The second time he called.

The second time Rosedy called was an invitation to accompany him to Johore for a presentation on GIS for Bekalan Air Johore. In fact even before I can say no there was already a ticket sent to me.

At AIFM, we fly quite often, not just within Malaysia but also to Asean countries through the various collaborative projects and technical working group meetings. So the ticket was no big deal.

But not known to me earlier was MAKATA a.k.a. Mokhtarudin is also with us on the same flight. MAKATA was also an old boy and I knew him when he was in Terengganu and during weekends I use to spend time at their bachelors house in Pasir Panjang. He used to work in Jabatan Ukur Terengganu before being transfered to Sabah.

MAKATA must have done quite a good job convincing me to reconsider the offer and not long after we went back to KL and after some night Istiharah prayers I had already decided to take the offer.

The Soul of SGISB.

This is how it started way back in 1992.Rosedy came to see me at AIFM.We had coffee, he asked if I could consider joining him at Sepakat. He sees GIS as a new market with huge potential and the sooner we see it as an opportunity the better.

I was not ready. I was still doing my Advance Diploma in Business Management with the Swansea Institute of Higher Education's sandwich program with TLMC, just across the road from the Asean Institute of Forest Management in IGB Plaza, Jalan Kampar, off Jalan Ipoh, KL.

"I'll think about it."

That's as much as I could say.

Rosedy is one year my senior also from Malay College Kuala Kangsar.