Young Achievers’ Award

The YAA National Final program went smoothly as planned on 21^st April 2012 at Hotel Singgahsana, Petaling Jaya. There were 16 schools that participated - an additional 2 schools compared to last year, probably indicating greater interest from them. The activity actually started earlier on 20^th April 2012 when the students as well as their teachers arrived at the hotel in the afternoon and were welcomed by the YAA Committee. It continued with a briefing and some presentations by all representatives of the 4 RISM Divisions in the evening.  And on that night itself an ice-breaking dinner was hosted at the hotel for all the participants.

The event on 21^st April 2012 started with a brief opening address by me and the competition commenced with the students attending to the tasks given to them. A brief hip-hop dance show from a group of SPM school leavers during the break of the whole activity provided the entertainment that’s needed to neutralise the effect of the long wait while the school kids were indulging in their tasks. It was certainly entertaining to me and was a good break for all. The hip-hop dancing is quite physically demanding and seemed to be a good alternative as an activity for school kids to express themselves.

At the end of it all, the judges individually gave a summary of their findings, and subsequently came the much awaited announcement of the competition outcome.  It came to me as a surprise that last years’ winner, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Ismail, Johor Bharu retained their championship - meaning to me that they were dead serious in winning; so is the 1^st runner-up, i.e. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Chung Ling, Penang.  There’s however a change in the 2^nd runner-up, with Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (Perempuan) Sultan Ibrahim, Johor Bharu winning the award.

RISM is certainly grateful to Sr Fadzillah and her committee members who had worked hard to successfully organize the event, the judges as well as all Councillors that were present to provide moral support.

The purpose of the event and other related details are evident in the extract of the short address given below:

Assalamualaikum dan Selamat Pagi,

Terlebih dahulu saya ingin mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada Jawatankuasa Penganjur  kerana telah menjemput saya ke Majlis Penyampaian Anugerah RISM Young Achievers’ Award 2012 Peringkat Kebangsaan pada pagi ini. Juga, sekalung tahniah kepada murid-murid dan guru-guru kerana telah berjaya mewakili kawasan masing-masing.

Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan,

RISM Young Achievers’ Award adalah suatu pertandingan yang dianjurkan oleh Pertubuhan Juruukur DiRaja Malaysia pada setiap tahun. Ianya bermula dari “Science and Technology Recipient Award” pada tahun 2000, dan kemudian telah bertukar nama dan dikenali sebagai “RISM Young Achievers’ Award” mulai tahun 2001 hinggalah ke hari ini. Pada tahun 2001 juga, Ahli Jawatankuasa Penganjur telah melebarkan sayapnya dengan membuka penyertaan kepada peringkat wilayah mengikut pembahagian cawangan-cawangan Pertubuhan Juruukur iaitu di Pulau Pinang, Lembah Klang,   Johor, Pantai Timur, Sabah dan Sarawak. Walaubagaimanapun, cawangan kami di Sabah dan Sarawak tidak dapat menyertai pertandingan pada tahun ini atas sebab-sebab yang tidak dapat dielakkan.

Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan,

Antara objektif utama pertandingan ini adalah untuk memperkenalkan kepada para pelajar empat bidang kerjaya profesional yang dipayungi oleh Pertubuhan Juruukur DiRaja Malaysia iaitu Jurukur Bangunan, Juruukur Bahan, Geomatik & Ukur Tanah dan Pengurus Harta, Penilai Dan Ejen Hartanah. Ianya bukan sahaja dapat membuka minda pelajar terhadap bidang ukur, malah diharap dapat menerapkan unsur-unsur lain yang berkaitan seperti ekonomi pembinaan, semangat kerjasama, daya saing dan kreativiti dikalangan pelajar. Pengetahuan berkaitan bidang profesional ini amat berguna kepada pelajar terutama mereka yang bakal meninggalkan bangku persekolahan; bagi membantu memperluaskan pengetahuan mereka mengenai kerjaya dalam industri pembinaan. Sehubungan itu, saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan syabas kepada semua murid yang telah berjaya sampai ke peringkat ini. Syabas juga diucapkan kepada guru-guru penasihat kerana telah membimbing para pelajar serta meluangkan masa dari kesibukan tugas harian untuk membantu dalam menjayakan usaha pelajar-pelajar mereka.

Program RISM Young Achievers’ Award ini telah dapat dikendalikan secara jaya dan berkesan dan ini tidak kurang juga merupakan hasil daripada penglibatan dan sokongan yang padu, terutama dari pihak penaja-penaja tertentu. Sehubungan itu, saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan berbanyak terima kasih kepada :

1.        Lembaga Jurukur Tanah, Malaysia

2.        Lembaga Penilai, Pertaksir Dan Ejen Hartanah, Malaysia

3.        Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan, Malaysia

4.        Lembaga Juruukur Bahan, Malaysia

5.        Persatuan Juruukur Tanah atau PEJUTA

6.        C.H.Williams, Talhar & Wong Sdn Bhd

7.        Hashim Dan Lim Sdn Bhd

8.        Jurukur Bahan Antara

9.        Jurukur Terra Consult

10.      Metropolis Property Consultants Sdn Bhd

11.      Syarikat Loh Kam Lak, &

12.      Sr Previndran Sathurgasinghe

Pertubuhan Juruukur DiRaja Malaysia juga ingin merakamkan ucapan ribuan terima kasih kepada Bahagian Sekolah, Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia di atas sokongan padu yang diberi terhadap pertandingan Young Achievers’ Award ini. Kepada semua peserta, semoga berjaya dan semoga anda semua mendapat manfaat yang sebaiknya dari pertandingan ini.

Sekian dan saya sudahi dengan wabillah hi taufik walhidayah, wassalamualaikum warahmatullah hiwabarakaatuh.

Audience with HRH Sultan Selangor

Patience paid off when the request to seek an audience with HRH Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj, was finally granted.  The main purpose for this was to actually deliver the box set of RISM’s 50 year Commemorative Book (Royal Edition) to him.  So, on 12th April 2012, nine of us made our way to Istana Kayangan, Shah Alam for the aforementioned meet.  They include myself, Dato’ Sr Abdul Manaf, Dato’ Sr Rahim Abdul Rahman, Dato’ Seri Sr Isahak Yusoff, Sr Dr. Wan Maimun Wan Abdullah, Sr Dr Yunus Yusoff, Katherine Thiang and Zarina.  Additionally, Sr Dr. Tunku Fauzi, RISM’s new CEO, who’s appointed on that same day, also accompanied us, whilst Sr Elvin Fernandez who’s supposed to be together in the delegation could not make it, due to ill-health.

I had initially anticipated the meet to last for about half an hour considering that it was actually for the sole purpose of delivering the book that we had earlier promised him, apart from probably a brief conversation on RISM’s developments after that.  However, it exceeded my expectations as it went on for about one and a half hour.  After a simple introduction by Dato’ Rahim, the book was subsequently handed-over and it then continued with the conversation, which dealt with a wide range of topics. HRH Tuanku seems to be in high spirits and jovial mood, sharing his thoughts on matters which include business, politics, religious affairs and administration.  At the same time we were informed by HRH Tuanku that he will be making it to our Annual Dinner on 23^rd June 2012, meaning that the dinner will again be a black tie affair – something, which unexpectedly is well received by many.  One apparent observation from the conversation is that HRH Tuanku is a well-read and very knowledgeable person.  And that which impresses me most is his wisdom of always endeavoring to be steps ahead of others as a leader.

All in all, it was a good session and we left Istana Kayangan with a deep sense of satisfaction and gratitude that the Tuanku had been willing to share his precious time with us all.

Junjung Kasih Tuanku!