Hopes dashed for cross-border rugby friendly ...

Forty years after their last rugby friendly, Victoria Institution (VI) and Vajiravudh College (VC) of Bangkok were expected to revive the cross-border match tradition at the Kuala Lumpur school field on Monday. But it looks like the plan has been dashed, at least for now.
I received the news from VI Parent Teachers Association chairman Raja Amir Shah Raja Abdul Aziz, who had been working hard to revive the friendly, via his sms this morning:
“Dear all, unfortunately, VI VC rugby game is cancel due to VC player are quarantine in mckk due to H1N1 flu. The monday game is cancel, pls let others know - ydp ras”

I can imagine how disappointed he is. The first VI-VC rugby match was held in 1963 and later in 1965, 1967 and 1969.
"After being accorded the heritage status and getting its old name back, this would be a motivating factor for all VI stakeholders to support the VI aspiration to be the top school in the country again, both in studies and sports," he had said a few days ago.
Indeed, it would have been great if the friendly match could be revived, not just for both schools but the two neighbouring countries – Malaysia and Thailand.
Dya Singh, VI Sportsman of the Year 1969, remembers the VI-VC rugby tie of that year.
“They were here and they were really good,” he recalled after I told him about the VI-VC game when he dropped by at my office yesterday.

No, Dya Singh did not play in that match. He represented the school in cricket, hockey and football (including alongside his junior, the late Malaysian soccer legend Mokhtar Dahari).
They were in the VI squad who won the Khir Johari Cup for the inter-schools championship in 1969 after defeating the Royal Military College.
The 59 year-old Dya Singh has carved his name as a top musician in Melbourne, Australia, which is his home now.
He leads the Australian multicultural music group named after him and the troupe has been to Japan, Singapore, Kenya, Tanzania, United States, Canada, UK, Pakistan, Germany, Ireland and Thailand since its inception in 1984.
Dya Singh was in the news recently after embarking on a 160 kilometre, six-day charity walk from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka with two friends.

1Team, 1Dream, 1Bernama ...

Taking the cue from the Prime Minister's 1Malaysia call, Bernama formally launches its '1Team, 1Dream, 1Bernama' campaign today to magnify the spirit of oneness among the staff.
For an organisation which has expanded from merely being a wire service, the esprit de corps drive is timely.
Having established itself as the national news agency, Bernama has ventured into the broadcasting sphere with Radio24 Bernama and Bernama TV on Astro Channel 502.



The campaign took off in high spirit with a treasure hunt that drew participation from some 70 staff.
They had to answer 20 questions based literally on "photographs and writings on the walls" on various floors of Wisma Bernama.
The participants were also required to hand in two treasures which were really 'giveaways'.

But the best part of the hunt was that everyone was a winner simply by being a team.
Isn't that what team stands for -- Together Everyone Achieve More!

Being yourself ...

Bon voyage Monsieur Bob ...

Paris is like a second home for my buddy Bob. He has been to the City of Love a couple of times over the last two years. Like many visitors, Bob could not escape the magic and aura that surrounds the city.
He remembers fondly the Citedine and Monoprix. And of course, the Unesco headquarters.
This time around he will be covering a 'new' man -- Muhyiddin Yassin, the deputy prime minister who also holds the Education portfolio.
As Malaysia sits in the Unesco executive board, Muhyiddin will now represents the country at its meetings in Paris, having taken over from Hishammuddin Hussein who has moved to the Home Ministry.
I'm sure Bob will give his best, no matter who's in charge.


File photo of Bob with Hishammuddin at the Unesco hq in 2007

The hillside mosque cafe ...

The Al-Ghufran Mosque at Taman Tun Dr Ismail is extraordinary. Situated on a hillock, it has a cafe which offers good food and a breathtaking view that makes an excellent spot for family and friends get-together. It serves local and Western cuisine from 6am to 11pm daily.
The cafe, which can cater up to 400 people, was opened for business on May 10. It is reputed to be the only one of its kind in the country.


But the cafe is not the only special feature of the mosque. It also provides rooms called 'Kamar Musafir' for out-of-town visitors travelling alone or with families. The rate ranges from RM60 to RM220.
For further information:
Masjid Al-Ghufran
Kompleks Balai Islam
Pinggir Taman Tun Dr Ismail
No 6C, Jalan 4/71B,
Jalan Damansara,
60000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-77282127

Like stars ...

Friends from the Pacific ...

Joseph Ealedona is Managing Director of the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) of Papua New Guinea and one of PNG’s most prominent journalists. He is currently the President of the Pacific Island News Association (PINA) -- the premier regional organisation representing the interests of media professionals in the Pacific region. It links radio, television, newspapers, magazines, online services, national associations and journalism schools in 23 Pacific Island.
PINA runs an online regional news service -- Pacnews which is headquartered in Suva, Fiji.

During our discussion this afternoon, Ealedona expressed interest to link Pacnews with Bernama so as to bring news about the Pacific to Asia and vice-versa.
That would be a win-win situation as the media could encourage people-to-people contact by highlighting news that could interest them such as in trade, tourism, culture and sports.

With internet connectivity, the proposed link-up would not be a problem.
Alternatively, NBC could readily utilized the NAM News Network – NNN either to upload their stories or extract items. PNG is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and had attended the grouping’s ministers of Information conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2005 which gave the go-ahead for the
setting-up of the Malaysia-initiated news exchange entity. NNN is based in Bernama.

Make new friends but keep the old ones ...

Away from home on this Fathers' Day, I must thank my colleague in Kota Kinabalu Newmond for keeping me company. We were at the waterfront just as the sun was going down. It was a fantastic view that would remain vivid in my mind for sometime.
I had arrived in the Sabah capital this afternoon for the 1st Joint Committee on Information and Communication Technology (JC-ICT) Meeting between Malaysia and Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Bernama was roped in as the PNG side had proposed to have exchange of programmes and news between its National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) with us.

As I look forward to meeting the PNG representatives, I cherish the evening chat with Newmond, who has been heading our KK bureau for the last three years.
We spoke about work and non-work stuff. In the process, I learn more about him.
While I get the chance to meet new people as I carry out my job, my friends will always be important in my life. Just as the saying goes:
Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.

Starting a friendship with flowers ...

Browsing the internet, I came across this article about friendship. I thought I should paste it on this blog, more so after a friend emailed me the photo today -- well ahead of friendship day.
Though many of us have little problem of making new friends, some struggle just to get near people they are interested to know.
Here's what the article says:

Starting a friendship is a social skill that takes years to learn. Doing it successfully, like with most skills, involves a lot of trial and error on your part. Knowing when to approach a person, picking the right topic to start a conversation, and finding the guts to start it may come naturally to some people.
Others find making friends difficult due to shyness and the lack of confidence in their verbal skills.
Whichever the case is, one good way to start a friendship without some of the awkwardness is to give flowers on the right occasions.

Flowers can sometimes be more eloquent than people. Different roses, for instance, have varying shades of meaning for every affair.
Also, giving flowers mean that you value a relationship (or future relationship) enough to go out of your way to make the person feel special.
Starting a friendship involves confidence, trust, and effort. Giving flowers certainly makes the person appreciate your efforts more in trying to be friends.
However, before giving flowers to people you'd like to be friends with, make sure that you know the right flowers to pick. They should be appropriate to the occasion.
For example, if you're attending a birthday celebration for a person that you are not that closely acquainted with, giving orange roses says that you want to know her better.
If you're at a wedding, giving yellow roses to the newlyweds mean that you are glad to share their happiness.
Peach and pink roses convey admiration, so if you want to start a friendship with an officemate (or anyone whose work you appreciate), pink or peach flowers are the best choice.

Sketching a new dimension ...

The National Art Gallery's latest display sketches a new dimension -- tourism through art.

Entitled "Mosaics of Malaysia", the exhibition showcases the wide-ranging work of China's renowned artist Zhang Zhou.
National Art Gallery director-general Dr Mohamed Najib Ahmad Dawa said the exhibition was significant as it commemorated 35 years of friendly relations
between Malaysia and China, capped by the recent visit of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to Beijing.
"What makes it special is the sharp observation of a foreign artist to transform the beauty and prosperity of Malaysia's rich culture and landscape into enthralling art pieces," he said as we walked along, admiring the display.
Zhang Zhou has captured not only a number of popular tourist destinations in
detail on canvas but also the country's flora, fauna and habitat. Commissioned by a Malaysian collector, the artist took six years to produce the 100 paintings on display.
The panoramic night view of Kuala Lumpur city centre, Penang Bridge, the Putrajaya mosque, the Siti Khadijah Market in Kota Baharu and the national day parade are among scenes illustrated by the 52 year-old Beijing-born artist.
At the centre of the magnificent spectrum of artworks is a huge, delicate touch entitled "Keranamu Malaysia".

The exhibition, which began yesterday, will run until Aug 31. Admission is free and the opening hours are from 10am to 6pm daily except on public holidays.
"This is something not to be missed as the uniqueness of his artwork illustrates the perspective of a foreign artist towards our surroundings which we often take for granted," Dr Najib said showing Zhang Zhou's fine drawing of rubber trees.

Peace of mind ...

Din 'discovered' this place in Semenyih and jokingly told me that I would cry if I miss it. He told me about its clear stream, clean air and serenity.
Getting to the place was not difficult as it fringes a residential area. But not many people know about it except for those who were bold enough to take the risk to clear the area and turned them into orchards. Apart from matured durian trees, starfruit, banana and papaya were being cultivated.

We bumped into an elderly man on a motorcycle, carrying a basketful of durian which he had just collected from the area.
"This is good durians from the jungle," he said, happily selling us the whole lot for RM40.



A sight to remember ...

Success is an inside job …

Just as someone had tried to boost my sagging morale with words of encouragement, another emailed me about the importance of self-esteem to achieve success.
“It can be hard to identify what exactly healthy self-esteem is.
The signs of an unhealthy self-esteem are usually obvious. Someone who cuts themselves down a lot and is always afraid to make big decisions or use their talents doesn't have healthy self-esteem.
Arrogance and boasting are also signs of a poor self-esteem, even though the person comes across as supremely self-confident. I think we all know our fair share of braggarts. It's hard to spend time with them," he wrote.
"To trust one's mind and to know that one is worthy of happiness is the essence of self-esteem," he remarked.
He goes on to say that someone with high self-esteem is able to persist in the face of difficulties.
And the more one perseveres, the more one is likely to succeed.
"Self-esteem doesn't let us simply feel better...it lets us live better.
And to respond to challenges and opportunities resourcefully.
We usually tend to feel the most comfortable with people whose self-esteem level is similar to ours.
So if you think you have low self-esteem, start seeking out people with healthy self-esteem.
Take note of how they think and behave and try to emulate that. We all need role models and mentors.

P.S. Success is an inside job because success starts from within, with your self-esteem.

Strength within ...

Someone I met a few days ago took the trouble to visit this blog after I told her about it. She had came to see me in the office on Tuesday to explain about the unit trust which she specializes in.
"You don't have to take it, just give me time to explain," she said on the phone prior to the meeting.
I told her it was not only the lack of money that has kept me away from such savings but the anxiety of committing myself into a long-term undertaking at this ripe age.
To this, she spoke of three regrets that most people have when they reach their twilight years: They regret:
* they didn't pursue their dream,
* they didn't show enough love to the people they love and care,
* they didn't let go by not being forgiving enough.

Those words stuck deep in my mind as I slowly picked up the courage to confront my persistent fear of failing health as I get older.
And yes, I've been asked to remind myself from time to time of the inner strength that I have.

"Rule No 1: U are consciously a strong person.
Rule No 2: Don't forget Rule No 1."

A Walk In The Mountains...

A son and his father were walking in the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain:
"AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;
Life will give you back everything you have given to it."
YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!

The worth of our lives …

Once I attended a talk by a well known speaker who started off his lecture by holding up a RM100 note.
In the room of 200, he asked: "Who would like this RM100?"
Hands started going up.
He said: "I am going to give this RM100 to one of you - but first, let me do this."
He proceeded to crumple the RM100 note up.
He then asked: "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?"
He dropped it on the floor and started to grind it with his shoe.
He picked up the note, now crumpled and dirty.
"Now, who still wants it?" he asked.
Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth RM100.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.
We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.
Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you.
The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know but by ...WHO WE ARE.
"You are special - don't ever forget it," he said.

The Seven Wonders of the World ...

A class of primary school students was studying the Seven Wonders of the World.
At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. The Taj Mahal in India
3. The Grand Canyon in Arizona
4. The Panama Canal
5. The Empire State Building
6. The Colosseum in Rome
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.
The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."
The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read: "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to touch...
2. to taste...
3. to see...
4. to hear... (She hesitated a little, and then added...)
5. to feel...
6. to laugh...
7. and to love.


The room was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.
Somehow the things we overlook as simple and ordinary are often the most wonderful - and we don't have to travel anywhere special to experience them.
Enjoy your gifts!

The windows ...

A young couple moves into a new neighbourhood.
The next morning while they are having breakfast, the young wife sees her neigbour hang the wash outside.

That laundry is not very clean, she said.
"She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."
Her husband looked on but remained silent.
Eevry time her neighbour would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:
"Look! She has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."
The husband said: " I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life: What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.
Before we give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than to be looking for something in the person we are about to judge.

Counting our blessings ...

A friend reminded me to always count our blessings and be a blessing to others.
Along with her email was a heart-wrenching short film about hunger and poverty brought about by globalization. This award-winning film shows a forgotten portion of the society. Please watch the film .

Media, dialogue and mutual understanding ...

The potential of media in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation will be the topic of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2009 to be celebrated on 2 and 3 May 2009.
As the only UN agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom, UNESCO has placed mutual understanding, and dialogue through media at the core of its mission.
UNESCO’s Constitution, adopted in November 1945, states that the Organization will "collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of all peoples, through all means of mass communication” and “promote the free flow of ideas by word and image".
At this year’s conference and celebrations, UNESCO invites participants to explore the enormous potential of media to serve as a platform for dialogue and a vehicle for understanding.

With age comes wisdom ...

A guy is 70 years old and loves to fish. He was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say, "Pick me up."
He looked around and couldn't see any one.
He thought he was dreaming when he heard the voice say again,"Pick me up."
He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog.
The man said: "Are you talking to me?"
The frog said: "Yes, I'm talking to you. Pick me up, then kiss me and I'll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I'll make sure that all your friends are envious and jealous because I will be your bride!"
The man looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully and placed it in his front breast pocket.
Then the frog said: "What, are you nuts? Didn't you hear what I said? I said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride."
He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said: "Nah, at my age I'd rather have a talking frog."
With age comes wisdom.