How to setup Google Form for book pre-order promotion

Recommended flow

BOOK PROMOTION → GOOGLE FORM → PAYMENT → GOOGLE SHEET → CONFIRMATION → DELIVERY

For example:

PRE-ORDER — MY FIRST BOOK
Limited First Edition
Author: Borneo Rider

Pre-order your copy and be among the first readers to receive the book.

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1. Create your Google Form

Go to Google Forms and select Blank form.

Give it a clear title, for example:

PRE-ORDER MY FIRST BOOK

Description:

Thank you for supporting my first book.

This form is for readers who would like to pre-order a copy of the book.

Please complete the information below. After submitting your order, please make payment according to the payment instructions provided.

---

2. Create Section 1 — Customer Information

Add these questions:

Full Name

Type: Short answer
Required: Yes

WhatsApp / Mobile Number

Type: Short answer
Required: Yes

This is important because you can contact the buyer regarding payment, delivery and collection.

Email Address

Type: Short answer
Required: No, unless you intend to send email confirmation.

Country

Type: Dropdown

Options:

• Malaysia

• Indonesia

• Singapore

• Brunei

• Other

---

3. Section 2 — Book Order

Click Add section (+).

Title:

BOOK ORDER

Add:

How many copies would you like to pre-order?

Type: Dropdown

Example:

• 1 copy

• 2 copies

• 3 copies

• 4 copies

• 5 copies

• More than 5 copies

If you're offering different editions, add another question:

Edition

Type: Multiple choice

Example:

• Standard Edition

• Signed Edition

• Limited Edition

You can change these according to your actual book promotion.

---

4. Add the price clearly

For example:

PRE-ORDER PRICE

Normal Price: RM50
Pre-order Price: RM40

Postage: RM10 within Malaysia

Total for 1 copy: RM50 including postage.

Don't rely on the buyer to calculate everything if possible.

For a professional launch, I would actually recommend creating separate order options:

Option	Price
1 book	RM50
2 books	RM90
3 books	RM130
5 books	RM200

This can encourage multiple-copy purchases.

---

5. Section 3 — Delivery

Ask:

Delivery Method

Type: Multiple choice

• Courier delivery

• Self-collection

Then ask:

Delivery Address

Type: Paragraph

Required: Yes

You can write:

Please provide your complete delivery address, including postcode, city and state.

If you have several collection locations, add:

Self-Collection Location

• Seremban

• Kuala Lumpur

• Kota Kinabalu

• Lahad Datu

• Other

---

6. Section 4 — Payment

This is very important.

Create a section called:

PAYMENT INFORMATION

For example:

Payment Method

Bank Transfer / DuitNow

Bank: XXXXX
Account Name: XXXXX
Account No.: XXXXX

Please make payment after completing your order.

Then ask:

Payment Method

• Bank Transfer

• DuitNow

• Other

Amount Paid

Type: Short answer

Payment Reference

Type: Short answer

For example:

Enter the transaction/reference number shown on your banking application.

---

7. Payment receipt / proof

You can add:

Upload Payment Receipt

Type: File upload

This allows the customer to upload a screenshot/PDF of the payment.

Important: Google Forms may require respondents to sign in to a Google account for file uploads. If you want the ordering process to be as frictionless as possible, you can instead ask for the payment reference number and verify the payment yourself.

For a first-book promotion, I would probably start with payment reference + manual verification.

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8. Add a declaration

At the end:

Order Confirmation

Type: Checkboxes

☐ I confirm that the information provided is correct and that I have read the pre-order/payment instructions.

Make it Required.

---

9. Create the confirmation message

Go to:

Settings → Presentation → Confirmation message

Use something like:

Thank you for your pre-order!

Your order has been successfully received.

We will verify your payment and contact you through WhatsApp/email to confirm your order.

Thank you for supporting my first book. Your support means a lot to me.

— Zulkefli Muhammad

---

10. Connect Google Form to Google Sheets

This is one of the biggest advantages.

Inside your Form:

Responses → Link to Sheets

Create a new spreadsheet.

Google will automatically create a table containing things such as:

Timestamp	Name	WhatsApp	Email	Copies	Edition	Address	Payment	Amount	Reference
28/8/26	Ahmad	012...	...	2	Signed	...	DuitNow	RM90	TX123
28/8/26	Ali	013...	...	1	Standard	...	Bank	RM50	TX124

This becomes your master pre-order database.

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11. I recommend adding an Order ID

For example:

BOOK-0001
BOOK-0002
BOOK-0003

This makes your operation much easier.

You can then tell the customer:

Your Order ID is BOOK-0007.

When they WhatsApp you, they can simply give you their Order ID.

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12. Don't make the Form too long

For a book promotion, I recommend 4–5 sections maximum:

SECTION 1
👤 Customer Information

SECTION 2
📖 Book & Quantity

SECTION 3
📦 Delivery / Collection

SECTION 4
💳 Payment

SECTION 5
✅ Confirmation

The customer should ideally complete it in 2–3 minutes.

---

13. Create a QR code

Once your Google Form is ready, copy the form URL.

Then create a QR code for it.

You can put the QR code on:

• Book promotion poster

• Facebook post

• WhatsApp status

• Instagram

• TikTok

• Your blog

• Business card

• Book launch presentation

• Physical promotional banner

Your poster could say:

PRE-ORDER NOW

📖 MY FIRST BOOK
[BOOK TITLE]

Limited First Edition

SCAN TO PRE-ORDER

📱 WhatsApp
🔳 QR CODE

---

14. One important improvement: separate "Order" from "Promotion"

Don't put too much promotional material inside the Google Form.

The poster/social media should make people want the book.

The Google Form should make buying the book easy.

So the customer journey becomes:

See poster → Scan QR → Order → Pay → Receive confirmation

That's much more effective.

---

My recommended setup for your first book

Because this is your first book promotion, I would build the form around these fields:

Customer

• Full name

• WhatsApp

• Email

Order

• Book edition

• Number of copies

• Signed copy? Yes/No

Delivery

• Courier / Self-collection

• Full address

• Postcode

• State

Payment

• Payment method

• Amount

• Transaction reference

• Optional receipt

Confirmation

• Agreement checkbox

STORY 1131 — ATAN JOHAN

I have had many mentors throughout my more than twenty years in the industry. Each of them, in one way or another, taught me how to work more efficiently and effectively. Their guidance shaped not only the way I worked, but also the way I thought, responded to challenges, and made decisions.

One of the mentors who left a lasting impression on me was Atan Johan.

On my first day at my third palm oil mill in the interior of Miri, Sarawak, I was welcomed by Atan Johan. He was a tall, lean man with a moustache, a Bugis by heritage, originally from Sandakan, Sabah. He was about 55 years old at the time and had extensive experience in the palm oil industry. He started his career as a boilerman and eventually worked his way up to an executive position.

When I joined the company, he was serving as a Senior Assistant Manager. He had been managing the mill for several months during a transition period while the company waited for a new mill manager to take over. The trust placed in him by the company demonstrated just how experienced, capable, and dependable he was.

For me, meeting Atan Johan was a blessing.

As a young engineer who was still new to the company, his presence helped me adapt much faster to the company's culture, working environment, and way of doing things. He was a simple, relaxed person with an excellent sense of humor. He was always smiling and laughing, and whenever he was around, the workplace seemed to become lighter and more cheerful.

With an age difference of almost fifteen years, I regarded him more like an elder brother than merely a colleague.

One thing that fascinated me about him was his way of working. He rarely carried a notebook around. When he was given a task, he would simply remember it, act on it, and make sure it was completed as quickly as possible.

Because of that, very little was ever left pending.

One day, I came to him with an issue that had been troubling me deeply. I was struggling to deal with different expectations and approaches from senior management, and in my mind, the situation had become extremely complicated.

I explained the whole story to him in great detail.

He listened patiently without interrupting.

When I finished, he smiled and gave me his perspective.

It took only a few sentences.

Suddenly, the problem that had seemed so complicated in my mind became surprisingly simple. There was a clear and practical way forward.

I was amazed by his ability to simplify problems.

Perhaps that is one of the great differences between someone with decades of experience and a young person who is still discovering how the world works. Sometimes, experience does not necessarily give us more answers. Instead, it teaches us how to see a problem more clearly.

How often do we reach a dead end in our lives?

We become confused. We overthink. We see too many possibilities and cannot determine which direction to take. Without someone who can give us sound advice, the burden can become even heavier.

I did not feel that burden when Atan Johan was around.

Whenever I faced a difficult situation, I knew there was someone I could approach. He would listen, smile, perhaps make a joke, and then reduce the complicated issue into something simple and manageable.

Years later, I moved from one mill to another, taking on new responsibilities and facing increasingly complex challenges.

Atan Johan, however, was no longer there.

I eventually had to learn to stand on my own.

But whenever I reach a dead end, I often remind myself to think and act the way Atan Johan did.

Stay calm.

Smile.

Do not make the problem bigger than it really is.

Think simply.

Then solve it in the most effective and efficient way possible.

I still remember his smile, his laughter, and his wonderful sense of humor. Even when the mill was facing serious operational problems, he rarely allowed pressure to take control of him.

He showed me that professionalism does not always have to look serious.

Sometimes, the most effective leader in the room is the person who remains calm when everyone else is worried.

Atan Johan taught me something that no textbook could fully explain: experience gives us the ability to simplify what others see as complicated.

Today, whenever I face a difficult problem, I sometimes imagine what Atan Johan would say.

Then I smile.

And I begin looking for the simplest way forward.

Thank you, Atan Johan.

You may no longer be here, but the way you worked, the way you thought, and the way you brought joy into a demanding workplace remain with me.

That is the legacy of a true mentor.

And that is my story today.

Summary of Energy Efficiency / Energy Conservation Work

Summary of Energy Efficiency / Energy Conservation Work

1. Palm Oil Mill Energy Management

• Optimized steam and thermal energy utilization in palm oil milling operations.

• Improved boiler and steam-system performance to reduce unnecessary steam consumption and thermal losses.

• Monitored and managed power consumption, steam generation and process energy efficiency.

• Optimized mill operations involving sterilization, clarification, pressing and other energy-intensive processes.

• Worked with high-capacity palm oil mills, including mills processing approximately 90–150 MT FFB/hour, where energy optimization had significant operational impact.

2. Boiler and Steam System Optimization

• Applied extensive experience as a Steam Engineer/Boiler Competent Person to improve boiler efficiency and steam-system reliability.

• Improved combustion and biomass-fuel utilization.

• Reduced energy losses through better control of steam distribution, condensate and boiler operation.

• Improved utilization of biomass residues as renewable energy sources for palm oil mill operations.

• Worked on biomass boiler system improvements, including commissioning and optimization.

3. Steam Turbine / Cogeneration

• Supported energy-conservation initiatives through the utilization of steam turbine technology for electricity generation.

• A major example is the planned installation of a steam turbine associated with the reduction of Plant 1's electricity budget:

  • 2025 actual consumption: 7,964,438 kWh

  • 2026 consumption: 7,605,264 kWh

  • 2027 budget: 6,800,000 kWh

• The initiative represents an estimated reduction of approximately 805,000 kWh/year compared with 2026, through improved energy generation and utilization.

4. Solvent Extraction Plant – Electrical Energy Reduction

• Led/improved energy-efficiency initiatives in a 250 MT/day solvent extraction plant.

• Implemented process and equipment improvements to reduce electrical energy consumption.

• Replaced the Horizontal Belt Filter with a Rotary Drum Vacuum Filter (RDVF).

• The RDVF improvement achieved approximately 19% annual power reduction compared with the previous system.

• The project achieved an estimated ROI/payback period of 2.81 years.

• Improved process efficiency while recovering residual oil from Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE), which could contain significant residual oil.

5. Refinery Energy Optimization

• Managed energy-intensive operations in a 150 MT/day physical palm oil refinery.

• Optimized utilities including steam, thermal systems, cooling water, compressed air and electrical consumption.

• Integrated energy considerations into refinery process improvements and plant reliability initiatives.

• Worked on commissioning and optimization of refinery and utility systems.

6. Water and Utility Energy Conservation

• Implemented a Reverse Osmosis (RO) water system that reduced external water consumption by approximately 90–95%.

• Reduced the energy and utility burden associated with raw-water intake, treatment and water handling.

• Achieved an estimated ROI within four years.

• Integrated water conservation with broader utility and resource-efficiency objectives.

7. Utility System Optimization
Your experience covers optimization of major energy-consuming utilities, including:

• Boilers and steam systems

• Steam turbines

• Cooling towers

• Compressed-air systems

• Water-treatment systems

• RO systems

• Wastewater-treatment systems

• Electrical distribution and plant equipment

• Biomass fuel systems

8. Energy Efficiency Through Process Improvement
A significant part of your energy-conservation work has been achieved not simply by reducing equipment operating hours, but by improving process efficiency. Examples include:

• Equipment replacement with more energy-efficient technology.

• Process optimization.

• Reduction of unnecessary power consumption.

• Improved thermal-energy utilization.

• Better utilization of biomass and process residues.

• Improved equipment reliability and operating conditions.

• Monitoring energy performance against production requirements.

Overall Professional Summary

“Over two decades of practical energy-efficiency and energy-conservation experience across palm oil mills, solvent extraction plants, physical refineries and utility systems, covering steam and thermal energy optimization, biomass boiler efficiency, cogeneration, electrical energy reduction, water conservation, process-equipment optimization and utility management. Successfully implemented projects including RDVF technology resulting in approximately 19% power reduction, RO implementation reducing external water consumption by 90–95%, and steam-turbine/cogeneration initiatives aimed at substantially reducing grid electricity consumption.”

ENERGY AUDIT → ENERGY MONITORING → ENERGY OPTIMIZATION → ENERGY-CONSERVATION PROJECTS → ENERGY PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT

STORY 1130 — BECOMING A “RAIN SHAMAN” AT SUNGAI BOK

The journey to Loagan Bunut from Miri took almost three hours. The route passed through Bukit Lambir National Park, Simpang Bekenu, and eventually reached Beluru town. That was where the paved road ended.

From Beluru onward, the journey became a different kind of adventure. The road turned into a rough gravel track, full of potholes, dust, mud and unexpected challenges. By the time I reached Beluru, I would usually stop for a while—to use the restroom, buy some snacks, or simply take a short break before continuing the journey.

Sometimes, instead of stopping in Beluru, I would stop at the Petronas station at Simpang Bekenu to perform my Zuhur prayer. Since the journey was more than two marhalah, it had become my usual practice to perform Jamak and Qasar for Zuhur and Asar while travelling.

From Beluru, another 46 kilometres remained—nearly an hour of driving. And somewhere along that route was Sungai Bok.

Sungai Bok was not an ordinary river crossing.

The crossing was only about 30 metres wide, but during heavy rain, flooding or high tide, the entire stretch of road could disappear beneath two or three feet of water. For me, this became one of the most memorable lessons in learning how to drive a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

The first time I had to cross the flooded river, I listened carefully to the advice of my more experienced colleagues.

“Open the door slightly when crossing deep water.”

“Use low gear.”

“Never release the pressure on the accelerator.”

“Keep the engine running steadily, otherwise water may enter through the exhaust.”

And after crossing, always stop and check the air filter. If it had become wet, it needed to be dried immediately.

Some of my colleagues had even modified their vehicles by raising the air-intake pipe to a higher position. This simple modification made it safer to cross water that could reach two or three feet deep.

At the time, these seemed like practical tips for surviving a difficult journey.

Years later, I realised they were much more than that.

They were lessons in life.

In a remote palm oil mill, we learned not only about engineering and machinery. We learned to observe nature, understand the environment and respect the conditions surrounding the operation.

One of the routine practices in a palm oil mill was recording daily rainfall.

Every morning, the laboratory assistant would take the reading from the rain gauge and record the rainfall in millimetres in the daily operating report.

Initially, I regarded it simply as another routine piece of data.

But gradually, I began to realise how valuable that information was.

Rainfall could affect harvesting, transportation, fruit quality and ultimately the oil extraction rate. When heavy rain occurred, plantation operations could be disrupted. Fresh fruit bunches might not reach the mill according to schedule. Roads could become inaccessible, and transporters could face delays.

For a mill located beyond Sungai Bok, the consequences could be even greater.

Whenever flooding occurred, tankers carrying crude palm oil and palm kernels could become stranded. If the products could not be transported out of the mill, storage tanks would gradually fill up.

Eventually, rainfall was no longer just a number written in a daily report.

It became something I began to watch.

Something I began to study.

And, perhaps without realising it, something I became fascinated by.

Because of the frequent flooding at Sungai Bok, I started collecting monthly rainfall records. Year after year, the data accumulated.

Nearly ten years of rainfall records became my personal reference.

As I studied the data, I began noticing patterns.

Rainfall during the first and fourth weeks of the month generally appeared to be lower than during the second and third weeks. The pattern seemed to repeat itself from month to month and, to some extent, from year to year.

Then I noticed another interesting relationship.

Flooding at Sungai Bok seemed to occur more frequently around the middle of the lunar month and during the full moon.

Of course, rainfall alone was not the only factor.

Heavy afternoon and evening convectional storms could coincide with high tides from the river. When heavy rainfall and high tide came together, the relatively small river crossing could quickly become impassable.

Suddenly, the rainfall data became more than historical records.

It became a tool for planning.

By combining rainfall patterns, the lunar calendar, high tides and my observations of the river, I could make a reasonable prediction of when Sungai Bok was more likely to flood and when the road was more likely to remain passable.

I began sharing these observations with the transporters.

I advised them to concentrate more vehicles on the weeks when the risk of flooding was lower. If possible, they should avoid sending too many tankers around the middle of the Hijri month, particularly when the full moon coincided with heavy rainfall and high tide.

It was not a scientific weather forecast.

It was simply field experience supported by years of observation and data.

But surprisingly, it worked quite well.

The lesson followed me beyond the palm oil mill.

Whenever I organised outdoor activities, sports days or recreational programmes, I would also consider the same pattern. Whenever possible, I preferred the first or fourth week of the month and tried to avoid the second and third weeks, particularly around periods associated with heavy rain and high tides.

My colleagues eventually began to joke about it.

Because of Sungai Bok and my obsession with rainfall records, I had somehow become the “rain shaman.”

A dukun hujan.

I could almost imagine them thinking:

“Ask him. He will know whether it is going to rain.”

But behind the joke was something much more meaningful.

Working in a remote palm oil mill taught me that knowledge does not always come from textbooks, classrooms or formal training.

Sometimes, knowledge comes from standing beside a rain gauge every morning.

Sometimes, it comes from crossing a flooded river.

Sometimes, it comes from listening to an experienced colleague telling you not to release the accelerator.

And sometimes, it comes from patiently collecting small pieces of information for years until a pattern begins to reveal itself.

The Sungai Bok experience taught me the value of observation, data, experience and anticipation.

In engineering, we often solve problems after they happen.

But the better engineer learns to recognise the signs before the problem arrives.

For me, Sungai Bok was more than a dangerous river crossing.

It was my classroom.

The rain was my teacher.

The rain gauge was my instrument.

The river was my laboratory.

And the ten years of rainfall records became my textbook.

That was how, somewhere along the gravel road to Loagan Bunut, I unknowingly became the “Dukun Hujan of Sungai Bok.”

And that is my story today.

Lagu HAI SUAMIKU

Hai Suamiku

Lagu / Lirik oleh BORNEO RIDER

Hai sayangku…

Hi pujaan hatiku…

Suamiku tercinta,

Engkaulah cinta dalam hidupku…

Hai suamiku sayang,

Manjaku hanya untukmu

Senyum dan kasih yang kuberikan

Semua tulus dari hatiku

Engkau hadir dalam hidupku

Membawa bahagia setiap waktu

Dalam suka dan dalam duka

Ku ingin selalu di sampingmu

Kan kujaga cinta kita

Dengan setia sepanjang masa

Takkan kubiarkan kasih terluka

Kerana engkau separuh jiwa

Hai sayangku, hi cintaku

Hatiku hanya untukmu

Hidup ini kan kuberikan

Untuk cinta yang kita bina

Hai suamiku, pujaan hati

Kasih sayangku takkan berganti

Senyum manisku hanya untukmu

Cintaku satu, selamanya untukmu

Jika hari mendung dan gelap

Kan kuhadir membawa cahaya

Jika langkahmu terasa penat

Kan kupeluk dengan penuh cinta

Sebagai isteri ku berjanji

Menjaga kasih sepenuh hati

Dalam doa kusebut namamu

Agar bahagia selalu bersamamu

Jangan biarkan hati berubah

Jangan biarkan cinta terpisah

Pegang tanganku erat-erat

Kita melangkah hingga akhir hayat

Hai sayangku, hi cintaku

Hatiku hanya untukmu

Hidup ini kan kuberikan

Untuk cinta yang kita bina

Hai suamiku, pujaan hati

Kasih sayangku takkan berganti

Senyum manisku hanya untukmu

Cintaku satu, selamanya untukmu

Biar rambut memutih bersama

Biar usia terus bertambah

Selagi nafas masih bernyawa

Cintaku padamu takkan berubah

Tiada yang lain di dalam hati

Tiada pengganti, tiada yang menyamai

Kau suamiku, kau cintaku

Tempat hatiku selalu bertamu

Hai sayangku, hai suamiku

Kaulah cinta dalam hidupku

Suka dan duka kita bersama

Hingga ke penghujung usia

Hai pujaan hati, dengarlah sayang

Cinta ini takkan pernah hilang

Aku setia, aku menyayangimu

Hari ini, esok dan selamanya untukmu

Hai suamiku sayang…

Hai cintaku…

Pegang tanganku, jangan lepaskan…

Kerana hatiku…

Hanya untukmu…

Selamanya… insya-Allah.

STORY 1129: RETIRE

My third palm oil mill in my second company was located about 120 km from Miri City, Sarawak. It sat beside Loagan Bunut National Park, not far from Long Lama, on the banks of the mighty Baram River that flows from the deep interior of Sarawak to Kuala Baram before meeting the South China Sea.

Getting there was an adventure in itself.

The road was mostly gravel, serving as the main route for logging trucks transporting timber to paper mills. Every now and then, a giant logging truck would thunder past. During the rainy season, the road turned into mud and potholes. During the dry season, clouds of dust covered every vehicle until it looked as though it had just driven through a swamp. Along that route were three palm oil mills, and mine was the second furthest from town.

Because of the long and exhausting journey, anyone visiting the mill almost always stayed overnight at the estate. As was common in plantation life, the mill manager's bungalow became a place to welcome guests. I actually enjoyed that, because I lived there alone most of the time. I always made sure visitors stayed as honoured guests rather than attempting the tiring drive back to Miri.

Every three months, I would receive a visit from a Professional Electrical Engineer who carried out the statutory electrical inspection required by the Energy Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Tenaga). After each inspection, he would submit his report to the Commission. My mill was usually his final destination after visiting the first mill along the same road.

Sometimes he brought chocolates for my children. It was a small gesture, but one that my family always appreciated.

That evening, as usual, we had dinner together. The estate canteen prepared fresh river fish caught from a nearby river, steamed in the simplest yet most delicious way. He was the owner of an electrical engineering consultancy company and was already in his early sixties.

At that time, I was only in my thirties.

Curious, I asked him, "Why don't you retire? You've reached retirement age. You've achieved so much in life."

He smiled before answering.

"Actually, I did try to retire."

After turning sixty, he handed over the company to his engineers to manage. His daughter was living in Australia, where she was pursuing her career as a professional tennis player. He flew there and spent a few weeks with her, expecting retirement to be relaxing and enjoyable.

Then he laughed.

"By the second week, I was already bored."

He said he missed his daily routine—the meetings, responsibilities, site visits, and the feeling of being needed. A life without challenges felt strangely empty.

I listened quietly.

The night was peaceful, accompanied only by the sound of crickets outside the bungalow, filling the silence of the plantation.

Then he gave me advice that I have never forgotten.

"You're still young. You have many commitments—housing loans, car loans, raising children, building your career, supporting your family, and dealing with life's endless challenges."

He paused before continuing.

"But when retirement comes, many of those challenges disappear. The loans are paid off. The children grow up. The responsibilities become lighter. And that's when life can start to feel... empty."

Then came the lesson.

"So plan your retirement wisely. And appreciate every challenge you're facing today. One day, those struggles will become beautiful memories. Challenges and trials give meaning to our lives."

His words stayed with me.

Whenever I was late paying my car loan, struggling with the house mortgage, or watching my savings disappear because of my children's needs and family responsibilities, I remembered his advice.

Instead of complaining, I chose to accept those challenges.

I believe every hardship carries wisdom. I believe every trial is part of Allah's plan for me to face, grow through, and become stronger because of it.

Today, years later, I understand what he meant.

Retirement is not simply about stopping work.

It is about having a life that still has purpose.

That’s my story today.

Lagu Sumando di Rantau Hati

Lagu / Lirik : BorneoRider

Genre: Balada Minang / Nasihat Kehidupan 

 

Oi dunsanak… 

Hiduik bukan untuak bagaya… 

Tapi untuak manjago marwah jo keluarga… 

 

Datang sumando ka rumah urang 

Bukan manumpang makan sajo 

Adat dijunjuang jo hati nan lapang 

Budi jo sopan jadikan pusako 

 

Jalan ka sawah di pagi hari 

Kabut turun di kaki gunuang 

Kalau lalaki indak berbudi 

Hilang hormat di mato urang

 

Jangan jadi langau hijau 

Datang hanya waktu kenduri 

Bini menangih anak marayu 

Ayah pulang ndak mancari rezeki 

 

Jangan jadi kacang miang 

Pandai manih di awal sajo 

Janji tabang dibao angin 

Rumah tanggo jadi kecewa 

 

Jadilah sumando nan elok 

Ringan tangan hati pun elok 

Bukan bagak di muko urang 

Tapi kuat waktu susah datang 

 

Anak dipangku jo kasih sayang 

Kamanakan dibimbiang jalan 

Adat Minang jadi pegangan 

Syarak teguh sepanjang zaman 

 

Lapiak buruk usah jadi 

Hiduik malas membebani hati 

Urang kampuang mulai mancaci 

Karano diri indak berbudi 

 

Padi masak di sawah datar 

Angin petang babau tanah 

Lalaki elok bukan nan pintar 

Tapi nan jujur jo amanah 

 

Kalau rantau jauh dijalani 

Jangan lupa asal usali 

Bundo kanduang mananti pulang 

Mambao nama nan tarpuji 

 

Harta habih bisa dicari 

Tapi malu susah diganti 

Jagolah hati jo tingkah laku 

Supayo mulia sampai mati 

 

Jadilah sumando nan sabana 

Tagak luruih di jalan agama 

Bukan langau di ateh meja 

Tapi pelindung anak jo keluarga 

 

Adat basandi syarak mulia 

Syarak basandi Kitabullah 

Kalau hidup ingin bahagia 

Hormati rumah tempat singgah 

Oi dunsanak… 

Lelaki bukan diukur dari kato… 

Tapi dari tanggungjawabnyo… 

STORY 1128 — WORK–LIFE BALANCE

When I moved to Miri, Sarawak, in 2008, I met a colleague who would later become a good friend and an important influence in my professional life.

Our company operated two palm oil mills in Sarawak, and he was the Mill Manager at Kanawit, Sibu. Interestingly, he was also from Kelantan and married to a Sabahan from Labuan. Naturally, we had quite a lot in common.

But what really stood out about him was his sense of humor.

After more than twenty years in the industry, I believe every engineer needs one essential quality besides technical competence: a good sense of humor.

Our technical responsibilities are serious. We deal with machinery, steam, pressure, electricity, production targets, breakdowns, safety, and people. There is always something that can go wrong.

That is why humor matters.

Sometimes, a good laugh is not just entertainment. It is a way of releasing the pressure we carry.

My friend had previously worked in a palm oil refinery before joining the palm oil mill operation. That experience made him technically sharp and intellectually quick. He could discuss serious matters with great depth, yet suddenly turn a conversation into something hilarious.

One day, he asked me a question.

“What percentage of your commitment do you give to the company?”

I looked at his face. I couldn't tell whether he was being serious or making another joke. There was a smile on his face, which made the question even more difficult to interpret.

I answered confidently:

“My previous company was IOI. So my commitment is 101%.”

He immediately burst into laughter.

“Wow, boss! That's impressive. Mantap!”

Then I asked him the same question.

He became quiet for a moment.

Then he answered:

“At most, 75%.”

We both fell silent.

At that time, I thought his answer was simply another joke.

But strangely, I continued thinking about it for years.

Why 75%?

It took me years to truly understand what he meant.

We have 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. How much of that time should really belong to our company?

The answer is obvious.

Not 100%.

Work is only one part of life.

We have responsibilities to ourselves, our families, our faith, our health, our personal development, our communities, and ultimately, to God.

Every part of life has its own rights.

The lesson slowly changed the way I managed my time.

Working in a palm oil mill is not a normal nine-to-five job. A mill operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As engineers responsible for operations, we sometimes have to respond whenever the mill needs us.

At two in the morning, the phone might ring because someone needs approval for a critical operation.

On weekends, we may have to return to the mill to supervise high-risk work.

During festive seasons, we may still need to be at the mill because someone else deserves the opportunity to return home and celebrate with their family.

The cycle continues throughout the year.

That is simply part of being responsible for a 24/7 operation.

But outside those responsibilities, I began to realise that my life had other purposes too.

Whenever I had free time after working hours, I started investing it in myself, my family, my faith, and personal development.

During my four years in Miri, I completed the competency requirements for the First Grade Steam Engineer Certificate and the First Grade Internal Combustion Engine Engineer Certificate.

I also sat for LISP Level 1 and Level 2 examinations and continued my education by pursuing an MBA.

And whenever the weekend gave me some breathing space, I brought my family out to explore Sarawak.

We visited numerous national parks across the state. We joined activities organized by friends and acquaintances. We travelled, explored new places, met new people and experienced things that were completely outside the boundaries of my work.

And most importantly—

I enjoyed it.

Looking back today, perhaps that was what my friend meant when he said his commitment was only 75%.

It was never about giving less to the company.

It was about understanding that the company is not the whole of life.

Give your best to your work when you are at work.

But when you leave the workplace, remember that you are more than your job title.

You are a person.

You are a husband or wife.

You are a parent.

You are a friend.

You are a child to your parents.

You have a body that needs rest, a mind that needs learning, a soul that needs nourishment, and a family that needs your presence.

Work may pay the bills.

But life is much bigger than a payslip.

Perhaps true work–life balance is not about dividing our time equally.

It is about giving every responsibility its rightful place.

And sometimes, the wisest engineer in the room is the one who knows when to work at 100%—

and when to stop at 75%.

That simple conversation in Miri stayed with me for years.

Today, I understand it.

Work hard. Serve well. But never give your whole life to the company and forget to live.

That my story today.

STORY 1127 — OWNERSHIP

One day, the mill broke down.

The single-line EFB Scrapper Conveyor chain snapped, forcing the mill to stop. It happened just two hours after the morning operation had started.

Everyone was at the scene.

The Engineering Team, Mechanical Foreman, mill supervisors, and even the Mill Manager were there. The manager observed the situation and occasionally gave instructions.

At that time, I had only been a Cadet Engineer for three months.

There was not much I could do. I simply observed and watched everyone coordinate the repair activities.

A spare chain was taken from the store. The broken chain was removed and the replacement installed. LOTO was applied before any repair work began — both mechanical and electrical isolation.

Once everything was confirmed safe, the workers entered the EFB Scrapper Conveyor to carry out the repair.

It was a long process.

More than an hour had passed.

While the work was still ongoing, I started moving away from the scene and headed towards the Boiler Station. I spoke with the boilerman and, as usual, spent some time with him.

Not long after that, I saw the Mill Manager walking through the boiler area towards his office.

When he saw me, his face changed.

“What are you doing here?”

I was nervous and could not answer.

He continued:

“Everyone is busy at the EFB Conveyor, and you still have time to sit here and relax? Go back there!”

I said nothing.

I immediately returned to the EFB Conveyor and stayed with the team until the repair was completed.

The mill was eventually restarted and operated safely.

Only after the mill was back in operation did I leave for lunch — almost 2:00 p.m.

That happened in 2004.

Today, that memory reminds me of one word:

OWNERSHIP.

Today is Sunday.

I came to the mill to supervise a critical lifting operation involving an 18 MT load using a 100 MT capacity crane.

The HSSE Manager was there.

The Lifting Supervisor and riggers were there.

The Project Manager was there.

And, of course, the contractor team was ready — after waiting for almost two weeks for the opportunity to carry out this critical work.

This lifting operation is critical.

And I need to be there.

It does not matter whether it is a weekend, at night, or a public holiday.

When the responsibility is yours, you show up.

Nobody needs to shout.

Nobody needs to remind you.

Nobody needs to ask, “Where are you?”

Because you understand that the job is yours.

That is ownership.

Twenty-two years ago, I needed a manager to remind me.

Today, I remind myself.

Ownership is not about being told to be there.
Ownership is knowing that you need to be there — and showing up.

That is my story today.

#Leadership #Ownership #Engineering #Safety #HSSE #ProjectManagement #LiftingOperation #MillLife #LessonsFromExperience #BorneoRider

STORY 1126 — DIPOM: Stepping Beyond the Mill

After those early years in the palm oil mill, life began to move at a much faster pace.

I got married, welcomed my first child, and somehow, the loneliness I once felt in the plantation slowly disappeared. With my beloved wife by my side, life in the estate no longer felt strange or difficult. As the Malay saying goes, alah bisa tegal biasa—what is difficult at first eventually becomes familiar.

At work, managers came and went, and each new manager brought a different leadership style and a new opportunity to learn. I began to understand that managing a palm oil mill was not simply about machinery, production, and numbers. It was also about managing people—people from different backgrounds, personalities, cultures, and experiences.

Whatever happened at the management level often became the topic of conversation among the staff. To me, however, those stories were simply part of the daily journey—small episodes that carried valuable lessons.

I remained focused on one thing: what do I need to accomplish during my first five years in the industry?

Without realising it, I began setting my sights on two important goals.

The first was to obtain my Steam Engineer competency license, under the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH/JKKP).

The second was to enroll in DIPOM—Diploma in Palm Oil Milling Technology and Management, a program organized by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

My interest in DIPOM grew even stronger because my second manager was a former top student of the program. I admired his knowledge and experience, and knowing that he had once excelled in DIPOM made me even more determined to follow the same path.

There was, however, one obstacle.

At that time, I was not the most senior assistant engineer. There was another engineer who had served longer than I did, and naturally, he would have priority to attend the course.

But life has its own way of opening doors.

When I was instructed to transfer to the second mill, that obstacle disappeared.

In 2007, I finally registered for DIPOM at PLASMA, Lahad Datu, Sabah.

At that time, the MPOB program was conducted alternately between MPOB Headquarters and PLASMA in Lahad Datu. Due to various developments in the following years, the training centre was eventually moved from Lahad Datu to MPOB Kota Kinabalu, where it continues today.

After more than four years of being almost completely surrounded by oil palm plantations, with the difficulties of travelling in and out of the estate, DIPOM felt like a window opening to the outside world.

For the first time in years, I had the opportunity to step beyond the boundaries of my own mill and discover the wider palm oil industry.

And it was an exciting time.

At the same time, I was already holding responsibilities in managing a palm oil mill. I had to balance everything—work, assignments, projects, travelling, study, and family.

Time management became essential.

So did knowing what to prioritize.

Stepping Out of the Shell

DIPOM was more than just a diploma to me.

It was like coming out of a shell.

I met people from the MPOB Training Unit who were highly knowledgeable and passionate about the industry. I met engineers from many of Malaysia's leading plantation and palm oil companies. More importantly, I met industry veterans—people who had spent decades building, improving, and developing the palm oil industry.

Their knowledge and stories opened my eyes.

They inspired me to remain committed to the industry from the very first day I joined the program.

The DIPOM program covered four major areas:

1. Palm Oil Technology

2. Engineering & Utilities

3. Mill Management

4. Industry, Environment & Sustainability

The objective was not simply to teach participants technical knowledge. It was designed to help us understand the development of the palm oil industry, research and development, management principles, environmental and sustainability issues, and the opportunities to engage directly with industry experts.

It was not a program where we simply sat in a classroom listening to lectures.

There were discussions, projects, assignments, practical sessions and examinations.

The program consisted of three semesters, covering a total of 20 days of study, with a final examination at the end of each semester. Assessment was based on 70% examinations and 30% projects and assignments.

For someone who loved learning new things, this was an exciting experience.

Previously, my world revolved around one mill.

DIPOM expanded that world.

I began to see the palm oil industry not as separate pieces, but as one interconnected chain—from upstream plantations to palm oil mills, refineries and the wider downstream industry.

I also had the opportunity to meet people from regulatory agencies such as JKKP and DOE. For the first time, I was not only looking at the industry from the perspective of my own company. I was seeing it through the eyes of people from other organizations, companies and sectors.

I made full use of the opportunity.

Whenever we had weekends off, I would visit mills belonging to my new friends. Each visit exposed me to different technologies, practices and ways of managing operations.

Every mill had a story.

Every engineer had something to teach.

Palm Oil Mill Design

One of the projects that captured my interest was Palm Oil Mill Design.

We were required to prepare a complete proposal for the development of a 60 MT/hour palm oil mill, starting from the feasibility study and project justification.

We had to consider almost everything.

How large should the supplying plantation be?

What should be the capacity of the mill?

How should the ramp, sterilizer, threshing system, digesters and presses be designed?

What about the boiler?

The turbine?

The clarification system?

The kernel recovery system?

The utilities?

Every major component had to be justified and calculated properly.

The calculations had to be accurate because a mistake in one part of the design could affect the performance, cost and viability of the entire mill.

I particularly enjoyed this subject because it was taught by Ir. Amin Buhari, a highly respected figure in the palm oil industry who had been involved in numerous new mill development projects within one of the country's prominent government-linked companies.

His experience made the subject come alive.

It was no longer just about formulas and engineering calculations.

It was about understanding why a particular design was selected.

That lesson stayed with me.

Seeing the Industry Differently

During the program, we also visited palm oil mills and refineries in the surrounding areas.

These visits gave us exposure to new technologies and, importantly, to the downstream sector.

Before DIPOM, my understanding of the industry was largely shaped by what I saw every day at the mill.

After DIPOM, I began to understand the bigger picture.

I started asking different questions.

Where does our crude palm oil go after it leaves the mill?

How is it refined?

What technologies are used downstream?

How do upstream decisions affect downstream quality?

How do engineering, economics, environmental requirements and sustainability come together?

DIPOM gave me the foundation to think beyond my immediate responsibilities.

Looking back, I believe this exposure played an important role in a decision I would make many years later.

After almost 15 years in the upstream sector, I eventually decided to move into downstream palm oil processing.

And, in many ways, the journey began with DIPOM.

More Than a Diploma

After completing all the learning requirements and examinations, I passed the program.

The following year, a grand diploma presentation ceremony was held in Sandakan, Sabah. At the same event, certificates were also presented to participants of the Palm Oil Mill Supervisor course.

The ceremony became another opportunity to meet people who were deeply involved in the industry.

I met experts from plantations, industry associations and NGOs supporting the palm oil sector.

Some of the friendships formed during DIPOM continued long after the course ended.

Among them were friends from FGV who later became my study-group partners when I prepared for the Grade 1 Steam Engineer examination.

That was another unexpected benefit of DIPOM.

It did not merely give me a certificate.

It gave me a network of people who shared the same passion for learning and improving themselves.

Giving Back

Today, when I look back at DIPOM, I consider it one of the most valuable program MPOB has ever offered to engineers in the palm oil industry.

It provides a strong foundation for engineers who will eventually take on greater responsibilities—as mill managers, technical leaders, plant managers and other professionals throughout the industry.

Ultimately, these people become part of the generation responsible for leading the Malaysian palm oil industry forward.

The knowledge shared by the industry experts left a deep impression on me.

Their experience gave me confidence.

Their stories gave me inspiration.

And their dedication reminded me that being part of the palm oil industry was more than simply having a job.

It was an opportunity to contribute to an industry that supports millions of people and plays an important role in the country's economy.

But perhaps the most meaningful part of the story came almost a decade later.

About ten years after I completed DIPOM, I received a call from MPOB.

They invited me to become a lecturer for several topics in the same program.

I was deeply touched.

The student who had once sat in the classroom, listening to experienced industry experts and absorbing everything he could, was now being invited to stand at the front of the classroom and share his own experience with the next generation.

It felt like life had come full circle.

What I had received a decade earlier, I was now given the opportunity to give back.

That, to me, was the true meaning of education.

Learn. Apply. Grow. Then give back.

Thank you, MPOB, for giving me the opportunity to step beyond my own little world and see the palm oil industry from a much wider perspective.

DIPOM did not merely teach me how a palm oil mill works.

It taught me to see the industry as a whole.

It introduced me to people who shaped my thinking.

It opened doors I did not know existed.

And, unknowingly, it planted the seed that would eventually take me from upstream to downstream.

Most importantly, it taught me that knowledge becomes more meaningful when it is shared.

May the Malaysian palm oil industry continue to grow, innovate and contribute to the world.

That is my story today.

During the ceremony, represent the batch to give speech. 

First time meet Tn. Hj. Ghafar, MPOA Sabah Chairman during the ceremony.

With my wife during the ceremony and dinner.

With all friends that attending the ceremony in 2008.

After giving lecture to DIPOM Batch 2023 at MPOB Kota Kinabalu