fashionably oxymoronic...

Ibis2006 Switzerland Slideshow Slideshow

2011-12-26T08:38:00.000+08:00

Ibis2006 Switzerland Slideshow Slideshow: TripAdvisor™ TripWow ★ Ibis2006 Switzerland Slideshow Slideshow ★ to Montreux. Stunning free travel slideshows on TripAdvisor

unfinished business?...

2011-12-23T21:14:00.001+08:00

Hi..sorry to all who visited, if only to find that I have not updated it since the last one, sometime back in May. A lot has taken place since. The year has been somewhat tumultuous. But I shall not bore you with sad stories. Plenty actually. As if the eurozone debt crisis and the looming global recession (what? again?) isn't enough...hmmm.

I have been reading quite a bit too since, despite corporate demands both at the group and operating levels, and postgraduate classes that demands my attention over the weekends. I need to read something else too, to take me away from my literature review, journals, academic writings, articles, books etc etc conceptual, theoretical and research frameworks bla bla bla...haha. This one, I picked at Borders (ya I know they have filed for chapter 11 in the US) the Gardens Mall, MidValley, Kuala Lumpur, is a good one. I was glad I picked it up...

We are almost at end of 2011 and while we are optimistic at the prospects of 2012, we are however, mindful or at the least, not overly disturbed, I hope... by global economic scenario or probably affected by the fears depicted in the movie '2012' of the global apocalypse or the end of the world as prophesied by many ancient cultures (incas, mayans and what have you..haha)... So, I guess books like Lee Kravitz's '...unfinished business...' is an excellent way to reflect upon one's life. Not so much of trying to do the right things, but of trying to catch up or do the things one has always wanted to do, but never had the time to do so...

Unfinished Business is about one man's extraordinary year of trying to do the right things. And to quote Publishers Weekly 'Kravitz is a thoughtful writer, and his memoirs reveals a delicate personal journey'. Over the last two years, I come across a lot of new terms like re-defining, rein-venting, re-thinking, re-doing, re-living....and this book is a timely reminder about what life is all about and probably might strike a chord with those of us who have been trapped in the relentless pursuit of work and career. (Which is not to mean that they are unimportant).

The blurp on the back page read: '...after losing his job, Lee Kravitz - a man who had always worked too hard and too much - took stock of his life and decided to spend an entire year making amends and re-connecting with the people and the parts of himself he had neglected. Kravitz embarked on ten journeys, traveling everywhere from a refugee camp in Kenya to a monastery in California and learned along the way that the things we let slip are exactly those that have the power to transform, enrich, enlarge, and complete us.' Hmm transform? what about structured and institutionally directed 'transformation' programs? hehehe

So, folks, if you are thinking or in the midst of reviewing your 'new year resolution' list, I suggest you stop and pause a moment to have a glimpse at what Kravitz has to share. Merry Christmas and a happy new year my friends, silent loyal and casual visitors alike...hehehe

economically rich vs socially miserable? ...

2011-05-10T01:31:00.001+08:00

Henry Mintzberg, my favourite management guru wrote in his book 'Managers: Not MBAs'that in a democratic society, we do not exist for our social and economic institutions; they exist for us. He went on to say that in recent years, we have been experiencing a glorification of self-interest perhaps unequaled since the 1920s. Greed has been raised to some sort of high-calling; corporations are urged to ignore broader social responsibility in favour of narrow shareholder value; chief executives are regarded as if they alone create economic performance. A society devoid of selfishness may be difficult to imagine, but a society that glorifies selfishness can be imagined only as cynical and corrupt, he goes on complaining. He went on further to say that our societies have been tilting increasingly out of balance, in favour of the economic against social, correspondingly in favour of markets at the expense of other social institutions. We need both, he says, but are finding ourselves increasingly dominated by one. This is interesting...he says that MBA education plays a significant role in all this...hmmmm...

He then taks about the degradation of human values, and then quoted Jensen & Meckling who said that 'there is no such thing as a need, everything is a trade-off (except of course, the need for more...' and illustrated it with a rather startling example: George Bernard Shaw, the famous playwright and social thinker, reported once claimed that while on an ocean voyage he met a celebrated actress on deck and asked her whether she would be willing to sleep with him for a million dollars. She was agreeable. He followed with a counter proposal: "What about ten dollars?" "What do you think I am?" she responded indignantly. he repiled, "We've already established that-now we're just haggling over price."

He also talks about analytical and economic immorality, legal corruption and a society of meanness.... In the real world of decision making, he says the economic and social decisions get all tangled up. Put it in another way, there's always discretion in business decision making, to thwart social needs or to take them into consideration. Business may not exist to serve social needs, but it cannot exist if it ignores them.

This was written in 2003...almost 10 years ago. You were right then and may still, to a certain extent, be right but alot of things have changed professor! The world now has the likes of Yunus looking at microfinance in a different light. We now have social entrerpreneurship. New technologies especially internet technologies have transformed the world much more than the invention of telephone did to mankind.

The Russian novelist Aleksandr Solzenitsyn (1978) made his point with lucidity when he wrote while living in America: I have spent all my life under a communist regime, and I will tell you that a society without an objective legal scale is a terrible one indeed. But a society with no other scale but the legal one is not quite worthy of man either. A society which is based on the letter of the law and never reaches any higher is taking a very scarce advantage of the high level of human possibilities. The letter of the law is too cold and formal to have beneficial effect on society. Whenever the tissue of life is woven of legalistic relations, there is an atmosphere of moral mediocrity, paralyzing man's noblest impulse.

of cotton, jutes, alumnis and coffee...

2011-04-26T22:56:00.006+08:00

Hi, I wrote this as notes on my facebook and I thought I might as well put it on my blog. In my earlier blogs there has been some mention somewhere this pot of coffee story but I am writing it again in a different context to relate it to its rightful intent..hehehe..please read on...

I just got back from Dhaka, Bangladesh or what was formerly East Pakistan, this morning. Interesting country of more than 160mil people. Dhaka alone has about 30mil inhabitants. My first trip of many more to come InsayAllah. We were there as part of the Malaysian AIM (Asian Institute of Management) alumni Association delegation led by Hj Zul, its (AIM Malaysia Alumni president), Zeb Mazumbar from SIngapore and MP Singh, chairman of the Federation of Asian AIM Alumni Association (FAIM) and president of the India Chapter of AIM alumni. It was a wonderful trip, excellently organised by Anwar Chowdry, our Dhaka colleague. Thank you Anwar, for the numerous meetings and dinners. It was a really great networking experience for everyone. I made alot of new friends. I must thank the AIM Alumni Bangladesh Chapter for graciously including me into your roll of honorary life membership, among others, at its meeting last night. I am humbled and greatly honoured indeed. Thank you.

Being an immediate past president of the University of Hull (England) alumni Association in Malaysia and for years now deeply involved in the activities of a few other university alumni assocation (the university of aberystwyth, Wales as an example), I concur with the views of many, that alumni work is, apart from nostalgia and passionate ties with our alma mater and networking opportunities for business or other purposes, are but only for those few who are cut for this thankless job ( of leading an alumni body). To quote my good friend Richard, who was also with me in Dhaka, an alumni effectively only need 3 chaps to run it with the two others being absent for most of the meetings..hahaha. He (Richard) could not have put it any better.

Which reminds me of the story 'A Cup of Coffee' ...

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them to help themselves to hot coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each other's cups.“ "Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change.“ "Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

Anwar Chowdry, you did a great job. I wish everyone nothing else, but great success. I believe you will have the support of all your colleagues/alumnus from every corner of Bangladesh from as far north as Rajshahi to Chittagong in the south. Thank you very much again for the warm welcome and kind hospitality...

the rule of law...

2011-03-28T07:57:00.004+08:00

Haha we've looked at a marketing book, an architectural appreciation, let us now get a bit more serious shall we? hehehe. This book caught my attention while rushing to pick up last minute chocolates at Terminal 4 (again?) huhu... What's wonderful about this book is that it's not a law book; its for everybody. It explains, clearly, simply, powerfully, to any audience, what the rule of law means and how important it is to everybody in modern society.

The author, Lord Tom Bingham, 'the most eminent of British Judges' (Guardian), held office successively, as Master of the Rolls. Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and Senior Law Lord of the United Kingdom, the only person ever to hold all three offices. He became a life peer, as Baron Bingham of Cornhill, in the County of Powys, on becoming Lord Chief Justice in 1996. In 2005 he was appointed a Knight of the Garter, the first professional Judge to be so honoured. He retired in 2008, and in the same year was elected by the Institute de France as the first winner of the the Prize for Law awarded by the Alexander S Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. Tom Bingham died in September 2010, six months after the first publication of this book.

The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law was established in 2010 with Lord Bingham's support, as part of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, striving to support the development and strengthening of the rule of law as set out in this book.

The Rule of Law was chosen as a 'book of the year' by Chris Patten, former chief executive of HongKong and Chancellor of Oxford University (in the Observer), Gideon Rachman (in the Financial Times) and Geoffrey Robertson (in the New Statesman).

This book, although written by a former judge, is not addressed to lawyers. It does not purport to be a legal textbook. It is addressed to those who have heard references to the rule of law, who are inclined to think that it sounds like a good thing rather than a bad thing, who wonder if it may not be rather important, but who are not quite sure what it is all about and would like to make up their minds.

'The rule of law' , a much used phrase but little examined. Bingham, said to be one of the most acute legal minds of our time, examines what the idea actually means and made clear that it is not an arid legal doctrine but the foundation of a fair and just society, a guarantee of responsible government, and an important contributor to economic growth.

Of course, we must however be mindful that he examined its historical origins and captured its essence as understood in western democracies today. Closely argued indeed. But then again, you may have a different interpretation.

I am still reading it and I have not put it down...its with me everywhere I go haha....go get your own copy bah! contrary to ' but whoever said law books are an interesting read? this one is!! hehehe ... ngeh3x wink2x dot3x

New York Oh New York...

2011-03-27T14:28:00.004+08:00

The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) a nonprofit, membership-based organization that fights for intelligent urban planning, design, and preservation through education, dialogue and advocacy celebrated its fifty-second year of offering walking tours to the public in 2009. In 2008 more that 10,000 people participated. I picked this excellently illustrated (photography by Edward A Toran) 10 Architectural Walks in Manhattan by Francis Morrone & Matthew A Postal, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York counter, at Macy's on 34th street.

No way would I have the time to see and appreciate all the buildings and architecture of Manhattan, so this book would be a great weekend browse haha.

Kent L Barwick, president emeritus of the Municipal Art Society of New York, in his foreword wrote: '...on april 8, 1956, architectural historian Henry Hope Reed led what was not only the first Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) walking tour but also probably New York's first architectural walking tour for the general public. It was so novel that that the New York Times sent a reporter and a photographer to cover it. The Times's reporter documented the bewildered looks and comments of passersby at the sight of thirty-eight individuals walking along the streets through a spring snowstorm, stopping to look at old buildings. The group was taken for bird-watchers or people in search of rooms to rent. In fact, the hardy tour-takers were part of a MAS effort to build a constituency that would support the preservation of the city's notable architecture.'

This illustrated guidebook takes visitors to the great buildings, spaces and neighbourhoods of manhattan. Highlights include downtown New York for a look at preservation, planning and early skyscapers; Madison Square with its pantheon of nineteenth century sculpture; New York's newest elevated park, the High Line; Art Deco structures in Midtown; the Beaux-Arts grandeur of Grand Central Terminal; modernist structures around Columbus Circle and Park Avenue; the splendour of Central Park; and Harlem's Hamilton Heights neighbourhood.

I wanted to visit New York way back in 1988 when my cousin was then the deputy director of MIDA in New York but it never happened. I had dinner with him the other night with his daughter who was born in Manhattan. Their apartment was not far away from Macy's.

We have no less interesting buildings and architecture, both old and new. From Moorish architecture to modern intelligent ones too. When I was enjoying the architecture of Chicago in 2009, the guide gave tribute and mentioned our Petronas Twin Towers while explaining some of their skyscrapers!

In 2009 I landed in Newark on transit to Chicago. This time around I enjoyed the chats with an Uzbek, Jewish and Russian taxi drivers on the way to and from La Guardia and JFK...haha.. New York never sleeps they say.. Its difficult not to fall in love with New York..a potpourri of ethnicity, truly diverse and multicultural...

soul traders: in for the kill..yet again...

2011-03-26T15:06:00.004+08:00

No no no..it's too long. I have stayed away long enough. I need to get back to blogging. Update and carry on from the last one which was about 3 months ago? sheeeshh lest I get trapped in Newton's 3rd law; 'Inertia: the tendency of a body to stay at REST or continue its state of motion' haha. Even if it means my readers (wink) have given up on me or gone away or if my relatives are having a grand feast or barbecue celebrating my departure from blogosphere..har har har...ya rite..

It's too easy..heheh (wink). Ok, to start the mood again, I guess reviewing the piles of books I have acquired since (15 or more I think) from my travels, would be appropriate kot. Quite timely too..what with the upcoming sarawak elections, unrest in the middle east and all..hehe.

This book I picked up at Changi on my last trip to Singapore looks interesting and relevant with the times (wink). It's called 'Soul Traders: How Honest People Lost Out To Hard Sell' by Jonathan Gabay (a lecturer at CIM UK and a marketing reformist). I like his forward remark: 'For all those I have taught and those from whom I am yet to learn.' He takes you on an often-times disturbing journey looking behind a century of billboards, TV ads, campaigns and irresistible slogans (perhaps some porno videoclips too along the way hahaha...naaah i just made that up..huhu) to see how hard sell has captured honest souls. From religion to commerce and politics (see? you need spin jobs and marketing skills in politics too you know?), the psychological tactics used to manipulate public opinion over the past 100 years have become even more devious, for want of a better word (wink). Perhaps ethically and morally wrong are no longer considerations...it's irrelevant to some, so long as the end justifies the means, some would always say, right? wink.

The compelling stories behind some of history's key events will astound you: from who sold chemicals to the Nazis, how public perceptions were managed to win support for wars, how fat cats abused our respect, and the astonishing rise of some of today's best-loved high street brands.

The entire world is undergoing massive change so says the author. Long-held convictions have been replaced with deep-seated cynicism. What will it take for leaders to rebuild reputations and regain faith? Will twentyfirst century digital and virtual communication make us ever more susceptible to persuasion through mobiles and inboxes (you bet..is not the unrest in the middle east testimony enough of the massive effect/impact? hmmmm) or can we embrace the world of hype and maybe learn to get even? Getting even is more like it, I would imagine...embracing? hmm perhaps..wink2x

Jonathan goes on to feed your suspicion that there is more to what you're being told and sold than first meets the eye, or if you're keen to build a profitable and ethical future for your organization through learning from history's greatest lessons in hype and propaganda, then Soul Traders is definitely for you..Go grab your personal copy maaaa... hehehe...and enjoy the rest of the weekend folks! ciao

the year has come to an end again...

2010-12-30T17:09:00.004+08:00

Four months is quite a long time. Yes 4 months I have not been blogging. many reasons as to why. One of which, I got feedback from a fren, it seemed someone from the family..my in laws (outlaws more like it..hehe) asked his/her fren if they have had a look at my blog? This family by marriage of mine, snubbingly told the guy not to waste time reading my blog 'cos it got nothing else, and that I was full of myself (huhu). I was pissed off, really pissed off when I heard that. So, that's why I stayed away. But I did write a brief note on my facebook a couple of days ago though.

Spending too much time on facebook. So much things to do, and there's just 24 hours in a day! Was thinking of writing my pilgrimage travelogue but I guess a picture is worth a thousand words. May be, may be later. Need to organise for 2011, board meetings, speaking engagements (from bahrain to mexico city), business trips, academic papers, my own and joint writing with other academics, new businessess, catching up on my PhD research, the list is interesting though it can be very taxing to my body and brain hehehe..

the year has been quite hectic for me, lots of travelling beijing, vancouver, london, HK, Shanghai, Norway and Saudi Arabia..did I miss any particular country or city? hehe. Not sure if all my new year resolutions for last year, was carried out. So I guess shall not be making any new ones for 2011. The to-do list seems alot already.

Except for the suzuki football and the ETP , high income economy bla bla bla and the NKRAs and all that are associated with it, nothing much is exciting... seems like a quiet year end. Wishing frens and regular visitors a happy prosperous and a much more exciting 2011...cheerio.. have fun, be good...ngeh3x

Operation Teddy Bear...hehehe

2010-08-29T01:16:00.002+08:00

I said I was going to review another book that I picked up at terminal 4 the last time I was in London. Here it is. Sorry folks it took quite awhile to get it onto my blog.

Fasting month and all haha. Correcting my MBA students strategic management assignments, and come monday 30th August, haaa.... a stack of their final exam scripts will be in my hands. I know they have been struggling to chose 3 from the 9 other remaining questions (wink).

The Third Man: Life at the Heart of New Labour by Peter Mandelson. Published by Harper Press (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, Hammersmith, London). I quote from the blurp: "Peter Mandelson has been called many things during his three decades at the top of british politics: the Prince of Darkness, the Sultan of Spin, Labour's Machiavelli, the Rock of New labour. He has also gained a reputation fro being trenchantly observant, wry, and never afraid to say exactly what he thinks. It is these qualities that he brings to this searingly honest story of his life as The Third Man in the most compelling drama of modern times."

After 3 days of explosive serialisation of the Mandelson memoirs, The Times UK (wednesday July 14, 2010) had, as their frontpage headlines 'Mad, bad and dangerous' depicting the uproar this book had created hahaha. Everyone had something to say in their defence...hehe especially Tony Blair.

What attracted me most ( in the book) was 'the teddy bear plan'. Apparently this was a kind of strategy that would split the Treasury into two departments. Let me quote what was printed in the Times UK (July 14th): "In 2002 Mr Brown demanded a move into No 10 before the end of the second term. "He's behaving outrageously. " Mr Blair said. "This time he's gone too far."

Operation Teddy Bear has, until today, remained a secret kept within the walls of No 10. It is so named to avoid the slightest hint of its intention and was devised by Lord Mandelson, John Birt, the former BBC chief who became a No 10 adviser, and Jonathan Powell, Mr Blair's chief of staff.

Under the plan, A US -style office of Budget and Delivery would be taken from the Treasury, leaving Mr Brown in charge of a new Ministry of Finance to handle macroeconomics, taxation. markets and financial services. Crucially Mr Brown would have lost control of departmental purse strings."

Hmmm... the strategy sounds familiar...which makes me wonder, if the Brits had picked it up from somewhere else other than the US (wink) or that others are emulating what they (the Brits) had tried (hehehe). I leave that to your intelligent and wise analysis.

Most British Parliamentarians, I read somewhere, is taking along this new book for their summer breaks. So, if British politicians are reading it...I suggest you guys budding local politicians, should also read it (wink). Who knows, you might pick up a tip or two from the Prince of Darkness and the Sultan of Spin? hehehe...

a cynic's guide to britain? hmmmm...dot3x

2010-08-08T22:26:00.005+08:00

Ha Ha this book was chosen not for any particular reason except that when I was paying for my Thornton (yummy!) chocolates and the just published 'The Third Man' the hurriedly (so it seemed haha) done autobiography (that caused a stir in Britain) of Lord Peter Mandelson (we will look at this book at another blogpost ok? hehe), I was told that I could pick up any other book ad 50% discount! So I scurried back to the shelves..oh well display counters and picked up this rather 'brilliant' book haha.

I read the blurp, it said 'The British national myth. Is it true? Or is it a myth? Having skewered modern life in the bestselling Is it Just Me or Is Everything Shit?, Steve Lowe and Alan McArthur set out to explore the deep dark heart of British national identity. After all: who better to embark upon an odessy through all things British than two unpatriotic cynics without any formal grounding in history?

Over the course of a year they enjoy a daybreak morris dance on the Cerne Abbas Giant, pull an all-nighter at Stonehenge and witness Wales and Scotland rising again (a bit). They encounter terrifying Europhobe ladies in Surrey, endure the Last Night of the Proms and lose the will to live in Gibraltar. They also met a lot of druids. Hillarious and provocative, Blighty offers a brilliant, alternative (ooops) vision of Britain - debunking the madness behind the tradness.

Even the introduction page made me smile. Listen to this. The authors described a council-run British Citizenship Ceremony that sounded like very much the worst sort of party. Would there even be a bar? (there wasn't. haha). Then, inside the curvy wood-panelled Hackney Town Hall council chamber, sat 20 British-citizens-in-waiting. At that moment, there were Algerian, Australian, Iraqi, Israeli, Sierra Leonian, Turkish, Latvian, Cameroonian....hmm (no Malaysian?)..and within hours they would turn British and henceforward would remain British. They were touched with a vibe stick (that's a metaphor; nobody actually touches them with a stick.) The proto-Britishers (as the authors described them) had all passed the fiendish Citizenship Test and, having paid GBP625, had now each been issued a special citizenship folder with pictures on the front, representing Britain: Stonehenge; a castle; the Forth Raliway bridge (British!); a family jumping up and down in a field... This-this! - is Britain. an ancient land where jumping is entirely permissible...hahaha. You should read the book yourselves ok?

It won't be fun if I tell you anything more...oh ok mebbe juz a lil more...huh? Ok ok there's this chapter four that is devoted to cash for honours, the norman conquest, fish and a handbag haha. The ancient love affair with Guilds (which reminds me of my favourite british actor Anthony Hopkins in that movie "remains of the day"). The Ironmonger's Hall, tucked beneath the Museum of London, is home to Ironmonger's Company, a medieval guild concerned very much with iron, ironworks, woking with iron, and furthering the secrete, closely guarded interests of iron-people and their irony ways (hehe). The City of London might be famous for forcing new forms of dodgy credit - but amongst their own ranks they like nothing more than a a bit of archaic weirdness, bonding together in ancient closed shops with dizzying rituals...

Believe me, when you get hold of a copy..haha you won't put it down that fast. It covers the four seasons: spring , summer, autumn and winter and it starts with 'with four thousand Gods on our side, hankies at dawn, a Diana moment, the time of our lives, you can't dump me becaue i'm dumping you (haha) to all things begin and end in albion's ancient druid rocky shore....hahaha.

Anyone attempting a similar cynic's guide to malaysia? i dare you..hik3x... wink3x. Have a great week ahead fellas...now may I please get back to marking my MBA student's assignments?.. huhu wink2x dot dot dot...

Langkawi, Borneo, Vancouver, London..jalan-jalan Cakap2..

2010-08-07T22:51:00.016+08:00

Panel Session at ITS2010 Knightsbridge, London

Great clear skyline from my hotel window at Knightsbridge

Last paper I presented recently in London and the topic was given to me by the organisers, woteva that means...wink2x LOL

Vancouver, end June 2010, attending 3 International Committee Meetings

Canada Place, Vancouver by summer night, Canada Day's eve...

Chairing a session at AsiaHRDCongress Kuching, Sarawak

One for the album with keynote speaker at the recent

MARIM International Risk and Insurance Management Conference,

Langkawi Island, Malaysia where I also chaired the plenary session...

coffee table books in the lounge of my brand new (Park Plaza)hotel room,

Westminster, London

An evening shot from Stanley Park, Vancouver, July 2010

Canada Place, Vancouver Canada Day, July 2010

Knightsbridge, London, July 15, 2010

Yes yes yes...I know I know...please don't be cross with me? oh please. My last blogpost was june 15. Its July 8th today. I have been wanting to document my travels since the last posting but everytime I logged into my blog...i got a mental block hohoho.

Serious shit! Sorry, I mean I had so much to tell, so many photos to upload and share but I couldn't decide which one I should upload or which story I shoudl tell first (hehe). After earlier bad experiences and because of the intellectual property rights and privacy issues...I got scared. So, I thought hurrmm..I might as well upload my 'award-winning' photo shots (hihi) and perhaps indulge in some self-inflicted vanity (wink) hehehe. So folks, please excuse the tourist-like posts ok? hahaha.

A picture is worth a thousand words they often say, so I guess I need not write too much about what or where I have been since 15 june! I was in Vancouver attending 3 RCAR Working Group Meetings, chaired international conferences at Langkawi and Kuching, Borneo and presented a paper at the 4th International Takaful Summit, Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Knighstbridge, London.

Last year my videoclip intro at ITS2010 London was based on Diehard 4 movie and this year I used Harry Potter's last movie videoclip..hahaha. Even if delegates didn't understand a word I was saying, at least for a long time to come, they would still remember me for the opening videoclips at worst! hahahaha LOL (wink).

Vancouver is a nice multi-ethnic, multi-diversity friendly city. A great city, especially for the rich, to retire hmmm...the impression I got. Forgive me if I am wrong. Walking around Canada Place, one could read the history of this important Canadian port city on the western side of Canada from the many information stands all around the complex.

Ok folks, that's about it for now. I shall review two interesting books I picked up at terminal 4 on my way home to Kuala Lumpur in my next blogpost...

mothers-in-law: variously feared, loathed, ridiculed, appreciated and adored but rarely ignored...

2010-06-15T21:43:00.006+08:00

Wherever I am, there's a high likelihood that I will pop into the first bookshop I come across. Yes, at Southampton last week, I saw British Bookshops & Stationers, went in and whoala couldn't resist picking up this interesting book hehe. First published by Faber & Faber Limited in 2008 and this paperback edition first published in 2010.

What with the school holidays and 'mating season' extravaganza right now in Malaysia dan lain2 kawasan yang sewaktu dengannya (wink), perhaps it would not be too much on my part to try and share some interesting insights about mother-in-laws who apparently are perceived almost the same everywhere haha (same same but different..as the Thai imitation goods peddlers are heard saying..in front of the Bangkok Shangrila hahaha).

The Complete Book of Mothers-in-law is written by Luisa Dillner, who now lives in London, originally trained and worked as a doctor in Bristol, a columnist for the Guardian and works for new ideas for the British Medical Journal Publishing Group and has also been contributor to many magazines and newspapers including Vogue, Cosmopolitan and the Observer.

There have always been mothers-in-law and most of us will end up either having or being one. We all, well most of us, have mother-in-law (s) eheh heh...some err more than one actually (wink) and most of us too are either already a father-in-law or a mother-in-law. I am already a father -in-law haha. Just read on please and let's not get emotional or be judgemental hehehe.

Luisa devoted 12 chapters beginning with the essential history of (Mothers-in-law); in different cultures; motherly mothers-in-law; even the Royals and Presidential Mothers-in-law didn't escape her scrutiny (haha); mixed feelings about Mothers-in-law, Mothers-in-law who took a stand; Mad, Bad and Scheming Mothers-law; Mother-in-law-baiting; Racy Mothers-in-law, Mothers-in-law on the Web, and finally... How to be a Good Mother-in-law...hahahaha.

I like her prologue when she wrote about her mother-in-law Maggie. She began '...I can't remember when I first met my mother-in-law and she's vague on when she met me. This suggests that we are not sentimental about our relationship and it doesn't consume either of our lives.' Then she wrote her mother-in-law said 'If you are good enough for him, that's good enough for me.' I like that bit when the author said 'I doubt I will be so laissez-faire about whoever my son embraces as a partner...'

The role of mother-n-law has existed throughout the ages; a part that no one actively chooses and anyone would be forgiven, considering the negative stereotypes, for thinking it has little to recommend it. Mothers-in-law have been variously feared, loathed, ridiculed, appreciated and adored but rarely ignored. The mother-in-law phenomenon is global haha. Historically, the author says you can find mothers-in-law in all varieties: admirable, loving, scheming, bad, divine (literally) and quite ordinary.

Mothers-in-law worldwide are called by different names: the Afrikaans: skoomoeder, Danish: svigermor, Germans: schiegermutter, Italian: suocera, Dutch: schoonmoeder; Spanish: suegra, Turkish: kaynana, Indonesian: mertua perempuan, Finnish: anoppi, Irish: mathaie cheile...but she forgot Malaysian....IBU MERTUA KU! hahahahaha...

When I picked up the book I could not stop reading it. It is hugely entertaining and a most witty celebration of a most complicated relationship, full of anecdotes and amusing illustrations, and didn't leave any mother-in-law sterotype untouched, informative and charming. Go pick your own copy! No no no..I am not going to tell you anymore about it. Can you please let me finish the book now? hehehe

of jane austen, john & yoko and southampton...

2010-06-14T22:36:00.009+08:00

I wanted to find something that could connect Southampton (or Soton) and The Beatles and when I googled..haa this was what I came across written by John T Marck:

" ... John Lennon's song, "The Ballad Of John And Yoko," is that which describes his wedding to Yoko Ono on March 20, 1969 in Gibraltar, and their succeeding "honeymoon," in Amsterdam. Recorded by The Beatles, or more exactly John and Paul, on April 14, 1969, it was released in the United Kingdom on May 30, 1969, and in the United States on June 4. In both releases, its B-side was "Old Brown Shoe", a song written by George Harrison.

John Lennon once said that "songs should be like newspapers," and "The Ballad Of John And Yoko," was just that. Lennon portrays himself and Yoko as victims who were about to be "crucified," and who were turned back at the Southampton docks; who could not get a marriage in France; and who were misunderstood during their "bed-in for peace," as well as ridiculed when they sat in a bag.

In truth, what Lennon did not mention in this song was they were turned back at Southampton not because of whom they were, but merely because they tried to travel into France without passports."

Hmm so much for Southampton. I was last here in 1991 and by the spur of the moment, parked our Volvo 740GLE and caught a ferry to the Isle of Wight. It was already dark when we arrived at the island with no prior reservations. Luckily on board, we met a nice friendly girl who worked for American Express and recommended her auntie's Bed& Breakfast. The rest as we always say, is history.

Talking about history, haaa many of our students studying and living in Southampton, I was told, did not know, cared or bothered to explore the interesting history of this ancient mariner city.

I was in Southampton again last monday morning. About an hour and fifteen minutes drive away from Heathrow on the M3 if it is a good clear jam-free traffic. Checked in at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel and whoala...history was just at the back of the hotel.

What I like most about it is that West Quay, the shopping mall, was built within and around the historical sites without disturbing them. We should all learn a thing or two about preservation of old buildings, historical sites, development in and around the facade and blending the old or ancient with the new or art noveau...wink2x

mindscapes and the beauty of deep thought...?

2010-06-05T22:13:00.003+08:00

Yes, more than 3 months I have stayed away from blogging. I suspect I have been addicted to facebook and ermm ... perhaps a little twittering too on occasions haha. Datuk Professor Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid or fondly referred to as IAB (no no not Institut Aminudin Baki..where he was once its director...hehe) never ceases to amaze me.. His usual trademark is knowledge corpus. I am one of those who has and forever will, have great respect for his intellect, leadership and scholarship. To say that the recent award during National Teachers Day bestowed upon him (in educational leadership) was befitting, is to me, an understatement. He should have been conferred much earlier.

My wife and I attended his daughter's wedding ceremony this afternoon at Hotel Singgahsana, Petaling Jaya. The wedding ceremony was elegantly simple. No VVIP tables. Spotted, plenty of Tan Sris and Datuks, Dons, retired DGs of Education etc etc. Everyone queues up for food buffet style haha. Yet it doesn't take away the aura of typical malay wedding blending the traditionalists and modernists. What makes IAB's dotter's wedding different from everyone else is the 88 page souvenir book you get on your way out.

That foto above is that book. Mindscapes & the Beauty of Deep Thought (corak corak minda & keindahan berfikir secar mendalam) published in conjunction with the wedding of aina fazlin ibrahim bajunid & faisal mansor, June 5, 2010. The table of contents began with kata kata nasihat from dad to bride and covers a wide-ranging subject area from the joys of family learning, the making of religious and scientific minds for civilisational leadership, daughters and mums, seekers of knowledge and managers of truth, nautical imagination and education, muhasabah diri, the economic mode of thinking, from monologue to dialoging mindfully, exploring breakthough thinking, life is a long winding road, on life love and death to ozymandias....wow...87 pages to read!

I particularly like the first part where datuk prof IAB advises her daughter: and he began with...cut your fingernails and toenails, clean your teeth and masage your gums gently everyday, clean your ears and the lobes, ensure your ankles and crevises between toes are clean, control and modulate your tone of voice in conversations....etc etc and he moves on to the habits of the prophet and 7 effective habits, to mastering languages , understanding mathematics and geometry, making connections, enjoying poetry and poin-poin bicara where he reminds again about mastering history, championing quality, and that people do not know what they do not know..about 41 points in all haha where he ends it with tipping point, blink and outliers (malcolm gladwell) to homo grammaticus to the building of an enlightened society...wow!

That, is Datuk Professor Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid. Well done my friend. You did it again. Congratulations on the new addition to the family. I would not be doing justice, if re-activating my blogging, did not start with this little tribute to you prof!

...of lunar, valentine and sex education?

2010-02-14T14:46:00.004+08:00

My last blogpost was december 30th 2009. I had a few text messages reminding me, scolding me (haha) for not updating. I said haiyya..busy lor...year end, then new year with all the trappings of a new year which I am sure all of us are non too familiar? (wink).

No, I didn't deliberately chose Valentine's Day (incidentally it's also Chinese New Year today..and whoala here comes the Tiger at last after a rather Rattantoule year, last year! (wink2x) to start my blog again after like about almost 2 months?

An old dear friend from across the causeway sent me a valentine day wish (huh?) email and attached this extract from a UK textbook on sex education haha... which I thought I should share with all of you my friends (hope I won't get sued for re-publishing it..erk). Well, at least it has some form of continuity with my last posting where I dabbled into some form of 'sensitive' home management issues hahaha. It did trigger some sort of agreement and disagreement but that is to be expected. To perhaps fuel futher discourse to the last posting I made, I am taking the liberty of uploading this old textbook page on the subject that perhaps too, lend further credibility to male chauvinism (I know some feminists will love to note my support to the cause of women...hahaha go go go..get those top jobs girl!!!..hahaha wink3x).

Please read it and tell me what you think.

I dunno. Are girls much happier then, then they are now? You see? Even happiness is a relative term haha. Thanks to Einstein and relativism haha. Tell me honestly ladies (if you are reading my post) would you prefer to lead a life your grandma and mum led, in those days or you rather prefer the 'relatively' emancipated life women lead the world over (in some places lar not all ok? haha)these days? wink.

Please don't get me wrong. I wasn't implying that its better now or it was better then (wink). Some prefer to live in the past, while others thrive in the future hahaha.

And the guys...hey honestly (don't be a 'hippocrates' (erm isn't he the father of medicine? hhoho). C'mon tell me, would you prefer the wifey and your girls go through and adopt the advise above? Oh well, you may have your own 'edited versions' according to your own values and cultures (hehe) or you go with the flow? Think about it while you're quietly (or loudly haha) somewhere with your valentine...or having banana leaf brunch with your family during ChInese New Year?

No no no..I was not lazing around or meditating like a hermit at the Himalayas ok? I was hehe quite occupied...hmm like oozing out uninsured comments and remarks? hmmm at the recent CEO Panel Session at the Asia HR Summit 2010 at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur and chaired a leadership track session at the same conference (wink). The 'unfinished battle' between various management functions... You know what most people in the other departments think of the HR department right? wink. Prove them wrong please or suggest to them go take a hike (VSS you mean? hahaha). Do enjoy the long break fellas. Don't do anymore what St Valentine probably did not or would not do? (wink2x)..and where's my Angpow packet?

...hubbies were managed, in those days...

2009-12-30T02:01:00.003+08:00

'Tis a season of weddings. Actually there are no specific season for weddings. Everyday is a good day to get married so it seems. But no, to some ethnic groups there can be days that are 'pantang' or forbidden, a definite no no haha. In some societies, the wedding day could be determined by other factors, natural, or unnatural as the case may be.

Oh well, again, as I was springkleening, throwing old documents, as a matter of discipline (hmmm) or ritual..ya..that's more like it, ritual, I stumbled upon this fotocopy of an unedited extract of a 150th anniversary of the Straits Times (1845-1995). Published on May 1, 1885 in what was at the time 'The Straits Times and Singapore Journal of Commerce'.

I have been to quite alot of wedding invites lately and there's a few more to come actually, hehe so I thought reproducing this article on my blog, might provide some pointers to the newlyweds, to the bride (hehe) especially, in managing their hubbies in the old fashion way hehe. oops sorry.. for both, the bridegroom too, hehe. Here goes:

"The Management of Husbands - Men as a rule, marry women for love, yet we see everyday these one-time happy doves drifting apart and acting as though separation would be the happiest end for both. To marry for love simply, is absurd. Unless there is a large amount of respect on either side, the flame of love soon dies out, leaving a barren manor for the dwellers thereon. However, supposing you had a husband whom you wish to twirl round your little finger, you must love him "with all your heart, with all your soul. " etc.; and love you feel will make it possible to put up with all those little discrepancies which crop out in man's nature when you come alive with him. In the first place, should your husband be a man in business, who comes home tired to death, cross, and worn out, do not at once entertain him with the trouble you have gone through the day. Meet him with a smile, take his hat and overcoat from him and let him severely alone until he has toned down with a good dinner, after which he will be in a position to listen to any thing you may have to say; but I always found it an excellent plan to hide disagreeables entirely from a husband's notice. Men don't want to have a repetition of annoyances at home when they have so many in their daily path outside, and believe me, the effect of keeping household squabbles out of your husband's knowledge wonderfully enhances your value as a wife. You don't know how a man appreciates a loving welcome and a good dinner after the toil of the day. Men are gregarious animals, and will wander in spite of allurements, but they are selfish enough to remain where they are best treated, and the years that follow will, as a rule, find the husband always glad to go back to the pretty home where smiles await him and the dinner I spoke of." -unedited extract May 1, 1885

Ya ya ya..you may say 'ala itu zaman dulu punye stail' (that's the ancient way). But then again, why not? Give it a try. You never know, sometimes the old ways work better (wink2x). Yeah, all those macho men out there (endangered species i dread to think they may one day become, if not already are..haha)...think you can handle it like your grandpa did? My apologies ladies, I know times have changed. That ancient write-up by today's standards, may sound a little offensive and chauvinistic but hey...it has alway been a two-way tingy, right? wink2x...

we treat you like maharajas...

2009-12-25T09:50:00.005+08:00

Its christmas holiday today! Merry Christmas to all my friends who celebrate it, wherever you may be. Just don't forget that the last tsunami (2004) occurred on boxing day and that is tomorrow (wink). So if you are enjoying yourselves at some beachfront somewhere out there, just be mindful ok? hehe.

We already had our short break, my family and I, at rebak marina island resort (go google it heehee) about 15 minutes fastboat ride from Port Langkasuka (5 minutes from Langkawi Airport). A private property owned by DRB-Hicom and currently managed by the Taj Leisure Hotels & Palaces Group, India.

Oklah, my idea of deStress and deTox. Quiet retreat and great breakfast haha while checking out my new toy. Not the usual mainstream you knowlah why people go to Langkawi meh? (wink). Other than LID or LIMA or busloads of shoppingspree types at Kuah...ooops sorry. We had a great time at Rebak. Had wanted to check it out for quite sometime now but I forgot about it. I shall not comment or make any reviews of the place for now, you can read plenty of it on TripAdvisor on the internet (wink).

I was reading the two issues of The Taj Magazine ( The Romance of Food, 2008 Vol 36 No 2, and The Splendour that is The Taj, Spring 2009 vol 37 No 1) in the room, splendidly published, laminated, hardbound, classic and obscenely lavish...and I remembered a joke the late Tan Sri Khir Johari shared on a few occasions we met. He said in those days when he was a minister, he used to fly Air India...and the tagline for Air India at the time was '..we treat you like Maharajahs' Then one day he said to the cabin crew...jokingly of course, "...ya rite i know how you treat your maharajas!" hahaha (wink2x).

Most of the guests were foreigners, some longstaying. There were Brits, Frenchmen, Flemish Belgian couple, Dutch, Americans, Canadians, Middle Eastern and of course many from India. A mixed of retirees or otais like me and no less hoards of honeymooning couples haha. Some have been here before, they like it and came back again. Some, whom I spoke to, were first timers to Malaysia and they love it (hmm standard politically-correct statements huh?..haha) but I want to believe they genuinely like our country and would not hesitate to come back visit us again and again.

My point, we have plenty of great heavenly places right at our doorstep and we let others elsewhere enjoy it. I don't blame them, in fact I welcome them, please please do come with lots of money, come invest here haha...its really very cheap for them. We aspire to be a high-income economy, like the rest of the advanced nations. Whether that means we will be able to nanti visit their places and throw away hard-earned money like a lord (wink2x) or everything will get to be more expensive for all of us, well not all, for the man-in-the-street at least ...remains to be seen. Moral of story? haha go visit the Kilim Geopark Langkawi...the family will enjoy it. And if you 're afraid of the CURSE? haa..the spell's long broken..haha and definitely no white snake lady ok? (wink2x). We did. Enjoy the long weekend folks....

of undemocratic moderateurs...

2009-12-23T02:51:00.003+08:00

Had it not been for chairing commitments in Kuala Lumpur, I would have taken an extra week off and hop northwards to explore Beijing even though the weather was getting harsher at minus zero levels. At some point it was reported that snowfall was in bigger quantities than usual. Well, Beijing can wait.

I thought I only had to moderate a panel session at the 2009 KL Takaful Conference (KLTF) at Nikko Hotel but oh no...I forgot that I had agreed earlier, to chair a whole day session of M2Asia's conference on Managing Performance Culture and Talent at JW Marriott, Kuala Lumpur. It turned out that the panelist session at Nikko was cancelled and I was having a really great time at the M2Asia conference at JW Marriott. But I left after lunch to be at the KLTF.

Really great stuff and excellent knowledge sharing at JW Marriott with speakers from Hewitt Digi, Toyota Motors et al.

I must have been doing quite alot of conference chairings that I kinda like it. I think I am in my elements when I chair conferences, seminars, colloquiems...especially if the subject areas are those that are close to my heart or that I have a passion for...hehe. One speaker candidly remarked just before he made his presentation that I have made the sessions much more enjoyable and interactive and that at times I seem to speak more than the speaker hahaha. Hmm, that's not very good isn't it? Ok ok... i must learn to reduce my interjections and not disturb the speaker/presenter hahaha....

But it's nice, being in control of the situation (wink) and I can tell you I am not very democratic when I am chairing or moderating hahaha (evil wink). You have to check with the conference organisers as to the feedback I get from participants. One will somehow know if one is not call upon again to chair hehe. If there is repeat invite...you can second guess, right? But all these are time sensitive I suppose. Constant exposure does wear out you know? heehee.

shanghai joe II...

2009-12-22T22:41:00.004+08:00

Tourist guides normally have plenty of stories and excellent jokes too sometimes, to tell, to sustain the interests of their guests/tourists. And David had, like the rest, one too many haha. Yes David the English-speaking oh well the american-accent tourist guide that was waiting for us at Hangzhou.

I said I was going to tell you about the legend of the white snake lady in my earlier blogpost (shanghai joe...). I am not sure if I can recall all of it but it goes something like this. We were on the boat at the famed West Lake at Hangzhou and David began to describe the history of the Pagoda in the background. That's when the story of the white snake woman came about. In ancient times it seems (that's how long the pagoda had stood there on the hills yonder...) there were 2 snakes, one white and one black. The white snake transformed into woman and being immortal, it could transform back into a snake. To cut the story short (haha) the white woman met a handsome young man married him and of course did not live happily ever after. She was immortal and she had to decide, if she wanted to be with her man, her immortality would have to be taken away. You guess right, she chose the man, and whoala she is no longer immortal.

But a priest, oh well, monk, as the legend goes, was looking for her. Captured her and kept her away in the pagoda. After thousands of years, in 2002, the pagoda caught fire (like many times before?) and when it was reconstructed, somehow rather the archaelogist during the excavations, unleashed the white snake woman... so she now roams west lake looking for her man...

I hope she didn't follow me back to Kuala Lumpur....hahaha... Trying to tell the story again, which I think I may have miserably failed hahaha.

Ok folks the airasia that was due an hour ago from KL has just landed..gotta get into the aircraft now. Will continue my blogpost when I get home...

shanghai joe...

2009-12-19T01:05:00.002+08:00

Automechanika Shanghai 2009

winter at west lake hangzhou

After the privacy statement I made recently, I just got a little lazy to blog. Now I am not too sure if I had done the right thing. I mean, it was good in a sense, like a wake up call so you won't be doing things you thought was ok but it was not ok for others. Now I am not sure if I want to share photos of my travels. Maybe I should say less, and share less too perhaps. What's the point of sharing when others don't believe in sharing? (wink). Some even think or say out loud that you're showing off! I am confused.

Anyway, see? I am beginning to even lose my relaxed and jovial writing style..haha. Beginning to be rather serious and conscious if anyone will sue me...hehe. Where was i? oh yes I was invited to speak at Automechanika Shanghai recently. 3 of us from Malaysia sharing the collision industry experience. China has its own peculiarities, style and they have the critical mass from within and really need not bother about other markets so to speak.

This is my first visit to Shanghai. The last time I was in China was in 1999, Urumqi and Turfan in Sinkiang Northwest China autonomous area. While in Shanghai I thought it would be a good idea to visit Hangzhou as well (the favourite winter retreat of Emperors throughout thousands of years of various dynasties and of course a favourite retreat for chairman Mao too I was told).

But the more interesting are the tales, legends, stories our english-speaking tour guide (graduate of Zhe Jiang University...the 3rd oldest university in China) shared with us. I particularly like the story of the white snake lady...hehe. Its freezy this time of year at west lake, hangzhou..(go google it if you want to read more)... I need some sleep now before pushing off tomorrow morning for a short family break hehe. Oh yes, I will narrate that white snake lady story in my next posting...nanait my frens, and enjoy the long weekend.

Caution: big brother is monitoring you online...

2009-12-05T00:57:00.005+08:00

Dear friends, fellow bloggers, casual visitors,

I have just been formally informed via email, advising me to remove some of my postings be it articles and/or photos which may have intruded into other people's right to privacy as well as perhaps some material confidentiality issues that may arise thereupon. I like to apologise if at all, I have violated any of your privacy and shall endevour to seek your permission first before uploading or publishing your photos on the web. I have already removed those that were referred to. But should there be anymore which I have not done so, I would be only too pleased to delete/remove them. Or if it makes everyone feel alot better, I shall discontinue blogging or perhaps maintain it but for private viewing only. Any direct or indirect injury, discomfort or agony I may have inadvertently caused, is very much regretted.

Facebook | Khaeruddin Sudharmin

2009-11-25T03:08:00.000+08:00

Facebook Khaeruddin Sudharmin

of wintry storms and homegrown grapes?

2009-11-22T20:18:00.003+08:00

Why do you think people were easily taken to believe the rumours of a wintry or snow storm that was going to hit us (malaysia)? and the MET or the local metereological dept had to make a public statement denoucing or refuting such reports?

Thats because alot of things are possible these days. Like the lovely bunches or green grapes hanging out from my little garden at home...hehehe. Cultivating grapes in our climate? Hmmmm never heard of before..on higher grounda or cooler hill climates at our hill resorts perhaps lah...but in the hot humid Klang Valley? naaaaah... So you see? anything is possible these days...

I am at the lounge at KLIA waiting for my flight to Singapore...I hope you guys had a great weekend. Mine was, hmmm tiring. A strategic direction session at Awana then a last minute request to speak to budding young entrepreneurs at selesa hillhomes... Speaking for 3 hours can be real hard work...hehehe for both the body and brain...

carpe diem?...

2009-11-08T11:35:00.003+08:00

British Graduates Association Malaysia held its 22nd Anniversary Gala Dinner 2009 at Berjaya Time Square Kuala Lumpur recently. Of course, not just dinner lah. Its (as usual lor) in aid if BGAM's education fun ...err I mean fund. The dinner was no fun. I was told by my Hull Alumni treasurer its a blacktie function. So, i merrily put on my tux and went until I arrived to discover many were in dark lounge suits ( so was Tun Hanif haha..in darl lounge suit). I saw invitation card and i read: formal blacktie or dark lounge suit. Haiyyah..malaysian style maa..sure more people will wear lounge suit.

Thank gawd I wasn't alone like some monkey bar waiter hahaha. The BGAM Committee members, guests of honnour Tengku Razaleigh and Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen were in tux...so ok lar...hehe. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah gave a short sweet slam in his keynote address. But, hmmm dinner...chinese food? at a british do? I was expecting at worst, warm strawberry butter scones..hehehe or a lambshank to say the least..hehe.

The British High Commissioner was notably absent. He sent a rep instead. Politically incorrect for him to attend, perhaps? hmmm I wonder. Maybe, maybe not. The British Council Director for Malaysia, Mandy Johnson, was spotted. Ok folks, enuf for today...from karam singh walia wannabe...hahahaha...

what do you call a man who has knowledge, skills but no ability? wink3x

2009-11-08T00:51:00.004+08:00

Dr R Palan chairman & ceo of SMR group Malaysia refers to me as a 'HR blogger' after he read my blogpost on last year's PSMB (Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad) annual conference at Genting. Hahaha. No, I am not a HR blogger specific as such. Honestly I don't know which category I belong to. I am not a political or social science blogger (like RPK as such hahaha). I like to think I am just someone making candid remarks or observations in an eclectic manner, and just because HR or human capital development seems to be closer to my heart than the more brutal strategic management, doesn't make me a HR Blogger, Dr Palan! I don't even have a following, perhaps maybe just one or two casual or accidental visitors ahaks! (wink)

I was invited to moderate the first session/paper at a Competency Summit 2009 at holiday inn Malacca on Oct 27 recently bt Dr Palan's group. The session was led by a lady corporate HR vice president of a GLC. The topic was about competency management: the right time, right place something like that, which in my opening remark as chairman/moderateur, said, that it reminded me of my chartered institute of marketing days more than 3 decades ago and that today, as I often quip, we try to embed rocket science into practically all of the management functions, we even call it management science. So the notion and debate as to whether management is a science or art continues... dot dot dot.

I was however, successful in restraining myself from making inappropriate or politically incorrect jokes that morning (wink) like: if a man has knowledge, skills and ability...we call him 'competent' rite? Now, if a man has knowledge and skills...but no abilities...what would we call him then? hahahaha...give a good guess and pat yourselves on tthe back. Enjoy the rest of the weakend folks..Hahahaha...

Impressionism..Chicago style..anyone?...

2009-10-05T02:15:00.008+08:00

Haa..the art above is one of Picasso's (slightly vulgar painting..to some perhaps) found at the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). Yes, one of the program to loosen up the brain after all those heavy technical, automotive engineering stuff meetings..was a visit to the famous, 'must visit', art museum or the art institute of chicago, located next to the millennium park. I won't bore you with the details. You can always google it bah! hehehe.

It houses a great collection of art pieces. The overwhelming generosity of enthusiastic collectors like Mrs Bertha Honore' Palmer, one of Chicago's most pioneering collector and wife of noted hotelier Potter Palmer, has brought many works into the Art Institute's collection. Mrs Palmer was dedicated to collecting the most innovative art of her time, and her immense generosity allowed many Impressionist works to enter the AIC in 1922. One should not miss dropping by, when in Chicago, to see for oneself, a few of her exceptional gifts...

Every year, AIC host over 30 exhibitions and over 1,400 events and programs. From the early 1920s to early 1960s, German Shepherds helped to guard the collection. One of the most beloved was named Utz von Storfels. Some say his spirit still comes out at night. AIC has 260,000+ objects in their collection. The oldest part of the current museum complex was opened in 1893 in conjunction with the World's Columbian Exposition, to host the World's Congress of Religions. Thousands of Hindus still visit Fullerton Hall, the site where the Hindu Missionary Swami Vivekananda gave his speeches. Their largest painting is George o' Keefe's Sky Above Clouds IV.

AIC played a role in determining whether Chicago should open an aquarium. An Art Institute display of 85+ varieties of fish drew more than 14,000 people on March 15, 1916, leading the Chicago Daily Tribune to declare that "if attendance at the Art Institute yesterday is any indication, Chicago wants a permanent aquarium."

AIC holds the attendance record for any art exhibition in the USA, with 1, 538, 103 for the Century of Progress show in 1933.

So there you are...Chicago is the place for fine arts, architecture, construction, engineering, maritime studies (freshwater lake), shipping, management, conservation, biodiversity. It has a multicultural setting. Despite its early mob lifestyle environment (like you see in the movies)...it is really a great (windy) city..too bad I couldn't get hold of Oprah Winprey..hehe. Obama chose it as his home base, but unfortunately..even by his personal presence in Copenhagen recently, he (Obama, the President of the United States of America) failed in his bid to get Chicago to host the Olympics in 2016...'wot a pity 'as the Brit would have said it...

Chicago oh Chicago...

2009-10-04T01:15:00.010+08:00

No..I have not left blogosphere yet. I know my last posting was September 1 and it's October 4, 2009 today, 1.20 am in the morning here in Kelana Jaya. Much has happened since, so I shall not bore you. I am sure other fellow bloggers must have updated you acordingly. Most current news would be that Blair may be the next EC president, that Obama's appearance in person in Copenhagen to bid for 2016 olympics in Chicago, failed. Great floods in Manila including Makati where the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) is, earthquake in Padang, and tsunami elsewhere.

I was away in Chicago for the annual RCAR2009 conference. Presented 3 papers for MRC Malaysia. This was a rather strange and slightly a bit out of the normal of my business trips. First, getting the visa from the US embassy was one hell of a hassle, unlike those days in the late 90s where your travel agent do it for you. Now, you have to log-in, do everything yourself, get the appointment for interview and then fill up your details..it must all be done online....

I should have taken the KL-London-Chicago route instead of the KL-Stockholm-Newark-Chicago flight path. Not only was you arrive like a zombie after about 20 hours in the aluminium capsule but what irks you most is, your luggage keys are gone and you realise it only when you get into your hotel room. After more than 20 over years of flying international occasionally, this is the first time my luggage didn't come home with me. Even after I got it back in less than 48 hours...most if not all of the souvenir were gone. I have yet to make a pilferage claim with MAS.

Describing the whole sequence of events since landing at newark and not having extra funds while in the US would only bore you. And can you beat it? I had to text and call my chaps back in KL to remit extra cash into my CIMB account. Lucky thing before I left I made a new ATM card which was also a cirrus debit mastercard. So I could 'cucuk' any ATM in Chicago and get cash. So much so, I forgot to even get some souvenir tshirts from the universities, planet hollywood or hardrock cafe (which was the standard operating procedures for tourists....errrm but again..I was no tourist right? hehe).

I will upload some great pictures when I receive them from our colleagues at all-state and state-farm insurance companies of America. The weather was just great. Cool, bright and sunny. Of course, if not for the wind blowing in from lake michigan, Chicago would not have been called the 'windy city'. What amazes me is the entrepreneurial spirit, the free-enterprise market economy that transformed this once 'lakeside swamp' into a skyscraping megalopolis...and was the icon of the mob and gangsterism or the era of 'the untouchables' if you may, during the roaring 20s...The efforts made and bringing back Chicago river from the dead was most interesting to me. We should learn from them and bring back to live, our dead rivers...

Its quite quiet in Chicago...must be the the economy..I guess they have not fully recovered from the global financial meltdown that began last september 2008. People in general are either still worried about the jobs or are away for their tail-end summer early autumn holidays . Or at least no more reckless shopping sprees..haha. I found a good Thai restaurant just a day before its time to leave. Didn't have time to visit the Malaysian Student's dept at Evanston and the plan to visit Firuz (finishing her PhD)and her family in Nebraska had to also be aborted.

Actually, come to think of it, I should have flown back via LA, stop by at San Francisco a couple of days and fly back to KL via Osaka...haha..that would have been a round-the-world-trip. Or perhaps detour to Vancouver. But...ah ha..you must have a Canadian Visa...or they will fine you US300.

More on Chicago in my next posting...its almost 2 in the morning..enjoy the rest of the weekend folks...

compensating or compensation strategies?...haha

2009-09-01T21:52:00.008+08:00

The Free Press, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1996

It has been quite awhile since I reviewed a book on my blog. This would be a good opportunity since the book above was used as reference and companion to my guest lecture this afternoon at the Kulliyah Economics & Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia at its main campus in Gombak. I spoke about an hour to a group of compensation management class, BBA(Business) final semester undergrads.

The boook was published in 1996 (13 years ago), a year just before the Economic Crisis that began in Asia. But even during that time, the Consultants, Merchants of Knowledge if you may, were upbeat about change and changing organisations; the same mantra we hear that catapulted Obama to the US Presidency.

The blurp on the inside front flap of the book read: ...in the rush to reengineer, implement TQM practices, from teams, and embrace other popular business strategies, most organizations have overlooked a critical component of successful change: how they pay their employees. Even though their responsibilities and corporate environments have undergone radical changes, most employees are still paid in the same ways they were paid twenty years ago. Thousands of companies still dole out annual merit increases and determine pay levels on the basis of employee's knowledge, length of service, number of direct reports, and rank on organizational ladder - values whose relevance has faded away in today's flatter, faster, more flexible business environment.

The HayGroup, which for the past forty years (50 now) has (as claimed) set the standard globally for effective pay strategies, has , in the book, this important issue - and once again has rewritten the rules for pay. People, Performance & Pay had also identified four most common organizational work cultures - functional, process, time-based and network - and explains how to align innovative pay policies with each.

The Global Economic Crisis that began in September 2008, triggered by the financial sector causing the demise of many classic global banks and insurance companies and soon afterwards by the automotive industry...is again changing some concepts of compensation strategy. People are not talking about compensation strategy in the usual sense per se, of a reward system as such, but how to get rid of employees to keep the company afloat! Having said that, compensation strategy is, to most of us, a critical determinant of organisational sustainability.

While it is desirable to benchmark against some of the best in the world (inorder for one to be globally competitive), I reminded these future HR practitioners and/or academics, that one has to be constantly mindful of other mitigating factors like economic cycles, internal equity considerations, cultures etc etc etc...especially the challenging 'millenial generation' and your own organisational affordability... I hope they understood what I was trying to drive at, while being mindful too, that I was speaking to them at TGV speed hahaha....

of cloud computing, sustainable development and conference junkies...

2009-08-29T17:59:00.003+08:00

Fong, Dr Pat (IBM USA) and yours truly, at the luncheon talk by Dr Pat on 'Cloud Computing'

Prof Dr Sofian Azirun (Dean, Science Faculty Universiti Malaya), me, YBhg Datuk Prof Khaw (deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Universiti Malaya, Prof Horowitz (Law prof USA) and Prof Jomo Kwame Sundaram ( Assistant Secretary-General, Economic Bureau, United Nations, New York) at the VIP room after the conclusion of the International Conference on Sustainable Development organised by IMPUMA, Universiti Malaya

I guess Nobisha (or Saudara Norizan Sharif, CEO of Inminds, the current popular analyst and political commentator at ASTRO AWANI) was quite right in making a remark recently that people seem to be lazy updating their blogs. They spend too much time on facebook and twitter these days. I am guilty on all counts! (evil wink)...

The cloud computing luncheon talk (foto above) by Dr Pat from IBM was interesting to me (I am not sure about the rest cos I saw them busy eating away, poor Dr Pat..hehe). I asked him if this is not just another faddish phenomena because I have heard it being bandied around, discussed even as far as 15 years ago...and he said its coming...oh well already here in some not soo obvious mode. If you like to know more about cloud computing and its potential...see here.

Having said that, blogs do have their roles and relevance and people, I suspect, will continue to use blogs and there will be newer versions and with all kinds of add-ons what with the proliferation of new apps much like iphone. Even the makers, or inventors rather, of Blackberry (RIM or Research in Motion - the billion dollar Canadian company), having put corporate emails into most corporate executive's pockets, are now barging into killer-Apps and coming into a head-on collision course with Apple (Iphone) as reported in the latest issue of Fortune Magazine (31 August 2009 issue).

My friend Abbas Khaku of the London School of Economics (LSE), was also spot-on, when he honoured me by bestowing upon me (hehe), a title that qualifies me into the ranks of 'Conference Junkies' hahahaha. I have been telling people that I was a conference junkie because of the incessant attendances at conferences but these days, its the opposite actually (wink). I attend to speak, not to listen to some probably boring speakers anymore (wink)...while mindful of the fact that the same (boringness) could also hold true, of me. haha.

Its fasting month (Holy Ramadan) and so far I have succeeded in 'containing' the devilish temptation of uploading food photos or big huge sinful spreads of hotel breaking fast sessions... hahaha. By the way, the devils are supposed to be on a 30 day (forced) leave of absence. And oh, incidentally, my joint co-secretary, Noriswadi Ismail will also be on a 3 year leave of absence pursuing his PhD in Law (RFID) degree at Queen Mary's College, The University of London.

Yes, I have a bad habit of not knowing when to say yes and when to say no until I discovered that I have overcommitted with strings of conference chairmanships and other speaking engagements. Looks like october and november is going to be a bloody busy month what with my eldest daughter's wedding scheduled for October 31 as well...haiyyah. Come September 1 next week; I have been invited, yet again, to share my experiences with graduating BBA (Business) students at the International Islamic University (UIA) Malaysia at their Gombak campus.. thanks to our enterprising 'Sir Zul' hahaha.

'Selamat Berbuka Puasa' (a breaking fast wish) to my muslim comrades the world over wherever you are, and have a great long weekend to my fellow Malaysian friends who will be celebrating MERDEKA on August 31st. Stay safe and observe 'social distancing' unless you wanna feel what its like to contract H1N1...hehehe

is quality management still fashionable?...

2009-08-13T23:37:00.003+08:00

August 4 recently, I was chairing the 2009 Quality Management Symposium at the posh new signature hotel, Royale Chulan (owned by the Boustead Group). The annual symposium, led by Nuclear Malaysia together with other bodies like the Standards dept, SIRIM, SMIDEC and supported by MOSTI (Ministry of Science) has been an annual affair.

I have been invited consecutively over the last four years. Have presented a paper, moderated, chaired and gave a keynote presentation but this year, I told my friends at Nuclear Malaysia (The DG and the Training Manager that this year if they want me to contribute again, no papers please... penatlah (tired) hahaha, just chairing the conference on day one (hehe). That's why you see me in all the four photos above. Giving away momentos to speakers. The topmost, to none other than YBhg Tan Sri Ali Hashim, Group Chief Executive of Johor Corporation. He shared the trials and tribulations, business cycles (the ups and downs) of Johor Corp, his passion for Islamic business-jihad and his notion of 'westoxification' a word, I believe, he invented. My old friend Dr Ranjit Singh Malhi (Sadarji) during the days of MSTD, also gave a keynote address. Another old friend Mansoor, President and CEO of AVON ASEAN 'passionately' shared AVON's adaptation of quality management practices in their business model and strategies.

You probably notice that the last 2 fotos were taken with...yes you are right..none other than YBhg Datuk Arumugam of the iconic malaysian band 'Alleycats'. They are performing at Royale Chulan now (check them out hehe). Quality Management is a culture, a cult if you like. Breathing and living quality in your everyday lives be it the personal or business level...is certainly the bedrock of a winning strategy, as manifested by Alleycats...after more than 30 years...their survival owes to, among other variables, quality performance, always evergreen...always the alleycats and their music as you have heard them a long time ago, and still the same...

So, is quality management still fashionable? Despite some ethical issues raised and lamented during the symposium, I believe it is here to stay. It worked for Alleycats and thousands of other organisations globally, it certainly will work for yours....

of security, passion and desire? ...

2009-08-01T02:11:00.008+08:00

Ya ya ya...just because my retirement is fast approaching, doesn't mean my blogging should also slow down, right? There is no direct corelation at all. In fact, the blogging should be even more aggressive and should take on a more pro-active role, as some close friends had duly suggested. We will see how that progresses.... Yesterday afternoon I was at the finals of the National Inter-Varsity quiz on Computer/Internet Security. We (MRC) sponsored the runner-up prize (3 netbooks!). It was also about meeting a longtime old friend that have not met up quite a long time as well! We use to attend the International Youth Foundation Board (IYC) Meetings at Fukuoka, Japan in the early 90s when he was very active in the youth movement. Yes, he is Deputy Minister of Higher Education now, in Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak's cabinet. He is also a statemate (he is from Temerloh, Pahang and I am from Kuantan, Pahang). Good to have caught up with you, YB Datuk!

Talent has to be discovered at the “source” it cannot be developed. You cannot train for talent, you can only unleash it by creating the right context and the right mindset. The power of talent is that it is transferable from situation to situation. The champions were from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and the runners-up, Universiti teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Well done fellas! These boys and girls are talented. We (MRC) are proud to be playing a small part in that talent 'discovery'.

Just a note to all of us who are passionate about talent and development, especially those in higher education. During his early career, academic pedigrees impressed Jack Welch. He hired engineers from MIT, Princeton, and Caltech. After a while, he realized that wasn’t what counted. “Eventually I learnt that I was really looking for people who were filled with passion and a desire to get things done. A resume didn’t tell me much about that inner hunger.” Perhaps we should be mindful of Jack's valuable experience... have a great weekend and a good rest folks...

Media Relations dan Kawasan2 yang Sewaktu dengannya...

2009-07-24T07:39:00.003+08:00

Last Tuesday I chaired a Media Relations Conference 2009 at Istana Hotel Kuala Lumpur. About 30 delegates from Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia. A good set of speakers and attendees. Corporate media (corp communications, PR et al) people, media consultants, ex and existing print media people were also present. More of scanning the current industry scenario and how 'new media' (facebook, twitter, blogs etc etc) is impacting the industry and the A&P expenditure.

Some interesting notes presented by some industry expert, was that, globally there has been an observable increase in online above and below the line expenditure in online (new media) rather than in print of traditional media like TV for instance. Most advanced countries are registering above 20% mark while malaysia apparently, is still below the 1.4% mark.

Another interesting data that was disclosed at the conference was that, more than 87% of the malaysian chinese population read their own vernacular newspapers! Less than 10% read NST or Star, only those english-educated). Interesting information for strategists and planners...

As usual I try to manage the conference according to the time schedule except for the last paper of the day...I told him he got 25 minutes but he actually overshot his time by one hour 15 minutes. I didn't have the heart to stop him cos I saw the delegates were like sooo attentive to what the fella was sharing and he enticed them to ask for more with his case studies (wink)...smart bugger... while at the same time angling for some business hahaha. He was selling his skill and expertise yes, but I must acknowledge the fact that he is good. I enjoyed every one of the presenters and their presentations. I was also updating my own knowledge bank, if you like..

Have a great weekend folks!

who says management accountants are a boring lot?

2009-07-18T12:51:00.005+08:00

Last monday july 13, I was invited to the opening ceremony of CIMA or short for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, World Conference 2009. The previous being held in Sri lanka. You may ask 'what the hell are you doing with CIMA?'

Well, I have been involved with CIMA since the days when Ben Morais (who is retired now) was divisional director. I was invited to give a short lecture to the staff then, somewhat a combination of indirect motivation (sort of hehe) some new information or new perspectives or ways of looking at things, if you like, from an outsider rather than from the divisional director. I was deputy chairman, MEG (Malaysia Employer Group, a committee specially set up by CIMA to encourage employer relations and forge links for purposes of training, attachments oh well, more so to enhance employability of CIMA graduates).

Somehow rather when a new divisional director took over, his or her focus was elsewhere and the MEG 's role was very much down played, which I understand perfectly. I do however continue to maintain close links with CIMA Malaysia. In fact a few years ago I was invited to give an inaugural lecture series in strategic management at the KL Renaissance Hotel.

Enuf of that, lets get back to this world conference. There were 600 delegates where 20% constitute those from other CIMA centres globally. Looking at a glance, it would appear that there is no recession as far as training, conferences et al are concerned, right? (wink) Hey, look again...these guys are CIMA grads and mostly are CFOs, Finance Directors, MDs or CEOS....the buck stops at their feet ok?...hahaha. They decide if you can use the budget or otherwise (evil wink). So, your guess, as always haha, is as good as mine.

Having said that, I think Sopiah Suid, the current divisional director did a marvellous job putting up the great show in these really trying times. She had great support from tourism malaysia, among others. Have a great weekend ya all....

Durians & 1Malaysia did u say? hehehe

2009-07-17T23:12:00.009+08:00

Let's talk about 'durian eat-all-u-can' from RM10 at SS2 Petaling Jaya for a change haha. I had my regular chow yang foot reflexo just now and then some 'nasi kandar' at Pelita, bangsar and then remembered about the annual durian ritual (king of fruits) extravaganza.

A few people have commented that I am 'full of myself'' when I write my blog or facebook or twit (ouch!). But tonite, no..I am full of durians! hahaha.

Look at them enjoying the durians! Families in droves, of all races, malaysian spirit at its best. There's a terrible jam out there at SS2 rite now. They close at 2 am, the fiesta I mean. Perhaps this should be an important 1Malaysia activity (heheh) which I think and my fren David and his frens think as well too...rather than the boring (full of insincere faces heheh) morning senamrobik hehe...jeng3x

Sorry KakTeh, if you are reading this, I know you love to have it with pulut and ice-cream but the last time I saw you, you had a really bad hayfever. Hope its over by now. Do guard yourself and your family members against swine flu ya? Cos the UK prediction/projection (from timesonline) is 65000 deaths from swine flu in the UK and 50% of them would be children. But I read somewhere too, that people get all ga ga ga and wear masks in panic over swine flu but refuses to wear condoms when they know that there are more than one million AIDS cases globally hehehe...sounds rather oxymoronic, isn't it? (evil wink).

Uish, doesn't the durian looks really enticing huh? It does not only look inviting but it tastes oh my god! hahaha. Good strategy these guys. They open a lousy one first then give you a really great fingerlicking gud one on the second round....but then again, eh hello...how much can you eat ah long? Some people really can, but me? naaah by the second one , I would had given up. Lost my touch although, like most malaysians, we all love the lulian...heheheh.

David (see last foto below) and his frens gave me permission to capture them on my blackberry bold and also permitted me to upload it on my blog tonight. There you are guys hahaha. Hey good to catch up with you David. We met on several occasions years ago while I was doing my masters and while we were on the special komuter train ride with the late Tan Sri Selvarajah (Chairman of KTMB) when the service was launched by KTMB (Malayan Railways) way back in 1995. I had just joined KTMB as director of the training school then at Sentul.

The durian (pronounced /ˈdʊəriən/)[1] is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family [2][3] (although some taxonomists place Durio in a distinct family, Durionaceae[3]). Widely known and revered in southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk. The fruit can grow as large as 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter, and it typically weighs one to three kilograms (2 to 7 lb). Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale-yellow to red, depending on the species.

The edible flesh emits a distinctive odour, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and offensive. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust. The odour has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia.

The durian, native to Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, has been known to the Western world for about 600 years. The 19th-century British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace famously described its flesh as "a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds". The flesh can be consumed at various stages of ripeness, and is used to flavour a wide variety of savoury and sweet edibles in Southeast Asian cuisines. The seeds can also be eaten when cooked.

There are 30 recognised Durio species, at least nine of which produce edible fruit. Durio zibethinus is the only species available in the international market: other species are sold in their local regions. There are hundreds of durian cultivars; many consumers express preferences for specific cultivars, which fetch higher prices in the market. (from wikipedia)

edited saturday july 18th:

someone just texted me additional info which I thought would be a shame not to share (wink) ...that a truly authentic way for describing the flesh of durian by Alfed Russel Wallace - a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds...

a promising oasis, or a treacherous mirage II, knightsbridge, London...

2009-07-10T02:25:00.006+08:00

UPDATED, posted on saturday July 18th, 2009, some new fotos emailed from London...

Original Posting:

I spoke at the recent 3rd International Takaful Summit 2009 at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Knightsbridge, London. Since MRC Malaysia's role is to contain cost of claims for both conventional insurance and takaful industry in Malaysia, I thought it would be most appropriate and perhaps timely too that we share the malaysian experience of how we did it and explore possibilities of it (the model) being replicated in other jurisdictions and market.

I chose the topic 'Motor Takaful: A Promising Oasis or a Treacherous Mirage: a Malaysian Case Study'. It was not easy to get the attention of delegates (about 350 registered, from Africa, Europe and the Middle East) especially when the presentation was slotted right after lunch! The trick was to wake them up, and woke them up I certainly did! hahaha. Well, the 'Diehard 4' thirty seconds trailer videoclip did the trick actually (wink).

Some random photos above. I will upload the great ones later when they are sent over to me from London. Majid (CEO Labuan Re), your foto is up there, Ismail Mahbob (CEO, MNRB Re) your foto pon ada lar. Jason Moseley, COO of THATCHAM (our UK partner) took time off his busy schedule just to hear me speak and gave their support. Thanks Jason. Thank you Eric (PTS CEO) and Yvonne Gumb (THATCHAM) for manning the exhibit stand.

of Oscar Wilde and Lilie langtry...

2009-07-10T00:54:00.005+08:00

When I was googling for a hotel to stay, at this year's 3rd International Takaful Summit at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Knightsbridge, London, I came across this interesting 100 year old hotel just 2 minutes walk from The Jumeirah. I still had this 'phobia' when we stayed at The Langham Hotel, during the Inaugural Takaful Summit in 2007...

The frontpage of (The Cadogan Hotel) website attracted me: "The luxury London hotel off Sloane Square. The finest British hospitality awaits you at the Cadogan Hotel. London's Cadogan Hotel is a prestigious Knightsbridge address; an SW1 hotel off London's Sloane Square that weaves contemporary styling with classic Edwardian decadence. At The Cadogan Hotel, history comes alive. Consider Room 118, scene of the arrest of Oscar Wilde, the Irish playwright. Or consider the Edward VII Suite, renamed to celebrate the future King of England's liaisons with his close friend, the actress Lillie Langtry. Today, you too will be seduced, by our neighbours Gucci, Tiffany, Harrods and Harvey Nichols, by the 24-hour pulse of the West End. Experience comfortable elegance in the hotel's spacious guestrooms and luxurious suites, all in a superbly refurbished central London hotel... with just the right touch of historic intrigue. Exception Dining offers in Knightbridge's Langtry's Restaurant. Only in london - a truly unique one off experience - a stay in Oscar Wilde's room at the Cadogan Hotel."

When I checked-in the morning of June 29, 2009.. I told the chappie at the reception desk that, whatever you do, please do not put me in room 118, the room that Oscar Wilde was arrested. An elegant lady (not too sure if she was Welsh, Irish, Scottish or English) tall, slightly blondish (rambut karer aah) looking a bit Scandinavian, oh well, Viking, is more like it haha...was also just about to check-out. Smiled, turned to me and said: "oh? I was in room 118 last night and I had wished Oscar Wilde had visited me...but he didn't". The hotel was spooky alright but I quickly got adjusted and it turned out quite alright afterall. There were other malaysians too I found out the next morning. Mostly venture capitalists and investment bankers who were on a roadshow and some attending the Sukuk Summit at Radisson Portman( I suspect).

No. I did not patronise any of the branded upmarket outlets. Didn't have time to even peek into Harvey Nichols (where Londoners shop anyway) and Harrods? A definite no-no...cos I really don't want to be seen carrying a Harrod's plastic bag walking around like spoilt rich arab tourists haha. Or to localise it..looking like a makcik (auntie) from Padang Piol or Manek Urai first time in London hahaha ( forgive me, no offense intended). Beside the paid for, great hearty English breakfast every morning at Lilie Langtry's...I would take the cab (if its sweltering hot) or the tube (if the temperature was bearable) to Queensboro Terrace for the usual 'tribal' meals (hehe) where you would more often than not, bump into your countrymen you may or may not like (heheh). I was just wondering, oh well, perhaps my own conspiracy theory...as to why Oscar Wilde was arrested. It seemed he was arrested for being drunk but did you know that Lilie langtry was not just Oscar Wilde's girlfriend? she was also Prince Albert's girlfriend (so the story goes, it seems.hehe). Your guest is probably as good as mine?

of coffee and alzheimers...

2009-07-09T14:03:00.006+08:00

The Brits may be known for their enthusiasm for drinking afternoon tea but for millions of office workers in modern Britain apparently, the dominant ritual has become one of morning coffee. They persuade one of their number to go down to a cafe and return with a cardboard carrier stuffed with polystyrene cups containing multiple coffees, carefully noting demands for Lattes, Cappuccinos and Skinny Americanos. We don't 'tapao' coffee as much here at home in Malaysia. A couple of days ago when I was in London, coffee drinking was boosted by an experiment on mice in Florida which suggested drinking five cups of coffee a day could reverse Alzheimer's. But the news has come too late to save Coffee Republic. The firm, with 187 outlets, has gone into administration. Some of its loss making branches face closure and the accountants (known for coming onto the field after the battle has ended to count the dead and bayonet the injured) have come in to run it.

It should be good news for aunt Gloria Simmonds who is 74. I made the right decision taking time off to visit her at Faversham. Her alzheimer is advancing although she appears perfectly normal. I was worried she would not recognise me over the phone. The neighbours, Vicki and Simon at the lovely quiant little Hamlet just outside Faversham, were so nice to let me into their home and made me coffee while I waited for Gloria and Sherry to be back from Canterbury...

Slow-roast Rump of English lamb...

2009-07-09T02:16:00.007+08:00

The House of Lords (also known as House of peers for ceremonial purposes) is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". Parliament comprises the Sovereign, the House of Commons (which is the lower house of Parliament and referred to as "the Commons"), and the Lords. Membership of the House of Lords was once a right of birth to hereditary peers, but following a series of reforms these now only form a portion of the membership. As of July 2009[update] the House of Lords has 740 members, 94 more than the 646 seat House of Commons.[1][2] The House of Lords, like the House of Commons, assembles in the Palace of Westminster. The full, formal title of the House of Lords is The Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. (from wikipedia).

I was in London recently to speak at the 3rd International takaful Summit at Knightsbridge. One of the highlights of the summit was the dinner reception at the House of Lords. I shall not write alot about it. The wiki info above I suppose, is enough to enlighten the dark. I have been invited 3 times to have a meal there, the first two was from Lord Kenneth O Morgan (Lord of Aberdyfi) former Vice Chancellor of the University of Wales at Aberystwyth that alas, never happened. So I thought I shall not miss this opportunity for a third time. I bumped by chance, into Kak Teh choc-a-blog, at MSD canteen at Queensboro Terrace and she commented (complained was more like it) that my blog was too wordy...now I am lost for words...

Ahead of the Curve?...

2009-06-26T01:46:00.008+08:00

Yup, you are right, I am not talking about 'The Curve' (in front of IKEA) at Damansara Intan..hehe. On the inside jacket backflip of the hardcover edition read 'published during the one hundredth anniversary of Harvard Business School, Ahead of the Curve, offers a rich detailed and revealing you-are-there account of the institution that has, for good or ill (evil is more like it , if you ask me..hehe), made American business what it is today.' Written by Philip Delves Broughton, a journalist who had served in New York and Paris as bureau chief of The Daily Telegraph of London, one can imagine the wordsmith skill, satire, wit, sarcasm and spin job, seasoned newspapermen are capable of delivering (wink). I was waiting for the book even before it was published. I was not disappointed. It has sixteen chapters beginning with 'Lets Get Retarded' and ends with the chapter on ' A Factory of Unhappy People'. Chapter Two (Starting Over) begins with a quote from the HBS Admissions website by Theodore Roosevelt - Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat...Chapter Five (Who am I) talks about personality tests candidates were required to take. One was Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the other was CareerLeader. Reminds me of that same MBTI we went through in great detail, when I did my MBA (HRD), not at HBS of course, but Hull is a fairly good European MBA school ok? (wink). I like the recommendation letter Philip's boss wrote (which reminds me of the recommendation letter I wrote for Wadi when he applied for the British Chevening Scholarship..hehe). Here goes:

From: Quentin Letts

Re: Philip Delves Broughton

Dear Professor,

Thank you for your email. You ask me to help my former colleague Philip Delves Broughton with his exercise for your course. I am naturally happy to do so, even though we emotionally restrained englishmen are generally hopeless at self-examination - for that matter, dwelling on the nitty-gritty character strengths of our confreres....

(haaa..you didn't think I was going to reproduce the full letter, did you? c'mon, go buy the book and read it yourselves ok? hahaha). Ok ok let me give you a little bit more to tease and excite your interest. Chapter Sixteen: 'A Factory of Unhappy People' where Philip records some of the comments of his classmates and HBS alumnus, and about how to make the right choices coming out of HBS would require real intestinal fortitude,a real functioning moral compass, because the forces pushing you to pursue success in a very specific way were so overwhelming. Philip spoke to his classmate Justin. "If you want to change the world, get on the plane to f****** Darfur, he said tersely. "HBS is about making money. There are going to be a small handful of terrific people in our class who actually do good stuff, but most of us are like everyone else in business. We talk about it because it makes us feel better. How many people in our class wrote in their applications that they wanted an MBA so they could do micro-financing in Uganda and are now going into investment banking?"

In the century since its founding, Harvard Business School (HBS), has become the single most influential institution in global business. Its graduates are Fortune 500 CEOs, private equity titans, venture capitalists, even presidents of the USA! They include many of US's savviest entrepreneurs (eg Michael Bloomberg) and canniest felons (eg Jeffrey Skilling). Top investment banks and brokerage houses routinely send their brightest young stars to HBS to groom them for future power. To these people and many others, a Harvard MBA is a golden ticket to the Olympian heights of American Business... or is it still? (wink). Philip (the author) and his classmates over two years, were inundated with the best -and the rest - of American business culture that HBS epitomizes. The core of the school curriculum is the "case method" - an analysis of a real business situation from which the students must, with a professor's guidance, tease lessons. Over the years, the Harvard Case Method is not short of critics and detractors (we shall not go into that hehe). Philip in his account, also exposed the less savory trappings of b-school culture, from the 'booze luge' to the pandemic (no, not swine flu ok?) obsession with Powerpoint to the specter of depression, which stalks many overburden students. With acute and often uproarious candor, Philip assesses the school's success at teaching the traits it extols as most important in business - leadership, decisiveness, ethical behaviour, work/life balance. I most recently co-signed a cheque sending 3 of our chaps to attend the forthcoming ASEAN HBS Malaysian Alumni Senior Management Program at Awana Genting. Good luck and have fun guys (wink). So? there you are...Eddie Murphy - go get your own copy if you have been contemplating ya?....hehe

There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full...-Henry Kissinger...

2009-06-23T00:17:00.008+08:00

Last week I was up in Genting Highlands attending MARIM's Risk Management Conference 2009 with the theme: 'Building corporate Resilience via Effective ERM'. The conference began (after registrations et al) at 2 pm, June 15, 2009 monday with the Academic Track, with presentations of selected academic papers based on empirical research. Papers presented were: The Relationship Between Board of Directors and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Practices (Assoc Prof Dr Ahmad Shukri Yazid of UDI et al; Philosophy and Practices of Risk Management in Malaysian Islamic Banks (Prof Dr Nor Hayati Ahmad UUM et al) and The Role of Chief Risk Officers in the Adoption of ERM (Assoc Prof Dr Shukri,(UDI) Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Rasid Hussin (UiTM) & Dr Wan Norhayate Wan Daud).

Me and the academics...hehe

(Assoc Prof Shukri UDI, Prof Nor Hayati UUM and

Assoc Prof Dr Rasid, UiTM (the first asian PHD holder in Risk Management)

One for the album with GOH YBhg Dato' Muhammad Hatta Ab Aziz, Secretary, National Security Council, Prime Minister's Department

Panel session with Tan Sri Lau, moderated by Director, The Malaysian Institute of Integrity on the topic: 'Global Financial Crisis: How Boards can pre-empt Future Shock'

All in all there were many very good papers both from practice and academia. Like other management functions, Risk Management joins the struggle and the bandwagon to get noticed by top management and oh well, the board! Its a tough battle especially in today's highly competitive evil knievel corporate scenario. To quote Dave Ulrich (one of my favourite HRM Gurus) : '.. being strategic and getting boardroom support means being at the table and not on the table'...haha. Tan Sri Lau encroached on my time as he passionately drowned himself with all the 'dark' corporate scenarios from Timbuktu to Kuala Lumpur (hehe). Good for me though, so I wouldn't have to say much. But as usual, I always like to go down the provocative 'devil's advocate' route with my ever so repetitive '...men have been swindling other men on many occasions'...bla bla bla and asked delegates to google this article that appeared in the 7 August , 2008 issue of The economist entitled 'Risk and The Credit Crunch: Confessions of a Risk Manager' which essentially laments (as an insider) and explains why it is so hard to stop traders behaving recklessly. I then quoted a december 18, 2008 article by Theodore L Dysart and Neil S Novich's of Directorship, 5 critical areas that boards normally ask the one-year-hence question in virtually any area of their interest and responsibility. They are: 1. strategy 2.operations/organization 3. Balance Sheet/Liquidity 4. Compensation and 5. Enterprise Risk Management. No...yes no, I am not going any deeper than this..haha. I am sure you must have been bored enough by now (evil wink). Not easy to keep delegates awake and what made it worst was my bad throat was building up but strangely that night, during the Gala Awards Dinner, I was called up to give a song...and it (to my horror) went quite well, I must say..hehe. But this report (wink) would not be complete if I did not acknowledge the hard work of Puan Arpah Abu Bakar (MARIM manager and UUM Risk Management lecturer) and her team for a very succesful conference (especially in times when the training fraternity is experiencing a 42% drop in attendance!). Of course, the support from MARIM's management committee, I suspect, must have been immense and quite thankless too, I would imagine (heheh). Well done fellas!

Elephants can dance afterall huh? ...

2009-06-21T17:33:00.003+08:00

Yes, my last blog was June 3, and I tell you it sure is helluva difficult to start writing again after that long spell. Trapped in a sort of writer's 'inertia' ( inertia is one of newton's laws that states the tendency of a body to stay at rest or continue its state of motion...). But I did some useful things ( I hope) like reading the above book that was re-published in paperpack edition in 2003. One of those interesting turnaround stories. I like Gerstner's style. Once duped as the biscuit salesman who turned around an IT giant. I like the memos he wrote, his management and leadership style. Especially his leadership style, and in his opinion, which I grossly agree, is the most important element of institutional transformation. He goes on to say that at the end of the day its all about culture and great institutions are the length and shadow of individuals. Great institutions are not managed, they are led he says. They are not administered; they are driven to ever increasing levels of accomplishment by individuals who are passionate about winning. The best leaders create high performance cultures, set demanding goals, measure results and hold people accountable. They are change agents, constantly driving their institutions to adapt and advance faster than their competitors do.

On personal leadership, he says its about visibility and about being both strategic and operational. Great CEOs roll up their sleeves and tackle problems personally, not hide behind staff, never simply preside over the work of others, visible everyday with customers, suppliers and business partners. Personal leadership to him is about communication, openness, and a willingness to speak often and honestly, and with respect for the intelligence of reader or listener. Leaders don't leave to others the delivery of bad news, don't hide behind corporate double-speak. They treat every employee as someone who deserves to understand what's going on in the organisation. Of course, passion....naaah I don't wanna bore you. Go read the book yourself, if you haven't... So, I have been keeping myself quite occupied actually. I also bought another book 'Ahead of the Curve' Two years at Harvard Business School by Philip Delves Broughton. I will write something about it as soon as I finish reading it... have a good rest folks and a great week ahead.

to each his own, from each his power...

2009-06-03T23:46:00.003+08:00

Inna lillahi wa inna lillahi rajiun... YBhg Datuk A kadir Jasin's dad passed away at age 85. See his bloglink (the scribe) on the right side of my blog. I spoke with my classmate awhile ago and we both agreed that something (not necessarily in a radical or revolutionary manner) need to be done to the way we think about accountability, responsibility and ethics as a nation, in our own little way. I remember our school motto: to each his own, from each his power...

perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...

2009-06-02T21:01:00.004+08:00

The news one reads at timesonline.co.uk is exciting at times, dull at times, worrying and a cause for concern too these days...not at all encouraging isn't it? No offence timesonline. Having said that, you're still my favourite read (hehe). For a while it was about British MPs making ridiculous claims (expenses) something like getting the govt to pay for the moat of his second home, then another making claims for his duck house (something like that lah haha). Then there were spates of resignations, and then the public outcry of public funds, taxpayers' money that these guys receive for their pension (as MPs). Then yesterday Air France Airbus A330-200 from Brazil enroute to Paris went missing. And they haven't found the wreakage (if any) yet. Today in our local mainstream New Straits Times, it seems CEO of AirAsia fainted. I hope it has nothing to do with the airbus he and AirAsia are awaiting delivery (hehe). No, no poor fellow, he was tired, had an executive burnout perhaps. Must be working very hard to close the deals, get landing rights, deal with various governments, perhaps put Malaysia Airlines out of business too in the not soo distant future? I hope not. They should both merge, evolve and become 1Malaysia Airline (don't you think so?). Ya ya ya I know there will definitely be lots of problems, easier said than done...hehehe. Then there was this dramatic 'escape' involving singapore police, embassies of indonesia and the US (as reported). I won't go into the details of the press conference. I am soo embarassed. Not sure who is right who is wrong or both are wrong perhaps? or there's much more (hidden sinister agenda perhaps?) than meets the eye perhaps? Then the ambalaat issue resurfaces. They say, when times are bad, when the economy is in the doldrums, social unrest accelerates, protectionism prevail...every man for himself kinda tingy...huhuhu. Then, as if we hadn't had enuf of international attention, the timesonline reports this... oh no....

am i old-fashioned...or is altruism still around?

2009-05-29T20:45:00.005+08:00

ya ya ya my last posting was may 25th. its now may 29th. i can give you a whole lorryload of excuses, board meeting lah, audit comm lah...bla bla bla...hehe. Which, incidentally are true though. Alot has taken place during the week that I am tempted to comment, respond or give my personal views but as usual i shall refrain from doing it lest I be accused of attempting to replace RPK (hahaha) who, I read the star today, is missing and suspected of having left the country and is in brisbane. already some have said that I look like him (RPK) oh my gawd. I better make sure that I am not a case of a 'mistaken identity' hahaha. Then there was this 5 request thingy, according to reportslah, the independent chinese schools group putting pressure on DPM and also Minister of Education, YB Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin. I kinda like his response though. The independent chinese schools wanted the govt to recognise their senior middle three... something like thatlah. Well the keyword is recognition. So, Muhyidin dengan selambe dek je jawap: '...well, you chose to be independent, now you want us to recognise you, tak bolehlah. if you want us to recognise you, come back to the fold (meaning come under the purview and regulations of the ministry of educationlah) then we can review'...something like thatlah...my interpretation (hehe). Well done Tan Sri, Kudos for your firm responses. I notice Datuk AKJ pon dah bosan komen on the silver happenings (wink)...he has moved on to Petronas and corporate leadership sustainability. And it looks like the Oxbridge mafia is still very much in control (hehe). Move aside US Ivy League guys! The Jaya Supermarket crash yesterday afternoon...hmmm...was it an accident or was it deliberately meant to be demolished? That's the interesting question. We shall wait for futher reports of the investigation. The PKFZ report? When I quickly read the report in the mainstream media today...I was just wondering why the Auditors wanted an indemnity before the report was made public (in the newspapers today)? Would they not already be protected by their code of professional conduct? (I stand corrected though hihi). Surely they are all covered under the D&O Liability Insurance too? (wink). Sorry CKF (he is a hull alumnus...just like John Prescott, former Deputy PM of the UK during Tony Blair's reign...hehehe). The hoo-haa seems to me, like opening up pandora's box...

Someone suggested to me that if I wanted a sudden surge of tsunami-like hits to my blog, that I should wear black, get caught by the police, my face all over the newspapers, on TV...hahahaha. No thank you Datuk! thank you for the thought hahaha. I may reconsider when I am no longer gainfully employed (wink). Which brings me to this young lawyer fren of mine who is having mixed feelings about him being nominated and will be appointed into a divisional political party (bahagian) ...something like det lah. He is worried, with mixed feelings, takut orang dengki, too younglah for the post, you need to wait-for-your-turn culture syndrome lah...bla bla bla. So i tell him, go for it bro, its gonna be an awesome experience. Fastforward learning opportunity. Don't forget, times have changed (if your are reading this bro), you are not only going to compete with the nonmalays, you have to compete with your fellow malays bah. If you have what I think you have, the spirit and aspirations of the early founding fathers of 'the party', this would be a great start. Don't forget most, at the time, were teachers, pakai baju melayu labuh, songkok tinggi (ala padang), bawak nasi bungkos dalam daun upeh dan mendayung perahu ke hulu, just to attend a mesyuarat bahagian. Their end in mind wuz caste in stone and were not ezily distracted by anything else you see in abundance today. Go see the movie Laskar Pelangi' for additional inspiration bro. The message was soo crystal clear and simple: Apabila kamu menjadi pemimpin satu hari nanti, berikanlah sebanyak-banyaknya kepada agama, bangsa dan negaramu, dan janganlah kamu sekali -kali mengambil sebanyak-banyaknya dari bangsa, agama dan negaramu... (when you become a leader one day, give as much as you can, not take as much as you can...) ya ya ya so much for the altruism I know some of my frens (who read this) will smurk...hahaha. Do have a fabulous weekend fellas...(evil grin).

of family days, teachers, bloggers and double Os...

2009-05-25T18:17:00.003+08:00

Last saturday I was at the family day of the Federal Inspectorate and Quality Assurance Division of the Ministry of Education at Putrajaya. I fell down on the school field track tarmac during the couple race and injured my face...uwaa. Earlier on was the senamrobik and am only feeling the effects now. Uwaaa...my right arm seems to have been strained by the long absence of any tennis, swimming or other exercises...hahaha. You know you're in the golden age club when all these ailments begin to emerge...hehehe. But that aside, it was a great fun day. The warga JNJK putrajaya must have enjoyed the family day. Kudos to the Chief Inspectorate, YBhg Dato' Ghaffar for initiating the event. The first one, I was told. Guess who I met? hahaha ...Cikgu Fadhil, our former sports master when I was at Sek Menengah Inggeris Port Dickson (1967-1971). We have not met since I left school. Still looking fit and no signs of the unwanted tummy (hehe). During his time the school produced a few MSSM athletes and sportsmen, the school is very proud of. Federal level, not state level ok? (hehe). Correct me Suku, on this fact...you too Tiru, cos Cikgu Fadzil mentions only the both of you bro...hahaha....and oh ya..Michael Mok and Lee Cheng Eng and Mohd Rom too...hehe.

This morning, during breakfast at the Mamakshop in my neighbourhood, I briefly caught up with Datuk A Kadir Jasin, Nuraina and Rocky Bru...hahaha. Datuk AKJ in his recent post reminisced his school days too, and gave tribute to his teachers...in conjunction with the recent teachers days celebrations..hehe.

Yesterday, as with some sundays, I like to watch my favourite DVDs again and again on my VAIO hehe. Let me see if you can guess what the movie was. Here are some of the script:

"Utter one more syllable and I will have you killed!"

"This may be too much of a blunt instrument to understand, but arrogance and self-awareness seldom go hand in hand"

" So, you want me to be half monk and half hit-man?"

"Any thug can kill, I want you to take your ego out of the equation, and I want you to judge the situation dispassionately"....hahaha. Have you guessed the movie yet?

Tun Razak Lecture Series 2...

2009-05-22T16:55:00.003+08:00

Ish... again, I got caught in the smart tunnel. Lesson learnt? Always leave before 7 if you've got something on in KL. Especially if its at the heart of the city, Capital Square, where the new City Campus of UNITAR (Universiti Tun Abdul Razak) is located. The main Pintar Campus is right in front of Giant, Kelana Jaya. I was a special guest of Tan Sri Arshad Ayub, who delivered the 2nd Tun Abdul Razak Lecture this morning. Thank you Tan Sri! (ingat jugak ek? hehe). The inaugural lecture was delivered by Tun Ahmad Sarji, Chairman of PNB. Tan Sri Arshad gave a public lecture on the topic of education and his experiences that goes back during his time with the late Tun Razak executing Tun Razak's vision and legacies (see picture above). I was seated second row beside Datuk Dr Firdaus Abdullah (Mantan Ketua pengarah DBP), Prof Khadijah of INPUMA. Others spotted, was of course, The President & Vice-Chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Zabid, Assoc Prof Dr Raja Hanaliza (UNITAR CFO) and hubby Wahab (Mantan CEO MSWG), Tan Sri Zuki. It was predominantly an academic and government dept crowd with a few foreign ambassadors present. Good networking as I have been asked to give some guest lectures in August. My impending 'retirement' will not be dull (I hope) after all..hehe. Haa..I better update my CV (specially skewed towards academia...for guest lectures and teaching). Been saying that for the last 2 years..hahaha...never really sat down to nicely compile all my papers, conferences, chairings, et al.... Do have a great weekend folks.

2nd Islamic Venture Capital and Private Equity Conference...

2009-05-20T23:55:00.002+08:00

deputy finance minister II during PC...press conference lar...hehehe

brother shamsir, brade k (brouhahah), SUSK n Pegawai Khas timb. menteri II..hehehe

I got a special invitation to attend the opening of the 2nd Islamic Venture Capital and Private Equity Conference 2009 at the KL Convention Centre this morning. I arrived late, blooody jam in the Smart Tunnel. The Minister, owh well, Deputy Minister of Finance II, Senator Datuk Dr Awang Adek arrived before me...heehee. Ya ya ya...photo sessions again (jangan mare) hehe. Kudos to IBFIM (Islamic Banking and Finance Institute of Malaysia) for successfully organising the conference. There were no less than 200 delegates at a time when everywhere I hear training providers (including MIM) lamenting a 40% drop in participation in conferences, seminars and training programs. Signs of the times I guess. Prof Dr Bruno of Italy was one of the international speakers I had met twice during the 1st and 2nd International Takaful Summit in London. I was asked by my gud fren Shamshir (IBFIM program director) to stay for lunch (hehe tak malu lagi...heehee). Always good to be around Datuk Dr Adenan Alias, the CEO. Someone had asked me to ask the speakers or delegates if they knew anything about 'musyarakah ventures' which I did not. Perhaps I would, by text aje kot (?) hehe, besok?

of commons, entrepreneurialism and flu?...

2009-05-19T19:34:00.004+08:00

The beleaguered Commons Speaker reportedly decided to bow to pressure to quit after Prime Minister (of Britain) withdrew support... read more here. So it seems, well, looks like there is something common (or similar to that effect) happening closer to home huh? I dunno, if we're learning from them, or they, from us (hehe)... while their (British) economy is sinking further into deflation (read here). Then, really closer to home, I was told this funny (?) story this evening that a primary school teacher called up the parents (my fren) reminding them that school children are not allowed to do business in school! Its oxymoronic isn't it? On one hand you want to encourage entrepreneurialism, creativity, innovation and all the other (BS) associated with it, but on the other hand you are trapped in the dysfunctional consequences of bureaucracy. Pity the budding Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and the Tonys Fernandezes (evil wink) hahaha.

I was on the phone with an old fren who was MD of an IT company awhile ago. He told me his son juz got back from the States. And it seems, there was really no hoo-haa big deal over the influenza (H1N1) outbreak. Most people who died were either over 60s or infants. You have a choice whether to be screened or not. At a conference in Kuching recently, a prof and an expert in virology from universiti pertanian malaysia said (in the the papers) that the common flu kills more people annually than H1N1. See? so many different views, comments, reports...dunno which one to really listen to. The ones I got from frens closer the the infectious diseases fraternity is quite frightening actually. My own opinion? haha better be safe than sorry...especially if you know your immune system is not like what it used to be...hehehe.

of illuminatis,stiffling people and strangling profits?...

2009-05-17T11:51:00.004+08:00

Naaah...not on a sunday morning, some would retort. But others like me, find it therapeutic to quickly browse the online version of the economists and the likes of it to try and catch up on some reading which one would otherwise not find the time during weekedays lor...Do read this one. For those who majored in management, the name may ring a bell. For others, who knows, it may help shield you from impending occupational hazards(?) like hypertensions to start with? (hehe). I just got up. Defintely a restless tossing and turning one. Either the brain and body are still tired (after a marathon annual report annual ritual...ermm not so much of thinking, but being present with the chappies and being fed nonstop by the sweet and kind ismail associate staff..hehe) or was it because of some angels and demons ostracising?... Alot seems to be brewing isnt it? time for financial results, the warnings that anak krakatoa (between the southern tip of sumatra and northern tip of java) may yet erupt, H1N1, meningitis and a host of other global phenomena. I have cancelled a few trips already. A few others may soon be cancelled.

When Prof Langdon requested to research the archives of the vatican, he was asked? do you believe in god? He started by saying...I am an academic....( go see the movie yourself to know what else he said...hehe). Can I go back to sleep now folks?

Asia HRDCongress2009

2009-05-16T10:55:00.003+08:00

In my earlier post I crystallised some of the learning from the pre-conference session I chaired for Kerrry Larkan. This one I guess some of the above fotos tells a thousand stories. While everybody was busy listening to Datuk Badlisham CEO of MDec presenting his keynote address, nobody realised that the representative of the Minister of Higher Education (who was supposed to declare open the congress) arrived. So, I took it upon myself to layan himlah) at the VIP room. Tak malu kan? Me I mean, hehe. Prof Dr Rujhan Mustafa (newly appointed Deputy Director -General of MOHE and ahem..Datuk Prof Zawawi's protege at UNIMAS (dulu lah) ...a little bird told me, hehe). replaces YB Datuk Khalid Nordin, MOHE Minister. Next foto, a thumbs-up on stage session with the GOH, next a foto of yours truly with my cousin (hehe) Hj Zul and our gudfren Dato' "dell' Mahathir Lokman. He (dato') gives the added aura to the congress. Last year's Asia HRDCongress2008, he was specially flown to Jakarta (wink). Next, is Dr Kirkpatrick's (the american professor who globalised the 4 levels of evalutaion of training outcomes...you're not a full-fledged trainer if you don't know who donald kirkpatrick is!) son, Dr James, launching Wong's (who is blind since 12) book 'live to win'. Last but not least..hehe, that's DR wilson Tay, CEO of MIM seated next to me during the Asia HRDCongress2009 awards Gala Dinner in the evening of the same day of the launching of Asia HRDCongress2009. We chatted on alot of stuff (hehe) I was tempted to post them here but on my third thot, naaah...it wouldn't be fun hehe. Let's keep it a suspense for now shall we, ya Dr Wilson? Have a great weekend folks!

of tyrannic children and elephant island?...

2009-05-11T23:08:00.003+08:00

Asia HRDCongress 2009 (Dr Palan's baby from the time it was known as 'Trainers-meet-Trainers, 30 years ago) began today with its pre-conference program. I remembered more than 10 years ago, I spoke at the conference on the topic 'Changing your Shoes, Not your Feet' when I was Director of Training at KTMB (Malayan Railways). Today, I felt privileged to have chaired the day-long workshop on 'Winning the Talent War' by Kerry Larkan, an acclaimed Australian consultant, author and international speaker. I learned alot of interesting new stuff/findings together with other participants coming from as far away as the Abu Dhabi Police Department. Kerry could not have been far from the truth and I couldn't agree more with him when he began his first slide with 'workplace culture is an overriding indicator and /or determinant of corporate performance' Pleas tell me he is wrong! from his own wealth of corporate experience, there has been too much 'push' strategies rather than the desirable 'leading' culture. You can expect more of that 'push' stuff during this period of economic downturn or 'The Great Recession' overtaking 'The Great Depresion' of the 1930s.

We hear much too often, people lamenting (its a global phenomena actually) about the behaviour of young people but we forgot that Socrates in 425 BC had said almost similar things about the young: 'Children nowadays are tyrants - they gobble their food, contradict their parents, and tyrannise their teachers' (Socrates, 425B.C).

DIfferent societies, different culture look at things differently. Look at your own company culture: are they a culture that's uplifting? or one of downgrading? I like something he said along the way - 'I am not a young man anymore, but I am not an old man either' (haha...I think that should fit my description too? hehehe). He gave examples of Mcfarlane of NZBank, Shackkleton of the 'shackleton paradox' at Elephant Island (read the book 'endurance'), and also gave tribute to Datuk Rafiah Salim former UM vice chancellor who was at one time recently, head of HR at the United Nations. The Shackleton Paradox is essentially about

"the brutal facts of the current reality vs retaining faith regardless of the situation"

it is an example of leadership which Kerry propagated.

Tomorrow evening between 530pm and 630 pm at the Palace of Golden Horses, the Mines, I will be chairing Dr Tom Mulholland's session, Founder, Healthy Thinking Institute, New Zealand who will speak on Healthy Thinking: How to improve workplace productivity and live longer. Have good rest, see you guys there, tomorrow...

weekend movie - laskar pelangi...

2009-05-10T22:16:00.005+08:00

Last week Ibu Dyah Purnamawati, my good fren at the Training & Development Board East Java (Badan DIKLAT, Jatim) couried me a premium original copy of the 'Laskar Pelangi' DVD. Thanks Ibu Dyah. I saw it a few times, my kid and my madura maid also watched it. So did my wife. In my earlier posting I had already describe the movie. Last saturday nite one of the akademi fantasi students sang the 'laskar pelangi' theme song. But I didn't like the comments that bugger (one of the judges, anak tompel) made. I can't say for sure its professional jealousy/rivalry or sheer distaste for anything unmalaysian! I fell in love with that movie because it relates to my early days at school. Its about poor malay kids on the island of belitong thirsting for an education. Note the use of the word 'education' (evil grin). You have to see the movie to appreciate the simple message Andrea Hirata was trying to elucidate. I like the part where Ikal became fond of the chinese girl Ah Ling (hehe although that's not the main part of the movie bah! hahaha). Reminds me of when I was in Std I at Sultan Abdullah School Kuantan...I walked to school with 'Ah Ling' everyday (wink) hehe as she was my neighbour hahaha. The movie, if you ask me, is sort of the indonesian equivalent of oscar-winning indian 'slumdog millionaire'. But a fren of mine who retired from being executive chairman of one of the 'big four' feels that slumdog millionaire is nothing more than about child slavery. Well, I guess many feels that way too about it. Laskar Pelangi has simple settings and a good storyline. The most powerful mesage, to me, is bringing back the nobility of the teaching profession, to where it should (although I realise these days...its economics, stupid! where got altruism anymore bah?) and about the value of true friendships and chasing after real dreams where finally Ikal got a scholarship to Sorbonne, Paris. It is highly recommended (my thinkinglah) that it be shown to our teachers (especially primary schools), principals and ministry of education....some elements of nation-building too. Going back to basics...perhaps the essence of what 1Malaysia is all about? (notti grin)...hehehe. By the way, I need to catch Tom Hanks in action again in 'Angels & Demons' after the Da Vinci Code.. I hope your sunday wasn't too bad folks, do have a great week ahead...

kanibalisme dan anjing liar di pulau ketam?...

2009-05-07T19:02:00.004+08:00

Satu dunia orang tengah sebok dengan swine flu (selsema babi) tiba-tiba saya terbaca dalam timesonline berita ini. Duh, sekaligus Malaysia jadi tersohor, kunonnya kita nie kejam terhadap haiwan kesayangan mereka (anjing). Matsaleh nie memang lebih sayangkan anjing daripada manusia lain. A dog is a man's best friend kata depe. Kesana kesini anjing ikot sama. Anjing lebih mendapat tempat istimewa daripada babu mereka. Kadang2 anjing boleh tidor dengan mereka. Tengoklah buku2, filem2 yang mempelopori konsep bahawa anjing itu adalah kawan baik manusia. Cerita2 teladan, contoh2 dimana berulangkali anjing telah menyelamatkan manusia, daripada bayi sehinggalah ke orang tua. Ianya bukan lagi hanya sebagai sebuah mitos, tetapi sudah menjadi suatu amalan mereka. Berita pembuangan anjing liar tidak bertuan yang berkeliaran di Pulau Ketam ke sebuah pulau berdekatan lebih kurang setengah jam perjalanan laut dari Pulau Ketam, telah mendapat perhatian SPCA (sebuah pertubuhan NGO antarabangsa yang menghalang kekejaman terhadap haiwan) dan berita itu mendapat perhatian timesonline UK.

Anjing, seperti jugak babi, adalah dua haiwan yang penting dalam Islam, agama rasmi negara kita. Secara ringkasmudah, babi haram di makan orang islam, anjing kalau kita sentuh dia atau dia sentuh kita (jilat), atau terpijak najis dia, kita kena samak (semah). Tak payahlah saya huraikan prosesnya. Setiap orang berugama Islam patut tau perkara itu. Pentingnya anjing kepada matsaleh agaknya macam pentingnya jugak lembu kepada orang2 berugama hindu di India. Bagaimana kita harus menghormati kepercayaan dan amalan mereka, begitulah juga mereka, harus menghormati persepsi dan amalan kita terhadap haiwan2 yang saya sebutkan ini.

Saya tidak terkejut dengan berita yang disensasikan oleh timesonline itu. Saya amat mengalu2 alukan berita mengenai Malaysia di paparkan di media persada global tetapi bukan berita2 yang memberi gambaran bahawa kita nie kejam terhadap haiwan. Kenapa mereka tidak ceritakan mengenai kaum2 etnik di negara2 lain di dunia yang suka makan daging anjing? Saje nak lepas geram...hehehe

pangkor treatise? part 2...hehe

2009-05-07T13:45:00.002+08:00

a rare shot with former malaysian Thomas Cupper (Datuk Tan Yee Khan of the famous Yee Khan-Boon Bee doubles team) in front of his seaview resort at pasir bogak (bogarde?)...

labour day meh? so kene naik bas pekerja lar...hehehe

jangan jadi Belanda mintak tanah...as some politician recently lamented (hehe)

went to school until form 5 at pangkor, upon finishing school repair jetski engines...they love the place so much...mebbe not time yet to be adventurous (evil wink)

i hope the ferry has nothing to do with duta yap (wink)...you remember him don't you?

I am tempted to blog about pangkor, in detail, and what we all did last labour day holidays at pangkor but on second thots naaah...I shall not bore you. Surely you can google plenty of information and stuff about pangkor and all its splendour. Otherwise YTL and others (including the late Pavarotti) would not have made investments on this gem of an island, a malaysian island. You have plenty of choices to stay at, ranging from a RM2000 a night heavenly getaway to a lower lifeform geronimo i mean err guantanamo bay type barrack...hahaha.

no wonder it was called the treaty of pangkor...(wink)

2009-05-06T23:11:00.002+08:00

Some original photos captured last weekend at pangkor, speak more than a thousand words. There you are world-class holiday destinations just a few hours from the hustle bustle of city life..hehe. The rest, as they say, is history...

of snobs and brutal honesty...

2009-05-05T08:49:00.005+08:00

Sometime back I shared some timesonline articles about oxbridge and some tips to get pass their entry tests (hehe). I hope it was useful to some parents and wannabe prospective students. This link http://timesonline.typepad.com/schoolgate/2009/04/why-the-snobbery-against-less-wellknown-universities.html I just read would appeal to young frens who have just graduated or will be graduating this year. So you don't feel so bad or demoralised when you find it difficult to get jobs upon graduating. Especially if you are under pressure to get a fairly good job or a 'cosy' secured stable job with the government (eh hello...not anymore ok? those days are over..you're expected to slog away like your compadres in the private sector ok? wink). Or if your folks kat kampong tells you time and again that if you want a good or better job, you need a university education..or is it? (wink). Do read the article about this fresh graduate Sarah, from a 'mickey mouse' university (as some of the snobs and brutally honest chappies refer to it), and the blog responses. It seems to me that it is all the same everywhere in the world. So my young graduating frens...don't despair yet..you're not alone...hehe. You may like to share this with your UIA graduating class 'Sir' Zul?

mango mangga mia...

2009-05-04T16:58:00.002+08:00

i go crazy over mangoes. even at Baskin Robbins...the only flavor that excites me is mango tango...haha. Just as there are many ways to skin a cat, there are many ways to skin a mango too, eat it, cook it, prepare it, put in alongside other great dishes hehe. O ya, jange lupo gak kerabu mangga mudo (don't forget young mango salad heehee).

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

2009-04-29T16:38:00.004+08:00

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...

2009-04-25T11:48:00.005+08:00

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...

2009-04-20T00:38:00.002+08:00

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...

2009-04-17T01:27:00.003+08:00

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

2009-04-17T01:11:00.004+08:00

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?...

2009-04-16T00:02:00.007+08:00

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?...

2009-04-14T20:43:00.005+08:00

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...

2009-04-12T14:59:00.004+08:00

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

2009-04-12T14:08:00.005+08:00

"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?

2009-04-11T22:51:00.004+08:00

"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.....

2009-04-05T17:30:00.004+08:00

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...

a commonwealth award-winning remote school...

2009-03-29T18:16:00.002+08:00

the welcome committee...

the locals showing off their skills...also a show of respect and appreciation for visiting them

Getting there takes you about 12-13 hours on former timber dirt-track road...

the pristine cool villages...

the pre-school is part of the commonwealth award-winning Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK)...

When my wife asked me if I'd like to join her visit a remote school in a village called Ba' Kelalan, in a district called Lawas where its faster to reach from Miri, Sarawak on an 8-seater dornier and then travel in a four wheel drive for 12 hours on timber dirt track with knee deep mud at times...to this most remote school in a village called Ba' Kelalan...wow...that sounded like a great safari-like adventure! But alas, I could not make it as I had a meeting in singapore. Would you like to miss out on an opportunity like that? Haha no way man, but as I said, I had to take a pass...what a waste. Some photos she bluetoothed me (above) to share on my blog fellas...

of pagans and headhunters...

2009-03-27T12:23:00.001+08:00

Owen Rutter, born 1889, as a young man, spent five years in Sabah as magistrate and district officer for the British North Borneo Chartered Company. The Pagans of North Borneo, is an attempt at a systematic description to the non-muslim peoples of Sabah. At the time of its publication the book was meant as a contribution to contemporary colonial policymaking, but even then it could be read as history. The modern reader might balked at the use of such terms as 'savage' and 'primitive', and at Rutter's relegation of Sabahans to a lower scale of civilisation. But the valuable information he compiled should not be thrown out along with the cultural chauvinism. In essence the book remains of fundamental value, an invaluable source of information for various aspects of Sabahan society ranging from traditional warfare and headhunting (given sympathetic rather than sensational treatment) jungle and river craft and adat to popular folklore and music. (first published in 1929 by Hutchinson & Co, London, Reprinted by Oxford University Press in 1985)

Carl Alfred Bock (1849-1932) was a Norwegian naturalist and explorer who occupies a not unimportant place in the gallery of European officials, merchants, missionaries and adventurers who visited the Malay Archipelago in the nineteenth century. He was certainly one of the first European writers to realize and exploit the exotic potential of Borneo. Despite its sensational title, Carl Bock's accounts of his travels in the 1870s in both Borneo and Sumatra covers much more than the well-known cephalic pursuits of the Dayaks. Commission by the Dutch colonial authorities to make a journey into the little-explored districts of West Borneo, Bock proved to be a keen observer not only of the way of life of the peoples ofthe interior but also of their tutilar Malay overlords and of various aspects of colonial life. Similarly, Bock's descriptions of his journeys in Sumatra, taken in this instance primarily as a naturalist, also potray vividly scenes of contemporary life and society in an era of Dutch expansion along with observations on the flora and fauna. Written in a clear and unpretentious style. (first published by Sampson Low, Searle & Rivington, London, 1881, this edition published by Oxford University Press, 1985)

I hope my frens, loyal readers and casual visitors alike, are enjoying this great warm sunny sunday afternoon. You may be wondering why I chose these two books and both (coincidentally are books about Borneo (heheh). Borneo, both the Malaysian and Indonesian territories and oh well, Brunei too I guess, have been European's favorite destination even up till today. They find the place exotic, even among Peninsula Malaysians (wink) which explains the regular meetings, seminars or conferences being held there, by both private and public sectors (apart for reasons other than what you and me probably oredi know meh? hahaha). Now that I am an immediate past president of the University of Hull Alumni Association in Malaysia (we just had our AGM at the Royal Lake Club this morning and I have, with dignity (wink) handed over the baton to my successor), I can spend a little more time now reviewing interesting old books on my blog hahaha. But jokes aside, there seem to be an uncanny coincidence that some power transitions are about to take place too right? April 2, if I am not mistaken, from reading the sunday times awhile ago. My choice of two interesting books on Borneo in my possession, was not randomly done ok? (evil wink). It has to do with some recent erections and nacionale poriticar deveropmen as well... again, as usual...your guess is as gud as mine...dot dot dot

of party erections and repairo-insuro-mekaniko babblomania...

2009-03-27T10:51:00.011+08:00

Danny the MC making a brief welcome remark and introducing us, Kong STFK(wink), me, Cho Chee Seng (FOWOAM president), Richard Pratt CEO I-CAR Australia and Fiona Chew, GM Messe Frankfurt HK

with Richard Pratt CEO of I-CAR Australia, my fellow speaker at automechanika malaysia 2009 at KL convention centre yesterday ( no no I asked Richard and he confirmed that he is in no way related or connected to the family of Pratt&Whitney the manufacturer of one of the world's great jet engines hahaha)

Wahlauweh...Cho checkmated me when he asked me to speak at his annual convention in conjunction with Automechanika Malaysia 2009 (which is held once in 2 years the last being in 2007) at the KL convention centre. To add insult to injury (hehe) giving me a difficult topic and making it even more challenging and hazarous cos I was to speak in front of repairers (some of whom only understand mandarin or cantonese hahaha). Then there were general insurers , adjusters, JPJ, automotive chaps and component manufacturers from Taiwan, China, and elsewhere and other stakeholders of the industry that I have to be careful what I say lest I be sued for defamation (evil wink). Well, in simple language, I must be politically-correct...hehehe. While busy with all that, I did not forget to follow the proceedings of a certain party convention taking place at another venue concurrently. I was , like other fellow malaysians, eager and excited who was going to get erected in the party erections...(evil wink). My reactions? hahaha much like sweet and sour fish and ya ya your guess, again lah...is as good as mine....have a great weakend folks! (wink).

of rising premiums and inflated injury claims down south?...

2009-03-23T14:41:00.003+08:00

At MAS golden lounge changi airport singapore. Short quick trip. Nice when some people remember you, but upset when they don't provide your favourite peanuts anymore (uwaaa). And even more upset after having been a loyal enrich member, you don't accumulate enough points, and they downgrade you to silver (uhu hu hu). Anyway, we had a good meeting at the new premises of the general insurance association of singapore (GIAS) just before lunch . They are impressed with what we do to contain costs of claims, reducing subjectivity and dispute resolutions to the malaysian motor insurance industry. CF Lim, PIAM executive director and me, we decided to take the earlier flight home. We're suppose to fly back on SIA at 5 pm actually. The singaporeans asked me how come we are members of RCAR (Global Research Council for Automobile Repairs)? I said only four countries represent Asia. Korea, Japan, Australia and Malaysia. And you must first be representing your country's motor insurance industry and membership is by invitation only and must be approved by other research centres during its annual meeting (wink). GIAS is worried over a report carried in yesterday's singapore straits times (read here). We hope they would not get into unnecessary problems. When I read that news report...I said to myself...hmmm sounds like a familiar plot, storyline much like a chicken and egg type situation. Simple economics of demand and supply and owh well, a zero sum game...in this instance...the losers are the motor insurers having to bear huge claims payout, then, as a punitive measure, premiums are raised and who cries foul now? well..your guess is, as usual, as good as mine...

is thinking a habit?...

2009-03-21T11:01:00.002+08:00

I have not been sharing Moje's articles in the Manila Times quite awhile now. But this latest one, read here , is interesting and being the notti (twisted mind as some has already labelled) me, I find that it could be well, quite oxymoronic. Here's why I say so: she said that habits are what we do when we are not thinking. But thinking can also be a habit meh? right or not? Therefore, if thinking equals habit, following standard simultaneous equation solving processes (wink), does that not mean that we would also not be thinking when we're thinking? hehehe. Think about it folks and let me know while you're at your habits over this great weekend.....hahahahaha LOL.

baby boomers and the lost generation?...

2009-03-20T00:55:00.004+08:00

Half an hour ago I gave a return call to a schoolmate (Sukumaran) from std 5 GES PD right up to form 5 Science 1, SMI PD. He was headboy then in 1971. I was secretary to the prefect's board, Heng Yick Heang was Treasurer. Sukumaran, this handsome malayali bugger, is closest to me after Tiruchelvam well I mean they are both the only schoolmates we keep in contact until today. We will probably have tehtarik much more frequently after retirement, if we live long enough. You know lah these days, anything after 55, is a bonus. As usual, we (me and suku) would be lamenting the state of the nation, the current issues, problems and hopes and of course the bodoh stuff people appear to be saying in the newspapers that made us feel more 'bodoh' hahaha (evil wink).

Then suku said, those born before 1957 were british subjects but we chose to be true blue malaysians hahaha ( I never thought of it before...I mean being british subjects and all hmmm hehe...so I guess the next time I meet my partners from THATCHAM, I would say...hey guys, don't pray pray aah? (of Phua Chu Kang fame) we're british too u know? ya rite...).

Then we touched a bit about the younger generation and what will happen 20 years from now as we imagine it to be....and I remembered what a new friend I made at the conference earlier on today, Victor Chau K Fong from Hong Kong and as we chatted about 'our' baby-boomer generation, the young ones are known as the 'lost generation' in HongKong and of course in mainland China too and the difficulties teachers and parents encounter, in managing them. Read here. having said all that, I always believe that most, if not all, generations wil ripen, come of age and rise to the occasion. Its a global phenomena. I think its the same everywhere. When I read that article, ahah...sounds familiar...I look at my own children...its tough...sometimes I feel I have failed in that department. My friend Victor said, this 'lost generation' is the most pampered lot. Perhaps we, the baby boomer generation is also at fault? let me know your thoughts folks? nanait...nid to catch some quality sleep.....

when the going gets tough...the tough gets going..they say

2009-03-19T12:16:00.003+08:00

I am chairing the Malaysian Property Market 2009 Conference at the Grand Millennium Hotel right now...and this young lady lawyer from Shearn and Delamore is updating delegates on developments on taxation of land transactions. Ya ya...this is unscheduled. Chairing the conference today I mean. I had a phone call 2 days ago and as usual, being obliging a guy I am, I agreed. But am glad I agreed as I too learnt alot of new things. The previous 2 speakers this morning was very good. Dr Cheong shared very bluntly the grim realities with hard data (hehe). There were some politically incorrect observations too, but I guess we should blame it on the economists hahaha...not the politicians (wink).

In between while the speakers speak, i was checking my emails and eheh heh updating my blog. When times are bad, people are easily infuriated and everyone starts to check on everything. Even Obama is pissed with AIG (wink). You thought right, even Vice-Chancellors of UK universities were not spared public scrutiny...hahaha...please read here.

of crashes and gadget gizmos...

2009-03-18T16:36:00.005+08:00

Dependence. Yes very drug-like. How do you feel or react when you realise you've left your handphone at home? What happens to your moods patterns or work schedules when your notebook crashes and you just can't seem to be doing anything at all? Can't surf the net, check your mails, update your blog, facebook with frens, ya ya most importantly, finish the few papers you set deadlines to meet? It's unbelievable how dependent we are on technology these days. Ya ok you still have your blackberry, but its not the same as having a computer, a real notebook you have been accustomed to. And when the server at the office is down, look at the faces, the exasperation, the fury, the sighs, the panic it reverberates. Gosh, its like a war zone, its like we're under some alien digital attack haha. As if we did not already have enuf of viral attack fears or trojan horses... I get all kinds of reaction on my facebook when I tell my frens that my notebook crashed! Its definitely not planned obsolescence. It could be anything from not treating it (the notebook) with the minimal TLC (tender loving care? huh) cos you know lar how delicate sensitive and fragile hard disks are kan? (wink...ngalahkan owang pompuan plax.hehehe). Or could it not be IE or Vista? I hear many complaints about Vista and some suggested I go back to XP or wait for windows 7 (Beta version oredi out I wuz told hehe). But the comment I like most folks, is the suggestion that its time a get a new one! hahaha...hmmm let me see... shall it be the VAIO Z series which would be phased out soon? or the 17 inch MacBook Pro just launched? hehe...any ideas? While I am at that, perhaps I should reward meself with the newly going to be launched soon iPhone 3G? ya ya don't push your luck too far aiek, gadget gizmo? hahahahahaha

of 6Es, 6S and culture?...

2009-03-14T16:38:00.005+08:00

I think there are more than enough bloggers writing about sensational issues, topics and yes politics too (wink) etc etc. Perception many people have of the internet and blogging, abounds. We all, well most (I hope) know the fact that the internet and now blogs, are double-edged swords. It can help one win a battle but lose the war, or risk losing entire kingdoms too heheh. Go ask King Arthur and his Knights of the roundtable (evil wink). Its dark and gloomy this saturday evening (6 pm local time) and a storm is on the way, I think.

I was looking at my old note pads where I scribble stuff I like and here's some of them. First is the 6Es which are Enthusiasm, Emotion, Excellence, Energy, Excitement and Entrepreneurism. The next one is the 6S which was Tun Daim's favourite advice to young upstarts in the corporate world: Study, See, Seize, Strategise, Scrutinise and Slog away...hahaha. Good advice eh? And finally folks before you go away to enjoy the rest of the weekend...this quote:

'If I could have chosen not to tackle the IBM culture head on, I probably wouldn't have. My bias coming in was toward strategy, analysis and measurement. In comparison, changing the attitude and behaviours of hundreds and thousands of people is very, very hard. Yet I can see in my time at IBM that culture isn't jus one aspect of the game - it is the game! (Lou Gerstner ex CEO IBM in his book Who Says Elephants Can't Dance?)

...been to paradise but never been to me?...

2009-03-12T21:00:00.005+08:00

Oxbridge Boat Race Dinner at the Bankers Club, Kuala Lumpur, 2004

Interview Maskulin (Malaysia) Magazine, September 2005

Ya ya before you bash me up good, I must confess, I could not resist uploading these pictures (above) on to my blog (heheh). Its part of my journal..owh well journey right? Remember the lyrics from that oldie? A beautiful song about a woman's experience trying to tell another young woman that finally, love is about the man you fought with this morning and the same one you will be making love to, tonight? Remember those lyrics? haha ok ok let me refresh it...the chorus: "...I've been to paradise..but I've never been to me..." I love that song, great music, soothing melody. The first photo was a black tie do to commemorate the ancient Oxford and Cambridge University traditional Boat Race. I was invited to the function by Dr Foo Ban Yen who was then president of the Imperial College Alumni Association in Malaysia. If you look at the photo carefully (published by Tatler Malaysia), they got my name sounded like a Mongolian (Khaer Uddin) hahaha...no no definitely not related to anyone familiar to you (mak tak sama bapak lain lain hahaha).

Then the other 3 fotos that follow, was my interview with Maskulin in 2005. No no, please, its not the same masculine magazine abroad (evil wink). Those are the ones meant for gays ( I was told...erkk). This maskulin is an attempt by the Karangkraf Group to provide a new magazine for your Malaysian males oh well young malay males to be more specific (I think). I know the owners of that publishing group. They are old frens and we go back quite a long way. I guess that was why they interviewed me hahaha. Success? ya rite...depends how one looks at success actually. To me success can also mean, with a salary of RM900 and with 9 kids..and after paying all the monthly bills, one is left with RM67.40. Not having to borrow or use the credit card...that is a form of success hihi. That's ok, you can disagree with me. I am trying to avoid writing stuff in that direction (wink). Anyway, as I approach my retirement, I thought it would be a good practice to document what little photos or interviews I have had...so that at least later on my grandchildren have something to read or see should they google my name....

perginya seorang tokoh industri seni & kesusasteraan negara...

2009-03-08T01:53:00.010+08:00

(dipetik dari: Utusan Malaysia Sabtu 7 mac 2009)

Petang semalam saya terkejut apabila isteri saya berteriak memanggil saya untuk memberitahu berita di kaca TV Zubir Ali meninggal dunia. Sebagai mengenang dan menghormati allahyarham, blog malam ini di khaskan buatnya. Gambar2 serta lirik lagu yang dipopularkan Zubir menjadi titik tolak kepada lagu puisi yang di rakamkan dan di pasarkan secara komersil (Shaharudin Musthafa, Utusan Malaysia, Sabtu 7 Mac 2009/10 Rabiulawal 1430). Saya kenal baik dengan arwah. Kami berkongi bos (Pak Ungku) sewaktu saya di Koperasi Universiti Malaya dahulu (1986-1988). Sementara isteri beliau Puan Fauziah adalah rakan profesional seantero di dunia kesetiausahaan korporat. Betul sepertikata Shaharudin (Utusan Malaysia), hingga hari ini Penantian terus subur sebagai lagu yang mempunyai melodi cukup indah dan dengan frasa lirik yang melampaui zamannya. Sepertimana lagu2 Eddie Ebiet dari seberang, yang juga berkonsepkan puisi. Saya masih ingat sewaktu umur diawal 20an dahulu, menyanyi lagu Penantian di lounge Hotel Perdana, Kota Baru. Akhir2 ini saya sering pastikan ada beberapa lirik2 lagu terselit di dalam dompet sayay dan di antaranya adalah lirik lagu Penantian. Saya sekeluarga ingin merakamkan ucapan setinggi takziah kepada Puan Fauziah sekeluarga di atas pemergian Zubir dan semoga Allahyarham dicucuri rahmat, tenang dan damai di sana. Alfatihah.

(di petik dari Utusan Malaysia Mac 7, 2009)

management development? or mengabihkan boreh?...

2009-03-04T20:59:00.011+08:00

Tuan Haji Zulkifli Baharom, former Director of MAS Academy and currently adjunct teaching faculty at Kulliyah Ekonomi & Sains Pengurusan at the International Islamic University (UIA) Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, recently invited me to give a guest lecture on 'Management Development: Success Models and Strategies' to his final year economics/business undergrads. I am actually much more comfortable speaking to postgrads/MBA students (heheh) rather than undergrads cos I always worry if they will be able to follow my thoughts and keep up with my bullet-train-like speech and/or decipher my Egyptian Hieroglyphics? hahaha. Or if at all they could make sense of my 'england' (hehehe) and the occasional ramblings in Malay (especially to those foerign students). But, yes, they did ( i hope, i think..hehe). More than 70% of the students were females! OMG...where have all the boys gone? This is the third time Hj Zul has 'punished' me. The first one was with another batch where I was to judge the best entrepreneurial team. Then I was with another group interviewing me (like the LIVE Hardtalk BBCWorld show...hahaha) which made me feel like a celebrity haha. That was mostly on compensation management bla bla bla....

This time around was on management development. Which to me is a 'must have, good to have, nice to have' kinda tingy. Its a luxury for some organisation, a must to others and perhap not necessary or relevant at all to others. More often, in years of corporate life, I observe that people use the term management development, training and education interchangeably to mean one and the same thing. Its not, ok? But don't worry...I won't bore you with the details. I have said this once too often that I am a Henry Mintzberg (HM) convert oh well disciple, if you may...hehe. Now, HM believes that both management and management (development/training/education) are deeply troubled, but neither can be changed without changing the other. He simply found too much of a disconnect between the practice of managing and what went on in classrooms intended to develop managers. Well, just in case I do not confuse the poor undergrads, what I did was to take them through, quickly, Mike Doyles explanation on the meaning and nature of management development, acknowledge their significance to organisational success; contrast piecemeal and open system approach; examine methods, techniques and processes used to develop managers; draw attention to the way management development can be varied to meet special needs and different contexts and in a nutshell, speculate about the future direction of management development...but really...how much can you cover in an hour? heheh

So, much of it I was just sharing my own candid experiences of management development/education of where I was; and because I agreed with HM, much of what I said was propagating his (HM) thinking that we need to redefine management development/education so that we do not overemphasize the science of management while ignoring its art and denigating its craft leaving a distorted impression of its practice. Mintzberg was of the view that we need to get back to a more engaging style of management, to build strong management organizations not bloated share prices, calling for another approach for management development/education whereby practicing managers learn from their own experience, building the art and craft back into management development/education, and into management itself. I don't know if the message came through or not...hahaha. I hope it did (wink) cos the feedback I got was that they enjoyed my presentation(?). For a moment I felt like Robin Williams.....(evil wink).

MIHRM SUMMIT 2008 - The fotos....

2009-03-02T14:42:00.008+08:00

President of MIHRM Dato'Prof Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid, HR Minister, me and Ishak Hashim

Ishak Hashim, Chairman Court of Fellows MIHRM, greeting the Minister of Human Resources

Me, Ishak, Rajkumar and Dr George Koshy

Dr George Koshy presenting a souvenir momento to me for being a panelist...

The Panelist: from left Datuk Aziz of Telekom Malaysia, Dr George Koshy (Moderateur), Ibrahim Hassan, me and a Singapore Consultant...

MIHRM Summit 2008 staged on 11 to 12 november at sunway resort hotel, petaling jaya, malaysia where we (MRC) sponsored the conference bag and I was panelist...hah...i just got the photos from CDC consulting today on my gmail. Thank you Alfiq and saudara Ibrahim Hassan. I blogged much earlier about it but there were no photos I think. Anyway, just to recap, the summit was themed "Talent Management and Succesion Planning: Meeting Global Challenges" (whatever that means hahaha). And it promised to showcase proven talent management and succession planning strategies through real life case studies and experience sharing by renowned speakers (yours truly included kot...ahaks..eheh heh). The organisers were mindful of the importance of working towards highly competitive global environment but were not so sure (at the timelah) that there was going to be a global financial tsunami and meltdown on the way...the symptoms were already there anyway. Need I say more? hehe

dahulu, sekarang dan selamanyer?.....hehe

2009-02-26T13:39:00.003+08:00

ya ya ya ya i have not been blogging. I won't get unduly upset (evil wink) if you stopped visiting my blog all because I have not updated or written anything for the last 11 days or so. Nothing new or nice to write about honestly. I decided not to be part of the statistics of doom prophets, gloom harry, worried-sick john doe, or hopeless lemans or alleged fraudulent maddoffs and the sir allens...hahaha. I saw Obama's spirited 'we shall overcome the challenge and emerge stronger' speech on CNN and BBCWorld. We hear of increasing frequency of plane crashes. That's scary, which makes me begin to rethink of the old statistical assumption that flying is alot safer than being in your car or automobile on the way to Chicago airport! hahaha.

Otherwise, the last 10 days or so has been filled up with meetings bloody meetings. Board, audit committees, remuneration bla bla bla. Then there are other NGO stuff like IPPM and the second 'WACANA' we are organising slotted for end march tentatively. I have also been co-opted into the BLM taskforce (MAICSA) haha...meetings again, time consuming .and that's not including other things like giving a guest lecture to final year business undergrads at UIA, being asked to represent the group to receive a silver award at a professional institute dinner, at the eleventh hour! hahaha...but you know? Always this obliging fellow...so long as the venue got class and the food...great (evil wink) hahahaha. I owe a few people/places papers, articles...oh my gawd! what have I done to myself? I hope I have not overstretched my brain. I wished I was on that flight to london last night. Especially when TSA offered to foot the bill (minus of course, the airticket lar...that... I can use my enrich points...plenty still unused...some will be purged or gone if I don't use by dec 2009 hehe). But despite all the above, its a nice feeling that your little outfit showed a 61% improvement on the PAT for 2008 performance (evil wink) isn't it? We are all off to Awana this weekend (tomorrow onwards) to critically dissect our position, dahulu, sekarang dan selamanya.....hehehe (no, no, no...please don't associate us with any political party...wink wink wink...evil wink) hahaha. Enjoy the coming weekend folks...until my further update....cheerio.

...of legacies and slogans? dot dot dot

2009-02-15T13:44:00.005+08:00

I am a member of the Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management (MIHRM) and was Founding Executive Board of the Malaysian Society for Training and Development (MSTD). Mine is a specialist MBA (Human Resource Development). Four general management modules including of course, strategy, marketing and finance. One of the fourteen core modules was educational management which explains my inclination towards human capital management and development and educational management. In 1994 while attending an education summit at Institut Aminudin Baki (IAB), I read Tan Sri Wan Zahid’s paper/keynote address (he was Director-General of Education at the time). And I noticed he propagated the concept of ‘zero defect’ popularised by Philip Baynard Crosby (a one time assembly line worker who became an entrepreneur spreading the gospel of quality control in manufacturing, died in 2001 at Asherville, NC at age 75. His zero defect concept emphasise customer satisfaction as a measure of quality control. Other Quality GURUS on same ranking as he is, include Armand V Feigenbaum, W Edward Demings and Joseph Juran). Tan Sri Dato' Dr Wan Zahid (Harvard trained) used the frog parable to drive the managerial imperative in shaping the future of education and the ministry of education during his regime. Essentially, the frog exemplifies adaptability. A creature that can live on land on in the water (amphibious) and can adapt to hot arid climates, cold climates, hot humid climates and cold humid climates. From the biological perspective, the frog has survived the ages because of its remarkable adaptability to the environment. However, in a laboratory experiment, frogs were placed in shallow pans of room temperature water and they were free to jump out of the pans at anytime, Under each pan was a bunsen burner, which heated the water gradually. As the temperature rose, degree by degree, the frog adapted to the new temperature. Unfortunately, regardless of how hot the water became, the frog never became uncomfortable enough to jump out of the pan. In fact it stayed right there until the heat was so intense that the frog died. Some of us are also incredibly adaptable. In fact, a major reason for our success as human beings is our ability to adapt. When we find ourselves, as individuals, mildly dissatisfied with our jobs, with our significant other (hehe), or with almost any other circumstance in our lives, we proceed to adapt. For many of us, the more our environment challenge us, the harder we try to adapt to those changes. Similarly, organizations too tend to replicate the frog’s approach to life. To cut a long story short, moral of story is: individuals and organizations must determine in a timely fashion when to quit adapting and to move into the unknown, to proceed with changing directions and finding environments more supportive to them. Uish panjangnyer! Dot dot dot…

Then after him came Datuk Dr Shukor (also Harvard trained). I had the privilege of chatting with him on a few occasion before he became Director-General of Education. He seems to like Carl Weick’s Organised Chaos Theory haha. After him came the late Tan Sri Rafaee who was at one time, Principal of Malacca High School and I didn’t realise that he was also from Port Dickson (where I grew up). Now, at one of ASLI’s National Education Summits at Sunway Resort I had a chance to chat with him for a few minutes and noticed that (I may be wrong ok) his style of leadership and management was based on ‘visibility’. Then came Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ahmad Sipon. Apparently, from what I gather, his style was based on the age old Javanese maxim of ‘Beras, Waras, Keras”. Something like that, that essentially discourages wastage. Encourages responsibility, prudence and perhaps humility too. A simple process I would also subject a young man would have to go through if he intends to have my daughter’s hand in marriage. I will explain that in detail in my next post, the beras, waras keras tingy (hahaha I need to check if I have not touched on that subject in my earlier blogposts). The current Director-General of Education has been heard (again correct me if I am wrong hehe) to mention about Blue Ocean Strategy (BOS) as popularised by the Korean professor Kim and his French colleague. CIMB group is into BOS in big way, I think. Perhaps I may have missed something else? Balanced Score Card maybe? (BSC…not Bangsar Shopping Complex ok? Erk) which is again fashionable and flavour of the month, been around since 1995 (see my earlier posts) and I think the GLCs are using it of course modified into their own templates. So, my point? What am I getting at? Leaders like to leave a legacy and the use of slogans during their tenure oh well during their regime. Whether it’s appropriate, implemented or gets cascaded down the ranks, is another matter. Those legacies will remain. And people remember them for a particular slogan or management fad they propagate or tried to get implemented organization–wide. Heroic Leaders are out, Engaging Leaders are in says Professor Henry Mintzberg.

It is interesting to see how consultants influence the thinking of both the corporate and the public sectors. It is so alive and evolving. Some of these concepts are but regurgitation of old concepts rebranded or redefined…much like old wine in new bottles. But I am a great disciple of Danah Zohar. I had a chance to speak to her when she was here in 1997 during the International Federation of Training & Development (IFTDO) conference hosted by Malaysia. Danah Zohar, in her book Rewiring the Corporate Brain said, “Most transformation programs satisfy themselves with shifting the same old furniture about in the same old room. Some seek to throw some of the furniture away. But real transformation requires that we redesign the room itself. Perhaps even blow up the old room. It requires that we change the thinking behind our thinking – literally, that we learn to rewire our corporate brains”

conference oh conference...

2009-02-15T11:34:00.004+08:00

Today, Sunday, February 15th, I like to jot down a bit about me if you don't mind? As I approach my mandatory retirement (which I do look forward very much hehe) I begin to look and review alot of things, where am I, what have I achieved in corporate as well as in personal terms. Always mindful of the fact that 50% of our personality is because of our job or the position we hold. Once that is gone, you'd be lucky if you still get 50% of the emails, sms or mms on your Blackberry Bold hehehe. Its very flattering to get invited to deliver keynote addresses. These days when I get an invitation to present papers at conferences where they charge humongus rates to participants and I probably just get a thumbdrive, a selangor pewter frame or a leather travel wallet, I would politely say thank you but would rather just be a panelist or chair the day's conference (evil wink). I must be getting old and lazy huh? haha. Having said that, you can see below that I would still be quite busy reading, researching and preparing or at least be comfortable with some background material before I stand out there in front some really furious participants (yes occasionally they are you know? huhu) waiting to draw their smokings guns to shoot down the sheriff (chairman lar...hahaha). The list, here goes:

1. Trends, Developments and Updates in Retail Financial Services (24-25 March, 2009 Prince Hotel Kuala lumpur, Chairman and Panelist on Day 2)

2. Best Practise & Tools in Managing Food Safety Conference (21-22 April, 2009, Istana Hotel, KL, Chairman for both days)

3. Corporate Tax Planning, Transfer Pricing and Compliance: Planning approaches in challenging times and in shifting operating environment, (11-12 May 2009, Grand Park Plaza Hotel Singapore, Chairman and panelist)

4. Commercial Contract Law China, 25-26 May, Beijing, China, Chairman and paper)

Of course, I should not be perceived as arrogant or ungrateful. Afterall, these invitations have done much to boost my esteem and extended my claw of network. Made me read alot more stuff for if not I would otherwise then be burning my precious time away at starbucks or coffee bean or blabber away profusely over tehtarik at nathija maju kelana jaya hahaha...thank you for the invitation anitha, nadra, sherry... ok folks? enjoy the remaining part of this rather warm sunday dot dot dot

...of mandarins and pocongs?

2009-02-13T20:32:00.008+08:00

foto source: guardian.co.uk

The Starbiz, Wednesday 11 February 2009 page B9 carries an article by US economist Paul Krugman, who called their senators, proud centrists oh well, destructive centrists! He said, "the centrists insistence on comforting the comfortable while afflicting the afflicted will, if reflected in the final bill, lead to substantially lower employment and substantially more suffering". In simple language, even if Obama's original US$800bil in stimulus with a substantial fraction of that total given over to ineffective tax cuts - have been enacted, it wouldn't have been enough to fill the looming hole in the US economy, which congressional Budget Office estimates will amount to US$2.9tril over the next 3 years! Wow! that is scary isn't isnt it?

Now, on the other side of the atlantic, the British Civil Service or Mandarins as they are popularly referred to, are again under scrutiny. Its much about transparency of information and disclosure and is deemed right, wrong, ethical or unethical, morally acceptable or immoral...depending how one looks at it. Its ok in some societies, not so ok in others, a definite no no in some others. Read more here. The Economist latest edition, describes the UK economy as a fallen star (not a falling star ok? hehe. Read more of the article here if you like.

The Star today reported:

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia scored a dismal 35 out of 100 points in the Open Budget Index (OBI) 2008 and is ranked 53rd out of 85 countries, prompting Centre for Public Policy Studies chairman Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam to declare he was “surprised and embarrassed.” Malaysia is now listed under the “minimal information” category on Budget information provided by the Government, behind countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. see full report here. This should be a concern to our Mandarins. Of course somebody will jump, some will brush it off as ...aaargh another evil statistical ploy attempting to discredit or sabotage our economy...which ahem...could be true you know? (evil wink) cos afterall there are only 3 great lies in this world: one is a lie; second is a bigger lie and ; three is statistics...dot dot dot...

After a week of not blogging and I come out with yet again another economic fumbles and fears? hehe perhaps my next blogpost should be diverted to ghosts or pocong stories huh? hahaha...as always, my loyal visitors, readers and fellow bloggers...do have a great weekend ya? dot dot dot

of dubai and the tarzan who lost his cawat?...hehe

2009-02-06T12:54:00.010+08:00

Heading home?

3.62 million expatriates in Dubai
864,000 nationals
8% population decline predicted this year, as expatriates leave
1,500 visas cancelled every day in Dubai
62% of homes occupied by expatriates 60% fall in property values predicted
50% slump in the price of luxury apartments on Palm Jumeirah
25% reduction in luxury spending among UAE expatriates
Sources: arabbusiness.com ; Times database

I have not heard anyone, over the last few years, say anything unkind about Dubai, that once sleepy hollow fishing village and oil-absent desert that was, in just 5 years, transformed into a miraculous citystate or megacity of the future so it seems... everyone just loves to visit and then not wanna come home. But that's not fair, really... well to me especially...hahaha cos I haven't got the chance to visit it when I was told it (Dubai) wu juz awesome.... The last time I ever set foot on Dubai soil was when MAS stops for an hour or so enroute to London. I only remember it was bloody scorching hot and some stuff displayed at the airport duty-free shop then..hmmm. But yesterday' report on timesonline.co.uk seems to be sending a chill down the spine. I know of some frens who are working in Dubai rite now. They probably would have a different story to tell. If you like to know what the hell is going on, read more here.

Yesterday's The Malaysian Reserve Daily has nothing much else except about profit drops, missed estimates, falling shares, auto bloodbath, Proton cutting one-third of its sales outlets, Bursa 2008 net profit drops 57%, pananasonic sees RM15 bil loss - to cut 15000 jobs, Titan announces VSS - will cut 20% of workforce...bal bla bla...very depressing news. Not much encouraging or news of hope...mostly despair, fear and to some perhaps crumbling down owh well, tumbling down (like humpty dumpty on the wall) yeah...the whole sky seem to be falling down over their heads.

Why then do you think I stayed away from blogging for 2 weeks? (evil wink). I guess its now a global inertia (the tendency of a body to stay at rest or continue its state of motion...newton's law...or have you forgotten?). Despite all that folks, please, please do have great weekend...perhaps it would be alot more fun watching ole tarzan movies, huh?....

...of chickens and kitchens...hahaha

2009-02-05T00:23:00.004+08:00

Its nice when friends call you up and lament (owh well, complain is more like it haha) that they were not mentioned at all in your (my) blog. Only the 'whos who' were documented, so it seems (hehe). Sometime back my classmates as far back as 1965 also complained how come they did not deserve a mention or a story on my postings? Sorry folks, I didn't realise all of you read my blog. Thank you sooo much for taking time to read my oxymoronic stuff (hehe). Ya ya, it has been about 2 weeks now since my last posting. Yes, anne, wan noriza, norzarina my ex colleagues, I didn't realise you have been faithfully following my blog! Thank you thank you...(hehe). I bet you (my readers) must have all been spun by so many things already huh? global meltdown, technical recession (?), free fall, executive jets, Davos, insanely devilish compensation packages, hop step and jump? (evil wink)....ya ya and the list is endless...

last nite at Sao Nam, Plaza Damas Vietnamese Restaurant owned jointly by a fren, while entertaining my guests from Bangkok and the UK, alot of jokes and anecdotes resurfaced. Oh well, recycled was more like it (heehee). We were also talking about language proficiency and someone told me about this chappie, a malaysian consul general speaking in a 'beating roundabush kinda sort of', while the host ambassador spoke in perfect, precise, concise oxbridge 'england' (hahaha). During dinner, apparently this malay fellow consul's wife spoke perfect 'england', very refined indicating she perhaps may have come from a borgeouis family and everybody thought...hmmm, the wifey should have been the ambassador instead!...hahaha ( interesting story of a kampong boy made it good..hehe). Then Tan Sri (anonymouslah..hahaha) and Puan Sri related their own experience when they were in Boston. Apparently again, a malay chappie doing his PhD came over to the apartment for dinner. He commented "I say Tan Sri, your chicken is small!" Tan Sri said,"Sorry, we are not having chicken for dinner tonite". The PhD candidate again said, "Your chicken is small lar Tan Sri". "Ooooo you mean our kitchen is small?" said Tan Sri....hahaha. But the chappie wuz alright, brave fellow, main belasah aje walaupon 'england' dier berterabork! hahaha. Well, he got his PhD eventually! and probably a full professor too now.

PS:And o ya Kakteh choc-a-blog, (if you're reading this post) your 'the banes of handphones' appeared on page 3 of life&times, NST today. A most joyful read indeed..hahaha how true, how true.... do enjoy the snow in london, while it lasts ok? (hehe)...

...confidential notes by the ambassador?

2009-01-20T23:06:00.006+08:00

I missed the 2009 Strategic Outlook Forum last week so I thought I must not miss the book launch above that took place this morning at 10 am, Royal Lake Club, Kuala Lumpur, by HE the US Ambassador in the presence of HRH Raja Nazrin. The launch was put up by ASLI, the book was published by the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS) Singapore. I was amazed at the turnout (having been in publishing a long time ago, I sure do know how difficult it was to get people to attend book launches especially if its not a bestseller list). Many familiar faces were there, Datuk Prof Visu Sinnadurai former Dean UM Law faculty, Tan Sri Emeritus Professor Khoo Kay Kim, Tan Sri Kishu, Richard Tankesly of New Zealand but a malaysian resident (the first bumiputeh as he likes to introduce himself all the time...hahaha), Tan Sri Zaini Chairman of northern ECR and BERNAMA, Datuk Rafiah, Faris, James Beltram, Fung former vice president British Graduates Association of Malaysia (BGAM), members of the Royal Commonwealth Association, United Nations Association of Malaysia (UNMA), corporate chieftains, NGOs and of course HE ambassadors who were invited and came (hehe) etc etc etc...

In his forward, YBM Tengku Tan Sri Dato'Seri Ahmad Rithauddeen, former foreign minister of Malaysia described YAB Tun Dr Ismail as an astute diplomat and the formulator of foreign affairs who charted the nation's course in international relations in the early years of its independence. That he was amazed by Dr Ismail's ability to transform himself very confidently into a successful diplomat at the United Nations when he was there as our first Permanent Representative despite never being trained as a diplomat, and that he was a politician and a medical doctor by training.

I like to quote Dr Ismail's inaugural speech during the general debate at the 12th Session of the United Nation's General Assembly (678th Plenary Meeting), Tuesday, 17th September, 1957, at 3 PM, (President: Sir Leslie Munro, New Zealand) on Agenda Item 25 - Admission of New Members to the United Nations: Admission of the Federation of Malaya to Membership in the United Nations.

80. 'Although our material wealth and our standard of living compare very favourably with those of many nations in the world today, as a small nation, our basic strengths lies not in these material things, but in the moral character and purposes of our people. We have in Malaya three major racial groups: the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians, who have lived together for generations in peace and harmony, Neither the difference in religion and cultural background, nor the difference in their economic and social status, has created an insuperable barrier towards the national unity of these races. Our great desire is to have the right and the good fortune to live as a free, independent and united nation among free nations of the world. The achievement of this desire, through peaceful and constitutional means, through friendly negotiation and a spirit of compromise, is the result of the abiding moral strength inherent in each of the three racial communities living in Malaya today.' (Appendix 1 pages 103-105)

That was in 1957 and I was three years old...and as I read it again, and again, to my mind, the most important guiding light then and perhaps even more so now, is for all of us Malaysians to realise that our basic strength lies not in material things [but please don't ask me to hand over my nokia e90 and blackberry bold to you ok? (evil wink)] but in the moral character and purposes of our people. We did perhaps have just one or two 'commissions' at the time, life was much simpler, less complicated, there were no internet or facebook (hehe). And perhaps, like Obama, the first black US President, installed today, we too need to redefine and re-examine where we went wrong and how do we move forward without engaging a 'change' slogan or 'rebranding' (whatever that means..hehe) exercise (evil wink) or BOS or ROS ... hmmm. What say you, folks? and o ya...go pick a copy and read the book...

...a british obsession? hehe

2009-01-20T07:00:00.004+08:00

High Table: (L t0 R) YH Tan Sri Abu Hassan Omar (former Chief Minister of Selangor, Hull Alumni Malaysia past President & Patron), Guest of Honour YAB Tun Hanif Omar (former Inspector General of Police Malaysia), me, Hull Alumni Malaysia 2008/09 President, and YBhg Tan Sri Arshad Ayub (past OSA President, University of Wales at Aberystwyth, past president and patron Aberystwyth University Alumni Club in Msia)

The University of Hull Malaysia Alumni Association Annual Dinner and 2nd Distinguished lecture Series, held on Sunday 11 January, 2009 at the royal lake club, Kuala Lumpur. Some BW shots (photos courtesy of Tengku Jasshwa) of the 'touch of class' theme and you can come in anything (so long as not in your birthday suit...hahaha). I had to wear that silly penguin outfit and the hull pendant (much like the one the mayor of hull wears round his neck too..evil wink) cos I am president maa? (evil wink). There were moments I felt like Pierce Brosnan...but when I took out the bow immediately after the function, wow...I felt like Daniel Craig in Casino Royale....hahahaha ( you wish...).

...Roundtable on 'Current Issues and Challenges in Mindanao'

2009-01-19T20:34:00.004+08:00

I mentioned briefly about the above dialogue in my last blogpost but I thought I would not do justice to the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) alumni Malaysia (especially the untiring passion of Tuan Haji Zul Baharom) and INSPAG-UiTM Director/Senior Fellow HE Dato 'Dr Mohd Yusof Ahmad for their efforts at helping advance the peace process that would bring new hope and sustainable economic development to this autonomous region in Southern Philippines. YBhg Dato' Syed Ahmad Idid former CJ and also a AIM alumnus, provided positive inputs and commentaries and hoped that the roundtable would escalate into a much more serious outcome in tourism, business development and investment opportunities benefiting both Malaysia and Mindanao.

Perhaps for those of you who may have not the faintest idea of what I am talking about or never understood what the problems are in Mindanao, should read this book above, that had been in my collection for more than 30 years ago. It was published in 1980 (3 years after I joined OUP) and I have the special boxed bound edition. It was written by TJS George (Editor of the now defunct magazine ASIAWEEK, in Hong Kong). It is a definitive book, written not only from an Asian perspective, but with wit and sympathy. It is a comprehensive history of the subject, written for the firs time (1980) in a readable and non-academic yet thought-provoking style. The Muslim separatist movement in Southern Philippines had claimed (in 1980), by official estimate, more than 5000 lives and it continued to ravage the country then. It had become an international issue in part through the resurgence sweeping the Islamic World at the time. The root of the problem lie embedded in the history of the Philippines, but the author contends that the schisms within the Muslims themselves and the cleavage between Christian and Muslim Filipinos can still be resolved. Different aspects of the overall problem have been studied by scholars, mostly in the form of treaties. The book draws a striking parallel between Spain and the United States as colonial masters, finds early Philippine leaders lacking in understanding of Islam, and accuses Mindanao's traditional Muslim leaders (at the time) of self-aggrandisement. It examines in colourful detail some bizarre episodes of contemporary history: a politician's plan to establish a new sultanate in Sabah, A Christian army officer's escapade as a Muslim in Sulu that ended up in the 'Jabidah Massacre'. It also analyses the role of the Arabs in Mindanao. Throughout the book the author argues that the opportunity to settle the problem to the advantage of Mindanao's Muslims still exist (in 1980)then and I believe there is never a better time than now. This book should be an interesting read indeed. Mind you, it was written 30 years ago! Go read it...I can lend you my copy (evil wink) at prevailing daily rates of course...haha.

...the week that was...

2009-01-16T16:32:00.005+08:00

Ya ya I have not been blogging. The last posting was last saturday the 10th. Much has happened during the week. last Sunday January 11, we had our Hull University Alumni Malaysia Annual Dinner and a keynote address by YAB Tun Hanif (former IGP). I like to call it the 2nd Hull Malaysia Distinguished Lecture Series. Tun spoke on "Unity in Diversity: The Malaysian Approach" to about a 100 alumnus and guests at the Royal Lake Club (RLC), KL. The inaugural distinguished lecture was delivered by Hull's VC Professor Dr David Drewry a few years ago at Pusat Sains Negara (National Science Centre). Being a glaciologist, Professor Drewry spoke on "Effects of Climate Change on the two Poles". I am waiting for some awesome shots of the RLC dinner from my personal photographer and 'spin doctor' to email me the fotos (hehe). On friday morning, I was invited to a roundtable discussion with a delegation of Leaders from Mindanao at the Senate Hall, Chancellery, UiTM hosted by the Institute of ASEAN and International Affairs, courtesy of Senior Fellow, His Excellency (retired) Malaysian Ambassador to Spain. The dialogue was illuminating. I was a guest of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Alumni Club in Malaysia. Zamboanga City, Mindanao is a nice place. Very spanish and it has its own unique identity. I was there twice, to deliver a public lecture ( on Leadership in 2005 and on Human Competency and Corporate Governance in 2006) on the invitation of the College of Education, West Mindanao State University.

..of financal arrogance, material supremacy and future predictability? (evil wink)

2009-01-10T19:39:00.007+08:00

I was at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital earlier around lunchtime today. Visiting someone ill of course (whatever else could I be doing there, right?). A benevolent, giving and caring mood (hehe..ya rite) suddenly turned into a moody, disgusting and madness actually...when someone was very loud bragging about how filthy rich he had become and began making disparaging remarks about government doctors (well public services actually), demeaning and ridiculing them of the meagre salaries they are getting and comparing with private sector doctors. Gawd, I was fuming mad, had I stayed a minute longer, I just might have strangled his already walloppy jallopy neck (hahaha). Eh hello wake up man, does he not know that the civil service is so much more attractive these days? oi..where have you been? I should nominate him for 2009 monkey of the year award (evil wink). Owh ok, forget about him. This latest article by my gudfren Moje Aquino Ramos in The Manila Times here is an interesting read. Please check it out and enjoy.

...when HR chaps gets the slam dunk or plonk u mean? hahaha

2009-01-09T21:54:00.005+08:00

Associated Press(AP) reported unemployment rate in the US bolted to 7.2 percent in December 2008, the highest level in 16 years, as nervous employers slashed 524,000 jobs. The labour market (US) is expected to remain weak as mass layoffs continue. At the same time, top Democrats, as reported by AP, disliked key provisions, especially the designs of Obama's tax cuts! Obama Oh Obama...and if that's not enuf, the whole world it seems, is putting pressure on the US over the Gaza Siege. And then, in today's NST plax, a report of the Satyam Scandal dubbed as 'India's Enron'. But of course, despite all of these gloom & grim, confidence-shaking headlines, there is this news that's equally of world class standards.. hahahaha(evil wink). Hah, u guess right: the prez conference to say they are ok...sape lagi? kesah Datuk Siti and Datuk K ler..hehe. Takyahler buat prez conference. Bimbang nanti kok kok akan lebih hangat, lebih sensasi plax... ish (hehe). Kita doakanlah yerk...semoga ianya hanya tinggal gosip sahaja k?

Ok ok, on a much much more serious note, this is a time when HR chaps get the plonk, the dirty looks, the kick (in the you-know-what-where-lah hehe). Its performance management, review, evaluation, salary increment, bonus and whatever else lah time, fellas ... hahaha. Kesian HR kan? They always get the blame. But they have always been the punching bag, record-keeper lah, clerk-of-work lah, policeman lah, spy management lah...ish dan bermacam2 lagiek (evil wink). They are, like the shock absorbers of a car. If you go on a smooth first-class highway...the ride will of course be smooth. Even if you put a monkey as your HR chief, the organization will sail purrfectly (wink). BUT, if you masuk jalan kampong, hah...that's when you really know the condition of your car... err I mean your organization aah (need I explain more? heehee). All kinds of intervention has been offered. Balanced Score Cards (BSC) have been around since 1995 but somehow or rather it has not really taken off. Some elements of it in the HR domain perhaps merit some serious re-look, by both HR and non-HR people so that there will be a much better understanding that can assist in real transformation (corporate) exercises that puts HR's role in a much more strategic a position even though it is a universally accepted fact that there are no full proof PMS (not pre-menstrual pains ok? but acronym for Performance Management System hehe).

Here goes: in HR Performance Management, there are 2 things: one is HR Performance Driver (HRPD) and the other is HR Enabler. Example of HRPD is employee productivity and example of enabler is 're-skilling'. There are plenty of examples of disconnect between HR enablers and HR Performance Drivers in the broader organization. You can find them in your own organization, I am sure (wink). Ok, lets take an example from financial services (fictitious, no names please). Now this particular outfit has decided to do a strategic shift: i.e focus of retail business from service to sales. A set of performance drivers have also been identified as follows:

increased cross-selling to existing customers
teller product knowledge
sales skills

but the HR enabler still emphasised SERVICE!

e.g the organisation continue to have the following:

training programmes focus on service rather than sales
performance appraisal and merit pay that reward service rather than sales
recruitment practice based on service competencies rather than sales
turnover rates that undermined relationship building between tellers and retail customers and;
low pay and benefits for tellers, who were considered overheads rather than a source or revenue growth

Lesson learned?: HR SYSTEMS influences EMPLOYEE BEHAVIOUR from many points.

( adapted from pages 30-34, The HR Scorecard, Linking People, Strategy, Performance, Ulrich et al, Harvard Busniess School Press, 2001)

Employee behaviour is driven by value (personal and cultural) see here. Most organizational vision mission core values statements are quite generic and it seems to me, much of a cut&paste job...hehe using terms like our core values are honesty, integrity, commitment bla bla bla... what ever that means ish...ya what izzit? so nebulous so celestial one leh? Why not use simpler and something employees can relate to, quite ezily like the following value behaviours:

staying flexible
adaptable
taking initiative for one's own development
resolving issues in an objective manner

for example lah. You can then integrate into (directly) performance criteria with equal weightage to traditional performance measures ( half of bonus and merit pay for financial performance results, the other half to employee adherence to the value behaviours. There is a saying that illustrates the rationale for such consideration of balanced approach to performance management "You can't simply get results too often while leaving a pile of dead bodies behind you" hehehe.

Think about it folks, thanks for visiting and reading this far (hahaha) and please do have a great weekend....

Andrea Hirata's Rainbow Soldiers, The Movie...

2009-01-08T00:23:00.005+08:00

Ok ok enough of heavy stuff for awhile. I was tempted to make comments on what's going on, on the Gaza strip but that can wait heheh. The whole world's oredi talking soo much about it anyway, so let me share with you instead... something philsophical yet simple, powerful and is making lots of young people in Indonesia cry, when they watch it. Yes, I am talking about this new movie from Andrea Hirata's (see here) novel "Laskar Pelangi" (Rainbow Soldiers). I was introduced to it by one of my MBA students (Neneng Widaningrum Ema Rochima from Jogja... OMG such a long name..but one can trace her geneology from the name ... hehe) at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) Surabaya. She texted to wish me a happy new year and over yahoo messenger not so long ago, told me about Andrea Hirata. So I quickly googled, and checked out youtube and read the reviews and saw the trailer. Its an awesome movie. The DVD is not available yet, I was told. If you can spare the time, go read the novel and you'll come across lines like "...jangan pernah menyerah kalah...menggapai asa ditengah penderitaan..." and I like this one "...memberikan setitik cahaya ditengah kegelapan, dan secercah harapan, didalam keputus-asaan..." Go checkitout folks...hehe.

...oh no..not economics & watchdogs again? hehe

2009-01-03T19:59:00.007+08:00

Tan Sri Lin See Yan's (former BNM Deputy Governor) views in today's The Star, is interesting read. The old man is still sharp. I last chatted with him and YAB Tun Ahmad Sarji at the lounge of Manila Airport after attending the AIM Alumni Reunion year before last. We bumped occasionally at ASLI Summits or when I get invited to free dinners at Harvard Alumni-dos (heheh). Being an economist, his views do not depart much from the general concensus and the fact he reiterates that the economy is going to get worse... wah.... sends chills down my spine.. hahaha. I just hope the unit trust people did not wipe out too much of my EPF. To be fair, earlier on some of them did make some 40% profit (kata dier oranglah hehehe). Of course they didn't tell me they oredi deducted upfront their commission (evil wink).

As the new year begins (3rd day today) I spoke or texted a few close frens especially those that somehow or rather, seemed different, unmotivated, rather quiet. I was wondering why. Whoala, when I jolok, haha..keluar semua yang terbuku di hati. This particular fren (we always call each other cousin BL..haha) laments his frustration for not being made a full professor yet! Relax my fren...I am sure it's coming soon bro (wink). Then, another old fren leaves MSWG. Errol's comments (see below) also in the Star today... in some ways, gives tribute to my fren's contributions to the Minority Shareholder Watchdog Group (MSWG). Thanks for dropping by my blog folks, and do make sure you have got all your stuff for your school-going kids (if you still have lah...hahaha). My second daughter will be in Form 5 and my son (the youngest child) will be in Standard 6. Do make the most of the rest of the weekend!...

...of gulf, gaza, clash of civilisations, young facebookers and generation Y..hehe

2009-01-02T16:33:00.011+08:00

2nd day of the new year. The biltz on the Gaza strip, reminds me of the Gulf War of the early 90s. I was sending (oh well, 'accompanying'...is a better word perhaps hehe) my wife to pursue her MA in publishing at Loughborough University of Technology then. That conflict made airlines re-route their usual flight path. On my way back I was on an American Airline that made a stopover at Belgrade (before the breakup of Yugoslavia) for 8 hours! Relatively cheap travel at the time, it costs me only about RM1600. Then I remembered reading the Far Eastern Economic Review, FEER (at the time) and there was this naughty anecdote making fun of the then prime minister of Thailand (Chartichai I think his name was...4th generation thai chinese). The joke it seemed was: a group of journalist were having a press conference after a meeting with the then British PM (now lady) Margaret Thatcher. One of the journalists asked Chartichai: Premier Chartichai, "what do you think of the gulf crisis?" and his response: "Ya ya ya...we will be praying golf with Margaret this afternoon" hahahaha. I dunno how true that was, but I know I read that from the FEER at that time.

The latest and most recent issues of the Economist are spewed with interesting reports and articles which I suggest you read here for a tribute to Samuel Huntington, the famous intellectual nobody misses to quote often, especially at conferences in the early part of the 21st century (The Clash of Civilisations..if you have not read the book..hehe), and here if you want to manage your old-school chappies with your young facebookers talents (hehe) and here if you want to know about the generation Y that's going to join the workspace...hehehe. I want to say TGIF but I thought I read somewhere that that is no longer fashionable (evil wink). It's now TGIM! (for THANK GAWD ITS MONDAY!) haha...as usual, have fun folks...and thank you for dropping by...

...2009:between hype & reality?

2009-01-01T22:39:00.004+08:00

Hah...I better believe it first...yes it is 1.1.2009 today. I was supposed to have joined my frens celebrating new year's eve at country heights damansara lastnite, but I didn't. Its a long story. No, seriously, I just felt like having a quiet dinner at home and just watch Astro movies. You know the clock has struck 12 midnite when you hear the fireworks all around hehehe. If you're lost for resolutions (mine is...as always, trying to fulfil previous years' wannados...hahaha) go read some interesting trends for 2009 here before you firm up yours (resolutions I mean hehe). Try to balance between hype and reality, ok folks?

..of women bosses..hehe

2008-12-28T22:39:00.004+08:00

Hang on, hang on... I know what you're thinking ladies...its not like that ok?..hehe. I am still in my springkleening mode and again, I stumbled upon this newspaper cutting (The Sun, UK, Sunday March 9, 1997). Please do read what John Kelly wrote above, of a survey by Dr Syeda-Masooda Mukhtar of women bosses. It would be really interesting if a similar survey is done here with Malaysian Women Bosses! haha. This was more than 10 years ago. Perhaps today's generation of lady bosses may be totally different (I hope). But seriously ladies, please read and tell me if at all, the findings describe you or your managerial style (evil wink) or that the author's findings were totally preposterous! hahaha. Salam Maal Hijrah to all my muslim visitors...

...heroic or engaging management?

2008-12-27T10:51:00.004+08:00

As I was I springkleening I came across the above scanned page from the book 'Managers Not MBAs' by Henry Mintzberg the Canadian Professor of Management. I am a Mintzberg convert sort of (management thinking-wise lar..hehe). So I thought perhaps I might attempt to influence your thinking as well? If you are an upcoming or CEO-aspiring young management rookie, you should not bypass this view. You may have already been 'awed' by the superstar, evil-knievel, Jackie Welchie or the 'Johnson-clap' ( evil wink) of leadership and management style...that's ok. It's again a matter of preference folks. Or you think that by emulating the likes of honchos like the Lehman Brothers CEO or the CEOs of the big '3' US auto Kings (well...but oredi brought down to their knees by the US senate...somewhere closer to the levels of unicellular organisms haha no not that far down the food chain..hahaha). Or you are smitten by Barrack Hussein Obama's engaging style? Yes, engaging is the new currency. The flavor of the month. I suspect it will be the flavor for 2009. Engaging Economy? Engaging Dad? Engaging Boss? Engaging employees? Just like...hmmm when you get into your car...don;t forget to engage your gear....cos if you didn't...the car would not move right? Similiarly with your people...employees, colleagues et al. The argument is, you need to engage...I am not sure if it is similar to the engagement before marriage tingy....LOL hahahahaha). Please feel free to let me know what your thoughts are....