Thailand, Malaysia To Ink Education MoU

BANGKOK, June 9 - After years of informal ties in the education field, Malaysia and Thailand are expected to sign a historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) in August to pave the way for closer cooperation and exchange of expertise between their educators.

The formal collaboration comes in the wake of the two neighbours ushering in their 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.

The MoU is expected to be finalised and signed when Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont visits Malaysia in August.

Deputy Director-General of Education (School Division) Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom led 12 Education Ministry senior officials to explore areas of cooperation during their five-day visit to Thailand which ended today.

Alimuddin said the MoU was the result of a recent meeting between Malaysian Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and his Thai counterpart Prof Dr Wichit Srisa-an here and in Kuala Lumpur last month.

"Many schools and institutions in both countries have exchange programmes and cooperation for many years. In view of that, the ministers felt there is a need for formal cooperation that will benefit the two countries," he said in an interview here.

Alimuddin said the MoU would, among others, touch on academic cooperation and exchange of staff, experts, teachers and students, promoting linkages between cluster schools and organising training programmes for teachers.

He said one of the important areas of cooperation involves religious schools as Dr Wichit had sought Malaysia's help to further develop the religious school system in Thailand, especially in the restive south.

"Dr Wichit was impressed with our religious school system that gives equal importance to both religious studies and normal syllabus.

"He wants to implement a similar model in Thailand," he said.

Alimuddin said Thai officials are also keen to learn from Malaysia the teaching of science and mathematics in English.

In return, he said, Malaysia hopes to learn from Thailand the examination and evaluation systems for arts schools, which are new in Malaysia, as well as special education.

In August, 500 scouts from Malaysian schools bordering Thailand would join 1,500 scouts from the southern provinces in the Thai-Malaysia Border Scouts Jamboree in Songkhla.

S'pore Detains "Self-Radicalised" S'porean, Four JI Members Under ISA

SINGAPORE, June 8 - Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD) has arrested a 28-year-old man whom it described as a "self-radicalised' Singaporean who had made specific plans to pursue "militant jihad" in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement tonight that Abdul Basheer Abdul Kader, an ex-lecturer, was arrested in February this year and subsequently detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The ISD had also arrested and placed under ISA four Jemaah Islamiyah members between November last year and February this year, including one whom the ministry said had "undergone JI training in Malaysia".

The ministry said Abdul Basheer studied and practised law after graduation and later became a lecturer in an educational institution.

"From late 2004, he began developing the mindset that he had to wage 'militant jihad' in a land where Muslims were under attack. His views were shaped by the radical discourse that he avidly looked up on the Internet," the ministry said.

In October 2006, Abdul Basheer left Singapore for a Middle-Eastern country. "He planned to live there for two years, learning Arabic so that he could communicate with Mujahidin fighters," the ministry said.

He was arrested and repatriated to Singapore "before he could embark on his violent agenda".

Meanwhile, the four JI members detained under the ISA are Ishak Mohamed Noohu, Mohamed Hussain Saynudin, Mohamed Yassin Mohamed Nooh and Ibrahim Mohd Noor.

TNB Beat BJSS 3-1, E&Y Edge Maybank 2-1

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 - Former champions Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), despite taking off on a promising start, only managed to beat underdogs Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) boys 3-1 in the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) Division One match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil here today.

The power house broke down the school boys' defence as early as the fifth minute through Mohd Fairuz Ramli while midfielder Kevinder Singh rammed home the second goal barely two minutes later.

Kevinder Singh made it 3-0 for TNB in the 18th minute when he touched home another in the 18th minute off a field attempt.

BJSS' solitary strike was courtesy of Ahmad Kazamirul Nasruddin in the 48th minute.

In another Division One match, defending league champions Ernst and Young (E&Y) fought hard to edge Maybank 2-1.

However, it was Maybank who took the lead through Chairil Anwar Abdul Aziz in the sixth minute but E&Y equalised five minutes later through their penalty corner specialist Zulkifli Mohamad Rejab.

The second half saw E&Y struggling to break into Maybank's semi-circle and finally found their loop hole in the 60th minute through Ismail Abu to collect the full three points.

"We were cautious in the first half and conceded a goal. We charged back and got the equaliser. In the second half, I told the boys to go all-out and they got the winning goal late in the second half. It was a close game but I'm glad we collected full points today," said E&Y's coach K. Dharmaraj.

In Division Two, Jurutera Letrik Jentera (JLJ) steamrolled Royal Malaysian Air Force(RMAF) 7-1 at the Tun Razak Hockey Stadium while SUKSES Selangor could only manage a 2-2 draw with Dolphins at Klang.

In another match, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) secured a slim 1-0 win over Renjers at the Sungai Petani pitch while Kedah Hockey Association Nur Insafi managed to overcome MSN Terengganu 3-2.

At the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Batu Pahat beat Royal Malay Regiment 4-3.