One step closer to becoming an official staff of GE

A step closer to my dream

Me with a peace sign at GE podium

Today marks the day that I am one step closer to becoming an official staff of GE. The whole reception today started off with a simple rehearsal and then, continued with the introduction of all the pre-offered. In between, we had a couple of CEOs from different businesses who gave us the welcome messages saying how proud we should be to be able to join the GE family. Had an absolutely enjoyable time with my future colleagues and this makes me really want to start working as soon as possible ! It takes time to explain everything that happened today so I am leaving you with the pictures to explain to you. Enjoy them !

GE Pre-offered 2009 Batch Reception Event

URL: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=36528&l=f94d9&id=695687901

Commenting on Tun M’s blog

His latest post, “THE SOCIAL CONTRACT 3″

To read it, visit CheDet.com

Placing his views in his very own blog since May 2008

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Good evening, Tun M.

In times like these, where everything is pretty stirred up and murky, that is when rationality is needed and our nation needs it, simply put, every single citizen of our motherland needs to be rational. I don’t recall that I learned about the Social Contract during my History classes back in school bench. Did my textbooks state much about it or was the fact packed up together in just a few simple sentences? Either that or perhaps I was more attentive to my science subjects, which was implanted in my mind that it will be able to ’secure a better future’, especially in Malaysia for me, when everyone stresses that going to science stream is a better choice (that I came to grow up knowing that this is not always true). Or just maybe my History teachers, the government servants, were not doing their job well enough? (I will read Part 1 and 2 to teach myself what the Social Contract is all about through your writings)

I do agree with a commentator that Tun M should rewrite this article in Malay since all of us did learn and are still learning about the Malaysian history in Malay, in a form which we all find much more familiar and easier to understand. After all, it is our national language, Bumis or non-Bumis and Malaysian kids nowadays have access to read your blog, Tun M.

Please do enlighten us, the young Malaysians, on how and what our ancestors had agreed and was it that all of us must keep abide to it even after half a century or in the long run as well? We know that Malay has the special rights. We see that in the different quotas we have in the many different systems. We know Chinese and Indians didn’t mind the conditions laid to them as long as they got their citizenship back then. We all lived freely without much problem and fuss up to now (except for what had happened during May 13, 1963). We didn’t mind that it had always been expressed in the fashion of “Malay, Chinese and Indian”, accordingly to the population pie, and not “Indian, Malay, Chinese” or the other 5 combinations that can be made with these 3 syllables. But, isn’t it time to consider that all of us who are being born in Malaysia, raised with the Malaysian culture, to be as one, in a single identity as a unified nation? Perhaps, what young Malays are telling is that the non-Malays are also Malaysia “Malaysians” and soon, we need to change the situation.

But then again, before all that, you are right, Tun M. Are we ALL ready to switch everything to the “equal rights” that everyone (both the minority young Malays you’ve stated and non-Malays) is hailing about? Some of us are ready but when turned effective, how many will drown in it? I still remember how you commented on globalism, Tun M. Are you worried that the considered more able non-Malays will overtake everything that the Malay owns, if equality begins to be enforced? If the stage is unleveled, Malaysia might be at the risk of being not balanced although how it appears to be in balance. I understand and I never argued much about the quota when another Chinese (or other international friends) comes to me to complain about it. I always tell them, our ancestors said yes to special rights to the Bumiputras and we are living on this fate. We can do nothing unless a change happens. Till then, we still have to live on. That is what I tell those who approaches me with their sighs.

On the other side, perhaps young Malays are tired of being undermined and regarded lowly. They perhaps are hating the idea being looked at in a way as if they have a cushion to fall onto anytime although they are working strong and hard to prove that they have grown to not need such insurances anymore.

We need wisdom on this matter. We need great people to put the rails so that everything would go strong and steady for our nation. I believe that is the job of a politician which should be regarded the highest in rank when it comes to selflessness. Anyway, everything is happening for a reason. We are reminded again that a nation is a biological entity and that we evolve from time to time. Tun M, people are hearing rumors that you are coming back. I am just hoping that you are packed with powerful and effective solutions when you officially decide that you are going to have power in the government, once again.

All these by Andrew Soh, the boy with a vibrant orange tie, who asked you what was your ideal vision for year 2020 at the Embassy of Malaysia, here in Japan when you came over for your honorable degree from the Meiji University in year 2001 and still recalls you, at the podium in front of a crowd of students, answering “little young children (you did stress all races) with smiles on their faces, playing peacefully in a developed nation in various aspect of areas.” I am the one who also said that you can sign on my 1000 yen note during dinner the night of the event and am still hoping hard in my heart that what you’ve envisioned for our country will happen. Thank you for your valuable signature and my parents are still keeping it proudly with my two shot picture with you, Sir, placed in a special album in our humble home in Kuala Lumpur.

Lovely sister got the JPA Scholarship !

Am real proud of you, girl !

The government scholarship, not easy to get, unless you pass all the conditions.

My lovely sister, Jennifer, had made our family proud again. At first, she made us proud by getting real good results during her STPM and with that good sets of results, she managed to enter the most profound university we have in Malaysia, the University Malaya. She is currently in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, studying East Asian Studies and majoring in Japanese language (perhaps very much influenced by his brother who’s here in Japan). Anyway, being a nice good girl and considering the financial situation we have in our family, she decided to apply for the Malaysian Government’s Public Service Department Scholarship for local universities and guess what, she successfully got it and that is the pride our family take in after that very success of hers entering the prestigious university.

My dad called me to inform me and to consult me regarding this matter, on whether she should accept the offer or not. I went through the details of this particular scholarship once again and did all the math and considerations for her. I, myself, managed to receive the JPA scholarship to continue my studies overseas here in Japan for both my diploma and degree. Without the scholarship, there is no way for me to survive the high living cost of expenses here so I decided to take it because it was a golden opportunity for me to see the world. Anyway, as for my sister’s case, she has only one and half year to go before she graduate. She will receive about RM11,000 per year to cover up her living expenses and also tuition fees (which is about RM5000 per year) if she decides to take it. That means by the time she graduate she will get roughly RM16,500 from the government.

Well, of course, the government will not give the money for free. There are the conditions which comes along with this contract and as of my sister’s case, she will have to serve the government for 4 to 5 years after she had graduated from her studies. If she had received the scholarship and decides not to serve the government, she has to pay up RM110,000 to RM130,000 as to say “sorry”. Anyway, this story is fine for people who really decides to have a career as a government servant but after giving much thought, I don’t think it is right to decide a single path only for my sister right now already. I mean with her qualifications I believe that she will get many offers in the private sector as well and I don’t want her not to be able to choose from all those choices by being tied up by this bond.

So, it is clear and vivid that Jennifer will not take this scholarship. Yes, it would help us financially to support her studies but then, Mom and Dad said that they will be fine to support her for another one and half years. Plus, I will be working already from next year on so I believe I can support her well too. So, in order to give my sister the liberty of choices in the future, we have to say goodbye to this tempting offer. Of course, there are many Malaysians who are dying for the offer as it is a golden opportunity if you seek a career in the governmental sector plus you get all the worries of your shoulders about the expenses you need to make during the school years.

Nevertheless, our family is real proud of my sister. Her STPM results and her university results won her this scholarship and now, I believe that she understands that when you always try to excel, more chances will come to you. So, my message to her is to just keep focusing on her studies and look out for that chance to come to Japan. For your information, my fellow readers, she has a chance to come to Japan because in her course, for excellent students, they are offered to come to Japan for a year to study. Will she get it or not, we’ll see from now. But, for now, am happy that she has shown us that she cared for our family so much that she actually took those actions by herself. My little sister is no longer little and she’s thinking for herself. Am proud to know that very fact. Love you, sis.

GE FMP Prospective Employees Gathering Party

Anassa, the venue for the gathering party

I’ve just received an e-mail from GE just now regarding a gathering party for the prospective employees of FMP for the year 2009. According to the e-mail, it will be held at a Mediterranean cuisine restaurant which is situated inside the Akasaka Biz Tower in the newly opened area called Akasaka Sacas. I’ve already confirmed my attendance on that day which is going to be on the 24th April and am really looking forward to it because on that day, we will be meeting the Finance Leaders of GE Japan who will be our mentors for the program. This is my first time trying out Mediterranean food and that is also something I will be looking forward to as well. I guess the best thing of all, I will be meeting all of my future colleagues (if they all do attend) and definitely this gathering would really make me feel that I am already a part of GE. Yippee ! *hehe*

Time flies

Hi there ! It’s surprising to see how time passes by and look, over a week’s time (8 days to be exact) has already passed since the whole world stepped into the New Year 2008. So, once again, a very Happy New Year to everyone and is everyone getting a hang of the New Year already ? As for me, I don’t really feel any abrupt change yet but one thing is for sure that I need to switch my current mode into a new one which will set me on the rail towards a change. I have nothing concrete in mind on how to define that specific rail so I will need to discover it bit by bit as the days go by from now on.

Anyway, let’s do some sum up on what’s been happening lately from the end of 2007 and up to now. Well, let’s see. It all began with a gorgeous year end dinner at a restaurant in Tokyo with close friend and juniors. Next, saying goodbye to 2007 and the new year countdown at a friend’s home and a gorgeous New Year lunch at a hotel the very next day after spending the whole night playing trumps with the usual group of Malaysian mates. Basically, my new year began by forgetting whatever that was bothering my mind last year and simply have fun with friends. We went shopping, watched movies together and what’s best of all is having all those simple chats and jokes we had.

After all the fun time, coming back to my own lair in Chiba, I’ve spent most of my days watching TV and simply laze around on my bed. I did not care to bother about anything but to just give myself a time away from all the worldly things. But, the great time has to go so fast and here I am back to my normal hectic schedule. It is all about the job hunting seminars and companies applications which takes up most of my time. Since I had put them aside for quite some time, I’d better get serious about it soon for the world does not wait to fit my pace. So, what’s the resolution for the year ? Well, I guess it is to get a job that I will cherish for my start in the working society of Japan and at the same time, work my best on my research to actually graduate. It is that simple and just as hard at the same time.

Alright then. That’s the ranting of the day and as how the cute picture above says, I just came by to quickly wish everyone a happy day ! Peace.