SERIOUS RESULT, SERIOUSLY FAST!!

There is no better way than to measure our own fitness improvement against how we perform each and every month and that was the principal behind the Chief's Original Bootcamp benchmark assessment. Every month for the past 21 years in Australia, the benchmark assessment circuit was never changed. The main and ultimate objective of the benchmark assessment was for us to gauge our own improvement and for the instructor to place us in a category according to our fitness level to enable them to get the best result out from what our body can give, whether our target is body conditioning, fat or weight lost, speed and/or agility. To assist us to monitor our past performances, Chief's Original Bootcamp online system recorded all our past benchmark timing. That is why, it is important for us to be registered online. Why? because if we are really serious about improvement, then we have to move forward from where we were.

A kopi chat with a few recruits at Pappa Rich yesterday, re-emphasized our belief in improvement. I was overwhelmed to hear the training-addiction felt by Dayang Suhana aka Jojo and May Chong Abdullah. It was akin of listening to my own story on how I fell in love at first sight with Chief's Original Bootcamp. Beside the training addiction, Jojo had to buy a new bootcamp Tee too... when she err felt that she shrunk smaller? Chief's Original Bootcamp tagline has always been "Serious Result, Seriously Fast" within as little as two weeks or your money back (For MC12 only). Coincidentally, another recruit Taj Mahal Aquino (pic below) posted her result on Chief Original Bootcamp Facebook wall.

ITS ALL ABOUT ME!!! ME AND ME!!!

Yes Armin... of course it is all about you.. its your blog.. but actually, since the birth of this blog, it has never been about me. It is all about those surrounding me except only in this one article posted in Feb 2009 - 25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME. This is for those that wanted to know me in person. That was because I was tagged once too many on Facebook.

Yes true too, that every year I would take only 1 day Annual Leave and that is on my birthday. When I was young, I kind of.. err sort of excited at how the whole Malaysian in Malaysia and in foreign land would be on holiday on His Majesty the Sultan or the Agong's birthday (yes we are a very loyal subject to our Majesty) and so I reckon, I should be on holiday too on my birthday and in the future, I hope my children and grandchildren will take a holiday on my birthday and spend quality time with me when they are old. There is no other holier day than the day we were born to this blissful world.

For a start, I do not know if I will even see another birthday. Such is life but the uncertainties for people with my past medical history is exponentially higher. Even without any past medical history, we should always express ourselves to everyone that is important to us, as if we are leaving tomorrow and that is actually my birthday blog on every birthday. My cousin of the same age, Noor Arman Putra Mahadi once said to me that his biggest regret was the distance built between him and his dad before his father's departure when we were just 26 years old. Alhamdulillah, my dad is not just a father but he is also my best friend, a business partner and my pillar of strength.

ITS ALL ABOUT MELOR EDINA PAHAMIN ON HER BIRTHDAY..

With five Pisces in the family, there were endless celebrations in February. The next after dad's birthday was Melor Edina Pahamin's. What can we say about Melor Edina Pahamin? For those that knew Melor, if you see how Raisa and Raina is.. that's an exact replica of Melor when she was young. That is not a mystery but what remained a mystery was how she outgrew that and actually survived in Aberystwyth alone during her undergraduate.. oh ya, there was Rhiza Ghazi. Then, there is nothing really mysterious about the third lawyer in the family but since it was her birthday, lets chat abit about my second sister.

There are a few prominent features about Melor Edina Pahamin that is worth mentioning about. For one, she is very easy going, generous and always like to share her things but she is forever very shy to ask for any favor (even from us siblings). So usually, when she is helpless, she will just hide herself in the room.. Raina's style.

PRICELESS TREASURE!! 66!!

Born on 23 February 1946, Pisces Pahamin A Rajab turned 66 years young on Thursday last week and what did he want for his birthday from his wife, children, friends and relatives? Just endless doa and prayer, and for that we invited close relatives and friends over for Doa Selamat, tahlil and marhaban but what did he buy for himself on his 66th birthday? He bought for himself an RR!! or a Rolls Royce Ghost brand new from the United Kingdom and its RED!! Allah swt has been kind to us in health and prosperity. Alhamdulillah.

FIVE FINGER RULES!!

Vibram Five Fingers from the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP has been up to various mountains from Gunung Datuk to Gunung Nuang and has been to various running races from 10km to 21km and soon 42km!! Latest, the Vibram Five Finger has encroached into  Bustanu and soon, all the Pahamins clan will be Vibramatised. For a start, Dad.. Pahamin A Rajab had his first taste of the italian design and Hollywood's best trainers for 2011 yesterday at his Birthday!!

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK IN FEBRUARY WITH COBC COMMUNITY!

Whats cooking this weekend? Yes, a bootcamp beach session in Penang, our regular Long Slow Distance (LSD) running and.. err.. a Three-In-One high tea birthday celebration for Melor Edina Pahamin (26 February), me!!! (1 March) and Nawal Aini Zulkifli (4 March). This was shortly after spending two nights of birthday celebration for Dad (23 February), first being a doa selamat and a family Karoeke session! Yes, we usually do not need a reason to party but when there is a reason... needless to say.

The scary Cheah Boon Choong @ Sarge (COBC) Boon!!

The CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) in Penang ended the February session by holding its 12th session by the beach and if you are an MC12 recruit at any of COBC 35 platoons at 7 locations, you were all welcome to workout by the beach... that usually ended up with a beach party!!!!

We had the pleasure of having journalist from Kwang Wah Yit Poh with us to party at the Penang beach after an excruciating a funtabulous workout. There were no picture during the beach workout but post-workout........ see for yourself!!

Oh.. Heaven!!!!

AN EVER GROWING COMMUNITY THAT IS LIVING THEIR DREAM

There is nothing more important than to make sure every week that passes by, were spent productively.. especially since we had just celebrated 2 'New Years' in less than a month!! The Chief's Original Bootcamp Malaysia (COBC) community ended every week of this year with a big HOOYAH orgasm! Last weekend was no exception, a few dozens participated in a few big events.

The first was the Pacesetters Mizuno 4 x 3km relay!! Majority of those that ran the Pacesetters Mizuno from the COBC were never a runner but proudly those once overweight Otai whom were a couch potato out-ran the Lead Instructor and his team from the other bootcamp!!! Waaa!!!COBC  relay team made it to the Top 15 best when they were placed as no 14.  The Otai Delta 3km timing were Joe Liew (14:48:95), James Fong (15:40:02), Norliza binti Mohd Khalid (15:44:00) and Letch a/p Sinadurai (15:52:24).

COBC Pioneer, Otai, Malaysia most-voted SOB Joe Liew

COBC Pioneer, Otai, SOB and Australia's first 8Week Challenge finalist James Fong!

BANK NEGARA GUIDELINE: PEDA PRESS RELEASE

BANK NEGARA GUIDELINES ON RESPONSIBLE FINANCE- THE IMPACT

On 18 November 2011, Bank Negara Malaysia issued a guideline (BNM/RH/GL 000-5 Guidelines on Responsible Finance) to financial institutions aimed at promoting prudent, responsible and transparent retail financing practices. The guideline that  took effect on 1 January 2012 are applicable and was issued pursuant to six (6) Statutory Acts  namely, Section 126 of the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) 1989; Section 53A of the Islamic Banking Act 1983, Section 201 of the Insurance Act 1996, Section 69 of the Takaful Act 1984, Section 126 of the Development Financial Institutions Act 2002; and Section 70 of the Payment Systems Act 2003.

1. The guidelines that covers all form of financing from car loan to overdraft and even credit cards will give rise to loan shark and create unproductive population. When the Banks are more stringent, it provides a better opportunity for loan shark to grow. The Guidelines provide them with a bigger population and opportunity. The loan shark industry was already at its prime even before the guideline was introduced.

2. The demographic for PROTON car buyer represents the majority of Malaysia populations with low salary but earns from multiple source of income. The commitment to pay the monthly fix housing mortgage and vehicle loan repayment is in itself a drive for many to work harder to secure their employment and be promoted which in turn enhances overall productivity.

3. The income of more than 4,500 sales advisors employed by PROTON Dealers network were badly injured when the Sales Advisors were not able to earn commission from sales when their customer’s loan application were either rejected or refused for loan processing in compliance to the BNM guidelines.

4.  The guideline had severely damaged our sales with only 30% application for loan submission in January were approved. Although Malaysia Automotive Association reported a 25% drop in sales for January 2012, PEDA believe the actual drop was more as many from January sales were the spill-over from December when customer waited for the new year to register their cars and when customer had already obtained their loan financing was before the Guideline took effect in January 2012.

MAKANSUTRA- KHUNTHAI RESTAURANT- PENANG!!

If ever you are exhausted of ideas on where to eat.. or feels like experimenting food... or do not know what to eat.. you can send SOS to the food-finder Sarge (COBC) Boon!!! If ever there are excess food to eat.. do not put it to waste, call COBC Food-Slut USJ1-Delta Tan Wee Liam. If ever there are good food to share... you know where to find me!! I completely trust Sarge Boon's taste in food having put on a few kilograms in weight everytime Sarge Boon introduced us to a new dining place and again, my trip to Penang ended with a big huge hooyah feast.

Shortly before bidding farewell to Penang after officiating its Convent Green Lane School alumni and attending Penang COBC party, we crossed the longest bridge in Malaysia and the fourth longest in Southeast Asia to 104, Jalan Permatang Tengah, 12300 Butterworth. For location map, see below:

It was quite a distance drive from Hard Rock Hotel to the Khun Thai Restaurant but we made it there within 30 minutes drive on an empty stomach.

PEDA ROAD SHOW CENTRAL REGION DEALERS

DEALERS IN CRISIS! The PROTON EDAR Dealers Association Malaysia (PEDA) gathered the Central region dealers for a meeting to address current trade crisis with the implementation of Bank Negara Malaysia guideline on car loans, enforcement of Hire-Purchase Act amendments, the take-over of PROTON by DRB-Hicom and some operational issues faced by the dealers nationwide. This was the second roadshow after a successful gathering in Southern region on 1st February 2012 at HERE.

The gathering of Central Region dealers was held at the Bukit Jalil Golf and Country Resort, Langkawi Room and attended by majority. Peda committee was attended by me as the President, Dato Nik Izani Ibrahim PEDA Deputy President, Lee Lick Sai as PEDA Central Region Chairman, Siaw Siew Bee- Vice President, Datuk Yahya Jaafar Hon Treasurer & PEDA Southern Region Chairman, Malkeet Singh Secretary General, Liew Vee Lee- PEDA East-Coast Region Chairman, Wan Azmi Ahmad, Mohd Taib Jamin and Aref Borhan.

The full details of the meeting is available for PROTON EDAR Dealers at HERE but only accessible by PROTON EDAR DEALERS only. For PROTON EDAR dealers, pls email me at president@proton-dealers.com for access (if you do not have access).

WE ARE A CHAMPION!! ON EVERY WEEK!

Its COBC-LSD part 3!! Yes we hear ya.. To make this year better than last and to achieve this year's New Year resolution that we fix for our recruits (at here) with at least 10 races for season COBC runners and 6 races for COBC virgin runners, we began every Sunday with a Long Slow Distance running training. To make it more exciting and hip, we invited celebrity runner Ilyanna Aylin Ayob to plan the running route with our COBC Admin Rose Emini Pahamin. For those that do not know Ilyanna Aylin, do read about her at here.

Now we are into our 3rd LSD.. and since I was in Penang officiating the Convent Green Lane School Re-union and alumni, I can only envy those runners from far while reading about it on Facebook. There were more than 3 dozens recruits that ran the running training. Click on pictures to enlarge.

PENANG 3rd GRADUATION PARTY

If there was a most supportive platoon award.. then Penang platoon would proudly won. When the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) held a roadshow at the Hard Rock Hotel in conjunction with the Convent Green Lane School re-union and alumni at HERE, many of them came to support in Grey COBC Tee. Naturally, we invite them for a buffet lunch worth RM85 ++ per head at Hard Rock Hotel.

The former Asia best Karate Champion, Sarge (COBC) Boon arrived at the Hard Rock Hotel as early as 9am to set-up the display booth at the Hall of Fame. He was assisted by his lovely assistant Christina. They displayed some equipments that are frequently used to whip and whack get the best results out of any recruits. They even had the Hollywood's voted most preferred shoe in 2011, the Vibram Five Fingered on display. Have it the Sarge's way, he wants to five fingered everyone in the Hall.

CONVENT GREEN LANE ALUMNI AND RE-UNION 2012

I was invited by the Organising Committee Chairman Dr Azlina Ahmad to grace and officiate SMK Convent Green Lane re-union and alumni that was held on 11 February 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel, Penang. I first befriended Dr Azlina Ahmad when she invited me to eat Daging Kuda (Horse Meat) many years ago!! The attempt was almost successful until I discovered that she wanted to feed me with daging KUDA PENCEN??!! too much information... Needless to say, it did not work out.

To make sure that this re-union function did not suffer the same fate without me, Dr Azlina Ahmad (BBA., MBA, PhD. International Marketing) whom is also a lecturer at the University Science Malaysia consistently reminded me of the event since November last year until my arrival at the Hotel this morning at 9:00am. I hereby award her to be the most persistent and consistent friend in circle.

The gorgeous invitation card were sent out to all CGL school leavers. Convent Green Lane School was established 51 years ago in 1961. SMK CGL celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2001 and in the same year, Pn Balkish Mohd Isa, the former headmistress bid the school farewell. Between the year 2002 to 2005, Pn Sharifah Hamidah bt Syed Mohd Al- Habshi was the school headmistress and Pn Patimah bt Othman in 2005 and retired shortly later 2006. Since then, Puan Lim Yen Lee, the then Penolong Kanan Ko-Kurikulum was promoted as the new principle of SMK CGL.

The theme for the re-union and alumni was Rock & Roll and because of the theme, Hard Rock Hotel was chosen. Especially for the night, I dug into my oldest wardrobe and chose my most Rock'est t'shirt and Jeans.

SHELL MALAYSIA ADOPTED HEALTH AS A RESOLUTION!!

Where can you find a Chairman of a big conglomerate that is so concern over its employee's weight and health that it engaged CHIEF's Original Bootcamp (COBC) to make sure their employee does not take any medical leaves and maintain their health fitness and err sexy-ness..? Yes.. none other than SHELL Malaysia Berhad. Shell Chairman Mohd Anuar Taib was very concern of SHELL employees fitness that is apparently above national benchmark for obesity. For a start, through our strong recruit Nor Sabrina Mohd Nor, we began our session on Friday, 10 February 2012.

If SHELL HELIX is the viagra for cars, then COBC is the Viagra for fitness and health!! SHELL is the best and engaged only the best!

The session was held 'indoor' (INDOOR!!) and our former national Taekwondo gold medalist and COBC lead instructor Staff-Sarge (COBC) Dann was the platoon commander assisted by Sarge Tom, Corporal (COBC) Resh, Corporal (COBC) Ridz) and coordinated by Admin Farhanah Bamadhaj. I was the paparazzi!! Pictures speaks louder than words.. See for yourself!! (click on pictures to enlarge first before copying/saving for best quality).

COBC JANUARY 2012 ACERS!!

ACE or 100% Attendance, Commitment and Effort certificate was created to recognize those recruits with discipline to complete the full 12 sessions of training.... without giving up! Although the one hour per session is on alternate days, but we know and understand for whatever reason, it is not easy to consistently attend all the 12 session in a month. For that, we award those with the discipline and imprint their name into the COBC Book of Achievers. Trust me, this sort of discipline and commitment can bring you very far in life. So you should be proud... We are very proud of you.

Every month, there are only about 10% - 15% that actually ACE'd their session... Those that made it into COBC Book of Achievers were as follows (Note: We are in the move to shift to another website platform. The current platform is slow with our too many contents. Please bear with us ya).

GENNAIO BOOTCAMP FESTO: JANUARY COBC PARTY!!! PART 1

Its our party again!! Yes, if there is one date that we should always diarise every month, then it is the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) monthly party!!! and no it is not restricted to only COBC recruits but it is open to every friends, bruder & sista of the recruits.. Heck.. it is open to everyone whom wants to be part of the most passionate circle of people in health and fitness. Every month, there will be a theme chosen for the day. The theme for January 2012 party was ... err.. Italian!!!! It was abit tough to dress at first.. but with a little bit of Google'ing I came out with er... Antonio Banderas??!! but then.. he was not handsome enough and had to google for more optiond.. The next name that came out was err.... Luciano Pavarotti? but then.. I am too lean to be Pavarotti.. so... google some more.. google and google.. finally, I decided to be ArminO BaniazO!!!

Armino Baniazo???

Haiiih... Whatever... *scratching head...

COBC: HARTAMAS LSD 2

Yes we hear ya!!! You want a running-orgy.. we give you COBC-Weekend Running Long Slow Distance (LSD)!! This is the second weekend that we ran with celebrity runner cum COBC team-mate Ilyanna Aylin Ayob.. for those that still dont know her, click and read HERE.  The first LSD was held last week at Bukit Aman (click HERE to read) and this week, was at Sri Hartamas with a slight increase in level of running difficulty via a hilly route. Gathering time was at 6:15am and we started running at 6:30am... err after a group camwhore!!

Rienna Choo, Amy Ho and Freda started earlier and missed the group photo. Running this morning were Advance Tan, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Tan Wee Liam, Kym Wishnowski, Helmi Ruzaimi, Mohamad Fazli, Syamala Pillay, Jadite Liew, May Lyn Wong, Fairuz, Rose Emini Pahamin, Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Armin Baniaz Pahamin, Rizal, Azim and a few others (err knocking my head on the wall-cannot remember).

GONG XI FA CHAI WITH YUEN AND LC TAN

There is no other Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration that serves Japanese food but at the Yuen Choong Lai and LC Tan's Gong Xi Fa Chai open house. Last year it was at the Kin Shui Teh, Tropicana Golf and Country Club and this year the venue was changed to Nagomi at the Jaya 33. We befriended both Yuen and LC a few year s back when our sons are best friend since year 1 at the Garden International School GIS). Both Yuen and LC were recruits at the Chief's original Bootcamp but they retired when their fitness was at its prime....It was our first visit to the Nagomi. It was a different concept to the Kin Shui Teh and is a more weight-watcher diet friendly. Its shabu shabu base (aka steamboat base). Every year, Yuen and LC never fail to invite the parents of GIS for their CNY open house and every year, we never fail to err... over-eat our invitation.

How can we possibly behave when there were generous amount of food being served. Yuen, being the President for Hadrons Capital, a venture capitalist co-owned a fleet of fine-dining restaurants and we from the eating department performed our tasks beyond our KPI (Key Performance Index).. we simply bedal licin! But its okay to over-eat because most in the menu were vegetable in nature with a generous portion of lean beef.

COBC- BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT

 Benchmark assessment!!! Yes.. The first and the 13th session of every month will always be the COBC Benchmark assessment. Whether you are in Malaysia or Australia or any other part of the world, you will be doing the same benchmark assessment!! The same form, the same circuit and the same distance. Why? because of various reason but primarily because wherever you are, when you have reach a certain fitness level, you would want to pace yourself against other better recruits within the COBC network worldwide. That is one of the primary characteristics of a Delta. Twice a year, this elite Delta will be given a special invitation to participate in the network's toughest challenge codename: Hell Week!! Some Deltas were even invited to try out for the Red Tee... Yes, we encourage and recommend potential Deltas to be in red tee for one main reason.. Instructors that was born from a recruit knew best the needs and wants of a recruit and is able to fulfill that better than someone from outside whom would have to first understand COBC military-inspired's firm, assertive and yet friendly nature as well as COBC recruit's culture and camaraderie.

The best Benchmark Assessment record in Malaysia was held for more than a year by James Fong whom recorded both Circuit-1 and 1-mile run below 8 minutes. Since then, there were many recruits whom did chart a better time but it was for either the Circuit-1 or the 1-Mile run but never for both until 13 months later (after James Fong's) in July 2011, Jin Chong Hee became the second recruit that recorded both Circuit-1 and 1-Mile run below 8 minutes with a timing of 7:36 and 7:53 accordingly and held the best record since then. In October 2011, that record was broken by Tan Wee Liam with a Circuit-1 and 1-Mile run timing of 7:16 and 7:23. That timing became the best held record until Tuesday 31 January 2012, when Tan Wee Liam again broke his own record with both timing below 7 minutes at 6:53 and 6:47 in Subang Jaya USJ1. This became a new COBC Best Benchmark Assessment record.