NORZAHID MOHD ZAHUDI - PROTON EDAR NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PROTON EDAR Sdn Bhd has appointed Norzahid Mohd Zahudi as its 10th Chief Executive Officer on 1 October 2014 since its inception in 1995; when Proton Edar was known as USPD (Usaha Sama Proton DRB-HICOM) (11th CEO if we counted Stanley Tan who was the acting CEO after Abbas Mehad). Norzahid is also the fourth Proton Edar Chief Executive Officer since DRB-Hicom took over. Past Proton Edar Chief Executive Officers are as follows:

1. Dato Rashid Rahim

2. Abbas Mehad

3. Stanley Tan (Acting CEO)

4. Datuk Maruan Said

5. Ahmad Tifli Talha

6. Datuk Maruan Said

7. Mohamad Shukor Ibrahim

8. Ahmad Suhaimi

9. Dato Hisham Othman

10. Azmi Idris

The majority of Proton Edar Dealers Association Malaysia (PEDA) committee members had served under all the Chief Executive Officers and have gone through two recessions (former EON dealers went through 3 recessions) and various ups and down in PROTON life cycles. Norzahid, 56 years old is not a stranger to the automotive industry nor is he to PROTON EDAR.

THE ORIGINAL STEAK HOUSE, PHNOM PEHN

Fine dining restaurants have been mushrooming at every corner in the street of Phnom Pehn and if you ever landed in the capital and the largest city in Cambodia, you must try out the Original Steak House, a western cuisine and international restaurant. The fashionably casual steakhouse conveniently located at Cambodia's biggest shopping mall., Aeon Mall where you can have a drink at the outdoor bar or have a quality meal in an cozy air-condition indoor dining area.

I was invited and attended the steakhouse official launching last night with my business partner Steven Path and his lovely wife Anna Chan. The Official launching was attended by more than 300 of Phnom Pehn finest circle of people. I was introduced and befriended Pily Wong, the founder and owner of the restaurant during my last visit at Phnom Pehn by Steven Path. The smart and well dressed in suit Pily Wong is also the co-founder of Cambodia Automotive Industry Federation (CAIF) and also the Chief Executive Officer for Hung Hiep (Cambodia) Co Ltd, the only Mercedes Benz dealership in Cambodia.

The fashionably-casual steakhouse is conveniently located at Aeon Mall, No. 132, Samdech Sothearos Blvd (3), Aeon Mall, Terrace Avenue, Ground Floor, 12301 Phnom Penh. About 5 minutes away from the Nagaworld Hotel. You can find the restaurant on Facebook too at https://www.facebook.com/theoriginalsteakhouse. The steakhouse was born from Pily's high taste and big appetite for quality reasonably priced steak which is abit lacking in Phnom Pehn. At the launching, guests were treated to a free flow of the finest steak on the menu with appetizer and dessert. The steak was so tender and juicy.

We wish the Original Steakhouse, the enterprising Pily Wong and his beautiful wife Kelly the best in this new endeavor. Thank you for having us.

(Click on Picture to enlarge) 

LAUNCHING OF PROTON IRIZ

After a good gotong-royong at Proton Edar Putrajaya, the showroom was ready to received the new Proton Iriz. The Iriz was delivered late on the eve of the launching. We received 4 units of vehicles; two units for showroom display and another 2 for test drive. The car that was equipped with Proton latest engine, the VVT must be test driven to experience the smooth ride and handling in a luxurious interior. All the latest gadget and technology was installed in the compact car as a standard features which give the buyer the best value for money in all aspect as compared to those in the similar segment such as Perodua Myvi, Honda Jazz, Kia Rio, Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Mitsubishi Mirage, Suzuki Swift and Peugeot 208. For more information, read Paul Tan's detail write up at HERE.

The Iriz that came in 7 colors was also awarded with a 5 star NCAP crash test rating which make it the safest car compare to all other models in the same category. The Myvi was only awarded with a 3 star. For a more detail comparison to the Myvi, read Carlist review at HERE. 

I attended the Iriz grand launching at PROTON TANJUNG MALIM. The Iriz was also launched at all Proton Edar Showroom nationwide simultaneously. The Iriz launching and the unveiling was impressive but what was even more heartfelt was the opening speech by YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, our former Prime Minister and currently the Chairman of PROTON. Speaking without any text, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad touches if not hypnotized the audience with his every words. It shows how pro-active he is with whatever he does. I am always inspired whenever I hear his speech. Malaysia has come a long way from only importing cars, to assembly and localization and now, being able to produce from drawing board to manufacturing the entire car in Malaysia, by Malaysians, for Malaysians with a global quality and safety standard. I am proud to be part of Proton eco system.

GOTONG ROYONG AT PROTON EDAR PUTRAJAYA IN PREPARATION FOR THE IRIZ

With all the excitement of today's launching of PROTON's latest addition, the PROTON IRIZ, I have to acknowledge my team at PROTON EDAR Putrajaya. Rarely do I get to witness such an inspired, motivated and cheerful spirit from all 'warga ABP'. A few days ago,  everyone namely Noor Azzam, Fazli, Zaki Fizan, Hairi, Said, Yusoff, Azzubir, Zul and Syed stayed back to re-paint, re-do, clean and decorate the showroom; impatiently awaiting the launching date.

This is an exemplary example of the spirit not just at my dealership in Putrajaya but across the whole PROTON eco-system from the plant, the vendors and the dealers network. PROTON has been down abit too long and the launching of the Iriz, is an injection of new spirit into the network.

When anyone asked me how the Iriz is doing? I will tell them to take a look at the highly spirited people at PROTON. Their spirit speaks of the product. PROTON Iriz is the best product PROTON has ever built. Stay Tuned for more...

In the mean time, witness yourself the spirit at Proton Edar Putrajaya... do take note and be reminded that some pictures are rated 15sx. Some pictures may be too obscene for adult. They have not gone through the bootcamp training and are more afraid of losing their fat than to be slim.

PROJECT GRATITUDE DAY 6: GRATEFUL THINGS TO TREASURE.

 Final day of Project Gratitude. Yikes.. what do you know? Its already Day 6 of a project which I was nominated by Zai Johari, one of the Founder for Sasuke Malaysia and the former the Director for Biggest Loser Asia. To pursue this good deed, I shall continue with listing a daily grateful things from tomorrow. As William Arthur Ward quoted,  “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it, is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” 

 

1. When it is time to workout, then it is time to workout!! I am grateful to wake up in an ungodly hours in the wee morning to have a bunch of more than 30  happy, cheerful and energetic people to workout and exercise with at the Chief's Original Bootcamp at Bandar Utama. Being around and surrounding ourselves with people that share the same goal, the same passion and the same interest will ensure a continuous mojo and a smoother path towards achieving our goal. The same is applicable in everything we do. Find people and surround ourselves with people that share the same passion for success and we will be successful.... and unfortunately, vice-versa.

2. Grateful to have such an inspiring, motivated and yet humble instructors to get the best out of our fitness and health. The pace and the intensity of our workout largely depends on how motivated our instructor is. If the instructor is hyper, calling your name, pushing you, working out with you, correcting your form, penalising you by adding reps and time for incorrect form yada yada.... you too, will be hyper and will keep up to the expectation. Vice- versa, if the instructor is boring, we became boring.

PROJECT GRATITUDE DAY 5: GRATEFUL THINGS TO TREASURE.

Did you know it takes more effort and facial muscle to frown than to smile? On that same note, please try out this exercise.. Smile as wide as possible with that cheerful facial expression !!! Now.. Try to be angry and upset with that smiley and cheerful face!! Trust me, you can try all day and all night but you wont be able to be angry in that facial expression. In other word, it is easier to be happy than to be upset and/or angry. Similarly, try waking up in the morning and list down on things that you are grateful... and see how beautiful the rest of your day will be.

Day 5 of Project Grateful... I am grateful to be nominated for this project by Zai Johari and I have nominated 14 friends for this wonderful effort. I will be nominating 4 others at the end of this blog. Two of them are married couple and I can guess which one of them two will write first.

1. Grateful to wake up and being served with fresh mix of nutritional juices made from the best selection of fresh vegetables with a Kuyin slow juicer, coffee and breakfast (of course lunch, dinner and supper too). Infact, it is not easy to eat and drink right. There are so many nutrition intake to plan and to have it prepared and served in the morning, takes a lot of patience and preparation. From doing the grocery, planning for menus to cook and the actual cooking itself.

2. Grateful to have the best Mac Powerbook and that synchronizes with iPhone for work and leisure. Seriously, we spend more time on either computer or iPhone whether to work, socialize, engaged in discussion, work, entertainment and even to connect with business, associate, family and friends. Yes, personal physical interaction is always preferred and is better but in the absence of time, with the hectic schedule + deadlines + meetings + appointments, computer and a good smart phone for work and leisure is what a car is, as a mean of transportation. It is a necessity.

PROJECT GRATITUDE DAY 4: GRATEFUL THINGS TO TREASURE

I once attended this 'Walk On Fire' motivation talk by Anthony Robbins during my undergraduate studies in England some 20 years ago and there was this one exercise we did that I still hold strong. Try this out, stop with whatever you are doing, pull-over to the road shoulder if you are driving and quickly glance your surrounding wherever you are and focus in everything you can see that is in red and green for a maximum 5 seconds!!! ONLY FIVE seconds and now close your eye!! With eyes still close tight, now list down 10 items of everything that you see in blue and grey!! That is how we live our life. If we only see the wrongs and the hatred, it will be harder for you to see the great and goodness. Vice versa, if we see only the good and beauty in life, it is hard for us to even feel any hatred or anger.

My Project Gratitude began on Sunday, 14 September 2014 when I was tagged by Sasuke Malaysia founder +Zai Johari and I am now on my Day 4. From Day 1, I had nominated Anny Chunraem, Aaraf Armin, Rose Emini Pahamin, Dr Malek Aziz, Farhanah Bamadhaj, Steven Path, Jackson Liew, Iznan Salleh, Ervin Noordin, Pow Ow Ee, Syerry Noordin and Diyana Anuar. I am nominating 2 more at the end of this blog. 

1) Grateful that petrol price in Malaysia is so cheap comparative to our neighboring countries. I frequented Bangkok and would curse everytime at the petrol price in Thailand which is just so expensive. Sometimes I wonder how people in Thailand can afford to drive. Despite the expensive petrol, the traffic jam there is triple worst than the peak period. in Malaysia Similarly, having frequented  Singapore & Phnom Pehn for business, petrol prices there too, are just ridiculously expensive.

SELAMAT HARI MALAYSIA

Having a Thai wife, I cant help but to put an extra effort in knowing more about my own country, Malaysia. My wife constantly ask me questions on our traditions, culture and today she asked me why are we on holiday? I said, today is our Malaysia Day and with a puzzled expression, she asked I thought we had just recently celebrated our independence day on 31st August?

So here I am, explaining to her and to those uninitiated, what is the different between Malaysia independence day and Malaysia Day.

Our independence day is celebrated on 31st August every year to commemorate our independence from the British colonial ruling in 1957 (57 years ago) but there is no Malaysia. Only the Federation of Malaya. Malaysia was formed on 16 September (today, 51 years ago) in 1963 with the inclusion of North Borneo (now known as Sabah), Sarawak, Singapore and the Federation of Malaya. Singapore pulled out from Malaysia in 1965 due to political indifference.

PROJECT GRATITUDE PART 3: GRATEFUL THINGS TO TREASURE

What better way than to wake up in the morning and count our blessing. Today is the 3rd day of Project Gratitude. Rarely do majority of us wake up and actually thought of all the good things in life and what life has to offer. Our thought actually become the driving force in our life. As Lao Tse once said, “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” 

I was tagged by +Zai Johari in this 6 days project and I have tagged 5 people on Day 1, 2 people on day 2 and now I am on my Day 3. The project is fairly simple, everyday for the next 6 days, we must update our Facebook with 3 list of things that we are grateful for and each day, we must tag at least 2 other people. For my day 1, click HERE and Day 2- click HERE.

 My Day 3 encompasses as follows:

1. I am grateful to have a strong blog follower and readers across the globe. I started this blog 8 years ago and I encourage everyone else to start a blog. Then spend an hour aday or every other day, just expressing yourself in writing, sharing your positive thought or whatever your interest is, in the border-less world, in Cyberspace. You will be surprise how viral your write-up can be and you will feel at peace after sharing your thoughts. Two days ago, my blog hit the 1 million viewer and I am even more inspired to write. Thank you.

PROJECT GRATITUDE: PART 2. GRATEFUL THINGS TO TREASURE

Do you have a bicycle? or motorcycle? If you do, please try this... pedal straight ahead while your head is turned as far left as possible. You will notice that your bicycle naturally turned left even when you try to cycle straight. The same way we drive our life. Our life follows whichever way we focus ourselves. Sometimes, we did not realize that we are driving ourselves in the wrong direction and wonder what went wrong. Waking up in the morning and being grateful of what life has offered and for whatever we have, will and can changed our perspective in life. We often read on Facebook how negative most of the Facebook updates are. This is day 2 of Project Gratitude that I was tagged by +Zai Johari . Click HERE, for project gratitude part 1. If you have been tagged, please update your Facebook with 3 things that you are grateful for the next 6 days. It does not need to be long but it must be consistent for 6 consecutive day. After you have updated your Facebook, please nominate a minimum of 2 person. Zai Johari whom tagged me, listed not 2 but 6 things in her grateful list for Day-2 and tagged not 2 but 3 friends. Let us get this positive effort to be as viral as possible. It is with minimal effort but with the kindest deed.

3 Grateful things to treasure on Day 2.

1) I am grateful that I am at Peace. Peace with almost everything in life. A peaceful mind is priceless. There is no value to a peaceful country, peaceful home and especially a peaceful mind without lies, deceits and vengeance. It's a priceless gift that we must treasure. I am at peace without insecurities from health and am at peace from being betrayed (by  anyone from business partners, employees, friends or even spouse). Everything that happens, happen for a reason. We are train to believe in the pillars of Iman and the 6th pillar is the belief in Qada' & Qadar (the divine will and the divine decree) but sometimes we tend to forget those teaching being sucked and drained deep into problems and emotional cycle. Peace is the root of happiness. Without being at peace, we tend to lose sight of every good & every blessings.

1,000,000 page viewer.

I am a millionaire!!! Err.. I mean, my blog, "Stay Tuned" hit the 1 million viewers mark!!

It has been 8 years since I started blogging in 2008 and have written 1,456 blogs. It was a long ride to get a million hit and today I crossed over the 1 million viewers mark. It is a meaningful and an inspiring journey for me who was never a writer or author, never studied journalism and not in any way related to the media. I just love to share my passion in particular Bootcamp, Proton, politics and of course family and lifestyle. I even inspire my 11 years old son Aaraf to start blogging and he did but not as consistent. Expressing in writing our inner thought, emotion and belief is never an easy task but I find solace in writing. 

GRATEFUL THINGS TO TREASURE.

It has been awhile since I blog on personal sentiments but I could not resist to blog this viral tagging to share on things I am grateful for, for the next 6 days (6 continuous days Zai!!). I love positive things. I do not know who started this but I truly believe it is a good and positive viral dare to share. Sometimes, we tend to walk passed beautiful things in life in our daily journey. Writing those grateful things we cherish is a good start to begin our day. Thanks for tagging me +Zai Johari !!! These are 3 grateful things shortlisted ~

1) There is seriously nothing more important than health! I am grateful for being healthy enough to take care of my own health, to be independent, to work and earn a living, to love and care for my parent, wife, son, siblings and friends. With health, I can afford to earn a good living for my family and provide comfort, employment to my team and staff as well as their families. I am also healthy enough to learn new things everyday, meet alot of interesting people and learn even more from them. I am grateful to be blessed with such a good health that I was able to performed my Haj and a few Umrahs and was able to visit, view and learn the cultures and lifestyle of foreigners in their countries. I am grateful everyday for a good healthy mind, body and soul and will take care of this health that was blessed upon me until my return to Allah swt. Yes, Health is my first choice of being grateful every morning that I never missed my morning workout session at the Chief's Original Bootcamp, Malaysia and weekend Bodyjam session to share my wife's passion.

2014 8 WEEKS CHALLENGE- SUPPLEMENTS FOR OPTIMUM RESULT

Choosing the right supplement to optimize the result from our sweat pouring workout can be a pain and at time, with an adverse effect. Instead of gaining muscle mass, we can also gained unnecessary fat. Fortunate for us, the 8 Weeks program at the Chief's Original Bootcamp had researched the contents and ingredients for a list of supplement that will maximise lean muscle mass, improve health and at the same time, burn those unwanted stored fat. Personally, having a whole list of perks of being me with diabetic, high cholestrol etc... choosing the best supplement is alot harder. 

The recommended supplements by our principal Chief & Gunny in Australia are those from the BSC range of supplements (which is not available in Malaysia) viewable by members only at HERE. We have search and found an equivalent if not better content of supplements and much reasonably priced. The list of supplements that is equivalent to those recommended for the 8 Week Challenge are available at the Chief's Original Bootcamp, Malaysia. You can view them at HERE or contact any of your instructors or email admin@bootcampmalaysia.com for more information. 

The following are supplements available for immediate purchase.

COUNTDOWN TO BOOTCAMP FANCY DRESS PARTY!!

The Chief's Original Bootcamp is throwing a Fancy Dress Party on 23 August 2014, 730pm at the Chef & Brew, Damansara Heights. The theme for this party is Fancy Dress costume!! The party is organized to foster a better spirit of camaraderie among fellow recruits, instructors, admin and owners of the Chief's Original Bootcamp Malaysia and also to celebrate the amazing results achieved by recruits as well as strengthened the community of fitness enthusiasts.

Please check that you have replied at: https://www.facebook.com/events/272631082942830/ If your name is not in the list, maybe you are not in the admin's friend's list. No problem, please contact your Platoon Commander or instructors to invite you to the event page. Everyone and their family members are invited.

Price? Pay for your own food order. Its Ala Carte beside that, there is no other charges.
Time? 7pm
Date? 23 August 2014
Venue: The Chef & Brew, 1 Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.

Location Map (click on picture):

After a long hard thinking and a long hard googling, we decided to try out some costume in Hartamas and after dozens of try-outs with pictures at the bottom, we finally are able to find one just for the occasion!

If you have not rented or bought your costume, please do so before Saturday. Make sure you are dressed to kill!!  Be stylo and be different!!! Time to camwhore and stand a chance to win prizes.

GET YOUR DREAM PHYSIQUE IN JUST 8 WEEKS FOR ONLY A FEW HUNDRED RINGGIT

Did you know that you can completely change your body in just 8 weeks? 

Yes, it is true!! You can change your body through a better lifestyle. You can own your dream body and health by just changing your lifestyle. You can boost your confidence with a head turning, jaw dropping body. You will discover a hidden energy that you never knew you had.

Did you know that it will only cost you a few hundred ringgit to change your life?

Yes, that is right!!! Forget the thousands of Ringgit spent undergoing unnecessary liposuctions, thousands of Ringgit for personal trainers, thousands of Ringgit at slimming centres etc etc... DO NOT spend thousands of Ringgit for you to look good. You do not need to.

It will only cost you from as little as RM500.00 for 8 weeks inclusive of the 8 Week Challenge (8WC) fees (AUD$49.00) paid online if you purchase the Groupon Voucher for the 1 month at only RM49.00 at HERE. If you buy from Groupon, you will need to subscribe to another month from any of the listed promotion fees at HERE (for the 8WC- the Virgin promotion is not applicable). You must register for 2 months (or 8 weeks) to participate in the challenge.

Note: Groupon is only applicable for first time recruit and/or recruits that have not been training with Chief's Original Bootcamp for more than a year.

SPRING 2014 8 WEEKS CHALLENGE

The Chief's Original Bootcamp, Malaysia September Military Corporation (pronounced as "Military Kor") intake is open for registration. 

If you are interested to participate in the forthcoming 8 Weeks Challenge which began with September intake, please register and pay for both September and October at http://www.cobc.biz/#!training-schedule/c72u and register your interest for the 8 Weeks Challenge at www.8WeeksToWow.com.au. 

A note to recruits that had purchased the Groupon Voucher: 

a) The Groupon voucher can be used as payment for September but you will need to enroll and pay for October to participate in the 8 Weeks Challenge. For best promotion, click http://www.cobc.biz/#!cobc-fees-/c1xu1. Groupon recruit can subscribe to all promotion listed except for Virgin promotion.

b) The Groupon voucher is only valid for first time registration (recruit that had never participate in the monthly Chief's Original Bootcamp training) but we are pleased to extend the Groupon promotion to recruit that had stopped working out with the Chief's Original Bootcamp (COBC) for more than a year.

The registration for the 8 Weeks Challenge will be open on 23 August 2014 and it is best for you to register your interest now so you will receive all the updates. 

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH SUI LYNN TEOH

The 'Up close and personal' series in this blog were written to share the success of individuals who have achieved tremendous mileage and transformation in their journey towards better lifestyle, health and fitness. These individuals represents the true Spirits of Bootcamp and is a source of inspiration and motivation to others for a change in lifestyle. The root of happiness is in a healthy mind, body and soul. Without health, nothing else matter.

 

SUI LYNN TEOH first heard of the Chief's Original Bootcamp when she read her former school mate, Opalyn Mak's posting on bootcamp in 2012. Being curious, Sui Lynn browsed and read to learn further from the Stay Tuned blog and the bootcamp website www.cobc.biz.  She then quickly signed up in time for the October 2012 Bring A Friend Day (BAF) (now known as the Try-Out Day) to try out the Bootcamp which coincidentally were conducted by Chief Brabon and Gunny Hames whom was in Malaysia; unbeknown how fortunate she was to have attended that session with Chief and Gunny. Sui Lynn who was a stranger to the bootcamp fraternity back then said, looking back at the photo during the BAF, I am so happy to know so many faces in those photos now. Since then, Sui Lynn has been training with the Chief's Original Bootcamp until today, for almost 2 years. 

Sui Lynn is a pharmacist by training and education. She was born and bred in Penang and left for Kuala Lumpur to be in college after completing her secondary school. She began her career as a pharmacist at the hospital and in retail pharmacy but gave up her career as a pharmacist being disillusioned by almost 40 years of unresolved dispensing right battle between doctors and pharmacists. Sui Lynn then spend 4.5 years as medical writer with an international publisher before being attached to her present employment in clinical research since 2008.

Sui Lynn married her college sweetheart was slimmest at 45kg just before her wedding over a decade ago. Her weight fluctuates over the years and her size, dominantly the hips expanded by 2 inches with each baby. She stopped after having two child and shuddered at the thought of her hip size if she continued having more children. It took her 3 years to lose the flab from her first pregnancy and gained it all back (and more) after being pregnant again. After giving birth, the size keep growing each year. Before being a mother, Sui Lynn was wearing G2000 work pants size 5 and somehow, she grew to fit size 11. "When I could not buckle my L-Size pants, I knew I was in deep trouble", laughed the cheerful Sui Lynn.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR CHIEF'S BOOTCAMPERS

SPECIAL NOTICE for Chief's Bootcampers:

Ramadhan buffet will end together with the holy month of Ramadhan in just two days but the BOOTCAMP BUFFET - unlimited  training for MC12! (Train as much as you want - at any COBC platoons conditional upon the total maximum number of recruits per platoon; which vary from one platoon to another) that was launched 2 years ago, will continue for another 3 months and will end after the October intake. Meaning, from November intake onwards, only the WIP subscribers are allowed an unlimited training sessions at all platoon under the bootcamp buffet. All other enrollment are only restricted to the 12 sessions at their registered platoon. For non-WIP recruits participating in special activities such as marathons, ultra-marathons, trail marathons, ironman triathlon, COBC will sponsor a Bootcamp-Buffet privilege as a support to our recruits.

SPRING 2014 Eight Weeks Challenge (8WC) will begin on 1st September 2014 and ends together with October intake on 25 October 2014 (Please diarise). Which also means you can still do Bootcamp-Buffet during the 8WC for optimum result.

BOOTCAMP FANCY DRESS PARTY is confirmed on 23 August 2014 and an official announcement will be made soon.
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BOOTCAMP IFTAR

Ramadhan is coming to an end in a few days and to end this period of fasting for the muslims, the bootcampers from all platoons gathered at my house for a long overdue gathering. This fostering of comradeship moment brought us all back into memory lane when we were all still fluffy and heavy to where we are all at now!! I had a great moment, listening to Penny, Marie and Sui Lynn journey with COBC and enjoyed getting updates from recruits from all over. There were more than 40 pax that brought variety of food for the pot luck iftar.

The invitations for the pot luck were sent by Afiza Abdul Halin. Guests that rsvp'ed were only less than 30 but not all recruits are tuned to Facebook invites. All instructors except for Affiq and James whom had prior engagements, came including the tall and handsome korean look-alike (as they say) Sarge Chun. Unfortunately, Staff Sarge Nawal was in Sydney for bootcamp training with Chief and could not be there for the iftar. Those that never tried, had their first taste of Corporal Amir's famous lasagna. I finished almost half of it and wanted more before everything was clean sweep. With almost 50 recruits from all over, I am always amazed at the spirit of camaraderie among fellow bootcampers... a true reflection of Malaysians.

HEART SCREENING AT INSTITUT JANTUNG NEGARA

"Every adult should have a health screening examination done especially if they are above 30-35 years old male and 35-40 years for female" ~ Institut Jantung Negara.

Sometimes I wonder if men are generally born with inferior quality than women.. Women seemed to have better quality that it attract potential risk 5 years later than their male companion. Statistically, women too lives way longer than men.

Heeding my friend's advice whom conveniently fix an appointment for me today, 27 June 2014 at IJN, I arrived at 7:45am. Traffic was smooth, parking was easy and I was greeted by a friendly and smiley receptionist at the ESP Executive Screening Centre located at Block A, National Heart Institute. My stomach grumbles having been without any breakfast awaiting for the blood sample to be taken. Registration took barely 10 minutes, I picked the 'Elite Health Screening', paid and shortly later, I was called in for a blood sample. After the blood sample, I was directed into a room for an ECG and Vascular Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) which took approximately 15 minutes. I was buried under a string of cables that was short of being glued to my chest. When Anny took a picture of me, I thought I almost look like sick Robocop.

Then I was led into a private room where we had breakfast. The health screening package which cost me almost RM1,400 came with a RM4.00 tuna sandwhich. For the fee paid, I think there should be more on-the-house food varieties, maybe a buffet breakfast. I think the breakfast box cost more than the sandwich.