From:  "Abdul Halim Ali" <a_halim_ali@h...>
            Date:  Tue Jun 26, 2001  9:22 am
            Subject:  Maiden Post



Fellow OPs:

I have followed with interest the robust discussion in this e-group 
concerning the role of the future president of the OPA. Having just returned 
from a course in the US and
in response to the salient points raised, I write this maiden post.

The passion with which the discussion has been joined leaves me no doubt 
that OPs in general, and members in particular, care very much for their 
Association and their alma mater, and that the democratic process is alive 
and well.

Much ground has been covered. There is no need to rehearse the facts, or to 
plough over old furrows. All I wish to do is to assure members that I am 
committed to put in time and effort to listen to the agenda of activities 
that you will identify for the OPA, and to work closely with one and all to 
ensure that our objectives are attained.

Like you, I owe a debt of gratitude to the College for the education and 
training I received. In decades past, the RMC was renowned for giving bright 
and deserving boys of all races an opportunity to acquire the education and 
training needed to become leaders.

The contribution of the alma mater to nation building has been acknowledged 
by the leadership. Cabinet ministers talk about creating 10 RMC’s – a worthy 
objective without doubt.  But we must first and foremost refurbish and 
restore the one that we have to a position of eminence before launching more 
clones.

Should I win your confidence at the forthcoming AGM, it will be my pleasant 
duty to work with you in returning the RMC to excellence. For this noble 
cause, we will have to enlist the support of a number of parties outside the 
Association including the leadership, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry 
of Education, College administrators as well as my former colleagues in the 
civil service.

As the OPA has fulfilled its dream of having its own building, it may now be 
timely for us to consider other projects for the benefit of its members. 
Perhaps the Building and Education fund should now turn its attention to 
helping children of OPs as well as PPs who require educational assistance. 
To this end, I will work with the Trustees to draw up transparent rules for 
the utilization of the fund, and to identify the resources that will be 
required.

Technology has enabled us to network as never before. But the most abiding 
character of the OPA is its organic ability to help itself. OPs have always 
tried their best to come to the assistance of a fellow OP. The EXCO can 
facilitate the process, but it is the inherent care and camaraderie that OPs 
have for their college mates that we must tap and build upon.

And speaking of camaraderie, now that we have our own building, we should 
see to it that it is better utilized for functions that will bring OPs 
together.

Gentlemen, please accept my thanks for taking time to consider these very 
preliminary thoughts on the future objectives of the OPA. No one person can 
achieve them alone, but by working together, and by the grace of God, we 
have a much better opportunity of seeing them realised.

With best regards,

OP Abdul Halim Ali

PS: May I request OPs who belong to other related e-groups to help cross 
post this message in their respective groups? Thank you.



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