Goodbyes to 2 good friends.

 Wed 7.6.2023

This sad week I'm bidding adieu from afar to 2 close friends - Rahman Tahir and Aman Shah Khalid. Their passing was last weekend. I  only got the sad news days later. Rahman lived in Kajang. Aman was in Perlis. I could have gone to Rahman's funeral. Regretfully, Perlis is just too far away. A long time ago we were close.

Monday 29th. last month Maulud received news from Dato' Shahbandar that Aman, his younger brother, had died before he could reach him in Perlis. He had been seriously ill after a fall, which I heard from Dato' Shahbandar himself at the club.

Aman and wife, Salomi, made a surprising visit to my house 10 years ago. They  were visiting relatives here, and Aman wanted to pass to me his book printed 2 years earlier "Yesterday, Tomorrow, Sharing My Thoughts". But they were in hurry. There were other visits to be made before the long drive back to Perlis. I learned then that Aman had a stroke 10 years before that.

I'd written about Aman before. This friendship started in 1968, more than half-a-century ago. The internet had kept us in constant touch. There were a lot of those naughty exchanges, but the friendship was genuine. The distance kept us apart. 

Rahman  I'd also known at the same time as Aman. He was a house-mate in 1968-69. We were renting the 2nd floor of his elder brother's house in Kampong Baru, KL. My younger brother, Fadzil, and Aziz Kadir made up the four tenants.

We were there when the May 13th race riots happened. In fact I witnessed some of the more gory scenes on the 2nd day of the rioting.

Fadzil later became the Group Managing Director of the Felda Group. Aziz went on to do his PhD in the US, and later became the No 1 in the RRI. Not bad for the Kampong Baru tenants.

Rahman later served in the Malaysian Embassy in Belgrade, before the country's break-up. He had 3 daughters, all graduates and doing very well in their current positions. One is in the US, married (the only one) and has bought a house there. Looks like she's putting down roots. She came back on Rahman's demise, but didn't make it in time for the burial. It was the daughters who insisted that their dad, suddenly falling very ill,  be admitted to the expensive and private KPJ, where he died.

I'd last visited Rahman and Aishah in January 2020. I just had a sudden urge to see him again. I'd been to the old house of Aishah, and also the present rebuilt one, before. I recalled we had a happy reunion, this time. When I left, I hugged him and tearfully said "when will we meet again, Man ?".  It was the last time.

I'd kept track of Rahman's well-being through Jay, his younger sister. We meet at the club regularly. She's a keen golfer. When Mat Salleh, her husband, was still playing, we had even played together a few times. 

I knew Jay through Rahman when still in Kampong Baru. That was years before she knew Mat Salleh. Rahman joked "if you want Jay, you have to give me a diamond ring". I was single, but she was in Seremban. I had no diamond ring. Years later at the club, I told Jay the story.

Rahman was a "Romeo". He was in the PM's Department. KL was not the traffic hell it is now. He would ask me to join him for movies with girls he knew. One even came to our rented place. Another one we took for durians in Cheras or Kajang, I forget now. There was also a girl working in a carpet shop on Batu Road (now Jalan TAR,of course) he would visit at her rented place, taking me along. Aishah and marriage came later. I know it was a happy one. 

Aman was 1 year my senior. Rahman was 86. I'll always remember them.  Both came into my life at the same time. Now they have also left at the same time. Relentless Time plods on. I try to hang on to the memories.

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2 weddings and a late Raya.

Sun 28.5.23

Two weddings and a late Raya were squeezed into the weekend. Dekna's MVP saved them for me, because they straddled PJ, SA and PD. That's Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Port Dickson.

Lela & hubby personally came to the house to invite us to their daughter's wedding at Kota Damansara, PJ on Saturday. Husain couldn't find our house, but whatsapped his invitation to his daughter's wedding  at Kg. Lanchung, SA the same Saturday. This afternoon Maulad joined me to Tok Zahar's overshot Raya Haji at Pantai Gemok Beach, PD. Overshot ? Why, today is already 8 Zulqaidah, eight days past Syawal, the Raya month. And Dekna's MPV ? My 2 alternative transports are not ready to brave the traffic jams faced.

PJ and SA are 40 minutes apart, in addition to the 2 hours needed from Seremban. It's only about 60 km and should take one hour at 60 kph. The Saturday traffic took care of the additional hour. 

To allow for attendance of the 2 weddings on the same day, I had Sam pick me at Kota Damansara at 1.30 and had No 2 Son take Dekna's MPV to his house (taking Idah along). Sam got me back to take the MPV home at 4 pm. From Kota Damansara, we picked Misrun from Kelang to Husain's kenduri at Kg. Lanchung (but we went in Misrun's MPV). We were there with nearly 1 hour to spare from the 4 o'clock closing time. Get the drift ?

I was spared the exhausting driving between Kota Damansara and Kg. Lanchung. But the Seremban drives up and down had to be personally endured through traffic that was pure hell !

As arranged, I had to pick Maulud at the club at 10 am today. He was early. Again Dekna's MPV came to the rescue. We were at Tok Zahar's Tg. Gemok beach resort house before the appointed 11.30 time. Sunday PD traffic was, as expected, heavy, when we were going. It was heavier when we returned. This is Sunday, after all. Still, it was heavier than expected.

Tok Zahar spent his Raya holidaying in Europe with his family. He's missed the month of Syawal for his Raya celebrations here, as the result. But it's only 1 week off, and a celebration is a celebration. Maulud won't argue with that. That's why he was early. For our golf, though, he's always late.

Tok Zahar had a good turnout, although I thought the women outnumbered the men. His explanation was that his wife is active with their weekly prayer group. A number of Taman Guru people (Tok Zahar's neighbours in his Seremban house) came.  But I said to Maulud that Tok Zahar looked disappointed some of his Judges comrades had not made appearance by the time we were set to leave at about 1 pm.

We took the PD Garrison route returning to Seremban, just to see the picnickers on the beach. On the highway it started to rain. It's welcomed. The heat has been extra high the last few days.

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Salleh Hassan.

 Thurs 25.5.2023

Salleh Hassan came with Khamis back in 1976. Salleh was from Felda LBJ near Seremban. Khamis was from Felda Solok Menggong, Alor Gajah.  These two Felda settler dependents joined the Felda service for NS. This was 47 years ago.

Salleh, 66, succumbed to cancer yesterday morning, about 8.45 am, at home, after a long  treatment. Khamis passed away many years ago, from diabetic complications.  Here I'm looking at two former staff  I knew from their first day of work, and both, sadly, are no more.

Wahid, another former staff from the same Seremban HQ, took me to visit Salleh maybe a year ago, upon hearing that he was ill. He was still up and about at that time, but the cancer was already affecting his health. That was the last time I saw him.

Wahid called with the sad news yesterday around 10 am from KL, so he couldn't visit immediately. I had a hospital appointment, and similarly was unable to visit right away. So we agreed to visit the house together in the evening, once Wahid was back from KL.

It turned out that the nearby mosque was having a tahlil for Salleh after Isya'. Wahid and I were entering the mosque compound just as the azan was heard. 

There was a good crowd at the mosque. Wahid said this is normal because of the large surrounding community. Quite unsual, the tahlil was right after Isya' before the sunat ba'diah. First, the imam led in reading surah al Mulk, asking for relief in death of the believer, a first time for me. Then the tahlil and the supplication for Salleh, named.

We spoke to Salleh's two sons briefly, before going to his house, nearby, to see his widow. She knows Wahid well, of course. She was the one who called Wahid in the morning. The night before Salleh had lifted a heavy umrah bag, and had gasped for breath. The Police permit for burial and the other documents for processing Salleh's remaining worldly business are in hand, the widow said.

When Felda LBJ was sold to the developer, the settlers receive very big payouts. I remember talking to Salleh, advising him to invest the money in ASB, and using only the necessary amount to purchase a Proton Saga if he wanted to have a car. The millions paid out would be gone in no time if not invested wisely, I told him. Wahid said last night that Salleh had managed his money well. He's wondering how the inheritance would now be settled. I said his sons are well educated, and one has a very professional job with Rahim & Co, the real estate people. So this inheritance thing would be in good hands.

The Seremban Felda HQ is vacant now. I was among the first occupants when the building was completed in 1976. We used to rent the vacant bungalow owned by the Dr. Chong family. Then we moved to the shop house at Jalan Rahang, next. Our own office building, when vacated, used to be rented by MAINS, but they now have their own tall tower with the letters "Allah" on top, like the TH building in KL. The 3-storey Felda HQ was where Salleh, Khamis, Wahid and I were, the time I was in Seremban. The lake gardens is just next to it.  Felda had a different set of people, then, Wahid contended last night.

Everything is a memory now.

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Use "Allah" if you want to.

 Fri 19.5.2023

 

Use "Allah" if you want to, whatever religion you practice. I don't understand all the furore now, and it's not the first time. Just like the first time, many years ago, it's the issue of the translation of a Christian book referring to God. It's the same God. We just call Him differently. "Allah" is just Arabic for the Almighty. Now Sarawak, with their new-found political clout because of the weak PKR PM, is exploiting the situation and reviving the old noise-making.

"Allah" is not the property of the Muslims. The honour and right of the Muslims are not contaminated because non-Muslims use the word.  They are not using "Allah" in an offensive way. They are bowing before their "Allah", their God, in the same way "Allah" is held by the Muslims.

The holy truth that Muslims hold to be contained in the Quran is not lessened by non-Muslims burning the Quran. What they destroy is a man-made book. They may even have spent money to get a copy to burn.  God's words remain intact.  The feelings of Muslims are of course hurt by the insult intended. Muslims have every right to object against it.  We are all supposed to be civilised, and respect the feelings of others. Otherwise we are uncivilised, uncouth and stupid.

The Quran says to each his belief.  There's no coercion in Islam. There is only One Maker. Islam says we live our own lives, and all return to Him.  The Day of Judgment determines the correctness of our chosen paths.

In the meantime, let's share the insight each of us receive, by whatever way. If we are good human beings, we spread the insight among our kind. Let's not get tied down to words misunderstood. Don't let our shortsightedness or short temper impair  true view.

Muslims believe it was Abraham who first brought forth the revelations of  the Scriptures recognized by the Quran as the Holy Books. Only the hands of men altered the contents over time. The Muslims believe the Quran, compiled in the times of the 4 Rightful Guided Caliphs, was saved from the same fate by maintaining the same exact version ever since. Let us read and try to understand the Quran from the learned jurists, and not get agitated by myopia, thin skin and ignorance.

Only God Knows the truth.

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FMC-PD Raya do 7.5.23

 Mon 8.5.2023

I came early. Naturally I left early,too. I had to. The borrowed car had to be returned before 4 pm.

So, after the painstaking preparations by the committee, the 2023 Aidil fitri celebration for "FMC-PD 1952-1961" at the OPA penthouse must be deemed a success. All who were supposed to come, did (except one or two, as usual). The food was great. The camaraderie was obvious.  The noise was loud. So loud that Halim the MC had to shout into his mike to be heard. The other speakers - Halim "Cina", Radzi and the current OPA President didn't do what the MC did, and their words were just drowned by the din. This was no disrespect. We just couldn't stop talking to each other, making up for the lost time since the last time.

The whole thing was scheduled for 1100 hours to 1500 hours, to use the military parlance. I was the first to arrive, resplendent in my baju melayu as instructed (I whatsapp a photo to prove to Hank). The parking area was still empty, but I chose to park on the road side facing the way out. I knew the place would soon be full, and I didn't want to be boxed in when I want to leave later. 

The reception area ground floor was just being readied. The roasted lamb and the rest of the food and drinks were just being unwrapped on the 3rd. floor. The tables and chairs were all ready, filling up all available space except the President's office and the small board room. But it was just me and the food people. Nawawi came immediately after me, without his baju melayu. He put them on later.

I even had time for a cup of tea, toast and half-boiled eggs at the Dengkil R&R. I asked the cleaning lady to clear a table for me. When my order came, I paid for it and gave the change to that Flores woman. She said she's a Christian. When I arrived at the penthouse, it wasn't 9.30 am. I was 1 hour 30 minutes early. I also beat Halim.

Hank couldn't make it, in spite of being in the thick of all the preparations right from the beginning. That's why I had to borrow the car to come. For a few days now, Hank has this bad cough that he doesn't want to spread to others, he says. Nawawi arranged for a nephew to replace Hank at reception.

Well before the crowd arrived, the mouth-watering smell of the roasting lamb wafted into the eating hall. One of the committee members told the caterers to close the glass doors,  to keep out the kitchen smell. I told the large woman standing near the door that the smell of the roasting lamb was nice and appetising and the door should remain open.

I helped direct the arrivals to their tables, all numbered by intake years and "VIP" grouping. In the end, except for the very senior grouping inside, everybody just settled with their old friends and enjoyed the food and cendul and continued with the incessant banter.

As Radzi said in his speech (which I could hear because I was seated just next to the rostrum) this was a Raya gathering continuation of past years. The change of venue was because of the declining numbers for the FMC-PD group. This was why about 9 years ago this group was formed. This was felt necessary, so that the old seniors would not lose touch with the continuing main OPA.  

The OPA President acknowledged the efforts of the FMC-PD group. In fact the museum project initiated has been taken up by the OPA and should become reality soon. He announced the OPA's contribution for today (I asked Halim Cina "berapa?" but he refused to say), the OPA's own Raya later this month, and the oncoming Annual Dinner.

Hank asked to collect from Abu Bakar Sulaiman 2 of his recently published books that he had ordered. When I asked how much, Bakar said "later lah". I glanced through both books. I thought they're heavy stuff.

Ahmad Ayob reminded me of his kenduri on 2.6.23 at the Flamingo Ampang. It's his granddaughter's wedding. Granddaughter ? You're old, Aba Jiwa !

Aziz Rahman was informed about his friend Ismail Kamat's condition. He said he'll  visit after I showed him the photo. I gave him the address.

Suki complained I didn't answer his call during Raya when he visited his uncle in Tebat Kering, near our old house. I said I'd have answered, but I missed the call. And I didn't go back to KP anyway.

I left without telling Nawawi. He'd stop me. But he caught me on the phone at 11 pm. I pacified him by saying next time I'll bring some durians. He said no. Next is the trip to Perlis for Radzi's harumanis. I said Radzi said this season his orchard had failed. Nawawi said we could go across the border.

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78th version of the Eid il fitri.

Tues 25.4.2023

With a sigh of relief we cleared the last scrap of litter from our family Raya gathering last night at close to midnight. The 3rd day of Eid il fitri, for many years, has been our family Raya day, here in Seremban. And as if there is a tacit agreement among us, the immediate kinsmen have accommodated the date in their own Raya celebrations.

It was a near miss, though.  I'd already mentioned the date to my own family, and the assent was almost automatic. My own siblings were quickly contacted and informed, and almost all immediately confirmed attending. 

Satay was the immediate order, because Wak the seller needed notice to purchase the "perut lembu", my favourite. This item is not always available because it's normally discarded.

Then out of the blue Idah said to cancel this year's gathering because Mizi wants to have his "aqiqah" on the same day.  I said no way. I'd even already informed Ari, the father, about the gathering, and he said ok and made no mention of the aqiqah. "Discuss lah, first" Idah retorted. I said I already told you, and I'd already told my siblings. I won't change the date. I'd order the food if you insist on going to Mizi's.

I don't know what followed on Idah's side, but as I made further preparations with the children, she relented and joined the discussion. I made no inquiry about Mizi's aqiqah, but Mizi and Ari and their family members all came to our do in the end.

For the first time, though, Idah didn't cook any of the dishes served. Din visited, and knowing our plans, suggested we order from Ani's step-daughter, because for a few years now she'd been doing some catering. Din gave the number, I called, and that was that.

Memi was very much into the preparations, insisting on several things like large cooler fans, extra tables and additional menus, and taking direct action on them. In the end he took care of the entire expense.

Ari said the "mee curry" was not the same as Idah's. Other than that remark, I heard no complains about the food. By the time the last guest left at about 10 pm (the start was 10 am), the tables were completely cleaned.

These were siblings and first cousins, and Idah got the receiving end of their generosity. Her two side pockets were stuffed with envelopes with cash. I received maybe 20 % of what Idah got, and I counted mine at 430. That means Idah  possibly got more than 2K. 

The important thing was this was a success. With the years that rolled by, this must be cherished. As a reminder of life's reality, sadly, our immediate neighbour was mourning its tragic loss of a family member.  Mansor Ahmad, 68, succumbed to several grave internal complications at the hospital on the Raya day itself. We all paid our respects at the house, and last night I joined the "tahlil" held there. 

I dozed in front of  the tv  while waiting for the refilling of the attic water tanks to complete. I have 75 gallons of water in the attic for use in the 2 toilets. Because of the gathering, the storage usage was much higher than normal, while the intake remained small. In a short time the tank's hold had been drained. I had to bring a hose from the direct kitchen supply onto the ceiling tank, and started refilling. I know it takes about 2 hours to fill up the 75-gallon  tanks. That's why I sat at the tv to wait. With all the days' activity, I simply dozed off. Until shouts of " water. water, overflow!".

Actually it was the overflow pipe pouring it on to the kitchen roof. I got to the ladder and removed the hose, closed up the ceiling opening and happily retired. 

The 78th Raya Puasa celebration was a success. Except for my sister Ati, all the siblings on both my side and Idah's made it, from as far as Kg. Soi, Kuantan, East, to Antara Gapi, North, to Paya Besar, Segamat, South, and of course nearer here, Bangi, Bahau and around the Seremban area. A number of  first cousins and other offsprings also made it, from as far as the United Kingdom, and nearer home Singapore and Terengganu. Ibrahim and Aziz, my 2 surviving besans also came. In the course of answering the numerous phone calls in the last few days, 4 old friends were roped in - Jayos, Hank, Maulud and Durai.

When I met Rashid, my front neighbour, at Mansor's tahlil, I thanked him for allowing some of my visitors to park their vehicles right inside his house compound, and he wasn't even invited. He understood.

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Visiting unwell friends in Ramadan.

 Tues 18.4.2023

27 Ramadan 1444

Joining a few friends, I've made 3 courtesy visits of other friends this Ramadan, of those not in the best of health.

We visited Mazni in Kg. Pilin, Rembau, Aziz in Bangi and Dato' Ismail Kamat in Gedung Lalang. Mazni and Aziz are members of our FMC PD Group.  Ismail is of  MUBARAK NS. 

Mazni suffers from various internal complains, and the major malady of a walking impediment. Of outwardly stout build, Mazni cannot walk without his 4-wheeled "walker". He has 2, in fact - one used indoors, one outdoors.

Our group, travelling  in 2 vehicles, comprised of BB's Radzi, Nawawi, Md. Sham, Hank and I, and the OPA Sec. Mazni was waiting outside his house, complete with the yellow BB t shirt and, for my first time, long pants. He was always in shorts before.

As usual, Hank overshot the gates, causing Md. Sham's MPV to overshoot and make a u-turn about 100 m/ away.

As usual also, Mazni had a lot to say. Radzi helped by piling question after question.

Mazni was intake 1955, and is 83. He can't move without his wheeled crutches. But he said that didn't stop him from going to Hat Yai recently. We had a few "makan" with him in Linggi and Seremban before, and Mazni's appetite wasn't hampered like his walking.

Mazni lives alone now. The children visit him often, and a girl comes daily to the house, doing her work-from-home there.

In return for the 2 hampers brought for him, Mazni gave everyone a box of cakes each. I passed a "kuih ros" box to Radzi, and kept one myself. Unfortunately, I came to Mydin's, where Hank picked me, on my scooter. By the time I reached home, my kuih ros were all broken to small pieces because of the jarring ride. They still tasted good, though.

Our trip to Bangi was half-way hampered by a highway maintenance crew doing, of all things, some road painting. This can be done at midnight on this notorious Rembau-Seremban stretch, surely. Don't they use their brains ?

The waze app saved us, though. Locking on the address on my smart phone, other than that jam mentioned, we reached Aziz's Bangi house without trouble. A couple of sharp turns we went through would surely had us lose our way.

Like Mazni, Aziz was waiting at the door.

Aziz is 4 years younger than Mazni. He had a stroke which still affects his speech slightly, and one arm is lame.

Aziz wasn't able to talk as smoothly as Mazni, but by Nawawi's account, there's plenty to tell, really.

The fruit baskets were given out, and shortly later we took our leave. Our 11 am start was approaching 4 pm.

Hank had to send me back to my scooter parked at Mydin. The sky was really dark when we reached the mall. "It looks like heavy rain" Hank said. "Got my rain gear" I said. It hadn't rain, and the rain coat is tedious affair. I thought I'd move fast and be home before the sky breaks. The sudden downpour halfway home soaked me through.

This morning 7 committee members from MUBARAK NS made it to Dato' Ismail Kamat's rented house at Gedung Lalang. I was the last to arrive for the 10 am visit.

Ismail is 85. Only very recently we heard that he's bedridden. 

He was an active member of MUBARAK NS, holding various senior positions. But during and after Covid 19 he stopped attending our functions. His whatsapp chats remained active, however, except in the last year or so.

Md. Noh Jidin, an accountant like him, on many occasions had asked me about him, saying that he heard that he's not well. I told him that we were in contact on the whatsapp, although we haven't seen each other for some time. I used to play golf with him, with his Kelantanese friend, but the last game was a long time ago.

His condition is in fact quite alarming. His wife cried when we asked about his daily affairs, underlining the seriousness of it all.

Ismail can still recognize us. He even said, weakly, "on the way", his favourite words to me whenever we had a golf fixture, and I called when I didn't see him at the club already. But there's significant weight loss, and he can't get up by himself - truly bed-ridden.

Ismail was the other Ismail's classmate when in school. Ismail Yassin was with us this visit, but he still walks, albeit with a walking stick.

Ismail had a colourful and successful career, coming back from studies in Australia. In fact he had an Australian wife, and with kids, I believe. But to this day he lives in a rented house. I wonder why. It's not your ordinary house. The large double-storey bungalow in the large compound belongs to a member of the royal family. In fact when his father-in-law died many years ago, he also left a large bungalow close by. But that house remains vacant and abandoned. I don't know the secret.

It was sad to see a friend in the frail condition, confined to his medical bed. I was asked to recite a prayer. I asked God to forgive Ismail for his lapses. 

We all prayed for speedy recovery.

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