Dr Dayah

10/09/2024

[ RIP RPK ]

I was crazy about blogs back in the 2000s - my Final Year Project was a Blog Browser that would display three different POVs of a particular search term. Deep down, though, I was fascinated by how much power bloggers could wield at a time when mass media controlled pretty much the entire general public's consensus.

Enter RPK.

Raja Petra Kamarudin was a prolific Malaysian blogger in the 2000s and I was one of the avid readers of his No Holds Barred posts on his blog, Malaysia Today. He used to bash the government left right and centre, to the point of being jailed under ISA laws twice, and it really intrigued me that if anyone could be a blogger, what would make a blogger so powerful to the point that governments would want to imprison you?

RPK became the inspiration for my PhD proposal - power in blogs - which I presented to my sponsors and eventual PhD examiners. Although my finished thesis took a detour from my initial research interests, there was no question that I wouldn't have started my PhD if it weren't for RPK.

At some point during my PhD, RPK came to London to give a (highly controversial) talk, and this was at the height of his notoriety against the government. I was so excited beyond belief about finally meeting the big man himself, my PhD's raison d'etre.

However, there was a *tiny* issue - my PhD was sponsored by the government 😅 When I arrived at the venue, I made damn sure that I remained anonymous, meaning I didn't register anywhere nor recorded any attendances. I mentioned that I was a government scholar and I didn't wanna get into trouble - didn't wanna get my scholarship cut off! - so the organizers mostly complied.

After listening to his highly flamboyant and explosive talk, I finally walked up to RPK himself and told him I'm in the UK doing a PhD because of him. I told him my reasons and he looked pretty flattered, then he asked who was funding my studies. I said the government, then his face changed and he looked at me like I was public enemy no 1 - he probably thought I was the government's macai sent to report on him 😓😓😓 Well I was still a government scholar, so it's not like I could burst out shouting "yo bro I'm your fan whadaappp" so...

It was an unfortunate don't-meet-your-heroes moment there, but I eventually finished my thesis, and I stopped following his blog somewhere in between.

He didn't know who I was, but his impact on my life is profound. I hope one day I would be remembered for helping someone discover the courage within themselves to do the unthinkable, just as RPK did for me.

Thank you, RPK. Al-Fatihah.

-----

Blogger RPK dies in UK, aged 74
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/09/10/blogger-rpk-dies-in-uk-aged-74/

08/09/2024

[ SM TESTIMONIALS - AUG '24 ]

More kind words from my students for August's Level 2 and 3 classes 🥰

If you're interested, register here: bit.ly/SwissMgr-Sep24
More details: bit.ly/SwissMgr-Sep24-FB

The September cycle will start this Friday the 13th 👻

06/09/2024

Bonnie Gustin is SLAYING the competition in powerlifting, gold incoming 🏋️‍♀️🏆🥇

UPDATE 1: He secured Gold after his FIRST try! Didn't even need his other two attempts - INSANE 🤯 What a beast 💪🔥

UPDATE 2: He bettered HIS OWN WORLD RECORD on his third lift 🤯 Give him a Datukship already 🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾

Ayuh Sokong Malaysia di Sukan Paralimpik Paris 2024 berlangsung dari 29 Ogos 2024 - 08 September 2024. Ikuti liputan penuh di RTMKlik untuk siaran langsung, sorotan, dan kandungan eksklusif

03/09/2024

03/09/2024

Team PCM In Action

Tuesday 3 September 2024

03/09/2024

02/09/2024

Cheah Liek Hou wins first gold for Malaysia at Paris Paralympics.

02/09/2024

Cheah Liek Hou's gold medal match!

Ayuh Sokong Malaysia di Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 berlangsung dari 27 Julai hingga 12 Ogos 2024. Ikuti liputan penuh di RTMKlik untuk siaran langsung, sorotan, dan kandungan eksklusif

02/09/2024

Good job! 🫶🏻

Pingat gangsa pertama negara di menerusi Eddy Bernard! 💪🏻🔥

01/09/2024

[ Malaysians at the Paralympics 2024 ]

Coverage of our Paralympian warriors have been abysmal (as usual?) and apart from sporadic posters featuring athletes here and there, it's been almost impossible to catch any live TV feeds about our amazing athletes.

Here are some references to keep that I've found useful:

🇲🇾 Team Malaysia Schedule & Results 🇲🇾
https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/paralympic-games/schedule/malaysia?day=1-september

Full list of timings (both in French and Malaysian time zones) and names of athletes, plus full results as soon as they happen which is incredible.

🇲🇾 Malaysia at 2024 Paralympics - Wikipedia 🇲🇾
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_at_the_2024_Summer_Paralympics

As an academic, citing Wikipedia is a sin, but whoever Malaysia Dragon and BananaForScale are, they've done a remarkable job keeping all the data up-to-date.

🇲🇾 Who to watch? 🇲🇾

Every Malaysian athlete, obviously, trick question 🤭

Today in particular, Malaysians are in THREE semifinals, namely Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim in Boccia (if you don't know what this is, it's brutal!), plus TWO(!) of our Malaysians, defending gold medalist Cheah Liek Hou and giant-slayer Muhammad Fareez Anuar both battling against Indonesian shuttlers for a spot in the final. If all three win, that's a gold and two silvers in the bag AT LEAST!

There's also the Wheelchair Tennis pair of Mohamad Yusshazwan Yusuf and Abu Samah Borhan who will be playing at freaking Roland Garros - how many people can say they've played where Nadal, Djokovic and Federer have played?

All the best, Malaysian Paralympians! 🔥💪🏻

01/09/2024

[ SWISS MANAGER CLASSES - SEP'24 ]

Learn how to use Swiss Manager, the leading chess pairing software used across the globe.

Available online classes:

🌟 Level 1️⃣ - Beginner (13 Sep 9-11pm) 🌟
- Setup tournaments
- Import players from Excel
- Pairings & results
- Exclude players
- Delete rounds

🌟 Level 2️⃣ - Novice (20 Sep 9-11pm) 🌟
- Uploading to Chess-results
- Setup custom columns (web & print)
- Manual pairings & colour
- Teams & team tiebreaks
- Special FREE GIFT 🎁

🌟 Level 3️⃣ - Advance (27 Sep 9-11PM) 🌟
* Step-by-step Cheat Sheet
* From Google Forms to Winners List
* Bulk rating update
* FIDE & MCF ratings
* Excel filters

RM 35 per class
RM 90 all three classes

📑 Over 60 pages of notes
🎥 Recordings provided

REGISTER NOW!
bit.ly/SwissMgr-Sep24

💬 NA Dr Dayah 019-3513534

23/08/2024

This was a pleasant surprise 🤩🥹🇫🇷

(Thank you Google Translate! 🤣)

This month's Level 3 class is not on Sunday but tomorrow Saturday 24th instead 🤗

If you're interested, register here: bit.ly/SwissMgr-Aug24
More details: bit.ly/SwissMgr-Aug24-FB

September cycle will be up and running soon, more info to follow ☺️

16/08/2024

[ SM TESTIMONIALS - LEVEL 1 AUG'24 ]

Feedback from the last Level 1 class earlier this month, alhamdulillah 🥰🙇🏻‍♀️

We continue with the (bumper class!) Level 2 this Sunday 18th at 9pm 🤗

If you're interested in Levels 2 and 3, register here: bit.ly/SwissMgr-Aug24
More details: bit.ly/SwissMgr-Aug24-FB

02/08/2024

02/08/2024

[ SWISS MANAGER CLASSES - TESTIMONIALS ]

My previous set of classes across two levels ran back in May/June, and these are the glowing reviews I got from the class participants, alhamdulillah 😁

The legendary Linda Ruslan was also extremely kind to write up an entire review on her blog (thank you!): https://bcwmcf.blogspot.com/2024/05/memahami-program-swiss-manager.html

Slight price adjustment now that I realize the true value of my notes and recordings (and the Level 2 special gift 🤭) so we'll see how it goes, fingers crossed 🤞🏻

My next Level 1 class is this Sunday! If you're interested, register here: bit.ly/SwissMgr-Aug24

More details: bit.ly/SwissMgr-Aug24-FB

31/07/2024

[ SWISS MANAGER CLASSES - AUG'24 ]

Learn how to use Swiss Manager, the leading chess pairing software used across the globe.

Available online classes:

🌟 Level 1️⃣ - Beginners (4 Aug 9-11pm) 🌟
- Setup tournaments
- Import players from Excel
- Pairings & results
- Exclude players
- Delete rounds

🌟 Level 2️⃣ - Novice (18 Aug 9-11pm) 🌟
- Uploading to Chess-results
- Setup custom columns (web & print)
- Manual pairings & colour
- Teams & team tiebreaks
- Special FREE GIFT 🎁

🌟 Level 3️⃣ - Advance (25 Aug 9-11PM) 🌟
* Step-by-step
* From Google Forms to Winners List
* Bulk rating update

RM 35 per class
RM 90 all three classes

📑 Over 60 pages of notes
🎥 Recordings provided

REGISTER NOW!
bit.ly/SwissMgr-Aug24

💬 NA Dr Dayah 019-3513534

13/07/2024

Mainlah catur untuk mengasah ingatan, fikiran dan kebolehan membuat keputusan*

* kecuali ketika blunder

Terima kasih KEMENTERIAN KESIHATAN MALAYSIA 😄

🔗 IG Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9T-JpiRgRH/

08/07/2024

[ Thank You Prof J ]

I first met Prof J at the end of 2008. He was Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, USIM, and I was a lowly jobless graduate with an uncertain future because of my sponsor's policy changes. My life story that year was tumultuous at best, but long story short, I had the opportunity to start an overseas PhD without having to do a Masters. However, to do so, my family and I had to jump through a million hoops to make it happen.

One of said hoops was to get a job at a local uni. At one point I had gone through two unis, one of which massacred me during the interview, and the other gave a perfunctory "yeah we can take her" letter of interest, which fell short of an actual job offer. The general situation was that I'd be leapfrogging many senior lecturers on a long waitlist to be sent overseas, hence their reluctance to take me on.

Enter Prof J who heard of my plight. Immediately after he got my CV, I received an offer(!) as a student fellow, only the second in the entire uni(!!) and I was able to fly out to the UK for my PhD within the following couple of months(!!!)

Over the next decade(!) I grew to witness his ability to make the impossible possible just didn't stop there.

Every month he'd email all the tutors and fellows studying overseas to ask how we were doing. He and I exchanged almost 100 emails back and forth the entire time. Some of those included my struggles with depression and therapy, amidst poor academic reviews and scary warning letters from USIM.

Towards the end of my PhD, I had received an ultimatum from upper management saying I was taking too long, so I had to return home. This devastated me, but he told me don't return(!!), hold out as long as possible until I finish, then go back and report for duty. It was ballsy advice from my immediate superior, but I followed it for a few more months until my money ran out. My mom had already sold the house, and I couldn't afford much as a part-time tutor and bus conductor. By then, I had no choice but to return and continue the PhD remotely from Malaysia. Prof still told me to hold off from reporting for duty until my final thesis was submitted(!!!). He said I'd struggle writing up while working - more ballsy advice, which again I followed.

As soon as I submitted my thesis, I went to USIM to report for duty. I still remember the bewildered look on the faces of the staff I met. They scolded me for taking so long to show up, and I sheepishly apologized and bowed my head, avoiding prolonged eye contact. Aside from the massive earful I got that day, all the advice actually worked! I was scheduled for an interview, and shortly after, alhamdulillah I was offered a permanent post.

At my lowest of lows, it's indescribable to have Prof in my corner.

Prof, you changed my life in more ways than one, may Allah bless you with the highest of Jannah for all you've done for me and everyone fortunate enough to cross paths with you.

P/S: For anyone trying to be a rebel like me, please don't, unless you wanna risk losing your job.

20/05/2024

[ SWISS MANAGER CLASSES ]

Learn how to use Swiss Manager, the leading chess pairing software used across the globe.

Available online classes:

~ Level 1️⃣ - Beginners (22 May 3-5pm) ~
- Setup tournaments
- Import players from Excel
- Generate pairings
- Enter results
- Exclude players
- Delete rounds

~ Level 2️⃣ - Novice (June) ~
- Uploading to Chess-results
- Setup custom columns (web & print)
- Manual pairings & colour
- Teams and team tiebreaks
- Downloading online tournament files

RM 30 per class
RM 50 both classes

50% off for Negeri Sembilan teachers

Please WhatsApp NA Norhidayah Azman (Dr Dayah) for more info 🤗

15/05/2024

[ Pendakwah Teknologi at USIM ]

Yesterday, we invited FB influencer Pendakwah Teknologi to give a talk to our Internet Multimedia students, and it was totally worth going back to work for the day despite having another two weeks off 😂

So I've been following his page for a few years now, and last year I attempted to bring him over to USIM but that fell through. Despite me being on leave this year, I tried inviting him again and he said yes! So I was thrilled that he's coming but also sad that I wouldn't be there to see him.

Fast forward a few days later, he published the invitation letter which had my name, number and signature to his 65k followers, so I decided that's probably a sign that I needed to show up to work..

I'm so glad I did!

He gave an excellent talk on his life journey and the chronicles of his Pendakwah Teknologi channel, plus a taster of the latest generative AI tools out there. I thought his two-hour talk was gonna be the highlight of it all but nope, I was wrong.

My colleague and I ended up spending FIVE HOURS with him 😁

He bought us coffee and we talked about everything from PADU to cybertroopers to grad school highs and lows - pretty much anything under the sun. When he mentioned his interest in an auto-mechanical Braille machine, my colleague took us for an impromptu Braille lab tour at her faculty. We learnt probably a whole semester's worth of Quranic Braille in a couple of hours 😂 It's fascinating how much *I* learnt all thanks to *his* curiosity.

It would've been ideal if I had washed my car before driving everyone around in my banged-up apocalyptically messy vehicle, but overall it was a fantastic day ☺️

Thank you Dr Nadiah for blowing your prep time and making all of this happen, I owe you big time 🤭

15/05/2024

Fakulti QM pun boleh laa 😂

Sesi ceramah di Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia semalam.
Saya ceritakan kepada mereka perjalanan channel Pendakwah Teknologi dan terangkan bagaimana mereka boleh gunakan teknologi untuk berdakwah. Pelajar-pelajar yang hadir adalah dari fakulti pengajian Al-Quran dan multimedia. Sambil tu saya beri juga ceramah tentang perkembangan AI semasa.

Apa yang buat saya rasa berbaloi bagi ceramah di USIM adalah, pelajar-pelajar mereka sangat menghormati penceramah/guru/pensyarah. Contohnya lepas selesai ceramah, semua pelajar lelaki beratur untuk bersalam dengan saya sambil cium tangan dan minta dihalalkan ilmu. Adab yang sangat tinggi.

16/01/2024

[ Russian Roulette ]

Back in the UK, I took Russian lessons for a year. My vocab is abysmal at best, but I had a good hang of pronouncing Cyrillics. So last June, when I heard my uni was thinking of sending staff over to Russia, I decided to send word to the VC that I might be of service since "it won't be that huge of a jump to get back up to speed."

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Oh I was so wrong. SO. WRONG.

A few months later, I got a text from a colleague saying the VC personally wanted me to be involved in welcoming a Russian delegation that's arriving within TWO WEEKS because I said I knew Russian.

PANIC MODE ACTIVATED..! 💣🔥😱

I usually tell my classes that sometimes embellishing your skills is necessary to get ahead in job-hunting and in life in general but BOYS AND GIRLS, OVERPROMISING IS DANGEROUS 😅

So for the next two weeks, I was playing (old!) Russian pop songs on loop, making Google Translate my friend, and cramming all sorts of online Russian lessons that my brain could handle. I even made a cheat sheet of Russian phrases and sentences I was expecting to dish out to the delegates. The entire fortnight I was freaking out over what an idiot I was. Even the morning before the event, I was considering a no-show, but I convinced myself that my miniscule ability was probably more than the entire host delegation there, so that gave me some tiny motivation.

So one fine October afternoon, I made (or rather waddled) my way there. When I got there, I tried hiding behind some makeshift human shield, but was spotted and got duly pulled to the front 😹

So I took a look at all the delegates, then chose one guy who was bordering between bored/interested, and started bombarding him with my broken Russian. Turns out he spoke brilliant English, which wasn't the case for the majority of the group, so in hindsight, I really hit the jackpot when I approached him. As soon as my Russian repertoire dried up, I relied entirely on *him* to be *my* translator between us Malaysians and his colleagues 🤣

My colleagues were convinced that my Russian was awesome (they had NO idea 🙊) and the Russians were gracious enough to commend my efforts 😊

Incidentally, I didn't realize the Russian guy who sat next to me had the same name as somebody from my past, so that was surreal 😅

So despite my anxiety and utter fear of making a fool of myself, it actually turned out alright 😁

20/12/2023

[ Convo Tales ]

Last year, my student recorded this video clip of me during the staff's exit procession. Apparently she was testing out a template, posted it on TikTok, got featured on FYP and apparently got loads of views 😂

Convocation ceremonies are always bittersweet for me. When I see those kids go up and down the stage, I'm thinking either:
1) Wow, he/she has turned into a such a grown-up now 🤩
2) I think I recognize this name in my class 🤔
3) Did I really teach him/her in my class? (sorry kids 🙊🙈)

There's always an overwhelming sense of pride in seeing them cross the proverbial finish line. There's also the niggling fear at the back of my mind that my random ramblings and oddball classroom management style might have scarred them for life.

But like I've always told them time and time again, I genuinely hope whatever knowledge they gained from me will be what saves me in the afterlife.

So when people say teaching is a noble, selfless profession, well actually, for me, not really 😝

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