Risk Management Workshop 2012 - "Communication: Connecting People"

I was amazed with this wonderful group of people!

Here is Betty, the lady with the big smile (far right)

Almost full house!

Kudos go to Mysahra Shawkat Ali 

I gave a talk on “Communication: Connecting People” which was one of the sessions in the Risk Management Workshop held at the Bar Council Auditorium on 21st June 2012. The workshop was very well attended, as a matter a fact, almost full capacity. The organisers mentioned that they have to turn down a number of people as they could not accomodate anymore due to logistic issues. The Risk Management Workshop was very well organised by Mysahra Shawkat Ali and her team.


Before my session started, I was pleasantly surprised when a fairly mature and pleasant lady participant walked up to me to introduce herself. She mentioned that she met me almost ten years ago and is a classmate of Jennifer’s aunty. She remembered meeting me and my family almost a decade ago. We had a nice chat, catching up with each other’s life. Her name is Betty and has been working with Tommy Thomas (a senior lawyer) for many years.


I enjoyed interacting with this group of wonderful participants. It is always a real joy to speak at a workshop where you can see so many smiling faces. I spoke about handling internal, external and electronic communications in the Company. I also shared with the participants some of the techniques that they can use to deal with challenging clients and also I went through a list of DOs and DON’Ts.


At the end of the workshop, a short video clip of my book launch was shown. Again, I was pleasantly surprised when a thunderous round of applause was given at the end of the video clip which also signalled the end my session. Mysahra, thank you for making it a memorable day for me! Let’s hope I get some good reviews from the participants!

"Mediation Skills and Techniques" book launch - The Video

If you missed the "Mediation Skills and Techniques" book launch on 14th May 2012. You 

can watch it here. It is only 5 minutes long. Enjoy! Please leave your comment(s). Thanks.

The Launching of “Mediation Skills and Techniques”

The book launch held on 14^th May 2012 was a great success. We had about a hundred people who attended the launch. Mediation Skills and Techniques became a best seller on that day. The books were completely sold out. A number of guests were disappointed that they were not able to purchase the book on the day of the launch. However, the publisher Thomson Reuters / Sweet & Maxwell Asia managed to remedy the situation by handing out order forms and promising quick delivery as soon as the books are in stock. For my part, if you have received the book, please contact me at Seumas@MediationSkills.org and I will be more than happy to autograph it for you.

Speaking about autographing, the books were supposed to go on sale after the official launch, however, something amusing happened along the way that got the books to go on sale before the official launch took place. Immediately after the workshop, I was approached by Mahendran from Thomson Reuters’ marketing department to sign two copies of the book. One copy was to be given to Lim Chee Wee (President of the Malaysian Bar) while the other was to be given to Datuk Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari (Chairman of the Malaysian Mediation Centre /Chairman of the Asian Mediation Association) as token of appreciation for launching the book. As I was signing the two copies, I did not realize there was already a queue forming in front of me waiting to purchase the book. I was truly humbled by that experience to see so many of you supporting my writing career. Mahendran asked me whether he could go ahead to sell the book in view that Mediation Skills and Techniques has not been formally launched yet. Well, for logistic reason, I asked Mahendran to go ahead with the sale as there was already a line forming. I was most delighted to meet so many of you and it has been an honour and privilege to sign so many books on that day. By the time Mediation Skills and Techniques was officially launched, the books have already gone out of stock. According to the Publisher, this was one of the rarest moments as far as they can remember or perhaps the first time ever that the books were completely sold out at a launch! 

The programme for the book launch started right on the dot (the Malaysian time concept certainly did not apply here!). Rachel Tan being the ever gracious person accepted my invitation to be the MC for the book launch. She did a splendid job! The programme started with a short speech from Prakash Nagarajan who is the Business Development Manager, Thomson Reuters / Sweet & Maxwell, South East Asia who represented the Managing Director who was away at that time. 

Immediately after Prakash’s speech was my turn to speak. In my speech, I shared with the guests on what inspired me to write and how I believe in writing books which are easy to read and understand, simple and yet practical. I informed the guests that I do not believe in writing voluminous books and if anyone can even remember half of what they have read, that would have been fantastic. It was precisely for that very reason, I put in a lot of stories and illustrations in the book. It is my hope that the readers are able to relate to those stories and easily recall the techniques and skills when the need arises. It is easier to remember the story rather than the theory. At the end, I thanked all those people who have supported me and gave me unconditional love all these years – just to name a few, my beautiful wife Jennifer, my kids Ashley and Douglas and my parents.

Immediately after my speech came Lim Chee Wee’s speech. Chee Wee, the ever humble fella who had sportingly allowed me to pick on him during my speech started by saying “In consistent with my height, my speech is going to be SHORT!!!” Chee Wee gave a very touching speech saying that the Malaysian Bar will miss me when I move to Sydney at the end of the year. Chee Wee paid a small tribute to me by saying that when I leave Malaysia, I will be leaving a small legacy behind knowing that the book will leave a mark in Malaysia. Chee Wee urged me to consider to remain as a lawyer in Malaysia and also a lawyer in Sydney, thus becoming an international lawyer (hmmm…..sounds tempting but I am not sure whether the Legal Profession Act 1976 would allow it. I need to check on that).

The next speech came from Datuk Kuthubul Zaman who said that when he first met me, he was amazed that I could hypnotized people, however, at that time he wasn’t sure whether I would make a good Mediator. Datuk Zaman related some old and amusing stories and finally concluded that I have met all of the criterias (I am not sure what the criterias are now) that made me an excellent Mediator! Well, thank you for your kind words, Datuk. It looks like I got some big shoes to fill!

Then the highlight of the launch was the signing of the mock book cover by Lim Chee Wee and Datuk Kuthubul Zaman. It was a wonderful day for me. Many friends attended the launch. Some of them were my former school mates like Yip Chee Seng and my good buddies, Choong Tuck Meng and wife, Daniel Boon, Leong Meng Leong, Syed Annuar, Sharifah, Francis Chong, Mark Ong and Suresh Kumar. His Excellency, the High Commissioner of Singapore, Mr Ong Keng Yong and the Counsellor Mike Kuek were there as well. My fellow Mediators, Gunavathi, Nacha, Tejinder, Wong Lu Peen, Sivanesan and Sumathi were there to lend support as well. I have also invited the High Commissioner of Australia who unfortunately was unable to attend as he had a prior engagement. In view of my ties with Australia, it would have been nice if the Australian High Commission send a representative to the launch instead. Oh, well.....things happen for a reason.  

I would like to mention a special thank you to my good friend Yuen Wing Soon whom I regard as one of the top photographers in Malaysia for taking all the wonderful pictures. Yuen normally takes photographs of catwalk models. I guess by taking photos of me, it would be a great challenge for him, especially the touching up of the photos! As my wife said, even though the launch has been over for more than a week, my tail is still wagging!

Introduction to "Mediation Skills and Techniques" workshop

In conjunction with the launching of “Mediation Skills and Techniques”, I conducted a workshop called “Introduction to Mediation Skills and Techniques” at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council. We had over 40 participants in that workshop! I was informed that as at to date, this is the biggest group of participants in any Mediation training course held at the Bar Council.

The purpose of the workshop was to introduce some of the techniques in creating rapport, eliciting information and accessing the parties as an effective way in communicating with people. We started the workshop at 9.00am by doing a quick overview on what is Mediation and the protocols associated with Mediation. After that, we explore the concept of reframing, anchoring/associating and “mirroring”. We then applied those techniques in creating rapport and eliciting information. To demonstrate the use of those techniques, I had the privilege of meeting a very nice and enthusiastic Mediator by the name of Kamsimah Mohamed from the Financial Mediation Bureau. She sportingly volunteered to be my “target” and shared with us some information of her private life. Thank you, Kamsimah!

After that, we had a couple of breakout sessions and then time for a tea break. As usual, Mr. Ragu and his team (the caterers) provided some mouth watering food such as nasi lemak and some kueh for breakfast. I did not partake in the food as I normally do not have a heavy meal when conducting workshops.

After the break, we did listening skills and more techniques. I introduced the technique in picking up cues from the parties. That segment went on until 1.00pm. We then took an hour break for lunch. Again, the lunch prepared by Ragu was sumptious! What followed after lunch was something different. I decided to hypnotise the participants and created a “Circle of Excellence”. The “Circle of Excellence” is a subconscious programme that the participants can call on when they require a boost in their confidence either to speak or to perform in public or whenever they want to feel motivated.

Immediately following that, we did a role play. The role play was done in two different styles. The role players were Sivanesan Nadarajah, Rachel Brooke, Jonathan Yoon and myself. I think the participants enjoyed the role play as there were some laughter and applause.

All in all, I believe it was a pleasant workshop. I am truly privilege and honoured to have met so many people both from near and a far (as far as from Penang) who attended the workshop. Some of them include Natalie Shobana Ambrose (an Analyst with ISIS and a Columnist with The Sun), Kamsimah Mohamed (Financial Mediation Bureau), Nehrman (Financial Mediation Bureau), Ibrahim Baharom (IRD, Ministry of Human Resources), Farez Mohd Ali Jinnah (a young and upcoming lawyer) and Khairul Anuar Che Azmi (Universiti Sains Malaysia). If there are participants who are reading this article, feel free to comment as I would love to hear from you.

The Launching of Lee Hwa Beng's book -"PKFZ - A Nation's Trust Betrayed"

On 17^th April 2012, I attended the launching of Dato’ Lee Hwa Beng book's called “PKFZ: A Nation’s Trust Betrayed” at 1Utama, Bandar Utama. The book was co-authored by Ms Lee Siew Lian who is a former journalist. The book is published by The Malaysian Insider.

The book launch was an intimate affair held in one of the cafes at 1Utama and was classified as a “Private Function”. As expected in all “Private Functions”, the attendees were all invited guests. Initially, there was a bit of concern that the book launch may not go on due to “interference” from outside and the rumor of a Court injunction that would have prevented the launch from happening. Luckily, the book launch went on smoothly without any hindrance.

As the title says, the book is about the Port Klang Free Zone scandal that costs taxpayers up to RM12.5 billion. When Lee Hwa Beng was the chairman of the Port Klang Authority (PKA), he suggested independent investigations be carried out which ruffled the feathers of certain personalities. In his book, Lee Hwa Beng chronicles the story of PKFZ and shared his insights when he was the Chairman of PKA.

There were quite a number of personalities who attended the book launch which include, R. Nadeswaran (Citizen Nades from The Sun), Datuk M Rajasingam (formerly General Manager of LPK who served with distinction and later on became a Board Member of LPK when Lee Hwa Beng was Chairman), our very own Senior Member of the Bar, Haji Sulaiman Abdullah and not forgetting the avid reader and Most Active Borrower of Books for 2011, National Library, David Tan Tai Kim.

The book was launched by Dato’ Seri Ong Tee Keat and Saudara Lim Kit Siang who are both Members of Parliament. Lee Hwa Beng told the guests that he wanted someone from Barisan Nasional (ruling party) and someone from the Opposition (Pakatan Rakyat) to launch the book as the book is above politics and PKFZ is a national interest and concern. Lee Hwa Beng then turned to Ong Tee Keat and asked him in jest, “You are still in BN, right?” Ong Tee Keat gave a big smile without giving a definite answer. Everyone is left guessing……….

I thought Lee Hwa Beng gave a nice informal speech – brief, simple and sweet just like the man. Saudara Lim Kit Siang gave a speech with hints of political remarks here and there. He ended his speech by saying that if Pakatan takes over the Government, they would form a Royal Commission to investigate the scandal. As for Ong Tee Keat, he is an eloquent speaker but I found his speech was a bit too long and after a while it gets a bit tiring. We have to remember we are in a book launch and not a seminar. Overall, the speeches were okay.

After the launch, the organizers had 100 “special commemorative” books for sale. Each of the“special commemorative” book is autographed by the author Lee Hwa Beng, Ong Tee Keat and Lim Kit Siang. For some reason, I find it rather strange why they did not invite Siew Lian who is the co-author to autograph the book as well. The "special commemorative" book was selling at RM100.00 a copy. As for the normal book, it is retailing at RM28.90. If you go to the KL International Book (which will end on 6th May 2012), you can get it at 20% less. It is a good book and worth checking it out.

I had a chat with my fellow author, Lee Hwa Beng and invited him to my book launch on 14th May 2012. Unfortunately, he would be in overseas at that time otherwise, it would be nice if he could come and see for himself how Mediation can work effectively in bridging communication and getting matters resolved. Can the PKFZ fiasco benefit from Mediation? Sure, it can. Mediation can certainly get things moving quicker and the best place to vent and find closure.

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.