Baldie...

Today, after a long 6 hour drive back from Kuala Terengganu, we still had the energy to do something that we had wanted to do for a while now, to shave Ilhan's head, hehe..

Ilhan is 6 months and 22 days old today. Time has flown since he was first giving out his first cries and after he was shaved yesterday, he now looks so, so big... He has become the joy in the lives of Sue and I, and like all parents, we only want the best for our children. Time will fly even faster now, he will grow bigger, go to school, etc.

Biggest lesson that I have learnt as a parent, is to appreciate parenthood. In this I mean, to appreciate our parents. All the sacrifices that they've made, time, energy, money, hobbies, friends, holidays, the list goes on and on.

I look back to the time when I was in school and if I needed anything (in this I mean the necessities) my father would never ask me where would he get the money to buy it for me, and the countless times I had football games here and there, yadda yadda yadda.. Now I am in that position. I pray and hope, that I am given the strengh and will to be able to provide, and provide well for Ilhan (and who knows how many more ;) )

Sorry seems to be the hardest word..

Humility, something I have learnt to appreciate over the past few years. I have been in my share of messes, involving family, friends and colleagues. I used to be able to weave my way out of these situations, but now I am adopting a much simpler, yet amazingly effective approach - just admit it, apologise and get on with it! No more being politically correct, witty and even bending the limits of truth to get out of sticky situations..and the satisfaction...

However, I am not writing about how I have changed my ways and how much it means to me, today I am resigned to the fact that some people are just plain stubborn, thick headed and in what we call in Malay 'bebal'. The Quran, in the verse Yaasin, ayat 10 had clearly stated that you can preach and warn them, but they will not heed and listed to what you have to say, may be applied for this situation.

We can empathise and sympathise, but everyone has its limits. Most of the people around me had given up hope long ago, but I strongly believed that they were not seeing the whole picture, not seeing why decisions are made and the opprtunity that lies ahead. Today, my limit has been breached.

I sometimes picture myself as a decendent from a chapter of Malay History Books. We live to serve our leaders, and to rebel against our leaders is the most cardinal of sins. I have disagreed with my superiors, argued and stated my case, but stuck to the fact that I shall respect the chosen leader and the decisions he or she makes. But true, to the history books, there are times when the cruel and unjust leader brings about mutiny and revolt. Over the past couple of weeks, I have seen this happen and throughout this time, I have lost my faith in the leadership. Respect, what little I have left of it, somehow, is intact.

When small problems are not addressed, they don't go away. When will we ever realise this? I can vouch that although the truth may hurt, it is the best medicine. The truth is somewhere out there, will we ever get to know it? Lets hope we'll find out (before later is too late)...

KMIT no more...

Today marked what seems to be the end of an era (if you can call it one) for what used to be known as KMIT, then Corporate Strategy (if it ever was...) Though the direction of where, who and what is still unclear, the why factor was evident. There was a massive hole between the status quo and the rest of the team. There can be no reconciliation of what has been going on over the past few weeks, months and even years for some us here. Nevertheless, we all share one common mission, to be able to perform at our level best for the organisation. Enough with the blaming, taunting and misguided promises. Work, like life, must go on.

Thank you Dr. M

When all else fails, a simple thank you would do... I took great plesaure in expressing my sincere gratitude and wishing both Tun and wife good health in this new chapter of their lives. Our Alumini Look East Policy Society (ALEPS) organised a Malam Kenang Budi for Tun Dr. Mahathir on Wednesday, 12 January 2005.