It's all about my travel experience and things I love to do…
Business
Expansion of Groupon to Southeast Asia via GroupsMore
Jan 26th
This is definitely a good news for GroupsMore and of course, to us, consumers!
We can expect more and more great deals from GroupsMore from now on!
Other sites can probably, try to survive maybe? Or work collectively and fight on with GroupsMore.
After all, the market is just too big for an endless share of market between all these sites.
Groupon Expands in Southeast Asia, Now Offering Deals in Malaysia
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Groupon (http://www.groupon.com) announces the launch of Groupon Malaysia via acquisition of daily deal site GroupsMore (http://www.groupsmore.com). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We will continue to help shape the way local merchants market themselves in every corner of the world.”
Using the principles of collective buying, Groupon negotiates unprecedented discounts with popular businesses and shares them with subscribers via free daily emails. The deals are activated only when a minimum number of people agree to buy, encouraging subscribers to share the promotion with family and friends. By guaranteeing a large number of new customers, Groupon has created a powerful new marketing vehicle for local merchants in thousands of cities worldwide. This innovative approach to e-commerce has brought millions of dollars in new revenue to local businesses while saving more than $1.5 billion for consumers around the world.
The addition of Groupon Malaysia continues Groupon’s global growth and extends its reach throughout Asia. Currently serving two states in Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, GroupsMore is already one of the top group buying sites in the country.
“The acquisition of GroupsMore is further evidence of Groupon’s strong commitment to working with only the best collective buying sites throughout Asia and across the globe,” said Rob Solomon, president and chief operating officer of Groupon. “We will continue to help shape the way local merchants market themselves in every corner of the world.”
Groupon Malaysia has now joined Groupon’s global network, which offers unbeatable deals to more than 50 million subscribers in 40 countries. Groupon employs more than 4,000 people worldwide.
Source: BusinessWire
Come on! Give us more wonderful deals now GroupsMore!
Project Capricorn
Jan 12th
Remember Project GCSPP?
After much consideration and discussion, I’ve decided to terminate that project and throw them off the shelf.
It will definitely not work in view of a few government policies and the monopoly of the energy sector in Malaysia.
Nonetheless, Project Capricorn will take place from today onwards.
I guess, Project Capricorn will be a lot more interesting while it remains to what I do best, dealing with people.
2010 will not be easy, but I will ride it through…
Took me a day’s off work to finally put this Project Capricorn together and kick-start it to realization.
Wake me up when September ends…
Oct 1st
Cars honking, people chattering, motorbikes buzzing, sirens blaring, construction knocking, water splashing, clock ticking…
Ah… the buzz of city life. That’s just one small part of it.
The past few days has been really crazy and hectic but fantastic. I’ve done a lot of talking, eating good food, driving around, entertaining clients, presenting business proposal, meeting people, Twittering and best of all keeping myself away from The Office and the cyber world. That explains a lot on why my Tweets keeps updating and it’s so funny how C.Ho went all blur asking how I could update my Tweets when I’m not online 
It is good that I have a phone that can read emails. Thanks to you CK! If you ever reads this. I can reply urgent emails and things in The Office has been well taken care off so no more troubleshooting problems and I’m very happy for a great team supporting The Office.
Now, I’m back from a long day out today and sitting here at the very comfort of my office chair I feel that it is all coming back to me again. Got some few surprises here and there when I log on to the internet world. 
But oh wells…
Just one month ago I had the most enjoyable yet craziest moment in my life. Working for AIESEC International Congress 2009 was something that many people in AIESEC would dream of doing. It was a real eye opener to the things that AIESEC does and really, I learn a lot during that conference. I still miss those great time I had.
It was a great cultural experience to understand people better and a great working of both hard work and crazy fun. Next would be AIESEC Exchange and I wonder if it would take place next year which I really do hope it would.
Time flies so fast and now, I’m back to my crazy working mode already. I sat down over the weekend to do a mini planning of my next course of life journey. Everything has been charted out in a small book. Discussions were made and a few things being planned are now running slowly.
The fun time is over and it is time to get serious now. What’s past is the past and time to turn over to a new page and start it up like fire.
It is time to wake up and get things moving. Time to plan ahead for the future for my family and of course myself (if the family part doesn’t materialize ).
Kicking Start – GCSPPP
Sep 22nd
Let’s see how this progress…
Something I’ve wanted to do for so long…
Just making my mark here so that I can mark my milestone once this Project codename GCSPPP is a success…
Till it materializes… wish me all the best lah okay?
Recession, Figures and Management
Jan 6th
The day time is spent going to Putrajaya’s new office, meetings over meetings and solving problems over problems. How much I like my job, I am starting to hate management. Eeeekkkk!
The recession is coming, and many people are speculating this and that.
This month, like every other year, is when the Business Plan is being unveiled. One funny thing is, the projection figure is going upwards. That’s it. I’m gonna be even more stress this year!
One particular reasoning is because, the recession will not hit to our shore till end of the year. It takes some time to hit us from the USA.
Still, I’m sure the clients are sure to sustain their operation thus we sustain ours too. This is also another headache. Don’t worry! It is all going to be fine. I know the secret weapon to tackle all this issue..!!
On management, I think, it is not as easy as we speak or as we read. Human are the toughest ‘thing’ to deal with. Especially certain ‘kind’ of human living among us. Hey, don’t judge my view. It is just a matter of fact that these ‘kind’ of people are behaving like that and their attitude will never change.
But, am glad. Glad that I have to go through this. It’s either you suffer for the better or you suffer when there is nothing. Choose ONLY one.
Today is also the day I’ve met the successor of The Boss. Senior Boss I shall call him. Senior Boss is taking a break from the banking line after 5 years. He is the aftermath of the current on-going recession. I guess, we pretty much has a lot in common towards the business that the long drive back from Putrajaya was very interesting and how we see the swift towards the new management of the new generation nowadays.
A young chap he is, just a few years elder, now learning the ropes of the business from The Boss. Hoping one day that he will come back to run the business. I seriously hope he does,soon. The Company really needs a lot of new blood, new management and new brains.
Towards a great 2009 business year!
Box! Box! Boxing Day!!!
Dec 26th
I thought today, many people will be on holiday and the day will be VERY relaxing..
Nay…. but…
Wow!
Surprisingly, I’m surviving till now…
Yes, I’ve been boxing here and there the whole day… Whole day!!
Hello, I’m a product of hard knocks!
I learn my ropes through the hard way!
No one was there when I needed them…
None! Nil! Zero! Kosong! Ling!
Today’s date shall be mark… and I will remember this day!
This very day where I held on to the fort all by myself…
ALL BY MYSELF…
This is the day where I get to to play many roles..
This is the very day also, I know where my limit lies… Boundless…
Mr. Neethia (moi Tourism lecturer) said to me when I met him on Wednesday…
“You are still young… do all you can now.”
Hmmm… If it is not me.. who else eh?
Oh… just a moment ago, I received this:
“Dear All,
All of you are fully aware that 2009 economic and financial situation surely to be very gloom !“
About time for a rocky year ahead… I’m all ready…
You want figures! I’ve got it all… Bring it on!!
Meeting with the ‘Company’
Nov 29th
*Update 01DEC07: I’m taking down auto-streaming as it is taking up my bandwidth*
The Fly FM’s FIX IT
*right click on the file and save as*
After this call I made an appointment to meet up with the new Finance Manager yesterday.
These guys are prone to NOT IN OFFICE so I better make an appointment.
Therefore, I shall let the audio do the talking..
Now, so what can a Finance Manager do when the approval solely comes from the MD?
I don’t censor my FIX IT cause I find it all true and there is nothing to hide.See, how earlier the MD played with the FIX IT call, trying to potray that he has done
everything he could.. I feel that, no.. he is playing the manipulating game..So what?? I’m game for it…Let’s see within a month, any reply from the new Finance Manager…
Hopefully by Christmas.. so that I can really enjoy my Christmas outings..
Fly FM’s FIX IT (2)
Nov 28th
The on-air version is full of *toot* *toot* *toot*…
I should have told Phat Fabes to just mention my name as I got nothing to hide.
Roshan was saying that if the MD could bend some rules and get things done..
The MD then replied…
“I agree with you.. I want Thomas to come and meet up with AL and ask him to
introduce Thomas to AZ and see how they solve the matter… because, obviously if
they cannot solve this small matter, they are not fit to become a Finance Manager.”
He even said (not being aired)
“Am I very bad?.. Because, I can’t be expecting Thomas calling me and telling me all
the crap story!…”
Now, that saying about me telling him crap story.. what? saying that I’m paying out of
my pocket is ‘crap’ story?
Oh wells.. you see, how can a person who is a Managing Director, who even called
himself a Dato’ and I would assume the son of Dato’ also be such a crooked!?
People like this MD is so good with his words.. see how good is his words about his
finance manager?
I’ve made an appointment to meet this new finance manager and it’s about 2 hours
from now i’m going to meet him. Why I made an appointment even though the MD
suggested I do a surprise visit?
Because.. a surprise visit will be be a surprise when that person is not around, and
i’ve wasted enough resources and monies just to take my transport down to their
office and meet AL up previously. Nothing has been done.
If you come across this kinda company.. please deal with CASH ONLY basis.
Crooks like this MD could well anytime be a ‘corporate conman’ I would guess…
AL and AZ is the shortened name for people..
Fly FM’s FIX IT
Nov 27th
This is how I am collecting my debt from a so called ‘First Multi-Fulfillment’
company in Malaysia. Google the keyword.
My company’s auditor don’t care about this case and since Fly FM got this program
called FIX IT, why not I try my luck.
What was my case? I wrote about it earlier this year, Doing Business in Malaysia.
To summarize, this company, particularly this person, came begging to me to get
his family, office people and including himself to Kuching on AirAsia with urgency.
Weeks later, payment were not made and even got scolded when I asked him to
make his own payment at one of the posh island hotel here in Malaysia when the
total bill came to more than RM 10K and furthermore, the previous payments were
not made too. That Kuching payment until today is not even settled and it is only
RM 3,708.00 and since then, I have to fork out my own salary to pay for this
mistake of trusting this company and the MD, which is NOT FAIR!
So, after about 10 months, promise after promise of payment were made and none
came. The MD is so good with his tongue and twist everything that sides him.
So tomorrow 27th Nov 2007 on 7:30am and 9:30am, tune in to FlyFM’s Big Bang Breakfast Show to listen to the FIX IT. Listen how the MD put it in his own words
this whole scenario is all about and just push it away from his responsibility to
approve the payment.
*to be continued on next post after the FIX IT*
FLY Firefly in Malaysia
Mar 30th
A pet project by Malaysia Airlines.
A community based airline, with a low cost base.
There’s MAGIC in the air. What magic?
Let’s see this coming 2nd April 2007.
For those who are in the nutshell…
Firefly is a low cost community based airliner running two Fokker 50
planes servicing six different domestic and international routes.
Commencing Monday, 2 April, Firefly will offer 14 weekly flights to
Kota Bharu, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Langkawi and
7 weekly flights to Phuket and Koh Samui, from Penang.
Are they gonna bust Air Asia’s arse?
I bet not, because Malaysia Airlines still has its advantages.
The plane is theirs, and they have the resources. Just not the funds.
They are taking their lead operations from Penang International
Airport, where it is a totally different market from Air Asia who
operates from its main hub at Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT)
Penang got direct flights from Europe, which is also a great second
entry gate into Malaysia. and with Firefly plying the routes to
Kota Bharu, Kuantan, Terengganu and Langkawi from Penang, it
will be totally a whole new game.
Furthermore, Firefly will also fly to Phuket and Koh Samui which
is also another two great beach retreat destination.
Let the fire Magic begins!
