Promoting ADR at KLCC

Rachel Brooke Tan (right) and Sumitra Penesar (left), both amateur models, posed for the camera while promoting ADR at the recent ADR Seminar organized by the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA). The seminar was held in KLCC. Rachel and Sumitra were both former staff members of the Bar Council. Rachel is now the PR Executive in KLRCA while Sumitra is the Conference Producer with Crimson Logic. Way to go, ladies!

Invitation to the Book Launch

The Malaysian Mediation Centre (MMC), Bar Council has very kindly organized the book launch for me. Besides organizing the launch, the MMC is also hosting it. I am deeply honored and touched by MMC's very kind gesture. Lim Chee Wee (President, Malaysian Bar) and Datuk Zaman (Chairman, MMC) without any hesitation agreed to launch the book. I have volunteered and served in the various Committees in the Bar Council for many years now. I did it because I believe in contributing to the Bar and I have never in my life expect anything in return. To have the launch at the Bar Council means a lot to me and for them to organize it too, that is like the icing on the cake! Thank you MMC and Bar Council, you guys are fantastic! Special thanks should go to Marianna Tan, Faizal and Khairul from the Bar Council who have put in great efforts in getting the launch moving. Also, a special mention should be given to Catherine Eu (former Executive Director of the Bar Council) for her valuable insights. Thank you, everyone.

If you like to attend the launch, please drop me a line at Seumas@MediationSkills.org. I will be more than happy to have you as a guest.

Mediation briefing at IRD, Ministry of Human Resources

I was invited by the Industrial Relations Department (IRD), Ministry of Human Resources to brief the officers on Mediation. The briefing was held on 20th April 2012 and scheduled for an hour and a half followed by another thirty minutes for questions and answers.

I had a wonderful time spending the two hours with the officers from the IRD. I shared with them some  of the Mediation skills and techniques such as reframing, “mirror and match” and reading some simple body gestures. Due to time constraint, it was rather unfortunate that I couldn’t share with them more. There were a number of interesting questions asked about the skills and techniques in mediating. I shared with them a lot of stories which got the officers interested as they could relate the stories to how the techniques will work in real life. After the briefing, they served some rather good food as well. I had “roti jala”, potato curry, sweet coffee and honey melon. As a token of appreciation, Encik Sulaiman who is one of the directors in IRD presented me a plague on behalf of the Director General.

Good luck guys in carrying out your work as Reconciliation Officers. I hope you will be to apply some of the Mediation skills and techniques.

KL International Book Fair 2012

The Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2012 (KLIBF) which is currently held at PWTC from 27^th April till 6^th May 2012 has attracted a lot of people. There are many books on sale there and some of them are sold at great prices! I bought a couple of books including a hardcover for just RM10.00!

Amongst the books sold at the KLIBF 2012 is “Mediation Skills and Techniques”. I can’t help it but felt proud when I saw it on the shelf with all of the other books written by other great authors! If you have the chance, try and visit the Book Fair – admission is free!

Book signing at KL Convention Centre

I attended my first autograph session (book signing) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on Wednesday, 25^th April 2012. I was there from 3.00pm until 5.00pm. It was an amazing two hours of fame. It definitely made a lot of difference when you have written a book. People tend to pay more attention when you are talking to them and somehow they make you feel like a celebrity!

However, each time when my head began to swell with ego, I reminded myself that fame only last momentarily but true friends last forever. I met up with some old buddies in the KLCC. I had a good chat with Rachel Tan, Sumitra Penesar (both formerly from Bar Council) and Jonson Chong (a new accredited Mediator with MMC). It was great fun and a new experience for me.

I also learned a new phrase from one of the readers when he said to me, “Can you paint my book for me?” When translated, simply means “Can you sign my book for me?” I was also asked some personal questions such as “What inspired me to write the book?” and “What does it take to write a book?” Those were all valid questions and I welcomed them. It was a good day for me. Thank you, Thomson Reuters (Sweet & Maxwell) for publishing my book!