SA'AT ISMAIL FOR SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AWARDS 2009

MR SA’AT ISMAIL

Siliconplus's success is largely driven by their founder and director, Sa'at. Despite coming from a humble background, Sa'at followed his passion in design and started his design company straight after his completing his art school in La Salle. He has shown great tenacity and passion in his field of work, coming back from 3 unsuccessful ventures before he started Siliconplus. His vision to move into multimedia areas of design was a wise one and today, he has established a strong company with a team of 15 staff.

Company : SILICONPLUS COMMUNICATIONS PTE LTD
Address : Eunos Technolink, Kaki Bukit Road 1, Blk 5 #04-06
Website : www.siliconplus.com.sg
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Interview with Mr Sa’at Ismail
by Leong Wei Jie on 08-Jun-2009. Student can be reached at leongwj@gmail.com

Business Profile:
Siliconplus Communications is an established design communications consultancy with strong expertise in editorial, multimedia and web designs. They also offer web and print design solutions to a broad clientele base. Siliconplus believes in giving the client what they envision and they have strong experience in providing not only brand consultancy but also on improving the whole image of the company. Their in-house design team handles all areas of image improvement, from creating their logos to creating collaterals for their clients.

Interviewer's Comments:
Sa'at was very humble and open as he shared his story. He spoke to me with much warmth and sincerity, just as if I was his brother and part of his family. He is very experienced and visionary and he taught me many things about life. What Sa'at have shared made a lot of sense to me, as sometimes things can be so simple but yet we just don't see it as we are so focused in our daily life.

1. What is the nature of your business?
We are a creative agency. What we do is developing images, be it from a logo or even a brand, through to revamping their image in the form of print work and multimedia. It's a one stop solution whereby we help companies bring their message across, be it to the customer or stakeholder. The majority of our clients are actually from the government sector. A lot of it has got to do with understanding what the organisation's objectives are. It has got to do with the branding and image positioning. In the creative industry, you have design houses and branding consultants. So usually the branding consultants will stop at branding and most of the execution part e.g. the design of communication collaterals are usually done by the design house. Most design houses do not focus on branding. So for us, we don't want to call ourselves a design house or branding consultancy. We are more of a creative agency, where we merge both into one. So we are not mere executors, we study, plan and develop one-stop solutions.

2. When and why did you decide to become an entrepreneur / take over your family business? NOTE: If it is not a family business, ask: Do your parents have their own businesses too? Have they inspired you in one way or another? (Select appropriate question according to the entrepreneur being interviewed.)
Well, I come from a very poor background, I struggled very hard. I come from a big family of 8 children. In total, there are 10 of us with my parents of course. So when I was young, I loved watching commercials. I liked the way people sell or promote products. That has always given me the ambition to one day sell something, push something, brand something and run it. Yes, selling ideas! But back then I didn't know what it was. But of course as time went by, I went through schools and after I completed my national service in 1991, I tried to look around and I found what I liked. I actually ended up in Lasalle (LASALLE College of the Arts). The people there were fun and very creative. It was a powerful place which really stirred up the mind. Back then when we were in Telok Kurau, it was really almost like a dumpster. But it's very interesting because people are crazy, people are wild but their minds are really sharp and creative. I met many creative people from all over, mostly Asians from Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and some of those Chinese friends that I had were mostly from overseas. There is diversity and we learn a lot. So it brought me into a different environment, and I told myself, yes this is what I like. This is what I love actually and it became a passion. So from that very instance, I told myself that I wanted to run my own company. Then a friend asked me to start up a business with them in Indonesia. I helped him run it for about a year, building up the graphic department. And then I realised how do I expose myself and learn more? That's why in the end I came back to Singapore. I worked for an advertising agency and after that I moved on to setting up my own business with friends. Back then there were five of us. We set up a business and we failed, because I think we were too big a group. "Too many cooks spoil the soup" that is what they say. All five of us went our separate ways and we all set up businesses on our own. When I started to run my own business I realised I can't do it alone. So I did it for another year and it failed. Then a friend of mine called me and asked me start a business with her. She had the money, dumped it into the business and I ran the business. I soon realised that setting up a business is not easy when you don't have the same thinking, the same mindset, and your partners do not see the same goal. It was my third venture and failure. But in less than a month, I would move on, looking out for new ideas and starting again. In 1999, I built Silicon Plus and my objective was to do multimedia. I always believed in multimedia because that's the future.

3. What are your reasons for choosing to do business in this particular industry?
Well the thing is how far can we go in terms of print? Maybe 10 years? 15 years? At the end of the day if you look at the situation right now, most publications have gone online or been converted into cd-roms. Especially in this economic crisis, the focus is to cut cost and just go online, no more printing. With print, it is actually double the amount. We are talking about maybe $80,000 to $40,000? With multimedia, it is about half the cost. That's a lot of money. Back then in 1999, I always feel that multimedia is going to be the way to go. We can't run away from it. So that's why we named the company SiliconPlus. Everyone can be very IT savvy. But you need to bring creativity, design, and ideas, hand in hand. That's the plus point, the added value. So that's why we call ourselves, SiliconPlus.

4. How did you put together all the resources needed to start your business? For example: getting the start-up capital, hiring staff, doing sales and marketing, advertising, etc.
I started as a one-man show with my sister as my admin. Then I hired a designer. We were in an 800 square metre rented office in Chinatown. I already had a waiting area and many tables. I had 10 networks running in four computers. We started with only $30,000 capital. I wanted to be sure that when I set up this business, I would be able to pull in big projects. I don't want to just do small projects and run it very slowly. At the start I was already thinking quite big. The worst thing was that soon after we started in October 1999, the January Dot com bust happened. Those were the days when we were struggling. Many Internet and multimedia companies had closed down. So I had to think of another direction. What I did was that since I'm good at branding, image and design, we shifted our focus from multimedia to branding.

5. What are some interesting stories you have about your first few customers/first few years in business?
The first ever project that we won was to produce the whole entire range of brochures for a polytechnic. We tendered for the job and instead of doing just one cover concept, we actually did all the 20 faculty design covers. We sent the mock up as if it was like a real mock up, like how it was supposed to look like, almost ready! And we won the job because of that. We were only a 3 men operation. That was the turnaround for our business because we realise we could tender for government projects. So from then on, we started tendering for government projects. The 2nd project that we won was for MDA. Back then it was the SBA (Singapore Broadcasting Authority). It was for their SBA magazine, which is a quarterly magazine with information about the organisation. We tendered and were shortlisted and they said they would like to come and visit us in the office. By then we were already almost a year old, so we were working on other projects day and night. There were only 2 designers and I had worked the whole night and slept in the office. So at eight o'clock in the morning, the client knocked the door and I opened the door. Then I realised I had a meeting with them! I was in t-shirt, shorts and slippers! So I slammed the door and I thought about it, "This is my client, what am I going to do!?" I opened the door and I told her to sit down and I said "I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were going to be here so early. Don't mind me, I'm going to wash up and I'll be back." While we were talking, I was putting on my socks and shoes. I told myself, "Oh gosh, we are going to lose this job." At the end of the day, they told us that they liked us because of our enthusiasm, the energy and young spirit. So because of that we won the job. Our concept was also good, that was partly why they took the challenge. Not many people would be willing to give us that opportunity.

6. What are some of the challenges you faced when you first went into business?
After the dot com crash, there was 9-11. Business was bad because nobody wanted to spend money. We were hit by SARS after that. The government was cutting down on spending. So it was bad. It came to the extent that when we went for a tender briefing, we were competing with 30 over companies! Everyone would be standing in the conference room. The tough part is to stand out from the rest. That is why, when we do things, we go all out, understanding the product, understanding the organisation and understanding the objective and what they want. So when we do, we deliver, we always try to go beyond their expectations.

7. How did you go beyond their expectations? I mean how did you overcome these challenges? Please share some specific examples of the action you took to overcome the challenges.
Research is very important. How we understand the client, be it a long-term client or a new client. The other factor is design. For some design houses, with one look at their work, you will know it comes from the same design house, it comes from the same art director and same creative directors. It's never about SiliconPlus or individuals. I always tell my designers and art directors, "Its never about us, it's never about me, it's always about our clients." We must always stand in their position, with their eye, so that we will be able to produce something that is more practical and something that works. Design can look pretty, nice, clean and beautiful, but if it is not practical, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Because we are very flexible, we can work with them and we can do a fast turnaround. I'm a part of the process.

8. How could you manage if there are multiple projects at the same time?
Now that you have mentioned it, I have never thought about how I manage everything. But one thing that I know for sure, I always look at things one at a time. I can have 10 projects in my head, but I will clear one at a time. I would never allow distractions on a project. Sometimes my staff will come and grab me when I'm back for a meeting as they want to sit down with me for a project. And when I give them attention for even 10 minutes or an hour, it is really full attention. Seriously, that's how I work. I keep myself blank and my focus is just on this project. That's how I can solve the problem easily.

9. Can you remember your worst day in business or a time when you felt like giving up? What happened that made you feel that way and how did you triumph over it?
Well, I never ever thought of giving up. The worst day is the day when we were really in debt. Who is not worried and upset when you are $200,000 in debt? That was bad but I had relationships that I had built with the suppliers. They knew I would come back. These are the people that I would still work with. These are the people who have been there for me. I have many clients who we have been working hand in hand with, be it on project basis or on contract basis, for even 5 years, 6 years? It's all due to the support we can give. What they need is a good agency to support them. The thing is that we have good suppliers. They really are our partners.

10. Can you share some of the lessons you learnt from overcoming your own business challenges that you think will help other businesses?
Well, one thing that I know is that, I came into this business not really wanting to be rich or famous. It's always to be happy at what I do everyday. I want to be able to wake up at 70 or even 80, still wanting to go to work and be excited to go to work. I have never thought about regrets because I enjoy doing it. I enjoy this mind exercise. It gives me more challenges. I prefer this kind of lifestyle rather than doing something very boring and monotonous. Just doing it for the sake of earning money or just for the sake of waking up everyday to earn a living, I think that's not what it is. But if you really have passion for something, my advice is that you should go 100% or even 200% for it. I believe that if you give everything, be it how much you fail, there is no way, you can not succeed. How much failure can you go through? You just need to have the stamina, the confidence and determination. What keeps you going is actually the passion. If you love what you are doing, it will never die. It can never die.

11. When was the moment you realised the business would work and support you?
I don't know, in fact I have never thought of it that way. I have always told myself, even when I was in school, that I wanted to run my own business and my own agency. And this is the only thing that can work for me. We have already set up a business in Indonesia. And then the next goal is that we want to go into the UAE market. Business in Indonesia has always been a support office. I think it's been too long that we stayed so comfortable, where we were before. So I always push my staff and train a lot more leaders. In fact those people who have been working with me for over 5 years, or even 3 years, have been trained to take over as managers and have become art directors, coordinators and design managers. An entrepreneur is not made by one. I don't believe that an entrepreneur is all about one person. An entrepreneur is not just a one man show. There is no way one man can build a million or billion dollar business. Who is behind it? Most entrepreneurs have many people who have been working with them for ages or even from the very beginning. That's what make entrepreneurs. It is the support they get from all these people. So we have built this and our next step is to grow a lot faster. It's about time for us to grow bigger and start thinking outside Singapore and not just locally.

12. How would you say that a good spouse or partner would contribute to an entrepreneur?
Well the advice for entrepreneurs would be to choose your partners carefully. It doesn't mean that if they are your good friend or your best friend, you can work as business partners. Your partner has to be someone that can take every little thing from you, be it the good, the bad or the ugly. They have to be able to take it, and not keep it in their heart and then one day they burst, that's how partnerships break. Partners have the same common goal but must understand who the leader is. If I have another partner who can lead better than me, I will step down. Because that is what it is. You need to support people, if you think you can't do it then you tell them, "Yes, this is how I want to lead and how I want to go." A real partner will be there for you, they will be there for you all the way. Business is nothing personal, because once it becomes personal, it's hard. That's why you should choose your partners carefully, and make sure that you really know your partner and your partner really knows you very well. Because if they don't know you and you don't know them, it's going to be very hard. And with regards to Michele being my partner and wife, there is always a saying, "Behind a powerful man, there is always a woman." Yes! It's true actually. She is somewhat my equilibrium, she is my balance. If I am going astray, if I am going too far, I'm pushing too hard and if I'm going off the path, she is the one who can help steer me back onto the right track. And that I must say is what you need, especially a person like me, full of energy and creativity. You need to be practical at the same time and reality checks are also very important. To put it in an easy way, she will always be the one to bring me back to the ground when it gets too much.

13. What are some of your proudest business achievements to date? And why are they so important and meaningful to you?
Well my proudest moment in terms of business achievement is when our company receives a good grade as a government supplier. For many people, once they grow big and the bosses grow older, the business just slows down. Some of the companies just disappear. I have always wanted to keep the business growing and maintain the standards. At the end of the day, the younger people can run it and take over the business. We have always believed in a family environment. I have always treated them like one of us, like family. We see who has given a lot, and who has really showed a lot of interest in the company. We need to see people and that's how we build leaders. That's how I see it, I want to be able to see that even when I am old, it will be a sustaining business and not just for my family or my kids. A sustaining business managed by people, by strangers.

14. I understand that there are many design houses, or even international design houses. How do you differentiate your business from your competitors? Please provide specific examples.
Well, a lot of companies specialise in different things. There are a few big ones and some small and medium ones. Design agencies are usually a one stop solution agency for environmental design to branding to multimedia and print. That's what we want to be. But many of them have different focuses and some of them are strictly focused on consumer goods, FMCG, whereas for others, they are more focused on multi-national companies like P&G, Unilever. We are focusing more on the government sector. Even if we were to go overseas, my focus would still be on the government sector. How do we help the government build their image? This is our focus and this is how we differentiate ourselves from the rest of them. There is a saying, "Which is the way you want to go? Do you want to fight in the red sea or the blue sea?" Because the red sea, everyone is there, and the blue sea, there are only a few. So we choose to go where there are only few people. Not many people like working with the government, because they have many requirements, tight turnarounds and red-tape. Whereas for us, I think, because of our experience working with them for 10 years, I think we have become immune.

15. What are some business ideas you have implemented that created great results in your business?
What I implemented is the focus on how we want to win jobs. It used to be out of 10 tenders, we win one. Nowadays, it is not that way, we just do one, we focus on winning one. It is not really one at a time, it's the way we focus on the project. Meaning, we give everything, like we have an art director, a designer and marketing people just working on one project and churning out whatever it is that we need. Design is different, when we develop something, it has to last at least three to five years. That's why when it lasted even longer, especially when you do a logo or brand, then you look back and you say, "This is still modern, it can still adapt to the current situation, current market trend and all." It is a challenge actually and I think everyone in our company all share the same vision. That's why we always have that inculcated into our approach towards our projects.

16. What do you see for your business in the next 5 years, and does it include any plans for expansion?
I think I should be in the UAE, I have better be! I need to have another business somewhere else, be it in UAE or in China, developing image and branding.

17. When you expand your business overseas, you need your staff as you said that they are very important. So when you are diversifying, you are going to separate the team, so how do you think you can still manage them and they still have the heart and soul of your principles?
We are always a family, the way we run our business is the same, nothing is personal. Our goal and objective is very simple, and it is always the same, it is always what the client wants. And that is about all. Sometimes some people can be a bit egoistic and they want it their way. We can try to accept that and we can try to see what we can do but other than that, all of them know that we have one goal, it is always about the client, and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. We agree that if it is working and not broken, do not fix it. Concentrate on other things. The culture and values that we built from day one are an equal thinking approach, family friendly environment and at the same time, respect for one another and being open and daring to say what you want to say. To me, a leader is not made and it's not when anyone gives you the position and says, "Ok, now you are the manager". No, it is you who made yourself the manager. If you really think you can do it? Do it! If you are really good at it, people will follow.

18. What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Well entrepreneurship is passion and drive. That's what I believe. If you don't have these two, you can't even succeed. They are what keep me going.

19. What are some entrepreneurship qualities that you have which has helped you come this far?
Yes, apart from luck. Without a doubt an entrepreneur sometimes bases it on luck and business thinking, in the sense of quick thinking and quick decision making. Those are very important. If you fail to make the right and quick decision on certain things; that is going to take you down. Apart from the earlier two qualities, decision making is very important. I admire most entrepreneurs like Tony Fernandes of Air Asia. They are dealing with millions and billions of dollars, so the decision to decide whether to buy a plane or not or even to close a store, it's a lot of money and it's not easy to make that kind of decision. That is why I would like to retract what I have said about entrepreneurship being only about passion and drive. The last quality is actually decision making. You make a wrong decision, it's a failure. Of course then, you are back to passion and drive again. That is why most of the successful entrepreneurs, they make good decisions all the time, wise and quick decisions. If you think for too long, opportunities will be gone. I had a friend who told me, "Opportunities knock on the door only once." So if you don't answer, it will pass you by. It will come again of course, but you had already lost one. That is why when there is an invite, think properly and carefully.

20. Who or what motivates and inspires you?
There is only one man actually. MM Lee, Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew. I love his books and I love his stories. Call me his biggest fan; he has always been like my mentor. I read about what he thinks, how he solves problems and how he projects himself. He was trying to look into the future. He doesn't just see five or 10 years down the road, he even sees 20, 30 or even 50 years down the road. I always admired how he sees it and I always wanted to be like him. I can never be him of course but I always think and project, like him. Frankly speaking, where I am right now, 15 years down the road, is what I was thinking of when I was in Lasalle.

21. Its a pity because it is actually a story that can motivate people and I'm inspired by you.
Actually another goal that I've always wanted to achieve is to inspire students. I want to give a talk one day. I want to talk to kids. I would love to inspire them. Because I realised that no one talked to me like an adult when I was young. I liked to be treated like I know everything even when I was that young. That's why whenever I meet anyone, when I see that they have that kind of spirit, I will talk to them in that manner, questioning them about their future and asking them to project themselves. I think every kid, every teenage right now deserves all this because everyone needs a mentor. Everyone needs to be told that, "You need to wake up." It's nice to see the gleaming hopes in people because I can see myself too.

22. What are some of your business values and what would you like to pass down to others, particularly the younger generation?
First, honesty is a very important thing. I always believe in honesty. Being ethical is another thing. You want to look back one day and tell yourself that you have built this business based on integrity, and you won't have a guilty conscience. Lastly, it is about professionalism. We will never short-change and that is professionalism. So, that is how you build your business. People will respect that and they will come back. A bad workman always blames the tools. But never blame the tools. Just work, just do your best and that's all you can do.

23. What advice would you give young people who want to start their own business or who have a dream that they want to fulfil?
If they have a dream, it is good. It is always good to have dreams. But like I said, passion is always the key to making an entrepreneur. If your passion is building a business, then build it. Don't just build a business to make money unless your passion is money. You must clearly define the thing that you like the most.

24. What about those young people who do not know what they really like and don't have a passion for something but they are still hardworking people who haven't found what they want? Do you have any advice for people like these, especially that there are many of them among young people today?
It is never easy to build a business. Many business minds are often nurtured and developed from young. What you go through from young make you what you are. So, if you can't build a business, then you need to either go to a business school and understand what business is all about or get a partner with a business mind. But, you also need to have the product. Doing business is all about having a product besides having a business mind. Through trial and error, they realise that this is something that they know how to do well and make it better so it can sell. Look deep inside you, and find what have you always loved and liked about things or life or food or anything. There is no way a person does not have anything that they like the most. There ought to be something. From that you can develop it further because you know it so well. Sometimes, they have a product but they refuse to get a partner who can run a business and they fail. If you can't run a business, you can't run a business. When you do not have a business mind, it just simply means you do not have it. Businessmen are being nurtured and developed. Expose yourself, meet people and mix around. Don't be shy. At the end of the day, you will never know. You're bound to meet friends who may become your partner in business. It is all up to you. I know doing business is not easy especially if you do not have capital, exposure and connections. People need to decide whether this is really what they want. Some people give up halfway because it taking up too much of their time, and they don't have time for family and friends. So, are you willing to sacrifice all these?

Happy New Year 2009, the Year of the Ox!

" 新年快乐！xīn nián kuài lè Happy New Year!
to all my Chinese clients and friends.
Good luck for the coming year "

Please Stop the Israeli Bloodshed Invasion of Gaza!

" War on Gaza, Al Jazeera English "

" Gaza Bloodshed, with over 900 Palestinians killed and the death
toll mounting daily as the Gaza offensive escalates- 11 Jan 2009 "

With over 900 Palestinians killed and the death toll mounting daily as the Gaza offensive escalates, we're urgently demanding action to end the violence and protect civilians.

Calling for robust international action to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and take further crucial steps toward a fair and lasting peace in the Middle East

Petition to the UN Security Council, the European Union, the Arab League and the USA: AVAAZ.ORG

Live update: AlJazeera English News
Live update: AlJazeera Magazine
Live update: www.muslims.net

We urge you to act immediately to ensure a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, to protect civilians on all sides, and to address the growing humanitarian crisis. Only through robust international action and oversight can the bloodshed be stopped, the Gaza crossings safely re-opened and real progress made toward a wider peace in 2009.

Here is a link to the full column by Uri Avnery.

Here is Tony Karon (Rootless Cosmopolitan) arguing that Israel has in fact lost this war.

Here is Israeli historian Avi Shlaim's analysis of the origins of the conflict, from the Guardian.

Here is a long post by Jim Sleeper from TPMCafe, offering a sympathetic defense of Israel's existence, questioning the moral posturing of some of its critics, yet concluding that there is urgent need for some "tough love" from its friends. TPMCafe also has some nice posts from Todd Gitlin, Sam Bahour, and MJ Rosenberg.

And finally, here is a link to a Washington Post column by historian/journalist Tom Segev.

In spite of UN Resolution 1860; Israel continues offensive ...
1. The Security Council stresses the urgency of and calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire, leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

2. The Security Council calls for the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment.

3. The Security Council welcomes the initiatives aimed at creating and opening humanitarian corridors and other mechanisms for the sustained delivery of humanitarian aid.

4. The Security Council calls on member states to support international efforts to alleviate the humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza, including through urgently needed additional contributions to UNWRA and through the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee.

5. The Security Council condemns all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorist.

6. The Security Council calls upon member states to intensify efforts to provide arrangements and guarantees in Gaza in order to sustain a durable ceasefire and calm, including to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition and to ensure the sustained reopening of crossing points on the basis of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access between the Palestinian Authority; and in this regard, welcomes the Egyptian initative, and other regional and international efforts that are underway.

7. The Security Council encourages tangible steps towards intra-Palestinian reconciliation including in support of mediation efforts of Egypt and the League of Arab States as expressed in the 26 November 2008 resolution, and consistent with Security Council Resolution 1850 (2008) and other relevant resolutions.

8. The Security Council calls for renewed and urgent efforts by the parties and the international community to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognized borders, as envisaged in Security Council Resolution 1850 (2008), and recalls also the important of the Arab Peace Initiative.

9. The Security Council welcomes the Quartet's consideration, in consultation with the parties, of an international meeting in Moscow in 2009.

Sa'at Ismail & Michele Lee 2008 Wedding in C'est Si Bon by Eartha Kitt

" Sa'at Ismail & Michele Lee 2008 Wedding - C'est Si Bon (It's so Good) by Eartha Kitt "

I was in Paris with Sa'at and our crew on May 2004. A 3 days stopover for our Guatemala visa application. Our traveling was so hectic-crazy and I knew he missed Michele and wishing that she was with him in Paris, the City of Light & Romance. Somehow, a french song from the cafe got stuck in my head while we were talking (bitching...he,he,he kidding lah Mitch) about Michele. I finally knew a lot more about that song after researching with Mr Google.

For remembrance, and aptly appropriate for this fun wedding video at Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa, Singapore on Sunday, 30.11.2008. I hereby dedicate this "love tribute" to my "bradder" Sa'at and his lovely wife Michele. This song made me think of you, both in good faith and may Allah (S.W.T) accept your sacrifices, ibadah, good deeds and reward you with HIS forgiveness and Jannah in the Hereafter, Ameen.

C'est Si Bon is a sexy french song from the late 1940s made famous in 1953 by Eartha Kitt. It is quite catchy and very sassy. That is why it got stucked in my head... enjoy! Double check on the English translation. The French out there please post any mistake here... Merci beaucoup.

C'est Si Bon (It's so Good) - by Eartha Kitt

C'est si bon,
De partir n'im porte ou,
Bras desus bras dessous,
En chantant des chansons,

Ce'st si bon,
De se dir' desmots doux,
Des petite rien du tout,
Mais qui en dissent long.

C'est si bon,
Lovers say that in France,
When they thrill to romance,
It means that itt's so good.

C'est si bon,
So I say it to you,
Like the French people do,
Because it's oh, so good.

Every word, every sigh,
Every kiss, dear,
Leads to only one thought,
And it's this, dear,
Nothing else can replace,
Just your slightest embrace,
And if you only would be my own,
For the rest of my days,
I will whisper this phrase,
My darling, c'est si bon!

pontianak - THE HAUNTED PASIR RIS PARK 2008 by XPDC-PSI

" pontianak - THE HAUNTED PASIR RIS PARK 2008 by XPDC-PSI "

On the night of 15/11/2008, XPDC Paranormal Science Investigation team from XJTSS visited Pasir Ris Park Swamps, one of the 10 most haunted place in Singapore. Seven of us started from KTM Tanjung Pagar Station meeting point, proceed to Pasir Ris after 12am witching hour to meet 2 others. Most stretched of wooden boardwalk feels normal that night. Except for the observation tower in the middle of the swamps, it was creepy with a lot of energy and one of the 'resting hut'. We had not much of sighting or vibes that night but some members did pick up some weird human sound of "tolong", "tolol", "lontong" or "lelong" from the swamps? We did have an EMF machine to detect such sound but... "sapa kentut dahhh!"

To end the night, we went to Changi Village around 3am for nasi lemak and met a beautiful "girl" name Suzie at the "carpark transformer club".
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To see more photos from this trip, please click here

For XJTSS, please login at: www.xjtss.net
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I also pick up some moving spots or just insect flying near the observation tower? According to story-morrie-mongers, Pasir Ris area was a prime haunting ground for ghost sighting, because of the old Malay kampong history there of which some of the folks practice black magic. Sightings include Pontianaks (kept for black magic, but with no master now - this creature are thousandth years old, good source for history lesson, if you're not scared of them) at the Pasir Ris Park maze (along Pasir Ris Road at Elias Road), a headless ghost at the tallest observation tower at Pasir Ris Park (along Pasir Ris Road,Elias Road, Pasir Ris Green, Pasir Ris Close and Jalan Loyang Besar) and other shadowy spirits hanging out by the Sungei Api Api swamps (Elias Road, offPasir Ris Drive 3). IncredibleTales, a local TV programme on the supernatural, filmed an episode at Sungei Api Api. But this is XPDC fun video version.... enjoy!

Please drop comment regarding additional info on Pasir Ris Park, Thanks.

PLEASE NOTE: This is art directed version of what members felt during the expedition. Accompanying image of "Pontianak" was just a photography illusion, created for this production only. But the sound of "tolong" did really happened but only 2 people heard it. We did bring EMF gun to listen in, on our environment. For future expedition, we will try have more paranormal equipment & tools where we will record, analyze and share here.

Such entities are very difficult to be visually captured on films in there actual forms. Paranormal events such as ours, cause energy disturbances across the entire electromagnetic spectrum (from the low-frequency infrared through the visible light spectrum, into high-frequency ultraviolet energy, and on to x-rays and gamma rays). It seems paranormal events tap into existing energy sources around us to manifest in our reality and disrupt the natural (or background) energy levels. These unexplainable fluctuations are genuine evidence of paranormal activity. There are seven main categories of electronic detection equipment used by investigators to capture these energy fluctuations associated with paranormal phenomena: EMF Detectors, Temperature Sensors, Static Electricity & Ionization Detectors, Motion Detectors, EVP & Listening Devices, RF Detectors, and Radiation Monitors...

I had a dialogue recording between entities which are inside the victim body during 'berubat' session in Malaysia. To what I know, victim was "bomoh'ed" with disturbance from 'pontianak' inside the body and home. Alhamdulillah, Ustaz Dato Hji Ismail Kamus manage to cure him, above all, "ilmu Allah" is the greatest. Ustaz also wrote a book on this subject "JIN, Rasukan & Pengubatannya" where you learned surah & ayat from Al'Quran to protect & banish syaitan & iblis.

Our dinner turned into a horror movie experience!

" PONTIANAK \ pän-té- -näk[pɒntı'ɑːnæk] "

The fanged Pontianak or Malayan Vampire Ghost at Gambas Ave came about during dinner with my nephews and it turned into a scary movie adventure. I cooked fish and chips for them and the dinner became props with a pair of torchlight, flower decoration, fries and ketchup... with dash of imagination. The kids were having so much fun during this weird dinner encounter with there uncle.

But on a serious note, about Gambas Ave. It's a pretty long stretch of road, running from Woodlands Ave 9 to Sembawang Rd in a roughly East-West direction. Heading west from Sembawang Rd, there's a right-handed elbow-turn about 300m from the junction. Just before or at the turn, there's a small track on the left of the road, and this leads to the Sembawng Hot Springs, which should be accessible via Jalan Mata Ayer, a small road south of the hot springs. Had a 'ghostly' encounter there years ago while walking from a yishun mosque, back to Woodlands drive 72 during hungry ghost month.

What is Pontianak (The Malay Female Vampire)

There is a legend amongst the Malays of a female vampire or the pontianak that haunts lonely roads, cemeteries and jungles near villages.
She is supposed to be the spirit of a woman who had died traumatically during childbirth. She seeks revenge by drinking the blood of and killing her wrong-doers.

The pontianak is said to be dressed in a white gown, has a pale face, long flowing hair, blood-red eyes and fangs. She loves playing pranks on young men and hitch-hiking their bicycles, motorcycles or cars during night time especially proton cars here

Choa Chu Kang Cemetery-CCK Ghost Night Sighting 2008! by XPDC-PSI

" Choa Chu Kang Cemetery-CCK Ghost Night Sighting 2008! 

by XPDC-PSI "

Choa Chu Kang Cemetery (CCK)
One of 10 Hot Spot for Haunted place in Singapore, 

more of black & white picture of the Haunted

On the night of 15/08/2008(1588), XPDC team from XJTSS did a paranormal science investigation at the Chinese & Hindu burial site at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. Photos collection of the trip can be found here . This is the last resting place in Singapore where the dead are still being buried. Visitors can see tomb exhumations and places with 'freshly buried' corpses. However, Chinese mediums warn people not to venture anywhere near the area at night 'especially during hungry ghost festival', as angry spirits and lost souls still linger in shadows.

We also seen Taoist rituals being done in secluded area with burning of offering. This are short video footage in enhance 'night-shot' scene. As my video camera was abit crappy, mostly captured dark shadows with little lighting. I did a color contrast & saturation to enhanced this video. The old Hindu burial site had a lot more negative energy... among the old large tree.

Six Most Haunted Places in Singapore 2008

" moody creepy shot of Changi Hospital "

1. Old Changi Hospital
The Japanese army occupied this building during World War II. After the war, the sepital went through many administrations and name changes. In 1976, the Singapore Armed Forces Sepital combined with the Changi Chalet Hospital to form Changi Sepital and thus was demilitarised. In January 1997, the sepital moved to its new location in Simei. Since then, Changi Sepital has remained empty and in absolute darkness. Some say you can still smell the antiseptic used during the war.

" the old hindu burial site is the spookiest of all "

2. Choa Chu Kang Cemetery
This is the last place in Singapore where the dead are still being buried. Visitors can see tomb exhumations and places with ‘freshly buried’ corpses. However, mediums warn people not to venture anywhere near the area at night, as angry spirits and lost souls still linger.

" tombstones circa late 1880s, forgotten tombs with overgrowth "

3. Kopi Hill aka Bukit Brown Cemetery
George Henry Brown, who arrived by ship in the 19th century, owned this plot of land, which was used to grow coffee. In 1872, three Ong clansmen from Bai Jiao village, China, bought it and donated it to Hokkien clansmen for dwelling, farming and as a burial ground. Some people claim to have seen a spectre here in the form of an old lady, clad in a red cheongsam and fanning herself while sitting on top of a tombstone.

" Matilda House was built in 1902. It has been identified as one of 

the buildings in the Punggol area that is 

worthy of conservation "

4. The Punggol House
Officially known as the Matilda House, the area was given conservation status on 21 February 2000. When it was set to be demolished for the construction of the LRT/ MRT line, a chain email told the story of three workers who died while trying to demolish it. The building is surrounded by trees, and a lady with long hair has been spotted sitting in their branches.

" you would-en want to be here alone at night "

5. The Pasir Ris Swamp
It’s one of two swamps in Singapore, the other being Sungei Buloh. During the day, crowds of students led by guides look out for mud-skippers, mud lobsters and crabs. When night falls, voices can be heard calling your name and the ghost from a fatal jump haunts the now-infamous four-storey Birdwatch Tower.

" This abandoned house near my old Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts 

Sun Sun Campus at Mt Sofia. Some of this quiet place were my intimate 

spot moment with some of the girls...more story will be posted 

later about Mt Sofia, Emely Park, Nan Hua Campus and the 

Selegie Campus. Still looking for my old photos if any... "

6. Mt Sofia

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Mick Foley, a.k.a. Mankind, a.k.a. Cactus Jack, a.k.a. Dude Love

" Mick Foley, a.k.a. Mankind, a.k.a. Cactus Jack, a.k.a. Dude Love 

vs Hatzputra Kampong Tempe a.k.a. Singapore Geek "

I was going through my old stuffs which I had not touch for years. Came across this old tape which was done in MediaCorp for client SportsCity in Singapore. I design & build the backdrop and stage for there shows promos. At the last minute, I was asked to be the nerd fighting Mike Foley for there On-air trailers which will be shown on Singapore TV. Done by my good buddies Harry Teper and Alson Ho. Wonder where Harry is...

Yeah, that what I did to please my client... showing my nipples in national television. And you wouldn't want to know what else I did for a client.

Mike Foley has wrestled for many different promotions, both under his real name and under various personas (most notably Cactus Jack, Mankind and Dude Love). He is the first ever WWF Hardcore Champion and became a three-time WWF Champion as Mankind. He is also one of the most successful tag team wrestlers in history, being an eight-time WWF Tag Team Champion, a two-time ECW World Tag Team Champion, and a one-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, being the only man in history to hold the world tag team titles of WWE, ECW, and WCW under their original banners. Foley has also won many other championships outside of WWE, WCW and the original ECW.

'Malaysia Today' hacked again on 2nd July 2008

" defaced web page of Malaysia Today website "

Raja Petra Kamarudin popular political blog " Malaysia Today " was hacked this morning and the poor Internet connection affecting several areas in Malaysia has also affected efforts to restore the website. Hacked by the Asshole Hackers group GasakdotNet, visitors are greeted by a smiling Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dressed in army fatigues, an obvious picture alteration to the Mel Gibson movie poster “We Were Soldiers.”

I was logged out for a couple of hours, but manage to get in with overseas proxy server. Try accessing Malaysia Today website from this address http://202.73.10.175

But due to denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) or distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack) by certain quarters, which is an attempt to make a Malaysia Today server computer resource unavailable to its users-(rakyat Malaysia that wanted to know the truth). Because of this attempt, services are temporarily unavailable. The people there are working frantically to restore it. For more detailed info, read announcement from the admin at http://mtadmin.livejournal.com

Anwar Ibrahim denies sodomy claim

"Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has denied accusations he sodomized Saiful Bukhary a male aide in a politically explosive scandal, which he blamed on a government conspiracy to thwart his rising clout."

"The accusations revived memories of a similar sex scandal a decade ago that led to his imprisonment and ouster as deputy prime minister.

Hours after the aide filed the complaint, Anwar, 60, took refuge at the Turkish Embassy, claiming his life was in danger. Anwar, 60, dismissed the accusation as "a complete fabrication."(CNN)

Apparently the only tactic the Malaysian government can throw against the opposition leader like "Anwar Ibrahim" is a SODOMIZER !!

The last time he was thrown in jail after going against his former mentor Mahatir Mohammed (Sodomy !!)

and now that he threaten the establishment, the "sodomizer" accusation comes back alive.

"A three-party opposition coalition led by Anwar made spectacular gains, winning an unprecedented 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament and the legislatures of five states. Anwar has threatened to engineer defections from the National Front -- which has ruled continuously since 1957 -- to bring down the government by September."

Raja Petra investigated regarding Najib-Altantuya's case

" www.malaysia-today.net "

Police raid Raja Petra Kamaruddin house yesterday morning regarding his recent writing titled "Let send Altantuya murderers to hell" on deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with Altantuya Shaariibuu. As many as eight policeman stayed for two hours at his house and confiscate his desktop and laptop computers.

Raja Petra said, that he was investigated under the sedition act and was instructed to be at Bukit bAman at 4pm yesterday for investigation. He was acquitted there for more than two hours, coming out about 6.20 in the afternoon. The report for Raja Petra was made by chief murder case investigation officer of Altantuya murder case, Supt Gan Tack Guan. In the report Gan stated that, Raja Petra seditious writing is harmful to the case and whosoever read him, could trust his view point. His writing was also regarded as a comment, before stated case judgement was made.

The press secretary of Najib send a statement which was publish "My reply to Datuk Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad" in Malaysia Today website to answer Raja Petra article.

Press secretary, Tengku Sariffuddin also denied several claimed in article stated, about:

• Najib and her wife Rosmah Mansor were involve with the killings of Altantuya, deputy prime minister ever support the woman visa application, and immigration record the woman has purposely deleted. "This every statement make audio-visual statement (hearsay) never proven truth, but arbitrary was publish factually as that as if it (is) fact," he said.

Apart from Abdul Razak, a political analyst that is associated with Najib, two policeman team with high profile Special Action Unit in Bukit Aman acomply accused, in this stated case from June last year.

Chief inspector Azilah Hadri, and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar were accused to have killed Altantuya, at the location Bukit's district King, Shah Alam on 19-20 October 2006. Abdul Razak, also claimed to have conspired with Azilah and Sirul Azhar in the federal territory one day antecedent to the assassination. The Murder Altantuya starts reverberate country when this political analyst and some of the police, including Azilah and Sirul Azhar, retained police on 7th of November 2006.

congratulation and welcome to blogsphere Tun Dr. Mahathir

" www.chedet.com "

Congratulation and welcome to blogsphere Tun Dr. Mahathir...with www.chedet.com. I am looking forward for his great ideas and commentary on our beloved country, Malaysia. My dad would be trilled to know about this blog as he like to read Tun written thought. He was a great fan of Tun since he and his wife were a student at the King Edward VII Medical College in Singapore. My dad was just a librarian there. He saw the changes of the Malay then and now and was hoping that his race can still hold the candle among people of the world within this fast-pace global economy...

May ALLAH SWT bless Tun and his whole family with good health, prosperity and long life!

Check out his first posting on " Dr Mahathir Mohamad: The Appointment of Judges ", a subject very close to Malaysia' s heart. Blog sphere now will be incredibly interesting with Tun joining us.

U.S. base on remote island of Diego Garcia, has become another Guantánamo

" Stealing a Nation, a Special Report by John Pilger - 55 min - Sep 29, 2006 "

On this small, remote island of Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean halfway between Africa and Indonesia, the United States has one of the most secretive military bases in the world. From its position almost 10,000 miles closer to the Persian Gulf than the east coast of the United States, this huge U.S. air and naval base has been a major, if little known, launch pad for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the past year, the Bush administration has made improvements that point toward its use in a possible attack on Iran. The administration recently admitted what it had long denied and what journalists, human rights investigators, and others had long suspected: The island has also been part of the CIA’s secret “rendition” program for captured terrorist suspects.

While few know about the base on Diego Garcia – it has long been off-limits to all non-military personnel — even fewer know how it came into being. To create the base, the United States, with the help of Great Britain, exiled all the indigenous people of Diego Garcia and the surrounding Chagos Archipelago. Between 1968 and 1973, U.S. and U.K. officials forcibly removed around 2,000 people, called Chagossians, 1,200 miles away to islands in the western Indian Ocean. Left on the docks of Mauritius and the Seychelles with no resettlement assistance, the Chagossians, whose ancestry in Chagos dated to the 18th century, have grown deeply impoverished in exile.

Diego Garcia has become another Guantánamo in more ways than one: The product of years of deception and lies, a far more secretive detention facility than the Cuban prison, the cause of immense suffering and pain for an entire people...

Does going to Mecca to perform the Hajj make Muslims more moderate?

" Muslim pilgrims in the holy city of Mecca "

"So does the Hajj open minds, or does it expose Muslims to radical views that unite them against the non-Islamic world? To find out, researchers David Clingingsmith, Asim Khwaja, and Michael Kremer surveyed more than 1,600 Pakistanis, about half of whom went on the Hajj in 2006. In a recent, as yet unpublished study, they report that those who went to Mecca came back with more moderate views on a range of issues, both religious and nonreligious, suggesting that the Hajj may be helpful in curbing the spread of extremism in the Islamic world. " (Slate.Com by Ray Fisman)

This is a fascinating study. One aspect of a Hajj is you pretty much meet with everybody from all around the world and that, in some respect, will open minds.

Micky Mouse to have a home in Johor Iskander Development project

Mickey Mouse will be coming down to Johor Iskander Development project. Information, sources from Khazanah National was reported in the setting up of Disney World here.

Khazanah Nasional said some 2,200 acres of land have been set aside for theme park use. Development at the Johor special economic zone is well on track. It has attracted some 33 billion ringgit (S$14 billion) of investments so far - that's 70% of its target by 2010.

Singapore companies are among the top three investors in Johor. Khazanah said the Jurong Town Investment Corporation is also understood to have invested in UEM Land's Southern Industrial and Logistics Centre.

The companies involved in the development of Iskandar Malaysia have also set up a liaison office at UOB Plaza in Singapore. It will be manned by five people to manage marketing activities as well as conduct surveys on Singaporeans' interests.

Some 1.3 million ringgit (S$556,900) was spent to promote the Iskandar development at the Cityscape Asia exhibition. The exhibits are expected to make its way to Dubai at the end of the year.

Another development by Malaysia's Landmarks is hoping to set up Indonesia's first legalized casino on Bintan Island — details of which were revealed by chief operating officer Lim Boon Soon in a Bloomberg report yesterday. The US$3.1-billion ($4.2-billion) resort aims to compete with the one at Marina Bay, Singapore.

Before Singapore's first Integrated Resort (IR) at Marina Bay and Universal Studios at Resorts World at Sentosa are due to open, this competition by Malysia are already brewing and will be interesting to watch, Malaysia Boleh.

Malaysiakini website downed/blocked, here is a solution with latest result on Malaysian GE2008

Malaysia's DNS servers can’t resolve www.malaysiakini.com ip address by 5am this Sunday morning. Malaysian netizens are fuming about this debacle, did the ruling government had something to do with this? Please use this address to access malaysiakini.com website:

http://122.0.17.30/index.php

Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak for Malaysian Prime Minister in 2008

It is Barisan Nasional (BN) worst performance in a general election since independence in 1957. They suffered its biggest electoral upset ever, losing control of four state governments and failing to win the crucial two-thirds majority in parliament.

The opposition alliance of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the Islamic Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), won 81 seats. In the outgoing parliament, the opposition had 19 seats.

The only other time the 14-party BN coalition failed to win a two-thirds majority was in 1969 when it secured 66% of the seats. This time, it would have only 63.5% if it wins the remaining two seats. A two-thirds majority is needed to amend the Constitution. The last time the BN lost that majority was in the 1969 election.

In the 2004 elections, BN had a landslide victory when they clinched 199 of the 219 seats.

Adding insult to the BN's woes this time, the coalition lost control of four states - Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor, while PAS secured two-thirds majority to keep its hold on Kelantan.

Indicative of the scale of the debacle, three of BN's component parties - the MCA, Gerakan and MIC - were almost routed. MIC president S. Samy Vellu, Gerakan acting president Koh Tsu Koon and PPP president M. Kayveas were trounced. Many of his senior Ministers lost their seats yesterday, including Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin, and Zainudin Maidin "The Fool Award" winner.

PM Abdullah, who is also the BN chairman, retained his Kepala Batas parliamentary seat in Penang. Interestingly, Umno deputy president Mohd Najib Abd Razak delivered Pahang and won his Pekan parliamentary seat by a bigger majority compared with 2004. The party will most likely look at this and weigh the options for this year's Umno elections, expected in August. After the worst showing in the history of the country's general election yesterday, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to do the right thing and that is to step down and resign.

Saturday's poll, called before it was due in May 2009, was widely seen as a referendum on PM Abdullah's rule, and Malaysians took the opportunity to administer a stinging rebuke over price rises, religious disputes and concerns over corruption.

Chinese and Indians account for a third of the population of 26 million and many complain the government discriminates in favour of Malays when it comes to education, jobs, financial assistance and religious policy. About 70 percent of Malaysia's 10.9 million eligible voters had cast ballots, the country's top poll.

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is scheduled to hold a media conference at the grounds of his residence, Seri Cahaya, Mines Resort City, 11am today Sunday 9 March 2008. As usual, bloggers are all welcomed. Whatever the Tun plans to say at the media conference later, I don't think, Pak Lah wold enjoy hearing...

Read for updates soon

Bersih Rally reporter from Al Jazeera won Young Journalist of the Year at the Royal Television Society awards in London

" Hamish covered a Malaysia rally where protesters
were hit by tear gas and chemical-laced water cannon "

Congrats to Hamish, 'nasi kandhar' treat on you. He has been named Young Journalist of the Year at the Royal Television Society awards in London. He beat our other colleague Haru Mutasa as well as Channel 4's Nima Elbagir to clinch the award on Wednesday, hooray for Al Jazeera

Judges commended the Kuala Lumpur-based journalist for his confidence and style, highlighting his work covering street protests 'Bersih Rally' in Malaysia. They also looked at his coverage of the conflicts in Afghanistan and East Timor in awarding him the prize.

Al Jazeera English, on air since November 2006, was also nominated in the News Channel of the Year and International News categories.

The society's awards seek to recognize "creative and excellent journalism" by news organizations whose broadcasts are received in the United Kingdom.