State Clinical Conference

The 8th Sabah State Clinical Conference will begin this Thursday. Tomorrow the team will be going over and set up the stuffs... computers, screens, tables, backdrops... I thought my task will be pretty simple, just to collect the presentations and compile into one computer. Then today, the chairman asked me to do a couple more PowerPoint presentations lagi. Luckily, they're all done in an afternoon. A big thanks to AUNTIE LIZ for your PowerPoint lessons, if you are reading this. The venue will be pretty crammed... 200 people in a small hall. So, those from Keningau might have to sit on the floor if the seats are full. On Saturday, we have organized a trip to Tenom Agricultural Park, and a Golf Tournament. Aiya sayang I haven't learned golfing yet, even though the greens is just 5 minutes away from the Hospital. My loupo said: GOLF = Game Orang Lupa Family. You agree?

Bought tickets to go to KL for 27th Sep to 2nd Oct. AirAsia la of course, even poor doctors can fly ma. Want to go to SPA in Putrajaya to sort out my Pengesahan Jawatan stuffs, if it's still not done by then. Need it for Masters programme application. My ex-uni classmates went there last Oct, got everything done in a day, and are now in 1st year Masters already. Mine ah, all documents sent early January, now still DALAM PROSES. Gosh, aren't you dissapointed about the government agencies? My friend Jastin is also going on a one-week 'retreat and refreshing' trip to School of Acts in KL; I might drop by there and visit him. We happen to be on the same night flight to KL.

Chills in Keningau

It has been raining a lot in Keningau. Weather is nice and cool all day, and in the night in gets really chilly. Walking in the streets is like walking in air-con everywhere. At times it gets horribly COLD. Guess I shouldn't be envying people who live part of their lives in winter each year. Then again... would love to have a try at making snowman and throwing snowballs.

Two colleagues are attending an O&G course in a hotel in town. I drop by at the right timing for the nice meals. Department is a bit short of manpower. Pretty tiring work.

Next week my hospital will be hosting the 8th Sabah State Clinical Conference. This year's theme is about Cancers and Management. We'll be having doctors and paramedics from all over Sabah gathering in Hotel Perkasa Keningau listening to authoritative speakers lecturing on Cancers and Management. I am in the Scientific Committee, so got some work to do la, cannot just shake leg and watch all the fun.

Got a piece of good news coming... but I'll keep the suspense for now. Hahaha...

Kursus PERASA

I went for a short course at the foothill of Mount Kinabalu over the last weekend. It was held in Zen Garden Resort, Kundasang, Ranau. A very nice and secluded resort with a grand view of Mount Kinabalu.

PERASA stands for Pembimbing Rakan Sekerja. Basically the course aimed to brainwash the participants to become nicer and more caring persons la. Something like Pendidikan Moral, but more relevant to the working world. There were 32 participants from all over Sabah... specialists, doctors, dentists, pharmacists and counsellors. The facilitator was an experienced counsellor imported from West Malaysia. The course lasted 4 days 3 nights.

It was a very intensive course. Sessions started from morning and ended past midnight. In between lectures there were group games, group karaoke (patriotic songs and Indon oldies), funny activities, video clips, assignments etc. Truly macam-macam ada. Besides learning good ethical values, we had to fix a 1000 pieces puzzle, make hampers, make group flag, collect token stickers, write little appreciation notes, do performances, wear a self-made silly hat all day long, keep a raw egg... the list was endless. Really tiring la! Other than that, food was great, weather cool and chilly, and participants were sporting.


We had a memorable evening at the Don Bosco Children Home in Kampung Bundu Tuhan on Friday. We went to entertain the kids, basically. The groups sang and danced with them and did plays. Some groups taught the kids to draw, others had singing sesions and group dynamics, interviews, planted trees in the garden, cleaned the compound... I chatted with a Sister Lioni to find out more about the Children Home. There are about 80 plus orphan kids staying there, from little children to form six students. In the day, they attend normal schools nearby, then come back to the Home, which offer them food and accomodation, friends and 'family'. It was started by a Catholic mission, and is now fully funded by public donations.


I was totally worn out after the course. Stayed a night in KK and had dinner with Uncle Sualim and family. Did a bit of shopping with my loupo on Sunday. PC Fair and Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival was in town. Later we drove back to interior Sabah.

Doa untuk Malaysia - 7.8.06

Today's prayer item for the 40 days Fasting and Prayer is on the topic of National Unity(Perpaduan Negara). Came across this on the bottom of the prayer list:

DOA: Komitmen orang Kristian untuk terlibat dengan lebih
giat dalam pembangunan negara dan mencari peluang untuk melibatkan diri dalam proses penggubalan polisi.

Hmmm, how to have more Christians into policy-making? I take it to mean, to have more exemplary Christian leaders in high positions... be they in the civil service, NGOs, corporate world, and ... umm politics.

Christians in politics. Some say, Christians shouldn't be into politics... it's too dirty and corrupting. Others say, if Christians don't care about politics, who is to blame if more and more unfavourable policies appear. What do you think?

Anyway, from Sabah there are two Christian ministers (i think) in Prime Minister's Department: Dr Maximus Ongkili and Tan Sri Bernard Dompok. Hope that they exude their Christian influence well while they are in high office. Don't let the you-know-who 'racist' guy call all the shots.

Current events

I am given the task of sharing a message in the PMM youth service tomorrow. As I was doing my research on the net, I have come across the following articles that to me, are written with good intention and sincerity.

Click on if you want to read more. I know, these topics are just not everybody's cup of tea. But like it or not, they are important issues in this country that we live in, and the outcome will affect your life sooner or later, for better or for worse.

Statement on Interfaith Commision Initiative
Has inter-faith friction occured in our multi-racial and multi-religious society? Yes, over and over again, and more to come. Is there an adequate platform to discuss such issues intelectually? None that I know of. Why? Coz the leadership says these are sensitive issues and we are too immature to be even allowed to discuss about it. The IFC initiative hoped to offer a platform to discuss and sort out such issues, offering itself as an advisory body. Unfortunately, some groups have falsely accused the intentions of the IFC, and making protests to protect their ideology. I dunno whether to call it hypocrisy or blind loyalty. More unfortunately, our leadership has bowed to such protests (of mob rule and chaos) and shot down the IFC before it could even begin. Here the chairperson of IFC initiative explains their stand.

Upholding our secular constition
Here's an interview with a senior Muslim lawyer on the need to protect our secular Constitution from increasing pressure from Islamisation and the push for an Islamic state. He is personally involved in the court cases of Lina Joy, Shamala, Moorthy and others. I admire his sincerity in upholding the rights of non-Muslims as guaranteed in the Constitution, despite him being a Muslim lawyer.

Rights of non-Muslims in an Islamic state
Your hear it over and over again... arguments whether Malaysia is an Islamic state or not. The most famous one was 'Malaysia ini negara Islam. You tak suka, you keluar dari Malaysia!' uttered in a shouting match in Parliament last year. The Constitution says Islam is the religion of the Federation. What does that suppose to mean? What is an Islamic state? I am confused. I stumbled upon this article (which is about Islam, not just Malaysian-Islam). You should read it to understand why some things are happening in such a way in Malaysia, and how far we have been led towards an Islamic state.

I say it again, pray for the nation.

How to solve a problem

When there's a problem and it is causing confusion and dissatisfaction, how do you solve it?

First you acknowledge that there is a problem. Usually, you call for a meeting, get the parties to sit together and talk things out, and then try to find a solution that is best for all. If that can't be done, well at least give a clear explanation, and a solution that is favorable to all. The worst thing to do is to pretend that the problem does not exist, everything ok, sweep it under the carpet, and shout 'shut up and just do as I say'. Let's not kid ourselves, the problem will not go away. It'll just wait for the right time to explode.

Unfortunately, people in high positions and leadership posts do not seem to understand the rule of problem solving. I mean THIS. And the big joke is, they are invited as guests to teach about problem solving in another country, when they could not even handle it properly with their own. Read HERE.

To me, it read weak, insincere and incompetent leadership. Pray for the nation, please.

Rule of chaos

On a Sunday morning two months ago, a group of Malaysians gathered in front of the KLCC to voice their protest regarding the hike in fuel prices and escalating costs of living. They were ordinary citizens of various races showing their concern about issues that affect their daily lives. What did they get in return? A treat of water cannon and violent bashings from the FRU and police. 'No permit', the enforcers said.

Yesterday another group of Malaysians gathered too, voicing their protest of what's happening in faraway Lebanon. However, they received pretty good treatment I would say, that they could march all the way into an international conference site, pushed their way past FRU lines, gathered for 3 hours, and their leader got to show his bad manners to a guest of the Malaysian government. He 'gave Rice five minutes to come out and receive the memorandum'. Well, the FRU and police were very tolerant this time, no mention of needing any permit. Read the full text HERE. And HERE is another example where it's ok to stage fiery protests and make violent threats... but you must be with the right party and the right race.

How I see it, it's NOT OK if you protest something that concerns your livelihood. It's OK it you protest about other people's business. If you are an ordinary citizen, you have no right gather and voice you problems. If you are aligned to the right party, you can get away scot-free showing your bad manners in public and creating chaos, even if you are bossing about other people's business.

This kind of double-standard and lack-of-principle response from the government is indeed worrying. I dunno whether it is a sign of weak governance, or a sign of preferential treatment and silent consent that is leading to more worrying agendas.

Pray for the nation in the coming Merdeka month.

Alvin and Jenny - Part 3 of 3

We woke up late on the Sunday morning, due to the hectic day before.

Brought Irene's family for dim sum (Chinese touch-hearts ?) breakfast.


Well, the dim sum in Seremban is probably a bit lacking compared to the famous ones in Foh San Ipoh, but close enough.


After breakfast we went for a spin in Seremban town. Took a walk at the stalls beside the market, where we bought durians for RM 4 per kg (in Sabah it's RM 10 per kg). Irene's dad bought a plant to bring back to Sabah.


From there we went to check out the State Museum, which features a unique Mikangkabau architecture. Remember the schooltime story of Minangkabau, where a calf killed a bull, thanks to a little boy's wisdom?


Finally we went to the Seremban Train Station. Irene's parents and brother Ian took the Komuter train to go to KL Sentral, where a relative will receive them for the rest of their trip. Meanwhile, me and loupo went back to rest.


In the evening, we took an AirAsia flight back to Kota Kinabalu. Irene's auntie was there to pick us up. Took our car and stayed in a hotel in KK for the night. Tried to wake up at 2 a.m. for the World Cup finals... but couldn't la. Anyway, there was a replay in the morning, and we watched Zidane's 'amazing' header, and Italy kicked out France.

That's the end of the trilogy story. If you would like to see more photos, click the links below. But dun compare la... he got dSLR, and award-winning photographer lagi. Me just play-play take photos.
Kenneth's photos
Michael's photos

Alvin and Jenny - Part 2 of 3

After sweating an afternoon out in Midvalley Megamall, we went to my 5th auntie's house for some freshening up. In the evening, we drove in a convoy to Bukit Jalil for the wedding dinner.

Alvin and Jenny chose to have their wedding dinner at the Bukit Jalil Golf and Country Club. The dinner booking was made way in advance last year! Seems that people in KL had to make wedding dinner bookings even a year in advance, otherwise... belanja makan in mamak stall la.

Here's Mark and Julia registering the diners.


Alvin and Jenny making their entrance.


Then the food made its entrance.


It was a Chinese-style wedding dinner, 8-course with desserts.

The families went on stage for the toast.


Then there was the yam-seng and bottoms-up session around the restaurant, from table to table. For kids too, as you can see... There were some XOs being passed around (if you don't know what this is, don't worry). I was forced to try a little bit. Just a bit bit. I said I was driving ma.


As the dinner came to and end, me and loupo took some photos at the club.


Then we drove back to Seremban to rest and sleep. It had been a long and tiring day.

... to be continued ...

Alvin and Jenny - Part 1 of 3

My younger brother Alvin married his long-time girlfriend Jenny on the 8th of July 2006. They were paktor-ing since Form Six, then university, then working.... then now at last.

Since my loupo and her family members haven't met many of my relatives in West Malaysia, they too came along. We arrived in KLIA past midnight, then woke up early the next morning and drove up to Petaling Jaya for Alvin's wedding.

The wedding was held in Grace Community Center in Section 23, Petaling Jaya. To my surprise, the venue looked more like a church than a community center. We had some trouble finding the place, you know... PJ roads and the traffic and so on.

We arrived early, luckily. Alvin had got an official photographer Kenneth, armed with his dSLR Canon 350D. I shy shy to show my Canon S2IS, so I turned off my photographer mode, sat back and relax. But fingers got itchy, had to take out my S2 later and started to shoot... some crappy photos.

Here's Alvin with his bestman Chiew-Yan (his ol' schoolmate) waiting anxiously for the ceremony to start. And, hey, where's the bride??? Still doing make-up ka? Learn to get used to it man.


Ah, here they are. The wedding march played, and the father brought his daughter to be presented to the groom. Much like the scene in the Garden of Eden, where the heavenly Father brought Eve to Adam (difference was it was a naked event back then).


The wedding started with reading of the scriptures, then some Christian songs. The ceremony pastor, Pastor Stancil gave a sermon on essential elements of a good marriage... Communion, Companionship, Commitment.


Here's the pastor saying 'eii, are you guys serious ah... don't play play hah!'. No la, just joking. There was the exchange of vows, then the exchange of rings.


After that, they had the marriage certificate signing ceremony.


That was followed by the transfering of flames from two candles to one big candle, signifying two persons uniting into one soul. Or two families joined into one big family, depends on how you intepret it. Quite a nice touch.


Then the newly-wed knelt before the altar to receive prayer of blessing from the ceremony pastor. Sorry I didn't manage to catch the you-may-kiss-the-bride photo, but I am sure Kenneth had them.


And here they are, the new Mr and Mrs Hoong. (Mine was done earlier already).


When all was done, there was the photography session, followed by makan-makan upstairs.


When everything was over, my parents went to Alvin's apartment to get some rest. Me and loupo and her family went to Midvalley Megamall to get some exercise.

... to be continued...