PROTON IN CRISIS

After the 12th Annual General Meeting, Proton Edar Dealers Association Malaysia (PEDA) has been busy with endless meetings after meetings.. which is typical when there are crisis. Barely a month into the new year, we were faced with three major crisis.. the most important crisis is the hire-purchase loan approval rate! On a random check with 20 dealers in various region throughout the nation, the average rejection rate is almost 70% with some dealers complaining of 90% rejection. This was due to the tightening of approval by the Central Bank of Malaysia. Banks gave a clear instruction to avoid submitting any hire-purchase application for PROTON BUYER with salary less than RM1,800 per month!! Even for customer with higher than RM1,800 salary a month, their disposable income MUST be more than RM800 per month. Meaning, after deducting income tax, SOCSO, EPF, housing loan, credit card balance, any other loans re-payment, scoring given on standard of living eg petrol, toll, food.. the disposable income must be RM800 or more. As a result, 70% of PROTON buyer's HP application were rejected. Are we in crisis? yes we are!!

PROTON DEALERS PRESS RELEASE

Kuala Lumpur. "Proton Edar Dealers Association Malaysia (PEDA) extend our network's support to DRB-HICOM  and congratulate the conglomerate for winning the bid to acquire Khazanah Nasional's 42.7% stake in PROTON Holdings", said President Armin Baniaz Pahamin

The dealer's network look forward to working closer with the new owner and understand the need for PROTON to have fresh capital injection to be competitive especially nearing the liberalization of auto market. Unlike our rival, whose vehicle make and model has achieved its economics of scale in its homeland abroad before being introduced in Malaysia, PROTON's bread-winner is in our homeland Malaysia. PROTON's volume with its own-born model in Malaysia's small population could not attained a sizable economies of scale.

1. DRB_HICOM as a new owner with a stronger cashflow would enable PROTON to introduce newer models more regularly and to be more aggressive in export. PROTON current financial capability can only allow one model to be introduced annually and once introduced, the model stayed in the market longer than that of the competitor to re-gained its return on investment.

2012 RUNNING CALENDER

After endless of interviews and conversation with fellow COBC bootcampers, except for a few but most recruits do not have a solid New Year Resolutions. As such and as an injection of motivation and aspiration towards a better training and target for the year, we have decided to draw the 2012 New Year Resolutions for you. We noticed there are 4 types of communities within our fraternity.. the top being Runners.. Secondly, Mountain Climbers. Third, Diving and fourth, Triathletes (swim, run, cycle) and dualthon (run, cycle, run).

For now, let us list down the list of Running Events for the year 2012 (we may add more runs to the list in due course) but for those season runners, at least six 10kms, four 21kms and one 42kms. For beginners, at least four 10kms and two 21kms races. We shall bring some celebrity and season runners into our group to further motivate our recruits while run-training and may organised some running clinics. Stay Tuned for events organised for the Divers, Mountain Climbers and triathletes/Dualtheles. Birds of a feather flock together. HOOYAH!!

BEING FINGERED BY 5 FINGERS

Barely a month ago, the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) was appointed the authorised re-seller for Vibram Five Finger and we received our first containers of Vibrams sent via courier. The Vibram Five Finger was hailed the biggest shoe trend of the year 2011. Hollywood beauties favored the Vibram Five Fingers (V5F) above all other shoes. For more information click HERE. Alike the Hollywood, the COBC socialites too have all been fingered by V5F!

One can only dream

One can only dream. I do not think Noel Maniraj Chelliah from the transformation camp is actually referring to the Chief's Original Bootcamp but I could not help but to post his new Daily Muscle logo & transformation camp tagline that reads: "Better than Bootcamp" which in advertisement-psychology signaled that Bootcamp is actually better.. Otherwise, why the need to even quote and compare? 

So.. you judge for yourself... and be careful from being an advertising victim. HOOYAH!!

MIZUNO WAVE RUN, MALAYSIA

15th January 2012, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang. Completed yet another race in a striking yellow Vibram although the initial plan was to run in the brown leather Vibram. I had fixed the Running Chip on the leather Vibram but end up running in the Yellow Striking Vibram instead. As a result, my running time was not recorded but that was not my priority.

We underestimated the distance from our house to Serdang and waited for Subuh prayer before leaving at 6:15am for our first run in 2012 (err.. first run for me it was) and arrived 10 minutes before the flag-off time. We went and search for others from the Chief's Original Bootcamp (COBC) and found a bunch of COBC-Lady-Runners. There were Rienna Choo, Freda Liu, Maslina Ahmad Ismail, Viki Lim, Lilian Lee, Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Bahariah Bahadom and Rose Emini Pahamin.

LAUGHING KAO KAO

I find a standup comedian as one of the most noble profession that anyone can have... I mean, which other job specializes in making people laugh... kao kao? Imagine the viral effect if everyone can make everyone laugh.. there would probably be no sorrow in this world but really, I salute you comedian.

After a long hard but productive day at work, I rewarded myself with an outing to the Comedy Kao Kao, Malaysia's latest Comedy Show although at first, it was just to accompany Nawal Aini... The outing to the Bee at Solaris Dutamas where it was held, was organised by Angela Loo which Nawal Aini Zulkifli booked and bought the ticket. The last comedy that I attended was the 1Kind Show by Allan Perera and Indi Nadarajah in 2009 and have not had any good laugh since except when Colin Chong and Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad were around.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIEKH HISHAM & MICAELA SOYZA

Being surrounded by people that loves to workout is one thing but loving to eat is another but that two characteristics are mostly synonyms with my circle for friends.  If you ever need to find a good outing place to eat.. you can always count on them. So I learn this new Thai restaurant that sounded abit weird but the food was gorgeous! Its the My Elephant Thai Restaurant at Sri Hartamas... For more detail, click HERE.  Its a birthday dinner for Sheikh Hisham and Micaela Soyza, two big names at the DH Zulu platoons that was organised by DH Zulu group of Otaiis (old timers) namely Stephanie Choong, Ryan Wong, Recently-retired-from-work Angela Loo, OBC-Australia 8 Week Finalist Kym Wishnowski, Stella Baake, DH Zulu Platoon Challenge Captain Sheikh Imran, Cobra-Rugby-team Azhar Jamal, Bank-Manager Caleb Lian Yoong Law, DH Zulu Lead Instructor Nawal Aini and of course the celebrated birthday guy and gal Sheikh Hisham and Very-Good-Chef Micaela Soyza.

SMOKING JAZZY ROARING TWENTIES..

Why the 1920s as a theme? ...err why not? To commemorate the 20s theme, we invited those retired mafiaso.. Al Capone, Mussolini, Charlie Chaplin and kunta kinte. We were also lucky we managed to trace back and bring along with us cowboy Doc Holiday but failed to find billy the kid. Okay.. they were older than the 20s but historic enough.

In search for the correct wardrobe for the event, the original idea was to dress up as Al Capone, the most famous personality in the 20s.. which should not be so hard but after various attempt, I ended up looking as Al Capoot. The venue for the historic gathering was at the Taps, opposite Istana Hotel. The Taps is owned by Viki Lim's family and naturally, we would of course support those within our circle. We arrived at 6:30pm sharp and was happily thinking that we were the earliest but Corporal (COBC) (P) Wan beat us to it. He was earlier! darn...

Upon arrival, I was smitten by Corrine Griffith (picture on right).. though her hair was longer than that during her prime time in the 20s but she still look gorgeous.. after almost 100 years, she does not seemed to age but according to rumours, she had changed her name to.. err... Nawal Aini Zulkifli ?? (sorry ar.. collect point sikit). A few minutes later.. Doc Holiday arrived!! without the famous thick mustache... clean shaven.

There was also a rumor that the 1920s Jazz King Louise Armstrong will be coming around.. and also Hitler was rumored to make a presence. Who does not want to be there especially for the most talked about COBC Hotbods Party!! The Chief's Original Bootcamp celebrated its 19th Graduation party as the closing for the year 2011

PROTON EDAR DEALERS ASSOCIATION MALAYSIA (PEDA), 12th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

PROTON EDAR DEALERS ASSOCIATION MALAYSIA 12th Annual General Meeting was held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on 6th January 2012.

Last year, PEDA's AGM was held at the One World Hotel immediately after the Dealer's convention. For details, click HERE. Most of details discussed at the 12th AGM are sensitive and confidential in nature, for PROTON dealers please log-in to www.PROTON-DEALERS.com for more information.

THE PROBLEMS WITH RESOLUTIONS: THE STAR PAPER 4 JANUARY 2012

The problem with resolutions

Posted: 3rd January 2012 by R.AGE in Stories
Tags: Achieving goals, Armin Baniaz Pahamin, Bootcamp, Chief's Original Bootcamp, Effective resolutions, Goal-setting, Motivation, New Year resolutions, Resolutions, Sharmini Hensen

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We’ve all been there before – making our lists in January and telling ourselves that things will be different this year and that we’ll actually stick to our resolutions.

But sometimes it feels like the only sure-fire way to fulfill your New Year resolutions would be to resolve to NOT fulfill them.

What exactly is the deal with resolutions anyway, and why are they so darn hard to keep?

New Year resolutions - what's the deal with them?

2012: THE NEW BOOK

If there was a word that can describe the year 2011, then it must be a 'learning' year. Well, we learn new things everyday but the year 2011 has taught me some very important lesson in business, life, family and friendship. I spend the countdown for the new year with my family at Bustanu. Except for Dr Teratai Edithy Pahamin and Shazrul Assari, mum and all other siblings gather for a BBQ. I was the "Master Chef" barbeque'ing seafood, lamb, chicken and multi-task'ed for Quality Control. Hence, half of those food 'disappeared' before it reaches the plate. Azhar Sulaiman bought some serious firecrackers and began blasting them as early as 8pm.. err.. I think he was more excited with Mercun than the kids.

Needless to say, as in all previous years, 2011 ended with a big huge Hooyah !! Never once did any years passesby with a regret, for every year there was always a plan. Whether the plan works or fail is secondary but life without trying or experimenting is not worth living. Moving forward, this year ... is a new page, new chapter and a new book. The ending or conclusion of this book is for us to write. We determine how this year is going to end. To achieve every year's resolution, we must have the right focus. This reminded me of the "Walk on Fire" motivational talk by Anthony Robbin that I attended during my final year university way back in 1994 in Birmingham. I had to save portion of my scholarship for a year just to buy the very expensive ticket but it was well worth it. Since then, whenever I feel the need to re-energized, I will turn back to the book "Awaken the Giant Within". I read hundreds of other motivational books during those undergraduate studies and even now but somehow, my chemistry was best with Anthony Robbin.  To focus on achieving our new year resolution, please see the short video below.

PHNOM PEHN TEAM MEMBERS

1 Day counting down to the new year and 6 days counting down to our big day. Thank you for a good 5 days of intensive meeting to end the year 2011 with a blast. To our teammates in Phnom Pehn, have a wonderful celebration and a good start for the New Year.

A short interview with most of the team mates revealed a surprising discovery. When asked, almost all of them shared only one New Year resolution..  "For the company to be successful in the new year and for them all to prosper well with the company". This value in any employees is hard to instil in most workforce but loyalty is a prominent attribute in Khmer's character.

Naturally, anything wont be complete without a camwhoring session.

LIVING LA VIDA LOCA

Year 2011 will end within less than 48 hours and let us flashback the year that passesby faster than Staff-Sarge Dann's 10km speedy timing. For a start, we have been in mud.. Obviously!!

and in water!!!!

LIFE WAS AS SIMPLE AS A BAGPACK FULL OF FRIENDS

I could not help but to ponder how much simpler life was during those childhood days. Those were the days when we can pack our friends into our bag pack to go to any places. I can smile stupidly all alone flashing back Aaraf's adorable words when he say "Dad, can I bring along my 10 friends to Penang? and showed me his friends nicely tucked into his backpack....

Hmm.. I wonder if I can tucked and fit all my ten friends Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Rose Emini Pahamin, Dr Malek Aziz, Farhanah Bamadhaj, Daing Daniel Fitri, Mohd Azhari, Cheah Boon Chong, Wan Hazriq, Suresh, Ridz and Moji into my luggage for a working oversea trip tomorrow.

YEAR 2012 COBC CALENDER (UPDATED)

VISION: 2012 COBC Primary Resolution- Convert more people to be a Bootcamper and get more people to be a health freak. How? By having a total 34 platoons at 7 locations with two pricing. For the hardcore, kiasu recruits with MC12 and those with a tighter budget and a busier schedule to workout with the MC8 program.

Program
MC12 program: RM299, Military Corps Training, 3x week, 12 sessions a month.
MC8 program: RM199, Military Corps Training, 2x a week, 8 sessions a month. For location & map, click www.cobc.biz

NOTE: Those highlighted in REDS are new platoons.

KUALA LUMPUR

I. AMPANG
1) Alpha: 0545-0645 (Mon, Wed, Fri) (MC12)
2) Bravo: 0700-0800 (Mon, Wed, Fri) (MC12)

3) Sierra: 0545-0645 (Mon, Wed) (MC8)

4) Oscar: 0700-0800 (Mon, Wed) (MC8)

II. DAMANSARA HEIGHTS
5) Charlie: 0545-0645 (Tue, Thu, Sat) (MC12)
6) Zulu: 1845-1945 (Mon, Wed, Fri) (MC12)

7) Tango: 0545-0645 (Tue, Thu) (MC8)

8) Yankee: 1845-1945 (Tue, Thu) (MC8)
 

NEW ASS ON THE BLOCK: COBC DECEMBER LAST SESSION

Nothing is more important than some surprises to juice and spice up our morning routine especially if we intend to maintain the momentum in climaxing at every alternate morning workout. A lot of time were spent to understand the needs of every recruit and alot of effort were invested to make sure everyone reach the point of no return at the end of every session.

To commemorate the end of December monthly workout in conjunction with the New Year, we brought to Malaysia the Alpha Strong Sandball (ASS) all the way from the United States of America especially for the use of recruits from the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC). The COBC is the first to import and use the ASS in Malaysia and Bandar Utama Alpha platoon was the first to break the ASS virgin. Ewww that sounds wrong.  The platoon was all excited to see the new Toys.. If there was the most voted feedback on our online feedback form at HERE.. then it must be the request for new toys!!  We hear ya... and now you have it!!

PENANG CHINGAY, LION AND DRAGON DANCE PARADE 2011

It was a sheer bonus for us to be in Penang to coincidentally discover the annual Penang Chingay, Lion and dragon dance parade that was held on 17 December 2011. We were there for food Penang CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) inaugural graduation beach party, COBC training at Padang Polo and for a meeting with the Penang Skill Development Centre. From a 3 in 1 visit, it became a .. err 5 in 1.. including the Makansutra!!

At the graduation party, the Chingay and Lion dance parade became the topic of conversation amongst the Penang'ites. During one of the group chat with Rohan from Korea, Jennifer, Phat Ling, Phaik San (did I miss anyone?) described Chingay as a 6 foot pole balancing art on the forehead which I initially mistaken it as Pole Dancing.. I mean.. the Chinese sort of pole dancing.. not so kinky eh.. aiiks. Chingay taken from Chinese dialect Hokkien, in pronunciation as Chin Yi means True Art. For more details on Chingay Parade, click HERE.

Chingay that was originated in China, was first performed in Penang in 1919 during deity processions. It is a street art where the performer balances a giant flag that ranges from 30 ft to 35 ft in height and about 60 pounds in weight. Over the years, the local Chinese had improvised the Chingay performance. From a basic giant flag balancing by a solo performer, Chingay became a team performance that consists of more than 15 persons in a troupe. 

PENANG ALPHA: A WORKOUT TOO GOOD

After completing 12 MakanSutra at various positions and locations in a day, we almost but did not miss the COBC training at Polo Alpha platoon. 9 of us from the 23 recruits and instructors from Central Region that attended Penang COBC Grad party stayed back purposely to eat attend Sarge (COBC) (P) Boon's alpha session. We planned to arrive late to give "KL-Grunts-Souvenir" for the Penang Platoon and thought of not coming in our COBC grey tee but we did not want to be cruel. So here we are.. all very early, in uniform but the Penang'ite gave us the Grunts-Souvenir instead by not wearing the grey Tshirt!! haiiih.. Thank you for the kind hospitality.

Having met with most islander during the Penang COBC Party at HERE, we can only conclude that they are really a shy bunch as compared to KL'ites. When the KL'ites party.. including the instructors.. they went all wild.

We hear rumours, penang'ites are a real camwhores.. so we stayed back after the alpha session, all sweaty, slutty and ready to camwhore... There were Dr Malek Aziz, Angela Loo, Lizza Abdul Rahim, Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Farhanah Bamadhaj, Maslina Ahmad Ismail, Rienna Choo and Ruzana Ibrahim but when the session ended.. everyone disappeared!! and only the nine stooges from KL were standing waiting to be photo-shoot.. oh shoot.

COBC PENANG HOTBODS PARTY: BANANA BOYS

One weekend down South and another up North and then again down South and up North.. Somehow, these domestic traveling seemed inevitable with little trip being made to the east coast, my own home town. Before the weekend, my cousin wati was married to ASP Hussein in Kelantan but I was engaged with PROTON annual convention and had to give it a miss. Otherwise, it would have been, down South, East Coast, up North and down South again.

It began with a good unprecedented move to bercanda di atas beca (moments on trishaw).. err actually it was to avoid Penang's impossible traffic. Traffic jam should be synonyms with KL'ites but traffic in Penang was near impossible! Traffic in KL would slowly flow bumper to bumper which was caused by a high number of vehicles on the road but traffic in Penang was a complete stopped and stalled, bumper to bumper with no movement at all due to the traffic light. If there is one thing that Penang needs, it must be in a city ring-road-fly-over or a bypass without the traffic light (take note Guan Eng).

The moments on trishaw was err.. mesmerizing until the picture appeared on Facebook and within seconds.. the first comment from the dozens, read out...