CJ7

I have always been a huge fan of Stephen Chow. Growing up, I watched all (or at least I think all) of his movies repeatedly. Even today, I still revisit them on Netflix. So in 2008, when CJ7 was first released, I was thrilled. For the first time, I finally had the money to watch his work on the big screen.

I still remember, it was released during Chinese New Year when I was in Penang. I completely underestimated Stephen Chow’s ability to draw crowds to the cinema. To my disappointment, every ticket was sold out. Friends who managed to watch it told me the film wasn’t particularly funny, that CJ7 itself wasn’t all that cute, and that it had very limited screen time. They said it was more of a father-and-son drama than a typical Stephen Chow comedy. The moment I heard that, I decided to avoid it.

You see, after losing my father at the age of 13, I became extremely emotional with films that touched, even for a bit, on father-son relationships. I avoided them like a lethal virus. Even lighthearted movies like Adam Sandler’s Click or Rise of the Planet of the Apes (where an ape sees his guardian as a father figure) were enough to bring me to tears. Naturally, I stayed away from CJ7 all these years. Until last night, when I finally felt ready to watch it.

And yes, it was every bit as difficult as I feared. The scene that hit me the hardest was when the son told his father to leave him alone forever. That line pierced me deeply, because it mirrored the very same feeling I had on my last day with my own father.

I remember it vividly, as though it happened yesterday. It was the final day of a week-long school holiday, and my father was driving me with my siblings back to my boarding school. Along the way, he asked about my medicine cause I’d been down with a fever earlier in the break. I frantically searched my bags but couldn’t find it. That triggered his anger, and for the entire almost 40 minutes journey, he lectured me about responsibility.

He spoke about his own childhood, how difficult and impoverished it was. How he had to wash dishes in the school canteen just to afford food during recess. How his older brother would beat him if he was lazy or irresponsible. He told us how privileged we were compared to him. My sisters caught bits of his frustration, but most of it was directed squarely at me.

I sat in silence, annoyed, absorbing every word but wishing the journey would end quickly. My father wasn’t a talkative man, so for him to nag at such length was rare. Little did I know, those words would be his final lesson to me, a last will of sorts, his wisdom pressed into us before his time was up.

When we finally reached school, relief washed over me. I remember muttering in my heart, “Thank God, we’re finally here. I don’t have to listen to your nagging anymore.” I kissed his hand, and he looked at me with worried eyes. Later, as I unpacked, I discovered the medicine tucked neatly in one of my bag compartments, the very one I had missed.

I can’t help but think it was God’s way of preparing me. Of giving my father an excuse for one last chance to toughen me up for what was to come, to be ready to be the head of the family.

I’ve never been someone who believes in regret. My mother always reminded me to hold firmly to Qada’ & Qadar, that everything happens for a reason. Still, if there’s one thing I wish I could change, it would be the last “words” I offered my father: silent resentment instead of gratitude. If only I had a CJ7 of my own, to grant me one last hug with him and nag me all he wants cause I really really miss him.

Now that I am a father myself, I finally see things through his eyes. He wasn’t disappointed in me that day, he was worried. He wasn’t angry at me, he was questioning himself, wondering if he had done enough to prepare me for the cruelty of the world. And, Ayah, if you’re listening somewhere, you did. I don’t know if you’d be proud of me, but I think I’ve managed okay.

Coincidentally, today marks my son’s first month in this world. So, happy one-month birthday, my dearest Muhammad Noor Azfar. May you grow into the son to a father that I never managed to be~

bin Mohd Nordin

27/09/2025

Petang ini: Hujan lebat selebatnya. Seperti lebatnya air mata yang mengalir tatkala mengenang kembali saat-saat akhir bersama ayah~

Hold my hand for as long as I breath, Muhammad Nur Azfar~

Some friends said we look similar. Are we?

BUDIMU YANG BERTERUSAN

Sehari selepas ayah meninggal, sebelum mak balik dari Mekah, aku buka almari baju ayah dengan harapan ada baju ayah yang cantik-cantik yang boleh aku warisi. Tapi lepas tengok keadaan baju ayah terutamanya baju kerjanya, yang serba lusuh, kolar melepuh, seluar sukan dah melorot getahnya malahan seluar dalam pun koyak-rabak, serta merta aku terus menangis kat situ juga mengenangkan betapa daifnya keadaan pakaian-pakaian ayah yang tinggal. Kalau ada orang tengok koleksi pakaian ayah, pasti tak percaya ini almari pakaian seorang pegawai kanan kerajaan.

Terasa serba salah sebab sebelum itu aku ada mengadu kat mak kena ejek di sekolah sebagai "Duta Pelancongan" sebab baju kemeja-t aku kebanyakannya adalah cenderahati yang dibeli mak dan ayah setiap kali mereka perlu berkerja/berkursus di luar negeri dan negara. Dari Holland sampailah ke Langkawi, baju kemeja-t aku bawa ke asrama memang semuanya ada nama tempat. Teringin juga nak pakai baju Alien Workshop ke, Billabong ke, Quiksilver ke, jenama yang menjadi pujaan remaja pada zaman itu. Tapi aku betul-betul insaf lepas tengok keadaan pakaian ayah. Walaupun baju pelancongan pun, setidaknya masih juga baju baharu. Berbanding pakaian ayah yang mungkin ada yang lebih sedekad usianya.

Terus aku teringat pada suatu malam apabila ayah balik dari kerja bersungguh-sungguh dia peragakan pada aku kasut Pallas Jazz warna biru (atau merah, tak ingat sangat tapi warnanya memang agak keremajaan) yang baru dibelinya. Dalam hati aku masa tu, apa bendalah yang ayah aku teruja sangat beli kasut murah tu. Sudahlah gaya dan warna tak sesuai langsung dengan usia dia pada aku. "Cantik tak Angah? Cantik kan?" berulang kali dia bertanya sambil mencuba kasut tersebut di ruang tamu rumah. Saat itu baru aku faham, barangkali dah lama dia mengidam kasut tersebut, mungkin sejak remaja tapi akhirnya baru dapat beli. Sebab itu ayah yang selalunya garang dan jarang tunjuk gembiranya tetiba jadi kanak-kanak riang hanya kerana sepasang kasut baharu.

Kami 7 adik-beradik tak pernah rasa miskin. Malahan, apa yang ada di rumah kami lebih daripada apa yang ada di kebanyakan rumah lain. Semua berkat pengorbanan ayah yang tak pernah ambil kisah tentang keadaan dirinya. Malahan, berdekad selepas dia meninggal pun, jasanya masih terasa sehingga kini.

Hebatnya kamu tiada tolok bandingnya. Terima kasih ayah atas budimu yang berterusan~

Petang ini: Mendung yang tak hujan. Bagaikan air mata yang bergenang, diseka agar tidak jatuh berlinangan~

BAU JARI AMEER FARUQI

*Penafian: Cerita ini adalah rekaan semata-mata, tiada kena mengena dengan yang hidup atau pun yang telah meninggal dunia. Jika ada persamaan nama, tempat dan watak dengan dunia sebenar, itu adalah kebetulan sahaja.*

Ameer Faruqi kelihatan cemas. Peluh jantan mengalir deras daripada segenap sudut susuk tubuh gempalnya. Sudahlah dia memang senang melekit. Situasi sebegini nyata tidak membantu. Dia melompat masuk ke dalam dorm B08 dengan segera melalui celahan yang mana kepingan tingkap  kaca telah pun dialihkan bagi memudahkannya masuk dari koridor luar. Shaidil Eman yang sedang berbisik bergayut di sudut dorm tampak kurang senang dengan kekalutan Ameer Faruqi yang sedang kaget di tepinya.

Ameer Faruqi melihat ke setiap penjuru dormnya. Seakan sedang mencari sesuatu. " Ah sudah, matilah aku! Baru ingat nak relaks sambil tengok pemandangan kat koridor luar ni. Macam mana dia boleh lalu sini pula petang-petang ni. Aku dah last case ni. Kalau ayah aku tau, memang mampus aku kena kunci dalam bonet kereta ni kalau kena buang sekolah. Mampus! " Ameer Faruqi bermonolog sendiri dalam hati sambil membayangkan dialog perbualan antaranya dan bapanya jika dia dibuang sekolah.

Penghuni lain dorm B08, anggota 10 Jahanam gelaran yang diberikan kepada 10 pelajar paling nakal di SMAPk untuk tahun 2003, kesemuanya melihat sahaja Ameer Faruqi kekalutan mencari-cari sesuatu di dalam  lokernya. Mereka semua hairan, apa agaknya yang merasuk Ameer Faruqi sehingga dia jadi tak keruan pada petang Sabtu begini?

Ameer Faruqi semakin gelisah tatkala mendengar deruman enjin motor Honda Cup sedang melalui susur gajah antara blok B dan C. Dia bertambah-tambah panik apabila bunyi enjin motor itu mati di tepi tangga antara blok A dan B. " Dia dah sampai. Apa aku nak buat ni? $#$%@$&@*@) " Ameer Faruqi mencarut-carut dalam hati. Tiba-tiba, dia dapat suatu idea yang agak menjijikkan tapi ternyata dapat membantu melepaskan dia daripada permasalahan yang menjerut. " Ah, gasaklah. Aku dah terdesak dah ni. Layankan aje " Ameer Faruqi mengomel sambil meneruskan idea 'bernas'nya. Rakan-rakan dorm B08 semua terkejut melihat tindak-tanduk Ameer Faruqi. Buang tabiatkah?

" Assalamualaikum semua! Siapa yang hisap rokok di koridor luar tadi?! Ustaz nampak. Baik mengaku cepat!" Teriak Ustaz Muhyiddin atau lebih dikenali sebagai Tok Moh dikalangan para pelajar secara tiba-tiba di muka pintu dorm B08 mengejutkan kesemua 10 Jahanam. Baru kini mereka faham mengapa Ameer Faruqi bagai cacing kepanasan sedari tadi. Masing-masing juga berasa bengang dengan Ameer Faruqi, sudahlah dia punca Tok Moh menyerbu dorm dan mengganggu petang hujung minggu mereka, tak beri amaran pula tu dia nak datang. Menggelupur kesemuanya mencari kain pelikat ataupun seluar panjang untuk dikenakan. Maklumlah lelaki, jika di dorm, memang biasanya hanya berseluar dalam kecuali Nik Hasrul yang cintakan kebebasan.

Selesai menyediakan diri untuk tidak mendedahkan aurat, mereka termasuk Ameer Faruqi berdiri di depan katil masing-masing. Kesemuanya tunduk terdiam sambil kaki menguis-menguis lantai berdebu yang tak pernah disapu sejak sesi persekolahan bermula. Mereka tau, apabila Tok Moh mengenakan seluar sukan ungunya itu, akan ada mangsa yang bernasib malang. Bak kata Russell Peters, 'somebody gonna get hurt real bad'. Setakat ini, belum ada yang terselamat daripada kehebatan mukjizat seluar ungu itu. Adakah Ameer Faruqi bakal jadi yang pertama?

" Ooo, tiada yang nak mengaku ye. Baiklah, hulur tangan masing-masing ke depan. Siapa yang tangannya berbau rokok, saya nasihatkan baik sediakan wasiat sekarang." Gertak Tok Moh sambil berharap ada yang akan tampil ke depan untuk mengaku. Melihatkan kesemuanya tak berganjak daripada posisi senang diri mereka, Tok Moh pun mula menghidu jari mereka satu-persatu bermula dari Ahmad Hafiz yang katilnya terletak paling hampir dengan pintu. Anehnya, Ameer Faruqi yang menggelupur sejak tadi tampak agak tenang. Mungkinkah ini sandiwaranya bagi mengelirukan Tok Moh? Mengenangkan drama kegemaran Ameer Faruqi adalah La Usurpadora, yang bermaksud penyamaran, yang ditontonnya tanpa jemu setiap hari di bilik TV selepas prep petang, agak logik bahawa ini adalah penyamarannya untuk nampak tidak bersalah.

Satu-persatu tangan ahli 10 Jahanam dihidu. Pelbagai jenis aroma menusuk ke hidung Tok Moh namun bukan bau rokok yang dicari. Akhirnya Tok Moh tiba di hadapan Ameer Faruqi. Dia yakin pasti ini adalah orangnya kerana dia adalah yang terakhir. Tambahan pula, Ameer Faruqi asyik memandang lantai tidak berani bertentang mata dengannya, ciri-ciri seorang pesalah. Tok Moh sangat yakin dia telah menjumpai  mangsanya untuk hari itu. Perlahan-lahan dia tunduk ke depan mendekati jari-jemari Ameer Faruqi yang dihulurkan kepadanya. Tok Moh menghembus nafas panjang bersedia untuk menarik nafas dan menyedut bauan yang dia yakin sudah pastinya bau rokok murah yang dihisap oleh Ameer Faruqi sebentar tadi.

" Astaghfirullahalazim! Bau apa ni?!!! Busuknya! " Tok Moh separa menjerit usai menyedut bau semerbak daripada jari Ameer Faruqi. Shaidil Eman di sebelahnya menggigil hingga bergoyang-goyang rambut depannya. Ahmad Hafiz yang selalu basah tapak tangannya menjadi semakin basah. Hidung jawa Muhammad Hafiz kembang kempis dengan dahsyatnya. Mata Nik Hasrul yang kecil sebelah menjadi sama kecil. Sengihan hitam manis Mohd Zaidi semakin melebar. Telinga capang Ahmad Ehsan kemerah-merahan. Tangan Mohamad Nazri semakin laju menggaru celahan kelangkangnya yang tidak gatal. Kaki Fahmi Rahmi semakin menyudut ke dalam seperti Roberto Carlos ingin mengambil sepakan percuma. Sosok kerdil Ahmad Dinie terjengket-jengket cuba menstabilkan diri. Semuanya gara-gara cuba menahan ketawa kerana mereka tau apa yang dilakukan oleh Ameer Faruqi sehingga Tok Moh bereaksi sebegitu rupa.

Tok Moh masih kelihatan terkejut. Tidak pernah dia menghidu bau busuk sebegitu. Juga kerana dia tidak menyangka tiada bau rokok daripada tangan Ameer Faruqi yang sepatutnya adalah pesalah yang dicari. Dia jadi keliru. Perlahan-lahan dia berjalan keluar dari dorm B08 seperti orang hilang ingatan. Mungkin kerana masih trauma dengan bau yang dihidunya tadi. Suasana di B08 hening seketika. Sehinggalah mereka mendengar bunyi motor Honda Cup Tok Moh dihidupkan dan berlalu pergi. Lantas, seluruh isi B08 dipenuhi dengan gelak tawa berdekah-dekah. Sampai ada yang berguling-guling di atas lantai melepaskan rasa lucu yang ditahan sekian lama.

" Dahsyat betul kau ni Ameer Faruqi, bukan setakat kau berjaya tutup jejak bau rokok daripada jari, kau juga buat Tok Moh hidu bau lubang dubur kau. Kah kah kah!!! " Ahmad Dinie memuji Ameer Faruqi sambil masih berguling di lantai ketawa terbahak-bahak. Ameer Faruqi tersenyum kelat menerima komen Ahmad Dinie tersebut. Dia merenung jari-jemarinya yang baru sahaja sebentar tadi dirodok rakus ke dalam lubang duburnya tanpa berfikir panjang. Dia menghembus nafas lega terselamat daripada Tok Moh dan seluar ungunya. Ketika dia berjalan kengkang seperti penguin di Kutub Utara menuju ke bilik air untuk membasuh tangan, dia tertawa kecil sendiri memikirkan kebijaksanaannya~

Petang ini: Cuaca panas namun masih ada redupnya. Mungkin merencanakan hati yang marah pada cinta namun masih ingin terus meredupkan hatinya~

Apa Cita-Cita Kamu?

Dulu masa sekolah, bila sesi persekolahan baru bermula, masa memperkenalkan diri antara soalan yang wajib ditanya adalah “Apa-apa cita kamu?” Bila habis sesi/ pindah sekolah, cita-cita antara perkara wajib yang dinyatakan dalam buku bioadata selain daripada makanan dan minuman kegemaran (yang mana majoriti muslimin dan muslimat akan letak “semua yang halal”, ppffftt). Bila ditanya soalan ni masa sekolah rendah, antara jawapan popular adalah ahli bomba, polis, tentera, saintis, dan angkasawan (mana nak tau susah rupanya nak jadi angkasawan di Malaysia). Aku masa tu jawab nak jadi penjual ayam (logik budak-budak, penjual ayam boleh makan ayam banyak-banyak) sebab tak puas kena kongsi seketul ayam 4 orang masa tu. Satu kelas semua gelak. Bila cikgu cerita kat mak aku, dia pun gelak juga. Walhal, kalau aku teruskan usaha nak jadi tauke ayam, dah jutawan mungkin aku sekarang ni (kontrak bekalkan ayam ke KFC ada RM1 juta jugalah nilainya).

Itu masa darjah rendah. Naik darjah 5, cita-cita aku nak jadi jurutera robot. Terpengaruh tengok Voltron, Power Rangers, Cybercop, Transformers (ni zaman sebelum Michael Bay jadikan Transformers lubuk duit dia) dan Saber Rider. Setiap kali kelas pendidikan seni, mesti aku lukis robot. Tak kisahlah tema apa pun. Tajuk “Kampung Halamanku” tapi tiba-tiba ada robot berlatarbelakangkan awan di celah-celah matahari, burung bentuk Y, sawah padi petak-petak (padahal kampung aku mana ada sawah, ladang nenas ada laa), dan rumah kayu berpintu dan tingkap petak-petak. Aku rasa lukisan robot aku adalah benda paling cantik pernah aku lukis (sampai sekarang pun).

Naik darjah 6, jadi realistik sikit sebab masuk kelas pandai. Maka, bila ditanya cikgu apa cita-cita, aku jawab nak jadi juruterbang (masa ni terpengaruh dengan Thunderbirds dan Ultraman pula). Malangnya, tahun tu juga aku disahkan rabun jauh. Terus aku lepaskan cita-cita nak juruterbang ni. Pada masa inilah aku sedar, kalau aku boleh jadi apa sahaja, mestilah nak jadi manusia paling berkuasa di dunia (terpengaruh dengan cerita-cerita yang orang jahat kerjanya nak menakluk dunia macam The Pinky and The Brain). Mula-mula nak jadi Perdana Menteri, tapi fikir balik PM Malaysia takde laa besar mana. Fikir lagi, jawatan paling berkuasa adalah Presiden USA (sebab masa ni setiap hari nama Bill Clinton keluar Dunia Jam 10 sebab skandal Monica Lewinsky laa, Somalia laa, Palestin laa) tapi aku bukan warganegara USA. Ketika inilah satu nama terus muncul dalam kepala otak aku - Boutros Boutros-Ghali (sampai sekarang tak faham kenapa nama dia kena ulang 2 kali, macam Eric Djemba Djemba).

Masa aku membesar, tak banyak benda boleh dibuat di rumah. Sebelum ada PC (tahun 1996 baru ada, Windows 95, game Doom, Gods, Prince, etc menyebabkan aku jadi gamers)  dan Astro (rasanya tahun 1998, channel pun adalah 30 je kot masa ni), nak mengisi lapang aktiviti sangatlah terhad. Masa duduk Kampung Pandan merasa juga dikejar angsa, pindah Pandan Indah tengah-tengah bandar rumah depan jalan besar terus sangap. Nak main Mario kat Atari, kena tunggu ayah ada kat rumah. Nak main Tetris, kena berebut dengan nenek (Allahyarham suka main game ni sambil tidurkan adik). Nak panjat pokok mangga, nanti Achik report kat ayah. Nak keluar jalan-jalan, rumah kawan semua jauh. Nak main wrestling , Along asyik low blow je. Asyik main masak-masak, kahwin-kahwin dah bosan (membesar dengan 5 adik-beradik perempuan, ada pilihan ke?). Maka masa lapang aku banyak terisi dengan membaca. Semua benda aku baca daripada Mutiara Naga, Pendekar Laut dan Misteri Naga yang aku beli dengan hasil tabungan duit belanja sehinggalah ke Readers Digest, Newsweek dan TIME yang ayah aku langgan.

Disebabkan ayah aku kerja bahagian berita RTM masa tu, setiap kali dia ada kat rumah mesti tengok berita (Allahyarham langgan Astro pun sebenarnya sebab CNN je). Pada masa inilah nama Boutros Boutros-Ghali asyik keluar. Setiap kali berita, tak kisahlah TV ke, majalah ke, suratkhabar ke, nama dia setiap masa ada. Kes perang Bosnia, perang Somalia, perang Israel-Palestin, perang Rwanda, krisis Timur Tengah, semua benda dia terlibat. Aku rasa masa tu mamat ni memang power (tapi lepas dah tua ni baru tau dia antara SU Agung PBB yang paling teruk). Terus kaji apa jawatan dia dan bermula dari saat itu, cita-cita aku adalah untuk menjadi Setiausaha Agung PBB. Walaupun pernah sejenak bercita-cita nak jadi Pembaca Berita CNN (masa tu fikir nak kalahkan ayah je, apa barang RTM), tapi sampai sekarang ini masih cita-cita aku. Dengan kerja yang aku buat sekarang ni, memang jauh tersasarlah nak capai cita-cita ni. Tapi manalah tau tiba-tiba terbuka jalan. Boutros Boutros-Ghali masa jadi SU Agung PBB pun dah tua gila kot.

Itu cerita zaman sekolah rendah. Masuk menengah rendah masih rajin cikgu tanya soalan cita-cita ni. Masuk menengah atas, lepas dah boleh pilih aliran, makin jarang. Dalam buku biodata pun dah tak letak dah cita-cita. Masuk zaman matriks dan universiti, soalan ni lagilah jarang ditanya.  Hampir tiada. Mungkin sebab pilihan kerjaya yang boleh dipilih semakin sedikit disebabkan jalan yang semakin sempit. Habis belajar nak masuk kerja, makin mustahil nak dengar soalan ni. Habis kuat pun, soalan ”Di mana anda lihat diri anda 5 tahun lagi?” masa interview kerja. Maka kita pun tanpa sedar perlahan-lahan menjadi robot yang mengikut hukum ketetapan sekeliling. Cita-cita masa kecil disorok dalam ruang paling jauh dalam hati. Dah tak jadi cita-cita, tinggal angan-angan je.

Disebabkan inilah ramai antara kita mula jadi zombie, ikut rutin harian tanpa kerelaan. Masa lapang diluahkan untuk mengeluh dan merintih. Motivasi semakin pudar. Bekerja kerana duit, bukan kerana minat. Keghairahan berusaha semakin malap. Masa ni, karier yang dipilih mestilah stabil dan menjanjikan pendapatan yang berpatutan. Komitmen semakin banyak. Hutang keliling pinggang. Tiada masa untuk berangan-angan (atau bercita-cita). Di sinilah kebanyakannya kita tersilap. Semasa kecil, setiap kali bagitau cita-cita, mesti kita lontarkan dengan penuh semangat. Tapi bila semakin kurang ditanya, kita pun semakin lupa cita-cita yang dipendam. Tiada siapa nak mengingatkan. Maka, mungkin sudah sampai masa untuk kita masing-masing bertanya kepada diri sendiri, apa sebenarnya cita-cita kita? Apa yang dikejar? Ke manakah destinasi dituju?

Biarlah cita-cita tu nak anak 8 ke, nak kahwin 4 ke, nak ada empayar perniagaan sendiri ke, janji kita ada matlamat untuk dituju. Tanpa cita-cita, kita ke akan depan tanpa arah. Cita-cita adalah Waze kehidupan yang membantu menunjukkan jalan ke destinasi. Walaupun Waze ni kadang-kadang sesat lagi menyesatkan, sekurang-kurangnya kita masih boleh berpatah balik atau pun mencari haluan lain. Janji sampai ke destinasi. Biarkan cita-cita ini berubah-ubah pun takpe, janji ada. Berapa ramai antara kita, bila ditanya apa hala tuju hidup kita (dari sudut duniawi), yang blank bila nak jawab? Sampai bila harus sesat?
Sekarang ni, sebagai penamat bicara, aku nak tanya, ‘Apa cita-cita kamu?”

Petang ini: Entahlah cuaca macam mana. Redup kot. Terperap di pejabat buat kerja tak jenguk pula tingkap. Kerja banyak tapi hati girang dapat bos baru. Sejak syarikat tukar pengurusan daripada MRCB Technologies ke XMT Technologies ni, macam dapat semangat baru bekerja. Daripada nak letak jawatan, sekarang terus tak jadi. Kecuali dapat tawaran jadi Setiausaha Agung PBB ar. Hihi~

Platinum Sentral Wins The Edge-PAM Green Excellence Awards 2012

Platinum Sentral has been awarded the 2012 winner of The Edge-PAM Green Excellence Award, at an award ceremony held last night at Hilton KL, KL Sentral CDB.

Developed by MRCB, Platinum Sentral is the first Platinum-rated BCA Green Mark (Singapore) Building in Malaysia. It has also received the Malaysia’s Green Building Index (GBI) certification.

The RM700 million Platinum Sentral comprises 5 blocks of low-rise campus style offices, with 100% of the office space tenanted. Its multinational tenants include SME Corp Malaysia, SBM Malaysia and Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD) to name a few.

Platinum Sentral’s key sustainability and green building features encompasses energy efficiency; water efficiency; environmental protection and indoor environmental quality under the Singapore’s BCA Green Mark standards. Other additional ecologically sustainable features designed into Platinum Sentral include rainwater harvesting system, efficient lighting control for offices; district cooling system, Water Efficiency and Labelling Scheme ‘Excellent’ Sanitary Fittings, efficient landscape irrigation and use of environmental friendly products that are certified under the Singapore Green Labeling Scheme (SGLS).

Moreover, Platinum Sentral is also the first commercial building to utilise CISCO’s Smart+Connected Real Estate (S+CRE) solution in Malaysia, making it a truly unique, state-of-the-art, distinctive and green office campus, offering seamless connectivity, a creative working environment and contemporary business lifestyle.

Another significant and unique attraction of Platinum Sentral campus office is that it has the largest inclined green wall landscape surrounding the whole development, making it the largest in South East Asia.

In addition, MRCB is ranked at no 18 of the top 30 property developers for 2012.

The Edge-PAM Green Excellence Award is a joint initiative by The Edge and the Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) to recognize property developments that demonstrate sustainable design that is innovative and outstanding while contributing positively to the community.

The Edge-PAM Green Excellence Award entries were judged based on innovation (above the industry standard required by GBI, Leeds, BCA Green Mark or other similar recognized green building certification), design, and sustainability, relevance to the community, implementation and cost efficiency.

Petang ini: Cuaca redup. Sangat menyelesakan. Tapi sayang, aku lak yang lesu macam nak demam. Jumpa doktor, katanya ada infection kat tekak. Hopefully tak teruk sangat sebab kerja bertimbun ni. Plan nak stayback terpaksa dilupakan. Haish~

And the award goes to...

Dear all,

We are pleased to inform that Platinum Sentral is one of the contenders for the Best Innovative Green Initiative in THE 2012 REAL RESERVE AND PROPERTY TIMES.MY EDITORS CHOICE AWARDS organized by Property Times and Malaysian Reserve publications.

Moving forward, the judges will conduct a site visit to complete their assessment. The TENTATIVE details of the site visit are as follows:

Date    : 22 October 2012

Venue : Platinum Sentral, Lot E

Time    : 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Thus, we request your presence and participation in the above site visit as follows:  

1.      En. Zamry Ibrahim to present on Platinum Sentral

2.      En. Amirul Hijaz Mohd Sohaimi to attend to questions pertaining to building specifications

3.      En. Yusaidi Kamarulzaman to brief on the CRE ----> My Boss!~

4.   Mr. Richard Anthony to ensure that Platinum Sentral is ready for the site visit. i.e tip top condition We highly appreciate if you would be able to allocate a room for us to accommodate the briefing session.

Kindly block your schedule. We will confirm the visit accordingly. Any enquiries please refer to En. Hasnol bin Abdul Hadi.

Thank you. 

Mohd Norehsan Mohamad

Trainee of Corp. Communication

I received this email yesterday, and hell, due to this, me and my fellow Lot E team member were forced to work like crazy. We got home at 2am for the past two days and we are physically and mentally super tired. We have to commit to our daily job while at the same time trying our level best to do whatever deemed necessary for us to win the award.

If you think this post is about me complaining about my workload, you're dead wrong. I wasn't complaining, just stating the fact of the matter. Truth is, the competitive side of me don't wanna us to lose and push me to the limit so that my site would win the competition. I'm very proud with this beautiful, state-of-the-art green building that I always boast about whenever possible. So, this is the time for it to prove how prestigious it is by winning the competition, regardless of the credibility of the award. 

Fingers crossed, i hope after all of this hard work day and night ( I believe I wont be able to rest this weekend), we will win it and this proud building of ours would be the new landmark of Kuala Lumpur. Hihi~

My sweetheart~

Petang ini: Meredah hujan dan kesesakan lalu  lintas bergegas ke Pudu untuk menyiapkan kad kahwin Gaia. Hasilnya agak menarik, cuma kalaulah Gaia sanggup berbelanja lebih untuk meningkatkan kualiti kertas, pasti lebih cantik. Sejak akhir-akhir ni, projek printing dan electrical banyak masuk. Tak menang tangan nak handle 2 business dan kerja tetap. Tapi bila dapat hasilnya, kepuasan tu menghilangkan keletihan. Ah, rasa-rasanya aku dah semakin ketagih berkerja ni. Aiyak!!~

Side laki bahagian depan dan belakang

Side laki bahagian dalam

Side perempuan bahagian depan dan belakang

Side perempuan bahagian dalam

Drive it to believe it~

Semalam aku diminta menghantar tender ke PJH di Putrajaya sebelum pukul 12. Bertolak dalam 11.15 dari KL Sentral, memang agak rushing. Tapi dalam pada rushing tu, aku terdapat satu idea untuk menunjukan kehebatan handling dan auto-cruise Proton Preve.

Maka terhasillah video ini hasil daripada semangat Kadim yang semangat je nak rakam aku drive. Haha. Thanks bro!

Jangan tiru aksi ini dengan kereta anda!

Petang ini: Hujan lebat. Mood pun suram. Menunggu orang berjanji yang tak kunjung tiba memang menyakitkan hati. Aku end up tidur dalam kereta dari pukul 7 sampai 8. Nasib baik lah ada anak-anak kucing baru lahir mengubat hati kat rumah~

Smile! Why So Serious?~

Taken from yesterday's TheStar (Tuesday, October 9th 2012)

Tuesday October 9, 2012

Quick career tips to propel you to greatness

TALKING HR
with ROSHAN THIRAN

LAST week, I had the pleasure of spending time with Nobuyuki Idei, the former chairman and CEO of Sony Corp.

Idei-san shared with me some of his sadness in seeing Japan go through the numerous issues triggered by the tsunami. A few hours later, I met a friend who complained about how horrible his job was. The next day, I heard the plight of a pilot who was jobless due to the current oversupply of pilots in the country. Next up was a number of university students who lamented how hard it was to find a job in this country. The moping went on and on. By the end of the week, I felt like a sadness magnet.

I spoke to a colleague and she felt the same way I did. Apparently, she too felt like a grievance centre too. So, instead of writing an HR article this week, I have decided to write a “be happy” career advice letter. So, here goes:

A career advice letter:

Dear friend,

Let me assure you that your career will go nowhere if you are in a state of misery. Great leaders don't complain but proactively solve issues plaguing them. Thomas Edison, with his friends, watched his state-of-the-art factory destroyed by fire. Insurance only covered a small fraction of the cost. Instead of complaining how luck was never on his side, he rebuilt his factory within weeks. He saw the blaze not as a disaster but as a fantastic opportunity to redesign a better factory.

Edison smiled a lot. You, too, can start by smiling. People who smile more aren't just more stable and better at getting along with others they live longer too.

US researchers found that those who smiled most intensely lived longer than those who weren't smiling. The researchers, whose results hold even when corrected for other factors, claim the wider you grin and the deeper your laughter lines, the more likely you are to have a long existence.

On the flip side, pessimistic and negative people have more health issues. Studies reveal that pessimism is associated to mental problems, pains, chronic sicknesses and decreases in physical functioning.

Optimistic people have far better careers too. According to psychologist Elaine Fox, “optimists feel they have some control over what happens to them, tackling problems as temporary hitches rather than as ongoing difficulties.”

So, cheer up and brighten up. That itself will increase your probability of success.

Career advice

Here are a few career tips for you:

1. Always smile. It's the best lesson you will learn in life. When I was working in a tough assignment at NBC (a TV and media company), I hated the job and was constantly complaining to my friends. The only upside was being based in New York City and having an office next to Conan O'Brien's studio so I got to meet lots of movie stars. But I was depressed about how “stupid” my job was. But my mentor gave me a piece of advice that I will never forget. He said “just smile” and things will turn out better. So, everywhere I went and in whatever I did, I smiled. True enough, things turned around and I was given a bigger role. Smiles make a difference.

2. Take on the toughest and hardest jobs early on in your career. Tough jobs teach and accelerate you, pushing you out of your comfort zone. Don't jump for the easy, sexy jobs. You may end up having too much time with easy roles and may start complaining.

By taking on the job that no one wants, people will notice your bravery, excitement and determination. It will give you confidence that you can take on the world and be prepared for anything thrown to you. I hated the tough assignments in my first few roles. But I keep plugging along and ultimately was rewarded by tougher roles which helped me accelerate faster.

3. Keep learning. Each time I ask people if they love to learn, they all answer yes. What most people forget is that learning is very painful and tough. It requires hard work and practice. Try learning a new language or a new skill. It requires hours of focus, dedication and persistent practice. You can't be CEO instantly. You have to learn so many thing before making the grade to run an organisation. But learning requires sacrifice and time. Getting the big job involves hard work and learning.

Here comes the tough part. You want to move to a new role to learn more but your manager does not let you. Instead of getting upset with your boss, first answer these questions: Have you learned all there is to learn in your current role? Have you contributed as much as possible to your current role? Have you performed your role better than your predecessor? Have you left a significant legacy in your current role?

If you answered yes to all these questions, first wear a smile on your face and then let your manager know you are getting bored and need to move on. Usually, if you are truly an asset to the company, your manager will figure out how to give you a new role.

4. Don't be a victim to circumstances. Don't be taken hostage. Control your destiny or someone else will. Your career is your career. Your career does not belong to the head of HR or the CEO. You and you only will determine if you have a great life and career. Take responsibility for your life. So, don't hide under banner like “I have no talent” or “he is better than me”. Those are just cop-out statements. You are ultimately accountable to yourself. And complaining is another way of escaping the reality of a situation. If your career is going nowhere, it is probably your fault. Sure, there may be other variables but you need to take charge and not play victim.

The good news for you

Instead of focusing on the negatives, focus on the good news all around you. Yes, there is good all around. Let me share with you three things that are going for you and your career right now:

1. You have gifts, strengths, talents, and interests that can take you and your career to incredible heights. In fact, some of your inherent capabilities probably aren't being fully utilised to help you in your career. So, look yourself in the mirror and repeat this statement to yourself “I am a genius” and go out there and use your gifts fully.

2. The greatest leaders have had the worst luck. Soichiro Honda had his factory blown up three times and lost everything but he still prevailed. Abraham Lincoln was a defeated man for many years but he ultimately received honour as a great leader. All great leaders go through horrible experiences. So, if you are having a horrid time, you can smile and bask in the knowledge that you are part of a group of greatness. And you will prevail.

3. Many successful people had bad grades. Richard Branson did not finish school. Neither did Albert Einstein. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs didn't finish university. In Asia, Lim Goh Tong, Robert Kwok and others never had great academic careers. So, if you were horrible at school, you can still be successful. And if you were a good student, don't worry. There are tons of examples of good students doing well too.

So, I would like to end this letter by asking you to do me a small favour. Imagine you are now in 2022. Ten years have passed since you read this letter. Now, imagine only positive things have taken place in your life. Describe these wonderful positive things that have happened to you. As you reflect on these wonderful positive experiences and see how everything you ever wanted has happened, I am sure you will start smiling and doing. Positive thoughts are meaningless if not accompanied by positive action. So, smile and do.

Yours positively,

Roshan Thiran

Roshan is the CEO of Leaderonomics, a social enterprise whose goal is to help everyone smile continuously. J

  
Petang ini: Cuaca mendung macam semalam. Lately,  kerja tunggang langgang. Asyik kena panggil sana sini. Sampai makan pun tak tentu hala, Akibatnya, asyik melawat toilet dari petang sampai sekarang. Ni pun terasa cam ada terkeluar sikit time kentut tadi. Shizznit! Jijik ke hape ko ni. In case you're wondering, aku masih kat office T.T

Pemburu Harta Karun

Hari ni ada treasure hunt and team aku dapat nombor 2..yeayyy!! Nanti bulan 11 lak ada MRCB Race, menang dapat RM3000.00. Ini kira training je ni. Banyak gak ar kitorang belajar. Antaranya jangan riak, takbur dan over-confident. Dah leading selesa siap jalan relaks je bajet dah menang. Hantar borang penuh keyakinan sebab yang lain samada tak sampai lagi atau disqualified sebab skip check point. Tapi sekali kena tolak markah sebab jawapan kurang lengkap. AARRRRGHHHH!! Takpe, biar kalah sekarang, janji nanti habuan RM3000.00 tu tak melepas,,Muahahahaah!!!~

Biarpun nombor 2, gaya tetap kena style~

Petang ini: Cuaca comel boh! Cakap Ganu sesaje hari ni sebab team dengan Naim, orang Ganu tegar. Borak merapu je. Petang ni kena herdik kiri kanan dengan client. Sampai pukul 11 malam pun masih kat office cover kerja tertunda. Semua gara-gara Treasure Hunt. Dok kisah pung boh. Janji dapat hamper free. Kemah keming awok2 kite!!

Anakmu Anakku Jua~

Dear all,

There is a poor Malay family in Melaka expecting their 3^rd child. They cannot afford to keep the baby and would like to give the baby up for adoption.

Do you know of any good couple who is looking for a baby? At the moment I think the baby is a girl. The parents said they do not want any money, only pay for the hospital bill and do everything legally for the baby and to provide the baby with a good home and education.

If you know of anyone, please ask them to contact me.

Thanks.

With best regards,

Beverly Carvalho @ Bev

Senior Executive, Projects (MSC) 

KL Sentral MSC Malaysia Cybercentre

Tel: 603-2785 1800; 2773 5689/5672/5799; H/P: 6-019-383 9054 / 017-3131290 

Fax: 603-2780 5700; Other email: osc@mrcbtech.com

Pagi tadi dapat e-mail ni daripada officemate. Tiba-tiba terasa nak ambil budak tu jadi anak angkat aku. Dah lama sangat dah pun berhasrat nak menjadi bapa ni. Asyik ambil gambar anak orang lain je, boring gak. Tapi bila fikir balik aku ni makan pakai pun cukup-cukup je, nak tanggung adik beradik lagi, kucing 9 ekor kat rumah lagi, macam malang je baby tu kalau jadi anak angkat aku. Haha~

Maaflah ye Nur Humaira (dah ada nama dah pun..huhu). Bukan rezeki kita untuk jadi sekeluarga. Semoga ada insan mulia yang akan membimbingmu menjadi insan solehah yang cemerlang di dunia dan bahagia di akhirat~~

Petang ini: Cuaca cantik. Ada makan-makan lepas Asar SPAD buat doa selamat. Berpinggan gak aku bedal kambing sambil berbual mesra dengan Pegawai SPAD yang suka betul lepak dengan aku. Setiap jam, siang, malam sampai weekend pun kerja nak sembang dengan aku je. Susah gak PR power ni (tak lengkap blog ini tanpa pujian untuk diri sendiri). Menyembang tadi daripada pukul 5 sampai 7.30 macam tak nak balik pun ada. Siap ajak lawan Counter Strike lagi. Nak kena pisau ke bang?~