What I Did Last Year's August...Part 3 (final)

The last week of last year's August, I've been called again by the Foreign Affairs. This time the venue was in Kuala Lumpur and I don't have to worry about my 3 weeks pregnant wife.

The event was 50 years Merdeka Celebration. The Government wants to make it as grand event and ready to splash out the taxpayers money making lavish ceremonies.

As far as I concerned, after few incidents regarding fellows Liasion Officer and unrest among our bosses to let these officers out to do this country proud, I make it clear that this my last involvement with the Foreign Affairs. As my last contribution, I will make sure that it will run smoothly and turns out to be the best experince I ever had.

The task was New Zealand's Home Affairs Minister, H.E. Rick Barker (he just want me to call him Rick). He arrived on the 29th and as usual, we have to pick him up at the KLIA and make sure his safety to his room in Renaissance Hotel, near KLCC.

Came with his wife Jennifer, his political secretary Kaine Thompson and his protocol assistant , these guest are very funny and easy to handle as they are a bit allergic to protocols. The less protocol the better it is.

This time, I got a suite room just for myself. So, I brought Melmel together so she will not alone and have better understanding my line of work. After a short brief about tomorrow's schedule, we called it a day.

The next morning, the first job is going shopping. His wife, Jennifer is very shopaholic person. I like her. She is small but has very nice personality and accept me as a brother.

This special guest are very fond of Malay's cuisines. So, we brought them to Tupai-Tupai Restaurant and they loved the food very much.


After Tupai-Tupai, I brought them to more places and all of it are restaurant. We go to Sri Melayu, and even Pelita Nasi Kandar.

So, as a response, they brought us to one of New Zealand's War Ship making their 'pit-stop' in Klang Harbour. They had a special party that night...Very special party by the navies. :P

After celebrating our Merdeka Day, its time for them to go home. Jennifer gave me a hug before she left. She seems quite sad but anxious to go home, Before they left, Rick gave me a few hundred Ringgit tips, an All Black Adidas cap, a New Zealand's Manukah Honey and a bottle of New Zealand's Vodka..(I gave the vodka to our Indian driver).

So, to Rick, Jennifer, Kaine, the protocol secretary (sorry, I forgot your name), and our security officer, Pyan..its almost a year now but the memories still strong in my mind.

To All Malaysian, HAPPY MERDEKA DAY!!!! Cherish every moment of freedom while its still ours.

Things I Did Last Year's August..part 2

Back from Langkawi, I'm off to another island. This time its Tioman. And again I have to left my beautiful pregnant wife at home for the whole weekend and of course we are not quite happy about that. But you can never say 'no' to your work even you hated it so much!!

From Subang Airport, a fokker owns by Berjaya Air brought us directly to Tioman Island and a bus is already waiting for us to the next destination. Needless to say where we are heading to..of course its Berjaya Tioman Resort. Can you believe it, Ministerial meeting in such resort. How nice of 'em.

This is the actual chalet there. My room was on the right in the ground floor level . There was a lovely Korean couple staying upstair, sometime I can hear them "sexercising"..hehe

The meeting was only 2 days. After that..Enjoy!!!

First activity was snorkeling. My mood quite unstable after being scolded by "you know who" eary in the morning. But what the heck..just forget bout it and enjoy the day. In the end, it turns out that Dato' "you know who" get drowned and guess who saved her that day? IT WAS ME!!!!

After that, Tioman Sea Reservertory (Taman Laut Tioman). Just look at the fish..glad I didn't brings my fishing rod with me. The penalty for fishing here is quite scary..RM400 for one fish!!

The next day, journey home. No more flights. We have to take ferry to the nearest jetty and bus back to Putrajaya.

To be continue..

Things I Did Last Year's August..part 1

In August last year, I did more challenging and exciting things than this year's August. It worth to share to others rather than just to keep it to myself. This are the things that I did Last Year's August.

1. In the first week, I was in Langkawi. Eventhough it happens 2 weeks after my wedding but its not our honeymoon and I was alone, separated with my wife. If its not because the duty for the country, there was no way we could be apart.

I was choosen by the Foreign Affairs to be part of Langkawi International Dialougue (LID). The task was to be the Liasion Officer (LO) cum Protocol Officer for Swaziland's King, King Mswati III..although in the end my friend, Rafiza was taking the task and I was the LO for his 9th bride, Queen Lamagongo.

('da man)

(The queen was the tallest, standing on the left side of Datin Seri Jeanne)

There are lots of stories and experience while duty but I rather keep it to myself this time. Its national security, dude. Just kidding.. but maybe next time.

But what I really can't forget was the chance to snap a pic with our beloved 'Che Det'. At first I was the only man asking to snap a pic with him before he had his dinner. Later, I was surrounded by my colleague.

(Thank you, Tun)

2. In LID, I got sms from my wife. She always sms me all the time but this time it is quite unusual because it comes with a pic that speaks the meaning for itself.

For those who are unfamiliar with this, it is DIY Pregnancy Test and the two red lines indicates that the person tested is pregnant.

(Moral of the story: I gonna be a dad!!!)

...to be continue

Ikrar Perkhidmatan Awam

Selepas tiba dari Terengganu pada Ahad yang lalu, aku terus mempersiapkan diri untuk mengendalikan Majlis Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (APC) untuk Kementerian aku.

Aku ucapkan tahniah kepada bos aku dan staf kami kerana telah melakukan kerja yang baik dalam menjayakan majlis ini dari segi persiapan maupun pada hari Majlis tersebut.



Acara wajib yang harus dilakukan dalam Majlis ini adalah Pembacaan Ikrar Perkhidmatan Awam yang lebih menjurus kepada ikrar untuk mengurangkan perbuatan rasuah.

Pada aku, ikrar ini adalah suatu sumpah kita kepada suatu pihak yang lain dan diri kita sendiri untuk mematuhi sumpah yang dimeterai. Namun, sehingga ke hari ini, kedudukan negara dalam Indeks Penunjuk Rasuah (CPI) terus merudum. Setiap hari ada sahaja cerita berkenaan rasuah di kaca televisyen ataupun di media akhbar. Kenapa kah perkara ini terjadi?

Baru-baru ini, di Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen (IPK) Johor telah kehilangan dadah rampasan bernilai RM 2 juta yang disimpan di dalam bilik bukti. Setahu aku, Polis Di-Raja Malaysia antara pasukan yang paling cekap di dunia. Pun hilang jugak..hairan??

Tidak kurang juga Ketua-Ketua Jabatan yang bergred Utama didapati bersalah atas tuduhan rasuah.

Kedengaran di dalam pemilihan pemimpin negara pun, rasuah juga wujud.

Jadi apakah signifikannya perbuatan ikrar itu?

Guane Gamok Awok Kiter

Rasanya dah dekat dua minggu aku x update. So, kali nie aku letak 'bundle' terus.

Balik Kampung

Minggu lepas aku balik ke negeri tercinta, Terengganu Darul Iman. Balik dengan pelbagai misi. Hantar Mi dan Abah. Depa dah rindu kat anak cucu yang ramai di Terengganu. Lagipun musim buah masih 'on' di sana. Sempat jugak aku merasa saki baki durian dan manggis di kebun kami. Rambutan tak berapa menjadi pulak tahun nie.


Kawin

Salah satu agenda aku balik kampung adalah untuk menghadiri kenduri kawin Anna. Anna akhirnya sah menjadi isteri orang. Alhamdulillah. Harapnya berkekalan hingga ke akhir hayat.

P/S: MB Terengganu pun ada datang...tapi tak pasti plak datang dengan Merc barunya atau tidak.

Gossip

Sebut tentang kawin, teringat pulak mengenai kawan selebriti aku yang kawin dilayar perak disebabkan suatu pertandingan realiti tidak lama dahulu. Dari mulutnya, dia memberitahu adiknya bakal melangsungkan perkahwinan dalam bulan Ogos jugak.

Wah..'why so sudden"??

Adik dia baru 22 tahun..ustazah pulak tuh..dan baru je balik dari menunaikan umrah...

Umrah?? Ustazah?? 20-an?? Did it rings any bells??? Hahaha..lu pikir laa sendiri..

Mungkin sudah jodohnya..itu kuasa Allah. Juga diharapkan berkekalan laa kali nie..

Buat bakal pengantin lelaki..Lu jaga bebaik adik kawan gua nih..kalu tak lobam bijik mata ko!!


Politik

Datok Seri Anuar Ibrahim (DSAI) akan bertanding di Permatang Pauh selepas isterinya, Datin Seri Wan Azizah telah meletakkan jawatan bagi membolehkan DSAI bertanding. Lagipun pada asalnya nie memang kawasan DSAI pun..



Lawannya kali nie, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Seberang Jaya, Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah.

Pilihanraya dijangka akan dijalankan pada 26 Ogos ini.

Sukan

Semalam Terengganu dibelasah oleh Kedah 3-0 dalam pertemuan pertama separuh akhir Piala Malaysia.
Walaupun kecewa, tapi aku masih belum putus harapan. '2nd leg' masih boleh belasah balik 4-0 atau lebih..Peteh Teranung Peteh!!!!

Kerja
Selepas balik dari Terengganu, aku mendapati kerja yang berlambak menunggu aku.
Arghhh tensen!!!

Duniaku

Hari ini, genaplah puteri kesayanganku berusia 4 bulan. Hari ini juga masuk hari ke-empat dia dihantar kepada pengasuhnya, Kak Saemah.

Sedih jugak bila tengok matanya yang sayu tatkala dia diambil di awal pagi. Petang pula lah baru berjumpa kembali.

Begitulah realiti kehidupan di kota. Semua sibuk mencari sesuap nasi untuk diberikan kepada yang tercinta.

Harapnya anakku menbesarlah menjadi orang yang berguna. Supaya bangga mami dan dadi sepanjang hidup di dunia.

Harapnya jadi insan muslimah yang menjadi harapan ummah. Dikala manusia leka dan lemah.

Amin. Ya-Robba Alamin.

Stop Making People Angry

Yesterday our PM has blamed civil servants for many of the problems in the country which has made the people angry and hate the government.

You can read the details from The Sun here.

Let me quotes a few:

"...for example, our inefficiency in doing our jobs, our extreme bureaucratic measures which make people hate us,our actions which people think involved corruption, or our decisions on the private sector or the people which were made too late,"

"Don’t let people think we are not responsible, not trustworthy, not caring at all or arrogant. This will surely make them angry and this is not good because all these are our own doing."

Well Mr PM, isn't yourself you're talking about just now?