Dear members
Although the year started slowly but it built up towards the end of January to the extent that I had to push some of my commitent with a university to night classes and a few days ago to my embarrassment I totally forgot and missed two lectures when the students called me up as they were all waiting for me.
I met several ISM members who reminded me that I have not updated my blog - wow that is happiness. It seems that more and more members are reading my rambling and hope to see more current updates on ISM activities. It would make me more ecstatic if members could post comments on the blog. We also received glowing compliments with regards to the personalized diary given to fellows, members, graduate and probationer members. I'm so glad members loved it and appreciated it. It is part of branding ISM. My heart swelled when I saw members pulling out the diary from their bags either during internal ISM meetings or outside meetings.
I started the new year with ISM Management meeting on 8 Jan 2010. In the afternoon we arranged and escorted a group of Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV) members for a technical visit and briefing to the smart tunnel project office. The next day we had a dialogue session with SISV that included discussion on strategic alliances, enhancing relationship through CPD events, data exchange, collaborative events, etc. A Memorandum of Cooperation was also signed between ISM and SISV.
On 12 Jan 2010 I had a discussion with the secretariat of the Board of QS with regards to the accreditation of QS qualifications. I was scheduled to have an accreditation visit to the University of Portsmouth and University of Reading, and discussion with Aston University on 9 - 16 Jan 2010 but was postponed due to the severe weather in UK. I was initially disappointed as everything had been arranged to the last detail and the secretariat had put in alot of effort on the visit. But as we very well know God works in mysterious ways - I was glad the visit was postponed as suddenly my mum was hospitalised due to acute diabetic attack. I immediately balik kampong and told my mum I postponed the UK visit to be by her side !!
I was invited by UTM on 14 Jan 2010 for their APA evaluation being UTM alumni and the president of ISM. I was only able to be there for a day trip as the next day on 15 Jan, the China Institute of Norms and Standard paid a visit to ISM to learn more about Malaysia's construction industry generally and cost estimates specifically. We had to engage a Mandarin-speaking member to communicate. I wished I had taken up that Mandarin class that I had always intended to but not making time to get around to doing it. On 18 Jan I attended the meeting organised by CIDB on the Construction Industry Master Plan - Strategic Thrust 1 - with regards to the implementation of Partnering framework in construction contracts.
I again was in Johor on 19 Jan as invited by UTM to meet their MBA students. Similarly it was just a day trip as the next day on 20 Jan I had an appointment with a PR firm to discuss on its offer on publicity of ISM. In the afternoon a group of us visited Mr Lim Kim Hoe and Tn Hj Hashim Sikan. We also visited Mr Yee Shin Cheong on 21 Jan. Let us all pray for the well-being and health of our fellow members.
The whole day on 22 Jan was attending meetings in the Board of QS with regards to registration and its annual dinner. Again on 25 Jan I was in the Board of QS representing ISM in the Board meeting. And on 26 Jan we held our ISM council meeting. On 28 Jan we made a courtesy visit to the Board of Land Surveyors, Peninsula Malaysia. I thanked the Board and Pejuta on their untiring support on ISM activities and highlighted issues with regards to the prefix Sr, Strata title Board, ISM Blast in March and ISM 50th Anniversary celebration, Board's authority in collection of fees etc.
So that's it for January 2010. I wished a prosperous and happy Chinese New Year to all my chinese friends and members.
Salam
Sr Hjjh Wan Maimun Wan Abdullah
