denny Ethnic & National book

We assume that most of you have seen Thailand. Phuket and Ko Samui are highly regarded by many but personally I think the most beautiful part of Thailand in the north can be found. High mountains, tall forests and tropical rainforests, ethnic minorities and not the commercial where one group of holiday-makers must give way to the other but the real and they are still available. A gifted with a very low humidity climate. What a hide, for example south of Bangkok where there is often a blanket over you. Where in the south, rain is often spoilsport; in Chiang Mai we have rain but not a monsoon rain. Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang, Pai, Doi Angkhan and several beautiful places in the north. What about the national parks such as Doi Inthanon the highest mountain of Thailand, the many waterfalls and the Doi Suthep National Park. Each more beautiful than the other. It is no coincidence that during the New Year all hotels are fully booked and that almost all here from Bangkok, Chiang Mai encounter. I dare say, at this time of year the weather is as everyone would wish. Near Chiang Rai, the most remarkable mountain in Thailand, Phu Chi Fa, see to believe. The Mekong river, too numerous to mention. May live here, I speak for many who retire here are coming to be fantastic! Come see for yourself.

Stratfor analyst Eugene Chausovsky traces the origins of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan's current tensions to Stalin's division of the Fergana Valley. For more, visit: www.stratfor.com

Part 2| Does Malaysia's education system contribute to polarization of Malaysian society? Produced by Indrani Kopal Many deny that the dual system have contributed to racial polarisation and blame this on the country's ethnic based political party system and government policies. These discriminatory policies, such as access to college and university education, job opportunities in the government sector, poor career advancements for those already in government, they say, serve only to alienate the non-Malay population. So where do we go from here? Stick to a system that seems to be in denial of the needs of present day realities? Realities where globalisation is just not a buzz word but a recipe for national economic well-being and where chauvinism has less of a place in a global society. Or remain where we are and continue deepening resentment and distrust with each race championing their own language biases; ensuring that we are a divided nation. Speak to 'old timers' and they lament that it wasn't like this. There was a lot more acceptance, understanding then. But those were the days when national schools were popular with just about everyone, regardless of race. The existence of the vernacular school system is however guaranteed under the Federal Constitution. It is the right of Malaysian communities to have schools where subjects are taught in their ethnic tongues. And this is not going to change. What seems to be the strategy to get children at their most ...