ROTARY CLUB OF KAMPUNG BAHARU INDUCTING NEW ROTARIAN.

In a simple but meaningful ceremony on 27 feb 08 President Amin of Rotary Club of Kampung Baharu (RCKB) inducted Major(R) Mohd Zainudin Al-Helmy to the club. In his inaugural speech Rotarian Helmy mentioned that he had been observing Rotary movement for quite sometime. After careful study he realised that Rotary is the right platform for him to contribute to mankind. This has encouraged him to get to know the Club. Well Rotarian Major Helmy, you have indeed made the right decision. We at the club will fully support your aspiration and looking forward to help you in meeting your commitments. Thank you to RCKB Charter President Tn Hj Razali for introducing him to the club.

Similar induction ceremony being repeated thousand times worldwide. That is how Rotary club around the world have more than 1.2 millions Rotarian. The club was started in 1905 by Paul P. Harris in Chicago USA. The main objective of Rotary is service ie in the community, workplace and throughout the world. Rotary volunteers build goodwill and peace, provide humanitarian service and encourage high ethical standards in all vocation. The Rotary motto is ' Service above Self'

KUALA LUMPUR MONORAIL.

It looked like a double edge bullet train but as they say look can be deceiving. If you happened to be in certain part of Kuala Lumpur you will be able to see it crawling slowly on its dedicated track. The monorail service was introduced in 2003 as part of city master plan in providing mass transit system to the Kuala Lumpur population. It joined the other four light rail transit system namely STAR, PUTRA, Kommuter and ERL. Monorail operates daily between 0700 am to 1000 pm. The monorail track extend for about 8.8 km on gigantic pillar. Eleven ultra modern stations intersperse the track to service its passengers daily.

Out of curiosity I went on the monorail ride few weeks ago. What an exhilarating feeling it was especially when you have stand inside one of the coach. Despite the monorail slow speed compared to other mode of transportation it has the advantage of moving above the congested traffic below it and that was itself a blessing on any given day in Kuala Lumpur.

At the moment the operator is still struggling to get a return on its investment even with 45000 commuters daily. So whether it is the answer to Kuala Lumpur traffic woes or not remained to be seen. In the mean time its service do provide additional attraction to foreign tourists.

Fuel Conservation.

The airlines industry is very sensitive to fuel prices as it make up between 30 to 40 percent of the operating cost. For an airlines with RM13B annual revenue, an increase of crude oil price of 1USD per barrel could easily impacted the bottom line by as much as RM50M annually. To mitigate fluctuation in fuel prices financial mechanism like fuel surcharge and fuel hedging has been put in place recently.
Various step being taken to reduce wastage of fuel, for example usage of jet engine on the ground is being kept to the very minimum. To power the aircraft on the ground alternative power source like ground power unit is being used. Operation in the air being optimised by flying at the ideal altitude and cruising at the right speed. The implementation of such measure require cooperation from various quarters including the pilot and the maintenance crew.

In the 60s crude oil price was 3usd per barrel, now it is costing 116usd per barrel.

(Up date 3rd July 2008)

Cost of fuel continues to soar. To day it went above 144usd per barrel. The list of airlines joining bankruptcy list is getting longer. In the last six months, 24 Airlines had either stopped operating or had gone bankrupt. The surviving one is talking of cutting services this coming winter pattern. Mean while cost cutting measure being implemented more rigorously. Except for areas involving safety and security the rest not being spared including passenger comfort and convenient.

Recent fuel hike by government too is complicating the issue as airlines have to fork out more to run their support services.

(Update 18.10.08)

Fuel price had gone down to 70-80 USD per barrel. Airlines can breath a little bit easier now. How ever with recession looming the market is shrinking.

Taiping Railway Station.

The oldest station in Malaysia. It was opened in the year 1887. The first track linked Port Weld and Taiping, mainly to transport tin ore from the district to the rest of the world. Port Weld had been renamed as Kuala Sepetang recently. I used the station during my secondary school days when returning to my home for term break. My house was located at Kota West on the outskirt of Taiping town. It was considered one of the bigger railway station in Perak at that time since the train transit there for longer period.
Somebody mentioned to me there is a train museum nearby but so far I could not locate it. On my last trip there, I saw a notice board informing visitors that a new railway station will be constructed to replace the current one. So one more of my nostalgic landmark will be eliminated from the face of the earth.

Anime and Comic Fair. 23-24Feb 08.
The venue was sparsely decorated except for few bunting and a backdrop. The floor was covered by tattered carpet which has seen its prime time. The makeshift stage was naked exposing all its sexy legs. No VIP officiating the function. It was indeed a very low cost affair. Well may be I should call it low cost affair event (LCA ) just like Tony calling his airlines AirAsia low cost carrier (LCC). Despite the LCA tag from my observation the event was a thundering success. It managed to create the atmosphere with its loud funky anime music. Judging from the throng of visitors who paid rm5 entrance fees the organizer probably even made a handsome profit at the end of the day.
I learned quite a lot of new thing from the two days event. It seemed the ‘anime’ characters and comics have quite a strong followers with our present youngsters. No wonder I have seen many comic and toyshop sprouting all over the place. Kids willing to spend thirty ringgits for Manga comics nowdays.
It was my kids first time experience in hawking their merchandise. I believed they gained valuable experience from the two days exposure. In the end it was not the P&L that matters but the invaluable experience gained that count.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS.

Abundance opportunities for today's kids to try their hand at almost anythings including becoming a weekend businessman. Green Concept Studio provide this avenue by organizing Anime and Comic Fair at Berjaya Times Square this week end 23-24 Feb 2008. http://www.animecomicfair.com/
Using their own initiatives my daughters and her friends contacted the organiser and secured a table where they could conduct their business. They have been busy the last few days collecting and making products they want to sell on that day. I am amazed by the various items they have been making which include hand drawn comic and fridge door magnetic button. Apparently they learned the trade during 'Kemahiran Hidup' classes. Alas the present education system do make a small inroad here in preparing our kids for their future.
When I tried to help, I learned that my role have been reduced to providing transport or as a chaperon for the day. Well who knows one day they might become CEO on their own right. So much from their dad who have been a fix salary earner for the last 3 decades. I wish them all the best, have fun and get the experience.

PERSONAL SAFETY SEMINAR.
It was a humid and hot night. I decided to take a night stroll and asked my two daughters to accompany me. We were just two blocks away from our rented chalet when suddenly I saw three shadows loomed in front of us. It was too late to turn back. The shadows materialized into three hooded men. Instinctively I pulled my daughters into an open space, remembering what Master Saiful had told me earlier, as open space provide more room to maneuver. I was already taking a defensive stand when the first attacker set on me. As he plunged toward me I moved sideway at the same time took a left hand, right hand jab followed by well placed kick on his right knee. The attacker fell on the ground. At the corner of my eye I saw the other two attackers were struggling to hold my two daughters. They were kicking and elbowing the attackers. Taken by the sudden action the attackers let them loose. That all was need I shouted to them at the top of my voice to run at the same time hoping the attackers did not pursued us.Well if that was a real scene we would not have got away so easily but fortunately it was only simulated attack during Safety seminar organized by Rotary Club of Kampung Baharu with the cooperation of KickStart Academy. The safety seminar was attended by six Rotarians, guest and family members numbering to fifty participants. It was held at Dusun Eco Resort near Bentong from 8-10 February 2008. As the crime rate in Malaysia is on the rise, the members of Rotary Club of Kampung Baharu feel that there is a need to increase public awareness on personal safety to ensure that they have a better chance of survival incase they become the unfortunate victim. During the seminar the participants and their family members were given valuable insight into various techniques to analyze, avoid and react to potentially dangerous situations. Simulated scenarios like above were created to enable the participants to experience almost lifelike situation. The value of the seminar was further enhanced by CP Haji Razali Dato’ Rahmat, as a guest speaker, by delivering a talk titled ‘You and the Law’. In his closing speech President Amin congratulated KickStart Academy for partnering with RCKB in mounting such an excellent Seminar which is much needed in Malaysia.Note: Rotarian Master Saiful Hamiruzzaman is Chief Instructor for KickStart Academy and Malaysia Martial Art Association (MMAAA). Further details at http://www.thegreenhornet.com.my/; http://www.kickstart-my.com/ Tel:(603) 2300 2287 / 1434