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.

Bad Supervisors Criticize Others

Something that I've read lately and makes me wonder??

"When a supervisor is insecure, they tend to overcompensate by putting other people down, especially in public. They tend to talk down to people and make themselves appear more powerful. They find things to criticize about anyone who is getting positive attention. When they need to reprimand a subordinate, they will often do it in front of other subordinates because they think it make them more powerful. If only they know how horrible it makes them look!!

(Top 10 Signs of A Bad Supervisor, Dr Kimberley Alyn)

P/s - mudah-mudahan aku tidak seperti ini...

Khusus utk sahabat, Shamo yang tengah diujiNya. Moga cepat2 sembuh especially selepas mendengar lagu kegemaran ini...

Tragedi I, II & Sangka Baik

Auntie next door’s house was broken into on last Saturday while she and her husband went out of town. Another next door neighbor did complain about couple of people mooching around at the back of the house for the last a week or so. I did some security checking and always on the light after 11pm onward.

Guess what? The robber(s) came and robs from the front door. Fuckin’ courageously and daring move by these so called break-in robbers nowadays. I’m putting deep thot in getting the house alarmed.

My wife who made the police report grumble against the police who did not do any CSI’s kinda investigation to the house. I responded spontaneously “What do you expect?” Sounded harsh and insensitive but true enough cos’ we the neighbors should be the eyes and ears to PDRM in preventing cases. When it happens, not much we can do anymore. I guess auntie next door understands these and she smile.


TRAGEDY II

My tears flowed slowly down my cheek. I just couldn't explain this feeling exactly other than a hard stamped kinda contraction in my heart. For the longest time, I had been in a state of ok-ness but today seeing those pics, I just couldn't bear it anymore. I'm emotionally down.

It was sad to hear a muddy landslide hit Rumah Anak2 Yatim At-Taqwa that buried 25 orphanage and claimed life 16 of them. At this moment, no nice words could console father (or mother), relatives, everyone when this kind of tragedy happened. There’s no need to pinpoint, blame others either in investigating the cause of this mishap. It’s preventive that matter most. Related agency, Fire Dept, JPS, JAKIM, JAIS, anyone, please ensure enforcement and shut down building and premises located in a danger zone. Or on the other hand, be it the owner of an orphanage no-profit building or architect to a hi-status hilly tower, please decide on the definition of danger and act accordingly. Grieving should take precedence over blame, but please seek for preventive measurement in doing stuff.


SANGKA BAIK

Kepada ibu bapa anak2 yang terkorban, bersabarlah kerana anda telah meninggalkan anak2 yang soleh yang akan menunggu anda di depan pintu syurga, InsyaAllah. Bersangka baiklah dengan Allah kerana setiap dugaan yang diberikan ada hikmahnya. Berdoalah dengan doa nabi Hidhir yang memohon Allah melembutkan dugaan yang mendatang dan pujuklah diri sendiri dari bersangka buruk kepada Allah kerana setiap dugaan adalah penghapus kepada dosa-dosa.

Al Fatihah..

P/s - Kepada adik2 yang terkorban, InsyaAllah jihad untuk adik2 semua. Mungkin di sana lebih baik untuk adik2 daripada berada di dunia ini.

I Got You Babe...

Action do speaks louder than word. You’ll be able to understand one’s feeling and expression from the way they smile, the way they frown or even from their tone of voices. I guess the more you speak the same language and using the same tone in communications, the less character and meaning that would be received by the counterpart. We are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others, by their acts.

And so I’m sorry.

P/s – Leave out Beavis and Butthead’s virtual karaoke session i.e. chick married to some dork, chick with tattoo on her butt, hehe hehe..yeay..yeay…hehe louder, louder….