22nd February 2009

I was at ASWARA this morning 'perjumpaan dengan Menteri' was the reason given. It was indeed that, YB Dato' Seri Rais was addressing the teaching and admin staff of ASWARA after his meeting with the latest board, the chairman and the new Rector. I must say I have never been disappointed with Rais' speeches, this one included. Words come easy with him, both in English and Malay - if only it's so with all our leaders. What he said this morning was important for the group to understand, digest and pass on to the students. But it's not easy. The worry is always the words become just a faint memory and by the time the month is up we would be back to our old ways. On the way out after greeting Dato' Norliza, Pengarah of JKKN, I managed to shake his hand and praised him for yet another inspirational speech, and also asked for a copy so I can share with my students who maybe interested in their Minister's words of wisdom. I also congratulated Dr. Hatta, Tan Sri Ahmad Merican and the new Rector Dr. Najib.

One piece of news I got only today, due to my own negligence was that Dr Nor Araai had passed on 2 weeks or a month earlier. What a loss to the Malaysian film industry. May he rest in peace.

Last week end - 19-21 a number of ASWARA Dance students led by Fairuz, Akmal, Arif Nazri, Ezdianie and Lex staged KIV at The Actors Studio@LOT10. I was in the audience on the first night and went away quite impressed with most of their work. But this morning I bumped into Marion and Joseph, who are two very important teachers with the ASWARA Dance Dept, and both did not like KIV at all. Ah well, we can't please everyone can we? At least the students had an opportunity to organise and produce their own show outside ASWARA - not always under the wings of ASWARA, as one other teacher said! :)