Folks,
Once upon a time, there were two teddy bears, named Wooly and Cotton.
And each one of them are being kept by each person, separated miles away.
And now, one wonders what actually happened to Wooly while Cotton (or was it vice versa?) wait for its return.
It was said that Wooly found a new companion, and there sat Cotton, biting his nails while silently praying for the best.
End of Story.
Folks,
Early this year (Feb 19, 2014), somebody wrote this poem for me.
And it goes below (reproduced verbatim without editing).
===
Like irony, clumsy, yet funny
Feel a human heart,
Dose not it bit?
Like the shimmering star.
Living life awkwardly
Oh how irony
See also thier cheeks
As it shly blushes
Like the crimson moon
Gesturing secret immaturely
Oh how clumsy
Remind me thier smile
Those soft lightly curve
Like a night breez
Or a simple joke
Oh how funny
The way like you
Cause you are
My irony
My clumsy
My funny
Hey folks,
Last week (Friday, July 18, 2014), I met with Datuk Adissadikin Ali, 44, the no-nonsense president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the little-known Export-Import Bank at his office in Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
The conversations I had, in which it was for the interview of the publication that I am affiliated with, lasted for about one hour, from 3:00pm to about 4:00pm.
Datuk Adi, as he is fondly known, hails from Melaka. He was roped in by the Ministry of Finance to help turnaround the bank in 2008.
On personal basis, Datuk Adi is a no-nonsense person. I noticed that he does not like to have small talk like weather, foods, cars etc. (or perhaps he only have this kind of talk with those that he is really close); instead, he prefers to talk about serious subjects like bank's operations, trade situation in Malaysia, as well as the macro-side of our economy--much like other successful CEOs that I have interviewed where they dedicate almost 90% of their heart and soul to work.
I am actually impressed by Datuk Adi's working style. He is very neat, and I really mean it. You can see it in his face, a very well-groomed man and steady walking pace that shines confidence and sturdiness.
His macho, handsome and manly look at 44, coupled with a fit body--Datuk Adi is a different breed of CEO--of which there is a clear absence of the mandatory "beer belly" that most other head-honchos have.
His office is very simple with cosy leather sofa that would drown any bottoms sitting on it, large oak desk (with absolutely not even a paper sitting on it) and a television placed at the corner of the room. And he also has a mini-golf trail towards the side of his office overlooking Kampung Baru and other landmarks such as Universiti Kuala Lumpur tower.
To digress a bit, Exim Bank is located next to Sheraton Hotel, and during the bank's iftar (breaking of fast with the media and under-privilege children), the bank had hired Sheraton to provide meals in the last week or so.
I must add that, much to the chagrin of my amazement, the foods were superbly and finely cooked (it is a hotel's food, durh what do you expect!) with an astonishingly lavish lamb soup as a starter. And one fine gentleman, the bank's staff in the corporate communications team, proudly told me that the bank always uses Sheraton as its caterer for foods and beverages.
"You can never go wrong with Sheraton, and we have always used their service," he quipped, when asked on the choice of the caterer.
To the good folks at Exim Bank, please do employ Sheraton in providing meals to your customers and stakeholders. Indeed, I was left satisfied by the foods till the next morning!
Now, back to Datuk Adi's office.
Funnily enough, his office is located at the highest floor, 18; and even the bank's chairman's office is one floor down, clearly a telling sign that he is in charge of the bank, sitting higher up in the sky--among with the gods--and I note that I am being metaphorically blasphemous here.
Something interesting to observe, although not that it is too big an issue to delve.
His desk is absolutely empty with the exception of his Macbook Air, which I personally opine that the machine is too small for this eyes to gaze with its keyboard too crowded for this fat fingers to type.
He told me that being neat is his style.
"Well, that is me," reflected Datuk Adi to me on my comment of his office.
He said that he hates seeing bundle of papers on his desk and that he will immediately sift through one by one once they starts pouring-in.
I am impressed.
Arguably, most CEOs will have a rather posh and neat room with lavishly branded furnitures and exotic paintings which they always claim as rare and one of its kind on the world. Not to mention of thick carpets which any feet will immediately sink upon stepping; of which if I may exaggerate a little bit more, their desks are often ladened with so many papers to sign, reports to read and proposals to approve.
But not Datuk Adi's super simple, neat and tidy office.
Movin on to his character, I can definitely see that Datuk Adi is one hardworking man, who is passionate about his work. He is very direct in his approach, saying it as it is.
Some of his phrases are rather modern--(go and talk to him to get an essence of what the man is made of)--often used by youngsters of today in their daily conversation, and one which will raise eyebrows when used in corporate discussion, especially with other bankers I guess.
But of course exception is given to the simple Datuk Adi.
No doubt that he doesn't condemn or slam people or a particular organization, but he calls "a spade, a spade".
And he is very patient too in explaining the operation of Exim Bank in Malaysia, which is hard for me to fathom exactly and understand completely.
I think that most CEO would not really want to "waste their time" to explain about their business operation, but not Datuk Adi, in his casual manner to the media representative such as me.
Indeed, Exim Bank is like no other bank: it is a specialised bank (more prrcisely the development financial institution which reports to the Ministry of Finance) that was established by the Malaysian government to help promote export business through financing and insurance.
Going through Exim Bank's annual report is already a challenging task, as I have yet to fully grasp, appreciate and understand the bank's operations and financials in totality.
As I said, it is a bank like no others - it is an Exim Bank!
Datuk Adi holds (i) diploma in investment analysis from UiTM, (ii) bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Monash University and (iii) MBA from Universiti Malaya.
Prior to his appointment to head Exim Bank, he was formerly the chief financial officer of Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd.
It was fun meeting him, and hope to cross path soon. Indeed, this particular CEO is one that inspires rookie journalist like me!
Folks,
It has been sometimes since I post in this blog.
This may a tad bit late, but then again, I was busy with things.
Let us all pray for Malaysia Airlines flight MH177, which was allegedly shot while flying at Ukraine airspace.
All passengers in there (statistics showed 298 passengers including dogs and doves) died.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them and their families.
And understandably, there will be many speculation and theories about this incident. I do not discount that there too will be comical and absolutely ridiculous theories emanating from non-qualified individuals and to some extent, organisations.
But what is clear is that this is an act of humans. A terrorizing act that transcends beyond ethical bound.
Such an act must not be condoned, and those who did it must be brought to the face of justice!
MaxMonster
Selangor
July19, 2014
