The ETP Progress Report

Was at the ETP Progress Update 7 early today.  We were to be at KLCC, the venue where we are to receive the report, by 7 am.  Imagine the time I have to wake up to beat the notorious KL traffic snarl and be there in time.  It won't look good to have the YAB PM receiving you, though it might be a good change for once.  Well, the PM won't know who I am, apart being a government servant.  But my KP would be there, so an early wake up it was.  Traffic was never smoother.  Has Greater KL ETP come into effect? It couldn't be that soon, though that'll be KLites biggest wish.  Guess KL has not yet being fully awake.  Jln Tun Razak and Jln Ampang were all clear.  I even saw a few joggers coming out of the KLCC park!!!
I arrived at 7:20 am and guess who was already there?  My TKP who has to travel all the way from USJ was already there smiling away.  We were served a free flow sumptuous breakfast.  For all the spread, I just went for a cup of coffee.  It was too early for the tummy.  We stood around catching up with old friends and old friends of friends and were later ussured into the Planery Hall (the names places come by).  It was close to 9 am then when it was announced that the PM has to attend to other urgent matters, so the TPM has to come to the rescue.
While waiting we had video flashes of past ETP events and great songs on air.  The show put up by the drummers (think they have a name to it, hand purcussion, that's it) was just great.  No indications where they are from, but I am not surprise should they be from LKW's Entertaining School of Arts (there be such a school?) or something to the effect.
Sen. Idris Jalal took to the floor soon after and enthralled us with the ETP progress to date.  It'll be in the papers tomorrow so I will not bother with the details.  Infact on-line check showed that Bernama already has it reported.  But of all things I like about a function as this are the saying snippets:

• Do not just desire for the magical garden in the horizon, do appreciate the roses by the window too (meaning, do not just go for the final big output, but do also appreciate the small achievements to date)
• Improvement on the 'armpit ride' (wow, that's what commuter ride is all about?)
• Water supply reticulation (the piping, I presume)
• School improvement tool kits (has long been away from school, my school kit constituted my books, pencils, eraser, rulers and sharpener contained in a rattan basket)
• NEM, New Economic Model - simply put making a lot of people (irrespective of ethnicity) richer for a long, long time
• SRI, Strategic Reform Initiatives were introduced in support of NKEA
• Importance of standards - To have standards, to enable simplification, to allow for automation

Question time was via SMS to 0123462562.  That's great.  I put my question in but was never picked-up.  Hope they'll scrutinise it for later:

My question (for the record):
Infrastructure development for rice cultivation was set in during the late Tun Razak's time.  Nothing much have changed since then.  Now we are talking about taking away the subsidies.  What do the rice farmers stand to benefit?  We talk about food security and the very people affecting that are not being taken care.  Your comments Tan Sri.


The closing was officiated by YAB TPM and ended with another hand purcussion (drum beat) show.

We were later ussured to the exhibition hall showing proof (facts and figures) of what was earlier presented.  Then another chow time (Malaysian spirit - to meet and eat).  Wondering when will this culture be changed.

Left KLCC at about 12.00 noon and back in office.