OANA holds meeting in Ulan Bator ...

Leading Asia-Pacific news agencies are meeting in this Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator this week to enhance cooperation as content providers to cater for a wide range of clients with high expectations.
The 33rd Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA)Executive Board
Meeting will look into ways of how to improve the news content disseminated
among member countries.
It will also focus on multimedia news exchange management, moving forward
from just news and photo exchanges that had long been the focus of the 42-member
organisation.
Mongolian Prime Minister S. Batbold is scheduled to address the meeting on
Tuesday after opening remarks by new OANA President Hilmi Bengi, elected at the
OANA General Assembly in Istanbul, last November.
T. Baasansuren, president of host Mongolian news agency Montsame, in a joint
invitation with Bengi, said they were confident that the Ulan Bator meeting
would foster relations and interaction among member agencies.
The upcoming meeting was special because it coincided with the 50th
anniversary of OANA and the 90th anniversary of Montsame, they said.
The 11-member board comprises Anadolu of Turkey, as president, four
vice-presidents, namely Bernama (Malaysia), Antara (Indonesia), Itar-TASS
(Russia) and IRNA (Iran).
The remaining members are Yonhap (South Korea), Press Trust of India (PTI),
Azertaj (Azerbaijan), Australian Associated Press (AAP), Xinhua (China) and
Montsame (Mongolia).
Bernama is represented by General Manager Datuk Hasnul Hassan who had
proposed a video clip exchange as a way forward for member agencies to enhance
multimedia cooperation.
Bernama has conducted a trial run for the video exchange or clearing house
with four member agencies, including Montsame, in recent months.

Lessons from Japan ...

A friend emailed me about 10 things to learn from the destruction of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11.


1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been alleviated.

2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn't fall.

4. THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.

5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.

6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?

7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.

8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.

9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.

10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly

*One CNN reporter mentioned he interviewed an elderly lady who had lost her house and everything but still offered him some candy during the interview.

Congratulations...

Congratulations to Bernama staff who will receive the Excellence Service Award for 2010. The list of recipients was announced today.

Getting on to my 5 series….

With so many things going on around me, I gracefully entered my ‘5 series’ with optimism of the challenges ahead.
The roads may be bumpy or smooth but I wouldn’t know how far the journey will be.
All I know is I am getting nearer to my destination as the years go by.
As I turn 50 today, my thoughts go to the five stars in my signature.
I have often been asked about their significance.

That’s not difficult to explain – one star each for my three children, my wife and I.
So wherever I go especially on overseas trips, they will always be with me.

Simply awesome..

These motivational words about success were clearly written on the wall of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Taman Keramat.

The school held an excellence award presentation this morning to reward its outstanding students.
The ceremony coincided with the school's 31st parent-teachers association annual general meeting.
Dressed in her new baju kurung, my daughter Dina looked resplendent as she drove me to the school. She had told me that she would be getting a prize for her SPM achievement.
This proud father would not want to miss the opportunity, waiting excitedly to the event. But what turned out was a big surprise indeed.
Dina went up the stage not one but three times to collect her awards.
And each time her name was called, it carried along my name -- three times!!!
I was so touched and of course, proud.

It made me even prouder to know that she was the most outstanding student in the school when she was awarded the 'Anugerah Tokoh Pelajar 2010' (Student Personality Award 2010).
As she stood on stage to receive the award, the master-of-ceremony read the following citation:
The award recipient is Diyanah Zufazlin bt Ahmad Zukiman. This SMART jewel shines in various fields. She is liked by teachers and idolized by many students in school because of her character. It is no surprise that she has received various awards such as Admirable Personality and Excellent Prefect. She is committed in discharging her duties as school prefect for five years she had been in school and was appointed as head girl for the 2009/2010 session.
In co-curriculum, she was active and excelled in softball and hockey. She represented the school and district in the sports at the Gombak District School Sports Council and Selangor School Sports Council competitions. She also held the post of chairman and vice chairman in various school clubs and societies.
23 March 2011 will be a date to remember for her when she received her excellent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results with 6As.
Diyanah Zufazlin has proven that despite being active in co-curriculum activities, she had successfully balanced it with an excellent academic achievement.
Thus, the school awards her with ‘Anugerah Tokoh Pelajar 2010’ (Student Personality Award 2010).

My 'little girl' brings big joy...

My little girl had a big surprise when she collected her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results -- 6As.
So overwhemingly surprised that Dina felt she was dreaming.
"Is it ok Pa?" she asked me excitedly over the phone to inform me about her achievement.
Okay? It was more than okay to me.
I am so proud of her.
Before she went to get the result this morning, I had told her that whatever it is, we must be thankful to Allah.
Just a few days ago, she passed her driving test on her first try.
I sense that she had kept the excitement down as the bigger suspense was the SPM result.
Having obtained the licence, she requested to drive to school and pleaded with us not to accompany her.
She wanted to be with her friends. They had been close friends who stuck to one another like glue over years of secondary schooling that has now become memories.

Although Dina humbly says she had not targeted any A, she had studied hard for the school-end examinations.
As the examinations drew nearer, she would stay up into the wee hours of the night to revise the subjects. Besides the tougher subjects like Mathematics, she had to deal with the Sciences -- Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
There were days when she went to school without sleep.
Looking back, Dina said the last-minute preparation was pleasantly rewarding.
While friends can be a source of inspiration, she says believing in Allah is the key to success.
Apart from revision, she frequently did the 'solat hajat' to prepare for the examination.
As my little girl seeks to pursue her studies, I thanked Allah for all the blessings that have been showered to the family.
Dina is our youngest after Adam, now pursuing diploma in tourism, and Yasmin, a mass communication graduate.

Binding ties with Pyongyang...

Almost 20 years after Malaysia and North Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in information, officials from both countries met in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to discuss its progress.
Led by Vice Chairman of Public Information Committee Jong Yong Chol, the four-man North Korean side expressed optimism to continue cooperation with Malaysia.
Possible cooperation were exchange of radio, television, film and documentary programmes.
Bernama, the Malaysian National News Agency, is ready to step up news exchange with Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), such as on sports, economic and culture. Both are members of the Organisation of Asia Pacific News Agencies (OANA).
Apart from talks at Angkasapuri, the North Korean delegation visited Radio and Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and Wisma Bernama at Jalan Tun Razak today. They even stayed for lunch before heading for Putrajaya to visit the federal administrative capital.

During his visit to Bernama, Jong was surprised when I showed him photographs of the 1992 meeting in Pyongyang.
I was a young reporter then who had accompanied the Information Minister, the late Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat (still Datuk at the time) to Pyongyang for the talks.
It was a memorable trip partly because I was a last-minute inclusion in the minister's delegation that also visited Fukuoka in Japan.
In a way, it reflected the importance of Bernama to report about such landmark event in Pyongyang.
I remember taking along my Olivetti typewriter to file reports. After typing down the stories, I had to look around for telex facility to relay the stories home.
The minister managed to convince the North Korean side to take us up to Panmunjom, at the border of North and South Korea -- a trip that taught me a lot about international relations.
We even met the late North Korean President Kim Il-sung and had a group photograph with him, which appeared prominently on the front-page of the leading newspaper on 26 May, 1992.

Landmark Bernama-Antara summit...

After the opening of Bernama-Antara Summit in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, senior officials of the two agencies headed for Melaka for the summit discussion.
Meeting at the Puteri Resort in Ayer Keroh, Melaka this morning, Bernama General Manager Hasnul Hassan and Antara's Editor-in-Chief Saiful Hadi led their respective sides.
On the agenda of the first-ever summit were possible areas of cooperation to bolster ties between the two agencies.
This include exchange of reporters and photographers, photography on Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan, joint photography exhibitions and the publication of photography collection.
Other collaborations include the joint publication of Sinergi, a quarterly magazine and the alternate hosting of the Bernama-Antara Summit.
The publication of a coffee table book on cultural similarities of Malaysia and Indonesia was also explored.
Another significant collaboration is the exchange of visual footages between Bernama TV and Antara TV, set to be launched in June.
The summit was a follow up of the Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Committee Meeting on Information and Communication held in Kuala Lumpur last year.
In conjunction with the summit, a half-day seminar on bridging ties between Malaysia and Indonesia was held.

Melaka Chief Minister Ali Rustam delivered the keynote highlighting the various sectors being pursued to further develop the state.
Antara will host next year's summit.

A lifetime role and beyond ...

"It is much easier to become a father than to be one." -- acclaimed American author Kent Nerburn

There’s a Malay saying “Sayangkan isteri tinggal-tingalkan, sayangkan anak tangan-tangankan”.
Literally it means, if you love your wife, you should be prepared to venture out to work and if you love your children, you must willing to beat them when they do wrong.
I am fortunate because my late father never laid his hand on me. He brought me up with care after my mother passed away when I was six.
As Father’s Day is being rejoiced today, my memories of growing up with my ‘Abah’ in the small town of Kuala Krai in Kelantan chokingly fills my mind. He was a school teacher then but what I learned most from him was the meaning of love.
And now that I am a Papa myself, I value the need to instill the feelings of love and humility in my children.
Looking at the saying from another view, a father need not necessarily beat or hit his children for their mistake, even a grave mistake for that matter.
What can the hand do apart from hitting or beating the child?
The hands are of course Allah’s gift for humans to carry out their work. In this instance a father has to ensure that the work he does is ‘halal’ for that would lead to ‘berkat’.
A father has to ensure that what he earns is derived from his hard toil effort and not from immoral sources or activities.
The hands should also be used to comfort the children when they need support. The effect of a father literally giving a pat on the back on his son or daughter or embracing them to show his affection can leave a lasting impact. The child will grow up to appreciate the love of the father.
Another important thing that the father should do with the hands is to put them together and say prayers (berdoa) to Allah in the hope that the children will have a good, meaningful life that could enrich the live of others.
In a nutshell, here’s something I picked up from the Net about what a father means:
Fathers are a combination of many special qualities. Father:
"F" stands for forgiving; the ability to understand that mistakes made are the tools for new learning not as a reason for negative punishment that only hurts;
"A" stands for affectionate; the constant quality that is always present no matter whether in private or public and is given without reservation;
"T" stands for teacher; the ability to share through experience, to lead by example, and to help see that negatives can be turned to positives;
"H" stands for harmony; the ability to show that balance in life is attainable and where the demonstration of compromise sets the best example of a needed life skill;
"E" stands for equity; the building of a valued relationship occurs through each day not just set aside for special days, and where love is built upon as a constant not as an exception;
"R" stands for reason; where decision are explained, where children are involved in the process of decision making and not as simply blind obedience.
B. R. Pulsifer

More than able ....

Disabled doesn’t mean unable.
Born without legs and “my right hand is my everything”, Tuah Atan stood against all odds to become a lawyer.
After 20 years in the legal profession, Tuah continues to be "OKU activist" having been instrumental in drafting the Disabled Persons Act 2007. [OKU -- Orang Kurang Upaya (disabled person)].
“I tell myself enough is enough. If we want to do something, the mindset must be changed from sympathy to empathy.

“Physical attributes is all in the mind…it’s up to the individual to improve his life so he can live honourably.
At a lunch talk in Wisma Bernama today, the 48 year-old lawyer spoke of the challenges he had to face in his life pursuit.
“My life has its bitter and sweet moments…it depends on how you look at it.
“I’m just like you all, I need to be loved, I want to love, I want to give…and I guess other disabled persons feel the same way.
He said he succeeded because his parents gave him undivided love and support.
“Our home was a humble place but it was heaven for me,” he said about his ‘kampung’ in Asahan, at the foot of Gunung Tahan near the Melaka-Johor border.
"My father respected my needs..he provided me not just with academic but religious studies as well," he said.
He recalled how difficult it was for him to enter school as “there was no precedent” to take in someone like him.
He had to sit for some ‘IQ test’ at a hospital where he was asked to put blocks of shapes into the right holes.
“That was shameful and I told my dad that if I had to do those silly things, it was better that I didn’t go to school.
“The doctor who overheard our conversation was surprised I already spoke ‘Queen’s English although I was just seven then,” said Tuah who learnt the language in kindergarten.

When it was time for school admission, Tuah said he heard the headmaster telling the class teacher: “This is our new student, I don’t know how he can fit in”.
Although he felt bad, the young Tuah took up the challenge when he was placed in Standard 1D – “the last class”.
“My classmates were initially afraid of me. I was an alien to them and they thought I would bite them or eat them up,” said Tuah.
However, he won them over when he taught some of them to read and write.
“I didn’t have legs and hand but I have a little knowledge that I share with them on reading and writing…and they gave me their legs and hands.
“Isn’t it fair?…a gain-gain situation,” he exclaimed.
They got on so well in their studies that the following year, Tuah managed to take along 21 classmates -- half of his class, for promotion to Standard 2A. He remained among the top students, up to university level.
“I joined in the games the boys played in school…..why?
“It’s not that I actually wanted to play but I want to make friends.
“A disabled person who keeps to himself will be very lonely….when I opened up, I made a lot of friends,” he said.
He also made lots of friends because he took the effort to learn languages.
Apart from Malay and English, he speaks Melaka Hokkien, “a little bit of Tamil” and French “which helps me when I’m abroad”.
When he entered University Malaya to do Law, he had to hitch a ride on his friend’s motorcycle to get to class and when their lectures clashed, he had to walk on his own.
“Once I was riding pillion when it rained…the motorcycle skidded and hit a tree.
“It caused a loud noise and everyone rushed to us.
“Suddenly a girl student screamed ‘This accident is so serious, he lost his legs and hand’,” said Tuah.
"Despite in pain, my friend Ibrahim, now a Datuk, couldn’t control himself and broke into laughter," he said.
Tuah was active in campus.
“I even have my own band – ‘Musang Blues’ when I was in Third College,” said Tuah, who now runs his own legal firm, handling syariah and civil cases.
When he was in university, the late academician Dr Ismail Salleh, who was blind, became his idol.
"I kept a photo of him which eventually turned yellowish," he said.

On a lighter vein, Tuah said he often told youths especially "Mat Rempits" to value their lives.
"I tell them that if they continue with their stunts, they might end up like me...without legs and hand," he said with a smile.
(Wikipedia: A Mat Rempit is a Malaysian term for "an individual who participates in illegal street racing", usually involving underbone motorcycles, colloquially known as Kapcai).
For his deeds, Tuah was named the Tokoh OKU Melaka 2009 where he received the award last April. He had earlier been accorded with the Junior Chambers Youth Award 1995, Melaka Human Resource Award (disabled person category) and Melaka Disabled Person Award 1996.
The fourth of nine siblings has also won the state’s Tokoh Maal Hijrah (Professional) twice in 1997 and 2008.

(Bernama photo: Tuah receiving the ‘Tokoh OKU Melaka 2009’ award from the chief minister's wife, Datin Seri Asmah Abd Rahman at the state-level OKU Day celebrations in April 2010.)

Flash triggers excitement ...

A flash can have several meanings.
For new agencies, the term is use to define news alert to subscribers of a major story. It is a one-sentence item that are transmitted as swiftly as possible once information is received from reliable sources.
The Cabinet reshuffle today is a good example of how Bernama, as a news agency, breaks a major story using flash.
After getting the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the editor on duty sends out a ‘one-liner’ on the new appointments to subscribers – the first ‘flash’ out around 5.30pm.
As the minor reshuffle involves several ministers and deputy ministers – mostly from MCA, several ‘one-liners’ on the appointments were thus sent out.
This helps subscribers especially radio and television stations to make spot announcements on air or run crawlers on screen.
As for newspaper subscribers, the ‘flash’ helps them to prepare their write-ups or otherwise, expect the stories from Bernama.
During the days of teleprinter, the sub-editors will indicate three to five ‘bells’ to the flash to notify subscribers the varying importance of the story.
Apart from Cabinet reshuffle, flash are used for election and sports results, court decisions, disasters and major government announcements including highlights of the Budget tabled in Parliament.
As the cabinet reshuffle had been speculated for weeks, there was no doubt that the Bernama news flash triggered excitement especially among its media subscribers across the nation.
It takes just a one-liner – the Bernama flash and one Malaysia is alerted of the Cabinet reshuffle.
For the record, MCA President Chua Soi Lek kept his promise to be left out of the Cabinet so as to concentrate on the party after a gruelling party election in March. Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat, who lost the president's post to Chua, was dropped.
The portfolio was taken up by secretary-general Kong Cho Ha, the Housing and Local Government Minister. Vice -president Chor Chee Heung, the deputy finance minister, was promoted to Housing and Local Government Minister while deputy president Liow Tiong Lai remained as Health Minister.
Another vice president Ng Yen Yen kept her Tourism portfolio while Donald Lim Siang Chai, another veep, is the new Deputy Finance Minister.
MIC Deputy President G.Palanivel, made a Senator recently, returned as Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
PPP longest-serving vice president Maglin Dennis D'Cruz was appointed as Deputy Information Communications and Culture Minister to take over from Heng Seai Kie who moved to Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
Serian MP Richard Riot received a 'Gawai' gift when he was made Deputy Foreign Minister -- the slot reserved for Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) that was held by Robert Lau Hoi Chew, who died in April.

Israel attacks Gaza-bound aid flotilla ....

Israeli marines stormed an aid ship of the Lifeline4Gaza flotilla, killing at least nine international volunteers.
The Mavi Marmara is one of the seven ships in the flotilla on a humanitarian mission to Gaza, initiated by a coalition of 11 non-governmental organisations.

Eleven Malaysians including a reporter and a cameraman from Astro Awani were reported to be on board the Mavi Marmara and their fate is still unknown.
They were among 17 Malaysians in the "Freedom Flotilla". The other six Malaysians on the mission are aboard the Rachel Corrie vessel and they are reported safe.
Boarding from dinghies and rappelling from helicopters, naval commandos stopped six ships, 700 people and 10,000 tonnes of supplies from reaching the Palestinian enclave.
They forced the international volunteers into the Israeli port of Ashdod for questioning.
The attack in international waters some 68km from Gaza took place at about 9am Malaysian time.

Crises Management Team for LL4G Malaysia chairman Zulkifli Mohd Nani issued the following statement:
“1. As have been widely publicised, the Lifeline4Gaza flotilla has come under attack by the Israeli armed forces. Israeli aggressors have boarded the capital ship Mavi Marmara and open fire resulting in 3 volunteers dead and more than 30 others seriously injured. Mavi Marmara is one of the 7 strong flotilla enroute to Gaza to deliver the much awaited material aids to the besieged people of Gaza.
2. Twelve volunteers including media representatives from Malaysia is on board the capital ship Mavi Marmara. Their participation is purely humanitarian in nature.
3. All the objectives and movement of the flotilla is in compliance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1860 (2009) and all relevant maritime regulations. Resolution 1860 stated among others:
a) Appeal for deliverance of humanitarian aid to Gaza including food, fuel and medical assistance.
b) Urge efforts to ease passage and other mechanisms for the unimpeded deliverance of aids.
c) Call for all nations to support such efforts at the international level to alleviate the dire humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza
d) condemns acts of agression and attacks on civilians and all forms of acts of terrorism.
Every Malaysian participants in the flotilla are holding fast to the international regulations and laws and vow to uphold the good name of Malaysia and our national aspirations.
4. The flotilla is laden with 10,000 tonnes of material aid. Over 540 volunteers are on board Mavi Marmara, including Parliamentarians, academics, journalists, scholars, an infant less than a year old and a senior citizen over 80 years old. No weapons were brought in this flotilla even for self defense which testifies to the wholly humanitarian nature of the mission.
5. Based on these facts it is very clear indeed that Israel has violated international laws. Whatmore the raid took place in international waters and on an unarmed aid ship on a humanitarian mission. Israeli rash action deserve a worldwide condemnation in the strongest possible term.
6. We appeal to the Government of Malaysia under the premiership of YAB Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak and Datin Seri Paduka Rosmah Mansor in her capacity as patron for the Palestinian Aid Donations Drive to issue a statement condemning Israel for the murderous aggression on a peaceful flotilla whose objective is to deliver aid to the beseiged people of Gaza.
7. We call for the UN to convene an emergency assembly to pass a strong resolution against Israel and to summon Israeli leaders to the international court of justice for crime against humanity.
8. We call upon the Malaysians from all walks of life to express their utmost concern of the grave situation and to be ready to respond to any need for action and calls for our support in dealing with the incident.
9. We appeal to all political leaders, NGOs and the Malaysia people to join together in coming to the aid of the volunteers.
10. We also call upon every strata of the society to continue to supplicate and pray for the success of this mission and the safety of the volunteers from further untoward incidence.”

From the heart ...

Good deeds come from the heart. If the heart is sincere in wanting to do something good, it will make the person happy, bringing him joy in giving and helping others.
“Kalau hati itu seperti bulan, jangan biarkan ia gerhana.
Kalau hati itu seperti awan, jangan biarkan ia mendung.
Kalau hati itu seperti air, jangan biarkan ia keruh,” says religious teacher Rujhan Muhamed Razali on the third and final segment of the week’s topic of “The Joy in Giving” live on “Tanyalah Ustaz” programme over TV9 this morning.
Literally, it means if the heart is like the moon or cloud or water, let it not be dark.

As he highlights the importance of good deeds, he quoted a story from a long hadith about a prostitute who was forgiven by Allah (S.W.T) and granted eternal Paradise for helping a thirsty dog.
The woman had came across the dog which was hanging about a well. Sensing the dog was thirsty, she took off her shoe, filled it with water from the well and gave it to the dog.
“If a woman whose work is despised of by society and religion could be forgiven for her good deed, imagine what it would be like for those who are always sincere in helping others,” he said.
To summarise, Rujhan quoted a famous hadith about deeds which we can do that will continue to reward us even after we are gone.
The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) told us: "When the son of Adam dies, all his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, knowledge from which others may benefit after he is gone, and a righteous son who will pray for him." (Muslim)
“The three relates to giving – charity, knowledge and providing a good upbringing for our children,” he said.

The joy in giving ….

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” – Winston Churchill

Sometimes the greatest joy can come from giving something that costs nothing at all. A simple note written with care or teaching others to bake a butter cake can speak volumes.
We’ve often heard that if there is nothing to give, a smile will do.
The topic on the joy of giving was highlighted by the popular talk-show “Tanyalah Ustaz” screened live over TV9 this morning.

Host for the week Rujhan Muhamed Razali, speaking on the topic "Keseronokan Memberi", reminded Muslims that giving reflects our gratitude to Allah for what we have been blessed with.
Many people have this positive quality of sharing and giving. They feel the need to give to others and that makes them feel better than even receiving something.
Rujhan, who frequently quotes the al-Quran and hadith and highlights interesting anecdotes, got me thinking when he posed this question:
“Someone with RM1,000 donates RM1 and another person who only has RM10 also gives out RM1. The amount may be similar but is the value (in giving) the same?”
One of the callers asked him whether time could be regarded as an asset when giving is concerned.
"I have a friend, a well-to-do guy but he has no time for his children…can time be considered a joy for giving?” asked the male caller.
Rujhan agreed that some people found it difficult to allocate time for their family and neighbours, let alone for religious obligations.
“Time is Allah’s gift to everyone – no matter rich or poor, everyone has 24 hours a day…the question is how we manage time,” he said.
He used a traveller as an analogy.
“Imagine after putting his clothes and other items into the travel bag, he finds it difficult to zip it – over packed and no more space.
“However after taking out everything and fold back the clothes and arranging them nicely into the bag, he may find that there are actually enough space for more.
“So, this is what time is – those who say they do not have time for others are the ones who are not able to arrange their clothes properly inside the bag,” said Rujhan.

Only hotel in Malaysia to hold Friday prayers ...

It might still be the only hotel in Malaysia that holds Friday prayers.
But going by the large congregation today, the De Palma Hotel in Ampang would need to expand its surau to cater for the growing numbers.
Located on the third floor, the surau now receives 1,000 people each week for Friday prayers.

Apart from hotel guests and staff, those who perform Friday prayers at the surau are workers from offices and business premises within its vicinity, staff of foreign embassies and a nearby hospital and residents from surrounding areas.
A hotel staff says if not for the public holiday today, the congregation would have been larger.
In October 2008, the De Palma Hotel Ampang became the first hotel in the country to be given the nod to hold Friday prayers at its surau – Surau Nurul Hikmah.
The surau has won the "Best Surau award in the hotel industry" given by the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association.
The hotel employs four full-time imam for the surau. Apart from the five obligatory daily prayers, they handle various religious programmes including tazkirah during lunch time for twice a month, free Quran-reading classes and also tahlil functions.
The surau holds tazkirah, tarawih and Qiamullail functions during the fasting month of Ramadan.
News reports have highlighted about the hotel rebranding itself as a fully syariah compliant business entity.
Some of these include changing of staff uniform for Muslim ladies by subscribing to the appropriate dress code.
The hotel's meeting packages are also syariah-compliant. Meetings start with zam zam water, dates and raisins as snacks.
Meals are prepared in moderation, according to syariah rules.


A hotel staff helps to fold prayer mats after Friday prayers today.

The man who could have been a 'kick-boxer' ...

“Thank you UiTM…Because of you, I am here” -- Prof. Ir. Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar, UiTM Vice- Chancellor

He once dreamt of becoming a ‘kick-boxer’ but Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar ended up being the vice-chancellor of the country’s largest university.
His story has become an inspiration to many youngsters to succeed in life.
Although determined to support his family, his poor SPM result was like a black spot in his early life. It shattered the hopes and aspiration of his mother and family.
Being poor gave him little choice. As the eldest of nine siblings, he decided to forget about school and instead, look for job.
It was nothing new for him though as poverty had forced him to work at the tender age of eight as a part-time sweeper at a barber’s shop.
Unlike other youths, he took the bold step to leave behind his ‘kampung’ and headed to town in search of work.
But it was to be a rough journey and work did not come easy.
The young Sahol became a vagabond.
With his tough physique, he began to train as a fighter and harbour the dream of becoming a ‘kick-boxer’.
It was then that his life began to change when he was approached by a MARA officer who advised him to continue with his studies and forget about his ring dream.
It was to be a different fight for the young man but the sincere advice of the MARA officer left a deep impact on him.
He was certain that education could change the destiny of a wayward youth.
Having made good in life, he will always be thankful of getting the second chance – a new lease of life that has made him what he is now.

Today, as he spoke at the university’s 72nd convocation, Prof Dr Sahol started off with this poignant line:
“UiTM sentiasa di hati.” (UiTM forever in my heart).
He said it not once but twice as the jubilant new graduates cheered loudly.
“To parents who are here, I must apologize for this deafening noise made by them…but as vice-chancellor, I forgive them,” he quipped and again the graduates roared.
He was quick to remind them not to be carried away by their achievement.
“Your journey does not end here, it is only the beginning,” said Dr Sahol.
He pledged that the university would continue to produce professionals of high-calibre to take the country to greater heights.
Some 400,000 have graduated from the university.


He reminded the graduates not to forget the sacrifices of their parents and be prepared to give back to society.
“Tak ada makna jika kita tak tahu bersyukur… ibarat kacang lupakan kulit. Jangan sekali-kali menjadi anak derhaka,” he said.



"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals" -- Zig Ziglar

A non-NATO man ...running for his life!

The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, side-stepping responsibility and pushing their luck! ~Author Unknown


Every morning, Rani will be in his running shoes to sweat himself out at a park in Taman Setiawangsa in the federal capital.
He would jog at least 10 rounds of a 400-metre lap and still find strength for more physical exercise.
The 58 year-old, who now concentrates on multi-level marketing of health and wellness product, does not look his age.
I headed for the park early this morning, after a two-month break, and as expected, saw him there.
He had completed four rounds by then and was raring to go for more.
“My biological age varies from 41 to 65,” he says with a smile.
To him, it is not difficult to keep fit if you are disciplined.
“The important thing is exercise, that is the foundation.”
“You can do whatever you want with your body but without exercise, you won’t be healthy,” he said.
“I make sure that apart from exercise, I have a good sleep, a balanced diet and able to manage stress.
“I just can’t be bluffing myself by not following this four requirements
“After all this is what I’ve been telling my friends.
“I don’t want to be a NATO man – No Action Talk Only, ” he said as he accompanied me for the brisk walk.

*A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time - pills or stairs. ~Joan Welsh

Enriching lives ....

"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down" -- Oprah Winfrey

In our busy lives, we often ignore things which we consider petty but are important to our loved ones.
Sometimes, their habits and their needs could even be annoying when we are drowned in work.
A phone call from a friend may be regarded as disturbance.
We even get upset that they have to call at that very moment.
We forget how important other people are to us and we to them.
“It is a blessing when someone calls us…the more calls, the more blessings we get,” says a friend.
To be really happy, we need others. Being alone has its advantages but not all the time.
Our lives would only be enriched if we can interact with others.
In this inter-connected world, ‘smart partnership’ is a key word.
It is about governments, organisations and people working together for long-term mutual gains so that collectively they help bring about global harmony and co-operative prosperity.
It entails the sharing of experiences and wisdom, adopting a “prosper-thy-neighbour” philosophy and guided by universal value, trust and understanding of one another.
It was in this spirit of 'smart partnership' that a group of officers from the International Division of the Information Communication and Culture Ministry visited the NAM News Network (NNN) this morning to explore areas of collaboration.

The division runs the South-South Information Gateway (SSIG) –- a depository and information exchange centre for countries in the South.
It provides broadcast materials, printed materials, news exchange and organizes seminars and roundtable conferences.
It was set-up following the Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) held in July 1999 to promote “smart partnership” among the South countries.
The SSIG portal www.ssig.gov.my currently registers 615,000 hits a month.

Seeing light at the end of the tunnel …

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak met his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in the island republic today, summing up the outcome as positive for greater collaboration.

"If you are looking for a positive signal, this is it," he told a joint media conference with Lee following their retreat meeting.
He said the many decisions made during the retreat should signify a very positive signal for both sides to engage in more investment, education, trade and greater collaboration between the two countries.
They had met a year ago when they decided not to allow outstanding bilateral issues to be in the way of developing and strengthening bilateral ties.
With that positive mindset, they had achieved much within a year, starting with meetings at various levels of the government to find a common ground.
"And today is quite historic as we see now the light at the end of the tunnel with respect to the outstanding issues that have been lingering for almost 20 years," said Najib.
With what that had been achieved in today's meeting, Najib said he could more or less say that the Points of Agreement (PoA) on Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd land in Singapore should finally be put to rest when Lee meets him in Kuala Lumpur next month.

Malaysia today decided to move the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station to the Woodlands train checkpoint by July 1 next year under the enhanced PoA.
When the PoA was signed by both countries in 1990, Malaysia had agreed to move the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station only to Bukit Timah after five years but it did not materialise.
Najib said the spirit and the political understanding to find a resolution on a mutually beneficial manner so that both countries could benefit from the finalisation of the enhanced PoA agreement had led to the positive result.
The prime minister said the settlement of the enhanced PoA would lead to a better connectivity and flow of people, followed by investment, and goods and services between the two neighbourly countries, linked by a causeway and a bridge.
"We believe that the connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru will be achieved by 2018," said Najib.
Meanwhile, Lee said both countries decided to move forward in their bilateral relationship as they needed to work together in the face of global challenges now with many competitive alternative centres growing in Asia.

He described his meeting with Najib as fruitful as both countries managed to clear issues that had been hanging for almost 20 years. They could now move forward and develop their relationship.
On the water issue, Lee said upon the expiry of the 1961 Water Agreement on July 1 next year, Singapore would hand over the Skudai waterworks to the Johor water authorities free of charge and in good working order.
Singapore has been using the waterworks to extract water from the Skudai river for its water supply.
The city-state has another waterworks in Johor where it is allowed to extract 250 million gallons of water per day (Mgd) from the Johor river based on the 1962 Water Agreement which will only expire in 2061.

(Story and photographs by Bernama)

Be thankful for what we have …

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses" -- French journalist Alphonse Karr (1808-90) known for his caustic commentaries on the events and personalities of the Parisian literary scene.




One thing I gained after watching the movie Shrek Forever After is to appreciate what I have. Never mind about being among the ‘lucky people’ in Malaysia who have seen the movie even before it hit cinemas in most developed countries including the United Kingdom.
The American animated film was released just two days ago in cinemas in the United States and Canada. It is the fourth and final installment in the Shrek movie series.
While some reviews hinted that the latest movie was not as witty as the earlier ones, it is still funnier and more exciting.
I love the scene where Shrek sang “You’ve Got A Friend” when Donkey could not recall who he was.
But one particular line by Shrek that I remember most was when he said: “I didn't know what I had until it's gone”.
Yes, many of us take for granted what we have. More often than not, we only realize its worth when that something is no longer around.
The film depicts Shrek as as an utterly domesticated and completely overwhelmed family man.
There is a crushing, bewildering repetition to his daily life, so much so that he can't even take a mud bath in peace.
As devoted and loving as he is to his wife – Fiona and their three little kids, Shrek misses being the fearsome ogre he once was.
He is looked at by acquaintances and strangers alike as some sort of a sideshow attraction.
Shrek is finally driven to his breaking point during his kids' first birthday party when a pushy dad and his kid badger him to "do the roar."
His explosive outburst causes a scene that mortifies Fiona.
He snaps at her that he wishes things could go back to the way they used to be, when he was the boss of his own life and was left in peace.
And there, ready to make his wish come true is trickster Rumpelstiltskin who sets out to ensnare Shrek in a trap…




With Shrek, Fiona and Donkey at Arbat Street in Moscow in 2007.