wazzup fellow 3rd KL member *or not <__<* Pvt. Low Kent here -___-" its been 9 years now since the day I joined into 3rdKL's Family. I've joined BB since 1997 *earlier then darryn by a few weeks* during that time the jr section was just re-formed *according to sir edward it was closed down before that due to some reason* during my jr days the BB meetings were more tough then my current senior section days and yea sir edward was my officer back then and primer jason khoo hahaha I remember on my 1st day primer jason gave the new recruits some work in one of the classrooms. I passed up the work last because i did it kinda slow. After the session with primer jason it was drill time with sir edward.I remember him asking me "Do you know what drill is?" and I looked around and saw everywhere people marching up and down so I said "erm... marching?" and he said "something like that lah" hahaha. My 2nd year in BB and I was promoted to jr.leading boy *happy happy* . My 3rd year in BB won best-commander award for the KL battalion foot drill competition *oh the backslapping PAIN!!*. Our officer sir edward split us in to 3 squads namely Team A, Team B and Team C. The way he splits us into this squads to some maybe unfair...We are sperated into different squads based on our drill *I was always in team A ^^* Alot of boys that I know since I joined BB *jr and senior section* have already resigned. People like Benedict Ng or Kalidas or Henry Lum or Darryl Ang, James Tan and many more all resigned. I didnt get my gold award T.T!!! OKOK to my senior section days 1st year in senior section already PESTA!!! and suddenly out of the blue our ex-primer wong zhi yie *now known as sir joe* came back and trained the band for pesta. You know.. standing on the field blowing your songs is exhilirating and *though you lose* FUN!!... Now almost all boys in any company will at some point feel tired of BB and feel like quiting but they dont want to, I've had such a problem last year I wanted to quit but i couldnt because everytime I taught of resigning I remember those past 8 years I spent in BB those happy moments *and sad* I showed up whenever I wished, and this sort of got our captain to start asking me about my loyalty in BB. I dont know maybe it was PMR or something... after captain tan spoke with me I realize that I have only 2 choices 1.Resign 2.Be present for every meeting . You can guess which I chose. During 2005 awards and enrolement day I was present but not as a BB boy but as a guest and sir tan said to me "Low Kent, I hope that you will be in uniform next year". And so came 2006 I am now very active during company meetings and alot of people say that I have changed alot, though I dont feel it but other people can see it *hurray for me^^* Though our company has very few boys left from the "old days" and badge standards drop drastically 3rdKL is still my family.
Low Kent
p.s. I always led the whole jr.section to pull voon's "bulu kaki" during camps =) and COLGATE!!!!
Friday, April 28, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Testimony from Sergeant Chiew Kin Yan
I remember, my first day in the 3rd Kuala Lumpur BB.. in std.4... that time, the green building was so unfamiliar, and the tar was rough on my canvas shoes. Thanks to my friend,former Jr. Leow Wee Chong who persuaded me to join, and another friend, former Jr. Alwin Rajasuria who provided transport for a certain period of time.Yes, without both of them, I wouldn't have known and joined this organization.
On my first day in BB, I already took part in Opening Parade. Actually, it was because ALVIN was late and he rushed in to report and pulled me along accidently. I didn't really know the moves and just followed around... I remember seeing the other recruits standing in the shade talking to Lt.Terence Tay while I, another recruit, was doing this thing called "drill" on my first day. The Parade NCO was Sgt. Yeoh Chee Keong, who had a deep and powerful voice.... and LOUD boots.. It was kinda scary at first, and I was just following blindly what the person next to me was doing. Stamping his feet ... ?!?!?!
OK, the uniform was really cool... and we had those colourful little button-like badges ... we had a great officer, W/O Edward Lim who was funny yet serious when needed. We also had Primer Jason Khoo, a presidents man who is now the Junior Section Head Officer. He was helpful especially during our badgework classes.
In fact, I am really thankful for such great officers such as Mr. Edward, Mr. Jason, Ms. May Chiam, and Mr. Daryl Leong. They are the ones who made my junior section experience so memorable. In fact, till today my batch who were under Mr. Edward still holds highly the Gold Award. To many of us, the Gold Award is cherished even more than the Presidents Award. Yes, it is true.
Back to the story, I don't remember our awards day that year, but I remember going for 10th Kuala Lumpur's FIRST awards day later that year. They were really a strong and happening company during that time. I also remember, as I was waiting for our company members to arrive at 10thKL's homeground, I was approached by a 10th KL parent , who took one glance at my nametag and said in a kind voice "Darryn, why aren't you falling in?" .... that shows how un-famous BB was during those days. I think the parent thought that there is only one BB Company in each state, and "10th" is given because they are the 10th state to have BB in it... (correct me if i'm wrong, thats what the parent REALLY thought... )
and of course, I remember founders day at 1st Kuala Lumpur BB. I remember seeing the letters M.B.S , and W/O Edward said do not make fun by saying Monkey Boys School or anything like that. Immediately I had the impression that those letters DID stand for Monkey Boys School. At that time, little did I have the idea that I was actually going to STUDY IN THAT PLACE where I now call my second home. I remember watching the sunset and the LRT passing at Plaza Rakyat station. That scene is still there in M.B.S and who wants to come to see it with me is welcome... hehehe!!
1999 - At the early part of 1999, the captain , Mr. Tan Chee Keong, whom I didn't really know well, was approaching just his 2nd Term as captain. He asked me to choose which band instrument I wanted to play. Naturally, the instrument which seemed easiest, most interesting and loudest was the DRUMS ... but there was no empty slot , so I was asked to choose again.
Looking around, I spotted some shiny pipes being blown. There was a long silver one with 3 valves, and a similar long gold one with no valves. There were also copper coloured ones and a gold one with 1 solitary valve. This section was amusing!! .... I immediately joined them. My leader was Cpl Sim Rick Kee and Sgt Ng Yee Khai. (I guess you all have heard of them at least once) . I started out with the BUGLE , (sadly, all are now missing except ONE) ..... I wasn't that fast a learner, and during band camp, Cpl Sim would always point me out ... " JUNIOR, why are you out of timing" .... "JUNIOR, you are not the only one marching here" .... of course, that time I was the only junior, and he was not familiar with my name.
That was 7 years ago. Now, I can play nearly the complete range of Brass and a wide selection of songs, as well as being the longest serving Brass section member alongside Sgt. Lum King Hui, who was a recruit when I was in std.5 .... BB certainly did change me a lot.
2000 - I was losing interest in BB. Due to my UPSR leave, I was drifting further apart, and on the 30th of December 2000, the phone rang.... mum said "Darryn, it's your call" .... I rarely get calls..... who might this be???
...... that was Captain Tan Chee Keong on the phone. He asked me to come for BB the following saturday, the first week of January. I gave lots of excuses, but..... all those who know Capt. Tan, you can guess what happened. For those who don't, he managed to persuade me to come back.
In my first year in Senior Section, I was put into Squad A-2 . My Squad Leader was Cpl Frederick Wong, and his assistant was L/cpl Voon Zhen Yi. Voon was on SPM leave and I never saw him or met him before!!! Then he was temporarily replaced by L/cpl Lim Hock King for the duties of Asst Sq Leader. The first year was a great one, with me getting everything i could get. I got 10 badges that year alone, where my friends only got 4.
In form 2 and 3, secondary schoolwork was beginning to put the pressure on me. Although I was much more enthusiastic in Senior Section than I was in Juniors, I was beginning to lose that enthusiasm too.... until at a camp in Tanjung Sepat, W/O David Ngo told me that I should never fall even when disappointments pushed me down.... I followed his advice until today.
The move from Junior to Senior Section had also brought up a change in one boy, Hooi Chin Gian. He was one of the noisiest and not a very well disciplined junior, but in senior section he dropped all those negative attitudes and really strived to change. He was fast and active in everything, and was never dependent on anyone. He is a good example of a true BB Boy.
Here I am now, in the middle of my 6th year in Senior Section. During these years in BB, many changes have been made by BBM, YMCA(our homeground) and other people. Officers and Instructors came, some stayed, some left.... the band is now no longer a Flute and Bugle Corps (pronounced as "Corr", not "Corps") but it's a Wind Band with complete range.... and I see boys come and go, many new friends, and memories of the friends who have left BB..... memories from the two pesta's I attended (2001 and 2003) ..... the Green building was changed to Blue, and it's now Yellow, and completely changed......
In retrospect, all these has made me a better person. How? Well, if you all know me since I was in junior section, you will know that I was a very quiet person and not serious at all. In fact, I was also quite lazy. I'm not saying here that these bad habits have left me entirely, but now I am more confident and able to address a crowd of people easier than before.
I also have many many more BB friends from all around the country, people I know just because they are linked to me through this organization. In fact, I do not see this feature in other uniformed bodies. They do not make friends from around the country within their organization as easily as BB members do.
Another thing I realised after all these years is that I'm now at the top, soon to finish my "career" as a Senior Section boy. I'm no longer a person who comes to BB to enjoy the activities planned by the seniors, but I myself are part of the seniors who plan for the company. At times, I regret for not taking the proper cause of action when I should have done, but then again God is always there blessing me with people who tell me and guide me when I go wrong.
In fact, God HAS really blessed the grand old company (3rd KL) . How the company has survived through the ups and downs is itself an amazing testimony of God's love. There has never (as far as I can remember) been a shortage of leaders to take charge and become the driving force of the company. God also has provided us with the resources we need. God is the true shephard of 3rd KL.
As a leader now, I have to spend more time focusing on training the members who will one day be in my shoes. Train them how to avoid the mistakes I have made. Train them to be more efficient than their predecessor. Train them to be leaders who learn to place their trust in God. When us leaders have successfully done that, it is a satisfaction for us to know that we have played our part in shaping a person's future.
In fact, that is truly what my officers have done. Even though we may have had (and will have) many conflicts in ideas and thinking, but every interaction in itself is a life long lesson. It teaches us to be a person who can stand up for what we believe in, a person who knows when he should submit to others, a person who leads by serving and a person who serves to lead.
Look, i'm sure you'll agree with me that many people have benefitted from this organization. For example, our own Private Low Kent. When he first joined senior section, he was still in his "junior section" mode... remember all those camps with colgate, camps where you couldn't sleep at night in fear of him, camps where you still couldn't sleep because he would be talking all night? ... BB meetings which he will be running around and talking the whole time .. Yes, if you know him then, you'd surely remember. However now he has changed alot. He knows when he should be heard and when he should not. I would say that at least part of it comes from BB training. So much for the noisy people. =P .
Anyway, to all the officers reading this, I appreciate you! Thanks for everything and thank you BB. Without all of you, I wouldn't be who I am today.
-Sergeant Chiew
On my first day in BB, I already took part in Opening Parade. Actually, it was because ALVIN was late and he rushed in to report and pulled me along accidently. I didn't really know the moves and just followed around... I remember seeing the other recruits standing in the shade talking to Lt.Terence Tay while I, another recruit, was doing this thing called "drill" on my first day. The Parade NCO was Sgt. Yeoh Chee Keong, who had a deep and powerful voice.... and LOUD boots.. It was kinda scary at first, and I was just following blindly what the person next to me was doing. Stamping his feet ... ?!?!?!
OK, the uniform was really cool... and we had those colourful little button-like badges ... we had a great officer, W/O Edward Lim who was funny yet serious when needed. We also had Primer Jason Khoo, a presidents man who is now the Junior Section Head Officer. He was helpful especially during our badgework classes.
In fact, I am really thankful for such great officers such as Mr. Edward, Mr. Jason, Ms. May Chiam, and Mr. Daryl Leong. They are the ones who made my junior section experience so memorable. In fact, till today my batch who were under Mr. Edward still holds highly the Gold Award. To many of us, the Gold Award is cherished even more than the Presidents Award. Yes, it is true.
Back to the story, I don't remember our awards day that year, but I remember going for 10th Kuala Lumpur's FIRST awards day later that year. They were really a strong and happening company during that time. I also remember, as I was waiting for our company members to arrive at 10thKL's homeground, I was approached by a 10th KL parent , who took one glance at my nametag and said in a kind voice "Darryn, why aren't you falling in?" .... that shows how un-famous BB was during those days. I think the parent thought that there is only one BB Company in each state, and "10th" is given because they are the 10th state to have BB in it... (correct me if i'm wrong, thats what the parent REALLY thought... )
and of course, I remember founders day at 1st Kuala Lumpur BB. I remember seeing the letters M.B.S , and W/O Edward said do not make fun by saying Monkey Boys School or anything like that. Immediately I had the impression that those letters DID stand for Monkey Boys School. At that time, little did I have the idea that I was actually going to STUDY IN THAT PLACE where I now call my second home. I remember watching the sunset and the LRT passing at Plaza Rakyat station. That scene is still there in M.B.S and who wants to come to see it with me is welcome... hehehe!!
1999 - At the early part of 1999, the captain , Mr. Tan Chee Keong, whom I didn't really know well, was approaching just his 2nd Term as captain. He asked me to choose which band instrument I wanted to play. Naturally, the instrument which seemed easiest, most interesting and loudest was the DRUMS ... but there was no empty slot , so I was asked to choose again.
Looking around, I spotted some shiny pipes being blown. There was a long silver one with 3 valves, and a similar long gold one with no valves. There were also copper coloured ones and a gold one with 1 solitary valve. This section was amusing!! .... I immediately joined them. My leader was Cpl Sim Rick Kee and Sgt Ng Yee Khai. (I guess you all have heard of them at least once) . I started out with the BUGLE , (sadly, all are now missing except ONE) ..... I wasn't that fast a learner, and during band camp, Cpl Sim would always point me out ... " JUNIOR, why are you out of timing" .... "JUNIOR, you are not the only one marching here" .... of course, that time I was the only junior, and he was not familiar with my name.
That was 7 years ago. Now, I can play nearly the complete range of Brass and a wide selection of songs, as well as being the longest serving Brass section member alongside Sgt. Lum King Hui, who was a recruit when I was in std.5 .... BB certainly did change me a lot.
2000 - I was losing interest in BB. Due to my UPSR leave, I was drifting further apart, and on the 30th of December 2000, the phone rang.... mum said "Darryn, it's your call" .... I rarely get calls..... who might this be???
...... that was Captain Tan Chee Keong on the phone. He asked me to come for BB the following saturday, the first week of January. I gave lots of excuses, but..... all those who know Capt. Tan, you can guess what happened. For those who don't, he managed to persuade me to come back.
In my first year in Senior Section, I was put into Squad A-2 . My Squad Leader was Cpl Frederick Wong, and his assistant was L/cpl Voon Zhen Yi. Voon was on SPM leave and I never saw him or met him before!!! Then he was temporarily replaced by L/cpl Lim Hock King for the duties of Asst Sq Leader. The first year was a great one, with me getting everything i could get. I got 10 badges that year alone, where my friends only got 4.
In form 2 and 3, secondary schoolwork was beginning to put the pressure on me. Although I was much more enthusiastic in Senior Section than I was in Juniors, I was beginning to lose that enthusiasm too.... until at a camp in Tanjung Sepat, W/O David Ngo told me that I should never fall even when disappointments pushed me down.... I followed his advice until today.
The move from Junior to Senior Section had also brought up a change in one boy, Hooi Chin Gian. He was one of the noisiest and not a very well disciplined junior, but in senior section he dropped all those negative attitudes and really strived to change. He was fast and active in everything, and was never dependent on anyone. He is a good example of a true BB Boy.
Here I am now, in the middle of my 6th year in Senior Section. During these years in BB, many changes have been made by BBM, YMCA(our homeground) and other people. Officers and Instructors came, some stayed, some left.... the band is now no longer a Flute and Bugle Corps (pronounced as "Corr", not "Corps") but it's a Wind Band with complete range.... and I see boys come and go, many new friends, and memories of the friends who have left BB..... memories from the two pesta's I attended (2001 and 2003) ..... the Green building was changed to Blue, and it's now Yellow, and completely changed......
In retrospect, all these has made me a better person. How? Well, if you all know me since I was in junior section, you will know that I was a very quiet person and not serious at all. In fact, I was also quite lazy. I'm not saying here that these bad habits have left me entirely, but now I am more confident and able to address a crowd of people easier than before.
I also have many many more BB friends from all around the country, people I know just because they are linked to me through this organization. In fact, I do not see this feature in other uniformed bodies. They do not make friends from around the country within their organization as easily as BB members do.
Another thing I realised after all these years is that I'm now at the top, soon to finish my "career" as a Senior Section boy. I'm no longer a person who comes to BB to enjoy the activities planned by the seniors, but I myself are part of the seniors who plan for the company. At times, I regret for not taking the proper cause of action when I should have done, but then again God is always there blessing me with people who tell me and guide me when I go wrong.
In fact, God HAS really blessed the grand old company (3rd KL) . How the company has survived through the ups and downs is itself an amazing testimony of God's love. There has never (as far as I can remember) been a shortage of leaders to take charge and become the driving force of the company. God also has provided us with the resources we need. God is the true shephard of 3rd KL.
As a leader now, I have to spend more time focusing on training the members who will one day be in my shoes. Train them how to avoid the mistakes I have made. Train them to be more efficient than their predecessor. Train them to be leaders who learn to place their trust in God. When us leaders have successfully done that, it is a satisfaction for us to know that we have played our part in shaping a person's future.
In fact, that is truly what my officers have done. Even though we may have had (and will have) many conflicts in ideas and thinking, but every interaction in itself is a life long lesson. It teaches us to be a person who can stand up for what we believe in, a person who knows when he should submit to others, a person who leads by serving and a person who serves to lead.
Look, i'm sure you'll agree with me that many people have benefitted from this organization. For example, our own Private Low Kent. When he first joined senior section, he was still in his "junior section" mode... remember all those camps with colgate, camps where you couldn't sleep at night in fear of him, camps where you still couldn't sleep because he would be talking all night? ... BB meetings which he will be running around and talking the whole time .. Yes, if you know him then, you'd surely remember. However now he has changed alot. He knows when he should be heard and when he should not. I would say that at least part of it comes from BB training. So much for the noisy people. =P .
Anyway, to all the officers reading this, I appreciate you! Thanks for everything and thank you BB. Without all of you, I wouldn't be who I am today.
-Sergeant Chiew
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Ideas?
3rd Kuala Lumpur Company has been around since 1957 and yet there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Submit your recommendations of what the company (or you) can do to make things better.
(This is a recruits assignment. However, Seniors and officers are welcome to contribute.
Submit your recommendations of what the company (or you) can do to make things better.
(This is a recruits assignment. However, Seniors and officers are welcome to contribute.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Our Story of Paul Tan
With many people and organizations writing about Paul.. I've decided that BB too should say something about him. I will talk about him from a personal view point without making it sound like a funeral service testimony.
Paul Tan Yik Mun is just like any one of us, with similar dreams and ambitions. His struggle was to keep up with the rest of us as he suffered from numerous health problems. Back then, he was unable to do heavy physical excercises or follow us for jogs in fears of an asthma attack.. should one occur could see him ending up on medical supervision for a week. He also could not be allowed to have his body wet overtime as if he catches cold it would lead to severe shivering, fever, and eventually shock.
Paul is a year younger than me. We both studied in the same school from primary at SK Taman Desa , to secondary at SMK Taman Desa 2 which was later renamed as SMK Desa Perdana. Paul joined the BB in the Junior Section at Standard 6 (which no doubt proved to be a wise choice.. as it comes with an extra badge into Seniors). My first impression of him was, a 'small midget sized average human being'. After I got to know him better.. he was really just like any of us. He was very verbal and never passes up any program thrown at him from the BB, although some maybe against his parents will.
Paul Tan Yik Mun is just like any one of us, with similar dreams and ambitions. His struggle was to keep up with the rest of us as he suffered from numerous health problems. Back then, he was unable to do heavy physical excercises or follow us for jogs in fears of an asthma attack.. should one occur could see him ending up on medical supervision for a week. He also could not be allowed to have his body wet overtime as if he catches cold it would lead to severe shivering, fever, and eventually shock.
Paul is a year younger than me. We both studied in the same school from primary at SK Taman Desa , to secondary at SMK Taman Desa 2 which was later renamed as SMK Desa Perdana. Paul joined the BB in the Junior Section at Standard 6 (which no doubt proved to be a wise choice.. as it comes with an extra badge into Seniors). My first impression of him was, a 'small midget sized average human being'. After I got to know him better.. he was really just like any of us. He was very verbal and never passes up any program thrown at him from the BB, although some maybe against his parents will.
BB Club Photo during Rowley's (a tebby bear from Australia) visit in 1998 SMK Taman Desa 2.
Paul's on the bottom row, second from right.
Due to his health conditions he has often 'highlighted himself' in order to gain attention and respect from his peers. Many people called him a show off, but I felt that he was just trying to be normal (ok.. maybe at times he overdoes it to attract the girls).
In the BB, just like any private working towards promotion, Paul would often volunteer himself in any situation. In many occasions he has also taken lead in several practices (KL Battalion Drill competition and Pesta 2000), speaking of which he was most punctual and regular despite his conditions. Although many didn't know or appreciate it, he has never used his health conditions as an excuse to sit out "tough and tiring" BB programs and has pushed himself to not-slow-down-progress of the team - true espirit-de-corp.
KL Battalion Drill Competition cum Founders Day 1999. 3rd KL Co. Drill team.
Paul's the second from the right.
Paul was with us until Sept 2000, a month after the Enrolments & Awards Day. Having won the Pesta a month or two back, all eyes were set on promotions for the hard efforts put in by deserving members who have made the success of the Pesta possible true their initiative and passion for the company.
It was however a sad day for us.. the beginning of a major crisis for 3rd KL as that year, many Privates who deserved a promotion, such as Paul, did not receive it. Instead, a lame lazy suck up which I'll only name as Kit got the promotion. He was the only new NCO.
Although the officers gave the excuse that "if you are loyal to the company and really deserve to be an NCO.. you will not quit!".. I doubt in reality things really work out that way. Paul and a few others (namely Poh Yueng Zhi and several other Desa Perdanaians) did exactly what the other members did not want to do. You see, the 3rd Kuala Lumpur almost didn't make it for the Pesta.. all thanks to passive-conservative-low-life-lazy-NCOs-from-SMK "ehem" which simply voted not to go. When the Captain eventually forced us to, no doubt the "ehem" NCOs were not bothered about the Pesta. So guess who fuelled the fire? People like Paul, Yueng Zhi, Kenrick, Rick, Jonathan Scully and myself (Terence Ng wanted to pull out too. Loser. Pengkhianat.) Imagine after you have given so much.. sacrificed your time and energy.. doing something the others won't do.. and even being a private acting the role of an NCO.. and your efforts go unnoticed and punished to a certain extent... what would you do?
To me, Paul's resignation (and the others) lie as a bitter reminder to me, now as an officer, of how we need to know our members well.. not to be ignorant. It also teaches us to be careful with promotions as it definitely means alot to teenagers. Officers should never assume a members maturity and capability.. they should know it.
Paul was definately loyal and faithful to the BB. But I guess, it needs to be a two way thing to work out, ha?
3rd Kuala Lumpur Band Pesta 2000. Paul's the second on the left.
I remember bits of pieces from the speech Paul gave at the Enrolment & Awards Day.. he roughly said that "it was the BB.. and the people in BB which made my life possible.. the people in BB encouraged me to strive and push harder.. which allowed me to overcome my health limits.. and has made me become the more confident and normal person I am today.."
At this very moment, Paul would be spending his 3rd week in a coma in HUKM. He is still steadfastly holding on to his live.. and at the moment is touching and inspiring the lifes of his peers and people around him. He is Sure and Stedfast.
________
Note: I would like to ask all members, Christian and non-Christian to pray for his recovery. The hospital is proving to be a real flop. He has had one or two life threatening situations due to the hospitals inefficiency and ignorance. Please ask for the Lords protection on Paul. After he wakes up, we'll invite him to give us his testimony.
For daily updates on Paul please visit:
http://ycblogspot.blogspot.com/
To have a wider perspective of Paul, visit his blog at:
http://www.xanga.com/hmaker
Monday, April 03, 2006
Ex-3rd KL member in a coma
Please visit this site. It's about an ex-3rd KL member who's been admitted to the hospital under intensive care. His name is Paul Tan Yik Mun and he has been in a coma since last week.
http://bb2sjpioneers.blogspot.com/2006/03/ex-boy-in-tragedy-to-lance-corporal-we.html
http://bb2sjpioneers.blogspot.com/2006/03/ex-boy-in-tragedy-to-lance-corporal-we.html
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