The Hat Yai trip.

 Tues 27.12.2022.

Kak Long had planned for a Christmas trip to Hat Yai by ETS. Heavy bookings for this period forced the reschedule to an earlier date of 21st December until 24th. But we nearly missed the whole trip, thanks to an unforgivable  carelessness by Idah. And this had happened before, also on a trip to Thailand - to Bangkok.

In the Bangkok case, having arrived early at the airport, I'd parked Idah within sight of the electronic departure board, showing the changing times and departure gates. With almost an hour to spare, and Idah at that time having problems walking long stretches, we agreed she wait on the seats available, so I could do some window-shopping around the vast expenses of the Bangkok airport. 

Of course the gates changed. And Idah didn't notice.

It took a frantic Kak Long pushing an empty wheel chair to retrieve Idah and board the aircraft as the last passanger on the last call.

This time it was a miracle of sorts that saved the day.

One month ago we all had agreed on this ETS trip. Wafa, our granddaughter of 8, has been very close to her grandmother. From an infant to this day she even sleeps with her. On hearing about the trip, she insisted she was coming. Finally Dekna, her mom, relented and Haniff, her husband arranged for the issue of her own passport. This wasn't possible before. I also took a letter of consent from Haniff. Just in case.

One month ago I had inquired about Idah's passport status. "Ok" was the simple response she gave. I should have checked. I didn't.

The train was to leave Kajang, where everybody decided to leave together from, at 10.01 a.m. on Wednesday, 21st December. Kak Long had warned that the ETS is always on time.  This was later borne out true.

Tuesday evening, 20th. December, at 8.40 p.m., I'd just done my Isyak prayers when Kak Long called, asking for our passports' numbers, for insurance coverage. That was when I discovered that Idah's passport had expired in May, 2021 !

Fortunately, Kak Long said UTC, where the Immigration is, closes at 10 p.m. There was still time. Dekna took her mother. The UTC is only 400 m away. They just made it, but the place was already closing down. Normally one would have to get the turn's number first, before queing for the actual passport process. I don't know what actually transpired, but Dekna managed to get all except the printing of the passport done. At 8 the next morning, our departure date, we were told to jump que and collect the printed new passport. 

In fact we had to wait 1 full hour. We were there at 8 sharp, having waited 30 minutes for the main gates to be open. 

At 9 sharp we rushed to Kajang, via the Lekas highway. After 2 false turns (1 on the Kajang town turn from the Lekas highway, and 1 on the train station departure gate) we made it into the lift taking us to the departure hall of the station at probably 6 or 7 minutes to the official departure time. We had to rush down the long stairway, struggling with our luggage, when an escalator would have been helpful. We joined the waiting group, waiting for the due coaches, at exactly 10 am. Kak Long saw us coming, with the broadest smile of relief. It was massive. Because Kakak, her eldest daughter, also arrived at the very same time with us from Seremban. (Later there were many trip delays in the 4-day stay all because of Kakak. But she was only behaving to form. In previous trips abroad together, Kakak only followed her own clock. It was always slower than others). We all tumbled into the first open coach door. It turned out to be the correct coach, the first one. At 10.01 as promised, the doors shut, and the train moved. Phew !

The Kajang-Padang Besar trip took 6.5 hours, with stops at practical all stations. There is only one dining coach, which ran out of food after 2 stations. The very brief stops did not give us time to jump out and buy food and drinks. Plus there were no hawkers on the platforms and within easy reach, like they had in the good old days, selling "kacang putih", snacks and even "sireh". Fortunately Idah had anticipated the situation (the passport case was different), and brought enough "mee goring" for everyone. But it was one small serving each. Still it helped fight the hunger that was only sated at a restaurant all the way in Hat Yai. The train ride was nice, with the changing scenery out of the large glass windows, the ample air-conditioning, the charging ports (important with the gadgets these days), plenty of leg-room for stretching and walk-about, the adequate but poorly-supplied toilets, and the prayer booth for max 3 and no qiblat.

Padang Besar is a renovated station and now looks a suitable-looking entry point from the Thai side. The Thailand-entry document-processing was ok, the premises clean and cool. There was an electronic lane provided, but in one case involving one of the group's members, having entered the electronic lane, she was made to double back into the manual lane because of some undetected affirmative recording, or something. Returning into Padang Besar on 24th December, the Thai officers behaved stickily in one window. The lady Immigration officer let through some of us without the finger-scans, but in my case they made me put all 10 fingers for scanning. And she also demanded the filling-up of a form by the van driver whom we had to call in because he stayed put in the vehicle, seeming unaware of the requirement although he is a regular traveller here.

The one real complain for me is the ridiculous situation where there should be easy movement from the Malaysian railway station to the Thai entry point. We had to take 2 taxis from the KTM disembarkation side to the Thai Immigration side, taking a long route under a tiny one-vehicle tunnel. In fact an overhead bridge is already in place, making it just a lengthy walk from one side to the other. Why this facility is closed puzzles me. Our van driver said that the bridge denied the taxi drivers an income. What is the concern here, the income of a few taxi drivers, or the comfort of the citizenary ? The taxi service should respond to people's need, isn't it ?

The 4-day-3-night Hat Yai trip was enjoyable. For friends and relatives who haven't done it, I would strongly recommend it. Hotel and breakfast was good. The street-shopping was plentiful, and sightseeing was great. Food was familiar and cheap. The streets were clean, the facilities good. In one particular beach resort, facing the South China Sea, the "surau" and the toilets were extremely clean.

I had been to Hat Yai before, but that must have been at least 32 years ago. I went for golf, but not at the course I saw this time on the way to Songkhla. This was trim-green with moderate-height trees just by the main road. My memory of my old visit is vague. It was an old-looking golf course, with large trees providing cover as well as  obstruction for golfers. 

Some small money could have been saved if I got the senior-citizen discount for the ETS. But they insisted that I appear in person. This is one area Malaysia falls behind even its ASEAN neighbours. A scan on the photo should suffice, surely.

Ku Am and Yati did save some money, though. Only, they saved money but missed the company's enjoyment, which is priceless. You can go again, with the very same people, but that would be a different thing. They cancelled the Hat Yai part, choosing to stop at Alor Star, and rejoing us on 24/12 on the trip home to Kajang. All because of reports of flooding in Hat Yai. They forget that the weather changes, and current reports are always avaiable for update.

Kak Long talked of a cruise from Port Kelang to Penang, taking a few days. I don't think I want to look at Selat Melaka and the walls of the ship for a few days.  If it is for Batam and the Riau Islands, I might consider, provided there are landings stops.

We tour to see different places, meet different people, taste different cuisines, feel different weather. It doesn't have to be far away places. We can still enjoy our Terenggau or Langkawi trips. The part of getting there, like the train ride to Padang Besar, is as much the fun as reaching the journey's end. And good company helps make the lapse of time shared fun.

That was the Hat Yai trip.  Sawdee kap !!

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The 70th anniversary of FMC -PD

 Sun 18.12.2022

Yesterday I counted 48 of us "Budak Boys" from intake 1952, the first year, to intake 1961, the last year for the Port Dickson campus of the original Federation Military College who made it to what would be the 70th Anniversary of the school. A few wives, some children and a few grandchildren also made it. The BB's, as was to be expected, were in different stages of aging. The important point was 48 of us made it. A few needed walking sticks, but all could walk across the former airstrip from the Bentara Hall to the dining hall. We registered attendance  at the Bentara Hall from 10 a.m. as scheduled, witnessed the planting of the 2nd tree to the 2019 one, and left the dining hall  by half-past-two. That was also on schedule, although the tour around the entire camp was not completed. The event was deemed a success, and BB Radzi, the President announced one final outing next year. Hopefully.

A lot of time and effort was spent in preparation. The Director of the NCO College that now occupies the old camp went out of his way in assisting us, and ensured everything went well. We were waited on by the soldiers, men and women, like bosses. Even the surau on the 2nd floor of the classroom building had a soldier stationed there to look after needs of the faithful. Certainly everybody involved went beyond giving basic help. But I would easily call it the Nawawi Desa's show.

BB Nawawi was responsible for putting together everything. The preparation in PD, the support of the Major-General in charge of the entire Military Training Schools, and the Commandant of RMC Bkt Belimbing, the month-long series of visits and meetings, right up to Friday, were all made possible by BB Nawawi. A few of us always make bad jokes about him behind his back. In our hearts, we only have appreciation for his tireless work. 

More BB's were expected, but those who couldn't come all had good reasons, mostly medical. Our numbers are reducing, of course. About half of the original 700 have left us. About 100 can't be traced. 50 have migrated, mostly to Australia and New Zealand. So these reunions are always cherished.

We had several "food-stalls". There was the rice stall, with Negri red-hot "gulai lada api", other dishes also for the rice, satay stall, "ikan bakar", grilled mutton, all sorts of refreshments including "ice kacang" and cendul. There was rambutan and mangosteen. And there were durians. All of 4 varieties - IOI, D24, kawin, and kampong. The durians came all the way from Manchis, Pahang. The PD durians are gone, as were the KP, Bukit Putus and Jelebu ones. Md. Sham paid RM 4,200 for about 100 durians.

A group had gone to Bentong to sample some durians there before this. But the fruit-seller couldn't promise delivery for the 17th, which was then 2 weeks away. The 5 who went gorged themselves with "Musang Kings" at a "cheap" RM 40 per kilo while they were there. "Dulu 65 O !" With 3 taking "tapaus" (against Md. Sham's admonition) altogether the fruit-seller collected RM 1 K. Neat. To allay Md. Sham's initial objection to transporting the durians in his wife's van, the skinned fruit was packed in plastic boxes. We could still get a faint scent of the culprit, but later Md. Sham said the wife didn't complain. Actually she wasn't feeling well, and her sense of smell was out. Md. Sham was saved.

Before lunch we had speeches and presentations in the Assembly Hall. Halim Murad was the Master-of-Ceremony, and I thought he did ok, and told him so. Audiances can be fickle, and MC's have flopped before. BB Radzi as President gave the key address. The 2nd edition of "I Remember" was belatedly launched, the good efforts of BB's Mahbob and Hank. These were later put on sale during lunch. They are being distributed in some schools by donors, and should make good reading for the students, because they are reminiscenes of the College students, not made-up stories.

I enjoyed Saturday. For the first time I brought along my wife. She quickly made friends with the other wives. That made her day, I'm glad to say.

We skipped the planned tour of the whole camp, because most also chose to skip it. We took the PD town route, returning to Seremban. The beach was full of pitted tents of campers - the product of the school holidays, of course. All appeared to be over-nighters. I wondered if there were  mosquitoes.

I also wonder when the next visit to the FMC Camp would be.

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5-12-2022

 78 today.

How am I supposed to feel ?

The children, one after another, messaged their good wishes.

Plus a few friends who seemed to follow. At least those I'm aware of.

5 BB's (Budak Boys) from PD days took a trip to Bentong to sample some durians. Hank and I drove from Seremban to join the other 3 waiting at Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam. We were here only a few days ago, when we gathered, about a dozen of us, at Halim Rejab's beautiful double-storey bungalow. Today we rendesvoused at Md. Sham's equally grand abode, also at Bukit Jelutong. These people seemed blessed with expensive, lovely homes. They must cost a bundle.

Both meetings were about our planned re-visit of the old FMC campus at PD this 17th. December.

The Bentong trip was regarding one item for the 17th do - the durians.

Nawi had suggested this Bentong trip after Halim Rejab's house. Only Md Sham's MPV limited space prevented more than 5 from going, allowing for the driver.

The seller was contacted on my phone, and he quickly gave his location, even as we were driving through Bentong town. Modern communication ! We drove into the stall's parking area in minutes. No time was wasted in opening a couple of Musang Kings, and enjoying the expensive fruit. 

That was how I enjoyed my birthday today.

But I didn't let on. The durian feast set us back almost a thousand dollars (including the tapaus) Md Sham paid for the eaten lot, while Hank, Wahab Nawi (Navy) and NMD paid for their tapaus. If they knew that it was my birthday, I could have been 1,000 poorer!

I couldn't contain myself, and had to tell Hank about my birthday when we stopped for coffee and toast with half-boiled eggs at the Dengkil R&R on the way home. I'm sure Hank will divulge this info, but I'll be safe. But just now Sha Janggut showed he'd somehow got hold of today's pics, and as always, noted also about my birthday. Or maybe Hank's already at work.

So what happens to the durian purchase ?

Md Sham agreed that I finalise the supply from Seremban. My nephew's old KGV schoolmate has agreed to provide the durians (minus any Musang King, to control the expense) from his Manchis source. A downpayment has been arranged, thanks to Md Sham. I'll go to the Camp soon to alert the gate security about the delivery. And I just whatsapped Jimmy Ong to not miss the durian feast.

Meanwhile I'm at my lap top, savouring my 78th. year.

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Bewildering numbers.

 27.11.2022

I'm writing this 9 days after GE15. Which was not due for 7 more months.

It took 3 PM's to dissolve Parliament. To get the 10th. PM. All in a period of 53 months.

The magic number  for the 15th Parliament is 112 out of 222.

We got to vote for 221 only, because Padang Serai lost one candidate already nominated.

9 states chose to wait 6 more months before  dissolving.  3 joined the GE with Parliament.

After GE14 no dominant Party emerged.

Then UMNO had 54, PKR 47, DAP 42, PAS 18, BERSATU and PBB 13 each, Amanah 11, Warisan 8, and the rest shared by 9 other Parties, plus 3 without any Party.

After GE15 still no dominant Party emerged. In spite of the boasts by UMNO and PKR. Both are much worse-off now then in 2018, despite the frenzy of Zahid and Rafizi.

Apparently PAS quietly garnered all the tahfiz/Islamic schools and the fresh 18-year-old first-time voters, and you know where the votes went.

PAS got 49 ( +31 or almost triple), DAP 40 ( -2 or almost 5% less), PKR 31 ( -16 or more than 33% less), UMNO 26 ( - 28 or almost 52% less), BERSATU 24 ( + 11 or almost 85% more), PBB 14 (+1), Amanah 8 ( - 3), Warisan 3 ( -5) and the rest shared by 10 other parties ( + 1 more Party), plus 2 without any Party.

Summoned by the King, PN showed 115 supporters, it was reported. Unfortunately PH listed 112, as was also reported. The total was 227, not 222. On checking, some names appeared on both lists ! Royal rejection was unavoidable.

GPS with 23 had earlier given its support to PN. It was reported.

25 UMNO (minus 1 Bagan Datok) became at first split, but hours later, as a group, wanted to remain in the Opposition.

Unlike with the PN group, the King met with the 30 BN Group, apparently with Zahid having a  1 to 1 first with  the King.

What actually transpired here, only God Knows. But by then GPS  had announced an about-turn, preferring instead PH.

By now the King had met the PN and PH groups, and separately the BN Group, and called the other 8 Rajas together. It took 5 days. Only DAP and PAS stood on the sidelines unwavering, unheard, with 89 seats in hand. That's 40 % of Parliament.

GE15 maybe the mother-of-GE's - Zahid said this. At least he is probably right on that one.

21 million voters were supposed to come out and vote. Apparently the total turnout was 70%. 6.3 million stayed away, including the Mrs.

Almost 1,000 candidates stood for election, giving the average of 4.5. A record. In fact 4 constituencies had 8 candidates, 1 had 9 and Batu had 10.

6 constituencies had each given the winner more than 100,000 votes. The highest was Damansara, with 142,875.

9 constituencies gave the winners more than a 30,000-majority each. The highest was Tanah Merah with 44,485. But an exact same number, 9, gave the winners each less than a 800-majority. The lowest was Lubok Antu with 100. Ku Li lost by 163 in Gua Musang, a seat he's held forever. Zahid scraped through with 348. But at least it was slightly more than the 226 Tawfik Tun Dr. Ismail got. I wonder if there were recounts.

Incidently, Anwar in winning Tambun only got 38 % of the votes, what with the giant flag and the helicopter rides.

Some candidates in 30 constituencies (13.5 % of Parliament) all recorded receiving total votes of less than 1,000 each. The lowest was an Independent  candidate in Kota Bharu with 91.

From Party point of view, Pejuang was worst-off, with all candidates losing their deposits, including Tun Mahathir who got 4,566 votes out of 47,480 cast, or 9.62 %. What's the message ?

To add to the confusion, on top of the 13 Parties contesting in the Peninsula, all of them also appearing in Sabah and Sarawak, Sabah has 7 other parties to itself, while  Sarawak has 5 Sarawakian ones, bringing the grand total to 25. 

26 if, as you surely must, you include the Independents.

Of the 3 State Elections, Perlis (15 seats) with PN 14, PH 1 (a slap in Zaid's face by Shahidan ), Perak (59 seats) with PN 26, PH 24, BN 9, and Pahang ( 42 seats) with PN 17, BN 16, and PH 8. For these, PN has the edge over PH.

They say the community voting turnout was 98% for the Chinese, 77%  the Indians, and only 62 %  the Malays. Is there a premonition?

As to where the Malay votes went, it's said that 54% went to PN, 33% went to BN, and 11% went to PH. I've shared these numbers, but some of my readers have criticised the accuracy.  Is there a secret?

It's reported that the 4 big groupings of PH, PN, BN and GPS, combined, secured 70% of the national registered voters, with the figure of 14,680,688. PH (82 seats) had 5,894,096 voters, PN (73 seats) had 4,667,229, BN (30 seats) 3,456,762, and GPS (23 seats) 662,601. But they contested different total constituencies. PH in 220, PN in 171, BN in 179 and GPS in only 31. The average per constituency votes for each group become 26,791 for PH, 27,293 for PN, 19,311 for BN, and 21,374 for GPS. These make the voting spread fairly realistic, reflective of the final total outcome.

PM 10 said the 1st order of business for Parliament would be to count the support. How many will he get ? 

He also famously promised petrol price would go down by half once he's PM. Yup, you pay half now. But it's for half the amount.   Is that an omen of the fate of other sky-high promises ?

Bewildering numbers !

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Hamdan Mohd. Derus 21.3.1944 - 24.11.2022.

 25.11.2022

It was a personal shock to receive the sad news of Hamdan's passing at about 2 pm, Thursday 24.11.2022. He had in fact died that morning, but I only got to my mobile phone on my return from meeting some friends. Soon after his passing Bok had called, but the phone was not with me.  Returning his missed called, his tragic news hit me hard. Hamdan was 78 years, 8 months and 3 days. May God Have Mercy on him, amin.

Cikgu Derus and his wife were good friends with my late parents, and they visited each other, staying just 2 km apart. We were in Bukit Temensu (The Hill with Temensu Trees). They were in Sawah Lebar (The Wide Padi field). I even remember one visit when my parents took me along. Both Cikgu Derus and wife were teachers. My father was also a teacher. I knew Cikgu Derus, a tall Malay, well. I met him many times. One time I went to the Malay teachers' club in KP town and borowed "Hikayat Munshi Abdullah" and "Pelayaran Munshi Abdullah" from its library from Cikgu Derus. He was in charge of that library. 

Hamdan went to FMC, PD a year before me. He was in fact only 8 months older, but must have enrolled in school 1 year earlier. I think he had 2 younger brothers who joined the college. One I know because we would meet at a few golf tournaments. He's a good golfer. His son in fact was a successful amateur golfer who later tried his hands at the professional level, but I've not heard of his golf since. Another brother went to study in New Zealand, got married to a New Zealander, and is still there. He came back for a short while, but returned to New Zealand. When he came back from his university holidays, he would walk around KP town barefooted. Dato' Mansor, who was the MB, criticised him. They were related.

Hamdan at first joined the University of Malaya, but later changed courses and studied in England. He was there a long time. That part of his life until he returned home is unknown to me. Once back here,  OPA activities in KL, and family events in NS made reconnection possible and we kept in touch right up to my last visit to Nyalas, when in fact I spoke to him on the phone. We used to meet for coffee & cakes at KL Central. In fact there's a pending lunch we promised each other, now unfullfilled. 

On college holidays Hamdan would cycle to Bukit Temensu, and we would meet and trade news. I knew when he came back he was staying at the INTAN quarters in KL. His wife worked there. Then he moved to PJ. I never visited him in either places, regretfully.

By the time the sad news reached me yesterday,  it was impossible for me to visit and pay my last respects.  I regret that very much. I'd called Hank, but he already knew. But this was also a sad week for me here in Seremban. All within the last 3 days, 3 sad deaths occurred around me. Two of my neighbours, on the same road, died of old age. My wife's sister-in-law also passed away, aged 82, in Kg. Durian Tiga Batang (The Three Durian Trees), a km away. She was Singaporean, from Telok Blangah (The Cooking Pot Bay).

It's a small temporal world.

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The Busy Week and GE15

 Sun 13.11.2022

It's been a Busy Week.

I'd promised Hank to help with a bit of his editing work on the 2nd edition of "I Remember", the FMC book. I'd even gone to his house for tuition: I don't know how to start !

I was also committed to our second trip to "Warong Dayang", Linggi.  Md. Sham, Awaluddin, Hashim and Mazni were supposed to join Hank and I this time, for the "ikan baung" lunch.

But there was a MUBARAK meeting at the Royal Chulan, Seremban. Then there were GE15 related events, including the Nomination Day, for which I was somehow involved, but that's another story.

Somehow, somewhere, I managed to participate in them all. For the Busy Week.

GE14 is gone. I commented on this immediately after the event, in 2018. The 60-month Parliament term has about 7 months to run, including the 60-day wait allowed, before the compulsory general election.  Today we have 7 days before the votes are cast for 222 Parliamentry seats in the country. 

The Peninsula has 166 Parliamentry seats, with Sabah / Sarawak 56. Sarawak, with 31(14%), has the biggest single share and may yet determine who forms the Federal Government. Some states have opted out of the GE15, to add to the pervading confusion.

UMNO is the culprit behind all this. They were the ones behind the wasteful Melaka and Johor state bye-elections recently. Their agitation is matched by the number of candidates nominated on 5.11.2022. We have almost 1,000 of them, giving an average of 4.5 candidates per seat, the highest in the country's record. And I thought we're all sick of these elections.

Race and religion are in the political fabric. In truth, everyone can exist in relative harmony, regardless of this. But not according to the wild talk at the height of a wild campaign. Fortunately, public behaviour is still civilised, when the emotions on the internet are downright barbaric.

UMNO had lost badly in GE14. They can't wait to rewrite the records. Why did Muhyiddin, whom they had unceremoniously kicked out, let them into the government again after only 22 months? 

True to character, UMNO reneged on all promises, written, verbal or whatever. Then again, if they can lie in the name of God, they can do anything !

60 years is a long time to enjoy political dominence and everything that entails. Losing all that is too hard. UMNO cannot wait to seek revenge, and this time the surprised victor (PH) handed  the chance on a platter, and they didn't even have to wait more than 22 months !

How's the campaigning so far ?

It's not been as fiery as expected, in real life here in Seremban. The nomination crowd at MBS was tame. PH with incumbent Anthony Loke had the biggest crowd. The Police said later that they had 250 people. PI wanted 1,000 the night before, but that was PAS talking. I counted 50. BN had about the same number. The number of police personnel present probably gave it a ratio of 1:1 between people and police. I think the police was disappointed with the turn of events.

The real exchange is on the internet. PKR and UMNO have been at it for some time. Non-participants, like the ex-minister from Perak, and the London bloke,  are free with their predictions.  The PKR narrative from 1999 has been "Anwar for PM". That looks as certain now as it has been since 1999.

UMNO is either very brave but stupid, or very brave but prophetic. Their leader has determined that action no. 1 upon winning is to "sack the Chief Justice." With one PM already in jail, and one future PM to join him soon, that wish is understandable.

UMNO's candidature had been surgically cut-up, and "take-it-or-leave-it" the order of the day.  So the guy in Perlis said "shove it" and now stands for PN, and many in Perlis say he will win it. The Rembau guy put his tail between his legs and dutifully hobbled to Sg. Buluh, comforted by his boss with "be thankful I let you even stand". Nonetheless, exRembau still wants to be PM.

PN picked PAS to contest Seremban. With about 51 % Malays, this PAS guy should take down DAP's Anthony Loke. But with 5 candidates, the Malay votes would be split, and Anthony gets his 2nd term. And 2 "ceramahs" I've attended tell me that PN's message of "communist Chinese, no LBGT, Muhyiddin's Covid 19 success" and the party-dominated audiences,  don't impress, and worse, reach no one. Party members shouting "Perikatan Nasional !" and "takbir!" seem very PAS-like. If PAS candidates win on the west coast, it'll be thanks to BERSATU.

"Merdeka Centre", like in GE14, gives its regular predictions on the state of affairs. That London smart aleck gives his usual 2-cent worths. The general view is everything is "50:50", whatever that means. To me it means they don't know. They got it all wrong GE14.

Back to the Linggi trip, Hank regretfully couldn't make it this time, although he was responsible for this 2nd trip. His elder sister was found lying on the floor that morning, and he had to take her to the hospital. Later I checked and found out that she was allowed to go home.

In spite of missing the junction to Mazni's house twice (my fault - but my excuse is I was in the 3rd row seat at the rear and couldn't see the junctions) we reached Warung Dayang in good time. Everybody enjoyed the "baung masak lada api" so much we had "tapaus". I even got one although I didn't order. Md.Sham did justice to his long trip. He not only cleaned up his baung, he also finished his "ikan sembilang". The baung was confirmed caught fresh from the Linggi river.

Meanwhile, I still haven't started on editing "I Remember". I shouldn't forget.

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Mazni II

19.10.2022

After a couple of postponements, Hank and I finally made it to Mazni's house in Kg. Pilin, Rembau, yesterday. It was my second visit. And we were 35 minutes late. Mazni called twice after we failed to arrive at 12 noon, as promised by Hank.

Hank had confidently told Mazni we would be there in half-an hour.   We left Mydin Mall S 2 car park at 11.10. There was not much traffic on the PLUS up to the Rembau exit, but Hank promptly forgot which way to turn at the first junction. He turned left, and after a few km. decided to stop and call Mazni for directions. Mazni called before Hank came to a full stop. We were headed correctly. We proceeded and Hank eventually sighted the house, on the right. Naturally, Hank overshot the entrance. We made a U-turn on the empty road, and Mazni was already at the grille, unlocking it, when we turned into the courtyard.

My last visit, a long time ago, also with Hank, was for a wedding. Recently Mazni lost his wife, and he is said to be doing poorly. In fact he walks with a tripod now. Hank thought, since we're not that far in Seremban, it would be a good idea if we visited him. Mazni retired in the kampong. Shops and friends are not close by. Mazni must be lonely. Which he is. So much so, he's befriended a woman on the internet, and they're on line daily. Even as we were with him yesterday, the woman called, and  inquired about us. Hank might be interested to join the chat group, I feel. Unlike me, Hank is also alone.

Mazni took us to "Warong Dayang" in Linggi town for its famed "Baung Masak Lado Api", a Negri dish. A true Waghih never says "cili", by the way. He said if you come late, you'll have parking problems. We were not late. But there was still a slight parking problem, thanks to Hank's style of driving. He nearly scraped a passing Ambulance van as he awkwardly reversed, looking left, the other vehicle moving close on his right. I frantically knuckled on his left closed window to no avail. I think there were inches to spare.  No sooner after taking our seats, the crowd began to arrive.

The baung was authentic Negri, and quite hot. I added fresh salad with sambal belacan, and daging salai, washed down with hot, black tea. Mazni suggested we  continue post-luncheon with drinks in his house.

Before reaching the warong earlier, we'd stopped on the way to buy some "tapai" sold out of a tiny hut on the side of the road. It looked closed, but as I approached on foot, the seller lifted up the plastic cover of the hut and answered "bukak, bukak" to my question. I remarked that he sounded "Kedah". In fact he's from Kg. Melang, Kuala Pilah, not far from my parents house in Bukit Temensu. He was in the army, he said, and speaks all the dialects. Of course he's now retired in Rembau because he's married to a local. Because of all the chat, the guy threw in extra tapai for free . That should last for more than a week for Mazni. Hank and I didn't buy any.

We lingered at Mazni's for about half-an hour, shared some of his fresh orange juice and chatted about his girlfriend on the net. Mazni kept asking us about what to do next with this woman. He had been open with her, telling her about his past career and his departed wife. He's looking for a wife, he'd  told her. She said she's married, but wanted to continue "as friends". Hank and I said nothing wrong with that. But Hank feels there's a possiblity of a bad motive - money. Now that she knows Mazni's past position, maybe she's setting him up for a sob-story or something - "I'm desparate for some cash right, can you lend me some money ?", or that sort of thing. As we took our leave, we told Mazni to cut her off the moment the subject of money comes up.

The return journey was uneventful. Hank didn't miss any turn. In fact returning to Mazni's after the lunch Hank again missed one turn, and went about 50 m. before making a U-turn.

Before I forget, Mazni paid for the lunch. Hank paid for Mazni's tapai. I was ok.

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Queen Elizabeth II

 Fri 9.9.2022.

Late last night I'd watched with interest the tv news on BBC about the doctors' concern on the health of the British Queen. At 96, and that this was public medical alert, I feared the worst. I woke up this morning to the sad announcement.

I was quick to post condolences on the opened website. " I remember the fireworks celebrating QE2 coronation at the town padang in Tanjong Malim, Perak, in 1952. Through the years, QE2 had been a constant on the everchanging world. I grew up in it, and have grown old with it. RIP old girl" I wrote.

Nothing in my life can be attributed to the British monarch. There is no denying, however, that her 70-year reign covered a very large part of my 78 years, and therefore conjures the picture covering everything that has passed my experience up to now.  The Tanjung Malim fireworks was a first for me. Malaya was a British colony. Tg. Malim had an English DO and an English OCPD. The SITC had an English Principal, a Mr. Goodchild. I attended the Methodist English School. Then it was TMS with two English headmasters following one another. Later on I finished my English medium schooling at the RMC, with the English Director of Studies, Wallwork, and two English Commandants, one following the other also, and many uniformed English teachers plus one without, and a few RSM's from the Coldstream Guards, England.  At the University of Malaya, we had English lecturers, My late father for a few years in KP was Munshi to new English cadet administrators. When in Felda, the Deputy Chairman, Clifford, was English. We had one manager who was English, who had a brother, a doctor in Seremban, who my mother-in-law used to see.  Later I went to Birmingham University. I visited the Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London, and later the Edinbrough Castle. I toured Wales and Scotland. I prefer to write and read in English.  But all these do not make me an Anglophile. Nor was the Queen my Queen. The passing of QEII, and watching on live tv  the mourners from India and US and other British territories, however, highlighted the iconic queen and brought soft tears to my eyes. I see time passing for me as well.

The Queen's own story is full of the ups and downs England, and her own family went through. The Princess Diana's death's initial  royal hiccup missing the public mood was quickly overcome, just as her royal family had quickly adjusted to public scrutiny from the beginning of her reign. That was key to QE2's impact. She personally made her reign a remarkable civility providing decorum over often very public disorder, even going through the periods of anti-monarchy rethorics of which the incoming  lady PM  personally can testify to.

Tun Mahathir is of her age. No doubt the Tun would leave his own legacy, but it would be a Malaysian legacy. QEII was worldwide. It's not a competition, of course, but the stage was global because of the history. Perhaps the Commonwealth Games would endure to carry the impression of this long reign. Certainly the long 70 years provided the basis for the remarkable impact.  The entire 60-year history of Malayan/Malaysian independence with the 14 GE's and 9 PM's is covered by this period. 

RIP old girl.

Kg. Bukit Temensu.

 Thurs 25.8.2022.

This week I received two sad news: the passing of Faridah Ismail, and the passing of Manap. I think they were in their early 80's. Faridah died in Kg. Bukit Temensu itself. Manap died in Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang. I was in Kelana Jaya when Deka called about Faridah. I couldn't go. The group posted about Manap's demise. Pulau Pinang is just too far away. Both Faridah's house and Manap's are within 200 meters from my grandmother's house in Kg. Bukit Temensu. My parents married here, and I was born here. 

Faridah finished Malay school and was active in sports even then. For a Malay girl, she was large and stood out among schoolmates. She worked in Seremban until retirement, but in what position I never knew.  She never married. Manap joined the Police, and finally ended up in Pulau Pinang and retired there. We called him Manap "Jubang Palok".One of his sons is a dental surgeon in Seremban.

Kg. Bukit Temensu is where my alma mater, TMS, built in 1930, stands. The kampong is bordered by Kg. Batu 46, Kg Dioh, Kg. Tebat Kering, and KP town. It's about 1 kilometer from town, and in the old days we thought nothing of walking to town, and TMS students thought nothing of walking to school from the bus stand in town. Many students took the short-cut to school taking the unpaved path behind my parents house, which is about 200 m. from TMS and TKS, the girls' school.

I'm proud to say that Kg. Bukit Temensu isn't short of successful sons and daughters. I'm talking about this kampong specifically, not the adjoining ones. The first woman Chief Justice is from here. Her family's large Minangkabau-style house for years stood prominently opposite the old KP general hospital until the family tore it down and built 2 one-storey bungalows. For a long time, we would see her father's sports car parked on the road-side in front of the house. There was the late Pa'Cu Kamil, a retired High Court judge. Among his nephews were Zahari, the Melaka State Secretary, and Ali, a senior civil servant who was a DO in a few places. My own extended family produced 3 medical doctors, including my younger brother, Din. Din has children who are a dentist, a pharmacist, and an IT graduate. There are 3 other medical doctors from the kampong, with one a Specialist and one married to another doctor from elsewhere. The late Karim did his PhD in Wisconsin, where my youngest brother also got his first degree. I visited them there in 1991. This brother later got his Masters locally. The late Anuar "Ang" (he called himself "Ang" speaking to friends) also got a PhD and became a university lecturer. My younger sister went to TKC and did her "A" level in Coventry, and later her degree in Sheffield, England. Later she, too, got her Masters in Education here in KL.  Another brother was a Group MD in a large national organization. His son is an MP.  As I said, Manap's son Helmy is a dentist, as is Helmy's son.  Pa' Cik Jayo was a Senator. He was from UMNO. Then there were 2 more Senators, but from MCA. Chong Foo Kin lived next to my parents house. The other guy still lives nearby. Salim Sharif, the son of a cook, is an MP. Then there were State Assemblymen, including a Speaker and an Exco Member, Lawyers (2), Chartered Accountants (2), accountants (a few), nurses (1 served the first Agong, 1 now in Dubai), Senior Police Officers (OCPD's and 1 an ACA State Director), army officers plus rank and file,  College-trained and Graduate teachers (many), an intrepid hitch-hiker, and one violin-playing Datuk Lembaga add up to the list. The hitch-hiker, a cousin, was also a self-taught guitarist playing his self-made guitar. He passed out of vocational school, JB, worked for a short stint at the MARA workshop Shah Alam, then hitch-hiked to India and ended up in Germany and stayed there for several years. He went speaking only Malay, but came back speaking passable English and German. And if you add the product of TMS and TKS ( because they're located  here in Bukit Temensu), you could add an endless string of names with remarkable accomplishments, including a living "Tun". Not least is that the first FRIM Director-General  lived here  before studying overseas, earning his doctorate.

I remember all my uncles and aunties from Bukit Temensu. The uncles moved away early in their working lives. I'd tried to maintain good physical contact with them, including Pak Lang in Butterworth, Pak Ngah in Datuk Keramat,  Pak Long  in Juasseh Kapitan,  Amok in Jempol and Acik in Batu 46.  Mak Tam remained in Bukit Temensu after being away with Pak Tam Meon in the early part of their married life. I hope they all remembered me kindly when they were still around. I was present for all their farewell journeys. They all lived fairly long, peaceful lives.

From Bukit Temensu our family moved to Tanjung Malim and stayed there for 5 years. I moved schools many times and left the village after Form 3 and could only make Bukit Temensu friends for a limited time. But those that I made, I remember well. Ramli, Ujang, Udin (he married Ah Ting's 2nd. wife), Udin Sekayo, Amat Teleng, Ja'ih, Ita, Manap Jubang Palok, Sahak, Jano, Mai "Cut", Edek, Giman, Ambi, Enai - these are a few right off my head.  Sahak we called "Katikerk" because he mispronounced the talcum powder "Cuticura". A few have died, others have moved away, whereabouts unknown.  My parents are  no more. Only 2 younger sisters remain in the old house.  I visit the resting places of dad and mom in Melang regularly, but usually turn back home without visiting the old house. Old pictures, old furniture and old memories in the old place bring   sadness,  and I don't  want to tarry.

But Kg. Bukit Temensu cannot be erased from my life story.

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Hussin's son's wedding.

 Sat 20.8.2022.

I was confident I'd find the venue for Hussin's reception, the PKNS Sports Complex at Kelana Jaya.. After all PJ, Subang Jaya, Kelana Jaya and Damansara Utama are all in the same neighbourhood. But it turned out that the confidence was misplaced. 27 years is a long time, and things change, some quite drastically. That's how long since I moved to Seremban. I missed the turn from Seremban to the Federal Highway and found myself somewhere on the Bangsar diversion. Cursing and thumping the steering wheel with annoyance, I simply drove on until I saw some familiar sights, and looked for the road signs. I'd left the house at 9.30. I reached Hussin's kenduri at just a few minutes past 11. I promised Yoke Lin 11 sharp. So it wasn't too bad.

I surprised Hussin from behind. He was rightfully in front, receiving guests. I had to rush to the loo upon arrival, so I was from inside the hall. He pointed me to the table where Yoke Lin already was seated. The table soon filled up with Ramlee and the girls from ol' MHS. Our only regret was not more MHS staff came forward - Yoke Lin and I wanted to have an informal gathering. Sam was supposed to come. Ramlee later suggested another date to Yoke Lin. I miss Othman Abdul who left us some years now.

I had a great time, and said so to Hussin, our host. He frequents the internet, making brave commentaries on his facebook website. (Brave here means not being restrained by "political correctness" in the widest sense of the term). Once in a very long while I'd put in my briefest of comments, and apparently he follows even if not agreeing. 

Hussin was one of my personal  "First Three" at MHS, with Ramlee and Othman, right from January, 1991 at the MISC headoffice in Jalan Conlay, KL. The late Othman Abdul wasn't supposed to be with me at first, but since he was put at my disposal, I simply formalised the move, and Ariffin the MISC MD relented. Ramlee set up Operations, Hussin the opening of the eventual premises and pretty much running the whole Finance and Administrative units. Othman was the right guy at Marketing where I left him fully to his devices, and was he aggressive. I came from Felda as the Chairman's choice, but with 22 years in the Felda Group, I was quite sure how I wanted to run MHS, although the container haulage business was new to me. Letting these 3 free reins was my choice, and I believe it was the right one. Unfortunately, circumstances in 1994 with the entry of Khalid, my nemisis, threw havoc to a robust marketing enterprise built up with zero disturbance from MISC hq for 3 years. The accounts are there for forensic auditing, if you follow the recent political practice in the country. Unfortunately also, the entire MISC was later taken over by Petronas, and they have different ideas about direction and management. I don't know when MHS was finally closed down. Some of the staff were absorbed in the new company. Many of the executives moved on, as did the "First Three". But some of the managers I recruited have done very well in their new places.

The surprise menu was satay kerang from Melaka. The stall man said it was Hussin's personal choice. My favourite is satay perut. The guy said Hussin doesn't like perut. Hussin later confirmed this in his whatsapp. The satay kerang was ok. But there was no shortage of food. And I kept Yoke Lin busy, plying food to our table.

I had to force myself to leave after 2 hours. I wanted to visit my brother-in-law at the Thomson Medical Centre in Kota Damansara. He had a heart bypass operation 10 days ago. The procedure was ok, but his slow recovery has to be endured now. The guests were still enjoying their food, and my MHS table was still occupied, but I took my leave. I said good bye to Hussin and wife at the hall's entrance. I got into my borrowed car, and braced myself as I merged into the rushing Saturday traffic towards Kota Damansara.

Sorry, Sin, we were not paying attention to your wedding address when the couple was on the Pelamin. But we had a great makan.

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Ari is 69.

 Thurs 11.8.2022.

It's exactly 7 p.m. in Seremban. Just got home from what used to be the Tropicana Medical Centre, but is now The Thomson Medical Centre in Kota Damansara, thanks to the takeover by some loaded Singaporeans, or some loaded Singaporean company. Or so I heard. But coming up the elevetor to the 4th. floor and finding the wards named "the 5th. floor", it must be true. The SEA Chinese fear the number "4" like, well, what else, the death.

Idah and I went to show support for Ari who just turned 69 last month. Wheeled into the OT at 6 this morning, the 2 Malay cardiologists successfully  carried out the by-pass on 2 heart veins from 8 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Ari is now in ICU, recovering. But they didn't start until Thareez put in 50 of the 75 K cost asked. Nothing is cheap nowadays.  Nothing is done "pro bono" nowadays. The 4 kids are collecting the remaining  25K. Insurance apparently will not cover all. This is reality.

But family love is also reality with Ari. 

Idah cried all the way from Seremban. She paused when we stopped for tea & meehoon at the Serdang R&R. Upon entering room 16G on the fourth floor (called the fifth floor), Idah was joined by Wira in  tearful embrace. I left the room for English breakfast at "the Gossip Cafe" on the ground floor to not join the crying.

Ari is the younger of the only two remaining brothers. Bangdek is in his early 80's. He's in Terengganu now, babysitting for his youngest daughter still in Mecca for the recent Hajj. But Ari is the more lively, the joker of the family, if you will. But this operation today was no joke. The 2 daughters even fasted today, in supplication to Almighty God for a safe procedure for dear "abah". The money is no joke. More family members would have come if this was other than a heart by-pass. They will come and visit. 

Fortunately, traffic was bearable today. With the exception of missing the turn twice at the Kota Damansara junction, we arrived by car at the Thomson without sweat. I ought to have driven blindfolded. I stayed in Damansara Utama from 1978 to 1995. But the 17 years here have been oblitered by 27 years away. Large new buildings have come up, and multi-levelled new roads have definitely literally "come up". I was confused. But luckily not lost.  

When this place was "Tropicana" Bangjat was hospitalised here. But this hospital stood out like a sore thumb then. New buildings almost hide it now.  I even missed it the first turn. I had to make a u turn and come back to get into the road in front. Unlike before, there's a multi-storeyed car park built in addition to the open one they already had when Bangjat was here. In fact I managed to "lose" the car when we wanted to leave. I forgot which floor I parked, and literally search "high & low" from the 3rd floor up to the 8th, and eventually found my car on "3A". We forgot about "No 4" here !

Ari lost 2 older brothers and one younger one because of heart problems. The 2  older ones in fact had heart procedures done. The younger one was supposed to get one done at IJN but purposedly chose not to. This is not to be flippant about a sombre matter. Far from it, this is a stress on the caution for care needed when health issues creep on increasing age.

In fact Ari isn't sick but chose to have a full bodily examination by this hospital last month, to get a medical "all clear" as it were. I had said, in all seriousness, let's be careful when you send an old car for inspection. On the other hand, finding faults early could literally save lives. So I suggested that Ari look forward and do the necessary to make amends, and not succumb to any unpleasant surprises. Prevention is better than cure.

We are happy that the vital first step, the operation, has been successful. Now for the painful recovery. All the 4 children and their spouses were present. Idah was the only sibling. But others followed on smartphones and said their hopeful prayers.

Ari's only 69. Many more happy years are ahead, Insya'allah.

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Money in golf.

 Sat 6.8.2022.

With this title, you know I'm not talking about Malaysian golf (whatever that is). There's no money here. I mean, I play for money, too. Probably everybody at SIGC plays for money, except Jay (ex dental nurse Jay plays, hubby ex lecturer Mat pays). We're not talking about the 2 ringgit per hole stuff. We're talking about big money. Malaysian professional golf (whatever that is), is peanuts, and we know what that is - it's for monkeys.

I'm talking about the rising furore between the PGA of America and LIV golf backed by Saudi money. I'm talking serious money here. It's USD vs Saudi oil money. The proud Americans won't let it go by. Limitless Saudi oil money will stand by.

Hitherto, the PGA has been the premier tour in world golf. All pro golfers aspire to  that tour. You've  arrived if you earn your PGA tour card. Once in, you make 10 cuts a year, and you have USD 1 million in the kitty.  If you're Malaysian, you work your way from the Malaysian Tour (whatever that is), to the Asian Tour, then to the European Tour and gain sufficient success there ( one win would help ), and you're into the rich PGA tour. Like Vijay Singh.  Though he's Fijian,  he started here in Malaysia, mainly Johore and Sabah. He went to the Safari Tour after that, before joining the European Tour, where he notched a few wins, and was accepted into the PGA tour. The remarkable thing was, he had a Malaysian wife and could have played for Malaysia. He wanted to, but Malaysian officials as usual had no imagination and ignored that request. Vijay eventually rose to No 1.  Although he held that ranking for only a brief period, he did it when Tiger was around, just coming into his prime.

Unlike Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan and India made incredible progress on the world golf scene, with Phillipines and Indonesia trailing back. All are like us in size, all eat rice, but all not like us in golf tours. Our Asian neighbours show us how they do it.  There have been world-class golfers, including world no. 1, from Japan, Thailand and South Korea, especially now, and they're from both sexes. All have had Major winners, and  from both sexes.

Greg Norman became world no. 1 years before Tiger Woods. He benifitted from the PGA Tour. Even as long  as 20 years ago, Norman had made known his idea for an alternative world class tour. It failed to get support and attention. Probably the Tiger effect on world golf in the last 10 years reignited the idea in Norman's head. That there is no good relations with Tiger must have helped.

PGA Tour money was nothing before Tiger Woods. He made USD 120 million on the course. LIV Golf offered almost as much to Tiger to just switch camp.

Not everybody made the same money that Tiger did. So a tenth of that was enough to induce about a dozen of past PGA Tour winners to abondon ship and join LIV Golf. Very few of them could possibly make as much even if they  stay on but cannot finish in the top 10 bracket.

Naturally, PGA Tour has risen to the LIV challange, and increased the prize money. What now ? Number 1, can PGA sustain it ? Number 2, can LIV push the cash harder ?

I make these notes when I saw the next step taken by the PGA deserters. They've gone to court.

Vijay Singh also once took the PGA Tour to court. I've not followed that and don't know what the outcome was. Since Vijay is still playing, he couldn't have lost. It might have been some sort of settlement, somewhere.

These 2 cases meant a lot of money was involved, not just about  the prize money, but also in the whole litigation process. 

More earth shattering issues have been hauled to court, which golf isn't. Most people wouldn't lose sleep on it. The courts of law always find a way to wriggle out of the moral issues, which are the real human burden borne through history. There are technical questions that can be the escape route for these wily judges.

The tussle can grow intense, because it can easily become a proxy fight between US and Saudi Arabia, between West and East, or God Forbid, between Islam and Christianity !

For the moment, it's all about money. Lots of it.

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FMC PD 1952 - 1961 Group.

 Wed 3.8.22

Yesterday was the meeting for the group  FMC  PD  1952 - 1961, for the intakes of those years.

At this late stage of the formation of this group, and the later still stage of the ages of its members, the meeting yesterday in one of the seminar rooms of the Wisma Pahlawan, ATM, still couldn't get 100% agreement on the date of birth of the college. In the meantime the OPA has fixed its 50th. annual dinner for 17th September at a whopping RM 360 per pax.(Is it the Sheila Majid effect ?).

There were differences on terms used, and understanding conceived, on statutes passed, and actual physical developments made, in the lively exchange that took place yesterday. The date of birth of the college is still in contest. And I almost missed the whole debate. 

As Hank later remarked, I gave myself enough time to make it to the meeting's venue on schedule. The infamous PLUS traffic didn't cooperate. I was in sight of the Sg. Besi toll plaza just before 10 a.m. But I was still 200 meters, and already caught in the hardly moving rows of vehicles. It finally took 70 minutes to move out of the deadlock, and I opened the door into the meeting room at 12 sharp. That made it 3 1/2 hours from Seremban ! At least I made it. Rizal sms'd he'd given up fighting the jam and turned back home.

Someone said at lunch that going back to Seremban should be ok. He appeared to be prophetic, except for the last 4 km to the Seremban toll plaza. Except that in the Sg. Besi case, I saw no reason for the mayhem - no accident, no breakdown, no enforcement unit blunder. In the Seremban case there were flashing lights and 3 - 4 vehicles idle on the left lane - obviously the result of some bang-up. So there was explanation for the jam.

Some sort of accident occurred in the meeting room, apparently, before I came. Halim fell off his chair. Fortunately there were no apparent injuries. Maybe when he got home some bruises would appear. I know that from experience. He did intimate to me though that there's a new-found coffee shop in PD where he has a weekend retreat, and recommended me to try it. I shall try it with Hank, I said.

The meeting proper started from 11.15, according to Halim (the other Halim). Since we broke up at about 1.45 p.m. it was a 2 1/2 hour meeting. Pretty useful, considering a whole lot of topics were shown on screen, and Nawawi, as usual, made sure each one was dealt with, no interruptions allowed, including my phone playing the Zohor azan. The question of enlarging the group to include the Sg. Besi intakes up to 1966 was left to be weighed, an another meeting is sure to come for that. Md. Sham made cursory remarks on the accounts displayed, assuring everyone that he knows what to do, since he's an accountant. That reminded me of Yazid Baba (no BB) in our Mubarak group, forever reminding people that he knows stuff because he's a lawyer. Well, everyone out of college has gone on to do "ok" in his chosen field, and we're proud of everybody's success.  We don't expect less, anyway.  But Md. Sham is ok, generous to a fault, in fact.

On the unresolved question of enlarging this present group to include the 1962 -66 intakes, the fact that their representatives were present yesterday indicated where we are going with this. If we're talking about FMC before RMC, this is it. And that should also address the concern about dwindling numbers. But then, why should it be a concern ? In 35 years those from 1961, that original group would be 112 years old !

We broke up for lunch, served in the dining room on the ground floor. We joined the serving officers who were already tucked in. There was sufficient choice of dishes, local and Western. Hank and another BB went to an empty third table because the two reserved were filled up. But not before the customary photo session. I'm glad I got my copy to show to Tok Sleman, my golf partner for Tuesday, as proof of my genuine excuse for abondonment of our fixed game.

Hank had beaten me to the meeting because he drove from Tropicana, in the Damansara area, instead of coming with me. I thought he wanted to go to IJN. Midway in the meeting he left. I thought he went to the loo. But my phone rang just as the meeting was ending. I was surprised that it was Hank. He didn't go to the loo. He went to IJN. Now he wanted to know if lunch had started - he'd like to join. "Not yet. Come. I'll hold a place for you" was my answer. He returned just as Nawawi was rearranging the chairs for the photo shoot. So if you see the photo, you can see Hank leaning to his right, catching his breath, his white hair dishevelled, having rushed from the car park, for lunch.

Nor Shaari and Mui were already waiting at the lunch table. They came for the lunch, not the meeting. Mui and I were both from B Company, intake 1961, but though I remember him, he doesn't seem to remember me. Nor Shaari and I know each other well. We played golf together many times, though it has been a long while.  I don't even know if he still plays. Hank has given it up. I still play in Seremban. Nor Shaari and I are also "besans". My No. 3 Son is married to his niece, Suhaili's daughter. Suhaili is, you guess it, Suhaila's sister. Suhaila was Nor Shaari's wife. Small world.

My drive from Seremban was at about 8.45 a.m. I reached the Sg. Besi toll area about 9.45. That's 1 hour. I was stuck for 70 minutes. I entered the meeting room at 12 sharp. That's 3 hours 15 minutes. I left ATM for Seremban at 2.55 p.m. and reached home just as the Asr call to prayers were heard outside my car. That's a total of 7 hours 31 minutes.  Travel and related delays were a total of 5 hours and 5 minutes. That's 67.63% of the total time.  As Md. Sham said, now "all time accounted for". But what of it ? Not really that much time left to account for, for the  FMC PD 1952 - 1961 Group.

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123-day golf break broken.

Tues 26.7.22

The fall was 3 days before Eid. The whole of the Fasting Month was "No Golf" as maintained throughout my life. Today is  July 26th. That makes it exactly 123 days since I last played. It took a call from Tok Sleman at 6 am. "Come lah. I already paid for the buggy, but Amil called sick. Just be "manager" and putt only" was the plea I had to reluctantly heed.

I'd call Tok Sleman last week, asking inclusion into the original foursome w.e.f. 1.8.22, pain or no knee-pain. That's officially still 5 days away. The early morning call this morning changed that plan.

Of course I couldn't come on tee-time because of the short notice. But I grabbed my half-set bag and took the old Volvo, and got the buggy-boy to catch them at the 7th hole. So in the end I played 11 1/2 holes. I had 2 pars, 1 air shot, bogeys and a triple-bogey on the 18th par 5 hole in spite of the longest drive over the pond. "Ok lah, next Tuesday. But we start with $5 per hole !" (Our normal rate is $2).

We were the original foursome today, Tok Sleman, Tan Sri Hassan, Tok Molod and I. It was usually once a week with Tan Sri Hassan, but 2 or sometimes 3 times with the other 2, with the inclusion of  Tok Zaha, who tends to wander from group to group. In my enforced absence, they hauled in Amil. I found out about it later and called Amil to "reprimand" him. Now it looks like his sojourn is over. I'll let him find out himself.

It was an unsually busy day on the course today. Some schoolboys were involved in preparation for a tournment. Usually this club is one of the less-crowded ones in the state. Which is good for us, members, but bad for the club finances. Today I found that the clubhouse caterer is no more. Again. They are having problems retaining a good, more permanent one these last few years. I thought the imposition (illegal, I think) of the RM20-minimum restaurant bill would help the caterer over the poor patronage of that facility. Apparently the toll doesn't all go to catering. If true, that's wrong.

Fortunately the half-way house (the food-stop, not the toilet, although the toilet is also there) still operates. The girl is all the way from Sulawesi, and even after 123 days she still remembers me, helped by the fact that I always grab her hands when ordering my food. But all tables were taken except one. Tok Sleman picked the tab, which is not always the expected thing. But I did show my tattered glove to him. "Ask for a new pair from Helmy" I pleaded. "I'll ask him to get two - 1 for me" was the surprising response. "He got a 200,000-ringgit bonus" he added, referring to Helmy, the son. Helmy is with McDonald's, Malaysia, as the legal head as well as some additional position. His boss, also a Negeri boy, got 7 million. Good lord ! I wish I was with McDonald's.

Well, I survived the 11 1/2 holes and all the bad jokes. There were no new pains. But was I bushed. I must have gone through lunch and bath half-asleep, and was soon stretched in front of the tv watching a rerun of the recent World Athletics Championship. Very quickly the tv was watching me, instead.  Asleep.

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I was G Coy's guest.

It was a nice Saturday gathering organized by some former G coy Budak Boys. I was a guest. I'm referring to the "makan" at the small dewan serbaguna near the football pitch on Jalan Permata 4, Ulu Kelang, on Saturday 23.7.2022. 

Hank had invited me before the eventual organizer, Wahap Achin, called. Wahap is my kampong name for Jalaluddin , FMC intake 1961, G coy. Wahap wasn't alone, of course, but he took care of everything - the venue, the food - which are normally "everything". The hall was a bit aged but sufficed. The food was excellent, even if there was a bit too much of it. The final  turnout wasn't 100% of the list. But I counted 35  people inside the small hall, with about 6 or 7 still lingering outside when Salleh opened up the welcoming speech. It was already past the 11 a.m. scheduled starting time.

I had some trouble finding the venue, driving alone from Seremban. Hank was supposed to come with me, but decided to visit IJN on Friday, and came instead from Tropicana, Damansara by himself. I was confident of finding my way because I've been coming to this Taman Permata-Taman Melawati area before. But I didn't reckon with KL's continuous physical developments. The straightforward drive through Kg. Datuk Keramat isn't straightforward anymore. The Texas Instrument factory isn't so obvious anymore as a landmark I relied on before. The numerous workshops all along the way have only grown, with vehicles lying around all over the already crowded way. And there are traffic lights where there wasn't any before. I forgot that the last time I took this route was a long time ago.

I called Hank and Wahap for help many times but they didn't answer. I even called Jimmy Ong, driving all the way from Melaka, to pass me the directions, which he did. But I'd stopped and asked at the roadside for Jalan Permata 4, and finally, thanks to his very white head of hair, I saw Hank. So Jimmy's map wasn't used. I helped myself with the help of Hank's hair, ha ha.

As always, it was just great to sit down with old friends, enjoying the good food, remembering the old days. The venue, the time, the food and drinks were all contributory, but not as important as the chance to sit down and talk again with people you studied together more than 60 years ago. Studying together, that's the key component. When we finished school, we went our separate ways, and even the closest of pals lost contact for considerable time. Most if not all made it all the way up their chosen career path.  We all went far and wide in search of knowledge and professional training. We grew families. But the school days are cherished like nothing else because of the uniqueness.  And when there's a chance to meet up, like this one, I for one won't want to miss it, if I can.

Salleh hit the right note when he spoke. He asked us to not forget those of us who are no longer with us. In fact the reciter of the supplication he later called upon became emotional himself because of the realization of the passing of time. But that was before Salleh said his wife couldn't come, and the audience asked "what about your second wife?", and he answered that she's in Mekkah, and I raised my hand to interrupt midspeech, and Salleh stopped, and I said "so when she comes home you'll naik hajjah lah?" and Salleh took it in his stride.

Megat asked about Khalid Husin who passed away recently. He was with me in B coy. Apparently he had been on dialysis for some time. And there are others. Even Salim who was with us now wasn't in the best of health, and he showed it. As someone said, let's meet again next year, not in two years - that's too long and risky.

Aziz Rahman insisted that his Ph D is genuine, not "in brackets" and I replied I'll tell Yazid Baba, his "good friend" in Mubarak. Mansor complained he worries about Ahmad, his son who accompanied him. I just related my theory about the fallout of Mahathir and Muhyiddin to him. It's the master plan to deny Anwar the PMship. Mansor "Bull" is known to be a friend of Anwar. And I told Jimmy Ong, he could have driven himself to Seremban and joined me, instead of paying somebody 200 to drive him here. Saujana came all the way from Cameron Highlands. He's permanently there now, not like the weekend camps the college had those days. And Rahman "Doghome" Daud is concerned with mental health. "You can't see that" I said. But his physical appearance is still good, and I told him that.

When I saw Salleh starting to "tapau", I followed suit. But I ended up with some cakes and the ubi kayu only. Salleh went to every table, including the satay on the charcoal embers. Maybe my remarks earlier reminded him of extra portions required in his case.

I took leave after a few of us had left, and there were still many inside, everybody talking at the same time. The music player playing, what else, 60's songs, had stopped. It had been almost 3 hours and I had to be home before dark. Again, like the drive coming here, I was sure the outer ring road to the Seremban exit would be a piece of cake. It wasn't. They have decided to redo that part of the roadworks, putting another tier while leaving all the debris cluttering the road. So I managed to find myself on one detour lane that took me back where I had been some miles back, and I decided to stick to the right and eventually found myself on PLUS to Johor Baru, the right way home.

It was a G coy do, but coming from B coy, I still give it an A.

Nosa's last wedding reception, I hope.

 Sun 26.6.2022

Yesterday was Nosa's youngest daughter's wedding, hopefully her last wedding reception, but you never know. Her late mother was twice married, as she also was. And Jimikoling's marriages number more than one.

I came one day earlier as promised, but came alone and not as promised. Idah wanted to put the final touches to the decor etc. but Ari pulled her to Terengganu Friday for that family's appointment. We split to be fair, but what's fair ?

It was a nice, neat kenduri. The marriage ceremony was almost on time and finished by 11 a.m. There was a pre-luncheon late breakfast of sorts, with lots of food and drinks (including the bus-stand's cendul). Lunch was at 12. So you can imagine how sated I was. I finally picked my rice plate just as the "menyembah" ceremony was started, so I had to leave my filled plate and attended the menyembah, after which I resumed my belated lunch. They didn't touch my nasi, fortunately.

These days weddings are also reunions for me. I'd meet many old relatives and friends  I've not seen for sometime. The memory is still there, but the names sometimes escape me, even if the faces are 90% recognizable. Grey heads and grayer facial hairs and deep wrinkles might take time to overcome, but recognition is regained quickly enough, mostly. Weight and stature changes are often encountered, but the voices seldom change. In fact on Friday Indoya said where's he (me, that is), I hear and recognize that voice - when she heard my voice. Because her eyesight range is probably only a couple of feet now. Conen came with his grey curly locks hanging to his shirt collars, to add to his maintained, equally grey stubble. "Apa ni" his x (Fauziah lah) exclaimed (it wasn't a question). I answered for him, anyway. "Umi suruh". (Umi is his current). Umi didn't come, so my answer was safe. There was Zaha, Jimikoling's cousin, with Lela, Jimikoling's adopted sister. Without introduction I wouldn't have recognized Zaha. Age is etched all over her countenance. I quickly recovered. Fauziah was looking on when I said "Pade used to wait for you to collect your bicycle from under wan's house in Bukit Temensu after school." "Memang" Fauziah said, as if she knew what was transpiring. Zaha said her brother passed away earlier this year. I didn't know, and said nobody told me, including Jimikoling. I knew Zali. Then there was Muhi with his 3rd. or 4th. wife, I've lost count. I used to teach him when I was a temporary teacher, waiting for my HSC, and he was repeating his Form 3 in afternoon school, TMS. He was one of the Hj. Ahmad's Sawah Lebar sporting sons. Now he walks with a cane. Mat Cit (forgetful now), Ombong(with her 3-pronged cane) , Kak Ngah, Aju (all 3 making up the 3 dara of Josseh Kapitan) Mr. Balun, the confirmed bachelor - they were all there, plus Nab Pak Ngah, all the way from JB with her adopted daughter who's getting married in October ("no invitation, no come" I said), with sister Yah and hubby Zainal (they are the most faithful of the Dato' Keramat cousins in these kenduris) from Rawang. Zainal wanted to know if the scam involving Fauziah was true. I said I didn't think so, but she's here, go ask her. I asked her, in fact, in front of Kak Ngah and the others. Fauziah confirmed it. I said I've told people who asked before this that it cannot be true. "She's too intelligent !" Apparently not intelligent enough.

Nosa booked a room for me at Melang Inn 1 month ago, as she did for the groom. I had to squeeze in parking in the single middle slot available when arriving Friday. The security guy was watching as I made several turns of the wheels to park with inches to spare, front and rear. "Handal abang" he complimented me. I was surprised myself to see the car perfectly parked within the white lines. The Friday market in front of the hotel lasted until 11 p.m., so when I came back from Boting at 10, I had to squeeze into the last available slot at the back, in the dark.

The weather held. No rain, and it wasn't too hot, either. There was plenty of parking space in the vacant space the other side of the house compound, but everybody wanted to park close, so the narrow road in front was jammed with cars. I came at 8 am and parked inside the compound. Nosa's renovated house sits in about 2 acres of well manicured land.  The 1-acre lot in front has a new house with additional buildings. The new owners moved in a year ago. The last time I came was pre-Covid 19 and this spot was still vacant. They are school-canteen operators in Seremban. Apparently these people make good money.

I stopped at the Boting mosque undergoing renovations, but it was padlocked. I stopped for my Zohor at the KP mosque instead. The traffic to Seremban was heavy, but I made it before Asr.

Nosa's wedding reception is done. Now for Din Pendek's Batu Kikir kenduri and Nab Pak Ngah's JB one, both in October.  If I get the invitation.

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About new old cars in NS & Johor.

 Sun 12.6.2022

Ari and I both had this new old car experience these last two days. Mine happened here yesterday in Seremban. Ari's happened this morning in Kluang.  This is not reflective of the ages of these cars, rather about something that can always go wrong with things mechanical, but if you're lucky, it happens where it least troubles you. Or maybe the ages of the cars are part of the problem.

I'd spent the whole of Friday in Shah Alam, getting possession of my new old modified Honda Accord 3.0 V6 VTEC. Sam had arranged everything for me in the last 4 days. You know, the documentation and stuff, on top of the inspection and test-drive. "You tell me if everything's ok, Sam. And try and get the lowest price possible." Seemed like a tall order, but I was satisfied in the end that this, my first Japanese car ever, is worth the money, in a replacement for my old MB S280, which Sam also bought for me. Jimikoling, who drove me to Shah Alam, I put to good use to also inspect the car while waiting for the JPJ documents to arrive by the runner. He, too, gave the thumbs-up.

The terrible working-day traffic made me choose the Lekas Highway, hoping for  the normally much lighter traffic there. The traffic was maybe twice heavier than normal, but still lighter than PLUS KL-Seremban. In fact I was able to put top pace on the new car, and was satisfied that I have the speed when needed, just like the S class. Upon reaching home at close to 7, I got Idah to hop in for a short ride around the Ampangan area, and she was impressed, especially as she had earlier joked about this "ger ger ger" of a car I was going to collect from Shah Alam. There were no ger ger gers. Dekna's Carnival blocked the front gate, so I parked outside. Thought I'd drive it in, after returning home from dinner at Man Tomyam.

Everything was A-OK from Shah Alam to Idah's short ride.  It was not OK when I inserted the ignition key into the starter switch. Nothing happened. I phoned Sam. All his instructions didn't work. OK it was 11 pm, and I was tired. I said I'll try again tomorrow morning. So at least I was safe - it happened right at home.

It was the same no-go the next morning. As I had to attend a kenduri at 11, and Ari was fetching me at 2 to go to Segamat and then Kluang,  I called for towing to the S2 workshop, after asking Mahfis to do the needful. On the way to Segamat later I checked the workshop for progress, telling them I want to collect the car on Monday. 

Ari drove Mizi's MB 350 S Class with the other 3 of us, first to Segamat, then to Kluang, straight to Mizi's house (his F.I.L's). The laksa Johor (eaten with the hands), the otak-otak and the delicious durians that Mizi phoned for, plus the almost 5-hour total drive made me tired and sleepy. In fact by the time I was undressing in the hotel room that Mizi had booked, I was feeling dizzy. Idah gave me some minyak cap kapak, and I went to sleep without watching the tv I'd switched on. But in the morning my head was clear.

When Ari tried to start the car parked in front of the hotel that morning, there were the starting noises, but the car won't fire. Mizi came to the rescue and got alternative transportation for us.  Again it was safe. It didn't happen in the dark road somewhere.

We went to the old Kluang railway station for its famous coffee. The train now uses the new lines just 30 meters away. But this old coffee shop is keeping the old place very, very busy. Just as the Batu Pahat Chinese couple said, when asked why they came, "to enjoy the atmosphere". So we all waited for 1 hour before getting to the counter, getting our tables and making our orders, and then spent the next half-an-hour enjoying the hard-earned nasi lemak, roti bun bakar, telor 1/2 masak and of course, the famous Kluang coffee. Worth it? "For the atmosphere - ok lah".

We thought it'd be safer if we took Ari's old Toyota Harrier returning to Seremban. I said I suspect it's the fuel pump. This happened to me before, with my MB S 280. Mizi agreed. He added maybe by September when the current road tax expires he'll replace this MB to another SUV as addition  to the one he's driving now. Well, Mizi may not be an active golf pro anymore, but he sure seems to be making good money with whatever he's doing now. The 2 hotel rooms we stayed last night was paid by him. He even said "go ahead, take it" to Ari, after Ari collected the RM100 deposit returned on checking out.

We made good time in coming back to Seremban. The traffic was ok until we reached Pedas. Then we crawled all the way to the Senawang junction. We made one short stop at Ayer Keroh for lunch, then Ari  sent us home, tired and happy.

The Segamat stop was a rather abbreviated hour only. One, we wanted to reach Mizi's house by 8.30, because they have prepared for us some food, and two, it had started to rain heavily well before Segamat, and Segamat is flood-prone. In 2 stretches at the Paya Besar area of Buluh Kasap, water was already spilling onto the road. We didn't want to be trapped.

Kluang we headed for via the "inside" old Federal road. But "waze" guide Ari put on directed us on the less used "kampong" road. It was already dark on the dark, unlighted road, and there were consequences on the old driver. The road was dark. No petrol stations were seen on our side of the road. The driver needed "to go" but cannot. We didn't stop anywhere for the break right until we reached Mizi's house. Everybody was busy unloading personal bags from the car. Ari rushed into the house, clutching a large white towel he had with him all the time in the driver's seat right from Seremban. He had simply "let go" even as he was driving, wetting his underwear, trousers and the seat cushion. We wouldn't know what happened if Ari himself didn't tell us as well as his "besan".

This was the sort of impromptu travelling Ari and I had done before, but looks like being practiced again. The destination doesn't seem to matter too much. It's enjoying the journey that prompts us. Even as we drove back to Seremban we discussed a Trengganu trip, ostensibly to send Aza & hubby to do their hajj. But it's the drive along the coast, putting up in a hotel, and "shopping" around that appear to  excite us. But we'd have to be careful if it's  in any old cars available. Even if it's a new old car. We don't want to add Trengganu to the list.

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