Celebrating Our 51st National Day on 31st August!!!

The flag of Malaysia also known as the Jalur Gemilang ("Stripes of Glory"), comprises a field of 14 alternating red and white stripes canton bearing a crescent and a 14-point star known as the Bintang Persekutuan or Federal Star. The 14 stripes, of equal width, represent the equal status in the federation of the States of Malaysia 13 member states and the federal government, while the 14 points of the star represent the unity between these entities. Star and crescent represents Islam, the country's official religion; the yellow of the star and crescent is the royal colour of the Malay rulers. The red of the stripes stands for the bloodshed to earn independence. The white stands for the people and economy of Malaysia.

The first flag of independent Malaya was based on the Stars and Stripes of the United States, combined with Islamic symbolism. It had 11 red and white stripes and a blue canton, like the US flag, with a gold crescent and an eleven-pointed star, traditionally associated with Islam. Both the number of stripes and points on the star denoted the 11 states of the Federation.

In 1963 three new states- Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak- joined the Federation of Malaysia. To reflect this the flag was amended to 14 red and white stripes representing the 14 states. When Singapore seceded in 1965, the flag remained unaltered. The fourteenth stripe is now said to stand for the federal district of Kuala Lumpur. The blue canton represents the unity of the Malaysian people. The crescent is for Islam, the dominant religion. The 14 points of the star are for unity among the states of the country. Yellow is the traditional color of the rulers of the Malay states. Red and white are also traditional colors in Southeast Asia.

Ready for Puasa

Ramadhan will commence on 1st September 2008. So be prepared for the month's rituals....

It's my 2nd visit to MAHA2008!

Calling allold friends, come and visit this expo. Very infomative and this is my second visit there. Seeing is believing can tell you in words. Meet few friends there and maybe another visit before 23rd.

The learning never stops........!

Learning through sharing from many other organizations and the opportunity to gain valuable ideas from a world-class is an opportunity that I wouldn't miss. Overall, for me, I am happy with what have been delivered by Martin. In fact it was almost customized to what I had in mind. Maybe, I did not put high expectations prior coming here beside taking "a break" from the chaotic stress. But, at Day 1, things changed. I was sitting and listening and evaluating what I am actually doing at my workplace, the methodology, the tools, there were all here. I found time past fast and in the afternoon I was still ok and so was the next day.
Really, it was meeting with new friends and telling me "Joe, this is how to can move forward!" Doesn't that look like friends; backing me up, motivating me and assuring me? I think this is the best way for us to reward ourselves by having peace of mind from our normal business as usual tasks, apart from gaining new knowledge.

For the friendships, thanks from me.

More of the story......

There were already few passengers or rather customers, businesses used to refer us as, Arabs, Indians and mostly Malaysians. Boarding time was 15 minutes before departure. I was there earlier, by 45 minutes . Free coffee and tea served at The Corrus's coffee house, Jalan Ampang (used to be The Ming Court), the hotel designated for the KL pick-up and drop points for this coach company.

I took my coffee, black as usual and a dash of sugar to kill the bitterness. You'll have to order for other bites but anyway, I was already filled-up earlier that morning. Me and my wife, Jamilah had our roti canai at the mamak's restaurant near the Salak Tinngi ERL station. The immigration boarding form was handed to be by the coach staff to be filled. Most of time for things like this, Jamilah volunteered to do this for me. She have nice handwritings. My part, I just put my signature down. Saw the coach opened the baggage compartment and it's door. So this is it.

The two-decker have good legs space and wide leather seat. The aisle sandwiched by single seats and double seats on the upper deck. I really don't know the total seats altogether. The lower deck is just like the family room! 3 double seaters making a 'U' facing the coach's pantry. A washroom is available only for 'light' usage. For heavy users you have to inform the stewardess (beautiful girl with eyes like those of a baby camel), and the coach will stop at the next R&R along the highway.

At 10.04 am, the coach rolled out and cruised all the way. It was easily doing 100 km per hour or more but it is comfortable with a very controlled way of driving. A moment after the introductory announcement by baby camel eyes, we were served with sandwich, swiss roll and croissant in transparent packet. A hot drink of few choices like tea, coffee or chocolate followed. Suddenly the front ceiling popped and a LCD played a cartoon movie. There were also children on-board. No jams and weather is fine, no bumps and it makes you feel sleepy. With shades shifted to block the morning shine, I stole the moments to take my nap.

The only stopped made was at Pagoh R&R at 12.22 noon. I strolled to the R&R to get my blood flowing went to the washrooms have my face washed and I am back rejuvenated! 20 minutes gone and we are back on our way. At 3pm all formality for border crossings both at the Malaysian and Singaporean complexes were over. No hassals, with plenty of counters for all and continued the journey into the city to the drop off point at Harbour Front Center and at 3.30pm, I have my feet on Singapore's ground.

Cab was not a problem in city like Singapore. The trip to the M Hotel was only SIN$7.00. With earlier bookings done for the room and peace in mind, I have my rest first before I look for another meal and be fresh at the seminar in the same hotel the next day.
My recommendations; If you are in no hurry, this will be your choice of transportation. Till then, see you all again here.

Packed and Ready to go...

This my second bus journey to Tumasik. It's the ancient name for Singapore. The first one was I remembered with my family just before Christmas of 2007. It was fun I thought. So I am taking the same mode for my seminar trip there. Air travel was the alternative, but I choose this because, I can see more and at ground level!

RM160 for a round trip with no refund policy. Once you confirmed , that is, your tickets will be curved in stones, just like the Flintstones era! That is the only drawback. Pick-up and drop-down point is right in the middle of where everything is available. No problem both KL or SIN.

I am trying out with a different bas now. Just want to see the difference and one thing I want to say now is that this cost less RM10 from the former that I have used. But, let see the other services available.

So be leaving on the 6/8 and coming back 9/8. See you again then.

Good work! For the touchup!

Finally, as promised the workshop told me my car is ready for collection. Just about a week after the collision, I think that is pretty quick. But I was at first sceptical about the job quality. With a little adjustments before I left the workshop in Senawang, I am satified with the outcomes. No hassle on the paperworks between the workshop and the insurance. Well, best is, the headache is gone!

I know what I did, last Friday!

Friday, 7.30 am, I was in the ERL, on my way to the office. Suddenly, my hp rang. My wife told me she has met with an accident at the junction after my grandson's primary school. I exactly knew where the location was and many time have always thought that this junction if accident should happen it will happen here! Told my wife what to do and asked here to pick me up at the ERL station at Salak Tinggi.

Knowing police report can be lodge within 24 hours we went straight to the government clinic where the F5 boy was sent by the bystander. His thaigh was torn, I think, the clinic cannot do the sewing so he has to be sent to the PutraJaya Hospital. So his parent sent him there, whilst me and my wife went to his school to get letter for the admission purposes. So all was well for the boy, he was sawn and he need not stays in the hospital. Just as an out patient instead. That settled then.

Now the police report. Immediately we went to the IPD Sepang and lodge the accident report. After taking the report by the police officer at the counter, my wife then met the sargent for an interview, but then was asked to go to the site where the accident happened. It was already 10.50 then. So we did, and saw them taking photos of the junctions. I guessed there must have a lot of photo of the junctions, anyway! Then issued my wife a ticket, what we used to say the compound fine which cost RM300.00.

So I got the report and I contacted my insurance agent. Told me to meet him at his office that afternoon. The right headlamp, the bumper, the side underguard were history. I need the insurance to cover these. After the Friday prayer, went to Seremban then the panel workshop for the insurance in Senawang. 10 days they promised me.

So that was it..how I spent the whole of Friday last week!

Exit Plans..

Hello everyone. Age is catching up fast and retirement will be in about 5 - 6 years more and is, if you are still around. We never know, this is the best time for us to know each other, communicate and provide updates.

Now about exit plan, James has something down already way before any retirement, and he is not retiring anyway and it is just maintenance of his customers. Some friends from Melaka called me up to join her with something like what James did. But, just to tell you all that I never have once succeeded in any DS thing. So I dare not go into that line. I told James about this but James excelled in what he is doing.

I guess I need to find the inner strength, my part which I have yet to explore. To be useful to the community, my family and myself when I retire.

Colleagues, what are your plans? Let shares and maybe can help us making some decisions here....

It is Friday! Have a nice weekend everyone!

...but before that....

It has been a very busy week. Like those schooldays, we thought it is wonderful to have job and be someone in control. Having a job is a must and having a life is must! Now, I have a job but no life! Things have been running so fast and there are many things to be done and fast and quick. Suddendly a week is already over!

Pity the working team! The grey hairs seem to be coming but slowly. Organiser and calenders are overlappings and this morning 3 workstreams working groups and in the afternoon with the management. Am I in control? I am still finding ways to best overcome this, like I can say "no" to some but what will be the consequences..I am pondering, pondering and pondering...

Sorry, just getting over the day frustration on this blog so that I can come home forgetting it but not the ponderings!

So it is time to pack up things and leave this office and to be with my family looking for that missing life...!

Have a nice weekend, everyone!

Steve is in town...

Lovely morning (dawn) here in Nilai, yesterday 29June. Woke up at 5am, took an early bath and straight to the airport. Steve is on the way! Upon arrival, nothing from Brisbane except Melbourne at 6.12 am, landing the display screen said. My watch showed time now was 5.50am. Best I do my morning prayer first at the airport murshola. Once again I went to the international arrival, still nothing from Brisbane! Theb someone came up to me.."you are Johari?". That is, after 30 years or more, I heard and saw See Chow in front of me! We were colleagues at work before same unit same department. His flight was rescheduled to land at 5.05am! But anyway here they are See Chow, his wife Babarra and his daughter! Took them to KL to their hotel after stopping for a Malaysian breakfast near my house in Nilai.

Salam and Hello All again and away again..

Lydia, Jijah, Misnah and James and the everyone! I went through your conversation s very fast each day and smiled and will be smilling always. I can imagine how you guys given the chance be together again, like the 70's!!

Nevertheless, the current situation is still lingering in the minds of the public and stories are beginning to be openning here and there, SAPP, TNB. Khazanah, Chicken, MIC, ex PM, Hindraf, Correctcorrectcorrect, Petronas ( sorry Eki, Misnah) etc.. These are diversions. They are meant to be "good" for public unrest. To bring our minds to focus other things.

What have been decided cannot be "undecided" so they says. But some dares them that policies aren't curved on stones! And Isaac Newton failed to see this concept of "what goes up will go down" - gravity! Hahahaha! Nevertheless, this is economic with a mix of politics flavour! Can never blame Newton on this! So the stories till now, still goes on looking for the scrap goat! The one who really is causing to feel this headache! Someone had to be the scrap goat, I believe, then, everything can be settled. This unwrtten law still apply even if we live in cities and are civilized! So we wait, but mean time, do your best to curb overspending and save here and there.

Lydia, like myself, best to take public transport but don't sacrifies safety. Try flexi hours..clock in late clock out late...

Well guys all the best and enjoy your self. I will be slience again for the next 3 days! I am taking off to Bandung this morning and will be back on 28!

Here is another headache!

As long as thing gets done, it is OK!

Sometimes you are puzzled..how things jusy crossed your paths with humuor..and be thankful that you are still thinking about it! Enjoy the snap shots!

HIGH COST OF LIVING.

With the recent announcement of petrol increase, and yet our PM is very happy to say that our Malaysian petrol is STLL one of the lowest priced within this Asia region... why do we all Malaysian citizens have to grumble about on the price hike...?

There are a lot of things we should not complain about on the present Government.

The very simply reason why I am saying that is because:

THE DAY THAT YOU PUT A CROSS OR A TICK IN THE "WEIGHT BALANCE -TIMBANG SYMBOL" BOX, YOU HAVE ALREADY PR-APPROVED ALL THIER FUTURE DOINGS.

So those who had voted for Barang Naik (BN) should all be clapping hands and nodding their heads for any commodities price increase. This is just a simple way to tell you that they are just carrying out all your preapprovals. SO PLEASE DO NOT COMPLAIN..!!!!

Oh yes, if you do complain..... i guess at present, you might have to talk to the walls. NO EARS, NO WORRY...!!!

Comparing Apple to Apple; that is what we used to say but......

...there are always excuses, now we have to bare. Now everyone has to understand that what goes out must be replaced, but the replacement cannot be one-off! That is briebery for saying yes to robbery! Will there be a sincere replacement? Or have we got to shoulder the burden?

The retailers can have their sales price increased to cover the cost. Salary earners and those in the same categories need to have different solutions. Some that are playing in my mind;-

• - Companies can have their corporate tax reduces by them subsidiing their employees on their transportaion allowances. This is non-taxable.
• - We need to start with virtual office for some categories of services or sales
• - Cheaper and better public transportation isut a must.

But then there will be problems with groceries...

• - Make your own gardens
• - Grow vegs instead of flowers

Some need high level decisions some are withingy our means, but if do some I am sure it can help during hard times like this.

Joe B. Lee and family...

Joseph, one of the sport boys of the yester years. Football was his favorite. I still remember buying chewing gums or bubble gums with football skill wrappings! And we discussed the tactics together and tried that practically. Well, of course his family are all football savvy! Plus, discussions with Mr. Peter Fam and Cikgu Johari (our teacher & Buccaneers Football Club, Miri).
Now, I guess, those will be inherited by his generations..!

Nice to see your family here, Joe!

To Our Iban Friends Near or Far...Selamat Hari Gawai..

"WHO I AM MAKES A DIFFERENCE" Campaign..

NOTE: For this, I am passing this blue ribbon to all of you for the everlasting friendships and experiences you have shared with me. You did make the differences! THANK YOU!!!