BigDogDotCom is exactly a year old

At 4.56pm today, BigDogDotCom is exactly a year old. Exactly a year ago, BigDogDotCom published an article , “Siapa berani mencabar Barat selepas Dr. Mahathir?”, as a sum-up of Perdana Global Peace Forum III which was concluded slightly over a week earlier in PWTC. Also former UMNO President’s Tun Dr. Mahathir’s landmark call in Johor Bahru for UMNO ‘not fear pre-mature leadership changes’.

Since the first article, BigDogDotCom has posted altogether 381 articles. Many were uploaded into several political portals and websites and one scoop was actually uploaded into a French Navy website and tranlasted into French.

This blog had its first anniversary celebrations at The Loaf, Harbour Park, Pantai Kok, Langkawi.

We would like to express our utmost sincere gratitude and appreciation for the interests and support that have been given to us.

Thank you, all.

In memory of Mustaffa Dapat

Allahyarham Mustaffa b. Dapat (b. 21 October 1964, d. 28 August 2004).

Mustaffa Dapat was born to a former British Army employee, Dapat b. Selamat. He grew up in Kampung Stulang Baru, Johor Bahru, Johor and attended Larkin School. His father by then became a Postman at Bukit Panjang Post Office, Bukit Panjang, Singapore while his mother run an eatery stall in Larkin.

Later he attended MARA Junior Science College, Kuantan, Pahang (1977-1981). He went to Oklahoma to study engineering but later transferred to Ohio University in Columbus, Ohio and earned a bachelor in aeronautical engineering in 1986.

He came back to Malaysia during the first economic recession. After his mother passed away in 1987 to stomach ulcer, Mustaffa enrolled in the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) KD Pelanduk as a Cadet Officer. He graduated and commissioned in 1989 as the best cadet officer and earned the golden sabre from HM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong, beating more than a dozen ex RMC cadet officers in his intake.

He was initially destined to be trained as the engineer for the RMN’s Air Wing KD Rajawali. However, still as a Sub. Lt., he was sent to Royal Australian Navy submarine school near Sydney in 1992 instead. He earned his ‘dolphins’ in 1993, the first RMN officer to be certified as submariner, along with Lt. Abdul Rahman Ayob and Senior Petty Officer Suhaimi after the training in an RAN Oberon Class submarine.

His track record was so impressive that the RAN, through Australian MINDEF, requested their Foreign Office to ask MINDEF, through Wisma Putra for Lt. Mustaffa to come and serve for another tour of duty, in the RAN submarine squadron. During this time, he participated in a submarine exercise with the US Navy.

 

 

After serving ten years of short commission service, Mustaffa left the RMN in 1997 due to economic reasons. He joined ATSC Sdn. Bhd. and served as the Project Manager for the MiG 29N maintenance program, based in TUDM Kuantan, under former RMAF Brig. Gen. Richard Robless Sr. He later joined Rajawali Aerospace Sdn. Bhd. as a General Manager, also following Robless.

In 2001 when Perimekar Sdn. Bhd. put up the bid for the submarine project, Mustaffa was employed as a consultant to the project. He later joined Perimekar as a Project Manager and facilitated the project management during the lengthy technical negotiations between DCNi, Thales (now Armaris), Perimekar and the RMN. The contract was signed in June 2002 for the acquisition of two Scorpene Class SSK submarines. By then, LTAT through Boustead Bhd. was a 51% shareholder of Perimekar.

Mustaffa was sent to Cherbourg, France in December 2002, to facilitate for the Perkimekar’s contract to ensure the RMN Submarine Project Team’s work supervising and monitoring the construction, testing and commissioning of the two submarines are fully completed, according to the contract.

In late July, Mustaffa fell ill due to viral fever and was admitted to the Louis Pasteur Hospital, Cherbourg in early August. Five days later he was transferred to another hospital in Caen where he remained for the next two and half weeks. Within that time, it was diagnosed that Mustaffa suffered a rare penicillin allergy called ‘Steven Johnson syndrome’. He went into a coma and eventually just before six a.m. Saturday, 28 August 2004, Mustaffa Dapat died never regained consciousness.

His body was bathe and kapan (covered with burial shroud) at the Caen mosque and was taken to Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport on the afternoon of Monday 30 August 2007 and was flown back to Kuala Lumpur onboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH 021 at noon, national day of 2004. His remains arrived in KLIA on 5.30 am 1 September 2004, accompanied by his wife Masniza Mansor, his 8 year old son Muhammad Faza Aiman, his three month old baby Misha Elyssa, Puan NorAishah M. Nasri (wife of Deputy Leader, Submarine Project Team Capt. Rosland Omar), his best friend and fellow submariner (who also represented the RMN), Cdr. Abdul Rahman Ayob and Perimekar manager based in Cartagena, Spain, Anuar. Lt. Cdr. Zulhelmi Isnin and Lt. Cdr. Baharuddin Md. Nor was there at KLIA to receive the body and those who accompanied the remains of Allahyarham Mustaffa Dapat.

His remains was taken to Masjid Kampung Chempaka, Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya and later was interned at Kampung Tunku Cemetery that noon. Relatives, former colleagues from the RMN and the Defense Attache’ of the French Embassy of Kuala Lumpur were there to pay their respect. So was representative of DCNi and Armaris.

Mustaffa Dapat would have been forty three today if he was still with us. His passing was missed by the entire submariner community in this country, especially the RMN. I remembered specifically in LIMA ‘01, during breakfast at Awana Porto Malai, former Chief of Navy Laksamana Tan Sri Ilyas Md. Din (then Fleet Operation Commander Laksda Dato’ Ilyas Md. Din) said to me “Mustaffa’s departure from the Navy was a great loss to us but later proven to be a great service to the nation. He would one day made Chief of Navy had he stayed on and served”. So did former RMN Inspector General Laksmana Pertama Danyal Balagopal confirm the same point, separately.

Adieu, mon kapitan.

My bariatric surgery progress

I was at Damansara Specialist Hospital this morning, slightly over 10 weeks or precisely, 73 days after the gastric by-pass surgery. The Obesity Centre secretariat arranged for the “survivors-of-ward-four” to have its first group meeting/therapy session.

Except for John Armstrong, in Kuantan and Carol and Sandra, already back in the US, everyone else were there. So were the Bariatric Surgery Head, Dato’ Dr. Haron Ahmad, Anaesthology Head, Dato’ Dr. Wan Nik Ahmad Mustapha, the Hospital dietician and the KPJ Group PR woman.

We talked about our common issues and things that we had to go through, like problems, progress and petty issues like dietary changes and adaptations. I brought issues related to fasting because since the past three days, my system have not been able to adapt with lesser liquid in the system (thoughts did cross my mind that most probably, it could be not a good idea to fast 10 weeks after the surgery; since our body system is still adapting to lesser food intake, nutrients and new metabolic rate and water is definitely an important agent to excrete the fats burnt).

We all saw the success of our sacrifice and both doctors were brimming with glee; their effort had shown a lot of progress and all were very happy. All were encouraged and shall vow to help each other progress further. The outcome of this therapy and support group will later develop a manual for future bariatric surgery patients, especially lifestyle and dietary requirements and practices more suitable for Malaysians, as what ever material available now are designed for the American patients.

Personally, I did quite well and rather perplexed with my own achievements/progress, especially when I must confess I did not stick to the dietician’s regime strictly. I managed to lose 20.5% of my bodyweight in that period and that translated to 35% of the excess weight which I needed to lose before I am ‘normal’ again. My Body Mass Index (BMI) already dropped by over 13.5 points. So far, within these ten “survivors-of-ward-four”, I have shown the most progress (in terms of weight loss) but I must say my Danish comrade-in-arms Lars Olsun, have shown the best adaptation into his normal lifestyle. He was vey focused to achieved something.

I urge those with obesity issues should waddle along to DSH and see for themselves the programs and solutions that are available to treat this ‘disease’. It had worked well, for me and the other nine “survivors-of-ward-four”.

This my 200th posting, two days short of my seventh month in this blog. So should I be knocking of “RM 2.4 million” from my tagline?

Probably I ought to wait a little longer!

Fireworks display marks Sambutan Kemerdekaan ke 50

It was a rare evening yesterday, the eve of the 50^th Hari Kemerdekaan. I came home much earlier than usual, after having a rare meal; ‘high-tea’ with my best friend at Benteng Coffee House, Quality Hotel. As soonest as I reached home just after eight, I suggested to Girl-Girl that we go watch the usual annual fireworks, marking the 50^th Kemerdekaan Celebrations.

She was happy with the plan. It was extended to my parents, who live right next door but later the near seventy couple decided to give it a pass and watched it live on TV instead. So at half past eleven, we waddled our way on the Enterprise towards the City. My parents’ curious maid wanted to tag along and so we brought her.

We arrived at the gates of the Datuk Bandar’s official residence, Changkat Tunku, Bukit Tunku five minutes before midnight. That is the highest hill in the City, with commanding and an unobstructive view towards the Dataran Merdeka and KLCC Park. It was unusually quiet there, unlike the usual previous Merdeka eve, where there were naturally be more people.

Soon, the clock struck midnight and nothing happened. We could see some search lights moving about and yet nothing. One of the spectators passed by where we were standing and he held a portable TV in his palm. We could here the Prime Minister almost ‘yelling’, delivering his speech and so we waited further. We were growing almost impatient. We already saw from the distance the fireworks display shot at The Curve/Ikano Centre (a place much closer to home, actually!), West of Kuala Lumpur and where my sister brought her super-active five year old. I thought there was a possibility we made a mistake and we should have watched the fireworks display at the hill closer to home.

Then I started to sit down by the curb and so did the rest of my ‘possie’. At one, I decided to call it the night and walked to the Enterprise. As we were mounting, one of the guards at the Mayor’s residence stepped up and asked where were we of to. I explained we are leaving as we had grown tired waiting, just over an hour and we did not think there would be fireworks display to mark the celebrations, unlike previous years. He vehemently assured me that as soon as the Prime Minister’s speech end, there would be one. As we were still in the chat, at 1.05 am, the fireworks display started.

For the next ten minutes, the hundred odd people’s attention present simply glued to the sky towards Dataran Merdeka-Bank Negara-Bangunan Tun Razak and simply went “Oo…..Aah….Wow!”.

So there it was. The usual annual fireworks display at Dataran Merdeka was finally there. I have brought Girl-Girl for this since she was four (2000) and it never failed to please her (although this year’s was so much later in the night!). Its a typical annual Kemerdekaan celebrations afterall.

For all it’s worth, my parents’ immigrant maid was utterly impressed, especially we took her for a 1 am tour of Kuala Lumpur and showed her the interesting places like Istana Budaya, Eye of Kuala Lumpur ferris wheel, KLCC Park and the Petronas Twin Towers, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Bank Negara and Parliament. We reached home at two thirty, after harrowing through a terrible traffic jam along Jalan Ampang-Jalan Sultan Ismail.

Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan ke 50 and Keranamu, Malaysia!

Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka!

Girl-Girl’s definition of ‘Being Malaysian’

My darling Girl-Girl has her own definition of ‘Being Malaysian‘. Its her perspective of what is being Malaysian about, from an eleven year old girl who has been to extremely fun places like Disneyland Park in Anaheim California and Paris, the home of God al Mighty and the mausoleum of Muhammad PBUH, messenger of God in Saudi, the beaches of D-Day invasion in Normandy and epitome of art and expressionism in Paris, France, view closely the mysterious but humongous stone structures in the Salisbury plains and the heritage of once capital of the most powerful colonial and commercial empire in modern times.

This is also the same girl who collected RM 845.00 (later it reached almost RM 1700.00 in total) passing the “tissue box” (as featured on The New Sunday Times, 13 Nov 2005) around at her visits during the first quarter of Syawal celebrations for the victims of Pakistani earthquake in Ramadhan of 2005, when she was nine.

Earlier in January, she collected RM 600.00 from the same method, “The tissue box” for the Boxing Day 2004 Tsunami disaster.

*The recipient of this collection on behalf of TV3, Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim is now HRH Consort to HM Sultan of Brunei

The innocence of a young girl is the untainted perspective of a Malaysian.

 

Its time to feel for “Merdeka”, again

It’s time to feel for “Merdeka”, again. In four weeks time, Malaysia will celebrate its fiftieth independence from the British. It has been fifty since we have become a sovereign state. It has been fifty years since Malaysians are allowed to determine their own lives. It has been fifty years since Malaysia practiced democracy through constitutional monarchy.

So like most Malaysians, we would like to feel for the celebrations and demonstrate our pride to be one. Therefore, we decided to hoist the Jalur Gemilang earlier this evening. It was a beautiful day to do so, in deed. So we asked our trusted domestic helper for seven years now, Markati, to take the Jalur Gemilang out from storage and do what is necessary.

One Jalur Gemilang hung on the Roman column next to where the Enterprise is parked everyday

One Jalur Gemilang in the garden. Note the Rabbit is leaning against the Feline’s Proton Satria, our proud trouble free national car for the last 10 years.

The same Jalur Gemilang shot from the street infront of our home

We hope that the same feeling will be ‘contagious’ and ‘infect’ our neighbours and we all celebrate the month as proud Malaysians.

Have you erected the Jalur Gemilang at your homes yet?

A year after Tun Dr. Mahathir returned from Europe

Today is exactly a year after former Prime Minister and UMNO President Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad returned from a long trip summer holidays in Europe. It was the first time Malaysians get a chance to meet him after his stinging attack against ‘The Level Four Boys’ and issues pertaining the cancellation of the Scenic Bridge project in Johor Bahru and Proton at an event organized by various NGO and streamed via broadband by Malaysia Today.net, at Kelab Century Paradise, Taman Melawati, near Kuala Lumpur on 24 June 2006.

His open criticism against Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s leadership, management and decisions at Kelab Century Paradise to a crowd of 1,000 was a landmark speech. It attracted so much attacks in return from the Government, including Cabinet Ministers such as Dato’ Seri Nazri Aziz and Dato’ Khaled Nordin.

He and wife, Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd. Ali arrived from Stansted Airport, North London via a chartered jet at Petronas Private Terminal, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz International Airport, Subang at 9.30 am and was met by close personal friends.

Outside the gates of the terminal, over 1000 well wishers and supporters gathered, some with banners and special printed t-shirts were issued. A Malay political portal, MyKMU.net had organized this welcome back session to show that the rakyat still in very much support of Tun Dr. Mahathir and the issues that he has been vehemently highlighted. Some noted political bloggers like Dato’ Ron, Dato’ Kadir Jasin, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Rocky and Sang Kelembai were also present.

I was one of the persons organized the welcome back session. Just before Tun Dr. Mahathir stepped out of gates of terminal, someone asked whether my Enterprise could be used as a platform for Tun Dr. Mahathir to speak to the well wishers and maybe talked to the waiting press, since it has a sunroof. I summarily agreed and repositioned the Mitsubishi Pajero V6 Pajero, named “Enterprise”.

When Tun Dr. Mahathir stepped out at 10.10am, he walked to a very anxious crowd who eagerly wanted to see him up close and walked down the road about 100 meters to the awaiting Enterpise which was repositioned almost to middle of the road. He climbed into the back seat and I asked him to stand up through the sunroof and he did. The crowd cheered as he waved, with a sunshine smile. I later asked him to stand on the backseat so that he was perched higher and he did and started waving more to the eager crowd.

For the next fifteen minutes, he addressed the crowd and talked to the press, including foreign bureaus who send their reporters. He was beaming and gleaming with glee, as he never thought that there would be supporters to welcome him home.

Blogger Gerbang Ruhanie, Dato’ Ruhanie Ahmad passed to Tun Dr. Mahathir his latest book, “Mahathir Menyinga” at the end of his speech on the Enterprise. It was about the cancellation of Scenic Bridge.

The last time I smsed Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir was 12 hours earlier, who sent Tun Dr. Mahathir of in London. He said his father did not expect anyone to be at the airport to welcome him home, since he considered himself as ‘orang pencen‘. However, Dato’ Mukhriz challenged me “Now, would you prove him wrong?”.

I did. We all did. And Tun Dr. Mahathir was definitely pleased people like me proved him wrong.

*Some of the photos were taken from Minaq Jinggo Photopages

I survived and been discharged

After 17 days in Damansara Specialist Hospital, I survived my gastric by-pass surgery, ascites improved and now I am discharged. I am so grateful to the team who took care of me, including the nursing staff of the ICU and surgical wards.

Now I need time to fully recover.

To all who have posted kind thoughts and comments in my blog, calls, smses, e mails and the friends who came and visit, especially fellow bloggers and blog commenters, I would like to offer my utmost sincere appreciation.

Off the Bloggosphere….

I shall be deactivated from the Bloggosphere, from today. Whether its permanent or temporary, it is not up to me to determine. However, I rest the fate of my complicated life to Dato’ Dr. Haron Ahmad and Dato’ Dr. Wan Nik Ahmad Mustapha, whilst Dr. N. Sukumar will assist and Dr. Zainuddin Md. Zin and Dr. Mohd. Daud Suleiman shall prepare me the pre 4 July 2007 procedure. I hope my dear friend Dr. Shahrol Azmi is able to join Dato’ Dr. Haron & Dr. Sukumar for 4 July 2007.

If after two weeks from today I shall surface, again, meant these fine surgeons and physicians successfully did what they had to do. However, otherwise, then I should be elsewhere. Anyhow, I have full faith in their professional ability and skills. For those who have been supporting my work here in Bloggosphere, I would like to express my utmost sincere gratitude and appreciation.

*An update.

It seemed other learned consultants who are contemporaries and colleagues to Dato’ Dr. Haron, Dr. Zainuddin and Dr. Daud like Dato’ Dr. Azizi Omar, Dr. Mohamed Nazim Mohamed Salleh, Mr. Rozman Idrus, Mr. Abd. Malik Hussin and my daughter’s brilliant surgeon, the acclaimed Mr. Abdul Razak Mohamed have expressed their happiness that I have decided to undergo Dato’ Dr. Haron’s treatment. They are also showing incredible support and professional encouragement.

Earlier today, Dr. Mohd. Halim Abu Bakar, Dr. Mohd Roslan Johan, Dr. Muhammad Rashid Sherdill from Batang Kali and Dr. Muzaffar from Johor Bahru called to give further encouragements. (Not everyday you get calls from doctor friends to support your BIG step!)

To all who have illustrated much encouragements and well wishes for me, I offer my utmost sincere gratitude and appreciation.

*An update as of Monday, 16 July 2007.

This is a photo of me in the ICU. It was taken five hours after surgery.

The surgery went marvelously successful. Originally they expected to take 6 hours, based on my new Danish friend who did the same surgery three days earlier. However they managed to went on with it within a stressful 2 1/2 hours. I spent the next two days post-Op in ICU. Then they did a barium scan to ensure the by-pass connection was fully intact. Then I was wheeled back to my room to recuperate.

It wasn’t an easy first few days!

My system had to re-learn everything about the digestive system all over again and I must say it wasn’t a pleasant thing. A lot of trial and error. My body chemicals were thrown of balance due to the pre-Op preparatory and adjustments of medications. As a result, I developed a serious odoema and ascites. So I had to stay on to rectify all these post-Op complications.

I was visited by so many friends who showed their love and concern and many other calls and messages sent. Some bore gifts, even though I am unable to consume some of the fruits for the rest of my natural life. I simply can’t express how appreciative I am for these very kind thoughts and gestures. May God al Mighty bless all of you very compassionate folks.

Leadership and loyalty

We live in a very complicated world today. Some trespassed into volatile borders carelessly and conveniently make inaccurate and shallow interpretations, probably out of pure or almost near ignorance, based on virtues and universal values deemed acceptable in its plurality and diversity. A trait of an undisciplined mind.

So there shall be disagreements. There shall be disputes. There shall be off tangent stands. There will be comprehension lost in transition. Then there should be respect. A point where opposing minds withdraw with full distinction earned. A gentlemen’s duel saved for another day.

And there had been ‘other days’, before.

Unfortunately there will be people who get lost in transit. They survived the shelling. They leave feeling betrayed. ‘Collateral damage’, some said!

Then there will be the interesting part. A test of loyalty. A test of respect. A test of camaradeship. Loyalty is a virtue that I admire and value. Leadership is about willing to be tested for loyalty. Leadership is about a test of wisdom. Leadership is about a test of decision making. Leadership is about the test of trust and confidence. Most important of leadership is to gain respect, trust and loyalty, one must prepared to reciprocate.

Today I have been put on this test, again. I have been here before. So I took the choice that I am expected to make; compromise my heart and go with the wit. I went with the principle of being a sub-ordinate.

I believe in the US Marine Corp motto “Semper Fidelis“, ‘Always Faithful’. A ship is a good platform to learn about ‘leadership and loyalty’. A good platform to learn about faith, wisdom and wit. A good platform to learn about team, teamwork and team spirit.

 

Leadership is the key to any organisation. Sometime, we have to change leadership pre-maturely (that’s what Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad urged UMNO, in Johor Bahru, 10 Feb 2007). Bad leadership will be detrimental to the sub-ordinates, the ship and the journey. But not today, not for me. Today we must show strength. Today we must show, we work well in the ship. Today, we carry on sailing into uncharted waters.

Today, I chose to listen to the leader!