I’m trying my darndest to fill my head with execution-minded stuff now, not the variety with guns or rolling heads, but of the action-oriented, operational variety. At the same time I also try to justify these actions, so it’s a case of filling the gap between stimulus input and feedback, and where there is a more intimate, rolling-the-options-in-the-head justifications to the action. (although, from past records, a lot more, will end up as inaction)
1. Pian Sukro
I read the report of his very much untimely and premature death this morning with sadness, but Allah knows best. I have the fullest respect for him as a CEO and a leader. Even then I know I may have maligned or disparaged him with my rather indisciplined tongue when discussing TNB or the energy industry with colleagues or fellow discussants, deep down it is nothing but respect.
He had the foresight to execute capex-heavy investments like SAP, the BCG-advised T7 program – the TNB transformation strategy and from which Che Khalib benefitted greatly from and many others. These were the sort of stuff that was needed to be done to drag TNB out of the morass, not merely some financial paper shifting thing. (although Izzaddin did superbly – the best CFO TNB has ever had by a long mile!)
By the by, this is Malaysia, the land of compromises, half-actions, negotiated truths, half-half measures, and there could be a lot more things he could have done were he not constrained by the political and business masters that we all somehow consented to have power over us. All things considered – he did great.
May Allah rest his soul and consider his actions as amal maaruf, and grant him the company of the solehun and mukminun. Al-fatihah to Allahyarham Pian Sukro.
Note – and hopefully the Energy Commission can find someone just as capable (or even better, though unlikely) to replace him,
2. JDC
Attended my first JDC meeting on Friday night. My first thoughts – strong cliques among the committee arising from the closeness in age and “batch” – and hopefully not too strong a groupthink, there are shades of SPU about the discussion there. IMO we should be thinking strongly of strategic moves to enhance our presence in Cheras, the impressive developments in Balakong and the surrounding Cheras Selatan are good developments we should ride on. Societal changes etc are also opportunities to be considered, and we should refrain from taking the easy way out of doing things. Ie more of Penang and Azlishah’s PJ than the current mindset. Not taking anything away from them, it was my first 2 hours with this group, and I should keep an open mind and share, contribute as necessary. My groupmates were (by seating arrangement) Najib, Zul, Faisal, Ust Zul, Nazeli, Susilawati, Rosliya, Zaini, Amirul. Personal preparation and planning should help – ie towards contributing to the most optimal portfolio.
3. School and Little Azhar
How strategic are education-related initiatives towards societal change? VERY! Preschool education should very much be allowed to proliferate towards their desired niches to target towards the relevant societal preferences, as long as it retains its fundamental Islamic outlook. (for those who take issue with Fundamentalist Islam, start researching this subject and don’t be swayed by the Internet and Wikipedia too much – start asking the right people) Daerah should have a say in the running of these preschools – preferably post of TPSM should be automatically a Board member of Education institutions to anchor the debates and discussions in realistic societal-centric strategies. And from there, demand for Islamic oriented schools can be cultivated and nurtured and thence a stronger Islamic educational institutional can be anchored to rival the Kuen Chengs of the world. Then, all this nonsense espoused by the goblog Oi Jeff can be effectively challenged.
4. Pajam
How can it be to develop agriculture in Pajam be the best option 3 weeks ago and suddenly turn into lets sell this to this Datuk at any cost? Unsurprising that the outcome is like this when nobody is coming forward to support Mak and she’s the one wracking her brains to solve her problem of asset management, and she also sees this as doing a favour for her children who she sees as incapable of handling their problems. Admittedly, I am the one who should be doing this, but past experiences are just holding me back. I’m not keen to help my sisters by helping Mak, and she’s not likely to favour me by bypassing my sisters. So the cycle continues.
IMO it’s still a long call to sell – it takes someone either not business-savvy or a bit mad to purchase Pajam at the inflated prices being pushed by the owners (Mak and Zadi being the ones rational on the pricing, leaving the other as the irrational one) – and feasibly Datuk could be one of those. Couple that with his interest to develop this “friendship” and this could be a good call to solve Mak’s perennial problem. Otherwise, I should still keep the option for developing in the backburner.
5. Family
And here lies the rub. To do all that I’ve said should be done above needs me to exercise my independent outlook on life and I feel my options before have restrained rather than unleashed my options. Although OTOH when I’m left to make my own calls, I’ve been railroaded into making all the wrong decisions anyway.
But, hard choices, decisions, and finally action! Need to put my easel frame into action now!
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