Quick thots on the Malaysian RE landscape

1.       There are significant demand drivers eg uncertainty of oil price, effective FiT and RPS incentives that increase usage of RE as a proportion of total energy source portfolio in developed countries. As a result, tech is improving and thin film solutions and next-gen cells and wafers are seeing increased efficiencies while prices are dropping with China’s manufacturing capabilities that competes with US and Germany’s unparalleled leadership.

2.       As a result, Malaysia is joining the bandwagon – very late in the game. Even then, decisions have been painfully slow, NGTC is formed but it appears there is a belated appreciation that a new statutory body is required – so SEDA comes in. This is now separate from EC and I assume it will fall under KETTHA. Which will be the hobbyhorse when we look at the various RE tech options?

3.       If we breakdown the tech source options, then we find that GBI, which is more industry-led and has acceptance from professionals and market potential could be more regional, and then we have the other biomass, biogas, solar PV options which is very dependent on FiT rates being put in. There seems to be some revision to the rates and I’m not sure which has national policy backing now. It’s very undecided –and there is a distinct lack of leadership. K could be right by focusing only on the carbon capture part.

4.       The absence of market creation strategies seems to hinder the whole initiative. There probably needs to be a change management advisory which focuses primarily on the regulators that can help close this huge gap. Suddenly the existing networks seem to be very valuable. Where are the penalties for polluting to complement the incentives? Even a no plastic day seems to be seen as a major breakthrough. This is a strategic focus then.

Week just ended review: Eid, People, RE

1.       Lessons from socialising, berayaing, and generally meeting other people

a.       Eid – of the one month variety is a great concept when it involves visiting and learning of the ways of others, their fears and concerns, their comforts and thoughts. I oppose the open house concept other than having an opportunity to gather the right ‘gang’ and clique at the right place at the right time. So, thus I guess our 3 “mini-open” houses this year.

b.      This past weekend was a pretty good one. After the kids Kumon, we kicked off firstly with Villa Sutera, where lessons of articulation and speaking a lot more than expected can be distilled. Then, it was a Kinrara trip, where a property investment opportunity presents itself. And also, the fact that I have a marketing agent to turn to in the future should I need one.

c.       The night ended with a Raya-cum-residential meeting, the post-mortem from a recent break-in just 2 days before, baying loudly for the security guards to strap up and do work properly. Sitting back, the baying of blood from the masses is a source of concern to me, primarily when I don’t feel it serves its purpose of enhancing security. First, is the fact that neighbours need to be vigilant and keep a lookout for each other. Secondly, security needs to be in your face, and no resident should raise an objection to this. Thirdly, technology solutions should be optimised. This is a position I should stand firm on, and kacau the rightful AJK constantly of the need to go beyond the superficial mingling. I see a mini-open house for the gang, Nik, KJ, J etc is in order.

d.      MAD followed the next day. Again, after not doing anything in JDC for the last 2 years despite sitting on the committee, and from a larger picture, not doing anything for the last 8 years, I contributed to drafting a resolution for dissolution of the branch. Ironic! But after giving it much thought, it is the best alternative, and when put to the vote, it was accepted by a thumping 20-10. Key learning points, Menang dimension is in effect, and it feels good to be able to lead in the though process when everyone else is trapped in the miasma.

e.       Then, it was a lightning trip to Putra Hts, and again the GIH connections loom everywhere, before a quick trip to FZ’s. Nice prime property, highly in demand etc, but so dead in terms of life and society. Give me Primaya any day. Quick mental note on next home, overlooking Masjid, security, corner at least.

f.        Amran’s was next – Mum is now 2 weeks with an ailment from whose description I’m guessing its septicimea, the same that brought down Arwah. His dedication to my old place is exemplary, but I get the nagging feeling that in the greater scheme of things that this is extremely misleading and suboptimal. You don’t get educated at the best Ivy league universities to negotiate CAs and become union activists – leave this to the proper MTUC types and use the gifts of intellect and articulation where it is best suited. Engineering sector in Malaysia is extremely stagnant, and no one has made a proper stab at marketing our  intrinsic capabilities thus far. As much as I hate to say it, Francis Yeoh has been one of the few who has managed this extremely well (leaving aside the lop-sided sweetheart deal he is the beneficiary of). Note – pls make dua for his mom, and dus that I have the strength to conduct and do what is right for the engineering fraternity who opts to stay in the technical line, rather than leaving to work in the more lucrative financial sector, or leaving to the Middle East.

g.      Wan Roslan was dropping a hint that his employers will be proceeding with an ETP identified mega project soon. Worth checking out this lead.

h.       Mak was still waiting for Fiza, but at the same time, I felt sorry that I did not participate in providing a valid excuse for her to recuse herself from joining CIk Yah’s trip to Gambang.

 

2.       Lessons from others

a.       And then there was this morning. I should appreciate my wife more, she’s helpful despite not feeling the best of health.

b.      My own slipping iman, as seen from solat times, is a concern. More of the Ramadhan spirit needs to be invigorated. Mujahadah this week to finish off the Syawwal fasts, zakat to JDC, and qurban to Kemboja.

c.       Hodgson – good or lousy? I quote buy the player power sidestory, as even a crappy 442 formation should still be good enough to overpower Blackpool, as we did in the 2^nd half. But the late / inadequate subs, the wrong personnel, the lack of a plan B, the lack of drive and motivation.. on the whole as of now, we’re slipping fast and need urgent remedial action. Professorial dithering isn’t good enough, sorry.. we have too much of that in the workplace already.

 

3.       RE interests and opportunities

a.       There is a reason why engineers shouldn’t do sales, marketing, and it was evident this morning. Siemens had as their conference launch gimmick a dance troupe wearing reflective costumes, then cornily raising highlighted promo phrases associated with climate change, you know the phrases that jumps out in the powerpoints. Message lost. Don’t bother next time.

b.      Dinner tonight, but I’d need to understand who to target and questions to ask. Perhaps can start with questions on what are the opportunities when the industry is so fragmented. Service integrators, legal and regulatory advisers / consultants?

 

 

 

Assortments - reinforcement and tank filling greatly required

Wednesday, November 26, 2008; 16:19:27

Another assortments piece here – namely for key action steps:
personal and family strategies – for here and hereafter
tech and RE work strategies – developing institutional capacity
CIRED, energy and TNB – sustainable progress
Liverpool – keeping the momentum
making sure I am sustainable

First salvo, personal and family strategies.
the kids take precedence – and by that I mean their development as muslims & mu’min, their education, their akhlak and their disposition should be a primary concern.
Hence, selection of school is crucial. Ensuring the right school meets these objectives must be done right, and also the practical aspects, including finances and potential risks assessed in making this decision. Once, decision made, however, there should be no stones unturned to make sure the objective is achieved.
Central to this is also the issue of wifey getting the time, a critical resource to carry out this role effectively. If that means compromising on financials in the short-term, then adequate contingencies have to be thought through, as well as bracing ourselves mentally and physically to meet the expected troughs.
This additional resource – time- should be used judiciously. One is to realign our interests to what are the key priorities in one’s life – and hence, participation and commitment in jamaah should be reinforced, participation in educational improvements at pre-school, school levels towards policy governance and administration could be enhanced; or even formation of new commercial interests taking into consideration of previous interests – in short, pursuing the hedgehog.
Mak? Well, she seems to accept her destiny of not being able to draw upon her children’s devotion. I blame my sisters for not being able to get-together to do things for mak’s best interests. I’m not too sure how to go about doing this, but definitely this is far from ideal.
Again, I do need to relook at this particular area and find ways for betterment.

Tech, RE and investment work strategies
Not as appealing as the point before, but I owe it to myself to make sure this works given the strategy from above. To that end, initiating indispensability is a key strategy, and that requires both intellectual and attitudinal shifts. Intellectually, justification for every position that I take is a necessity, and attitudinally, a strong and firm disposition is required.
The former, insyaAllah, whilst hard is not as difficult as the latter proposition. Being firm is not something I’ve been used to in a work context, being dripfed on the neo-feudalistic TNB culture. Even LTK, who I should have vociferously engaged antagonistically on numerous occasions, is addressed deferentially and nodded with in agreement. Although, I should think in private conversations, he tends to steer towards my opinions more times than usual, and then uses that opinion to influence his bosses. The result? He gets promoted a few times in 2 years, and me? Well, I can’t complain cos I’ve made my bed outside.
So, I’m reminded of the story of Musa a.s, being given his stick by Allah, and his articulation of its uses as evidence of characteristics of a daie. Also, the voluminous writings of numerous muslim scholars who had created a gigantic knowledge repository covering all possible permutations of life as being a key reason for the spread of the beauty of Islam and knowledge illuminating the Dark Ages of Europe. Never mind that it was later, erroneously, proclaimed that ijtihad is closed, thereafter relegating Islam to a slow, glacial-like deterioration to the sad happenings to muslims today. Yoga-issue doesn’t help – but more than that demonstrates the deficiency of wisdom in addressing today’s issues.
Key issue to follow through at work in portfolio content in addressing technology risk – as well as other possibilities that needs further analysis and considerations.

CIRED, energy and TNB issues
CIRED, utility and energy are the unholy trinity in the country now. Of course, CIRED is just a small association, but I’m using it as a proxy for other disengaged organizations and agencies who should be doing something but probably is not able to do much now for whatever reason.
Something needs to be done, and pushing it forward requires more mental preparation to move it forward at pace.

Liverpool
playing OM tonight. I think Rafa should play Lucas and stick a finger to the dumb fans who booed him after the Fulham game.
Of course, I was disappointed with the game – the performance stank until Alonso’s introduction (see comment abt Sunderland’s game before), result was awful and other big 4 results were no consolation given we would have outright league leadership had we won. But to boo Lucas, and therefore betraying an ego as if as fans they knew better than Rafa, and as if that was the only reason for the poor performance, boy that pissed me off more than the performance and the result.
Primarily, because I face the same set of ego here at work, and elsewhere, (cue: “I’m doing research, I know everything comment” from this colleague), of people who just because they have access to wiki and google knows everything. What they have is just information and data. Without that being tried and tested in real-time, having the big-time experience of putting it into the pounding mill, where wisdom can be churned out, then these type of people needs to re-learn humility. It’s a disappearing commodity.

My last comment is – well, apart form waking up at night to watch Liverpool, I face a serious challenge of developing myself to meet numbers 1-3. It requires getting my head screwed on right, my motivations spot-on, an action-packed orientation, the courage to standup and suffer and not just to follow the easy path all the time, and to develop relationships and networks to help meet aspirations. These are all great deficiencies, arising from the vast gaps of iman and the postponement and procrastination of addressing and filling up this empty tanks so hungry for reinforcements. The longer the wait goes on, the worse it will become, and should death invite me under this condition, then I shall fear very much for my condition in the hereafter. In this condition, hyprocrisy and munafik reigns. I pray I shall find the light.

Making this world a better place is easier to say than to practice.