The Reader

Rakan Muda

Today,I read about the relaunch of Rakan Muda programme and a sum Rof M50 million budget has been allocated. I hope those responsible will do the right thing and do it right.Otherwise, it will go down the drains like the millions litres of water literally go down the drains due to leaking pipes in our water distribution network.

From project management perspective,a programme consists of related projects to achive the goals/objectives of the sponsor.Projects are created to produce the changes identified and required.To ensure success or increase the probabilities to succeed,all these projects must be  properly planned, executed, monitored and controlled AND supported by an efficient and effective delivery system.

Since I am too old for this programme,I just wonder whether there is a need for Rakan Tua programme.If there is one,I am ever willing to play an active roles for my peers so that we could still contribute to the society in any way we can.

Bazaar Dinihari Larut Malam

Bazaar Dinihari Larut Malam
Originally uploaded by Adibi

Many of our shops are open from 8am to 10pm.Some groups of restaurants are open 24 by 7.And last night, I saw this 'new bazaar' sprang up at the car park of my neighbourhood that is open from 10pm to the wee hours of the morning...

I know some people need to work at night to make their ends meet in KL, but why can't the authorities limit to just 10pm? How do people get back to work the next morning if they are still awake at 3am? Another worrying thing is that night usually attracts 'unwarranted activities'.

Note: The photo shows the nice yellow tents for vendors to sell their goods.In the background, you can see the lighted Petronas Twin Towers.

Best of British design..

Just to share with fellow readers of my blog that a free exhibition is now open at K Avenue,next to KLCC.It is a showcase of best British Design in various disciplines.It will be open for a month.

This reminds me of my trip to London more than ten years ago when I bought a friend,a graphic artist to visit an exhibition some where near the Haymarket.It was too long ago that I can't remember the place.We went there to look for new ideas for a project I was involved during that time.

Personally,I love good product design especially eletronic gadget like iPod and engineering structure like Rama VIII suspended bridge in Bangkok. One aspect that I look for is simplicity.It took a lot of efforts and ingenuity to produce  a simple design. My friends and I (one architect and one engineer) are currently working on a simple building for housing project using IBS(modular) concept to building good quality homes at cheaper cost.

During another trip to London, a British engineering consultant took me for a tour of The Dome when it was under construction.The project was a successful project management case but later it became a business failure.

C'est la vie..

Bunga Januari

Abundant rain

Let me share with you this Hadith:

The Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) said:"The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth.Some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain-water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance.(And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain-water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilised it for drinking and to irrigate the land for cultivation.(And) a portion of  it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth the vegetation(then that land gave no benefits).The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah's religion(Islam) and gets benefits(from the knowledge) which Allah has revealed through me(the Prophet,PBUH) and learns and then teaches to others.The(lastexampleis that of a) person who does not care for it and does not take Allah's Guidance revealed through me(he is like the barren land). [Al-Bukhari]

Let's ponder and examine who we are for a few moments...
The choice is ours ,so is the rewards.

The sea and the sun...

  View of the sea 
  Originally uploaded by Adibi.

As they say,no one is the master of the sea...
The sunset by the seaside always fascinates me. I love to stand alone by the beach and listen to the sounds of the breaking waves as they hit the shore. Not to mention the breeze and the multicolour  reflections of the sun rays on the surface of the sea.

In  last three days I was helping my business partner in conducting a three days two nights course to prepare a group of construction professionals to sit for their PMP exam. In the evening I took the opportunity to walk alone by the beach  and took some photos.

You can see some of the photos I took at my flickr website.
PMP means Project Management Professional.For details,please read it at PMI website.

Not another leak!

Like it or not, it happened right in front of me.And by sheer coincidence,I was taking photos of the underside of an elevated highway.As my car came to a stop when the traffic light turned red, I saw a thunderous shower of water came falling on the top of a jeep right in front of me! The driver must be shivering inside the jeep but he did not come.Otherwise, he will get wet.

When the traffic light turned green,now it was my turn to move under the leaking elevated highway and below you can see what happened:

This view is looking up to the underside of the elevated highway of Jalan Razak,next to the junction to Jalan Semarak.I dared not guess where the water was coming from.

Luckily, only water drops; but what if some iron pipes or concrete slabs?

My glasses are watching you!

"Okay,boys and girls.I am going to see the HM for a few minutes. All of you must continue reading and don't make noise while I am away.Now, you see my spectacles here  on the table? My eyes are watching you!

To the teacher's suprise when he came back,everyone in the class was reading quietly believing that the teacher's spectacles was actually watching over them.

This story was told to me by a teacher. It only works for Std One pupils;-)

NB: I will be at a resort conducting a course for the next three days.Please be informed that I wouldnot be able to response to your comments during that period.

Dirty water is dirty money.

Just look at the colour of water delivered by the water supplier to my house this morning! It is not even fit for us to take a bath,let alone to drink. Even the ducks will refuse to swim in it! But that is the water I got for my house supply.By the way, my house is located 200m from Sekolah Aminuddin Baki,Jalan Kampung Pandan,Kuala Lumpur.

To the management, is it contractually right for the company to bill me for this type of water? The colour of this water is the colour of money you guys got from us the consumers! To the engineers there, is this what you learnt the meaning of potable water? I am shocked and angry for this level of service.

Intellectual Laziness

Friday, May 18, 2007
Intellectual Laziness

Intellectual pursuits are not exclusively reserved for the scholars. I believe ordinary folks like you and me can engage ourselves to seek basic /advanced knowledge and understanding of the very purpose of our existence to enable us to earn the pleasure of our Rabb. However, with the present hectic lifestyles and too much distractions/seductions in our daily lives, we keep on deferring this activitiy until we almost forget about it.

As muslims/muslimahs,we all aknowledged and accepted Qur'an as the book of Allah swt.How many of us had read the WHOLE translation of the Qur'an, not to mention the tafseer?.If we donot read, we donot know.If we donot know,how could we think? If we donot think,how could we understand? If we donot undertand, how could we get the meaning? Knowledge only comes with the arrival of meaning at our souls!

I hate to conclude that we are mostly very lazy,me included.

Below is an article I copy from Nasiha.com which explains the issue better than the personal dialogue above:-

It is unfortunate that intellectual laziness has become widespread among today's students, and they have come to prefer rest and idleness over striving and struggling. Luxury and all forms of useless curiosity have become a purpose of life for them, and pleasures have become a goal for them, such that they have no time left for studying and seeking knowledge. Their state has come to resemble that refered to by Imam Ahmad ibn Faris al-Razi, the philosophist born in 329 AH, died 395 AH, may Allah have mercy on him, when he said:                              

                                  

    If you are harmed by the heat of summer
    And the dryness of autumn and the cold of winter
    And you are distracted by the beauty of springtime
    Then tell me: when will you seek knowledge?!                               
                                 

                                                                                                      
                           
                              

Compiled     From: "The Value of Time" - Abd Al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah