2009 MILESTONES - MY BEST MEMORIES TO REMEMBER

In year 2009 is another best year in my life as post graduate student in UKM. I have been 2 years in UKM and I learned so many new things and discovered how to be more passionate when doing research. It is one of the key aspects to make research more progressively. With my heart and soul, I try to give full commitment to deliver my output to my dearest supervisors, Dr Hamzah and Dr Jalaluddin. I am so happy that my articles have been published in International Journal. Even though the journals is not high impact but at least the door is opened for me to enhance my research writing. Thank you Dr Hamzah and Dr Jalaluddin for your support.

UKM and FSSK have gave opportunity for me to present my research papers at international seminar. From this platform, I can share my research to other experts in their fields. I met genius people who expert in area of global city (Prof Dr Sasskia Sassen) and network society (Prof Dr Manuel Castells). The seminar really assist me to build up my confident and motivate me to keep going to improve my writing. Early August 2009 I have started by survey research with 5 local authorities in Klang Valley such MPK, MBSA, MBPJ, MPSJ, MPSp and DBKL. The target group the this survey involved various city stakeholders from government servant to university students.

I am so grateful when Deputy Dean of FSSK Assoc Prof Dr Hazita Azman has put trust on me to organise FSSK Festival of International Postgraduates 2009 . The festival was held at FSSK Foyer on 17-18 August 2009. With the assistance from my beloved wife, I managed to obtain sponsorship from Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) with amount of RM15,000. Actually is about a month to convince her how TM can benefit from this event. She also assist me to how encourage others corporate sectors to participate in this event such as Nestles and Media Prima. And also with encouragement from Dr Aishah and committees, I might not have strength and interest to assist Dr Hazita to make the event successful. The end of the festival I have made a surprise to Dr Hazita and Encik Rahim...what is my relationship with Puan Zul'aini Zulkifli. Thank you Dr Hazita and Dr Aishah who believe in me.

In the forth quarter of year 2009, I have a great opportunity when Public Service Department of Malaysia had sponsored my attachment programme in Loughborough University. I have wonderful experience working with brilliant people in Globalization and Global City Network (GaWC) of Department of Geography. The best part of this programme is I have been assigned to work with Prof Dr Peter Taylor and Dr John Harrison. They taught me how to improve my research and developed my research niche. I missed Loughborough and my family really enjoyed here. My children enjoyed when snow showering our housing area - 61 Burder Street. Year 2009 is the best year in my life.

Here the list of my 2009 achievements.

Papers Presented

1. International Geographical Union (IGU) Malaysia, 2009 : Commission On Marginalization, Globalization, Regional And Local Responses which was held in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam, Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying 6-8 July 2009. Paper EFFICIENT URBAN GOVERNANCE IN MANAGING AND ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS OF KUALA LUMPUR CITY-REGION

2. International Conference on Development (ICD2009 which was held in International Islamic University Malaysia (UIAM) 28-30 July 2009 .Paper THE ROLE OF EFFICIENT URBAN GOVERNANCE IN MANAGING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

3. International Forum On Urbanism (IFOU 2009) which was held in Delft University Of Technology, The Netherlands 26 – 28 November 2009. Paper THE NEW URBAN QUESTION ON EFFICIENT URBAN GOVERNANCE IN MANAGING AND ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS OF KUALA LUMPUR CITY-REGION

4. International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (ICOSH 2009) which was held in National University of Malaysia (UKM) 3-4 December 2009. Paper CIVIL SOCIETY EMPOWERMENT TOWARDS EFFICIENT URBAN GOVERNANCE IN KUALA LUMPUR CITY-REGION

Papers Published in International Journal
1. Asian Profile International Journal Vol 37 No 6 (2009) Title : EFFICIENT URBAN GOVERNANCE IN MANAGING AND ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS OF THE KUALA LUMPUR CITY-REGION . Submitted 19 May 2009. Accepted 21 July 2009

2. Asian Social Science International Journal Vo 5 No 8 (2009) Title :THE ROLE OF EFFICIENT URBAN GOVERNANCE IN MANAGING KUALA LUMPUR CITY-REGION DEVELOPMENT Submitted 3 June 2009 Accepted 22 Jun 2009

3. European Journal of Social Science Title EFFICIENT URBAN GOVERNANCE IN MANAGING AND ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS OF THE RETAIL AND OFFICE SECTORS IN KUALA LUMPUR CITY-REGION Submitted 17 June 2009 Accepted 24 Jun 2009

Attachment Programme
Attachment Programme at Department Of Geography and Globalization and Global City Network (GaWC) Loughborough University, United Kingdom from 23 September 2009 – 23 December 2009

Seminar Attended
Liveable City organized by The Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI) National University of Malaysia (UKM) 1 June 2009

HOLIDAY IN UNITED KINGDOM 24 - 31 DECEMBER 2009

AN EVENING WITH PROF DR PETER TAYLOR

On 23 December 2009 is my last day in Loughborough University. I have a chance with Prof Dr Peter Taylor for the end of my day in Loughborough. He gave me a few tips how to be a good researcher. We talk about the future of world cities development and what is the role of urban governance for next 5 years. He hopes that my research will bring a few changes of the role of city-region stakeholders. City should be more equaltibility, harmony and peaceful in order the enhance city sustainability and competitiveness.

GLOBALIZATION MODULE : FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION BY DR JON CLOKE

The aim of this lecture is to account for the rapid globalization of the financial service sector in the modern world economy. The lecture has four specific objectives: (i) to present an adequate definition of the financial service sector; (ii) to account for the rapid ascendancy of service industries in the world economy; (iii) to present a case study of producer financial service growth; and (iv) to introduce the major commentators who have written on the globalization of the financial service sector in the world economy.

Processes of financialization are claimed to manifest at a number of scales, ranging from higher levels of instability within the economy as a whole, through pressure exerted on corporations by capital markets, to the equity effects of the financial system on individuals and households.. In seeking to explain the change within contemporary society financialization has to date been relatively underplayed, particularly when compared to similar and related concepts such as neoliberalization. While the concept of financialization has the potential to unite researchers across cognate social science fields, thereby building critical mass and recognition within social studies of money and finance, we argue that to date research has been insufficiently attentive to the role of space and place, both in terms of its processes and its effects.There are 6 sessions in this module such as:

Session 1 - Banking and the Financial Services Sector - 24 November 2009

Session 2 - The Service Sector, the WTO and GATS - 27 November 2009

Session 3 - Asian, Russia, the World : Considering Financial Crises - 1 December 2009

Session 4 - Globalization, Financial Services and the Environment - 4 December 2009

Session 5 - Financial Services and the Role of Corruption - 8 December 2009

Session 6 - Chaos and Kondratiev Waves : Self Governance, Creative Destruction or Free Market - 11 December 2009

DISCOURSE SESSIONS WITH DR JOHN HARRISON

Sometimes when I discuss with him, I feel so ambrassing looking a his face and express my ideas. May be our age different, he 28 and me 42 . At the age of 25 he received Phd Degree from Aberystwyth University. He joined Loughborough University in 2006 as a Lecturer in Human Geography within the Globalisation and World Cities Research Group (GaWC) at Loughborough University. He has widen knowledge about research methodology and urban development planning in theoretical way. He had published a few journal articles in European Planning Studies, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Geography Compass ,Journal of Economic Geography , Geoforum and Space & Polity.

When I think back and take positive way put the issue of age and experience aside , if we collaborate the idea and knowledge, its will enhance my Phd research. The discourses sessions start from 2 until 4 pm every week. Its so interesting and we discussed about the concept of regionalism and governance. During the session he never shown that he knows everything, his down to earth attitude and respectful other people ideas really make me honour working with him. Thank You Dr John Harrison

Below the date and topic of our discussions:

17 November 2009 : Re-reading the New Regionalism : A Sympathetic Critique

24 November 2009 : From Competitive Regions to Competitive City-Regions : A New Orthodoxy, But Some Old Mistakes

1 December 2009 : Networks of Connectivity, Territorial Fragmentation, Uneven Development : The New Politics of City Regionalism

8 December 2009 : City-Regions and Governance

15 December 2009 : Life after Regions : The Evolution of City Regionalism in England

MEETING WITH MANUEL CASTELLS AT IFoU 2009 IN TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF DELFT, THE NETHERLANDS 26 NOVEMBER 2009

MEETING WITH SASKIA SASSEN AT IFoU 2009 IN TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF DELFT, THE NETHERLANDS 26 NOVEMBER 2009