Sports & LeisureOlahraga & Waktu SenggangGOOD VOCAL CONTROL..Bahtiar Affendi Kamaludin from Northern Connectionsinging Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’.KONTROL SUARA YANG BAIK..Bahtiar Affendi Kamaludin dari Northern Connectionmenyanyikan lagu ‘Metallica Enter Sandman’.River of Life lead guitarist Abu Z<strong>are</strong>em Akbar in full element with his guitar.Gitaris utama River of Life, Abu Z<strong>are</strong>em Akbar mempersembahkan permainan gitarterbaiknya.NORTHERN CONNECTIONMERUPAKAN JUARAPERTANDINGAN BANDersaingan sengit untukmemperebutkan predikat JuaraPPertandingan Band <strong>Sime</strong> <strong>Darby</strong><strong>Plantation</strong> berakhir dengankegembiraan pada tanggal 15Agustus 2009 dimana BandNorthern Connection yang berasaldari zona utara mendapatkan hadiahpertama.Anggota juri yang terdiri dariPresiden Karyawan, FreddieFernandez sebagai Ketua Juri,penyanyi Adibah Noor dan DJ Nondari radio LiteFM merupakan juriyang luar biasa. Persembahan bandyang bersemangat menyanyikanlagu-lagu dari Metallica ‘EnterSandman’, ‘Permata Biru’ yangdinyanyikan oleh Ella dan ‘Cek MekMolek’ yang dinyanyikan oleh Dato'Daud Kilau.Northern Connection yang terlihatmempunyai penggemar masingmasingdi Kuala Lumpur ConventionDCentre Planery Theatermengerahkan seluruh tenaganyauntuk mendapatkan AnugerahPenonton untuk Band Yang PalingMenghibur.Northern Connection yang dibentukpada bulan Februari tahun 2009berhasil membawa pulang pialakemenangan kristal dan uang tunaisebesar RM 10,000.Adapun band yang mewakili ZonaSelatan adalah River of Life beradadi tempat kedua dan membawapulang uang tunai sebesar RM 7,000sedangkan band yang terdiri daripara anggota Pusat Penelitian danPengembangan serta Kantor Pusatberhasil menduduki tempat ketigadan membawa pulang uang tunaisebesar RM 5,000.The Anugerah Musisi Terbaik jatuhkepada gitaris River of Life, AbuZ<strong>are</strong>em Akbar dari Tanah MerahEstate dengan kemahirannyamemainkan gitar sehinggamendapatkan sambutan yangmeriah dari para penonton.Lebih dari 400 pegawai yang terdiridari Anggota Komite Perkebunan,para Kepala Zona dan Wilayah hadiruntuk menyaksikan enam buahband bertanding memperebutkanpiala. Adapun band-band lain yangturut serta pada pertandingantersebut selain band pemenangadalah Tune 10 (<strong>Sarawak</strong>), MinamasBand (Indonesia) dan DarbianRhythm (Sabah).Pada waktu menunggupengumuman pemenang, parapenonton dihibur oleh penyanyi jazzMelissa Suciati. Selain itu, 20penonton juga berhasil membawapulang hadiah undian berhadiahpada acara tersebut.Kepala Keuangan, Bp. Mohd. HairulAbdul Hamid secara langsungmenyerahkan hadiah-hadiah.Pertandingan Band yang pertamakali diselenggarakan oleh DivisiKomunikasi Korporat dengan tujuanuntuk mempererat persatuandiantara para pegawai melaluimusik.Melihat reaksi dari para penontonserta memandang banyaknya bakatbakatterpendam malam itu makasemua hadirin dapat berharap untukmenyaksikan pertunjukkanpertandingan band yang lebih besardan lebih baik pada tahun depan.50.Seedlink July - October, 2009
Olahraga & Waktu SenggangSports & LeisureTHECONTENDERSNorthern ConnectionNot to be confused with the Northern Corridorinitiative, Northern Connection was formed inFebruary 2009. Representing the North PenisularRegion, Northern Connection says their formationwas inspired by Kedah/North Perak Zone Head,but under the advise of the Region HEAD. Theircoming together quote “represents the bondbetween the estates and mills in the region” asthey strive towards achieving <strong>Sime</strong> <strong>Darby</strong>’smission and vision. ‘Enter Sandman’ by Metallicawas their first song. Then, a medley of Ella’s‘Permata Biru’ and Datuk M Daud Kilau’s ‘Cek MekMolek’.Members1. Bakhtiar Affendi Kamalffudin (Singer)2. Zaidi Jamaluddin (Singer)3. Noraliza Kurnain (Singer)4. Rozaini Etheray (Lead Guitar)5. Nuraimin Abd Halim (Drum)6. Muhammad Haniff Bakar (Keyboard)7. Ahmad Mahyuddin Othman (Bass)8. Zulfahizal Hussein (Guitar 2)River of LifeFrom South Penisular hails River of Life. It was inApril 2009 that they came to life at the SEMUAHeroes Appreciation Dinner in Melaka, and theyhave stuck together since then. Named after theTanah Merah Estate bio-diversity project, theyaim to prove that work and leisure can go hand inhand at <strong>Sime</strong> <strong>Darby</strong> <strong>Plantation</strong>. It is also a tributeto “Developing Sustainable Futures”, the <strong>Sime</strong><strong>Darby</strong> call arms. For BOTB09, they rendered amedley of ‘Holiday’ (Scorpions) and ‘We Are The<strong>Champions</strong>’ (The Queens), followed by Bon Jovi’s‘Its My Life’.Members1. Abu Z<strong>are</strong>m Akhbar (Guitar)2. Zakaria Ismail (Guitar)3. Herris Halmi (Bass)4. Roshaisam Roselee (Drum)5. Khaizaruddin Awaluddin (Main Vocal)6. Nor Azlin Azhar (Vocal 1)7. Mohd Noor Paiman (Vocal 2)8. Affendi Esnin (Vocal 3)The Red Shadow BandApp<strong>are</strong>ntly, “Red” is equivalent to R&D, while“Shadow” represents Head Office and Downstream.That basically is the composition of The RedShadow Band’s members in terms of theirdepartment. Playing for the Head Office, RedShadow was formed specifically to contest atBOTB09, and they played classic progressive rockthat night. They chose to play evergreen ‘HotelCalifornia’ by The Eagles, and a medley of 6 songsfrom local band Sweet Charity.Members1. Ahmad Fizal Mohamed Salleh(Guitar/Keyboard)2. Shaharuddin Mohd Sorani (Drum)3. Sulaiman Salleh (Percussion)4. Ismail Fazar Dabab (Bass)5. Mohd Zain Mohd Noor (Main Vocal 2)6. Zainal Sahlan (Main Vocal 1)7. Mohamed Abd Samad(Guitar/Backing Vocal)8. Md Alizam Md Said (Guitar/Accoustics)9. Hisham Hussain (Official)10.Haris Fadzilah Hassan (Band Manger)Tune 10In no way related to Tune Money or any of theTune businesses, Tune 10 represents the <strong>Sarawak</strong>Zone. Their original name is “B Kaban”, whichmeans “Be Friends” in the local dialect. But theirculmination also means the ten members uniteas one to play the tunes, thus, Tune 10. This2-month old band played their version of 70s hit‘Seiring & Sejalan’ (Broery Marantika & SharifahAini) and ‘When I Saw Her Standing There’ (TheBeatles).Minamas BandMembers1. James Rawing (Drum)2. Kennady Sandah (Singer)3. Petrus Limin (Guitar Bass)4. Bagung ak Daut (Keyboard 1)5. Piilai ak Jantom (Keyboard 2)6. Gani ak Pati (Guitar 1)7. Jumpit ak Pati (Guitar 2)8. Syarifah Azura (Singer)9. Nicholas Boniface Ahoy (Official)10.Nordin Masri (Band Manager)Darbian RhythmSabah’s bid to the title comes from DarbianRhythm. They play,quote, “the style, image andthe environment of the company…in other wordsthe Rhythm of <strong>Sime</strong> <strong>Darby</strong>.” They played ‘RockYou Like A Hurricane’ (Scorpions) and a medley ofcurrent hits, ‘Hanya Kau Yang Mampu’/LaguUntukmu (Aizat/Meet Uncle Husin)Members1. David Abd Muluk (Drum)2. Amran Amirahad (Keyboard)3. Johari Rohmad (Guitar 1)4. Hamka Hamzah (Guitar 2)5. Rizwan Sha Wahab (Bass)6. Hamka Usman (Vocal 1)7. Nurul Aliza Azwa (Vocal 2)8. Mohd Faizal Yusoh (Vocal 3)This 4-year old band from our Indonesianoperations is well known among the staff. Theyperform regularly at internal events and forBOTB09 seem to have highest count of females,accentuating their vocal harmonization. True totheir roots, they played a medley of traditionalIndonesian songs, ‘Sigulempong/Sik Sik BatuManikam/Rambadia/Lisoi’, and a jazzy numbermade popular by Manhattan Transfer, ‘Baby ComeBack’.Members1. Rizky Yulianto P. (Keyboard)2. Dian Buana (Lead Guitar)3. Yudi (Bass)4. Robby Melkiazer (Drum)5. Untung Peldananto (Percussian/Vocal)6. Dahlia Sinaga (Vocal 3-2nd Tenor)7. Wenti Dina P. (Vocal 2-2nd Alto)8. Willia Armelin (Vocal 3-1st Tenor)9. Oky Wardianto (Band Manger)Seedlink July - October, 200951.