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The Star
18-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Meet Dr Nek Abd Rahman, Malaysia's very own 'Horse Whisperer - Horse Doctor' who has gained great fame in South-East Asia and also the world
In a recent international business forum in Kuala Lumpur, a tall gentleman was the limelight of the event with his witty and cheerful comments and how he spoke much on healthy living. Many thought he was a foreigner and an advocate for his health products with his strong English accent. But as it turned out, the tall gentleman with his cowboy outfit was, in fact, a true blood Malaysian. Meet Datuk Dr Nek Abd Rahman Saleh ... He goes by many names ... some call him the Malaysian cowboy, for many he is a 'Horse Doctor-Horse Whisperer' while others also know as a man who provides medicinal relieve for many health patients. But it all comes down to one thing - his boundless love for horses and also the medicinal value of horses milk for all kind of diseases. Yes, some also call him the magic doctor. Dr Nek and his family. While he is famed for horse raring abilities and recognised in the field of equestrian by the British Horse Society, United Kingdom, the University of Ballarat, Australia and the Osman Gazi University, Turkey -- these days, Dr Nek is also famous for his medicinal products, Niemans Feramilch - a supplement product based on mares milk. "This is a very special supplement. It is an effective alternatives against Cancer, Dengue, Leukemia, Allergies, Anaemia, Athritis, Asthma, and many other diseases," said a beaming Dr Nek. And he also pointed out that the product has been certified after studies by top Malaysian scientists from University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia and also Universitas Brawijaya Indonesia In a scientific reading note: (" Pengambilan Niemans Feramilch secara berterusan didapati mampu mengawal dan mencegah sel-sel tubuh daripada rosak dan dijangkiti kanser, demikian menurut satu kajian. Di samping itu ia berupaya melambatkan proses penuaan, menghindarkan tekanan serta penyakit berkaitan darah seperti denggi, diabetes dan asma " - Prof Madya Dr. Rozita Rosli Timbalan Dekan (Penyelidikan dan Siswazah) Fakulti Perubatan dan Sains Kesihatan, UPM) -- it was confirmed that the product can help improve one's health from diseases. But while the product itself is a major achievement for Dr Nek, what he felt more compelled to talk about was his love for horses and the love he felt when he is with them. So much so, Dr Nek and his whole family rather stay away from the bustling city life and are now residing in their vegetable farm in Bukit Tinggi in Bentong, Pahang with their horses. "Horses they are everything for me. They are very important to me because they have basically given me so much. They are all part of the family. I love every one of them," said 69-year-old Dr Nek, who retired as a senior police officer in 2011. For the record, Dr Nek was born in 1956 in the State of Kelantan. He has been recognized in the field of equestrian by the British Horse Society, United Kingdom, the University of Ballarat, Australia and the Osman Gazi University, Turkey. He chose to retire early from the PDRM at 55. His last position was as an Assistant Superintended of Police was at Bukit Aman Kuala Lumpur. In line with his research with local and overseas universities, he also made efforts to /further his studies in medical law, project management and subsequently DBA-based equine business in the United Kingdom. His medical product business has expanded not only related to health products but also in the fields of education, training and events. He has been invited several times as a speaker in South-East Asia especially at universities and has also been a guest of international horse conferences and symposia. He has also written many journals on horse breeding and its medicinal products for international scientific research studies which was included in European and South-East Asian publications. Known as Nek Man by his peers in the equestrian world, Dr Nek says his passion for everything cowboy and horses didn't emerge in his early years growing up in Kelantan. It happened only 30 years ago, after a chance meeting with an Indonesian doctor who shared information about the properties of wild horse's milk. Fascinated by this new knowledge, Nek Man began his own research into horse milk, with the goal of starting a business. Dr Nek and his wife Datin Norhayati A. Rahim. The couple have been married for more than 40 years. He even returned to university to study medical law, project management and later pursued an equine business programme in Britain. 'All of this was for the benefit of my business and interest. The more I learned, the more I fell in love with the equine world – and the more of a cowboy I became,' says Dr Nek. He eventually became a prominent figure in the equine community in Malaysia and began representing the country on a global stage. One notable event was the Turkmen Horse Festival in Turkmenistan in 2013. 'That's when I was given the title Malaysian Cowboy by fellow participants from the United States,' says Dr Nek. 'Since then, wherever I go, I'm introduced as the Malaysian Cowboy,' he adds. In a more formal capacity, Dr Nek serves as the president of the Asean Horse Society, the patron of Persatuan Aktiviti Kuda Kelantan, an advisor to the Thailand-American Cowboy Association, and a committee member of the Indonesian Thoroughbred Association. In 1996, Dr Nek founded and established a company, Setia Brothers Sdn Bhd with a specific purpose that is to lead the equine related business specifically in the Biotechnology based on the horses' milk. Due to high commitment in the government sector, he entrusted the business to be headed by his wife. In order to ensure that the product is valuable, researches was also conducted not only to rely on the testimony of the customers but to serve as an assurance of the safety of the product. The first research collaboration was established with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in finding the reaction response to various types of cancer. Consequently, another research collaboration was conducted with Universiti Malaya (UM) for tropical diseases caused by mosquito-borne viruses. This was followed by another research collaboration with Universitas (University) Brawijaya, Indonesia that focused on studies related to skin diseases. The collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), was focused on Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, and the collaboration with Avanticell Science Scotland in the study of prostate cancer. There are other agencies and organisations that helped conducted further research including IMR, JPVM and others. "After being satisfied with the studies and researches conducted, finally a product under the brand 'Niemans Feramilch' was released for Malaysian and international market. The thing that is most proud of is that, this study is the first study and the first success of a horse-based dairy product to help 'CML' and 'ALL' blood cancer patients in the alternative (supplements) forms of medication," said Dr Nek. Dr Nek, from all his research, said he has found the milk from female horses are best from Papua (Irian Jaya) because they are fed grass which come from volcano hills in the island. "These are the best and from all my studies the milk from this land (Papua), the Irian Jaya wild horses, are the best for my products and I'm very thankful this product has helped many people from their pains and also lead a better and healthy lifestyle," said Dr Nek. "I have many friends from the island, who are now helping me, taking care of the horses and also sending the milk products. But business apart, it is my love of horses that has brought me this far. They are simply wonderful beings that were created by god and I'm happy I can just communicate with them so easily and it has been a big turning point in my career and life." Naturally, Dr Nek's strong passion for horses and the cowboy lifestyle has spread to his small family as the family members also help our Dr Nek with his medical product business. Married to Datin Norhayati A. Rahim for more than 40 years, his business now is also run by his son Nek Ahmad Maheer and his wife Nora Shahida. Maheer and Nora have three children - Nek Ariana Balqis, Nek Aryan Muhriz and Nek Armel Medina. When Dr Nek started his business, and because he was still in the police force, and to avoid a conflict of interest, Norhayati rose to the challenge and managed the business. Not only did she have to learn the trade – including dabbling in accounts and marketing – but she also had to learn about horses – riding them, caring for them, understanding their diet, providing a conducive living space and managing their accessories. "I owe my wife so much. My wonderful soul mate and best friend. She has always been a rock for me. But these days, both the oldies are taking a break from the rigorous workload. My son and his wife are now taking more participation in the business as me and my wife need a bit more rest these days," said the smiling Dr Nek. "I'm also very happy that my son is also like me when it comes to horses. And my grandchildren too. And it is a big blessing that my daughter-in-law just love horses too," said Dr Nek. As for his decision to move away from the city, Dr Nek said it was a decision that was supported by all the members of the family. "When I expressed his desire to move to Bukit Tinggi, the surprising thing was everyone in my family was very happy,' said Dr Nek. 'They all just love the cowboy lifestyle and I'm so happy here, living with my horses and also the nature. 'This place (Bukit Tinggi) is peaceful and laidback, it's like going back to real nature. Here, we get to teach our grandchildren not to be afraid to play with dirt and puddles, and not to get hooked on gadgets,' added Dr Nek. "The more I learned, the more I fell in love with the equine world – and the more of a cowboy I became. And while my products help people to be more healthier, I'm just humbled that I can help people improve my life and also how horses has improved mine." So there you go, our very own 'Malaysian Cowboy' who once served the country with distinguish valour as a police officer and now serving people by helping them to lead a healthier lifestyle and at the same time, telling all the importance of horses to the community of humans. Hats off to our Dr Nek, Malaysia's very own 'Horse Doctor-Horse Whisperer' and may he continue to help people to a better state of life.
India.com
29-04-2025
- Business
- India.com
Advancing Telecommunications Technologies: An Interview with Kranthi Kiran Kusuma
Kranthi Kiran Kusuma is a highly accomplished telecommunications professional based in Ontario, California. With 15 years of industry experience, Kranthi has established himself as an expert in carrier certification and project management. His impressive educational background includes a Master of Science in Information System Management from Coleman University, a Master of Information Technology from the University of Ballarat, and a Bachelor of Computer Applications from Osmania University. Throughout his career, Kranthi has successfully managed complex technology projects and maintained strong relationships with major telecom industry leaders. Q 1: What got you interested in telecommunications, and particularly carrier certification and testing? A: My interest in telecommunications was sparked by just how rapidly mobile technology interfered with the day-to-day activities of human beings. Carrier certification turned out to be particularly interesting to me because it represents a kind of crossroads between innovation and reliability. Working in this area makes it possible for me to directly see cutting-edge technologies–5G SA & NSA, LTE, and other cellular wireless technologies–ensuring that they meet rigorous specifications prior to being made available to consumers. The thrill is in being part of that process which brings new capabilities to communications, knowing that my work is helping to advance technology in millions of user's lives. Q 2: What is your approach to managing cross-functional teams for complex technological projects? A: To me, handling multidepartmental teams would involve strong and clear communication and that each member of the team has an appreciation of each other's individuality. The specific objectives of the project becoming considerable are shared with everyone, bearing in mind that every person having a well-defined understanding of their individual contributions towards it. The regular visit checks and visible project tracking will act as a momentum keeper and flag for any rising issues. I've noticed that an environment where team members feel free to talk about what difficulties they experience leads to even more exciting solutions. I also push creating of relationships outside departments so that you are not siloed in, especially for those tricky carrier certification jobs, where they've got to cross over engineers, quality assurance teams, and business stakeholders. Q 3: How have you managed to see the growth of the 5G technology and what challenges did you face from the certification perspective? A: Well, I've seen the journey of 5G from inception to massive deployment, and I would say from the experience-it has made life very different from 4G, bringing tremendous improvements in these areas: speed, latency, and connection density. However, these achievements have brought with them certification challenges. For example, with the deployment of millimeter wave technology (FR2), testing becomes more complicated due to signal propagation characteristics and the development of specific measurement methodologies. One of the most important challenges among them has been to keep the performance consistent over different environments, mainly for FR2 deployments that will be more sensitive to obstructions. Furthermore, there are many cases that need to be tested to guarantee the interoperability between 5G with 4G and legacy networks. To combat these challenges, I have implemented stricter field testing protocols and spent adequate time training engineers on the nuances of 5G technologies to ensure our certification procedures remain thorough and reliable despite the increased complexity. Q 4: What are the methods you apply to keep the working project within the time and budget limits? A: Timely and budget-wise completion of the telecommunications project required a combination of detailed planning and flexible execution. Thus, these projects start with extensive project scoping so that the deliverables can be broken into manageable milestones that have a buffer time for unexpected events. It includes resource allocation- I do assess the team capacity and expertise so that I can put right people on the correct tasks. For budgeting, I do regular financial reviews and compare actual expenses and projections to identify overruns at an early stage. For carrier certification, the best way I have found to use resources wisely in the most stressful times is to test priorities up front. In addition, I make use of project management tools, such as JIRA, to keep everything visible throughout the workstreams to enable data-driven decisions whenever adjustments need to be made. But most importantly, I create an accountability atmosphere in which people are encouraged to take ownership of their work but feel supported when they face obstacles. Q5: Here were the exciting advancements in telecommunications technologies for the future. A: I think the area where I am most excited for the future is convergence 5G technology with the other upcoming developments, such as artificial intelligence and IoT. Ultra-low latency and a large number of device connections create possibilities. Looking forward to being able to see how network slicing would change the way different applications allocate network resources, innovations involved in developing 6G technologies capable of operating in terahertz frequency ranges, and integrations of satellite-based communications with terrestrial networks. These developments together open up exciting possibilities for global connectivity. Beyond the new technology, I personally think these developments are going to open up new possibilities with application fields such as smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and telemedicine since they will require different approaches to certification and testing. I am looking forward to working into those standards to ensure that those technologies can count on being reliable, secure, and accessible. Q 6. How do you keep abreast of the fast-moving and ever-changing technologies and standards within telecommunications? A: Current developments in telecommunications require a multidimensional approach, as innovations are awakened nearly every second. Direct communication with attendees and speakers was possible at a conference, seminars, and webinars by industry experts. I also get a front row seat to new technology development when I work with carrier certification before most of the rest of the marketplace has been exposed to it. I remain active in the professional bodies and keep reading the reputable journals like 3GPP and IEEE. Colleagues within an organization who are specialized in different branches also offer different perspectives, and according to their ingenuity, they could be resourceful in furthering practical knowledge from theory. The same goes with new technologies as hands-on learning experiences develop theoretical and practical knowledge in telecommunications. I've also been able to develop a network of contacts with industry colleagues for periodical exchanges of ideas and information. This unique combination of formal education, hands-on applications and professional networking has been critical to maintaining a current skillset in the last 15 years of my telecommunications career. Q 7: What piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to get into telecommunications, particularly in testing and certification? A: For people entering the telecommunications testing and certification segment, I would suggest first learning networking basics and wireless technologies really well. Whether they specialize in a certain area, having understanding of protocols, signaling or RF principles would benefit them later on. Get hands-on experience, even if entry-level, because such know-how is invaluable in the field. Certifications relevant to telecommunication would definitely help in proving the commitment to the authenticity and expertise with which a person can explain to future employers. Be prepared to learn on and on because this industry transforms very quickly – what was cutting edge today will be standard tomorrow. Develop analytical and problem-solving skills because troubleshooting is one essential aspect of such testing work. Do not underplay communication skills, for instance, with technical ability one needs to relay that information to different stakeholders, ranging from engineers to business leaders. Tremendous room for growth is offered in telecommunications, especially now with 5G coming into the mainstream within companies, as well as research advancing in 6G; hence this is a great time to join the industry. High pressure situations, especially around certification deadlines, need to be handled with balanced strategic planning and tactical execution. For example, now I'm facing tight timelines; I reassess priorities and focus efforts on critical path items affected by certification. Clarity on the communication plan becomes much more important-I also ensure that relevant stakeholders know what our plan of action is and what risks to expect. I've found that breaking large problems into several smaller ones is a great way to boost morale within the team and create solid indicators of progress. During extraordinarily intense certification cycles, I implement check-ins as much as possible but also focused so that blockers can be cleared at an accelerated pace without infringing the flow of work. I have developed throughout my entire career a problem-in-analyzed fashion, which helps much faster resolve technical issues that would derail the time for the completion of the certification. Most importantly, I keep a calm, solution-oriented approach so that the team can keep their focus and not feel the pressure. This has really helped us meet challenging deadlines while maintaining testing quality and team wellness. Q 8: What are your long-term career aspirations in the telecommunications industry? A: On the long run, I look forward to holding a strategic leadership position whereby I can influence telecommunication technology adoption and implementation. I am particularly passionate about helping organizations realize the potential of emerging technologies such as advanced applications of 5G, private networks, and eventually 6G. As someone who has spent a lot of time in carrier certifications, I see extraordinary value in bridging the gap from technical innovation to practical deployment. I want to leverage the experience to energize great initiatives that hasten the responsible deployment of new telecommunications capabilities while ensuring those capabilities meet the most rigorous standards for performance and reliability. Also, I'm deeply involved in mentoring the generation-younger telecommunications professionals so that these insights get shared throughout my career. I would like, in the end, to contribute toward how such transformational technology better connects and opens new opportunities for different industries and communities. About Kranthi Kiran Kusuma Telecommunications professional with 15 years of experience in the industry, specializing in carrier certification and project management. Kranthi Kiran Kusuma works based in Ontario, California, having a proven record in managing complex technology projects and cross-functional teams. Kranthi has expertise in 5G( FR2/FR1 ), 4G LTE, as well as other wireless technologies. He has successfully led multiple field certification programs across North America. Including a Master of Science in Information System Management, a Master of Information Technology, and a Bachelor of Computer Applications, Kranthi's educational qualifications are great. Throughout his career, Kranthi has had strong linkages with industry key clients while ensuring product delivery success and technical excellence in the telecommunications industry. (Author: Priyanka Gupta)
