How can a note of RM50 be easily spent? Ya, I’m saying easily, cos RM50 nowadays is really not that big. Young executives and engineers earning a living in KL and Selangor, can easily spend RM50 on a dinner, or more than that on a chill-out session at pubs/bistros. Many school children nowadays, are spending RM50 on telco charges. I also heard about instances of schooling teenage girls claiming about spending RM90 on facial masks, as something cheap.

If you are tuned into some of the FM stations like MY FM and Mix FM, you would have heard about how you can spend RM50 every month on kids in need. Ya, I’m talking about World Vision Child Sponsorship. If you are still indecisive, or in doubt of what World Vision has done, why not take a look at World Vision Malaysia Annual Report 2008 [pdf]?

Image by mselam

To keep sponsors in the loop, you will also be updated with the progress report of your sponsored child, like how LiewCF has got his.

While RM50 might be less significant to some of the fortunate ones in Malaysia, but it’s definitely a big deal to those in need, especially children born in poverty. My sign-up is inspired by a friend, Micol; she has been sponsoring a Mongolian child for many years, way before World Vision is really known among Malaysians.

However, on a related note, at present, sponsorship to World Vision Malaysia is not tax deductible. But, I don’t think tax deduction is the only reason for you to participate in child sponsorship right?

If you would like to contribute to help children in need, and at the same time would like to be entitled for tax deduction, then you may consider to contact Unicef Malaysia. Unicef is also running programmes to help child survival and development, in terms of offering basic education and medical assistance. Click here to learn what Unicef does. I have a friend recently signed up with Unicef Malaysia, for commitment of RM38 a month.

I’ve got an interesting comment in the travelogue post “Peninsula Trip Part 2 – Day 2: Kota Bharu” from a reader named F.F. Lin. According to the posting IP, this comment was posted from Australia (not necessarily an Australian though, could be a student studying in Aus).

Thank you for your amazing travelogue. I never knew that a PAS governed state allowed such huge statue of Buddha to be built there. How many temples are there in the State of Kelantan? How about Trengganu? Were the malays friendly? Can the local Chinese there eat pork? Are there Chinese schools in the two states? I heard that the states are governed by extremists.

I may visit these states when I go to Malaysia.

After replying his/her questions, I’m just too tempted to make this a post on its own, hopefully to help creating a fair image to Kelantan, especially the present ruling party. This is my reply (no, I swear I’m not paid to write this :p):

There are simply too many Buddhist temples in Kelantan, especially those of Thai influence (listing of Thai Buddhist temples in Kelantan). Kelantanese Malays are generally very friendly And yes, Kelantanese Chinese have no issue with eating pork (”bak kut teh” restaurants can be found in Kota Bharu too), they are free to practice any Chinese cultures and celebrate Chinese celebrations like others. Besides, Chinese schools are readily available too. Don’t be fooled by mis-conceptions portrayed from mainstream medias.

By the way, Terengganu is currently (after the 8th Mar 2008 election) under the governance of national ruling party, not PAS.

Saw the extend of negative impressions that mainstream medias have created for Kelantan?? To no surprise, even some Malaysians who have not visited Kelantan before, have some mis-conceptions on the state too. Continue reading ‘Damages that The Medias have Done on Kelantan’