What Happened to me for the past 1 month

* please note that this post will not contain any photos until further notice

It has been a month since i last blogged. You must have wondered where have i been for a month without even seeing me in msn or gtalk. So, here's a simlpe and short update about my whereabouts as well as what i have been engaging myself to..

As the previous posts indicated, i used to be the employee of Digistar Holdings Sdn. Bhd. I have resigned from the post of Project Engineer (Site Supervisor in Kuching) for Dewan Undangan Negeri SARAWAK due to unconditional choiceless offer from PETRONAS. Nevertheless, i feel fortunate for being employed by PETRONAS, the giant national company in Malaysia. Many people have envied about my job position - Electrical Project Engineer, which sounds little similar to Jeslynn's job title as well. However, things doesnt turn out as pretty as what is sounds like.

So, i resigned on 15th of April, and joined Petronas Induction Programme for New Executive (PIPE) Session 40, which stretches for 16 restless days. I have to admit that during the first few days, it was so so so boring as well as blood sucking because i felt so tired after every sessions. Somehow, after knowing people in PIPE, i get to enjoy myself quite well by having sports after everyday's session, and enjoy wallaping all the good foods served in the dining hall. People tend to call me "watermelon" and "chicken" lover boy because my plate is always pilled up with those two food elements. During PIPE, we had quite an intensive programmes which involves indoor and outdoor activities. You will never complain you are too free and you are too energetic for all of the sessions because you will not have time to even stretch your legs and shake at 70kHz frequency.

At the end of the PIPE 40 session(2/5/09), i went down to KL to stay overnight at my sis's place at Jalan Kuching. TQ to Khalis for giving me a lift on his exclusive CRV. I took some of my sis's stuffs and brought over to Bintulu. :)

Then, i took a flight to Bintulu on Sunday (3/5/09) and our arrival was welcomed by two vans. They have sent us over to Kelab Kidurong (KKB), and that's where we have spent the next two week while house-hunting for another shelter. On 4th, that was the first day all of the new executives reporting to MLNG. We have had 1 week of Business Orientation Program(BOP) conducted in-house. It's different from other OPUs who have conducted BOP in KLCC, KL. This gives me the impression that MLNG is trying to save cost for that sense.

Then here is comes, the day i reported to my Department. To my surprise, the department stated in my offer letter is different from the Department i am actually reporting to. In my offer letter, i am supposed to report to Technical Services Department, Plant Division as Electrical Project Engineer. However, during the day we are supposed to report to our Line Manager, i was referred to Project Development Department with the same job title. Having said that, i never complained about the last minute changes which i was not informed about, but i was quite unhappy with the transportation they provide for employees to move around between Menara Kiduring (where my office is) and PLC (Petronas LNG Complex, PLANT). For the entire month, i have to punch in LATE, and punch out EARLY. This makes my record slightly dirty in the punctuality sense.

Besides, i came to a sense that, Petronas is still using Punching Card system. Quite a surprise to me indeed. So and so, i tried to grasp whichever i could in the department, and learn as much as i could because i know nothing about the job i am doing now. To my despair, i cant seek help from either people around here nor in the PLC. I spent my precious time looking and asking around for job/ help i could offer, but none of them seems to have anything allocated for me. WHY? Because at the time i was reporting in, i wasnt expected by my Depaertment. TBC

Continued...

Speaking of the unexpected event to my department, on the first day i reported to my department, the Manager showed a funny face as he was trying to answer these questions, "Who is this boy?", "Did our department request for new hire?", "Is he qualified to be in this department?", "Who employed him?". Guess what's the next step he took to solve all these puzzles? He called quite a number of people within my department enquiring on the new recruit in PDD. To my deepest soul, i felt demotivated, useless and speechless. How could i be treated in a manner where only ME is located in an unknown department, which is so new to the MLNG plant? Oh ya, my department is very new, because it is established to monitor several big projects that are on-going. I have to admit that it is a pride to be in this department, but just not at the right time and place. Hence, i was told that PDD was not informed of my presence, and thus, they will have to sort thing out with the HR-MLNG and HR-KL to resolve this issue. I was told that i am not the first to face such problem in this department. This comes to a conclusion in my mind saying that, "I think HR Department is trying to hit their KPI, and hence, putting aside the employees' concern, competencies and background". I wish i am wrong, but what i have seen here seems to prove every single point i am stating right here.

Well, enough talk about my department. At least, i have a good GM which is quite new to the department, yet i can see that he is trying his best to merge all of the staffs under PDD, making it strong and capable to deal with future projects. Besides, he cares for all of his employees, and at least, he understands my concern and tried to clear my mind with several options possibly to be taken in 2 months time. So, the only thing i can do right now is to read as many manuals and notes as possible, and try to get some hands-on when the opportunity comes. FYI, he's the 2nd Chinese GM in MLNG!Beat that if you can. I give 2 THUMB UP for my Big Boss, lesser thumb for SM and M.

Somehow, i managed to spot a training in the Bulletin board. Without any hesitation, i enrolled it with my Manager's permission. So, this answers to the previous "TBC" in the middle of the post, and also "contunues..." in this post as well. I am back from Performance Management System workshop. I can never admit less that this workshop has taught me a lot of things, how to manage your own performance as well as how to deal with issue regarding to your performance. This make me realized that there's a need for me to raise my concern regarding what i am experiencing now. Being an employee of Petronas, you need to set objectives with your superior. That document is called IPC. Within this document, you are required to list down the objectives you are required to fulfill in order to determine your PPA (appraisal). Under the Target column, you are required to fill in the base target, stretch 2 as well as stretch 1 target. If you can meet the base target, hence, you are just rated-3-employee, which is categorized under "meeting expectations". If you can reach stretch 2 target, you are rated-2-employee, which is "exceeds expectations. IF you think you are superwoman, superman, batman, catwoman, you can always work and strive for rated-1-employee, or what they call HPS (for 3 consecutive years, you obtain rating of 1 or 2). This is what we call "OUTSTANDING". I guess it's quite hard for me right now to aim for anything as stated, because the IPC is not even cascaded to me yet, although i have stepped foot in this department for roughly 2 months now. So, during the workshop, i was taught to raise my concern to my superiors, and if it did not work, then you have to activate your support system (peers, colleagues, mentors, coaches...). These people might be able to help you walk through your path. Besides, we have also learnt DG and KP - Discussion Guidelines and Kep Principles. These are the important ingredients you have to bring in when you are going to attend a discussion with your superior. Make sure you keep an open mind to whatever comments given by your boss. Remember the boss's rule?

RULE #1 : Boss is always Right
RULE #2: IF Boss is Wrong
RULE #3: Refer to RULE #1

Besides that, i was also taught to be S.M.A.R.T, which means

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Result
Time-bound

This is very useful especially when stating objectives. Make sure the objective you set is discussed with your boss, and make sure it is achievable by you. At least, the BASE TARGET is achievable and obtainable. Do not tolerate any "near-miss" in your objective setting.

The last thing i learnt was the way in giving comments/ remarks. WHen writing an IPC, always apply the R.I.C.E rule.

Result
Impact
Challenge
Effort

By doing so, you can easily trace back whatever achievements you have completed, and also easily justifiable by your superior when he is trying to fight for a rating of 2 for you. Isn't worth writing in the right way makes it easy for you and your boss? SO, don't be so wise-headed, (kepo or ke khiang) write a lengthy essay in IPC, and end up no one reading your novel.

Anyway, always remember the 4 phases in PMS, Performance Planning, Feedback and Coaching, Performance Review and Appraisal, and lastly, Rewards and Consequences. Everything comes with consequences, just that they differ in positive or negative consequences. I vowed to myself, never ever fall into Rating 4 employee (not meeting expectations). I believe with my capabilities, competencies and eagerness to learn, i will excel in the job i will be commiting myself to in the years ahead.

Do wish me luck in my career in PETRONAS, the leader in oil and gas business in SEA.

*I will try my best to capture as many photos as possible to support this post. TQ for reading. And please leave comment if you have any doubts.

I am a competent Engineer

Suddenly the thoughts of P.E appeared in my head today..

Shall i go for that? Or i shall just stick to what i am now, and continue my path to become a competent engineer..hehe..

I feel so Keng Chao today..coz during meeting, i spoke up on behalf of my company...Know wat? I told them what my company told me, and further details, i didn give them..coz i also dunno..and my company also dunno..so, no one knows..i can only tell them

" We will try our best"
" I wasnt so sure, i will go back and check with my boss, see what he says"
bla bla bla la..

And guess wat? The other engineers diam diam saje...let me talk...hurm...at this moment..i felt like i lagi berkaliber...muaahahahaha

If i have handled this project since the beginning..i tink last month already siap testing and commissioning...sucks la the ...erm....employer of mine..haha..

The worst Meeting Ever

HUHU!!!

I have attended so many meetings, and this is the worst...

Why do i call it the worst? Let me briefly tell you how a construction work is being done, and who are involved...

Whenever there's a project coming along, there would be tenders and so forth..
So, got big big big tauke, big big tauke, big tauke, tauke, not so big tauke and etc...

So, since my company has tendered a project, so we are considered as sub-con for our main con, which is one of the tauke above, and if we sub our work to another sub-con, then we become their main-con, and they become the tauke's sub-sub-con..

So, here's the thing..My company cant do the job in time...cant finish the job as scheduled..
Hence, the tauke tauke at the top level came to site, and had an urgent meeting with us.

"So guys, when can you finish T&C (Testing and Commissioning)?"
No one answered

"Can you meet the deadline? How many things left? Supposingly today you guys are doing the T&C as stated in the schedule, why still no progress till now?"
No one answered

"Who is in charge here? Can someone give me an answer???"
No one answered

"Who has the power to give instruction?"
Our immediate boss, and he is in KL

"Call him IN now...i don't care where he is, your company is the most ****** and ****** company i have ever encountered with"
No one answered

"So now, tell me frankly, what are the outstanding equipments that have not arrived? You better tell me frankly, because we are coming to help you get the job done, since your company, obviously, cant manage this project well, so we have to help you manage. Thus, you better let me know the status, so that we can meet deadline"
No one answered

"....... bla bla bla ...."
We wil go back and discuss, and we will let you know...

"Alright then, tomorrow we will have a special meeting, and make sure all this are solved by tomorrow..."
Ok, thanks.


Okay, here's the thing..u noticed that none of us answer the questions right? You must be wondering, WHY?

I was taught at the site...
1. Do not simply answer them during the meeting, unless you are damn sure of it
2. Do not simply confirm/ convince them regarding the deadline unless you are damn sure
3. Just listen to them, and don't respond to them. Just treat them as singing or poeting. Do get stress or tensed after being scolded...It's just normal
4. Anything come up, just answer "I will go back and check with my boss, then i will let you know".
5. Do not tell them anything about the status of the job, and do not tell them if the equipments have arrived. Just tell them, ON THE WAY, or IN PROGRESS.
6. Must tahu belok kiri and kanan, cannot LURUS. If you want to get to a point, turn many many rounds, beat around the bush...then let them figure it out themselves..If they say anything, we just say "i didn't say that, it's what you think"
7. If they instruct us to do anything, ask for BLACK and WHITE, and answer this " I will not responsible to any future damage or problems occurred"


Those are the 7 golden rules i was taught by my seniors...Guess i have to really be so so so irresponsible d...coz i cant tell the truth, i cant tell them the situation..This is HARD!!

Anyway, my job is really hard. Do not TRY THIS if you are seeking for a job.

Do dogs tend to enjoy better life than Human?

Speaking of pets, sigh, i have been looking for puppies since years ago, and now i have not bought myself any cute puppy yet...what i have at home are just 2 handsome dogs and 1 pretty pregnant dog. Well, i love dogs so much...that explains why i do play so much with Blackie (Eileen's housemate's puppy)...

So, here are my dogs' name and their menu

Ah Bu (mr black in hakka)
- Normal Dog Food : Rice, chicken bones, fish bones, vegetable, our leftover foods
- Multivitamins (human wan)
- Chicken Essense (occassionally)

Bobby
- Normal Dog Food : Rice, chicken bones, fish bones, vegetable, our leftover foods
- Multivitamins (human wan)
- Chicken Essense (occassionally)
- Sometimes burger

Spotty (Female Dog)
- she is still so young, and got screwed by Bobby, and now she is pregnant..sigh..so heartpain..

Her menu
- Pedigree
- Burger
- Multivitamin
- Chicken Essence
- Milk
- Rice, Bones (Filter out all the sharp sharp bone)
- Ping Pong Biscuit
- Butter Biscuit
- Crackers
- All of the nice nice food we bring back from restaurant or shop..she gets all of them..

Now, all my dogs are so healthy and beautiful as compared to several months ago when it was flooding...they were so dirty and loss a lot of fur..now, they look so charming!!muiahahaha

My First Day of Work

If you are wondering what kind of job that i am currently engaged in...im an employee of Digistar Holdings. It's a small company, located at Jalan Ampang. The company is really a very small company, with very very very crucial COST SAVING plans...everything must save cost...which includes projects involved..HOWEVER, i can say that the quality of their job is good.

So, what'y my Jobscope?
I have started 5 days of work so far:

1st day: Haven start already went into a 4 hour meeting..i know nothing, but i shook my head nia.First day nia, already OT until 7pm.
2nd day: Meeting again, and it was until 7pm again. My job is to attend meeting, read catalogues, drawings, call engineers on site for updatess.....
3rd day: Meeting again..it was a project department meeting. Very informal indeed, but for me, i just sit at one corner, listening to their updates, and c how they push their responsibilitiies to others..huhu...

4th day: My first day ON SITE in Kuching. My project is Dewan Undangan Negeri, Sarawak. I went into the site..huhu...10 floors...and i have to walk up all the way using staircase nia...I can tell u...DAMN!!IT WAS DAMN TIRING, DIRTY and DUSTY!@#%& Speaking of my first day, it was really unfortunate. My car was parked behind an ISUZU DMAX. And guess wat...he bang my car when he left the site. Sort of like "hit n run". BUT, a lot of witnesses saw he knocked my car, so they told me who who who and wat car hit my car...then..cont the next day. Another thing, i had severe migraine....severe until i vomitted, and i slept the moment i reached home, i din take dinner...until the next morning.

5th Day: (TODAY)..i went to see the guy...sigh..he bo hiu bo hiu nia...still smoking some more..and blow at me...he said afternoon will go over to see how's my car condition. He said he din even know he hit my car...so..see how lo later. Initially, i continued with my job. basically,at this stage, i will only have to wear bulletproof shirt coz i will always get scolded and"diau" by main contractor coz it's nearing to T&C. This is critical moment for our project, but u can c ppl at site are still sleeping during working hour. Now that's life on Site. hahaha...

Anyway. im underpaid, and i have to pay for everything so far. Hopefully the company really compensates me for the tol, petrol etc... :)

In Remembrance of Wong the AlMighty Arsenal Footballer

Today is 6th of March, which is the day when our beloved, most respected friend, Wong Kok Hoe left us to continue another different path of journey.

Yes, he has done quite a massive impact in our life, not only emotionally, but also spiritually. He has brought fun and happiness to all of us. I can always hear his laughter "HA HA HA" whenever i feel bored, lonely and down.

Wong was the one who always lying on my bed..holding my Bolster, playing with anything that's on my bed ( This task were taken over by Vincent Dee)...

Wong was the one who had given CK his best hostel life ever...tolerating him from head to toe.

Wong was the important person in ConvoFair...

Wong was the one with Arsenal as password for most of his accounts

Wong was the one who bring laughters to all of US

Wong, may you rest in peace, and have a better life in heaven. You will always be in our heart, our soul.

WE LOVE YOU, WONG KOK HOE
WE LOVE YOU

Something to ponder on

It's my 4th week in penang, and guess wat? I have been to penang for so many times, and i had never ever dare to have the thought of trying out "Dragon-I" restaurant coz i heard it was so "luxurious" to dine there...

Well, still, i still insisted not to dine there, cause it's termed unecessary spending..

Today, me and Eileen wanted to have lunch at QB Mall, coz we had jz bought movie ticket for Love Matters..Out of so many choices, we opt for Canton-I Noodle House...yea..it might sound similar to Hong Kong Noodle House in Kuching, so we went..expecting to have affordable and delicious lunch..

The first thing came into my mind...Wah, these service here so good...so professional..every waiter and waitress has a handsfree on their left ears...ya, left ears only..i dunno y..and the environment...man, its superb...then, i thought..If Hong Kong Noodle House in kuching can be like this, sure the business very LAK KU!

The nightmare started when the menu arrives...Every single dish costs at minimum RM11, and i tell you, the "zha you tiaw" costs RM 3. The plain congee costs RM 4, and what to my astonishment was, Each drink costs at least RM 10!!! Then i took a peek at other tables..i noticed most people ordered Plain Water..hehe..for just RM 1. Plain water for RM 1, free refill!!haha..so, i ordered that too lo...only those tables occupied by old people drink those RM 10 tea.

Well, the last thing i realized was, written in the menu, "Canton-I and Dragon-I are under the same management". Sigh..this is what i called "Unecessary SPendng", especially during this jobless period...i feel so guilty after taken that meal..it costs us RM32 in total (Only 1 plain water, and 2 plates of Roast BBQ Rice). Oh ya, Service Charge + Tax = 5% + 10% = another 15 % more!!
WTF!!