We had to wake up early that morning as 25 buses and 16 outriders are going to take us to the National Review at Dataran Merdeka.
When I walked over to the Parade Square, I could smell Carbon Monoxide emitted by the buses at the Parade Square.
Before I proceed let me tell you what I think about a STUPID decision done by the Camp Organizers!
On the 3rd day, at night we had a accompanying officers meeting. During the meeting we were told that all participants and officers will be in the Camp-T during the Review. I proposed to the camp committee to allow the members and officers to be in Public Duty Uniform or Ceremonial Uniform. The CC asked who brought along their Ceremonial Uniform and everyone except one or two new officers who did not have the Ceremonial Uniform said NO. Before the camp, I did remind my members to bring 2 pairs of uniform for the Opening, Closing and for the Review. Apart from that, the list of items to be brought along to the camp clearly mentioned that officers to bring along their ceremonial uniform!
But we were not allowed to wear. I stressed to the camp committee that this is the only chance in our lifetime we might be able to see the 100 Years National Review. Cause i don't think I will live another 50 or even 100 years. Luckily some officers from the other states from Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Singapore supported the idea. The committee allowed uniform but only officers (Malaysian) and both members and officers from the foreign country. I was still not satisfied. It's our 100 years celebration, the foreign delegates get to wear their uniform but our own local people not allowed!
The reason given by the Camp Committee, worried our members will get lost and if they wear Camp-T easy to identify them. Other reasons no place to change uniform ! We can always change at our first City Tour stop - Berjaya Time Square. There are plenty of toilets to change I proposed. But the CC did not agree with my idea!
All this excuse made me angry! It's not a concrete reason! Lame excuse. I believe it is an attempt to "SABOTAGE" the National Review. Even some of the officers and SC who who hosted the ICC did not wear UNIFORM.
Anyway the biggest joke was 3 members went missing while our City Tour at KLCC! The rest of the campers (more than 5 buses had to wait for almost 1 hour, when this members were lost!)
So I wonder, did the decision they make benefit them? You lost members and could not identify them even when they wore the Camp-T!
Anyway back to the Parade Square where all the buses were all assembled. The Organizers earlier said by 7am we will leave. But by the time we left it was 7.45 am! The bus which I was in has a capacity of 44 people but in my group including me are 32 passengers (including the guide). So here again, the organizer wasted precious money and time.
Without waiting for the instruction from the Organizers, the accompanying officers gathered the members and waited for the committee's instruction. The only Instruction they gave was "Faster" and shouting at the members for being late! Ha! Who is late? Poorly executed plan by the Camp Organizer! If only they told us what was their plan and briefed us all this delay would not happen.
We travelled in style with the Police Outriders. Felt like one of the VVIP's because others have to give way to our convoy. When we arrived I was first lost. Nobody told us where to sit or gather. The MC through the PA announced all Officers are invited to be seated at the tent. But there were so many tents around the field. I walked and luckily met Sergeant Major Mr. KR Chandran. So I sat next to him. He told me he heard a lot of stories happening at the ICC. I just smiled and said it's usual. Sadly the organizers of the Camp did not do any co-ordination with the Review Committee. Participants of the ICC from Malaysia were scattered everywhere making noise, taking photos, sitting around not knowing what was going on! SM a few times had to request the members to be quiet but yet nothing can be done. The Camp Committee who were seated in front of me clad in their Camp-T were also behaving like the members and did not do anything to discipline the members. It was a very shameful scene. I won't blame the members as they to were lost like me.
If only the members were in Uniform, transported to the Review Grounds according to their respective States, it will be much easier for us the accompanying officers to control and maintain discipline among the members. But what to do, due to the arrogance of the Camp Organisers, all this could not be done. They can deny it but that is the fact.
After the review, we were supposed to visit 5 places but again due to the lost members in ICC T-SHIRT we only visited Berjaya Time Square, KLCC and Telekom Tower.
It was almost 5.30 pm when we reached the camp site.
Dinner followed by Malaysia Cultural Performance. It was great to see so much talents. Anyway a cultural performance should be a cultural reflecting your state etc. But I noticed some doing modern dances which does not reflect our multi cultural and ethnic society in Malaysia.
Anyway thanks to Perak Kung Fu masters who broke the stage light, the members got a 30 minutes break ; )
to be continued.....
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7 comments:
It's not just about being a chance of a lifetime. It's about basic conduct of being part of SJAM. It's about self-discipline. It's about respecting the organisation. It's about respecting oneself.
Like any other uniformed organisation, SJAM observes strict protocol including on matters concerning dressing. A Parade like what we've seen on 14 December 2008 is a very formal one, and that's why Uniform No. 1 is set as the dresscode. Such Parade is only subordinated to events like the King's Coronation, King's Birthday (i.e. official celebration in the palace) and opening of Parliament session; where they're termed as "Collar Day".
It's unfortunate that the organisation breeds officers which are so ignorrant. One may argue that it's too harsh to call them "ignorrant". Perhaps I could also rephrase it to "shallow". Either way, we can't really blame anyone for doubting or questionning whether these people are fit enough to be holding their respective portfolios, or even if they're fit to be part of the organisation.
Don't blame the public for not respecting the organisation if our own people can't even show a little respect to the organisation.
Well...can't blame the local participants...they're only cadets after all. As far as my members are concerned, I've always asked them not to take instructions blindly, but always think from different perspective, and challenge all different views to come to the best solution. I'm sure members who've been trained in that manner would know what's the right thing to do if they doubt the reasonableness of instructions which is lacked substance.
There's indeed a growing trend among people in the organisation who're not taking the basic conduct prescribed in our written law, rules and regulations seriously. It's so apparent, by just looking at their dress. 14 December 2008 is a good example...look around and see how many of our officers did not come in proper Uniform No. 1? How many of our officers came in the wrong dresscode, by wearing Uniform No. 2? How many of our officers did not even appear in uniform? Lastly, the beret that's being introduced to the members and extended to officers is now creating a nuisance. Many officers are now taking the beret as a replacement to Peak Cap and Bowler's Hat. I guess many did not bother (or choose not to bother) reading the fine lines...that beret are allowed to be worn by officers during SJAM duties (i.e. operational duties only). Peak Cap and Bowler's Hat remain the principal headgear for officers on Uniform No. 2.
One participant from ICC:
Haha... Sorry, sir. I just cannot stop laughing when I saw what u wrote there. The 'Perak Kung Fu Master'... But I think all of us have tried our best for the performance. For my state, we had been worried so much for it before the performance starts.. But we still managed to perform it well la. And you also, being very 'cemas' before the members from your state perform,right?
From what i have heard and read i do believe there are flows to this camp. However, in my personal opinion, i belive the committee might have done the right decision by asking the members to wear their camp tshirts. This is because if they would have worn their SJAM uniforms and proceeded with the city tour, there is a huge problem of where to keep and place their uniforms. If they would have brought it down to Times Square as you have suggested, our members would be carrying their uniforms with them while they are actually out enjoying themselves.
This would really be a hassle for the members. This might also result in lost uniforms during the whole city tour! I mean, the main reason of the tour is to visit various locations and actually have fun. But while wearing their uniform, they are unable to enjoy as much. Can you be sure that they would even be disiplined at the first place in their uniforms? I am pretty sure at least one or two would not. And this might actually reflect badly towards the public as well.
This is my two cents worth. I am looking forward to hearing more of your side's story.
My humble 2 cents...
It's all about one's attitude in carrying out his/ her responsibilities.
Not to mention international activities like ICC, even some ( members/ NCOs) couldn't, let me rephrase that, are not willing to handle emergency cases happened in school compounds for some ' bullshit' reasons given.
Sorry if I offended anyone, but I personally thinks that, if a person ( be it a Prebet or NCO,or Officer)couldn't behave himself or herself and being well dicipline, then don't expect the younger generations to be well dicipline or to pay respect towards that person.
The quality of the members will directly affect the organization, therefore it's important for everyone to play a good role by showing good examples to junior members, but not using the trust that was given to implant fear in them in order to get them obey you.
I've read, with interest, the comments posted here by a reader who chose to remain anonymous.
In supporting the T-Shirt decision, our friend has cited that, by wearing uniform during the city tour, the ICC participants would not be able to enjoy as much. Well, what restrictions are there that you'll expect the participants to do during the city tour? I'm sure we're not going to allow them to behave like the Christmas eve or New Year eve revellers in Bukit Bintang, even if they're not wearing their uniform. If it's just about behaving within the expectations of a lawatan sambil belajar and the like, I don't think our uniform has such restrictions.
On the other hand, there's no harm wearing the uniform during their city tour...in fact, it's a good publicity opportunity. How often can you get close to 1000 people walking around town in SJAM uniform? Surely a very good way of catching people's attention, making our presence felt.
You know, it's common that naval vessels from other countries to dock at Port Klang, and the naval personnel are usually allowed to take a day off as they docked. Their favourite place during day off is Suria KLCC...if you're a frequent visitor to Suria KLCC, you'll see lotsa man-in-full-white, walking around in full uniform. Indeed, it catches the attention of ppl whenever they walk in a group. And you'll hear comments like...gayalah, ni dari Jepun, ni dari Sri Lanka, bermacam-macam lagi wherever they go. We all know SJAM is suffering a big image crisis...isn't it high time to create some hype and seize the opportunity to make our presence being felt by the public?
I learned this trick from the experience of New South Wales Ambulance Services ("NSWAS"). When the ambulance services of St. John Ambulance Australia (NSW) and New South Wales Fire Services got amalgamated in 1976 to form NSWAS, that's practically what they do to promote awareness of this new entity. They went on a convoy of 10 ambulances in weekends and drive slowly around the busiest areas within NSW to catch the attention of people. Survey then showed that campaign was very successful in creating awareness.
Taking a cue from that, I tried doing something similar during the 50th National Day Celebration in Dataran Merdeka on 31 August 2007. With lotsa VVIPs including many foreign Head of States and Head of Governments, we put all 120 members on duty into one contingent. We walked down Jalan Raja into Jalan Raja Laut, and pass every 10 metres, 4 members will disperse from the contingent automatically into their assigned posts until the last team arrives the corner of Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Sultan Ismail. Indeed it created lotsa hype...many camera lenses were pointed at us, and many local spectators actually took the opportunity to take photographs with our members. Not only that we've surprised the public, we've surprised our own bosses including the Commander-in-Chief and Chief-of-Staff (Training).
LOL...i read with amusement regarding the uniform issue. Unfortunately, we lost a great opportunity to market the organisation to the max...Marketing 101 by not wearing the uniform and for ourselves standing proud to be a member of a 100 years organisation (St. John Ambulance of Malaysia).
What ever the decision from the power to be (ICC 2008) must have been thought over n they would have try to create a no hassle environment for the members but to say outright no for suggestions is wrong.
We are all taught to adapt to situations but yet on that fateful day most of us choose to ignore the desire of many for few hassles. How many 100 years will we be around next? Come to think of it I won't be around for it...hahaha.
Perhaps we too have many mini napoleans among our organisation who fret to think that their seat of power have been attacked if one question their authority...but alas they seem to forget C-in-C always comment of empowering the members in n within the organisation. If that's not the case then when are we to grow up and be leaders of men instead of "I'm the king n you are my subjects. You listen to me or off with your head."
Kian Tong for your comment, "...the organisation breeds officers which are so ignorrant." is not that very accurate but more of arrogrant n self centered.
Well it's sad to say that SJAM is not much more of a non-profit organisation but more of a money making (profit oriented) association making money from it's members.
Until the next 100 years celebration...bye bye.
mind you, it isnt the organizing committee's fault when some of the members went missing, maybe it is their first time being in KL. Suria KLCC is a big place and it is not easy finding them since there are alot of people there too, and i dont think waiting for 1 hour is a harm to all of us. We go as a team, we leave as a team. And you know, it is hard for the organizing committee to actually control 1000+ people. And about visiting the places, you ARE in Malaysia, you can visit those places anytime you want. I too, was dissapointed with the time being waste and all. But atleast those members are actually safe and sound when we found them, do you actually know their group members went everywhere just to find them only to know that they actually went to the wrong entrance. Mistakes happen to everyone. :) Sorry if i have said anything rude there, but in the end, it's just a comment and my opinion. Thanks.
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