Tokonang Den (9)

cont .....

As it turned out, Linggam was the sole candidate from Borneo to have joined us - Batch 73. Of course we had Ahmad Sharbi from Sarawak who joined us later, when we were in Form One, though he left very much earlier than expected, but Linggam was the one and only student from Sabah/Sarawak to have joined us in 1968. He could claimed that he was Sabah's best student from that Special Entrance Examination, and enabled him to study in STAR. It was a rather funny and peculiar arrangement though judging by the fact that there were more than one candidates coming from Sabah and Sarawak from previous batches and the one after, but not during our year (1967). My only guessed then was the passing marks for the Entrance Exam in 1967 was slightly higher than previous years, thus few qualified from Sabah.

Most of us also remembered Linggam as the guy who chided and made fun of Halim Daud. He caught most of us dumbfounded and guessing when he poised and asked us who was Milah?! Of course he was teasing Halim Daud, and Milah was the reverse of Halim's!.

But without the slightest doubt Linggam's prowess and strength was in sport - especially in the game of rugby. Linggam, however, was equally good in athletics especially in the throwing events - the discuss, shot putt and javelin. Familiar remarks on Linggam then - just name the target and Linggam will hit the mark!. Someone jokingly mentioned that he had a headstart in these throwing events for he had an early training back home in Sabah!! Even in the sprinting events, he sprinted and ran as if he was chasing a wild buffalo on the loose!

Reverting back to rugby, I was not sure whether Linggam captained the Perak U-16 combined school rugby team or not but together with Kutik, Che Chop Mohamad, Omar Suhaimi and Solahuddind (Batch 72) as well as Rusli Idrus and Nordin (Batch 74), they represented the school. Omar Suhaimi however had to withdraw from the squad after he broke his collarbone! A case of pure hard luck. Anyway, until today, I could not recalled the coaching and training sessions that both Mr. J A David and Mr. Robert Crayton have had with the team!. Probably due to very few schools taking part in the tournerment (the 'Linggam's factor!) there were not many sessions been organised! One think for sure though, STAR rugby was at its best, at its pinnacle and enjoyed tremendous and 'hugh' success when Mr. Hugh Whylam was in-charged. Mr. Whylam, a British Voluntary Service Officer (VSO), had such a great command and respect from the players, understanding of the game, and was very committed as a rugby teacher/coach. In fact he even even he coached the school football team.

However, despite the success shown by the likes of Kutik, Omar, Che Chop, they together with a few others from Batch 73 had to forgo their interests in the game and forget about rugby when they were in Form Five, when the organiser/authority decided to revert and switch back the game to the old system - Under 15 instead of under 16 and Under 18 instead of Under 20. It was the main reason why most of us in Batch 73 had to 'hang our boots' much earlier than expected!.

Top picture: Players representing Perak Rugger U-16 Combined School Team

Picture curtesy of Omar Suhaimi
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That photograph above reminded me of the fact that, during our lower forms, we actually wore shorts to class (from Remove Class until Form Three). Those with hairy legs had to endure the torment of having to wear short pants and to display their hairy legs!! Some who were smart enough would resorted to long socks (Kamarulzaman Othman was one of them). The rest would have to make do with whatever God has meant them to be! There was this guy from Green House (I forgot his name.. gosh!), 2 years our senior, having such hairy legs that wearing shorts was not the best alternative that we could asked him to do. We were not that particular and that 'islamic' then. We were not really concerned about 'aurat' then, were we? People like Mad Bakar or Saiful even Halim Daud or Azlan were lovely and nice to look at wearing shorts but definitely not others, not Linggam!. How impatiently we waited for the Lower Certificate Examination to be over, so that come Form Four, we could be wearing long pants!

Very unfortunate indeed, Linggam had to leave us after 1971. It was only three years ago when I took the opportunity and courage to contact Lingam - after all those long disappearing, silent, and 'hibernating' years. Now, whenever he made his business trip to Kuala Lumpur, we made it a point to meet - either in Kuala Lumpur or in Putrajaya. Linggam is happily married and is blessed with 5 children - three of them already married.

Picture: Linggam with his family members during his son wedding occassion

End of part 9.