16 Days Since My Last Update! Whoa!

Plenty happened in the last 16 days. The elusive meetings that I have been planning is finally almost here. Come 2nd and 9th April there will be 2 big meetings with over 30 papers in the agenda. I am right now tracking it down with over half have been submitted.

Okay back to the last 16 days. The other day I attended a Weekend Leadership Seminar meeting a whole hall full of motivated people. More of that later. I could not attend the Community Security Meeting and the Gotong Royong (community work) as I was taking care of my kids. My wife had some function that she was catering. And then it was the Weekend Leadership Seminar! Man, am I stoked!

Attended 2 subsidiary Board meetings, one on 18th March and one on 26th March, someone once told me that it is not a good idea to hold meetings on Monday. I believe her now. It was 2 difficult meetings. Then on 19th and 20th March I attended a seminar to earn my CPE points. 16 points obtained. Done!

On the 23rd March I attended wife's cousin's wedding. Food was not bad. Fan was not working, were stewing and slowly melting. Suddenly my father-in-law invited me for the Formula 1 on Sunday 24th March. It was Formula 1 week. And what a day. Vettel won, with Webber second and Hamilton third but not before a drama where Vettel ignored team orders and overtook Webber and again not before Alonso cam aground on the 1st or 2nd lap. But when you are actually there you are oblivious to this unless you sit in front of a screen if not, all you do is watch the cars pass you by every few minutes. It got a little dull and hot and by the time I realised it, it was already chequered flag!

But I took some cool photos. Here they are:

The Sepang International Circuit - Formula 1 Grand Prix 23-25 March 2013

Caught some of the spectators at the paddock

The Grid Girls

The Paddock

The Grid Girls again.

Grid Girl

The teams preparing for the start of the race.

The Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak and former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

Standing to Negaraku - Malaysia's National Anthem

Some spectator at the paddock

Grid Girls

Grid Girls overlooking the podium

The Podium

The Podium with the Prime Minister waiting for the winner

Winners arriving. That is Hamilton I believe.

The winners at the podium Hamilton, Vettel and Webber

Prime Minister quickly running away from the soon to come champagne shower

The champagne shower

That was last week. Now on Thursday seemed like a lifetime away as again I am struggling to get the papers out as some of my colleagues are not diligent enough to get the papers out on time even though they had plenty of time to prepare for the looming meetings. Wonder what others do in my situation. Never had it so bad compared to my previous jobs. Oh yes, on Monday I was on leave. Sent the car the windscreen replaced. Seems to hear a rattling sound or it could be my pack of Eclipse. The windscreen cracked when a small stone hit it. Managed to have our crab again at the Pangkor Village. Lovely indeed.

I am all over the place today. Right after Formula 1, went to an office party of a dear friend who is part of the family. It was also her 50th birthday. She have done so much for the family. A lot to be thankful and grateful for. Then it was Monday. Managed to take the children to play at Kidz Sports and Gym. Total surprise for them. They had a wonderful time. The boy even made friends.

Also managed to arrange for a tinting appointment on Sunday at Cool World. Saw the job they did on my wife's car. Impressive. Now it is my turn. It is 2 years overdue anyway and it is getting hot. Cool world is at http://www.coolworld.com.my/.

I am still waiting for the papers and it is already 7:30 p.m. I am hungry but I am on a forced strict diet. No heavy meals at night just fruits and one main meal for lunch. Not sure if it will work without exercise. Speaking of exercise that will probably be my next topic.

Sad day for Malaysia

Royal Malaysian Police

In the last 24-48 hours our nation have lost over 7 policemen with more injured due to an incursion by Sulu intruders claiming to be representative of the Sultan of Sulu. This is to enforce a claim over Sabah a Malaysian sovereign state in the north of Borneo. At one time they were known as North Borneo. Details of their claim and arguments for an against can be read here http://anotherbrickinwall.blogspot.com/2013/03/get-facts-right.html and here http://globalnation.inquirer.net/66281/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present.

I am not about to go into who is right and who is wrong and who instigated it and so forth. There is already enough being said all over the globosphere in the internet and elsewhere. I have even said my piece in many of these places. What I want to write is the needless loss of lives of members of Malaysia's security forces in a foolhardy attempt to lay claim to a foregone conclusion. Of course the timing too raises a few eyebrows and makes one go hmmmmm....

I just had lunch with my mum when we discussed on the moments when we thought my father perished in a helicopter that was shot down by rocket fire. I will look at my dad's memoirs to see what he wrote on this.

Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja

My dad was not from the police but he was from the Royal Malay Regiment or Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja. This is their crest. This is some of their history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Malay_Regiment.

He was in the 5th,9th,6th,8th,3rd and 23rd RMR, in that order.

Anyway below is the chronology of the sad events still beleaguering Malaysia. I took this from Bernama. Thank you Bernama.

Feb 12 - A group of men in army fatigues, believed to be armed, land on the shores of Lahad Datu.

Feb 14 - Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar identifies the group as comprising Filipinos. The group claims to be linked to the so-called 'Sulu Sultanate' from southern Philippines.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says, the Malaysian Government will try its best, including via negotiations, to handle the issue of intrusion before ousting them from the area.

Feb 16 - Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein confirms the group is not a militant or terrorist group but is in fact, a strong supporter of the so-called Sulu Sultanate. He stresses the situation in Kampung Tanduo where the group is located, is under control.             

Feb 18 - Hishammuddin says, the governments of Malaysia and the Philippines are working closely to resolve the conflict, through diplomacy without bloodshed.

Feb 24 - The Philippine Government sends a boat under humanitarian mission to ferry the 180 Filipino armed personnel, including 30 guards, who are holding up in Lahad Datu, Sabah since Feb 12.        

Feb 26 - The deadline to expel the group passes but negotiations are still in progress.

Feb 28 - The Malaysian Government is urged to negotiate directly with a 'Sultan Jamalul Kiram III' in Manila to end the conflict of seizing the area in Lahad Datu, Sabah which has prolonged for more than three weeks.

March 1 - Two policemen, ASP Zulkifli Mamat and Sgt Sabarudin Daud, are slain while 12 armed intruders are shot dead in a gunbattle between the group and security forces in Kampung Tanduo.

March 2 - Six policemen are killed in an ambush at the 'water village' of Kampung Sri Jaya Simunul, Semporna. In the incident at 8pm, six of the armed intruders are also killed.

March 3 - The bodies of six policemen are taken out of the 'water village' as security forces come to the rescue of 19 policemen in the village. 

March 4 - Philippine Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Jose Brillantes and Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya are reported to have met Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to seek a peaceful resolution.

The IGP stresses that security in Kunak, Sandakan and Semporna in Sabah is under control.

Police release list of six police officers and men killed in the ambush in Semporna, Sabah.

March 5 (7am) - Security forces mount operation as they launch attack using F-18 and Hawk fighter jets on group of armed intruders at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu, Sabah, followed by army and police follow-up operations and searches in the village area.

(8am) - The prime minister says the government must take appropriate action to protect its dignity and the country's sovereignty as demanded by the people as the efforts to avoid bloodshed in Lahad Datu was unsuccessful.

(11am) - The IGP, in a media conference with Armed Forces Chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mod Zin, describes the operation, 'Ops Daulat', as achieving the objectives set.

(1.30pm) - The home minister, in a press conference with the defence minister, confirms the security forces did not suffer casualties or injuries.

(4pm) - The IGP holds a press conference to announce that follow-up operation and search are ongoing as the police believe the enemy is still in the area.

As at 7pm, the police have not confirmed the total number of armed intruders dead, injured or captured. -- Bernama

Read more: Chronology of armed group intrusion in Lahad Datu - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/chronology-of-armed-group-intrusion-in-lahad-datu-1.229301#ixzz2MrnbrrWM

Nothing more to say for now. Deeply saddened by what transpired.