Remembering Nomenclature ...

2 x 5 je ...

2008-07-02T02:30:00.001+08:00

Couple days ago I went to a customer service centre of this particular world known brand because my gadget got broken and I need spare part for that. So when I arrived there, I requested for this particular spare part and the customer service officer in-charge asked me where did I buy the gadget? So I told the girl I bought this in the US. To my surprise, the girl told me that even though they have the part, she could not sell it to me because they only cater if I bought that thingy in Malaysia. I was shocked and asked her, why is that so? I just want to buy the part and I’m gonna fix it myself and if you don’t sell that part to me, where can I buy it? She responded by saying she does not know. Still trying to control my patient, I asked her politely if she could ask her supervisor because maybe he or she can decide otherwise. She told me that her supervisor is having lunch now (it was 2.30pm) and asked me to leave my hand phone number and she will ask the guy to call me back. I asked her can you call the guy instead to check as I came a long way from my house just to find the part. She was so persistent on her supervisor is having lunch now and refuse my request to call that guy. She told me to go window shopping or something at the nearby shopping centre and wait for the call. Wow! So, since I'm not a confrontational guy, what else can I do other than waste another hour or so waiting for that guy to call me.

Well, end of the day that guy did call me, asked me to come back to his office and sell me the part.

I should be happy right? Yes, I am happy. And no, I am not really happy somehow. This is because for some reasons, I look at the entire episode differently.

I asked myself can I get away if I treat my client/customer the way that girl treated me here in my office. The answer would be, Hell no!!!

If I did that, next thing I know, I would have been plastered in the next day newspaper at the complaint forum by saying macam nilah gomen office, lembab la, tak reti buat kerja la, suka pergi minum la, kuat tidur la, tak kreatif la and so on. And after that you will have some of the newspaper editors or their writers adding this 1970s example bla bla to show how lembab us work.

As I know it, nowadays Government Officers went great length to try to assist or satisfy the customer’s need, well, at least I know that’s the case in my place. If I take the above example, majority of my colleagues will definitely call the supervisor to get his approval because this is a simple matter rather than turn him/her away and we pride ourselves in taking that extra mile.

I guess these kind of situation happened in both private and public sectors. It is just that gomen bashing is a favourite pastime all the time. If you don’t believe me, try calling all those so call hotline for companies, banks, airlines etc. Berjanggutla baru nak dapat cakap dengan orang!

Sajak untuk Ibu

2008-06-26T13:59:00.000+08:00

Not my copyrighted piece, just something that a friend of mine forwarded to me which really touched my heart ...

Ini sajak seorang anak buat ibunya..
Orang kata aku lahir dari perut ibu..
Bila dahaga, yang susukan aku..ibu
Bila lapar, yang suapkan aku..ibu
Bila keseorangan, yang sentiasa di sampingku..ibu
Kata ibu, perkataan pertama yang aku sebut..Ma!
Bila bangun tidur, aku cari..ibu
Bila nangis, orang pertama yang datang..ibu
Bila nak bermanja.. aku dekati ibu
Bila nak bergesel... aku duduk sebelah ibu
Bila sedih, yang boleh memujukku hanya ibu
Bila nakal, yang memarahi aku..ibu
Bila merajuk, yang memujukku cuma..ibu
Bila melakukan kesalahan..yang paling cepat marah..ibu
Bila takut, yang tenangkan aku.. ibu
Bila nak peluk, yang aku suka peluk..ibu
Bila sedih, aku mesti telefon..Ibu
Bila seronok, orang pertama aku nak beritahu..Ibu
Bila bengang, aku suka luah pada..Ibu
Bila takut, aku selalu panggil.. "ibuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"
Bila sakit, orang paling risau adalah ..Ibu
Bila nak exam, orang paling sibuk juga Ibu
Bila merajuk, yang datang pujuk aku juga.. Ibu
Bila buat hal, yang marah aku dulu..Ibu
Bila ada masalah, yang paling risau..Ibu
Yang masih peluk dan cium aku sampai hari ni.. Ibu
Yang selalu masak makanan kegemaranku..Ibu
Yang selalu simpan dan kemaskan barang-barang aku..Ibu
Yang selalu berleter kat aku..Ibu
Yang selalu puji aku..Ibu
Yang selalu nasihat aku..Ibu
Bila nak kahwin, orang pertama aku tunjuk dan rujuk..Ibu
Aku ada pasangan hidup sendiri
Bila seronok...aku cari pasanganku
Bila sedih…aku cari Ibu
Bila berjaya...aku ceritakan pada pasanganku
Bila gagal...aku ceritakan pada Ibu
Bila bahagia, aku peluk erat pasanganku
Bila berduka, aku peluk erat Ibuku
Bila nak bercuti...aku bawa pasanganku
Bila sibuk...aku hantar anak ke rumah Ibu
Bila sambut Valentine, aku hadiahi bunga pada pasanganku
Bila sambut hari ibu...aku cuma dapat ucapkan Selamat Hari Ibu
Selalu ..... aku ingat pasanganku
Selalu... Ibu ingat kat aku
Bila..bila.. . aku akan telefon pasanganku
Entah bila.. ...aku nak telefon Ibu
Selalu ...aku belikan hadiah untuk pasanganku
Entah bila... aku nak belikan hadiah untuk Ibuku
Renungkan:

"Kalau kau sudah habis belajar dan berkerja... bolehkah kau kirim wang untuk Ibu? Ibu bukan nak banyak... lima puluh ringgit sebulan pun cukuplah". Berderai air mata aku. Hari ini kalau Ibu mahu lima ratus sebulan pun aku mampu. Aku boleh kirimkan. Tapi Ibu sudah tiada. Aku tidak berkesempatan lagi.. bukan lima puluh ringgit..lima puluh sen pun tidak sempat aku kirimkan! Hanya yang termampu Alfatihah, Alfatihah, Alfatihah.

Moving day

2008-06-24T11:08:00.005+08:00

Today I packed and move to another room in another division. I know this is part of life, but leaving this division is somehow very difficult for me as I felt some kind of attachment to it.

This is where I have enjoyed myself working thoroughly amidst some ups and downs. I have also learned a lot here. I was presented with so many opportunities to improve myself as officer and person as a whole. I met strangers which later become good friends and having good friend become great friend.

Well, end of the day ... you never really leave a place or person you love, part of them you take with you, leaving a part of yourself behind.

Au revoir!

The one with my birthday ...

2008-06-18T12:00:00.001+08:00

I'm one year older today. Hope to be wiser, maybe even smarter.

Every birthday, most of the time I can expect few calls or smses wishing me happy birthday. It is always the best part of the day. However, this year I am missing one call, the one call that mean so much to me ... so very much ...

Ibu, I miss you ...

The one with individual taxi permit

2008-05-13T08:29:00.001+08:00

Reading this piece in The Star today, I loud the Entrepreneurial and Cooperatives Ministry for this proposal to allow individual licenses for taxi drivers in our country especially in the KL area. The consortium mechanism that has been a practice all this while doesn’t really work in addressing the needs of taxi drivers. My agreement on this is purely on the earnings that will be generated by the taxi drivers, just that. You know, taken into consideration all the issues behind the increase of food prices, petrol and high cost of living. All the mechanism behind awarding the individual permit, I believe the ministry in their wisdom can really thrash it out and come out with a full-proof system.

During my occasional rides in the taxi, I met with a lot of taxi drivers with 1001 grouses. The one that always strike me was on the income that they gain everyday. I found out that they are really struggling on everyday basis. They work long hours but earn very little and they also need to pay the consortium owning their taxis ranging between RM30-RM50 per day which is about half or three quarter of their earning everyday. Sometimes, after talking to them, I made a simple calculation, say they earn around RM100 per day, minus taxi rental RM50 and minus NGV RM10 thus they have around RM40 a day to bring back home. So RM40 x 30 days = RM1,200. Plus sometimes no EPF, Socso and stuffs like that. That is such a small amount and please bear in mind that the amount I calculated was on the basis that if they work rain or shine, very long hours and for one solid month! No wonder they broke the law in order for them to gain extra money.

So, purely on this, I think this measure is quite right. Hopefully, if this proposal passes through, we have a better taxi service in the near future.

Champions again!

2008-05-11T01:00:00.003+08:00

38 matches, 80 goals scored, 20 conceded, 87 points and we came to this … Manchester United is the champion of Barclay English Premier League. Chelsea after so much hoo haa, fall short yesterday by drawing with Bolton but it didn’t matter at all because United won the final match beating Wigan 2-0. United finished two points clear of Chelsea. A true champion and deservingly so, I must say!

It was United’s 17 championships in all and 10 title under Ferguson reign alone. What a remarkable achievement! And so many records broken throughout the season. Goals Ronaldo scored, record appearances for United by Ryan Giggs etc.

Glory-glory Man United, glory-glory Man United, glory-glory Man United as the Reds go marching up! up! up!

Welcome to the world ...

2008-05-10T00:00:00.001+08:00

Welcome to the world my nephew, Muhammad Elman! Born on Monday, 5 May 2008 in Taiping.

Congratulations to you Ija! 4.1 kg! Wow! that's big. Anyway, may the newest addition in your family brings you greater peace, wealth and prosperity!

Mum would be proud!

The one with basket of fruits

2008-05-07T00:00:00.000+08:00

When I was in Accra, Ghana for a UN conference recently, I stayed in this lousy hotel (2,3 stars) due to the unavailability of better hotel because so many people from all over the world came to Ghana for the conference. My room was okay I guess, I had better room before but I won’t complaint much. Simple guy!

Well, I was there earlier from the rest of Malaysian delegation since I was supposed to ensure everything is up and running by the time my big boss arrived in Accra. Anyway, I have a bit problem with the suite that they prepared for my big boss. The suite they provided was unsurprisingly very bad and I was kinda worried. So after some discussion with the Malaysian High Commissioner there, she was kindly enough to put her own carpet in the room just to make it nicer. She also prepared a fruit basket to be placed in the suite, so that when big boss came, look bit better with carpet, fruits basket and stuffs.

Thus we arrived at the fruit basket story ….

That afternoon, High Commissioner prepared the fruit basket by herself I may say, you know with grapes, oranges, apples, bananas etc and some decorations, it was nice with basket and all. So on the way to the airport to pick up the big boss, she stopped at the hotel and asked her driver (who is a Ghanaian) to go up to the suite and place the fruit basket on the coffee table.

So this guy went up, did what he was asked to do, came down and get into the car.

High Commissioner asked him, have you put the fruit basket in the room? He said yes, and dengan selambanya told the High Commissioner “here is your basket back!” High Commissioner was shocked and surprised and immediately asked the driver, what is this basket doing here? (of course with high pitch la) The driver replied “ooh, I have put all fruits in the fridge and I’m giving back your basket to you”.

Seriously I can’t hold my laugh that night ….

The best of education ... sort of

2008-04-12T12:25:00.003+08:00

This morning conversation with my 5 year old son will make all Manchester United fan in the whole wide world love me!

Afif : Ayah, ayah which football team do you support?

Me : Manchester United, like the jersey that you are wearing now ...

Afif : Ahah, yes, yes. Ayah, Afif know which team "yang jahat" ... (the bad ones)

Me : Ok, which one?

Afif : Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea!

Me : That's my boy!

Ha ha ha ha ... Glory glory Man United!!!

Kenangan Terindah

2008-04-01T15:00:00.004+08:00

aku yang lemah tanpamu

aku yang rentan karena

cinta yang telah hilang darimu

yang mampu menyanjungku

selama mata terbuka

sampai jantung tak berdetak

selama itu pun aku mampu

untuk mengenangmu

darimu ku temukan hidupku

bagiku kaulah cinta sejati

bila yang tertulis untukku

adalah yang terbaik untukmu

kan ku jadikan kau kenangan

yang terindah dalam hidupku

namun tak kan mudah bagiku

meninggalkan jejak hidupku

yang telah terukir abadi

sebagai kenangan yang terindah

The one with not-so-idiotic things

2008-03-14T20:01:00.005+08:00

One of my colleague told me to share something light in my blog compared to some issues that I have discussed next time I update it. She said, since we work in a stressful place perhaps I should write something light just for the sake of fun. Ok la zaireen, you got your wish.

Anyway, this is actually a problem for me because I think I am not that witty enough or creative enough to write that way. I am cracking my head to think what can I write and I am afraid that I am gonna suck doing it.

Should I write about what I do in a day. Duh, boring. Probably tell people different kind of stroke that available in tennis game, even more boring. I am not going to any vacation yet to share perhaps beautiful photos with others, that can wait though. So, what's left in store?

Well, let me try. How about things that without I'm realizing it I do it in a day to day basis which really doesn't make any sense and suddenly you realize that it's habit for you and you cannot live without it. It must always be that way, whatever, whenever. And I am pretty sure that everybody has their own way as well. It's not superstitious, it is just that, preference.

Firstly, to think of it, I always like to hang my working clothes with only black hanger and the "cangkuk" must be on the left side so that when I face the baju I will be happy just looking at it. Ohh, and it must be this one particular black hanger, no other hanger will do. Hmmm ...

What else? Oh, I must always sleep on the right side of the bed, it's a must! If not, it will just feel weird. Which reminds me of one of the episode in FRIENDS where Tom Sellect was Monica's boyfriend. He said he must sleep on the right side because the sun is rising in the east or something like that. Well, he has reason and I don't have any. I just prefer it this way.

When I play tennis, I must hold the racket so that when I hit a forehand stroke, the damper's brand on the racket (damper is the shock absorber placed on the string) must not face the ball, it must face me. Somehow, I feel I will hit the ball better this way. Okay la kan, compared to some footballers who will always wear the same underwear so long as they are winning!

It is the same with double sided ping-pong bat, the black side must be for my backhand while the red side must be for my forehand. I just feel better hitting the ball that way. Hope it does not sound creepy.

If I think really carefully, probably I can come up with some more not-so-idiotic things that I do on a day to day basis but perhaps this is enough for now.

Now back to my real world!

The one with interesting names

2008-03-12T13:00:00.000+08:00

Working in my current division is fascinating. The issue that we have to work with is very interesting and requires a very good level of understanding.

During the course of work, I found something even more interesting. Everybody knows about “meeting” right. I am pretty sure that everybody has attended a meeting one way or another, be it kedai kopi meeting, association meeting or even at world level meeting.

This world organisation that we need to go for meeting is very creative in naming their meetings, seriously. In my office or in my country for that matter, when we call for meeting we would probably say “meeting to discuss bla bla …” long boring name for meeting.

Well, in this particular world organisation, meeting names are short and catchy. Let see:

Green room meeting – Why green room? The color of the wall of course! I don’t know whether the color of the meeting room still green but the story behind it was that the first meeting was held in a green meeting room, hence the name. But don’t play-play, only Ministers can attend this meeting.

Signaling conference – It involves meeting on services where Members need to signal their commitment. I guess they want you to signal your intention but then if at the end of the day you didn’t want to do it, you probably can say only signal not consign.

Open-ended meeting – Talk all you like, noted by the secretary, then chairman of the meeting can choose whether to accept it or totally ignore it when they reconvene next meeting.

Horizontal process meeting – Every issue from different-different subject matter were discussed horizontally I guess, so trade here, give there, let go this, accept that kinda process, or I maybe wrong.

Room E meeting – Can’t go anywhere else except room E for meeting, maybe!

Enchilada talks - While enchilada is actually traditional Mexican dish which is typically made with a corn tortilla dipped briefly in hot oil then dipped in the chosen enchilada sauce (sound yummy!), the origin of this enchilada talk, I myself don’t really know. Maybe they serve enchilada doing the meeting or maybe the first meeting was in Mexico and they were served enchilada. Or maybe the whole process looks like enchilada. Similar like spaghetti effects of FTAs/RTAs, spiralling all over the world in one big plate!

Pretty funny isn’t it! This is just meeting! Don’t let me start on the terms used. So next time around folks, choose something alluring when you call for meeting … Something like “Damas Discussion”. Only officers that eat at Aji-Don everyday can attend!

The one with S-I-R

2008-03-04T12:59:00.003+08:00

I am so happy!

Why I am happy? Because finally my prayer has been answered by a certain corporations.

This happiness was related to my previous posting where I was rambling on my loathe of a production named "Tom Tom Bak" because I felt it was a bad influence for everybody especially the young ones. Original posting here. Well, I am entitled to my opinion so if anybody disagree with me than I don't really give a damn. And I also said I rather have spelling bee kinda programme instead. Well, well well, Malaysia is gonna have one.

Back to my happiness ... it is because from April to August 2008, RHB/NST is organising S-I-R or Spell-It-Right competition for Malaysian schools. This is more or less similar to Spelling Bee competition in the United States where for all the ignorant people out there, this Spelling Bee is actually covered live by ESPN okay, a major TV network covering sports. Well, its about time a corporation with a lot of money come up with this and I hope it will be there to stay for years coming.

The S-I-R challenge, is divided into two categories - primary and secondary and will be conducted in two stages, the State Challenge and the National Challenge.The state challenge is open to 36 schools, and each school can send a maximum of four representatives. I Read somewhere that RHB is allocating close to RM2.5 million for this programme and I will say good for you man!

One day, I hope somebody out there has the power to pull off the plug on all the nonsense on Channel 611 especially the one with aznil and AC in it!

The one with three chefs

2008-02-13T13:00:00.000+08:00

This is a story about 3 chefs.

Chef number 3 is named Peter Petrelli. Chef number 2 who is the supervisor for chef number 3 is Hiro Nakamura and finally chef number 1 who is the big boss is known as Sylar.

So the story is like this. Sylar asked Chef number 3 to go to Isketambola for a chef meeting to learn about the recipe of latest cuisine available to the world. Each country is represented by one chef and there are about 100 countries or so. So Chef Petrelli went to the land of the unknown to learn and discuss about the cuisine. Chef Petrelli was amazed with the cuisine and so excited by it. He learned and discussed about it with fellow chefs from all over the world. After few days, he went back to his country and ready to unleash the cuisine to his boss.

When he arrived home, he wrote down the recipe and how to prepare the cuisine. He emailed chef number 1 and CC it to chef number 2 about the recipe and the preparation method of the cuisine and waiting for his response and next instruction anxiously.

After a while, chef number 1 finally read the email from chef number 3. After reading the recipe, chef number 1 replied to chef number 3 …. “Please clear the recipe of that cuisine with chef number 2”

Chef number 3 was dazed, shocked and confused.

He asked himself, "What? How am I supposed to clear the recipe with chef number 2 when he was not even there at the meeting!"

The one with wearing batik

2008-01-17T08:30:00.000+08:00

Now I am obligated to wear Batik every Thursday. That is equivalent to 4 times in a month! Well, that's a lot of Batik wearing! And it also means that I need to have one Batik for one week. I think I have about 3 decent ones so probably have to find one more.

Okaylah, I think the requirement to do that should be appreciated and will be very good for the industry but why should we have exception in red?

PENGECUALIAN

5. Arahan pemakaian batik pada setiap hari Khamis ini tidak terpakai kepada pegawai yang dibekalkan dengan pakaian seragam, pegawai yang menghadiri acara-acara rasmi seperti persidangan-persidangan antarabangsa, perjumpaan dengan pelawat-pelawat asing atau pegawai yang menghadiri majlis rasmi yang menetapkan pemakaian jenis pakaian yang lain.

Why not wearing Batik while meeting with foreigners? I do remember few overseas meeting and courses that I attended where the officers from other countries such as Pacific Island Countries and Africa proudly wearing their national dress. This is the best way to promote as surely when they meet you they will ask about the dress that you are wearing and if they like it they might want it!

I do recollect parted with one my favourite Batik because my foreign friend wanted it so bad!

The one with multitasking and prioritizing

2008-01-16T16:58:00.000+08:00

Multitasking is the performance by an individual of more than one task at the same time.

Prioritizing is to arrange or deal something with in order of importance.

That was the definition for both words according to the free online dictionary.

I was told by that I must be multitasking in doing my task. What the heck? I am not, all this while? I was surprised when I heard that when I know for a fact that I was more like prioritizing my task at the moment rather than multitasking them.

For me, you need to be multitasking when you are face with many tasks at the same time with the same deadline for every task. But when you have a different deadline and mind you that the next task deadline was far beyond the other task deadline, and then I do believe we can prioritize and put the resources at hand to the task that will come earlier!

The one with the school fees

2008-01-07T13:00:00.000+08:00

Year 2008, the new school term has started. To parents, especially the first timer in sending their kid, good luck in waking up your children. To teachers, especially the new ones, good luck in teaching the next genereation of Malaysian. At the moment, I am spared from all of this as my kid is still enjoying his crèche life. For me, the thing about school term is good luck for me on the traffic jam that I’m gonna face everyday.

Anyway, this year should be great for parents. No need to buy textbooks as Government has agreed that it will be free for all, rich, middle-class or poor. Even the RM50 school fees has been abolished. This should be louded!

However, in the past few days, everyday in the newspaper I read about parents’ complaint about other kind of fees imposed by the school. It ranged between RM100 to RM200 per student depending on what the school covers. It can be PIBG, computers, maintenance and I even heard cleaning of toilet fees. This has been the subject of some parents’ yapping for the past few days and I’m totally sick of it! I do feel that we are living in a society that expect too much subsidies in everything and this should stop sometime ... and it better be soon!

Seriously, I can probably understand if we are talking about hardcore poor family which I do believe should be allowed some slack in paying the fees or zero payment installment or something. But when you read in the paper or watch it on TV you can see the ones who complaint didn’t actually come from the poor. I would say middle-income earner with pretty decent car and some shiny gold bracelet or necklace wrapped nicely around them.

To this people, I would say this, if you don’t have any qualm whenever you change your sport rims or tinting your car’s window or adding your already heavy gold necklace on your neck, you should be ashamed of yourself if you complaint about paying some few hundred bucks for your childern’s school fees.

I hope we should start being humble and learn the word sacrifice. Our children is our future. Tell your son or daughter, I will pay your fees, I will buy your books but promise me to study hard as this is the investment that I put in you so that one day you can become someone who will give meaningful contribution to the country. Maybe this is too much but something like this la!

“It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich”

Average graduate salary

2008-01-02T13:00:00.000+08:00

While waiting for my turn doing something, I came across this article in November The Edge. It was about Watson Wyatt's 2007 Total Reward Survey in Malaysia. It was the 13th times, this company did this survey in Malaysia. They covered 114 companies both local and foreign in more than 10 sectors, among others automotive, banking, chemical, construction yada yada ... the boring stuffs.

Well, the thing that interest me on the article is this:

And this:

I do remember seeing one of my junior colleague who just entered Government with salary of RM2,800++. Now, that's something to ponder upon. No wonder so many people applying for Government jobs.

But then again, the one in the survey probably just the basic salary .... hahahaha!

Nowadays kid!

2008-01-01T12:00:00.000+08:00

This conversation took place at Ampang Point between my wife and my FOUR year old son on new year's day:

Afif: Mama, please buy this for me ... (pointing at PSP)

Mama: You have a game boy already dear, play with that first okay ...

Afif: Alaaa, Afif suka PSP ... please laa ...

Mama: Mama didn't bring enough money la today Afif ... (bohong sunat)

Afif: Alaaa, kan Mama ada CARD ...

(I was laughing and got a mild headache rightaway ...)

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T09:30:00.000+08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

To all family and friends ... may 2008 brings all of us more prosperity, joy and better life.

12 games ...

2007-12-31T08:30:00.000+08:00

I guest somehow I was possessed by the tennis-ghost or something for the past one week. Till yesterday, I was on 12 winning streaks without my serve being broken even once! What a surprise and surely a bragging right for me within the oakleaf tenniscrazy gang, ha ha!

What a way to end 2007 and to more great tennis in 2008!

6 years already ...

2007-12-30T12:00:00.000+08:00

On 29 December 2007, it has been 6 years of laughter and tears, bitter and sweet.

On such occasion, we retreated ourselves to this place:

And pampered ourselves at this place:

And continue my Sunday at my favourite place:

Happy Anniversary!

Dreamy Sunday Morning

2007-12-28T11:52:00.000+08:00

I had a very-very strange dream last Sunday. As usual, every Sunday I will wake up very early (yea … that’s right) to prepare myself for my tennis day. Bit exercise, briefly watching TV, early breakfast, things like that. So after Subuh prayer, I watched some TV and accidentally fell asleep while at that.

Well, during that brief sleep, vaguely I remembered a strange dream that I had. I was at some function probably somewhere in the Parliament or some important place where some minister was the one who officiating it. When he entered the hall, somehow the organizing committee used this Timbaland presenting One Republic song "Apologize" …. where dreamily I heard … “its too late too apologize … its too late … and so on and so on ….” (you have to rhyme it to get the feeling) and then suddenly I woke up.

And guess what was the song on TV at that particular time?

Opportunity ...

2007-12-27T08:30:00.000+08:00

Sometimes when opportunity comes knocking on your door (and other people's door for that matter), you feel bound to at least try to grab the chance. Especially when this kind of break doesn't come to you very often.

However a dear friend told me that I should not take the option simply because it is there for the taking. It is because I can have better if I wait and be patient about it! Maybe not now but sometimes in the future perhaps. Fate do plays it part in this kind of thing, so I need to pull up my socks and pray for the best.

Well, I guess I will do that!

Tom Tom Bak ... Bak balik my TV

2007-12-06T12:30:00.000+08:00

I really hate this production currently airing on 611 … simply hate it … and no one can even overturn my utter disgust feeling about this show … no matter how you said it, whether it is a good show, the pengacara very good, the kids in the show are all cute bunch or whatever whatever.

I think the show is lame … especially the part where all this wannabee spice girls or boys performing on the stage … if I’m not mistaken they call the segment ADA BAKAT KE? come onnnnnnn! Is this where parents want their kids end up to be … kids between age 6 to 12 performs with Inul kind of lenggok .. and everybody clapping and woooooo about it …. Oh my gosh!! Call me conservative or kampong or whatever but I rather we have spelling BEE instead!

Well, I would probably be 1 in a million Malaysians who thinks the show is no good … Tough luck then!

I need a vacation!

2007-12-06T11:44:00.000+08:00

So pitiful! I have only went to Cherating for one nite stay throughout the year ... that's crazy and obviously so bloody pathetic.

I wanna go to Bali next year ... and it must be very early next year ... if not mati kering I. My buddies already had plan in place and awaiting my go on it ... but how can???? the tentative date is definitely clash with two meetings in GVA which I'm very sure I will not be attending but will be slowly dying preparing for it. Ni nak nangis nie ... To top it all, they had bought the tickets for themselves and I'm still unsure whether I should follow suit ... arghhhh!

Yan Tai ...

2007-10-13T22:01:00.001+08:00

Went to Yan Tai, China from 23 to 25 September 2007. My First ever trip to China courtesy of WTO and it was during fasting month! Luckily, the flight was midnight thus managed to enjoy some snacks provided by MAS. I always love flight food, dunno why and can't explain it. Perhaps the packaging!

Anyway, arrived in Beijing really-really early in the morning and have about 5 hours to kill before boarding the next flight to Yan Tai. So I detoured to Beijing!

Time was limited thus constraint myself around Tianamen Square. Capture some beautiful photos though. The weather was fine and the people .... MANY! Full stop.

Before leaving Beijing for Yan Tai, tried to contact a friend of mine in Beijing, Sun Sun, however she was unavailable since she have to go to some other province.

Yan Tai is beautiful. A coastal city. Hotel was infront of the open sea and I got a seaview room which was nice. Unfortunately, rain every night so unable to go anywhere throughout my stay in Yan Tai. Break fast was at 5.50pm and took my Sahur 3.30am which was soooo unusual for me.

Things in Yan Tai:

1. Firecrackers were everywhere and almost everytime. Really!

2. Big vineyard, surprising!

3. Produced good wine (so they said!)

4. Seafood was bloody cheap, RM300 for 11 big dishes!

5. Nobody speaks English in a 5 star Hotel!

Happy Eid Al-Fitr Mubarak!

2007-10-13T09:00:00.000+08:00

To all my Muslims friends all over the world, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you Happy Eid Al-Fitr Mubarak! Enjoy the holiday and be safe.

Actually .....

2007-10-05T14:26:00.001+08:00

My whole half day gone today. Attended two meetings back to back. In both meetings, I was laughing all the way in my mind simply because the amount of ACTUALLY used by most members of meeting. I'm really fascinated by this because I believe this is truely a Malaysian way and ACTUALLY most of the time, we use the word ACTUALLY at wrong time ACTUALLY. Actually ...

Facebook anyone?

2007-10-02T13:10:00.000+08:00

Knew about this thing quite a while ago, but do not really have time to actually explore it. Anyway, I'm in now and I'm really hooked. It was a very good application and I'm loving every minute of it. Managed to get a couple of old friends in as well. Surprisingly, managed to get Locknie, Jake, Eason, Maneka and Michael. I'm very happy! So to those out there who knows me especially all buddies from WTO RTPC Singapore, let's join facebook, here.

Teck Yong came ...

2007-10-02T12:59:00.000+08:00

Had dinner with Teck Yong last Thursday. He was in Malaysia for some meeting. If I am not mistaken he did some pretty big thing here in KL but if anyone wants to know, better not come from me. Ask him!

It was very nice to see him after a couple of months. Took him for dinner at Souled Out, Sri Hartamas. The place was so crowded. I haven't had dinner at that place before, normally just lunch. Difficult to get parking as well. Anyway, the food was nice and the conversation was even better. And the chat continued with teh tarik and 5 satays (we were full) at the hawker stall near Ampang International School.

Anybody else wanna come to Kuala Lumpur?

Good health

2007-05-21T15:07:00.000+08:00

Learned a new proverb today from Sumedha from Sri Lanka during his theme session presentation, “AROGYA PARAMALABHA”.

It means “the biggest profit which we could earn is good health” or in another words “good health is the most precious gain”.

Indeed!

Safarian night in Singapore

2007-05-21T10:25:00.000+08:00

Starry-starry night at Night Safari

Phab looked very happy to meet his long lost friends

Still no animals??

Phab again? Happy all the time, this time because Vivian agreed to take photo with him. Sheow Wei was probably blinded by the flash or perhaps Sisi's cap!

Oh my God! How come Phab is everywhere! Flashy cap Sisi!

Three Pacific Islands ladies, cool as always! and Phab was there again!

Phab is choosing a souvenir for his beloved Locknie

Happy faces all around ... relieved to be alive from the safari

Thank you NUS!!!

Finally ... he made it!

2007-05-20T23:48:00.000+08:00

After so many tries, my favorite tennis player, Federer finally managed to beat his archrival on clay court, Nadal, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 at Hamburg Masters. With the win, he also ended Nadal's amazing record winning streak on clay at 81 matches.

What a match! When I watched Federer was beaten 2-6 in the first set, I thought that was it. Have to wait another day for him to actually beat Nadal on clay. But he made a comeback in the second set and what a comeback! Won 6-2 in second set and unbelievable 6-0 in the final set. This time around, Federer answered every shot that Nadal gave him. Superb match from two great sportsmen.

Fitting starts to the upcoming French Open. Bring it on, I say!

Lost the final ... damn it!

2007-05-20T15:30:00.000+08:00

So lazy to read the newspaper today simply because I know the headline at the back page will surely be the lost of Manchester United to Chelsea last night in the 126th edition of FA Cup Final. Watched the game in my apartment with my buddies, Mike, Chet, Jun, Ali, Sekope, Phab, Penday and Tika’s Husband since Liquid Kitchen was surprisingly full.

I was so frustrated since I was routing for United to the double this year. Thanks to that Didier “the stupid baby” Drogba’s goal in the 116 minutes, my beloved United lost the final. Not a great game anyway. Both teams play so cautiously and adopted safety-first tactics especially Chelsea with so many passes between their back four at one time. Stupid tactics with efficiency they say. Boring-boring Chelsea! It was a letdown.

By the way, United that night was unrecognizable at all. Ronaldo was mute, Giggs was nowhere to be seen, Scholes’s passes went astray most of the time and did you see Carrick? The only United player that showed passion in the game was Rooney. He even tried to beat them all to find some breakthrough but with to no avail. Fergie got his tactics wrong in this one. He should partnered Rooney with another striker. Too negative, the attacking flair just wasn’t there. Better luck next year, I guess.

United is still the Premiership Champion anyway, I can celebrate that!

P/s: What is the official football club who only knows how to play Champions League?
I give you a clue; start with L and has a huge 21 points difference between Manchester United and them in the Premiership table. Not forgetting boring long ball tactics.

Charter to chatter about

2007-05-17T21:30:00.000+08:00

I read an interesting article in The New Paper today on the plan to materialize the proposed ASEAN charter. It was an attention-grabbing reading for me on this mundane Thursday afternoon due to my foot injury. Normally, I would already be at the gym or the basketball court for my daily workout.

What is the ASEAN charter by the way? Officially declared at the ASEAN Summit 2005 in Kuala Lumpur whereby the ASEAN leaders agreed to the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Charter, this charter will provide ASEAN grouping with a legal standing and signed constitution. If this to be happen soon (probably during the ASEAN Summit in Singapore) it will be a new milestone in ASEAN's development into a mature regional organization. In essence, the ASEAN Charter emphasizes, among others, promotion of democracy, human rights and obligations, transparency and good governance, strengthening democratic institutions and intensifying ASEAN’s competitiveness, to deepen and broaden ASEAN’s internal economic integration and linkages with the world economy.

Actually, I am more interested on how this piece of paper will be translated to people like me and ASEAN communities as a whole. I noted that Singapore Foreign Minister, George Yeo mentioned 5 main points on the benefits of stronger ASEAN which includes framework of peace and cooperation, visa-free movement which result in strong services sector, free trade area for goods, consular assistance and cheaper and easier regional travel for the young.

I have to say that I really like the last point whereby ASEAN should try to make the regional travel cheaper and easier for the young as in Europe. Heck! I have to admit that I have only been to Singapore and Thailand. What a pity! I have another 7 more ASEAN countries to finish the jigsaw.

As the young will be the cornerstone of one’s country, I believe it is the utmost important that for ASEAN communities to grow stronger in the future we should first need to be able to understand each other dynamics such as cultural differences and development needs. Between one country to another, the difference might be huge in term of economics development, political scenarios and social state of affairs. I guess we need to understand this properly in order to build a common ASEAN identity.

It will take a very long time (or maybe not at all) for ASEAN to achieve full pledge integration as per European Communities but then we need to start somewhere and this is probably a very good start!

Just my lousy two cents!

The one with probable torn ligament

2007-05-15T20:45:00.000+08:00

What was supposed to be a friendly game of basketball turned to a mini-nightmare for me on Sunday. During one of the Michael Jordan wannabe move I made, I accidentally twisted my right ankle heavily which resulted in a very-very swollen feet. I feared for the worst. That night, I sleep in so much pain.

On Monday, the always helpful Jake (NUS academic coordinator) took me to Gleneagles Hospital to seek medical treatment. Fortunately for me, based on the x-ray, nothing was broken but the doctor said probably I torn my ligament which will take about 2, 3 weeks for full recovery. I was so frustrated to hear that because the course will end in about 3 weeks and there are so many things I plan to do.

Anyway, every cloud has a silver lining right! It is the same for me on this. I found out (not that I don’t know already) that I have so many great friends who always willing to help me in everyway to help me through this difficulty. Without them, it will be very hard for me to get through the day using the wheel chair. Thank you all!

P/s: FYI, Penday comes to my apartment every night to massage my foot to reduce the pain, which I really appreciate.

Cycling at Pulau Ubin

2007-05-13T23:11:00.000+08:00

Saturday, 12 May 2007. For a different experience while we were in Singapore, Teck suggested that we go cycling at Pulau Ubin, a small island situated in the north east of Singapore, to the west of Pulau Tekong. The name Pulau Ubin means "Granite Island" in Malay language which probably explains why you can see so many abandoned granite quarries there. The island is known as "chioh sua" in Hokkien, which means "stone hill".

Nine of us agreed to go there. Teck, Dennis, Mike, Mr & Mrs Dung, Vivian, Sun Sun, Tika and myself. We assembled at Fraser’s lobby as early as 7.30 am and took two taxis to go to our meeting point with Teck at Tanah Merah MRT station. From there we took bus no. 2 to go to Changi Village Jetty to take a bumboat ride to go to Pulau Ubin. Before we actually boarded the bumboat, Teck took us to eat at the so-called the best Nasi Lemak in Singapore named International Nasi Lemak.The bumboat ride lasted not more than 10 minutes.

Immediately after we arrived at Pulau Ubin, we rented five bicycles, four 2-in-1 and 1 single. So our journey began. We have so much fun cycling around the island with so many 5 minutes break, (since everybody is not that fit) which includes a nice coconut drinking stop somewhere near one small village at the island.

Anyway, I have never thought that leisurely cycling like this will be this tiring. We were so exhausted and it was not even quarter of the island. Ha ha ha. Our adventure on the island was probably around 3 to 4 hours. We were glad we made this trip, managed to see so many greens, a very good change of view from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan Singapore.

We arrived back at Fraser around 3 pm. Drained, exhausted and sleepy but with sweet memories to smile about!

Dinner at Settlers Cafe

2007-05-12T22:15:00.000+08:00

More than just coffee, that is the cafe's motto to begin with.

Unfortunately, I have forgotten the date when Teck took us to this unique cafe call Settlers at North Canal Rode to have dinner with a twist. Playing board game!

Eight of us went there, Vivian, Chet, Teck, Dennis, Pei-Li, Sun Sun, Mike and me. It was an interesting place. The cafe has a huge collections of board game from UNO to I don't know what. We played two different board games, one before dinner and one after. The first game called Saboteur where players aim to win the game, either as a succesful miner or saboteur. The second game was about building railroads called Ticket to Ride, another good game, at least for someone like me who probably know only monopoly and scrabble. The waiter taught us patiently on how to play both games which really helped us in understanding the whole idea of the game.

The food wasn't that great but the atmosphere created from customers playing all the games supplemented it. That night it was full house at the cafe. End of the day, I have to say that I have no problem going there again.

It was fun!

Comme ci comme ca

2007-05-11T14:22:00.000+08:00

Pronunciation : "Kohm See Kohm Sah"

Meaning : not too good, not too bad; like this, like that; so-so or OK laaaa.

Definitely French in origin but has been widely used in English. Probably popularized by American Soldiers coming back from service in France after World War II.

If I remember correctly, first time RTPC participants heard this word was from Mr. Johann Human (the moo cow can lecturer) and like "nomenclature", Phab from Lao PDR was the one who popularized this word and use it the most.

Example on how to use it:

Professor : You back there from Lao, do you understand what is prime commodities?

Phab : Comme ci comme ca (ha ha ha ha ....)

This is Locknie ...

2007-05-10T14:40:00.000+08:00

The first face (literally speaking) that all participants of RTPC in Singapore saw on 12 March 2007 and still the first face you see every morning in the class (Am I right??). It is my pleasure to introduce the one and only Associate Professor Locknie Hsu from Faculty of Law, NUS.

Just some introduction about her which I took from NUS website, Ms. Locknie Hsu obtained her Masters in Law degree from Harvard Law School. She practised as a lawyer before joining the Faculty and is a former Vice-President of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. She teaches two trade courses: Trade Dispute Mechanisms and Trade, Law and Development. Her work has taken her to stints at the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, as well as at the Singapore Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva. She has served as legal consultant to the Singapore Government, participating in a number of cross-border trade negotiations on its behalf. For full impressive biodata of our dearest academic coordinator, click here. And don't forget to check out her photo there okay!

This gut-wrenching, tough-tackling, flu-fighting lady has been very nice to all of us during our stay in NUS and I believe everybody appreciates her efforts in every way. From checking our welfare when we were sick, so sportingly joining us singing and dancing at the beach in Sentosa, accompanying Phab at Night Safari (luckily for Phab, without Locknie, that big snake at the animal show probably eat him already) and avoiding stomach problem after dinner at Fraser (and yes, also Phab is the one who got sick).

In the class, who can forget, everytime, without fail, she will always help us with her favourite, famous keywords such as ... please refer Article ..., Page ... in your Green Book, workbin and weblink. However lately, Locknie probably will lose her job because Phab already started to take over some task such as deciding the BREAK TIME!!

Faces of RTPC 2007

2007-05-09T19:22:00.000+08:00

This is actually the very first time that I write a blog. So a total beginner and I really struggle to come up with this. Anyway, since I am currently in Singapore in a company of many wonderful people in the course, I think it is appropriate to start my blog on my experience during this course.

This is my first post in this blog which I call Remembering Nomenclature. I believe participants of the 1st. WTO Regional Trade Policy Course in partnership with National University of Singapore (NUS) will always remember that magic word. Anyway, so that I will always reminisce all my dear friends from RTPC 2007, let me start this blog with ... presenting the faces of RTPC 2007:

The lady in red is Ms. Nu Zun Sun whose nickname is Sun Sun from China. She has such a big heart and loved by everybody and not forgetting, a good cook as well. The guy holding the cup will always be remembered as the one who made famous the word nomenclature, Mr. Anouphab Sayasensouk from Lao PDR. No one else can say that word better than him and we will always have such a good laugh when he said it. The guy on the far right who always can't stop smiling is Mr. Nara Thol from Cambodia.

This two gentlemen came from neighbouring countries. Mr. Ajay Kumar Srivastava in blue from India while Mr. Khawar Fared Maneka in yellow shirt originated from Pakistan. Ajay is the one who always have something in his mind to ask the lecturers anytime any class. He is special in a sense that he is able to come up with questions even from some lectures that actually bored most of us to death. By the way, Mr. Maneka is really a persuasive man with his famous style ... listen! listen! A very generous man. You want to know how generous he is? Ask Sun Sun! Perhaps the most senior government officials among us.

I can’t help it. I have to use this unique, photogenic photo of Mr. Lal Krishna Sharma Paudel from Nepal. The photo is just so special. See the eyes! He looks like an actor from Bollywood movie that is ready to sing and dance and believe you me he really likes to dance. Give him good music and watch him move. By the way, he loves hindi songs too. Go Mr. Paudel!

This three ladies came from Pacific Island countries which explains why they always together in most of the things they do such as eating and shopping. On the far left, Ms. Etita Puamalie Morikao from Tuvalu, Ms. Jenny Kokosi Barile in the middle originated from Solomon Island and Ms. Cindy Koae Flood in purple dress is from Kiribati. One thing that I will always remember about them was the story about the difficult situation related to global warming and the rise of sea water level from Ms. Etita and Ms. Cindy in their countries. It will remain in my heart and my mind. I can only pray for the best for them as I am powerless to help in anyway.

The two quietest female participants in the course. Ms. Sandar Tun on the right from Myanmar and Ms. Tuyatsetseg Nyamsuren from Mongolia. A story to share, for theme session, I was assigned in the group with Ms. Sandar. Everytime she asked me when are we going to discuss about it, I will always tell her (with serious face) that she will do everything herself while Nara and me will not do anything. I think she was scared and probably upset with me and complained to everybody that I bullied her. (Ha ha ha, relax la Sandar, I was joking!) Well, Tuya you are so quiet thus I don't know what to say about you except good luck in negotiating "FTA" with Tonga! By the way, she speaks 4 languages, Russian, Mandarin, English and Mongolian. Impressive isn't it!

The one pointing the finger is Mr. Cong Huan Nguyen a.k.a Mike who came from Viet Nam. I guess his main hobby is shopping and shopping. Probably the biggest spender of per diem among us, ha ha. Anyway, he is a good friend of mine, my dining and movie partner and really love nasi goreng ayam. Since he studied for a while in Singapore, it was just very easy when going outing with him. Next to him is Mr. Dennis Alenabon Gamaya, a central banker from Philippines. He loves outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and kayaking. By the way, he is the only lawyer in the class.

Three tough guys of Pacific Islands. On far left, is Mr. Sekope Daini Tamanitoakula from Fiji. A big fan of rugby and Australian Football. He is also a very good guitar player and have successfully entertained us for countless times. My dedicated 10.30 am tea buddy and probably Sun Sun’s good friend. Also served as the buffer between Himalia and Elara, (if u know what I mean). The big guy in the middle is Mr. Aloisio Alipate Tavo, best known as Ali coming from Tonga. The very first name that I remember since it was very easy to memorize. This loyal customer of Detention Class is the biggest dude in the class and probably the funniest (and not forgetting Phab). Can you forget interesting questions from Ali such as is WTO logo copyrighted or can Tonga negotiates FTA with Mongolia? It was really funny, creative questions and unimaginable in the first place. The one on the far right is Mr. Timothy Williams Sisi from Vanuatu. If not in class, you can always find him in the gym at Frasers working out. Very dedicated in his gym work, the strong man of RTPC 2007.

Most of the time, he is always quiet but when he do speaks in class, the questions from him sometimes very constructive which surpise many of us. It is my pleasure to know Mr. Alex Katalon Kerangpuna from Papua New Guinea, who is the one in light blue. On the left is prospective Harvard grads. A casual coffee chat with him can lead to discussion on universal issues which I really appreciate. This 31 year old gentleman is Mr. Sounman Michael Hong from South Korea. If you have a chance, look at his handwritten notes, it was so neat, I thought it came from HP printer!

On the left, is the mummy to be, Ms. Pei-Li Chin from Chinese Taipei. She is also known as Tiffany. She announced the good news here during class and we were treated with a nice cake that day. In the middle of the photo is Ms. Tika Wihanasari from Indonesia, an ASEAN neighbour of Malaysia. Since she speaks the same mother tongue language like mine, so it is nice talking to her, at least I won't forget my own language in these three months. By the way, along with Sun Sun, she always treats us with nice home cooked dinner. The guy on the right need no introduction. One of the WTO expert in the group, he should actually teach us not learning it with us. Probably got one of the best photo in the booklet that NUS provided us where he adorned the military typed dress, I thought he is in the army or something. Anyway, he came from Thailand and his name is Mr. Chet Suksang or sometimes I heard people called him Jackie. His interest ... ermm, should I tell people? Never mind Chet, it is our secret. Ha ha! By the way, if he shows photos of his officemates, I think all the guys would want to work there and the first one will be Ali!

I present to you the Wise Man from Bhutan, Mr. Penday Dorji (The one in white okay). An ardent basketball player, he is the Michael Jordan of the group. Every afternoon around 6 pm, you can catch him playing one-on-one with Paudel at the Fraser's court. By the way, next to him is someone he met in Sentosa, what is his name Penday?

All smiles from the two largest contributor to Mustafa. Everytime we met after class or during weekend, somehow they always just came back from Mustafa. Amazing! The one with the largest smile is Mr. Sumedha Arachchige Ponnamperuma from Sri Lanka. He was also the Honorable Minister of Himalia. The speckie guy came from Bangladesh, never miss to wish me Selamat Pagi (Good Morning in Malay language) everyday at Fraser's cafe. Probably the quietest male in the class. His name is Mr. Rahman Khan Hamidur.

Since this is my neighbour from day 1 in the class, I have to give special preferential treatment for this lady from Macao, Ms. Ming Yan Kong or known to everybody as Vivian hence this nice single photo. She is very hardworking and committed in any exercise given in class, (negotiation, theme session and so on) so I could imagine she must be the same in her work. I admire her for that. There is no way for you to tell her to take it easy. I tried and failed everytime, ha ha ha! Always writes and writes (I don't know what she writes though).

Our host countries participants, Mr. Teck Yong Lim and Ms. Sheow Wei Yeo from Singapore. Teck is from the Trade Ministry while Sheow Wei is from Foreign Affairs. During the negotiations simulation, Teck was the tough tackling Honorable Minister of Elara who is ready to open all sectors for his country especially NAMA. Even ready to be in Developed group! Anyway, between him and me, we did have great discussion on the whole things of WTO, RTPC, things like that and I really appreciate the intelligent discussion. Another great discussion partner in the group, Sheow Wei has been very nice to me and I believe, everybody. The only child in the family probably awaiting her posting destination after this course and I wish her good luck on that. Don't forget to tell me where you will be posted so that I can disturb you, if I have the chance to go wherever that will be.

By the way, the one in RED is me!