The Boss wanted me to work in one of the overseas office. Told me that last Thursday. Told me the terms the next day, Friday. I didnt have time to think about the terms as Friday was an exceptionally busy day. As it turned out, it took me all of 2 minutes to decide the terms were very very poor. So I took almost all of Friday evening and whatever spare time I had over the weekend (there was a seminar on) to put thoughts and numbers to paper. They look even worse on a spread sheet. How could they even think of offering me those terms… unless they want to get rid of me, of course. Which is not what Big Boss made it sound like when we spoke…hmmm.

Anyway, with more information and data, I’m prepared to speak to him again. That’s alway tough, so I’ve thought of little else over the weekend. Have also prayed a lot about it. Dont know what my alternatives are…

Just waiting now for him to get in to office.

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)

My big boss said yesterday he’d be in Beijing end of the month, to follow Pak Lah in an official trip. Some 30-year anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations or something. Must have been what followed Abdul Razak’s visit in what, 1972? Privately, I think he, like most who are following him, are afraid of SARS, which is foremost the issue more than anything else!

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)

It is heart warming to see the Bar speaking up. What would lawyers become if they dont speak up for injustices, even if they are only alleged or perceived injustices. Good for you, Malaysian & KL Bars. Just to speak up makes a difference.

Now the ball is on the police’s court. Please pick it up!

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)

I have been unhappy with my work, or company. Strange that while I’m knocking it, it’s offering me what should be viewed as a positive development – personally speaking. The big boss has just offered me a posting to an overseas unit for 2 years. I have very mixed feelings about it, because I’m in the process of considering alternatives. My Christian upbringing tells me this is more His leading than anything else. I have not done anything noteworthy to warrant this. In fact, because of my feelings, I thought I had done the bare minimum to just get by, which is another reason have not been happy. Never mind; will take a few days to chew this over.

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)

I’ve been following this story on Malaysiakini . This is so very disturbing. I dont know how people we are supposed to rely on for law and order around us, can allow themselves even a hint of such unlawful behaviour.

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)Story here

In mine, most people behave as though he is. To a large extent, he behaves as though he is. That leaves me out as the oddball. I only joined this place a little over 3 months ago. First week here and I’m told of various unwritten rules – “do not go home without speaking to him” and “do not go out for lunch when he is in”, are 2 of the more jolting starters. Of course, with businesses in various parts of the world, he only gets in here in the KL office (and HQ) roughly a week in a month. At first glance, this seems tolerable, violation of personal liberties notwithstanding. But it slowly gets ridiculous, as one finds his lieutenants duplicating his style. So, in his absence, one is expected to “speak to the MD before you leave for the day”. This one I broke, after about a week. I dont bother anymore, as allowing myself to be dragged into this mindless practice is to step into an office in the abyss somewhere. The MD you see, would tell you she wants to discuss some matters with you, but would not tell you when she’d like to do it. So you wait. And wait. And wait. That was week 1. After week 2, I just packed up and left when I feel it is time to go. So I ignored one little god, but the more senior god is in town today. I am expected to dust off my worship apparatus and lay them at the altar again – no lunch out of the office, no leaving the office, the unbelievable starts again. The worst part I guess, is that the group is such a has-been. None of its businesses belong in the top half of their respective industries. Only maybe 1 or 2 of its CEOs are recognised and respected. It is not an employer of choice, and the news it makes on the business pages reinforce the message that it is a has-been. Maybe that’s why the hang ups with rules and regulations, written and/or unwritten. My take is that when an organisation is bereft of substance, it turns to form to make itself feel good. Justifying its own existence. Justifying the senior management’s existence.

Some of my friends know of my frustrations with this new company I’m with. Certainly Chin Hong (my wife) does. As do Choon Tian, an ex-colleague and church friend with whom I have lunch several times a week, and Tuck Sun, James, Alex, and many others Chooi lawyers (my ex-colleagues), with whom I go out for drinks every other week or so. This morning, Choon Tian advised me to seek God’s help in dealing with my frustrations. It’s the same old questionof knowing the right thing to do and actually doing the right thing, I guess. I have, I think, at least 2 leads as far as options go. I dont know if God would allow either of these leads to develop into concrete alternatives. After all, when the present job came up, I prayed about it and it appeared that God opened this one up. Why has something God appears to have opened up, turned out to be such a frustration and should I ask Him to open up yet another door? I guess Choon Tian is right. I need to go to God to see what I should do about god.

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)

A forum I sometimes nick in for info got a bit active today. Someone then decided to open up an IRC chatroom to facilitate the ongoing exchanges. So, for the first time since my introduction to the internet abot 10 years ago, I entered a chat room. This is after years of hearing about IRC but never bothering to go through the setting up process. But since the forum has become a favourite of mine, I thought I should at last find out how this IRC thing works. I shouldnt have bothered. I mean, how on earth does one strike any enjoyable conversation in a medium like that? Unless of course, one wants to chat with a specific person, whom one already knows, and it time and space means one cannot meet up and have a drink with such a person, hence IRC. So there…

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)

There appears to be a demonstration of sorts outside the Chinese Embassy at Jalan Ampang this morning (round 8am). Bunch of people sitting/squatting outside, with one person even lying down on a mat. Heavy police presence, too – FRU, from the looks of things. Big red shields, batons, stuff like that. Nothing on it from Malaysiakini as yet; probably later, if anything at all.

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)

Over an hour ago, I had an appointment moved to accomodate someone who wanted to reschedule something. After I had moved it, she said her boss is now able to see me in an earlier slot. I told her I had moved an appointment for the rescheduling. She was sorry (that’s what she said), and she would call again to confirm final appointment time. She still hasnt called. This is annoying. Yet, It is an appointment I desperately need at this point, so would probably put up with it.

Why do people do that anyway?

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)