Annexe merdeka weekend collision

Sunday 31st August 2008, 12pm to 2pm Lecture. From Panji To The Present ~ A short history of sexuality in Malaysia and South East Asia by Dr Farish A Noor at the Annexe Gallery, Central Market.There’s loads of other stuff going on as well.

Was at class today and I was informed that there’s a makeup test tomorrow/Sunday/Merdeka Day, for both papers at 10am.

Which forced me to skip my friends wedding tonight and this

Sunday 31st August 2008, 12pm to 2pm Lecture
From Panji To The Present ~ A short history of sexuality in Malaysia and South East Asia
by Dr Farish A Noor at The Annexe Gallery, Central Market.

There’s loads of other stuff going on as well. Loads. Super for art enthusiasts. More info here.

Meant to meet Michelle Yeoh there, who is busy preparing the launch of ProjectMalaysia.org. Which is really really soon. :)

Malaysia fest darling harbour

Courtesy of Shaheera Djafar.

Malaysia Fest 2008 poised to impress

SYDNEY – One of Malaysia’s biggest events held annually at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour Sydney is once again poised to impress the public with its various cultural shows and a multitude of exotic food guaranteed to impress even the most discerning taste bud.

Known as M-Fest, the Malaysian Festival has been traditionally celebrated in Tumbalong Park, Darling harbour for the past 18 years. Through the years, the event has grown in its popularity and is known to the locals and tourists alike as an occasion filled with Malaysia’s splendid show of arts, cultures and magnificent food.

The festival will be held on Sunday, August 31st at Tumbalong Park, which coincides with Malaysia’s 51st Independence Day and would run from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Admission to the event is free and everyone is welcome.

The theme for 2008 M-Fest this year is aptly named “A Cultural Connection”. The theme represents and highlights the strong foundation of various interconnected cultures upon which the nation was built.

Taking pride of place is the array of Malaysian food which visitors would be able to sample, including staples such as satay, ‘teh tarik’ (whipped milk tea), and ‘roti canai’. Malaysian cuisine is a blend of various ethnic elements, such as the Malay-style ‘kampung’ cooking interspersed with aromatic Chinese and spicy Indian influences.

Visitors will also be entertained by various cultural shows, incorporating both traditional and contemporary Malaysian music and dance.

MFest is a wholly student-run event by enthusiastic Malaysian students from various local institutions such as the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, and Macquarie University.

“We’re keen on displaying our resourcefulness,” remarked the Chief Executive Producer, Zurairi Abd Rahman. “We’ve proven that, despite being students, we’re capable of successfully organising an event of such massive scale as this and that’s something to be proud of. We have been very fortunate to receive great support from various Malaysian departments based here and other corporate organisations in making the event a truly remarkable showcase of Malaysian cultures. ”

Malaysia Fest is proudly brought to you by Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines, Student Magazines and Student Services Direct.

Admission to the event is FREE, and further details may be obtained from www.malaysiafest.com.au

*Courtesy of Shaheera Djafar.

Pictures: rwp wellington, eindhoven, kuala lumpur, melbourne, singapore

.

In Civic Square, Wellington. Photo by Alastair Smith

.

.

Read while Waiting Project

“To think that it was just an idea you had some 3 months ago to where it is now. You’ve done so much, am proud of you.”
- Miss Not Ascertainable

RWP first crossed my mind in early May 2008. While I was pushing my bike on the highway after it ran out of petrol. It was one of the best times of my life.

I’ve been a law graduate since December 2007, and could be earning perhaps RM2000 a month for an employer silly enough to pay me that kind of money. But I’m not.

Instead I’m a self-employed unpaid pseudo activist doing what I feel like doing and persuading as many people as I can reach, convincing them why they should listen to this madman.

Whether you commend or criticise the Read while Waiting Project, but henceforth at some point in your life, it has (even) subconsciously moved you to read as oppose to not doing anything productive with that time, I then, have achieved what I set out to do.

*All pictures you see here are also available on Facebook.

.

.

Melbourne

“I just left the place. Although tak ramai, I’m really happy with it. Ada dalam 6, 7 orang, and they are all totally strangers, grouped together to read books. Best douh. Thanks a lot bro. You taught me something there and I felt it.”
- Izhar Moslim

To promote the participation and awareness of RWP, RA has done 3 things (1st video, 2nd video & 23rd August flashmob) and have 1 more remaining. That is, the BookCrossing gathering.

It is where people, strangers and friends, would meet up to either loan or give away books. This gathering will be done in a few months time.

Below are pictures from Melbourne. It was coordinated by Izhar Moslim, who arranged for 400 RWP Pay It Forward Bookmarks to be delivered to Melbourne at the last minute via Afiah Hafiz.

.

.

Eindhoven

“P.S. = it was .. niceeee !!!”
- Chiara Mafucci

RWP has 2 main objectives
1. To see more people reading (any form of literature) whenever they wait
2. To make people more conscious of whenever they are about to go somewhere and know that some waiting will be involved, then bring something to read

Below are pictures from Eindhoven. It was coordinated by Chiara Mafucci. Chiara is from the south of Italy and works in Eindhoven. Zain HD had dinner with her in when he was in Eindhoven for one night (November 2007).

.

.

Singapore

“Hmmm..it’s raining here.”
- Sofiah Jamil

The reason why RA picked the ‘waiting’ element is because of the baby steps approach.

Don’t try to get someone who does not even read to start the habit, buying literature and/or set an over optimistic goal.

Below are pictures from Singapore. It was coordinated by Sofiah Jamil. She is researcher at the NTU Rajaratnam School of International Studies and co-founder of Itchy Traveller.

.

.

Kuala Lumpur

“Zain, great fun meeting you yesterday. Enjoyed the RWP. Let’s think of something fun for World AIDS Day please!”
- Marina Mahathir

The idea was to get a person comfortable with the idea of reading in the first place, and then what that person does subsequently, is up to them.

And the simplest way to do it, is to get them to not allocate a time of the day specially for reading, but to fill it in between things they already are doing.

Below are pictures from Kuala Lumpur (taken by Joshua Ong). It was coordinated by Zain HD of RA. He needs a break.

RWP also got picked up in New Zealand by two influential bloggers. Social commentator Paul Reynolds and former managing director & publisher of Penguin NZ, Graham Beattie. With the help from Paul, RWP was promoted on the Christchurch City Council Library Official Blog and the National Radio of New Zealand.

.

.

RWP is one of RA’s pro bono projects. Support our projects by donning these t-shirts.

Video – Read while Waiting Project: 23 August

Michelle Gunaselan, Niki Cheong, Fahmi Fadzil, Dr. Farish Noor, Sharon Bakar, Joyce Wong @ Kinky Blue Fairy, Su Ann Lim @ Pink Pau, Altimet, Farihin Abdul Fattah, Emmett Roslan Ishak, Ida Nerina, Sazzy Falak, Sharifah Aleysha & Aryana, Chef Ismail Ahmad, Jules & Prem, Shaz Mukhtar, Jazeman Jaafar

*The venues for RWP has been been announced. This includes for the Kuala Lumpur, Eindhoven, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne & Singapore Chapter. :)

RWP: Read while Waiting Project

RWP is not about 23rd of August. Or BookCrossing It is far beyond that. Scroll down to watch the videos that explains this project. Watch the video that explains the project: 1st version, 2nd version, 3rd version.

Objective

1. To see more people reading (any form of literature) whenever they wait
2. To make people more conscious of whenever they are about to go somewhere and know that some waiting will be involved, then bring something to read

This is what RA has in store for RWP.

1. Pay It Forward Bookmarks
2. BookCrossing campaign in conjunction with RWP. To be launched after 23rd Aug
3. Look Up More flashmob 12th July
4. D-Day 23rd August. Join RWP on Facebook. To date: 6500 people invited.

*If you are interested to initiate wherever you live, then do Contact Us and we’ll help you promote it and get the word out. Just as we are doing for Eindhoven, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne & Singapore.

*You don’t need hundreds of people to do it on 23rd Aug. Just 3 or 4 friends is enough! :) Then send us pictures. We all have to start somewhere. So, start. You can do it. Just do it.

Kuala Lumpur : KL Sentral. Area in front of KFC, Dunkin Donuts & KTM Komuter entrance.

Sydney : Wharf 2 & 3. Circular Quay.

Melbourne : Bourke Street Mall Tram Station.

Perth : In front of David Jones, Murray Street Mall.

Singapore : Entrance to Wheelock Place on the Orchard Road side. The corner opposite Shaw.

Wellington : Civic Square. Outside Civic Art Gallery

Auckland :Aotea Square, Queen Street

Christchurch : Cathedral Square

Eindhoven : Central Station. Main entrance.

+Support this project by showing people you know the videos. Email the link. Pay it forward.+

*Click on the video that interests you. 1st version, 2nd version, 3rd version. RWP & Zain HD was featured in the 7 minute per-episode The Fairly Current Show by Pop TV.

Instead of explaining the project in a long elaborated post, RA did videos. The first video was uploaded in mid June. It includes Sean Connery and pictures from various participants.

The recently uploaded 2nd video has 3 versions. Each version has 3 sections explaining 3 different things by 3 different people, Altimet, Michelle Gunaselan & Niki Cheong. Each version includes supporters of RWP such as,.

Joyce Wong @ Kinky Blue Fairy, Farish Noor, Sharon Bakar, Emmett Butterfingers, Prem & Jules & Fahmi Fadzil – 1st version

Su Ann Lim @ Pink Pau, Prem & Jules, Sazzy Falak, Sharifah Aleysha & Aryana, Jazeman Jaafar & Ida Nerina – 2nd version

Farihin Abdul Fattah, Chef Ismail, Ida Nerina, Sazzy Falak, Sharifah Aleysha & Aryana, Emmett Butterfingers & Shaz Mukhtar – 3rd version

.

RWP is one of RA’s pro bono projects. Support us by donning our t-shirts.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Be part of RWP. Participate. A simple effort on your part, is an investment with great interest returns shared by many for now, and many years to come. It would mean the world, to the world.

Why am I doing this? Because if you want to see something happen, and no one else is doing it, then YOU do it.

-Zain HD

Breakfast show interview

*I might be on air Fly FM later. Not confirmed yet. Sometime around 5-8pm.

Right. So the NTV7 Breakfast Show interview for RWP was this morning. It went well, I suppose. Can’t really tell. I didn’t get a chance to watch it.

The makeup ladies spent 3 times longer doing Jules than me. I suppose it was imperative that the audience had at least 1 good element to look it. Hah. If Joyce was there, they’d proably make me sit behind the sofa.

In my bid trying to not be rude by interrupting the flow of the interview by saying anything and everything I wanted to say when it did cross my mind, I noticed that I probably came off being timid, shy, passive and…a jackass. Thus I must thank Jules for stepping up and taking charge.

It was too bad that Joyce got into some unexpected traffic issues. By the time she got to the studio, it was our call to be in the studio because another interviewee came late, so RWP’s slot got moved forward. When it finished, we met Joyce in the makeup room. I say,

Nememain, next time.

Thanks many many to Jules & Joyce for their support and participation. A brunch at the mamak was all I could offer in return. :)

.

PS. I might be on air Fly FM later. Not confirmed yet. Sometime around 5-8pm.

In the press and breakfast show

6 days to go and we’re getting good coverage from the Press so far.

RWP 2nd video: 1st version, 2nd version, 3rd version.

Last Thursday, it was Pop TV. Last Saturday, the fortnightly column in The Star, Bangsar Boy, wrote about the project. Last Sunday, there was a writeup about Pop TV and coincidentally, the crew were interviewed the same day they recorded the episode that RWP was featured. Below that writeup, was a ‘sidebar‘ talking about RWP.

This coming Friday 22nd August, Zain HD wil be on the NTV7 Breakfast Show at 9am to talk about RWP.

RWP is one of RA’s pro bono projects. Support by donning our t-shirts.

Zain HD/RWP featured on Pop TV

Dr. Farish Noor, Ida Nerina, Sharifah Aryana & Aleysha, Prem & Jules, Joyce Kinky Blue Fairy, Su Ann Lim Pink Pau, Sazzy Falak, Sharon Bakar, Fahmi Fadzil, Emmett Butterfingers, Shaz Mukthar, Chef Ismail, Jazeman Jaafar, Altimet, Niki Cheong & Michelle Gunaselan

RWP & Zain HD was featured in the 7 minute per-episode The Fairly Current Show by Pop TV.

We sincerely hope that all the name dropping, and of course the support of these personalities by helping out with the video, will assist the project in its reach. :)

The 2nd video for RWP will be uploaded by Friday night. Link to the first video here. The 2nd video, will include various personalities that support RWP. They are,

Niki Cheong (The Star)
Altimet KOMY
Michelle Gunaselan (Project Malaysia)
Ida Nerina

Dr. Farish Noor (The Other Malaysia)
Farihin Abdul Fattah
Jules & Prem (Fly FM)
Joyce Wong @ Kinky Blue Fairy
Su Ann Lim @ Pink Pau

Fahmi Fadzil
Sharon Bakar
Jazeman Jaafar
Chef Ismail (Rebung, Bangsar)

Emmett Roslan (Butterfingers)
Shaz Mukhtar (Xfresh FM)
Sharifah Aryana & Aleysha
and Sazzy Falak

RWP is one of RA’s pro bono projects. Support us by donning our t-shirts.

Pictures from msls

On Monday 28 July I spoke at one of MPF‘s talks at the KGPA (opposite Eastin Hotel) which was open for anyone and everyone. I thought I couldn’t make it on time but I gave it shot and did. Don’t have pictures from there. The response was brilliant and I have Azra Banu to thank for that slot.

Keeping in mind that just a day and 2 days prior (Saturday 26 & Sunday 27), I spoke at three diff events (Readings @ Seksan, Farish Noor’s Book Launch & Doppelganger). That three day stretch was brilliant for RWP, and/but exhausting for me.

The RWP video was meant to be played at the UKEC’s Second MSLS (2 & 3 August). They had already been helpful enough to arrange for two RWP Pay It Forward Bookmarks to be in each of their 600 ‘goodie bags’.

When I finally got the time to make it to the Summit at lunch on Sunday, I was told that the sound for the video was ‘distorted’. Chris Tock was there and we both suggested the same thing thinking we were talking about two different things.

Play the video on mute, and I to go on stage and ‘do’ the audio as the video is being played. As I got on the rostrum on stage, people were leaving for tea break, and remarkably, they all stopped in their path to give me the few minutes I asked for.

I even saw Jacqueline Ann Surin (who was also at Farish’s book launch), somewhat sitting on the floor in front of the rostrum to get a good angle for the photo on the left.

As for RWP at MSLS, it went super. Impactful.

For this, I have Amanda Sabri, Alia Ishak, Shahril Hamdan, Chris Tock & (especially) Alia Sidek to thank.

After I got off the stage, I met a number of people who were interested about the project. One, was Tasnim Abdul Hadi who was rather annoyed that she would be tied up with a debate competition on 23rd August. I explained to her that RWP is not just about that day and she asked if there’s any other way she could help/participate.

Few hours ago, I had a rendezvou with Tasnim. She asked for 400 of the RWP Pay It Forward Bookmarks to distribute it to places and people she know and don’t know. Brilliant.

I’m no Donald Trump going around hiring people, but these are the kind of individuals I look forward working with.

Next Page »