We are the Gym Boys

Someone asked us, "Hey, how come no KL gym boys photo ah? Why is it that our photographers only take photos of participants inside the IPA?" OK-la, here you go...

I'm ready to roll!

Due to rain... the practice venue shifted to the Canteen.

Hmmphh... yes, I can reach it!

"Now listen here. You know, one must have a dream in life. Tell me, what is your dream?"

"Eh... my dream is.. eh..."

Sprint princes of SGM!

Let's play the caterpillar.

A sneak peek...

Merdeka! Merdeka!

Good news.. we are extending our practice for another 1 hour!

July 22 @ Klang

Aiyo.... like that also can ah?

Starting the day with a proper warm up!

Don't try this at home!

Help me! I... I can't get up...

There are just some things you can't leave home without. And it's not that plastic card!

Can't remember your steps? Tattoo it on your hand lo...
Get it from your PIC today.

For a better grip on the ground, try the kaki ayam approach.

"Hmm.. why is this chapter's attendance so low today??
Afterwards must call the chapter leader for tea..."

Hihi... Stop tickling me!

I don't care, I want your leg..

Ah! Nothing like the smell of a freshly baked bun!

Our women division members are simply the best - ensuring that we have a nutritious lunch pack always.

Ladies and gentlemen, watch this pendulum swing... fix your eyes on it...
You are now going to laugh uncontrollably...

Victims of hypnosis

What?! Left overs from Chinese New Year for lunch?
Luckily it is only the plastic bags...

Thumbs up for the food! Next week, can we have Bak kut teh??

Ahhmm... so nice..

Sure you can finish 6 packs of rice ah?

Reading.. or sleeping?

Eh friend, you are understand this ah?

Early morning at the pick up point

Starting from July 22, participants will be going by the bus-loads to the practice venue. Practice for this weekend was supposed to be at Stadium Selayang, but apparently it is fully booked. Meanwhile, it is back to SGM culture centres in Cheras and Klang for the practice.

From as early as 7.00 am, KL participants begin to assemble at 14 pick-up points to be ferried to SGM Culture Centre. This will be the arrangement for the next few weeks until the D-Day.

Oh boy.. where are my group members?

Hurray for KL15! We are getting on the bus..

Where is that fella hah? Did someone gave him a morning call??

Don't you wish that you get to see such smiling faces on the bus you take to work everyday?

Eh.. my group full attendance la... yours how?

After everyone is on the bus, the leaders do a quick review of the attendance. Some of the uncles will be taking turns to "jaga kereta" of the participants... A big thank you to all of them for their unstinting support!

Pictures from 210707

I've only got a few here, but they made for great fun thoughts!

“Will you marry me?" Judging from his stance, he's likely to get a "NO"

BOW TO ME!!!!!

This guy really, REALLY, loves his bottle

In the rush of the practice, they still made some time to sign a birthday card for a friend

Captain's log, stardate 210707 - part 2

Humans are perhaps the only creatures in the world who knows how to be selfish. Most of the time, we will not do something unless it promises some kind of gain or mileage. In career terms, we will only do something if it brings incentives (commission, promotion, pay rise), or if not doing it will result in punishment.

In some joint office campaigns during my career, I noticed that some colleagues did not bother to participate in these joint efforts. They just went about doing their work and looking busy. True, they may have been genuinely busy, but I suppose the least they could do was explain. In any case, not participating would not entail any punishment, so what the heck?

So, what’s the incentive for the Merdeka 50 participants? At best, a certificate of participation from the government. And some modest food for each performance. Some airtime on the big day, but with over 1,000 participants, who gets to be seen? Hardly Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame.

But yet, these performers selflessly give up their weekends, and possibly some weekdays as well to participate in this historic event. Their energy and passion are contagious; you could feel their vibe permeating one’s entire being when you’re in there with them. No matter how arduous the practice has been, they always leave with a beaming smile on the face. You can’t help but be inspired and deeply moved.

SGI President Ikeda’s guidance :

“Because you are still young, you, the youth have boundless possibilities; you can do anything you set your mind on. If you let this precious time pass you by, idly frittering your days away or letting fear and insecurity hold you back, you will be the one to lose out in the end. I hope you will lead a youth of undying hope and boldly write the history of kosen-rufu with the heart of a lion king. That is the true path of Soka youth. “

Captain's log, stardate 210707 - part 1

“You can’t always get what you want,
but if you try sometimes,
you might find you get what you need.”

The lines above from a Rolling Stones hit seems to sum up the recruitment drive for this Merdeka 50 performance. In the initial stages, the result was rather worrying. The kick-off for the performers saw only about 300 people attending. By July 10, we still pretty short of people.

But in just a few days after that, we were “oversubscribed”. Thanks to the efforts of the members, especially the MD and WD, we got more than we hoped for. In my chapter alone, the number of performers practically doubled in that few days. After July 15, all recruitment effectively ceased.

Right now, it's crucial that we pray and make efforts to ensure that everyone will stick right until the end, stay in good health and that all our practices, and the actual performance will be a great success.