Sunday, August 23, 2009

Malaysia - What's Left?

Being the country where I was born & raised, I should be proud to be a Malaysian. But somehow it is the reversal, yes some might argue that we are far better of than country like Cambodia & Vietnam but why do we want to compare ourselves to a country worst than us?

If one day, our natural resources depleted, what's there left for his country? The people who administrate this country are so narrow minded and only tackling on petty issues, trying to bring one another down, playing the religious card.

From the latest WHO updates, more than 32000 in Europe were infected with the pandemic H1N1 with 53 deaths. With South East Asia recorded more than 13,000 cases and 106 deaths, our country Malaysia champion again with 68 deaths! That is more than the whole entire Europe is recording! Don't you think the Health Minister should be accountable for this? What's measure been done? Quarantine & closing schools, colleges & universities? If you would look at the state of our government hospital now, would you be willing to even step in the hospital?




It's good to leave the country again seriously though I am going to miss my friends & family here and not to mention the food here especially Nasi Lemak. Other than that, this country has nothing left for me.

Sad... sad...

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Michael

Yes, that's my English name and what many of my friends would call me. I do not have it registered on my identity card though but the name was indeed adapted at a very young age.

It was back in 1984 (guess you guys roughly know my age by now) when I was in the kindergarten. There was this one time when they had this talent-time for the kindergarten kids on state level. I represented my kindergarten back then and won the contest.

I won the contest impersonating Michael Jackson. I still can remember I performed twice, one for the preliminary round and another as the finalist. On the preliminary round, I performed 'Billie Jean' and my winning performance was 'Beat It'.

At that time, mom helped me a lot on the custom-made dressing and choreograph the dance moves. It was a good experience for me.

From there on, after the whole experience, kids in my kindergarten called me Michael and I adapted the name until now.

I am inspired to write on this post after watching the untold stories of Neverland and how people had mistakenly accused MJ all this while.

On a separate note, counting down 5 days to my last day of employment in my current company. I will be traveling to Thailand for a few days before joining my sister in Hong Kong.

Will decorate this site with more pictures of my traveling experience.

Good night for now!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Life After LG

So this is my final month of employment in LG. Being associated with a company for almost 8 years now, finally, it's time to move on. Many had asked, where will I be? What company I am joining? What's my plan? Well, here you go, some of my plans, both confirmed and pending confirmation.

I will spent more time blogging @ MikeMmery and I will still continue to blog for LG Blog as long as my service is required. That means I will be part of the media once I left to be invited for all their events. Now this is confirmed!

And of late, I am dating someone out of the country, guess I will go and visit her for one more time before I proceed with my other assignments.

I am setting up a company on my own to do web development & web designing. I had also set up a separate company to manage on project biz focusing on electrical & electronics products.

I will also be in Hong Kong soon!!! I am also going to take up a job of designing & developing a corporate website there. I am currently looking for freelance designer to be part of this team. This client is based in Hong Kong with networks mainly in the Asia Pacific region. Will be there perhaps in the month of September, all depending on whether I can get a reasonable fair during that month considering it is also peak month as we celebrating the Raya. If everything is on track, I will be in Hong Kong for a bit, perhaps 2-3 months and celebrating both my Christmas & New Year there. Friends can still get my updates here, I assure you!






Now the plans that awaiting confirmation - during my few months in Hong Kong, I plan to visit Taiwan & China when I have the time, any friends there that willing to take me around???

And upon returning from Hong Kong, I might be joining a Thai company, got an offer of marketing position there and that position will only be available in 2010.

And if I have additional time, I want to improve my biking skill, improve my financial capability and do a bit of golfing.

Now I really cannot wait to my days of self employment :)

Thursday, August 06, 2009

If Kids Can Understand, Why Can't Men?

While counting down to my last day of employment, I browsed through some of the great works of the late Yasmin Ahmad, these are some of my favorites;

Look carefully on the messages conveyed and whether it is by script or not, with all this nonsensical debates, arguments & criticisms, what's there left in this country?








And finally, this...



What's all these racial sentiments the politicians are shouting & fighting about? Aren't we all Malaysians? If I fell in love with a Malay, I'll convert cos love supersedes all other factor. Not the issue of race here, or who I choose as my friends, or who gets more than the other in the end of the day. Malaysia belongs to all, to us, KITA.



Malaysia at the current state - sad case!

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Between A Marriage & A Job

To working individual like me, a job is like a marriage. A good marriage will normally end up with a happily ever after ending, in other words you will be walking into office in a jovial mood without having the dreaded feeling of going to work. It is like you just cannot get enough seeing your wife. However there is also possibility that a marriage ends up in a divorce which is like in an employment point of view, you are not motivated, you felt dreaded, that is when you resign.

About more than 2 years back, I landed myself in a hot soup for being too vocal, blogging about my disappointment on certain individual at work. I apologized for that as the language that I used which I got to admit was a bit too much. People grows up, just like me, being vocal can be in many ways and I had never change a single bit of my personality.

The decision of leaving a company that I am affiliated for almost 8 years now was not an easy one. To me, I am proud to be a part of the company. The passion I had when I first joined as a fresh graduate til now on its product is still there. Every year I am being introduced to many new innovative, fascinating products in conferences I attended. The exposure I had, the culture that I nurtured, all these had molded me into a tough person that I think can brave through challenges ahead.

With many of the plus points, why I leave? Survival, job motivation & satisfaction. In fact, I left, rejoined and for the second time I decided to leave again. But when offers laid down on the table offering much lucrative package, the temptation is always there. I need to work with people with global mindset to get the motivation, not a superior who acted like a teacher in primary school. I had gained all the wisdom & knowledge during my university days, I need a troubleshooter and a leader who can enlighten me on new things. These are the words of my frank self which I do not think will be very nice to throw to someone more senior than I am. When I start to question why this and why that, that is when I have doubts on certain decision. Bad decisions do happen but if the leaders kept on making doubtful and bad decisions, that will be when the subordinates suffer. Decisions need to be made if business sense prevails, but what if it is not?

On empowerment & delegation, when roles & responsibilities are not clearly defined, that will be when staff will be demotivated. In a company, no one is indispensable, including me. And one transparency, I do not think this word is even in the dictionary for some seniors I worked with.

So to some of my closest buddies and the bosses that I truly respected, thanks for the persuasion. I think the marriage bond just need to be ended here. I want to part in a way where there will be no sour feelings towards any specific individual. Perhaps we will cross path in a very near future?

I guess I put my freedom of speech to good test, hope my remaining days will not be as hell. Robin Hood, where are you?

Monday, August 03, 2009

So Here's The Updates

My blog has been in a very sorry state of late. It had been ignored for a bit and finally I have found time for it at least for now. Yes, resigned... DONE... so many would ask why you still serious about your job? I would like to let go totally but it would be nightmare for my clients, it is just not me to just to leave it to someone who totally has no idea what or how to manage the corporate clients.

For my clients who had been following my blog, rest assured, I will be at my best to service you all until my last day of employment. I will be serving my notice until early September. To be frank, I have not accept any offer put on the table. It does not mean I am being arrogant or ignorant about the whole economical situation. To me, the next move I would have make will be critical for my life, so therefore I am seeking a bigger role, bigger responsibility and of course a bigger pay.

Not too bad after all, I had 2 offers and now I believe your experiences sell. And your name sells as well. One from an automobile company and another is pharmaceutical company. Got a call today from Singapore for a role in a European MNC and another in Thailand (this is my choice perhaps).

And I just need to be a bit more patient with my current situation while serving my notice as I had come to encountering Tai Chi Masters internally. I believe in karma though and I guess I had made the best choice and decision in my almost a decade of employment. Time to move on and with offers pouring in, I believe I can excel and put my strength to bigger test in life.

So, health is also another reason I quit my current job. Friends & family knowing me, I spent quite a substantial amount of time in my work. Blood pressures and BMI numbers not being good to me, it's time to do something for myself. Something money can't buy, and that's my health. So, there will be badminton every Thursday now for me. Mountain biking on the weekend. And perhaps pick up my golfing real soon.

And travelling!!!! Yeap, back from back to back Indonesia & Thailand trips. I might be heading either Thailand or Hong Kong in September or October if there aren't any offer that can catch my attention. Before any readers having wrong assumptions of me heading to Thailand so often, well I am seeking for opportunities there, it is a country I would call it home if possible given the cost of living and the people in consideration. Some real sorry stories here had influenced my opinion of my born country. Teoh Beng Hock's case, ISA, etc... it just goes on and on...

And well... who knows I am in the road of finding my soul partner. I just felt all good things will follow suit soon. Just that this good feeling and I trust my feeling.

To my family and best buddies who had been concerned about my future, I am more worried than you all, with all the commitments I am having now. As a human, always aim higher and never stay in your comfort zone, that's me! That's Michael Song!

Signing off for now... shall be back with full strength ;)