KDU 1 Malaysia Charity Run

After lapse of 3 weeks I'm running in this competition. Although I was just training for 5km, this tournament was a good tournament to show whats my fitness level.

Ronnie called me and I agreed for it since it's just 5km. Then he said that there will be 4 of us in the team which will be Ronnie, Stanley, Wern Tien and myself. I taught it's going to be a relay. Then I realised it's going to be mass start, and they will calculate the average timing.

There were only four teams in our category and Pacemakers send 2 teams including my team. The flag off suppose to be at 7am but they started damn late at 8.15pm. They dragged the event by having Taekwondo show, senamrobik and speeches.

Upon flagging off, Ronnie started the pace and lead the racing pack followed by Stanley, wern Tien and myself. I paced them till the midway point.

Suddenly the drama started. I started having ache at both my calf. It's like pulling me and I was feeling that it could burst. This made me to slow but couldn't slow that much as the next team which is Pacemakers Team 2 lead by Chen Pong Pong was just meters behind me.

I just told my self that I'm not going to quit and paced behind stanley by 50M behind. Though the sun was striking but, it didn't stop us from finishing with a bang.

When I saw the finishing line, I just pushed myself and went to Red Cross straight for treatment.

During the price giving ceremony, the individual runners were getting Champagne bottle (Halal one), but we didn't receive anything since we are in the team event. Damn, I told the organising committee person, that we also worked equally hard as the other runners.

When we received the medal, It remembered me my school medal which is in plastic and ribbon strap. Damn, really cheapskate medal although I paid RM25.

No proper drinks or refreshments. Whatever, I finally received the bottle of champagne after tough argument with the organising committee.

Now I have to get prepared for the Klang 12km run on 15Nov.
Official results yet to be announced by Ronnie.

Dicipline Committee of MCA resigns

We have another bomb shell from MCA saga. The Dicipline committee resigns after MCA accepting Dr.Chua Soi Lek back as Num 2 to the party.

Looks like members of MCA has no power already. They have said that Dr.Chua should not be num 2 in the party during the last AGM but now he is back.

Does this means, the President has the ultimate power to decide on what he wants to do?

That's why the diciplinary committee has decided to resign so that there wont be another saga.

MCA really needs a change.

My 1st Malay Wedding MC

Me with my coursemate, hostelmate, soulmate, whatever mate, Aimi

Salam 1 Malaysia

Our Action

My Co-MC

At Last I became Emcee for Malay Wedding. That shows my versatilaty. Really proud of it.
I learnt the flow of the Malay weeding and the beautiful words to use to cheer up the function.

I should thank to my hostelmate, Amalina for giving me such opportunity to learn. It was her brother's wedding and she wanted FREE OF CHARGE MC, so I took the chalenge to promote myself.

However, I did had some dissatisfaction with the function.
1. I was informed that I'm supposed to Emcee in English, just 1hour before the event, the stupid&stuborn organising director told me that I have to be MC in Malay. The script was ready and I just need to read it. Crap! I became a newsreader without any eyecontact on the audience.

2. They called me for reahearsal 1 day before the event but nothing was prepared. Crap organising Director.

3. The organising director was damn arragont (i dont know how else I want to maki her), never even introduce herself, treated me like her slave, never say thank you, never smile, say sorry at end of the event just for the sake of saying it.

4. I was suppose to wear Bollywood costume and agreed with Amalina, but 1 day before, change to Malay dress without my consent.

5. Amalina's family members were not giving a damn about me, never wish,welcome oreven smile at me. If you all dont like me, then why invite me.

6. My pair was a malay girl who is Amalina's cousine. She had much more things to talk compare to me.

The best part, the Organising Director is Amalina's younger sister. I just wanted to show my "middle finger" to her and tell her "F*** You".

Finally I have decided that I'm not going to help Amalina anymore for MC her family functions.

District 51 Humorous Speech & Evaluation Contest Winners'09

Humorous Speech

Marianna Pascal - Champion
(Division A - Sacred Heart)
Speech Title : Local English or Standard English?
Ruby Ahmad - 2nd place
(Division S - Langkap)
Speech Title : The Return of Holy Matrimony
Karina Razali - 3rd place
(Division E - Miri)
Speech Title : The Adventurer's Wife

Evaluation Contest:

Asha Suresh Chand - Champion
(Division N - Oracle Advanced)
Rozana Yunos - 2nd place
(Division K - Brunei Speakers)
Mary Barton - 3rd place
(Division W - WIM)

Genting Convention and Holiday

I dont fear snakes anymore

The scary space shot

Uncle Lim in our memories

DTM Meyya

My wife and club members

It was 14 years since I have been to Genting. Such a long time though. Significant difference at the hill. This convention is a memorable one for me as I was receiving my Distinguish Toastmasters Award (DTM) over there. Futhermore, this will be the final Semi-Annual Convention before the District splits.

I went there on Friday morning together with my club member Lini and Jeong Teng. I drove all the way up and it took about 50minutes from KL Sentral.

We checked into First World Hotel, the highest number of rooms in the world (6000 rooms). But room was freaking small. There was a king size bed and it took 80% of the room's space. No cupboard, no astro, no place to hang towel and no place to put soap. Anyway, most of the time, we were out of the room.

The hotel had vegetarian section and non-vegetarian section, which was convinient for us.

This convetion is memorable for me as:

1. I received my DTM award

2. I was in the organising team for handling slides and music for awrds and SAA for the Finals and also in the Sketch team (3 roles)

3.I asked questions during the Council meeting where the treasurer couldn't answer it.

The food was good throughout the convention as it's held at Genting International Convention Centre.

Some pitfalls from the organising team:

1. Minutes & Accounts were not circulated to all council members.

2. Only Area Gov and Div Gov were given the minutes and it's in a terrible printing quality.

3. No proper directions to the meeting hall as most people were lost on 1st day.

4. Since it's held in KL, they could have included all races songs and dances rather than just focusing on 1 particular race. (1 Malaysia mah)

5. They were checking the tag only for finals. They should have done it from 1st day itself or don't do it at all.

6. Goodie bag was crap as there was a cheapskate pen and a mouse pad. That's it and the rest were just brochures. Thats not goodies at all.

7. There were too many greay areas in the accounts.

Upon the convention ended on Sunday afternoon, I extended my holiday till Tuesday. We stayed in the same room.

Sunday night, we went around the inddor theme park and play some games. Looks like it's just a waste of money in the indoor theme park other than snow world.

Monday, we went around the outdoor theme park and played some adventorous games i.e space shot. It went to 40ft high and drop suddenly which caused heart attack for me. We maanged to cover most of the games by lunch as it started raining vfrom evening onwards.

I saw a man with phyton and it cost RM15 to take a photo. I took the chalenge to put it at my shoulder and take the photo.

The photos are attached beside.

Tuesday, we went to casino and witnessed how people loose their money.

Overall, it was a good holiday trip and relaxation moment for me after busy with working life.

Credit Card Service Tax Maybe Absorbed by the Bank

I contacted UOB Bank and Standard Chartered to cancell my credit card, but they said that they have yet to receive official announcement from Bank Negara. They said that they will post via email on the latest updates.

I read The Star on 27th Oct'09 and it says that the banks might absorb the RM50 service Tax so that it would not loose all its customers. Currently, the banks are giving cash rebates on certain purchases i.e Giant, Petronas, Tesco and Secret Receipe. This rebates might be revoked so that, it would substantiate the service tax.

Furthermore, the bank will only bear the service tax if the user swipes the card on frequent manner i.e. 2-3 times per month or spend a minimum amount ( the bank not yet decide). Else, the bank will still charge you the RM50.

Looks like all my unused credit cards need to be cancelled as it is just sleeping at my home. These credit cards were given as complimentary although I didnt ask for it.

RM50 on Every Credit Card from 2010

Our Recent 1Malaysia Budget announced by Najib has become a pain a pain for some of us. All banks will be charging RM50 per crdit card on annual basis.

Country is running on deficit. Everbody knows that, but this is not the way to get money from the public. If you want to discourage people using credit card, this is not the way. Are you expecting us to carry RM2k in our wallet an walk around the town.