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..