We just got back from a simple but significant signing ceremony at our Inland Revenue Board or better known as Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia (LHDN). The signing between LHDN and Formis Network Services Sdn Bhd (FNS) is for LHDN's server consolidation infrastructure.
LHDN was led by its Deputy Director General, Dato' Dr Shukor and Pn Rosnah binti Tahir, Pengarah Bahagian Bekalan while FNS was represented by its Managing Director, Rudi Nazaruddin and General Manager, Ahmad Zaki. Also present at the ceremony were our technology partners from Unisys

Busy signing (from left to right) are Pn Rosnah, Dato' Shukor and Rudi. Happily looking on (left to right) are Robert from Unisys, Megat of FNS, Randel and Mike from Unisys.

To the rest of the team at FNS, Congratulations!  And we certainly look forward to  many more signings to come

On the 14th of July, 2008, First Solution Innovation Center (FSIC) was officially opened. It is launched timely to be the first IBM BladeCenter and Storage Solution Center in Malaysia. 

The latest range of IBM System x, IBM System p and IBM System Storage are housed here.

In spite of the terrible traffic in the morning, Alhamdulillah, business partners and our principal, IBM, still swarmed in punctually.

Present to officiate the opening of FSIC were the Managing Director of IBM Malaysia, Mr Ou Shian Waei, and Dato' Mah himself.

 In the chill of Genting View Resort, Genting Highland, the managers from Formis   Network Services together with other managers from Formis Computer Services, Formis System  & Technology and First Solution attended a 3 days course of BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY. They learned analytical and systematic approaches for innovative and strategic thinking to create new market spaces. Training was conducted by Xplore Resources. 

EMC WORLD 2008

Recently one of  Formis Systems & Technology Sdn Bhd (FST)'s principal   EMC Computer Systems (EMC) has organized their yearly world conference which is EMC World and this year it was held at Mandalay Bay Convention Centre, Las Vegas, USA from May 19-23, 2008. This event is the ultimate educational forum for all EMC's customers, partners, and others interested in EMC solutions and storage industry. Participants in this conference will gain unparalleled access to EMC's entire portfolio of software, platforms, solutions, and services. At EMC World, there are also showcase of latest innovation technology on Storage, storage softwares, demos, competition etc.

Our representative for this year is Mr. Alvin Chong, Senior Solution Consultant. He gets to meet all participants from all over the world during this event. He also get to learn the EMC latest technology on storage including softwares and at the same time he has participated in the competitions and demos organized during the event.

Lastly, he mentioned that EMC World is definitely a great event for FST to have visibility to the EMC Communities from all over the world.

Photos taken during the conference

We had another spate of email issues this week. It seems that the spam problem that plague formis.net in late May has resurfaced.  Despite spending $$$ calling in IceWarp onsite support and chalked up another month of experience in managing mail server, the same problem is back.

"So what is the big hoohah? It is, after all, just an email server." If the people at FCS has this same mentality, its no wonder we keep on having the same problem over and over again.

But I was made to understand that the email issues have been resolved. But is it really? 

As of now, I am well aware that two of our subsidiary companies; FSSB and ABS are having problem trying to send their emails to formis.net. Is seems that the problem stems from their (subsidiaries) own mail servers.  I was asked to help them by allowing their servers through.  In the past, when we did so, we opened ourselves to other email problems.  I think its time for each of us to be responsible in using our corporate email system.

For FSSB and ABS, let their own technical team figure out what is wrong. For the rest of us,  including the biggest culprit, FNS, we have to do our part.  FNS likes to bitch about the importance of email and its availability but little do they realize that they are also the biggest abuser of our email system.  That, I found out accidentally when reviewing the logs during the recent email problem. Or even, someone from FBS, who likes to forward indecent materials not only to his/her fellow colleagues but to others including customers. I shudder to think the consequences of his/her actions if the recipient's employers starts a crackdown on this kind of email.

You all have company's email accounts and personal email accounts.  Think responsibly and use them appropriately.

UPDATE

17:55   It seems that DGB now joins FSSB and ABS in having problems sending emails to formis.net. Btw, there is no problem for users on formis.net to send mails to these companies.