Category Archives: Everyday Life

Pusat PERMATA Pintar Negara UKM – the journey ends here for my firstborn

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[Update – We received a call 3 days before the registration date. Our son was offered to further his studies here. He was so thrilled and accepted the offer. I will be using the hashtag EE at Permata to document his life there]

Pusat Permata UKM is an educational institution with an intellectual program designed to groom students with exceptionally high IQ scores to their best potential. Before this program came about, these students could secure a place in elite boarding schools and were normally acknowledged as the creme of the creme in the country. This program was the brainchild of Rosmah Mansor, the infamous wife of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, former PM of Malaysia who was embroiled in several money-related controversies. I have to admit this is a great programme for students who could benefit from an alternative arm of our educational pathway.

Screening Process

Every primary school would encourage their students to sit for these exams. There are a few parts of the screening process. UKM1, UKM2, Program Penggayaan Cuti Sekolah (PPCS) and UKM3. UKM1 and UKM2 consisted of questions they answered on the computer. I gather that UKM1 has patterns to solve whereas UKM2 are general knowledge questions. It is best to refrain from helping your kids to answer these questions if we trust in their abilities. Once your child passes UKM2, both the child and parents will be notified of the next stage through email.

That would be the online interview. It is a 30-minute session that involves the parents in the 1st half and the child in the second half. It is carried out in both BM and English. It is a great session for the assessors to know the child’s background, personality, strengths and weaknesses. I honestly just answered what I think of my son because I know that if I lie – it is going to eventually show during the PPCS week. So I feel that his weaknesses should be known early so that they can be evaluated, monitored and addressed accordingly. If he fits what UKM is looking for – InsyaAllah there will be a place for him. If not, it is okay because as of now he is already expected to enrol in a secondary school under the ‘High Performance School’ category. These HPS schools tend to have allocated incentives and autonomy regarding financial management, curriculum design, human resources including student selection etc. Hence, for my son to be selected by the school is already a positive sign that his future remains bright (InsyaAllah) on the path of studying in a daily school.

So, opportunities are everywhere as long as we support his journey as parents.

PPCS

… is short for Program Penggayaan Cuti Sekolah. Kids are shuttled to their respective camps. Our son’s place was at Seremban. The kids will stay there for 2 weeks. Apart from attending their designated courses, the kids would also have the opportunity to learn how to manage themselves in the dormitory.

My son was enrolled in the CSI course. He said they taught him a lot of interesting things in matters of solving crimes etc. He also thought that the instructors and assistants were very knowledgeable and most importantly, endearing. It was also nice to hear positive feedback from his tutors about his demeanour at school. He was reported to be very mature for his age, plays by the rules and is not inclined towards finding fault with his friends. I am thrilled that he was able to make friends with kids of other ethnicities. I feel that is why I feel very strongly about wanting him to further his studies there. To mix with non-Malays and to improve on his English prowess.

UKM 3 assessment was conducted during PPCS and it was an important determinant that decided whether Ee is intellectually apt for the courses he is due to take during his stay there.

Unfortunately, despite the glowing reviews from his tutors – he did not make the mark. Which ends his journey for Pusat Permata Genius. It took some form of consoling him that his 2 weeks at PPCS was not a waste of time. And that he should be proud and take on a different perspective of what he could learn from the experience. After all, he did do things that were out of his comfort zone such as participating in Zapin and Ngajat dance.

Having said that, as a mother, I feel he still needs to work on being resilient. That, and emotional intelligence – especially in teenage boys. Because once they grow up as adults with low levels of EQ, despite being really smart, they become a pain. They hurt your feelings, a lot. They cannot read the room.

Congratulations to the anak2 who made it to the 2024 academic year

What’s next?

He was offered a place in a boarding school near home. I am not a fan of this institute and prefer that he stays in this daily school in town for reasons of wanting him to mingle with students outside his ethnicity. However, realizing my own cognitive and socioeconomic limitations on how best to guide a child with high intellectual capacity – I feel that boarding school is perhaps the next best thing that we could lead him to. I just hope his English abilities will be improved accordingly. The exposure to multiethnicity could come later as long as the nationalists/radicals don’t reach out to him first. I would hate for that to happen.

February birthday bash

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My younger brothers are destined to celebrate their birthdays with their nieces every year. So their cakes are girl-themed cakes like princesses, pinks, and all that young ladies love. Danial shares his birthday month with Aurora and Matin shares his with Anim.

When it comes to birthdays, my sister is the bomb! She just loves planning out birthday bashes and celebrations. She is that good. She rented this water bouncy castle that costs RM250/24 hours for the kids to play. The food spread was nice too with nasi ayam, laksam, pizza, tarts, jelly and the most delicious teh ais kaw with cincau.

I bought my niece the JOJO toy from ‘Didi and friends’ line of merchandise. I gifted my brother a drawing tablet. Overall, the kids (and adults) had fun even though it was just us. Looking forward to more birthdays this year.

The Uncle & The Niece.

Although my niece looks like she is about to cry – that is actually her smiling face. She is so confusing. Ha ha ha.

End of academic year for the kids

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It is the long school holidays, yet as parents, we are stuck in our daily work. I have to compete for the holiday quota at the workplace and secure a few days off next week. I look forward to polishing my assignments and sneaking in some time to spend with my daughter.

My kids completed their academic years in flying colours and I am hoping for a good start for their new beginning in 2024. Their academic year is due to start in March and it coincides with Ramadan month as well. So, it will be challenging for them once Ee starts secondary school and Anim in primary school.

Similarly, we have our grown-up career milestones to achieve throughout the year. So wish us luck!

Another farewell and new beginnings

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A senior colleague is leaving at the end of this month. She is my beloved associate for our designated portfolio – Diabetes and HIV/Hepatitis/STD. I look forward to working closely with her replacement which I do not know yet. We organized a mini farewell party with a yellow-coloured theme. Surprisingly, the male colleagues delivered tremendously in getting drinks for the event. All of us had a cup of Zus Coffee each. My contribution to the event was my mini tanghulu but it did not turn out as nice as how I made them the day before.

I also got her a pearl bracelet as a personal gift. I hope she likes it. I got it from an online retail store that sells supposedly authentic pearls. Unfortunately, I experienced the bad side of customer service as well. They failed to mention that one of my rings was out of stock and what made me so disappointed was the fact that they did not reach out to me first. I WAS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT THE MATTER UP. Can you imagine if I just clicked ‘order received’ if a friend said she had received my parcel? Without knowing that one item was missing?

Putting that matter aside, there are also a few new beginnings happening in my life. Heading towards a possible separation. I have been enrolled in an obesity programme at the clinic. My ultimate reason for obliging is because I wanted to support my colleague’s programme. I know it is hard to believe but I tend to be more committed to doing a task or a role when it is FOR other people and not myself. There are at least 20 of us and we are expected to give our commitment to this programme for six months. The first weigh-in will be in March and the last in September. I am expecting to look great in August for my 41st birthday. I intend to have a celebration of some sort since my 40th birthday seemed so meaningless to say the least.

The ball has also started rolling for my Final Year Project of my Psychology degree. I am late by 1 semester and I honestly do not want to drag it out longer. The kids are growing up and their needs and requirements are also different as compared to when they are toddlers. I wish to set up more avenues for them to excel in their chosen path. My FYP supervisor is Dr Juliana. She is one of the tutors that I have been aiming for since my 2nd year of studies because I love her vibes and spirit. I feel that there is a lot that I can learn from her before I decide on whether I’d like to plunge into the academic world of Masters.

Speaking of children, we just sent our son off on his camping trip today at Seremban. We won’t be able to contact him for at least another 2 weeks as he is there to be part of the screening programme for admissions to UKM Pintar College. I trust that he will be able to learn the ropes with guidance from his seniors although I am sure with much difficulty in the beginning. This is when as a parent, you entrust him in Allah’s care and be rest assured that Allah will look after him.