The details....

I have a bit of time this morning. Just arrived in my office. Walked as usual when I received a call from my best friend/colleague that we need to make other arrangements as his whole family will be off to KL on Tuesday. Perfect timing as always, I just told my wife I'll check if the apartment is available. Asked my staff to check it.

Anyway my trip to BVI was long. It was a 14 hours flight to Amsterdam where we were in transit for another 6 hours. Finally the 9 hour flight to St. Maarten (a Dutch colony) came but along the way after 4 hours in the air we had to turn back as the water supply developed a fault. Off we went back to Schipol, Amsterdam. Stayed on board for another 3 hours with a tiny dog yapping at my feet. The seat in front brought a tiny dog in a tiny carrier. Of course the poor thing yapped!

Finally we were off after having dozed off for hours. We are pretty sure our connecting flight at 5.00 to Beef Island, BVI have gone by then. Sure enough when we arrived at Konnigen Juliana Airport the flight was long gone. Its 8 anyway and there are no more flights available. The next day we knew why.

We opted to stay on for the night in St. Maarten at this hotel called Caravanserai. Its near the airport. Once we dropped our stuff and freshened up we went out to explore the place. Lovely tiny town with its casinos and strip clubs. We went to an Italian restaurant and had our first meal in the Caribbean. A delicious Cajun meal topped with lovely wild mushroom soup.

Took a lovely stroll by the beach before we returned to our rooms by 1.00 a.m. Our flight tomorrow is at 9 a.m. The next day during check out I managed to call our contact in BVI. I am sure he must be very concerned about our non arrival. Sure enough he was.

We took the 8 seater turbo prop across a vast ocean with no where to land in between. No wonder there are no flights at night. You can't see a thing. We arrived at the Terrence B. Lettsome, Beef Island and was met by Mr. Malcolm Arthurs, a young Jamaican lawyer working in Road Town, Tortola, BVI.

He graciously drove us to our hotel the Lambert Beach Resort, a good half an hour drive from Road Town. Its a nice beach resort, comfortable but not a place to work. Sleep eat and be merry. We dumped our stuff and Malcolm drove us to Webster & O'neals office in Road Town. Its almost like a one street one horse town but with very busy roads. Almost a big population of 10,000 inhabitants made up of locals, belongers and foreigners. http://www.bviwelcome.com.

Then Malcolm brought us to a restaurant for lunch. I had this really huge Yellowtail fish. Lovely stuff. Nice sauce, with rice and other stuff. Also had a lovely berry drink. I'll continue again later.

Clueless.....

I am almost at the end of my tether. How do you improve an organisation that does not want to change? How do you change a mindset?How do you change an attitude? I have highlighted in my report various areas that needed to be improved. Of course the meeting has yet to be held but can't they be proactive and do the necessary improvements especially with regards to security? Really this don't-care-less attitude is getting to me. If it is the lower levels it is expected of them but people who are suppose to lead and provide good examples?

I don't know. Maybe I am getting older and thus getting more cynical and jaded by the second. Just can't stand the attitude when a million more things need to be done to get Malaysia to achieve the Vision 2020. (Before looking at Malaysia, would the Malays be equally progressive by then? Or are we going to continue to see this lousy attitude and unnecessary back biting on matters that is of not particular importance?) Working in a Malay organisation is really getting to me. We seem to be placing less and less importance on things that matters and going further and further backward. Where do we go from here?

We are no longer the wholesome union that we were before. Everyone is selfish and working for and towards themselves.

Nightmare weekend....

Good morning. It's a Monday morning and I am still in KL. I was suppose to return to Kuala Terengganu on Friday. Instead I went to Sungai Petani. Just had to visit my grandmother who is ill. In the process I also missed the Chairman son's wedding on Saturday. Of course the visit was not that straight forward. We checked in on Friday afternoon in Swiss Inn Sungai Petani. There was one of the most atrocious service I have ever experienced. It started when I arrived at 3 pm to check in. First there was Wati at the counter not really bothered to check me in. There after she called Nazri and still nothing done. Then came Linda and Edry and only then they proceeded to check me in. However the room I asked for i.e. 2 adjoining rooms was not available. Why? A huge group came in with a block booking so the rooms requested are not available. And yet just last night and this morning they confirmed such room was available.

What made matters worse was that there were no apology and no recommendation for other rooms etc. To top it all off we had to request more then 4 times to get somebody to get our luggage. Still no word of apology. Finally Edry came forward apologised on behalf of the hotel but still no word of apology from the rest. To top it all off there after they gave us the cold shoulder that even housekeeping took over 5 calls. By the next day we about had enough and had to report to the duty manager Encik Jamil.

He proceeded by apologising and offered dinner on the house. It was good dinner. We were then invited to sample the wide screen at the fun pub to watch Portugal v Iran. All in all it was good. Before we parted I made a request to Encik Jamil that on no account must Wati and Linda be there when we check out.

Next day was pleasant enough. Edry and Nazri was there to check us out. Wati and Linda was in the office either because they were told not to or they tried to avoid us. Anyway we saw vast improvements in Nazri where we commended him as such but not before telling him for Linda and Wati it is not over. The problem is in the web pages of Swiss Inn there is no column or page for customer's comments etc. Not a very good sign there for a hotel that is not bothered to facilitate comments from guests.

Anyway arrived in the evening in KL but not before stopping at the Bukit Gantang rest area for Durian, Ipoh for pasembur at Greentown and roti canai at Good Shed. We safely arrived home at 7.30 pm. Supposed to drive back to KT this morning. But after much discussion I am too exhausted and my baby is fretting. Would be bad for him to travel again long distance without ample rest. So I will instead fly this afternoon on a 4.30 flight to KT. Probably get one of my staff to pick me up at the airport.

Not commenting on the nonsense that is going on between our leaders. Enough said.

Mom's birthday

It's her 61st actually. We had lunch at this new great Japanese Buffet Restaurant, Shini Ci. The Manager Allex is a great guy. Definitely will go there again. Its an all you can eat thingy. Tonight's another Cup Extravaganza, Holland v Serbia & Montenegro. Should be a good one considering it will be the last time for Serbia & Montenegro to play since Montenegro have declared themselves independent. Next time you will only see either Serbia or Montenegro. Not sure how they will fare then.

Gave presents to Mum just now. As we normally do. Just a small do with the immediate family except Sis who is in Dubai. Speaking of which I myself will be leaving for Switzerland and the Caribbeans to settle some unfinished matters. Sometimes foreigners also need to be given a kick in the pants to get them to work. Not going just yet but if I do not have access to the internet I'll be rather quiet for a short while. Okay my son wants in on the act. I've to go. Catch you later.

Yawnnnnn...it's the CUP

And no I am not talking about the chalice, the Holy Grail, the Sangreal. But a cup that is no less holy. The World Cup. Germany - Costa Rica. Classic football. England - Paraguay. Sad. Sweden - Trinidad & Tobago. Sadder still. Okay enough of that for now.

The other day managed to meet the number one in my corporation. It is indeed confirmed that he is leaving. On early retirement as he said. Can no longer stand the atmosphere and the pressure of having absolutely clueless lieutenants. He is a good man and I will be sorry to see him go. Wish I can do something about it. Especially him still being fairly young with a relatively young family. Wonder what he will do. Obviously he must continue working. Ah! The pitfalls of being in the corporate world that's full of political vultures (internal and external). I hope that I will not ned up that way too. Still a long way to go yet for me.

Looking at what's going on outside the corporation, it is no less intriguing. The brickbat being thrown by the old against the new is approaching fever pitch. Brickbats, brickbats and...its not personal....its business....Huh? Not sure what untold damage its is causing the nation and the economy. Ah Politics! The strange animal that seemed destined for extinction but instead its thriving warts and all. Used to be fairly active. Still is a ranking member in one of the branch but I don't know. Just cannot keep up with its continuing stupidity selfishness and self importance.

Just not for me I guess. Might as well concentrate on building up my career and ceevee. Okay Its Sunday. I am back in KL attending a seminar tomorrow and the next day. Tomorrow's mum's birthday, son is trying to get into typing this blog too. Thinking of taking mum out for Japanese. Later all.

Trouble?

My good friend and colleague walked into my office announcing "Trouble brewing!". I just had to ask. Where? Here or elsewhere? Then he said "read the papers?". Ah. Its between the old and the current. Its been brewing for quite sometime now and I have often wondered when will it come to a head? Now apparently it have. I have been reading some good stories about a certain son-in-law that seems to be calling the shots. Maybe the old wants to curb his enthusiasm rather then slamming the current. It have been a known tactic of the old to slam one person while actually targetting another.

Never sure where this is heading. But definitely it will cause some uncertainty in the citizens and investors. It will cause untold damages to the nation that cannot be quantified in monetary terms. Lately I have been getting a lot of education on "How Not To Be A Leader". The information I am getting is voluminous and rather disturbing.

Closer to home it is getting equally intriguing. It is no less sensational then the goings ons of the national arena. Is the current moving on? Is the new coming in? Who is the new? Will the new bring a new team etc etc etc.

The situation is beyond my comprehension and I feel terribly powerless. Just be a bystander looking. I have got to go. I will come back later. Cheerio.

Unproductive day....

Well, the interview went well. For the first time I actually see hope in Terengganu. This man is articulate, well-dressed and have enough enthusiasm that may just work for me. He will be taking over my legal portfolio that I have juggling with other things. He will definitely be assigned to sit in the various contracts and tenders meetings if we were to choose him.

It have been a most uncertain week. This uncertainty does not bode well with the organisation. Morale is at an all time low and no one is sure what is actually going on. Important decisions are piling up with apparently no one to decide. I have often wondered what makes a man the man. If you know what I mean. At which stage of a person's life will it mostly affect his personality right up to his/her adult life. What makes a person who he is? For example at what stage did I become who I have become. I have a long way to go and what will I be? Questions, questions, questions. I am in one those moments where there is really nothing much to do. The draft report have been sent, the tender have been reviewed, strategies have been prepared for discussion, preparation for the trip is being prepared, the scorecard have been reviewed. What next? Ah I have that fraud seminar to attend next week, mum's birthday and the legal counsel forum next month. That's it?

I can feel it in my bones. A major change is about to happen in this organisation and I hope it is change for the better. No matter how much a person have contributed or how well he have performed when it is time to go it is time to go. Everyone should realise that. Be it leaders, Prime Ministers, Ministers, Chief Executives etc. Sometimes fresh blood and ideas may be good for a particular organisation but that person must have a clear idea and plan what he/she intends to do. Leading is not something adhoc and on the spur of the moment thing. It requires deep thinking, blue prints and a battle plan, much like winning a war or battle. As in wars the terrain changes and leaders have to be prepared and ready for such. Sometimes our allies will fail us, the support will not come and orders wrongly carried out. But as leaders we have to be prepared for that coming out with various scenarios and options to tackle various issues as it comes pouncing.

I have never heard nor read great leaders like Eisenhower, Muhammad, Napoleon, Saladin to cower in the hope that nothing will go wrong in the midst of a crisis or battle. The battle axe is long gone and our leader seems to have lost his nerve. I do hope that he will find his confidence soon if not make way and let us get on with our work and business. Sounds harsh and cruel but we have the bigger picture here. A whole organisation is at stake and not just the livelihood of one person. My question comes up again. How can some people be selfish and only think of his/herself? Was that nurtured through the ages? Just suddenly appeared? Some dastardly happening during diapers stage? If so I have to be more careful how I handle my son. Wouldn't do create to such an indent that makes him a poor excuse of a human in the future.

I can go and on and I probably will. But time to see what else needs to be done. I'll be back. Cheerio.

Its Tuesday?

Already? I enjoy scanning the news. I read all kinds of online news service. These days reading the news from Malaysia depresses me. It seems that no one seems to care about the ordinary people. The leaders don't care, neither do the authorities nor the bureaucrats. Speaking of bureaucrats I have always had something against them. I know that they like everyone else in the universe have a role to play. But must they be completely hung up on red tape ( a tape that's meant to keep out the have-nots and to give a field day to haves). Decisions made by these people have placed the ordinary people in serious jeopardy. It is as if they do not have a heart, no life and no families.

Is this what they teach in the civil service? Don't care about others just do job (unless its to please some god knows VVVVVVVVVVVVVIPs) then you can go out of the way to lick the persons boots.

Decisions that's been made that claims people's lives must have been made in the process of kowtowing to someone. If not in the ordinary scheme of things it is not easy to get any sort of decision. E.g. why's my rubbish not collected? Answer: sorry ni kena tanya Yang Dipertua. That sort of tai chi ing. Where did they learn all these? Am I to thank my lucky stars that I managed to wiggle my way out when I was offered to be a PTD Officer (Civil service) lest I will become just like them. Is it the organisation or is it the person? That's what I've always liked to know. Is the person that way when he/she joined or the organisation created that monster?

If I had joined them will I too become a monster? Heartless and clueless? I have been searching for an answer but never found any. I know a few civil servants and they seem to be decent folks. However I've never seen them in their bureaucratic persona, so there may be a monster lurking somewhere. Speaking of monsters how about robots. Never seen more robotic personalities like some bank staff I know. Equally heartless, equally clueless. Ask a question and that "I am stupid" look starts flashing. Again are they just plain dumb or did the organisation made them that way?

Maybe its the food that they are consuming. Should seriously send the food samples in the food courts and stalls to the chemist. Maybe they might find the "Stupid" virus that seems to continue to evolve in various forms of stupidity. It amazes me with such manpower they can still be the number one bank in Malaysia. Maybe being stupid pays. Never know.

Okay time for me to get ready. Will be interviewing some one to take over my many tasks. Hopefully this one have not been infected by the "Stupid" virus. Cheerio.

Its a State of Mind?

Yesterday I went to Kota Bharu for a wedding. Thought of staying there for the night but surprise of surprise it was all full! Every hotel 2 star, 3 star, 4 and even 5 star were all full. It was attributed to the school holidays apparently. To kill time while waiting for the wedding to begin I had a short stroll in KB Mall the latest development in Kota Bharu. Kota Bharu has always been amazing and always interesting.

Let's now move to the town I am in, Kuala Terengganu. Moved here since January 2006. The move was related to the MB's attempt to spur the economy and activity in Kuala Terengganu. For that he instructed all Terengganu state related company to return to Kuala Terengganu and set up their headquarters here. But the lamentable state of affairs that is KT is that it is dull compared to KB. Not exciting not picturesque. Always been like this. I first came here way back in 1995 for an assignment and truthfully nothing have changed.

I can only sum up one great difference between the 2 states, its all about the mindset and attitude. In KB the people themselves help to spur and generate development while in KT any form of development will need some kind of government push, backing or involvement. Why is that? Terengganu people are nor proud of their state capital?

MB continues to lament that people do not come to KT that he had to device various initiatives and programme to bring up the numbers. Monsoon cup is one of them. While what brings the numbers to KB? The Pesta Air the annual play in the flood festivities. That's it. No government push. No need for million dollar ad campigns. No Michelle Yeoh.

The state cannot push for development when the people do not want to develope themselves. Where are all the Terengganu born corporate leaders? Aren't they interested in developing the state much in the same manner as the Kelantan businessmen as developing their state? When will we get to see high quaility developments in the same vein as in Kota Bharu that spurs excitemment and that elicits pride?

Another comparison. I was a bank auditor once and I have audited the branches in both state. In KB after 6 the branch Manager invites us out for tea in front of the branch premise and tells us if we want to work late he can assign someone to come in later to lock up. Its a huge branch. in KT it was 5.00 pm and they told us to hurry up because they have to go home and no one is available to lock up. And that's it, by 5.30 everyone leaves and its all dark by 6.00 pm. The size is a fraction of KB's. Notice the difference here?

I had another brush later with KT when I headed an audit outfit. I arranged for an audit assignment to audit a KT warehouse and what did they do? The Managers and senior staff promptly went on leave almost during the duration of the audit. I had to pull rank and force them to come back to work! I had lesser problems in KB even though the situation there was more problematic. Its all about the state of mind. Need to bring changes to the state? Change the state of mind first. How? Next time eh?

My First Blog...well not actually

I have been writing my gripes and comments in newspapers and especially in the Promuda Circle. Only recently did I return to the Circle after a prolonged absence. Anyway one reader liked what I had to say and suggested that I set up a blog. This blog is dedicated to you Salfiza for giving me the idea and the impetus in the first place.

I will continue to make my comments in the Promuda Circle. This is still not that known after all. I am deeply concerned with the present developments in Malaysia. On the face of it the decisions made looks bad for the nation. What I am especially concerned is the lack of creativity in the decision making process.

In the circle I summarised the situation as follows: 28 May 2006

I do not agree that we should read anything out of this courtesy call. What I do know is that we had such high hopes for his administration and what we get is one disappointment after another. It all started with the Rafidah Affair. Anyone that shows discourtesy in public, cabinet and parliament should be censured instead she escaped unscathed even after being criticised in the UMNO Assembly. Then it was the choice of the Cabinet. After all the speculation he instead brought in individuals who have been more known for their dubiousness rather then their ability to deliver. Next he maintained some who have passed their sell by date. Not much creativity involved in his choice of Cabinet. This lack of creativity continues to plague his administration. In the last few months issues that could be dealt more creatively was instead settled using the simplest means without scant regard (in the eyes of the public) for others. Petroleum subsidy - reduce it, Malaysia Airlines - get rid of excess manpower, TNB - increase the rates, Malaysia Airlines - give more to Air Asia, Scenic Bridge - cancel it, let's not crack our brains, Augusta - sell it, Proton - let's be knockdown assemblers, Multimedia Development Corporation, not that known? - change its name maybe that will help, the Penang Shipyard fiasco, let LTAT pick up its related to them anyway and let's not talks about it hoping it will go away, the double tracking contract - let's cancel it so we do not have to crack our brains how to finance it. I admit that some of the decisions made are based on fiscal prudence, let's not spend what we do not have, however with the much touted young circle he has I have expected more creativity in the decision making process. I do not want his administration to be remembered as one that skirted on issues and avoided any form of disagreement. Some need to be faced head on. As a Malaysian citizen I want to see more lots more being done in our support services sector i.e. the civil servants. Without improving them further lets forget of even sniffing a successful Vision 2020. We thrive on so much bureaucracy that they seem to be afraid that they will lose all credibility and justification for being there in the first place. I hope that his young circle is reading this and able to heed the concerns that we have as a Malaysian citizen. We may not have been given clear reasoning on every decision made however Malaysians are not stupid and don't treat us like we are. And another please rein in the Cabinet members and BN leaders, some seems to be running amok with scant regard of his authority.

There has also been comments on the lamentable lack of press freedom in Malaysia. I do not agree that there is no press freedom and neither do I agree that there should be absolute press freedom. In fact I have not noticed any form of absolute press freedom anywhere in the world. This was what I had to say: 1 June 2006

I would not say there is no freedom of the press. What I would say is selected freedom of the press in selected issues. This freedom is similar all over the world. While they may allow a field day to discuss on some issues, they have also been known to practice self censorship or what they will call as selective reporting on other issues. Effectively the owner of these media organs would ultimately decide on what can or cannot be published. In fact the media tend to fall under the sway of "political/social correctness" of the day. In some media instruments we can hardly get anything negative on Jews and Judaism even though they like any other religion has their own radicals and extremist. Soldiers going AWOL or deserted in Israel hardly had any airings in the mainstream media. Even if there are any it will be dismissed as youthful rantings of idealism in idealist so-called independent newspapers. Even without absolute press freedom as everyone seems to be clamouring for, the leadership have had significant brick bats being thrown at them in the media. Ask Karam Singh Walia and he have done interesting expose now and again. I don't think the issue in Malaysia is about absolute press freedom. I believe it is the freedom to publish intelligent and intellectual discourses anywhere and anytime without every single publication or media being owned by or related to the government. We should allow more licenses but we must also get good quality reporting. Some tabloids I see writes sensationalist trashy headlines that is not even substantiated. Come out with clear arguments that is properly edited and reviewed. Some articles published in Harakah, Rocket, Aliran and even Malaysiakini are wholesale rantings that seems to have been allowed to be published without any form of proof reading. In fact some of us here in the forum seems more articulate then what I have read in the aforementioned publications. I am still anticipating with hope that one day these publications would come out with substantiated discourses and articulate arguments of the likes of the Independent in the UK. I have always liked reading the Independent. Its approach to reporting and the news is unlike mainstream publications. They say it like it is. If its good they laud it. If its bad they slam it. Unlike these publications that always seems to find fault in every single thing that the government or BN do. Not everything they do is bad although it could be improved. For that these publications in my eyes have lost all credibility as a worthy organ of independent thoughts. Its not absolute freedom of the press that we want. It is a forum or medium for the government or leaders to listen and read another point of view. That's what we want.

We are deeply concerned and we want our leaders to listen. We are especially concerned that our leader is monopolised by a very limited circle that may give him bad advice.

I will try to be a disciplined and regular blogger and hope to update it frequently. See you again next time.