“Mr Koh, you really want to build AI… or just attend class?” asked by Wei Khjan Chan

He asked very calmly.
That one hurt a bit.

We both attended a 2-day AI Engineering class in early 2025.

Same classroom.
Same slides.
Same excitement.

After class finish, our path slowly separate.

He became Manus ambassador.
Built AI agents.
Tested automation using his notebook late at night.

I became M&M royal VIP customer.

My notebook?
Netflix.
TikTok.
YouTube Shorts.

He networked with AI builders on weekends.
I rode motorbike in the trail with my biker gang.

I continued attending AI webinars like stamp collector.

Zoom link? I got.
Certificate? I got.
Implementation? Don’t have.

Honestly, I should have posted all the certificates on LinkedIn.

At least look productive and macam atas!

Mindset? I have.
Toolset? I know.

N8N.
Loveable.
Vibe coding.
Claude.

Ask me to explain AI workflow. I can talk one hour non-stop.

Ask me what AI project I completed inside my firm? Zero.

Every time I wanted to start, procrastination quietly come.

Too busy.
Too tired.
Peak season.
Scared cannot deliver.

Then tell myself, “Next month.”
Slowly I realised something uncomfortable.

Knowledge makes me feel slightly clever.
Execution makes me feel stupid at the beginning.

2026, I made a decision.
If I want AI automation across my firm, I need someone to steer.

The ex-auditor.
My ex-classmate.
Now much more advanced than me.

Today we sat down and mapped our first real project.

Not another webinar.
Not another slide deck.
Real workflow.

Look back
Same starting line in 2025.
Different outcome in 2026.

The difference was not IQ.
It was action.
I don’t lack seminars.
I lack implementation discipline.

So yes.

Today my former classmate is my AI consultant.
And I’m okay to say that publicly.
Execution is the only certificate that matters.

PS : Authored by Mr Koh Teck Peng, the group principal, in his personal LinkedIn post.