Bang Enon.

 Sunday, 24.12.2023.

We were supposed to leave for surau At Tarbiah, Taman Malawati, Ulu Kelang at 8 a.m., because the funeral prayers were set for 10. These things never meet the target times, and this one didn't. But the one-hour delay leaving Seremban put paid to our timely arrival. When we arrived, they had already started the post-prayer tahlil. So at least we didn't completely missed the whole thing. We were able to pay our last respects for Bang Enon, 86, shrouded and laid before us, before being taken to the burial ground in Kelang Gate.

Dato' Dr. Mohd. Nor Abd. Ghani was my first cousin, 7 years older.  He was "Bang Enon" to me. Pak Lang Ghani, ex Sub-Inspector, was my father's older brother.  As a policeman, he was posted all over the place. His last post was in Kelantan. Bang Enon didn't follow him, because he was attending school in Kuala Pilah. Part of the time he stayed with us, I was told, because I can't remember.  He finished his 5th form in TMS, and went on to Form 6 in Seremban, then to the University of Malaya. He did his Masters and PhD in the US, after joining the MCS, and after marriage. Two marriages, in fact. His last post was the KSU in the Ministry of Transport, under Dr. Ling Liong Sik, an exFMC boy. Probably of the same age.

Bang Enon passed away in Ampang Hospital yesterday afternoon. He was only brought back this morning. I didn't find out the cause of death. I followed him in his internet postings, and he was always doing something - here in Taman Malawati and back in Kuala Pilah, both in his parents' old home in Ulu Bendul, and the in-laws place in Juasseh. As far as I knew he was healthy.

Mashitok caused the hour-delay. Disorganized as usual, he didn't call Calit until Calit came to fetch me. With Seremban traffic being what it has become, by the time we got back to S2 for him, and got back on to Plus, it was 9 !.

Some of the prayer crowd had left when we arrived at the surau, but there was still a good number of mourners doing the tahlil. Before I helped carry the remains into the waiting van, I was able to greet a few of the sad first cousins. Daro, from Kampong Melang, was extremely emotional, and I said "sabar, sabar". Enai, a brother, said he's now settled in Muar.

I wondered if Bang Piei knows of Bang Enon's passing. He wasn't there, but his house is quite near, also in Taman Malawati. They knew each other. Bang Enon and his first wife, Zahrah, took me in their car when they attended Bang Piei's wedding in Lonek. That was back in 1964, I think.

Dad put me with Bang Enon in his Section 11 house when I enrolled into the university in 1965. I didn't get a place in the 3 male residential colleges available then. But I didn't stay with them long.

When I was in RMC, Sg. Besi, Bang Enon attended one of my Sovereign Parade Days in place of dad. Much later in life, as the GM of Felda Transport, I got Bang Enon's help to get Ling Liong Sik to reconsider the new ruling on the speed warning lights for all lorries in the country. Eventually they scrapped the useless ruling. 

Even while an undergraduate, Bang Enon made a name for himself as a short-story writer. His stories often got published in the Malay papers under the pen-name "Norzah", obviously the combination of "Mohd. Nor" and "Zahrah".

Just now I texted Hafizi in Ipoh, inquiring if he'd heard about Bang Enon's passing. Hafizi was together with me in the university 1965-1968. That was how I found out that Bang Enon's second wife was Hafizi's sister. He said he heard about it from his nephew, a Dr. Azlan.

I met Zaiton, the widow, pulled by Calit, who pointed her to me. "I know, from Felda" I said.

There was Hashim Meon (Tan Sri, exKSU Ministry of Defence). There was Rais Karim (Datuk, Dr. , from INTAN and several other ministries). There was Zainal Taib, ex TMS, Cikgu Taib's son. We chatted, took some photographs, and even managed to suggest a golf game soon. But among family and friends, and on going talk of life matters, we recorded our bereavement for someone close.

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My book launch.

Fri, Dec 22, 2023.

Another year is closing in a week's time. It's the school holidays now, and Christmas is just 3 days away. And I just launched my first book last Sunday.

It took me 15 years to compile the notes that became the contents of the book. They were all there in my diary, sitting quietly, until Hank shook them out, exhorting me to let them see the light of day in a book. The jottings in my diary were never meant for publication. But Hank's challenge had to be responded to.  Finally, Sunday, I "tumpang" the FMC-PD's 70th Anniversary at the old camp, and "The Sungai Ujung diary - Talking Politics" was officially out on sale.

As required, I delivered my 243-word speech, and at the end of it presented a copy of the book to BB Wahab, our new Chairman of FMC-PD. And forgot to put my signature on it.

I said "tumpang" because the gathering was not about my book at all. It was a very well-attended, 2-day event, celebrating the birth of our old alma mater here in this very site in 1952.  Hank got Nawawi to include my book launch, although the book was not about the college at all. In my brief speech I mentioned that I don't feel I deserve this honour, but to decline would be rude. But in a way, the college had a lot to do in what I have eventually become as a person. I attended many schools in different places throughout my 18-year schooling, right up to university. But I credit FMC for some lasting friendships that leave positive impressions, leading to a mindset that was able to produce the written thoughts that filled my life diary.

The Dewan TSI had 120 seats, plus a row of sofa-seats for the VIP's. Every one was taken, with several more people standing around. It was a good crowd. In fact there were some of the wives with the children outside the hall, engaged in their own fun & games arranged. I could hear them from inside the hall.

Halim, the MC, made sure nobody spoke longer than necessary. Because all, except Nawawi, had notes, Halim didn't need to cut anyone. Nawawi, of course, was different. Normally he does the cutting, anyway.  He had no notes. He didn't need one. So it was easy for him to jump about, when speaking, and even took time to scold his nephew, one of the function's staff, for suggesting that he take the speakers' second rostrum, and not  Halim's.

We made good time in the hall, but wasted some time in the photograph session, but made it to the dining hall without much delay.

The durian supply, just like last year, was assigned to me. The durian feast nearly didn't happen. Strangely, although last year's function was  the same time of the year, this time the 3 suppliers I contacted in the previous 3 weeks couldn't guarantee quality and quantity to the 300 fruits we wanted, because of the ending durian season. Or so they claimed. Luckily, at about 11 p.m. Sunday 10th I managed to get hold of Deka, an old friend from Tanjung Jati. He got hold of Api, from Kampong Ibol, who confirmed that he had supply.

Immediately after our last committee meeting on Monday 11th, I pulled Hank to see Api and settled the order. I also wanted to test the fruit, because it was Orang Asli durian, and Hank could help vouch the quality. We found everything ok, and paid an advance. And my neck was safe.

Nawawi hinted that this might be his final act for FMC-PD, but don't believe him. Me, I'm more than happy I came for both days, and even brought my wife and a granddaughter to enjoy the outing. I'm very happy that my first book got a great launch. In fact I sold 29 copies in PD.

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World Golf's professional tours.

 Sunday, 10.12.2023.

USPGA just lost a star player, who jumped to Saudi LIV tour.  Spanish WGR no.3 Jon Rahm is the latest big, world-class golfer personality to accept the untold multi-millions to jump ship. 

That's what it is. The money.

Nothing wrong with that. Pro golf is about money. If you can make more of it somewhere else, you'd be stupid not to move there.

USPGA is not the only tour before LIV tour burst on the scene. In USA itself, in Europe, in Africa, in Asia and South America, and within these continents themselves exist different tours. The pros often make their ways through these to finally get admitted into USPGA. Because of the money. There were no objection, resentment, or opposition then. LIV is another such tour. Why the resentment ? To carry the logical argument - the more the merrier.

I suggest the real reason is, again, money.

Previously, none of the other tours (and I mean "nil") had  money large enough to rival USPGA.  Saudi Arabia is a different story. USPGA is intelligent enough to know the big difference now.

The big sponsors are going to be the real losers, if LIV steals the world golf thunder. That's the crux of the matter. They will have to sort out their strategy in stopping the dollar-spillage. But let me assure you, in the end they will find the way. That's why they are big now.

I've played and followed golf for 37 years now. At 79, I still carry an official handicap of 17. Ask any golfer if that's not remarkable. I've followed Tiger Woods since he won his 3rd consecutive US Amateur title in 1995. So let me say, let there be more tours. It'll good for the game.

Malaysia built its first golf course in Taiping in 1885, one year before USA built its first one. (Of course, Taiping is closed now.) Where are the Malaysian pros now ? We can't even make a name in South East Asia, much less the rest of the world.

Vijay Singh made his way to USPGA, even getting to WGR # 1, through the Sunshine Tour and the European Tour. He could have been the first Malaysian World No. 1 Golfer, if our government had been sport-savvy. Vijay was a pro in JB and Sabah, and after marrying a Malay, asked to become a citizen, and was rejected ! 

Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and now Thailand produced world class winners in both men and women golf. This is 1 game where size does not matter. But unlike the others, Malaysia just doesn't have the talent pool, and the management to run the local circuit to produce this talent pool. Take it from me (2 holes-in-one and 1 eagle - check the records). Our managers (political or whatever) are just not into serious sport. Nobody has made them realise that there's fame and fortune in sports. We have 30 million people vs 7 in New Zealand, which has World Champions in many sports. Even land-strapped Singapore runs a world FI circuit on its city streets, aware of the benefits. What do we do? Close an already well-utilised F1Sepang!

Let the world golf tours compete for players AND spectators. Let the sponsors work for their money. We should see an improved display.

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79

 Tuesday 5.12.2023.

Would you believe it ? 79 years ago I was born, at the end of the Japanese Occupation, the first of  9 siblings from the same parents. I have to say this because my dad decided to have another 4 siblings through another mother. All 3 parents are gone now, together with eldest half-brother Yusof not long ago.

Maybe I should look back in time, before I enter the 8th decade tomorrow.

Birth date was 5th December, 1944, also a Tuesday,  19th Zulhijjah, 1363.

Primary School was in Kuala Pilah, and then in Tanjung Malim, and then Standard 6 back in Kuala Pilah. 

Secondary School was in Kuala Pilah, Port Dickson, and Sungai Besi.

University was the only university at that time - the University of Malaya, graduating  in 1968, at 23 + years of age.

I started working the same year. It was Melaka, then  KL- Seremban a few times, Port Kelang, and finally back in Kuala Pilah until 55 years of age.

Marriage was at exactly 27 years old. 4 children came in a span of 12 years, with 3 boys and the youngest a girl. She'll be 40 next year. There are 12 grandchildren - the oldest 19, the youngest 2.

The Hajj was performed at 38+. The only Umrah was done early this year, 40 years later.  I've arithmetically completed my solat qada' of 30 years, covering all the years back to age 10. Fasting misses were rare. Alms and sadakah can't be revealed - I don't want to lose "credit". So the "external" ibadah seems covered.

31 years of work and the retirement years since seem "ok". Nothing to shout about. But nothing to be ashamed of, either.

Health has been acceptable, though it could be better. Medication for the standard blood-pressure/blood-sugar age-affliction keeps everything, through now a bi-annual medical examination, under control. Golf and 2-hour walks through each week ensure the minimal physical exertion advised. So the "external" health regimen also seems covered.

That leaves the "internal" part.

For that, I try to keep on reading, writing, and lately, drawing, to maintain the mental activity. I'm still riding my scooter (155cc only, compared to the 750 cc I used to ride decades ago), but the sense of balance seems lessened, so I've to be careful. Hopefully, mental deterioration could be avoided. 

And that is where we are now. I thank God for His Blessings.

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Hj. Jamaluddin Hj. Ibrahim.

Tues Nov. 14, 2023.

At about 11.30 am just now I stood with the others in our funeral prayers in Mesjid Sendeng, Ampangan, Seremban, for Hj. Jamaluddin. He was 89.

He was my brother-in-law's brother-in-law, of the Hj. Ibrahim, Ampangan, clan.  He died in Jalan Kent, KL, yesterday, but the family wanted him interred here, in the Hj. Said maqam in Seremban. The entire vast family considers this ancient cemetry, now officially closed, their own - Hj. Said, the religious teacher, was a close relative.

I also came because of Idah. She couldn't come because of the 3 grandchildren in the house. The youngest, 2,  is in hospital right now because of lung infection. He's on breathing machine, in fact. Our daughter is with him. Idah would have come, otherwise.  She worked for Hj. Jamaluddin for a few years until I married her. The office was in the MARA building on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, KL.

I would send her in the morning, and picked her back after office, when we were engaged. That was for almost a year in 1971. I got to know Hj. Jamaluddin then. We even went to his one-storey bungalow in the Bukit Belachan area, Ampang, I think. I met the late Khatimah, Hj. Jamaluddin's younger sister, there. Ari's marriage to Wira, another much younger sister, came many years later. The late Khatimah went on to become an Exco in the State Legislative Assembly. Ari's family fortunes emanated from that. 

I lost contact with Hj. Jamaluddin after my marriage, but after Ari's marrage to Wira, Idah would somehow reconnect with his ex-boss. So, his life's progression was in Idah's knowledge, right until the health issues because of age. I did meet him a few times, during family weddings etc. He remembered me well.

Hj. Redha, ex YB, led the final prayers just now. I think 80% of the congregation was family, but even so, it was a large enough crowd.

As usual, while waiting for the remains to arrive from KL, we met old friends and family members at the mosque. The usual banter and catching-up got everybody talking simultaneously, despite the somber occasion. Hj. Ishak even managed to talk of the "Bintang Tiga" communist incident in Rantau. I wonder where that came from. But I think it's history lesson that shouldn't be lost. I have a few similar stories  in Bukit Temensu - one relating to Tengku Fakharuddin; another to "Ah Ting" the coffee-shop operator.

Most followed the hearse to the cemetry, but I took my excuse. I had in fact gone there first, because that was Ari's message. But there was a change in plan that brought everybody to Sendeng mosque just now.

Farewell, Che Jamal, God Bless you.

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Long weekends, weddings & traffic snarls.

 Sunday, Nov 12, 2023.

Long weekends, weddings and traffic snarls go together. That was the scenario this time with 2 weddings and the Deepavali celebrations, spread over two days and about 180 km return. The distance between the two locations and the Saturday-Sunday appointed times, when the Indian community celebrated its Deepavali this time, cost me a total of 12 hours. 75% of that time was on the road to the two sites, Saturday in Kuala Pilah, Sunday in the Ampang Jaya area in KL.

I'd long maintained that the large number of private vehicles on our roads is caused by our poor public transport. What are the ratios of cars to road distances in this country, and cars to population ?

Saturday was Abin's daughter's wedding at the Melang Inn Hotel, KP. Sunday was Kak Lang Noi's grandson's wedding in the Majestique Palace in Ampang Jaya. Abin is a first cousin. Kak Lang Noi a second cousin, and she called twice. So the weddings couldn't be missed, traffic jams notwithstanding.

Abin is in a wheelchair now, not paralysed but weak in the legs. She's 70 +. Kak Lang Noi is not in a wheelchair, but is also weak in the legs. She'll be 80 end of this year.

Abin lost her husband, Sulaiman, a few years ago. She stays in Kuala Jempol, which is closer to Bahau, but had chosen to have the reception in Kuala Pilah. I wonder why, because the groom is supposed to come from Jempol also. In fact Abin had family here in Melang, but the old folks are all gone now.

Kak Lang Noi is from Bukit Temensu, where my maternal grandparents were. Both of us were also born here at the end of the Japanese Occupation - we're the same ages. In fact we attended Quran-reading tuition together, under one Lobai Net who hailed, would you believe it, from Kuala Jempol. The evening classes were conducted in Bukit Temensu. I remember another classmate, Chandoh (a nick-name), Hj. Malek's daughter from across the Sg. Pilah river in the "Seberang" kampong. When I was the GM of Felda Transport in the 80's, Chandoh telephoned me out of the blue, asking to help take her son into the company, which I did. Chandoh has died. I wonder if the son is still there, in the Shah Alam  Depot.

I also took in Kak Lang Noi's first cousin into Felda Transport. She's Alwi's daughter. Alwi was Mak Cik Limah's brother. Mak Cik Limah was Kak Lang Noi's mother. My mom was close to that family - our houses in Bukit Temensu were just across the KP-Tampin road, maybe 100 m apart.

In fact in a way I also gave Alwi's daughter (I've forgotten her name) her husband. He was also taken by me after his mother, a Felda settler from Pasoh, I think, approached me to take him into employment. I've also forgotten his name. They met at work.

When Kak Lang Noi got married to Mutalib, from Sawah Lebar, she moved with him to KL, where they have been ever since. That's how the grandson's wedding was in KL today. And that's also why I bumped into Dr. Onny at the reception. Onny's wife is from Sawah Lebar. She's also a doctor. Onny said he's semi-retired now. Just as we were chatting away, my younger brother, Dr. Din, came to our table. So there were 3 doctors from KP sitting together.

This is the style now, having wedding receptions in rented halls rather than at home. It makes sense. You have more space, air- conditioning, ample parking, and toilet facilities. And afterwards you just leave. In the house you face at least 2 weeks of cleaning. At least.

The Melang Inn Hotel affair was nice. It was comfortable and the food was very good, in taste and variety. The Majestique Hall was equally nice, but in the food section I think it was second to Melang Inn Hotel.

I told Kak Lang Noi I don't know when we'll meet again. We're both in our 8th decade, and living so far apart. But we have our own grown families, and there may be some occasions together left.

I was with Calit, in Dekna's car. We went back to Seremban via Shah Alam, because I wanted to check the venue for my meeting on 24/11. But it was the same laboured drive back the way we came. There are just too many cars on the road.

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Planning for the final 70th. anniversary.

Fri Nov 3, 2023.

Tuesday, 31.10.2023,  Nawawi got about a dozen of  us, class representatives for the 1952-1961 PD Budak Boys  group, together at the pool-side building of KGNS. The ostensible purpose was to finalise plans for our 70th anniversary "do" on 17.12.2023 at PD, but we covered more ground in the end.

This was the first time for BB Wahab, ex Navy No.1, who agreed to the offer to take over as President from BB Radzi. Radzi had asked for relief, because he has some plans in his home-state Perlis. Time would be a constraint.

Incidentally, Mat Sham also requested for temporary relief as the Treasurer. He's having some legal problems with his bank because of a 160K scam involving his credit card. So, Nor Shaari came, because he had also gallantly agreed to assume "the account-keeper" post in the meantime.

Let me see, so there was Wahab, Nawai, Mat Sham, Nor Shaari, Rahman, Halim, Raymond, Hank, Danker, Ismail, Tajuddin and me - 12 of us. That was for meeting. At lunch later BB Ghani and OP Khamis joined us for lunch at the Chinese restaurant. Ghani is the current President of KGNS. Khamis paid for the lunch, I was told. I've been in touch with "Early Thursday" (Khamis Awal lah!) on the whatsapp, but haven't seen him in years. He said he has had to lay off golf for almost a year now because of some problems with his left arm, and it showed.

Nawawi greeted me with "where's the durian?" just like I said would happen to Hank in the car earlier. Anyway, 17th December is a long way away, but I approached Mat. Sham and Nawawi during lunch to confirm the order, verbally. It's set. I'll arrange for delivery, and Mat Sham will sponsor the fruits. 100 seems a nice round figure, but Mat Sham asked to make certain the number coming.

Nawawi displayed all the figures on screen, noting our continuous activities. But as Nor Shaari, Mat Sham and Danker commented, this group is "fading fast". By definition it is what it is - the 1952-1961 people. Not like the OPA, which is on-going. So many BB's are not around now. Too many have passed away. Many have migrated. Very many are in physical decline. And many simply don't maintain contact. That's life, I guess. But the BB had striven to go on as a group, and that's where we are today, and thank God for it. And Nawawi is very much the catalyst.

I left home at 8.30 am to hitch a ride with Hank. It was supposed to be 9 sharp at S2 Mydin. Of course Hank was late. But we made it on time to KGNS, in spite of some strange turns despite the "waze". Returning to Seremban, we stopped at Amcorp Mall and visited the second-hand book corner. I bought 5 books for RM 50, and gave Hank RM 10 for a golf instruction book for his grandson. We put on "waze" again but promptly lost our way because we were turning and turning in the Balakong area until finally Hank asked to shut down "waze" and he somehow got us to the recognizable Mines area and on to the "Lekas" to Seremban. I finally reached home at 8.30 pm. That's a full 12 hours.

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