PappaRich Express @ TARC

Local University and College students are definitely luckier these days compare to my time.  They are not only pampered by lecturer with spoon feed lecture notes and tips for exam. These days they even have their favourite chilled out place right at their finger tips. 

Was at Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC), Jalan Genting Klang Campus yesterday for an event. Since my event ended at about 6pm, my colleague and I decided to stay back a little the chill and avoid the jam back to PJ which is known to be horrible at these hour. So we chilled at PappaRich Express @ TARC which is located just outside the TARC Library (the Library is pretty impressive too, with more than a 100 units of Mac desktop, its also equip with more than 25Mbps of Internet connection powered by Unifi).

The business at PappaRich Express @ TARC is rather good. Not too sure about the profit, but I think this outlet has the best customer turnover rate. When we were there, the was a long queue at the entrance to the cafe. The concept of PappaRich Express is that you will have to queue up at the counter, orders your food and drinks, make payment and proceed to your assigned table. Your orders will be served in less than 10 minutes. 

The only drawback about PappaRich Express is that, if you are still hungry or thirsty and would like to make additional orders, you will have to get in the queue again and wait for your turn which a turnoff for me. However the price difference really made it worth while to queue if you are a student living on a shoe string budget. On average, the food and drinks on the menu is 30% to 50% off the price you find at the normal PappaRich outlet. Do 

Since this is an express outlet, do take note that the menu also has much less variety, but will will still find the famous Nasi Lemak, Curry Laksa and Roti Bakat with Butter and Kaya on the menu. Barley Lime is only RM1 which is a super cheap. 

It's also a nice hangout spot with free WiFi. Now I wish I'm a student again studying at TARC.

BlackBerry Playbook Exclusive Launch in Malaysia by Maxis

This is hot news coming right from the oven, few hours ago Maxis made history by being the first telco to launch the much anticipated BlackBerry Playbook at an exclusive event. Only 300 or so people were invited to the event which includes VIPs, local celebrities, Maxis exclusive dealers, and members of the press. 

The Launch was held at View, Level 29, Gtower KL.

Jean Pascal Van Overbeke, Maxis COO playing with the Playbook while Dany Bolduc RIM Regional Director speaks to the press.

Sorry forgot her name. If you happen to know the name of this singer, do email me her name so that I can update this here.


Me & Ruby Mohamed, (ex-colleague) Senior Manager @ Maxis

Henry Golding, Me and Julie Woon

Julie was first lucky person to walk away with a new BlackBerry Torch in the lucky draw.


Naz was the emcee of the night which he did very well.


Kevin from RIM, YS Tam (Senior Country Manager of RIM) and Ruby Mohamed.

The night was filled with glitz and glitter, free flow of beer, wines and food. The crowd was also entertained with performance by local celebrities and 20 lucky guests walk away with either a BlackBerry Playbook or a BlackBerry Torch. I didn't win but still have lots of fun catching up with friends and ex-colleagues who were involved in the launched.

Shall not dive down to the plan details as it will be available on Maxis's website and there will be a launch for the public later today at KLCC Convention Centre as well. So if you are an avid fan of BlackBerry Devices, do make your way to KLCC early in the morning to beat the jam and crowd.

MRCA CEO Night 2011

Earlier last week I attended yet another MRCA (Malaysia Retailer Chains Association) event. The CEO Night is an annual event hosted by MRCA to honour all the CEO's in the retail industry. This year, The Special Guest of Honour and Speaker is Dato' Sri Nazir Razak, the CEO of CIMB Group. Past speakers were Tun Dr Mahathir former Prime Minister of Malaysia and Dato's Sri Tony Fernandes, founder of Tune Group and AirAsia.

Dato gave a very captivating speech on the story of CIMB with a sense of humour, particularly when it comes to his good friend Dato' Sri Tony Fernandes, CEO of Airasia. Dinner was okay until the waiter spill a glass of red wine on me and no apology. If it was a casual function I would have made a big fuss about out but since its a big corporate event, even Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah the CEO of Sunway Group was at the main table. So I've to give face a bit la.

The team and I.

Over the weekend, my photo was featured on a write up by China Press.

Full page coverage on the CEO Night. That's my picture ant the bottom centre.

A blow up copy of my photo. Sharing a joke with Mr Lee Hwa Cheng, founder of Sinma

Over all its an interesting night of networking and learning from all these successful CEOs.

Charlie Chia's Tweet on Airasia's Travel 3Sixty

On 2nd of April 2011, Airasia X maiden flight landed in Christchurch and pledged a six figure worth of donation which prompted me to send a congratulatory tweet to Tony Fernandes, Airasia and Azran (CEO of Airasia X) for the noble action. Little did I know, the tweet was picked up by the Airasia's team and subsequently featured in the Airasia's in flight magazine known as Travel 3Sixty (May 2011 issue).

I didn't know about this until @vin_ann twitpic a snapshot of the magazine on 30th May 2011. Thanks @vin_ann.

PJLA: Kuah Jen Han First Show

Got a pair of free tickets to attended Kuah Jen Han first comedy today courtesy of Revive Isotonic @revupwithrevive. Thanks for the complimentary tickets, you guys really revive my day.

It's my first time at PJ Live Arts and enjoy the show very much. My friend David Lai was a guess performer at the show too and he put on a impressive show as well. Good job to the both of you.