Having tea with the icon of spiritual rock

I had an exhilarating experience this evening. I was invited to have tea with an icon of Malaysian classical rock. Former NST Editor-in-Chief Dato' Ahmad A. Talib invited me for a chat with Ramli Sharif, in Bangsar.

Right: Dato' Mat and I admiring a rock legend

When Dato' Mat called me this evening to invite, I thought it was in passing.

Left: The "twins"

Then again, when I showed up and both of them were there, I simply can't believe my eyes. I get to sit and chat up a classical rock icon, who somewhat influenced my formative adolescence years in MRSM. His music, with deep philosophical and spiritual innuendos made going through a difficult time of changing phases something slightly more meaningful. Not forgetting, landmarks to remember by.

Right: I and the "twins"

I was just starting second form when I first heard the inspiring voice of Bang Ramli rendetation and purist rock melody "Kamelia", during his Sweet Charity days. Then in third form, it was the album Penunggu. Then a year later, Batu.

A moment later, Rocky and Nuraina joined us. That brought the chat even livelier. Especially, when Rocky and Ramli looked almost like twin brothers.

Left: Nuraina and Rocky joined the chat

The chat revealed things that really unlocked some of the amazement Bang Ramli brought into my music enrichment phase of life.

Right: The legend known as 'Papa Rock'

Bang Ramli then talked about his band Sweet Charity, celebrating its 40th anniversary. They are planning a nationwide concert tour. All of us agreed that it will be a hit, especially people in our generation. Then again, Dato' Mat is also convinced that Bang Ramli's music even hit a note of people much younger than all of us at the table. Amazed and dazzled, I tend to agree with Dato' Mat. He is indeed a classical rock legend!

It was an evening to remember.

Meeting the future of NCER

I was in Taiping over the last weekend. I was asked to speak to a group of 11 year old boys, under a special program to develop them into 'gentlemen'. They were carefully selected from the boondocks within the NCER and placed in top schools within Taiping. It is a pilot project where the first intake of 60 boys were admitted recently and the orientation program started pre-2009 school.

Right: The NCER boys

Left: Akram in action

The road trip was done with my good friend, Akramsyah Sanusi. We made stopovers at Kampar and Kuala Kangsar. We also hooked up with friends in Taiping. The journey all the way up and down the North South Highway was through bad, moonsoon weather.

Right: Provisions for school being systematically prepared by the NCIA officials, minus one day.

Seeing for myself how these kids are being cared for and managed is a new experience. Never before that a boarding school system in the country emphasized on total development. The attention and provisions made per capita on these boys really intrigued me. They are being exposed to almost anything a 12 year old should be exposed to.

Left: Interacting and getting first hand tips

It resembles a typical British public school system, minus the pompous attitude and snobbishness. However, this one is tailored for boys from marginally depressed areas and background. The challenge, is herculean. This something the program managers ambitiously trying to develop, prove and eventually, replicate.

Right: Giving a lecture on a typical intercontinental airliner; to give an interest on engineering for these boys

I must say, these are a bunch of promising asset for the country. They are equally inquisitive, as much as they are being who they are meant to be; eleven year olds. They are as playful and high spirited for knowledge. Of course, being boys, they are very competitive amongst themselves.

Left: The boys showing their appreciation at the end of the program

As expected, they are very responsive to things thrown at and against them. At the tender age of less than eleven years old, they inadvertently accepted challenges with confidence and zest.

Right: The boys over powering me....

I am glad I was given the opportunity to nurture these boys, with the enrichment of experience and knowledge. Of course, they are not shy to express themselves otherwise.

It was a fun afternoon indeed with these boys....

Celebrating the coming of Hijrah year in Masjid Sultan

The Awal Muharram is a celebration of the coming of the new Hijrah year, in Islamic calender. It was an auspicious ocassion amongst Muslims as they pray for forgiveness at the eve of one Hijrah year and pray for wellness, when the new Hijrah year starts.

Right: Outside the east entrance of the Mosque

(By the way, the Muslim calculate the dawn of a new day from when the sunset).

Left: At the beginning of the Maghrib prayers

I was lucky to have celebrated this moment, at the infamous Masjid Sultan, North Bridge Rd., Singapore. It is by farthe most iconic symbol of Islam presence and practices in Singapore.

Right: Post Maghrib new year doa

The number of worshipers gathered in the mosque for this special doa recital actually surprised me. The congregation was like a mini Jumaat prayers.

It was a very refreshing experience indeed.

SALAM MAAL HIJRAH, 1430H

A Christmas dinner

Tonight, I was invited for a Christmas dinner. My colleague, Kenneth Karnan, was kind enough to extend the invitation for the holiest day in the year for Christians.

Right: Upon arrival

So, at 800pm I and Girl-Girl had a short drive to Kepong Baru. To our suprise, it was a grand do for Ken's family. They actually closed the road to accommodate the dinner party, which was held under two tents on the street.

Left: As usual, Ken would shake the camera!

The buffet spread was sumptuous and the beverages offered befit a night of celebrations and joyous occasion. From the looks of it, they were expecting a lot of company.

Right: I and Ken in the living room

Anyway, we were thankful and glad we were invited and attended the dinner.

It was a good evening indeed!

ANSARA Dinner 2008

We had our annual Ex-MRSM Alumni (ANSARA) Dinner last night. It was held at Mawar Room, PWTC. The dinner was in commemoration of the year end. Also, ANSARA needed to raise some funds. So, tables and tickets were sold to ex-MRSMers.

Right: The ticket and menu, over a bowl of sago gula Melaka.

It was the same time as last year. I missed last year's, where Astronaut Dr. Sheikh Muzaffar, an Ex-Muo, was the guest of honour. My father had his CABG surgery during that time.

There was an array of attendance to the dinner. The guest of honour is MARA Chairman Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh.

Left: With ANSARA President Mukhriz Mahathir and Muo Chapter Head Salehuddin "Hud" Hj Ahmad Khalid

Of course, ANSARA President YB Dato' Mukhriz Mahathir was there, to address the audience. He reminded members to take ANSARA to a new level. During dinner, he made time to go round the tables to socialise and catch up on chit-chats and small talks.


Its nice to see old friends, in such a warm and social environment. Of course, there were reminesences. It would be ashamed for guys and gals who bonded for years, did nostalgically 'relive' the best of thier formative years. It is surreal that the memories live on, eternally in our hearts.

Right: Me and Azha "Gell" Jalil

During dinner, an R & B group called "Infinite", which comprise some ex-MRSMers entertained the audience with their songs.

Left: Bhadharul Bahrain and I

It was a good night indeed.

A working trip to Penang, again

Today started very early in the morning. I was up by 500am to catch the 730am flight to Penang from KLIA. Considering I slept at 200am this morning and it was a full day of Hari Raya Aidil Adha yesterday, getting up was near impossible. Never the less, Kenneth gave me a wake up call at 500am, to ensure I was up.

Right: Over the Malacca Straits, somewhere near Pangkor. Notice the thick clouds

Flying at daybreak is always exicting. One get to see the sun come up, from the altitude of 27,000 feet. We arrived at 830am and after a hearty breakfast, we took an airport cab to Komtar, where the nerve of the Penang State Government.

We had a quiet chat with a Special Function Officer in the Chief Minister's Office, mainly on the Penang economy and the affect from the global financial melt down and thus Penang's export, especially to the US and Western Europe.

Left: On the 53rd floor office

Then we presented the concept of cashless Penang society and the implementation of electronic payment system to one of the Excos.

Right: Lunch at Hameediyah, whilst surfing

Of course, a trip to Penang would not be complete withour nasi kandar. We had ours in Hameediyah, on Lebuh Campbell. Like always, it was something to remember.

Appearing on RTM 1

Tonight, I was a guest on the RTM 1 post prime news program, Blog. I was asked by producer, Hasshim Abu Hanifah to speak on political and current issues, from the context of "Korban", since tomorrow is Hari Raya Aidil Adha or Korban.

Right: Appearing on prime news slot live on RTM 1

I was notified for this on Friday, which does not give me so much time to prepare. Moreover, I was not given neither the script nor any of questions before hand.

Left: A full view profile

It was a new experience, as RTM is the official Government electronic propaganda machinery. I must say, it felt honoured to be able to talk about having a single school system and doing away all vernacular schools.

It was indeed a very interesting experience.