Experience & EyeOpener...

Yesterday night was a memorable night for me. I have the opportunity to attend an official award presentation ceremony which is the prestigious Golden Bull Awards(GBA) 2005, held in the Merdeka Hall of Putra Word Trade Center (PWTC). It had been held for the 3^rd consecutive year, and its purpose is to honor and acknowledge 111 Small-Medium Enterprises (SME) for their outstanding performances in various business fields. The event main sponsored is Nanyang Siang Pau. I went there with my dad based on invitation from a close friend of my dad, who was among the top 10 winners of the Golden Bull Award.

Upon reaching the place at 7PM, the hall was already packed with people in suits and ties. The atmosphere of the place was at the grand-est level (well, at least for me because it’s my 1^st time attending an official function). CEO’s, Directors, Managing directors, Managers were everywhere in the hall. My dad friend’s company, Hextar Chemicals Sdn Bhd clinched 6^th placing out of the 111 SMEs that were awarded the Golden Bull award. It was a proud moment for them as I can see the smiles on the faces of all award winners.

At 7.50PM, we were ushered in the hall, and the first highlight of the night was an welcoming act by the hitting of Malay kompang, Chinese drums and Indian Damroo (instruments played during Thaipusam, where it is hung on the shoulder while it is being hit). It was a splendid performance, with the synchronization of all 3 different instruments. The guest of honor for the night is the Minister of Housing and Local Government, Yang Berhormat (YB) Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, which is also MCA president. After acknowledging the arrival of YB Datuk Seri, the emcees for the night took on stage and introduce us to all the VIP’s who attended the ceremony, among others the chairman of Nanyang Siang Pau, Organizing chairman of GBA 2005, etc…etc…There was an introduction about the history and significance of the GDB projected on the big screen, just that it is not the wide screen type like those in the cinema.

After the arrival of the VIP’s, dinner was served. While we were enjoying our course, there were performances depicting the five elements of nature, Metal, Water, Fire, Wood, and Earth. Each element was portrayed through a dance and a rendition of two songs. It was a totally different concept altogether, from metal, to earth. I have strong thoughts that those performers came from Istana Budaya. Hmmmm…

After the performances and the dinner, there came the time for speeches…. First on stage was the OC for the event, then came the chairman of Nanyang Siang Pau, then some CEO made it on stage, and last but not least, YB Datuk Seri went up and gave his motivational and inspirational speech. He spoke in English, then went on relating his experiences in mandarin, where according to him, during his recent trip to China with the DPM, he went and visit a multinational company there, and what amazed him was that the officers there spoke to him in English,, though he was a Chinese and they were in China. He continued saying that globalization has taken effect, and he urges all SMEs to work hard and to compete in international market. A short content of his speach is found here, as reported by The Star. I was encouraged by his speech, and was motivated further when he challenged all SME award winners to be listed on the main board of KLSE.

Then after that, the main highlight of the night began. A total of one hundred and one(111) companies, represented by their respective directors and CEO’s received their Golden Bull Award for excellence from YB Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, who was guest of honor at the event. It was indeed a joyous moment for the award recipients, with the broad smiles across their face; with hundreds of camera lights flashing towards the stage; with dozens of lights shining everywhere; with music blasting away; with the sound of applauses reverberating in the hall; with the air conditioning so cold (hehehe) ….wow… I wish I was one of them on stage too (Perasan ya??)

After everything was over, it’s already 11.30PM. the moment the emcee said good night, everybody run to their respective company’s head for a photo session. The place, which was already packed when we were sitting, became even ‘pack-ier’ with people moving around, and some climbing on chairs to grab a shot. We headed to the exit, and after shooting a few shots with my dad’s friend, we head back home, and sleep happily ever after… J

The End

The Reason - Part 2

The Reason - Part 1

Through all that had happen
it happened for a reason
still there are lots of it
that makes our life incomplete

Frustrations leads to anger
anger leads to agitation
still there are lots of reasons
as to why it happens

Jealousy, hatred, and lust
versus
Joy, hope, and just
you have a reason to live
make it interesting to your relief

There are things which can't be understood
still there ought to be reason why is it so
try or do, you would
to make life a better place to grow

Extreme Selfish Behavior (ESB)

On Thursday morning while I was on my way to work, I came across what I describe as “Extreme Selfish Behavior” (ESB). I wondered whether these groups of people deserved to be hanged if their ESB causes death/immobility to others.

it happened on that day, when I took the LRT from Kelana Jaya station to the STAR LRT interchange station at 7.10AM. Usually I traveled to work with my colleague, but then today he was away for client side consulting, so I took the train alone.

*Ding... Next station, Kerinchi* after a minute or so… *Ding door open* and as usual, throngs of people start rushing in the train, so does the people going out from the train. I was sitting in the train, reading the papers. I noticed that among the group of people coming in, there was a pregnant lady coming in. She was carrying her handbag, and was walking slowly. She seemed to be around 4-5 months pregnant, judging by the looks (I didn’t ask her ok?) She came in, and was force to stand in front of another lady (race withheld). There were 7 people sitting (8 including me) and she was standing

*Ding door closed* the train started to moved, and the pregnant lady swayed to her left and right, for the train was accelerating. The lady sitting in front of her was still staring at the pregnant woman, occasionally shifting her focus to the left and right, and so do the rest of the people sitting. My heart was burning with anger, for these people don’t even know what is the meaning of “Reserved Seats” Right above the seats where the pregnant lady was facing is the sign (when translated to English) that says “ These seats are reserved for the people with special needs, the elderly, and PREGNANT woman" (notice that I bold the word PREGNANT). After about 20-30 seconds without anybody giving way for the pregnant woman, Being a caring soul I am (compare to the 7 sitting people WHO ARE NOT), I got up and kindly offered my seat to the lady. She thanked me and sat down. The sitting lady looked up at me, and then quickly turned her face away. Several other people looked at me too, and one of them gave me a nod. I felt happy and joyous at that moment, and I thank The Lord for the prompting in my heart that was so strong. i am not braggging about my caringness, but i was irked by those people with ESB. I was really P***ed off.

*Ding…Next station, KL Sentral..* I was standing now in the train, with 2 bags hanging on my shoulder, and by now the people in the train were pushing and adjusting their standing position. *Ding…Door Open* and people were pushing and shoving their way out, as if the train will leave at the next second it stopped. There was a blind lady walking slowly into the train, with just a walking stick guiding her . She bang into a man inside the train, and he looked at her, and ( I assume) seeing that she is blind, he looked away the next instant. She walked towards the opposite side where I was standing, right where the pregnant woman once stood a few minutes ago, but on the opposite side.

* Ding…Door closed * and the train started it’s journey along the tracks. Out of the 8-9 people sitting that saw her, NO ONE stood up and gave way for her to seat, Oh Heavens, what have we become? Why do people just think of themselves, and not willing to even give up their seats for the blind, and the pregnant? There may be excuses that they have to sit and wait, for the station where they disembark is still a long way off, but C’mon, Don’t tell me you will die if you were to stand and give the seat to the needy? Don’t tell me that you will loose 1 million dollars for helping the under-privilege people? MAN, this is outrageous… Media of all sorts have been reminding us that we should be courteous and helpful when it comes to these kinds of situations, what more with the BIG sign above the seats telling us to give up our seats when there are special group of people onboard. WHEN WILL THESE PEOPLE LEARN? WHY ARE THEY SO SELLFISH?

When I got down from Masjid Jamek, I was so sad for the blind lady who got on at KL Sentral. I was thinking to myself, where is she getting off…. As I got up the escalator, I saw another blind man walking with a cane down the escalator. OH…I hope that the passengers on the next incoming train will be kind and courteous. I am appalled at how Malaysian fares in term of kindness shown. I’ve heard some foreign tourist commenting on how kind Malaysian are, from the hotel bellboys to the cab drivers, but I feel sorry to let them down when it comes to giving up seats for the needy. Why talk of donating hundreds of dollars to help the poor, where they can’t even offer a portion of kindness? Why talk of “Caring Malaysian”, where a pregnant lady/blind woman has to stand in front of you who are sitting? Why bother dressing up nicely, where we can’t see other people walking with a stick?

Please comment here if you have experienced situation like the above. People with ESB should be severely punished. These are intolerable….

People Need The Lord

To see the world so much in termoil now; To see the flood victims of New Orleans pleading their hearts out to caring souls; To see the rising of Crude oil prices around the world, To see news of bomb scare/suicide bombers featured all over the media, To see people all around the world suffering from hunger/thirst/homelessness/...etc...etc... My heart cries out to all these people, whose wish to the world are simple, which is CARE & LOVE. Why is it so hard for well-off people/nation to fulfill their wishes?

People Need The Lord - Steve Green

Everyday they pass me by,
I can see it in their eye.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?

On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize --  people need the Lord?

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What would be too great a cost
For sharing Life with one who's lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the Words of Life
Only we can share.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize that we must give our lives,
For people need the Lord.
People need the Lord.