Celebrating 51 years of nationhood ...

Unity takes centre stage as Malaysia celebrates 51 years of independence today. The theme of this years’s celebrations is ‘Unity the thrust of success’.
Award-winning director Yasmin Ahmad is among Malaysian personalities who embrace unity and racial integration themes in her works.
"I think there is no such thing as a creative person. The best of artistes are those who observe," she was quoted as saying in a special article in the New Sunday Times today.
Yasmin recently won the Gold Award at the Cannes Advertising Festival for her work Tan Hong Ming in Love. The TV commercial, part of last year’s Merdeka campaign by Petronas, features an interview with a Chinese schoolboy who admits having a crush on his Malay classmate Umi Qazrina.

Commenting on its success, she said: "I think it’s the simplicity and charm that people’s hearts. I only followed God’s direction. I observed."
For AirAsia chief executive officer Tony Fernandes, the progress of the homegrown enterprise to blossom into an internationally-recognised name is proof that in Malaysia, success is there for the taking regardless of one’s ethnicity.
"I tell people that if we (the AirAsia team) could do it, then anyone can and that’s the best about this country; that it allowed it to happen," said the man whose name is synonymous with the region’s largest low-cost carrier.
"The fact that it (AirAsia) has delivered on its promise to Malaysians of enabling everyone to fly is inspiring. We set out to create a Malaysian airline, not a Malay, Chinese or Indian airline and the fact that we have done it, makes us immensely proud."

Another Petronas masterpiece...

Congratulations to Petronas for another fantastic television ad for Merdeka.
A number of friends confided that the Petronas ad for this year brought tears to their eyes.
It reminded them not to take for granted the sacrifices made by their parents to inspire them to be what they are today.
Many had to watch it over again to realize how touching and meaningful the message was.
The three-minute ad relays the message that 'patience, perseverance and hard work pave the road to success'.
It tells the story of how a father kept rejecting his son’s request to have something even for his birthday.
But the son became creative – using mosquito net to fish after the father refused to buy him a fishing net.

When his birthday request for a pedal car got no where, the boy searched around for discarded items and build his own ‘oversize’ wooden car.
Eight years later,the boy grew up to become ‘Aiman Gyver’ -- the kampung Mr Fix-it.
Along came an offer to further his studies.

Again he approached his father, still selling cempedak by the roadside, to enquire if he could take up the offer.
The father, who kept a photo of a big bike in a box, was just quiet. Then, after a while, he smiled.
"A smile means you agree," said the son.

Then the father took out an account book from the box and handed it to the son.
It clearly stated the name AIMAN BIN HANAFI with the savings amounting to RM41,718.29.
A surprised Aiman was beyond words and tearfully hugged his father.
"Thank you Dad"
Ten years later, the father still selling cempedak by the roadside, was startled when a big bike stopped by his shade.
"What bike is this?" he asked the rider.

Without saying a word, the man took off his dark glasses and pulled down the bandanna covering his face.
It was Aiman.
Smiling broadly, he told his father that the bike was "ABAH PUNYA".("This bike is yours")

While Malaysia Celebrates "Merdeka", So Does Kyrgyzstan...

Four months into his posting in Kuala Lumpur, Kyrgyzstan ambassador Zheenbek Kulubaev has many reasons to feel close to Malaysia.
To start with, while Malaysia celebrates 'Merdeka' (Independence) on August 31, so does the Central Asian republic.
"We are like brothers," he said as he spoke about plans to enhance Malaysia-Kyrgyz ties at his office in Jalan Tun Razak.

As Malaysia gears up for the national day on Sunday, Kulubaev said the celebration would also normally be held in a big way in Kyrgyzstan which gained independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union.
However the Kyrgystan government has cancelled celebration planned at the central square of its capital Bishkek this year following the airplane crash which left 68 people dead last Sunday.
The 45-year-old ambassador says he was looking forward to celebrating the Holy month of Ramadhan in Malaysia.
"Sixty-three percent of our population are Muslims and being here in Malaysia during the fasting month will be an interesting experience for me," said Kulubaev who first visited Malaysia in 2003 when he was the deputy foreign minister to attend a summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).

Nation's visual arts...

The National Art Gallery of Malaysia has collected some 3,700 pieces of artworks since it was set-up in 1958. Its collection are artworks by some of Malaysia's most distinguished painters who laid the foundations of what is known as modern art in the country. Three of these works have been selected and depicted as stamps which were released today in honour of the country's arts. They are 'Semangat Ledang' (Spirit of Ledang/Syed Ahmad Jamal 2003), 'Musim Buah' (Fruits Season/Chuah Thean Teng 1968) and 'Pago-pago' (Abdul Latiff Mohidin 1965)

Enter Bernama Web TV ...

Bernama TV will launch Southeast Asia's first live-feed Internet news channel on September 3 to cater to the growing demands of a more IT-savvy and news-hungry populace.
The Internet news feed would only be between two to three minutes delay in comparison to the Bernama TV news currently available on Astro Channel 502.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to launch Bernama Web TV.
The latest product expansion is to meet and cater to the greater demand by Malaysians in the country as well as abroad especially among the youth.
Making news as easily accessible as possible, the Bernama web TV could be viewed anywhere there is Internet access.
Bernama TV had gone 24 hours since February 28.

Remembering ADL ...

Sitting alone in this triangular-shaped restaurant, looking out at the junction of Jalan Semarak-Jalan Tun Razak brings back fond memories.
I remember we had to cross the busy road every evening to get to the public field at Jalan Puan for our football sessions. It was our routine for the five years that we stayed at Asrama Dr Latiff or 'ADL', starting in the year when Kuala Lumpur was declared a federal territory in 1974.
The Yayasan Selangor (Selangor Foundation) hostel has since been demolished to make way for a flood mitigation project. The sight of the bulldozer tearing down the four-storey building still haunt my mind as I had passed through the place to the office that particular morning.
But this restaurant -- K.M. Hameed – still remains after all these years.

With high-rise office buildings within its vicinity providing a steady stream of patrons, the restaurant, located in an area we called ‘island’, had been given a new lease of life.
It could expect more business with the soon-to-be completed towering office block, close-by, on the opposite side of the ever-busy Jalan Tun Razak.
Although the restaurant owner, Haji Jamaludin has entrusted the running of the business to his sons -- Restoran K.M.Hameed, named after his father, remains a favourite place for many because of its strategic location.
Jalan Semarak (formerly known as Jalan Gurney) is home to a number of important establishments including the police training centre, Felda headquarters, survey and mapping department, TM training centre and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia KL-city campus. It also leads to the Defence Ministry.
As I threw my view to a distant, I could clearly see the sign of progress with the Ampang Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH) running above a substantial stretch of Jalan Tun Razak.

That same highway cuts across the air, close to where ADL once stood below, providing shelter and hope for selected students from around Selangor to pursue their secondary education in the federal capital.

The serene, winding road to Simpang Pelangai...

If not for a colleague's wedding, we would not have travelled to Simpang Pelangai, some 45kms from Karak in Pahang.
Guided by a sketch on the invitation card, we turned into a junction just after the town and headed for our destination.
As the road snakes through rubber and oil palm plantations, it was a relief to see the green surroundings.
Pockets of durian orchards could also be seen on both sides of the quiet, hilly road that could lead to Melaka.
The road was so winding that a number of its curves were like the letter 'U'.
A river which flowed alongside the road as we entered the junction from Karak was suddenly ‘lost’ out-of-sight midway through the journey.
We passed through at least three 'new villages' before reaching Simpang Pelangai where a group of men was erecting tents for a youth programme.
After asking for the direction from one of them, we made our way to Anwaruddin's house at Kampung Hayat, some 7 kms away from Simpang Pelangai.

Seeing the cheerful, friendly faces of his family was enough to tell that it was a journey worth travelled.

Of bell-bottom days …

Mani had this black-and-white photo posted on viclass78.wordpress.com after I requested him to send me a photo of ‘that era’.
He found the photo after searching his “old almost forgotten drawers”.
Although he did not say much about the photo, taken some 30 years ago, it does bring back memories.
"I can remember that moment when we took that picture...it seems just a few years back," says Mani.
"That is how we looked back in the 78 with bell bottoms and ties. (I have posted this picture because the bell bottoms are back in fashion)," he added.
I’m not in the picture, though, but I can recognise the others, apart from Mani.
Bell-bottom, eh?

Of rich and poor ...

My friend Azman in Brunei Darussalam emailed me an interesting anecdote about life. Since he suggested that I passed it on to friends, here's the story:

"One day the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the countryside with the purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son: “How was the trip?”
"It was great, Dad," the boy replied.
"Did you see how poor people live?," the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what you learned from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered:
"I saw that we have one cat and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end...
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them," the boy said.
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added: "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are".

Azman posed this question: "Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?"
"Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks to God for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.Appreciate every single thing you have!"

Malaysia-Indonesia joint TV news bulletin takes off….

Warta Serumpun, a Malaysia-Indonesia joint television news bulletin, made its debut at midnight (Malaysian time) tonight.
The 30-minute programme was jointly-produced by Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) and Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI).
The maiden segment carried a congratulatory message by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in conjunction with Indonesia's 63rd Independence Day celebration today.
Malaysian Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek also had a teleconference with his Indonesian counterpart, Prof Dr Muhammad Nuh, Minister of Communication and Informatics.
The news programme was the result of a consensus reached at the Indonesia-Malaysia Information Committee Meeting in Jakarta on June 11 and 12.
The meeting had expressed the hope that through Warta Serumpun, the people of both countries can understand issues relating to culture, social, economy and heritage better and lift up the ties forged over 50 years ago to a new dimension.
Ahmad Shabery described the programme as an innovation which would demonstrate the capacity and strength of the Malaysia-Indonesia language in the field of broadcasting especially in the region.

‘Nasi minyak’, ‘Teh tarik’ reunion …

With a number of people being honoured with Datukship, ex-Bernama colleague Abang Kamarudin Bolhassan sportingly concurred that he may soon be joining the rank, albeit in the true sense of the word.
"Datuk asli," he said, meaning a grandfather as he held a ‘kenduri’ (reception) for his newly-wed eldest son Abang Farizal at his home in Cheras today.
Abang (literally, elder brother) served Bernama for almost 25 years before giving-up his post as English sub-editor to take-up an offer with a publication firm in 2004.
It was a reunion of-sort for many former and present Bernama colleagues who turned-up for the reception.
While ‘nasi minyak’ was the main menu for the happy occasion, I was alerted by an SMS to a ‘teh tarik homecoming session’ for UITM mass communication alumni at the faculty in Shah Alam tomorrow morning.
I was among the pioneer batch when 'mass-comm' was offered as an off-campus discipline in 1986.

Bernama, Antara take another step forward...

The close cooperation between Bernama and Antara of Indonesia has taken another stride forward with the staging of a first-ever joint photography exhibition in each other’s capital. The exhibition is being held in conjunction with the Independence of both countries --Indonesia on August 17 and Malaysia on August 31.
Bernama’s correspondent in Jakarta, Nasir Yusof writes about the exhibition in his blog mynasir.blogspot.com.

Beginning yesterday, the exhibition in Jakarta is being held at Antara Photo Bureau in Pasar Baroe which will run until August 25.
In Kuala Lumpur, the exhibition is at the Malaysian Tourism Information Centre (MATIC) in Jalan Ampang until September 1. A big thank you to the Information Department for their collaboration to hold the exhibition.
"This is the first ever exhibition jointly organised by the brotherly news agencies. Through out their years of cooperation since way back in 1972, no such exhibition has ever been held jointly," says Nasir who has been based in Indonesia since the last three years.
Nasir, who started blogging in July 2007, gives a delightful insight of the life of 'a journalist serving in a foreign land' and of his love to his beautiful loving wife and four lovely, cheerful children.
"My blog won't change the world. But it may change the way my children will see, get to know, and remember more of me especially of this love I have for them," says Kelantan-born Nasir.

"Class of its own ..."

Years back, a local television programme generated wide interest after it successfully brought together parents with their long-lost children, separated siblings and missing friends.
Then came the Internet, bringing along with it various networking websites that connect people around the world.
Gaining popularity among them is Facebook which enables us to ‘track down’ school-mates of those long gone years and renew our friendship.
Facebook got me and Ja-are connected with lots of catching-up to do.
When I told him about this blog, he mentioned that Mani, our former school-mate, had also created a blog to get us all together.
So when I finally got to speak to Mani, he graciously said that he had created the blog for VI class of 1978 “just two minutes ago” as an earlier initiative was left idle.
“The whole idea of the blog is to keep in touch with one another and have a common base to spell out our intentions, activities,” he wrote.
Calling on ‘friends, classmates and batchmates’ to write to the blog, Mani would also love to see ex-school teachers sharing their thoughts to make the blog a “Class of its own”. Click here.

‘Walk-in’ friendship club …

Everytime new stamps are issued, you are bound to see them at the Kuala Lumpur General Post Office. They have been meeting quite often although most of the occasions without prior arrangement.

With Pos Malaysia coming out with at least one set of new stamps a month, the possibility of such get-together has no doubt increased.
Because of this , they have grown to know each other well and could easily tell if you are someone new.
But that does not stop a newcomer from joining the ‘friendship club’ and discuss the subject of their meeting – stamps.
Like many ardent collectors, sixty-four year-old Andy Tan and Ong Leong Say, 55, would thronged the post office to get the latest issue of first-day covers (FDC).
As they stick the stamps on the specially-designed 30 sen envelopes, they exchanged views about the stamps issued today to mark the centenary celebration of the scouts association in Malaysia.
What makes collecting FDC interesting is it provides information about the stamps and why there were issued.
“This is not just a hobby but knowledge,” says Tan, who has been collecting stamps for 30 years.
Ong agreed, saying he has learned, among other things, about culture, costumes, artefacts and monuments from the stamps issued over the years.

Like only a friend can...

Some things are often taken for granted especially when they are considered small. Like the time when a friend might have given you his new phone number and you thought you already had it listed.

It takes a friend to remind us of the things we take for granted -- a roof over our head, food to eat, clothes to wear, a job to go to, good health and even blogging. So when he emailed me this photo with those "little, big words", I will not take for granted but to say: "Thank you, my friend"

Always a journalist...

Despite no longer being the New Straits Times (NST) Group Editor, Ahmad A.Talib never stops writing. Describing himself as "Ex (Axed) journalist", he continues writing about things close to his heart through his widely-read Pahit Manis blog.
We were fortunate when he slotted some time to share his thoughts about reporting with a group of senior journalists and editors at Wisma Bernama today.
He started reporting in 1972 with Bernama before being lured by the NST Group.
Ahmad remained ‘brutal’ about writing when he said it would be "sinful" in terms of professional outlook if editors stop doing so.
"In NST those days, we made it a point to get gatekeepers to circulate a “must-do” list.
"This is to make sure people who manage desks and units go out to meet their contacts, attend functions and write stories and features.
"We used to have bureau chiefs taking turn to write news analysis for a column which was prominently displayed on page 2 of the newspaper," he said.
It was regulated in such a way that the "13 or 14 bureau chiefs" knew whose turn it was to write for any particular day.
Because of the good understanding and teamwork they had, everyone was ensured of a two-week break before their next article was due.
"Everybody had a chance to write, they cannot hide or find excuses that they don’t have time because the articles would form the basis of their year-end appraisal.
"Once you become a journalist and you stop writing, you cannot qualify to be a journalist," said Ahmad, whose blog commands a respectable 400 to 500 hits a day.

'Speechless' Farizal says goodbye...

For someone who has been covering speeches, Ahmad Farizal was 'speechless' when colleagues held a farewell party for him as he leaves to join a newspaper group.
But like the many Bernama-groomed reporters who have found fame and fortune elsewhere, Farizal would preferably do the talking through his writings.
I guess it was because of his good writing skills that the economic reporter was offered a job by the newspaper.
"It's hard to leave because deep in my heart is Bernama," he confided privately.
"I will always treasure the friendship and writing skills that I gained...from zero to what I am today," said Farizal, who joined Bernama almost four years ago.

Keeping my chin up ...

If ever I should feel my world is crumbling down, I would just think about my good friend Zulkiple Ibrahim to keep my chin up. Despite being bogged with "a number of chronic and debilitating health problems", he has persevered. Although at one stage he had to use the wheelchair, he insisted on coming to the office. But that’s not all. The man who still remembers the long-demolished "Panggung Garuda" in his hometown Pasir Mas, has had to cope with other trying demands. It needs a gallant man to say these words.

Global village beckons ...

It was a pleasant surprise to know that my friend Param, now based in Washington, shares his birthday with the country – August 31. The information would have escaped my mind if not for Facebook which Param had wanted me to join. Since he left Bernama to join AFP, Param has gone places including to a city where we were once based almost the same time.
“Yes, I have been marking my birthday for the last 14 years outside Malaysia but always in the company of Malaysians whether I was in Spore, Manila or DC. Most of the times at the Malaysian embassy for the Merdeka celebrations - so double bonus lah brudder! All best and nice to see you again on facebook. Cheers-Param" he wrote today.
Nani, another ex-Bernama journalist now living in New York, is also connected to friends in Malaysia through Facebook or ‘Mukabuku’ as she describes it.
Its amazing how you can be linked with friends and in turn discover that both of you might know the same people either from school, college or work. Small world!
As the internet increasingly linked people together across the globe, the concept of a global village envisioned by Marshall McLuhan, more than 40 years ago, has somewhat become a reality. In his book Understanding Media published in 1964, McLuhan had described how electronic mass media collapsed space and time barriers in human communication, enabling people to interact and live on a global scale.
In this sense, the globe has been turned into a village by the electronic mass media.

Fresh-look, more user-friendly …

As we continue to embrace the new media, Bernama has revamped its web-site to provide the public with more and easier access to information.
Located at www.bernama.com , the web-site has an exciting new-design and a more user-friendly navigation menu that easily permits visitors to find up-to-date information through a single click on the home page.
Featuring the various sections and services, the fresh-look would provide the dynamism for Bernama to stay competitive and relevant even as it turned 40 last May.
With the monthly hits notching 40 million, it is essential for Bernama, being the national news agency, to maintain an effective web-site that contains information which is important to the public.
The Bernama website has also proven to be the gateway between Malaysia and the world, bringing Malaysians who are studying or working abroad closer to home with up-to-date reports.
As an interactive channel, a new segment “What Say You” has been incorporated to enable the public to give their views on topical issues.
To literally set the discussions going is the question: ‘What needs to be done to improve Malaysia’s public transportation system?’
What matters you, matter us, so to speak.
The public can also share their thoughts by writing to the Opinions column, which has been re-branded from what was known as Editors’ Pick.

“Friends have come from afar, …"

(Picture taken from Beijing Olympics official website)

A chanting troupe intoned the Confucian proverb "Friends have come from afar, how happy we are" as China greeted the world with a spectacular opening of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing tonight.
President Hu Jintao officially declared the Games open at the “Bird’s Nest” stadium in front of 90,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience of up to four billion.
The opening ceremony, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Zhang Yimou, saw a parade of 5,000 cheerful competitors from 204 nations, most in their national costumes.
Malaysian Chef-de-mission and two-time Olympian Ho Koh Chye led the Malaysian contingent with cyclist Mohd Azizul Hasni Awang proudly carrying the Jalur Gemilang. The Malaysian contingent looked resplendent in their yellow-and-gold attire – the men in baju Melayu and women in baju kebaya.
With a 33-strong contingent, Malaysia are competing in nine sports – archery, aquatics, badminton, cycling, taekwondo, sailing, shooting, track and field and weighlifting.
Malaysia were the 10th contingent to marched into the stadium after Madagascar. The order for the march past was based on the number of strokes written for the names of the participating countries in simplified Chinese character.
The ceremony caps seven years of work that reshaped the Chinese capital and set the seal on an economic boom that has seen China and its 1.3 billion people emerge as a new superpower.
The extravaganza, cramming 5,000 years of history into one evening, avoided many of the clichéd images of China – no pandas, no red lanterns and no dragon dances.
But the magic was not lost with some 15,000 performers and 29,000 colourful fireworks giving the Games, held every four years, a glittering start.
China did not take astrological chances, opening the Games at the auspicious moment of eight o’clock on the eight month of 2008.

Footnote: *While 204 countries are participating in the Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), says Brunei Darussalam did not register any athletes for competition.

A friendly advice ...

For someone in a hot seat, my colleague Zul S, knows too well that the country’s political temperature can easily rise with an impeding by-election in the northern state of Penang.

He is concern that things could get of out hands if the competing parties resort to overzealous campaigning in Permatang Pauh.
“Please tell your political friends to campaign with decorum,” he said as I told him that I have found new vigour to blog, mostly about friendship, communication, journalism and Bernama.
As Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the General News Service, Zul oversees Bernama’s reporting coverage of the upcoming election – the first since last March general elections.
Nominations will be held on August 16 while polling is on August 26.
The parliamentary seat fell vacant following the resignation of Parti Keadilan Rakyat President Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on July 31.
“The MPs (Members of Parliament) can be friendly among themselves when they are outside the august ‘dewan’.
“But once they get inside they can become the worst of enemies,” said Zul, a seasoned journalist when it comes to covering elections.

Happy Birthday ASEAN ...

As we celebrate the 41st anniversary of ASEAN today, I recalled meeting ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan at a media forum in Bangkok in March.
In his keynote address, he cited the ASEAN Charter and underlined the crucial importance of a sense of ownership of and belonging to ASEAN of all its peoples.
“ASEAN is not an organization of leaders of the nations, but of all their peoples.
“The media as popular communication channel can help ASEAN to reach out to the 567 million people of ASEAN…The media can serve as a platform for social dialogue to create just and equitable society,” he said.
“How do we bring the sense of care and compassion and concern to the people of ASEAN?, if the media, if the journalists, if the people in the profession of the Fourth Estate are not inducted into this process of community building.
I remember him saying that the media can help “by paying attention to what ASEAN is doing, by being more critical to what ASEAN is doing, by being more proactive in advising, in giving us your ideas, your fears, your doubts, and your hopes about ASEAN”.
“How many columnists, how many journalists, how many TV broadcasters, who are really prepared to dialogue, to discuss, to exchange on the issues of the wider community of ASEAN?
Dr Surin went on to quote novelist Arthur Miller who once said “the newspaper is a nation talking to itself”.
“Think about that “the newspaper is a nation talking to itself”. Meaning if you are really free as a newspaper then all the problems of your society must be registered on the page of your newspaper because you bring all the problems on the page, because you have the right to question “what’s going on in society?”, because you have the right to contribute for the betterment of the society, of yours. A newspaper is a nation talking to itself.”

'True blue' Victorian forever ...

Rashdan Rashid completed school at Victoria Institution (VI) in 1996 but keeps going back to it.
Being a committee member of the Victoria Institution Old Boys’ Association (VIOBA), he is even more attached to his alma mater, aiming to bring back its "glory days".
"You can say that I was made for VI and VI was made for me," said the "old" Victorian.

Calling himself the 'VIOBA clubhouse caretaker', he has big plans for the school which was founded in 1893.
"I will bring prominent figures, big names who are product of VI to inspire the present batch of students," he said enthusiastically at the clubhouse this morning as a monorail rolled on elevated tracks in the background at Jalan Hang Tuah.
To realize his dream, Rashdan is determine to get as many ex-students as possible to join the 86 year-old VIOBA as life members.
"Of the 2,000-plus active members now, only 600 are life members," said Rashdan who proudly administers the club website: www.vioba.com.my .
For the moment, he is literally in high spirit preparing for VIOBA annual dinner to be held at KL Tower on August 30.
"Don't forget that, bro," he reminded me as we reminisced our VI days.
"VI is my life...no one can take that away from me," said the father of four boys, who naturally harbours the hope that his sons would follow his foot-step at VI.

Rashdan is glad that the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) president Raja Amir Shah Raja Abdul Aziz is pro-active in efforts to bring back the glory days for the school.
High among the list of things-to-do is the setting-up of the Mokhtar Dahari football academy. The legendary striker, a former student of the school, was one of the best players in Asia in the 1970s.
He died at age 37 of muscular dystrophy on 11 July 1991.

*Rashdan can be contacted at 012-2055296.

Man without ears ...

"What do you call a man without ears?" asked MGN, our likeable colleague, who has set questions for numerous motor treasure hunts.
"Earless…dumb…no-ear man..," I replied but he just smiled, each time.
And when I finally gave up, he coolly said:
"Well, you can call him anything…he won’t hear you".
Ha, ha, ha, and I thought it was funny.
On a serious note, it’s no laughing matter if you have ears but do not hear. Better still, not just hear but listen.
From all these years in this profession, I’ve learnt pretty well the importance of listening.

In his book Organizational Behavior, Stephen P.Robbins said: “Too many people take listening skills for granted. They confuse hearing with listening”.
What’s the difference?
Hearing is merely picking up sound vibrations. Listening is making sense out of what we hear.
In other words, listening requires paying attention, interpreting and remembering sound stimuli.
My mind flashes back to school-days and recalled the favourite phrase from teachers:
"Are you all listening?"

A reliable motoring friend …

While speed kills, the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) makes no pretentious about being fast in providing service.
Having them back you up is most comforting when your car won’t start just as you want to begin the day’s journey.
More often than not, the fault lies with worn-out batteries as what happened to me this morning.
When AAM patrolman Firdhaus said I could use credit card to pay for the maintenance-free battery that he brought along to replace the lead acid battery in my car, I was surprised.

“Never thought that you would bring along the swipe machine for credit card,” I said as I gave him the money.
He said he did not have to bring the machine as all he needed to do was contact his office to do the verification if members chose to use credit cards.
“There have been instances of vehicle breakdown in the middle of nowhere and the owners do not have enough cash, so they pay by credit card,” said Firdhaus.
But what he did took along with him was a KL road directory so he would not lose his way.
"24-hours protection, 365 days a year is our commitment," says AAM on its website.
"AAM is proud that that we are still considered as the No. 1 Motoring Friend," said the organization which was established in 1932.

More than a doctor ...

Dealing with distraught souls, oncologist Dr Fabian Lee packs lots of patience.
He sees cancer-stricken patients daily, giving them hope whenever they are down.
It’s no simple task though as anyone diagnosed with life-threatening illness easily feels fearful and helpless.
They sink into depression and misery and this takes a toll on them mentally and physically.
"Be strong, you can conquer it…we are here to help you," Dr Lee would tell his patients.
For many, he is more than a doctor but a friend.
When a dispirited patient wants to abandon chemotherapy, he would listen to her grievances before reasoning out why she should carry on with the treatment.
"I know women are afraid of losing their hair but it will grow again after the treatment," he told us when met at his ward today.
Having such illness is an experience that changes anyone.
We become grateful for things which we previously took for granted such as good health.
Tough times also bring us closer to family and friends.

"Falling down is not defeat...Defeat is when you refuse to get up!"

Shabery reiterates new media-friendly stance ...

Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek reinforces his new media-friendly approach, saying the government and civil servants must be ready to adapt them whether they like it or not.
"Business cannot be as usual for us, and our best defence against the new media is to continue to be clean, honest and efficient in our public delivery system.
"In this battle for credibility in the new media, and between the new media and the mainstream media, we as part of the establishment will be their punching bags.
“But we cannot fear them,” he said in his paper titled "The New Media: Articulating the Right Values" tabled at the Civil Service Conference in Kuala Lumpur.
Shabery said: "They will not be influential or powerful if we are clean, honest, credible, trustworthy and efficient in our administration and public service delivery."
"If we do not have anything to hide, if we do not abuse our power or office, these new media per se, will not have such an impact for they would be deprived of any ammunition against us," he said.
"Most of us make the mistake of defining the new media as anti-government and anti-establishment when in fact there were bloggers and online news sites that subscribe to the government's policies and programmes,” he stated.
Media-savvy Shabery contended that if the bloggers and online news sites were critical, they were critical of the way some policies and programmes were implemented.
"In other words, there are myths and fallacies about bloggers and opponents of the government, which can be easily debunked when communication is open and free," he said.
For example, RTM's live telecast of Parliament sitting had shown the people the actual proceedings and allowed them to make judgment on the performances of their parliamentary representatives, he said.
Shabery also urged the mainstream media not "to compete head on with the new media", which rely on the mainstream media for news and information.
He said citizen journalists acted as a watchdog to the mainstream media by analysing, observing and interpreting materials published by the mainstream media, highlighting their inaccuracies, spins and outright lies.
Saying that citizen journalists complemented the mainstream media, he believed that "this augurs well for the democratisation of information."
He observed that there were times when professional journalists in the mainstream media were taken to task by citizen journalists for sloppy reporting and misleading editorials.
"This is a value that should be duly recognised and applauded by all of us, politicians, administrators and lawmakers alike. This will allow for feedback mechanism of any new policy, plan or programme," he said.
He said it could also act as an early warning system to detect any wrongdoings by any quarters within the democratic structure of the country.
Shabery felt the country did not need new laws to curb the new media as the present ones were adequate.
However, he said, the defamation and sedition laws, which aimed to protect the rights of citizens against malice, should also apply to the new media, especially in the case of blogs.
"Over time, users of online information will know where to place them in their hierarchies of trust, and over time, the same would be expected of blogs that want to be known as credible and trustworthy," he said.

The minister has a website NotaShabery.com , featuring his speeches, comments and opinion on current issues. The website aims to create a forum where readers are free to comment and give their points of view.

Olympic Games: Of friendship and peace ...

With the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games set to start on Friday, the world's attention is increasingly focussed on China.
Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their colour and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the official mascots of the Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.
Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame.
Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China.
Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.
When their names are put together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.
Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China.
In their origins and their headpieces, the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky could be seen -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.
(Source: The official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games)

Welcoming friends ...

A day after signing an MoU to enhance broadcasting and information cooperation with Malaysia, the delegation from Brunei Darussalam visited Bernama headquarters to get a closer look at our operations.
Energy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Pehin Awang Yahya Bakar led the delegation.
They were given a briefing on the role and services provided by Bernama which celebrated its 40th anniversary on May 20.
“It is said life begins at 40,” quipped editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong before ending his briefing.
Apart from the Editorial Department, Pehin Awang Yahya and his delegation visited Bernama TV and Radio 24 – the agency’s venture into the broadcasting world.
Starting as a small audio-visual unit in 1998, Bernama TV launched its 24-hour operation on February 28.

The Brunei delegation also visited the NAM News Network (NNN) located on the 15th floor of Wisma Bernama.
Seeing NNN up-and-running must have been jubilant for Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Department Pengiran Datuk Paduka Ismail Pengiran Mohamed.
He had attended the Conference of the Ministers of Information of Non-Aligned Countries (Cominac) in November 2005 which endorsed host Malaysia’s proposal to set-up NNN.
But that was not the only joy for him.
He gave a big smile when he saw his “just a phone call away” phrase in this blog.
Talk about new media …

Friendship “just a phone call away” …

A senior Brunei official describes the close relationship between the two countries as “just a phone call away”. Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Department Pengiran Datuk Paduka Ismail Pengiran Mohamed says the cooperation were taking place not just among leaders but among government officials and the people.
In a television interview with RTM this morning, he said cooperation in broadcasting and information fields would be enhanced with the signing of a memorandum of understanding following yesterday’s meeting.
"That this interview is being telecast live to Brunei testifies the close cooperation," said Pengiran Ismail, a former Radio Television Brunei (RTB) director.

Malaysian Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Energy Minister in Brunei's Prime Minister's Department Pehin Awang Yahya Pegawan Mudin Datuk Paduka Bakar witnessed the signing of the MoU at Angkasapuri.


It coincides with the on-going four-day visit of the Crown Prince of Brunei, Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah starting Friday. Flags of both countries lined the highway leading to Parliament to mark the visit.
Even more significant is that today is Friendship Day!

Armchair globe-trotter ...

Like postage stamps attached to envelope, 57-year-old R.Govindasamy has stuck to stamp collecting since his school days, turning the hobby into a profitable family business.
Long before globalisation became a buzzword, Govin was already"on-line" with people from all over the globe from his home in Ipoh, in the state of Perak.
"In my teen days, I use to have pen pals from over 60 countries and everyday I would eagerly wait for the postman to come, expecting to get between five to six letters," said the father of four.
The hobby enabled Govin to see the world without leaving home.
It helped him improve his English as he wrote regularly to pen pals while introducing Malaysia through stamps he exchanged with them.
He still writes to overseas contacts to get supply for his philately business of 27 years. Govin also deals in numismatic, selling old currency notes and coins.
So passionate is he with the trade that he travels to Kuala Lumpur every first weekend of the month to hold his 'market fair' at the Heritage Hotel at the old railway station building.
Today is no exception.

"Everyone is the same here, whether they are lawyers, doctors, businessmen, students...they come because of their interest in stamps and old currencies," he said.

Neighbourly ties …

In the spirit of friendship, we are just too happy to have information officers from Brunei Darussalam coming for brief attachment in Bernama.
Though the training stint is short, it will hopefully go a long way to deepen ties.
This is our commitment in the context of bilateral cooperation in broadcasting and information between Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
The two-day meeting started at Angkasapuri today with both sides renewing pledges to keep the strong bond going.
Apart from sending photojournalists, Brunei Darussalam Information Department has sought Bernama’s assistance in sports reporting.
Bernama will also participate in a photo exhibition of our two countries to be held next year.
In the meantime, the department could take advantage of the internet-linked NAM News Network (NNN), based in Wisma Bernama, to contribute news and photos about the oil-rich neighbour.

Blair embarks on inter-faith understanding ...

The war on Iraq must have been traumatic for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who is now busy promoting inter-faith dialogue.
He says the dialogue does address the root causes of terrorism for it lessens ignorance and promotes greater understanding among people of different religions.
We had asked him if inter-faith dialogue could address the root causes of terrorism since Western governments had failed to do so despite repeated calls by the Islamic world since the 9/11 terror attacks.
Blair was the British prime minister when the US-British coalition force invaded Iraq in 2003. He retired in June last year after 10 years in office.
Blair, who is on his first visit to Malaysia to give a lecture on the Rule of Law at the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lecture today, said he was actually disappointed that he had just discovered the country.
"After some days (in Malaysia), I find it's a wonderful country, really beautiful country, (with) very warm people. Very lively, actually.
"In cultural terms and every other sense and there is a lot going on which you can rightly be proud. This is my first visit, I hope it won't be my last, I'm sure it won't be," said the casually-dressed Blair.
He admitted during the interview that he was a fan of Newcastle United FC.
"I know many people out here who are either Manchester United or Arsenal fans," he said.

Opening up to a wireless world ....

Since his appointment as Information Minister in the Cabinet formed after last March General Elections, Shabery Cheek has brought much improvement. He is bold to open up even in areas considered 'taboo' before the election.
Two days after holding office, he directed officials to installed 'Wi-Fi' within the ministry's vast Angkasapuri complex.
"It's illogical to block anyone from accessing the Internet when Kuala Lumpur is moving towards becoming a wireless city," he said last night at a forum to discuss ways of improving RTM's news bulletins.
In line with his 'openness', Shabery has invited bloggers -- previously regarded as 'nuisance' to appear on prime-time weekly slot to talk about their blogs.
Even known government and BN critics have had their fair share of glamour appearing live on the 20-minute show that could be extended in view of its growing popularity.
Despite reservations from several colleagues on live TV coverage of parliamentary sessions, Shabery managed to convince them on the need to allow public viewing access to matters that concern them.
More changes are in store as Shabery keeps his heart and mind open to views on how the ministry could deliver effectively.