from chevening to NACRA to MOYA...

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

an academic breakfast?...hehe

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

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

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

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

of pens and pirates?...

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

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

tribute to shahar banun jaafar...

lunch break with classmates, York, England

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

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

death race...the movie

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

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

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

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

father knows best...or is it?

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

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

Datuk Seri Najib Razak"

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

when the sun sets.....

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

a commonwealth award-winning remote school...

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...

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...

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?...

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?...

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?...

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

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...

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?...

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?...

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...

(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?...

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....

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

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

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...

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?

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

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

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)...