With Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd. Ali

The media conference at the 86 Floor of Tower One

This morning, I got an sms for an invitation for Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's media conference. It was held at his private office in Petronas's 86th Floor, Tower One, KLCC.

Right: With an awesome lady, who is great mum

I arrived at quarter to noon. Went I got to the conference room (where the media conference will be held), TV stations' microphones were already set in the middle of the beautiful oak colour oval table. Right at the end Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd. Ali was seated.

Left: Listening carefully to Tun Dr. Mahathir's explanation

As always, I'd go to her and offer my greetings. Then she invited me to sit down and we had a chat.

My photo-journo-blogger buddy Jinggo of the "Pak Lah dozed off in public engagements" fame captured the photos.

Moderating a session of seasoned politicians

I was in Teluk Intan on Sunday, to moderate a forum in an event organised by a political party. The organisers requested that I moderate the forum, after successfully moderating a similar forum in Petaling Jaya three weeks earlier.

Right: From left, Ron, yours truly, Mazlan and Ibrahim at the rostrum

The panelist of the forum were YB Dato' Paduka Ibrahim Ali, Dato' Ruhanie "Ron" Ahmad and Dato' Mazlan Harun. Ibrahim is a former Deputy Minister in PM's Department, now an independent MP is Parliament. Ron was a former Political Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Musa Hitam and BN Back Benchers Club Chairman. Mazlan was former Selangor State Exco and Selangor football team manager, at the height of late Mokhtar "Super Mokh" Dahari sporting career.

The audience said I did well. And it managed to set the tone for a very seasoned politician, YBM Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah, who is said to be vying the seat of a political party Presidency in December.

Sending Tun Dr. Mahathir off

Yesterday, I was in Ipoh. I attended an event organised by Tasik Belanja Sepat UMNO Branch and former UMNO President Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was the keynote speaker. He flew from Subang in the morning with his doting wife, Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd. Ali.

Later we were invited to Dato' Radzi Manan's home for a sumptous lunch.

In evening, when all is over, its time for the Statesman and the missus to go home. So we tagged along to the Ipoh airport for the send off.

Right: Dato' Dr. Nasir Muda pose as the captain and sterwadess board the aircraft


We stepped up to the Petronas Gulfstreamjet GIV SP to help load up some of the stuff that Ipoh folks gave them. One of it is a large portait of them both.

Left: The large portrait being loaded up



Right: Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah getting a last minute update from Sufi Yusof





Left: Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd. Ali waving off to the well wishers

At the top of the city

Today, I had a meeting in KLCC, the world renowned office address in Kuala Lumpur. I was fortunate, that the meeting was held on the 86th floor of one of the towers.

Right: On the 86th floor, facing the other tower

It was an amazing experience, all over again. The first time I was here, was exactly ten years ago and it was still under renovation. My MBA buddy, Paul F. Gorter was the fit-out contractor, then.

Left: On the KL 'Golden Triangle' part of the building. Note Malaysia Airlines, Chase Morgan and Promet buildings on the back (right above my head) are way down there, despite sitting on a hill! So is the top of UOA building and part of KLCC Convention Centre

It was the highest office floor in the building. It had a very commanding view of Kuala Lumpur and its surroundings. When I look out the window, I was actually perched at least a thousand feet from the street.

It was awesome!

And the weather was good. Although there was a slight haze, but still I could seem miles. The 86th floor is actually the same level as the Seri Angkasa restaurant in the Menara KL, although the communications tower is perched on Bukit Nenas Hill and KLCC is on Jalan Ampang.

Right: The KLCC Park and KLCC Convention Centre, at an elevation of at least a thousand feet from the street. Note the roof top of the 30 floor Mandarin Oriental hotel, at the bottom right hand corner.

I must imagine the employees of this particular MNC must have really great work motivation just by going to work. Especially, its International Business Division, which is on the 80th floor.

Left: Another angle of the KL main central business district. Note the KL Tower in the background. So is the Shangril-la Hotel, way down there!

*Please click on photo to see much better

Featured in a major daily

That's me, on the left

A photo of I in a meeting was featured in a major daily today. Much to my surprise, I was in the photo of Berita Harian (pp.3), in living colour.

Yesterday, when I attended the inaugral meeting, there were media waiting outside and they were allowed in for a photo op. I was seated at the far end of the table. Little that I guessed, I was also in it.

Riding the KLIA Express

I attended my first court session, as a witness yesterday. I was called to testify in a criminal case in Kota Bahru. So I flew immediately, (on Malaysia Airlines of course!) after the Saturday session at Crystal Crown Hotel.

Right: Me at somewhere near UPM campus, Serdang

So this morning, I flew back to Kuala Lumpur. I managed to catch the 1135am flight from KBR to KUL on Malaysia Airlines. When I arrived in KLIA at half past twelve, I decided to ride the KLIA Express to KL Sentral, since I was all by myself and its not economical to get a cab all by oneself.

Left: Mid Valley City

In 28 minutes, the train reached KL Sentral, passing through Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, UPM, Salak Tinggi and Sg. Besi. The ride cost RM 35.00 plus RM 14.00 taxi fare from KL Sentral to home. It would have cost me RM 66.00 to take an airport taxi from the airport to home.

Moderating a session for Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

I was given the honour to moderate a forum for Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad this morning. "Suntikan Semangat Satria" was held in Crystal Crown Hotel, Petaling Jaya and the fourth Prime Minister and former UMNO President, who recently gave up (with conditions) his UMNO membership spoke to 700 participants.

Right: Moderating Tun Dr. Mahathir's Q & A

At some point of time, Tun Dr. Mahathir referred to me whilst taking questions from the floor.

Left: A momento for Tun Dr. Mahathir; A book by Gersowitz

I had to take the honour of handing over the token souvenir on behalf of the organiser to the main speaker

It was a great moment indeed. Earlier, I delivered a speech for ARENA PJS 14 Chairman Mohamed Amiruddin Jumaat, who suffered from backpains and fever early this morning and was unable to address a historic moment, for both of us. So, I had to play host.

Right: Saying goodbye to Tun Dr. Mahathir, at his car