Thank You Datuk...

Selepas tujuh tahun dan tujuh bulan di Tronoh, akhirnya pada 31 Oktober, 2012 Datuk Dr Zainal menamatkan kerjayanya di institusi ini. Datuk memulakan kerjaya pada 1 Mac 2005 kira-kira sebulan sebelum aku mendaftar sebagai pekerja di ITPSB. Dua hari lepas adalah hari yang menyedihkan bagi semua warga institusi, melebihi misteri persoalan bagaimana keadaannya pengganti kepada Datuk nanti?

Satu makan malam penghargaan kepada Datuk dan isterinya, Datin Rosemi diadakan dan telah dihadiri oleh lebih daripada separuh warga UTP. Meriah dengan aktivti tetapi keseluruhannya penuh dengan emosi. Prof Fadzil dalam ucapannya menggambarkan keseluruhan penghargaan atas segala pengorbanan Datuk kepada UTP. Aku juga beremosi tapi memandangkan Zaihan di sebelah kanan, Nuzah di sebelah kiri, staf2 lain di hadapan, maka ku tahan juga air mata dari jatuh berderai….

Antara kata-katanya seperti berikut: -

“……..Tonight, as the UTP community gathers to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Datuk Dr Zainal, we are also honouring and celebrating an individual who is leaving behind a huge impact on the university with a legacy to be cherished and remembered in our hearts and minds. We are here to commemorate the successes that this university has enjoyed under his leadership over the past seven years and seven months. 

If you recall Datuk, when you first arrived at UTP and chaired your first Management Committee meeting – you had asked us a question. In particular, your question to us was - where are we now? That simple, but thought-provoking yet a correct question had sparked a lot of imagination within us – and we started to imagine things that were at one time, almost unimaginable. Thus, one cannot speak about the achievements that the university has experienced thus far without mentioning the  Transformation Plan, which is the brainchild of Datuk.

That's how I get into the transformation study team. I had few good moments with Datuk when we struggled in preparing presentation especially...EAC, AAC, TP, etc.. Good moments that I will cherish forever..

Datuk had realized the challenges that were staring at our faces at a very early stage, and being a true leader, Datuk showed his proactiveness by taking a bold step to embark upon a journey – a journey that have since then, transformed our lives almost entirely, and had changed the way we think and act. These changes have impacted all aspects of the university, from academic delivery, research output, student development, operational excellence as well as linkages with our stakeholders….”

Datuk’s traits that I could not agree more: -

“….Perhaps the most notable and appreciated quality of Datuk Dr Zainal is his genuine warmth and concern over his people. I believe this springs from Datuk’s sincere interest to develop his people, both the employees and the students. Datuk is always ready to listen to our suggestions and even problems, and is ever willing to engage with staff as well as students. This has actually made our life easier as the management is able to make informed decisions based on the feedback solicited.

Another particular trait of Datuk Dr Zainal that is extremely important for us to remember and emulate is his motivational skills. I am always, and still am amazed by Datuk’s ability to motivate everyone around him, especially the students. As a lecturer myself, I find it an excruciating task to motivate them, but for Datuk – it seems like a breeze. 

When you are with the students, you are at ease – you can sing, you can dance and you can even play music with them – and not many of us can do the same. You have been generous with your time spent for this purpose, and you have touched the lives of countless students, and even the staff and alumni. In fact, I was made to understand that just last night, you spent more than three hours with the students – giving them advise and sharing them your personal experiences in life…”

Something for Datin too...

“…Behind every great man there stands a woman. On behalf of the university community, I would also like to express our gratitude to YBhg Datin Rosemi Hamdan for her strong and gracious support of our university. It is clear that Datin’s unwavering support and sacrifices have been vital to Datuk’s success and we deeply appreciate her selflessness in sharing her husband with us for the past seven years. So Datin, you can now have him back full time…”

Prof Fadzil could not bear his emotion when uttering these words…

“…No words can express our deepest gratitude to you but..

Thank you for your wisdom

Thank you for your guidance

Thank you for your advice

Thank you for always listening

Thank you for understanding

Thank you for the sacrifices made

Thank you for leaving us a treasured legacy

Thank you for your leadership

Thank you for everything

And most of all, thank you for your willingness to be away from your family to be with us for the past seven years….”

Not to miss some of the quotes from prominent figures: -

“A nation or race is only civilized if it knows how to appreciate its leaders” – the late Tun Azizan

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the mind of others, and the stories they share about you” – famous author, Shannon Alder

“Leadership is not magnetic personality - that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not "making friends and influencing people" - that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations” – management guru, Peter Drucker

P/s - To YBhg Datuk and family, thank you for everything, I hope you will cherish all the good moments in UTP as we do. Happy retirement Datuk.

Kazakhstan 2012

After years lapse from overseas stint, I was asked to assist the institution’s participation in the A2 Education Fairs in Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan from 20 – 24^th Sept. On day 1, the Fairs started at 1pm to 8pm venued at the Rixos Presidential Hotel in Astana Central. More than 1,000 students mostly high school leavers turned up for the event. We had engaged a local translator to assist us in communication and interaction with potential students, as majority of Kazakhs/Russian could not speak or understand English language. We had a fruitful discussion with an English Language Centre from Malaysia, the English Language Company (ELC), on how we can ride on their existing recruitment agency for recruiting potential Kazakhs. Students will be having one year of English Language course in KL, tailored towards our Engineering programme before they continue with UTP’s programme.

Further discussion with local university (Al-Farabi National University) on the utilization of Bolashak programme of which with the collaboration, we should be able to utilize the Bolashak via adjunct lecture series, research officers, research grants, post-doc, and other non-degree research/short courses. Bolashak programme is a scholarship which is awarded to high-performing students from Kazakhstan to study overseas all-expenses paid, provided that they return to Kazakhstan to work for at least five years after graduation.

  

We had also a nice dinner hosted by His Excellency Dato' Ahmad Rashidi Azizi, Malaysian Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan at the end of day 1.

  

The A2 Education Fairs in Almaty is even better. We welcomed almost 2000 parents and potential students throughout the 2-day exhibition. Below some more pics that could tell 1001 stories..

Kazakhstan is like 5000 miles away from home but the warm and friendly people of Kazakhs make our visit so welcomed. It was a nice trip altogether..

P/s - lama x haplod lagu neh...

4 series today...

Tq Has..

Bolasemput..

Bila orang tua-tua nak mula main bola lagi...

End of the day, kena 2-0...

Selasa next week main dengan Security pulak. Hopefully, we could turn down the table by beating them and secure at least 2nd place.

P/s - Total min permainan : 10 min 15 sec... ;-)

Jelitawan Model Iklan Sabun Registri



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?

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

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..

Peace You'll..

I get pretty excited after reviewing an article by a HongKies (dunno this word correct or not?) by the name of Professor Otto CC Lin. His work entitled “Environment for the 21st Century” talks on few things that need to be given proper attention for the 21st century, of which I also believe is very much applicable for mindset change (i.e. such as in the case of our AF candidate second stage friend.. huhu)

Amongst others, Prof Lin mentioning about the ubiquity or readiness of PCs and the Internet including wireless technology and mobile commerce; or in a simpler word the ability to utilize PC and its applications. As an administrator, you are not going anywhere without the knowledge in either Microsoft Word or Excell.. and I’m just talking basic here. Secondly, the influence of the co-existence between competition and cooperation. One should be able to adapt to your competitors’ strength and adopt cooperation. Strategic Alliance is the correct words. Finally (three of so many more), every knowledge workers is a source of innovation, continued and life-long needs for education. The importance to enhance and efficiently looking into problems and turn it into opportunity.

Nevertheless, in contenting the challenge of creating another so called civilization, the Malays particularly need three basic stuffs; (i) the ability to understand the situation and maintaining it, (ii) the skill to rehash or re-treat, and (iii) adaptation capability. The above stuff is so important for us to change the paradigm, by using the local moulder/template (glocal), in fulfilling ones’ desires. We should learn on how to inherit our forefather’s strength who never surrender in defending the Malays civilization thou they have been colonized for hundreds of years.

P/s - Siti ngan Zam sedang menggayakan sign Peace..

Ole-ole South Africa (tq Zubeq)..

Pesan si tua kepada anak cucu...

Kamu adalah besi bermakam khursani,

Pada mu adanya tajam yang tersembunyi,

Namun..

Kapak besi tidak akan sekali-kali berlembut,

dalam mengeluarkan tajam pada besi.

Besi dibakar..besi dihentak..

dibakar semula..disepuh berkali-kali,

Demi menerang kepada alam,

bahawa disebalik besi adanya tajam,

Tajam menghiris ….tajam menikam,

Barulah besi bernilai di pasaran

(Meminjam kata-kata even older wise guy)

Babi Lagi…Oh Sori..BIBI la..

Isa to remarry Wednesday

TheStar: 13 Apr. 2010

SEREMBAN: Recently elected Bagan Pinang assemblyman Tan Sri Mohamad Isa Samad who lost his wife to cancer about five years ago is set to remarry Wednesday. The 60-year-old former Mentri Besar had been long rumoured to be seeing former one term assemblywoman Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid 40, but had neither denied or confirmed their relationship.

He has kept the rumour mill going since but developments in recent days has ended this. When asked to respond to talk that he would be at Bibi's grandparents' home in Gentam, Kuala Pilah for the akad nikah ceremony at 3pm Wednesday, he in jest told reporters that he deserved some privacy.

Bibi Sharliza who was Paroi assemblywoman for one term from 2004 has a degree in Business Management from UiTM Shah Alam. She was Puteri Umno Information chief since its formation in 2000 till 2003. She was then made the wing's secretary. She however lost in her bid for the top post in the wing in last year's party polls.

-----------------------

Steadylah Tan Sri. Semoga Tan Sri bertambah muda walaupun tak semuda Bung Mokhtar (obviously sebab dia dapat yang lagi muda, gebu lak tu). – Sebab2 aku tak setuju langsung dengan blog ini (baca di sini). Kalau Tan Sri nak beli pompuan, type Zizie Ezzette/Fasha Sandha pun dia boleh beli.

Bibi Sharliza ni kawan2 kitaorang masa ITM Perlis dulu, satu cohort dengan wife aku. Congrats BIBI, aku tahu semua member2 happy, sejak ko jadi Paroi Assemblymen lagi….walaupun aku juga tahu wife aku ngan kawan2 dia masih tak dapat lupakan peristiwa ko ngan arwah Zan.

Bagi aku pulak, manusia berubah dan aku mengharapkan ko pun dah berubah… berubah kearah kebaikan!

Alternative Views! mengucapkan semoga berbahagia ke anak cucu..


P/s - Kata bos aku aku 3 sebab BP boleh naik. 1) sebab kurang tido 2) sebab kurang makan 3) sebab kurang sex. Dia kata BP aku naik sebab yang no 3 tu..(*kena hantar proposal kat wife aku la camni)