kLAS6-Bootcamp. The day i was overdosed with Adrenaline!!!!

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We arrived 5:30am SHARP at Padang Merbuk!! but there were only a handful of recruits. Maybe KL Alpha-ians wanted the extra grunts being jealous of PJ recruits whom were always given 50 grunts the moment their session began. Chai Soo Pey from PJ Alpha even offered her portion of grunts to me but we could not accept her well deserved kindness. At 5:40am... There were a total of 31 cars with 53 recruits. By 5:45am, all recruits were properly aligned ready to start.

There goes our grunts..... Now PJ recruits will definitely be sexier than us!!! They had 60grunts yesterday!!!

After the regular warm up, recruits were divided into their respective team.. the Delta, Seal and Rangers. Today, there were Sergeant Simran, Corporal Faisal Ariff, and Corporal Dharmendra Mahalingam (i think thats him),. Lans Corporal Daniel is still awol... Maybe we worked him out too much!!

The Delta began running with both hand holding a rifle-look heavy bar on the shoulder. Then we had to raise the bar up with a straight arm and continue running with it. After the heavy running with the mock rifle, we were allowed to leave the rifle behind and sprint to the foot of a hilly route.

There, the deltas continue running in one line and the last person was instructed to sprint and overtook everybody else to be the first in line, the cycle continues until everybody had overtook everybody.

Of course, I pretended the run was easy and sprinted to overtake everybody but actually.........

I was half dead (actually more than half.. almost dead)..... I wanted to ask Sergeant Sim permission to walk instead when my polar reads 182 beats per minute (bpm); almost 100% my maximum heart rate of 185bpm.

But Sergeant Sim's voices... "Come on Armin... You can do it Armin... little bit more Armin..."  the repeated loud voices was so INSPIRING and rapping in tune with my bassy heart beat. We stopped at a juncture and everybody was asked to do lunges and squat while every Delta individually took turn to sprint for about 100 metres uphill. A slow sprint will torture other Deltas whom had to performed unlimited lunges and squat until he arrived back from sprinting.

After the sprinting and crazy leg workout, we were introduced to 3 new exercises and we were asked to get a partner.... The first exercise was 'The Jumping High Five Deep Squat'.......... where the Sergeant kept screamed Deeper.. Deeper... Deeper....  which sounded abit kinky but considering the partner was a man, I felt abit disgusted.

The second new exercise was a tug of war where we had to cross our arms with the partner and moved each arm individually forward towards the partner akin of stabbing him.. I must have had the concept wrong or maybe I was too high on adrenaline when the Sergeant prompt "Armin, why are you dancing!!!"..

The third exercise that was newly introduced was the clapping push up for a repetition of 20!!! This was easy.. we had to clapped with one hand, the partner's other hand as we rise up from the push up...

By the end of the session, I was overdosed with adrenaline... I could not have completed the session without Sergeant Sim's encouragement!!  YOU ARE THE BEST SARGE..!!  I took back the "TALIBAN" label.... Our Sergeant Sim was really very motivating and inspiring and indeed he should be  .........................

Our Cheer leader!!

HOOOYAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Other Bootcamp articles, see: Bootcamp 8, Bootcamp 7, Bootcamp 6, Bootcamp 5, Bootcamp 4, Bootcamp3, Bootcamp2, Bootcamp 1.


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KLAS5-Nov Bootcamp

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Today, Wednesday 11 November 2009 is the Fifth session of this month's Bootcamp. Sleeping by 9pm and waking up at 4:30am is now a routine... a forced discipline of the OBC but last night, I had a long winded meeting and was only able to sleep at 11pm. Without sufficient sleep and rest, the session today will be a sheer torture.

It was pouring the whole of last night and needless to say, the field is expected to be an ocean full of mud.

oh... the heavenly mud......

In anticipation of the mud swim, my morning dilemma began with choosing a shoe to sacrifice!!! so I gathered all the shoe.........


After much deliberation, I decided to sacrifice one of the New Balance shoe for today's mud....



We arrived at Padang Merbuk at 5:35am... and after a 'quickie' behind the bushes, I gathered together with other recruits... Somehow, I always arrived with a full bladder but fortunately, never with a full bowel!

We began our warming up session with a slow jog, jogging with knee high, jog with heels high, side running without crossing the feet, forward lunges, backward lunges, both hands swing, both hand up and side by side (ala seal jump except without the jumping), alternating one hand up and one hand down etc etc....

After the warm-up, recruits were gathered at the field and were given 10 Grunts for late comers. Sergeant Sim must be in a 'bad' mood this morning having given us only 10 Grunts from the normal complimentary 20-30 grunts. Sergeant Sim has always been kinder to PJ recruits and once gave them a complimentary 50 grunts.. unfair..!!...???

The group was then divided into two.. the Delta & Seals combined and taken by Sergeant Sim, and the Rangers in another group led by Corporal Faisal... yes, Corporal Faisal is back after the Monday AWOL but today, Lans Corporal Daniel Chong is now AWOL...

Somehow we need to discipline these officers!! Thusfar, only the Taliban bearded Sergeant Sim that has never gone AWOL! Maybe Corporal Faisal and Lans Corporal Daniel Chong needs to grow a beard and follow the leader Sergeant Sim ala Taliban...

(From Right: Corporal 'Mc Bootie' Faisal & LC 'Mc Sweetie' Daniel Chong ala Sergeant Sim?)

The Delta & Seal session began with a 20 Star Jump repetitions, 20 repetition of truster (or thruster?), 20 repetition of Seal Jump, 20 repetition of Cross Country Jump and 20 repetition of Grunts... and the cycle was repeated non-stop for 12 minutes before we gave the Sergeant a 90 seconds break and repeated the cycle again non-stop for another 10 whopping minutes... and of course after that 10 minutes, we had to waste another 90 seconds on a luxurious break for Sergeant Sim.

We were promised a complimentary 1 additional minute for every unauthorised break but we were not that greedy.

The first session was already a killer. My heart beat was screaming louder than Shobha's loud counting and movements...... my heart rate was going berserk like this.....

But I have no complain since the heart is still beating although berserk.

The second part of the session was more gruelling.  It began with butt and leg exercises... We had to squat so low until the ass almost touches the muddy grass for 20 times and on the 20th rep, we had to squat down and hold it for 20 seconds.

After the ass and leg exercise, we performed a 20 repetition of jack knife... my favourite!! To burn the abs further, we were ask to raise the leg 90 degree and tilting the ass upward with the toe pointing up... also for a repetition of 20!!

With all the 20 repetitions and 20 seconds etc........ Today;s Bootcamp theme must have been: Be young @ TWENTY/ 20... like Dr Malek! those that cant do 20.. should also realize that they are not so young anymore..err except for me!

Soon its all about the breast and the chest !!! For those gorilla chest dreamer or those wanting to reduce to size A?.... "The Push-up" aka pumping... also for a few sets of 20 repetitions.. and to burn the chest further, we were introduced to a new set of exercise called the ballistic push-up!! Performed similar to doing a push up but instead of the toe, its done on the knee. The body was slowly lowered by gravity and bounced back up at the bottom.... but for some funny reason, my ballistic push up did not bounced up.. it stayed down!!! this was also performed for a few sets of non-stop of 20 repetitions.

The session finally ended with a warming down.. I burn a dissappointing 705 calories today and the maximum heart rate was only 160 or 86%. Lesson to learn... SLEEP WELL the night before any Bootcamp session... otherwise you wont just suffer during the training but throughout the day you will........................

hence, the late posting of the blog............

HOOOYAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Other Bootcamp articles, see: Bootcamp 7, Bootcamp 6, Bootcamp 5, Bootcamp 4, Bootcamp3, Bootcamp2, Bootcamp 1.
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The scrapping of Mandatory Vehicle Inspection

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Part of the National Automotive Policy launched on 28 October 2009 was the introduction of a mandatory annual vehicle inspection for all 15 years old and above cars (see: NST). This policy was introduced to ensure its road worthiness as a requirement for road-tax renewal.

The list of items to be inspected, the cost of inspection, authorised centre for inspection or alternative centre to Puspakom for inspection was never made known and presumably are still a 'work-in-progress' or 'under-study'.

In the United Kingdom, there are various car workshops appointed by the British Ministry of Transport for the mandatory annual inspection. Similarly, in Malaysia, other car workshop (and not necessarily Puspakom) can apply and be appointed to carry out the inspection similar to the United Kingdom for the Public's convenient

Without the list of items to be inspected, the cost of inspection, the list of authorised centres for inspection, various parties had objected to the Mandatory Vehicle Inspection Policy.

Without even finalising the study and mechanism, our Government had on 6 November 2009 scrapped the mandatory vehicle inspection policy (barely a week after it was launched).

The cost to inspect the car should not be a burden to the public but the items to repair for road worthiness cannot be compromise... Thus, the importance to first finalise the items for inspection.

The policy should not be scrapped but the mechanism should be immediately finalised and make known to the public. If the public still protest thereafter, then perhaps the mechanism can be fine-tune rather than entirely scrapped before any finalisation which will only signal a FLIP FLOP Government.

Nonetheless, it is our safety that is at stake.

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My first Session as DELTA @ KL Alpha Bootcamp, KLAS4Nov.

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Today is KL Alpha's 4th session for the month of November and so far, my attendance is perfect!! I have attended a total of 8 sessions at the Bootcamp since October and in all the sessions, I have never failed to hit more than 90% maximum heart rate and at least 700 calories burnt on every session. Today was no exception, I burn at least 1,000 calories... thusfar, 1kg down although that was not my target.


During my short period at the Bootcamp, I have trained with the Rangers, Seal and today with the Delta team.  I trained with the Seal on my first 2 days at the Bootcamp in October last month (mistaken identity). Then I went under the Rangers the whole of last week and today, Sergeant Sim transferred me to the Delta.

What does it mean to be in team Delta at the Bootcamp?

NO, there is no special privileges!!! We still have to do Grunts for any recruits misbehave or indiscipline and that was exactly how the session began today... with 30 grunts only because:

1) some recruits arrived late
2) some recruit went AWOL

After only 30 grunts and a set of warm up exercises, the group were divided into their respective team; the Ranger, the Seal and the Delta. Lans Corporal Daniel Chong took the Rangers, Sergeant Sim with the Seals and the Delta began with Lans Corporal Jason...

Corporal Faisal went AWOL.. maybe we can have ALL THE TRAINERS LED BY SERGEANT SIM to do 50 grunts on Wednesday!! Yahooo...?

My first impression being in the Delta....... the Delta was initially deprived of the mud whilst the Seal and Rangers were happily scrubbed with mud immediately when the session began. The Deltas began with a 20 minutes sprinting ala Ben Johnson led by Lans Corporal Jason...... and I mean really sprinting!!!

Maybe they are all on steroid!!!  their runs seem so easy whilst me.....

I felt like a donkey... so slow!!! ............... for now!!

Ironically, I never trained for speed during all my 5 years of Running Life... hence the Donkey Power. I only wanted to complete the runs!!! .....be it a full marathon or just a 10km races regardless of timing.

The Bootcamp training changes my overall perspective on running.. and this is exactly what I needed!!!!  to improve my running cadence.
 

I usually experience the runner's high (that moment when I was breathless, the body lacked the oxygen and the mind started to wonder akin of hallucinating) within 30minutes of running but at the Bootcamp, I was 'high' within less than 10 minutes.

I can summarize as follows: The rangers are train for a perfect exercise form and in building the stamina. The Seal target the strength and endurance whilst the Delta.......... is all about Speed, perfect form, endurance and mentally strong!!

After the 20 minutes sprinting, Sergeant Sim took over from LC Jason and we were then instructed to take a rifle-look 2kg iron bar. We had to run with it by holding the rifle high up in the air. Every approximately 20 metres, we had to stop and do a one rep lunge and continue running for another 20 metres. The cycle goes on for at least 20 minutes without any break.....!!!

After turning us into mashed vegetable, Sergeant Sim passed us like a prostitute to Lans Corporal Daniel aka Mc Sweetie (labelled by the platoon), whom was more a sadist than the Sergeant. He happily explain the next course of torture that began with a 15 repetition squat for a firmer ass, followed by a 15 repetition military push up (alternating 1 hand touches the shoulder with every push-up) for a firmer chest! ...a 15 repetition  Jack Knife workout for a washboard 8 pack abdomen and 15 jumping squat (squat down, touch both ankle and then jump off the ground) err... this is definitely to explode the heart!!  The cycle continues without any break for another 20 minutes.

 I survived the 60 minutes Delta training today and although we had less mud but it was orgasmic!

Having gone through and survived the DELTA strenuous, heart-exploding-exercise, I went back home stood infront of the mirror imagining the 8 pack, firm ass, kingkong chest and lean muscle.......... only to see myself like this........

HOOOYAAAAA!!!!!

Maybe I will look better after a few more sessions!!!

Other Bootcamp articles, see: Bootcamp 6, Bootcamp 5, Bootcamp 4, Bootcamp3, Bootcamp2, Bootcamp 1.
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Bootcamp KLAS3 - kl Alpha Session 3 November

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I peep through the window at 10:20pm... checked!! No rain!!! ...and went to bed. Woke up at 4:30am and quickly peek through the window again..... checked!!! No rain!!! Goodness... how are we going to have our training today without the mud...? I thought quietly to myself. We should ask for a discount!!!!

A mud spa treatment would at least cost RM350 per session and we got it complimentary with every session but today....? Without the mud, OBC should give us a refund.. RM350-RM299 and pay us RM51 to attend December session?

After a good bowel session, we left for Padang Merbuk and arrived at 5:30am but with a full bladder (oh god).... and had to do it behind the trees (as per the doctor's advice... Dr Malek!)...

 
Okay too much information....

At 5:40am, Sergeant Simran Latif announced the participants grouping based on the assessment done on the first session. The group was divided into Delta, Seal and Ranger...

 (Maybe thats how sergeant sim would look like without the hairy face!!)

Don't need to wonder the differences of each group. It is really quite simple.

Those selected for Delta are those participants that the trainers dislike the most...!!! They will be torture to the maximum limit and/or probably until they vomit.  The Seal are those that the trainers cannot decide to hate or to like, so they need more time to decide hence why they are parked in the Seal group. Finally, are those participants classified as the Ranger. They should be proud of themselves being the most favoured by the trainers. They will be pampered and guided throughout the sessions....  and I.. .being me, of course being favoured, was selected as a RANGER... Wink Wink!

BUT participants may be upgraded or downgraded depending on the instructor's mood, hinted the Sergeant.

Today, beside Sergeant Sim, Corporal Faizal Ariff Abdullah and Lans Corporal Daniel Chong, we had 2 additional FEMALE instructors (PJ Alpha & Bravo.. dont be jealous)...

 
They are known as Corporal TY and Corporal Tee... aka Miss TAYAR and Miss TALI (rope).

Unlike the Sargeant and the two corporals whom are always restless and is either screaming or running left and right, the two lady instructors were so damn lazy... they both just lie down in the middle of the street. 

..........and the session began on the tarmac road!! We were introduced to TY & Tee and I quickly recognise TY... she was the one that raped us on my first day at the Bootcamp, the second half of last month (see: Ms TY). So saddist, we had bruises & scratches all over the shoulders and arm.

Today, we did not spare TY of any mercy... we tied her tight to the long, petite, slim and flat Tee, and DRAGGED & PULLED HER MERCILESSLY!!!! .....and repeatedly!!!!

(we dragged her like this but on the tarmac. Tee & TY picture were censored)

GO....!!! GO.....!!!! GO.....!!!!! I screamed so loud as I led the rangers to drag Tee on the tarmac. My heart rate peaked at 173 beats per minute!! We took turn with the Seals and Deltas... The Seals and Delta too want a piece of her!! Of course.... we did not mind sharing. We jumped up and down waving (akin of doing star jump) and cheering the other team dragging TY & Tee....

We took turn dragging her for half an hour...until Sergeant Sim felt jealous and stopped us!!!

We were then led to the field that we thought was dry.... only to realized that it wasn't!! I did not recall any rain last night... it must have been man-made, by the hairy sergeant and his corporals!!!! ...in case we demanded a refund without the orginal mud-spa treatment. Somebody must have leaked our intention to get paid RM51 to attend the next Bootcamp session!!

We went to the field, and saw TY already lying helplessly in the mud.... Everybody was allowed to flipped her only thrice at any one time, explained Corporal Faisal... BUT no orgy!!! one at a time..

..........and so we took turn flipping her 3 times like this without any help.........

Whilst the person is at it, the rest must run.... and continue to run and gave chase for their turn... Some were too impatient and fell....

After a few rounds of 3 flips, Corporal Faisal stopped us.. maybe he also want a few rounds with her. We were gathered together for the complimentary mud spa....

The session ended after the mud spa... I burn a total 814 calories today (reading from Polar). I guess we won't get any refund today. Sergeant Sim approached and asked me how was the session... I said it was short of a multiple orgasm (still wild in imagination). Sergeant Sim came closer.. and whispered, next session Armin, I want you in Delta!!!

Maybe it was my orgasmic scream.. or maybe it was my new bold hair style that he dislike, but now it is official that I am on Sergeant Sim's side of dislike.. he wants me tortured!!! Its too early for April fool....

Before we left home.....  we posed with Ms TY and  Ms Tee....

 Ms TY and Ms Tee after being tortured by us..

Ooh look at me still holding on tight to Ms TY... (notice how Shob cant stop doing squats)

The team posing with Ms TY........

HOOOOOYYYAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Other Bootcamp artices, see: Bootcamp 5, Bootcamp 4, Bootcamp3, Bootcamp2, Bootcamp 1.

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Bootcamp 2nd session- November

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I slept early at 9pm last night to be fresh for this morning's Bootcamp training but was awoken by a loud thunder at midnight.... oh heck, I whispered to myself... there goes another shoe!

This morning, I quickly search for a suitable shoe in anticipation of the mud swim, left to Padang Merbuk and arrived at 5:30am sharp. Our session began at 5:45am and almost immediately my shoe cried for symphathy... followed by the shirt, short and socks before the hair and skin started to irritates....

The session today was gruelling and excruciating... for the shoe. The participants.....  Mmm... we had a good overall leg, ass, stomach, shoulder, bicep, tricep, chest and back workout.

My maximum heart rate today was 169bpm or 90% maximum heart rate.... there was a point that I felt nauseate but regardless, I pushed myself to the max throughout the 60 minutes and burnt a total calory of 715 cal. Complimentary reading from Polar heart rate monitor watch.

Today too, it is official, my partner-in-crime ABU LAIS WALLI MOHAMED retires from the Bootcamp training to my desmair. Why....? Lets ask him here at his Facebook.

We began the exercise with squat and sand bag, then grunts, squat & jump with sandbag, grunts with bar (called the 'Truster'?), deep push up, jack knife and planks.

We were divided into a team of six irregardless of new recruits, semi new, semi senior, seal or delta. The exercise began with carrying a sandbag like this:

err.. maybe abit different but something like that... except the girl was replaced with a sandbag. We then had to squat down with the girl... I mean the sandbag. After 40 seconds, we move on to do Grunts.. This exercise is also used to penalise those indiscipline participants. A grunt is a combine push up and squat formation. This was also done for 40 seconds and we move on to the grunt + iron bar (called the 'truster'?) for another 40 seconds.

The next form of exercise is the 'deep push up' aka pumping. It is call a deep push up because we need to lower ourselve deep unto the ground until the chin touches the mud... the body is of course quarterly buried (in mud).

The push up was also for a 40 second period. The next exercise is for those 6 pack dreamers like me...

To get the above flat and 6 pack abs, we had to do a non-stop 40 second Jack knife abdomen exercise........ ...

and finally, we had to do the 'Planks' ......... the plank exercise seemed simple especially for only 40 seconds.... but if you can just try it out first before commenting... you will scream.

Well.. I was a bit noisy whilst 'planking', screaming loud and endlessly HOLD HOLD HOLD HOLD HOLD HOLD... and I managed to hold for the whole 40 seconds. After the planks, the cycle repeated itself again and again for the whole 50 minutes before we ended our session with a 10 minutes jog. The total body burning aching feeling was the ultimate orgasm... it was all pleasurable pain.

Getting lost in thought, dreaming of lean, single digit fat level pulled us through (..or maybe just me) the 60 minutes high intensity workout.

After the session, reality finally kicked in........ gone were all the beautiful nice dream of 6 pack, lean, sexy look but actually we look like this....

HOOOOYAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other Bootcamp artices, see: Bootcamp 4, Bootcamp3, Bootcamp2, Bootcamp 1.

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Proton Chairman suffers mild Stroke

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My driver prompt while driving to office this morning, he heard over the news last night that my friend that lived in Glenmarie was admitted in India. I have a few friends that stays in Glemarie and could not figure out who but immediately knew it was Proton Chairman when my driver mentioned the location where he brought me for breakfast.

I quickly called a few people to confirm and was affirmed that Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, Proton Holdings Charman suffered from a mild heart attack in India. He was admitted at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai in the morning after complaining of chest pains. Nadzmi, 55, complained of discomfort while checking in at the Taj Coromandel Hotel and was rushed to the hospital.

According to the New Straits Time today, Nadzmi arrived in Chennai yesterday to participate in the investment and trade mission organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Martrade).

Nadzmi was discharged from the Intensive care unit and is transferred to a normal ward where he is recovering. His condition is said to be stable.

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The Bootcamp Assessment

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Much has been said about the 'Assessment' which is usually the first Monday of every month. I have never done any assessment having joined the Bootcamp half the month last month in October.

So today at the Bootcamp, I was rather confused...  Sergeant Sim divided the group into two (2), the first group was for the new recruits & first timers and the second group for the senior recruits or those from previous months; I was... err neither new nor old.... I joined-in half the month so I am more of semi senior or semi new.

I considered myself as new recruits but incidentally parked myself at the seniors line-up and was allocated a new recruit to guide through the assessment... but I too had never done any assessment. I screamed for Sergeant Sim to clarify my semi senior or semi new and was affirmed that I should be a senior... wink wink..

Still confused... I paid extra attention to Sergeant Sim's instruction of what is expected of the seniors and I was crystal clear............................ the assessment comprised 3 sets of the followings:

1) Two loops of running* at 200 metres per loop. Hence, 400 metres per set.

2) 10 repetitions of push up

3) 10 repetitions of Grunt

4) 15 repetition of military sit-up

5) After completing 3 sets of the above 1-4 exercises, all (senior, new, semi, old, young) recruits must perform a one mile run* (equivalent to approx 1.6km)

* inc 100mtr semi swim in Frog Infested mud Puddle  (TM from Shobha Bala)


The seniors are expected to ensure the form of each exercises are correctly performed by the new recruits or the senior is punished with a 5 reps grunts... now I think, I should have been a newbie.

Everybody are also expected to exercise their Soprano vocal chords and screamed with high notes "Good Job, Good Job, run, run, run, faster, faster, faster, one more set, Cepat la, apa ni, pondan ka...."  and also the falsetto voice counting, "One, Two, Three, Four... Ten!, next set"... this voice exercises are performed throughout the whole assessment session.

The trademark of the original Bootcamp is the original mudbath extended to both the senior and new recruit including the semi recruits like me, are all given the complimentary mudbath cum spa. Without it, Bootcamp will be the same as true fitness or fitness first. Expect nothing less....

Infact, you will be given more score if you have more mud on you... especially on hair and face... you can try but there is no guarantee... :-p

The assessment is recorded online @ the members area and the first result will be your fitness benchmark and the determinant factor to categorise you as a Ranger, Seal or Delta. Each category represent the programme level of difficulty.  This record will also be used as a monthly comparison or tracking of every participant's level of fitness. To log on and to view the recorded assessment, click here and simply enter your email address and the password.

My first assessment time is 13minutes and 20 seconds... If next month's assesment result is worse than the current assessment, I should get a one month refund, 100% Money back guarantee... Double hooyah!


Other Bootcamp articles: Bootcamp3, Bootcamp2, Bootcamp 1.
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National Automotive Policy – still stuck in neutral

Saturday October 31, 2009
National Automotive Policy – still stuck in neutral
By JAGDEV SINGH SIDHU

The National Automotive Policy has been revamped to now include several new measures. But are they enough to move Malaysia’s auto industy ahead of its regional rivals?

WHEN International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed admitted at a press conference on Wednesday that Malaysia was behind Thailand in the auto industry, there were no gasps of disbelief nor expressions of shock.
However, there must have been a reflection of regret that Malaysia has lost much ground after it had stormed into the lead in the regional auto business when it launched the national car project in the mid-1980s.
Now, we have been overtaken by a neighbouring country that has basically given its investors the very things that have been asked of the Malaysian government all this time.
The “loss” to Malaysia may amount to billions of dollars and employment opportunities many times the size in Malaysia that have migrated northwards. This time around, though, the Government intends to rectify the situation.
Although the broad objectives of the national auto policy (NAP) review do not deviate much from the original policy announced in 2006, the Government has spelt out its intention of growing the industry and developing its long-term competitiveness with a slight twist.
“Given the strengths and weaknesses of the Malaysian automotive industry, the Government’s move to focus on high value added segments makes sense,” says Kavan Mukhtyar, partner and head of automotive and transportation practice, Asia Pacific, Frost & Sullivan.
“By focusing on the luxury vehicle, electric vehicle/hybrid/precision engineering segments, the Government hopes to attract high value added new investments without competing directly with Thailand, and at the same time continuing support for the national car makers that focus mainly on the compact and sub-compact vehicle segments.
“The NAP review has also clearly signalled that Malaysia will go through the process of gradual rather than rapid liberalisation. The clear timelines attached with the liberalisation process give enough time for the domestic players across the value chain to become regionally competitive or to diversify into other businesses.”
One of the main differences between the 2009 auto policy and its predecessor is the granting of full-fledged manufacturing licences to foreign auto companies, in categories that do not compete with the national passenger car players.
“Considering the competition from Thailand, which has firmly established itself as the ‘Detroit of Asia’, the lifting of the freeze on manufacturing licences is a good move that puts Malaysia on the right path to attracting foreign direct investments by global carmakers wishing to expand their operations in the region,’’ said CIMB Research in a note.

Turning to Europe
The carte blanche given for new manufacturing operations of certain type of cars, such as those above the 1,800cc and RM150,000 in value, is a start, but the issue is, will manufacturers bite?
There is a school of thought that foreign car companies from Europe may pay a little more attention to the measured liberalised environment in Malaysia.
OSK Research, in its note on the NAP, points out that Thailand trumps Malaysia on incentives as it offers lower excise duties on vehicle prices and the exemption of import duty on plant machinery, in addition to having an already established supply chain.
The only problem is that to qualify, investors need to fork out a huge sum of money, the minimum being RM1bil.
“To date, Thailand has seven global OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and a few smaller ones that have set up plants with capacity totaling 1.625 million units as of 2008. These are mainly OEMs from Japan (Toyota, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Honda, Nissan) and US (Ford and General Motors).
“As none represents the European region, we may potentially see Malaysia trying to attract global OEMs from this region instead. This was hinted in the announcement, with respect to relaxation of the ruling on foreign manufacturers in the luxury passenger car segment,’’ said the research house.
Having competitive incentives is one thing, but the years of distrust and doubt that foreign players have built up against the direction of Malaysian auto policy, is working against the possibility of them committing huge sums of money in the future.
“Fiscal incentives and flexibility in ownership are just a few factors to attract FDI (foreign direct investment). Foreign investors will evaluate the entire ecosystem in Malaysia, including the availability of supporting supplier industries, access to regional markets, domestic demand, availability of human resources,’’ says Kavan of Frost & Sullivan.
“For example, to become a manufacturing hub for hybrids/electric vehicles, Malaysia also needs to have an attractive home demand for such products. Follow-on measures will be critical in creating an attractive ecosystem for foreign investors in the high value added segments.’’
He feels Malaysia’s biggest challenge is to strengthen the supplier base and help those suppliers develop competitiveness.
“In summary, the NAP review will definitely attract attention from the foreign investors but actual flow of investment will depend on how the entire automotive ecosystem responds to this opportunity,’’ Kavan says.

Time to change
The main thing the NAP has failed to do is to cut tariffs and consequently, the price of vehicles in the country. Maybe this is due to the already huge strain on the government budget, which has been running deficits for more than a decade now.
“Most of the consumer-centric measures are more towards improving safety standards and the environment friendliness of the vehicles. In the short term, imports of used CBU (completely built up) imports may be constrained as gazetted prices will be used for duty computation,’’ says Kavan.
“Consumers in the luxury segment may benefit in the medium term if foreign automakers make Malaysia their hub for vehicle manufacturing.”
The NAP also manages to liberalise the auto sector while still giving protection against the national car makers, a stance the Government has not wavered from, since starting the national car policy in the mid-1980s.
Whether that is an acceptable to the rest of the industry is moot, but there are quite a number of people who feel that is not the right way to go.
“(There is) still ample protection for national producers, including maintaining high excise and import duty structures, extension of freeze on assembly of rebuilt commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses. And, the liberalisation of manufacturing licences does not encroach into the mass market segment, which the national producers currently serve,’’ UOBKayHian points out in its note.
And there are people in the industry who feel the time has come for that to change.
“We have to look at the national auto industry in particular and not only focus on the national car company alone,’’ says DRB-HICOM Bhd group managing director Datuk Mohd Khamil Jamil.
“Having the technology and product for the domestic market alone is insufficient. We must also be accepted by the market overseas, at least regionally.’’
Khamil feels that a collaboration with a strategic partner is important in promoting and enhancing the capabilities and opportunities of Proton and the industry.
Malaysia is a country that has a long history of making cars. Notwithstanding the national makes, the employees of the industry are widely regarded as trainable and skilled. Just ask Mercedes Benz.

Its plant in Pekan, Pahang, started out making four units a day of just one model. Today, it assembles the S-class, E-class and C-class Mercs, and annual volumes has now reached 5,000 units. That makes it the largest CKD (completely knocked down) assembly outside Germany.
“Consolidation and strategic alliances within the industry is important as many major manufacturers are moving towards multiple brands sharing the same engineering platform,” says Khamil.
“Asean is a high-growth region for the automotive business. There are threats of new markets like Vietnam and the Philippines. So we have to entrench our position.”
Changed, but still the same
The crux of the issue in Malaysia has been overcapacity, competitiveness and the lack of exports. Khamil feels that future growth will have to be export-led, and Malaysia needs to establish its position as an auto manufacturing hub.
“There must be a balance between the national car brand and enabling a sustainable auto industry,’’ he says.
While the auto parts manufacturers would welcome the NAP, the other winners from the entire review would surely have to be the national car makes,” he adds.
The greater tax exemption for exports of vehicles will benefit Proton and Perodua, but analysts feel those companies would need to produce cars that are competitive on a global scale in order to greatly gain from such incentives.
That will entail additional costs to engineer such cars, making it essential for Proton to form a strategic partnership with a larger foreign player. Proton and Volkswagen are engaged in talks to reach such an arrangement.
While the NAP review is a step in the right direction, many things need to be in place for the measures to materialise into something significantly tangible.
“On a whole, the measures are unlikely to have much immediate impact on the auto sector. Most of the measures announced – albeit being positive in navigating the industry towards greater liberalisation and competition – are not significant enough to alter the prevailing industry dynamics. In a way, the scenario, duties and ultimately, car prices, have not changed,’’ said Affin Investment Bank in a research report.
Related Stories:

A disappointing review of the NAP

Coming to grips with APs

Who’s footing the bill?

Automotive sector – shifting up a gear

The Last Day at the Bootcamp...

Today marked the last day of our October Bootcamp training session.... next week on Monday all participants' fitness level will be assessed... for improvement (if any).

So what is my take? The Bootcamp is on a monthly registration and renewal. Participants will be re-assessed to move on to the next level of the programme or remain status quo at the current... if at all re-accepted into the programme.

I have received numerous feedback on its effectiveness and inquiries if I am continuing with the programme. Truthfully, I am not the best person to comment.... I registered half month into the programme and was sick half of the half month. So on the random days that I was at the training... 4 sessions out of the 12 sessions per month, I will summarize as follows....

I lost my bootcamp virgin to a big fat, heavy tractor tyre. Of course I prefer the slim, petite, sexy and light but at the bootcamp, it is always a blind date!! You will never know what to expect. We went up and down and up and down with the big fat & heavy on top. It was strenuous but the first time is always painful... and so they say.

The second session was all about grooming. We were given an original mud bathwith only the natural ingredients such as mud, grass and probably some poops from the smell of it. Shoba Bala called it frog infested mud puddle and look forward for more of it.. having been with the Bootcamp for already 4 months.

The third day was "friendly day" where you bring your friend along for a get together. It is the best day to socialize and the best way to lose a friend... or so said Malek Aziz's : "How to lose a friend in 60 minutes". Thinking Rose Emini always took photos of my wrinkles.. I brought her along......!!!

The last session for the month was this morning......... and today... 'The theme was... needless to say, "Now, everybody can shop for a new shoe"... There is no better justification to shop for new shoes every month than to join the bootcamp...

WHY?

JOIN THE BOOTCAMP TO FIND OUT... .....

If you have been paying the Truefitness or Fitness First gym 180 a month without any progress or improvement or if you have been paying the gym without even going to the gym.....

and if you have been paying a few thousand ringgit a month for Personal Training session at the gym and you dont see result except a pinch in the pocket....

or if you have been training and now lacking the motivation or the drive to improve...... like me..

or if you are in for the challenge and to vary your existing training programme.....

For RM299 You certainly should join the Bootcamp?


Will I re-register for November Bootcamp?

Errr... to miss the opportunity of being green, natural friendly with free original mud spa treatment and to learn the art of losing a foe/friend weekly as well as given a good reason to go shopping... I DEFINITELY WILL NOT MISS IT... and I think everybody should join the Bootcamp too... Register now at: Bootcamp online.


So see you next week.

and for those ladies who wants to get personal with the BOOTCAMP TRAINERS (ALL MODEL LOOK MEN... Mmm..).... come to the bootcamp GRADUATION HALLOWEEN day at the Borneo Rainforest cafe tomorrow, Saturday 31st October 2009 at 730pm....... to dress for halloween.. this is how the trainers look at us trainees.. as zombies and ghost!

Having attended only 4 sessions.. I dont think I deserve a graduation day. Have fun all...................

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Bernama News report- National Automotive Policy

October 28, 2009 19:20 PM

NAP Review Addresses Most Issues In Auto Eco-system, Says PEDA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The revised National Automotive Policy (NAP) has addressed most of the predicaments in the automotive eco-system, says Proton Edar Dealers Association Malaysia (PEDA).

PEDA's president, Armin Baniaz Pahamin said the policy addressed three main aspects imperative to the Proton eco-system.

"In particular, it addressed the conflict of the two national car makers competing rather than complementing each other, and provides a pragmatic future direction towards Free Trade Agreement (FTA)," he said in a statement here.

"It specified the importance of Bumiputera dealership in the network and the critical issue faced by the vendor and it also addressed the overall saturated and stagnant automotive market."

Armin Baniaz said the public will benefit from the economies of scale gained from preserving specific market segment in the domestic market share for Proton.

He said although the second national car project, launched in 1994, was meant to complement Proton and expand the local automotive product range, they were both now competing in the same market segment and dividing the market share.

"This had led to a lower production (for vehicle in the same segmet), under-utilising the production capacity by both manufacturers in a stagnant if not deteriorating market segment," said Armin Baniaz.

PEDA also lauded the clear directive to increase Bumiputera participation in dealership network.

However, the existing 100 per cent Bumiputera owned dealership that is currently a minority with a total of less than 20 per cent in the dealers network, should be preserved and nurtured, said the president.

The tax/duty exemption on the value of increased Exports of Vehicle and Parts/Components and the gradual removal or reduction of import duty, meanwhile, will be a catalyst to attract a strategic partner for Proton.

The mandatory annual inspection for vehicles above 15 years as a first step towards implementing a Vehicle End of Life Policy is a good move and in line with other developed countries, the association said.

However, PEDA hoped that the scrapping policy that was introduced under the second financial stimulus should be continued especially with the momentum that has picked up.

"Although the quantum offered to scrap 10 years and older vehicle is low but it should be an option given Malaysia's relatively high average vehicle age," Armin Baniaz said.

"The scrapping of old cars is important for our automotive industry that is now quite saturated. The introduction of Vehicle End of Life Policy will address our saturated automotive market as well as vehicle road worthiness and environmental issues."

The phasing out of imported used parts and components including the half-cut will then benefit all parties from the public, Proton vendors as well as the authorised service dealers, he added.

-- BERNAMA

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The National Automotive Policy (NAP) is out...

Malaysia National Automotive Policy

The National Automotive Policy was announced this morning. This is my take on the NAP...

The NAP had addressed the automotive eco system in quite an entirety from recognising the importance of Proton and Proton's future direction as a National Car, addressing policies that affected the vendors, dealers, bumiputra participation, the stagnant and saturated market as well as the direction towards FTA.

The NAP addresses three main aspects imperative to the automotive eco-system. In particular it addressed the conflict of the two national car maker competing rather than complementing each other as oppose to the main objective of the two national car projects that was approved by cabinet in the early 80s for Proton and mid 90s for perodua. The NAP provides a pragmatic future direction towards FTA with the abolishment of open AP BY 2015 and franchise AP by 2020. Secondly, it specified the importance of bumiputra dealership in the network and the critical issue faced by the vendor through unregulated import of used parts and component. Thirdly, it addresses the overall saturate and stagnant automotive market”.

1. The public will benefit from the economies of scale gained from preserving specific market segment in domestic market share for Proton. The Second national car project that was launched in 1994 was meant to complement Proton and expand local automotive product range. However, both Proton and Perodua are currently competing in the same market segment which saw the market share for the same small segment being divided and hinder any economies of scale benefit.

2. This had led to a lower production (for vehicle in the same segmet) under-utilising the production capacity by both manufacturers in a stagnant if not deteriorating market segment.

3. PEDA also lauded the clear directive to increase bumiputra participation in dealership network. However, the existing 100% bumiputra owned dealership that is currently a minority with a total of less than 20% of the dealers network, should be preserved and nurtured.

4. There is nothing new in the requirements for strategic partnership between Proton and a global established OEM particularly to increase export & make Malaysia as the production hub for the region; transfer of technology & implementation of R&D activities locally; and increase in local content & enhancement of bumiputra vendor programme. This has always been Proton’s direction even during Tengku Mahaleel’s tenure. It was for the same requirement as well as the ‘pricing’ that Proton was unsuccessful in getting a strategic partnership in the past.

5. However, new policies under the NAP, in particular the tax/duty exemption on the value of increased Exports of Vehicle and Parts/Components and the gradual removal or reduction of import duty to meet the commitment of various FTAs will be more attractive to attract a foreign strategic partner for Proton.

6. The Mandatory annual inspection for vehicles above 15 years as a first step towards implementing a Vehicle End of Life Policy is a good move and in line with other developed countries. Other developed countries such as Britain had long imposed such a requirement. The annual vehicle inspection is will ensure all vehicles are road-worthy and would not endanger other drivers.

However, the scrapping policy that was introduced under the 2nd financial stimulus should be continued especially with the momentum that has picked up. Although the quantum offered to scrap 10 years and older vehicle is low but it should be an option given Malaysia’s relatively high average vehicle age. In britain, the cost to comply to the annual vehicle inspection is more expensive than the cost to scrap the car.

7. The scrapping of old cars is important for our automotive industry that is now quite saturated. The introduction of Vehicle end of life policy will address our saturated automotive market as well as vehicle road worthiness and environmental issue.

8. The NAP phasing out of imported used parts and component including the half-cut (kereta potong) will benefit all parties from the public, Proton vendors as well as the authorized service dealers.

9. The usage of imported used parts and component does not warrant the buyer, will void any vehicle warranty and may endanger the user. The sale of used imported parts and component had also affected the vendors and authorized Proton service dealers. Vendors and dealers only deals and sell original OEM parts and component.

The full press release by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry is available here.

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Be a DUKE for 5km

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Who wants to be on top of a  DUKE? dont get too excited ladies.. but that is exactly what you can do on 22 November 2009 from 8am to 12pm. You can do anything with the DUKE within the 4 hours... you can play, sleep, run or just walk with the Duke.

There is no catch except for a fee of RM5.00. That is all that you need to pay to participate in Malaysia's first DUKETHON 1 MALAYSIA RUN at the Duke highway... err maybe another RM2.00 to pay for the toll during the run?

DUKE almost a virgin highway but is Malaysia's latest landmark. Dont miss the opportunity to run for 5km on an 8 laner, 6 storeys above ground highway.

My brother Rhiza Ghazi is aggressively marketing the race maybe in anticipation of getting a 1 day toll-free pass from the Duke and although I never participated in any race that is less than 10km, I will make this race an exception.  Register now at DUKE-REGISTER on or before 14 November 2009. For more information click race-info.

see you at the DUKE....

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Mizuno wave run 2009

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Its been 3 months since the Siemens 10km run in July 2009, our last race before yesterday's Mizuno 11km wave run. This is the 6th year that Mizuno had organised the annual race but every year for the past 5 years, Mizuno race was held at Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur. This year, Mizuno race was stage at the University Putra Malaysia (UPM) Stadium in Serdang. The running fee was RM35 per entry and we were given a nice sexy yellow & white Mizuno running vest that would otherwise cost RM53.

I was in bed early on the eve of the race and deliberated if I should run tomorrow or otherwise. I am down with a bad fever, running nose, cough and body ache for already a week. Its been too long since my last race and I did not want to further prolonge it. Nonetheless, this is the first time (after more than a year), that Dato Fadzil, Datin Azura, Abu, Nita, Nawal, Emi are together running a race and of course, the running vest was already worth the registration fee paid.... I almost chicken out... damn the fever.

I woke up early at 530am to get ready for the run albeit the lousy health state. UPM Serdang is at least half an hour away (without traffic & if we didnt get lost) and quickly woke nawal and emi and drove to Serdang. We arrived at UPM serdang at 7:10am, illegally parked our car by the roadside and walked to the starting point.

The race was flagged off at 7:30am and the weather was excellent. We ran from the university stadium throughout the university campus area. There were at least 4,000 participants.

It was a terrible run. I was coughing all the way and had difficulty in breathing with the blocked running nose.  My polar watch battery went flat and I could not read my heart rate, distance and running cadence but I knew I was cruising at a very slow speed.

The run finally ended and I had never been so pleased to cross the finishing line. I ran straight to the Milo station and wanted to fill up my water bottle with ice cold milo... but they can only serve drinks in cup, I gulped 5 cup of milo instead. Fadzil, Nawal and Emi completed the run first,  Abu and nita came later. I was told more than a dozen runner's cars parked at UPM were broken into. Thank god our cars were good.

We left for roti canai @ raju and went straight home for bed. I was bedridden with high temperature again and had to miss a friend's birthday party in the afternoon and my staff Saraswathy's wedding in the evening.








This morning, I gave the bootcamp training a miss........... I reckon its best to allow my body to recover first before another hard training.

P. Saraswathy

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Congratulation to Ms P. SARASWATHY, the daughter of the late Mr & Mrs Ponnian Muthian and Mr S. Shanger, son of Mr & Mrs Subramaniam - Alamgeyam whom became husband and wife on Sunday 25th October 2009.

The wedding took place at 5:30am at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Jalan Kenari 11, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 10th Mile, Jalan Puchong, 47100, Puchong, Selangor.

Saraswathy has been a loyal and hardworking members of my company for almost 10 years. I pray for your blissful and happy marriage always.

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the Bootcamp

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I registered and joined the Bootcamp over the weekend and went to the first session yesterday at Padang Merbuk. We arrived at 5:30am sharp for the 5:45am session. We changed our t' shirt to their uniform and paid the half month fees of RM180. The training fee is RM299 per month for a three sessions per week programme.

There were approximately 30 pax at the field of mix gender and race. I was excited and had no expectation. I have been inactive from exercise for the past 2 months since the fasting month and the bootcamp seemed the best force-option to exercise.

We began with a slow jog in circle as a warm up. After the run, we were split into three teams and was assigned to a giant used tractor tyre that probably weight at least 200 kg if not more. We were asked to run with the giant tyre through a hilly route. The tyre was very heavy even with at least 6 team member carrying it. We took turn running with the giant tyre and I tried to bribe the team Commander to allow us to find a short cut. He thought I was joking.... (actually I was concern of the old tyre safety).

Half way through, we stopped a field and was asked (without any break) to do a non-stop jumping squat, pumping, raised leg and other exercises. By now, my heart beat was beating ala techno music... beating so fast it almost jump out from my chest. Then we were rushed again (without any break) to carry the tyre back to the starting point.

Our team arrived first at the finishing end where we started, the old tyre was tired and exhausted covered in mud from the wet field but we... mm.... were okay.... heee  From the scheduled 1 hour session, we had an extra 15 minutes training. Good value for money. A good high intensity train and a good bruises all over the arm and legs. The bootcamp does not repeat the same exercise and every session will be different. I wonder what will be in the next session...? an old used 'tong gas'?

I look forward to the next session... tomorrow.

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