The Spain, Morocco and England Escapade

The Planned Itinery

Jan-17-08
ETD KUL – SIN/ETD SIN - LHR
Jan-18-08
ETA LHR/ETD LHR – AGP/ETA AGP
Jan-19-08
ETD AGP-ALGEIRAS
Breakfast
ETA ALGECIRAS/ETD ALGECIRAS-TANGIERS
ETA TANGIERS/ETD TANGIERS – RABAT/ETA RABAT
Dinner & Overnight
Jan-20-08
ETD RABAT-CASABLANCABreakfastETA CASABLANCA
ETD CASABLANCA-MARRAKECH/ETA MARRAKECH
Dinner & Overnight
Jan-21-08
MARRAKECH –Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight
Jan-22-08
ETD MARRAKECH-MEKNES(Breakfast)
ETA MEKNES/ETD MEKNES-FEZ/ETA FEZ
Dinner & Overnight
Jan-23-08
FEZ-Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight
Jan-24-08
ETD FEZ-TANGIERS (Breakfast)ETA TANGIERS/ETD TANGIERS-ALGECIRAS/ETA ALGECIRAS
ETA AGP
Overnight
Jan-27-08
ETD AGP-LHR/ETA LHR
ETD LONDON – LANCASTER/ETA LANCASTER ETD LANCASTER - LONDON
Overnight
Jan-28-08/Jan-29-08/Jan-30-08
LONDON
ETD LHR-SIN/ETA SIN/ETD SIN-KUL
ETA KUL


Regarding this travel bit am leaving for Morocco on 17 Jan, and since we are transiting Heathrow we decided to break journey in London and take a drive to Lancaster. My daughter is planning all this and she wants to refresh her memories of her short stay in Lancaster.

As I can recall, I parachuted into Susan's office that fateful day last week. She was having her sandwich lunch. I told her that my being there can either be a wonderful surprise or a paralyzing disappointment! Spent about 20 minutes with her and then she accompanied me back to where Maznah and Ayu were waiting.
The truth of the matter is that the trip to Lancaster is planned by Ayu and she unloaded the idea to us that we shall make the trip when we were to break journey for a few days in London. We were enroute home from a week holiday in Morocco.
It was a whirlwind getaway. We landed at Heathrow about midnight, picked up the rental car that Ayu had arranged online and drove all the way to Lancaster, arriving at about 0730 hrs after 3 pit stops along the way. Thanks to GPS technology, we were able to get around without difficulty in Lancaster including shopping at Asda. We headed back for London at 1500 hrs. I was happy that we made the trip despite not having proper rest since we left Fez at 0400hrs the previous day.

No your e mail did not bother me. I had a special folder made where I stored all the copied one for reference. Come to think of it, on the same subject, when we were discussing you, grand children and all and her imminent retirement, Susan did mentioned that you sometimes posted cheeky emails. Ha..ha I did my lol
Well some more update.Dept of politics is no more at Fylde but moved to County South and I spent almost an hour to locate it. Almost gave up in fact. Trevor and Mick Dillon are still around but when Susan checked both were not in. Thats when she lamented that I should've communicate first. Its just my good fortune that she decided to stay back in the office at lunch time, for according to her she normally take a walk during that time. I told her that the Almighty is kind to me.
We visited Portland St, Marji store and Ali still remember Maznah. Spent about 45 mins in town. Took photo of all the schools the children went to when we were there. With the GPS Ayu manage to locate Lancaster High, the school she went to that was moved to a new location. We then make a beeline to Morcombe and Quernmore and stop by the school that Jaja went and spent some times at Heathercroft and Ivy Cottage.

Another Disaster:Bukit Antarabangsa Landslide

Bukit Antarabangsa Landslide

"...to some people when they see beautiful green hillslope they automatically saw the RINGGIT sign on it....so get it by all means and be damnned with the consequences..."

what Lt Col (Rtd) Abdul Rahman Adam think of them

If we have learned nothing more from catastrophic events, we know that partnerships have played an important role. Disaster response and recovery are not individual efforts. They are more like a symphony than a solo performance. Relationship building before disaster strikes leads to meaningful partnerships in the throes of a massive recovery.



Three Killed, Seven Still Feared Buried In Bukit Antarabangsa Landslide.A landslide occurred at about 4am Saturday 6, December 2008 in Bukit Antarabangsa, Hulu Klang, near here and police confirmed that three people were killed in the incident which buried 14 bungalows in two housing estates.

A search and rescue operation has been mounted involving personnel from the military, Civil Defence Department, Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue (Smart) team, Fire & Rescue Unit and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council. The landslide cut off access by the main road to the residential areas at Bukit Antarabangsa, trapping hundreds of residents there.

Malaysian rescue personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department search for a potential survivor at a damaged house hit by a landslide in Kuala Lumpur. A landslide occured early morning 06 December, destroyed 14 houses and claimed four lives, prompting the Malaysian government to ban all new hillside projects.



A temporary tactical bridge has been laid across a monsoon drain to connect landslide affected Taman Bukit Mewah to Riverdale Park nearby after the main road to the former was cut off by the disaster early yesterday. The DR90 bridge which was completed today by members of the army Engineers Corps based in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, enables residents trapped in their neighbourhood since yesterday, to move in and out of the area.

Conferences/Seminars Attended

The Conferences and Seminars Attended to date:

04-06 Dec 2008 Attended the Sixth East Asian Congress Organised by ISIS, Malaysia at
Hotel Nikko, Kuala Lumpur (Participant)

16-20 Nov 2008 Attended and presented a paper on “U.S. Presidential Election: Its
Ramification to the Global Geopolitics and Malaysia” at the
Geostrategic Roundtable Organised by the National Security
Council at Pulai Spring Resort, Johor Bahru.

02-04 Dec 2007 Attended the Fifth East Asian Congress Organised by ISIS, Malaysia at
Hotel Nikko, Kuala Lumpur

23-25 May 2007 Attended and presented a paper on “Investment Opportunities and
Facilities in Malaysia” at the 2nd International Turkish Asian
Congress Organised by the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies
(TACSS) Istanbul, Turkey.

25-27 May 2006 Attended and presented a paper on “Malaysia’s Foreign Policy
Strategy and Turkey” at the 1st International Turkish Asian
Congress Organised by the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic
Studies (TACSS) Istanbul, Turkey.

2004-2008 (Participated in various strategic/security related conferences/seminars
organized by MIER/IDFR/ISIS/ASLI/MSRC/UKM/MPAT)

2003 i. Seminar on “Bridging the Gap: Theory and Practice of Foreign and
Defence Policy” at IDFR, 7 March, 2003 (Moderator)

ii. Seminar on “ Malaysia/Pakistan Relations” at IDFR, 9 April 2003


iii. World Conference of Islamic Scholars at Putrajaya, 10-12 July,
2003 (Conference Delegate)

iv. Taiwan-Asean Business Forum, Nikko Hotel, K.L. on 25 July,
2003 (Delegate)

2000 i. Seminar on “Defence Policy and National Security”

08-10 October 2000 (Session Discussant)

ii. Seminar on “The Consolidation of European Defence Industries: The

European / French Experience”11 September 2000 (UKM) (Session

Chairman)

iii. “ASEAN Scholars Conference: Sovereignty and Intervention 3-4 July 2000

(SINGAPORE) (Workshop Panelist)

iv. Conference on “Asia Europe Summit On Partnership and Co-Operation”

22-23 June 2000 (Lisbon, PORTUGAL) (Workshop Panelist)

vi. Workshop on “Civil-Military Relations in a Democratic System”
12-13 April 2000 (Bogor, INDONESIA) (Paper Presenter/ Facilitator)

vii. Forum on “Globalisation, National Security and Naval Forces In The 21st

Century” 21 February 2000 (MIMA, KUALA LUMPUR)

1999 i. Seminar on “Revolution In Military Affairs: nges

National Defence”
September 1999 (KUALA LUMPUR) (Paper Presenter)

ii. Seminar on “The Spratlys: A Framework for Resolution”
23 April 1999 (IDFR)

iii. Seminar on “Terrorism: A Global Threat”
23 March 1999 (IDFR). Discussant.

iv. Seminar on “Regional Groupings in the Contemporary World: The Polish Experience”
16 March 1999 (IDFR)

v. Seminar on “Political Development in Cambodia”
5 February 1999 (IDFR)

vi. Seminar on “Future Wars and Rapid Deployment: A French Perspective”
30 January 1999 (IDFR)


1998 i. “UN Peacekeeping Operations: Present and Future Perspective”
11-12 March 1998 (Tokyo, JAPAN) (Workshop Panelist)

ii. Defence Services Asia 1998 (DSA 98) Conference on “Security and Interdependence in Pacific Asia”
22 April 1998 (KUALA LUMPUR) (Session Discussant)

iii. UPSK - MIAF- USIS Seminar “Alternative Visions of Security in the Asia-Pacific”
16 June 1998 (KUALA LUMPUR) (Session Moderator)

iv. MIMA Security Forum Public Lecture on “The US Strategic
Commitment and Security Implications of Asia’s Economic Crisis”
14 August 1998 (KUALA LUMPUR)

v. The Changing Environment in the Asia-Pacific Region- Malaysian and Philippine Perspective”
24 August 1998 (KUALA LUMPUR)


1997 i. “Japan Maritime SDF: Strategy for Engagement in The
21st Century” (MRSC) (Session Chairman)

ii. Reforming The UN Security Council, (IDHL)

iii. Seminar on “Non-Proliferation and Export Control” (IDHL)

iv. Workshop on “Arms Procurement Decision Making Process”
(SIPRI/ UKM) (Paper Presenter)

v. The Manila Forum on “Culture, Values and Technology”
(MANILA) (Workshop Panelist)

2nd International Turkish Asian Congress

The 2nd International Turkish Asian Congress was held on 23-25 May 2007 in Istanbul. The invitation from Tasem was made through email from the organizer about 4 weeks before the event. I was requested to present a paper on something that was not quiet my cup of tea – a economic theme. Upon inquiry that no other Malaysian was invited I felt compelled to accept the invitation and worked on a presentation entitled “Investment Opportunities and Facilities in Malaysia” Much of it was adapted from MIDA refreshingly very helpful articles on the subject provided by my neighbour’s daughter who work at MIDA.

Turkey and Malaysia are, perhaps, the only Muslim Majority states today that could be regarded as relatively successful in both economic and political terms. Many see them as the only "Islamic" models worth looking at. Today Turkey is the 17th largest economy in the world with a GNP exceeding $350 billion. Our trade volume has surpassed $190 billion and there were 22 million tourists in 2005. In the same year, the volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Turkey was several times larger than the total for foreign investments over the last decades. As a matter of fact, Turkey has grown by no less than 30 percent during the past four years.”

Likewise, Malaysia too has performed well on the economic front. Malaysia retained its position as the 19th largest exporting country, according to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s International Trade Report for 2006.Malaysia’s merchandise export grew at an annual rate of 14% in 2006 to reach US$161 billion (RM555.4 billion) and accounting for 1.2% of the total global exports.

This third trip to Istanbul I was accompanied by M and daughter Ayu. With Ayu’s more adventurous traits we explore more areas that I had not been on our two previous visit. And more shopping too. Some of the photos are reproduced here.

Reflection Eid’ Fitri Saywal 1429

As per previous eid fitri we scramble back to JB a few days before raya. No exception this year. But we do felt that déjà vu as Ayah Nor was not around. This was particularly demonstrated when we went for our yearly homage to Mak Ani’s raya feast where our favourite daging kambing masak merah was not served. Ayah Nor normally sponsored this delightful dish.
We also went back to Endau on 2nd hari raya. The normal round to Normah’s place to enjoy her tapai. Then back to Limah’s place for more makan and catching up on family matters. Also to Triang at Sarah’s place together with Hafsah’s family. Lazim and family seemed to give it a miss. Still not reconciled with the personal episode presumeably.

A Surprise Meeting with Four Tan Sris

The event in question was the 6th East Asian Congress hosted by ISIS, Malaysia on 4th and 5th December at Hotel Niko, K.L.
I decided to attend the second day proceeding late and came in just before the morning break. Bumped into Tan Sri Rastam Md Isa ( Sec Gen MoFA) and Tan Sri Jowhar (ISIS Chairman and CEO) I said hello and we into talking about personal updates and heppenings. Now I know that Rastam is a grand pa. Zahid has a son recently. I also asked Rastam for his mobile so that we can get in touch when for example Dato Bahan want to have a reunion lunch or dinner like the one that we had at Bukit Unggul Golf Club. Then Tan Sri Hasmy Agam (Executive Chairman IDFR) followed by Tan Sri Fauzi (former Sec Gen MoFA) came to join us. I remerked that this must be my lucky day to have 4 Tan Sris and suggested that we have our photo taken. I had Elena from ISIS to do us the honour.

The Hari Ulang Tahun Kor Risik

HUT Kor Risik is a special event that I am related to. This went back to the anniversary that we celebrated in 1987 when I was called back to the offive at midnight because there was a coup in the Maldives.
The HUT Kor Risik of 2008 started off with the normal tahalil which I have attended without fail since my retirement from the Armed Forces. But attending the parade was my first and M came along. Jokingly I mentioned to those present that day I made it at last for only Allah knows if I shall be around for next year HUT. We really enjoyed it making renewed contact with those that I have not seen for years and watching those officers who have taken over the rein of the Intelligence Corps. Lt Gen Datuk Salleh was happy to see me and invited us to sit at his table during the makan after the parade. We left Sg Buloh camp at noon with quite a memory of the events.