BROOKS HALF MARATHON 2012 AT STADIUM BUKIT JALIL

More than 30 of us from the Chief's Original Bootcamp ran the BROOKS HALF MARATHON 2012 and I almost missed it but arrived just-in-time when the traffic to Bukit Jalil from Damansara was smooth. The weather was also good but we were disappointed when we had to waste more than 10 minutes to enter the Stadium. There was only one small lane to enter the Stadium for the flag-off and people were climbing up the gates when the queue was terribly bad.

I had retired from running more than 10km distance since the Melbourne St George full marathon on 10.10.10 in Australia. My knees were too painful and I refused to agree on the knee surgery. After almost 2 years of staying celibate from running, I was more than excited to run today. Upon my arrival at the Stadium, I saw many recruits from the Chief's Original Bootcamp.

The runners from the Chief's Original Bootcamp that ran today were Colin Chong Wern Loong, Lorrine C. Xavier, Dixon Thum, Tan Mein Mein, Advance Tan, May Lyn Wong, Adam Heng, Patricia Lim, Dalyn Nunis, Sarah Tan, Abdul Fattah Mokhtar, Affiq Zakie, Shazni Az, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Jadite Liew, Kenny Lock Heng Weng, Afiza Abdul Halin, Tan Wee Liam, Maslina Ahmad Ismail, Jeffery Wong, Viki Lim, Lick Hau Loo, Sabrina, Jorge Arena, Ilyanna Aylin Ayob,  Luyen Ow, Noor A. Othman, Anis Ramli, Janice Wee, Eric Chang, Freda Liu, Faizul Zainol, Syamala Pillay, Yalin GM, Loo Lick Wei .. (who else did I miss?). Sorry I was only able to take this picture with my blackberry but I had also search and find some pictures from Tey Eng Tiong Facebook (our pro papparazzi) but will continue to update the blog as and when I discover more pictures.

The Brooks was also the maiden 21km race.. aka Half Virgin for Dixon Thum, Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad, Sarah Tan, Kenny Lock Heng Weng, May Lyn Wong, Freda Liu... and also the maiden 10km run aka semi virgin for Patricia Lim Poh Kam, Jorge Arena, Lorrine C Xavier.... Soon, there will be no semi and half virgins at COBC and all will be a qualified runner.

MUCH ADO ABOUT EVERYTHING

First it was the running and seriously, the runner's fraternity within the Chief's Original Bootcamp community is rapidly growing. Tomorrow, a few dozens will be running the Brooks run, then in about a month, a dozen of us will be running the Bali International Marathon which was organised by our Malaysian bank Maybank!!! Naturally, we support our local companies abroad.

Second, bunch by bunch of those within the Chief's Original Bootcamp Community successfully conquered the highest peak in Malaysia, Mount Kinabalu. They are non-stoppable. Third, more and more recruits at the Chief's Original Bootcamp are turning into Divers!! The diving community within our community is also expanding and in April next month, they are going to Mabul/ Sipandan in Sabah.. that was after an orgasmic dive at Puerto Galera in Philippines!!!

Fourth, a new activity within our group would be the Triathlon!!! 

CHILD ABUSE AT TASKA PERMATA 2, KOTA MASAI

I received an email from an ex-colleague in Bangkok whom viewed a disturbing news in Thailand Channel 5 news and in various media including their local newspaper about the abuse of children in Malaysia which is damaging to our Country's good name. A copy of the video was widely circulated even in Thai cyber space such as HERE.  I felt embarrass and replied stating that it was not common in Malaysia but when he sent the link and I saw the Youtube video clip, I could not help but to totally feel disgraced and disturbed!!

WHEN DREAM BECAME A LIFESTYLE

Taj Mahal Aquino born in Mandaluyong, Phillipines is an expatriate in Malaysia attached to the Partnership Management and Market Development department for the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) side of VADS. Taj Mahal Aquino was head hunted for the job before she even graduated from her Bachelor in Art major in Asian Study at the University Santo Tomas, Phillipines in 2008. Beside being good in her studies, Taj Mahal Acquino had also excelled well as an athlete during her school days having competed and won medals in both local and regional competition for swimming (breast stroke and free style) until she graduated. Swimming was a sport that Taj Mahal had acquired since pre-school when she was only 4 years old.

Taj Mahal Acquino is also the jacks of all trade with other sports having being active and game to sweat out anytime for volleyball, basketball, flag football, badminton, ultimate frisbee or in any other sports and when there is no sports to play, Taj Mahal Aquino would literally climb up walls and trees or just run under the sun being hyper active with excessive energy. Naturally, when Taj Mahal arrived in Malaysia, she quickly became restless in search for some activities and challenges. 

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT

This morning I received a disturbing news. A friend lost his father at 3am due a heart failure.  I befriended the father Lt Col (R) Affandi  formely the Director at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club and my friend Razman Affandi way back in the mid 1990s where I was courting Nawal Aini Zulkifl.  My regret and deepest condolence to Razman Affandi @ Gmey and his family for the lost.

I was a fortunate subject whom was given the privilege to experience the worst emotional roller-coaster when I was diagnosed with terminal cancer during my mid-teens. That privilege had given me a different insight into life and especially to experience the love from my parent, from each and every family members and as well as from relatives and friends. To see the sacrifices made by my parent and siblings whom we sometimes (maybe always) took for granted was heartfelt.. a moment that is still fresh in mind although it was more than two decades ago.

The video below depicted the unequivocal love from a father, the same way I received and the same that I would do for my son.

We would only know the true meaning of love when we have been tested with great obstacles and especially during the most trying moment in our life but please do not wait until a downturn to appreciate those that have been there for us since birth.. our father.

MY LIFE IS JUST A PAIR OF JEANS

Vimalendran Shanmuganathan, aged 30, is a graduate from the University College of Technology and Innovation (UCTI) and the co-founder of www.gottagrabit.com, an online e-commerce specializing in toys, gadgets and collectibles (action figures) that was established in 2009 as a hobby, and it still is. Vimalendran is also currently attached to Hewlett Packard and whatever balance time he has, he sing as the lead singer and guitarist for a band that was founded in 2001 called the Qings & Kueens.

Vimalendran's life is at his primest being a successful singer, guitarist and an e-commerce entrepreneur over and above the career at Hewlett Packard. He even recorded his own album in 2004 and received various invitations to perform at weddings, Corporate events and private functions. In 2008, Vimalendran traveled to Singapore for a performance, a shopping trip and an apparent holiday with his girlfriend then. The performance was well received and went smooth, Vima bought himself a pair of jean and wore it for a nice romantic dinner before departing out of Singapore but the planned romance was short lived. Vima's love life ended that night when both Vima and his girlfriend decided to be separated and chased each other's dream.

1 VISION, 1 PB, 1 RUN & 1 HECKUVATIME!!!

4 March 2012, we ran the 1Vision run in conjunction with Nawal Aini Zulkifli's birthday today at Padang Merbuk Kuala Lumpur. It was not planned but coincidentally it falls on the same date as Nawal Aini Zulkifli's birthday. A whole bunch of us from the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP participated in the run but we were split with some of us running the World Kidney Day Run 5 minutes away at Dataran Merdeka. Rose Emini Pahamin were suppose to run with us but she went err..  her ankle became err... err see for your self in the picture below.

Rose Emini Pahamin then became our De facto papparazzi. We arrived at the starting point late when we incidentally went to the Kidney Foundation run at Padang Merdeka but was rescued by Shazni Az whom drove us to the starting line a few hundred meters away.

Rose Emini Pahamin's ankle 1 day before the 10km 1 Vision run

 Our run was flagged off at 7:21am from the supposedly 7am? But of course, Chief's Original Bootcamp recruits  will never fail to first camwhore.....

LSD 6: THE BIRTHDAY LSD!!!!

Long Slow Distance run training went abit farther to Putrajaya on LSD 6! In an effort to promote running society on the backdrop of healthy living, community at the CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP organised a weekly running together-gether. The LSD was planned and organised by our Chief's original Bootcamp celebrity runner Ilyanna Aylin Ayob and Chief's Original Bootcamp Admin Rose Emini Pahamin. After exhausting their ideas to run in Klang Valley, they chose Putrajaya which is a safer place to run in the evening!! Why in the evening? Yes, because to give opportunity for many to run after their working hours. Why in the middle of the week from the usual weekend runs... it was because this weekend is the 1Vision run which many of us are running at Padang Merbuk but actually, I think Nana & Rosey purposely planned for me to run to end the day I was born on 1 March!!! Grrrr..

The meeting point is infront of the Palace of Justice and after being stuck in heavy traffic, Rose Emini Pahamin, Nawal Aini Zulkifli and me arrived shortly before 8:45pm. Our organiser Ilyanna Aylin Ayob arrived way before the expected time of running (ETR) 8:30pm. At 9pm, we began our running!! it was our first time running in the evening at Putrajaya!! Putrajaya at night was breathtaking!! It was an awe!! I thought I was in Paris!! Stupendous view and romantic landscape. The wind that constantly blew while we were running perfected the whole ambiance.

The whole town was lit up with amazing colours! This is Malaysia.. I could not feel more proud that now. The buildings, the sky crapers, the township architecture, the reflection of all the colourful lights in the lake was mesmerizing. I was lost in deep thought feeling so peaceful while Ali Rahimi Ferdosinezhad sharing some historic Persian stories. At one juncture, I wanted to just stop.. stop and stood still while admiring the beauty of Malaysia. This was my dream true.. to run and admire a beautiful scenery. I was overwhelmed with such a wonderful sight.

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.