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I was born
on 6th December 1967 at 12.00 noon in a village, Kampung Payamas, Tangkak,
about 200 km south of Kuala
Lumpur. The village is located at the
foot of Gunung Ledang,
the highest mountain in the state of Johor
Darul Takzim.
I have 2 brothers and 4 sisters. I'm the 5th child. I'm very lucky because I had everybody in a 'complete' family. I has an older brother, a younger brother, 3 elder sisters and a younger sister. My father is a farmer and my mother is his assistant. My father use to run a sundry shop in our kampung but by the time I was born he already had close the shop. He work on a few piece of land planted with rubber trees. Planting rubber trees was a family affair. Once in a while he will bring us all to help him tending the land like weeding, watering, fertilizing etc. Normally it will end up with a picnic near the river. My father always make working on the land look like fun! Besides the rubber plantation, my father had a few piece of land which he planted with all sort of fruit trees. However, the most exotic of it all are the durian. I practically grew up surrounded by everything associated with durians! The photo shows my father with his precious processions. Me, my sister @cik and @tih (on the car roof), the Morris Minor and, of course, the durians! |
In 1974, I
went to Sekolah Rendah Ledang for my primary education. I manage to secure
a scholarship under a special scheme for the under privilege children for
my secondary education and went to MARA Junior Science College (MRSM),
first in Kulim, Kedah
Darul Aman (one an a half year), than
in Muar, Johor Darul Takzim.
It was a very memorable 5 years.
I still keep in touch with most of my friends in MRSM. We have a very active 'alumni' which we call Ansara Muar. In fact, I was elected the first president when the association was established in 1991. |
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The first speech I made when I was elected as the first President for
Ansara Muar in 1991. I don't know why they elected me though because some
of the teacher and ex students there don't even recognize me; just to show
how unpopular I was. Not holding any previous office like the BWP (Students
Representative Body) or the Pengawas (Prefect) or even president of college
clubs and associations.
Maybe because I was outspoken (?). |
After my SPM
in 1984, I was offered to further my study in Universiti
Sains Malaysia (USM) matriculation programme.
However I found out (a bit too late though) that Architectural degree from
the university is not recognize by PAM (Malaysian Institute of Architect).
Because I want to be an Architect since I was 13 years old, so, in January
1985, I left USM and went to further my study in Institut
Teknologi MARA (ITM) in Shah Alam, Selangor
Darul Ehsan. Diploma in Architecture in
ITM is a 4 year course. I think ITM School of Architecture is one of the
best architecture school in this region.
I did my practical training at Ehwan Osman Architect Sdn. for 6 months. Just 2 days after my final Design Review, I secure a job as an Architectural Assistant at Arkitek Urbanisma in Kuala Lumpur. |
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After 2 years of working, I went back to Institut Teknologi MARA for my Advance Diploma in Architecture. My final Design Thesis project is The Johor Bahru Civic Centre. I travel extensively to get material for my research. I went to Singapore, Jordan, England, France, Belgium and Netherlands. |
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I graduated
in 1995 and got a job as a Design Architect at ACT Architects in Kuala
Lumpur. In 1996, ACT Architects change its name to Kumpulan Arkitek Zulkifli
& Tan or KAZT. At that time the firm had about 40 staff.
Part of my work is to co-ordinate the work of other consultant (C&S,
QS, I.D, Landscape & Contractor). Those days, people work for a short
while in a firm due to attractive offer from the job market. So they `job
hopping' until they got a satisfactory offer. I work for this firm for
almost 3 years. Initially, they take good care of me. Good pay, got a condo
unit, a car etc. What else did I want?
I was a Project Architect at the firm and also the head of the Design Department. I was quite happy with the position and really hope to serve the company for many years. However, in 1997, Malaysian economy suffer severe setback. KAZT was not spared and had to retrenched more than half of it staff. By March 1998, I was the only architect left with the company. |
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I left KAZT when the company can no longer afford me (ehm...). I set up my own Project Management company with my brother Rosdan, Legase Cipta (M) Sdn. Bhd. in Jun 1998. D'Attic Cyber Station was open on 1st August 1998. It is wholly own by Legase Cipta (M) Sdn. Bhd. Currently we have 15 computer terminal. |
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I'm a Muslim. Religion and culture is very important to me. I'm still single. I don't spend too much of my time in front of this stupid terminal because I spend a lot of my free time (which I don't have much) in front of the other idiot box (you know, the good old TV). |