Young Entrepreneurs

*Fom right: Ivan Ooi and John Lim, winners of the Silver award 
HSBC Young Entrepreneur Awards Malaysian final 2010

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I marvel at the awesome duo from UTAR (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman) - Ivan Ooi and Lim Boon Seong. They won the Silver Award in the HSBC Young Entrepreneur Awards (HSBC YEA) Malaysian final on 06 May 2010. And, they won it against all the odds!

Both are final year undergraduates at UTAR. Both are sitting for their final exam in their Bachelor's degree course.

Of all things, the HSBC YEA Malaysian final is held during the exam period. On top of that, they have less than a month to put their presentation together.

Amazingly, these two young men have crystal clear objectives and directions. They give top priority to their studies, and use the competition as a form of relaxation.

It is their destiny to participate in the HSBC YEA. The Malaysian final is held on a non-exam day. The day before the final is also a non-exam day. So, they strategically use the free day to polish up their presentation.

What strikes me is their passion, intelligence and eloquence. I admire them for their abilities to

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1. package their innovative ideas intelligently and systematically.

2. enhance their presentation with interesting images and animation.

3. use their public speaking skills to dramatize, inform and persuade.

I'm sure Ivan and Boon Seong are an inspiration to their generation. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

The awesome duo

Ten Past Presidents Present

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From Left: President Ben Fong pose with the 10 past presidents - PP Tan Lay Theng, PP Freddie Yap, PP Lim Kien Chai @ KC Lim, PP James Arokiasamy, PP Katherine Mah, PP Khoo Nee Wern, PP Tony Lim, PP Teresa Choong, PP Kim Chow and PP TL Wuan.

On 20 April 2010, Friendship Toastmasters Club of Kuala Lumpur held its regular meeting. But, it's no ordinary meeting.

Past President Katherine Mah of DHL Regional Office in Singapore was in Kuala Lumpur and decided to visit the club after a long absence.

Past President James Arokiasamy, CEO of a pathology company, took the initiative to ring up the other past presidents and urge them to turn up at the meeting.

Past President Freddie Yap of P&O Insurance followed up by ringing the past presidents to reconfirm their attendance.

Personally, I wasn't sure if many past presidents could present themselves at the meeting. There were too many obstacles for a whole bunch of past presidents to meet at the same place at the same time. Some have to travel, some have to burn the corporate midnight oil, some have moved to faraway offices, etc, etc, etc.

On 20 April 2010, we counted the past presidents in the club. Incredibly, 10 out of 11 past presidents were there! They have decided to put their work aside and meet for old times' sake.

It was a glorious night! Heartwarming occasions do happen unexpectedly.

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Thank you, Mr Blue Waves

En Hanafi from Blue Waves at Jusco Seremban

I went to the Jusco store in Seremban to do some Chinese New Year shopping. The place was crowded and the trolleys disappeared like hot cakes. I managed to grab one. Unfortunately, it was moving sideways instead of going straight.

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The security guard at the entrance watched my drama with the trolley. I said to him, "Troli ini cacat." That's Malay for "This trolley is crippled."

I was in a hurry. I picked up the things I wanted, put them in the trolley and struggled over to the cashier's. Only after paying did I begin to wonder how I would get to the carpark.

I was wrestling with the trolley all the way towards the entrance when, lo and behold, I saw the same security guard standing there with a smile on his face. Beside him was a trolley. He said he had found a good trolley for me.

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It's incredible! This gentleman knows exactly how to win more customers for Jusco!

His name is En. Hanafi (hope I got his name correct). He hails from the security department of Jusco known as the Blue Waves.

Thank you, sir! See you soon at ... Jusco Seremban!

Mr Blue Waves keeping a sharp lookout for customers in distress!

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To Sir With Love

Chin VS, Leader of Team Bristol, presenting the gift to Mr Lee Khee Joo

It's the final day of the English Communication course. The FSTEP Batch 4 participants in Team Bristol did not spend the day on games or amusement.

Instead, they worked together to complete a meaningful task - writing messages of appreciation and gratitude to Mr Lee Khee Joo, the Head of FSTEP. In their messages they also expressed their appreciation to the specialists and staff, the facilitators and trainers in their own special ways.

Team Bristol's book of appreciation for Mr Lee Khee Joo

Team Bristol with Mr Lee Khee Joo



Team Bristol with Mr Lee Khee Joo

I'm honoured to be your teacher

The FSTEP Batch 4 participants in Team Bristol give me the sweetest gift I could imagine. A special cake decorated in my favourite colour for 2010 - Purple.

The sugar icing is shaped into purple ribbons with flower patterns. A neat row of purple flowers decorate the rim. A beautiful bunch of flowers adorn the crown.

To me, the cake represents the sweet memories of Team Bristol. The ribbons represent the lifelong bonds of friendship. The flowers represent the future that is bright and promising.

I'm touched by this Thank You card. My dearest Bristolians, I treasure your messages of kindness and appreciation. 

I'm honoured to be your teacher.

Seremban Cendol - A trip down memory lane

Click to enlarge

The famous Seremban Cendol has evolved from a pushcart to a big shop. It now serves several cendol recipes such as cendol pulut, cendol kacang, cendol jagung, cendol campur and cendol bandung. My favourite is cendol pulut.

The cendol station inside the shop. The people who work at this station are always in the thick of action. Besides serving the shop patrons, they also have to handle an avalanche of takeaway orders.

Once upon a time, the cendol pushcart was parked at this spot in the serene Seremban Lake Gardens opposite the bustling A&W outlet. Some people said that the delicious cendol could give the popular A&W root beer a run for its money.

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At first I couldn't recognize this spot. It looked different with the Telecoms building on the left. You see, the building wasn't there before.



Haji Shariff's Cendol & Catering Sdn Bhd now operates from a big and airy shop painted in green - the colour of the cendol. It's crowded during lunch hour because it offers its patrons something that goes with the cendol - delicious rojak.


The extended area on the left increases the seating capacity. The rojak station is found here.
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Haji Shariff's Cendol & Catering Sdn Bhd
No. 44 Jalan Yam Tuan
Seremban
Negri Sembilan

Kampar Chicken Biscuits - A trip down memory lane

CB Red Label Sdn Bhd

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The famous Kampar Chicken Biscuits has a long history. The biscuits even have a catchphrase "A taste of its own". After the PLUS highway was built, Kampar became a town off the beaten track. However, the Kampar chicken biscuits remain as famous as ever.

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After so many years, I couldn't find the shop. A friend had to be my navigator and we didn't leave the shop until we have shopped. The company, CB Red Label, has an advertising slogan "A Confectioner's Collection". So, we almost bought the whole collection.

The CB brand

The CB Brand has been awarded halal status. Its chicken biscuits come in 3 varieties:

• Crunchy Chicken Biscuits
• Light & Crispy Chicken Biscuits
• Soft Chicken Biscuits

The shop also sells other delicacies such as Kaya Puff and Dragon Ball Biscuits.

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CB Red Label Sdn Bhd

72 Jalan Gopeng, Kampar, Perak

Tel: 05-4651748

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Jalan Pasar - A trip down memory lane

It's the Aidiladha holidays.

I decided to visit a part of Kuala Lumpur that I haven't been for donkey's years - Jalan Pasar. It's a predominantly Chinese area with a Chinese temple, a bustling wet market and a myriad of Chinese eateries.

I wanted to visit an old shop that sells haberdashery - things used for making clothes. It's situated in a cluster of very old shops. I lost my way and had to circle the area a few times. Eventually, I found it on foot.

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When I spotted it, a wondrous and incredulous feeling stirred in me. The shop looks the same despite the passage of time. The same old furniture. The same old cabinets. The same old layout.

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The wall cabinets contain endless rows of haberdashery - buttons, lace, ribbons, threads, wool etc of every conceivable colour, shape and size. You're spoilt for choice. Amazingly, the prices are as low as ever. And, the customer service is as impeccable as ever.

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I was attended to with great traditional courtesy. I was surprised to hear the owners speaking English to their customers. Years ago, they spoke only Chinese, their mother tongue. Now, they also speak Malay to their workers. So, I ended up speaking Chinese, English and Malay.

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It's a worthy trip down memory lane.

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If you want to buy haberdashery at great low prices and get treated like a VIP, you may want to give it a shot at this shop:

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HUP LEE

No. 45 Jalan Pasar Bahru

Pudu

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 603-9221 9221

Moon Raya Diwali

The FSTEP Batch 4 participants in Team Bristol undertake an English Communication project called "Organizing an Event". They call the function "Moon Raya Diwali" to celebrate the three festivals, namely Chinese Mid-Autumn festival, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Deepavali.

In this project, the participants enhance their English communication skills in these areas:

• Holding a business meeting
• Putting proposals to the vote
• Electing committee members
• Working in cooperation and collaboration
• Performing as the Master of Ceremonies or emcee

The proceedings of the Moon Raya Diwali function are captured in these videos.

The emcee, Shima, starts the function with the salutations.
Then, she introduces her co-emcee, Chin VS, the leader of Team Bristol.


The Organizing Chairperson, Puteri Muna, giving the welcome speech.

Kim Chow, English facilitator of Team Bristol.

Shima and Chin VS giving an introduction to the Bristol Movie before it is shown on the screen.

Teams Manchester, Southampton and Milton Keynes displaying their showbiz skills.

Teams Manchester, Southampton and Milton Keynes displaying their showbiz skills.

Shima and Chin VS thank the guests and invite them to the foyer for lunch.

Click to view photo album "Moon Raya Diwali"

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Pink Party

Mr Wong Chin Cheong, organizing chairman (2nd from left) and committee members

The modern art of teaching brings the real world into the classroom.

One of my English simulation projects is “Organizing an Event”. In this simulation, the participants learn how to use English communication in holding meetings, proposing new ideas, putting proposals to the vote, forming committees and conducting the proceedings in a dignified manner.

In their project, the FSTEP Batch 3 participants in the Team Franc proposed a colour theme. They were split on the choice of colour so a vote was taken. I voted for blue but the majority was in favour of PINK.

PINK? I had my doubts initially. I thought that PINK was unsuitable for the guys. My misgivings were finally laid to rest. When the entire Team Franc appeared in PINK, they created a sensation!

I soon realized that PINK was more than just a colour theme. It was the colour of unity and solidarity for Team Franc. The reason? The participants were placed in different classes after a recent reshuffle but were reunited for the English class. So, on the day of the event, PINK represented a special bond of friendship.



May PINK keep the Franc friendship alive no matter where they are or who they become. May God bless them in their internship and also in their career prospects.

Click here to view the Pink Party photos

In this video, the participants ask Kim Chow to give an impromptu performance.



The following video shows the Pink Party warming-up.