safety, or working conditions are unsatisfactory, and it has done so. The law permits a worker to leave a hazardous job site without jeopardizing his employment, but generally this did not occur. At least 80,000 foreign nationals worked in the country. There were reports of foreign maids and other domestic workers who worked exceptionally long hours, did not have a rest day, and whose liberty was severely restricted. There also were isolated reports of employers physically beating domestic employees or not providing them with adequate food. The Government prosecuted some such cases.
Government protective measures for foreign workers included arrival briefings for workers, inspections of facilities, and a telephone hotline for worker complaints. Government mediation continued to be most commonly used to resolve labor disputes. Abusive employers also faced criminal and civil penalties. When grievances cannot be resolved, repatriation of foreign workers is at the expense of the employer, and all outstanding wages must be paid. The majority of abuse cases were settled out of court by the payment of financial compensation to the maid by the errant employer.
f. Trafficking in Persons
Brunei has been a destination country for persons trafficked for labor and sexual exploitation. A statute outlaws sexual exploitation and trafficking of women and girls, and a variety of other laws, primarily those related to prostitution and the protection of minors, could be applied against sex traffickers. However, authorities only rarely investigated and prosecuted sex traffickers, particularly when the victims were foreigners. Immigration, labor, and religious regulations could deter trafficking, but were unevenly implemented. The Government has tightened regulations and enforcement to deter labor traffickers and improved its record in protecting foreign trafficking victims.
Most trafficking occurred in the labor context, as foreign workers were recruited from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh for work in the garment industries, agriculture, and as domestic servants. There were also a small number of cases of trafficking in women for purposes of sexual exploitation.
While there was awareness among senior officials of the criminal aspects of trafficking in persons for labor and prostitution, there was inadequate understanding of these issues at the operational and enforcement level. There were no awareness programs to educate the public or specific training for government officials on trafficking. In broad preventive measures not specific to trafficking, the Government provided a wide range of social and educational services to citizens, which reduced their vulnerability to trafficking. The Government provided funds for shelters that serviced only citizens and permanent residents, who were rarely the victims of trafficking.
Some embassies provided protection services, including temporary shelter, for workers involved in disputes with employers.
Brunei Darussalam is a small, wealthy, Islamic country ruled by the same family for over 600 years. A British Protectorate from 1888, it became fully independent and sovereign in 1984. After a failed rebellion in 1962, the then Sultan invoked an article of the Constitution that allowed him to assume emergency powers for 2 years. These powers were renewed regularly, most recently in June 2002 under the present ruler, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. Although not all the articles of the Constitution were suspended, the state of emergency places few limits on the Sultan's power. The Sultan also serves as Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Minister of Finance, Chancellor of the national university, Superintendent General of the Royal Brunei Police Force, and Head of the Islamic faith. The Constitution does not specifically provide for an independent judiciary and the Sultan appoints all higher court judges and has the authority to remove them, although he has never done so. The courts appeared to act independently.
The police force and an Internal Security Department report to the Sultan, who maintains control over both.
The country's large oil and natural gas reserves, coupled with its population of 341,000, gave it a high per capita gross domestic product of approximately $12,500. The Government used its substantial oil and gas revenues and investment income to provide a wide range of services and benefits to citizens, including free schooling and medical care, subsidized housing, and jobs. During the year, the non-oil and gas component of the economy suffered its fifth year of stagnation.
The Government generally respected its citizens' human rights in several areas; however, its record was poor in other areas, particularly with regard to civil liberties. Citizens did not have the right to change the Government, and they generally avoided political activity of any kind because of the official atmosphere of disapproval concerning such activities. Citizens did not exercise freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, or freedom of association. Labor rights were circumscribed and foreign workers sometimes were subjected to exploitation, although the Government took steps to protect foreign workers. Other human rights problems continued, including restrictions on religious freedom. Occasional spousal violence against women remained a problem, although the Government addressed the issue at many levels. Discrimination against women was a problem. In October 2002, a reform nationality law was passed that allows women to pass on their nationality to their children.
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From:
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
There were no reports of the arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life committed by the Government or its agents.
b. Disappearance
There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The law prohibits mistreatment of prisoners, and there were no reports of such mistreatment. Caning is mandatory for 42 drug-related and other criminal offenses, and was included as part of the sentence in 80 percent of criminal convictions. Canings are carried out in the presence of a doctor who has the authority to interrupt for medical reasons. Prison conditions generally met international standards. There was no overcrowding. Juveniles typically served their sentences in adult detention centers but several young offenders were housed at a government welfare center. During the year, construction began on a correctional facility for young offenders. Male and female offenders were housed separately. Prisoners received regular medical checkups. Remand cells at police stations were Spartan.
Human rights monitors were not reported to have requested prison visits; however, foreign diplomats had consular access to detained nationals. Family members were permitted to visit prisoners and bring food.
d. Arbitrary Arrest, Detention, or Exile
The law provides for a prompt judicial determination regarding the validity of an arrest. However, those provisions, like the Constitution itself, may be superseded, either partially or wholly, through invocation of the emergency powers. The Internal Security Act (ISA) permits the Government to detain suspects without trial for renewable 2-year periods. Information on a detainee usually is published only after his release.
Normally a magistrate must endorse a warrant for arrest. On rare occasions, warrants were issued without this endorsement, such as when police were unable to obtain the endorsement in time to prevent the flight of a suspect. Police officers have broad powers to make arrests, without warrants, of persons caught in the physical act of committing a crime.
There were no known arrests for publishing or distributing anti-government literature during the year. However, in the past, the Government has arrested and interned citizens for such activities.
During the year, six individuals were detained for suspected association with a banned Muslim organization, Al-Arqam. In late 2000 and early 2001, the Government used the ISA to detain at least seven Christian citizens, several of whom had converted from Islam, for alleged subversive activities. All were released in 2001. Government officials maintained that the detentions were for security rather than religious reasons (see Section 2.c.). Two of the Muslim converts to Christianity were believed to have reverted to their original faith after undergoing "rehabilitation." Rehabilitation may entail pressure, ceremonial renunciations, or schooling.
There were no reports of political prisoners, but information on possible detainees was very hard to obtain.
Under a colonial-era law, the Sultan may forcibly exile, either permanently or temporarily, any person deemed to be a threat to the safety, peace, or welfare of the country. Since independence there have been no cases of banishment of citizens.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
The Constitution does not provide specifically for an independent judiciary, but the courts appeared to act independently during the year, and there were no known instances of government interference with the judiciary. All higher court judges are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Sultan.
The judicial system consists of five levels of courts, with final recourse in civil cases available through the Privy Council in London. Procedural safeguards include the right to defense counsel, the right to an interpreter, the right to a speedy trial, and the right to confront accusers.
The civil law, based on English common law, provides citizens with a fair and efficient judicial process. Shari'a (Islamic law) supersedes civil law in some areas, including divorce, inheritance, and some sexual crimes. Shari'a law is not applied to non-Muslims. During the year, lawyers trained in both civil and Shari'a law were working on a proposed alignment of the country's two legal systems into a comprehensive legal code. A "Law Society" (bar association) to promote lawyers' public accountability was established in July. The civil law lacks provisions to allow companies or individuals to sue the Government, which traditionally resolves disputes with generous, non-negotiable settlements, or, in some cases, simply refuses to settle. There is no legal provision to provide affordable legal counsel for poor defendants, except in capital cases. Such defendants may act as their own lawyers in court.
There were no reports of political prisoners.
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
Civil law permits government intrusion into the privacy of individual persons, families, and homes. However, such intrusion rarely occurred. Shari'a law permits enforcement of "khalwat," an Islamic prohibition on the close proximity of a Muslim and a member of the opposite sex other than a spouse. There were numerous reports of religious enforcement officers entering homes, buildings, and vehicles to detain suspects.
Section 2 Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
Under the emergency powers that have been in effect since 1962, the Government restricts significantly freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
In 2001, legislation that codified existing practice further reduced press freedom. Among other restrictions, it requires that the local newspapers obtain operating licenses, as well as prior government approval of foreign editorial staff, journalists, and printers. The law also gives the Government the right to bar distribution of foreign publications and requires distributors of foreign publications to obtain a government permit. The law allows the Government to close a newspaper without prior notice and without showing cause. Journalists deemed to have published or written "false and malicious" reports could be subjected to fines or prison sentences.
Prior to the promulgation of this new law, foreign newspapers or magazines with articles that were found to be objectionable, embarrassing, or critical of the Sultan, the royal family, or the Government were not allowed into the country at times. Magazine articles with a Christian theme reportedly were censored (see Section 2.c.). The growing use of fax machines, the Internet, and access to satellite transmissions made it increasingly difficult to keep such material from entering the country.
The country's largest circulation daily newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, practiced self-censorship in its choice of topics to avoid angering the Government. However, letters to the editor often included comments critical of the Government's handling of certain social, economic, and environmental issues. The Government on occasion responded to public opinion on some issues concerning social or environmental problems. There was 1 Malay-language press, the Media Permata, which circulated approximately 5,000 newspapers. There was also one Chinese-language newspaper.
In 2002, a second daily English-language newspaper, the News Express, lost a suit for slander and defamation brought against it by a law firm. The company that owned the newspaper declared bankruptcy and closed. The newspaper had featured a letters page where citizens and residents expressed their views and complaints, often about government services and, increasingly, about government policy. The newspapers' willingness to publish these expressions of opinion represented a modest extension of press freedom. Prior to its closure, the Immigration Department raided the newspaper on several occasions; and its management and several workers were subsequently convicted of a number of immigration and labor offenses.
Although the only television station was government owned, three Malaysian television channels were received locally. Two satellite television networks were available, offering a total of 28 different channels, including the Cable News Network, the British Broadcasting Corporation World News, and several entertainment and sports channels.
The Government's tolerance of political criticism was not tested because there was no organized opposition. The English-language newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, was advised by police not to publish any stories about the activities of the Consumers' Association of Brunei (CAB), a quasi-human rights organization (see Section 4). In the past, the Government arrested those who attempted to propagate unwelcome political views.
Internet use became widespread. During the year, a third Internet board, hosted outside the country, added another avenue through which citizens expressed critical opinions, albeit under pseudonyms. In May, the Internet forum BruneiTalk was blocked for approximately 10 days apparently for discussing business dealings of senior officials. The country's primary Internet service provider was state owned.
The Government generally respected academic freedom; however, some researchers chose to publish from overseas and under a pseudonym when they perceived that subject matter pertaining to the country would not be well received. There were no politically oriented student associations.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Under the emergency powers in effect since 1962, the Government significantly restricts the right to assemble. Freedom to assemble for political purposes was not tested during the year.
Political parties are allowed, but may not engage in "activities that endanger people." Civil servants and security force personnel, who together make up 60 percent of all employed citizens, are not permitted to join political parties. There are two registered parties in the country: The Brunei Solidarity National Party (PPKB) and the Brunei People's Awareness Party (PAKAR). Both parties pledged their support to the Sultan and the system of government, although they criticized administrative deficiencies. During the year, the parties largely were inactive, their few activities often went unpublicized, and they were hindered by membership restrictions.
The country had few nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), all of which were based locally and were generally professional, business or social associations. Any NGO seeking to operate in the country is required to apply for permission under the Companies Act. The activities of international service organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, and the Lions, which developed out of the established business community, continued to be restricted by the Government. Religious regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the State Mufti's Office prohibited Muslims from joining these organizations.
c. Freedom of Religion
The Constitution states that "The religion of Brunei Darussalam shall be the Muslim religion according to the Shafi'ite sect of that religion: Provided that all other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony by the person professing them in any part of Brunei Darussalam." However, the Government routinely restricted the practice of non-Islamic religions and of non-Shafi'i Islamic groups.
The Government investigated and used its internal security apparatus both against persons whom it considered to be purveyors of radical Islam and against non-Muslims who attempted to proselytize. For example, the Islamist Al-Arqam movement and the Bahai faith remained banned. Citizens deemed to have been influenced by "deviant" preaching (usually students returning from overseas study) were assigned to study seminars organized by mainstream Islamic religious leaders. The Ministry of Religious Affairs prepared the weekly Friday sermons delivered in mosques countrywide.
The Government reinforced the legitimacy of the hereditary monarchy and the observance of traditional and Islamic values through a national ideology known as the Melayu Islam Beraja or "Malay Muslim Monarchy." Despite the constitutional provisions providing for the full and unconstrained exercise of religious freedom, the Government routinely restricted the practice of non-Muslim religions by prohibiting proselytizing; occasionally denying entry to foreign clergy or particular priests, bishops, or ministers; banning the importation of religious teaching materials or scriptures such as the Bible; and denying requests to expand, or build new churches, temples, and shrines. There has been a Catholic apostolic prefecture in the country since 1998 headed by an ethnic Chinese Bruneian Prefect. During the year, two Christian churches were given permission to repair and expand premises on safety grounds. However, two Christian groups were denied permission to register, which is required by law to worship communally.
Non-Muslims who proselytize may be arrested or detained, and possibly held without charges for an extended period of time. As an example, in December 2000 the Government used the ISA to detain at least seven Christians, two of whom were converts from Islam, for allegedly subversive activities. Three detainees, Malai Taufick bin Haji Mashor, Awang Yunus bin Marang, and Mohd Freddie Chong bin Abdullah, were released in October 2001, after spending 9 months in detention. There were credible reports that one of the Christian detainees, Taufick, was tortured and beaten during his first month of detention, while a second was subjected to intense psychological pressure to return to Islam. When released, Taufick was placed under 1-year house arrest. A second detainee, Yunus, was not permitted to speak in public or travel outside of the country. Government officials maintained that the detentions were security-related (see Section 1.d.).
The Government routinely censored magazine articles on other faiths, blacking out or removing photographs of crucifixes and other Christian religious symbols during the year. In addition, government officials prevented the public display, distribution, and sale of items featuring non-Islamic religious symbols.
The authorities conducted raids sporadically on clubs frequented by foreign residents and foreign workers to confiscate alcohol and foodstuffs that were not prepared in accordance with "halal" requirements (the Islamic requirements for the slaughter of animals and the prohibition on inclusion of pork products in any food). The authorities also increased raids on karaoke establishments operating without a license.
The Ministry of Education requires courses on Islam or the national ideology, the Malay Muslim monarchy, and prohibits the teaching of other religions. The Ministry requires that all students, including non-Muslims, follow a course of study on the Islamic faith and learn Arabic script. The International School of Brunei and the Jerudong International School are exempt from these requirements. Private Christian schools were not allowed to give Christian instruction and were required to give instruction on Islam. However, the Government did not prohibit or restrict parents from giving religious instruction to children in their own homes. In 2000, the Government responded to objections from parents and religious leaders and set aside tentative plans to require more Islamic courses in private, non-Islamic parochial schools.
The Government requires residents to carry an identity card that states the bearer's religion. Visitors to the country are asked to identify their religion on their landing cards.
For a more detailed discussion see the 2003 International Religious Freedom Report.
d. Freedom of Movement within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
The Government restricts the movement of former political prisoners during the first year of their release. Generally the Government does not restrict the freedom of movement of its citizens, visitors, and permanent residents. Government employees, both citizens and foreigners working on a contractual basis, must apply for approval to go abroad, which was granted routinely.
No legal provision exists for granting temporary refuge or refugee status to those seeking such refuge or asylum. Under the law, persons arriving without valid entry documents and means of support are considered illegal immigrants and are refused entry. There were no reported cases of individuals seeking temporary refuge during the year.
Section 3 Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government
Citizens did not have the right to peacefully change their government. Under the continuing state of emergency, there is no parliament, and political authority and control rests entirely with the Sultan. Members of the Sultan's appointed Cabinet serve as his principal advisors.
Individuals sought to express their views or to influence government decisions and policies by writing letters to a local newspaper or by petitioning the Sultan or handing him letters when he appears in public (see Section 2.a.).
The country has attempted to institutionalize a form of popular representation based on a traditional system of village chiefs who are elected by secret ballot by all adults. Candidates must be approved by the Government and must be Malay. These leaders are expected to communicate constituents' wishes through a variety of channels, including periodic meetings chaired by the Home Affairs Minister, with several officials appointed by the Sultan. Regular meetings between senior government officials and "Mukim" (a group of villages) representatives allowed for airing of local grievances and concerns. In 2000, the Foreign Minister confirmed that a review of the Constitution was submitted to the Sultan for approval, and that "an element of an election" was in this report. However, at year's end, there had been no word on when the revised Constitution might be forthcoming.
The lack of a representative, democratic government seriously limited the role of both men and women in government and politics, although women were limited to a greater extent. There are no women ministers in the Government, although the Sultan's sister, Princess Masna, was the second ranking official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there were women ambassadors, judges, and other senior officials.
Section 4 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
The Consumers' Association of Brunei (CAB), established in 2002, attempted to address human rights but was impeded by the Government from doing so. Beginning in May 2002, the CAB publicized poor working and living conditions of foreign workers involved in protest work stoppages (see Section 6.e.), the organization received a letter from the Commissioner of Police requesting CAB to show reason why it should not be deregistered for exceeding its mandate, which primarily focused on consumer rights. Senior CAB members were reportedly subjected to surveillance. The Association was able to show evidence of its mandate to address workers' rights, but subsequently the local media did not publicized the association's activities.
Section 5 Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Disability, Language, or Social Status
The Constitution does not contain specific provisions prohibiting discrimination based on race, sex, disability, language, and social status.
Women
The extent of spousal abuse is unknown. During the year, cases of abuse occurred, although specific figures were not available. The criminal penalty for a minor domestic assault is 1 to 2 weeks in jail and a fine. An assault resulting in serious injury is punishable by caning and a longer jail sentence.
A special unit, staffed by female officers, existed within the police department to investigate domestic abuse and child abuse complaints. A hotline was in service for persons to report domestic violence. The Ministry of Culture's Social Affairs Services (SAS) Unit provided counseling for women and their spouses. During the year, approximately 18 female domestic abuse victims were sheltered at the Taman Noor Hidayah, a shelter run by the SAS unit.
According to press reports, the female victims were restricted to the shelter while waiting for their cases to be brought to court. The reports increased pressure on the shelter residents to leave the shelter and drop charges to avoid social stigma.
Islamic courts, staffed by both male and female officials, offered counseling to married couples in domestic violence cases. Officials did not encourage wives to reconcile with flagrantly abusive spouses, and the Islamic courts recognized assault as grounds for divorce.
Female domestic servants, most of whom were foreign workers (see Sections 6.c., 6.e., and 6.f.), were also subjected to abuse. While the level of violence in society generally was low, the beating of servants--or refusing them the right to leave the house on days off, sometimes on grounds that they "might encounter the wrong company"--was more prevalent. Since most foreign female domestics were highly dependent on their employers, those subject to abuse often were unwilling or unable to bring complaints, either to the authorities or to their governments' embassies. However, when such complaints were brought, the Government generally was quick to investigate allegations of abuse and impose fines and punishment as warranted. Several workers settled assault cases out of court with their employers. One foreign embassy maintained a shelter for domestics involved in disputes with employers and was active in protecting their citizens' rights.
Prostitution is illegal. Women entering the country for purposes of prostitution generally were tried, sentenced, and deported swiftly (see Section 6.f.).
In accordance with certain Islamic traditions, women are denied equal status with men in a number of important areas such as divorce, inheritance, and custody of children. In 2002, an amendment to the nationality law permitted female citizens to pass their nationality on to their children.
Although men are eligible for permanent positions in government service whether or not they hold university degrees, women without university degrees are eligible to hold government positions only on a month-to-month basis. While some previous inequities have been eliminated, women in month-to-month positions received slightly less annual leave and fewer allowances than their male and female counterparts in permanent positions.
There were no separate pay scales for men and women, and in recent years there has been a major influx of women into the workforce. Women served in a wide variety of capacities in the police and armed forces. The number of female university graduates increased, and nearly two-thirds of the national university's entering class was female.
Religious authorities strongly encouraged Muslim women to wear the "tudong," a traditional head covering, and most women did so. Most government departments and the uniformed services require female Muslims and non-Muslims to wear the tudong as part of their dress code. All government schools, as well as the national university and other educational institutions, also pressured non-Muslim students to wear the tudong as part of these institutions' uniform.
The 1999 Married Women's Law significantly improved the rights of non-Muslim married women with respect to maintenance, property, and domestic violence. The 1999 changes to the Islamic Family Law (particularly in regard to Women's Position in Marriage and Divorce) facilitated divorce proceedings for women and permitted women to retain the family home after their divorce.
Children
No statistics were published regarding the welfare of children. The strong commitment to family values within society, the high standard of living, and government funding for children's welfare provided most children a healthy and nurturing environment. Education is free, compulsory, and universal for the first 9 years; after which, it is still free but no longer compulsory. With a few exceptions, involving small villages in extremely remote areas, nutritional standards were high, and poverty was almost unknown. Medical care for all citizens, including children, was subsidized heavily and widely available. Approximately 20 young female rape and sexual abuse victims, between 9 and 15 years of age, were housed at the government-sponsored Taman Noor Hidayah women's shelter. The penalty for the rape of a minor is imprisonment for from 8 to 30 years and caning with not less than 12 strokes.
Persons with Disabilities
The law does not mandate accessibility or other assistance for persons with disabilities. The Government attempted to provide educational services for children with disabilities, although these efforts were not up to international norms.
Indigenous People
Indigenous people comprised 6 percent of the population; they were integrated into society, and enjoyed the same rights as other citizens.
National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities
There are a sizeable number of "stateless" persons and permanent residents, mostly ethnic Chinese, including those born and raised in the country, who were not automatically accorded citizenship and its attendant rights. They had to travel abroad as stateless persons and did not enjoy the full privileges of citizenship, including the right to own land. Stateless persons and permanent residents also are not entitled to subsidized medical care. In June, a reform to the nationality law allowed some older, stateless persons and some permanent residents over age 50 to acquire citizenship by passing an oral rather than a written nationality test. All stateless persons and permanent residents became entitled to free education at government schools and other vocational and technical institutions.
Section 6 Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
Trade unions are legal and independent but must be registered with the Government. All workers, including civil servants other than those serving in the military and those working as prison guards or police officers, may form or join trade unions. However, in practice there was no union activity in the country. The three registered trade unions were all in the oil sector, had a total membership of less than 5 percent of that industry's work force, and were inactive. There were over 80,000 foreign workers in the country, including almost 20 thousand garment industry workers, none of whom are members of any trade union. The law permits the formation of trade union federations but forbids affiliation with international labor organizations. The country has ratified none of the ILO's eight Fundamental Conventions.
b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively
Since there was no union activity in the country, questions of government interference in union matters and employer discrimination against union members did not arise. There is no legal foundation for collective bargaining, and strikes are illegal. Wage and benefit packages were based on market conditions.
There is a free trade zone in Muara Port, known as the Muara Export Zone (MEZ). The labor laws are fully applicable in the MEZ.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Bonded Labor
The law prohibits forced or bonded labor, including by children; however, there were reports that some foreign domestic workers worked under conditions that resembled bondage (see Section 6.e.). Other workers, most notably in the garment industry, signed contracts with employment agents or other sponsors in their home countries that reduced their promised salaries through payments to the agencies, or sponsors. In response, the Government forbade wage deductions to agencies or sponsors and mandated that employees receive their full salaries.
d. Status of Child Labor Practices and Minimum Age for Employment
Various laws prohibit the employment of children under the age of 16. Parental consent and approval by the Labor Commission is required for those under the age of 18. Females under age 18 may not work at night or on offshore oil platforms. The Department of Labor (DOL), which is a part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, effectively enforced laws on the employment of children. There were no reports of violations of the child labor laws.
The Government adheres to the standards of ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor.
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work
Due to the ongoing economic downturn and reduced government hiring, unemployment has grown in recent years. However, most citizens who had employment still commanded good salaries. There is no minimum wage. The standard workweek is Monday through Thursday and Saturday, with Friday and Sunday off, allowing for two 24-hour rest periods each week. Overtime is paid for work in excess of 48 hours per week, and double time is paid for work performed on legal holidays. Occupational health and safety standards are established by government regulations. The DOL inspected working conditions on a routine basis and in response to complaints. The DOL generally enforced labor regulations effectively. However, enforcement in the unskilled labor sector was lax, especially for foreign laborers. The DOL may close any workplace where health, safety, or working conditions are unsatisfactory, and it has done so. The law permits a worker to leave a hazardous job site without jeopardizing his employment, but generally this did not occur. At least 80,000 foreign nationals worked in the country. There were reports of foreign maids and other domestic workers who worked exceptionally long hours, did not have a rest day, and whose liberty was severely restricted. There also were isolated reports of employers physically beating domestic employees or not providing them with adequate food. The Government prosecuted some such cases.
Government protective measures for foreign workers included arrival briefings for workers, inspections of facilities, and a telephone hotline for worker complaints. Government mediation continued to be most commonly used to resolve labor disputes. Abusive employers also faced criminal and civil penalties. When grievances cannot be resolved, repatriation of foreign workers is at the expense of the employer, and all outstanding wages must be paid. The majority of abuse cases were settled out of court by the payment of financial compensation to the maid by the errant employer.
f. Trafficking in Persons
Brunei has been a destination country for persons trafficked for labor and sexual exploitation. A statute outlaws sexual exploitation and trafficking of women and girls, and a variety of other laws, primarily those related to prostitution and the protection of minors, could be applied against sex traffickers. However, authorities only rarely investigated and prosecuted sex traffickers, particularly when the victims were foreigners. Immigration, labor, and religious regulations could deter trafficking, but were unevenly implemented. The Government has tightened regulations and enforcement to deter labor traffickers and improved its record in protecting foreign trafficking victims.
Most trafficking occurred in the labor context, as foreign workers were recruited from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh for work in the garment industries, agriculture, and as domestic servants. There were also a small number of cases of trafficking in women for purposes of sexual exploitation.
While there was awareness among senior officials of the criminal aspects of trafficking in persons for labor and prostitution, there was inadequate understanding of these issues at the operational and enforcement level. There were no awareness programs to educate the public or specific training for government officials on trafficking. In broad preventive measures not specific to trafficking, the Government provided a wide range of social and educational services to citizens, which reduced their vulnerability to trafficking. The Government provided funds for shelters that serviced only citizens and permanent residents, who were rarely the victims of trafficking.
Some embassies provided protection services, including temporary shelter, for workers involved in disputes with employers.
Friday 9 September 2005
So many things... to tell yet... feel so little....
Welll...... wat a day i have gone through.... full of trouble and uneasy feeling. but finally i have get over it.... Unfortunately, there is one or two hiccup. :(.
First of all, it was one of fren unable to hand in their form in time and now he can't run for this year guild election already :( sad sad... but too bad... secondly, i was so crazy about my gf and keep talking to my bolster as if is her... like "siao kia" say how much i love her, how much i care for her... and yadadada.... hahaha crazy right... that's me.
So that is just two out of all the bad things today.... Guess wat ppl..... i have set up team to run.... and we have massive supporters behind... not goonaaa tell anyone who r there.. coz some jerk from other team might read my blog... :P too badd you won't get anything out of me... but i know everything about u.... " i know how many team, the so-called main team with their dummies is" i know the ppl in the team... i know thier supporter... i know more than wat u can imagine... wannnaaa win ur election.... have to talk to me and my ppl 1st hahahahaha....
more and more and moree........ damn.... MCW is coming and yet nothign much ahs been done.. and my committee has just decided to remove the events manager due to his poor conduct. unfortunately my committee used my name to send a e-mail to tell him he is removed.. now all the blame come to me fine.. lah i ahve nothing to say... all i can say is that.... it is fate.... there is a job scope wat they have to do and he has not been able to fulfilll and also failed to attend most of the meeting... further he has not been able to priotise the work right... thinking ISC is just a stupid organisation... MAN give me a break ok.... ISC is my baby, do ur thing right and commit urself to it.. OR ELSE fuck off... that's it man....
there is more.... then now my nlcwest bgs resigned already..... so sad... i have to do so much things...... die lor...... but i really hope that things will go well espaically with the other campuses like murdoch and notre dame espaically due to traditional tension... hope to resolve it ASAP. :D... but lately they ahve been very freindly... love it.... so much....
Conference and conference.... so many conferences..... 23 sep , i hv a conference to attend at perth which is the ISANA state conference and 12-14 october... i hv to attend the IDP conference... at Gold coast... bz bz bz bz.
Man .... i tell all of you.... i really need a PA to manage my time now... so bz... study, assignment, projects for nlcwest, ISC, elections... etc etc etc... Well most importantly, don't let my gf feel she is depriortise... i so sacred you know... if she feel unlove and unwanted.. so no matter how busy and tireed i am i will still try to call her and tell her about wat going on and things she wants to know. Hope she will apprieciate it... coz or elsse.... i will die here laiw... hahaha.... Y? welll i am so bz yet try to spend time with her... but she don't apprieciate it... then i should die lor... so that is why okie..... Weell of coz if she likes it... then its' okie....
Okie i should go sleep damn tirreddd and siennnn now... misss my dear so much,..... but can't talk to her... coz she is sleepy so let her sleep lah...... although i am very unhappy coz i am being a jerk not to let her sleepp.... always...
First of all, it was one of fren unable to hand in their form in time and now he can't run for this year guild election already :( sad sad... but too bad... secondly, i was so crazy about my gf and keep talking to my bolster as if is her... like "siao kia" say how much i love her, how much i care for her... and yadadada.... hahaha crazy right... that's me.
So that is just two out of all the bad things today.... Guess wat ppl..... i have set up team to run.... and we have massive supporters behind... not goonaaa tell anyone who r there.. coz some jerk from other team might read my blog... :P too badd you won't get anything out of me... but i know everything about u.... " i know how many team, the so-called main team with their dummies is" i know the ppl in the team... i know thier supporter... i know more than wat u can imagine... wannnaaa win ur election.... have to talk to me and my ppl 1st hahahahaha....
more and more and moree........ damn.... MCW is coming and yet nothign much ahs been done.. and my committee has just decided to remove the events manager due to his poor conduct. unfortunately my committee used my name to send a e-mail to tell him he is removed.. now all the blame come to me fine.. lah i ahve nothing to say... all i can say is that.... it is fate.... there is a job scope wat they have to do and he has not been able to fulfilll and also failed to attend most of the meeting... further he has not been able to priotise the work right... thinking ISC is just a stupid organisation... MAN give me a break ok.... ISC is my baby, do ur thing right and commit urself to it.. OR ELSE fuck off... that's it man....
there is more.... then now my nlcwest bgs resigned already..... so sad... i have to do so much things...... die lor...... but i really hope that things will go well espaically with the other campuses like murdoch and notre dame espaically due to traditional tension... hope to resolve it ASAP. :D... but lately they ahve been very freindly... love it.... so much....
Conference and conference.... so many conferences..... 23 sep , i hv a conference to attend at perth which is the ISANA state conference and 12-14 october... i hv to attend the IDP conference... at Gold coast... bz bz bz bz.
Man .... i tell all of you.... i really need a PA to manage my time now... so bz... study, assignment, projects for nlcwest, ISC, elections... etc etc etc... Well most importantly, don't let my gf feel she is depriortise... i so sacred you know... if she feel unlove and unwanted.. so no matter how busy and tireed i am i will still try to call her and tell her about wat going on and things she wants to know. Hope she will apprieciate it... coz or elsse.... i will die here laiw... hahaha.... Y? welll i am so bz yet try to spend time with her... but she don't apprieciate it... then i should die lor... so that is why okie..... Weell of coz if she likes it... then its' okie....
Okie i should go sleep damn tirreddd and siennnn now... misss my dear so much,..... but can't talk to her... coz she is sleepy so let her sleep lah...... although i am very unhappy coz i am being a jerk not to let her sleepp.... always...
Friday 2 September 2005
Long Long time Ago...
It has been awhile since i have actively posting in my blog... welll... been extremely stress with my work espaically MCW and Elections....
Guess what.... ppl are acting so much like an idoit nowdays expecting everything from you and doing everything for them.... What kind of shit is that....
I am only one person... i need to study and have my own life... can't they give me a break... i am already very tireed..... and direct them how to do things and what to do... what more they want... keep asking me to do for them... damn.....
Nevertheless, i feel so poor also overspent agian and wish my dear can chat with me online. i don';t know why.. hope if she read this she will understand. i don't know why that everytime i want to chat with her online / through skype she get tired so easily and can't talk long... and when i call her mobile she tends to be able to talk longer... i feel so hurt as i spend more money... but i don;t know how to tell her... i wish we can just talk on skype and online, it is much more cost effective, if you can find time to talk to me when i call u, sure u can talk to me online.... but i guess i care for her so much....
Am I a good person? well i guess i am...... too good to be true... and now everyone is taking advantage of me,... when will this end.... i just want to be nice and ppl will respect that, not taking advantage....:(
Confession:- hehehhe... i got confession.... thanks to mun, tiffy and tat, i have food to eat, they treat me when we go out eat... so nice... KFC yummy..... i will remember it... :P....
So what else goes on lately, i met up with Juelle finally... hehehe.... well... what i think of her... she is pretty, intellegent and hot... but dear don't worry, i still love u...... she got BF okie... and I got GF... hehehe :D.... Well.. she seem like very nice person and funny... feel so nice playing board games, cards and chit chat with her.... well of coz in a group... anyway, it is nice to know a friendly person like her....
Other than her, Howie..... a young boy... but seem to know more jack shit then tat... sorry tat...i reckon so... hehee. He has just came to Perht less than a month and already got a gf... damn steady... this kid.... hehee well... one very important thing i guess, he is not a wannabe and very authenic... although sometime he is full of shit.. and stupid stuff. but nice knowing him too... hehehe... fun to hang out with... and i guess... one thing make him more fun iss... he is very active...
Opss.. last confession.... i miss my dear, yoyo. i wish i can go KL ASAP hug her and kiss her.... care for her and take care of her eternally.... some may think i am traditionall but i reckon it is not traditional but just an aspect of life and what you value the most....
Guess what.... ppl are acting so much like an idoit nowdays expecting everything from you and doing everything for them.... What kind of shit is that....
I am only one person... i need to study and have my own life... can't they give me a break... i am already very tireed..... and direct them how to do things and what to do... what more they want... keep asking me to do for them... damn.....
Nevertheless, i feel so poor also overspent agian and wish my dear can chat with me online. i don';t know why.. hope if she read this she will understand. i don't know why that everytime i want to chat with her online / through skype she get tired so easily and can't talk long... and when i call her mobile she tends to be able to talk longer... i feel so hurt as i spend more money... but i don;t know how to tell her... i wish we can just talk on skype and online, it is much more cost effective, if you can find time to talk to me when i call u, sure u can talk to me online.... but i guess i care for her so much....
Am I a good person? well i guess i am...... too good to be true... and now everyone is taking advantage of me,... when will this end.... i just want to be nice and ppl will respect that, not taking advantage....:(
Confession:- hehehhe... i got confession.... thanks to mun, tiffy and tat, i have food to eat, they treat me when we go out eat... so nice... KFC yummy..... i will remember it... :P....
So what else goes on lately, i met up with Juelle finally... hehehe.... well... what i think of her... she is pretty, intellegent and hot... but dear don't worry, i still love u...... she got BF okie... and I got GF... hehehe :D.... Well.. she seem like very nice person and funny... feel so nice playing board games, cards and chit chat with her.... well of coz in a group... anyway, it is nice to know a friendly person like her....
Other than her, Howie..... a young boy... but seem to know more jack shit then tat... sorry tat...i reckon so... hehee. He has just came to Perht less than a month and already got a gf... damn steady... this kid.... hehee well... one very important thing i guess, he is not a wannabe and very authenic... although sometime he is full of shit.. and stupid stuff. but nice knowing him too... hehehe... fun to hang out with... and i guess... one thing make him more fun iss... he is very active...
Opss.. last confession.... i miss my dear, yoyo. i wish i can go KL ASAP hug her and kiss her.... care for her and take care of her eternally.... some may think i am traditionall but i reckon it is not traditional but just an aspect of life and what you value the most....
Tuesday 19 July 2005
Stolen Laptop Scene
Well… since everyone is so interested to know about my lost of laptop scenario, I will explain it here.
It all began here. I have arrived at Central Station with a bunch of NLC office bearers to meet up with the SA gang. Since we have so many bags, we called for a taxi to bring all the bags. Justin and I were in the cab with all the bags. When we reach, we were in a hurry to bring all the bags down coz our cab stopped at the middle of the road. Two of us with 4-5ppl bags, imagine!!!!
SO FAR everything is safe still. I carried my laptop bag and my bag into the hostel first. During this time, the thief came in (according to the security tape) trying to make his move, too bad, by then all the other bags came in with all the other ppl. Because I never have a prior booking, so I told one of the guys, I go check whether there is room for me or not. While I am checking in, “thief strikes again”, he grab the laptop bag, and just walk away. The friend closest to the bags never realise someone took the laptop bag. Just like that the laptop is stolen.
In that split 1 mins, I lost my laptop. End of the scene report!!!
It all began here. I have arrived at Central Station with a bunch of NLC office bearers to meet up with the SA gang. Since we have so many bags, we called for a taxi to bring all the bags. Justin and I were in the cab with all the bags. When we reach, we were in a hurry to bring all the bags down coz our cab stopped at the middle of the road. Two of us with 4-5ppl bags, imagine!!!!
SO FAR everything is safe still. I carried my laptop bag and my bag into the hostel first. During this time, the thief came in (according to the security tape) trying to make his move, too bad, by then all the other bags came in with all the other ppl. Because I never have a prior booking, so I told one of the guys, I go check whether there is room for me or not. While I am checking in, “thief strikes again”, he grab the laptop bag, and just walk away. The friend closest to the bags never realise someone took the laptop bag. Just like that the laptop is stolen.
In that split 1 mins, I lost my laptop. End of the scene report!!!
Thursday 14 July 2005
Back to PERTH>>>
Finally i am back to perth now. What a conference!!!! in Newcastle. I now started to Hate Sdyney... eventhough it has a nice view and places to go.... WHY? day 1 broke my camera.... and last day lost my laptop... how it happen????? the weather and ppl in sdyney suck!!! :P.
nvm.... i am pissed enough... for that.... to tell you the truth i still love Perth, quiet and peaceful.... and tends to receive good news.... RESULT is out/..... guesss what i get.... i got 2 distinction, one credit and one pass... Miracle..... :D.... and it is a postgraduate level somemore.... man... i must have done pretty well...
Well... result out means another thing also... some of my friends is going back... my good freind Candice will be going.. :(...everyone is leaving, when will it be my turn... :D
Today, i am so sick, got dry cough, running nose and headache... so going to take sick leave... i cannot take it anymore... to tired... and weak.... it was during this time i wish my dear, yoshiko can be here to look after me.. and love me. i feel so lonely now... i feel so depressed that even when i am sick no one come and look after me... i guess now i will start to appriciate yoshiko more... now i understand that she is my only one lover whom i can't bare to lose... hope she will wait for me... i will be there soon....
nvm.... i am pissed enough... for that.... to tell you the truth i still love Perth, quiet and peaceful.... and tends to receive good news.... RESULT is out/..... guesss what i get.... i got 2 distinction, one credit and one pass... Miracle..... :D.... and it is a postgraduate level somemore.... man... i must have done pretty well...
Well... result out means another thing also... some of my friends is going back... my good freind Candice will be going.. :(...everyone is leaving, when will it be my turn... :D
Today, i am so sick, got dry cough, running nose and headache... so going to take sick leave... i cannot take it anymore... to tired... and weak.... it was during this time i wish my dear, yoshiko can be here to look after me.. and love me. i feel so lonely now... i feel so depressed that even when i am sick no one come and look after me... i guess now i will start to appriciate yoshiko more... now i understand that she is my only one lover whom i can't bare to lose... hope she will wait for me... i will be there soon....
Friday 8 July 2005
NLCAC
Last Day of Conference..... Wellllll WA once the strongest state in NLC with at least one National Exec on NLC and now we lost everything... One saddest thing is that even the business committee, Curtin are not able to get any position... :(... nvm of that now i guess!!!! we will have to move on....
WA new born group.
Today, I am so proud of the outcome, WA is seen as one state agian with no seperation on the floor on how they think and work. NLC West will soon be a commercialised non profit organisation. It will be my objective to ensure we are able to secure the deal with an organisation to provide such services like International Students Email address during thier stay in Australia. it will also be used as a communication point for them to get in touch with all international students from country.
It will be my time to ensur everythhing can work out and i will have to come out with a business proposal to ensure it can work and able to function in ways that all international students in WA able to get in touch with one another.
Let it be the time for us to grow. and time for us to find new ways to deal with it. I love my international students in australia... so we can just forget all the politics in NLC and move with our life.... i will support the newly appointed NC, NGS, NCC. they will gain my support but not my respect until they prove to me that they are capable. :D... SERVING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS is my aim and shall remain so..... :P
Love everyone here..... and miss my YOYO so much... she is so cute and caring been calling me a lot lately... mis ya...u will always be my deareast Yoshiko Tey
WA new born group.
Today, I am so proud of the outcome, WA is seen as one state agian with no seperation on the floor on how they think and work. NLC West will soon be a commercialised non profit organisation. It will be my objective to ensure we are able to secure the deal with an organisation to provide such services like International Students Email address during thier stay in Australia. it will also be used as a communication point for them to get in touch with all international students from country.
It will be my time to ensur everythhing can work out and i will have to come out with a business proposal to ensure it can work and able to function in ways that all international students in WA able to get in touch with one another.
Let it be the time for us to grow. and time for us to find new ways to deal with it. I love my international students in australia... so we can just forget all the politics in NLC and move with our life.... i will support the newly appointed NC, NGS, NCC. they will gain my support but not my respect until they prove to me that they are capable. :D... SERVING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS is my aim and shall remain so..... :P
Love everyone here..... and miss my YOYO so much... she is so cute and caring been calling me a lot lately... mis ya...u will always be my deareast Yoshiko Tey
Friday 1 July 2005
Moving to Newcastle
Well..... now i am moving to Newcastle..... and my camera cannot be repair cause it take ages... and i am pissed.... coz i have no camera.... :(. Well bugger... it.... now i am in conference it will be full on hardcore from now... :D... I miss my dear now so much... YOYO... I MISS YOU... i guess i have been a bit too stress out with everything and put a lot of pressure on her when she is so poor and stress as well with her work....
Holiday.... is over now.... hope everything will go well. :D. Today..... i met up with ADRIAN WONG.... he look so handsome and young now... compare to the last two year i met him in conference. i guess he is not that stressful anymore and happyy.....
Other than that i met up with all the other national exec as well like Fon etc... :P... well they all look so tired... but also happy after meeting... hehehe.... i guess i have to shut up soon.. coz ppll say... watever stay in conference stay in conference. :D... so dear... if i ahve scandal in conference stay in conference only okie... hehehe.. miss ya...
this year no more MARC... yeah.... maybe i will get his attention... hahahahah :P joking lah... don't need it... coz i have my dearest yoyo who love me so much... guess WAT... i have to gossip about tiffany... she eh.... always so mang zhang like "ORC KAI LA".... teruk benar... eh... :p... but still i love her so much... as a friend... without her... i won't be here and without her i won't have what i have today... i guess it is her continous support that bring me to where i am today... so thank ya... siao ca bo :p... anyway gtg now...
Holiday.... is over now.... hope everything will go well. :D. Today..... i met up with ADRIAN WONG.... he look so handsome and young now... compare to the last two year i met him in conference. i guess he is not that stressful anymore and happyy.....
Other than that i met up with all the other national exec as well like Fon etc... :P... well they all look so tired... but also happy after meeting... hehehe.... i guess i have to shut up soon.. coz ppll say... watever stay in conference stay in conference. :D... so dear... if i ahve scandal in conference stay in conference only okie... hehehe.. miss ya...
this year no more MARC... yeah.... maybe i will get his attention... hahahahah :P joking lah... don't need it... coz i have my dearest yoyo who love me so much... guess WAT... i have to gossip about tiffany... she eh.... always so mang zhang like "ORC KAI LA".... teruk benar... eh... :p... but still i love her so much... as a friend... without her... i won't be here and without her i won't have what i have today... i guess it is her continous support that bring me to where i am today... so thank ya... siao ca bo :p... anyway gtg now...
Thursday 30 June 2005
Time In Sydney
Welll...... everyone say Sydney is a nice place but i guess i have a bad time here... since arrriving in Sydney been is extreme unhappy..... :( why....
1) my camera drop from the tripod stand and the lens was damage and i have to repair it which cost $300 and i ahve no choice but to repair it even though my freind keep asking me not to. but i guess it is becuase i love my camera so much. Disappointingly, my dear don't understand me and i was damn upset when she said the same thing also.... :(. well, i guess that is what happen espaically such thing happen. Well... conly My fren, salina support me in changing lens other than my parents without me getting more upset.
2) My mood is so down here... i miss my dear so much.... worry about her at work but don't know how to tell her. and i knwo i don't have much time talking to her now... cause she is working. Further to that, she can't recharge her phone coz no money so can't message me. i feel so burden and more burden than before i guess when i officially resign by end of the month.
So like that loh.. in short further to that... the weather here has spoil my mood so badly keep raining and give me the feeling of unhapiness and feel like lazy and tired.... i wish my dear is here to support me and accompany now...
1) my camera drop from the tripod stand and the lens was damage and i have to repair it which cost $300 and i ahve no choice but to repair it even though my freind keep asking me not to. but i guess it is becuase i love my camera so much. Disappointingly, my dear don't understand me and i was damn upset when she said the same thing also.... :(. well, i guess that is what happen espaically such thing happen. Well... conly My fren, salina support me in changing lens other than my parents without me getting more upset.
2) My mood is so down here... i miss my dear so much.... worry about her at work but don't know how to tell her. and i knwo i don't have much time talking to her now... cause she is working. Further to that, she can't recharge her phone coz no money so can't message me. i feel so burden and more burden than before i guess when i officially resign by end of the month.
So like that loh.. in short further to that... the weather here has spoil my mood so badly keep raining and give me the feeling of unhapiness and feel like lazy and tired.... i wish my dear is here to support me and accompany now...
Monday 27 June 2005
Decision
Life has been full of decision making, some decision is for better good and others are for worst bad. We never know what decision we made is right or wrong till the day come. Today, I have made up my mind and courage to resign from my position as General Secretary of Curtin Student Guild, for one simple reason, “Selfishness”. It seem that I am going through a lot over the months trying to find my true self again but never quite getting there.
Today, I feel I am getting to the place where I want to be. To be one of the top international student representative and not a student representative, what is the difference? Being an international student representative only deal with international student issue and a student representative deal with all student issue, I was once told that not to take up the position and advise to just let others do it but I choose to go for it for the better of international students’ voice. Now, I realize I have been ashamed by other student representative; I have failed my fellow international students.
I guess I should have not take up anything and go back home, I might change my faith even with my dearest Yoyo. It seems that now my life is all upside down without direction feeling lost and unwanted. It makes me feel I lost everything, everything I built over the years. I try my best to made International Students Committee (ISC), a well-known student representative not only on-campus but off-campus as well… I guess I have not manage to do it… and I believe that Tiffany, this year have done it. I used to think that maybe it is what I did last year that craft ISC this year but I was wrong. The reason why I think so it that I don’t have a good public speaking and good English to communicate my ideas, no one seems to understand me.
Decision to change one’s life
Now, I believe that if I can’t craft a better person of myself. I will never be able to serve my fellow international students. I will try my best to read more books to understand my issues, so I can be more prepared, more resourceful and more knowledgeable. I will take my remaining time to ensure that I do my best in my study and show to others I can do it; I can be the best in things I do. I am Jacky Teo….. I can change the life of international students in Western Australia, I can make them feel like they are welcome and represented properly and accordingly. I have quit my job as Gen Sec, and now I will do what I love and without regret make it the best organisation in WA, and Australia. Both ISC and NLCWEST will have to be effective and efficient, where all international students want to know about and join. It will be my aim and objective to stay focus and shall not divert my interest and do all my best.
I hope I can do it, no matter what I must do it. I have to…. Decision I shall not regrets. Hope my parents will forgive me for giving them extra burden, I will make sure that, their hardship and love will be great endure and appreciated. Thank to my parents, Sister, My dear Yoshiko and all my friends. I will prove to be a worthwhile person again. I will and I must.
Today, I feel I am getting to the place where I want to be. To be one of the top international student representative and not a student representative, what is the difference? Being an international student representative only deal with international student issue and a student representative deal with all student issue, I was once told that not to take up the position and advise to just let others do it but I choose to go for it for the better of international students’ voice. Now, I realize I have been ashamed by other student representative; I have failed my fellow international students.
I guess I should have not take up anything and go back home, I might change my faith even with my dearest Yoyo. It seems that now my life is all upside down without direction feeling lost and unwanted. It makes me feel I lost everything, everything I built over the years. I try my best to made International Students Committee (ISC), a well-known student representative not only on-campus but off-campus as well… I guess I have not manage to do it… and I believe that Tiffany, this year have done it. I used to think that maybe it is what I did last year that craft ISC this year but I was wrong. The reason why I think so it that I don’t have a good public speaking and good English to communicate my ideas, no one seems to understand me.
Decision to change one’s life
Now, I believe that if I can’t craft a better person of myself. I will never be able to serve my fellow international students. I will try my best to read more books to understand my issues, so I can be more prepared, more resourceful and more knowledgeable. I will take my remaining time to ensure that I do my best in my study and show to others I can do it; I can be the best in things I do. I am Jacky Teo….. I can change the life of international students in Western Australia, I can make them feel like they are welcome and represented properly and accordingly. I have quit my job as Gen Sec, and now I will do what I love and without regret make it the best organisation in WA, and Australia. Both ISC and NLCWEST will have to be effective and efficient, where all international students want to know about and join. It will be my aim and objective to stay focus and shall not divert my interest and do all my best.
I hope I can do it, no matter what I must do it. I have to…. Decision I shall not regrets. Hope my parents will forgive me for giving them extra burden, I will make sure that, their hardship and love will be great endure and appreciated. Thank to my parents, Sister, My dear Yoshiko and all my friends. I will prove to be a worthwhile person again. I will and I must.
Sunday 5 June 2005
Time to express my life on "DOOM DAY"
Today….. “Doom day”. Well today, I started my day with doing my 40% take home exam due tomorrow but just finished one question out of three. Then I move on in reading blog and came across my friend, Kenny blog…. I haven’t been reading his blog for weeks now. Guess what I came across. According to Kennysia.com, my “living is a confused life” blog is funny only because I made a lot of spelling mistake. Well I guess no one really understand me, this blog expressed the truth in me and what is really in my heart.
Whether it is funny or not, doesn’t really matter to me. Whether people read my blog or not don’t mean a thing to me. So at the same time, whether I did many spelling mistake, who cares.. :P. This is who I am and what I am, like it or not it is the true me and that about my comment towards his comment on my blog.
Back to my own life, since my last update so many things have happen. First of all, my study, I have like 7 assignments due 6 of it worth 40% and one of it worth 20%. STRESSSS!!!!!!! AND VERY STRESSSS!!!!!!!!!
Then move on to my friends…. Lately I was thinking what wrong with my monthly dinner group gang!!! It seems to be very sad and breaking apart lately. As I was talking to some of them I realized that we are going through some sort of low time. It seem like there is more and more internal issues that need to be speak out… SO I will start here and home my fellow monthly dinner gang can continue.
1) I am extremely unhappy being treated like a driver and so I wish you guys can understand especially tat weng. The reason is not because I don’t want to drive you around but you have to understand, we are all students and petrol is really an unnecessarily expenditure just to drive you here and there. Other than that is the way when you actually asked for it, people might feel extremely unhappy when you are bossing around or commanding people to drive you around. Further to that, I am extremely pissed when I already say no and you make a decision by yourself to overturn my decision. For example, I say to meet kah mun at KFC but you told mun we will come and pick you up. It is like you make your decision without actually care who’s car that is and who is driving. This is about being treated like a driver and I hope everyone won’t have a hard feeling towards this comment and take it as time to say everything out before it is too late and our monthly group breaks apart.
2) Candice and Stiener, I don’t have a problem with you guys actually just to say sorry if you guys feel left out. The reasons why I seldom call you guys are because you stay on the opposite side of me. L You are in West Perth and I am in Waterford. I am sure we can work out something to keep in touch and we are still best friend of cause no matter what. You are always my best friends.
3) David Koko and Dine Cehceh, hm… problems with us is that we seldom see one another as often as we used too. It seem like since you guys graduated and married, we have lesser time to meet up due to different commitment and free time so when we meet up it may seem a bit awkward. Nevertheless, you two will always be my koko and cehceh in Perth, sorry to forget and wish you guys happy birthday….. I am really busy with assignment.
4) Gline and Jamie… hm… I guess we have not been very close all these while but certainly we are still in our monthly dinner group as friend who care about one another and a bonding friendship that is to remain strong. Anyway gline, we have to work together mah… so will sure have to keep it strong :D.
5) Mun and Tiffy, well you two I guess not much problems… so no need to say anything…. Because we are still working together and see each other very often in ISC office.
6) Nicole, I guess sometime you might feel I am very bad, which I am sometime… I admit. I feel our problems occurs not because of us but more just because of my stress in study and always see you pretty much at the wrong time or wrong place.
7) Kanny, Mien and Lin, I guess this time I would have to say we are neutral so nothing wrong… coz maybe our friendship is new and that we haven’t put too much personal feeling into our friendship as the friendship is not into the very Mature stage except for me and lin… something like my carer… now hehehe….
8) My dearest, yoyo, well since you left… I have feel so lonely in the group again like the person with partner and seeing everyone with their partner so happy and enjoying themselves.
9) EX-Monthly dinner gang, Kenny & Phang & Joey. Well since you guys leave there is lack of communications between us… but I guess we can work sometime out right… afterall we were once sitting at the same table and eat… :P
I hope this will draw a line to the end of the problems and let us build up or group again never to let it split apart, new member or not doesn’t really matter but our old friendship has to be maintain. Hope none of you have a hard feeling and feel free to criticize all my comment and scold me… afterall we are always open to one another and not much secret kept in between us.
Well... hope to see a brand new friendship….
Whether it is funny or not, doesn’t really matter to me. Whether people read my blog or not don’t mean a thing to me. So at the same time, whether I did many spelling mistake, who cares.. :P. This is who I am and what I am, like it or not it is the true me and that about my comment towards his comment on my blog.
Back to my own life, since my last update so many things have happen. First of all, my study, I have like 7 assignments due 6 of it worth 40% and one of it worth 20%. STRESSSS!!!!!!! AND VERY STRESSSS!!!!!!!!!
Then move on to my friends…. Lately I was thinking what wrong with my monthly dinner group gang!!! It seems to be very sad and breaking apart lately. As I was talking to some of them I realized that we are going through some sort of low time. It seem like there is more and more internal issues that need to be speak out… SO I will start here and home my fellow monthly dinner gang can continue.
1) I am extremely unhappy being treated like a driver and so I wish you guys can understand especially tat weng. The reason is not because I don’t want to drive you around but you have to understand, we are all students and petrol is really an unnecessarily expenditure just to drive you here and there. Other than that is the way when you actually asked for it, people might feel extremely unhappy when you are bossing around or commanding people to drive you around. Further to that, I am extremely pissed when I already say no and you make a decision by yourself to overturn my decision. For example, I say to meet kah mun at KFC but you told mun we will come and pick you up. It is like you make your decision without actually care who’s car that is and who is driving. This is about being treated like a driver and I hope everyone won’t have a hard feeling towards this comment and take it as time to say everything out before it is too late and our monthly group breaks apart.
2) Candice and Stiener, I don’t have a problem with you guys actually just to say sorry if you guys feel left out. The reasons why I seldom call you guys are because you stay on the opposite side of me. L You are in West Perth and I am in Waterford. I am sure we can work out something to keep in touch and we are still best friend of cause no matter what. You are always my best friends.
3) David Koko and Dine Cehceh, hm… problems with us is that we seldom see one another as often as we used too. It seem like since you guys graduated and married, we have lesser time to meet up due to different commitment and free time so when we meet up it may seem a bit awkward. Nevertheless, you two will always be my koko and cehceh in Perth, sorry to forget and wish you guys happy birthday….. I am really busy with assignment.
4) Gline and Jamie… hm… I guess we have not been very close all these while but certainly we are still in our monthly dinner group as friend who care about one another and a bonding friendship that is to remain strong. Anyway gline, we have to work together mah… so will sure have to keep it strong :D.
5) Mun and Tiffy, well you two I guess not much problems… so no need to say anything…. Because we are still working together and see each other very often in ISC office.
6) Nicole, I guess sometime you might feel I am very bad, which I am sometime… I admit. I feel our problems occurs not because of us but more just because of my stress in study and always see you pretty much at the wrong time or wrong place.
7) Kanny, Mien and Lin, I guess this time I would have to say we are neutral so nothing wrong… coz maybe our friendship is new and that we haven’t put too much personal feeling into our friendship as the friendship is not into the very Mature stage except for me and lin… something like my carer… now hehehe….
8) My dearest, yoyo, well since you left… I have feel so lonely in the group again like the person with partner and seeing everyone with their partner so happy and enjoying themselves.
9) EX-Monthly dinner gang, Kenny & Phang & Joey. Well since you guys leave there is lack of communications between us… but I guess we can work sometime out right… afterall we were once sitting at the same table and eat… :P
I hope this will draw a line to the end of the problems and let us build up or group again never to let it split apart, new member or not doesn’t really matter but our old friendship has to be maintain. Hope none of you have a hard feeling and feel free to criticize all my comment and scold me… afterall we are always open to one another and not much secret kept in between us.
Well... hope to see a brand new friendship….
Tuesday 24 May 2005
Commitment VS Time
I have been so stress out lately with all the work I am doing; I seem to be running out of time. Lately it is brought to my attention that I have put too much commitment on friends and various others issues that I shouldn’t have.
1) Friendship VS Time
I hope my friend will understanding, I have been abandoning them and refusing to take any actions to improve my friendship for various reasons.
I have so much commitment that it is not funny!!!! I can’t think for them or care for them as much as some may think I do. I no longer can stop myself from restricting myself from have the little bit of time to be alone or relaxing or my freedom of movement.
Sometime, when friends have put all expectation on you to do all the things, you can’t commit to all. I feel I have burn too much of my time on those, trying to meet others requirement so that I can maintain the friendship. WELL???? Today things must change, I myself are in deep shit… I don’t even have time for myself or someone very important in my life; I don’t believe I should take this responsibility anymore for now.
My 4th Priority
2) Girlfriend and Family VS Time
Well, lately been a very disappointing case, my dearest one and my family, long being neglected especially my family. I feel so sorry. They are so worried about me but I don’t have the half an hour to calm them and talk to them… I believe I have to put effort into my family and to keep them less worried and remain happy
As for my dearest one, I feel extremely bad lately but never wish to tell her face to face or directly but I hope she read this now. I am extremely load fully and don’t have the time. Many occasions, I have just forget about caring for her but feeling extremely bad but then I lied to her saying, I am just testing you to let you know how it feel etc. I feel I have been neglecting her. I feel I have been hurting her feeling when sometime I am too emotional because of my time constraints. I always feel she don’t understand and comprise to the time limitation I have, but at the same time being ignorance about her busy time limitation due to heavy work load of housework, searching for jobs, SGM activities and “others” friends :P.
I will try my best to take all the time I can save to put on this group.
My 2nd priority
3) Work VS Time
With the high level of workload to be done, it has certainly been a tough time for me. I have to ensure all of my work is done and that it will remain my 1st priority now. No matter what I have the rest can wait… L
4) Resting VS Time
Well after my commitment for my workload and my closest one, I think I deserve a bit of time everyday to sleep. I am no super human and doesn’t posses any super strength to keep me workable for 24hr/7day/52week. So I have at least one day of total rest and minimum of 4 hours of sleep… and work for the next 20hr.
Finally, I have just got back from Melbourne for my State responsibility and now have to back on the ball to complete my study responsibilities.
1) Friendship VS Time
I hope my friend will understanding, I have been abandoning them and refusing to take any actions to improve my friendship for various reasons.
I have so much commitment that it is not funny!!!! I can’t think for them or care for them as much as some may think I do. I no longer can stop myself from restricting myself from have the little bit of time to be alone or relaxing or my freedom of movement.
Sometime, when friends have put all expectation on you to do all the things, you can’t commit to all. I feel I have burn too much of my time on those, trying to meet others requirement so that I can maintain the friendship. WELL???? Today things must change, I myself are in deep shit… I don’t even have time for myself or someone very important in my life; I don’t believe I should take this responsibility anymore for now.
My 4th Priority
2) Girlfriend and Family VS Time
Well, lately been a very disappointing case, my dearest one and my family, long being neglected especially my family. I feel so sorry. They are so worried about me but I don’t have the half an hour to calm them and talk to them… I believe I have to put effort into my family and to keep them less worried and remain happy
As for my dearest one, I feel extremely bad lately but never wish to tell her face to face or directly but I hope she read this now. I am extremely load fully and don’t have the time. Many occasions, I have just forget about caring for her but feeling extremely bad but then I lied to her saying, I am just testing you to let you know how it feel etc. I feel I have been neglecting her. I feel I have been hurting her feeling when sometime I am too emotional because of my time constraints. I always feel she don’t understand and comprise to the time limitation I have, but at the same time being ignorance about her busy time limitation due to heavy work load of housework, searching for jobs, SGM activities and “others” friends :P.
I will try my best to take all the time I can save to put on this group.
My 2nd priority
3) Work VS Time
With the high level of workload to be done, it has certainly been a tough time for me. I have to ensure all of my work is done and that it will remain my 1st priority now. No matter what I have the rest can wait… L
4) Resting VS Time
Well after my commitment for my workload and my closest one, I think I deserve a bit of time everyday to sleep. I am no super human and doesn’t posses any super strength to keep me workable for 24hr/7day/52week. So I have at least one day of total rest and minimum of 4 hours of sleep… and work for the next 20hr.
Finally, I have just got back from Melbourne for my State responsibility and now have to back on the ball to complete my study responsibilities.
Sunday 15 May 2005
Tough road ahead
Well, I guess my road in this coming months seem to be tougher than I thought. I am now in a multiple roles for student representatives and also in my life. Day after day I am thinking of whom I am and what I am doing.
Today, I have been doing a reviewing of my life. Realising, I have a shorter life than what I suppose to have. WONDER WHY?
AS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, I am now not only the General Secretary of Curtin Student Guild, but also NLCWEST Branch Convenor and ISC MCW Chairperson. Since Yo’s Departure from Perth, that’s the way I choose to entertain myself with. Nevertheless, due to tremendous slackness in doing my work, I now have like 6 assignment and 13 summaries to hand in. No one knows how I am going to cope with it at the same time no one will know how I am going to deal with this stress.
Outside of that, financially, I have to pay a $960 rental by tomorrow but only have in total $925 with me. I now feel that, I am just in the worst crisis ever that will happen to me. I can’t even ask for financial assistance from my parent because I have already asked once and that is to clear most of my debt and now it will be all up to me.
Well… apart from all those what is the toughest road I have is that I have work out budget and timeline that I have to meet to further organize my time and my person. Whether it is going to work or not, i certainly have to see. Well it has some cost and benefits.
Benefits;-
1) more organized and steady life
2) save more money for future
3) less worry for my family
4) having a quite life
Cost;-
1) Might lose my love one, coz I can’t call her all the time and catch up with her
2) Less social life and less fun time
3) Can’t go out eat all the time and have to stay at home
Am I willing to take the risk… to lose my dearest one… is she going to leave me? I don’t know. Well regardless what, I am now one of the world’s most unconfident person but will till take the courage to do it… no matter wat it takes. May all my frens regards wat religion ur are to bless me… going through this pathway easily and become a better person.
Today, I have been doing a reviewing of my life. Realising, I have a shorter life than what I suppose to have. WONDER WHY?
AS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, I am now not only the General Secretary of Curtin Student Guild, but also NLCWEST Branch Convenor and ISC MCW Chairperson. Since Yo’s Departure from Perth, that’s the way I choose to entertain myself with. Nevertheless, due to tremendous slackness in doing my work, I now have like 6 assignment and 13 summaries to hand in. No one knows how I am going to cope with it at the same time no one will know how I am going to deal with this stress.
Outside of that, financially, I have to pay a $960 rental by tomorrow but only have in total $925 with me. I now feel that, I am just in the worst crisis ever that will happen to me. I can’t even ask for financial assistance from my parent because I have already asked once and that is to clear most of my debt and now it will be all up to me.
Well… apart from all those what is the toughest road I have is that I have work out budget and timeline that I have to meet to further organize my time and my person. Whether it is going to work or not, i certainly have to see. Well it has some cost and benefits.
Benefits;-
1) more organized and steady life
2) save more money for future
3) less worry for my family
4) having a quite life
Cost;-
1) Might lose my love one, coz I can’t call her all the time and catch up with her
2) Less social life and less fun time
3) Can’t go out eat all the time and have to stay at home
Am I willing to take the risk… to lose my dearest one… is she going to leave me? I don’t know. Well regardless what, I am now one of the world’s most unconfident person but will till take the courage to do it… no matter wat it takes. May all my frens regards wat religion ur are to bless me… going through this pathway easily and become a better person.
Tuesday 3 May 2005
DEADLINES To meet
Here is the outline of work i have to get it done from this week onwards.. STREESSSS :(
One-page summary by (5 May)
Terrorism School of Strategic Thought
Session 9 (10 May)
Terrorism School of Strategic Thought
May 27th
Ministerial Briefing Paper –Strategic Geography
Session 12 (May 31)
Briefing paper – World Current Trends
Session 13 (June 7)
Major Essay – World Current Trends
June 10th
Major Essay – Middle East
Jun 13th
Ministerial Briefing Paper – Eurasia Studies
June 20th
Major Essay - Eurasia Studies
One-page summary by (5 May)
Terrorism School of Strategic Thought
Session 9 (10 May)
Terrorism School of Strategic Thought
May 27th
Ministerial Briefing Paper –Strategic Geography
Session 12 (May 31)
Briefing paper – World Current Trends
Session 13 (June 7)
Major Essay – World Current Trends
June 10th
Major Essay – Middle East
Jun 13th
Ministerial Briefing Paper – Eurasia Studies
June 20th
Major Essay - Eurasia Studies
Monday 2 May 2005
My weekend
Well... I have been through such a hectic weekend..... eventhough i ahve a weekbreak.... :(
1) well i went to both NLCWEST BEC and BAC....... hm... what happen there.... talk to couple of ppl from CISWA, NUSWEST ETC... things seem to go well but guess what... i actually don't know what i have got me into by running the Branch Convenor position. Currently, my mind is full of thought about how to imporve eveything i do... including my studies.....
2) welll what you know,.... i lock myself out of my car... and have to pay like $164 for a $64 membership to RAC roadside assistance... :(. well bad luck... for me but now i know that i am covered for one year for any roadside assistance. :P
3) Me and my dear is getting closer and closer every single day. feel like our heart seem to start understanding one another thought and feeling. well still not prefect but getting there... :D
4) assignment.... heheheh half way through got to finish it by today or else i am doom.. :(
5) lost in the sea... guess i am not> :P prefectly fine... will strive for the bettermen of my future.... from now onwards
1) well i went to both NLCWEST BEC and BAC....... hm... what happen there.... talk to couple of ppl from CISWA, NUSWEST ETC... things seem to go well but guess what... i actually don't know what i have got me into by running the Branch Convenor position. Currently, my mind is full of thought about how to imporve eveything i do... including my studies.....
2) welll what you know,.... i lock myself out of my car... and have to pay like $164 for a $64 membership to RAC roadside assistance... :(. well bad luck... for me but now i know that i am covered for one year for any roadside assistance. :P
3) Me and my dear is getting closer and closer every single day. feel like our heart seem to start understanding one another thought and feeling. well still not prefect but getting there... :D
4) assignment.... heheheh half way through got to finish it by today or else i am doom.. :(
5) lost in the sea... guess i am not> :P prefectly fine... will strive for the bettermen of my future.... from now onwards
Tuesday 26 April 2005
Feeling lonely and unlove / Just one of those bad day
Having a day like this too often might not be what I want but it happen. Since early in the morning, left over conflict between me and dear has seemed to be too serious that we fought over it. Well this time turn out to be not her fault because I am so unreasonable and bad for once.
Day goes pass like any other day, went to work at 8.30am -5pm in the Guild. Well certainly have to thank IWAN for his kind work of editing my MCW messenger from Chairperson. Then when to Coles and get some stuff to wash my car hopefully it will look like brand new tomorrow.
As I was going home, I was so hungry because didn’t eat the whole day so cooked some noodle and eat can’t wait for appointment with tiffany them. If was about 6 something, I finished my dinner and I promise to still go with them and pick up Lin on the way around 7pm. All of the sudden, my body turn weak and headache came so decided to take a rest for awhile. Who knows by the time I woke up is 8PM….. I missed the dinner and guess what I made Lin missed her dinner too,…… I feel so so so damn bad.
Thanks to Lin, kind heart she forgives me and says it is ok but in my heart it is certainly not ok. Well nevertheless have to thank iffy also for agreeing to buy food back to LIN when she finished. Since I am not feeling much well, I decided to go back and take a nap and call my dear to tell my situation. It never turn out as what I expected, she give me the feeling of giving the cold shoulder and asked me to go sleep. As I woke up another time feel weak still, so decided to make warm water for myself. Well I am just so CARELESS….., I poured the hot water over my hand and kinda burnt several areas but seem not serious at this moment but the feeling of “LAT” is there. So once again I called my dear, she yet seems to give me the cold shoulder but with a bit of kindness which seem alright as I was in deep pain. OUCH….. all of the sudden my chest started to pain… for like few second… well as I told her…. Seconds later, all she tell me was that you are falling sick already, better look after yourself okay. L I wish there would be something more but nevertheless it is a high hope.
Since kinda met with YO, this is the first time I feel so lonely and back to my anti-social life of just staying at home, not to go out and keep away from all contacts. I don’t know why but my life in Perth seem to face a depression period of turning back to what I used to be when I first arrive.
I feel so much so lost all of the sudden, losing the care of YO, when she is here, she seem to look after me all the time. I guess that is what I want to build to even appreciate her more and I certainly have done it with no doubt full of success. I certainly miss her, day and night care, cooking for me, cleaning my room for me, take care of me when I am not feeling well, accompany me when I am busy, remind me of my role as a student and most important of all, love me truly. L With no regerts, hope the journey of pain and lonely will lead to a life long happiness.
Day goes pass like any other day, went to work at 8.30am -5pm in the Guild. Well certainly have to thank IWAN for his kind work of editing my MCW messenger from Chairperson. Then when to Coles and get some stuff to wash my car hopefully it will look like brand new tomorrow.
As I was going home, I was so hungry because didn’t eat the whole day so cooked some noodle and eat can’t wait for appointment with tiffany them. If was about 6 something, I finished my dinner and I promise to still go with them and pick up Lin on the way around 7pm. All of the sudden, my body turn weak and headache came so decided to take a rest for awhile. Who knows by the time I woke up is 8PM….. I missed the dinner and guess what I made Lin missed her dinner too,…… I feel so so so damn bad.
Thanks to Lin, kind heart she forgives me and says it is ok but in my heart it is certainly not ok. Well nevertheless have to thank iffy also for agreeing to buy food back to LIN when she finished. Since I am not feeling much well, I decided to go back and take a nap and call my dear to tell my situation. It never turn out as what I expected, she give me the feeling of giving the cold shoulder and asked me to go sleep. As I woke up another time feel weak still, so decided to make warm water for myself. Well I am just so CARELESS….., I poured the hot water over my hand and kinda burnt several areas but seem not serious at this moment but the feeling of “LAT” is there. So once again I called my dear, she yet seems to give me the cold shoulder but with a bit of kindness which seem alright as I was in deep pain. OUCH….. all of the sudden my chest started to pain… for like few second… well as I told her…. Seconds later, all she tell me was that you are falling sick already, better look after yourself okay. L I wish there would be something more but nevertheless it is a high hope.
Since kinda met with YO, this is the first time I feel so lonely and back to my anti-social life of just staying at home, not to go out and keep away from all contacts. I don’t know why but my life in Perth seem to face a depression period of turning back to what I used to be when I first arrive.
I feel so much so lost all of the sudden, losing the care of YO, when she is here, she seem to look after me all the time. I guess that is what I want to build to even appreciate her more and I certainly have done it with no doubt full of success. I certainly miss her, day and night care, cooking for me, cleaning my room for me, take care of me when I am not feeling well, accompany me when I am busy, remind me of my role as a student and most important of all, love me truly. L With no regerts, hope the journey of pain and lonely will lead to a life long happiness.
How To Love You Truly
How to love you truly when I really find it hard to understand why? Why she seem not to understand how I feel. Why doesn’t she see the pain and suffering I have? Why doesn’t she see that I am hurt and really need her care and love? Why doesn’t she see that I need her to tell me what going with her sometime and stop being so silence over the phone and internet when she is curious or feeling that I don’t understand or misunderstand her?
Over the past few months, I feel I am in the mixed feeling of over cared and uncared by the same person. Nevertheless I choose not to let go and fight on. Today, I am here facing an imaginary fear of losing to myself. My own heart and soul whom no longer can stand these feeling of keeping all to myself and trying to find an answer to WHY?
After such a long journey of loving her, I reach the dilemma of what is LOVE and CARING. Are they related at all by any chance? You my dear are all I needed now and want to have. However time, our past, our unique relationship and our feeling stop of from being together.
Since the day I made up my decision to study which till today I have regretted, life have been changing every single day. Our distance has been separated physical attachment and mental attachment to a certain extend. I on the other side, many time make outrage request and bad remark on you and in return not only hurt you but me. Not only so, when you care me too much I feel you are too annoying but when you care less I think you don’t love me. When you ask for my opinion and decision I find you too dependent and when you refused to listen to my opinion and decision I feel you are too independent for me.
How do I able to love someone so truly, madly and deeply if this is the case. What do I want actually? Who am I, to make this remark?
In the end of all this conflict and mysterious feeling of tiredness of the problems, my heart and soul has stand together to tell me that ever since you left, I miss you so much as if that my whole world fall apart without you. Your physical presence has become a greater attachment to me as if like you are my heart.
Dear all readers, I wish there is a way out of all this:-
1) Should I stop all this pain and finish my graduate certificate and go.
2) Should I continue studying until Graduate Diploma and Go
3) Should I finish my course until Master then Go.
Second Advise:-
After Leaving
1) Should I go to KL
2) Should I go back Brunei and then to KL
3) Should I go back Brunei
Third Advise:-
How can I win her heart completely that she will have the love and caring that I wish she has for me?
Over the past few months, I feel I am in the mixed feeling of over cared and uncared by the same person. Nevertheless I choose not to let go and fight on. Today, I am here facing an imaginary fear of losing to myself. My own heart and soul whom no longer can stand these feeling of keeping all to myself and trying to find an answer to WHY?
After such a long journey of loving her, I reach the dilemma of what is LOVE and CARING. Are they related at all by any chance? You my dear are all I needed now and want to have. However time, our past, our unique relationship and our feeling stop of from being together.
Since the day I made up my decision to study which till today I have regretted, life have been changing every single day. Our distance has been separated physical attachment and mental attachment to a certain extend. I on the other side, many time make outrage request and bad remark on you and in return not only hurt you but me. Not only so, when you care me too much I feel you are too annoying but when you care less I think you don’t love me. When you ask for my opinion and decision I find you too dependent and when you refused to listen to my opinion and decision I feel you are too independent for me.
How do I able to love someone so truly, madly and deeply if this is the case. What do I want actually? Who am I, to make this remark?
In the end of all this conflict and mysterious feeling of tiredness of the problems, my heart and soul has stand together to tell me that ever since you left, I miss you so much as if that my whole world fall apart without you. Your physical presence has become a greater attachment to me as if like you are my heart.
Dear all readers, I wish there is a way out of all this:-
1) Should I stop all this pain and finish my graduate certificate and go.
2) Should I continue studying until Graduate Diploma and Go
3) Should I finish my course until Master then Go.
Second Advise:-
After Leaving
1) Should I go to KL
2) Should I go back Brunei and then to KL
3) Should I go back Brunei
Third Advise:-
How can I win her heart completely that she will have the love and caring that I wish she has for me?
Sunday 24 April 2005
CHOOSE LIFE: A DIALOGUE
As I have finish reading the book on CHOOSE LIFE: A DIALOGUE by Arnold Toynbee and Daisaku Ikeda: Part I, Chapter 1 on The Basic Human Being. I have find something very interesting.
1) Human Knowledge.
As I continue reading the book, I find these two people are full of knowledge, they can discuss topic of sex, psychology, science, human instinct and religion. Ikeda, the President of Soka Gakkai International and Arnold Toynbee an International Sage are now prove to me a human can gain knowledge to a level where many people will envy. The reason why I envy them is that they both possesses extraordinary knowledge and able to give specific example on certain issue and provide reader and teach one another something interesting and new.
2) Sex Education / Human Understanding of Sex
Many human beings still believe having SEX before marriage is a big deal. Some may even say SEX shouldn’t be discussed in the open air. As other may say, to have SEX without love is outraged such as Prostitution or One night Stand.
As my personal point of view, Sex is part of our human life. Certainly, there is reason to set rules to limit SEX to be discussed in public or market openly. Conservative or Open-minded of the culture certainly play important rules. Many have related SEX to religion or today’s society’s culture. As science has teaches us how pregnancy works, the hormones that create two human beings to get involve with the desire to have sex and the understanding of human body parts.
Based on the book, they related to human dignity. It is our human dignities that create rules on SEX and to govern our human organ and life. It seems to be a way human has work to differentiated ourselves for the non-human animal and also because we possess the feeling of self-consciousness.
3) Science and Religion
Many story in the past related to the conflict of science and religion, even so today. Religions such as Catholics, Christianity, Muslims, Hinduism, Buddhism and Orthodox have been challenge by science one way on another. The common conflict still exists even though that both are for the betterment of human life.
For example, Catholics or those conservative religious political party leader like JOHN HOWARD :P cannot accept the lesbian/gay marriage or existence, is just so wrong. This is because it has been proven by science that, many cases of this people to be lesbian or gay is just because of their hormones or mixed of genes if looking into western influence teaching by Mendel and Morgan or the Russian influence teaching by Lysenko the environment.
In my personal point of view, Ikeda and Toynbee, make it clear that human history religion and science are complimentary to one another to awaken all human beings to a realization of their essential value. Ikeda made a point on that if we assume this responsibility; we can explore the complementary relations between those two in order to find a way to make religion more accessible to all human.
Certainly, I am proud to tell you this book is given by my dear as my birthday gift, which at first I kinda disappointed with it at first because I was hoping to get something that I can use. But after reading this book, I find that this book is not just a gift to me but something more. It possesses me with new knowledge and understanding how to become a better person and to understand more about life. Well certainly, my love towards my dear will not be missing out because when reading the book, it keeps asking me question back about Yo and the dad. I don’t know why the dad but, he seem to come into my mind also as I have questions for him and how he can teach me more about Ikeda educating the SGI and my curiosity over Soka Gakkai in these sense.
Thank you my dear, I wish we can build a lasting long relationship for the better and worst moment and never be apart in our heart. This will be one of my most memorable present ever received.
Current Book reading social time reading:- CHOOSE LIFE: A DIALOGUE by Arnold Toynbee and Daisaku Ikeda.
1) Human Knowledge.
As I continue reading the book, I find these two people are full of knowledge, they can discuss topic of sex, psychology, science, human instinct and religion. Ikeda, the President of Soka Gakkai International and Arnold Toynbee an International Sage are now prove to me a human can gain knowledge to a level where many people will envy. The reason why I envy them is that they both possesses extraordinary knowledge and able to give specific example on certain issue and provide reader and teach one another something interesting and new.
2) Sex Education / Human Understanding of Sex
Many human beings still believe having SEX before marriage is a big deal. Some may even say SEX shouldn’t be discussed in the open air. As other may say, to have SEX without love is outraged such as Prostitution or One night Stand.
As my personal point of view, Sex is part of our human life. Certainly, there is reason to set rules to limit SEX to be discussed in public or market openly. Conservative or Open-minded of the culture certainly play important rules. Many have related SEX to religion or today’s society’s culture. As science has teaches us how pregnancy works, the hormones that create two human beings to get involve with the desire to have sex and the understanding of human body parts.
Based on the book, they related to human dignity. It is our human dignities that create rules on SEX and to govern our human organ and life. It seems to be a way human has work to differentiated ourselves for the non-human animal and also because we possess the feeling of self-consciousness.
3) Science and Religion
Many story in the past related to the conflict of science and religion, even so today. Religions such as Catholics, Christianity, Muslims, Hinduism, Buddhism and Orthodox have been challenge by science one way on another. The common conflict still exists even though that both are for the betterment of human life.
For example, Catholics or those conservative religious political party leader like JOHN HOWARD :P cannot accept the lesbian/gay marriage or existence, is just so wrong. This is because it has been proven by science that, many cases of this people to be lesbian or gay is just because of their hormones or mixed of genes if looking into western influence teaching by Mendel and Morgan or the Russian influence teaching by Lysenko the environment.
In my personal point of view, Ikeda and Toynbee, make it clear that human history religion and science are complimentary to one another to awaken all human beings to a realization of their essential value. Ikeda made a point on that if we assume this responsibility; we can explore the complementary relations between those two in order to find a way to make religion more accessible to all human.
Certainly, I am proud to tell you this book is given by my dear as my birthday gift, which at first I kinda disappointed with it at first because I was hoping to get something that I can use. But after reading this book, I find that this book is not just a gift to me but something more. It possesses me with new knowledge and understanding how to become a better person and to understand more about life. Well certainly, my love towards my dear will not be missing out because when reading the book, it keeps asking me question back about Yo and the dad. I don’t know why the dad but, he seem to come into my mind also as I have questions for him and how he can teach me more about Ikeda educating the SGI and my curiosity over Soka Gakkai in these sense.
Thank you my dear, I wish we can build a lasting long relationship for the better and worst moment and never be apart in our heart. This will be one of my most memorable present ever received.
Current Book reading social time reading:- CHOOSE LIFE: A DIALOGUE by Arnold Toynbee and Daisaku Ikeda.
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