It was quite a weekend away, driving my dad's fat van up north right to the border, literally. Leaving KL at 6.30am in order to make the 2 hour drive to Ayer Tawar. The driving wasn't the problem.. it was the sleep. Anyway, all part of the fun (and part of the job of course).
A group of about 30 Officers and Instructors from all over Perak came to listen to me yap for a good 5-6 hours. They are preparing for a camp just 3 weeks after this course finished. BBM has made it mandatory to attend this course, dubbed the NCO Training School Coach Clinic, otherwise, one cannot be allowed to coach in BNTS nor in ANTS. This also needs to be done yearly. Quite a inconvinience, but some what a necessary one.
It was my second time running such a clinic, the first being one two months prior for hte Kuala Lumpur State Council. My second attempt proved to be much better... to me anyway. Gaining experience does count. Was more confidene and sure of my stuff.. perhaps more bored already doing it the second time. But all that proved key towards a good presentation and bringing the message accross. I hope the Perak guys benefitted from what I taught though... most of them were Chinese ed.. so.. some might not have understood a single thing I said. Oh well.
I really thank Madam Nga, Captain of 3rd Manjung and the State's Training Chairman for hosting and fixing up this event. Also a special thanks to Madam Lau from 2nd Manjung for handling the administration as well.
After dinner Yen Mun and I continued our journey Northwards in the van using the smaller roads which was apparently more direct. I thought it would be a better call to head their right away rather than put a night in Ayer Tawar - if I did that I'd probably not go at all cause I won't ever wake up. It proved to be a trecherous ride.. mainly cause I was already so tied. The roads weren't well lit either and at one point I almost drove off road. Had to let Yen take the wheel once we hit the highway cause I just couldn't keep my eyes open. After a quick power nap I was back on it all the way to PH.
The place itself was not as "ulu" as one might perceive. I was given the impression that it was an isolated place and pretty much still in the past.. with non-tarred roads, wild boars running around and wooden houses. It was quite the opposite - quite developed and nice. Even the hotel I stayed in was pretty good (and cheap too!).
We were to attend the 1st Enrollment Service of the 1st Pengkalan Hulu Company, the first Orang Asli (Natives) Company in Peninsula Malaysia. The Company is attaced to the Lutheran Church of Malaysia and Singapore (LCMS), so unsurprisingly it's planting was done by 1st Kajang which is also under the same denomination. It was a long road for this Company which actually began it's trials two years back. The only barrier to them not getting registered was not having completed the mandatory Elementary Officers Training Course. This was finally done at the end of January when Chee Khoon (1st Ipoh) and myself went up there.
There on the 8th May 2011 on a noisy Sunday, we saw the official installment of the Company (though there was actually some paperwork not done.. but oh well), all nicely in uniform and was even able to treat us to a drill display. Well done to it's Officers! Special thanks to 1st Kajang Company which planted the Company as well as Mr Andrew Lim for much guidance to it's Pastor.
