26th Dec Workshop

Dec 26th, when almost everyone is with their loved one finishing the last few days of 2011, I on the other handy got to be with the participants of UTP Filing System Workshop here in Cameron Highland. Don't get me wrong thou, I do like these kind of workshop-ping. It's just that this week supposedly to be rrthe only week that I could take leave before the start of new year (and before I lost all my right to complete my leave for 2011).

Lets not talk so much on the sobbing part. I was invited to this workshop in replacing En SAN. I do feel honor when he asked me to reps him but at the same time I just could not imagine the expectation that will arise from the audience. Eventually and thankfully, the session went smoothly. Below is the excerpt from my opening speech for the workshop: -

The UTP Filing System, as I have been informed, is an initiative and effort to establish a proper file management which will include not only filing procedures but also developing a proper storing, retrieval and archiving system. Theoretically, if your office is in a mess and you don’t know where to start when it comes to filing away all the files and documents, you have got a real problem on your hands. If this is the situation, it won’t be an easy task to sort the mess out. It is for this reason that I believe it is necessary that you need some kind of office filing or shelving system that keeps your office organized.

Documents need to be filed away in a proper order so that when a particular document is needed it can be found in no time. Offices are required to store files and documents so they cannot just be thrown away. These may include records of the daily transactions that the university has made throughout the years, all the accounts and reports, important minutes of meeting as well as the shareholders details. If these important documents are kept in a haphazard way, the univer-sity will not be able to find them when they are required. These documents may also be needed as proof, in case the univer-sity is involved in Research Univer-sity audit for instant or perhaps some kind of a law suit.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Seperti yang kita sedia maklum, UTP telah menerima penarafan Tier 5 di bawah Sistem Penarafan Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia (SETARA 2009). Penarafan ini secara langsung telah mengiktiraf proses pembelajaran dan pengajaran di UTP sebagai berstatus cemerlang. Pada 2012 ini, satu lagi proses audit SETARA yang melibatkan bukan hanya satu tapi dua audit iaitu SETARA dan D-SETARA akan dijalankan. Sejajar dengan hasrat dan objektif UTP untuk meningkatkan mutu dan aktiviti penyelidikan dan inovasi, pihak universiti juga telah meletakkan sasaran tahun 2013 untuk mendapatkan status Universiti Penyelidikan.

Bagi ketiga-tiga proses audit di atas, SETARA, D-SETARA dan Universiti Penyelidikan - memerlukan satu mekanisma atau system pengurusan file yang berkesan. Tujuan utama pengurusan file yang berkesan adalah untuk mempromosikan budaya perkongsian maklumat dan dalam pada masa yang sama memudahkan urusan kerja sedia ada seperti mudahcara pengaksesan data, penyimpanan rekod, analisis data, trend dan sebagainya.

UTP’s achievements especially in the area of teaching and learning for the past couple of years back have been tremendously increasing. As support staff, we need to ‘run’ as fast as the other counterpart i.e. the academic. Otherwise, we will be left behind and will not be able to ‘taste’ the victory when the times come. In realizing this, ITMS, under the good hand of previous and current Senior Managers, En Naziri and En Sabri respectively has come out with the SharePoint initiative, i.e. the electronic based total solutions of UTP filing and record management. SharePoint is a web-based intranet that can help improve one’s effectiveness by allowing us to set up centralised data to be used, edited and shared. Most importantly, this initiative ensures that records are able to be retrieved as and when needed. Therefore, filing management, both paper and electronic, as well as physical record, are of paramount important.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The next few years are expected to be challenging ones for us in realizing our aspiration to become Research Univer-sity by 2013 and beyond. Therefore, I would like to urge every single one of us to play the dual role of not only an implementer but at the same time a leader in our very own way. We need to have the drive and motivation and most importantly the perseverance in doing the job tasked to us.

Saya sesungguhnya berasa envy dengan segala usaha dan dedikasi yang tuan-tuan dan puan-puan tunjukkan kerana saya telah dimaklumkan bahawa initiatif UTP Filing System ini telah bermula semenjak Mac 2011 lagi. Inilah dia contoh drive dan perseverance yang saya maksudkan tadi. Congratulations to the Staff Internal Training and Development Group (SITDG), Puan Anne and gang, Information Resource Centre, led by En Naziri, Cik Syarifah and their team members, En Sabri, Cik Maniza and ITMS staff for the effortless work especially in the SharePoint initiatives and last but not least, all the participants of this workshop. I hope all of you will go back and implement the filing system in your respective department, fully in assisting the univer-sity to achieve its aspirations.

To the organizing committee, my deepest congratulations on the work done and I hope the two-and-half-day workshop will be fruitful and succeed. Thank you for inviting me to this workshop.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dengan lafaz Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, saya bagi mewakili En SAN, merasmikan pembukaan workshop on UTP Filing System.

P/s - performance wise? Bolehla...ape celup tokkk!!

iCity

Kenangan dengan Avanza sebelum di let-go,

Ronda-ronda iCity Shah Alam

Bakal pelumba F1

DFP dlm kenangan..

Gambar2 menarik sekitar event conferment of Honorary Doctorate President Berdimuhamedov..

Credit to professional photographer Hazrin,,

glorious Dewan Filharmonik *PETRONAS

Turkmenistan students in their RM400-budget suit 

The conferment

Mr President Berdi with his acceptance speech

Oitt..????

P/s - Hazrin..jgn marahh aaa.. nanti ana jual!!

31.12.1985

Pernah sekali aku ditanya dalam sebuah sesi temuduga, apa yang membuatkan aku boleh melontarkan pandangan dan pendapat dengan amat berkeyakinan sekali? Aku menjawab dengan tenang bahawa aku telah memperajakan dua ayat ini dalam kehidupan… ‘independent’ dan ‘survival’ semenjak lebih 25 tahun lalu. Hari esok genaplah 26 tahun kembalinya arwah abah ke rahmatullah. Maka selama itulah juga aku telah menggunapakai dan mempraktikkan kedua-dua ayat di atas dengan baik sekali.

Tahun ini agak sedikit sinonim dengan kehilangan abah 26 tahun yang lalu. Tahun yang sama sekitar Disember 1985, aku anak sulung yang berumur 12 tahun. Tahun ini Amin juga (anak sulungku) akan menginjak ke umur 13 tahun. Cuma kematian arwah abah adalah pada hari Jumaat dan 13hb tahun ini jatuhnya pada hari Selasa. Apa2 pun rezeki setiap anak Adam berbeza2. Jadi aku cuma boleh berdoa dan bertawakal kepadaNya kerana itu saja yang termampu aku lakukan di kala ini.

“Ya Allah Ya Tuhanku, cucurilah rahmat dan kasihilah kepada kedua ibu bapaku seperti mereka mengasihi dan menyayangiku sewaktu aku kecil"

Al Fatihah

Mohd Ariff B Salim

1946 – 1985

P/s - Hidup dengan gumbira? Sapa yang tak mau gumbira? Cuma adakah kita hanya mampu bergumbira di dunia yang singkat ini atau layakkah kita meneruskan buat selama-lamanya di alam yang satu lagi? 

Honorary Doctorate

It has been sometimes since I last updated this blog. Poor her, dia terabai sekian lama. I was busy, busy, busy and busy. No other good excuses than busy-ness. I and the rest of the team were technically involved with the conferment of honorary doctorate to the President of Turkmenistan, held in the glorious Dewan Filharmonik. The event took roughly about 45 mins but the preparation is like for ages. Nevertheless, everything went smoothly as planned and I thanked God for that. With all the ‘havoc’, and ‘less-coordination’ efforts, we finally passed thru the 8th Dec heyday.

Here bit about the recipient..

PRESIDENT BERDI

His Excellency Mr Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, is a graduate of the Turkmen State Medical Institute (TSMI), where he later became Associate Professor of Preventive Dentistry. His Excellency also obtained his Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science in Medical Sciences. In 1997, His Excellency was appointed Minister of Health and Medical Industry, and four years later, advanced to become Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet Ministers of Turkmenistan. In December 2006, following the demise of the late President Saparmyrat Niyazov, His Excellency was made Acting President of Turkmenistan. In February 2007, His Excellency was elected as the President of Turkmenistan through a popular vote.

Turkmenistan has significant long-term energy potential. It is home to the world’s fourth-largest reserves of natural gas and a substantial endowment of oil. Under His Excellency’s premiership, her petroleum industry has remained vibrant and prosperous — a fact borne out by the active participation of numerous foreign oil and gas corporations including *PETRONAS. *PETRONAS participation in Turkmenistan’s petroleum industry represents its most significant investment outside Malaysia and in the Central Asian region. With support of the Turkmenistan Government, *PETRONAS recently commenced the nation’s first offshore production as part of an integrated oil and gas development plan. Other milestones include the nation’s first fabrication yard in Kiyanly for the fabrication of offshore platforms.

This vitality and investor confidence is no accident; instead owing itself largely to His Excellency’s policies. His Excellency has gone to great lengths to promote national science as the primary driver of Turkmenistan’s future progress. He has sought to increase the number of qualified scientists and specialists, and strengthened collaboration between science and industry at both the national and international levels — measures that have helped ensure the adoption of best practices and innovations, including those applicable to the petroleum industry. To support and sustain the widespread application of science and technology, His Excellency has embarked on large-scale reforms in Education and strengthened international co-operation in this area. His Excellency’s economic reforms have also helped strengthen Turkmenistan’s investment climate, which have not only increased inward investment into the petroleum industry to fund projects that monetise and realise Turkmenistan’s resource potential, but also — and just as importantly — indirectly facilitated transfers of petroleum engineering technology from abroad.

Beyond technology and engineering, Turkmenistan’s petroleum industry has benefited from His Excellency’s foreign policy measures. His Excellency promotes good neighbourliness, openness, mutual respect and goodwill in the international arena and has sought to establish Turkmenistan as a force for stability within Central Asia. All of this has helped create a conducive environment for deeper cross-border energy market integration at both the regional and trans-continental levels. By extending the geographical reach of Turkmenistan’s energy potential, this deeper energy market integration stands to create a self-sustaining, virtuous circle — augmenting the value of her petroleum resources, attracting greater inward investment, spurring further exploration activities and with the attendant discoveries, extending her petroleum resource-base even further; securing thereby the prosperity of current and future generations of the Turkmen people.

His Excellency’s efforts in promoting the advanced application of technology and engineering in Turkmenistan’s petroleum industry is a prime example of harnessing the power of science for the benefit of humanity. Thus, The Institution’s Board and Senate have honoured His Excellency with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Engineering & Technology, honoris causa.

(Excerpt from citation read by Datuk VC’s speech during the conferment)

P/s – Zamani, Zaihan, the CRPAs and ITMS, led by Khalid have done a very good job throughout. Two thumbs up for them. Boss did great on stage too :-)

 

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha

Ikhlas Daripada:
Alternative Views!

Hakka Raischa

Satu jenis permainan yang tak pernah aku berpeluang bermain…ragbi. Dengan ketinggian 155 dan berat badan ‘ideal’ 45kg (suatu masa dulu) takde mana-mana pasukan yang berminat walaupun aku ada kelebihan kelajuan, kehenseman dan pelbagai ke lagi lah :-0. Aku ingat kata-kata Maran, kalau aku try jugak patah riuk jangan sesekali salahkan depa. Aku demotivated, takut sebenarnya, so aku pun tak pernah try2 sampailah hari ini. Namun bak kata orang tua-tua, the flame masih burning dalam diri so itu pasal la RWC2011 sangat2 aku tunggu.

Ragbi bagi aku satu permainan yang menerujakan juga mengghairahkan. It’s a combination of both kekuatan dan kepandaian. Jarang ada permainan yang sebegitu. Pemain ragbi pulak ada character2 mereka yang tersendiri. Dulu di ITM budak-budak ragbi ni selalu dipandang tinggi, sama tinggi dengan ketinggian masing2. Ujang flyhalf contohnya walaupun tak memiliki ketinggian yang boleh ’dibanggakan’, tapi ada character gila-gila yang tersendiri. Pernah sekali tu masa dia tengah tension study, di soundnya katak2 dekat longkang besar hostel Halban supaya berhenti berbunyi. Dia boleh jerit sekuat2 hati sampai satu dorm terkejut. Lepas 2 minit terdiam katak2 tu semua. Study dia maintain 3 pointer every semester. Sarjen (lock - budak TI) badan punyalah besar Extra XXXL ala-ala Kumin tapi hati ada sikit sentimental. Awek dia comel je saiz S. Ada sekali tu kita org balik cuti semester masa tengah tunggu keretapi awek dia tertidor dekat kaki Sarjen, cute sesangat. ;-)

Masa mula-mula di ITM, budak freshie cam aku ni tak reti lagi properly dressed so pi beli makan kat gerai siap pakai kain pelikat lagi tu. Lalu pulak ikut hostel Halban tempat senior-senior melepak. On the way balik beli pisang goreng malam tu aku kena tahan. Muka-muka pembuli2 senior semuanya turun. Dalam hati abislah aku ’dikerjakan’ bebudak senior ni. Nasib baiklah dalam kain ada seluar pendek malam tu kalau tak berbogel la aku balik Jati agaknya..huhu. Bila geng2 senior ni tanya aku asal dari mana? Aku jawap ’Manjoi’ terus Krull datang. Dia kata budak Manjoi jangan sapa-sapa berani usik sebab budak kampung dia. Muka toreh takde darah kembali jadi merah gumbira penuh dengan bangga diri sekejap. Selamat aku. Rupanya Manjoi ni sama level dengan Kuala Perlis a.k.a tempat gengster-gengster bertapak di Perlis. Lepas peristiwa itu takde sapa berani kacau aku lagi. Krull pemain ragbi ITM budak final year. Awek dia Popeye (sebab tengkuk dia agak panjang skit) bekas pelajar terbaik Hartford Univ, US masa depa sama2 melanjutkan pelajaran mid 90an dulu. Last aku jumpa Krull dgn Popeye dia dah bawak Merc S280 raya hari lepas. Agaknya Popeye punya kut sebab dia anak org kaya KL dengar critanya.

Anyway, All Blacks berjaya juga menang balik World Cup selepas gap 24 tahun. Last sekali masa depa menang first WC 1987. Ironinya final dan semi-final mempertemukan empat pasukan dari kejuaraan 1987 tu dan pemenangnya pun pakai skrip yang sama. Tahniah kepada Ritchie McCaw dengan rakan-rakan sepasukan. Dia sememangnya rugger yang akan jadi legenda selepas nama-nama besar lain seperti Jonah Lomu, John Kirwan, Rokococo, Sean Fitzpatrick, Dan Carter, dsbgnya.

Tapi yang paling syoknya bila tengok Piri Weepu menjelirkan lidah bila dia lead All Blacks dengan Hakka...

Ringa Pakia, A Ka Mate, Ka Mate, (‘Tis Death, ‘Tis Death)

Ka Ora, Ka Ora (‘Tis Life, ‘Tis Life)

Ka Mate, Ka Mate (‘Tis Death, ‘Tis Death)

Ka Ora, Ka Ora (‘Tis Life, ‘Tis Life)

Tenei Te Tangata (This is the man)

Pu Huru Huru (The fierce powerful man)

Nana I Tiki Mai (It was he who captured)

Whaka Whitti Te Ra (The sun and caused)

A, Upane, Karupane (it to shine)

Upane, Karupane (Its rises and sets)

Upane, Karupane (Rises and sets)

Whitti Te Ra (The Sun Shines)

Hiii....

P/s – Raischa sedang buat Hakka untuk manakutkan ibunya yang nak kasi ubat..

Transformation 'Soft Part'

The Institute has embarked on its Transformation Plan initiative back in 2009 with objective to identify and recommend appropriate action plans to accelerate the university’s R&D capacity and capability in order to become a world class research university. The near to-date target or immediate milestone was to achieve a Research University status by 2013. I was heavily involved with this Plan.

Two years down the road, we have finalized the plan, I would say in details, consists of not only immediate action plans to achieve the RU status but also a long-term strategies to ensure sustainability. Putting too much pressure with workload during the implementation phase of the Transformation, be it academia or administrator, needs motivation and morale boost. A set of new environment whereby transformation is not regarded as a threat but rather as a stimulating opportunity should be emphasized and put in place. I guess that’s why we have abundant of strategies, plentiful of initiatives and many-many action plans in ensuring a new environment to the staff. We want the staff to ask themselves what they can contribute to the institution rather than the otherwise.

That was then. I was with the rest of my colleagues today for a sharing session with the Transformation Team. They have a very focus presentation which I believe should come from a full time job effort. My expectations were never low until Khalid raises a very pertinent question whether all the above so called soft part is taken into consideration in ensuring sustainability of the Transformation. Then only I know that most of the soft part was not well covered.

Somebody needs to do something. Otherwise, the Transformation will not last long. It will only create short term gain but in the long term it might goes down the drain. I’m quite concern…

P/s – Good presentation on the slides thou…

Festival of Lights - KBP Style

Amazingly, I did not write anything for more than 1 month. Not that I’m running out of idea or simply nothing much to write, in fact there were lots of things happen during that one-month period. We had our 11th Convocation; Raischa visited Hospital again, twice in a gap of 2 months etc, etc. But then, I just don’t feel in putting up my pen to the draft pad (or in this case to the keyboard).

Anyway, this week we gonna have a mid-week cuti of Deepawali. So to my entire Hindu friend out there, happy celebrating the ‘festival of lights’. To all the happy lot of Kampung Buah Pala as well. I heard the ‘High Chapparalian’ consists of 17 Indians and 7 Malays families have returned to the site of their old village to accept keys to their new double-storey houses. Lampu kalimantang lights finally emerged from the end of the tunnel, huh? A unit of double storey house in that area might be valued in the range of 300 - 350K, thus will cost the private developer Nusmetro Ven¬tures (P) Sdn Bhd RM8 – 9 mill altogether. Guan Eng and the rest of developer can now happily develop the whole land that has a commercial value of billions. It’s a huge spot-lights coming out from the end of the tunnel for Guan Eng and co.

For the remaining 9 families that did not accept the RM125K offered by the developer, they might have lost everything.

P/s - The Chinese Opera in a thick make up with esoteric and mysterious yet hardly understandable characters…

Kellie Si Penjaga Rumah 267

Jelitawan Model Iklan Sabun Registri



Nasik Lomak 2.0 (aka Hadiah Hari Malaysia)

Bila anak BABI buat filem Nasik Lomak 2.0, dengan bangganya ’babi-babi gemuk’ semua ikut serta jadi pelakon tambahan…

Seronok jadi anak bukan Melayu di Tanah Melayu ni. Kutuk sini wa kutuk sana, lanciau sini dan lanciau sana, kontroversi NEGARAKUKU, kutuk wanita Islam bertudung, kutuk bunyi Azan, kutuk TNB, last-last dapat masuk Parlimen, bergelak sakan dengan Menteri Amaran, pastu boleh pulak bikin filim sendiri tayangan satu Malaysia. Cuba kalau aku yang kutuk Najib meng’mampus’kan ISA, mau aku masuk jel bawah ordinan lalu lintas ke, kalau tak pun ordinan mesin cetak ke, tak kira la asalkan aku boleh ditutupkan mulut.

Takpelah, orang Melayu memang begitu sifatnya. Layu dari batang sampailah ke hujung daun..

Was the movie “embraces and celebrates what makes us Malaysian?” What makes us Malaysian hanyalah kalau kita bercakap dengan satu bahasa, bersekolah di satu aliran yang sama, dan mula menghormati antara satu sama lain. Kalau masih seperti sekarang ini, just porgedit…

Tu sebab la aku tak pernah appreciate karya-karya filem Yasmin Ahmad (selain dari Iklan Raya PETRONAS) yang suka menonjolkan tabiat dan budaya buruk Melayu. Aku refer filem Yasmin adegan minah Melayu ikut mamat Cina main snooker, dengan sinis menolak pemuda Melayu sebab tak pandai dressing, x macho & tak pandai main snooker agaknya. Minah Melayu yang ikut masuk kelab snooker tu agak2nya bagus ke?

Huh! Buat digelak bangsa lain je..

P/s – Kalau kome tanya kenapa Alternative Views! lantang menulis dalam posting ni? Jawapnya inilah style gen i-y, belasah dulu pastu mintak maaf (itu pun kalau dah nak kena saman..)

Selamat Menyambut Hari Malaysia yang ke 48.

Happy Birthday...

Penuturan sesuatu ayat memainkan peranan penting bagi menentukan ‘weight’ atau kesungguhan penggunaannya. Sebagai contoh, kalau kita katakan “Ali pergi ke sekolah” – tidak membawa apa-apa makna yang penting. Namun apabila penggunaan ayat tersebut ditambah kepada “Sesungguhnya Ali pergi ke sekolah” – pertambahan perkataan itu memberikan makna yang mendalam dan mempunyai ‘weight’ dalam penggunaannya. Apatah lagi sekiranya ayat tersebut dikuatkan dengan perkataan seperti “Sesungguhnya Ali benar-benar pergi ke sekolah” – maka kesungguhan dalam ayat tersebut akan lebih terserlah.

Maka aku teringat ayat lazim dari surah Al ‘Asr ayat 103: 1-3 yang biasa kita baca,

"Demi Masa! Sesungguhnya manusia itu benar-benar di dalam kerugian. Kecuali mereka yang beriman, beramal soleh dan berpesan-pesan dengan kebenaran serta berpesan-pesan dengan kesabaran”

Bukan saja dua ‘weight’ di dalam ayat di atas tetapi ditambah pula dengan satu lafaz sumpah yang menjadikan ianya suatu ayat yang mudah, lazim tapi penuh dengan kesungguhan dan pengertian yang mendalam.

Minggu lepas ini beberapa sahabat lama dan rakan-rakan menyambut hari lahir. Rupa-rupanya Rizal sama hari lahirnya dengan Razman. Kami sama-sama di ITM Perlis, dalam satu cohort, satu kelas, satu group buat presentation dsbgnya. Empat hari lepas, hari lahir Sep (aka Ling nama manja masa di OPKIM IV dulu). Tajul juga birthday minggu lepas. Oh! tak lupa Raischa juga menyambut hari lahir yang pertama 9 september lalu. Kepada mereka2 ini semoga mereka dipanjangkan umur, dimurahkan rezeki dan sentiasa berada di kalangan manusia yang tidak kerugian seperti yang disebutkan di surah Al ‘Asr di atas. Amin..

P/s - Aku tau korang nak kata Raischa cute macam bapak dia jugak kan? kan? kan?

ETS

Here I am riding on the Electric Train services (ETS) for the very first time. I must say, I do feel the disparity between the normal coach that I used to take before as compared to this electric-based ETS. Amin and I, we are heading south for our Idulfitri’s ‘obligatory’ visit to the in-law. Nora and the rest of the kidz were there even before Hari Raya.

Along the way, you could see lots of greenery of which is a very pleasant panorama that one could appreciate. And when the ticket lady dressed with Baju Kurung Hari Raya and a nice perfume smell (I guess due to this festive season), it is even pleasurable. I remember during the halcyon days back in 93’, riding on the Ekspress Senandung Malam from Arau to Ipoh was something that you are waiting for after struggling with a frantic schedule of examination at the end of each semester. During those days, you would travel at night and only reach Ipoh at 2-3 in the morning (after a long but fun journey). The travel usually starts at 5-6pm from Arau. Coach was sardines packed with mostly students, that sometimes it’s better to get yourself a seat at the coach’s juncture (in between coach at the stairway, with unlighted cigarette butt in your hand playing macho). Nevertheless, you don’t want to stay at the stairway for long because you might end up falling from the running train. I routinely never miss sitting at the stairway when the train go pass Bukit Merah Lake.

ETS was much much better. You’ll feel cozy and comfortable with air-con and a very spacious seat. Our coach has only few people doing almost nothing (probably because of the coziness?) and after sometimes you might feel awkward and suck!!

P/s – As I do right now. Bila nak sampai nih?

Raya 2011, Merdeka #54

Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya Idulfitri,
Maaf Zahir & Batin...

Buat kerja-kerja so 'unoffice' sebelum Raya..

Bergambar ramai dengan officemate..Mael tersilap location, terpaksa mintak ampun ngan boss huhu..

Raischa's intussusceptions

Selamat Hari Merdeka juga...

P/s - Warga polis, tentera & yg seangkatan dengannya, jangan ambik hati dengan Mat Sabu. Aritu diberitakan dia terlebih taruk syabu masa bersahur...hahaha

Intussusceptions

Almost a year ago baby Raischa were born premature. Today she was again hospitalized due to severe pain in the abdomen part with a colicky pain pattern. We brought her to pediatrician at mid day and that’s when we found out about her intussusceptions (intestinal blockage).

Poor baby Raischa, she was all by herself when doctor scanned her using the telescopic scanner pushed thru her bottom. The scanner unable to push thru the blockage that urgent operation needs to be conducted right away. At 4pm yesterday, the minor operation went successful although in the process, she had her appendict removed. According to Dr Khor Guan Chai, master surgeon in-charge of the operation, if left untreated the affected intestines will be no longer usable and it could be life threatening too. We were lucky in that sense.

When we asked what actually the cause of the blockage was? Surprisingly Dr Khor could not provide any answer. He added, most of the intussusceptions case has no apparent cause which is common to a kidz age 5 months to 3 years.

Anyway, most importantly Raischa could regain her physics & strength in days to come. Same goes with Ma & Pa. Kita kan nak raya dah ni…

P/s - Thanks kenkawan fb for all the doa & well wishes. Dr M Noh and Kak Wan too for the visit & ferrero roche :-) 

Perak Academy (I)

I remember a small chit chat between myself and the late Dato’ KK Lim (prior to take over of the Ipoh International School by Kinta Properties) on his passion to ensure Ipoh to be lively as it was when tin was the king of industry in this state. He added that lots of investor found Ipoh (& Perak) were not able to offer what he called ‘an investment package’ i.e. good schools, place to take a break after hard day of work, etc. And his thought was agreed by his son, ‘Mr Big’ Lim Si Boon.

Dato KK Lim passed away recently and his son Si Boon is now the rightful owner of Kinta Properties and is also now the President of the Perak branch of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI).

I could see Si Boon’s name as one of the members of the Perak Academy Board of Governor. Hence, I foresee the Perak Academy establishment is to provide some input to the ‘investment package’ that is mentioned earlier. Kinta Properties has now lots of property investment in Perak, very own Golf Course, International School, and representative in MICCI Perak.

Dato' Seri Dr Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan (Chairman of the Board) is a long time friend of KK Lim’s family. In fact they put his name as a forefront in ensuring the ‘green light’ of proposed taking over of the international school from Yayasan Perak & MB’s Office.

Other info on Perak Academy in the following link http://www.perakacademy.com/structure.html

P/s - I met Azwee during Tarawih prayer last night and he complaints how difficult his business want to move forward due to 'restriction' and 'control' made by manufacturer and wholesaler. Without their support, Azwee could not deliver goods in a competitive price. So, I wonder how merit comes into picture for Malay businessman in Penang?

1+1=3

 Adakah anda sebagai ibubapa membenarkan anak anda pergi ke sekolah yang anda telah sedia maklum guru matematiknya bertegas menyatakan 1+1=3 sedangkan setelah sekian lama anda mempelajari dan secara prinsipnya anda amat yakin 1+1=2?

Kalau jawapannya ’ya’, samada tidak kedapatan lagi sekolah-sekolah lain di kawasan itu atau anda juga sudah mempercayai 1+1=3. Selain daripada dua jawapan itu saya boleh katakan yang anda BODOH!

Persoalannya apabila penganut agama Islam yang ditangkap pada serbuan yang dilakukan di Gereja Methodist Damansara Utama mengatakan beliau amat miskin dan hanya mengharapkan ehsan Gereja Katholik untuk sesuap nasi, anda masih percaya pada jawapan yang sebegitu? Atau anda rasa dia pun dan sebelas lagi penganut agama Islam yang ditangkap itu sudah percaya 1+1=3? Sudah tidak adakah lagi institusi-institusi Islam yang lain, Baitul Mal misalnya untuk menyalurkan bantuan sekiranya benar mereka miskin dan daif serta tergolong antara satu dari tujuh asnaf?

Jika dilihat daripada umur kedua-dua belas orang Islam yang ditangkap dalam serbuan itu, rata-ratanya masih berumur lingkungan 30an. Mana mungkin pekerja asing tanpa izin boleh hidup senang lenang sekiranya masih ada penduduk Malaysia berumur 30an yang masih tidak bekerja dan mengharapkan sesuap nasi dari Gereja?

Dan seperti yang saya katakan tadi, selain daripada jawapan-jawapan di atas, yang paling BODOH adalah bilamana ada segelintir umat Islam sendiri yang menjual agamanya dengan nilai yang murah. Menjual maruah kerana takut hilang vote...

P/s – Kata P Ramlee ”inilah sandiwara dunia” (di bulan Ramadhan pulak tu..)


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‘Buka puasa’ di gereja: MCA selar Jais
Berita Bernama

Presiden MCA Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek menyifatkan tindakan para pegawai penguatkuasa Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais) menyerbu Pusat Methodist Damansara Utama di sini ketika satu majlis makan malam pelbagai kaum diadakan di situ, adalah tidak wajar dan memalukan. Kata beliau walaupun terdapat aduan atau wujud keadaan yang meragukan, para pegawai berkenaan sepatutnya tunggu hingga majlis pada Rabu malam itu selesai sebelum membuat pemeriksaan.

Dr Chua berkata Jais, yang terletak di bawah bidang kuasa anggota exco daripada PAS Datuk Dr Hassan Ali, perlu memberi penjelasan tentang isu itu dan memohon maaf kerana menceroboh premis gereja berkenaan serta kelemahan pihaknya mengendalikan perkara itu. “Kejadian ini menunjukkan bahawa PAS tidak liberal seperti yang didakwanya,” kata Dr Chua dalam kenyataan hari ini.

Naib presiden MCA Gan Ping Sieu pula berkata tindakan para pegawai Jais itu mencerminkan sikap pakatan pembangkang yang berfikiran sempit serta tebal dengan semangat kedaerahan.

Man With Integrity

(Bernama 02 Ogos, 2011) - Datuk Dr Rosti Saruwono mengambil keputusan meletakkan jawatan selaku Naib Canselor Uni-versiti Selangor (Unisel) dengan notis 24 jam berkuatkuasa esok. Beliau mengesahkan peletakan jawatannya menerusi khidmat pesanan ringkas sebagai membalas SMS yang dihantar oleh Bernama bagi mendapatkan pengesahan berita tindakannya itu.

"Ada keputusan yang saya tak sanggup laksanakan iaitu untuk melucutkan jawatan tiga pegawai Unisel tanpa proses sewajarnya," katanya ketika menjelaskan antara punca beliau meletakkan jawatan.

Berasal dari Klang, Selangor Rosti pernah berkhidmat sebagai Timbalan Presiden Bahagian Pendidikan Petronas dan rektor pertama Uni-versiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) sebelum dilantik sebagai Naib Canselor Unisel pada 2 Mac, 2009. Beliau menggantikan Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Razali Agus yang mengosongkan jawatan itu pada Julai 2008. Semasa baru dilantik, Rosti berkata beliau tidak akan menjadi "Pak Turut" kepada mana-mana pihak dan ingin memastikan institusi pengajian tinggi swasta milik kerajaan negeri itu tidak dijadikan medan berpolitik. Menurut sumber, Rosti telah diarahkan oleh kepimpinan Unisel untuk melucutkan jawatan tiga pegawai -- Pendaftar Rokmaa Mat, Dekan Fakulti Perniagaan Prof Dr Khalifah Othman dan Pengarah Pemasaran dan Komunikasi Korporat Halid Hasbullah.

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Kudos to Datuk Dr Rosti. Being a righteous man with full of integrity I could not agree more with his decision to quit the post with immediate effect. After all, things must be too hard for him to handle when what matter most is politics. It was sad to hear an integrity and good governance (as in the case of the Unisel management) were buried down under just to ensure political sustainability of some. I might be wrong to pre-judge the situation; there might be something amiss, but professionally you don’t act on hearsay i.e. action taken until proven guilty.

Patutla 2 - 3 hari ni cuaca panas sangat.

When I joined the institution, Datuk Rosti was no longer the Rector. He instead was made the Vice President of Education since 2005 before being appointed the Unisel's Vice-Chancellor on March 2, 2009. I never had any chance to serve him until in 2009 when he chaired the Transformation’s Steering Committee. That was also not very long due to his official retirement from PETRONAS. Nevertheless, I had once accompanied him to South Africa for a mini convocation in Cape Town. I would view him as an easy going person, chilled and easy to communicate with but at the same time very committed and meticulous in whatever he does. He love to read and always stressed that life-long education is the factor for the strength of the nation (and the company) of which I found very interesting to a man of his credible.

All I could say is Unisel might have lost a man with the utmost credibility. Innalillah..

Happy 2nd retirement Datuk, we UTPian are so proud of you!

P/s – rupanya panas lagi di Unisel..

Re-coup

The institution on last Wed & Thursday organized a workshop with aims to prepare a 5-year plan/strategy to re-coup expenses i.e. to ensure break-even position in a specified time. The 1 ½ day workshop, which is related to the last AAC meeting on financial sustainability, was held in Telok Dalam Resort in Pangkor Island.

In the effort to position itself as a leading institution to serve the petroleum industry in this region, the management has strived for Research University status started off with the Transformation Plan back in 2009. Since last year, we have engaged in the execution of the Transformation Plan and everyone seems to be motivated in achieving the RU status. Simultaneously, the management has also been asked to reduce or recoup its expenses as the current increase in revenue was not parallel as compared to the increase in the cost. Eventually, we were asked to secure a breakeven point in a specified period (of which most of the participants view this situation as a slow but surely departing process with the parent company)

As usual, the workshop schedule was very hectic that on the first day we ended up at about 11PM. Nevertheless, we surreptitiously took our time to play beach volleyball and flying some kites (under the good initiative by En Md Akhir).

I do not wish to describe the output from the workshop cos’ for me it’s a decision that need to be made by the management. All I can say that every situations require in-depth study and analysis (kinda chicken and egg situation) before we can bring down the strategies to became an initiative/action plan.

See follows some nice pic taken from iP4..

 

P/s- Selamat menyambut Ramadhan Al-Mubarak. Semoga dengan kedatangan Ramadhan yang mulia akan membawa seribu rahmat kepada kita semua. Oh ya..selamat hari lahir Fadil Ariff :-)



Ketenangan

Minggu lepas sememangnya menuntut tenaga sehingga ke titisan peluh yang terakhir. Habis saja dengan AAC dan post-AAC, datang pulak accreditation visit untuk program-program Pasca Siswazah. Finally, hari Jumaat barulah dapat bernafas dengan sempurna. In between sessi accreditation, aku sempat bersembang dengan Dr M Noh. Dr M Noh ni kaki sembang tapi seronok sebab dia memang tahu detail, sometimes too detail. Dr M Noh bercerita tentang insiden 2007 masa dia kena endio sebab banyak artery yang dah block. Dia berumur dalam lingkungan 45 tahun ketika itu. Dia kata banyak block sebab setiap satu blockage kosnya sekitar RM20K. UTP kena bayar kos keseluruhan almost quarter million!

Anyway, seperti biasa Dr M Noh bercerita tentang detail in & out pasal fat, kolesterol dsbgnya yang amat mengconciouskan aku. Tapi di sebalik kejadian yang menimpa dirinya, Dr M Noh melihat bencana yang datang sebagai satu peringatan tentang kematian dan dalam masa yang sama betapa banyaknya rahmat Allah kepada manusia. Setiap hari selepas itu bagi Dr M Noh merupakan satu bonus dari tuhan kepada hambanya. Dia sentiasa membuat yang terbaik dan bersyukur dengan apa yang diberi.

Aku pula sebaliknya. Masih belum prihatin terhadap diri ini secara fizikal & spiritual. Bersyukur juga masih suam-suam kuku bergantung kepada naik turun iman di dada. Aku melihat kerja sebagai ibadah tapi terlalu mendesak diri sehingga kadang-kadang aku merasakan semua ini bukan lagi ibadah tetapi lebih kepada personal glory. Itu tidak sihat tu..

Aku perlukan ketenangan di kala beberapa hari lagi untuk menyambut Ramadhan Al Mubarak. Ketenangan yang menuntut aku mengurangkan desakan fizikal melampau dan keletihan minda. Seikhlas hati aku mohon ampun kepada keluarga & rakan taulan yang terkesan dari tempias ’desakan fizikal melampau dan keletihan minda’ minggu lepas.

P/s – Handy Black punya ketenangan,

Dibaham

What a pathetic displayed of football by the national squad in the first leg of the world cup qualifier just now. It was a wrong choice of tactical, wrong choice of players lined up in the first half of the game. Both central defenders played like a school boys although Qiu Li (age 30 with bulging tummy) and Alexsandar Duric (age 40) are two ‘old school’ forward, who could run as slow as donkey. And midfield…there were no midfield at all, a big loopholes in the middle of the field. Amar, Ismail Faruqi and captain Shafiq did not have the edge over Shahril, Mustafiq, Shia Jiayi and the rest of the Singaporean. Ismail were all over the pitch with no clear vision on how to score goal (or at least to assist in scoring goal). But then I guess, in overall, two things need to be considered carefully in the second leg, leadership and mindset change.

Three earlier matches with the EPL top four did not earn the boys the needed confidence to overcome the fear of playing in a full capacity crowd at Jalan Besar Stadium…(max 6K?). Deyy, pegang bola control game daa…

Leadership is another issue. The back four need leader. They need an experience leader to tell them when to push forward and when to calm down in a situation. The defenders are in dire strait of getting the service of the likes of Aidil or Norhafiz Zamani.

Let’s focus on the next game coming 28th July without the service of Shafiq and Aidil. No doubt Raja will push his boys in the first 20 minutes to look for the two deficit goals. Kunanlan & Amirul should start in the wing where they would expect lots of thru balls from the backline. Both of them should push forward every time they have the ball on their feet. Safee will be their target man. In the midfield, we should have the service of both Amar Rohidan and Shakir as defensive midfielder to provide extra support to the backline. Baddrol Bakhtiar and Amirul Hadi should at all time swap places in the midfield to support Safee. To provide extra power in counter attack, probably Wan Zack from Harimau Muda should be given a chance to show what he is made of.

The backline should have the service of Subramaniam in the right half for the first 30 minutes to neutralize Qiu Li and Duric. Mahalli can have his place back to support Hadi in the wings on the second half. Fadhli Shas is a good player but lack of leadership quality. He needs Norhafiz to play alongside him. Asrarudin Putra is a confirm player in left back.

Sharbinee is a no go and to be replaced by Apek or Farizal simply because both the latter are better in having effectively communication with the central defenders.

So Datuk Raja must go for 4-5-1 to have supremacy in midfield until Harimau Malaya ease the deficit and go back to the usual 4-4-2 (or vice versa have the bus ready in front of the goal post) after that. That’s my 2 cents.

P/s – Bring back the glory of the 70s (Harimau Malaya was ranked in the top 50s in 1978).

Selamat Pengantin Baru Siti

Ada sepasang suami isteri yang baru kahwin. Si isteri sengau. Sebelum masuk bilik tidur utk pertama kalinya si suami pun berkata pada isteri.. "Yang, kalau saya cakap kongkek maknanya..kita main yer?” Isterinya mengangguk faham.. Dan pada malam itu si suami kegersangan dan bertanya pada isterinya 'Kongkek boleh tak yang?' Si isteri pun 'ok je' so setelah penat projek mereka pun mandi bersama.

Waktu mandi isteri nya yg sengau itu pun berkata ”Yang nak kongkek” Beliau pun terperanjat.. tapi oleh kerana sayangkan isterinya..beliau pun balun isteri dia sekali lagi. Isterinya pun membiarkan sahaja.. Setelah abis isterinya mandi dan berkata dgn suami nya... ”Yang nak kongkek” Suami nya berkata..”Laa tak puas lagi ke?” Isterinya menggeleng gelengkan kepala sambil berkata ”Kongkek!Kongkek!Kongkek”! Si suami got no choice so terus melakukan lagi..

Selepas itu isterinya berkata.. ”Boleh tak awak kasi saya kongkek?” Beliau mula naik radang dan tak faham dgn nafsu isterinya. Apabila beliau hendak start lagi.. isterinya pun menahannya..

”Saya bukan nak kongkek.. Saya nak ....”

SITI & AIN’s WEDDING

Nasib baiklah both Siti & Ain tidak ada masalah sengau lagipun depa guna toothpaste Darlie. Huhu. Anyway Selamat Pengantin Baru dan congratulation on the wedding. Just a tip of advice daripada ‘wise ol’ man’. The first five years should be the most critical period in marriage sebab pasangan perlu saling kenal mengenali. There are so many tips untuk kebahagiaan rumahtangga tapi ada satu tip yang nak saya share bukan saja buat Siti & Ain, tapi juga kepada semua pasangan suami isteri (termasuk juga diri saya sendiri) - kalau satu pasangan marah maka satu lagi lebih baiklah berdiam diri. Begitu juga sebaliknya dan ini telah terbukti sejak 14 tahun perkahwinan saya.

Alternative Views! mengucapkan semoga anda berdua (++anak cucu, a lot..) bahagia sampai ke akhir hayat. Amin.

Enjoy some nice wedding pic below.

P/s – Pity Jafni. Kereta Grand Livina dia kena sondol dari belakang masa konvoi ke wedding Siti & Ain. Takpe Jap bonus dah nak mari..

Meeting Tun

After more than couple of week of ‘hard labor’ preparation, last July 7th we finally had our annual meeting with Tun M and the rest of the AAC members. At some point during those weeks, my blood boiled so high that I barely can eat during the day and sleep at night. But Alhamdulillah, everything goes well as planned. We had a fruitful 3 ½-hour discussion on the 6th and 2 ½ hours meeting with Tun with this year theme ‘Financial Sustainability’.

The Council members expressed their gratitude towards the institution’s achievements on teaching, learning as well as in its Research & Development since the last time we met. Tun Mahathir started the ball rolling and conveyed the idea of having a University-town in UTP, a concept adapted from university-towns such as in the Cambridge and Oxford. He added, with clever planning, UTP can be a catalyst for new growth areas which eventually will attract visitors and industries. Developer should be given opportunity to invest and develop the surrounding land through building shops and residences for staff and students. This should also be alternative revenues for the institution rather than being too dependent on the students’ fee.

The Chairman were then invited all Council members to discuss openly and provided advice or suggestion on the theme ‘financial sustainability’ and other related matters that will be beneficial to UTP and its students. We talked a lot that day. Below are some of the salient points of discussion that I could not agree more: -

a) The establishment of UTP is a large investment for PETRONAS and the country. However, value created from the investment in education i.e. by its contribution to society and the nation in the area of teaching, researches and services, will take time. Therefore, any investment made for UTP is also considered an investment for the future of PETRONAS and the nation.

b) Massive and arduous staff recruitment by hiring outstanding individuals as senior faculty members is critical for UTP to reach the next plateau of excellence. In doing so, UTP should look for quality rather than quantity e.g. CALTECH has only 150 faculties but is able to make a global impact through its teaching, learning as well as R&D.

c) The 20th century Asian only played catch up in Science and Technology with their Western counterpart. With superior economic and intellectual strengths, it is quite natural that Asia viewed the West as the ‘standard of excellence’. Institute of Higher Education in Asia needs to educate the Asian students what it means to become Asians in the 21st century. Therefore, there are four (4) values need to be given a priority (i) Education Integrity; (ii) Intellectual Agility; (iii) Academic Courage; and (iv) Intrinsic Self Confidence.

– A very interesting notes by Prof Feng Da Hsuan from Tsinghua University, Taiwan. I plan to have another write up on these values in the coming post.

d) UTP is urged to establish the Technology Target Group for specific areas to ensure funding acquisition focusing within the energy industry. UTP should also identify projects and/or equipment that will enable UTP to do research and simultaneously commercialize the usage of the facility. Collaboration strategies and tactics are immensely important. It may take time but most importantly UTP need to identify the suitable target group to collaborate with. The Council members noted that there is still a gap between research in PETRONAS and UTP. Therefore, the link between UTP and PETRONAS researchers should be made very clear.

e) In a broader perspective, education and infrastructure are the two main elements for any country to be highly competitive in meeting future challenges. Education and infrastructure (aka Public Goods) will eventually encourage other economic activities to flourish. UTP is contributing to Public Good or Sectoral Good by fulfilling PETRONAS and the nation’s human capital in the oil & gas industry. PETRONAS should consider the financial gap as the value representing benefits in investing and should not be interpreted in accounting value of dollars & cents. Therefore, UTP is recommended to re-visit and re-negotiate the understanding with PETRONAS and Petroleum Research Fund (PRF) with regards to the above matter.

Obviously the item (e) above really made the day meaningful for me and UTP management. We just need to pray hard for the parent company to open up their heart and try to understand that sometimes it will not always the ‘bottom line’ that matter most.

Below are some unedited snapshots from the above meeting. Enjoy (as I do). Thanks to Hazrin for nice pic taken.