Terima kasih

Kini tahulah aku tentang apa yang dinamakan sebagai 'pengorbanan tanpa mengejar balasan.'

Dalam hidup, ada kalanya kita beruntung kerana diberi kesempatan untuk belajar dan merasai pengalaman serta pendedahan baru. Bagi aku, antara rintisan peluang terbaru yang hadir ialah sepanjang tempoh sama-sama berusaha untuk menjayakan penganjuran Majlis Anugerah Persatuan Penulis-penulis Sukan Malaysia (SAM)-100Plus-KBS yang berjaya dilangsungkan, Sabtu lalu, 20 Februari 2010.

Alhamdulillah, semuanya berlangsung dengan lancar. Di luarannya, segalanya nampak sempurna. Ramai yang gembira, ramai juga yang terharu dengan beberapa 'sentuhan peribadi' yang SAM jelmakan.

Namun banyak juga cerita 'di sebalik tabir' yang mencipta gelisah, menimbulkan rasa panik, mahupun mencetus detik yang ada kalanya membuatkan darah menyirap ke muka.

Cuma pada kesempatan ini, aku mahu mengingati semua 'yang baik-baik sahaja.'

Aku telah katakan ketika memberi ucapan sebelumnya. Cuma kali ini, aku mahu rakamkan juga penghargaan di laman blog ini:

Saudara Eric Samuel dan Asan Ahmad - dua naib presidenku yang juga Pengerusi Bersama Majlis Anugerah SAM-100Plus-KBS 2009 - pujian ikhlas di atas kegigihan, kesungguhan, semangat kental dan ketabahan menangani segala macam cabaran yang menjelma. Anda berdua punya watak dan kualiti selaku pemimpin yang wajar diketengahkan. Anda berdua bukti betapa masih ada yang rela berkorban, tanpa langsung mengejar sebarang habuan!

Juga terima kasih dan pujian buat seluruh ahli-ahli exco lainnya. Anda semua tahu bahawa anda sudah memainkan peranan masing-masing. Berat sama-sama kita pikul, ringan sama-sama kita jinjing.

Terima kasih juga kepada ahli-ahli SAM yang 'sudi untuk kembali hadir' ke majlis kali ini. Ia bukti anda semua masih menyokong SAM. Betapa SAM masih relevan, kerana anda semua masih mempercayainya.

Aku juga terharu dengan kesanggupan barisan pemimpin nombor satu sebelumnya - Datuk Fauzi Omar, Shaukei Kahar, Mustakim Aminuddin dan Abu Bakar Atan - untuk menerima jemputan hadir ke majlis kali ini. Sumbangan tuan-tuan kepada SAM amat besar dan tidak ternilai harganya.

Terima kasih. Banyak yang aku pelajari. Semua ini adalah penambah pengalaman.

Thank you 100Plus. SAM Awards 2009 is officially on!

In a well-attended Press Conference, yesterday, Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) renew it's partnership with 100Plus for the annual 'SAM-100Plus Awards' ceremony. This year, the awards ceremony will be held on the 20th February 2010 at the PJ Hilton.

100Plus was represented by Datuk Kamal Harun and Jen Yin. SAM Exco, led by myself, were present. Overall, there were more than 30 media personnel who came and cover the press conference to officially launch the 'SAM Awards 2009', yesterday.

For more details, check out sammalaysia.blogspot.com.

Thank you, Berita Harian

Honestly, I never thought that I will go down this road again.

When I accepted Berita Harian offer to rejoin them in November 2005, I thought that the second homecoming will be a permanent one. I was happy to be back in familiar surrounding, meeting and working together again with friends who I know very well.

But life, and Allah, have other plans for me. The opportunity comes for me to expand my horizon. To utilise whatever knowledge I have, the experiences that I had accumulated, the networking that I have cultivated over the years, in the new environment.

To Berita Harian, and all the good people that I have the pleasure and honour to work with - especially in the Sports Desk - I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Berita Harian will always have special place in my heart. This is an organisation which presented me with my very first opportunity to embark into journalism. I was only 18, fresh out from school, when I started my sojourn in the newspaper.

My sincere thanks to my first boss, Zian Johari who steered me into the right direction. My second boss, Datuk Hishamuddin Aun for allowing me the freedom to grow as a journalist and writer.

In mid-2001, I left Berita Harian. Briefly, for about four and a half years, to join FA of Malaysia - a period which allowed me to learn many other things - especially in the management of people.

Sincere thanks to Badrulhisham Othman - my 'third boss' - for initiating and opening doors for me to come back to Berita Harian. Last, but not least, to my boss and close friend, Norbakti Alias, thank you so much for your confidence in me.

Yesterday was my last 'working day' in Berita Harian. Overall, I had the opportunity of serving Berita Harian for more than 15 years. I must say that it was difficult to say my goodbyes. I will need a few more days to pack my stuffs.

I would like to apologise for any mistakes and wrongdoings. For any individuals which I might have hurt, intentionally or unintentionally, I humbly seek your forgiveness. I would like 'the bridge' that I have with Berita Harian and all the good people there, to remain strong for the rest of my life.

Thank you, once again.

Labours of love

It's been a while, even by my own 'lazy' standard, since I updated this blog. Been too busy.

Firstly, I have been worrying about the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) 2009 Awards Ceremony, which will be held on the 20th February 2010. The first hurdle was overcome when Deputy PM, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, agreed to be the Guest of Honour.

Now the hard work. Been having weekly meeting with my overworked SAM Exco to prepare for this event. Must give credit to my deputy, Haji Ibrahim Abu Bakar, for his role in securing Muhyiddin's presence.

Loads of credits to my two VP - Eric Samuel and Asan Ahmad, who are the main organisers. They have been visiting the event venuescountless times, discussing, haggling, tormenting etc etc, in our effort to make this event a success.

The rest of SAM Exco are excellent too! I sincerely hope all the time and efforts that we invested in this will produce the desired results.

I, too, sincerely hope the Members will help us make this an even 'GRANDER' event than last year!

More details at sammalaysia.blogspot.com.