Tomah Maidin

Sun 20.4.2025

Hj Muhammad Maidin invited me for a tahlil and Raya do at his house this morning. It was the first time I went to the house, which is actually not far from mine, close to the KGV Primary School where my three grandchildren are pupils. I was there at 11, as per invitation, but as usual, this was early.  But there were about 8 - 9 early birds under the specially erected tent already.

The host comes from Kg. Bukit Temensu, Kuala Pilah, just like me. In fact Tomah Maidin, the late mother, is known by everybody in Bukit Temensu. She was the Malay from Kg. Galau, Gunung Pasir, Seri Menanti, who married Maidin, the Indian sundry shopkeeper in Kuala Pilah town, one of the better-stocked stores then. She became known in the kampong as a well-to-do woman who bore several children from that marriage, and I knew all well except for Ali, the eldest, because he was already running his well-known cafe in Melaka and Seremban - "Ali's Cafe". There was Suman (Othman), Usop (Yusof), Ajak (Razak), Minah (Aminah) the only girl, and Muhammad, the youngest. Usop I knew particularly well because we attended the same religious class, and I visited him at his large, white-painted house many times while I was still schooling in KP.

I remember the large send-off for Tomah and Maidin for their haj with their youngest, Muhammad, who must have been pre-school at that time. This was uncommon, this young kid going for the pilgrimage. It was always the elderly at that time, because of the need to fulfill this Islamic obligation before one's death, plus the need to save money for it, especially for the self-employed kampong folks. In fact many sell all their worldly properties to finance their sea-voyage for what was viewed as the final fulfilment in their lives. This was the scenario that confronted the late Professor Ungku Aziz in his rural economy studies that resulted in his designs for the later realized "Tabung Haji". I believe the whole country owes Ungku Aziz for TH\s existence today, and every single pilgrim's blessing, knowingly or unknowingly, goes to Ungku Aziz, for eternity.

Having reconnected with Hj. Muhammad here in Seremban since I moved here in 1995, I often inquired about his brother Yusof. This morning was the first time we met again since probably 1960, a good 65 years ago. The lapsed time showed, of course, but the face was still recognizable under the white hair. We also share both the same number of children and grandchildren (4 and 12), but he's ahead of me in having 2 great-grandchildren. My oldest grandchild is only a freshman at the university.

When I was posted to Melaka in 1968 I ate at the Ali's Cafe in Melaka town, run by the eldest brother. There was another Ali's Cafe in Seremban, later. Then there was Fatimah Restaurant, also in Seremban, run by Ajak. Minah later operated a restaurant at the Malay bazaar, Kuala Pilah, while Suman ran a restaurant at the MARA complex, also in Kuala Pilah. Hj. Muhammad's Petronas petrol station came later. Now apparently only the petrol station is in service. I see Ajak once in a while when I go to the Paroi Jaya shops.

When schooling at TMS, Husin the Qadi's son from Kg. Galau, who was my classmate, stayed with Tomah Maidin. The two families knew each other, coming from the same kampong. Husin had to stay in Bukit Temensu. There was no way he could commute by bus to school from home. We were classmates from Form 1 to Form 3, after which I joined FMC (later RMC) at PD.

Husin and I were close through our lives right until his sadly early passing not long after he retired. I went to his house but missed the funeral at the cemetery because Puchong traffic then was already bad, but waited for the widow to return home. I'd since attended one or two of the children's weddings, I can't precisely remember how many now.

When with Tomah Maidin, Husin said the parents were contemplating matching Husin with Minah. But Husin said she was too tall for him (she was).

When Husin got married, finally, in Bilut Valley, Raub (the Felda scheme) I went, in my Fiat 124. It was a long trip, but it was fun, because there was scarce traffic then.

Tomah also, my aunties told me, tried to match Minah with my Pak Chu Kamil, who was a magistrate at that time. She would often visit Pak Chu Kamil's family house (he was working elsewhere at that time) in Bukit Temensu, picking "ciku" and talking to Wan Aji, Kamil's mom, and Makcik Jenap, his sister. Nothing came out of it. Pak Chu later married a Perak gal. Pak Chu retired as a high court judge.

I learned later from Hj. Muhammad that Jaafar Shahardan passed away a few days ago. I didn't hear about it. I knew him well. The last time we met was at the pasar tani in Ampangan, maybe 1 year ago

I left before 1 pm, asking Hj. Muhammad to give me Usop's number later. It's good to freshen old friendships. While we're still around.

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