As I write this, I'm listening to Brian McKnight's One Last Cry for the thirteenth time. It's one of my favourite R&B ballads, released in the singer's 1992 debut album. It's a good song, really good song. Perfect to nurse a broken heart and shattered dreams.
I just discovered that a beautiful dream or wishful thinking which I've been hanging on to for the past 5 years was actually for nothing. A waste of time, energy and emotion. I could have done better things, like improve my writing. Or hitting the gym more often. Or simply be closer to God.
Anyway, God works in mysterious ways to liberate you from something which could've destroyed you in the long run. And I thank God for that. Who would have figured that it would be two dear friends, or brothers in crime for that matter, that would actually break the news to me. F & M - thanks so much for finally knocking some sense into my head. Now I realise that you are truly are my blood brothers despite us only recently being ace boon coons.
Yes, it was hard to swallow at first. It was a blow straight to the pit of my stomach. But I am rebounding well. I'll be fine. But give me some time, for drowning of sorrows cannot be done overnight. This will be long, that much I'm sure.
I am liberated from this dream permanently now. My mind is freer now. Free to do better things that should make me a better person.
As for the wasted dream, my only regret is for the people of whom this dream has hurt. So many people have made sacrificies for this dream, all of them unconditional I'm sure. But in return, the dream has committed an unspeakable act, probably more than once, that betrayed the love and trust given. For that, I feel so sorry. Not for you, dream. But for the people whom you have hurt and lied. Worse, they don't even know. I pray they will have the strength to endure it if they ever found out because it will be ugly. Even I was adversely affected and the bitter irony of it, I'm not even relevant.
Lesson learnt - next time you see shiny and juicy apples at the supermarket, check again. It may be rotten inside....
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
TALENT CORPORATION : WITH ALL DUE RESPECT BUT...
...will it really meet its noble objective of luring back the best brains of Malaysia to their home country? I still have reservations about this.
Yes, our PM's intention is good but for as long as I can remember, I never thought highly of Malaysians who choose to work and reside abroad. Because majority of these people, while having succeeded in making a living in Sydney, London or New York, usually also ridicule their home country - my country mind you, as being the reason why they left in the first place for the so-called greener pastures.
Okay fair enough. You claim that Malaysia is not able to offer you employment or the salary band you so desire. But for the sake of argument, why can your other fellow Malaysians still make a decent living here in good old Jalur Gemilang land? This issue is so subjective, no party - whether the Malaysians abroad or the Malaysians here, would want to take a step back and re-evaluate their stand. But I for one, as someone who is a product of the national education system - from primary to tertiary and now working for a respectable Malaysian company, would insist that serving your nation is allegiance of the highest order. Period.
The worst kind of Malaysians are the ones who studied abroad on Malaysian government scholarship, be it JPA, MARA or PETRONAS, to name a few. Once they graduated, they secure employment in the country where they studied and cancel out the scholarship bond by repaying their sponsors. There is even a greater number of Malaysian students who simply dissapear and that's when you see the long list of defaulters advertised by their sponsors on the back pages of Sunday papers. The ones biting the dust would of course be their guarantors who were suckered to sign on the dotted lines prior to these ungrateful lots' departure overseas several years back.
And then of course there's the other kind who slog it out from scratch, saving every penny or dime to achieve their dreams of the promised land. The kind depicted in immigration-theme movies like Crossing Over and Bordertown. As a result of this, Malaysians travelling to Britain in the future, for example, may be slapped with a visa ruling, something which we have enjoyed being exempted from by our colonial masters, due to Malaysians of these kinds overstaying on social visit pass in various parts of the kingdom.
What else? Aah, yes. Malaysians with dual citizenship when our laws clearly prohibits that. Malaysians who give birth to their child abroad but still come back to KL to register their birth certificate and then return back to Toronto where their child's Canadian birth certificate also awaits. Malaysians who prolong their stay in, oh I don't know, Philadelphia, years after they graduated until they are forced to come home when their mom is dying in Temerloh and on and on and on.
My point is - kalau dah memang tak nak balik tu, tak de nya dia orang nak balik. Sebab hati dah terpaut pada flat di Notting Hill, London atau townhouse di San Francisco atau apartment di Lower East Side Manhattan, New York.
I wish the Malaysian Government all the best with this newly-established Talent Corporation.
But again, with all due respect, lebih baik lah naik kan gaji kami yang memang setia berkhidmat di tanahair ni...
Yes, our PM's intention is good but for as long as I can remember, I never thought highly of Malaysians who choose to work and reside abroad. Because majority of these people, while having succeeded in making a living in Sydney, London or New York, usually also ridicule their home country - my country mind you, as being the reason why they left in the first place for the so-called greener pastures.
Okay fair enough. You claim that Malaysia is not able to offer you employment or the salary band you so desire. But for the sake of argument, why can your other fellow Malaysians still make a decent living here in good old Jalur Gemilang land? This issue is so subjective, no party - whether the Malaysians abroad or the Malaysians here, would want to take a step back and re-evaluate their stand. But I for one, as someone who is a product of the national education system - from primary to tertiary and now working for a respectable Malaysian company, would insist that serving your nation is allegiance of the highest order. Period.
The worst kind of Malaysians are the ones who studied abroad on Malaysian government scholarship, be it JPA, MARA or PETRONAS, to name a few. Once they graduated, they secure employment in the country where they studied and cancel out the scholarship bond by repaying their sponsors. There is even a greater number of Malaysian students who simply dissapear and that's when you see the long list of defaulters advertised by their sponsors on the back pages of Sunday papers. The ones biting the dust would of course be their guarantors who were suckered to sign on the dotted lines prior to these ungrateful lots' departure overseas several years back.
And then of course there's the other kind who slog it out from scratch, saving every penny or dime to achieve their dreams of the promised land. The kind depicted in immigration-theme movies like Crossing Over and Bordertown. As a result of this, Malaysians travelling to Britain in the future, for example, may be slapped with a visa ruling, something which we have enjoyed being exempted from by our colonial masters, due to Malaysians of these kinds overstaying on social visit pass in various parts of the kingdom.
What else? Aah, yes. Malaysians with dual citizenship when our laws clearly prohibits that. Malaysians who give birth to their child abroad but still come back to KL to register their birth certificate and then return back to Toronto where their child's Canadian birth certificate also awaits. Malaysians who prolong their stay in, oh I don't know, Philadelphia, years after they graduated until they are forced to come home when their mom is dying in Temerloh and on and on and on.
My point is - kalau dah memang tak nak balik tu, tak de nya dia orang nak balik. Sebab hati dah terpaut pada flat di Notting Hill, London atau townhouse di San Francisco atau apartment di Lower East Side Manhattan, New York.
I wish the Malaysian Government all the best with this newly-established Talent Corporation.
But again, with all due respect, lebih baik lah naik kan gaji kami yang memang setia berkhidmat di tanahair ni...
Monday, October 4, 2010
RAYA OPEN HOUSES - WHERE ARE WE HEADED ACTUALLY?
There were two really good write-ups in Mingguan Malaysia last Sunday on Rumah Terbuka Hari Raya or Raya Open Houses, one by Awang Selamat and the other by Noraini Abdul Razak. Both articles were eye openers actually (for those who concur with the writers' views) on a trend which I also feel is becoming unhealthier year in year out, at least for the past 5 or 6 years in the running.
The thing with Raya open houses nowadays is that it has become a status symbol for urbanites, especially in major cities, led of course by KL and its surrounding suburbia within the Klang Valley. Everyone is racing to do theirs, to a point that they have to cross check and even negotiate with friends to ensure their "event" do not clash on the same day of the weekend. To that extent.
And don't even get me started on the amount of excess food prepared for these open houses, especially the ones on a larger scale, which usually involves full-fledged catering. A friend actually shared her experience attending an open house of her hubby's pal which ended up with her hubby only managing a "hi, how are you?" and that was that. Her hubby's friend - the host, was so busy entertaining the sea of guests, that he couldn't even spend 5 minutes to have a decent and quality conversation for my friend's hubby who endured two hours of hell stuck on the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR 2) to get to the open house.
It was so different about a decade or two ago when we could still go to any of our friends or relatives home during the month of Syawal without too much of a hassle. No need to lock dates in your Outlook Calendar or handheld devices. And the host themselves merely served whatever was available in the kitchen. It didn't matter how many people came in a succession of how many days. Whoever came, whether in small or large numbers, were entertained with much affection which is the core culture of any Malay family. Even if it was just kuih raya or simple nasi himpit with kuah kacang, what mattered most was the quality time spent together, talking and laughing till our hearts content.
But the reality today is looking at the MRR 2 near my house for two weekends back to back filled with thousands of vehicles stuck in a massive jam. Why? Because of all them were racing to attend their fourth or fifth or sixth open house, zig zagging across the city from Gombak to Puchong, or from Kota Damansara to Bukit Antarabangsa, or from Cheras to Rawang. Last Saturday was the worst I think. It was a standstill on MRR 2 from 11 am till 11pm. That is pure madness.
I guess I am also guilty for joining the bandwagon of open house hosts when I did mine last Saturday. But mind you, mine can't really be defined as open house as I only invited certain people. Because I believe smaller scale get togethers ensures quality time spent among friends, relatives and colleagues.
You may have your own views on this. And I have shared mine.
Till next Syawal...
The thing with Raya open houses nowadays is that it has become a status symbol for urbanites, especially in major cities, led of course by KL and its surrounding suburbia within the Klang Valley. Everyone is racing to do theirs, to a point that they have to cross check and even negotiate with friends to ensure their "event" do not clash on the same day of the weekend. To that extent.
And don't even get me started on the amount of excess food prepared for these open houses, especially the ones on a larger scale, which usually involves full-fledged catering. A friend actually shared her experience attending an open house of her hubby's pal which ended up with her hubby only managing a "hi, how are you?" and that was that. Her hubby's friend - the host, was so busy entertaining the sea of guests, that he couldn't even spend 5 minutes to have a decent and quality conversation for my friend's hubby who endured two hours of hell stuck on the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR 2) to get to the open house.
It was so different about a decade or two ago when we could still go to any of our friends or relatives home during the month of Syawal without too much of a hassle. No need to lock dates in your Outlook Calendar or handheld devices. And the host themselves merely served whatever was available in the kitchen. It didn't matter how many people came in a succession of how many days. Whoever came, whether in small or large numbers, were entertained with much affection which is the core culture of any Malay family. Even if it was just kuih raya or simple nasi himpit with kuah kacang, what mattered most was the quality time spent together, talking and laughing till our hearts content.
But the reality today is looking at the MRR 2 near my house for two weekends back to back filled with thousands of vehicles stuck in a massive jam. Why? Because of all them were racing to attend their fourth or fifth or sixth open house, zig zagging across the city from Gombak to Puchong, or from Kota Damansara to Bukit Antarabangsa, or from Cheras to Rawang. Last Saturday was the worst I think. It was a standstill on MRR 2 from 11 am till 11pm. That is pure madness.
I guess I am also guilty for joining the bandwagon of open house hosts when I did mine last Saturday. But mind you, mine can't really be defined as open house as I only invited certain people. Because I believe smaller scale get togethers ensures quality time spent among friends, relatives and colleagues.
You may have your own views on this. And I have shared mine.
Till next Syawal...
Monday, September 20, 2010
PEMANDUAN TIDAK BERTAMADUN KENDERAAN JOHOR, SINGAPURA DAN PULAU PINANG
Alhamdulillah, saya telah selamat pulang ke ibu negara selepas hampir seminggu bercuti sempena Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Pagi raya pertama, seperti biasa bersama ibu dan bapa saya di Hulu Kelang sebelum berlepas ke Johor Bahru selepas solat Jumaat untuk beraya pula bersama ibu mertua.
Perjalanan melalui Lebuhraya Utara Selatan agak selesa dan lancar, kecuali kesesakan sementara di laluan Nilai-Seremban yang dianggap biasa memandangkan Seremban mempunyai tiga persimpangan yang agak rapat – Seremban, Port Dickson dan Senawang. Memang menjengkelkan namun masih dibawah kawalan. Habis kuat hati ini berdetik – macam bagus je Seremban ni.
Selepas Senawang, lebuhraya lancar selancar-lancarnya, ibarat landasan utama Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa KL. Kelajuan ditingkatkan sedikit untuk menggantikan masa yang sedikit terbuang ketika mengesot di Seremban tadi.
Sebagai individu yang telah berkahwin dengan orang Johor selama 11 tahun, saya sudah masak sangat dengan setiap bahagian lebuhraya tersebut dari Tol Sg. Besi sehinggalah Tol Skudai, setiap selekoh, bukit bukau dan gaung. Every nook and corner. Dan apabila kenderaan merentasi sahaja sempadan Negeri Johor Darul Takzim, pemanduan ditingkatkan ke tahap yang lebih berhati-hati. Sebabnya? Mudah sahaja. Kerana pemandu-pemandu negeri tersebut, terutamanya dari JB sendiri, pantang melihat kenderaan plet luar, khususnya plet Wilayah Persekutuan seperti saya. Pada mereka, kenderaan plet luar adalah daging segar (fresh meat). Boleh diratah. Boleh dibuli. Kerana mereka raja di negeri tersebut dan orang dari KL seperti saya bangang di negeri tersebut kerana dipercayai tidak tahu selok belok jalan di situ. Begitulah agaknya tanggapan pemandu-pemandu kenderaan plet J.
Seperti dijangka, selepas persimpangan Pagoh menuju persimpangan Yong Peng, sudah ada kenderaan plet J yang membuat perangai. Sebuah Proton Waja mengekori rapat di belakang kenderaan saya sambil memberikan ‘high beam’ sebagai arahan untuk saya kembali ke lorong kiri. Untuk mengelak sebarang konfrontasi emosi dan lebih buruk, kemalangan, maka saya pun ketepi lah. Maklumlah, sudah pasti Proton Waja 1.6 lebih laju dan hebat dari Honda Civic 2.0 iVTEC dengan kuasa kuasa 155bhp kan?
Semakin menghampiri Johor Bahru, semakin banyak kenderaan plet J yang menunjukkan belang. ‘High beam’ menjadi mainan utama bahlul-bahlul ini. Lorong kecemasan turut dijadikan lorong tambahan bagi memecut kerana mungkin ramai pemandu-pemandu J nak terkucil agaknya sebab makan banyak sangat soto dan lontong. Saya percaya kebanyakkan mereka ini gangster-gangster dan Ah Long Ah Long dari Taman Sentosa dan Johor Jaya di JB agaknya. Tengok warna rambut pun dah tahu. Itu belum lagi mamat-mamat Kg. Melayu Majidee atau Taman Perling yang mungkin merupakan versi empat roda rakan-rakan sekampung atau setaman yang bergelar mat rempit. Dari Mercedes ke Toyota Camry ke Proton Waja ke Perodua Kancil, semuanya sama sahaja. Kurang ajar di jalan raya dan langsung tidak menghormati tetamu-tetamu dari luar. Bukannya orang lain pun. Aku berkahwin dengan orang negeri kau jugak, bahlul.
Mungkin kerana sikap pemanduan tidak senonoh ini lah yang menjadikan pemandu-pemandu dari negara jiran yang bermula dengan huruf S turut mengikut perangai suku-sakat mereka dari negeri J. Orang-orang S kalau masuk ke Malaysia, ibarat beruk baru keluar sangkar. Segala kekangan oleh pemerintah republik itu ibarat dendam kesumat yang dibalas dengan memandu secara tidak senonoh di Malaysia. Mereka berlagak kerana kenderaan mereka dikatakan lebih hebat dan kekuatan matawang dolar mereka membolehkan mereka mengambil risiko disaman oleh polis trafik kita kerana menurut mereka “berbaloi dengan kepuasan memecut dengan kelajuan patah tengkok.”
Salahnya sebab ada cikgu yang mengajar mereka begitu. Eh nanti. Mungkin saya tersilap. Siapa cikgu sebenarnya. Mungkin juga pemandu-pemandu dari S yang menjadikan pemandu-pemandu J menjadi tidak senonoh. Hmm, sekarang saya pula keliru. Apa pun, it works both ways. Pemandu-pemandu J dan pemandu-pemandu S. Hah, memang kena lah tu, penyamun berlawan dengan penyangak.
Saya pohon maaf kepada biras-biras saya Abang Is dan juga Che Eddie. Harap tidak terasa dan terguris dengan kata-kata saya ini. Saya percaya korang berdua tidak seperti itu. Namun, ini adalah hakikat yang harus ditelan walau pahit macam mana sekalipun.
Orang luar dok bercakap mengenai perangai pemandu-pemandu negeri J. Malu tau.
Tolong lah ubah perangai pemanduan kepada yang lebih selamat dan berhemah. Tak kan lah nak jadi macam pemandu-pemandu negeri PP nun jauh di utara. Yang itu memang dah tak ada harapan lagi untuk diperbetulkan. Semua pemandu-pemandu PP adalah gila. Patutlah kabel TNB meletup dan terbakar di Jambatan PP, sebab dah tak tahan dengan perangai gila pemandu-pemandu PP.
Wilayah Persekutuan drivers rock!
Perjalanan melalui Lebuhraya Utara Selatan agak selesa dan lancar, kecuali kesesakan sementara di laluan Nilai-Seremban yang dianggap biasa memandangkan Seremban mempunyai tiga persimpangan yang agak rapat – Seremban, Port Dickson dan Senawang. Memang menjengkelkan namun masih dibawah kawalan. Habis kuat hati ini berdetik – macam bagus je Seremban ni.
Selepas Senawang, lebuhraya lancar selancar-lancarnya, ibarat landasan utama Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa KL. Kelajuan ditingkatkan sedikit untuk menggantikan masa yang sedikit terbuang ketika mengesot di Seremban tadi.
Sebagai individu yang telah berkahwin dengan orang Johor selama 11 tahun, saya sudah masak sangat dengan setiap bahagian lebuhraya tersebut dari Tol Sg. Besi sehinggalah Tol Skudai, setiap selekoh, bukit bukau dan gaung. Every nook and corner. Dan apabila kenderaan merentasi sahaja sempadan Negeri Johor Darul Takzim, pemanduan ditingkatkan ke tahap yang lebih berhati-hati. Sebabnya? Mudah sahaja. Kerana pemandu-pemandu negeri tersebut, terutamanya dari JB sendiri, pantang melihat kenderaan plet luar, khususnya plet Wilayah Persekutuan seperti saya. Pada mereka, kenderaan plet luar adalah daging segar (fresh meat). Boleh diratah. Boleh dibuli. Kerana mereka raja di negeri tersebut dan orang dari KL seperti saya bangang di negeri tersebut kerana dipercayai tidak tahu selok belok jalan di situ. Begitulah agaknya tanggapan pemandu-pemandu kenderaan plet J.
Seperti dijangka, selepas persimpangan Pagoh menuju persimpangan Yong Peng, sudah ada kenderaan plet J yang membuat perangai. Sebuah Proton Waja mengekori rapat di belakang kenderaan saya sambil memberikan ‘high beam’ sebagai arahan untuk saya kembali ke lorong kiri. Untuk mengelak sebarang konfrontasi emosi dan lebih buruk, kemalangan, maka saya pun ketepi lah. Maklumlah, sudah pasti Proton Waja 1.6 lebih laju dan hebat dari Honda Civic 2.0 iVTEC dengan kuasa kuasa 155bhp kan?
Semakin menghampiri Johor Bahru, semakin banyak kenderaan plet J yang menunjukkan belang. ‘High beam’ menjadi mainan utama bahlul-bahlul ini. Lorong kecemasan turut dijadikan lorong tambahan bagi memecut kerana mungkin ramai pemandu-pemandu J nak terkucil agaknya sebab makan banyak sangat soto dan lontong. Saya percaya kebanyakkan mereka ini gangster-gangster dan Ah Long Ah Long dari Taman Sentosa dan Johor Jaya di JB agaknya. Tengok warna rambut pun dah tahu. Itu belum lagi mamat-mamat Kg. Melayu Majidee atau Taman Perling yang mungkin merupakan versi empat roda rakan-rakan sekampung atau setaman yang bergelar mat rempit. Dari Mercedes ke Toyota Camry ke Proton Waja ke Perodua Kancil, semuanya sama sahaja. Kurang ajar di jalan raya dan langsung tidak menghormati tetamu-tetamu dari luar. Bukannya orang lain pun. Aku berkahwin dengan orang negeri kau jugak, bahlul.
Mungkin kerana sikap pemanduan tidak senonoh ini lah yang menjadikan pemandu-pemandu dari negara jiran yang bermula dengan huruf S turut mengikut perangai suku-sakat mereka dari negeri J. Orang-orang S kalau masuk ke Malaysia, ibarat beruk baru keluar sangkar. Segala kekangan oleh pemerintah republik itu ibarat dendam kesumat yang dibalas dengan memandu secara tidak senonoh di Malaysia. Mereka berlagak kerana kenderaan mereka dikatakan lebih hebat dan kekuatan matawang dolar mereka membolehkan mereka mengambil risiko disaman oleh polis trafik kita kerana menurut mereka “berbaloi dengan kepuasan memecut dengan kelajuan patah tengkok.”
Salahnya sebab ada cikgu yang mengajar mereka begitu. Eh nanti. Mungkin saya tersilap. Siapa cikgu sebenarnya. Mungkin juga pemandu-pemandu dari S yang menjadikan pemandu-pemandu J menjadi tidak senonoh. Hmm, sekarang saya pula keliru. Apa pun, it works both ways. Pemandu-pemandu J dan pemandu-pemandu S. Hah, memang kena lah tu, penyamun berlawan dengan penyangak.
Saya pohon maaf kepada biras-biras saya Abang Is dan juga Che Eddie. Harap tidak terasa dan terguris dengan kata-kata saya ini. Saya percaya korang berdua tidak seperti itu. Namun, ini adalah hakikat yang harus ditelan walau pahit macam mana sekalipun.
Orang luar dok bercakap mengenai perangai pemandu-pemandu negeri J. Malu tau.
Tolong lah ubah perangai pemanduan kepada yang lebih selamat dan berhemah. Tak kan lah nak jadi macam pemandu-pemandu negeri PP nun jauh di utara. Yang itu memang dah tak ada harapan lagi untuk diperbetulkan. Semua pemandu-pemandu PP adalah gila. Patutlah kabel TNB meletup dan terbakar di Jambatan PP, sebab dah tak tahan dengan perangai gila pemandu-pemandu PP.
Wilayah Persekutuan drivers rock!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
England To Win The 2010 World Cup? Dream On You Blokes
I'm taking a huge risk writing this because if England does win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, I'll never hear the end of it from the legions of England fans here in Malaysia. I don't get it. Why are footie fans in Malaysia so into England, huh? Take me for instance, I'm a die-hard fan of Arsenal and I enjoy following the Barclays Premier League (BPL), but not to the extent of rooting for the English national team.
Why? Because for far too long, England has been overrated and over publicised. Hyped up to the seventh heaven. I think the media here in Malaysia is to be blamed. They have sugarcoated the likes of Rooney, Gerrard, Terry, Ferdinand and Lampard as if these players are Gods. It's the same story during each World Cup. "Oh, this is the best England squad assembled." "Sure shot of lifting the World Cup." "It's now or never for England." "We will not come back empty-handed." And on and on. Hollow, half-baked psychological warfare from a line of failed England managers and now Capello looks set to fall into this trap like his predecessors.
Even Carlsberg have produced car stickers splashed with "We support Team England for World Cup 2010" or something like that. You can get those for free at 7-Eleven outlets.
Maybe because Malaysians are too exposed to BPL. And the punters and commentators on ESPN and Star Sports for instance are also not helping because they too get excited when there is a live broadcast of international matches involving England. "All familiar names here, set to take on their opponents..." You see what I mean?
Yeah, they might be familiar names, but do they have the qualities to see England through to the finals of the 2010 World Cup? I doubt it. Sorry.
We tend to forget or perhaps overlook that La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, LPF and Eredivisie are also equally competitive, if not better than BPL. How else do you explain why Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Holland have far more superior national teams compared to their European neighbour across the English Channel?
It's all about chemistry. I think England is really lacking in this department. Too big of names blended into a concoction of mismatches - from defence, midfield to forward. The English system of play sucks. They should learn from their German and Dutch counterparts on strategy.
Remember how Germany under Franz Benckenbauer aka The Kaiser lifted the Cup in 1990? Precision play captained by the prolific Lothar Matthaus, you can actually draw imaginary straight lines on all the passes of each players. Critics said it was a boring system but Germany won their third World Cup because of it. Brazil with all the fancy schmancy moves, and it got them nowhere that year. Germany under Jurgen Klinsmann, almost similar system of play, came close to clinching their fourth World Cup in 2002 in South Korea but were denied by a slightly better Brazilian side. Whatever it is, still much better than England who were booted out as usual in the initial stages of the tournament.
Okay, to be fair, it will be interesting to see how the 2010 England squad will fare in South Africa, starting from next week. I can already imagine the English commentators - Martin Tyler, Andy Gray, Steve Bower, Alan Hansen etc. screaming "Rooney!! Oh, that was so close!" or "Here comes a Steven Gerrard freekick, the German defence are preparing for the inevitable." And the next thing you know, England is eliminated, again, either by the mighty Germans or the talented Dutch or the fancy Italians. Take your pick. My favourite is when England is booted out by the ever-dramatic penalty shoot-out of which the Germans have an awesome record.
I can't wait to read the headlines "England - Rubbish As Usual"
Why? Because for far too long, England has been overrated and over publicised. Hyped up to the seventh heaven. I think the media here in Malaysia is to be blamed. They have sugarcoated the likes of Rooney, Gerrard, Terry, Ferdinand and Lampard as if these players are Gods. It's the same story during each World Cup. "Oh, this is the best England squad assembled." "Sure shot of lifting the World Cup." "It's now or never for England." "We will not come back empty-handed." And on and on. Hollow, half-baked psychological warfare from a line of failed England managers and now Capello looks set to fall into this trap like his predecessors.
Even Carlsberg have produced car stickers splashed with "We support Team England for World Cup 2010" or something like that. You can get those for free at 7-Eleven outlets.
Maybe because Malaysians are too exposed to BPL. And the punters and commentators on ESPN and Star Sports for instance are also not helping because they too get excited when there is a live broadcast of international matches involving England. "All familiar names here, set to take on their opponents..." You see what I mean?
Yeah, they might be familiar names, but do they have the qualities to see England through to the finals of the 2010 World Cup? I doubt it. Sorry.
We tend to forget or perhaps overlook that La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, LPF and Eredivisie are also equally competitive, if not better than BPL. How else do you explain why Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Holland have far more superior national teams compared to their European neighbour across the English Channel?
It's all about chemistry. I think England is really lacking in this department. Too big of names blended into a concoction of mismatches - from defence, midfield to forward. The English system of play sucks. They should learn from their German and Dutch counterparts on strategy.
Remember how Germany under Franz Benckenbauer aka The Kaiser lifted the Cup in 1990? Precision play captained by the prolific Lothar Matthaus, you can actually draw imaginary straight lines on all the passes of each players. Critics said it was a boring system but Germany won their third World Cup because of it. Brazil with all the fancy schmancy moves, and it got them nowhere that year. Germany under Jurgen Klinsmann, almost similar system of play, came close to clinching their fourth World Cup in 2002 in South Korea but were denied by a slightly better Brazilian side. Whatever it is, still much better than England who were booted out as usual in the initial stages of the tournament.
Okay, to be fair, it will be interesting to see how the 2010 England squad will fare in South Africa, starting from next week. I can already imagine the English commentators - Martin Tyler, Andy Gray, Steve Bower, Alan Hansen etc. screaming "Rooney!! Oh, that was so close!" or "Here comes a Steven Gerrard freekick, the German defence are preparing for the inevitable." And the next thing you know, England is eliminated, again, either by the mighty Germans or the talented Dutch or the fancy Italians. Take your pick. My favourite is when England is booted out by the ever-dramatic penalty shoot-out of which the Germans have an awesome record.
I can't wait to read the headlines "England - Rubbish As Usual"
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Congratulations Datuk Shamsul Azhar Abbas, Happy Retirement Tan Sri Hassan
It's out now, officially.
The news that we have been waiting for, especially amongst Petronas staff and oil & gas industry analysts.
Datuk Shamsul Azhar Abbas (image, top), 57, the former Managing Director & CEO of MISC Berhad, has been appointed the new President & CEO of Petronas as well as Acting Chairman of the national oil corporation, succeeding incumbent Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican (image, down) whose contract expires on 9 February 2010.
Datuk Shamsul's appointment will take effect on 10 February 2010.
Alhamdulillah, it looks like Tan Sri Hassan is leaving the company in good hands. Datuk Shamsul is a Petronas man and has served the national oil corporation since 1974, in various capacities and key positions including that of Vice President of Oil Business, Vice President Petrochemicals, Vice President Exploration (Upstream) and Vice President Maritime and Logistics. He then went on to become the Managing Director & CEO of MISC Berhad which is also a subsidiary of Petronas, from 2004 to 2009.
I know a lot of Petronas staff will be sad to see Tan Sri Hassan leave. Me included. But I am happy for Tan Sri. He can now retire in glory after doing the country a great service for 21 years since he first joined the company in 1989.
Like what Petronas advisor and former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said "No matter how good you are, there will be a time when you need to leave." That statement was made by the old man a couple of weeks ago, when he was asked about speculation on Tan Sri Hassan's future in view of his contract expiring. Perhaps the old man already knew what was coming.
Bottomline, we have to learn to let go.
It would be too long for me to list down Tan Sri Hassan's achievements as the numero uno of Petronas. It does not have to be justified - everyone knows he did an excellent job. He continued the legacy of the late Tan Sri Azizan Zainul Abidin whom he suceeded and transformed Petronas into what it is today - the only Malaysian company in the Fortune 500 list and one of the strongest and most respectable national oil companies in the world, at par with the supermajors the likes of ExxonMobil, Shell and BP. Petronas indeed under Tan Sri Hassan's stewardship, has been inducted into the big boys league of the oil & gas supermajors.
It is something that we should be proud of despite Petronas being the subject of public bashing and finding itself dangerously close to be thrown into political quagmire of late.
To Datuk Shamsul, welcome aboard sir. May you continue the legacies of the late Tan Sri Azizan and of Tan Sri Hassan.
May the force be with you....
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The Months That Was.....
Okay, okay, it has been ridiculously long since I last updated this very, very dusty blog.
In fact, why do I even bother. Who reads my blog anyway?
But then again, that's the actual purpose of a blog. Blog originated from the word weblog, your personal online diary in cyberspace, which is only meant for your eyes only or for people you wish to share with by giving them the URL.
Whatever it is, the break from writing was a cross between intentional and unintentional.
Honestly, (here I go again), I was buried with work. Hahahahaha! The overstatement of the year, which coincidently, is coming to an end in less than 48 hours.
My God, we are ushering in 2010! How time flies (again, an overused expression.)
Where were we? Ah yes, work. You see, I was promoted and transferred to a subsidiary of my company on 1 October 2009, so its been close to 3 months now. As the Head of Department, my responsibility is heavier and job scope is broader by leaps and bounds. Expectation from management is also high. Don't even ask about how I am managing the stress level ever since taking up this new appointment.
But hey, I'm not complaining. I call it progress. I got a promotion which means I get a handsome salary increment (as soon as I pass the higher job grade assessment in April). I got a bigger cubicle now (which is one step away from a proper room if I get one more level of promotion in the next few years) and I have cool colleagues in the department. Well, subordinates actually but I prefer to see them as colleagues (because I am the new generation managers - cool, dynamic and think out of the box, chewah).
The first month (October) was hell. I had to travel a lot and I hardly saw my wife and kids. My new position required me to constantly travel to Kertih, Terengganu and Segamat, Johor as the subsidiary's core operations were located there. October is the worst month to transfer in my company because it is halfway through the fiscal year. That is the time when everyone is busy finalising their departmental and divisional budgets for the next fiscal year and also busy with the dreaded mid-year performance review. On top of that, my department was at the tail-end of a major audit exercise and although the audit period and scope covered a duration well before my time, I was pretty much involved, by virtue of me being the new Head. Let's just say I was unfortunate enough to "inherit" some problems left by my predecessors and them tight-fisted auditors just didn't care or symphatised with me. On top of that, my immediate superior was also new and eager to be up to speed with the current operations of my department which was parked under the division of which he is the head. So, it was a whirlwind first month for me and I tell you, the learning curve was so steep, I felt like crying at times.
If October was hell, November was hell deluxe! Just as I was about to settle down and thought that my travelling schedule has finally stabilised, I was slapped with a major and urgent assignment. It was like my cheek being pushed to the side of an express train! I was instructed by management to handle a ground-breaking ceremony in Sabah for a major project undertaken by the subsidiary which was a joint-venture with a state government-owned entity. And we had less than 3 weeks to pull the whole thing off! Hence I was zig-zagging to and fro Kota Kinabalu as if I had a second wife over there for most of November until the event itself which was on the 26th of November, one day before Hari Raya Haji! It was a miracle me and my team managed to get a flight back to KL on the night itself to enable us to be home in time for Hari Raya Haji. The event went well and I was thankful it was done and over with. For that, I thank my team for a job well done (you know who you are, I don't mention names in my blog).
And finally, December, ah yes, good old December, I would say was the best month since I joined my new outfit. I attended a forum for managers of the company in Kertih (at my favourite hotel Awana Kijal of course which was really a well-deserved retreat) and also presented two major papers to members of the subsidiary's management committee at their monthly meeting held in Kuantan (that was a two-hour ordeal which I thought would never end). I also spent one week alone in KL as my wife and kids went back to Johor Bahru to spend time with my mom-in-law. I really bonded with my house, hehehehe. Accomplished lots of things when I was alone - installed a new ceiling fan in the master bedroom (the old one had its sensor stuck as the slowest speed), cleaned the bathrooms, mopped the floor, vacuumed the carpets, serviced both my car and my wife's car and watched lots and lots of tv. Oh, I also made arrangements for a short vacation to Phuket, Thailand which I'm taking in mid-January 2010. Yeahoo!!!! (This is a solo vacation and my wife is cool about it.) I'm so excited about this trip that I've read two travel books on the exotic island and have mapped out my itinerary for the four days I'm there.
So, there, that's what happened in the past 3 months during which I abstained from writing. I'm going to start writing again, in this blog, in Facebook and also in NST where I'm a regular contributor to the Letters To The Editors section. I have a lot to say actually on current affairs but like I said, I just didn't have the time. I'm certainly going to try and the fact that I wrote this post is already, yes you said it - progress.
So here's to 2009 which has been a great year (for me and my family at least) and let's usher in 2010 with hopes and prayers that it will be better - financially and emotionally.....
p. s. Arsenal is doing so well in the English Premier League! I'm so happy!!
In fact, why do I even bother. Who reads my blog anyway?
But then again, that's the actual purpose of a blog. Blog originated from the word weblog, your personal online diary in cyberspace, which is only meant for your eyes only or for people you wish to share with by giving them the URL.
Whatever it is, the break from writing was a cross between intentional and unintentional.
Honestly, (here I go again), I was buried with work. Hahahahaha! The overstatement of the year, which coincidently, is coming to an end in less than 48 hours.
My God, we are ushering in 2010! How time flies (again, an overused expression.)
Where were we? Ah yes, work. You see, I was promoted and transferred to a subsidiary of my company on 1 October 2009, so its been close to 3 months now. As the Head of Department, my responsibility is heavier and job scope is broader by leaps and bounds. Expectation from management is also high. Don't even ask about how I am managing the stress level ever since taking up this new appointment.
But hey, I'm not complaining. I call it progress. I got a promotion which means I get a handsome salary increment (as soon as I pass the higher job grade assessment in April). I got a bigger cubicle now (which is one step away from a proper room if I get one more level of promotion in the next few years) and I have cool colleagues in the department. Well, subordinates actually but I prefer to see them as colleagues (because I am the new generation managers - cool, dynamic and think out of the box, chewah).
The first month (October) was hell. I had to travel a lot and I hardly saw my wife and kids. My new position required me to constantly travel to Kertih, Terengganu and Segamat, Johor as the subsidiary's core operations were located there. October is the worst month to transfer in my company because it is halfway through the fiscal year. That is the time when everyone is busy finalising their departmental and divisional budgets for the next fiscal year and also busy with the dreaded mid-year performance review. On top of that, my department was at the tail-end of a major audit exercise and although the audit period and scope covered a duration well before my time, I was pretty much involved, by virtue of me being the new Head. Let's just say I was unfortunate enough to "inherit" some problems left by my predecessors and them tight-fisted auditors just didn't care or symphatised with me. On top of that, my immediate superior was also new and eager to be up to speed with the current operations of my department which was parked under the division of which he is the head. So, it was a whirlwind first month for me and I tell you, the learning curve was so steep, I felt like crying at times.
If October was hell, November was hell deluxe! Just as I was about to settle down and thought that my travelling schedule has finally stabilised, I was slapped with a major and urgent assignment. It was like my cheek being pushed to the side of an express train! I was instructed by management to handle a ground-breaking ceremony in Sabah for a major project undertaken by the subsidiary which was a joint-venture with a state government-owned entity. And we had less than 3 weeks to pull the whole thing off! Hence I was zig-zagging to and fro Kota Kinabalu as if I had a second wife over there for most of November until the event itself which was on the 26th of November, one day before Hari Raya Haji! It was a miracle me and my team managed to get a flight back to KL on the night itself to enable us to be home in time for Hari Raya Haji. The event went well and I was thankful it was done and over with. For that, I thank my team for a job well done (you know who you are, I don't mention names in my blog).
And finally, December, ah yes, good old December, I would say was the best month since I joined my new outfit. I attended a forum for managers of the company in Kertih (at my favourite hotel Awana Kijal of course which was really a well-deserved retreat) and also presented two major papers to members of the subsidiary's management committee at their monthly meeting held in Kuantan (that was a two-hour ordeal which I thought would never end). I also spent one week alone in KL as my wife and kids went back to Johor Bahru to spend time with my mom-in-law. I really bonded with my house, hehehehe. Accomplished lots of things when I was alone - installed a new ceiling fan in the master bedroom (the old one had its sensor stuck as the slowest speed), cleaned the bathrooms, mopped the floor, vacuumed the carpets, serviced both my car and my wife's car and watched lots and lots of tv. Oh, I also made arrangements for a short vacation to Phuket, Thailand which I'm taking in mid-January 2010. Yeahoo!!!! (This is a solo vacation and my wife is cool about it.) I'm so excited about this trip that I've read two travel books on the exotic island and have mapped out my itinerary for the four days I'm there.
So, there, that's what happened in the past 3 months during which I abstained from writing. I'm going to start writing again, in this blog, in Facebook and also in NST where I'm a regular contributor to the Letters To The Editors section. I have a lot to say actually on current affairs but like I said, I just didn't have the time. I'm certainly going to try and the fact that I wrote this post is already, yes you said it - progress.
So here's to 2009 which has been a great year (for me and my family at least) and let's usher in 2010 with hopes and prayers that it will be better - financially and emotionally.....
p. s. Arsenal is doing so well in the English Premier League! I'm so happy!!
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