My long lost friend is no more.

 Sat 29.3.2025

Brigadier-General Datuk Mohd. Fahamy bin Hj. Husin sadly died yesterday, Friday, in this Holy month of Ramadan, both the day and the month, to the Muslims, sacred. To raise that status, these last 10 days are also deemed to be the holiest part of Ramadan. I pray that Fahamy truly left this world in great honour.

Fadzil passed the sad news last night. I passed the message to the given number, Fahamy's son-in-law, inquiring about the funeral arrangements, and he quickly informed 10.30 am this morning at the Kg. Melayu Ampang, KL, mosque. I'd resolved last night that I'll attend his funeral prayers. It's the least I can do.

Idah didn't agree  that I go alone all the way to Ampang Hilir, KL, what with weekend and eve of Raya traffic, plus my cough n cold. I said this was a close friend of 65 years, from the small town of KP, and  grand ol' TMS. I didn't add about the years before my university, and the long days in Kg. Parit, with Mat Karim and Kamil, the movies at "Rex", mee Ibrahim and the cendul at the old Malay bazaar, and the Datuk Keramat stays, and the many Sri Jaya bus trips around KL and PJ, when Mat Karim was a clerk at Telecoms, KL, and Fahamy a clerk at the Federal Building in Section 14 PJ.

Mat Karim was always talking about that female clerk at his office, and we were always teasing Fahamy about Rosmini, the policeman's daughter, also from Kg. Parit. In the end both couples got married, happily to the end in Fahamy's case, apparently (I only attended one of the children's wedding), but Mat Karim's ended in divorce.

I enrolled into university in 1965. Both clerks got into the RMC Cadet Wing's short commission and ended up in different regiments in the Malaysian military forces. They were the same stock, Fahamy and Mat Karim. But their military careers couldn't have been more different. Mat Karim retired as a Major. And he died many years ago, in Kuantan.

As the three of us went our separate careers, we lost contact. Once in a while I would get a gist about either one. I even visited Mat Karim at his PJ house once, meeting his wife and children. Fahamy much later I would bump into at the KP Police gun license renewal sessions, at 2 different times and places, and we got to talk and ate and drank, but that was it. But the memory is still there.

So I decided I was going to Fahamy's funeral all the way in KL. Still, some urgent Raya food shopping had to be done first. So this morning, instead of going to the mosque for the fajr prayers on my scooter in my "mosque-attire", I took the car and wore my t-shirt and trousers, ready to shoot off to KL after the mosque and the wet-market. I had to be at the mosque in KL by 10.30. It was 8.30 when I left the house, Idah pleading not to go. But I made it before 10. In spite of the usual city traffic. But I must add, some pretty fast driving took place. Not all the time. A lot of time. I made sure the C200 Kompressor wasn't letting me down.

Fahamy was born on 30.7.1945, so he was not quite 80 yet. I asked his son-in-law as we were about to perform the funeral prayers if Fahamy was ill, and he said no. But I saw his face when the shroud cover was opened so the loved-ones could have a last look, and he seemed different. I know that happens to people when they die, but I thought he didn't look like the Fahamy I once knew well. I also got a very recent photo that must be only days old, and Fahamy didn't look well there, too.

I suggested to his son-in-law that Fahamy's son lead the final prayers for his dad. It's just 4 "takbirs", I said.  The mosque Imam also suggested one of the children lead the prayers, but there was no response. There was a good crowd.  I was surprised to meet Brig-Gen Hashim Abu, a fellow "BB" from RMC days, who came with many ex officers. Fahamy would have been very happy.

I quietly shed some tears for my old friend, as I stood just next to his shrouded remains in that mosque, and in my heart pleaded Allah for his Blessings.

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My 81st Puasa.

 Fri 14.3.2025

My 81st Puasa (by year, not practice) is almost half-way done. It's good to reflect on what has taken place so far.

Definitely, because it's obviously about eating, we talk of appetite, but it is "less", now.  The fast causes hunger, of course, but breaking it does not stress too much on what and how much now. It used to be eagerly looking forward to the favourite dishes. Now it's whatever we have. And I need to quickly join the mosque Isya' congregation, so it's half-a-plate of rice, the fruit juice and a cooled cup of black tea, and it's a solo Magrib in the room before taking the scooter to Masjid Sungai Landak 5 minutes away. They finish at 10.15 pm, then back in the house for "more", and I hit the hay before 11.15 pm. But I'm up at 3.30 am !

Each Ramadan I'd managed to read the full Quran almost twice. I'm at that pace now, but plan to read the translation for the second round this year. It won't be easy because the Malay version is not, to me, written in a "readable" way.

Already there was death in the family, only a few days ago, in Selaru. Ari and Idah went.  I could have gone, but Ari picked Idah while I was at the Subuh prayers at the mosque.

Then Idah got mugged right in front of the house, at 10 in the morning, 2 days ago. The mugger surprised her from behind just as she came out of the driver's seat. The broken driver's side side mirror is one remnant of the short, rough struggle that ensued. The robber got away with one of the 2 gold bracelets she wears all the time, by the time Rashid, our neighbour, came out shouting at the daring robber. He took off on his motorcycle he had left with the engine on. But Rashid was quick to note the registration number, which the Police later quickly traced to a Penang Indian woman. Dekna got the Police immediately alerted, and in her position, I suppose, they acted surprising fast. So fast in fact that by that afternoon they came to the house and both Idah and Rashid were able to identify the photo of the man who, to them, looks like the mugger. He has a long Police record, apparently.

And yesterday, immediately after we finished our Subuh prayers at the mosque, Bang Dek, who prayed next to me, suddenly collapsed as he tried to get up from the chair he sat on for the prayers. Everybody came around to give assistance. His face was pale. A doctor among us tried to help with his breathing, but Bang Dek managed, with assistance, to sit up on the floor, where we told him to just stay there until he felt stronger. Finally we got him to sit and recover his breath on the chair. Kak Zawiah, his wife, who came to the mosque with him, called Kamal, their son. A few minutes later Kak Zawiah helped him walk slowly out of the mosque to wait for Kamal in their car parked just in front. I called Idah and Ari and we all went to Bang Dek's house, finding him already resting in bed, his complexion back to normal. I advised him to get Kamal to see Dr. Miszua, just to check up.

Hank called, telling me he just bought a C Class Mercedes-Benz. We both had planned to get him that model from Sam last month. But Hank had some outstanding monies issue from the buyer of his condominium, and aborted the arranged purchase of the car already selected.  So now that he has received his money, his GF helped pick the car that he then bought quickly. 

In the mean time, that first car planned for Hank has found home -  with me. Sam and I had gone to so much trouble over it already. We thought I might as well take it, to replace the Honda that I'd sent to Sam for some repairs. So that's how I'd ended up with my 5th Mercedes-Benz, but my first C Class. At 81. On my 81st Puasa.

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