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.

Not just coffee brewing at Starbucks ...

A news report today says Starbucks Corp will concentrate more of its growth in China and Japan as the company braces with slumping sales in the US and Australia. Starbucks founder and CEO Howard Schultz had earlier this month announced plans to close 600 stores in the US and eliminate as many as 12,000 jobs or 7 percent of the workforce. The coffeeshop chain employed about 172,000 as at last September. According to the report, Starbucks would shut three-fourths of its 84 stores in Australia within the next few days, backing away from a market it entered eight years ago.

During a trip to Beijing last year, the Starbucks logo at a particular outlet caught my attention as it blended with the local surrounding.

The kind of friend ...

Flipping through the pages of an old note-book, I came across the following writing:

"A fairly good friend will tell u not to worry and that it will all come right.
A perfect friend helps u face the truth and stays beside u, whatever comes"

It took me a while to recall why I had made those notes.
I then realised that it was an SMS I received from someone.
Between good and perfect, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Never too late ...

In this new media age, it’s never too late to become a blogger.
I’m happy that my colleague Salbiah Said, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Bernama Economic Service, has entered blogosphere -- salbiahs.blogspot.com.

With her vast experience and high-profile position, I’m sure her jottings would benefit readers.
As blogging becomes trendy, I recalled writing an e-mail to my then editor-in-chief while on a press fellowship in Cambridge in November 2004.

“Our competitors are emerging in new forms as a result of advancement in the information age. Online diarists or "bloggers", for instance, are coming to the fore in such a tremendous speed that even their existence have often been misrepresented. What began as a hobby is turning into serious business and changing the face of journalism. Blogs (short for weblogs) have become common feature in providing accounts such as the US-led invasion on Iraq and the recent US presidential election, prompting big-timers like CNN and BBC, to venture into this new field. Back home, blogger Jeff Ooi is riding high on the global wave of this web influence, giving an alternative 'no holds bar' information channel for free. The big question for us is how do we deal with this new competition while struggling to keep pace with our traditional competitors (subcribers???)”

It’s been more than three years since and blogs are posing an even greater threat to the mainstream media, capturing a bigger slice of readership especially among the younger generation.
While the editor-in-chief has retired, Jeff Ooi has enhanced his profile having been elected as a member of parliament in the March 2008 General Election.