By: Yvonne Foong Ming Niang (Guest Blogger)

This article by Yvonne Foong Ming Niang extracted from http://www.yvonnefoong.com/2010/08/18/home-and-family-in-the-air/

Eddie & Co. sent mom and me to LAX last Saturday for our flight back to Malaysia.

While waiting in line at the Economy Class baggage check-in counters, we spotted Daryl Stripsky, the Malaysia Airlines ground crew at LAX coming in for work. We said our hellos and caught up a little before another ground crew waved us over and led us to a special counter next to the Golden Club counters.

Golden Club flyers still had to line up but we didn’t have to!

But that wasn’t the first time I was allowed to wait in the business class lounge. The MAS crew at LAX had been taking me there since my visit in March 2009 for the Gamma Knife Radio surgery.

In the business class lounge, I get to surf the web, reply e-mails and tell everyone on Facebook that I was heading for home!

Half an hour to departure, mom and I left the lounge and took the elevator to where boarding gates were. At this floor, another MAS ground crew spotted us. He spoke to mom briefly before leading the way. As we continued to walk ahead, he turned around and made eye contact with me, to say an extra hello. I knew then that he was aware of who we were.

Last weekend, we flew home on Economy like most times.

Even though we were seated in Economy Class, the cabin crew treated us with first class hospitality. The only tell-tale that we were in Economy was the always upright sitting position and the minimal leg space. Our blankets in Economy were woven and not duvets.

Economy Class food tastes just as good if not better. The only difference is in the way food is served. In business class, food is served with big designer plates, full-size cutleries, drinking glass, table cloths and cloth napkins.

If we want a snack in business class, we have to ask the crew, crack our brains and take a pick from the loooooooong list of choices, and then tell the crew what we want.

In Economy, the crew would suddenly and unexpectedly hand you a Magnum ice-cream sometimes. Surprise!

The attention I received in Economy Class was nothing less than what I will receive in Business Class. The crew was always willing to see what I needed whenever I pressed a button on the remote to call for attention.

In Business Class, the crew watched me with hawk’s eye. But it doesn’t mean I am treated any less without the hawk’s eye in Economy!

Once while I was flying Economy last weekend, I woke up during sleep time feeling hungry and called for attention. A steward I had seen seated at the end of the cabin earlier appeared beside me as soon as I pressed the button. He looked very concerned so I told him that I was just feeling hungry and wanted to eat something. He tried to ask me what would I like to have but I said that I couldn’t understand him and searched for my pen. He then dashed to the kitchen, dashed back and stashed two buns in individual plastic wrappers into my hands. I said that one was enough and returned the other.

It was a sardine bun. He also gave me a glass of water as requested.

He left me wondering whether they hired him just to look out for me.

I have much to thank the MAS ground crew in LAX for preparing their cabin colleagues with my background and special needs information. Because of this, the cabin crew was patient while communicating with me. Once on my return flight last weekend, a stewardess on the flight between Taipei and KLIA asked whether I needed a wheelchair upon arriving at KLIA. I said no, but she looked at me questionably and asked, “Are you sure?”

This stewardess had been looking out for me throughout the journey home and grew to empathize with the nature of my hearing impairment.

She spoke at a speed. Intonation and expression that I could pick up her words with my Auditory Brainstem Implant and understand her.

In the end, I chose to use the wheelchair and assistance because KLIA is just too huge!

My next flight to and fro the U.S. for medical reasons will be through Newark in New Jersey. I am going to miss the crew at LAX! *sob*

By: Herni Azura Hashim (Inflight Services, Cabin Crew Training & Standards)

On 29th and 30th June 2010, WELKINS CCLOPS with the assistance of Cabin Crew Training & Standards and make up consultant Kawon had conducted a Grooming Workshop for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) Women Entrepreneur as part of the social program. This was a collaboration of Corporate Social Responsibility Project by WELKINS, CCTS, UNHCR and an NGO - Tech Outreach.

The majority of the participants were community leaders and representatives for the women folks from their respective ethnic communities. Collectively, they represented 5 different states of Myanmar, namely the Mon, Shan, Karen, Karenni and Chin; as well as the Rohingya ethnic group, which is a unique stateless ethnic group; and the Myanmar Muslim, which is the only group of people from the country who identify themselves based on their religions rather than individual ethnicity. Besides the Burmese, they were also other nations who joined the Workshop; the Somalis, Afghans and Sri Lankan.

As community leaders and representatives, they carry the daunting and challenging role of unifying and organizing the women within their communities. They also often act as the first "run-to" within their communities, assisting in emergencies like taking the sick to the hospital, providing shelter to those who need it, coordinating community support to refugees who have no jobs, no home, etc. They regularly meet with the officers from UNHCR to bring forth various concerns, problems and requests from their communities to discuss workable solutions and assistance from UNHCR, to receive information and to be trained in various areas such as health, education, women's rights, etc.; and later to disseminate this information and knowledge to other members within their community.

In essence, they often act as the bridge between their communities and UNHCR and facilitate the two-way communication between them as the communities are scattered in several states of Peninsular Malaysia.

Most of these women are doing works within their communities without any pay or receiving minimal stipend from their communities. As such, some have started small businesses and income generating activities (IGAs) that are home-based in order to support their own livelihood needs.

The Grooming Workshop was carried out to this group of refugee women to help develop and give them more confidence to conduct their entrepreneurial venture in a more professional manner. During the workshop, they were exposed to basic grooming technique which was conducted by Puan Nazimah and make up techniques by Kawon who fully sponsored the session.

A big thank you to everyone who was involved in making this program possible. The feedback from the participants were very positive as they valued the knowledge they gained from this workshop.

By: Bobby Sim Swee Sing (Inflight Services, Cabin Crew Line Operations)

 MH Crew Family hard at work clearing the garden, planting the grass and laying the driveway

At around 0830hrs, 10th July, 2010 on a bright and beautiful morning in the township of Kundang, the townsfolk saw a group of blue colored shirted people gathering at their Dewan Serbaguna Orang Ramai Kg Melayu Seri Kundang, complete with some wheelbarrows, cangkuls/hoes and shovels…they must have wondered if they had missed any news of a gold strike around their town and that these people were there to mine some gold or something else!

Our group, on the other hand, were feeling like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves going into the forest to do some work…just that in our case, it was not Snow White, but Welkins/CCLOPS/MH Juara, and not the Seven Dwarves, but 32 of us in the MH Crew Family consisting of all ranks and file with some family members, going to the PDK Seri Kundang Center to do up their garden and driveway for them!

We were also met by the assistant to the ADUN MP, YB HJ Shukur for the area, Mr. Adrian Sim who had come to know of our project during the planning stage. He brought with him three members of his constituency to assist us, and thank us for coming to do the Gotong Royong Project for the Center.

It was a short walk to the Center from the Dewan, and upon reaching the Center, a short opening speech was given by ISE Rahim Khamis who gave thanks to all present for volunteering their time and efforts in the spirit of 1MH. This was followed by a short speech by Mr. Adrian Sim who once again thanked us, and mentioned that we are indeed a very good representation of 1Malaysia in coming forward to volunteer our time and effort for the less fortunate. The Administrator for the Center, Puan Rozita then had a few words as well to thank us all for coming to help them, and also for the donations of some dry foodstuff and amenities organized by IFE Rahim.

A few more minutes briefing were spent on work logistics and safety rules, and at around 0920hrs, work proper started. Iit was indeed a sight to behold as all of us worked hand in hand, as what our 5 Star Cabin Crew always does, to efficiently do up the garden and driveway, managing to improvise when needed, exchanging ideas on the best course of action to take accompanied by the usual bantering and exchange of jokes!  The sun was blazing fiercely, it was really hard work and all of us were perspiring profusely, but the camaraderie was evident as all were seen encouraging and helping each other. Some of the Center’s ‘special’ students turned up at about 1100hrs, and we took a break to mingle with them. Our balloon man, CS Ginger entertained them with his specialty, and we could see that they were pretty excited by our presence.

The work finished around 1230hrs, by which time everyone was feeling pretty tired and sunburned, not to mention hungry!! However the satisfaction of seeing the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of the garden and driveway made up for all the hard work  and sweat, and after making sure that we had done the job properly, we thank the Administrator for giving us the opportunity to be there. A short closing by ISC Chang CK with some mention of plans for future projects, then we were off for lunch, sponsored by Welkins/MH Juara, at a Warong owned by one of our former crew.

We were pleasantly surprised when Mr. Adrian Sim showed up to have lunch with us, bringing with him some cut fruits consisting of buah nangka and guava. He also made sure we didn’t go back empty handed as he packed some buah nangka for all us to bring back as well.

All in all, a most tiring but satisfying morning, and special thanks goes out to ISE Rahim Khamis for being the source/catalyst of this project, ISC Chang CK for his passion and guidance to realize the project, also his willingness to get his hands dirty (despite being on pain killers for his knee), IFS Adrian Yin for assisting in the planning, Unit Hidayah representative CSS Warjeet Kaur, Head of C/Crew MH Juara ISE Oi GN, and our HOD, Mr. Gunalan for giving us his blessings and support for this charity project. Special mention also goes out to our two cameramen, FS Hafiz, and LS Nicholas Wan for their paparazzi skills! Many thanks also to all the participants, the family members who came along to lend a helping hand.  In reaching out to help the less fortunate, our MH Juara Program of ‘Engaging with Employees’ is certainly achieved, and this group of Crew Family who has participated in this project most certainly felt the difference in the sense that there were no boundaries or protocols between us despite the different ranks and files in the group!

I end this report by giving thanks to the Almighty for His grace in giving us a beautiful day in which to carry out our work, and may He also bless all of the participants as well for their charitable efforts for the day!!

The satisfaction of a job well done!!!

By: Mohd Hairani Mokhtar (Kelab Sukan MAS)

MAS Football Club in collaboration with External Relations Department has organized a charitable activity "MAS PINTAR FUTSAL 2010" held from 29th March and ending 31st March. This year’s tournament was held at De'Stadium Futsal Centre USJ19, Subang Jaya.

A total of 17 schools (153 students and 17 teachers) competing in the tournament, 13 from Primary Schools and 4 Secondary Schools. The purpose of this tournament was organized to strengthen good relationship between schools under the Pintar Project. In addition to fostering the spirit of sportsmanship and to build camaraderie between students enrolled in this program.

MAS Pintar Futsal 2010 was opened by Tuan Hj Lokman Ishak, Manager External Relations in a glorious dinner. As the games drew on, competition become more intense beneath the sweltering heat, as each team fought way to the finals. Alas, only ONE could be the Champion!

As for the Primary Schools team Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Satria Jaya, KUCHING triumphed over Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Sanglang, PERLIS. While for the Secondary Schools category Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Merpati, SANDAKAN has won Champion to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ibrahim Fikri, TERENGGANU.

The prizes were presented by the Honorable Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid Chairman of the MAS in a Closing Ceremony Dinner. Tan Sri Dr Munir in his speech urged all students to compete among themselves in terms of academic or sports and raise the quality of schools adopted by Malaysia Airlines. Meanwhile, SGM Dato Capt Nawawi congratulated the MAS Football Club and External Relations staff on the success in organizing MAS Pintar Futsal for the second year.

Thanks to all who have congratulated for the success of this tournament. With the spirit of mutual events from all committee members involved, both MAS Football Club and External Relations Department have been able to show "1MH Malaysian Hospitality".

Below are details of the scores and winner:

Team Champion/Primary School: Sek. Keb. Satria Jaya Kuching, Sarawak
Runner up: Sek. Keb. Sanglang, Perlis
Best Player: Nicksan Ajang Anu Garing, (Sek. Keb. Satria Jaya, Kuching)

Team Champion/Secondary School: Sek. Men. Keb. Merpati, Sandakan
Runner up: Sek. Men. Keb. Ibrahim Fikri, Terengganu
Runner up: Sek. Men. Keb. Ibrahim Fikri, Terengganu
Best Player: Faiz Salim (Sek. Men. Keb. Merpati, Terengganu)

By: Zahiyah Abdul Muin (Malaysia Airlines, Singapore)

The Make-A-Wish Foundation International was founded 30 years ago in United States. The Foundation has affiliates in over 35 countries around the world. Malaysia and Singapore are part of the global organisation. Their mission is to grant the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions  all around the world. Having their wish granted  boosts their strength and outlook on life in battling their illnesses.

In celebration of the World Wish Day 2010, 16 years old Muhammad Hazim bin Husaini travel wish to  Singapore - The Lion City was granted.

Our Singapore team welcomed Muhammad Hazim and family to Singapore on 13 May 2010. He was presented with Singapore Orchids and Chocolates.

Malaysia Airlines Station Executive Mr Pandian and the Singapore Make-A-Wish Foundation representatives were at the airport to meet and greet the family.

Muhammad Nazim four days tour itinerary include places of interest such as  Sentosa – Singapore’s premier island resort getaway,  Universal Studio Singapore – the 1st Universal Studio theme park in Southeast Asia and the Night Safari – the world’s 1st dedicated night zoo.

About 2 weeks ago, an unusual request came through to us when we received a call from Sandra Kirwan who is an active volunteer with Make A Wish Foundation, Malaysia. She was on time-sensitive mission to grant a wish to Irdina Aqilah Zilkifli age 7. Having seen a TV programme some time back, Aqilah’s ambition is to be a cabin crew.

Together with our Cabin Crew team and a few other colleagues within MAS, we arranged to make Aqilah's dream come true.

We received this letter from Aqilah's parent, Siti Salmina and Zulkifli Mokhtar. We are truly pleased to also received a letter from Helen Read, Chairperson of Make A Wish. Please read her letter here.

On behalf of our daughter, Aqilah we would like to take this opportunity to extend our most sincere and heartfelt thanks especially to Make-A-Wish Foundation in making Aqilah’s wish to be a stewardess come true with a strong support by Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) :- (MH is a Malaysian Hospitality) and Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort and Spa, Langkawi.

Beautifully wearing  MAS stewardess uniform (the uniform and accessories made for Aqilah suit her well and so lovely, thank you), Aqilah started her wish day with a great party @ MH Mock Flight Simulator at Malaysia Airlines Academy (MAA) and tour inside the academy.

The trip to Langkawi then was a blast and being on the MAS Aircraft with a wonderful crew was a fun treat. It was a great treat to get away from all the fuss in the hospital and spend time at wonderful Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa that so nice, warm and relaxing.

For our family, the wish gave us so much needed time to be together as family, away from all the stress. Aqilah’s illness placed an emotional strain for us and it was great to have that time. To all amazing people we met, thank you so much. Aqilah surely will cherish these memories for the rest of her life. To beautiful Sandra, gorgeous Farah and everybody in making Aqilah wish come true, thank you so much for all of your kindness and generosity. We could never do enough to express our gratitude for all you have done.

Love;
Aqilah and Family

By: Lee Siew Fai (Trainer to MH PINTAR Chess Icons, Engineering & Maintenance Division)

Our MH PINTAR program reached another milestone when we throw a hugely successful celebration event for completing three years of introducing chess to our PINTAR students in SK Permatang Damar Laut, Penang, SK Satria Jaya, Kuching and SK Sabak, Kota Bahru.

On 27 March 2010, we celebrated the success of two PINTAR Junior Trainers in securing the FIDE ratings which come with a global recognition among the chess playing community.

Subra and Nithya had managed to get inside the Top One Hundred Malaysia Active FIDE Rated Players (Malaysia’s January Listing) at rank 82 and rank 89 respectively. To make the celebration more significant, apart from receiving the FIDE Rating Score Card, they also provided us the thrill of a Simultaneous Chess Match to showcase their chess playing skills.

No amounts of words can describe their incredible talent in getting the attention of our MH staff and mesmerized all that was present. For the first time in MAS, if not the world, we provided a huge multi-hundreds millions Ringgit worth of an aircraft hangar and a multi-hundreds millions Ringgit worth of aircraft in the form of an in-service Boeing B777-200 to accompany the chess players in this special and unique occasion.

A picture speaks a thousand words and it is best we walk through this memorable day over some pictures taken by our Hangar photography team lead by Technician, Firdaus.

It was an early Saturday morning and the stage was set for the arrival of guests and participants. The majestic Rolls-Royce powered twin-engine Boeing B777-200 sits silently and proudly waiting for the day’s incredible action to commence.

If you think chess is boring, you are in for a surprise! As the participants begin to stream into our MAS Hangar 5, they were pleasantly welcomed by the violin music of our chess player cum violinist; Chein Yan and Wai Ben. As they were waiting for the event to start, the duo brought more “class and fanfare” by entertaining the excited audience with excellent musical pieces. Filling the air are the likes of the scandalous “Can Can” and the romantics of Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D. To rile the participants into greater fighting spirits, “Still Reeling” was played to remind the chess players on the agony of defeat!

Our guest of honour is no other than SGM External Affairs, Dato’ Capt Nawawi. Under Dato’s stewardship, the PINTAR program has successfully reached out to more schools within areas where our business operates and we are seeing the rewards of having gave a good solid platform for scholastic growth of the less than privilege children.

The highlight of our Celebration is the award of the FIDE Ratings Score Card to our two PINTAR Chess Icons Subra & Nithya. A well deserved congratulation to the two for being the first PINTAR students to achieve international recognition in the competitive game of chess.

To further commemorate this significant occasion, both were given a memento inscribed with the message recording the “First Ever Simultaneous Chess Match inside an Aircraft Hangar under the wings of a Boeing B777-200 aircraft”. I believe this is the best possible motivation anybody can give to these aspiring chess players. Hurray! Go for the highest goal…

A commendable “generous gesture” via our PINTAR effort was the successful introduction of chess in our PINTAR schools had left an indelible impression onto our Lae Hurul Ain of ASU, KLIA that she had decided to come forward and handover a personal cheque of Ringgit Malaysia Twenty-Five Thousand to SK La Salle Klang to start a chess program in the school. Pictured here is the cheque handing over ceremony to Headmaster Lim Leong Chye in the presence of our SGM External Affairs, Dato’ Capt Nawawi and SGM Engineering and Maintenance En. Mohd Roslan Ismail. “Syabas dan ribuan terima kasih” kepada Lae Hurul Ain kerana jasa baik anda akan menguntungkan murid-murid sekolah di SK La Salle Klang. Catur akan menbangkitkan kebolehan and kepercayaan diri mereka hingga tahap yang membolehkan kejayaan cermelang. Malaysia Boleh! Hurul Ain, you are the best!

Our SGM Dato’ Capt. Nawawi and SGM Mohd Roslan officiating the start of the Simultaneous Chess Match making the first move for Nithya. The challenge to beat the chess icons has just started. Over the next three hours, who will bite the dust?

Twelve year-old Subra is seen here taking on twenty-eight challengers.

Nithya is taking it all in good stride while playing against twenty-four opponents; no easy task for a ten-year old girl.

Subra is seen here making a crucial move against this opponent that seems to be putting up a fight over the sixty-four squares. Unknown to Subra, this serious looking “MAS security personnel” has something up his sleeves (or rather under his thinking beret!).

Nithya is performing under the watchful eyes of her father, Sivanesan. He seems to be more nervous than her daughter!

Spectators are seen keenly pondering over the players moves.

The surprised package comes in a Fide-rated Syazrin from Security Department playing strongly against Fide-rated Subra. The end result was a fighting draw and, perhaps, more gauntlets next.

While the challenge to beat Subra and Nithya is taking place, we have some children of MAS staff taking their first ever lesson in chess on the other wing of the Boeing B777-200 aircraft- what a significant and memorable start to learning the game of chess. We hope this is the start of a journey of making chess their life-long friend. By virtue of starting chess learning in this excellent and motivating environment, they have the very best of “initialization in the game of chess!”

The organizing committee takes the opportunity to have a photo taken with SGM Dato’ Capt Nawawi. A job well done!

The coach takes a quick glimpse to see how the games are progressing. Only he can stop the match if the child icons are physically and mentally impaired due to exhaustion. The games are then to be adjudicated by the Match Director. In the end, the match finished within the three hours time limit with only five games needed adjudication.

No child plays as the challengers are concentrating hard to win a memorable game. These are faces of the young participants, the children of parents taking the trouble to bring them to a memorable Saturday morning. Will they too go forth from here and begin to etch a name for themselves in the world of competitive chess?

The Sivanesan family seen here relaxing after seeing off their opponents (and friends).

Final results:

Nithya scored 19 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses with a playing percentage of 85%
Subra scored 23 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses with a playing percentage of 86%

Ordinary family with ordinary children performing extraordinary feat- indeed the pride and joy of our MH PINTAR initiatives.

By: Lee Siew Fai (Trainer to MH PINTAR Chess Icons, Engineering & Maintenance Division)

Dear Chess Enthusiasts (of Malaysia Airlines Staff),

On 27 March 2010, we will see the two PINTAR Chess Icons at play in a game known for being the domain of the "brainy". They will show how fast their brains work. How quick they can make a decision. How very fast they can make a move. Moves after moves, without fail, they will throw the gauntlet at their opponents, simultaneously!

It is a show you should not miss.

Are these two children specially gifted? Are they that very different from children you have; and children you know? Are they really so differently created to the extent that we can borrow John Gray’s “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” metaphor? Are these two kids really from our own planet Earth? Are they are actually "Martian" and "Venusian" in disguise!

In reality, they are just kids you and I know; and as common as any you had come across! Come meet them and you will see two common kids on the block; very much like us when we were kids too. So, how the PINTAR Chess Program did managed to bring forth and into fruition two fantastic children that can play chess to a level most adults find difficult to comprehend.

Both Subra and Nithya is seen here at home sharpening their skills in preparation for the National Age Group Championship in Penang during the short term school holiday.

What really makes the difference for them actually lies in the fact that they have what it takes to fulfil the core model 3 of the PINTAR Program, namely, having the capability and capacity building environment offered by a chess trainer (in me and MAS Project PINTAR) and that of parental involvement (as in their parents unwavering support and encouragement).

As for capability and capacity building, it can always be substituted by you in the form of creating the environment for motivation, commitment and learning. In parental involvements, it is again in your hands! There you are the recipe for you to help develop your child into a chess player that can rival these two PINTAR Chess Icons.

By now you would have taken notice of our MH Corporate Responsibility effort. Our External Affairs Department had done us proud in reaching out to our PINTAR schools in the CR aspect of being a good corporate citizen within the community where our company’s business operates.  Providing support to school in terms of books, computers, tuition classes and career talks is part and parcel of creating an environment for scholastic achievement. Of special mentioned here would be the introduction of chess to the student; a game known to help children reach scholastic enhancement.

This Simultaneous Match is a celebration of our effort in chess education delivered in the PINTAR spirit and is also that of bringing home the Corporate Responsibility successes back to MH. We hope through this event, our staff can have a better feel and engagement on the goals of our Corporate Responsibility efforts. Whether you are going to be a player, a student or mere spectator, do come and join us in celebrating the success of our PINTAR Chess Program.

Theme: Celebrating Three Years of Project PINTAR Chess Program

Event: FIDE rated Subra (1802) & Nithya (1650) Simultaneous Match

Date: 27 March 2010

Time: 07:30-12:30

Location: Inside Aircraft Hangar at KLIA

07:30 Registration of Participants and Hangar Safety Briefings

08:00 Briefing of Simultaneous Match Rules

(By Match Director Collin Madhavan)

08:15 Welcome Speech by Guest of Honour

08:45 FIDE Rating Card Presentation Ceremony

09:00 Simultaneous Match Officially Open by Guest of Honour

09:30 Chess Lessons

12:00 Completion of Simultaneous Match

12:30 Presentation of Official Results and Match Certificates to Participants.

Limited seats are still available in the Beginners Chess Class and the Simultaneous Match. Register your interest with leesf@malaysiaairlines.com. With E&M being the host, no fees are charged.

By: Noor Dyana Jamaludin (External Relations)

MAS PINTAR camp was held in Kem PUSAKO, Negeri Sembilan for 14 MAS adopted schools students within Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak involving 175 students and teachers as well as staff children from stations.  Schools participating are SK Permatang Damar Laut, Penang, SMK Raja Tun Uda, Penang, SK Sanglang, Perlis, SK Kg Belukar, Kedah, SK Keruak, Terengganu, SMK Ibrahim Fikri, Terengganu, SK Sabak, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, SMK Kuala Balah, Jeli, Kelantan, SK Fakeh Abd Samad, Kuantan, Pahang, SK Gelang Patah, Johor, SK Satria Jaya, Kuching, Swak, SK Lambir Village, Miri, Swak, SK Pasir Puteh, Keningau, Sabah dan SMK Merpati Sandakan, Sabah.

The camp was organized by Kelab Kembara Backpackers MAS for the 4th time since MAS PINTAR Camp was introduced in 2007. Part of the camp outdoor activities includes jungle trekking, canoeing, water confident, wall climbing, jungle survival and finding direction using compass. Besides that, there were also indoor games which taught them teamwork, time management as well as to improve their creativity in problem solving. The camp was launched by SGM External Relations, Dato’ Capt Mohd Nawawi Awang on the 2nd day. All participants and volunteers were given certificates during the closing ceremony of ‘Malam Kebudayaan’ which involves performance by every group.

By: Lee Siew Fai (Trainer to MH PINTAR Chess Icons, Engineering & Maintenance Division)

Our Project PINTAR Chess Program had reached another pinnacle when both Subra & Nithya had secured their FIDE chess ratings. Not only are they internationally rated, they are also listed inside the Top 100 Active Malaysian FIDE Rated Players list.

Subra (1802) and Nithya (1690) are listed at number 82 and number 89 respectively. http://ratings.fide.com/topfed.phtml?tops=0&ina=1&country=MAS refers.

We have decided to honour their outstanding efforts and performance in having a FIDE Rating Card Presentation Ceremony in our SZB Hangar with a B777 or an A330 in the background. In order to make things more exciting, our two young chess icons will play a simultaneous match to demonstrating their chess prowess and also promote wider participation of the chess game among staff. Both Subra (12 years-old) and Nithya (10 years-old) is to play against 25 players and 20 players respectively in a simultaneously match under the aircraft wings. We shall open these 45 seats to any of our MH staff and/or their family members to play against our PINTAR icons.

For children of MAS staff who do not know how to play Chess, we have specially prepared a Beginners Chess Class for them. The Chess class is limited to 25 school children who would like to learn the rules of the game of Chess within a short session. The Chess class will begin 30 minutes after the start of the main event.

Registration for both the Simultaneous Chess Match and Beginners Chess Class is on first-come-first-seat basis. All outstation participants must make their own travel arrangement and bear their own cost in attending this event. The finalised Aircraft Hangar location will be informed via email/sms to registered participants three days before the match. Interested parties, please email your registration to leesf@malaysiaairlines.com together with your full name, relationship, age, department and contact numbers (office & handphone).
 
Program is as follows:

Theme: Celebrating Three Years of Project PINTAR Chess Program

Event: FIDE rated Subra (1802) & Nithya (1650) Simultaneous Match
(against MH Staff and family members)

Date: 27 March 2010
Time: 08:30-12:30
Location: Inside Aircraft Hangar at SZB below the wings of a Wide body Twin Jet (to be confirmed based on aircraft availability and participants will be informed 3 days beforehand)

Match Duration: not more than 3 hours

Rules: General Simultaneous Chess Match Rules applies (with exception of health provision given to these two child players whereby their trainer shall have the right to stop the games should their health be deem impaired and the match shall be adjudicated by the Match Director)

Match Director: Candidate Master Collin Madhavan (FIDE rtgs 2200/ Triple Malaysian Simultaneous Record holder for most number of Chess Opponents and Malaysian record holder for most number of consecutive chess games played)

07:30 Registration of Participants
08:00 Briefing of Simultaneous Match Rules
(By Match Director Collin Madhavan)
08:15 Welcome Speech by Guest of Honour
08:45 FIDE Rating Card Presentation Ceremony
09:00 Simultaneous Match Officially Open by Guest of Honour
09:30 Chess Lessons
12:00 Completion of Simultaneous Match
12:30 Presentation of Official Results and Match Certificates to Participants.

We look forward to your participation in this exciting PINTAR-children giving Simultaneous Chess event and be a party to the wondrous sights that will dazzle our employee players, family members and spectators.

By: The Living MH Blog Team

Hi folks!

Were you anxious to know the two winners at the Blogging Competition held on 09 January 2010 at MAS Touchdown @ Skypark Terminal, SAAS Airport?

Avril Chan, check out her link MAS Touchdown at Skypark Terminal, SAAS Airport and Ruby Ahmad, check out her link Charity Bazaar at Subang Skypark Terminal came by our office to collect their winning prizes. Together with Go International, we presented to each a CANON A1100 digital camera, courtesy of Canon Malaysia.

Avril mentioned that she does not have a camera and feels lucky that she won this competition. We were glad to know that we made her wish come true!

As for Ruby, her passion for blogging had drawn her to join the contest. She just loves to write blog stories.

Congratulations to both our winners!

By: Kusoom Dahlan (Malaysia Airlines, Bangkok)

Group picture with children

Juara team with students

It’s a charity cause before year’s end. In Thai culture, we believe that if we start a new year with good deeds, good things will come our way and we will be blessed whole year through.

It started when K. Amnat, our Juara rep, found this poor family with their disabled nine-year old daughter, Boonyuen Nhampolkrang or “Nong Yuen” as she is known to her family and friends at school. She was born with weak leg muscles so she cannot walk like other children at her age. She has had 2 operations for her legs by the Government Hospital and may need another one in future. Her mother has to carry her around, to toilet, to her bed, to school etc. She also could not hold or grab things in her hands. Her father, Mr. Prayoon is the single earner of the family since her mother; Mrs. Nak has to spend her full time taking care of their only child. Nong Yuen is supposed to be in 4th grade but due to her physical deficiency, no schools in the village or nearby area are willing to accept her since it would be quite a burden for them as they do not have the facility for the “special child care”. Nong Yuen also has a problem with her brain. She is a slow learner and with a short memory. So she needs a special attention which most ordinary schools cannot provide.

Group picture with the special child

Handing over contribution from BKK team to parent

Handing over wheel chair to parent

Until last year, Ms. Krittiya, a teacher in kindergarten class at Wat Ladsai Primary School in Ayudhaya province, volunteered to take Nong Yuen under her care. That’s when the girl was offered a chance to start school as other children although she is the oldest among her class mates!  Ms. Krittiya started with training her to control her hands to hold things first otherwise she would not be able even to hold a pencil to write. She gave her a pack of craft clay for her to clench everyday while at home. It has been a year of training and now she can hold a pencil, a spoon and other stuff in her hands although loosely but at least she can move and control her fingers now!

Distributing lunch packs to children

Everyday, her mother has to carry her and put her at the back of her bicycle and ride her to school. At school, her mother has to carry her to the class, to toilet and everywhere. She has to stay around at her daughter’s school everyday until class is over. Then she has to carry Nong Yuen back in the bicycle and ride back home. It’s quite a burden for the mother as Nong Yuen is getting bigger everyday and has become too heavy for her mother to carry.

K. Amnat has seen this poor family and raised the matter to the colleagues to help fund the family and try to find other kind of support to help the girl to move around on her own in order to lessen her mother’s burden. All staff willingly answered to his call of charity and contributed a fund for the girl’s education. Thanks to the good relationship that K. Amnat has with TG, they have donated one wheelchair for the girl to use at home and at school so her mother won’t have to carry her around anymore.

Handing over goodie bags to children

On 30th December 09, last working day of the year, our MH team comprising airport and town representatives, led by Mr. Selva, our Area Manager and Mr. Yoga, our Station Manager together with Mr. Thanapat, Sales Manager started off for Ayudhaya province, an hour-and-a-half drive from BKK town to visit the school where Nong Yuen and her class mates were waiting with joy and excitement. It was the last school day before long holidays also. When we arrived, the students were having their New Year’s party and lunch in each class. It was a fun atmosphere. The students from other classes were as enthusiastic as we arrived at the school compound with bags full of goodies for the kids. K. Amnat and our Sales Manager together with Sales officer were waiting there and already treated the whole class with chicken rice and cold soft drinks. The children looked so happy. That’s the first time we saw Nong Yuen, who was smiling all the time. She looked healthy and happy and could get along well with her friends. Her friends seemed to love her too.

After lunch, Ms. Krittiya, asked her small students to line up and receive the goodies from Mr. Selva. Then, Mr. Selva handed over the cash fund (total THB 5,500) contributed by MAS BKK town and airport offices including Cargo to Nong Yuen’s mother who was appreciative of our donation. Then we presented a gift which we hope would be very useful to Nong Yuen, the wheelchair with MAS logo!

We finished our cause with a group picture with the Nong Yuen and her teacher and friends. It was a happy day to all. Thanks to K. Amnat for his thoughtfulness and caring for the child’s welfare so that we could have a chance to do some good things together, to make one small life better.

Cheers!

By: Azman Ismail (Malaysia Airlines, MASenidaya)

Sekali lagi kami menjemput anak-anak dari kalangan kakitangan MAS, Firefly dan MASWings untuk turut bersama menjayakan product baru MASenidaya 2010 untuk terus mencungkil bakat yang terpendam dalam anak-anak anda untuk bersama menyerikan kumpulan tarian kebudayaan dan gamelan MAS untuk mereke terus menjadi insan seni yang memahami erti sebenar seni budaya bangsa sendiri.

Seperti yang telah kita war-warkan, tahun 2010 ini MASenidaya sekali lagi membuat kejutan dengan menubuhkan sebuah kumpulan Gamelan Wanita yang terdiri dari kakitangan MAS dari kalangan wanita sahaja telah mendapat sambutan amat mengalakkan.

Seramai 10 orang wanita yang berani mencuba bakat untuk mengerakan sebuah kumpulan Gamelan Wanita telah berjaya menjalani sessi percubaan memperkenalkan muzik gamelan dikalangan kakitangan wanita MAS.

Pada hari pertama hari ini 19 Januari 2010 dari jam 1300-1400 waktu rehat telah dimanafaatkan sepenuhnya untuk mereka mula-mula mengenali apa itu muzik Gamelan.

Dengan tunjuk ajar dari Pengerusi MASenidaya sendiri secara sukarela telah berjaya membawa perubahan besar dalam tahun 2010 ini. Semuga kehadiran mereka ini akan kekal untuk terus mendalami muzik gamelan sebagai hobi dan mengisi masa lapang atau sebagai kokurikulum selain dari kerja pejabat sebagai menghilangkan rasa stress.

Diharap terapi muzik waktu rehat ini akan meningkatkan mutu kerja mereka dan dapat menenangkan jiwa yang memahaminya. Pada mereka yang berminat boleh lah menyertai mereka ini setiap hari Selasa dan Khamis dari jam 1300-1400hr dengan kadar bayaran yang paling mininum di dunia yang penting biar belajar secara iklas.

Insallah akhir tahun ini kita bakal menonjolkan bakat seni dikalangan kakitangan wanita MAS di persembahan Syarikat, awam mahupun keluar negara siapa tahu!

Mereka dari kalangan bukan melayu digalakkan menyertainya bersama. Segala pertanyaan boleh hubungi: azmanis@malaysiaairlines,com atau call 019-2273466.

Kekalkan kehadiran anda dan ingat terapi muzik dapat menghilangkan stress.

'Bersama semarakkan 1SENI,1MH dan 1MALAYSIA'

By: Syefri Zulkefli (Guest Blogger)

This article by Syefri Zulkefli extracted from http://chiefchapree.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-fine-saturday-at-mas-touchdown.html

Ahhh...Subang's Terminal 3. Now with a new name, SKYPARK Terminal, I used to went through this place a lot of time during school holidays back when I studied in Kota Bharu. This was before everything shifted to KLIA...so yeah, haven't been there for quite a while.

Three pesawat with Pesawat's autograph. Berapa banyak pesawat daaaaa...

Since I pretty much go to airport only to fly in and fly out (haven't got the chance to do in quite a long while); or to pickup/greet people, I felt a bit weird coming to airport for casual visit. But it was all good, because we were there for MAS Touchdown @ SKYPARK Terminal event. Story continues after the jump.

So, the event not only about Malaysia Airlines and Firefly (FOKKKKERRR...oh wait, they already replaced them with ATR planes XD) but also, about charity, music and shopping! Ok la, I'm not really in a position to shop but then I did managed to find two cool deal at Bijou Bazzar @ MAS Touchdown:

Can't believe a shoe this fine is only RM 20. But then, it's too small. RAGE ensures.

A pair of Onitsuka Tiger for only RM 20 - DUA PULUH RINGGIT SAJA WEH, MANA NAK DAPAT LAGI? The problem is...the size. It's in size 4, FFFFFFFUUUUUUU, TIM KAAAAIIII? T_T

Yummy, almost lickable.

Crafted In Japan '62 Fender Stratocaster for RM 2.5k. In general, I'm not a fan of that bridge pickup mod, but for 2.5k, it ain't bad a deal. Plus, since the other pups are Noiseless, guess what we got here is kinda nice..

You can pay by installment somemore. So, if you interested, you can give a call to Jeffery (017-6951105). He also got a Epiphone Goth Series Flying V - in full stock condition, no mod - and couple of small amps for sale.

Oh oh oh, excuse my temporaral geek-out just out. But really, outside from these two, nothing else caught my eyes. From my observation, most of the items was for the fairer sex; even if they were for male, they were too small for me. So, the missus and her friend was having a very great time browsing through the variety of selection.

The sweet Liyana. *wheeeee*

As for music, they have couple of independent artists performing from morning till the end of the event. Since we arrived quite late, we didn't get to catch much music (so sorry George, we want to see you perform so bad >.<). We were only able to catch Liyana Fizi and Pesawat.

These two band already pretty well known and as usual, their performance were top notch. I don't have any need to add more awesome stories about them, you just got to see them yourselves.

Pesawat with one of the airplane model's bidder.

So far, I've mentioned about shopping and music...so, where's the charity part? According to the event's official site (http://www.malaysiaairlinesblog.com/), proceeds from this event - - sales, auctions and donations - goes to Women’s Aid Organisation, Bandar Harapan Organic Farm and Food Bank for the Poor. It is just too bad that I didn't get to contribute more than my morale support...I'm just too poor to bid for the cheap airline tickets (return tickets to Melbourne for only RM 2000, say what?) or that Airbus A380-800 airplane models! :(

All in all, it was a pretty good day for all of us. Kudos to Malaysia Airlines for having the event although it was a little bit out of place. Maybe they should do it during MAS Travel Fair or their other promotional event...wait, is (physical) MAS Travel Fair still around? Damn, it has been that long. I really really need to fly again.

By: Jasmine Low (Guest Blogger)

We have extracted this blog story at http://doppelgangerkl.blogspot.com/2010/01/9-jan-2010-mas-touchdown-charity-indie.html. Jasmine Low is one of our Bloggers for the MAS Touchdown Blogging Competition. Check out her blog story! 

Click to view photo gallery on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=180960&id=651834202&l=e617fc3df0

Hi hi folks! How are we feeling this 9th day of January in 2010?

Today, we've just completed a special event titled the Music Charity Friends - MAS Touchdown @ Skypark Terminal SAAS Airport where 10% of sales of items (some offer 100% of proceeds) would go towards benefiting the Food Bank for the Poor, Women's AID Organisation and Bandar Harapan Organic Farm.

It was real nice to see CEO/MD of Malaysia Airlines Tengku Dato' Azmil as well as Skypark Terminal SAAS Airport Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Jana drop by the stalls and watch the bands perform.

All of Pesawat band members autographed this model airplane and put it up for auction! Did YOU make a bid?

How did this all begin? Well, let's say it was just an idea when Jasmine Low, Founder of Doppelganger Open Mic and MD of Go International Group visited Sydney, Australia in March 2009. As a student, she was an active member and VP of SUAMS - the Malaysian students association. She contacted Jenny, the current President of Malaysia Fest and they met up. Jasmine was interested to see if she could bring some bands over to Sydney to perform. M-Fest on the other hand, was looking for talents to perform at their annual show at Darling Harbour in September. Come 27 September 2009, Malaysia Airlines flew indie band One Buck Short and singer songwriters Reza Salleh, Liyana Fizi and Rashdan Harith to Sydney to perform not only at M-Fest, which attracted over 5,000 people at the beautiful Darling Harbour Tumbalong Park, but also at Doppelganger Open Mic's first Aussie gig held at TASTE SURRY HILLS.

Liyana Fizi @ M-Fest, Darling Harbour in September 2009. It was FREEZING that day, 11 degrees Celcius and I'm sure her fingers were shivering as she strummed her guitar!

So when the chance came along to work together again, the artistes were invited to perform at MAS Touchdown and all said YES! One Buck Short and Reza Salleh were sadly not able to make it due to prior commitments. But instead, Pesawat and Najwa Mahiaddin, as well as George Wong, Ariff Abu Bakar, Daymien (you catch him busking around KL sometimes) and super energetic band, An Honest Mistake all made it for the one day show.

MAS employees jumble sale booth, MAS Wings, Firefly, Flymas.mobi, Saya Nak Cuti with Astro, Women's AID Organisation, Bandar Harapan Organic Farm, Foodbank for the Poor, Doppelganger's Indie Scene Cafe stall and about 30 Bijou Bazaar fashion vendors made their presence felt.

The Guitar Hero setup at Doppelganger's Indie Scene Cafe stall was a popular hit! So were the Doppelganger Lucky Dolls - one of our new products rolled out for 2010. In view of Saturdays being NO PLASTIC BAG day in the state of Selangor, we also invited our friends from Tiny Tapir to bring in their recycle RUME Bags as well as foldable drinking bottles.

Finally, courtesy of CANON Malaysia, two A1100 digital cameras worth RM700 each were put up as the main prize for the MAS Touchdown Mass Blogger Review Competition. With the deadline extended to Monday 12pm, if you still have not blogged about the event, it's not too late. Want to read blog entries submitted for the competition? Click here for the link: http://www.malaysiaairlinesblog.com/pt/blog/default.aspx?id=577&t=MAS-Touchdown-at-Skypark-Terminal-SAAS

Thank you MAS!

This is the Malaysian Airlines Blog which is updated daily by MAS employees. Check out http://www.malaysiaairlinesblog.com

Hi there Zaileen! Thanks for taking care of the posts on the MHBlogs :) You've been great! Thanks thanks!

I loved this look! Check out the heels... Style kau kau L)

Lunchtime Guitar Hero distraction

Emcee Anuar Faiq is a magician and musician. Here, he is an auctioneer and he's offering tickets for auction from as low as RM70 to Bangkok! The highest bid was RM390 for the return ticket. What a bargain!!! Then there were tickets to Melbourne, Jakarta, Bali, Hong Kong up for grabs! All monies raised went directly to the charity kitty. Thanks, MAS! Wha a great idea! Please do this again! Again?! Again?!

This is Najwa and her band, fresh from opening for NE-YO the previous night, this is one band to look out for. We wish her lots of love and that she will continue to perform at the best jazz concerts in the country and regionally. Thanks for being a part of MAS Touchdown, Najwa!!!

Well... hello Liyana Fizi! As one of the performers who performed at Malaysia Fest Sydney, Australia last September 2009, Liyana has shown tremendous professionalism in her musical career. Here's another indie artiste to look out for! Check out her tunes at www.myspace.com/liyanafizi

Welcome to the Doppelganger Indie Scene Cafe booth ... and thanks to Shida and Jana of Skypark, as well as MAS CEO/MD Tengku Dato' Azmil for supporting the cause by purchasing some items from our booth!

The Rashdan Harith Band - all set to take off!

Najwa and band receive thumbs up from MAS CEO/MD Tengku Azmil and Skypark COO Jana. Yes, they were really impressive. Too smooth for cool.

An Honest Mistake's Eve Oh and Darren Teh with Rayhel of MAS posing with AHM's stickers :)

The Tick - band anak MAS

Sorry - don't know how to turn this pix on blogger - that's George Wong!

Daymien and band

Jaz and Anuar Faiq doing some 'DID YOU KNOW' trivia on Skypark

Our emcee, Anuar Faiq and Ariff Abu Bakar - showing you how to book flights via your iphone on flymas.mobi!

Here are the MAS super ladies!

MAS CEO/MD Tengku Dato' Azmil snapping a shot of ReaXions - a band made up of MAS employees... Now that's a cool CEO! And that ends our report... Malaysia Airlines, you're the best in supporting us in making the first overseas trip by Doppelganger Open Mic come true! Thank you, curtsies and bows. We're believers :)