Being the Secretary of Blog House Malaysia, I was tasked to coordinate and manage the organising of the 1st Malaysia-ASEAN Regional Bloggers Conference held recently.
The event was organised by Blog House Malaysia, a newly formed NGO which aims to protect bloggers, and I merely acted as the main coordinator in my capacity.
A big thank you goes out firstly to the Sponsors, without which, our event would not have been successful. They are (In no particular order) Petronas, Sime Darby, TM, Maxis, Yes, Felda, and Scomi wo worked tirelessly with our Sponsorship Manager - Nina to iron out branding and representation.
Our ASEAN participants from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam really appreciated our efforts, and has since returned to their country.
(The KL Consensus that was reached has now been posted up by another committee member, Eric Woon in the ASEAN bloggers official site)
To sum it up, the committee worked well and cooperated efficiently to make the best of the short time we had. And it would also not have worked so well without the team of Coordinators and assistants to help out with the details, registration, travel, transfers, etc. Thanks to Ewa Zaghlol and her friends!
To our suppliers who probably beat the world record in getting 400 delegate folders, thank you to Syarikat Perniagaan Klasik's Mr Hee and Olivia, Betty from Orange Holiday World, Johnson Koh of Digiscan as well as Colin Hew of Samsung, who was ever so accommodating with our last minute requests.
And how casual and pleasant was the atmosphere even with our VVIPs, YAB PM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak & Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Tun Dr Mahatir Mohamad and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, which contributed immensely to the engagement betwen bloggers and YAB PM during the Question and Answers sessions. A very sincere thanks to those from PMO and PLF for your cooperation.
And it would not have been so memorable without a security breach! So thanks to that man with many aliases in the Ihram for creating some excitement amidst the casual atmosphere.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
ETP breathes new life to Sundry shops
Carrefour Malaysia CEO Stephane Deutsch speaking to Liew Nyuk Ching, owner-operator of Jong Chiap Mao Kedia RuncitFor more than 30 years, this nondescript sundry shop has been serving the local community in Bau.
Kedai Runcit Jong Chiap Mao was recently bought over by current owner-operator Mdm Liew Nyuk Ching.
Like most small business owners, Mdm Liew knew that she had to invest in change, but in a small town with limited capacity for capital returns, she had harboured hope that her business can grow with times.
And when she heard about 'TUKAR' (sundry Shop Transformation Programme), she did not hesitate to make the call for help. TUKAR is a programme in of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) of the Najib Administration. Under the programme, major hypermarket operators such as Carrefour are roped in to assist in the transformation of small business operators.
With TUKAR, Jong Chiap Mao opened its doors to the public on April 8th, and thanks largely to the direct involvement of Carrefour personnel who helped in providing vital assistance to Mdm Liew in excuting the change in her little shop.
That change was very noticeable to her customers, and with programmes like these, the ETP can be felt on the ground, in faraway places such as Bau.
Stephane Deutsch is the new CEO of Carrefour Malaysia and he took great pains to make the trip to Bau, to see for himself how giants like Carrefour can help small businesses like Jong Chiap.
In a state like Sarawak, major players like Carrefour may not get the volume of business that it requires in urban areas, but with synergies like this, the hypermarket operator can still achieve a wider cast of its network thanks to Tukar.
From an announcement that it was selling its operations in Asia sometime last year to extending help through the NKEA and ETP, Carrefour is certainly making inroads to small business operators like Jong Chiap and contribute to the greater good for Malaysia. (source:Oh Ing Yeen - The Star Sarawak)
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Vultures seen in Kuala Lumpur!
Now, how often is it that you see these cadaver loving creatures in the tropics?
It was certainly a tragic untimely death of a 56 year old, but let investigators take their cue and finish up before anyone jumps to any conclusion.
The late Ahmad Sarbani was a suspect that was already released on bail, hence questions like 'Died in custody of MACC' or simply 'during investigations' are simply misleading.
Even before his funeral, Vultures that morphed in the form of Ronnie Liu and Gobind Singh were already seeking representation for the family. Be it good intentions or not, only these people can tell you.
Yet, as these were developing, the Port Klang Customs office in which the late Ahmad Sarbani had served was reported to have 'slowed' down their processing upon hearing the death of Ahmad. That in turn angered the many freight forwarding agents which made matters worst.
I am of the view that these officers of the Royal Customs be reprimanded and given show cause letters why they should not be terminated. In fact, this issue must be brought up in the Selangor State Assembly. Port Klang has always been a vital gateway for the country, and if we have people like this serving their bosses rather than the country, then something is rather wrong with the picture, whatmore when it was revealed that in some cases the entire department was on the take!
Siasat! Jangan tak siasat!
In my humble opinion, MACC is doing what it is supposed to do.......who next MACC? Boys in blue?
It was certainly a tragic untimely death of a 56 year old, but let investigators take their cue and finish up before anyone jumps to any conclusion.
The late Ahmad Sarbani was a suspect that was already released on bail, hence questions like 'Died in custody of MACC' or simply 'during investigations' are simply misleading.
Even before his funeral, Vultures that morphed in the form of Ronnie Liu and Gobind Singh were already seeking representation for the family. Be it good intentions or not, only these people can tell you.
Yet, as these were developing, the Port Klang Customs office in which the late Ahmad Sarbani had served was reported to have 'slowed' down their processing upon hearing the death of Ahmad. That in turn angered the many freight forwarding agents which made matters worst.
I am of the view that these officers of the Royal Customs be reprimanded and given show cause letters why they should not be terminated. In fact, this issue must be brought up in the Selangor State Assembly. Port Klang has always been a vital gateway for the country, and if we have people like this serving their bosses rather than the country, then something is rather wrong with the picture, whatmore when it was revealed that in some cases the entire department was on the take!
Siasat! Jangan tak siasat!
In my humble opinion, MACC is doing what it is supposed to do.......who next MACC? Boys in blue?
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Nothing conspicuous about this!
So, just as the socio-politicos of the country focus their everything on the day candidates file the nominations in Sarawak, a suspect who had just given his statement to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission chose to focus on how he would want to have the last laugh.
Thesuspect, believed to be a Deputy Director of Customs based in Port Klang was earlier arrested on 1st of April at around 1pm from his office was taken in to MACC for questioning and was released on the 2nd of April at around 12.30 on bail.
This was believed to be part of the investigation in to the syndicate that had seen a nation wide crackdown on what has been rampant in the customs department. So rampant it was that most were applauding the move that had finally come after years of complaints.
But to this suspect, it was clear that he had other things in mind, because despite being released (normally, those who are released will prefer to look for their lawyer and start preparing their defense based on what they remembered about their statements, and how their lawyers would then cajole them to remember details like how the MACC officer hit hims, and made him stand up shirtless, or even hit him on the knuckles with a ruler, stuff like that), this suspect chose to return to the MACC office in Jalan Cochrane, and asked to see the investigation officer today (6th of April) at around 830am. WHilst waiting there, he was accompanied by an officer who had placed him in a waiting room.
At around 10:15 am, the officer left to find for the Investigation Officer who had been in an enagagement, and returned three minutes later to find the suspect missing, and upon inspection found that he had chosen to exit the building via the window.
It is pretty disturbing to find yet another suicide by a MACC suspect, but this time around thankfully it is not an investigation into any political fugure! Otherwise, it would have been certainly politicised!
What we do know that it was certainly no April fools joke when the suspect was arrested on the 1st of April, and his death though tragic cannot be pointed to MACC.
Why? Because by doing so would certainly encourage more wrongdoers to ignore the perils.
So the next time you want to break the law, and if the law catches up with you, find the nearest window ledge if you want to have the last laugh!
Thesuspect, believed to be a Deputy Director of Customs based in Port Klang was earlier arrested on 1st of April at around 1pm from his office was taken in to MACC for questioning and was released on the 2nd of April at around 12.30 on bail.
This was believed to be part of the investigation in to the syndicate that had seen a nation wide crackdown on what has been rampant in the customs department. So rampant it was that most were applauding the move that had finally come after years of complaints.
But to this suspect, it was clear that he had other things in mind, because despite being released (normally, those who are released will prefer to look for their lawyer and start preparing their defense based on what they remembered about their statements, and how their lawyers would then cajole them to remember details like how the MACC officer hit hims, and made him stand up shirtless, or even hit him on the knuckles with a ruler, stuff like that), this suspect chose to return to the MACC office in Jalan Cochrane, and asked to see the investigation officer today (6th of April) at around 830am. WHilst waiting there, he was accompanied by an officer who had placed him in a waiting room.
At around 10:15 am, the officer left to find for the Investigation Officer who had been in an enagagement, and returned three minutes later to find the suspect missing, and upon inspection found that he had chosen to exit the building via the window.
It is pretty disturbing to find yet another suicide by a MACC suspect, but this time around thankfully it is not an investigation into any political fugure! Otherwise, it would have been certainly politicised!
What we do know that it was certainly no April fools joke when the suspect was arrested on the 1st of April, and his death though tragic cannot be pointed to MACC.
Why? Because by doing so would certainly encourage more wrongdoers to ignore the perils.
So the next time you want to break the law, and if the law catches up with you, find the nearest window ledge if you want to have the last laugh!
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
O-me-gate
I guess, you must have already seen it by now.
That video that the Trio put out has hit youtube (at least 10 times and it was removed soon after it was put up, and funnily enough CSL's tape that was up 3years ago is still up!), so I guess Anwar's boys must have been really busy all night sending remove request and violation request.
In a press conference earlier which was held by Wan Azizah, Karpal Singh, Nurul Izzah and Khalid Ibrahim at Anwar's house in Segambut Dalam (in which Utusan and TV3 were reportedly banned from attending), Wan Azizah had reasserted that the man in the video was not her husband.
When a reporter from Agenda Daily asked about the Omega watch that was reported earlier to be in her safe possession, she replied that it was still with her.
Pressed on by other reporters to show the watch (presumably because the press conference was held in the house), Wan Azizah retorted that 'you are not a prosecutor (awak bukan pendakwa)'.
The PC was then called to an abrupt end.
This was confirmed by a journalist who had attended the same pc.
I can't help but view the video over and over again. I am just curious of the following;
1. Why is it that the easiest way to prove that the TRIO had ill intentions by simply showing the watch in question was not taken in the first place?
2. After all those police reports, wouldn't it be much easier to just show the watch and then say 'now you saw my watch, take down the serial number, go get a subpoena to Omega and find out where it was sold and to who it was given' and now go get those lying bastards, all three of them?
3. Do you believe that you have an exact lookalie somewhere out there?
4. If Monica Lewinski's name was only mentioned because Paula Jones had instituted legal proceedings against Bill Clinton for a sexual harassment case, then would getting the China Doll really identify the culprit?
5. Why is it that we are all so prepared to ignore evidence and claim it as doctored even before seeing it, and now after seeing it, so quick to say that is doctored, fixed, conspiracy, and more importantly not him?
6. Could it be you fear god so much that since he is god's gift that you cannot bring yourself to admit that it really could be him?
Of course, these are my thoughts.
My doubts about Anwar had been cleared long ago after meeting him, in a session that some bloggers had asked him about what and why. His body language then had both shown his humility yet his ability to skirt around certain topics convinced me more that he is capable of telling you only what he wants you to know.
There are 3 people who can actually tell the truth about the video. All three of them in it. Anything else is hearsay (or shall I say see-say?)
Whichever you want to look at it, because of the similarities of the man in the video, and the man who wishes to become the next prime minister, it becomes even more important for them to disprove it by simply showing the Omega watch (the easiest way to disprove), because its no longer his reputation that is at stake (wat reputation?), its the Rakyat and the Rakyat has the right to know why the man who wants to lead their country is not the man everyone claims he is to be (except for his family, which even 40 or more so of his friends had dispelt!)
That video that the Trio put out has hit youtube (at least 10 times and it was removed soon after it was put up, and funnily enough CSL's tape that was up 3years ago is still up!), so I guess Anwar's boys must have been really busy all night sending remove request and violation request.
In a press conference earlier which was held by Wan Azizah, Karpal Singh, Nurul Izzah and Khalid Ibrahim at Anwar's house in Segambut Dalam (in which Utusan and TV3 were reportedly banned from attending), Wan Azizah had reasserted that the man in the video was not her husband.
When a reporter from Agenda Daily asked about the Omega watch that was reported earlier to be in her safe possession, she replied that it was still with her.
Pressed on by other reporters to show the watch (presumably because the press conference was held in the house), Wan Azizah retorted that 'you are not a prosecutor (awak bukan pendakwa)'.
The PC was then called to an abrupt end.
This was confirmed by a journalist who had attended the same pc.
I can't help but view the video over and over again. I am just curious of the following;
1. Why is it that the easiest way to prove that the TRIO had ill intentions by simply showing the watch in question was not taken in the first place?
2. After all those police reports, wouldn't it be much easier to just show the watch and then say 'now you saw my watch, take down the serial number, go get a subpoena to Omega and find out where it was sold and to who it was given' and now go get those lying bastards, all three of them?
3. Do you believe that you have an exact lookalie somewhere out there?
4. If Monica Lewinski's name was only mentioned because Paula Jones had instituted legal proceedings against Bill Clinton for a sexual harassment case, then would getting the China Doll really identify the culprit?
5. Why is it that we are all so prepared to ignore evidence and claim it as doctored even before seeing it, and now after seeing it, so quick to say that is doctored, fixed, conspiracy, and more importantly not him?
6. Could it be you fear god so much that since he is god's gift that you cannot bring yourself to admit that it really could be him?
Of course, these are my thoughts.
My doubts about Anwar had been cleared long ago after meeting him, in a session that some bloggers had asked him about what and why. His body language then had both shown his humility yet his ability to skirt around certain topics convinced me more that he is capable of telling you only what he wants you to know.
There are 3 people who can actually tell the truth about the video. All three of them in it. Anything else is hearsay (or shall I say see-say?)
Whichever you want to look at it, because of the similarities of the man in the video, and the man who wishes to become the next prime minister, it becomes even more important for them to disprove it by simply showing the Omega watch (the easiest way to disprove), because its no longer his reputation that is at stake (wat reputation?), its the Rakyat and the Rakyat has the right to know why the man who wants to lead their country is not the man everyone claims he is to be (except for his family, which even 40 or more so of his friends had dispelt!)
Sunday, April 03, 2011
1st Malaysian-ASEAN Regional Bloggers Conference
UPDATE: 19 April 2011GREeeeeeatttttt news! Hurry with your registration and stand to win a Samsung Galaxy Tab!
Every 100th participant will win a Samsung Galaxy Tab!
A Q&A session with YAB Prime Minister is also on the cards!
Hurry! email now to register1marbc@gmail.com for your form now!!
__________________________________________________________________
Finally! After months of preparation, the 1stMARBC will be on!
A first in Malaysia bringing together bloggers from within the region, the conference aims to get bloggers to share their platform.
Set to take place on 23rd & 24th April 2011, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, the conference will be in two parts. The first being a regional workshop where regional bloggers will work on the 'KL Declaration' and the second part, a one day conference and session by corporate partners and regional speakers.
for more information, you may send an email to register1marbc@gmail.com or keep posted at www.bloghousemalaysia.com
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