Career Talk at Royal Military College

Had another career talk at RMC. It's been difficult to secure slots for OPs this year. It has been equally challenging to find volunteers. Despite all these issues, we finally had one session today. Took some photos of Sungai Besi town and RMC. These might turn out to be a classic collection in years to come because of the possible relocation of RMC. I got a bit emotional today hence all the snapping. Dad said RMC should be in a better shape with the new location; fully equipped with upgraded and more resilient infrastructure against typical budak boy vandalism and most importantly unlimited supply of water. I argued about the power lines and why NDU is claiming our spot. In the end, seniors normally win debates. Juniors get on the ground and take 20 push-ups.

The default hang out place for PPs and OPs alike has been standing at the same corner for years.

In the middle of Sungai besi town. Hasn't changed an inch since we left in 96.

As you approach the guard house, the sign "University Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia" stands out like a sore thumb. The sign "Maktab Tentera Diraja" is on the left side and is still there.
The fields on both side of the road are now properties of UPNM.

This is now the unofficial 'border' between UPNM and RMC.


Director of Studies Shahrudin, Commandant Kept Alias and Army Lawyer Chief Instructor Maj Feizol.
OP Habibur eloquently delivering his speech.




Commandants since Sir Gerald Templar, founder of the then Federation Military College.

Chicken chop at Sand Dune. Farouk's favorite.


Proud to be part of this tradition. I'm expecting my son to be the third generation.

Career Talks Low Priority at the Royal Military College

I've been told by our Army Lawyer Chief Instructor that the career talk will be postponed again (been trying to secure slots since January 2008). Ever since I took this portfolio late 2006, we had no problems securing slots. We've had successful talks conducted by prominent OPs in the aviation sector, legal profession, engineering, IT, oil & gas industry etc.

Based on our short observation and comments from the boys and teachers:

1. The boys seemed to be lost. Lost in the sense that they have no clue what to do after school. Perhaps the in-house consulting is non-existent or not effective.
2. The command of the English language is still poor.
3. Some (maybe most) boys who have chosen the military profession made that decision because it was the 'default' thing to do.
4. Unemployment among the boys after SPM is unknown and no one seems to care what the numbers are.
5. Failure of the establishment of Form 6 classes at RMC shows the lack of promotion or weakness in implementation.
6. OPA branded to be 'intrusive' in the upbringing of the boys.
7. Career talks conducted by predecessors indicated that the old puteras invited to give talks normally talk about themselves and nothing about the career.

Surely, there should be a level of compromise between trying not to have these idiotic OPs and attempting to invite OPs who are so willing to give a helping hand to their super juniors. I for one was inspired during my Putera days when several OPs took some time off from their busy schedule to give us a hint or two as to what being grown up is all about. At the OPA Annual Dinner last weekend, I had the privilege to sit with the Commandant, the President of Penang Free Alum, UIA Dean of Dentistry, President of TKC alum. Commandant was bragging to our guests about how effective the RMC system was in promoting the present puteras to these talks that would help shape their future. He was also lecturing me about how the OPs need to 'focus' in their talks and that OPs are not 'focused'. Clearly he hasnt attended any of my lectures or the lectures I've organized or perhaps my guest speakers in the past were merely 'not focused' OPs who have achieved something in their careers. In additional, it is clear that these talks are of low priority. The OPs who have committed themselves to give the talks had shown their disappointment when the slots given were canceled on numerous occasions. Obviously, moi had to eat the bullet and take the whacking.

We wonder why a staggering number of boys leave the college, balik kampung and end up being mat rempits, tapping rubber or simply 'menganggur'. What a way to 'serve to lead'.

Career Talk at SBPI Gombak

I was invited recently to give a talk about the oil & gas industry at Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Gombak. It's a coed boarding school situated near Internatinal Islamic University. To my surprise, the school made a lot of preparation for my talk and I did not expect a crowd of 600 to be attending! The participants were students from Forms 1 through 5.

It was satisfying for me as I hope students would now have a better view about the industry and for those who are not inclined to take petroleum engineering, at least they could start thinking about their interest from now.

We talked about the upstream and downstream business, the different engineering disciplines in the business. I've also touched about tertiary education, securing sponsorship and how to further their studies in the US, if they're interested.

Our next career talk series would be at my alma mater, the Royal Military College, on 29th June.