Life Updates

I’m still in da process of balancing my life, so here are some updates on life (my son should read this when he grows up):

• Currently pursuing my Masters of Entrepreneurship at HELP University College on a part time basis.
• Full time employee at Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP) in the investment team.
• Will be presenting an entrepreneurship paper to Kauffman Foundation on da November 17th and Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 (GEW) closing ceremony on Nov 22nd with Michael Teoh.
• Attracted to the changes and 1Malaysia aspirations during UMNO assembly and is seriously considering UMNO as a party.
• Is madly in love with someone and planning things in the short and long run.
• Appointed as committee member in Aikikai Malaysia and is in the process of getting things back up and running.
• Made an Aikido comeback.
• Will be assisting my best friend with his Islamic fashion startup.
• Discussing with Rashid on the possibilities of taking the ‘Capital Market Services Representative License’ exams together.

Damn, how on earth do you manage all that at once? Manage your time well, make full use of the time that is given to you. Al-Asr remember? Done that during my university times as MPP and doing it again.

I’ll blog soon.

Islamic Personal Budgeting & Calculator Toolkit!

Whew! It took me months to complete this just for accuracy! Well, if you’re interested you can buy it directly from lulu.com. You’ll get to start spending the Muslim way right away with your free calculator!

Click here to go to the product page!

Product description:

Introducing the world’s FIRST ever Islamic Personal Budgeting Toolkit!

This toolkit teaches you how to use your money the Islamic way through the ‘ready to use’ FREE Islamic Personal Budgeting Calculator.

Targeted for Muslims and non-Muslims, you will significantly learn to:

• Allocate resources for Pursuit of “Spiritual Reward & Wealth Generation” (Muslims desire for spiritual and worldly success rather than just worldly wealth)
• Learn Islamic Values in Budgeting (Importance of Charity, Zakat, Practice of Debts.
• Practice Islamic principles in your finances (Islam as Ad-Deen @ way of life)
• Understand the “Islamic Concept of Need” (how not to overspend and oversave)
• Increase your Islamic knowledge in the financial area (Quran, Hadith and Fiqh)

The Toolkit Features:

• Learn only the things you need to know with the FAST Track index.
• Understand Islamic principles and start right away in less than 5 minutes.
• Just key in your expenditure and savings amount into the calculator and get immediate results.
• Guide on using the FREE Islamic Personal Budgeting Calculator.

Purchase the toolkit and you get (priced at US$25, US$10.50!):

1. Spend Like A Muslim – Islamic Personal Budgeting Solution (PDF File)
2. Islamic Personal Budgeting Calculator (Excel File)

“Lack of Ambition” in Malaysian Education System

Fallacy of objectivity : lack of motivation / ambition / urge.

While some scholars or pegawai would say that this statement is a fallacy itself, I beg to differ. Yes, I do agree that our education system was created in line with United Nations Millenium Development Goals, Rukun Negara, etc. and all other policies.

But how much do we emphasize on the student’s ambitions? While some may refute and say that teachers in school motivate students to have ambition, again I agree ONLY partially.

Don’t we understand the meaning of ambition and the effort we put it as we work to achieve our ambition?

Some examples of ambition and motivation in practice:

1. Play traunt or ponteng sekolah to go and play pool or play games cybercafe.
2. Run on sports day to get the gold medal.
3. Keep on messaging a girl to flirt her.

All the examples above are simple scenario faced by Malaysian students. But please take into consideration that all these are based on “objectivity”, to get something out of it, they put in their effort wholeheartedly.

Nowadays, everything is based on “A”. Get lots of “A”s and you can get a good place in university. In the end we university students watch helplessly as our peers complain that they do not like their courses, they wish they have never taken this bachelor degree, this is not they are cut out for, they don’t like medic, etc.

But shouldn’t we take examples of students who strive to be doctors because they are inspired by their parents/relatives and because of their objective in becoming one, they could learn wholeheartedly and contribute to the nation because of understanding their profession?

To prove my point althought it is based on value judgement, try and ask any students in our public universities and ask whether they “still remember what they learnt during the previous semester and what use was it to them”. They will tell you that they just get an “A” and leave the subject as it is.

Many will do the following:

• Sell their textbooks to juniors (oh yes, we don’t need to refer to all the books we bought, we get A, we have everything in our head)
• Cherish the “academic transcript” rather than the acquired knowledge

Then what is the meaning of devising a degree when we do not put good use to what we have learnt?

That would be a worm’s eye view of why we have unemployed graduates which do not fulfill the capability of the industry: lack of ambition / ambition of just getting A -> failure to learn and apply knowledge -> can’t solve problems of the industry.

Now I understood why the corporate leaders preferred overseas graduates during their meeting with the minister of Higher Education and Vice Chancellors at Bank Negara 3 years back. While at that time I stood to defend Malaysian students, now I changed my perspective to agree with these corporate leaders.

Surely profitability and efficiency in a company has no place for graduates who couldn’t put their knowledge into practice. I rather pay extra for a better employee than pay normal for a troublesome and stupid employee. (I would put this statement into exception for training unemployed graduates as it’s tax deductible. Again, its based on profitability)

While some may disagree, I have been through this path and some of us do agree that we do not apply any knowledge learnt when we work.

If we keep this up, surely Malaysia has a problem realising vision 2020. Something I regret not to understand until now. If I have only realised, I would have wrote a paper on it for my National MPPK President to discuss with the government during his meeting with Ministry of Education.

Too late, but not too late to put my thoughts on words.

Malaysia Entrepreneurship Project

• Are you a Malaysian who is an aspiring entrepreneur or in search of financial freedom?
• Ever wondered where to obtain financing from RM50,000 to RM250,000 from banks or Malaysian government agencies?
• Or haven’t a clue of how important a business plan is?

Well if you answered to any of those questions above be it yes or no, try and have a look at my latest project, Malaysia Entrepreneurship Project. It’s mainly a free online resource for entrepreneurs in the Malaysian business environment.

Issues regarding funding opportunities given by Malaysian government agencies and practices on how to manage company in terms of operations are bundled up in there.

Not selling anything ere, just putting the knowledge about the industry to good use after being in audit line. If you do have ideas or experience on entrepreneurship, do share with me on the site so I can post it. It’ll be great to let others know and grow their ideas into successful businesses.

The Road Not Taken

Indeed upon graduation, we are forced to choose many roads leading to who knows where.
For those with ambition on climbing the organizational ladder, their road indeed leads to somewhere.

Nonetheless I too, chose my road based on my ambition and hopeful thoughts.
But I chose to take that path not taken by others.

I chose not to be a chartered accountant when I had the chance of employment.
I chose not to accept an offer with an MNC firm.
I chose not to venture onto start-ups at this moment.
I chose not to work as a government officer.

Then what path am I on?
For all has been planned and with the blessings of Allah s.w.t, success is near.
For when time comes to pass, everything shall be revealed.

Malaysian Entrepreneurship Survey

I am currently doing a simple research on entrepreneurship. For my readers from Malaysia which have an interest in entrepreneurship or wanna achieve financial freedom, I need your help on completing the research.

There are 17 simple questions only and I’m using google form so it should be very friendly. Thanks a lot in advance! Your time spent answering the survey is greatly appreciated!

Click on this link to access the form: Information Availability for Financial Freedom & Entrepreneurial Creation in Malaysia

Kerana Mengejar Pangkat

Pernahkah anda melihat manusia yang mengejar pangkat?

Pangkat yang baginya dapat memberikannya kuasa dan berniat untuk membangga2-kan diri kepada orang lain?

Adakah kamu melihat dengan kedua-dua matamu rintangan yang mereka perlu lalui,

Atau kejatuhan mereka setelah mendapatkan ‘pangkat’ itu samada sewaktu manusia itu masih kekal bernafas atau hanya dalam ingatan?

Pangkat itu bukan hakiki ataupun mainan dunia semata-mata,

Tapi anugerah dan amanah yang dipikul oleh manusia itu sendiri.

Senyumlah kepada mereka yang memiliki kejujuran dalam melaksanakan amanah.

Kerana hanya dengan kejujuran sahaja manusia itu dapat memahami “anugerah” dan mencapai kegembiraan dengan keredaan dariNYA.

Mistakes In Leadership Practices – My Perspective

All these are based on my personal experience and I write it down so that others won’t make the same mistakes I’ve made or mistakes I’ve observed others did. I think these mistakes would be most relevant to student leaders especially Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar.

1. Don’t demand respect from your peers, it will never come. Respect is a given, it comes from the heart. It comes naturally for those unique qualities you possess and utilize (skills, etc)

2. Don’t encourage nor be in love with your organization members. It will lead to your downfall through bad mouths spoken by your members. Professional conduct is a must.

3. A leader without a vision is similar to a newborn baby appointed as the President of a Nation / Country. Without any vision you can’t achieve anything significant.

4. For long term results and praises, go for intangible results. For short term results and praises, go for tangible results.

5. An organization that does not create tangible results would lead to further demotivation with a ‘given time’.

6. Allowing a member in the organization to slack off (lazy, ponteng) is the start of the organization’s downfall. This particular member must be dealt with. If slacking off is still apparent, forced resignation is applicable.

7. It’s better to safeguard the interests of the people who contribute to the organization and are loyal to the organization than protecting those people sucking-up to you in its entirety.

8. Trust, dedication and loyalty between “leaders-members” is the foundation of growth.

9. Recruit the cream of the crop (trustworthy, willingness, IQ & EQ intelligence) as your team members and not who talk-a-lot but does nothing.

10. First impression is a false assumption, constant impression is a near-accurate assumption.

11. Do not reveal secrets to those who are not trustworthy.

12. Do not take subordinates of your superiors as your protectors and listener unless they have proved their trustworthiness as those who are close to you could be your next betrayers and slanderers.

13. Never trade your religion / faith / principle with unlawful acts (example: accepting bribes, prosecuting when you know it is wrong)

14. Always assess and evaluate potential threats and opportunities on your environment to increase your “grip” with your current strength and cover your weaknesses.

15. Never trust fully the person with the running mouth (gossip, create stories, sucking-up to you, bodek), they may be entertaining but they will be the first to betray you in any case.

16. Keep and gather allies, be it friend, enemy or rivals for he who commands the battlefield wins half the fight.

17. Never let the ball off your feet and slack off for one second.

18. Always be truthful in your cause and not deviate. Anger is the cause of destruction to self and organization. Being proud is the source of failing to keep rule #14 in check.

19. An act of kindness and responsibility for governance and leadership is solely for Allah s.w.t., unjust doing leads to self-corruption.

20. Titles and decorations are purely responsibility given by Allah, as leaders we are stewards and shall discharge our duties for the benefit of all, not betray the oath we have promised.

21.Always  be humble, everyone including you do not favour those who are proud of themselves. Humbleness + intelligence is the essence of loyalty and respect.

22. A leader who slack-off will destroy his / her organization in a “time” period.

23. A person who becomes a leader solely to pursue his personal intentions will be stewards who those not understand his people and subordinates.

Between Forgiveness & Gardens of Fitna

Do they think that ‘moment’ is worth to be forgotten?

It’s been 2 years since the Gardens of Fitna came to pass.

Do they think all those fitna & plot should be forgotten?

And both of them plot but every single shame were undone.

And those who thought were allies took the bait.

One ended a faithful friendship just for a single fitna.

Have they enough possessions to face the afterlife with their fitna deeds?

Indeed life has taught of who’s to be trusted with the soul, who are just mere friends and who are betrayers.

Forgiveness is theirs, compassion is none other than the traits of the Almighty.

For those who seek their Lord earns his forgiveness in the day of the next.

A Typical Answer for Poor Malaysian Government Services

Below is the typical answer given by government officers in charge should poor services be discovered by higher officials or ministers. My experience on this pattern of ‘typical answer’: when UM representatives complaint to Dato’ Mustapha Mohamed (Higher Education Minister at that time) on the water problem, when UPM students encountered food problems and reported directly to Biro Pengaduan Awam, Jabatan Perdana Menteri and during pre-MPPK.

So what is this typical answer all about? After pondering the pattern in a systematic manner it’s like this: put your shoes into someone in charge of a department and one day, someone discovered a problem and raised it up to your boss and it’s a complaint on your department services.

You, as the one in charge must make sure you get all the evidence to support your basis of saying that your department is not at fault, change it to a “misunderstanding occured” or the blame the public for your poor performance. It’s simply getting evidences from your “allied officers” and deny the facts from the evidences by making up a load of story.

As for me, it’s simple: Juz improve the God damn service!

It is so hard? beating around the bush there and here. Juz get down to work and improve it and from there you would get rewarded with job promotion. Simple equation: Your Department Perfomance Increase = Your Promotion Opportunity Increases.

Too defensive, I know it’s your periuk nasi but if you make it better for the rakyat, you would be rewarded in the future.

I’m not pointing my fingers to anyone, but it’s downright truth for those who have been dealing all this while with such a mindset.

A job well done to ministers! I see nowadays under Najib a lot of turun padang is being initiated. Hopefully it is being made often because MBWA technique is effective. Relying on reports from your subordinates are purely a conflict dilemma as the report is a conflict of officer’s independence as the officer relies on incentives and benefits from the report. (it must look good right?)

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So, enjoy the news from NST:

Link : http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/NewsBreak/20090426162925/Article/index_html

HKL doctors allegedly caught ’slacking’ on duty

KUALA LUMPUR, Sun (Update) :

Deputy Minister of Federal Territories Datuk M. Saravanan today “caught” two doctors at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) emergency department reading newspapers and doing their own stuff instead of attending to more than 20 patients in pain waiting for treatment.

Saravanan made the shocking discovery at about 10.30am when he went to the hospital to visit a university student who was injured after he was knocked down by a car driven by his (Saravanan’s) driver.

“I, too, waited for a while for the girl to be treated and, realising that none of the patients were being called in by the doctors, I opened the door to the treatment room. I was shocked to find one doctor reading a newspaper and the other minding his own business and doing his own stuff.

“There were more than 20 patients outside waiting for treatment. This should not be the way doctors work. The patient should come first. Furthermore, it is an emergency unit, which is supposed to be fast in dispensing treatment,” the visibly irked Saravanan said.

The deputy minister said he reprimanded the doctors for their behaviour and demanded to see a superior who, he said, appeared after 30 minutes.
“After that, those waiting were promptly treated. Why couldn’t the doctors attend to the patients first? This should not be the way service at government hospitals is dispensed,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in one of his surprise visits to the city centre yesterday, said he wanted front-line government establishments in the federal capital to improve their services to the people.

Saravanan said that though he had caught the doctors by chance, he would from now on make it a point to conduct surprise visits to departments under his ministry to ensure that front-line staff did their job of serving the people.

“This is an eye-opener. We, as leaders, just cannot afford to pay lip service and not check whether work is done by the front-line government servants. We have to go down (to the ground) to ensure that speedy solutions are found for the people’s problems.

“What more in this case where people are in pain and undergoing agony due to the pain. If they were not suffering, they would not have come to the emergency unit. This is a lesson for all hospitals. Please work for the people if you are in the civil service,” he said.

Meanwhile, HKL director Datuk Dr Zaininah Mohd Zain, in responding to Saravanan’s remarks, said the hospital would get details of the incident and if there was any element of irresponsibility, it would be the first to take the appropriate action.

She said the hospital’s investigation showed that there were only eight patients and 20 relatives and that none of the patients was in pain because “we practise holistic pain care service and pain (is assessed) as the fifth vital sign”.

“Our hardworking doctors are but human,” she said, adding that browsing a newspaper when there were no cases in his (doctor’s) room should not be interpreted as neglecting his responsibility.

“We do not condone lazy or irresponsible doctors but (having) understanding, caring and hardworking doctors is also our obligation,” she said in a text message to Bernama.

Dr Zaininah said the HKL Emergency Department was a very busy department that managed 550 cases per day and was served by six medical officers in every eight-hour shift (of three shifts per day) with one specialist, one consultant and one (supervising) senior consultant per day.

“The challenge of patient loads is ever increasing, up to 30 per cent due to the current economic crisis.

“Despite this situation, we have served well in a systematic manner with the triage system to sort out and manage cases according to priority,” she said.

Dr Zaininah said HKL would continue to evaluate, supervise and maintain a high quality of service but support and understanding from the public were crucial to sustaining a high standard of service continuously. — BERNAMA

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Well this definitely makes a good case study for my future management encounters. Period.