CLASS OF 1986 KAMPUNG TUNKU PRIMARY SCHOOL

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Brian Melling started this close group page on FACEBOOK for those in SRK Kampung Tunku Class of 1986... those pre-teenage era when we were all innocent, decent and less polluted.

Although I was at the school for only 1 year in 1986 having attended three primary schools between 1981 to 1986 but there were so much memories in that one year.

The most significant memory at SRK Kampung Tunku was the excitement of being in a coed school!! My previous primary school SRK Sultan Ismail 1 (Standard 1 & 2) and SRK Iskandar (standard 3-5) were both boys only school. SRK Kampung Tunku was the only coed school that I attended in my whole schooling life. Bukit Bintang (B) School too was an all boys school and was probably why I 'lost control' with too many girls during teens.

Lets walk back 25 years into memory lane. Having moved school twice before SRKKT, I kind of got used to making new friend but not at all familiar to making friends with girls. Infact, we got so use to moving school that I went to register myself and sis Melor Edina Pahamin at SRKKT without both mum & dad on our first day.

LIFE IS NOT JUST ABOUT FOOD

5 months!!! Yes, it has been five months since I last touch any tobacco. I smoked my last cigarette on 21 September 2010 and ended more than 20 years of life with 3 packs of cigarettes a day. Cant even stand the smell of cigarette now and cant imagine going back to that lifestyle. Sadly, those in the smoke free-bandwagon such as Kamsani Ahmad, Joe Liew and Azwan went back to cigarette but I trust my bil Azhar Sulaiman had completely divorced his cigarette.

Cigarette price in Phnom Pehn is as low as US$0.80 for a pack of 20s!! Yes everything here is priced in US dollar but that is how cheap it is to sell your health.... US$0.80 a day. The cost to 'buy' AIDs or HIV is only US$5.00 a night and there is no refund. AIDS & HIV is for life.

It is the same cost of having a haircut, manicure and pedicure in Phnom Pehn. After many attempt with failure to go to Peek-A-Boo at the Curve for a haircut with Senior Stylist Evian, I had no choice but to try out the senior stylist at the Phnom Pehn most famous saloon.

This place does not have any junior or lower than senior stylists. All hair-dresser are Seniors!!! As in old and only men. no lady hair stylist.

Me on far left, in the middle and Ly Rattana on far right.

TOUR-RUNNING @ PHNOM PEHN

The best way to go sight seeing and to see the world is by foot Forest Gump used to say and ran on foot across the globe in the movie the Forest Gump. That was exactly what I did in Phnom Pehn!!! I went sight seeing cum exercise by running across the Phnom Pehn town and along the Mekong River!

After a few trips up to Phnom Pehn for endless meetings after meeting and with a complete absentee in workout & exercises, I was adamant to do two things on this trip to Phnom Pehn (beside the work schedule). No 1, I want to tour Phnom Pehn, the once known as the pearl of Asia and was considered as the loveliest French built cities in indochina. Phnom Pehn was founded in 1434 and was noted for its beautiful and historical architecture and attractions. There are a number of surviving French colonial buildings, such as the Royal Palace, Phsah Thmei, and other French style buildings along the grand boulevards.

No 2. I do not want to break my exercise routine!! Especially when had to missed a few training session at the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) at Bandar Utama & USJ1.

The sun was up earlier than me. It was all sunny at 6am. After changing into my COBC tee (early introduction to COBC in Phnom Pehn aiih), I started my morning run-tour and ran passing the Australian Embassy towards the Independent Monument.

The traffic was not as bad but it was very dusty. There were alot of parks in Phnom Pehn and the park was maintained by 'warga emas' golden ladies (old women). I felt pity looking at how the women cut the grass with parang (knife)!!

BRING A FRIEND DAY.. FREE TRIAL

19 & 20 FEBRUARY 2010 is.... that special time of the month again for you to cherish your friend by getting them involved in your 'other' life...the ORIGINAL life.. I mean the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP way of life.

The CHIEF ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP is not only a fat/weight lose, body toning, strength/stamina building program but it is also a platform that gather a circle of people with similar interest in fitness and health. As how Lilian Lee, our recruit relate it to the Pringles slogan 'once you pop, you cant stop', at bootcamp, once you gain that exercise momentum via the program, you really cant stop.. in fact, you dont want to stop.

To register for the free 'Bring A Friend' Day.. Click 'friend' or 'past-recruit'.. Choose BRING A FRIEND DAY - Bandar Utama (Select the preferred time) OR BRING A FRIEND DAY - SUBANG JAYA USJ1 (Select the preferred time) and you are one step forward to either be his/her bff (best friend forever) or ... completely lose them.

To know how to get to our training field.. click here.. or call 017-3795988.

Bring A Friend Day at the ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP MALAYSIA @ BANDAR UTAMA is on Friday, 19 February 2011 either at 5:45am to 6:45am (Alpha) or 7am to 8am (Bravo) and 20 February 2011 at SUBANG USJ1 at 5:45am to 6:45am.

See Ya...

INFILTRATING JOHN CHUAH'S PRIVACY

If there is one impressive service by security guard that is worth being lauded, it must be the guards that was employed by the resident at BU6. This was the my first encounter with foreign guards (i think its bangla?) that memorize the street name of the residential parameter of their protected jurisdiction. The security guard directed me to go straight, take second turn left, then turn right yada yada and the house is on the first lot thereafter (of course I wont blog the actual location du'uh). Usually, other security guard would just smile and wave at whichever car that passesby and would gave that 'wtf I dont know/understand look' when asked for direction or any inquiry.

I was the first guest to arrived.  We were welcome by a handsome youngman Jared and the prettiest Alison. The two pair of teenager. Yaa... trust me with free food aih but actually that was the only house that we were invited on that day but even if there were a few, the first priority would definitely be given to the twice voted Spirit of Bootcamp (SOB) and most inspiring recruit at the CHIEF ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP, Malaysia (COBC) at Bandar Utama. John Chuah was the June 2010 & July 2010 SOB. He was so popular that his leg was featured in Channel 9, Prime time news at here (*witty grin...only those from COBC would understand). The 6 footer, senior management at CIMB Bank, a father of two wonderful teenager too was also the pioneer member at the COBC Bandar Utama whom had even attended the COBC in Coogee Beach, Sydney trained by the founder of the COBC himself Chief Brabon. Popularly known as 'Uncle' by those at COBC @ Bandar Utama, John Chuah is the uncle'est of us all not because of his age but because of his.. err...... Mm... okay ok.. censored before I am struck out from his annual Chinese New Year open house invitation.

YAMMI JAMES FONG OPEN HOUSE!!!

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The SOBs or the Spirit of Bootcamp are prestigious award bestowed upon those that was voted as the most inspiring recruit at the CHIEF ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP, Malaysia. It is similar to those PROM KING and QUEEN in our younger days in college and university. There were voted as the SOBs for various reason but one trait that can't be learn at college or university is the in-built hospitality, friendliness and motivating-energy that they all possessed. This trait too saw some of the SOBs foregoing the privacy of their house to invite friends for layparking, food and beverages. It began with the July 2010 & August 2010 Double SOB Raja Affandi Jamaluddin offering his house for January 2011 graduation party, then the September 2010 SOB Pooi Ching Khiew Chinese New Year BlackJack Open House, the June 2010 SOB Viki Lim's Lion Dance open house and today we were honoured with the NOVEMBER 2010 SOB, JAMES FONG and Chan Meng Yam Chinese New Year Layparking Open House.

It was a dream cum true when suddenly the six-footer, best improved Delta and 8WC finalist SOB-James Fong & his darling, young (look only), lean, hot ass (she think so) wife Chan Meng Yam send out a Gong Xi Fa Cai layparking invitation for free food, drinks and get-together.

In a convoy of 8 cars..  Daing Daniel Fitri, Ody Nurfuadi Ruzalli, Dr Malek Aziz, Farhanah Bamadhaj, Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Rose Emini Pahamin, Aaraf Armin, Danial Ismail and Chun Chia Kai infiltrated the couple's house at almost the expiration time of their invite but being an SOB, they had no choice but to welcome us with a bigger arm.


It was the best CNY decorated house. Both James Fong & Chan Meng Yam were in red. Chan Meng Yam was very pretty and looked like a teenager in cheongsam.

When we arrived, Rienna Choo & children, Joanitta Zaleha Yusof, Noor, Pooi Ching Khiew, KH Yap were already there but luckily they did not finished the food.

VIKI LIM, JEFFERY WONG AND THE LION DANCE

No it was not Viki Lim that did the Lion Dance and No it was not a real lion but it is better than the real King of the Jungle. Its a dance by Chinese Martial Artists. Basic Lion Dance movement can be found in most Chinese martial arts such as Kungfu and Wushu. The Lion Dance is a traditional dance in Chinese Culture that was performed to scare away evil spirits and to summon luck and fortune.

The lion dance is often mistakenly referred to as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two people, while a dragon needs many people. Also, in a lion dance, the performers' faces are covered, since they are inside the lion. In a dragon dance, the performers can be seen since the dragon is held upon poles.

Viki Lim's was the first fellow bootcamper's house during this Chinese New Year that had a Lion Dance at her open house. Having known the quiet but cheerful and determined Viki Lim for quite awhile during our CHIEF ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) session, she is not only friendly but a down-to-earth mother of three to Hannah Wong, Ashley WOng and Jayden Wong. Being a recruit, we all dress the same t'shirt, do the same workout and share the same mud.

One can only wonder how a person is until one sees the person at home. Viki Lim has a beautiful family. Beside being a wonderful friend, great daughter, a loving wife and a mother of 3, she is also the second eldest of 5 siblings. There are Vivi, Viki, Lizi, Mili and a brother Alvin. Her sister Lizi Lim and Lizi's husband Hin Toong Long was our close gym friends for many years during our Fitness First days. Viki Lim a keen athlete is a pioneer member at the COBC but her husband Jeffery WOng and brother in law Hin Toong Long are both a hardcore athlete. Hin Toong Long was a SEVEN times IRONMAN TRIATHLON finisher and an 84km Ultramarathon finisher. Both Jeffery Wong and Hin Toong Long are attempting the 100km Ultramarathon at the Singapore Sundown marathon this year. Damn I wish I am as young as them!!!

WHO NEEDS A REASON TO EAT!!! but we had a damn good reason to eat...

COBC- GO AWAY CHUN CIRCUIT

(today no time to find picture)

The running fraternity is growing more rapidly as more and more running-virgin-recruits turning into runners but that is not the only activity that recruits at the CHIEF ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) @ Bandar Utama & USJ1 have adopted. The other passion that is quite common among recruits at COBC BU & USJ1 is of course EATING!! There's a rumors that a couple recruit at USJ1 Kok Joo Sam & Angeline Gan owns and operate the Subang Crab House, a restaurant that specialize in CRAB??? CRAB!!!! THAT'S MY FAVORITE!!! I have not ascertain if the rumors is true but if its true.. than we should attack the restaurant almost immediately!!! Who can resist Crab!! Especially in support to our fellow recruit!!

Beside that passion for running & eating, another growing fraternity at the COBC BU & USJ1 is DIVING!! Yesss.. DIVING!!!

The Diving fraternity among recruits at COBC are growing fast although not as rapid as the runners but enough to create a diving society at the COBC. As it is, there are two master-divers that would do hundreds of Grunts as long as they can go diving... eh okay.. abit exaggerated but its a figure of speech.

The Diving Fraternity at the COBC BU & UJS1 includes the Otai Dr Malek Aziz who is also a master-diver, Master Diver Suriana Saiful Yazan, Farhanah Bamadhaj, Rose Emini Pahamin, Nyna Mohsen, Suriana Saiful Yazan, Raja Affandi Raja Jamaluddin, Mohamad Afiq, Syed Mahadzir Syed Manshor,  Norjannah, Afiza Abdul Halin, Joe Liew, Vivien Luyen Ow, Sean Liew, Danial Ismail. These divers.... also dives well in the mud!

COBC: 30 + 5 GRUNTS ANG POW

(Pictures from library)

To personally welcome back John Chuah, Shear Ling Toh, Kenix Lim, Joe Liew, Freda Liu, T'yng Yng Tan and all Chinese recruits after the Chinese New Year, I generously gave out 30 Grand  Grunts Ang Paw each to ALL (even non-chinese) Alpha Platoon and Sarge Dann whom was jealous of my generousity added on an extra 5 grunts. Okay, I lied. I woke up late. I woke up at 5:30am, 15 minutes before the reporting time and arrived at 5:47pm.

The CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP SESSION is always punctual being a military inspired. 5:45am means 5:45am, a second later and its Grunts as punishments!! That was why everybody had 30 grunts each for me being late and another 5 grunts was added when recruits did not COUNT OUT-LOUD. Everytime a workout is fixed by number of repetitions (including punishment), ALL RECRUITS MUST count outloud; failure of which... other people will have twisted neck injury twisting their neck to check out our nicely trimmed, sexy legs.  Not counting outloud tantamount to more grunts as punishment and that will lead to extra hot, sexy and spicy legs.

FINALLY THE FIRST YEE SANG DINNER.... SELF SERVICE

On a random sampling of the four Chinese open houses that I visited over the weekend for the CNY celebration, I can derived and probably conclude three theorems.

FIRST THEOREM, the contemporary, traditional Yee Sang or Yuu Sahng (simplified Chinese: 鱼生; pinyin: yúshēng) that existed in China, popularised in Singapore in the 1960s and consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly Salmon), mixed with shredded vegetable and varieties of sauces,  condiments, among other ingredients that acts as a symbol for abundance, prosperity and vigor is less followed by the new millennium Chinese. On the sampling of the four houses that presumably represent the Chinese community. Okay.. maybe needed a bigger sampling but suffice for the purpose of this blog which I will explain in awhile.

SECOND THEOREM, Chinese New Year open houses does not serve Chinese Food. In all the sampling, the varieties of food served ranges from nasi lemak bungkus, western to Japanese Teriyaki. After walloping a few nasi lemak bungkus and even 'tapau' some Japanese food, I have no complain.

THIRD THEOREM, most of the Host at the Chinese New Year open houses do not wear Red. Actually I too do not understand the importance of red colour but during every Chinese New Year, every streets, shopping mall and houses are decorated in red. Even Ang Paw is also in Red so I am sure the colour red has some significant...... and so I thought.

I think Chinese New Year should be more traditional and less commercialize but being a  Malaysian, it does not feel right to be without any Yee Sang on the fifth day of Chinese New Year. So after the random sampling, we had to uphold the Malaysian multi-cultural tradition by having a Chinese Yee Sang on our own....  led by Daddy-Boss, the whole Bustanu Pahamin went to KLGCC for our first Yee Sang Dinner.

Since Sister Dr Teratai Edithy Pahamin & Amnan Bazli Pahamin are not around to join us, this blog was dedicated to both of them with a message....... You missed a god damn good dinner!!!! bluwek....

GONG XI FA CAI @ KIN SHUI TEI JAPANESE

 OKAY.. OK... Its Chinese New Year and not Japanese New Year but hey... its all about food!! My department.... Eating!!

Who in the right state of mind would resist an invitation to eat Japanese on Chinese New Year.. Not me, I cant resist.. and definitely not Aaraf Armin & Nawal Aini Zulkifli. We arrived at the Kin Shui Tei, Japanese Restaurant at the Tropicana Golf & Country Club with nothing in the stomach, specially reserved for the JUMBO SPIDER ROLL!!! Me favourite.

What makes it more irresistible, was the couple whom invited us, Yuen Choong Lai and LC Tan. The most jovial couple we've met. They are humorous and kind. Yuen Choong Lai co-owned the Japanese restaurant Kin Shui Tei. 

Yuen Choong Lai, or more fondly known as the jovial 'Daddy' by the CHIEF ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP @ Bandar Utama community is the PRESIDENT for HADRONS CAPITAL SDN BHD (355319-W), a fund manager, private equity and venture capital management.

It was raining when we arrived, which is abit 'ong' as there are more food left when many others were stuck in heavy traffic. I quickly went through the tables of food and yesss.. my favourite meal was happily smiling impatiently waiting for my arrival. I also saw LC Tan signature dish which is amongst my favourite too, the 'Buttered Prawn'. LC Tan or more fondly known as 'mummy' by the COBC recruits, the beloved wife of Yuen Choong Lai cook the best BUTTERED PRAWN in town.. maybe in the world. Although the price of Prawn had increased on CNY from RM60.00 per kg to RM90.00 per kg, it did not stop LC Tan from cooking 5kg of buttered prawn for the CNY open house..... of course I did not eat the whole 5kg!!

GONG XI FA CAI @ POOI CHING KHIEW'S

Amongst the many recruits that celebrated their Chinese New Year (CNY) in town and did not missed their bootcamp training is the Lush Icon Lady Boss Boutique Pooi Ching Khiew. She did not just attend all the session during the CNY, but she also 'cooked' and invited us all to her house at Sunway SPK, near Desa Park City.

How could we resist that invitation although the whole body was still aching from yesterday's TRX-Grinders and the exhaustion from traveling having just arrived from oversea. After a whole day of discussion at work, Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Rose Emini Pahamin, Aaraf Armin, Daing Daniel Fitri, Nyna Mohsen and Ody Nurfuadi Ruzalli left Bustanu Pahamin in a two car convour for Pooi Ching Khiew's house.

FIRST TABLE: On our arrival, newly engaged Syed Mahadzir Syed Manshor and Shafad Syed was clearing the food on Pooi Ching Khiew's table. We arrived just in the nick of time before all food was cleared. To distract Syed Mahadzir Syed Manshor's attention, we called him to camwhore first!!!  that actually did the trick, we managed to separate him from the nasi lemak bungkus!

Daing Daniel Fitri, Ody Nurfuadi Ruzalli, T'ng Yng Tan, Shafad Syed, Syed Mahadzir Syed Manshor, 

Armin Baniaz Pahamin, Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Lilian Lee, Viki Lim, Aaraf Armin, Lizza Affandi, Nyna Mohsen, Rose Emini Pahamin, Pooi Ching Khiew

GONG XI FA CAI BARBEQUE @ BUSTANU

4 February 2011. It was an impromptu BBQ.. I was away for too long and had missed three bootcamp training that everybody misses me too much that they all wanted to hang out with me and organised the BARBEQUE Gong Xi Fa Cai session at my house... that was what i wanted to believed but actually Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Sarge Dann, Farhanah Bamadhaj, Lizza Abdul Rahim, Ili Liyana Baharon and Norliza Affandi wanted to KAROEKE whilst Rose Emini Pahamin, Dr Malek Aziz, Aaraf Armin, Anita Ahmad, Abu Lais Walli Mohamed, Ody Nurfuadi Ruzalli, Hani Husin and yada yada yada.. wanted to play the card game Gin Rummy. Chun Chia Kai, Suriana Saiful, Hamidi Hassan, Hairi Zaid, Mohammed Rhiza Ghazi, Melor Edina Pahamin and a bunch of others just want to eat.. i mean EAT. Yes.. thats my department too!! and also blogging. So while everybody were busy doing what they wanted to do.... I was busy eating and blogging.

 The function started at 5pm.... with me lighting up the charcoal. Although I am the person-in-charge of eating department, but I was multi-tasked to be in charge of BBQ-ing as well..

Its a 6-cylinder burner... There were Prawns, Squids, Lamb, Chicken and hotdogs to barbeque-cook...

The best part was DURIAN.. Someone sponsored 12 DURIANS XO! 

ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP GRADUATION PARTY ALA KAMPUNG

The CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP, Malaysia EIGHT graduation January 2011 party was held at Kampung Sungai Penchala and was proudly hosted at the beautiful grand homage of our recruit Raja Affandi Raja Jamaluddin a Television Commercials and Movie editor, the owner of Mirage Post Sdn Bhd. Raja Affandi Raja Jamaluddin edited all of the late Yasmin Ahmad's movies and TV Commercials.What better way for us to get closer to one another than to be personal at home.

The theme picked for the 8th COBC Party was KAMPUNG!!! I mean, after a whole month of clearing fats and unwanted 'shapes', the next step was to clear the polluted mind and be as pure and innocent as a village men & ladies. Most city folks have all been polluted with modern sins... in food, drinks and thought.

Now lets see how our city-folks bootcampers became a Kampung folks.....

Kampong Couple Daing Daniel Fitri & Ody Nurfuadi Ruzalli

BOOTCAMP'ING ON GONG XI FA CAI!!!

The first February Bootcamp session falls on 31 January 2010 on Monday and the second Bootcamp session was on 2 February 2010 on Wednesday, the Chinese New Year!!! How does Bootcampers spend their Gong Xi Fa Chai? yes.. at the bootcamp! That is how passionate the instructors and recruits at the Bootcamp is. Health, fitness and physique knows no holiday, rain, hail or shine.

Although the majority are out Yam Seng'ing or indulging in sinful food or lying down by the beach holidaying, Sarge Dann, Corporal Chun and Corporal Nawal enthusiastically woke up as early as 4am eager to prepare the training circuit for yet another sweat pouring, heart bursting session. This is important to ensure recruits are well-prepared for the expected mega intake of food & calories in an endless number of Chinese New Year open-houses. Its these enthusiasm in the instructors too that drives and motivates us when the 'mojo' is gone.

A big hug to all instructors for the drive and the tireless effort to even train us on public holiday foregoing the luxury of being under the duvet, cuddling with the spouse (or boy/girlfriend or teddy bear or dog or whowever) and waking up late. Especially to the tall, Korean-look Corporal Chun whom is filled with mega-energy when it comes to exercise and training... as always.

LUSH ICON: Because every individual is an icon in the making...

It all began when two shopoholic sisters had a cup of coffee, tired of general apathetic service and sterile environments of local retail outlets, decided  to take matters into their own hands.... The two sisters did whatever it takes and gave birth to the Lush Icon, an innovative fashion boutique that only display and retail only personally hand-picked couture.

One of the two sisters is non other than our fellow bootcamper at Bandar Utama, Pooi Ching Khiew.

In fact, Pooi Ching Khiew is our pioneer member at the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) MALAYSIA. Recruits at the COBC ranges from Accountants, lawyers, fashion designers and boutique owner to athlete and celebrities. The sweet petite and stylo mother of two is also a good chef and when forty of us from the COBC @ Bandar Utama participated in the recent 8 week challenge, she frequently cook from the Gladiator Diet recipe (for the 8 week challenger) for most recruits in Bravo platoon (Grrr.. I am in Alpha platoon).

BOOTCAMP-JAN: 11TH SESSION "THE ROCKING RELAY"

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The CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP MALAYSIA at BANDAR UTAMA welcomes 10 Sports Science Students from the University Malaya at BU Alpha platoon, to research and understand the mechanics of our 20 years old program. The students whom were in their second year degree course arrived early for the 5:45am alpha platoon session.

After the shortened warming up session by Corporal (OBC) Nawal, Sarge Dann separated the 10 students, Rangers, Seal and Delta and then partnered up the strongest with the weakest to give them the extra boost in mojo.

The partner-based workout named the ROCK & ROLL RELAY.. eh I mean the ROCKING RELAY entails a 4 sets of cardio workout relay with muscle endurance stationary exercise. There were four forms of cardio from a normal sprinting, run & drop-down, to bunny hop for those with knee restrictions and kangaroo jump to bear crawl. I was unfortunate to be training next to two Meks.. Mek Yam and Mek Ling. Mek is a nick commonly used in kelantan that carries a few meaning depending on the usage. Mek when used in Kelantan can means mummy, or Miss but for Mek Chan Meng Yam and Mek Shear Ling Toh, it means noisy... okay i made that up. No such meaning.

Health: And I thought I was fit...

Health: And I thought I was fit...

THE NEW STRAITS TIMES, LIFE & TIMES JANUARY 25, 2011

Do you have what it takes for a bootcamp session? Bootcamp virgin SYIDA LIZTA AMIRUL IHSAN only manages to endure 35 minutes of it. IT was the quiet hours of the morning — when the city was still blanketed in darkness and the only sound you heard was your own breathing.

But a group of early risers and fitness fanatics was already up, about and ready to be tortured, trained and toned.

It’s 5.30am and the lights were still out in the neighbourhood but at the Sports Complex in Bandar Utama 3, laughter and conversation could be heard. On that Monday morning, after a 12km run the day before and a good seven hours of sleep, I was there too, giving Original Bootcamp — a high-intensity, thrice-weekly, military-style, 60-minute training — a go.

In recent years, bootcamp has found a following in the city where public spaces have become battlegrounds for people cramming in massive workouts before they head for work.

The same company holds another session in Subang Jaya and amongst other spots in the city and its suburbs. There were about 30 people that day at the camp. Monday blues, I was told. But to those who had woken up at 4.30am, all geared up for a workout, bootcamp must mean a great deal.

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH CORPORAL TOM AKA MOHD AZHARI MD SALLEH

MOHD AZHARI MD SALLEH or more officially known as Corporal (OBC) Tom at the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP MALAYSIA graduated with a Bachelor in Sports Science (Honors) degree from the University Malaya in 2009 with a high 3 pointer CGPA. Corp (OBC) Tom had also passed the CHIEF's ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP military assessment training Level 1 in June 2010.

Since graduation, Corp (OBC) Tom has worked as a Fitness Instructor in health dynamic program and data survey for WHYFIT Adventure at Petronas Research Sdn Bhd, Corp (OBC) Tom too has worked as a program facilitator at NIKE Level Up for students under 18 in Kuala Lumpur. Corp (OBC) Tom is also a personal trainer at the Fitness First gym.

In 2007, Mohd Azhari Md Salleh was a participants and committee member that was recorded in Malaysian Book of Record for the "Longest Non-Stop Skipping Relay". In the same year, he also represent the University Malaya for Handball Team and competed in inter-university games. He was a winner for the 5th Resident College Handball Team in the University Malaya Sport Scholars.