Oh May!

A working friend text me to ask for a time to slot himself into my schedule for a meeting to prepare for a project in June. With heavy heart, I replied him that my May is fully packed with projects and events. After a turbulent April, the month of May continued to be as stressful. Meeting, presenting, site visiting, managing, lobbying, selling, convincing, coaching, mentoring, answering, socialising, networking, chilling, braving, blogging, dining, texting, discovering, listening, asking, steadying, balancing, thinking, caring, and whatever-ing that are fulfilling. Nonetheless, discovering is the flavour of the month. Check out the video below:-

News Pollution

Malaysian generally expect the 13th General Election is just around the corner. When that corner turns is only known by the Prime Minister of Malaysia. In the next few weeks and months until the election is made known, I do expect to see more juicy and sensational scandals + news in the media. Those who follow Malaysian politics long enough will agree that this sort of smearing campaign will be a norm in every elections. The level of intensity of such campaign will grow stronger when either side of the fence has the motivation and belief to win. Malaysians will get to know a whole lot of truth about our representatives in Parliament. Sadly here is that Malaysians at most times will only get the know the ugly truth.

Lets get prepared for News Pollution.

Interviewing

It has been a norm that I need to interview new people for positions within my department. Words in resume/ CV are not sufficient to hire good people who is suitable to you. Therefore, I customised a list of questions to know the candidate better:-

Do you see yourself a person who is:-

a. Discipline or Flexible?
b. Independent or Inter-dependent?
c. Cultural/ Historical Preservation or Value Enhancement?
d. Do what is Proven Correct or Do what is Not Detrimental to Company?
e. Relationship Management or Communication Management?
f. Delegation of Work or Hands-on Work?
g. Project based or Pre-determined tasks?
h. Office based or Mobile based?
i. Being Humble or Staying Confident?
j. Manchester United or Barcelona?

Life is not perfect but we can make it better - ask your questions that really matter!

Blogging again after 2 Years

I got motivated to start blogging again. The motivation came from another person's blog. Lets see how much of writing for me in 2012. Being silent and shy away since 2010 had also mean I learned more. I learned more as a person, a friend, a colleague, a subordinate, a husband, a brother, a son, a father and so much more. Had up-s and down-s over past 2 years but I received lots since then.
Life is beautiful.

Conquering The Top of ASEAN

I was one of the most happiest persons in Malaysia during the night of 29 December 2010 when the Malaysian Football Team lifted the AFF Suzuki Cup in Jakarta. I saw the boys played in a few Friendlies and in the 2010 Asian Games but thought that they need a few more years to be the best of ASEAN. Though they won the SEA Games Gold Medal last year but still, I chose not to believe on the achievement because I do not want the Malaysian Football Team to disappoint me once more when I start to throw my passionate support to them. But that night in Jakarta was special, apart from being Champions, the Team played well, worked hard and evidently, the "Spirit" is there to be seen. I am sure a lot football team followers would agree with me that we threw our support this time round mainly because we saw that the current Football Team play with heart and spirit. These are some of the elements that disappeared from us for more than 25 years. The fact that this current group of players are between 19 to 26 made supporters like me to believe that Malaysian Football is back on its footing and can achieve more than the previous Harimau Malaya team led by Mokhtar Dahari, Soh Chin Aun and Arumugam. Allahyarham Mokhtar and his team made it to The Olympics and was then one of the best in Asia.
The Team must not be complacent and must focus in improving physical strength and game play which are required at higher playing standards within Asia. We should target to qualify for The Asian Games and Asian Cup by 2012. FAM has to continue to develop more young players with more resource allocations channeled to the Harimau Muda squad for better trainings beyond Slovakia.
For the chants and singing of "Inilah Barisan Kita" with the other Malaysians at The Rubens cost me my voice and my ribs (knocked on the door). But, it was really worth it. We are the Champs of ASEAN!
I wonder if Malaysia wins the World Cup, would be a-month long public holiday.
Salute to the Malaysian Football Team and A Good Note to end 2010.
Happy New Year 2011!

Weekend Demise & Farewell

One elderly used to tell me that if a mother passes away during weekend, it means that the demised mother loves her husband and children very much and she does not want to create further burdens to her family members. Ceremony or funeral service performed over weekend would not clash with work commitment and therefore minimises burdens brought upon such sad event. For Mrs. Lee, she saw beyond her husband, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and her children; Her family is all of Singapore.

Farewell Mrs. Lee & Deepest Condolence to Singapore.

The Indonesia We Don't Know

Two weeks ago, I was on the plane to Hong Kong and seated next two me is an Indonesian couple in their 60s. Conversation started in English when the stewardess was beginning to sell food and beverage to passengers and the husband asked me if I am from Malaysia. He told me he is from Jakarta and live 40-km off the city centre. He shared how both of them had to transit at the airport for 7 hours before boarding the next plane towards to Hong Kong. And they have to check out, collect baggage and check in again. Now we know why tourist arrival in Malaysia has increased in 2009 despite the economic bite! Jokingly, I told this is outcome of using low cost carriers.

We chatted for the next 2 hours of the 4-hour flight and I captured the followings:-

1. The Indonesian Chinese are generally happy with the current President SBY as he favours the business community, which are dominated by the Chinese;
2. There is only one Chinese minister (with Indonesian name) of the entire cabinet of President SBY;
3. Indonesia is trying to open up its economy for more FDIs and working hard to re-establish ties with China;
4. The diplomatic tie with China broke in the 1970s when Suharto was in power when he officially cut tie with the China due to his opposition to Communism
5. Suharto enforced the closure of Chinese schools and temples, removed all Chinese characters in whole of Indonesia, required Chinese to change to an Indonesian name, ruled that anyone portray Chinese characters or customs would be punished and many more;
6. Suharto and his family is definitely the richest man (even after his death) in Indonesia;
7. The real power behind Suharto is actually his wife, Ibu Tien, who is said to be capable of influencing and the force behind Suharto's decisions;
8. Ibu Tien is believed to have been shot by his son that caused her life to end in 1996;
9. The Chinese in Indonesia blames Suharto for all the riots, rapes and tortures towards the Chinese during his administration;
10. Almost all Chinese Indonesian born in 1970s cannot converse in Chinese due to Suharto's policies but their parents can do so perfectly;
11. Today, there are Chinese newspaper, schools, tuition centre, temples, CNY Celebration and other Chinese related customs;
12. The current President is well liked leader in Indonesian but sadly he will only be around for another 5-year term, having served his 1st year before 2009;
13. Indonesian Chinese has yet to identify which leader who can take over from SBY and they can only hope the next President is just as friendly;
14. The Chinese are wary of certain aspiring leaders who is eyeing to be the next President but there is nothing they can do about it because the Chinese is only made up of 10% of Indonesia population;
15. Young Indonesian Chinese would most probably see Indonesia as a place to live and work as they were educated in the Indonesian way. Chinese customs are rarely practiced.

In almost the entire conversation, we spoke in Mandarin and it was my first time speaking Mandarin with an Indonesian. I have friends from Indonesia, many are similar to my age. Now I know why. During this conversation, I am truly glad that I am a Malaysian Chinese where my life has been blessed with peace, stability and importantly, I can own and use Chinese name. Although many things can be better but change cannot be overnight but at least, in this part of the world, Chinese in Malaysia boleh-lah!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!