Social Media Trend

The rapid growth pace of technology, the rapid growth rate of mobile apps and easy interface of APIs is set to change the way people interact, connect and share. There is no turning back in terms of technology advancement and at the rate it is going, it will be a matter of days newer platform will surface and be adopted. The question then lies in what we do, how we adopt and adapt and how this explosion will affect the practitioners and advocates. The future is mobile: anywhere, anyplace, anytime

Mind boggling for those who are starting to get a grip on what's happening, what more to those who are not connected at all.

Here's a take from one of my favorite sites, http://takemetoyourleader.com/ talking about social media which I find most useful for a late starter like me.

Social Media 2012 : 11 trends you should watch
"It’s easy to get caught up in today’s trends or even focus on the next six months. Some of 2009’s biggest trends included an increased emphasis on real-time search and information distribution, while distribution of marketing content in widgets and other pieces of portable content that worked across devices and social spaces also saw its stake rise. Plus, there were great improvements in social-media monitoring and analytics. And most notably, marketers finally acknowledged that social media was more than just a fad, with almost complete adoption by all major marketers"

1st Speaker's Corner in Malaysia and it is in my home state

I am glad to hear that today in Penang, the Speakers' Corner was launched.  "The Speakers’ Corner fulfills the aspirations of empowering the people by encouraging citizens to exercise their constitutional rights under Article 10 (1)(a) of the Federal Constitution of freedom of speech and expression and Article 10 (1)(b) where all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably." MT

I especially like point No.7 in Penang Chief Minister's speech in launching the Speakers' Corner.

" I have always said that a good government must do three things: listen to the people, do the people’s work and give hope to the people. The Speakers’ Corner serves as a catalyst to the growing spirit of democracy throughout Penang and the willingness of the state government to listen to the people to be a good government" You can read the rest of the speech here posted in 'My Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.'

Now, how many more states in Malaysia will follow this small step in recognizing the peoples' right to free speech? This small step will hopefully generate many more bigger steps in the long road for democracy.

Well done, Penang.

Indonesia's GREEN energy initiatives

A very positive step to be undertaken by Indonesia tapping into the huge natural resource of geothermal energy fully endorsed by President SBY.  It is with the hope that this momentum will pick up speed as the need for power of the country will increased significantly. Less burning of coal and fuel to produce energy will certainly reduce the carbon emission into the atmosphere.

Indonesia sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire will certainly gain from this green source of energy and this initiative is to be fully supported. Well done, Indonesia.

Here's the story from The Jakarta Post online.

Go green and save the environment. Every little step counts for a better tomorrow. The future is in our hands, spread the word around, force your local government and businesses to think and go for a more sustainable solutions in governance and business practices.

A very powerful article that speaks on my behalf in Malaysia

Why is it after 53 years of independence in Malaysia, they are still debating on nationality?

I for one, when asked by my Indonesian friends about my nationality is very proud to say that I AM MALAYSIAN. 'Fortunately or unfortunately', I am born in an ethnic Chinese family (my father was born in Malaya while my mother who has since passed away came from China at a very young age) and I carry a Malaysian identity card and passport. This is enough for me to get all my legal working permits, travel visas and reporting documents for a foreigner to work in Indonesia and as such, this makes me a Malaysian citizens and not Chinese citizen. Simple as that.

Like it or not, with an ethnic Chinese DNA, I still do make an effort to understand the culture, wisdom and teachings on the Chinese philosophy and way of life. Having said so, I will take and practice what is good and discard what is deemed to have clash with my principles. As a citizen, I take it upon myself to learn and acquire the necessary knowledge of the other ethnic races in Malaysia so as to live with my neighbors harmoniously and not to show any disrespect. In my mind, the question of nationality and loyalty to the country is a non issue, unlike some of the politicians who kept harping on it like an old trumpet.

What then is all the fuss about in Malaysia as advocated by some of the politicians (and recently the author from Utusan Malaysia newspaper) whether or not I am grateful or otherwise? My advise to all those racist politicians is to INTROSPECT and as the Indonesian will say "Ngaca donk!" and "Jangan bagai katak dalam tempurung".

From Free Malaysia Today, an article by Kee Thuan Chye prompted me to penned the above thoughts and hopefully get the message to those who are still debating on such issues.

Antics of the top men in blue of Malaysia (Updated with new link)

A 15 year old Malaysian Malay boy was shot in the back of the head by the Malaysian police and here is a take articulated by Lim Kit Siang " Cry “This is not Manchester or Los Angeles, this is bloody Malaysia” finds resonance in the country and reflects gravity of crisis of public confidence in police professionalism" who visited the bereaved family of the boy.

Now, read what the Malaysian top cop have to say about it  Star Online "Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has hit out at those criticising the force over the death of 15-year-old Aminulrasyid Amzah, saying he could call his men off the streets if that was what the people wanted" and it gets even more interesting on what he has to say.

How can a top cop issue such statements or even say such things? He sounded so childish akin to playing 'masak-masak' with the neighbor's little girl next door, now you know why the crime index in Malaysia is on the rise. God Bless Malaysia. I fear for the safety of my children in KL, Damn!

May 01, 2010 - Just read from mofasad and this is what the man in blue did not tell the public, mind you, this is a police report! Based on the earlier reports, there was another boy with Aminulrasyid in the car who managed to escape the police from the so called 'crime scene' and after some heavy police beating.

I am not trained in law neither am I a crime scene investigator. Nevertheless, common sense tells me that the way the police reacted to the case and statements made by the Selangor police chief and IGP are typical MO of another "push the blame" to the innocent.

So, when the law enforcer of the land abuses the power 'in the name of the law itself', what would happen to the law and order of a country? Man, this is scary!!!!

Twitter and Metro Polda

Being a new Twitter user (although I've know about it when it was first launch), this is one follow that I will recommend for all road users in Jakarta @TMCPoldaMetro. The tweets are from Traffic Management Centre Direktorat Lalu Lintas Polda Metro Jaya Phone: 5276001/4 Fax: 5275090 email: tmc@lantas.metro.polri.go.id

For this, thumbs up and a very positive step by the Police Traffic Management Center keeping the public informed of the latest traffic situation in Jakarta which is anything but jammed 'macet' at most time. The tweets come from all over Jakarta, be it, an accident, smooth traffic flow, breakdowns, bumper to bumper and the list goes on.

What strike me most happened just yesterday evening when there were some kind of public disorder in Slipi/Tomang area where some of the football fans were at their nuisance best on the streets and I was kept abreast with the latest news and happening following this tweet.

For once, kudos to the traffic cops.

Positioning

In the book POSITIONING : The Battle for your Mind by Al Ries and Jack Trout there is a statement which I like most "Positioning is not what you do to a product. Positioning is what you do to the MIND of the prospect"


How true the statement is. In the course of working with clients, many of us who are in the ad industry are often faced with some clients who are myopic in this thinking concept.

More often than ever, clients will generally go all out to to further develop their products, conduct all kinds of market research, develop new packaging designs and to some extend change the product itself with some cosmetic changes. Of course such measures may be good if the product or brand life cycle is on the decline that needed a big boost to hold on to market share but then again, marketers need to take into considerations the other aspects of the marketing spectrum.

Positioning is not just about creating nice words and tagline for the brand alone, it has to deliver the brand core and essence that is succinct, relevant and compelling to the targets. Any clever manufacturing of nice and bombastic words to define the brand will definitely turn to disaster for the brand.

More importantly, the positioning has to carry the brand truth where the manufacturer have to deliver what the brand promises in their communications campaign.