would you have stopped and given a helping hand?...

Earlier today I was told by a friend who is a company secretary of a large banking group that she helped someone who met with an accident yesterday morning on her way to the office. This poor lady (not my friend but the victim) was in her myvi and she had just rammed into a concrete pillar near the LRT station near the A&W PJ. It happened almost immediately after dropping off her husband at the LRT station. She was trying to avoid another car. Her car was smashed she was injured and was shouting for help and nobody came to help her. There were people around but they just looked. And guess what? 3 matsalehs (kwailos) who were in a taxi, alighted and came to her aid. Soon afterwards my fren came and helped her, picked her handbag and stuff, wiped the blood off her face, calmed her down so she could call her husband. Still, the rest of the people, just looked and didn't bother to help. Some just came to my fren and ask her 'eh akak, apsal ek?' Hey, what's happening to us? Apa dah jadi? I thought we malaysians are friendly, courteous, helpful always willing to lend a helping hand? What happened to all that? Malaysia truly Asia? What, what? ape dah jadi nie? What if the same thing happened to members of your family? Owh well, I am sure there are hundreds of explanations (evil wink). The poor lady's husband who arrived later, nak jadikan cerita, haha, turned out to be my fren's office mate who is now at another site. My fren had never met his wife.

Moral of story? not many people wants to help or get involved in accidents these days. Is it fear? Indifference? Attitude? Global Phenomena? or just plain 'i do my thing, u do your thing' lets not cross each other's path...times are bad...so please, i don't wanna get into unnecessary problems kinda tingy...hmmm...think about it? if something similar happens to you....text or call me immediately..(the fact that you have my handphone number means that you consider me a fren...and the least I cud do, iz alert the necessary authorities or the nearest available assistance...(wink)....errrm on second thoughts...they may all be worried of WHO level 4 alert on swine flu (hehe)...2 points closer to a global pandemic. have a great week ahead folks.

llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerrychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch...

Haha...that's the longest named railway station at Anglesey. Next weekend is labour day (friday may 1) and there are going to be 2 'family day'. One is the aberystwyth (formerly university of wales at aberystwyth) university alumni malaysia family day and AGM in Port Disckson and the other, our own MRC family day at pangkor island resort. Although I am only honorary alumni of 'aber' but that my association with the malaysian alumni started way back in 1989...so one can imagine how attached I am with/to that said alumni, having accumulated and cemented lasting friendships with alumnus, officers of the university including a few of the vice-chancellors some of whom have retired. I was karaoke champion at last 2 reunions hahaha. so I thought I could do a hattrick this year! Nevermind, let the younger set take over the crown this time around (hehe). All yours brother Suffian... I was told many (Tan sri Arshad, datuk Zawiah etc etc) are going to attend this year's do as it will also be AGM time and Faris told me he is stepping down as president. Welcome to 'the immediate past presidents club' bro hahaha. I too am enjoying my immediate past presidency of the University of Hull alumni Malaysia.

At the OSA Easter Reunion Dinner at Aberystwyth in 2006, I sat beside Mr Rhys Hughes and he promised to send me the train ticket of the train station with the longest name 'LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROBWLLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH'.

Thanks Rhys, he actually did send me the ticket..haha (see above). That easter reunion was also the last time we were with Mrs Waldo Mair Thomas. The most efficient alumni secretary ever (and I won't even mention her age, lest I put some of you young woman to shame...hehehe). Have a good family day and AGM my frens. I have to be with my team this time around...

Yayasan Arshad Ayub...

About an hour and a half ago, His Royal Highness The Sultan of Selangor, launch Yayasan Arshad Ayub (Arshad Ayub Foundation) at the Sime Darby Convention Centre, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur. It was a momentous event, short of being historic. It is an endowment fund sort of, to enable needy bumiputera students get the necessary education funding should they need one, among other objectives of the foundation. Tan Sri Arshad Ayub (my ex-boss, mentor and friend for 3 decades now) is 80 this year and still moving along like there is no tomorrow, when many others his age are already having difficulty walking, let alone carry their own body. It is during occasions like this that we catch up on long lost friends. Bumped into Hamzah Sidang retired Schools Inspectorate Asst Director. Datuk Prof IAB who is now back here from Dubai at the INTI campus in Nilai, Dr Salleh, Hamidah of Prestige Communications, and many others dot dot dot. Tan Sri Arshad, he is blessed. I just wanna thank friends who took time off, accepting my invitation to join me at my table tonight. Thank you all....oh I forgot, Wadi could not join us. Reena called to inform me that he had been robbed by 3 men earlier this evening at Ampang....we will know the full details tomorrow morning...

from chevening to NACRA to MOYA...

One would not appreciate fully the meaning of being a part of success, if one had not been a part of failure, some would say. Smooth sailing success can have devastating dysfunctional consequences. They say, calm seas, do not a great sailor, make...heheh. Congratulations Wadi on today's announcement of you winning MIM's young manager award (MOYA 2008). I can still feel your heart palpitating with extreme excitement and exuberance. Always count your blessings, not your sorrows hey scottish chappie! As you can see from the fourth picture, hey we're all there to give you the moral support. I have been watching your development from the chevening scholar days to the hattrick certificate of merit for NACRA and last year's glass-breaking entry into the records of 2008 NACRA Awards and this morning's MOYA award. Need I say more bro? ...

an academic breakfast?...hehe

The AIM Alumni in Malaysia was to have visited Cotabato, Mindanao early this month but due to unforseen circumstances, the trip had to be deferred. YBhg Dato' Syed Ahmad idid (2nd from left...retired High Court Judge of Malaya) however, went ahead with the trip and gave a public lecture on good governance at Cotabato. This morning the Alumni and academics from the faculty of business and management UITM honured Prof Abhoud (seated fourth from left) with a 'fairly heavy' (hehe) breakfast at UiTM Hotel before sending him off to the airport. As usual, I was inconveniently not forgotten to be invited (hahaha). I then rushed off to attend MIM's CEO Forum and Awards at the Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur. (details next posting...hehe)

exora or edora...where art thou?...

I just got home from Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre about an hour and a half ago. Was invited to the launch of the new Proton (the national car) MPV named EXORA by our YAB Prime Minister, Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak. The dinner prior to the launch was very good indeed. Was with Dato' Salamat former PUSPAKOM CEO, Zahamail, Technical Director of Road Transport Dept, Datuk Suret Singh DirGen of Road Safety Dept Malaysia, VC Universiti Malaysia Pahang Professor Dato' Dr Daing Nasir Ibrahim and many others. The shot above showed a section of guests which included GLC head honchos and other big kahunas of the financial community, the automotive and related industries.

Can I share with you a little secret?, owh well not really a secret but I was not really invited (in a sense lah). I got myself invited hahaha. I told my head of research and the group HR director of Proton that I would love to attend the exora launch. And you know what? This morning at about 1030am, the invitation, in a sealed envelope, was personally hand-delivered by proton chaps to me at my office. Wow! I am honoured and flattered (hehehe muke tak malu betol kan?...hahaha). My chaps told me the trouble they went through to get me that invitation. Thanks Hairul, I owe you one! hahaha. It was a great event. Datuk Syed Zainal, Proton MD & CEO was in top form. Congratulations to Warga Proton! Seperti Sireh Pulang Ke Gagang...Tun Dr M, Datuk Nazmi, Proton's Chairman, made an impressive comeback. Afterall, he (TDM) was the man who gave birth to the idea of proton....Things seem to fall into place...quite neatly, for now I guess. And that's really a good sign, I hope (erk). Much accolade has been given to exora...so I shall not exonerate...hehehe. Oh, on second thots...if it was named adura...you can be sure hell its gonna be selling like hotcakes in kota baru (evil wink)...haha.

of pens and pirates?...

I took the day off to be at home so I could observe my 12 year-old son who had high fever lastnite. It has subsided a bit but still relatively feverish. Even at home, I was still working which only confirms that in today's scenario, there is a grey area separating work and play. You play at work and you work at play..huh? sounds oxymoronic isn't it? hahaha. Ya ya, with blackberry and all, broadband, wimax and what have you...its like there's no sleep. One can really be up 24x7. So much to read, so much to catch up. Just take this week's The edge for example, I started by reading 'frankly speaking' and whoala! very neatly the pressure (subtly sometimes brutally I think at times..hahaha) begins...like asking G to walk the talk and release the PKFZ report; disclose recipients of stimulus package (again citing US examples..ya ya ya); asking G to make KPIs public (eh who's idea izzit aah this KPI tingy? KPI is the fashionable management babble which in the 60s and 70s we call MBO (management by objective), while I have nothing against processes and procedures, it is a necessary evil, but I worry we waste precious time on unproductive problems. Sorrylah I may sound simplistique but the KPI for the PM as far as UMNO is concerned, I was told, a long time ago (hehe) is economic growth. If during the tenure of a PM (sape sape lah tak kire...) the growth is from O to 5%, kire dah hebat sangat dah tuh! (hehe); and finally picking on Proton again...poor Proton hahaha. Dah la susah nak jual kereta! ah kong ah meng maniam osman dok asak cam macam...cam ade jerk yang tak kene dengan the national car make tuh. Kesian depe (hehe). I have been analysing the reports and writings in The Edge for a few years now...it is interesting how some articles are written (in malay we call it yang tersurat dan yang tersirat hehe). Very bold and brave indeed, the way it was crafted I must say...like for instance this one by RB Bhattacharjee (page 8, corporate big money). Just look at the title: "Najib's mission: to save a leaking ship" wow! (can you imagine what the topic suggests or imply?). He ends the article by suggesting that there are still plenty of skepticisms but they will dissipate, he contends, if the new cabinet do not over promise and under deliver. Reiterating that they must walk the talk (quote and unquote).

Which reminds me of walking up a plank on a pirate ship (hehe). Pirates? haaa it conjures many things on one's mind (evil wink..hehe you know what I am getting at don't you? you notti fellow?). Piracy has been around since time immemorial, pirated DVDs, software piracy, pirates of the malacca straits, pirates of the caribbean...and very hot these days are the ones off the Somali coastline. Read here for an interesting candid literary history of pirates by a Cambridge scholar...hahaha.... Pirates are everywhere aren't they? hehehe

tribute to shahar banun jaafar...

lunch break with classmates, York, England

Summer School, Hull, England, September 1992 with Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz at the Annual Distinguished Lecture Series at the University of Hull (Shahar is 7th from left)

I was speaking to a group of malaysian universities undergrads with former UiTM Vice Chancellor Datuk Ir Prof Hj Ahmad Zaidee Laidin, Assoc Prof Rasid (the first asian Risk Management PhD holder), saudara Jamal and another PhD fren, when my mobile "squirted' (borrowing a term frequently used by Dr Rasid hahaha). Norazmah Aziz or fondly called by frens as just AZ, called me to inform that our dear fren (MBA classmate in my case) had dearly departed. She was Director-General of the National Library prior to retirement. She died at about 2 pm yesterday,after visiting her doctor to get new stocks of her medicine (she was asthmatic) before leaving for Uzbekistan scheduled for the coming april 28th with the Malaysian Historical Society. I was told she felt difficulty in breathing inside her car and that she died at the hospital minutes later. I rushed to her house at taman ibukota, gombak and informed all our other MBA classmates, while on the way. Met many old frens there. Datuk Hj Jumaat former Director of Schools Ministry of education and former Director-general of Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka, Datuk Zaiton Osman, Khoo Siew Mun (she is 70 oredi) both were former Chief librarian Universiti Malaya, Tan Sri Asiah Abu Samah (former DG of Education was also present. I chatted briefly with her and that we last met at a wedding of the daughter of the Language Institute Director, Lembah Pantai; Datin Mariam (former Director-General the National Library Malaysia - Shahar's former boss, Carol and many other librarians who knew me when I was with Oxford University Press. May she rest in peace. Marilah kita sama-sama sadakahkan Alfatihah buat sahabat kita Shahar Banun Jaafar yang sudah meninggalkan kita semua, Amin. Farewell my friend...

death race...the movie

"2012 - the US economy collapse. Unemployment hits a record high, crime rates spiral out of control, the prison system reaches breaking point. Private corporations now run all correctional facilities for profit. Terminal Island Penitentiary streams a series of cage fights live on the internet. They are the new gladiators and Terminal Island is their Coliseum ...

(hrmmm...I miss my Coliseum Cafe Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman sizzling steak! hahaha).

But like the mobs of ancient Rome, the modern audience soon become bored...they demand more... "

no no no... hold your horses. That's just a movie opening script hahaha! I love this DVD bought for me by one of my DVD 'supplier' (Richard - my senior database build administrator). Its called Death Race with The Transporter star Jason Statham as its lead role. I love watching damn good quality DVDs on my new VAIO Z series with Blue Ray Disc player (hehe). Sundays are good days to catch up on lost time, missed movies, in the privacy of your study. I just saw James Bond's Quantum of Solace also on DVD. My favourites are still The Last Samurai and Alien vs Predators. Really great cinematography. Of course there are others. Enjoy the rest of the weekend folks.

father knows best...or is it?

"The clear message is that everyone wants a government that is responsive to the needs of the people today. The era where the government has excessive control and adopts a 'government knows best' attitude is over...

I believe that the effort to reform the country starts with revamping the government, with a new cabinet with new responsibilities and a new structure...

Datuk Seri Najib Razak"

New Straits Times (NST) Headline, April 10, 2009, on the day the new cabinet was announced. The quote above gives new meaning, perspectives and a completely new ball game to the business of government, if you ask me. I want to think that this 'new' approach is a positive step forward but I do have some reservations as the statement may have implications and probable dysfunctional consequences. Who is the government referred to here? The civil servants? or civil servants and political masters? Correct me if I am wrong but when we say 'the government of the day', does it not mean the politicians in power and the civil servants entrusted with the administration and management of the country? Again, if we want to be petty with real definitions, administration and management have distinct features separating each other (which I would not want to elaborate now). Perhaps it is the new regime's way of redefining government's roles and responsibilities that is not far off from Osborne&Gabler's 'reinventing government' propagated by Tun Mahathir in 1992? Read here. Just my two sen thoughts for the weekend... I think most people look forward to a strong government. Anyone preferring a weak government please raise your hand? Oh by the way, Congratulations to YAB Prime Minister and his SAF is in order I believe.

when the sun sets.....

Hah...nothing like having a great cup of freshly brewed coffee, some finger food and browsing the internet in the comfort of the Regency Club Lounge on the 13th floor of the Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (courtesy of management) while appreciating life's natural beauty...the sun set view... O ya, of course, not forgetting snippets of the historic moments of the swearing in of our 6th Prime Minister on the LCD screen...hehe. One can always enjoy the sunset in Sabah, but for their politicians, the sun is only just, perhaps, beginning to rise at the Federal level (wink). I always remind my good fren and classmate (masa kat UPM dulu) training manager nuclear Malaysia, Shafaee, to let me know if he and his boz are going to be in Penang or Kota Baru. Little that both of us expect to bump into each other at the same regency lounge hahaha. He reminded me that at this year's international quality management symposium (Nuclearmalaysia signature annual forum), I will be moderateur. I said thank you (gawdwilling) cos honestly, am getting old, tired and lazy. Lazy to prepare papers these days. I juz love to chair conferences, being a panelist or moderateur would be purrfect (hehe). Easier job, doesn't need that much preparation but one still needs to do some background reading ok? My colleagues from THATCHAM are in town (KL) for the F1...we will be having a busy week come monday. After 6 days away from blogging...I have plenty to comment actually (wink)...but I guess I will leave it for later...do have a good rest fellas...