28/3 my 100th day in office

Tried to mark it here on the date...but so the busy one. Lots of things happen; challenges, excitement and painful experiences todate. Learnt lots of things...how big company do business, structured processes, segregation of work, team building (can read politics...nah...rapport building i'd say better).

When i joined in, i was given the biggest project ever in MB, 23 modules with GIS components...very the challenging one. Learnt a lot from Mac, very the dedicated and process oriented. Strong and vocal as well. Can say that i swing well with other colleagues, with few unexpected act during workshop and orientation...hehehe...sometimes just wondered how did i do it.

Then i involved in my first tender exercise...kinda fun. But not my full swing, not really up to my standard. After that, am assigned with another project as post-sales SA cum co-PM, to be mentored by a senior (my friend oso la) but turned-out i was expected to get him to the process by my boss hahaha. Now, am having 2 projects running...and best of all the tender that i did was shortlisted and we're technically no 1 yeahoo !!! Now, busy preparing the slides for this coming presentation.

still long way to go...lots of things to catch up...and learn...and be the best among the best in MB.

ONCE...first nite out

Yesterday and today is my first nite out in MB. Since 12 noon yesterday, till about 9 this morning. Feeling like a zombie a bit. Then my GM asked "why are you wearing like that ?!!". Am wearing my Amsterdam t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. At first i wanna joke as he's walking away, but then he turned back and ask again...so he's serious! "Tender since yesterday..". Then only he walked away nodding.

It's great experiences. Learnt alot about the new processes, new schemes, all the write-ups...and also friends' behaviour under pressure. About noon I reached home and trying to get a sound sleep. But received call here and there still. Managed to get 2 good hours. Think that should be enough for now.

ONCE...cinta

Finally, i managed to finish up Cinta. I'd say it's the first malay movie that made me errm...having teary eyes. I was touched when Lis started to cry and telling papa that she wanna come with him. Such a young age but great talent (where the heck did they manage to find such talent...after all this year..?!!), real and original tears coming from her. And for God knows reason, i got teary eyes.

But that's nothing compared to the scene where Dhani got to know about his sister's fate. His screaming was nothing..but when the white umbrella appeared, i was so ............. my eyes, my lips (well..u know honey) and my heart...

One word flashed on my mind at that time..."...ayah...".

ONCE...perihal lalang

Lalang dalam perumpamaan melayu menjurus kepada insan yang tidak tetap pendirian. Kekanan ditiup angin, kekanan lah ia. Kekiri kalu, maka kekiri pulak la dia.

Semalam aku terbaca artikel dlm Mingguan Wanita (2-8 Feb) dlm ruangan Setitis Embun (pg 57). Sebuah pandangan yang amat menarik mengenai "lalang". Lalang seperti sifatnya amat sukar untuk dibasmi. Kalu dipotong, dia cuma pendek dan akan panjang dlm masa yg singkat. Bertiuplah angin sekencang mana, dia cume akan tunduk mengikut kehendak angin. Akan tetapi, tidak dia berganjak dari tempatnya. Pokok mungkin tumbang, rumah mungkin roboh tetapi lalang tetap teguh didasarnya.

Hanya satu cara untuk menghapuskan lalang. Bongkar akarnya, punahkan dasarnya, bakar daunnya, dan buang abunya kelaut. Sebagai org Islam, dasar kita harus kukuh, tidak berganjak walau bagaimana sekalipun dunia berubah. Peredaran zaman diikuti, modernisasi perlu untuk maju tetapi nilai dan dasar Islam harus tegus bertapak. Seperti lalang...

ONCE...on SiS

Last friday i received an article talking about SiS's agenda for 2007. Fighting poligamy on the ticket of womens' rights, human rights, equality, etc. So, the article is talking about this people being educated abroad, exposed to western cultures and stuff, thus carrying those values to fight for feminisme which is against what is already in Al-Quran.

Simply put, are they trying to say that what Allah said is not good for them, for the people, for the women ? SiS's points among others are family institution failed because of poligamy, childrens left unattended or abused or not taken care of, social problems (teenagers) because of failure in family institution as the father married more than one. There are so many other reasons why those things happen and there are also many cases where big family (poligamy) have good, solid and successful childrens..living in harmony some more.

I'm not trying to discuss this in great details as i need to run for meeting now. But, what am thinking to do is to setup an NGO for poligamist. Membership open for poligamist and poligamist-wanna-be. Success stories will be published, tips and guidance from successful poligamist to poligamist-wanna-be to ensure a strong, solid and good family institution uphold despite being poligamist. Nice or not ? :D

signing off...

ONCE...feels like writing

I really wanna post something (a lot actually). But then, i don't know where to start. So many topics to discuss here...but, there are elements of confidentiality, sensitivity and extreme would be suicidal ! The thing is, when i have the idea and the points, i just compose it on my mind. Then, "waa..good good..mesti gempak punya.." after that, continue my work. Then, there's no internet connection, no time to go online (not even to turn on my notebook) and when i really have all the means (like now)..."what to write ah ?".

hmm...seems like coming already...so i signed off here first..checkout my next post ;)

ONCE...kata-kata hikmat

Kata-kata nih datang dari Dr Fadilah Kamsah dlm satu ceramah la...

"Seorang lelaki normal, pasti ada keinginan untuk beristeri dua. Dua perkara saje yg menjadi penentu; mampu dan berani. Ada lelaki yang mampu, tapi tak berani. Ada lelaki yang berani, tapi tak mampu..jenih ni ramai. So, dia akan jadi bila lelaki tu ada dua2 (mampu dan berani).

Sekiranya lelaki itu tidak ada langsung keinginan untuk beristeri dua, maka dia bukan lelaki yang normal"

hehehe...aku mesti la nak jadik lelaki normal..so kena ada keinginan la kan hehehe..jgn marah dear :D

ONCE...syukur lagi..

Pagi tadi aku gi amik Offer Letter from AKPK. Aku settlekan sume yg patut2 (i.e. stem hasil, cop pesuruhjaya sumpah and all) and submit it back. First payment before 30th Jan. Lega..sempat la kirenya masuk gaji dulu.

Then, MOSTI called, asking whether i've submitted my claim for EIF honorarium. Isi borang tuh pastu nanti depa arrange to pick-up. Alhamdulilah..rezeki lagi. Sesungguhnya Allah itu Maha Kaya dan Maha Pemurah :)...(Ya Allah..janganlah kau lalaikan aku dlm nikmatmu..amin).

ONCE...syukur

Alhamdulillah...tanggal 18 Disember secara rasminya aku memulakan kerja baru di MB. Dan barulah hari ini aku berpeluang untuk memblog hehehe. Aku ditugaskan sbg CTD (Chief Tech Director) for a project. Kinda GIS related stuffs. Baru raise PN last week. Dari mula lagi memang challenging..but i'm cool :D.

Gathering useful infos, both formal and informal, internal and external, openly and secretly...makes the whole scheme very interesting.

Hah cite syukur nih..1 minggu sebelum aku start kerje tuh..rezeki cukup murah. Dpt few payments, dan niat aku utk buat korban pun dimakbulkan. Pagi sebelum semayang tuh Ust Mokhtar kata bukak lagi. Ptg tuh cargas jek gi amik satu bhgn.

Sebelum masuk kerja plak, aku beli kasut sama belt baru. Imej kasi kaw2. And semalam pakai baju baru (plg gah yg aku penah beli kut..). Haa yg best lagi...last week of Dec '06. Aku gi meeting kat tempat client. And my zip failed me !!! Nasib baik la Plaza Damas tuh shopping complex and my dearie baru pulangkan duit yg dia pinjam..so the first boutique that I saw (Orlando). Budak tuh kata "encik, ni new arrival.." Layan.."tlg alter sekarang ye..saya nak pakai sekarang". Dpt la aku suar mahal Orlando (tak ponah boli suar semahal tuh..ni tgh dok berangan nak beli Dockers plak..gilo RM200 sehelai..tak tau la cukup gilo ko tak nak boli 2 helai nih heheh..)

So gitu la adanya...

ONCE...kebesaran-Nya

Segalanya bermula pada hari Isnin. Dikejutkan dgn berita kematian Pak Long (suami babysitter) Isnin pagi. Aku singgah la sekejap, hadiahkan Fatihah..dan kemudian bergegas utk interview di Sri Hartamas. Alhamdulillah segalanya berjalan lancar. Siap diwar2kan utk tunggakan sekali. Apapun, tunggu je la cek kat tangan..tak perlu berangan.

Mengkala jadual kerja aku amat fleksibel (ikut suka aku!), maka aku la yg kena jaga anak2 Selasa dan Rabu. Tapi Rabu 1/2 day je la..ada meeting di TMRD. Dan syukur lagi, Selasa pagi MB offer. Agreed on the package, need to confirm to report duty on 16th Dec. Maka kena la gi opis, jumpa LC. Redha dia dgn berita yg aku bawak. Tapi, ptg tuh panjang jugak la sembang ngan dia. Asking me to not to let go my shares. I'll think about it..

Dan t/hari tadi, aku gi amik letter of offer dari MB. Bakal termeterailah satu pengembaraan baru untuk aku. Dan balik dari Jumaat, gatal gi singgah Subang Parade, termasuk lak dlm MPH...dan terbelilah akan saya sebuah buku bertajuk "Project Management" from McGraw-Hill Professional Education Series.

"Ya Allah...janganlah Engkau lalaikan aku dalam nikmat-Mu. Bimbinglah aku kejalan yang Engkau redhai..amin."

ONCE...more Malaysian's animation

Check out another good quality animation works by Malaysian here. Expected to be completed by end of 2007, it shall be a hit !

I've downloaded the sneak peaks and man !!! Such details on the greens..expressions..dusts.. Love it when Malaysian team up and work together and deliver what Dreamworks or Pixar people has produced all this while. Yet, this team delivers it in much much tiny budget compared to them. I hope and pray they'll succeed.

To all Malaysians especially the rich ones..come and contribute (i.e. invest or sponsor or give). Make it a success. Together !

ONCE...keletah anakku

Scene : Dalam kereta, balik dari amik ubat dan beli burger.
Waktu : Sabtu malam

   Daughter   : pokok dia minum ayaq ujan...
   Me             : pokok makan apa ?
   Daughter   : pokok tak makan...
   Me             : pokok cucuk butt tak ? (means : berak)
   Daughter   : tak...
   Me             : kenapa ?
   Daughter   : sebab dia takde toilet bowl...
   Me             : hahahahaha....

ONCE...Gubra

Hari Sabtu lepas aku baru berpeluang utk menonton Gubra bersama isteri tercinta. Asalnya aku nih buleh kata amatla teruja utk menonton Gubra selepas menonton Sepet satu ketika dahulu. Namun, setelah suku pertama cerita tersebut, aku terasa mual2 dan meloya utk meneruskan pertontonan.

Mana mungkin seorg rakyat Malaysia (tak kira bangsa ! cuma dlm Gubra, ia adalah lelaki Cina) berjalan sesuka hati tanpa baju di hospital (melainkan dia pesakit mental). Apatah lagi, dia bukannya pesakit ! Dan mana mungkin seorg gadis/wanita Melayu akan dengan selamba badaknya membuangkan bulu didada seorang lelaki yg baru saja dikenalinya beberapa minit yg lalu. Sementalah filem ini digembar-gemburkan sebagai mencerminkan budaya Malaysia ! Maka itulah yg membuatkan saya mesti memblog mengenai Gubra.

Penceritaan hubungan berlainan kaum tidak menjadi masalah pada saya. Tetapi adegan memualkan di hospital dimana Orked membuang bulu di dada Alan itu yg tidak manis. Itu bukan budaya rakyat Malaysia dan semestinya bukan budaya MELAYU !!! Itu mungkin budaya Yasmin, atau dia terpandang sekali atau dua dan saya percaya kalau adapun cume dibandar besar yg rakyat Melayunya telah diperbaratkan. Akan tetapi, ianya tidak mungkin menggambarkan walau 0.01% budaya rakyat Malaysia.

Cerita dlm Gubra tidak menggambarkan budaya Malaysia seluruhnya. Maka tidak wajar ianya diwar2kan sbg perintis filem yg mempamer/mencemarkan budaya Malaysia. Tidak dinafikan terdapat pengajaran di penghujung cerita. Cuma jika org yg mual dan loya di pertengahan cerita tidak sanggup meneruskannya, rugilah org itu dan rugi jugalah Yasmin dlm menyampaikan ceritanya secara menyeluruh.

Apakah dlm kita ingin mengglobalkan wayang kita, kita perlu membudayakan apa yg ada dibarat atau dinegara lain? Apakah kerana rasa kekitaan pada masyarakat asinglah yg membolehkan filem2 Yasmin mendapat pengiktirafan diluar negara ? Dlm mematangkan pemikiran rakyat Malaysia dlm filem melayu, apakah kita perlu melihat maksud tersirat dlm filem tersebut walaupun yg tersuratnya cukup menjijikkan, terpesong jauh dari budaya biasa masyarakat setempat ? Atau mungkin cara penggembar-gemburan filem itu yg mengundang kemarahan (talking about market positioning) ?

Aku hampir memboikot filem2 Yasmin selepas Gubra, tetapi rasanya elok dinilai filem2 yg akan datang sebelum membuat kesimpulan tentang pemikiran dan budaya Yasmin. Mokhsen...nantikanlah...

7 Lessons From Japanese Business Culture

This article was posted in Promuda's Discussion Group.

After reading it, I can say that the culture is not too far from the Malay. Not the modern one though (i.e. city-type Malay culture), but the traditional one. The one that we can still see in villages, old folks..away from the cities.

Malacca was once, known throughout the world. Malay merchants were prosperous. The thing is, is there any research done on their business traits and culture that we as Malay especially can be proud of and use it profusely instead of looking for others to adapt ? It's not that I'm against the article. It's good that we learn from others, take and adapt the good part of it for our benefits..but my curiousity is how about ours ?

ONCE...pasal berkawan

Bila lepak kat lab, antara salah satu topik yg hangat dibincangkan adalah pasal berkawan. Perbezaan antara kawan dan sahabat. Bagaimana utk mengenal kawan/sahabat. Dan setelah kenal sikap, sifat dan perangai kawan dan masing2 boleh terima kekurangan dan kelemahan yg lain, maka insya-Allah lamalah persahabatan itu.

Aku teringatkan ayat2 yg aku selalu terlepas bila sembang ngan foo. Mungkin sebab dia mmg tak penah amik ati (atau dia mmg terer simpan dari aku) yg membuatkan aku pun tak tahu dimana batasnya. Perkara ni mmg selalu aku alami dan semacam aku tak pernah belajar.

Setiap kali aku berkawan rapat, pastinya akan ada insiden yg mencemarkan persahabatan tersebut. Sepatutnya, disitulah yg akan membuatkan kita lebih kenal kawan/sahabat kita. Tetapi selalunya yg terjadi, aku dikeluarkan terus dari database mereka. Mana yg tidak, terus menjadi sahabat hingga kini.

Aku cuba belajar. Dgn client, long-lost junior, kawan2 baru yg lain. Hatiku berdetik "..jaga2 sikit cakap tu..kita tak tau diorang buleh terima ke tidak..". Tapi kalu tidak diuji, kita takkan tahu. Jadi kalu mahu menjadikan sahabat, harus tau dimana batas2nya. Perlu tau dimana marahnya, dimana sukanya, dimana dukanya, dimana halusnya, dimana warasnya dan dimana sanggupnya. Dan pastinya utk mengenal kawan, perlukan masa yg lama. Tidak mungkin sehari dua ataupun 3-4 bulan. Mungkin makan tahun.

Dlm keadaan aku sekarang, bolehlah utk dikenalpasti dgn lebih dlm lagi. Siapa kawan masa senang, siapa kawan masa susah, siapa kawan masa suka, siapa kawan masa duka, siapa kawan boleh berahsia, siapa kawan utk berseloka, siapa kawan utk berbicara, siapa kawan utk meluah rasa, siapa kawan utk didengar jua, siapa kawan utk dikenang saje.

Pada rakan taulan, kawan-kawan dan sahabat, Selamat Hari Raya dan mohon maaf atas tersalah kata, terkasar bahasa, terkurang ajar dan terlanjur perbuatan. Serta halalkan mana yg termakan dan terminum. Semoga bahgia di Hari Lebaran.

ONCE...5 hari nak raya !

Raya kali ini sungguh bermakna buat aku dan keluarga. Emm...lebih2 lagi buat aku la. Raya kali ini cukup sederhana. Terharu jugak bila mama bagi baju raya..dan tak kurang jugak terpikir cam nak rasa terhina atau rendah diri bila baba cakap pasal fakir miskin. Tapi, aku rasa tak perlulah. Selama ni pun aku makan minum kat umah tu, dia gak yg bayar. Satu sen pun aku tak kuar. Dan mmg betul pun, redha je lah.

Namun aku bersyukur. Ujian ini harapnya membuatkan aku lebih berhati2 berbelanja. Ujian ini juga membolehkan aku menilai nilai RM vs rakan/kawan/sahabat. Mmg perit ujian ni, tapi Allah takkan menurunkan sesuatu ujian itu kepada hambaNya melainkan Dia tahu hambaNya itu mampu menghadapinya. Dan semestinya Dia Maha Mengetahui ! Cuma kita jgn mudah putus asa dan putus harapan. Usaha mesti diteruskan.

Berkat usaha dan doa, dan juga barakah bulan Ramadhan, aku temui beberapa jalan yg dgn izinNya jua, boleh merungkai permasalahan ekonomi dan kewangan yg aku hadapi sekarang. Untuk memastikan aku mendapatkannya, aku akan berusaha lebih lagi..dan kemudian, serahkan segala-galanya atas ketentuan Dia yg Maha Esa.

Salam Aidilfitri untuk semua. Maaf zahir dan batin. Selamat beraya di rantauan Joe (maaf aku tak dpt antar kuih raya).

ONCE...an opportunity

A friend of mine sent me this 20 Smart Companies to Start Now. As I scroll down the article, something made my eyes gleaned as I read this:

Text Ads on the Fly
The Investor: Charles Moldow, venture partner, Foundation Capital
What his firm's backed: CarsDirect.com, Netflix, Simply Hired
What he wants now:: Text-messaging software that allows local merchants to send offers to mobile phones. Some companies already do this in basic form; Moldow's idea would give merchants more control. "This is bringing the blue-light special to your phone," he says. Five or so people could write the code; a sales demon is also needed to enlist merchants. Prove that you can pull this off in one city and Moldow will listen to an expansion plan.
What he'll invest: $5 million for working technology

Just sent him desktopSMS BC's brochure and user manual as well as my sales pitch (so-to-speak). Well, we'll never know what would happen. Has mixed feeling currently. Anyhow, efforts made..now continue prayers (and more efforts of course).

ONCE...1st interview

This morning was my first interview session. 1st in 7 years ! Hahaha...kinda nervous also. But, I guess it went smooth. If any hickups maybe because of min salary expected. Post for IT Exec for PMO. There's 7 candidates, one of them is internal people. Promotion la kirenya. So, 6 ppl for potentially another vacancy (or perhaps it's formality for the internal people only). But, I think there's 2 potential candidate (that can be a threat to me); one from PNB and another from Time. Well, just hope (and pray of course).

After prayer, got an email from Brunei. Said that they're processing my application and asking for testimonials and my expected package. Have asked few close friends to send their testimonials to them. Well, wait and see how it goes.

ONCE...my old camp diaries

Weekend in my hometown, browsing through the bookshelf I saw my 2 camp diaries. "How did they get here ?". I think I kept it somewhere else. So, I took it out and flipping thru the pages. I found a sheet of paper (maybe one of those camp assignment or something)..and best of all, my 15 years old passport sized photo. Hahahaa...can't really imagine that I was..errmm..that young and slim (and naive also).

These diaries are not the normal ordinary diaries. It started with my first mountain, Ledang in 1993. As my wife said, "too detail !"..hehehe...she must be bored to death with the details inside them. Well, every stop i put it there. So, some it may be hours difference, or by minutes.

The diaries extended from Ledang to every single camping that I went until my time in Kembara. But, not sure whether ITM's camps were in those diaries or different one. However, I've stopped writing the diaries towards my seniority in Kembara. And suddenly, my memory flashed back to the Nuang scene. Nuang has 2 most memorable incidents to me.

No 1 when I took my coursemate and junior, that's where I really find out who's who my real friend. Friend that can reason or not. No doubt I have my part on it, but there's so many better ways to solve it. In a more gentleman style I would say.

The second was with juniors. Before that, the first one got my gf-to-be (who's my dearie wife now) and the second got my gf-wanna-be. (it does make me wonder, in my naive look, same boots everyday, simple dress code, yet attract so many girls..well..many that I know..many that I don't then..which I know now..hehehe..). The juniors exp was a bit dark. It almost cost a few lifes. Alhamdulillah, they survived.

How I missed the greens. Smell of the jungle, the leaves, grass, mud, river..sound of crickets, mosquitos and river flow. It has been almost 6 years since my last camp or hike. Wonder when can I hike again...hmm...

ONCE...life, money can't buy !

Arm called before break-fast sharing with me on an opportunity with quite a lucrative deal. So good to be true and damn hell difficult to resist. Roughly; >RM10k net with 30% goes to my wife & 20% to Tabung Haji. But, that's not all. The best part was: they'll settle all my debts !!! So, that we don't have any worries while doing the work.

So, I met him last nite to know more. Especially, what's the catch (there's no free lunch bro !). So, here's the catch: 24 x 7 operations, shift working hours, however, after ur shift, u're on standby mode..response time in 2 hours ! And response time here is not like our standard SLA; response = phone call at least. This one is in the office within 2 hours after the call ! Crazy eh ?!

Meaning; no raya, no balik kg, no shopping, no holiday, no leisure, nothing !!! My instinct before going there was right. Whoever take the job, will become a highly paid slave. Of course, the argument, it's the same kinda job that we do. Late nights, weekends and sometimes during holidays. But, at least to me, I'm in control over my life. Not dictated by someone or something. All the packages are to make you obliged, and setting ur target on the carrots. Ohh..forgot to mentioned. It's was for a f*****ng 5 YEARS contract !

Nah, I'm not going to waste my life like that. 3 years in Dubai would still be ok ;). Right Joe ? (weh..bila daa.. )