Kind of settled down in my new place. The kitchen is up and running since the weekend. However, accessories are still incomplete, so for now can only cook for two maximum. Other stuff are due in, and until than only basic cooking. Still, feels so much better than outside food!
This week sees the opening of yet another high end retial out at the Four Seasons. We are supplying the staff for 7 outlets - the guys and gals have been having their training over the weekend and also this Monday to Wednesday pending the opening on Friday. They will be trying out their uniforms and having their haircut and grooming sessions.
I am busy making introductions to our clients and the industry. I am also keeping myself to the updated versions of the applicable law governing my industry. The laws are always being ammended! Gosh!
Back in the office, I am streamlining our documents, templates of our contracts and terms.
All in I think the week ahead would be busy and interesting.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
My second week in Macau
I moved into the apartment yesterday. Gosh, it was a real summer day - lots of sunshine and sweat.
I moved in and started doing some shopping for household stuff. Still a lot more to purchase to make it a comfortable and homely place. It will come to that - but for now, just basic requirements.
This is much better than staying in the hotel; much more comfortable and relaxing. The television reception is great too, all 50 channels of it! Current favourite channel is CCTV Music Channel.
I moved in and started doing some shopping for household stuff. Still a lot more to purchase to make it a comfortable and homely place. It will come to that - but for now, just basic requirements.
This is much better than staying in the hotel; much more comfortable and relaxing. The television reception is great too, all 50 channels of it! Current favourite channel is CCTV Music Channel.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
From Macau .....
I write to you from Macau.
I was greeted here with heavy rain (showers of blessings). I can be contacted in Macau on 00 - 853 - 6650 65 46.
As always I will be keeping a close watch on the Malaysian Scene and blogging on it from Macau. This would mean I am seeing things from a slightly different perspective.
Meanwhile, many Malaysians in Macau in the gaming industry. Saw quite a few of them at the Immigration Department this morning. They were there for their VISA application.
I hope to actually meet up with these Malaysians here over the next few weeks. It would be interesting to see thier viewpoints about working here in Macau and also their take on Malaysia.
Will write more soon.....
I was greeted here with heavy rain (showers of blessings). I can be contacted in Macau on 00 - 853 - 6650 65 46.
As always I will be keeping a close watch on the Malaysian Scene and blogging on it from Macau. This would mean I am seeing things from a slightly different perspective.
Meanwhile, many Malaysians in Macau in the gaming industry. Saw quite a few of them at the Immigration Department this morning. They were there for their VISA application.
I hope to actually meet up with these Malaysians here over the next few weeks. It would be interesting to see thier viewpoints about working here in Macau and also their take on Malaysia.
Will write more soon.....
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Something More To Consider
Another Lesson in Life
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if
anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of the road. After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if
anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of the road. After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Good Governance and Accountability
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/6/26/central/21600719&sec=central
Make meeting’s minutes available to everyone
RECENTLY, I had the honour of attending a public hearing at the Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ). The hearing was to hear the developer's proposal and the residents’ objection to the development of a nine-storey office block.
After this hearing, the objections and concerns raised would be brought to the meeting of the One Stop Centre (OSC) for a decision on the developer's proposal. In fact, what should be brought would of course be the minutes of the hearing plus the comments from the relevant officers in attendance.
I was thus surprised that when a resident asked if minutes of the hearing would be made available to the residents, the answer was in the negative.
I find this extremely strange. As this is indeed a public hearing, therefore the minutes should be made public too. This is to ensure that what is written is in fact what was discussed at the hearing. The minutes would be an important contributing factor to the decision making process of the OSC. Therefore, it is the right of the concerned residents to see the minutes of the hearing.
I am not sure if this is also in the guidelines for the local councils. If indeed it is, I strongly urge the authorities to re-look into this matter. Transparency is a very important contributing factor towards good governance and thus a civil society.
I have had the privilege of attending meetings at the same council and have seen the minutes being wrongly recorded. At a meeting where no decision was made but the subsequent minutes indicated that a decision was made.
Therefore, these minutes must be made available, at the very least to those in attendance. In this case, minutes should be given at least to a representative of the residents.
Make meeting’s minutes available to everyone
RECENTLY, I had the honour of attending a public hearing at the Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ). The hearing was to hear the developer's proposal and the residents’ objection to the development of a nine-storey office block.
After this hearing, the objections and concerns raised would be brought to the meeting of the One Stop Centre (OSC) for a decision on the developer's proposal. In fact, what should be brought would of course be the minutes of the hearing plus the comments from the relevant officers in attendance.
I was thus surprised that when a resident asked if minutes of the hearing would be made available to the residents, the answer was in the negative.
I find this extremely strange. As this is indeed a public hearing, therefore the minutes should be made public too. This is to ensure that what is written is in fact what was discussed at the hearing. The minutes would be an important contributing factor to the decision making process of the OSC. Therefore, it is the right of the concerned residents to see the minutes of the hearing.
I am not sure if this is also in the guidelines for the local councils. If indeed it is, I strongly urge the authorities to re-look into this matter. Transparency is a very important contributing factor towards good governance and thus a civil society.
I have had the privilege of attending meetings at the same council and have seen the minutes being wrongly recorded. At a meeting where no decision was made but the subsequent minutes indicated that a decision was made.
Therefore, these minutes must be made available, at the very least to those in attendance. In this case, minutes should be given at least to a representative of the residents.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Good Governance and Transparency
I refer to the report by Chia Ying in today’s STAR Metro, Lee: Application Not The First. http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/6/25/central/21624396&sec=central
I am absolutely surprised that an ADUN and / or Local Councillor carries so much authority in local governance. The former Subang Jaya assemblyman was quoted as saying; “There was no need for a public hearing as I had rejected it outright then, because it's a waste of public funds and time…….” He was referring to a developer’s proposal to develop a piece of land in USJ6.
My concern is the fact that an Adun / Councillor can make such a decision with no respect to laid down laws and procedures. Is a developer not entitled to a fair hearing also, if his application is submitted according to laid down guidelines?
In the same way, if an Adun / Councillor can reject outright, as boasted by the ex Adun, then he can also approve an application. Perhaps this answers the question on why there is an apparent over-development in Subang Jaya, especially in the Taipan area. Perhaps, Mr Lee could also explain why a development in USJ11 was approved without the affected residents given the opportunity of voicing their concerns in a Public Hearing. Was it also a waste of public funds, since the ADUN believes in the project?
Now I can understand why we have a local council, MPSJ in particular that seems to have little regard for public interest. Their hands are perhaps tied because we had a bunch of “napoleans” breathing down their necks. When the PM mentioned about these Little Napoleans, we had assumed it was the civil servants, but now it seems it is the BN politicians.
May the newly appointed councillors to be sworn in soon, carry out their duties with due respect to the procedures as laid down. No one; residents, developers or investors are above the law – transparency, accountability and good governance are all we ask for – is that too much to expect?
I am absolutely surprised that an ADUN and / or Local Councillor carries so much authority in local governance. The former Subang Jaya assemblyman was quoted as saying; “There was no need for a public hearing as I had rejected it outright then, because it's a waste of public funds and time…….” He was referring to a developer’s proposal to develop a piece of land in USJ6.
My concern is the fact that an Adun / Councillor can make such a decision with no respect to laid down laws and procedures. Is a developer not entitled to a fair hearing also, if his application is submitted according to laid down guidelines?
In the same way, if an Adun / Councillor can reject outright, as boasted by the ex Adun, then he can also approve an application. Perhaps this answers the question on why there is an apparent over-development in Subang Jaya, especially in the Taipan area. Perhaps, Mr Lee could also explain why a development in USJ11 was approved without the affected residents given the opportunity of voicing their concerns in a Public Hearing. Was it also a waste of public funds, since the ADUN believes in the project?
Now I can understand why we have a local council, MPSJ in particular that seems to have little regard for public interest. Their hands are perhaps tied because we had a bunch of “napoleans” breathing down their necks. When the PM mentioned about these Little Napoleans, we had assumed it was the civil servants, but now it seems it is the BN politicians.
May the newly appointed councillors to be sworn in soon, carry out their duties with due respect to the procedures as laid down. No one; residents, developers or investors are above the law – transparency, accountability and good governance are all we ask for – is that too much to expect?
Monday, June 23, 2008
Education and Politics - HANNAH YEOH
The recent posting in YB HannahYeoh’s blog made me angry and disappointed.
SMKSU Prefects' Reunion
Few months ago, I was invited to the Prefects' Reunion of SMK Subang Utama to be held next week. I just received news that I could no longer attend the function because I'm an assemblyman from Pakatan Rakyat.
Two prefects have confirmed that the teachers have issued a threat to the prefects to withdraw their invitation to me and if not, the event would be cancelled.
Read more:
http://hannahyeoh.blogspot.com/2008/06/smksu-prefects-reunion.html
As I understand it, Education is under the Federal Jurisdiction. After the last election, the Ministry issued a ruling to all principals that they cannot invite “opposition” to officiate school functions. It was indeed a very narrow if not down right stupid thing to do.
However, in this instance, I believe the principal of the school has even carried out this ruling a step further – to control a “private” function and to the extend of “bullying” the current students and teachers.
This brings us to the issue of what is our education policy / education system? It seems like it is made to be an extension of the government’s propaganda machinery (thus an extension of UMNO). The system is not educating but rather indoctrination.
We as concerned citizens in a civil society cannot sit and do nothing about this issue. We must make our stand to safe guard and protect our education system. It is these children in our schools today that will be our leaders. What we teach them now, we will reap in the future.
Our children must be taught to respect DEMOCRACY. In a democracy, the opposition is as much a part and parcel of the system. We must teach our children to honour and respect our Wakil Rakyat irrespective of party.
Infact, all schools should be proud of the achievements of their past and present students. To be elected as a Wakil Rakyat is something to be proud of. However, just because they are from the opposition, we choose not to recognise them, than we are seriously sending a wrong message to our students.
In this case with YB Hannah Yeoh, is also becomes confusing for the students – as she is from the government. Is the school teaching its students to be disrespectful? Are we teaching our children “dirty politics” and abuse of power?
Parents who are reading this, if you do not stand up and do / say something – than we will see the destruction of our education system; and thus our future. Picking up your child and sending them overseas is not the solution! Stand up and stand united and make the Voice of the Rakyat be heard! Lets continue the change that started on the 8th of March 2008.
SMKSU Prefects' Reunion
Few months ago, I was invited to the Prefects' Reunion of SMK Subang Utama to be held next week. I just received news that I could no longer attend the function because I'm an assemblyman from Pakatan Rakyat.
Two prefects have confirmed that the teachers have issued a threat to the prefects to withdraw their invitation to me and if not, the event would be cancelled.
Read more:
http://hannahyeoh.blogspot.com/2008/06/smksu-prefects-reunion.html
As I understand it, Education is under the Federal Jurisdiction. After the last election, the Ministry issued a ruling to all principals that they cannot invite “opposition” to officiate school functions. It was indeed a very narrow if not down right stupid thing to do.
However, in this instance, I believe the principal of the school has even carried out this ruling a step further – to control a “private” function and to the extend of “bullying” the current students and teachers.
This brings us to the issue of what is our education policy / education system? It seems like it is made to be an extension of the government’s propaganda machinery (thus an extension of UMNO). The system is not educating but rather indoctrination.
We as concerned citizens in a civil society cannot sit and do nothing about this issue. We must make our stand to safe guard and protect our education system. It is these children in our schools today that will be our leaders. What we teach them now, we will reap in the future.
Our children must be taught to respect DEMOCRACY. In a democracy, the opposition is as much a part and parcel of the system. We must teach our children to honour and respect our Wakil Rakyat irrespective of party.
Infact, all schools should be proud of the achievements of their past and present students. To be elected as a Wakil Rakyat is something to be proud of. However, just because they are from the opposition, we choose not to recognise them, than we are seriously sending a wrong message to our students.
In this case with YB Hannah Yeoh, is also becomes confusing for the students – as she is from the government. Is the school teaching its students to be disrespectful? Are we teaching our children “dirty politics” and abuse of power?
Parents who are reading this, if you do not stand up and do / say something – than we will see the destruction of our education system; and thus our future. Picking up your child and sending them overseas is not the solution! Stand up and stand united and make the Voice of the Rakyat be heard! Lets continue the change that started on the 8th of March 2008.
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