- treat people with respect
- look people in their eye
- greet them with their names with enthusiastic voice and disposition
- smile at people
- listen to people attentively
- make people feel important
- catch people doing the right things and compliment them
- recognise good talent
- provide feedback to people on their performance
Information on Palm Oil Industry, Milling Operation, Quality Management System (ISO 9001), Environmental Management System (ISO 14001), RSPO, Environments, Sustainability, Management, Motivation, New Technology, Financial Planning, Health-care, History of Islam and Personal Experiences.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
GREAT LEADERS
MONEY JARS
- FINANCIAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT (10%) - for saving and investment to generate more money
- LONG TERM SAVINGS FOR SPENDING (10%) - for an expensive item like going for holiday or buying a plat-screen LCD TV
- NECESSITIES ACCOUNT (55%) - for all your daily expenses
- EDUCATION (10%) - for investing on your own or children education
- GIVE ACCOUNT (5%) - for contributing to others
- PLAY ACCOUNT (10%) - for celebrating your success
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
FIND HAPPINESS IN YOUR CAREER
- Go the extra mile
- Find a mentor
- Seek challenges
- Learn that success has a price
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Thursday, November 14, 2013
KEEP GOOD COMPANY
- Get good people - No great people !
- Get the reputation for putting together a good team
- Praise people
- Careful on the criticism
- Protect your investment in people by minimizing the negative office politics they may have to deal with
- To keep good people, be a good cheer and good humor around them
Source - How To Act Like A CEO / Benton, D. A. / McGraw Hill
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Duly Noted !!!
"Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don't wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom." - Earl Shoaf
Saturday, November 9, 2013
MANAGING DIFFICULT PEOPLE
- Assess the situation
- Know what you are and how you are seen by others
- Do not wish for the other person to be difference and do not expect him to be like you
- Get communication going with him and determine what you need to do in order to gain his trust
Friday, November 1, 2013
How to Be a GREAT Coach
- BE A COACH not be a boss
- MOTIVATE THEM not force them
- ASK FOR THEIR OPINIONS not make your own decisions
- ADMIT YOUR MISTAKE not achieve perfection
- BE ACCESSIBLE not protect your privacy
- BE A GOOD LISTENER not talk the talk
- ASK GOOD QUESTIONS not have all the answers
- WELCOME COMPLAINTS not stifle gripes
- COACH ONE-ON-ONE not lecture the masses
- WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE not use that big vocabulary
- CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCES not coach for conformity
- EMPOWER INDEPENDENT EMPLOYEES not make yourself indispensable
- MAKE THE CALL not reserve judgement
- SOLVE PROBLEMS TOGETHER not provide all the answers
- DELIVER THE BAD NEWS PERSONALLY not don't be the bad guy
- DON'T ACT OUT OF ANGER not don't get mad
- AVOID MEMO MANIA not put it in writing
- MANAGE MEETING not abolish meetings
- TRAIN THEM not expect them to know
- STRESS THE POSITIVE not give 'em hell
- REWARD WHAT YOU WANT not money talks
- PROVIDE POSITIVE FEEDBACK not don't overpraise
- ADVOCATE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES not don't be just a cheerleader
- JUST GET STARTED not start right
Source - How to Be a GREAT Coach / Marshall J.Cook / Mc Graw Hill
7 Ways to Manage Debts Wisely
- Control the use of credit cards
- Know where your money is flowing
- Minimise the "nice to have"
- Create a budget.
- Look for cheaper alternatives
- Stay away from temptations
- Remember to reward yourself
Source - AKPK / NST
Keys To Improve Job Performance
- Provide opportunities for people to use their knowledge and skills
- Motivate people to achieve more
- Implement better idea
- Encourage innovations and risk taking
- Seek out opportunities to capitalise on competency
Source - Appointment / NST
Matrix for 30 TPH Palm Oil Mill Project
- Mill Throughput - 30 mt/hr
- Plantation Area - 5,000 ha
- Fresh Fruit Bunch (25 mt/ha) - 125,000 mt/year
- Operating on 24 hours per day - 19.97 mt/hr
- Operating on 20 hours per day - 23.96 mt/hr
- Operating on 16 hours per day - 29.95 mt/hr
- Production of CPO per year (22%) - 27,500 mt
- Production of PK per year (5%) - 6,250 mt
- Management & Staff - 6 persons
- Manpower requirements - 30 person / per shift
- Total manpower - 96 persons / 3 shifts
- Water requirements - 60 m3/hour
- Electrical power requirements - 900 KW
- Mill & Appurtenance - 6 ha
- Effluents ponds - 6 ha
- Project time schedule - 20 months
Source - Perunding AME
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
DOSH's Briefing on Safety and Health
GOOD PARENTING
- Involvement in the children education
- Provide resources
- Encourage children to do their best
- Use pressure positively
- Support school rules and goals
- Consult the teachers
- Accept your responsibility
- Work with your children
- Visit places of interest
- Save record of good articles
- Notice changes in your children
- Respect your children
- Questions the activities of your children
- Provide good role models and quality education
- Spent time with your children
- Listen to your children interest
- Generous with praises, enthusiasm and sympathy
Source - Borneo Times
BEST EMPLOYERS
- Consistently inspire great performance from their workers
- Go out of their way to ensure their employees feel valued
- Grow their employees' talent
- Have organised themselves to support their employees to do their best
- Have employees that rarely think about leaving their organisations
Source - Appointment / NST
Symptoms of Stroke
# Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
# Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
# Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
# Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Source - MedlinePlus
Monday, October 21, 2013
Assertive Behaviour
- Allow others to complete what they are saying before speaking
- Stand up for the position that matches our feelings or the evidence
- Make our own decisions on what we think is right
- Can spontaneously enter into conversation using a moderate tone and volume of voice
- Try to understand the feelings of others before describing our own
- Try to avoid harm or inconvenience to ourselves and others by talking through problems before they occur or finding rational means for coping with them when they do
- Face problems and decisions squarely
- Consider ourselves strong and capable but generally equal to most other people
- Face responsibility with respect to our situation, needs and rights
Source - Interpersonal Skills / Astrid French / Pelanduk Publications
Learning from the FROG and SCORPION
# ONE OF THE GREATEST DIFFICULTIES in management is dealing with resistance to change.
Source - Quest for Excellence / KC See / Quest Group
Thursday, October 17, 2013
ADAPTING TO CHANGE PROACTIVELY
- Analyse external forces of change and assess the implications
- Assess strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)
- Determine specific area of change needed from the company
- Develop change action plans with specific change initiatives to lead change
- Monitor progress and continue improvement process until results are achieved
Source - Appointments / NST
Friday, October 11, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
TONY AIRASIA - WHY SINGAPORE IS BETTER THAN US ?
- They focus and disciplined
- They market aggressively
- They hire the best people. It's a meritocracy
- Their government is very pro-business
- They innovate
Source - CEO Blog Tony Fernandez
4 THINGS THAT YOU CANNOT RECOVER ..... !
- the STONE ..... after the throw!
- the WORD ..... after it's said!
- the OCCASSION ..... after the loss!
- the TIME ..... after it's gone!
Thursday, September 26, 2013
CONTROL AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL
- To ensure the reliability and integrity of information.
- To ensure assurance or comfort of compliance with policies, plans, procedures, laws, and regulations.
- For safeguarding of assets and resources.
- Producing economy, efficient and effectiveness of operations.
- Maximising the usage of resources (be it financial, investment, assets and resources).
- Accomplishment of organisation objectives, mission and goals, programmes and business.
- Management accountability.
- For corporate governancing.
Source - Josef Eby Ruin / Appointment / NST
FRUGAL! FRUGAL! FRUGAL!
- Do I really need it ?
- Can I delay having it ?
- Can I get a less expensive alternative ?
- Or better still, can I get it for free ?
Source - AKPK / NST
YBHG DATO' GHAZALI MOHD ALI - DIRECTOR BOUSTEAD PROPERTY
- " I believe I'm as good as my staff "
- " I will not ask my staff to do something that I myself cannot do such as self-discipline "
- " To get thing done, I am prepared to get my hands dirty "
- " I like challenges and welcome them in whatever shapes they come "
- " For people to understand me better, I believe in consistent leadership "
- No shortcuts to success. " You have to work hard for it ! "
- Success is never final, failure is never fatal !
Source - Berita Boustead
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
GIVING & TAKING CRITICISM
- Empathize
- Pinpoint problem
- Moving forward
- Anticipate
- Ask question
- Agree with something
- Analyze
GAINING COMMITMENT
- Your ongoing relationship with your employees
- Your management style and that of your organisation
- Your coaching skills
- Your own commitment to coaching and to your employees
To generate commitment you must demonstrate your own commitment. Your commitment to coaching - remember the benefits.
For you ;
- A more successful and productive department
- Greater confidence when delegating tasks to your employees
- Development of your own management skills
- A growing reputation as a 'developer of people'
- Less time-consuming firefighting, allowing you to spend more time on your own development
Source - Coaching for Your Employees / Nancy Stimson / Kogan Page
MONEY JARS
- FINANCIAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT (10%) - for saving and investment to generate more money
- LONG TERM SAVINGS FOR SPENDING (10%) - for an expensive item like going for holiday or buying a plat-screen LCD TV
- NECESSITIES ACCOUNT (55%) - for all your daily expenses
- EDUCATION (10%) - for investing on your own or children education
- GIVE ACCOUNT (5%) - for contributing to others
- PLAY ACCOUNT (10%) - for celebrating your success
Source - NST
How Can I donate to MAKNA?
- ONLINE DONATION (www.makna.org.my)
- payroll giving (PG)
- DIRECT DEBIT DONOR PROGRAMME (DDDP)
- sens saves lives (SSL)
- BANK ACCOUNT
- mail us a donation
- WILLS & TRUST
Source - MAKNA
KARTINI : being true to YOURSELF
Source - Malaysian Business
Monday, September 23, 2013
HOW TO WORK SMART, NOT HARD !!!
Step 1 - Assess everything that needs to be done.
Step 2 - Make an outline.
Step 3 - Consider your materials.
Step 4 - Follow your plan and don't deviate from it - unless you must.
Step 5 - Work as hard and as efficiently as possible.
Step 6 - Recognise the point of 'diminishing returns'
Source- NST
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO)
MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY
- Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil Policy
- Internal Audit
- Management Review
- Continual Improvement
- Transparency of Information and Documents Relevant to MSPO Requirements
- Transparent Method of Communication and Consultation
- Traceability
- Legal Land Use Rights
- Customary Rights
- Social Impact Assessment
- Complaints and Grievances
- Commitment to Contribute to Local Sustainable Developement
- Employees' Health and Safety
- Employment Conditions
- Training and Competency
- Environmental Management Programme
- Efficiency of Energy Use and Use of Renewal Energy
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Greenhouse Gas Emission
- Reduction of Pollution and Emission
- Natural Water Resources
- Mill Management
- Economic and Financial Viability Plan
- Transparent and Fair Price Dealing
- Contractor
Source - Palm Oil Engineering Bulletin / MPOB
Friday, September 20, 2013
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR FINANCES?
- Start saving today.
- When you can, borrow / rent, don't buy.
- Go for high downpayment and low monthly installments.
- Have good insurance coverage.
- Owning a credit card is important for establishing credit.
- Have a book on personal finance management.
- Save a dollar a day.
Source - NST
HOW TO ENJOY SCHOOL?
- Do not procrastinate - procrastinate lead to worries.
- Scheduling helps - by prioritising and planning ahead, you will be able to have more free time.
- Spread out your work on a project - allow 30 minutes for your project and one hour for your homework.
- Don't pressure yourself - as long as you did your best, move on and do better next time.
- Resist peer pressure - remember to always be yourself.
- Ask for help - if you have trouble on homework.
- Joint a club or a group - a great way to make new friends.
- Socialise - friends are a great source of support.
- Be positive - things are only bad if you see it that way.
Source - NST
BIRD'S NEST SOUP
HARVESTED NESTS
- 1 kilogramme sells for up to US$ 1,130
- Global trade estimated at US$ 5.7 billion
- Slow aging
- Boost sex drive
- Prevent lung disease
- Improve complexion
Source - AFP
Blood Pressure Lowering Tactics
- Stop smoking
- Reduce weight
- Exercise
- Low salt
- Low protein
- No caffeine
- Mild sedation
- Sufficient rest
- Don't oversleep
Thursday, September 19, 2013
CYBER CRIME - Are You at Risk?
- Protect your PC with comprehensive security software
- Set up a strong password
- Enable firewall protection
- Secure your wireless network
- Protect your personal information
- Screen your email
- Go e-shopping on trusted and secure websites only
- Be wary of phishing sites
- Monitor your children's online activities
- Scan any email attachments
YES & NO FOODS
- High salt
- Medium salt
- No hydrogen oils
- Reduce saturated fat
- Reduce protein
- Apples
- Avocado
- Banana
- Broccoli
- Fish
- Grapes
- Oats
- Orange Juice
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Biogas Projects
- Electricity may be produced from POME at a rate between 15 and 24 tonnes FFB per MWhr. Typically mill can produce between 1 and 3 MW of electricity.
- Additional mill processes such as kernel crushing and fibre processing become cheaper to operate.
- While mills save diesel, lower-cost electricity means mill housing, plantation compounds and local villages may all enjoy more electricity and higher standards of living.
- Modest local industries using electricity become feasible, for example produce may be kept refrigerated.
- Methane capture significantly reduces carbon footprint and assists RSPO certification.
- Upgrading of biogas to transport fuels is feasible.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Business Travel Tips
- Keep a Packed Bag
- Fly Regional Airports
- Book Direct Flights
- Check-In Online
- Select Your Seat
- Sign Up for Frequent Flier Programmes
- Programme Your GPS Unit
- Park Smarter
- Rental Car Tips
Source - NST
Monday, September 9, 2013
Duly Noted !
"I AM VERY HAPPY. AS AN ACTRESS, WE DO OUR BEST ON THE ROLES GIVEN TO US. WE MUST CONTINUE TO IMPROVE."
Veteran Malaysian actress Lai Meng, affectionately known as "Lai Meng Yi" (aunty Lai Meng), after receiving a Datukship from the Sultan Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Source - Malaysian Business
Thursday, August 22, 2013
KATAKAN TIDAK : kepada buah sawit muda
- hasil eksport minyak sawit pada tahun 2010 berjumlah RM59,792.5 billion.
- untuk bersaing di peringkat global industri sawit Malaysia harus mengurangkan kos pengeluaran dan mempertingkatkan kecekapan dan produktiviti industri.
- industri sawit berupaya menyumbang sejumlah RM178 billion kepada Pendapatan Negara Kasar (GNI) menjelang tahun 2020 berbanding RM52.7 billion pada tahun 2009.
- kerajaan berusaha untuk meningkatkan kadar peratus OER dari 21% kepada 23% menjelang tahun 2020.
- pemprosesan buah sawit muda di kilang dikenal-pasti sebagai antara punca kejatuhan kadar perahan minyak dan menyebabkan industri sawit Malaysia kerugian antara RM250 - RM300 juta setahun.
Sumber - Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia (MPOB)
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Cemerlang dengan Sabar dan Sikap Positif
Sumber - Tip-tip Cemerlang Daripada Quran / Dr. Danial Zainal Abidin / PTS
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Mercedes-Benz AG on Malaysian Biodiesel
Source- Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB)
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2013
To all Friends ;
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2013.
Maaf Zahir dan Batin.
@ Zainal Zakariah & family
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
Duly Noted!
Monday, May 27, 2013
The Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification System
- Compliance with legal licensing regulation.
- Responsibility to implement oil palm plantations management system.
- Implementations of the best practices in oil palm plantations and mills.
- Responsibility to implement the regulations on environmental and conservation of natural resources.
- Responsibility toward employees.
- Responsibility to the individual effected by oil palm plantations.
- Long term commitment to improve the economy.
Source - Asia Palm Oil Magazine.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Oil Yield per Hectare
- Palm - flesh oil : 4
- Palm - kernel oil : 0.5
- Soya bean : 0.4
- Sunflower : 0.5
- Rapeseed : 0.7
Source - Asia Palm Oil Magazine
Friday, April 19, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
The Great Boss
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
7 Langkah Menangani Tekanan Kerja
- Bersikap Realistik Terhadap Pekerjaan Anda
- Rancang Kerja Anda
- Tingkatkan Kemahiran Penyelesaian Masalah
- Mempunyai Sikap Yang Betul
- Amalkan Komunikasi Berkesan Di Tempat Kerja
- Tingkatkan Sokongan Sosial Di Tempat Kerja
- Amalkan Cara Hidup Sihat
Sumber - Jabatan Tenaga Kerja / Kementerian Sumber Manusia Malaysia
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion
# 0.7 t effluent generated per tonne of FFB processed.
# 1 t of POME releases 28.8 MJ biogas.
Source - Lai Mei Ee / MPOB.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Q by the shoe - latest trend in Thailand .....
Sent from My iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: OC Chan <olivercc57@yahoo.com>
Date: 20 Februari 2013 11:55:11 PM GMT+08:00
To: undisclosed recipients: ;
Subject: Q by the shoe - latest trend in Thailand...
Reply-To: OC Chan <olivercc57@yahoo.com>
--
This message may contain privileged and/or confidential information. If you have received this e-mail in error or are not the intended recipient you may not use, copy, disseminate or distribute the mail. Do not open any attachments, please delete it immediately from your system. Thank you.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
futsal @ telok sengat mill @ 01/03/2012
Decanter City 4 - 3 Atletico Boiler
Capstan United 0 - 1 Chelsea Cyclone
Decanter City 0 - 0 Real Press
Thursday, February 28, 2013
raikan peningkatan .....
Monday, February 25, 2013
memori @ lubuk linggau indonesia
### memori beli cd cetak rompak dengan pak atan @ lubuk linggau indonesia.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
futsal @ telok sengat mill
Chelsea Cyclone 1 - 3 Decanter City
Atletico Boiler 2 - 0 Capstan United
Chelsea Cyclone 0 - 3 Real Press
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
incinerator @ indonesia
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Blood Pressure Lowering Tactics
- STOP SMOKING
- reduce weight
- EXERCISE
- low salt foods
- LOW PROTEIN FOODS
- no caffeine
- MILD SEDATION
- sufficient rest
- DON'T OVERSLEEP
Source - Email attachment
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
..... the good old days
Begin forwarded message:
From: OC Chan <olivercc57@yahoo.com>
Date: February 5, 2013 11:34:52 PM GMT+08:00
To: undisclosed recipients: ;
Subject: Remember the Good Old Times
Reply-To: OC Chan <olivercc57@yahoo.com>
Remember the Good Old TimesI used to buy things for my mum when I was a little kid. Frankly, I dont rememberbringing dollar note to shop, just coins.10c usually.. for peanuts, quite a handful, maybe say 120g [which is now $1.88,promotion price before CNY]ikan bilis? also about the same handful.so, it's not surprising that poor folks survive well on pan mien+ikan bilis. The vege?just plucked off the fence coz these greens grow wild and plentiful.porridge + fried peanuts + ikan bilis.. well, quite nutritious wo!IN 1968-69, i paid $30 per month for full board [bed + meals], the foodof course was not fresh, but we did have mutton, beef, fish though..and if we sneaked out, fried kuey tiao would be 30c with duck eggbigger than chic egg]
You would love this email which brings back sweet memories of the good old days.
Hi To those of you in the baby-boomers group, may the below pictorial bring nostalgic memories to you..............Those were the days, my friends ....
Rose Chan was our favourite entertainer.You are not cool if you do not have a long side burn, greasy hair (held together by Brylcream) with a floppy "bun" infront. Then you are either an Elvis fan or a Cliff (Richard) fan. You cannot be neutral.Films by P Ramlee always enjoyed by all Malaysians. How can we forget classics like Do-Re-Mi and Bujang Lapok, and seeing P Ramlee dueting with Saloma on "Gelora", aaaaah ... that was something else.Because we reared Siamese fighting fishes, the seller was our idol.Driving license renewal was by pasting an additional slip at the back of a small red bookletSusu lembu was house delivered by our big friendly and strong Bahiii ............. on his bicycle in a stainless steel container. The container cap served as a funnel.Kacang puteh man came a-peddling, walking and balancing on his head 6 compartments of different type of murukus ...and we barter our old exercise books for a paper cone of kacang putih.We can enjoy monthly credit "facilities" from our friendly neighbourhood sundry shop by using the little "555" book. This was the "credit card" of the day.F&N orange was served in wooden crates and displayed on the table in the homes during Chinese New Year.M&M 's was called Treets ..Eating chicken was a treat that happened only once on Chinese New Year and once on "Chap Goh Meh", Deepavali, Christmas or Hari Raya.We always carried in our pocket a packet of fire crackers during the Chinese New Year.We always carry a one ringgit note at night in case we are stopped by a mata-mata (policeman) for not having tail lights on our bicycles.One 'roti canai' cost 15 sen and one banana for 5 sen.We bought bangkali bread from the Indian roti man who paddled his bicycle around the neighbourhood with the familiar ringing sound from his bicycle.Sometimes we bought cold storage bread wrapped in wax paper. Spread the bread with butter and kaya wrap with the wax paper and take to school.Crop crew cut by the travelling Indian or Hockchew barber; 30 sen a haircut, all the way to the top. Reason?.. easy to dry when curi swimming.During weekends, went swimming in the river, no swimming trunks, only birthday suits. No one laugh at you whether your "kuku bird" is small, crooked, etc.On Sunday morning, listened to Kee Huat Radio's "Fantastic Facts and Fancies", and Saturday, "Top of the Pops", both hosted by DJ Patrick Teoh who always ended his show with, "Here's wishing you blue skies."Saturday morning, go for cheap matinee shows at the Cathay Cinema, usually cowboy shows or Greek mythology like "Jason and the Golden Fleece".
The Cathay Cinema at Jalan Bukit Bintang [opposite the Federal Hotel]. First opened in 1959 with the film, "Campbell's Kingdom".Father gave 70 sen for cheap matinee shows which normally started at 10.30 am on Saturdays and Sundays - 50 sen for the ticket and 20 sen for return bus fare, makan not included. Nobody paid 1 ringgit for the 'Reserved' seat.Believe it or not, we had double-decker buses owned by the Toong Foong Omnibus Company. Whenever we boarded the bus, we would run to the upper deck to get a view of the journey.5 sen for kacang putih and 10 sen for ice "ang tau". Sometimes, ice ball only 5 sen "pau ang tau" and half red sugar, and the other half black sugar or sarsi.Never, never, never talked or mixed with girls until Form 5. Learned the Waltz, Cha Cha, Rhumba, Foxtrot and Offbeat Cha Cha from a classmate's sister.First time dancing with a girl, nearly froze and the heart went "botobom, botobom ..."Standard cure for headache, take Aspro. We took a lot of sweet stuff like candy floss, fizzy drinks, shaved ice with syrups .... and diabetes was rare. Salt added to Pepsi or Coke was a remedy for fever. Tonic water always taken at the first hint of Malaria.First time used a modern toilet, I squatted on it as I was used to using the "bucket system" toilet. Our children will not know the danger of visiting the outdoor toilet at night, nor jumping in fright when the man collect the bucket while you are doing your business.Toilet paper is torn up newspaper on a hook which you have to crumple first before applying. White toilet paper was an unknown luxury until I left home.With mere 5 pebbles (stones), we could turn it into an endless game. With a ball (tennis ball best), we boys would run like crazy for hours.We caught guppies in drains/canals and when it rained, we swam there.We ate salty, very sweet and oily food, candies, bread and real butter, and drank condensed milk in coffee/tea, iced kacang, but we weren't overweight because we ran, cycled or climbed trees all day. We fell from the trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth, and still we continued the stunts.We never had birthday parties until we were 21.We never heard of "bumiputra" and neither "1Malaysia", because we were already one Malaysian.When parents found out we were caned in school, it's certain we would get another round at home. Parents always sided with the teachers.We fly kites with string coated with pounded glass powder and horse glue, and we cut our hand on the string. Happiness is winning a kite with a local samseng. I forgot, we also have to make our own kites to suit our "fighting styles".We are the last generation to know how to use logarithm tables and slide rulers.We had telephones which were really, really heavy weights.And I believe, this generation produces the best parents because we remember the hard times.