Client

My first exhibition.

Ten years in business i never participate in any exhibition. I never thought i would join any until recently i did. It would never be materialize without the commitment of my two strong generals. The first thing i did that first morning (on the very 1st day of exhb.) was thanking my two general on their relentless efforts.

I feel little right to take credit on our achievements during the exhibition. The generals deserve all. Thank you and thank you again. Our next stop is oil and gas exhibition (OGA) KL.


Our proud booth.

Man and Bike

Since i was a kid i always wanted a bike. A big bike. I remember going to mamak's grocery with my brother to buy stickers of Randy Mamola, Freddie spencer, Eddie Lawson and other rider's in action. The stickers come with junk food. We would stick the stickers into our last year writing book. Spend our time fantasizing having our own bike.

Come to my SRP, dad promised a bike if i achieve below 10 aggregate. A yamaha SS110cc to be exact. Its hot bike for teenagers at that time. I did imagine how am i going to repaint (with 7-up green) the bike etc. Its gonna be hot. Sure enough i got 6 aggregate in my SRP exam. And sure enough dad broke his promise. I was so devastated. I remember walking from home to nearby river about 5km thinking of killing myself. Somehow i know it was a stupid idea.

In the end i settled for a racing bicycle. Then my cycling life begin.

I thank dad for not buying me the bike. I wont end up here if he bought it. I know. I know i will be different person when come to riding.

Fast forward, the year was 1997. I just started working. That year Aprillia was winning races for 125cc and 250 cc in world FIM championship. The 250cc bike was awesome. My brother bought it and we always share riding it (picture above is the actual bike). But, year after that we both very busy running our family business. The bike was not fully utilized. It only clock 26000km after 10 years! My record speed was 200km/hr on trunk road!

Now, I want to have another bike. I am eyeing for Kawasaki ZX10R. Beautiful machine. Just spend couple of thousand for the gear. The picture below is ZX10R.

Now, i like to detail why i blog this story. Last friday 22nd june 2007, a friend of mine passed away in bike accident with a truck. Apparently, he lost control during cornering. He was an architect. Let recite Al-Fatihah for him.

The incident has put me in a great dilemma. Should i pursue my dream having a new bike? Would you? After it already cost a friend?

today 25/sept

And today, one of my staff, electrical tech, good man, accident while riding last nite. He hit a crossing cow. He was sent to K terengganu hospital. That's mean BAD.

Anyway, i managed to sell my bike to other enthusiast. But, another bike? i put the idea on hold. But working hard to gather more wealth. (i guess when u have more money, its easier to make purchase decision). At the moment mind occupied with 4 wheelers. thinking hard to buy one for passion.

Women

1. The picture above was chose for reason*.
2. They say there is a woman behind a success of man. And so there is a woman behind a fall of a man (some sort like that)*.
* I like to reserve why i depict the above two statements.

A friend of mine passed away last Thursday night after suffering more then a month coma in KL GH. He was involved in a freak accident somewhere along the new east coast highway. He was a good person. He was younger than me, yet wiser than me, religious and a cunning businessman. Al-Fatihah.

This post titled 'women' is all dedicated to him.

politics

They say picture worth thousands words. These pictures worth millions of my words. Who are they (KJ & Hishamudin) kidding huh??

David vs Goliath

The makcik story should make so called smart, bright, intelligent and sharp and futhermore working with GLCs, MNCs and travel the world in business class, and think they are differently and superiorly breed than the rest and think they belong to the elit/great mind and their opinions are derived in heaven, wake up and smell your skin. We are at par as human. Some of us just lucky. Some of us choose to work hard and succeed. Some of us borned privelleged. Some of us fail after giving their best. Some of us succeed by doing virtually nothing. No matter what the situation are, all of us deserve respect.

Yes, i have personal vendetta with these people. I just wish one day God enlighten their minds. Wishing God to reset their purpose and objective in life. In the mean time i wish them success in their careers.

David vs Goliath. I purposely choose the topic to describe how life is so exciting. Battle between the weak and strong. Battle between the uneducated and educated? Education in what sense? What kind of education?

A friend of mine, an oversea graduate, run a trucking company. He owns 20+ trucks. I mean really big trucks. These trucks are manufactured by scania and volvo. They are not easy to maintain. They need experience mechanics to look after them. These mechanics are hard to come by. These mechanics are also not the best educated man in earth. Fail to find the right one will make your truck down. Soon it hit your bottom line so bad and you will bleed to death.


This friend..... his assets worth few millions. Graduated from one of the best private engineering school in US. Has experience working with multinational petroleum company. His daily business dealing involve with managers, senior managers, COOs, CEOs, of multinational companies and banking instutitions.

Last few night had tought him a lesson. He was made to wait in his luxury car for 1 hour. Waiting for a mechanics who failed form 3 exam. He had use all the charms he got to lure this mechanic to work for him. He said during the discussion the mechanic was so cool, demanding higher pay and many more perks. My friends's hand tied and twisted. He agreed to all terms.
On the way back..he would never imagine he himself would seek and beg one so called uneducated mechanic to work for him. How life is so unique.

The worst thing is......the mechanics dont even show up.....

A makcik story

Wow! two entries per day. I must have got nothing to do. Shame to admit but, its true. Anyhow, I have been waiting to write about this wonderful 'makcik' (auntie) story. I guess today i am free and will let my makcik memory floating back to my brain cell and communicating back to my fingers.

Most blogger and blogs readers are well educated. The feeling of being proud and honored with your educational level may enter to the sense of great mind state leading to arrogant behaviour. I am not saying all the smart people out there are arrogant. Nope. But, couple with few other factors they can be one arrogant snob. I know. Because i nearly become one. Luckily, the makcik pull me back to earth to where i belong to be what dad taught me, to be humble.

It all started few weeks ago. I was in the new Matrade (the self made famous icon) building somewhere in Kuala Lumpur. Together with my executive we were there to meet SMIDEC representative. We are prepared to present our case. We are well dressed too (something i rarely do). In fact myself was very proud with our case. Proud of what the company has achieved. We were there to apply for 'geran'(fund allocated by government to help industy) to buy few machines. I know smidec cannot decline us because we are so damn good. Company information, business activities, sales, social contribution are excellent. We are the perfect candidate for the 'geran'. No other SMI company can beat us. I was so proud till it started to touch the arrogant territory.

The smidec officer too was impressed with our company. Our export revenues, number of people hired stunned him. All he can say was 'No Problem the fund is there for you to tap'. At that moment my arrogance level was reached. I did not say anything to expose the feeling but i know it is inside me. Still bad. During my 30 minutes discussion with the smidec officer at Smidec lounge/discussion area, I notice one makcik walking lazily back and forth. I did not pay attention to her. She might be the cleaner or tea lady trying to hear our discussion for fun. The officer seems to know her. They greet other. I did not care less. she is just a tea lady at most.
My arrogance sense coupled with success atmosphere treat the makcik with hardly any respect. At this stage i had not yet communicate with the makcik. The feeling is all inside me. I was flying with self ego, pomposity and snob.

The officer excuse himself to his office to pick up a form for us to fill. During the officer absence, the makcik sit in his chair. She start reading my company profile. She seems to ponder and indulge herself to the document. I was stunned and speechless. The tea lady cum cleaner 'playing' with my stuff. I would like to stop her, but not really want to insult her. I was crying deep in my heart to prohibit her from laying her dirty fingers on my sacred documents.

She broke the silence

makcik : where are u guys from? (with very heavy hard core Terengganu slang)
me : Kemaman (with myvery soft terengganu slang)
makcik : oh! we are not far apart i am form Kuala terengganu. What are you doing here?
me: (she really belong to makcik terengganu doing the keropok lekor (fish made cookies)) We are here for geran matters (with proud). what are u doing here?
makcik: same thing
me: (stunned) u mean u also apply ?
makcik: oh nope. I already got it. I come here for final disbursement.
me: (nearly down to feet. shock. impresed.numb.knock out punch etc) what? when? what do you do? what business are you in? (I start mumbling/questioning in disbelief. she is at most passed only standard 6)
makcik.: I own a factory in Terenganu. I manufacture fabric. (she start showing her pamphlet)
me: (damn.)
makcik : i supply to company making uniform, shirt and so on.
me: where do you purchase your raw material ?
makcik: malaysia, but now most come form china and taiwan. I have to import in order to be competitive.
me: (wow!) i ask for more sensitive business questions like market, machines and so on..
makcik: (she gave me vague answer)
me: (darn she is defensive. smart cunning)
Now the table has turn around. I was the stupid one. Makcik is the smarter one.
me: how can we make sure we got the geran? any hint?any lesson? ( my ego vanish)
makcik; (she gave 5 minute lecture on business, marketing, personal relation, lobbying and the need to be cunning in your application. I feel like the makcik read tens of business books or all the tens book were referred to the makcik experiences)

The officer was back. He hand us the form. Its time to leave. I wave and greet goodbye to the super makcik. I could not help my self thinking about the makcik on our 3 hrs journey back. No matter how high you fly, there always somebody higher than you. The makcik put back a man likeme to his sense. I am sure makcik will make you lady (who regards herself as brilliant high achiever great mind + snob etc) to shame.

I am thank full to GOD for meeting me with makcik.

rookie

After my 1st attempt, i notice few typo and grammatical errors. 1997 should be read as 2007. I seek your forgiveness. Grammatical flaws? Please expect many more to come. I am a technically inclined person. A mechanical engineering graduate. Loath english, speaking and writting class during school years (engineers does not need it). Reading only at minimum those years.

Life has taken it bend and corner. Gradually, reading,speaking and writting skills cripping to my neck announcing its cruciality success factor to my career. I start sluggardly. Reading what i like and hopely using this blog for writting stuff i care. Speaking is always pain in the butt. Public speaking. I wonder why i feel nervous speaking in front of my few executives. I am the upper hand yet butterfly still in my stomach. Those are the traits (speaking, reading, writting) i was not born with.

Those days (school years) i felt blessed, proud and honoured with my technical inclination. Always outstanding in math and science. Indiferrent and could'nt care less attitude toward language and administrative subjects. Those are for pussy i thought. Well, now i wish i can turn back the clock. One of my regret in life is not giving my best on those subject. One of my wish in life is to be born with leadership (which i think constitute of reading, writting and speaking skills) traits, and better EQ and more linguistics and so on. The former one is what i am looking for. The books say leadership traits can be develope, cultured,learned and cultivate. I reserve my comment on that.

With all handicaped mention above title 'rookie' sum it all.

melancholic journey part I

Dear all,
This is my first attempt to create my own blog. As publish in Malaysia-today 12/3/97, at least 80% of bloggers is women, i guess i am doing my part to reduce the deficit.
I am an engineer by profession. Now active in small and medium business. Married with 5 kids. Wife working with goverment (engineer too). First kid, boy 9yrs, twin girls 8yrs, girl 4yrs and boy 2yrs old.
I am not really interested to talk about family that much. But, excites to use this tech to express thots on my career journey, beliefe, worry and future. I always reserve my sorrow, dissapointment and grief. Hopefully from now on GOD will give the blessing for me to write. Importantly, ability to convey my thot and feeling into writing.
Melancholic? Why melancholic? According to oxford dictionary (installed in my pda) melancholic means pensive sadness or expressing sadness. Journey is the journey of my career by choiced. So, am i a failure? Surely nope. I consider myself as a man with a great ambition. None of the ambition has been achieved. But, i am sailing to the direction. Melancholic may attribute from the yacth capabilty, brutal sea, inferiortech and few more external environments leads to depression.