Why I'd like to visit Malaysia more often!
Finally I managed to make it for the IASA Executive meeting at Genting, Malaysia, and boy was it awesome…
Apart from the wonderful weather and excellent hospitality of the members of IASA Malaysia and Microsoft Malaysia, it was a pleasure knowing so many wonderful people who foster community spirit and give a damn about it...
I met many council members of IASA Malaysia who are really passionate about community spirit. It goes to show that the very word 'community' is much more than running a forum or conducting monthly meetings or administering a user group. Much much more…
It’s the community Spirit. A passion. A truly intense desire to help and create awareness which is not driven by monitory needs and does not provide any monitory benefits. What could drive these people in this age to spend so much time and effort to do something that does not provide visible, immediate, tangible benefits? Why would people who are working in full time jobs, leave their busy, busy day jobs and bother about community? Why?
Because they see beyond the tangible benefits, they see far beyond their immediate and work needs; they see IT as a community which solves problems and creates awareness. These people are bounded by this very vision, a brotherhood so to speak, where everyone has one goal, one vision, and where everyone is driven by the spirit of community.
It was my honor to meet people like Daniel Tan (Executive Director for PATIMAS COMPUTERS), Aaron Tan Dani (Microsoft Architect Evangelist), Yap Ke Lip (Director for Nuzo Systems), Teh Tiong Keen (Solution Architect for ING Insurance), Chin Koon Siang (CEO for Startfos Consulting), Jimmy Yeoh (CEO for MAAGNET Systems), Lau Bee Eng (Consultant for Microsoft Services, Malaysia), Liang Yong Soon (Technical Director for Persys Technologies), Mike (Senior Manager for iTrain), Ho Chin Kuan (Lecturer for Multimedia University, Malaysia), Vico Vicknesh (Microsoft BCC Program Manager) and many others who left their busy hectic job schedules and made it all the way to Genting.
Microsoft DPE Lead in Malaysia – Tyson Dowd also joined us at the end of the day and was very supportive of the community efforts. A big thanks to Tyson and Microsoft Malaysia to even take care of my accommodation and making this community event a success with all the support provided over the past months.
I must admit, I have never seen such warm welcome and hospitality that I’ve received during the past 2 days in Malaysia.
Thanks a lot Tyson and Aaron for putting so much effort into this community and believing in community spirit. Also, thank you so much for believing in the MVP program and taking such wonderful care of the needs of MVP's. So could I come over as a Malaysia MVP? ;-)
Also thanks for assuring that any of my business needs in Malaysia will be met by Microsoft Malaysia. You guys rock!
Looking forward to your invite again! :-)
Thanks TK for taking care of logistics.
Thanks Mike for the awesome time after the Executive Meeting in Genting.
Thanks Vico for dropping me off at the right place.
And thanks to everyone who supports this sprit of community and devote their time and effort for it.
Special Thanks to Genting Highlands for sponsoring this Meeting and nurturing the spirit of community.
Cheers to this very spirit!