MySeventyThree

Tubuh unit khas ekonomi di bawah MTAB

2011-01-09T01:07:00.004+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR 7 Jan. – Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) hari ini menyerahkan memorandum cadangan penubuhan Unit Perancangan, Pelaksanaan dan Pemantauan (UPB) sebagai salah satu sekretariat khas di bawah Majlis Tertinggi Agenda Bumiputera (MTAB) kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Presidennya, Datuk Ibrahim Ali (gambar) berkata, cadangan itu salah satu daripada beberapa usul berkaitan kepentingan ekonomi orang Melayu dan bumiputera yang menjadi tumpuan perjuangan pertubuhan itu.

“Sekretariat UPB ini perlu setaraf Unit Penyampaian dan Pengurusan Prestasi (Pemandu) dalam memastikan agenda perjuangan ekonomi bumiputera tidak terbantut.

“Paling utama, kita mahu memastikan pengagihan kek ekonomi sama rata kepada orang Melayu dan bumiputera benar-benar realiti dan bukannya retorik, katanya.

Beliau ditemui selepas menghadiri mesyuarat Dewan Tertinggi Perkasa di sini hari ini.

Lagi ...

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=0108&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_04.htm&arc=hive

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Penubuhan UPB satu keperluan

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Dis. – Penganalisis ekonomi menyokong penubuhan Unit Perancangan Pelaksanaan dan Pemantauan Prestasi Ekonomi Bumiputera (UPB) yang dicadangkan Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) kerana terdapat keperluan mendesak terhadap kewujudannya.

Penubuhan tersebut dilihat perlu bagi memastikan pencapaian 30 peratus ekuiti bumiputera tercapai.

Ketua Penyelidik, Akademi Kajian Syariah Mengenai Kewangan Islam (ISRA), Prof. Madya Dr. Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki berkata, kewujudan unit tersebut perlu dilihat secara komprehensif dan holistik demi pembangunan ekonomi bumiputera.

“Sejak Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) ditubuhkan pada 1971 hingga 1990, sasaran penguasaan 30 peratus ekuiti bumiputera masih tidak dicapai.

“Ia perlu direalisasikan agar bumiputera dapat duduk sama rendah, berdiri sama tinggi dengan kaum lain dan memastikan pembangunan ekonomi negara yang seimbang,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia bagi mengulas gesaan Perkasa supaya kerajaan menubuhkan UPB yang setaraf dengan Unit Penyampaian dan Pengurusan Prestasi (Pemandu).

Tambah Asyraf, UPB dapat memantau pembangunan ekonomi bumiputera secara keseluruhan dan memastikan tidak timbul sebarang ketirisan dalam agenda pembangunan itu.

Sementara itu pensyarah pengurusan strategik Kolej Perniagaan Universiti Utara Malaysia, Dr. Haim Hilman Abdullah berkata, unit tersebut sepatutnya ditubuhkan lebih awal lagi.

“Ia boleh memantau dan menilai secara holistik segala agenda pembangunan bumiputera agar mencapai sasarannya. UPB akan menjadi lidah dan telinga kepada bumiputera.

“Gesaan tersebut perlu diperhalusi dan dilaksanakan agar satu bentuk pemantauan yang komprehensif dapat dibuat. Penubuhan unit ini juga dapat menghalang bumiputera daripada tercicir dalam arus transformasi negara,” ujarnya.

Tambahnya, penubuhan tersebut adalah amat baik kerana sebelum ini tiada badan yang memantau pembangunan ekonomi bumiputera secara menyeluruh.

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Perkasa gesa kerajaan tubuh UPB

Oleh MOHAMAD SHOFI MAT ISA
shofi.isa@utusan.com.my

Ibrahim Ali, Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar (tiga dari kiri) dan Zubir Harun (kiri) di Prapersidangan Meja Bulat Model Ekonomi Baru di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR 28 Dis. - Kerajaan digesa menubuhkan Unit Perancangan Pelaksanaan dan Pemantauan Prestasi Ekonomi Bumiputera (UPB) di bawah Majlis Tertinggi Agenda Bumiputera (MTAB) bagi memastikan pencapaian 30 peratus bumiputera dalam sektor ekonomi tercapai.

Naib Presiden Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) Dr. Zubir Harun berkata, ini kerana, pihaknya mendapati Unit Penyampaian dan Pengurusan Prestasi (Pemandu) yang ditubuhkan kerajaan kurang memberi penekanan kepada agenda pembangunan ekonomi bumiputera.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, UPB yang dicadangkan pihaknya itu setaraf dengan Unit Pengurusan Prestasi dan Pelaksanaan (Pemandu) tetapi ia lebih menjurus ke arah menilai dan memantau pembangunan ekonomi bumiputera.

"Perkasa mendapati banyak makmal untuk mengkaji agenda pembangunan ekonomi bumiputera yang dihasilkan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) ekonomi Melayu tidak berkesan, membuang masa, tidak strategik dan metodologinya lemah.

"Terlalu banyak makmal tidak berkesan, lebih baik disatukan di bawah satu unit (UPB) yang bertaraf seperti Pemandu bagi memastikan agenda pembangunan ekonomi bumiputera dicapai," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar yang turut dihadir Presiden, Datuk Ibrahim Ali dan Timbalan Presiden, Datuk Abd. Rahman Abu Bakar sempena Prapersidangan Meja Bulat Model Ekonomi Baru anjuran Perkasa di Kelab Sultan Sulaiman di sini, hari ini.

Mengulas lanjut, Zubir berkata, pihaknya juga mencadangkan supaya Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) yang akan dilantik mengetuai UPB nanti biarlah bertaraf menteri kabinet.

Selain itu, menurutnya, pihaknya turut mencadangkan MTAB meletakkan petunjuk prestasi utama (KPI) pencapaian ekonomi Melayu dalam sektor-sektor di bawah Program Transformasi Ekonomi di atas bahu menteri dan ketua-ketua agensi.

Perkasa's call redundant'

2011-01-09T01:01:00.004+08:00

Thursday, December 30th, 2010 13:18:00

PETALING JAYA: Lawmakers are at odds with a proposal by Perkasa for the government to form a Pemandu-style special unit under the Prime Minister’s Department to protect Bumiputeras interests.

The 'Bumiputera Pemandu' would support the role played by the Bumiputera Agenda Supreme Council as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the Umno General Assembly two months ago, said Perkasa economic bureau chief Dr Zubir Harun, describing Pemandu to be effective but lacking a Bumiputera agenda.

MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT, UMNO INFORMATION CHIEF AND PONTIAN MP DATUK AHMAD MASLAN:
“Anything the government does is for all Malaysians and also for the Malay community since two-thirds of the population are Bumiputeras. While non-bumiputeras are holding the economic power, we never push them aside. They are able to conduct businesses with no constraint and to seek a better life. At the moment, it’s important for Bumiputeras to learn from the Chinese on how to run businesses effectively and learn willpower from the Indian friends. The 1Malaysia spirit must also be instilled in this sense. I feel the suggestion by Perkasa is redundant.”

More..http://www.mmail.com.my/content/59398-perkasas-call-redundant

KLINIK RAGBI SENTUH SCORPION PUTRAJAYA TARIK MINAT DOKTOR DAN JURURAWAT WANITA

2011-01-01T14:58:00.003+08:00

Bazlina (kiri) dan Paridah (kanan), berpotensi untuk mewakili Putrajaya dalam sukan ragbi sentuh

KELAB RAGBI SCORPION PUTRAJAYA (Scorpion) telah berjaya menganjurkan klinik ragbi sentuh untuk doktor serta jururawat wanita Hospital Putrajaya siang tadi, Isnin 6 Disember 2010 bertempat di Padang Hospital Putrajaya. Klinik tersebut telah menarik minat 20 peserta wanita dari hospital tersebut.

Tujuan klinik ini dilaksanakan ialah untuk memperkenalkan sukan ragbi sentuh sebagai satu riadah, aktiviti masa lapang yang bermanfaat serta mempromosikan sukan ragbi di Malaysia. Sesi klinik tersebut telah membuka memberi peluang kepada peserta-peserta program Scorpion Women in Touch (SWiT) untuk mengenali sukan ragbi dengan lebih dekat di samping mendapat perhatian penuh serta tunjuk ajar dari jurulatih ragbi bertauliah Kelab Ragbi Scorpion Putrajaya.

Empat jurulatih ragbi telah ditugaskan untuk membimbing pasukan ragbi sentuh wanita iaitu Azmir Kamsar, Khairul Ariffin, Mohd Amir dan Khairulnizam Ithnin. Sesi latihan kemahiran ragbi sentuh wanita akan dijalankan setiap minggu pada hari Rabu dan Khamis bertempat di Padang Hospital Putrajaya. Latihan dijalankan mulai jam 5.00 petang hingga 6.30 petang yang dimulakan dengan senaman, regangan otot dan teknik mengendali bola ragbi.

Khairul Bazlina peserta klinik ragbi wanita berkata beliau amat gembira dapat bersama-sama mempelajari sukan ragbi secara sistematik malah kehadiran rakan-rakan beliau dari Unit Dewan Bedah Hospital Putrajaya telah menjadikan aktiviti yang dilaksanakan ini lebih menarik dan mudah. Bagi Paridah Abd Wahab pula, latihan praktikal secara berkumpulan di klinik ragbi wanita ini telah mengubah persepsi beliau terhadap sukan ragbi yang di anggap beliau sebelum ini hanya boleh dimainkan oleh kaum lelaki sahaja.

" Permainan ini hebat," Ujar Dr. Puteri Noorliyana Zainal, salah seorang peserta klinik ragbi sentuh wanita.

" Ragbi mengajar kami semangat setiakawan, disiplin, kerjasama dan ianya tidak susah untuk dipelajari," Ujar Dr. Puteri Noorliyana Zainal lagi.

SWiT merupakan pasukan ragbi wanita yang pertama ditubuhkan di Putrajaya.

Kelab Scorpion Putrajaya kini mensasarkan untuk melatih kumpulan pertama seramai 150 orang pelajar sekolah masing-masing bagi kategori bawah 18 tahun (30 orang), bawah 16 tahun (30 orang), bawah 15 tahun (30 orang) dan bawah 12 tahun (30 orang) dan bawah 9 tahun (30 orang).

" Kami bercadang untuk mempelawa sekolah-sekolah dari dalam Putrajaya untuk bermain ragbi sebagai satu aktiviti ko kurikulum sukan di sekolah. Kami akan berhubung dengan Pejabat Pelajaran Putrajaya untuk mendapatkan keizinan bagi melatih pelajar-pelajar sekolah secara sukarela seperti yang telah dilaksanakan di Hospital Putrajaya. Usaha ini adalah untuk melahirkan barisan pelapis pemain ragbi Kelab Ragbi Scorpion Putrajaya secara berterusan di samping membantu pihak sekolah menubuhkan pasukan ragbi sekolah untuk pertandingan ragbi di peringkat MSSM," Ujar Azmir Kamsar, Ketua Jurulatih Scorpion Putrajaya RC.

" Kami juga mengucapkan terima kasih kepada presiden Kelab Ragbi Classic All Blacks New Zealand, Mr. Andy Haden kerana memberi tunjuk ajar dan cara membangunkan kelab kami 'Cara All Blacks. Terima kasih kepada Kesatuan Ragbi Malaysia (KRM), Persatuan Ragbi Putrajaya (PRP), Perbadanan Putrajaya, Majlis Sukan Wilayah Persekutuan, Majlis Sukan Putrajaya (MSP), Gilbert South East Asia, Kuckreja Sdn Bhd, Total Field Sdn Bhd, MMP Communications Sdn Bhd, Noble Star Services Sdn Bhd, Akhbar New Straits Times, Akhbar Sinar Harian dan Meja Berita Sukan RTM kerana banyak membantu kami dalam melaksanakan program pembangunan ragbi peringkat akar umbi," Ujar beliau lagi.

Sekolah-sekolah di Precint 8 dan Precint 9 Putrajaya telah dikenal pasti untuk dijadikan 'Anak Angkat' bagi Kelab Ragbi Scorpion Putrajaya.

Written by: Sufiani

http://www.sukandaily.com.my/v3.1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22:klinik-ragbi-wanita-scorpion-putrajaya-dapat-sambutan&catid=1:berita-sukandailytempatan&Itemid=13

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Wonder how Bazlina going to play touch rugby with head scarf on!!

Ketua Umum PSSI didesak letak jawatan

2011-01-01T13:25:00.001+08:00

JAKARTA - Kegagalan pasukan bola sepak kebangsaan Indonesia meraih trofi Piala Suzuki AFF 2010 Rabu lalu, menyebabkan Ketua Umum Persatuan Sepak Bola Seluruh Indonesia (PSSI), Nurdin Halid didesak supaya mengundurkan diri.

Tekanan hebat diberikan pelbagai pihak agar Nurdin segera meninggalkan kerusi yang mula didudukinya itu sejak Oktober 2003.

Ribuan para penyokong pasukan Garuda membuat desakan itu dengan memegang sepanduk-sepanduk serta mengedarkan risalah-risalah menuntut perubahan jawatan tertinggi dalam PSSI di persekitaran Stadium Utama Gelora Bung Karno di sini.

"Seluruh rakyat Indonesia merindui prestasi membanggakan pasukan negara yang seharusnya datang, seandainya PSSI dipimpin oleh orang baru yang bersih dan bijak menguruskan bola sepak," kata Pengurus Persatuan Sepak Bola Indonesia Bojonegoro, Taufiq Riesnendar.

lagi...http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=0101&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Sukan&pg=su_05.htm

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Yang pasti ya kemenangan Harimau Malaya tempoh hari bukannya kerana 'laser'... tapi sebenarnya garuda enggak bagus ya begitu!!

Banjir kilat di Mekah, Jeddah

2011-01-01T13:20:00.002+08:00

Seorang wanita keluar dari tingkap kereta bagi menyelamatkan diri dibantu oleh seorang lelaki setelah kereta mereka terkandas akibat banjir kilat di Jeddah, kelmarin. - AFP

MEKAH 31 Dis. - Banjir kilat melanda Mekah dan bandar raya Jeddah semalam mengakibatkan seorang lelaki dan tiga anaknya terbunuh di bandar suci ini ekoran hujan lebat dan perancangan bandar yang teruk.

Berita kematian tiga sekeluraga itu disampaikan oleh Gabenor Mekah, Putera Khaled Al-Faisal.

Beliau berkata, 200 orang lagi berjaya diselamatkan, sebahagian besarnya menggunakan helikopter.

Banjir di bandar raya Jeddah pula menyebabkan keadaan lalu lintas berhampiran pelabuhan Laut Merah di Jeddah terjejas setelah beberapa jalan utama di timur dan selatan bandar raya itu dinaiki air dan berpuluh-puluh kenderaan rosak, menurut seorang wartawan AFP.

Pihak berkuasa berkata, banyak rumah penduduk turut ditenggelami air.

Paras air di sesetengah daerah di Jeddah berada di paras lutut, sementara beberapa daerah lagi airnya naik melebihi paras pinggang.

November lalu, Jeddah, bandar raya kedua terbesar selepas Riyadh dilanda banjir mengakibatkan seramai 123 orang terbunuh dan banyak rumah dan bangunan rosak teruk.

Banjir pada November lalu itu disusuli dengan satu kempen yang tidak pernah diadakan di Internet oleh para penduduk bandar raya itu sebelum ini yang merungut mengenai rasuah dan perancangan bandar yang teruk. - AGENSI

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=0101&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Luar_Negara&pg=lu_02.htm

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Fancy that! Even di S Arabia, tidak lepas daripada rasuah!! Manusia manusia!!

2010-12-31T18:36:00.002+08:00

Tafsir Bismillah Enam :-

-Dengan nama Allah yang maha mendengar lagi maha melihat tiada yang seumpama dengannya dan maha mengetahui pada setiap sesuatu,
-Dengan nama Allah yang berkuasa menjadikan lagi maha mengetahui tiada yang seumpama dengannya yang maha pembuka lagi amat mengetahui,
-Dengan nama Allah yang tiada seumpama dengannya yang maha mengetahui lagi mengetahui perkara yang tersembunyi,
-Dengan nama Allah yang tiada seumpama dengannya yang maha mengetahui lagi berkuasa,
-Dengan nama Allah yang gagah perkasa lagi pemurah tiada yang seumpama dengannya yang maha gagah perkasa lagi maha pemurah,
-Dengan nama Allah yang maha pengampun lagi maha penyayang tiada yang seumpama dengannya yang maha pengampun lagi maha penyayang,Allah jualah sebaik-baik penjaga dan dialah maha penyayang diantara para penyayang.

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Antara manfaat Bismillah Enam :-

1) Mengubati segala penyakit terkena bisa termasuk bisa kerana sengat binatang seperti ikan, lebah, ular dan lain-lain.

2) Mengubati segala jenis racun yang diperbuat dari bahan-bahan yang mendatangkan bisa seperti racun ulat bulu mati beragan, racun hempedu katak bisa, racun miang rebung, racun kaca bal lampu.

3) Segala jenis santau.

4) Menjadi selusuh kepada perempuan beranak.

5) Mengkabulkan segala cita-cita dan hajat.

6) Terpelihara daripada segala merbahaya seteru dan musuh.

7) Dibaca untuk menang berperang.

8) Untuk menghalau jin dan syaitan.

9) Memelihara tanaman daripada binatang.

10) Mengubat orang gila.

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Cara berubat menggunakan Bismillah Enam :-

1. Letakkan tangan ditempat sakit, tahan nafas dan baca Al-Fatihah dan Bismillah 6 sekali.

2. Tiup ditempat sakit dan secawan air mineral dan urut-urut sedikit tempat yang sakit tu.

3. Air tadi dibuat minum dimulai dengan membaca Bismillah dan Selawat 1x.

4. Angin akan keluar dari badan pesakit dan diikuti muntah, insyaAllah.

Panah Makrifat Untuk Menundukkan Musuh:-

1. Untuk menghadapi orang terutama sekali orang berpangkat atau garang.

2. Duduk dirumah dahulu sebelum melangkah keluar.

3. Hadirkan wajah orang yang akan dijumpai dihadapan kita.

4. Baca Bismillah 6 (3x) dan hembuskan kepada wajah orang yang kita hadirkan tadi.

5. Kemudian barulah melangkah keluar rumah.

STARBatch73: A Tribute to My Batchmate73

2010-12-29T09:03:00.000+08:00

STARBatch73: A Tribute to My Batchmate73: "Sorry guys on the quality of photographs. Nonetherless, do enjoy the video... cheers to us, Batch 73."

Batch 73 ReUnion ....

2010-10-14T14:11:00.011+08:00

Very interesting comments on the cancellation of the proposed re-Union. I take it positively and truly support the idea as proposed by Bone. Whoever is being entrusted with the responsibility of organizing the event surely needs the fullest support from us all.

If I may, I would like to propose Bone to lead the organizing committee. Of course we have to wait for him to come back from performing the Haj.

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Assalamualikum w,w

I just received a message from Jabbar that the Reunion is cancelled
definitely due to lukewarm response from members. Moreover, many members
are going to Mecca. What a pity because the pro tem committee members have
been planning for a number of months. They work tirelessly and selflessly
just to make the Reunion a reality.

I congratulate my dear friends who are in the committee such as
Ridzuan,Aziz Harun, Dato' Razali, Jabbar, Ismal Ibrahim, Dato' Azlan, Hj
Lan Chik, Hj Ali Othman, Syed Hamzah, Ir. Hj. Wan Husin Embong, Omar
Suhaimi, Mohd Yunos, Ir. Dr. Hj. A. Halim Sham and other members who have
met, planned and decided for the programme.

However, as the saying goes, "Alang-alang menyelok pekasam biarlah sampai
ke pangkal lengan" so please do not ever give up your prophetic struggle
to make the Reunion a success. Only Allah knows who among us in days to
come will be called by Allah to depart from this world without meeting our
classmates, form mates and hostel mates whom they miss one another since
the last 37 years or less.

So I would like to suggest another date for the Reunion Batch 73, that is
Christmas holiday that falls on Saturday. Those from Kelantan,Terengganu
and Kedah would be able to go too and/or they could take another day off
on Sunday 26 December 2010. Moreover, members' children are still enjoying
their long school holidays and members could also apply for their end of
year leaves as well.
Nevertheless, members please plan your holidays, availability,
accessibility, trips and other commitments so that the date is reserved
for the Reunion. If we fail to plan we fail the Reunion. However, we can
not expect 100% attendance.

Please ponder on the date and give feedback so that we could meet in the
Reunion.

Abdul Rahim Ibrahim

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Saudara Rahim,

Terima kasih atas tunjuk minat sebentar tadi. Pihak Pengelola mengalu-alukan kehadiran saudara bersama Ahmad dan Yusof. Majlis akan bermula selepas solat isyak, sekitar 8:30 malam dan waktu berakhir agak sukar untuk ditetapkan, memandangkan ramai di kalangan kita yang tak berjumpa hampir 37 tahun, mungkin ada yang nak lepak-lepak sembang panjang sambil menghirup teh tarik kurang manis di kedai mamak.

Ada juga yang kata hotel pun dah pandai buat teh tarik sekarang, kalau gitu tak perlu beredar ke mana-mana, terus saja menikmati teh tarik kurang manis di tempat yang sama.

Dengan lain perkataan, titik akhirnya sukar ditentukan, ia mengikut keadaan semasa.
Lagi sekali terima kasih dan kita jumpa nanti, insyaAllah.

Ridzuan bin Jusoh

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Dear Sdra Abd Rahim @"C/P",

What a refreshing thought. That's the spirit. All is not lost. I do hope that it will happen within this year as the idea of holding this reunion (mooted by Jabbar when we traveled to Ipoh in March to attend STAR sports day) is to celebrate our reaching 55 years of age. We still have about 9-10 weeks before X-mas/new year holidays. I hope many among us will echo Rahim's call and say yes to this event.

Some have not met each other for 37 years. It is a good enough reason why we should go ahead with this event. There will also the possibility of touching base with Miss Pearly Visvanathan, Miss Foong, Miss Chiam, Miss Naranjan Kaur, Miss Manoharan Paul, Pak Lau, TTL, Sarjit Singh, Jerome Andrew David, Camillo Michael Gomes, Ustaz Md Yusoff, etc.. etc..

Can u imagine the Crossroad band with Lan Chik on drums, Kamarsah guitar, yours truly bass and YB Yeh sings "Man of Many Faces" or Band Ansor with Ansor on lead and Zainuddin Orgi singing. What about Lan Chik playing school song on piano and Jabbar strumming & singing Anak Nya Lima. Of course Mat Salleh with tambourines in hand singing Smoke on the Water? Well, if we all can say yes... a lot of things can happen.

TQ,
Omar Suhaimi

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Assalamualaikum wr wb Saudara Omar Suhaimi, Saudara Rahim et al,

I read your postings with enthusiasm. Indeed that was the high hope we had all along when we were planning the aborted event. We really wanted it to be a meaningful gathering of as many of us as we could possibly get. Of course we could have had all those acts as suggested by Omar !! It would have been the greatest gathering we've ever had. It would have been utopia !!! But as we all know too well at our age, utopia is as elusive as a rainbow. We can go on chasing it but we'll never get there. The pot of gold remains in our dreams. And we go on dreaming.

Please forgive me, I am not trying to dampen your spirit. But let me put to you a simple question. What difference would it make if the event is planned for 5th November 2010 or 25th December 2010 or as Y Bhg Dato' Razali put it, early next year, IF our attitude REMAINS?

We can adjust the date to be at a most "suitable" time for most, i.e. during end of year holiday period, after our friends have returned from Makkah, or a calmer period (again, quoting Y Bhg Dato' Razali ....).

As I see it, the Organisers (excluding me this time....) will go through the same stumbling blocks and end up frustrated as what we have just gone through.

What I would suggest is a paradigm shift. Please, for our old time sake, let's BE COMMITTED, for once in our lifetime. Is that too much to ask for?

Once again I'm sorry for having expressed my opinion in the foregoing, but at the same time I wish the "Organisers" of the about-to-be-held event all the best in their endeavour. I assure you all that I'll give you my fullest support.

Bangunlah wahai teman-temanku.......still remember the lyrics?

Wassalam.

Che Wan, your friend forever.

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Asasalamualaikum Sdr. Ridzuan; Thanks for your effort. I am always looking forward to meeting old friends again. STAR did provide opportunity for me to transform my life. Please continue with the project, and you will always get my support.

Salam.
Hassan

(Professor Dato' Dr Hassan Said)

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Dear 55 year olds and some younger ones,

We have gone for a very long time, more than 35 years, without meeting some of us. We are already into the group where our days are more or less numbered. The reunion is certainly required/welcomed, if not by all, at least by most of us. The recent proposed event did not come through due to a number of factors.

1) Shifting of dates have made organising difficult and pressed for time.

2) Due to new dates and short notices, and the fact that most of us are busy with our own engagements have resulted in the money supposed to be creditted did not come in at the sort of speed expected.

The organisers are thus put in a dilemma.

a) Not enough money for the reunion with less than 1 month to the reunion date.

b) The impression given to the organisers that not many are interested in the reunion.

The learning point here is that this event involves many people scattered all over the country, who are not easily contactable, not in regular contact. it is very difficult to organise at short notice.

We started OK but when we start changing the dates and venue, the notice started to become very short.

What I would like to suggest is that we redo the whole thing with some modification.

1) We do not go on the basis of pay to come. We go on the basis of contribution to the event. Anybody who can afford can contribute more. There is no fixed contribution amount. Everybody is invited but must confirm attendance so that we do not waste. InsyaAllah, I am sure most of us can afford and are generous enough to contribute to make this event a reality.

2) We collect the contributions early / upfront. Contributions can be made from now until the event itself.

3) The nature of the event, venue and the date can be decided later but sufficient notice should be given so that people can plan. I would suggest a minimum notice period of 2 months.

4) There should not be any postphonement. The event must go on irregardless of the number attending. If we do not have enough number to make it grand, we invite the current teachers, students or even anak yatim.

5) If after collection, event tak jadi-jadi jugak, just contribute the proceed to anak2 yatim. All contributors must be aware and made aware of this potential eventuality.

Hope the organisers will give another chance for this event / reunion to come to fruition.

Thank you.

Syed Hamzah

--------
I agreed with Syed Hamzah’s proposal.

Nari Ansari

EMPAT TUNTUTAN DIBULAN RAMADAN

2010-08-10T16:54:00.000+08:00

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, telah wajib ke atas kamu berpuasa sebagaimana telah diwajibkan ke atas umat-umat sebelum kamu, semoga kamu menjadi orang yang bertakwa." - Surah Al Baqarah: 183

Ramadhan adalah bulan yang amat bermakna bagi mereka yang tahu menilai dan menghargai kelebihannya. Ramadhan merupakan masa untuk menguji tahap kesabaran, waktu menunjukkan simpati kepada yang memerlukan ihsan, juga bulan mulia untuk menambah ibadat dan amalan.

Rasulullah SAW telah menggariskan empat amalan utama yang digalakkan dalam bulan ini iaitu;

1. Melazimkan bacaan kalimah taiyibah;
2. Beristighfar;
3. Memohon memasuki jannah dan
4. Berlindung dengan-Nya daripada neraka jahannam.

Rasulullah SAW telah menggesa para sahabat untuk menjadikan keempat-empat perkara ini sebagai suatu amalan. Abu Saeed Khudri r.a meriwayatkan bahawa:

"Suatu ketika Nabi Musa AS memohon kepada Allah SWT agar diberikan satu kalimat khas yang mana Baginda dapat mengingati Allah SWT dan dapat memohon sesuatu melaluinya. Lantas Allah SWT menyuruhnya menyebut kalimah tersebut. Nabi Musa AS berkata: "Wahai Allah, kalimah ini dibaca oleh semua hamba-Mu, aku mengkehendaki yang khusus." Lalu Allah SWT menjawab, "Wahai Musa, jika ketujuh-tujuh langit dan bumi dan semua yang terkandung di dalamnya kecuali Aku diletakkan ke atas sebelah dacing dan kalimah ini pada sebelah yang lain, kalimah ini lebih berat lagi daripada segala sesuatu."

Di dalam hadis yang lain pula dinyatakan bahawa jika seseorang menyebut kalimah taiyibah ini, iaitu "laa ilaha illallah" dengan seikhlas hati, maka pintu syurga akan segera terbuka untuknya.

Kita juga digalakkan untuk memperbanyakkan istighfar kerana Allah SWT telah berjanji akan memberi kita jalan keluar daripada segala kesukaran dan membebaskan kita daripada segala kesedihan. Malahan sesiapa yang memperbanyakkan istighfar akan memperolehi rezeki daripada sumber yang tidak pernah disangkakan. Kalimah istighfar yang mudah disebut adalah seperti "astaghfirullah". Tidak ada batasan dalam mengulang sebutan istighfar ini. Semakin kerap ia diulang, semakin banyaklah pahala yang dikumpul.

Di samping itu, kita turut dituntut agar sentiasa berdoa supaya ditempatkan di dalam syurga sambil meminta kepada Yang Maha Esa menjauhkan kita daripada ancaman api neraka. Doa yang boleh diamalkan untuk memohon agar ditempatkan di dalam syurga ialah seperti berikut:

"Allahhumma as'alukal jannata wa a'uzubika minannar."

Dengan memperbanyakkan amalan di atas, maka akan bertambah banyaklah amal ibadah yang kita lakukan untuk memenuhi bulan Ramadhan ini. Ramadhanlah masanya yang paling sesuai untuk memperbanyakkan ibadah lantaran tiadanya gangguan godaan daripada iblis dan syaitan.

Justeru, sebagai umat yang sentiasa mendambakan kasih sayang-Nya, perhatian dan ganjaran-ganjaran yang telah dijanjikan-Nya, maka layaklah kita sebagai hamba-Nya merebut peluang ini yang datang hanya sekali dalam setahun. Jika kita sanggup berhabis wang ringgit semata-mata untuk tujuan kecantikan dan hiburan, maka Allah SWT memberi peluang untuk kita berkunjung ke syurga-Nya secara percuma. Tidak perlukan bayaran, hanya sedikit masa dan keikhlasan. Masih enggankah lagi kita menerima tawaran ini? Fikirkan.

TaPau .., One for the Road!

2010-07-28T23:12:00.007+08:00

This is a satire of how some Malaysian politicians circa 2008 may have reacted to the question.., 'Why did the chicken crossed the road?!'
-------------

Pak Lah - I did not chase the chicken, I wasssszzzzzzzzzzzz....

Najib - I swear that I have never MET that chicken.

Hishamuddin - but I only own a keris, not axe, how to sembelih the chicken man!

Dr.M - Apa nama .... this ayam .., it crossed the road because I don't like the idea of Pak Lah crossing the road with the chicken sleeping under his arm

Chua Soi Lek - Yes it was the chicken.

VKL – Korek, korek, korek.., It could be the chicken, it might have been the chicken but I don't think it’s my chicken!

DSAI – The chicken DID NOT do it, and I am not giving any DNA samples for you to plant on the road railing just to proof that the chicken crossed the road!

K Toyo - the new state government should just shift the road and not waste time asking why did the chicken cross the road.

Mat Said - Mu tahu? the chicken afraid that I might chopped it because chicken is more expensive to maintain than the bridge!

S Cheek - I challenge you to a debate on chicken crossing the road!!

Sam V – the chicken crossed the road because Dandruff members were using the chicken as a meeting point.

A Rustam - We have cross bred the chicken for 5 months and we will rear them for another 5 years, we do not need KFC, McD, 1901, BK and the rest of the chicken in the world.

Son of Yatim - you must see the bigger picture, Ahmad said chicken shack is expensive to maintain, Ali Rustam said that it is against our national identity and I needed to test my new camera, so you see- it’s a WIN-WIN situation all around.

S Samad – The chicken cross the road because we could no longer afford to subsidize it.

Karpal Singh - The bigfoot chicken did it.

Bung Mokhtar - The mother chicken did it.

Speaker Dewan - There is nothing in the standing orders against chicken crossing the road., Kinabatangan duduk, Bukit Gelugor duduk.., sit down!.

KJ - I did not do it, neither did the chicken! By the way, what's a chicken leg?

LK Siang - In response to Khairy – chicken leg also you don't know, you are an insult to Oxford .

Nazri - Racist, racist, racist, when the cat crossed the road nobody made a fuss.

http://stuffsfromnet.blogspot.com/2008/08/chopping-cherry-tree.html

OMG!!

2010-07-18T12:40:00.009+08:00

I had been waiting for the moment to come. Anxiously and praying hard that come 17 July, I would be 'free' of my work commitment, thus have the time to drive up to Ipoh to be with my fellow brothers for the OBW! And this year's event was supposed to be my second OBW! In fact I had even planned to bring my family, first time ever, to go and witness my STAROBA OBW.But I guessed, kita hanya merancang dan Allah menetukan dan perancanganNya mengatasi segalanya. The 'budget examination' for RMKe10 projects and programmes took longer than I anticipated. It was almost maghrib that we adjourned the exmination and to be continued on Monday. It was a dissappointment - Ipoh trip had to be called-off.

I was full of envy to guys like Mat Saleh, Omar Dollah, Omar Suhaimi, Lan Chik, Rostam, even Aziz Ha, Che Wan and Rahim Ahmadi, who were already in Tiger Lane to celebrate the OBW. DAMNED! of all the days, work commitment has robbed me of attending this function.

But the news that I got from Rahim Ahmadi when I called him was something that really got me dumbfounded. Rostam, Mat Saleh and Omar did not stay for the 'Annual Grand Dinner' and Rahim told me that they had already gone home! OMG! Hard as I try to visualize what had transpired at the 'school hall' during the EGM, I just could not believe that the so called 'annual event' could have gone and turned 'upside-down'. What a joke the theme for this year OBW has turned to be ... BROTHERHOOD!

It was after breakfast just now when I managed to speak to Mat Saleh. Apart from wanting to wish him safe journey back home to Johor Bharu, I took the opportunity to listen to his side of the story and what had gone 'wrong' OR 'not according to the script or plan' in Ipoh yesterday. Mat was very angry, upset and clearly a disappointed guy. This year's OBW had turned out not the way he had wanted it to be! I can understand his disappoinment, after all he has traveled all the way from Johor Bharu just to be in Ipoh and to see and spend his time with fellow STARians. Mat Saleh has his side of the story and so does everyone else. I am not taking side, for I just want STAROBA to move forward and as a former STARians we would like the spirit of BROTHERHOOD' to remain intact and last forever.

When I tried to access to STAROBA website for more detail information, came another shocked! I guessed the 'sponsor' has decided not to continue sponsoring the site. Alahai! I fell sad and down and kecewa. Frankly, I feel dejected. I had my own reason why I had been shying away from STAROBA activities before (the reasons though are not the same as Yahya Daud!) and had been trying to contribute, in my own ways, at my own capacity, to the betterment of our beloved school and STAROBA, but now, I felt as if I had been robbed of the opportunity!

Whatever was decided yesterday in Tiger Lane, I hope we, as STARians will see a better and stronger STAROBA.. for the sake of our beloved alma mater. The beginning of a new STAROBA?

Cobratasha! Sinar sinar STAR!

Amen!

Take 5 - Prelude to OBW

2010-07-15T15:40:00.002+08:00

What is the difference between girls and woman aged 8, 18, 28, 38, 48, 58 and 68?

At 8 — You take her to bed and tell her a story.
At 18 — You tell her a story and take her to bed.
At 28 — You don’t need to tell her a story to take her to bed.
At 38 — She tells you a story and takes you to bed
At 48 — She tells you a story to avoid going to bed.
At 58 — You stay in bed to avoid her story.
At 68 — If you take her to bed, that’ll be a story!

No Wonder They Booed You, Rooney!

2010-06-19T10:56:00.006+08:00

LOSING THE FAITH ... Roo looks to the skies

DRAB, dreary, depressing, disjointed, at times desperate and, overall, dull as ditchwater.

Thanks, England.

No wonder you were booed off the pitch by your own fans last night.

And now we have to beat Slovenia in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday to ensure we do not return home as the sick joke of international football.

So much for the glory of the Premier League 'product' and the squillions of pounds sloshing around in it.

So much for the Big Four Champions League heavyweights. And to think that after this crop of players, the cupboard is almost bare.

And we had thought the World Cup had come to life.

Well, you always know who you can rely on to bring things crashing back down to earth.

Steven Gerrard had said it was time to join the party. So England promptly blew out the candles.

On Fabio Capello's 64th birthday.

When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now, will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

Probably not.

Yes, they cranked it up for a while in the second half when the Algerians tired but, in the end, they had neither the guile nor ingenuity to get the one goal that would have got them off the hook.

And they wouldn't have deserved it, either.

And to think the day had started so well with the defeat of the Germans.

By the end of it, England were staring down a barrel after a performance that had Capello and everyone else connected with the national team tearing their hair out.

And what has happened to Wayne Rooney?

This was the bloke who was supposed to take the World Cup by the scruff of its neck. Instead, he - like England - is hanging on to its shirt-tails.

A few months ago, Rooney was setting the Premier League ablaze.

Now the fire is out.

It was incredible to watch a player of such talent make so many elementary errors.

And he compounded it all at the end by saying sarcastically to TV as he came off: "It's nice to see your home fans booing you."

Well, what did he expect after another World Cup failure that took us back to 2006 where we stank the place out?

What did he expect from fans who had paid good money to come out to South Africa to follow their team?

Only to be rewarded with this rubbish.

Yet the men around him were not much better. And still no sight of Joe Cole.

Instead, when Aaron Lennon was replaced, we had Shaun Wright-Phillips again.

And when Emile Heskey went, we got Jermain Defoe.

And then Peter Crouch for Gareth Barry.

Cole must have done something seriously wrong we don't know about to upset Capello.

And what gets into Frank Lampard in games like this?

A colossus for Chelsea, he seems to shrink when he puts on an England shirt. And all this against an Algerian side rated a modest 30th in the world.

An Algeria playing their first World Cup since 1986 courtesy of beating Egypt in a play-off.

An Algeria who had gone into the game on the back of a disastrous run in which they had lost five of their six warm-up matches.

An Algeria who, in this spell, had conceded 12 goals and scored just one - a penalty in their only victory, a 1-0 win over UAE.

An Algeria who boasted 'household' names like Rangers' Madjid Bougherra, once of Crewe, and relegated Portsmouth's Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda.

And others from Slavia Sofia, Nacional Madeira, Sochaux, Bochum and Valenciennes.

And an Algeria who shamed the so-called cream of the Premier League.

What are the England fans to make of it all?

They had been warming up all day down at the cafes and bars with vast expectations of what England might do later in the evening.

They had congregated in their thousands round Mitchell's Waterfront Tavern where a huge screen relayed Germany's match with Serbia.

When the Serbians scored, the roar could almost have been heard back in Blighty.

So the 30,000 or so supporters were in full and magnificent voice as they belted out the national anthem.

Throw in the locals who were supporting the Mother Country and no nation has had more fans behind them - twice as many as had made it up north to Rustenburg.

We could have been at Wembley.

Now we just needed the performance to go with it. But it was desperately poor from the outset.

Rooney and Lampard needlessly gave the ball away, David James struggled under a high cross and Glen Johnson miskicked his clearance in the box.

Then Lampard fluffed an attempted through ball to Heskey while a shot from Gerrard (left) spiralled some 15ft over the bar.

It was actually getting worse. And this from a team that are known for strong starts to either half.

As for James, every time the ball went anywhere near him there were anxious intakes of breath.

Algeria were now running large chunks of the game and looking more likely to score.

With nothing coming from the England midfield, Rooney was forcedto come deeper and deeper so further diminishing what little threat there was in front of goal.

The close-ups of the faces of the England fans in the 64,000 crowd told its own story.

It was already looking like being a long night - especially whenever classy Karim Ziani got on the ball.

So we came to half-time with only a 12-yard Lampard shot pounced on by Rais M'Bolhi to briefly raise hopes.

And 55 per cent possession to Algeria.

Dear, oh, dear, oh, dear.

And it didn't get all that much better after the break.

So now we are left to reflect on the sign on the wall of the Green Point Stadium entrance.

Go strong or go home.

England have one last chance.

STEVEN HOWARD - Chief sports writer

Amanat Bill Gates

2010-06-17T22:23:00.013+08:00

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world. Here goes:

Rule 1: Life is not fair- get used to it!

Rule 2: The world doesn’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: you will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice-president with a car phone until your earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest form the parasites of your parent’s generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winner and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING n real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

The 'Future is in your hand, hold it gently'

2010-06-11T00:19:00.004+08:00

A budding poet trying his best...

Here I lie in stinky vapor, Because some idiot stole the toilet paper,
Shall I lie, or shall I linger, Or shall I be forced to use my finger.

Before he graduated to be a poet, he wrote this...

Here I sit, Broken hearted
Tried to shit, But only farted

Someone who had a different experience wrote,

You're lucky, You had your chance,
I tried to fart, And shit my pants!

Perhaps it's true that people find inspiration in toilets.

I came here, To shit and stink,
But all I do, Is sit and think.

There are also people who come in for a different purpose...

Some come here to sit and think, Some come here to shit and stink,
But I comehere to scratch my balls, And read the bullshit on the walls....

Toilets walls also double as job advertisement space...written high upon the wall)

If you can piss above this line, the Singapore Fire Department wants you.

Ministry of Environment advertisement.

We aim to please! You aim too! Please

On the inside of a toilet door:

Patrons are requested to remain seated throughout the entire performance.

And finally, this should teach some a lesson...Sign seen at a restaurant:

The hands that clean these toilets also make your food...please aim properly!

--------
from Free Malaysia Today

Tokonang Den (13)

2010-06-10T11:00:00.001+08:00

BEHOLD. Come June 11, it is the time again for all football fanatics throughout the world to enjoy and cherish - a month full of top class football matches. All eyes will surely focus on South Africa where the greatest show on earth is about to begin - where those with the footballing skills will unleash their talents in search of glory...and of course fame and wealth! Never mind the fact that this World Cup tournament will be without Ferdinand or Ballack or Ruben or Drogba? guys who will not make it to Johannesburg.

World Cup tournament though brings back this memory of my yesteryears in Tiger Lane. The one that I shall not forget.

The year was 1974 and West Germany was the host nation of the 10th. World Cup. England already out of the contention and didnot qualify for West Germany.... and that already killed off my interest of the World Cup. But the article that I read in the paper over the weekend, rekindled and ignited whatever little interest that I have on the World Cup. It was an article on Holland and their so called 'total football' - and of course.., their superstar.. Johan Cruyff. Of course there were other 'stars' of WC 74 - such as the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, Johann Nesken, Gerd Muller and Paul Breitner. But my interest was more on Cruyff and Holland 's total football!

What prompted me that night was something beyond explanation. But then I had already made up my mind and I stood by my plan. So that nite after prep, quietly I sneaked to the servant quarters to watch Holland playing Sweden. Without prior arrangement, without any hint nor signal and little concern whether I might be disturbing him, I knocked on Hassan's house - aah.! . thank God, reluctantly, he let me in. But I was lucky then for Hassan also wanted to watch the game! We did not talk much though and were totally glued to the box (could it be other reasond as well? I hope not!). The game was okay and ended in a scoreless draw. But, as reported and predicted, Cruyff was having a great game, really outstanding., the real maestro .. the Dutch master!

It was way past midnight when the game ended and after thanking Hassan, as I made my way back to the hostel, out of nowhere, came this car. It was none other than the one driven by the Principal himself - Pak Ya (Yahya Shafie). I was stunned but didnot panick though. When he asked me, I answered him in my stammering voice, that I just came back from the servant quarters watching football i.e the world cup. I expected him to get out from the car and gave me his famous 'penyepak'. But, thank God no he did not. I guessed he must be up to something extra, a bigger agenda than mine and more important perhaps for he simply instructed and shoved me to see him first thing tomorrow morning.

I could not sleep well that night. Worry about my fate and the agony of having to bear the shame of being slept by Pak Ya.., would he be calling a special assembly to punish me? could he ..., aaah! What musibah have I landed to, I was cursing myself to sleep. How I wish then that tomorrow never came or I was away in a faraway land! Solemnly though I promised myself then that should I escaped from getting Pak Ya's famous 'treatment', I will recite the surah yassin thrice!

Friday morning and without telling anyone, I headed for the Principal's room. Pak Lau was already there outside Pak Ya's room. I thought he was there because of my case. So I was quite shocked and surprised when he asked me as to why I was there! Pak Lau went in when he was summoned by Pak Ya and when he came out, he told me that I was to be sent to the Detention Class for 2 days beginning Saturday. I could not believed my luck and could have jumped for joy and peluk Pak Lau! But luckily I didnot!! Simply a big thank 'you Sir.' to Pak Lau.

That weekend was the first time ever I spent my Saturday and Sunday in a detention class! But a well worth punishment I should say!

Learning math in schools

2010-06-02T13:32:00.001+08:00

Little Johnny was busy doing his homework. As his mother approached she heard:

“One and one, the son-of-a-bitch is two.”
“Two and two, the son-of-a-bitch is four.”
“Three and three… ”

His mother interrupted, asking where he had learned this way of doing math. Little Johnny remarked that his teacher Ms. Margo taught him.
His mother was rather upset and told him to stop the homework.

The next day she stormed into Little Johnny’s classroom and confronted Ms. Margo. Little Johnny’s mother told Ms. Margo about Little Johnny’s different way of doing math, and his claims that Ms. Margo taught it that way to the class.

The teacher was flabbergasted. She said that she couldn’t understand why Little Johnny had said what he did. Then suddenly, Ms Margo exclaimed, “Oh, I know, here in school we say, one and one, the sum-of-which is two.”

From: Funnyflux.com

'Tahniah STAR' Dinner

2010-04-11T21:36:00.020+08:00

I was in Ipoh last night. Together with Azlan and Yahya Daud alias Wahab and Fathil Sharif, playing host on behalf of STAROBA to a group of athletes from the school who had done us, STAROBAns, STAR and parents, proud. In the recent concluded athletics meet in stadium Perak for the Zone Kinta Utara, they were declared the champion in the boys team event. Dinner was held in Hotel Impiana (the old Casuarina).

We assembled at Fathil's place and left for Ipoh around 440 pm, having assured ourselves that we would be in Ipoh by maghrib. InsyaAllah!. Apart from the slight jammed in Subang Jaya, journey was 'smooth and relax' and easy. Being the co-pilot, Azlan has no choice but to play DJ through out the journey. Azlan performed remarkably well! With his many repertoire of jokes, yeah.., who cares about HotFM or Era Radio or Radio Sinar! And the three of us, we were keen listeners! Lan., you rock! We arrived in Ipoh at 730 pm as scheduled.

Dinner however, started slightly late - at almost 930. There was this unforseen things happening that has to be resolved first. Biasa lah! There were about 30 of them excluding teachers.You could tell then that the boys were really starving! Azlan in his opening address expressed his appreciation and conveyed STAROBA's gratitude on the achievement and acknowledged the effort put up by everyone involved in sports. Yahya during his speech, expressed out his burning desire (together and with the help of the school) to unleash and groom STAR hidden talents, in the quest to bring back the glory days of STAR in athletics!. It was almost 1130 pm when dinner was finally over.

We dropped Yahya at Bukit Beruntung toll station on the way down and three of us safely arrived in KL around 245 am.

As I drove home from USJ Subang Jaya, I could not help but admiring the effort, and energy that Yahya had put up to lift the standard of athletics in STAR. Having to spend one's time, almost daily for 2 1/2 hours, travelling all the way from Telok Intan, starting at 450 pm and arrived home at 9 pm, is one hell of an effort!. What a sacrifice! What a commitment! He did it simply for the love of the sports and his beloved alma mater. As Yahya said it in his dinner speech, ..'at the age of 57, I should have been spending more time praying at home! but...' I wonder how things would have been if Yahya had been the school principal , not in Perlis but in Ipoh.

Anyway, well done boys. Well done STAR. Keep up the good work. As Azlan said it .., Tahniah STAR, teruskan usaha! Of course they can. Yes, we can!

Batch '73 - Reunion

2010-03-10T08:48:00.002+08:00

Dear All STARians Batch 73 (Form5),

During our most recent weekend trip to Ipoh to attend STAR Annual Sports Day (those who went from our batch were Jabbar Abdullah, Mohammed Salleh, Omar Abdullah, Rostam Wahidin, Wan Husin and myself), there was a suggestion that we arrange our 73 Batch reunion (or even a family gathering like we had in Melaka in Dec 2008) coinciding with the STAR Old Boys Weekend (OBW) which is planned in July 2010. The proposal is for our batch (to decide with or without our respective family members) to put up somewhere in or very close to Ipoh. We hope to hear from you on your proposed place. The programme can be finalized in due course. The idea is fior us (and our family members) to be housed in the chosen place by Friday. We have our Batch programme the Friday evening. On Saturday we can attend the OBW programme at STAR and attended the OBW dinner (most likely at STAR compound/padang). On Sunday we continue with our Batch's programme till afternoon.

Your idea, comments & suggestions are required.

Note that recently an ex-Exxon-Mobil guy gave me the contact numbers for MUSADEK MUSALI: Office 03-20532109 mobile: 0193242262, but I have not managed to get his return call yet.

By the way, I may have to relinquished my '73 Batch Coordinator's role very soon as I will most probably be accepting a job offer with one of the foreign Oil Companies based in Miri Sarawak on a one-year contract as GM of Admin & Services. The appointment starts 1st April 2010. I will update all once this is finalized & confirmed.

--
Omar Suhaimi Abu Hassan
012-5570621

Annual School Sports Meet 2010

2010-03-07T11:51:00.012+08:00

Getting ready ..

Saleh Yusof .. the Green Mentor!

Yahya Daud and Omar Suhaimi., motivating the boys.

Day 1 (Friday): Omar Suhaimi fetched me from Putrajaya and we left around 615pm, and yes we were heading for Ipoh – attending the school 54th. Annual Sports Day. Journey was pleasant and Omar took his time and was careful on the road eventhough he had an appointment to be met. We had a brief stop at Tapah RnR for a bite of pau and arrived just on time for the Mentor-Mentee programme and the official handing ceremony of the sports day vest shirts at the school hall. The guys were already there – Mohamad Sale and Omar Abdullah (yes, all the way from JB!!), Rostam, Azlan Abdullah, Saleh Yusof (Batch 72 – Green House, but didn’t recognize him, he changed a lot!), Fathil Sharif , Tarmunif Mokhtar and of course Yahya Daud as well as other ‘old boys’ (couldn’t remember their names).

Session was conducted by Tarmunif. Of course everybody was upset and in total disbelieved (especially people like me who have not been in contact with the school), when we heard of the school performances especially in sports. Lost 3 – 0 to Izzuddin Shah in volleyball!!? Are we in Alice Wonderland or something? Never heard or dreamt of those days. Izzuddin guys might have felt like they were dreaming then! Un’percaya’ble, but it was a reality. Yahya who was seated next to me, was so ‘sedih” and was seen wiping his eyes hearing the news. Other games were not that encouraging as well. It was for the reason I guessed, among others, the ‘push’ on this mentor-mentee agenda. And of late, the exclusion from the top 20 schools as released by MOE, is the final straw! And the grievances echoed by the students, made everyone upset and sad. We need a transformation agenda and an action plan – very fast!

We headed for the infamous Ah Seng’s lien chee kang and popiah after the ceremony. Sheer addiction! And with Azlan around, his story telling, jokes and antics, we did not realize the time! It was almost midnight when we reached the resting place for the night - Heritage Hotel, of course after a brief of ‘tawaf’ along the ‘memory lane’ of Ipoh!

Day 2 (Saturday): We were early. We were already downstairs at 7am for breakfast. By the time we reached the school compound, the place was already bustling with activities – last minute preparation by the students to decorate the respective ‘house tents’. Carnival-like atmosphere!

Nasir Ahmad from Batch 72 (Dato, CEO of PUNB) was the guest of honour. Met others such as Yuzer Yusof, Azizan Maarof, Wan Husin, Malek Zakaria and Ahmad Hamdan of legal firm Hisham Sobri and Kadir (junior and the present president of STAR PIBG). The opening ceremony was splendid. Seeing the school brass band leading the parade was a déjà vu! Well at least to me. When I was with the school cadet band then, we were not as privilege as them now – we were without the ‘proper attire’ as entitled for a marching band, as the band was just been formed. Nevertheless we were the pioneer then! The crowd was there – though not big but it was understandable. Green House was leading the points, all the way, only to be piped at the last minute by White, who retained the championship for the fourth year. Was Omar Dolah and Rostam involved in this victory? Could not tell but they were seen to be talking to the White House contingent after the event. Mail Don would have been proud as well.

Highlight of the day was, of course, the tug-of-war, between Old Boys (STAROBA) against the school present teachers and staff. The opposite team might have thought that victory was theirs – probably seeing old boys like Mohamad Saleh in the STAROBA team, but we had the last laugh! STAROBA prove them wrong! With the right strategy of putting Azlan and Sokhini as ‘tukang’ cheer in-charge, STAROBA deservedly won 2 – 0! Could not imagine if the match had gone to the rubber!

As suggested by Azlan, we went to Ramli Mee Rebus at Tasek for lunch. Manage to get Fadzil Hasan to join for lunch. He has been very busy of late, especially with the arrival of the 12th members of his family. Had a baby boy on January 1, 2010! Others who were there included Dato Nasir Ahmad, Azlan Abdullah, Yuzer Yusof, Saleh Yusof, Fathil Sharif, Azizan Maarof and Yahya Daud. We departed for KL around 3.30 and stopped at Ulu Bernam RnR for the usual break.

The school 54th Annual Sports Day is over. It has been a meaningful and joyful trip and weekend for me. I just could not describe the feeling. The gratitude, joy, happiness and sadness … of being a STARian. I knew then that this was what I have missed and have been missing over the years! No wonder Omar Dolah and Mohamad Saleh travelled all the way from JB to Tiger Lane, no matter what! How I envy them. And already, I am very much looking forward for the STAROBA Weeknend this coming July.

Kenduri Kahwin

2010-03-04T16:39:00.002+08:00

Dear All.,

Che Chop Bakar invite kita semua ke Majlis Perkahwinan anak lelakinya di Seksyen 24 Shah Alam. Jom pi ramai- ramai! Mana tahu kok-kok jumpa Bustamam Mahmud ke, Mail Don ke, Kamarshah ke, Zabidi Mohamed ke., Ajoi ke..!

Jumpa di sana!!

Learn Chinese in 5 minutes

2010-02-21T13:34:00.005+08:00

That's not right! Sum Ting Wong

Are you harbouring a fugitive? Hu Yu Hai Ding

See me ASAP! Kum Hia Nao

Stupid Man. Dum Fuk

Did you go to the beach? Wai Yu So Tan

I bumped into a coffee table! Ai Bang Mai Fu Kin Ni

I think you need a face lift! Chin Tu Fat

It's very dark in here! Wai So Dim

I thought you were on a diet! Wai Yu Mun Ching

This is a tow away zone! No Pah King

Our meeting is scheduled for next week! Wai Yu Kum Nao

Staying out of sight. Lei Ying Lo

Your body odour is offensive. Yu Stin Ki Pu

Great game! Fa Kin Su Pa

A surprise meeting!

2010-02-21T12:03:00.004+08:00

Spent the afternoon with my wife and daughter in Shah Alam yesterday, and guessed what? Met Yusof Mohamed (Che Chop) at SAC Mall. Lama tak jumpa Che Chop. The last time was in 1973 - to be exact!. Che Chop is already a 'Datuk'! Category 'C' Datuk - the one that is blessed with a Cucu! Lucky him, three of his children already married and he was blessed with 3 cucus! Che Chop is currently residing in Shah Alam, in Section 9. For you guys, here's a picture of Che Chop......

Tokonang Den (12) - Warkah 1

2010-01-24T10:30:00.002+08:00

Abah,

Terlebih dahulu anakanda mohon maaf kerana lambat mengirim berita. Semoga abah dan emak dan keluarga di Seremban sentiasa berada dalam keadaan sehat walafiat hendaknya. Baru empat hari berada di sini anakanda sudah rasakan bagai setahun. Janganlah abah dan mak bimbang. Anakanda sihat di sini, InsyaAllah berkat doa abah dan mak.

Anakanda dan anak Chikgu Siraj seronok sangat kerana dapat berjumpa dengan rakan lama yang pernah belajar sama di Sekolah Kebangsaan Rahang. Namanya Omar Abdullah. Dia pun belajar di Sekolah Rahang tapi setakat darjah 3 saja sebelum berpindah ke Mantin. Ayah Omar adalah saorang anggota polis. Masuk Omar, maknanya ada 3 oranglah bekas murid Chikgu Bidin yang dapat masuk keasrama penuh!. Tentu Chikgu Bidin suka kalau dia tahu!. Anakanda, Omar dan dan anak cikgu Siraj tinggal satu dorm, dorm 4. Belum berapa kenal dengan rakan satu dorm lain. Yang duduk didepan katil anakanda budak dari Perlis. Nama dia Ridzuan Jusuh. Katanya dari Mata Ayak!. Kecil je orangnya tapi nampak sirius dan garang. Yang sebelahnya dari Bukit Ibam, Pahang. Anakanda anggok je tapi entah mana anakanda tak tahu. Namanya Bustamam bin Mahmud. Yang lain anakanda belum lagi kenal, belum berani nak tegur. Perlahan-lahan lah kot, lama lagi akan berada disini. Alah, baru hari keempat!

Anakanda dan anak cikgu Siraj dimasukkan kedalam kelas Remove B. Omar masuk kelas Remove A. Kelas kami tidaklah jauh sangat daripada asrama. Alah, dah biasa! Di Seremban lagi jauh berjalan kaki kesekolah berbanding disini. Anakanda kesekolah berlenggang Mak Limah je!. Buku-buku semuanya simpan dikelas dan tak perlu dibawa balik! Anakanda cuak lah abah. Takut. Budak-budak lain nampak pandai-pandai belaka. Walau bagaimanapun kelas belum lagi bermula. Minggu depan kot!

Semalam, anakanda tidak berapa dapat tidor. Salah satu sebab kerana teringatkan abah, emak dan keluarga di Seremban. Dan sebab lagi satu kerana ada sorang budak yang satu dorm dengan anakanda, asyik menangis hendak balik kerumah. Puas prefek dan budak-budak dalam dorm memujuk. Anakanda belum berapa kenal dengan budak tu tapi ikut kata Omar budak tu dari Perlis. Jauh tu kalau nak dihantar balik! Tentu banyak pakai duit! Tentu mahal tambang teksinyakan bah!. Mana jauh, Ipoh ke Seremban ke atau Ipoh ke Perlis?. Anakanda agak mesti dia ni anak bongsu! manja betul!. Puas kita orang pujuk.

Kalau abah perasan, disekolah ni, semua pakai loceng!. Hendak ke kelas dibunyikan loceng. Nak makan dibunyikan loceng, nak masuk dewan makan pun pakai loceng. Makan disini tak best. Kami dimestikan bawa dan pakai sudu dan garpu di dewan makan. Setiap kali menyuap makanan, anakanda akan teringatkan emak. Teringatkan masakan lemak cili api, sambal tumis petai dan gulai tempoyak. Lebih-lebih lagi anakanda teringatkan set sudu garpu tembaga emak yang dah kurang sepasang. Anakanda paham bila emak keberatan untuk membeli set sudu garpu. yang baru. Buat apa membazir! Cuma kena ingat pesanan emak supaya rajin 'polish' sudu tembaga ni sebab sudu tembaga cepat karat!.

Entah apa yang tukang masak ini masak anakanda tak tahu. Daging rendangnya entah apa rasa! Warnanya pun semacam., warna unggu. Tak selera nak makan. Ikan yang dihidang pun entah dari jenis apa! tak pernah tengok sebelum ini. Budak-budak sini memanggilnya anaconda. Tapi nasi lemak dan nasi gorengnya boleh tahan.

Seperti yang abah nasihatkan, anakanda akan jimat berbelanja. Rasanya duit $15 tak banyak dipakai kerana semua dibekalkan, kecuali pen dan pensil. Yang anakanda bawak dari rumah dah ada, tak payah beli lain. Rasanya cukup kerana anakanda hanya pakai buat belanja rehat sebanyak 20 sen sehari. Kunci almari tu nanti anakanda akan usaha dapatkan.

Anakanda terpaksa berhenti sekarang. Waktu prep dah nak habis. Anakanda akan menulis lagi, sekerap mungkin. Hingga dilain lembaran, salam rindu dari anakanda buat emak dan keluarga di Seremban.

Salam dari anakanda yang jauh.

p.s.

Beritahu ayai supaya jaga raket badminton tu baik-baik. Jangan gesek kat lantai.

Piala Sumbang-sih!

2010-01-10T02:21:00.003+08:00

Arakian, semalamannya tiada mendapat lenyaknyalah akan tidor tuan hamba. Rasa gelisah yang teramat sangat. Miring ke kanan dan miring ke kiri lagaknya pendekar bujang lapok akan tidornya hamba itu. Apakah benar mimpinya maka akan tercabut gigi yang dua si kerbau jantan milik Jang Anak Tok Hassan dan tertinggal satu jatuh kek batu dilereng bukit colah batu Air Torjun Ulu Bondo dokek eiy Bukit yang dikarate Tok SiAmang Gagap lalu Putuih duo.

Alkisah maka seawalnya lepas makan eiy nasi gulai tempoyak ikan sembilang masaknya lemak cili api samo ikan masin dicocah sambal belacan dan seelok tergelincirnya matahari, maka berduyunlah para juak yang datang dari seluroh pelusok Negeri Dua Kali Lima tertolaknya Satu. Yang siapek datang bertongkat, yang simamak datang berkari..., maka almaklum dan understoodlah, penuhlah perkarangan tempat akan berlaku pertarungannya permainan sepak bola piala yang dinamakan Sumbang-sih (sumbang sumbing dek kono dakap dan cium gamat yang amat sangat) antara pasokan Negeri Dua Kali Lima ditolaknya Satu melawan Negeri Ehsannya Pelombong Bijeh Cina. Gegak gempita dan hirup pikuklah perkarangan pertarongan yang dinamakan Stadium STAR itu umpama pasar malam Up-Town lah lagaknya apatah lagi dengan hadirnya lawan dari pasokan Negeri siEhsan itu.

Akan rakyat jelata Negeri Dua Kali Lima ditolaknya Satu, yang berada didalam dan diluar perkarangan pertarungan pertandingan, amat berasa gumbira dan penuh kondifenlah lagaknya seperti akan mendapat menjulang akan Piala Sumbang-sih itu buat julung waktu.

Bermulalah perlawanan dengan tepok sorak Hoben Jang Hoben ibarat akan runtuh dan terbelahlah ompek Bukit Putuih yang telah dikarate oleh Tok SiAmang Gagap. Baleh membaleh, sorang menyorang, sepak monyopak, tandok menandok lah dua puloh oghang situo bangko simudo romajo. Terajang menerajang, siku menyiku, gotak menggotak .. tak kiro lagi dah, tak payah lah ceghito., dek asyik macam masuk pelesit sebab nak julang sangat Piala Sumbang-sih.

Nak dijadikan ceghito, maka tersumbeklah gol oleh Jang siTuo import dari Negeri siKuda Kepang. Gamat dan botompik gombiro semua Jangjang dalam perkarangan tempat langsong eiy lawan sepak terajang bola itu. Agak asik masyuk jugalah Jangjang dan Mentori Bosa eiy. monyanyi bosorak riang .. Hoben Jang Hoben ..!

Akan tetapi, lawan dari Negeri siEhsan Cina itu, ada banyak muslihat dan staminanya. Ditambah lagi dengan tipu auta dan putarrr belit sijuruletih kapalnya dulu mendarat di pelabuhan pekan yang dinamakan PiEm Pekan Tentera, yang dulunya melotihkan pasukan Negeri Dua Kali Lima ditolak Satu itu. Ditakdirkan yang maha Esa, dan nak dijadikan ceghito, tersumbatlah dua gol dan terkedulah penyokong Jang seantero perkarangan pertarungan. Lupo dirilah penyokong-penyokong Negeri siEhsan Cina akan mendapat julang Piala Sumbang-sih dengan keputusan dua gol disumbek dan bebaleh eiy satu.

Kenduri Kahwin

2009-12-26T00:20:00.010+08:00

Suib .. busy as ever !!

By noon I was already there at Kafeteria Kolej Multimedia, Jalan Semarak. There were not many people around and one could be mistaken for being at the wrong place. The only assurance that you were at the right spot - at a wedding reception - was songs blurting out from the PA system - even though they were not songs meant for kenduri kahwin!. Anyway, by the time I entered the kafeteria, I could see Suib - inside the hall - making sure that everything was in placed, perhaps. I was glad that Suib recognised me - after all these years! We were together in form 6th. After that we did see each other - rather accidentally - at Central Market 5 years ago!. Since there were not many people around, Suib managed to spend more time chatting with me.

Slowly but surely, the crowd swelled in numbers - mostly from Suib's side. Rahim Othman came much later - just about the time I wanted to leave. I accompanied Rahim for a while and by quarter to one, Rahim and I left for Friday prayer.

I was sure that after Friday prayer, more friends from Batch 73 will be there. InsyaAllah.

Wedding Reception

2009-12-20T09:47:00.014+08:00

A happy father he was yesterday .. Yyuri Muji

Hasan and Ibrahim were there ... gracing the occassion

Idros was there as well..

Idros, me and Yyuri.,

.. with Idros, Suldin and Mutalib.

Attended 2 wedding receptions yesterday - held by Yyuri Muji and Mutalib Hassan. By the time my wife and I arrived at Dewan Tan Sri Mahfoz Khalid, Kementerian Kerja Raya, Kuala Lumpur where Yyuri's daughter wedding reception was held, Idros and his daughter and 2 sons were already there. We were later joined by Hasan Said, Ibrahim Husin, Suldin Kimin, Yusof Bakar and Mohd Nor Hassan. I was made to understand that Aminuddin AH Karim and wife was there very much earlier. It was raining heavily when my wife and I left for Section 7 Shah Alam to attend to Mutalib's invitation.

Traffic was heavy and slow along Federal Highway and by the time I reached Dewan Mawar, Section 7, Shah Alam, it was already 3 o'clock. I was later joined by Suldin and wife, Wan Hussin and much later by Idros and family. Md Ali Osman, Che Chop Mohamad, Razali Awang and Omar Suhaimi already left before we arrived. It was almost 4 oclock by the time we left Dewan Mawar. Next week there will be another reception - by Suib Ismail. InsyaAllah. Till then..

Wedding Reception

2009-12-06T16:56:00.006+08:00

Just came back from Shah Alam having attended Nari's wedding reception together with Rostam. By the time we arrived at Dewan Melati, Section 7, Shah Alam where the reception was held, we were told by the groom's father that Aminuddin AHK (Dr.) and wife, and Lookeman as well as Ismail Ibrahim already left. Me and Rostam waited for a while for the rest to come (hoping) and we had only Omar Suhaimi and spouse joining us for the wedding feast. We were later joined by Md Ali Osman and wife together with their son and daughter. Towards the end Idros and family came. We were about to leave when we heard Nari's giving instruction/direction to Rashid. We had to leave as the time was already past 3 oclock.

Nari looked happy and busy the whole afternoon - as expected. Next week, there shall be another reception and another one the next after. First by Yyuri and to be followed by Shoib. When told about the reception, Md Ali seemed to have lost touch or rather forgetten about Shoib. Well, during our time in Tiger Lane, there were only two Shoibs -one was 'Shoib' the dobbyman and the other one was our very own Shoib, one of the three members from the famous Sungei Petani trio - we had arwah Radhi Majid and Sakaff Abdul Manaf and of course Shoib Ismail. And the three of them were even being placed inthe same hostel - 'Green House!'. Hoping to see more of us (Batch 73) at Yyuri's and Shoib's. InsyaAllah.

I have not seen both of them (Yyuri and Shoib) for a very very long time. I happened to see Yyuri once in 1990 when we attending a seminar in housing at DBKL. Accidentally met Shoib at the Central Market. 4 years ago .Thus, truly looking forward for the occassion.

Take 5

2009-11-23T13:08:00.002+08:00

Rostam sent this through my email. Just love sharing them with the rest., enjoy!

BEWARE OF OLDER MEN, THEY ONLY GET WISER

A woman decides to have a facelift for her 50th birthday. She spends $15,000 and feels pretty good about the results. On her way home, she stops at a newsstand to buy a newspaper.
Before leaving, she says to the clerk, 'I hope you don't mind my asking, but how old do you think I am 'About 32,' is the reply.'
'Nope! I'm exactly 50,' the woman says happily.
A little while later she goes into McDonald's and asks the counter girl the very same question.
The girl replies, 'I'd guess about 29.'
The woman replies with a big smile, 'Nope, I'm 50.'
Now she's feeling really good about herself. She stops in a drug store on her way down the street. She goes up to the counter to get some mints and asks the clerk this burning question.
The clerk responds, 'Oh, I'd say 30.'
Again she proudly responds, 'I'm 50, but thank you!'
While waiting for the bus to go home, she asks an old man waiting next to her the same question.
He replies, ' Lady, I'm 78 and my eyesight is going. Although, when I was young there was a sure-fire way to tell how old a woman was.
It sounds very forward, but it requires you to let me put my hands under your bra. Then, and only then can I tell you EXACTLY how old you are.'
They wait in silence on the empty street until her curiosity gets the best of her. She finally blurts out, 'What the hell, go ahead.'
He slips both of his hands under her blouse and begins to feel around very slowly and carefully. He bounces and weighs each breast and he gently pinches each nipple.
He pushes her breasts together and rubs them against each other.
After a couple of minutes of this, she says, 'Okay, okay....How old am I?'
He completes one last squeeze of her breasts, removes his hands, and says, 'Madam, you are 50.'
Stunned and amazed, the woman says, 'That was incredible, how could you tell?'
The old man says, 'Promise you won't get mad?'
'I promise I won't' she says.
'I was behind you at McDonalds.'

Al-kisah

2009-11-12T18:00:00.002+08:00

Almaklum, maka diperkenan Allah SWT akan kemenangan pertandingan sepakbola akhir dinamakan Piala Malaysia (baca betul-betul .., Piala Malaysia , bukan Piala 1Malaysia) kepada Negeri Sembilan (dahulunya 10 negeri kesemuanya dan terpaksa ditolak satu atas keluarnya Naning) keatas Kelantan, negeri lahirnya Che Siti Wan Kembang. Akan keputusannya, telah dicakap-cakapkan orang seluruh alam semenanjung sampai Sabah dan Sarawak, disumbat dan dimasukkan bola kedalam gol adapun tiga berbalas satunya jua.

Alkisah dijadikan iktibar dan dibuatkanlah postmortem akan 'tiada dapat menjulangnya Piala tersebut' oleh pengurusannya pasokan Che Siti Wan Kembang. Arakian diberitakan bahawa 'tiada dapat menjulangnya Piala tersebut' adalah disebabkan kesalahan strategi serta kegagalan untuk mendengar sesuatu berita dengan teliti dan tidak secara membuta tulinya jua.

Al-kisah diceritakan orang sayugia telah diarahkan oleh mereka yang terlibat dalam pengurusan pasokan Che Siti Nurhaliza Yang Tembam, oops.., silap pasokan Che Siti Wan Kembang supaya mencari ide untuk mengalahkan pasokan Negeri Sepuloh tertolak Satunya itu.

Maka telah diadakan sepuloh kali tolak satu sesi 'braintorming' (yang lazimnya selepas 'storm' kesemuanya tiada 'brain' lagi itu) maka mendapat idelah mereka-mereka itu, cara bagaimana hendak mengalahkan Negeri Sepuloh ditolak Satu dalam pertandingan akhir Piala Malaysia (bukan Piala 1Malaysia). Bersepakat dan bersetujulah kesemua yang hadir wei untuk menghantar sepai-sepai kegerai Tomyam yang gemar dan galak dikunjungi oleh pemain-pemain sepakbola Negeri Sepuloh ditolak Satu.

Bayaklah laporan yang dihantar kepada HQ di KB, mahupun secara email, sms dan telepon bimbit dan telepon biasa. Kesemua laporan dikaji dan diperhalusi dan dibentangkan untuk diperbincangan. Sah dan sahih berdasarkan laporan bahawa Negeri Sepuloh ditolak Satu akan memakai taktik 'sorang-sorang'. Wow!!

Maka dikerah otak dan tenaga juga tulang empatnya kerat oleh jurulatih dan juruletih Negeri Che Siti Wan Kembang bagaimana hendak counter tektik 'man-to-man marking' yang akan diemploy oleh Negeri Sepuloh ditolak Satu nanti. Maka berlatih dan bertambah letihlah pemain-pemain negeri Che Siti Wan Kembang, berusaha sunggoh-sunggoh, untuk memenangi Piala Malaysia (baca betul-betul., bukan Piala 1Malaysia).

Maka dihari yang dinantikan, bermulalah pertandingan. Berdentumlah stadium dengan pukulan kompang dan mercun yang didentumkan. Berkibarlah bendera masing-masing, bersepailah air botol mineral, hiruk dan pikuk serta bertambahlah bingar dan panasnya keadaan di dalam Stadium Bukit Jalil.

Setelah permainan dimulakan, lama kelamaan, ajaiblah dan hairanlah serta bingunglah pihak pengurusan apatah lagi juruletih dan pemaian negeri Che Siti Wan Kembang, bahawa tektik yang dibawa oleh Negeri Sepuloh ditolak Satu bukanlah 'sorang-sorang' (one-to-one atau man-to-man marking) seperti yang dijangkakan tetapi Negeri Sepuloh ditolak Satu menggunakan taktik sorang! sorang! (serang!... serang!!).

Al-kisahnya.. maka tersumbatlah bola kedalam gawang gol tiga kali berbalas satunya jua.

The Mayonnaise Jar

2009-11-04T17:17:00.006+08:00

Would like to share this article - sent by Rahim Ahmadi - via email. Many thanks to Rahim for sharing ...

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
And had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family,
children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions –
Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled..
'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Please share this with other "Golf Balls"
I just did.......

Gathering 2

2009-11-03T08:28:00.012+08:00

Just received these photos from Linggam - shots taken during the dinner held in Holiday Inn Glenmarie and 2 others from Dataran putrajaya.

Get Together

2009-11-02T13:21:00.012+08:00

Linggam was in KL last weekend. He arrived on Sat 24th and departed home on Sat 31st. Through out his 7 days 'holiday', he stayed with his daughter in Putrajaya and as expected a few of us took the opportunity to visit and say hallo to him. A dinner was held by Dato' Awe Adek at the Holiday Inn Glennmarie on the 27th and I was told that there were quite a number who attended the function. I had to miss the dinner and regretted for not attending. Linggam told me that he had such a great time. Even Linggam's daughter told me that she was so happy to see her father was in such a company!.

Prior to that function, I had met Linggam and took him for a makan in Bangi. And on Friday nite, a day before Linggam departed for home, Rashid, Nari and Ahmad Abu Khair took the opportunity to visit Linggam. Linggam was at Dataran Putrajaya with his daughter and son-in-law, busily taking photographs, when we called him. So the meeting was done underneath those neon lights and 'dibawah kibaran bendera!'. I could tell and see that he was very very happy to see Rashid, Nari and A A Khair again. Rashid had contacted Nari and A A Khair and planned the surprise visit. And how Linggam love and appreciated the occassion. He has not seen Rashid, Nari and A A Khair - in person - for almost 37 years!!.

We adjourned to a nearby Mamak restaurant for the 'regular teh tarik session but had to go without Linggam. He insisted of staying and site visiting with his daughter and son-in-law. They were supposed to go to Dataran Merdeka that nite!.

Anyway, we stayed at the Mamak restaurant until wee hours - 130 am - before calling it a day. Linggam promised me that he will send those photographs that were taken by his son-in-law. I am still waiting for them. Meanwhile.., just make do with the ones that I have!!

Ancient Chinese Proverbs - Revisited

2009-10-09T16:41:00.003+08:00

Man with hand in pocket feel cocky all day!.

Man who stand on toilet high on pot!.

It is good for girl to meet boy in park, but better for boy to park 'meat' in girl!

Man who drop watch in toilet have shitty time!

Man who finger girl having period get caught red handed!

Man who go to bed with itchy butt wake up wiyh smelly finger!!

Man who buy drowned cat must pay for wet pussy!

Virgin like balloon!.. one prick all gone!

Man who wants pretty nurse, must be patient!!

He who lives in glass house.., must dress in basement!!

Passionate kiss, like spider web, lead to undoing of fly!

Better to be pissed off than pissed on!

He who walk through airport door sideways., always going to Bangkok!

Boy who go to sleep with stiff problem wake up with solution in hand!

Couple on 7-day honeymoon make 'hole' week!

Girl who sit on jockey's lap gets hot tip

Girl who sits on Judge's lap gets honorable discharge

Man who leap off cliff jump to conclusion

Man with tight trousers is pressing his luck!!

Man who puts dick in peanut butter jar is fucking nuts!!!

Announcement

2009-10-08T08:35:00.002+08:00

Jumpa di sana!!

Take 5

2009-10-07T10:57:00.004+08:00

I evaluate buildings like I do women. There are buildings I won't mind for a one-night stand and never return to again, and then there are buildings I'd like to marry. The mistress-type buildings are the superficial ones you like to keep on the side, if you have the money. But my favourite are the old, comfortable government houses in Bukit Tunku. Reminds me of my mother.

- Unidentified doctor, forty-something, quoted in a local men's magazine on structures he likes.

One For The 'Dirty' Road!

2009-10-02T16:09:00.003+08:00

A couple goes to an agricultural show way out in the countryside on a fine Sunday afternoon, and watch the auctioning off of bulls.

The guy selling the bulls announces the first bull to be auctioned off:
"A fine specimen, this bull reproduced 60 times last year."
The wife nudges her husband in the ribs & comments,
"See! That was more than 5 times a month!"

The second bull is to be sold:
"Another fine specimen, this wonder reproduced 120 times last year."
Again the wife bugs her husband, "Hey, that`s some 10 times a month. What do you say to that?!"
Her husband is getting really annoyed with this comparison.

The third bull is up for sale:
"And this extraordinary specimen reproduced 365 times last year!"
The wife slaps her husband on the arm and yells,
"That`s once a day, every day of the year! How about YOU?"
The husband was pretty irritated by now & yells back,
"Sure, once a day!....... But ask the auctioneer if they were all with the same cow!!!"

Tokonang Den ( 11 )

2009-09-19T23:30:00.001+08:00

Rostam and I arrived early for that function. We were at the school (STAR) attending the handing aid ceremony under Yayasan Tun Hamdan and were at the corridor in front of the staff room, when a group of VIPs passed by. I did not notice anything peculiar until I heard someone mentioning that Dato Mohd Khalid Abdul Halim was around. But I could not figure out which one was him. Even when the procession entered the school hall, I still could not figure out which one was Dato Khalid until the ceremony was over. Someone pointed that Dato Khalid was the one dressed in a blue Indonesian batik. I had a big gasp! I was not the only one though!. Even Dato Awang Adek and Rostam could not recognise him the first time around.

I remember he used to walk around the school compound in wellington boots, with his walking stick and smoking his pipes. Vestis virum facit. At times he looked stylist and elegant. Most of the time he looked 'arrogant'. Enough to make us (students) frightened and scared - by sheer looking at him, by sheer hearing his foot steps, and by his mere presence.

How could one forget - during one session of the school assembly, - when he openly made the remark and statement to those (students) who were 'behaving' like gangsters that he himself was a gangster from 'Aloq Setaq'! His husky, commanding and firm voice, enough to ensure that his words and commands would be obeyed.

Every terms, those with red marks in their report cards, would have had sleepless nights, worrying for the next day to come. HM Khalid would go round to every classes with his cane and would canned us according to the number of red marks that one has. Yes sir ..., Thank you sir!!.

HM Khalid was very stern and strict on discipline. I remembered one particular incident, during school hours - we were in the classroom then - when suddenly we heard a big and loud bang coming from the lower six classroom downstairs. Someone was caught playing a guitar in the classroom - during the normal school hours. And to HM Khalid, that was a big NO. He smashed the guitar into pieces.

What about the incident when 4 students were caught truant? The whole school then witnessed the infamous public canning by him - on the open space between the school and the industrial arts block. Nobody dared to say anything. No one dared to interfere! Not even Pak Lau or Ustaz Mohammad.

Remember the incident at the dining hall? How he came to the dining hall and karate chop a student - to ensure that discipline was being observed? I was seated among the front rows at the time and witnessed the whole 'event'. That guy was taken immediately to the hospital - suspected broken his nose!. And I went to prep with empty stomach that night for I totally lost my appetite after witnessing that incident.

But his love for sports especially rugby was second to none. He must have been very proud to have witnessed during his reign as the HM the school rugby team became the first winner and won the coveted Mori Trophy!. How he cherished and enjoyed the moment when we paraded the trophy to the dining hall on the bullock cart?!

But HM Khalid (Dato') that I met that day was different. Soft spoken and he looked like a guy who could not even lift a finger on anybody let alone hurting them. That day, we reminisced the 'good ol' days'. He even told us a story about a student while waiting outside his room, was so scared that by the time he came out, that boy already wet himself. Ipse dixit!

HM Khalid has long retired and is currently residing in Ipoh and he can be reached at No. 32 Jalan Lasam, 30350 IPOH. House phone no: 05-2546870.

(From Left to Right): Jabbar (Batch 73), Rostam (Batch 73), Midzor Hilal (Batch 69) and HM Khalid (68 till 70)

(From Left to Right): Rostam, Wan Husin (Batch 73), Midzor, HM Khalid and an unknown old boy.

2009-09-18T08:33:00.000+08:00

Majlis Berbuka Puasa Batch '73

2009-09-17T23:30:00.004+08:00

The date : 15 September 2009. The Venue: Clubhouse, Tropicana Golf and Country Resort. The Event: 'Majlis Berbuka Puasa', Batch '73.

Me and Rostam almost missed the function. I least expected the traffic jam to be that massive. Terrible. I left Putrajaya around 5pm. Knowing that I was already half an hour late and had to rush to Sunway to meet Rostam. As agreed, we were supposed to go together to Tropicana in Rostam's car. But the traffic jam at Sunway toll plaza was unbelievable!! Damned!. Got stranded almost half hour and was a bit worried. By the time I got to Rostam's place, the time was already 6 pm. I could tell and see that Rostam was not OK and was upset - we might missed the breaking of fast at Tropicana. Not to be subdued, I tried to think positive, telling Rostam that we'll be OK and we will be there on time. Surprisingly the traffic after Sunway bridge was moving, slowly but surely. And by the time we reached Tropicana the time was 6.40 pm.

Tropicana was already jammed and crowded with cars. There seemed to be cars every where, We were directed by the parking personnels to drive and park inside the multi level parking block. However, despite going round the 3 levels parking block twice, we failed to find any parking space. Well, there were spaces available but coming in in a big machine - a land cruiser - the choice was limited. When we were told to go out and park the car decided to try Lillian Too 's good luck charm technique and presto! (coincidence perhaps), a parking personnel directed us to park at a parking space meant for the Club committee member!.

Dato Awang Adek, Razali, Lookeman, Dr. Halim, Rahim, Aziz, Hasan, Dato Azlan were already there. The rest were - Wan Husin, Sakaf, Yunus, Ibrahim, Dato Idris, Wan Zain, Md Nor, Dr. Khalim, Omar Suhaimi, Rostam, Syed Hamzah, Halim, Shauki, Razali, and Md Ali. How we wished that others could attend as well. Majority of them had commitments that made it impossible to attend, and some were too far away to make the trip. It would be more fund if Ajoi, Mad Bakar or Saiful was around. Even the presence of guys like Mat Dollah, Omar Dollah or Mat Saleh or even Che Chop Mohamad (where about is he actually?).

The food was aplentiful, the place was grand, and the atmosphere and occassion was splendid and terrific. Everyone was busy acknowledging one another - catching up on the lost times. When Halim told us that that day was his birthday. We tried to get him a birthday cake but alas the club ran out of cakes that night. So instead we had the resident singer accompanied by the resident band, to lead everyone singing the birthday song. By 1015 the event was over.

Perhaps the point raised by Dato Idris was worth pondering - we should gather and meet beyond the fasting month - and by that we may escape the traffic jam!!

Azlan, Awang Adek and Hasan

Rostam, Wan Husin, Syed Hamzah, Shauki and Rahim

Syed Hamzah

Shauki and Khalim

Md Ali, Hasan and Halim

Aziz, Jabbar, Azlan and Awang Adek

Omar Suhaimi, Ibrahim, Md Nor, Wan Zain and Razali

Sakaff, Roslan, Idris and Lookeman

Note:

Apologies to Yunus. There is no photo of you being posted since the one that I took was so blurr that I decided not to have it posted on the blog.

Yayasan Tun Hamdan

2009-09-14T17:08:00.033+08:00

It was on Sunday Sept 13 and around 1 pm - as schedulled - when Rostam came over and fetched me from the house. We then drove up to Taman Greenwood to pick up Anoair Jalil, a pre-arrangement that Rostam had made prior to the trip to Ipoh. From Taman Greenwood we then proceeded to Taman Bolton to pick up the consignment - the dates - that was pre-booked by Anoair, to be brought along to Ipoh. We were on the way for the much anticipated 'Majlis Penyampaian Bantuan Kewangan Yayasan Tun Hamdan'. STAR was to play host for this meaningful event.

The journey to Ipoh was a pleasant one -not many traffic on the road - understanable since it was Sunday and majority of us, Malaysians reserving the journey till the next weekend - for the Hari Raya journey - back to kampong!. Since we didnot stop at the R&R (fasting ma!), we arrived in Ipoh as planned and went straight to Tiger Lane. Anoair insisted of going straight to Hotel STAR (what a name, what a place it was!), from where he was supposed to hand over those dates to the waiting group, for the dates to be repackaged and to be distributed later during the ceremony itself.

When Anoair insisted upon us to go to Hotel STAR, we thought that he meant the students' hostel. No, we guessed it wrongly!. In fact he did mean Hotel STAR!. Yes, the school do have its own hotel known as Hotel STAR, located just opposite to the old industrial arts block. The hotel though has only one room - one large fully-aircond-room - with a double decker bed and a huge bathroom/toilet. Anoair preferred to stay there, easy for him to get things organise for the event on Monday.

We went to Hotel Sri Malaysia to break fast with Fathil Sharif and wife. Stayed there until 8.45 pm before we rushed off to Medan Gopeng, looking for some cenderahati for Toh Puan. Then it was len chee kang's time. A must for Rostam!. As before, Ah Seng was there to serve us and his len chee kang still the same as before!

We left Hotel Seri Malaysia at 10 o'clock the next day and by Rostam's standard it was rather early!!. Since we were early, we had the chance to mingle with some of the invited guests. Among the dignitaries who were there were - Tan Sri Alimuddin, the DG of Education and former Headmaster of STAR himself, En. Adinan Maning - the GM cum MD of Bank Simpanan Nasional , Dato Pajri (old boy and the organiser), Perak CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah (junior from Green House), former HM, Mohd. Khalid Khalim (Dato') was there and so did Pak Lau and Tan Teng Leong. Fellow STAROBAns who attended were Syed Nazri, Midzor Hilal, Raja Ramli, Mohamad Taib (Batch 72) just to name a few. Wan Husin and Md Ali also came. So did Ahmad Hamdan (junior and Partner of Hisham Sobri - legal firm). And there were others whom I didnot recognised but the gestures and acknowledgements enough to denote and convet the feelings that most of us were there for the simple reason - to honour a great person - the late Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir.

It was a simple ceremony and but it was rather an emotional one for me especially when singing the national anthem and the school song. Well, I had sung it before but to sing the songs again inside the school hall after all those years, brought back all the memories.., 'suka duka' in STAR - joining at the school the tender age of 13 years ., aah those years!

After the doa, reciting of the Qoran and speeches by Dato Tajri (as the organiser), by HM Guffuri (as the host), by Tan Sri Alimuddin (DG, Min of Education) and eventually by our own Dato Dr Awang Adek Husin (as the Pengerusi fo YTH), came the handing over ceremony. There were 32 recepients - 10 students each from STAR and Sek Men Kebangsaan Iskandar Shah, Parit and 13 students from Sek Men Keb Clifford, Kuala Kangsar. Apart from STAR, the late Tun had served the 2 schools thus their inclusion for the bantuan kewangan ceremony. It was specially witnessed by Toh Puan Hajah Siti Zainab.

What an ocassion to honour a person who had devoted his life towards the betterment of the education system especially to help rural and needy students. I guessed the whole afternoon was best described and summed up by the poetry by Usman Awang ..,

Jika hari ini seorang Perdana Menteri berkuasa

Jika hari ini seorang Raja menaiki takhta

Jika hari ini seorang Presiden sebuah negara

Jika hari ini seorang ulama yang mulia

Jika hari ini seorang peguam menang bicara

Jika hari ini seorang penulis terkemuka

Jika hari ini siapa sahaja menjadi dewasa;

Sejarahnya dimulakan oleh seorang guru biasa

Dengan lembut sabarnya mengajar tulis-baca.

An excerpt from Usman Awang ... Guru O Guru (1979)

Majlis Berbuka Puasa STAROBA

2009-09-11T05:54:00.012+08:00

Attended Majlis Berbuka Puasa STAROBA at Dewan Al-Malek Faizal, IIUM Centre For Foundation Studies, PJ last night. Almost missed out attending the iftar though. By the time I called it a day at the office yesterday, the time was already 6.15 pm. After breaking fast and maghrib prayer with family at home, I decided to proceed with my earlier plan and rushed off to PJ for the iftar.

The 2 Rahims - Rahim Othman and Rahim Ahmadi were there, so did Omar Suhaimi, Aziz Harun and of course, Rostam! Met others as well - Dato' Ishak 'Sohor', Dato' Hood Siraj, Syed Nazri, Anuair Jalil, Hj. Ahmad Tauzan, Chot, Mohammad Bahadon, Green Housemates - Kamal, Lan Sulaiman and Hamid, Hamdan (junior - principal partner of law firm - Hisham Sobri & Kadir. Also met Sokhini and Bakhtiar., just to name a few. Quite an attendance - about 130 people - old boys including family members were there to grace the event.

After solat terawih, a tazkirah cum motivation talk was given by STAROBA's very own sahibul samahah - Azlan Abdullah. Together with Omar Suhaimi, Rahim Othman, Hamid (junior), and Rostam, we stayed until almost 11.00 listening to and being serenade by Azlan Abdullah's - telling about 'his story' and his 'Beranang' days!!

Mohammad Bahadon took the opportunity to invite friends and family to his son's wedding day. Invitation card as appended.

One For The Road

2009-09-03T15:40:00.004+08:00

Rules and Regulation of Play
1. Time of play: Anytime
2. Lady golfer is discouraged from playing with the gentleman’s balls and club before the game begins.
3. Gentleman is advise to stay away from hole under repair. However, if he wish to play the hole, he may proceed at his own risk.
4. Lady golfer can squat, sit and stand while putting. However, lying still is highly recommended.
5. Hole-in-one is discouraged at the beginning of the game as this will lead to damages of hole or club.
6. It is recommended that gentleman golfers insure their club as damages might occur during play.
7. Golfers must be in proper attire before starting game.
Ladies/Gentleman : Birthday suits

8. Kelab Golf Di Sana-sini is not responsible for any loss of balls and damaged clubs.
9. Gentleman golfer is required to check whether the hole is ready for parting by dipping middle finger into the hole.
10. Please corporate with Kelab Di Sana-sini. Lady golfer is encouraged to trim grass on the green while the gentleman must keep his club clean at all times.
11. Frequency of playing:

Age

15 to 30 : Once in the morning and once in the evening
31 to 40 : Twice a week
41 to 50 : Once a week
51 to 60 : Once a month
60 and above : Forget it ... He is crazy (still believe he can 'fly'!)

........ Crazy 1Golfer

Pengumuman

2009-09-02T21:54:00.006+08:00

Calling All Batch '73

Majlis Berbuka Puasa

Tuesday, 15th September 2009

at TROPICANA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Host: YB Dato Dr Awang Adek

Please confirm attendance

via sms to Omar Suhaimi

Handphone #012-2061714

not later than 7th Sep 09

Pengumuman

2009-09-01T17:36:00.005+08:00

Majlis Berbuka Puasa STAROBA
akan diadakan pada hari Khamis, 10hb September, 2009
di Dewan Al Malek Faisal, Pusat Matrikulasi, UIA, di Seksyen 17 Petaling Jaya.

Semua ahli dijemput hadir.
Majlis bermula jam 7:00 petang.

Tokonang Den 10

2009-08-28T10:20:00.023+08:00

'Cepak la! Guano mu! Nak ambek gambar ni. Oghe tok sei ready gi, dio dah siap pakai uniform!. Aziz Ha! Hang pun sama Awe jugak. Cepat le!!

That was the scene then one Sunday morning, sometime in 1970, at Green House just before the usual Sunday morning inspection. As usual, week-in week-out, every Sunday except during the school term holidays, as hostelites, dutifully and reluctantly perhaps to some, we cleaned up the hostels - the bathrooms, toilets (the one that majority of us would dread of doing), its compound and drain. By the time Mr. Sarjit Singh the warden came around to inspect, everything would have been in-placed, in tip-top condition, well at least to us!. One hardly seen Mr. Sarjit Singh smile those days. He was very disciplined and you could feel the seriousness in the manner he stared at you, the way he walked and the way he did the inspection. To have met him during the last Old Boys Weekend 2009 and chit-chatting with him, I realised that Sarjit Singh was actually a very nice person. He was merely putting up his 'act' and 'show' then just to ensure that we, as students especially Greenians, would respect him!

Everyone of us from Batch 73 in Green House were there in the picture except for the trio from Sungai Petani - Sakaf Manaf, Shoib Ismail and Radhi Majid (Arwah). Rahim Ahmad Di and Halim Shamsuddin (Dr.) were also absent. Pi mana pun tak tau!. All in all, there were 19 of us, original members of Batch 73, in Green House.

Of course, the best part on Sunday and after the inspection, for those who had extra money, was the Sunday outing. One option would be then - to most of us - going for the movies, be it cheap matinees or new shows. The favourite and most frequenting place was the Grand cinema! We were crazy on Hindustani movies then, weren't we? There were no Amitabh Bachchan or Shahrukh Khan nor Kajol or Aishwarya Rai then!. But ... yes, we were crazy like hell for Rajesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor and Dev Anand. Even more for actresses like Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Babita (Awe's favourite) and Aisha Parekh (Wan Husin's favourite - I love to hear him pronouncing the name!!). Just to name a few those were the film 'stars' - better known and more closer to our hearts then than P. Ramlee or Sarimah!. We went to see and spent our pocket money on movies like Sanggam, Meera Naam Joker, Hati Mere Sathi, Yaadon Kibarat and Raja Saab - movies that made us cry - a lot I would say - enough to make us forget our folks back home. Along the way some of us even lucky enough to befriend people like the late M Shariff of the Zurah - another character who was a Hindustani maniac!.

Kyaa tum jaanate ho? Halim Shamsuddin was one, so crazy about Hindustan and Hindustani songs then - he even bought a record player and plenty of Hindustani albums!. From the dormitory - after prep, during his free time especially on weekends - one would be able to hear Hindustani songs being played - to the full volume ... Mere man ki ganga, aur tere man ki jamuna ka, Bol Radha bol, sangam hoga ke nahin..!. Could not imangine then if we have had Kuch Kuch Hota Hai!

Of course not all were crazy and fanatic about Hindustani movies or songs. People like Mutalib and Bustamam had other interests, I was sure. Even our own Shoib was into something else! I wonder what Mat Saleh or Mad Bakar and even Rostam were doing then, on Sundays that is .., sleeping or what?

----------------------------

'Sesungguhnya adalah sunat dan mendapat pahala jika seseorang itu berbuka puasa dengan buah kurma tetapi seseungguhnya akan datanglah azab dan seksanya jika seseorang itu tertelan biji kurma ketika berbuka....'

Selamat Berbuka Puasa!

One For The Road!

2009-08-22T08:14:00.002+08:00

From: Got These From The Internet
EANTAUTJK, Penang

Selamat Berpuasa

2009-08-21T11:34:00.004+08:00

Marhaban Ya Ramadhan
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Kamu diwajibkan berpuasa sebagaimana diwajibkan atas orang-orang yang dahulu daripada kamu, supaya kamu bertaqwa. (Al-Baqarah;183)

Guys,

Selamat menjalankan ibadah puasa!!

Tokonang Den (9)

2009-08-17T19:00:00.001+08:00

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
______________

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.

One For The 'Dirty' Road!

2009-08-16T21:36:00.003+08:00

From: Got These From The Internet

EANTAUTJK, Penang

Tokonang Den ( 8 )

2009-08-07T11:30:00.008+08:00

Whenever I think of Linggam Sibi, I would always remember the incident that happened during our first week in school. We were totally 'alien' to each other then, still shy and very reserved - typical of kampong boys, perhaps. Anyway, on that 'fateful' day, I was seated obediently at the back of the class - Remove Class B - when the name Linggam Sibi was called out by En. Yang Razali. The very next moment, for reason best known to both of them, En. Yang Razali tried to pinch Linggam by the tummy (very typical Tan Teng Leong's style). Linggam reacted by opening up his 'silat' moves!. He totally misunderstood En. Yang's intention and had reacted as what was expected of a 'Bajau warrior' under seiged!. Nobody dared to laugh then nor ask Linggam what was all the huha about.

How can we forget his unique and stylist baju Melayu - green in color, 'wet-looked' somemore and with that 'blink-blink" features (could have easily won over AC Mizal's or Aznil Hj. Nawawi's admiration!). He really looked like a pahlawan Bajau wearing that shirt. And to tell the truth, I was a scared and worried 13-year old kid, looking at him the first time around. Linggam was big and he had that 'fierce' and 'ready-2-pow-U' looked at that time. Serious! Dead and very serious looking Linggam indeed!. Obviously, his 'serious-look' and his 'maturity' landed him the captaincy of the school rugby team.

That picture above was the school Under - 16 rugby team. Majority of the players were from Batch 73 though we still have Solahuddin (Batch 72), Rusli, Adli (Arwah), Anuar Musa (Tan Sri) and Nordin (all of them from Batch 74). Seated were of course Linggam and Kutik. Can you imagine Mr. J. A David coaching us rugby?!.

If I am not mistaken, ours was the first time ever when the inter-Remove class game of rugby was introduced. It was the brainchild of Mr. Kok Kee Chye, who wanted the school to constantly produce rugby players - good, 'star' quality players, I would say. My first reaction then when Shafri Man (Dato) and Alias Shaarani came over to the class and told us about the game and the match, was anything but excited. Rugby? Never heard of this game before! What the heck was these guys talking about!?

The team was selected and trained under Shafri and Alias. I can't remember who was in-charged of Remove Class A though. But one thing for sure, having Linggam in the same team as you are, was not only a blessing in disguise but it was as if you have struck a lottery! We escaped the endure of having to tackle him. Linggam at the time was bigger than the rest of us. And since 'size does matter'.., at least in rugby, it was really a plus point for us in Remove Class B. Of course, Remove Class A team was not to be belittled. They had Kutik but having Linggam was something extra!. Of course, there were other prominent and potential rugby players in the making as well then - Radhi Majid (HM Khalid called him 'the Black Panther!'), Hassan Said (Prof Dato'), Ismail Ibrahim, Omar Suhaimi, Mat Nor, Ismail Don , Yuri, Tomo, Rahim, Che Chop, Lan Chik, Khairuddin (Wak) and even Wan Manshol!. What can I say of Wak Khairuddin? He may not be a handsome guy then, but on the field, as a scrumhalf, Wak flew like a butterfly!

Ipoh rugby then (probably Perak as well) witnessed the arrival of Linggam in manner that has never been before!. Linggam took the world of rugby in Perak by storm. He was the Jonah Lomu of yesteryear. He would ran amok on the field. Running from one end of the field to another. He terrorised the opposing team so much so that as team mates you could not helped but felt lucky that you played along side him and not the opposite. I was sure that those guys who had been tackled by Linggam or tried to tackle Linggam would have rather 'di timpa balak' instead. Deo gratias! In almost every game that we played, the scores were all above the centuries! Thanks to Linggam!

Linggam was also a school cadet band member and played the bass drum. The softie and romantic side of Linggam!. And guess what, the teacher who was in-charge of the school cadet band then was none other - En. Yang Razali!!

... to be continued

Sorry Guys

2009-08-05T12:06:00.014+08:00

Have been frequenting and spending more time at the clinics of late. Have to and must take extra precaution nowadays, especially with this H1N1 happening.

Heard that Rostam's son was also hit by H1N1 but already cleared free. Spoken to Rostam yesterday and a day before yesterday and was told that everything is under controlled.

Shall up-date the Blog a.s.a.p!. Take care guys!!

One For The 'Dirty' Road!

2009-07-29T09:25:00.002+08:00

Why do women pay more attention to their appearance than improving their minds? Because most men are stupid, but few are blind.

Man says to God: "God, why did you make woman so beautiful?"
God says: "So you would love her."
"But God," the man says, "why did you make her so dumb?"
God says: "So she would love you."

An old Italian Mafia Don is dying and he called his grandson to his bed. ‘Grandson I wanta you to listen to me. I wanta you to take mya 45 automatic pistol, so you will always remember me’. ‘But grandpa I really don't like guns, how about you leaving me your Rolex watch instead?’.

‘You lisina to me, some day you goina be runna da bussiness, you goina have a beautiful wife, lotsa money, a biga home and maybe a couple od bambino, some day you goina come hom and maybe finda you wife in be with another man. Whata you gonna do then? Pointa to you watch and say, ‘TIMES UP’?

A female reporter was conducting an interview with a farmer about Mad Cow Disease. "Mr. Brown, do you have any idea what might be the cause of the disease?" "Sure. Do you know the bulls only screw the cows once a year?" "Umm, sir, that is a new piece of information, but what's the relationship between this and Mad Cow?" "And did you know we milk the cows twice a day?" "Mr. Brown, that's interesting, but, what's the point?" "Lady, the point is this: if I'm playing with your tits twice a day, but only screwing you once a year, wouldn't you go mad, too?"

Tokonang Den (7)

2009-07-25T11:59:00.002+08:00

Anaknya Lima

Mahu ke mana adik yang manis
Jalan sendiri tiada berkawan
Dalam nya rintik hujan gerimis
Habis basah kuyup aku kasihan..

.... Titiek Sandhora & Muchsin

This picture was taken when we were on our way down south - for a sosial cum educational visit to Sekolah Menengah Perempuan, Jalan Kolam Ayer in Kuala Lumpur and Sekolah Datok Abdul Razak, Seremban. The year was 1972 and we were in Form Four then.

It was a normal excursion organised by a handful of enterprising students (Batch 73) from the Form 4 Science A, led by Syed Hamzah (Syed Bone). Kamarshah, Omar Suhaimi and I were in Form 4 Science B then. But we were invited by the organiser for the trip - as part of the contigency plan, I guessed, in case we were requested to do a bit of 'entertaining!. Entertainment indeed it was. But at the very first stop, in Sekolah Perempuan Kolam Ayer, it was a bombshell! At least to me. I made a terrible mistake that I regretted up until now. I was asked by the host to perform a duet with their 'singer' - singing a song 'Anaknya Lima'. What had gotten into me then was something that I could not explained but it was silly of me. I substituted the last two words of the final verse with two 'vulgar' words that shocked everybody, even me! Even though I apologised to Shamsinar (the singer) and to En. Ahmad Shafie, I knew I had spoiled their 'majlis', dissapointed and failed the group. We did not falter and fall into the same trap when performing in SDAR but due to lack of practice, we had not done justice to our presentation.

Nonetherless, the trip down south reminded me of the vending machine project that Batch 73 (Form 4 then) ventured into. Syed Hamzah - as the main guy behind the scheme - should be commended for that brilliant and enterprising idea. Remember how that project got us together - dutifully we followed the roster and collect those bottles (every single bottle returned will be refunded with 10 cents by the company). Azlan, Awang, Yeah, Wang Huseng, Wang Zeng, every body .. even our own Datok K were not spared!! Such a camaraderie!

There were other trips organised after the trip down south - of notable was the one to Butterworth, to Telok Batek (Telok Batak, then). But I personally was not aware of those trips or could it be that my memory has failed me!. Anyway, some of these trips were privately and 'quietly' organised and personally sponsored (together with other school - especially the girl's!). Could the reason be that these girls were actually eyeing for the trial examination papers? Aha!! Perhaps.

It was quite sometime since I last heard from Fadhil Hasan. He had SMSed me when I was in Ipoh for the Old Boy's Weekend last month and apologised for not be able to join the OBW - he had his hand full minding his children!. Nevertherless, I presume Fadhil is doing alright and keeping himself fit and busy. InsyaAllah, we shall be hearing from Fadhil soon -another wedding!? - just pulling your legs guys!!

One For The Road.

2009-07-23T08:10:00.005+08:00

A little girl asked her father,
'How did the human race appear?'
The father answered, God made Adam and Eve, they had children,
and so was all mankind made!'

A few days later the girl asked her mother the same question.
The mother answered,
'Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved'

The confused girl returned to her father and said,
Dad, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God,
and mom said they developed from monkeys?'

The father answered,
Well dear, it is very simple, I told you about my side of the the family,
and your mother told you about hers!'

Tokonang Den (6)

2009-07-17T17:45:00.002+08:00

A prelude to the annual sports day was the cross country run. It was one of the event that I had waited anxiously during my lower forms but not over the later years. During those days, if my memory has not lapsed me, the cross-country event was being monopolised by these bunch of runners: Shahrir (senior from Blue House) or Solahuddin (also a senior - Black House) or Musa Omar (Red or was he from White House .... Yellow?) or Fauzi Alias (senior - Yellow House). We (Batch 73) had our own middle distance and X-country champion in Yunus Karim. But most often than not, the accolades for the X-country event belonged to those guys ... Shahril, Solahuddin ...

The country run took us away from the school compound via the side gate near the surau, out into the rubber estates, over a 'titi' across a tiny stream, alongside a pamelo plantation, the 'oink-oink farm, then came out on the 'country' road just alongside the town of Ampang Baru. Then we'll be struggling and pulling ourselves along Jalan Raja Musa Mahadi (formely Dairy Road) and back to the school. The most welcome sight then was seeing the school a distance away especially from that corner after Yellow House. But, that whole stretched, from that corner until the finishing line, was the most torturous and longest journey ever to the finishing line, I have ever experienced!.

Idris (Dato'), Daniel Tomo, Yuri, Zaini Rashid, Jalal Atan and Saleh Jabar were among the guys (Batch 73) on the photograph. When I met Daniel Tomo last month's during the OBW, he was twice the figure that appeared in the photo. (Do not despair Tomo.., guys, member-member lain pun gemok dan boyot juga, including yours truly!!). During those X-country run, quite often I came acrossed and stumbled upon Tomo but I wouldn't say the same thing though on Rostam. Was he running or was he among the 'selected markers'? or 'check-pointers?' Or could it be that he took part in another 'running event' than X-country? I did try once though, applying for the position of a 'marker' but was disqualified. I was made to understand that one must be really "OKUed" to qualify! The easier way then, they told me, was to get the recomendation from the matron! (Raja Mas Juita). No way man!

Ipoh, if not Perak, is famous for its nasi ganja (of course lah., Rostam would not have agreed more!), kacang menggelembu, pamelo as well as jambu apple!. Talking about pamelo, ever since that X-country runs and ever since I stumbled upon the pig farm (which was sited beside the pamelo plantation), I forbid myself totally from eating pameloes. When Mohamad asked me to pull over and stopped at the stalls on our way home to KL via Simpang Pulai, so that he could buy some pamelo, I just couldn't say no. These pamelo stalls were being manned by amoys, but I doubt whether they are locals. Could these amoys be the real reason why Mohamad wanted the pameloes so desperately? Pure tricks of the trades. I wonder!

Tokonang Den ( 5 )

2009-07-15T19:45:00.000+08:00

The year was 1971. The event was the school annual sports day. This particular sports day was being remembered as something special, something spectacular, not only by me, but to the rest of the school.. It was special because during the opening ceremony, the march past was graced and led by the newly revival school cadet band.

Months before, prior to the event, at the beginning of the school term, words were already being spread around that Headmaster, En. Ahmad bin Dahan, would revived the school cadet band (one that has been 'hibernating' for so many years) and he wanted the band to perform during the school sports day. Hearing that news, together with other hopefulls and budding musicians, I enrolled and became the new cadet band member. There were others as well from batch 73 who answered the call - Awang Adek, Ahmad Abu Khair, Ansor, Zainudin Omar, Rashid Abdullah and Linggam. Each and everyone of us then opted for our favourite equipments - the one we love to learn and to play - Awang Adek, Ansor and Abu Khair opted for the flute, Rashid went for the bugle and Zainudin, Linggam and yours truly opted for the drums.

The training was anything but easy and it was conducted once a week. Nearing the sports meet, training session was double to twice a week. We were lucky two have two instructers, ex-army officers, (En. Yusof and his friend) to train and teach us, playing the equipments as well as marching. Personally, it was not that easy task to play the blowing instruments - be it the flute or bugle. I have tried playing the bugle but no sound came out of it. Rashid must have that extra 'wind' to have succeeded in blowing and getting sound out of the 'twisted brass' (bugle). Awang Adek and Abu Khair also practising hard on their flutes. Linggam was the obvious choice and the only one strong enough to carry the bass drum. And by the third month, Linggam was able to play the drum like Steve Thorntorn!!.

We were not without pressure. In fact the pressure was intense and enormous, to say the least. We had a deadline and it was blood, sweat and tears all along. Even though En. Yang Razali told us that the school encountered some financial problem and could not raised the money to buy the band uniform, that did not dampen our spirits. Due to our lack of practice and short of time for the instructers to prepare us, we had to be content to learn just a few songs, enough to carry us through the opening ceremony. Typical songs being prepared for us by En. Yusof were Malaysia Berjaya, Nona Zaman Sekarang and Rasa Sayang Eh and the side drum routines.

And when the actual day came, we were excited. Very much excited. You could tell from the look on our faces - grinning from ear to ear. The moment truth. The one we have been waiting for all this while. Yes, it was show time!!. We were dressed in an all white attire, olde-worlde, and we did ourselves and the school proud with the performance. And I was sure that Tun Hamdan who was there to witness the ceremony would have agreed to that.

We had our setbacked then but that didn't stop us from giving our fullest on that day. We were not accomplished musicians nor were we dressed in the proper uniform. But nevertherless our spitirs were high and everybody wanted to contribute to the special event. That brief encounter and during that special moment, we were in cloud nine. Never mind the marching steps that was out of paced and not synchronised, never mind that the 'pitching' and sound was a bit out, I was sure that the school cadet band that day made the school proud.

End of Part 5

At Last!

2009-07-12T10:06:00.008+08:00

The date was Saturday. We left Putrajaya around 3 pm and headed for Jaya Jusco, Bukit Raja. Earlier on I managed to contact him and it was agreed that we should meet at JJ. We took the ELITE highway and since we were not that familiar with Klang, we drove slowly so as not to miss the place. I had been to Klang only twice before - the first time was in search of my former 'housemaid' after I came back from the UK in 1995 and the second time was with my family in 2007, an accidental shopping outing!.

Rostam suggested that we should have our lunch and wait at the Old Town White Coffee restaurant. After about 10 minutes, then came the person we had been waiting for and the one we had not met almost 36 years. Yes, finally we met Nari Ansari!. The walk and gestures were still there. And he is more handsome now than before - with moustache - and a more confident guy I would say.

It was such a meaningful reunion and we chitchat almost about everything. He told us about the adventure that he had with Mat Dollah, hitchiking all the way from Malacca to Perlis, visiting guys like Lookeman and Fadhil Hassan. Never mind the fact that he could not remember our secret 'duel' when we were in the remove class. We were in the midst of chitchatting when I received an unexpected SMS from Mail Don. Guessed what, he was in Ipoh and was having his lunch at Yong Suan's!. It was only last week that he came down to Ipoh that he has to come down again and couldnot helped but having another go at nasi ganja!. Sheer addiction!

Nari is doing okay and is an 'Atuk' now!. And we were told that his wife currently operated a stall at stadium Shah Alam during Sunday's pasar tani from 7 till 1 in the afternoon - known as 'gerai kueh lapis Norma - selling all kind of kueh mueh.

We said goodbye around 6.30 pm and Nari promised that he will keep in touch with the rest of the gang from Class of 73.

The Truth or a Myth?

2009-07-10T17:25:00.008+08:00

Ring Finger Length Linked To Success

A study by Cambridge University scientists of highly pressured London traders, whose jobs requires risk taking and quick responses, found the most successful had long ring fingers in relation to their index fingers.
Not only did traders with long ring fingers make on average six times more money, they survived more years in a cut-throat world which weeded out the weak and unprofitable.

from GRK BLOG/ZINE

--------------

I would love to check and verify this. Any volunteer? Perhaps we can ask Rostam, or Dato K or Yunus or Awe or ... maybe those from Mentari? Why not?! Of course each finger has its own use - the index is for ... pointing lah! The ring finger is where one put one's wedding ring. The whole lot is use when one visits places like Yong Suan's, etc etc.

Nari Ansari

2009-07-10T09:23:00.005+08:00

I had a busy day yesterday. And it was only around half past six when I managed to check my daily mails (emails and smses, miss calls etc). But this special message (thru sms) from Che Wan that got me really excited and made my day. I had written an article in my 'Tokonang Den' series, (serie no. 4) when I penned off the article with ' Nari Ansari, dimana kau?!'. And presto!! Che Wan managed to get me and sent me Nari's number (through a cousin of his actually). I rang up Nari immediately and lucky me, he still remembers me and the rest of the gang (Class of 73). Nari is with Pharmaniaga (he has been with the company for about 5 years now). Currently residing in Meru, Klang. According to Nari he has met a few Starians when he was doing his training/practical in PJ (Kem Kesihatan's Pharmacy lab in Section 17 PJ). People like Kamarshah and his two brothers - Kamarudin (Che' Ton) and Shamsuddin as well as Ahmad Abdullah. He has been working ever since he left school in 1971 for according to him he has to support his parent and brothers. Nari is married and blessed with 7 children. For you guys, here's Nari's phone number. Please say hello to him.

One For The Road

2009-07-07T11:41:00.002+08:00

OBW Travelogue

2009-07-05T10:00:00.000+08:00

Final Episode.

Everyone had a good rest last night except for Rostam, maybe. Every body was so tired to play the gymrummy that nite and were thinking only of getting a good nite rest. Rostam had to contend with having Lan Chik (he had taken a short nap in the afternoon) for a company. And by the time I woke up, Rostam and Omar Dollah had already taken their baths and ready for the day. Unanimously we agreed to Rostam's suggestion to have our breakfast at Yong Suan Coffee Shop, Jalan Yang Kalsom. Ipoh on Sunday was a pleasant town to drive around. And the drive from C73 base camp to Jalan Yang Kalsom was everything but pleasant.

There was no wonggey wonggey cries that morning. Perhaps because it was still early. Lan Chik and Omar Dollah arrived first, only to inform us that the shop was still closed. They opted having roti chanai for breakfast from a mamak restaurant just around the corner from Yong Suan's. By the time we passed thru the place, we saw that it was already opened. We decided to have our breakfast there. Rostam's probably was thinking of having nasi ganja for breakfast. But lo and behold! were we for a surprised! The place was burglarised last night!.

Anyway, not to be despaired, we opted for kaya toasts on the bread and 2 half boiled eggs each for breakfast. Lan Chik and Omar Dollah joined us after their roti chanai session. But what we were about to witness was something that stunned us all, well at least to me!. We were seated just opposite the site door, from where we could see what was happening on the other side of the building. We saw a few guys skinning and preparing the chicken which was simply placed on the floor. As if God wanted us to witness something more, one guy came out from the place (I presume the kitchen) sweating and wearing a sarong pelikat, chettiar style, unveiling his knees with sweating hairy legs!. What happened next was even shocking. A guy came out through the door wearing the same attire plus wellington boots - obviously drenched and tired and sweating - looking for some fresh air. Then came another guy, similarly dressed, similar situation. 'That's it., Omar Dollah told me, 'I will not come to the place again!' By the time they brought out the day's dishes - the one that the shop was infamous for, we decided to leave, dumbfounded from what we have witnessed today at Yong Suan's.

I guessed it was very typical among the eateries through out the country, except for the likes of McDees, KFCees and Kopitiams. Remember how Wak Junction and his nasi lemak collapsed just because of that bloody Sunday's incidence?. From behind the tree, came Wak's voice., ' Sekejap ya nak!!'.

I tried not to think much of that incident as we headed for the school, to witness a game of rugby between STAROBA and the present STAR team. That was when I noticed a small guy with forlorn faced underneath the tree........

OBW In Photos

2009-07-05T09:33:00.007+08:00

OBW Travelogue

2009-07-04T11:21:00.012+08:00

It was time for the much awaited school dinner. As we got ready for the occassion, I recalled those early years in STAR when we were in the lower forms. Those days, such an event was known as the 'grand dinner'. It had always been held at the school dining hall though. However, at that time you don't really care about it (at least to me), maybe perhaps because I did not realise the significant of such event. Especially so when you were asked to be seated at the back of the dining hall during that occassion. Yeah, what's so great about these old boys coming over and 'makan' with us. When the school prepared for the occassion, it was not really an event that I anxiously waiting for like the 'Sure Heboh' or 'Sua Rasa' carnival nowadays. I wonder if the present students experiencing the same feeling. But now is different. I came back as an old boy, trying to reminisce the good ol' memories of my yesteryears in STAR. 'Tempat jatuh lagi dikenang, inikan pula tempat bermain!.

We arrived late, around half past eight for the dinner. As I walked across the the field from the placed where I parked my car, I remembered the time when I frequented the field plying my skills playing football. 'Ahh, the same place where I scored a goal against Kutik!', I recounted. It seemed like yesterday when I last played football on the field. Little did I realised that I had been away for over 34 years!

The dinner was set on the football field, between the Blue and Black house, next to the main football ground. Yunus and Wan Zain were already there. So did Tomo and Che Jan (Norizan Tan Sali) and his family. I looked around and yes, like before, the rest of the boys were seated at the back of the tent, looking rather anxiously and hungrily, waiting for the food to be served. Were they, quitely, cursing us for all the trouble and hardship they had to endure the last few days, weeks perhaps. I hope not. Anyway, we managed to find ourselves a table quite closed to the main one with Che jan and his family occupying the table next to us. All the dignitaries were there - Dato' President (of course), the HM, Pak Lau, Tan Teong Leong, Srajit Singh, Kok Kee Chai and others. We were told that the dinner was sponsored. Alhamdullilah! Syukur nikmat! Food was okay, plentiful. We were busy helping ourselves when we had the shocked of our life. Che Jan abandoned and reversed the role he was so accustomed with over the years -he shoved us the extra food from his table! Che Jan became the 'exporter' and not the 'kulekter' for that nite!.

I dont really follow what the President spoke that nite during his welcoming speech apart from him wanting the school to focus on rugby and to emulate the game sportsmanship in creating a better STAR. Then came the show of the nite - STAR Got Talent, a talent show copycat from the famous Britain's Got Talent.

The students showed some great talent but I think we (Class of 73) did much better those days. Of course we were not into dancing and there was no Spongebox those days, but on the whole I think we had the better talent. My only regret for the nite was that the organiser should have done their homework. Had they done so, we could have had Yuzer Yusof performing that nite. Yuzer was the singing prowess in the 70's, at least among the schools in Ipoh if not Perak. With due respect to the invited singer (can't recalled her name, was she anak Andy LaLa ke), she could have done better. I think she panicked - seeing those lusting and wandering eyes, stripping her from head to toe!!.

We went for a teh tarik session at Greentown after the dinner. It has always been our 'anthem' to go for this kind of session whenever we had such a gathering.

End of Episode Three.

OBW Travelogue

2009-07-03T09:30:00.000+08:00

There was no wonggey.. wonggey cry that afternoon. Yes, that was how they used to howl right in front of their restaurant. It simply means 'come on, come on', inviting customers to try out their infamous curry dishes – Ipoh nasi ganja.

When we (Omar, Mohamad and myself) arrived at Yong Suan Coffee Shop, at Jalan Yang Kalsom, Ipoh, the time was almost 2.15 pm and people were already queueing, waiting for their turn to pick their favourites dishes. The restaurant was already packed and jammed with people. No empty and lonely table just for one! We had no choice but to joint the que and wait for our turn. The queue was rather long despite the fact that the day was Saturday! Such was the ‘pukulan and penangan' nasi ganja!. However , I observed one thing though, it was a rather interesting sight to see that all sorts people were there - Chinese, Malays and Indians - ordering and eating the same food under one roof!.

I was told by my in-laws that this place was the first nasi kandar eatery to be opened in Ipoh (about 50 years ago). Back to the time when the Tanjung Rambutan bus station was still operating, the business here was at its peak. The business of this restaurant still remained eventhough the bus station is no longer there. It was really hard to believe that Rostam never knew or heard of this place before. What the hell was he been up to then? Even our Ustaz Yusuf knew the place! It was a must-eat dish that made people wanting to come back for more. People just became addicted to this nasi ganja! I wonder what was the trade secrets! Since the place was packed, we decided just to tapau the food, including one specially packed for Rostam.

Rostam was still sleeping when we arived back at the apartment. After lunch, Mohamad, Omar and myself just lazed around, chitchatting while watching the television. I could not help but wondering how the situation would be like, if the likes of Awe Adek or Rashid Gong or even Che Wan and Mail Gebang, best still Wak Khairudin or Ansor or even Linggam Sibi or Halim Daud, were to be here right then. Better still if we have Tomo, Lookeman as well as Bidi Kominih, Che Jan, Rahim Cakpuk, Azman Ngokngek, Mat Dollah and Ajoi or even Saiful with us. I was sure we would turned the apartment into an Uptown Market!! We could even have life music provided by Ansor and Zainudin! Maybe with the support of Lan Chik and Omar Suhaimi and Kamarshah. Ahh! Wishfull thinking indeed!! But alas, in reality only 5 of us were here at the apartment now - one was already in a faraway land and deep asleep, two (who were busy teeing-off) will try to get some sleep (later on perhaps) and three other guys wondering whether to sleep or not to sleep. Those are amongt the items in my 'kempunan' list. I wonder what the other guys 'kempunan' lists would be? Especially Rostams?

End of episode two.

One For The Road

2009-07-02T00:01:00.000+08:00

Saturday morning, Allan got up early., quietly dressed, made his lunch, grabbed the dog, and slipped quietly into the garage.

He hooked up the boat up to the truck, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour.
The wind was blowing 50 mph, so he pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day.
Allan went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed.

He cuddled up to his wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, “The weather out there is terrible.”
His loving wife of 10 years replied, “Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?”

And then the fight started…

OBW Travelogue

2009-06-29T23:45:00.000+08:00

I misjudged the distance thus missed the place. I shouldn't have. My in-laws are from Batu Gajah and yet I struggled to find Batch 73 'base camp'! - the one that Wan Hussin had booked for our stay during STAR OBW 09. I was told to exit at Simpang Pulai that will lead me to our base camp. But behold! After making several calls - thanks to Mohamad, my talian hayat, I managed to find it. Serve me right for boasting and taking things for granted! Ipoh mari., konon!!

I left Putrajaya around 10 am. Took the elite highway and heading straight to Ipoh. Since I was travelling alone, I had no choice but to relly on Hitz FM to keep me awake. Through out the journey, songs from MJ - from Ben to Billy Jean to Black and White - kept my spirit high and my concentration on the road. . I was terribly excited about the trip since it was my maiden trip - for the OBW outing - after leaving STAR for so many years..! (36 years to be exact!). Traffic was not bad but gradually increased in volume after Rawang R&R. As I was driving, a few BMW's and Mercedes's and Camrys overtook yours truly. I could not helped but wondering whether those 'machines' were being driven by STARIANS!!! and all of them were like me - heading for Ipoh - for the OBW!

According to the original plan, I was supposed to travel with Rostam late Friday afternoon. Mohamad and Omar Suhaimi and Omar Dollah were supposed to leave earlier on Friday afternoon, just before us. But had to change plan due to work commitment. Wan Husin was not around when I arrived at the apartment for he had to rush home for KL. Rostam was already groggy by lunch time. He had been awake the whole night playing gymrummy with Omar Suhaimi, Lan Chik and Wan Husin. Despite their handicap and predicament - of not sleeping at all - Omar Suhaimi and Lan Chik were 'crazy' enough to play in the STAROBA Golf tournement in Batu Gajah.

The 'base camp' was not bad at all. It has 3 rooms -a masterbedroom with a double bed, 2nd room with 2 single beds and the smallest with one single bed, a kitchenette, 2 bathrooms and of course a TV set (the one that was played non-stopped!).

When it was time for lunch, it was unanimously agreed that we'll go for 'nasi ganja'! We had a shocked and the laughed of our life when Rostam confessed that he hasn't got a clue as to where about this 'nasi ganja' place was! He told us that his favourites outlets or 'hideouts' then were Tanjung Rambutan's bus station, where he listened to the music from juke box machine and having his lusty meal of roti chanai at Freedom Cafe!. Little did he knew then that the nasi ganja place was just across the road!!.

End of episode 1

A TRUE STARIAN!

2009-06-28T17:52:00.000+08:00

When I made up my mind to travel up north for the weekend, it was a rather difficult decission to make, for a number of reasons. Most pertinent and obvious was the fact that, that trip was my number one, my first time ever, participating in the STAROBA Old Boy's Weekend (OBW). Secondly because I was not sure of what to expect in Ipoh after leaving the school almost 34 years ago!. But what I came across and experienced was something that beyond my expectation!.

Nobody took noticed of this guy. He stood a forlorn figure underneath the tree. I was watching the rugby game between STAR Present team against the STAROBA when Mohamad approached me and asked me whether I would mind taking another passenger to KL. Mohamad had met this guy, who happened to be going the same way as he was i.e. to JB, after which he would continue his journey home to Pontian Dalam. Of course I would not mind!. I had driven alone to Ipoh for the OBW, having failed to convince Che Wan or Rahim or getting Rashid Gong to accompany me. Mohamad was supposed to accompany me back to KL, a pre-arrangement that was agreed amongst us (Rostam, Omar Dollah, Omar Suhaimi Lan Chik). So, having another passenger travelling with me and Mohamad was not a problem at all.

We left Tiger Lane after the rugby game and stopped at Uu Bernam R&R for refreshment and the deserved break. That break turned up to be the one that haunted me and kept me thinking all the way, while driving to KL. During the coffee break, I took the opportunity to chitchat with him and he told me something that made me ashamed of myself. Here stood right in front of me, a TRUE STARIAN!. One that had been attending the OBW every year! (apart from last year because nobody informed and invited him over!). What really astonished me was the fact that he had journeyed and travelled by bus!!. That journey would take him from Pontian Dalam to JB, got himself into the bus for the trip to his beloved alma mater! And he has been doing this for almost every year! (except last year of course).

He took all the trouble for his journey home because STAR made him what he is today. He wanted to show his appreciation and would pay homage to the school that has made and shaped him. Of course attending the OBW would meant that he would able him to see his old friends again, if at all they were present. I felt so humbled and ashamed of myself upon hearing this. And I remembered the nite before, during the grand dinner, when prizes were given to those deservedly so, but we may have forgetten old boy/s like this guy who was a champion on his own way. When we reached KL, after saying goodbye, from the corner of my eyes, I could see him clutching dearly that little bag, the one the organiser for OBW gave away when you check in for registration - contained in it was that 'little mug' with the school logo, that car sticker and momentos from MIMOS. That was all there was for him to remember for his trip down the Tiger Lane in 2009.

To have helped him accomplished his mission so that he could pay homage to his alma mater and to enable him to recall and mesmerise the memory of his life in Tiger Lane, was something that I would treasured for a long long long time. He is 66 years old now, retired from the navy since 1985. God's willing, next year, in that little town of Pontian Dalam, one would see a small guy with a forlorn face,by the road side awaiting for the bus that would take him back the journey to the place he remembered and loved most...., Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh. InsyaAllah. We salute you, Khalid Siran (Batch '57).

Announcement

2009-06-25T23:59:00.000+08:00

Tokonang Den ( 4 )

2009-06-25T14:08:00.001+08:00

This photograph was taken in 1970. We were in Form One then, having graqduated and liberated ourselves from that one year 'confinement' period!- i.e one year in the Remove Class!. It was taken during the school annual ' Speech Day'. Being juniors then, we had our seats reserved - in the garage next to the school hall!. (actually the school hall was too small to accomodate us all!) Most of us (Batch '73) were there in the picture including yours truly! We were much, ehem.., handsome then!... aah yezzir., those good old days!

The school hall reminded me of the place where we spent our time almost every week, watching the wayang! At that time, movies were shown using projectors (ya loh, no DVD or CD players ma!) For that reason, I guessed the school had a cinema club. A few of us from Batch '73 were members of this club. Those that I can recalled being cinema club members then were Mail Gebang, Omar Suhaimi AH, Saiful Bahari, Wan Husin, Omar Dollah, Mohamad Saleh, Aziz Ha and Kamarshah Harun ( I might have missed a few names here., my apologies!). I envied these guys actually. They were the priviledged few. Apart from having the chance to operate the projectors, on screening days (Friday nites), they could have had their dinner early! To be a member of this 'prestigous' club, you need to apply for one. And part of the requirement would be for potential candidates to write an essay -in English - on why one would like to be a member of the club! These guys - Mail Gebang, Mohamad Saleh and the rest - must have passed with flying colours i.e. written bloody good essays then!! Or was it becaused of their 'connection' or 'networking' with the then President of the cinema club, the late Che Ani Deraman?

So, every Friday nites then (wayang time), and just about time we finished our dinner, you could see a few guys moving towards the door and ready for their weekly run! Yes, running and dashing, through the field between Red and Black House, across the football field and out into the school hall. The catch was actually the chairs at the hall- limited in number - i.e. save them from having to go up the classrooms and bring down the chairs for the wayang. (Some smart alecs preferred to hide those chairs in secrets hideouts behind the school hall rather than having to dash for the chairs after dinner). Anyway, one guy whom I recalled was very constant and committed in doing this, week in week out without failed and opting for the weekly run, was our very own Nari Ansari. I did try to follow him several times but Nariwas so good, so fast and very nippy. Nari must have studied the tract then for he could whizzed through the football field at eased.

I wonder whether they still have such show at Tiger Lane anymore. One thing for sure though, that memory of Nari dashingg through the field still lingers in my mind and I can still recalled those 'encouraging' words ... cepat Nari cepat!!. And I wonder, where about is Nari now? Nari Ansari dimana kau?!

End of Part 4 . (To be continued)....

Announcement

2009-06-23T12:32:00.000+08:00

One For The Road

2009-06-23T00:30:00.000+08:00

A husband and wife were watching ‘ Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ while they were in bed.
The husband turned to his wife and asked, "Do you want to have sex?"
"No," she answered.
The husband then asked, "Is that your final answer?"
Without even looking at her husband, the wife answered, "Yes."
So the husband said, "Then I'd like to phone a friend."

And that's when the fight started…

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T08:37:00.000+08:00

We had to sit for the special exam then to win a place and study in a boarding school. When the results were eventually out, and I was among the successful candidates, my father called and asked me which one would I choose - to go to Tanjung Malim or Ipoh. Since my Geography was not good at that time (never was), I asked him where about these places were. I remembered my father telling me all about Tanjung Malim - the shops where he used to frequent as a student (he studied at Sultan Idris Training College (now Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris). And he told me that Ipoh was the capital town of Perak and it was slightly further up north. Okay, I told him, I made up my mind., it was Ipoh then - Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh and not sekolah Dato Abdul Razak, in Tanjung Malim. My father had this 'connection' in Seremban (present terminolgy - networking' lah!) and told me that he could fixed and sent me to whichever school that I chose.

Together with Ajoi and his father, we rented a cab and made our way to Ipoh. Of course both my father and Ajoi's insisted on stopping over and had our break and lunch in Tanjung Malim - the then R&R!!. And of course, lunch was to be followed with that special Tanjung Malim's dessert - kueh pau!!.

It was the longest journey and the first time ever that I shared with my father. When it was time for him to leave for home, deep inside I konow that he had made the right decission of sending me over to Ipoh.

Abah is no longer around. He died in 1998. I am a father now. And I hope that I will make the right decission on my children's future just as my father did.

To all you guys out there..., Happy Father's Day!.

One For The Road!

2009-06-16T00:28:00.000+08:00

A man and a woman were asleep like two innocent babies.
Suddenly, at 3 o'clock in the morning, a loud noise came from outside.The woman, bewildered, jumped up from the bed and yelled at the man, “Holy crap. That must be my husband!”

So the man jumped out of the bed; scared and naked jumped out the window. He smashed himself on the ground, ran through a thorn bush and to his car as fast as he could go.

A few minutes later, he returned and went up to the bedroom and screamed at the woman, “I AM your husband!”
The woman yelled back, “Yeah, then why were you running?”

And then the fight started…

(Courtersy of http://stuffsfromnet.blogspot.com/)

Tokonang Den ( 3 )

2009-06-15T08:36:00.000+08:00

I have not seen these guys - Yyuri, Tomo, Ajoi, Sakaf, Shukri and Azman (Ngokngek) - ever since we left Tiger Lane. Well, almost but not really!. I've met Sakaf once in 2003 during STAROBA celebration in honour of Awe and Yeh winning the the 2003 election at Dewan MBSA, Shah Alam . I almost did not recognise him (of course, silly me.., most of us did not recognise one another 'that well' now, having got the extra 'aged and worried looks' and big 'fat tummy' to carry with!). Anyway, Sakaf still has that ‘cheeky’ and 'boyish' smile! - He is in the Navy and I think Sakaf is the only one – sole representative from Batch 73 - that has done so.

Ajoi and I studied together in Primary school in Seremban i.e. Sekolah Kebangsaan Rahang, Seremban. We were together from Standard 2 until Standard 6. But sad to say, despite the fact that we came from the same town and stayed in the same neighbourhood, it has been such a long time since I last saw Ajoi. Recently I met Ajoi’s brother and was told that Ajoi is currently working and living in Port Dickson. Apart from Ajoi, I was fortunate enough to have two more guys - Omar Dollah (White) and Zainal Shah Yaakop (Yellow House) - as my primary school classmates also at Sekolah Kebangsaan Rahang. Omar stayed in SK Rahang until Standard 3 and left when his father ( a policeman) was transfered to Broga. Zainal Shah stayed until Standard 6. But Zainal Shah only joined STAR only in 1972 i.e form 4 . I met Omar in JB during Mohamad Saleh's reception three month's ago. He is working in JB but residing in Singapore. Thus he commutes daily from Singapore to JB. I have not heard any news about Zainal Shah since then.

End of Part 3 (To be continued)

2009-06-15T08:11:00.000+08:00

Tokonang Den (2)

2009-06-12T17:23:00.000+08:00

I remembered once incident happened to me about 9 years ago. I was in my office in Jalan Dato Onn, Kuala Lumpur (the old JPM Compleks) when I received a call and was told that the partner for Teh & Azlina, a lawyer’s firm, wanted to speak to me. Well, due the nature of work, I received a lot of calls, mostly from Merchant Bankers and lawyers. So, when finally, the call was connected and a lady by the name of Azlina introduced herself, I just took it as a stride and as the usual routine. But when she asked me whether she could asked me a personnel question, I was a bit worried but nevertheless said yes she could. She asked me whether I was from STAR and knew a person by the name of Azlan. Well, there are many Azlans in STAR. Azlan the headboy in 1973 (Azlan Ally Oops), Azlan Hashim) (Dato’ from batch 73 or could be other Azlans as well. She continued and said that, if I couldnot recalled, he brother asked her to mention the name Azlan ‘Nonoh’! Oh yes, of course I knew who Azlan Nonoh was!. Our on Azlan Hashim (Dato’).! The term ‘nonoh’ came about due to his flabby breast as if it contained nonoh (nanah!). But I couldnot recalled who was the ‘inventor’ of this glamour name. Azlan, is the youngers amongst us, batch 73. He joined us a year after we made our entry at STAR in the Remove Class. There were a few others as well who joined a year later as Azlan’s such as Kamarshah and Tengku Zainuddin.

Towards the later years of our ‘adventure’ in school, we definitely had acclimatised and felt very comfortable studying in a fully boarding school. We had learnt the tricks and antics, knew the dos and the donts as well as the hows to survive. When you were younger and at the lower grades, you quickly finished your meal and left quickly for classes or preps or whatever activities you were planning to do. But not when you have created a kingdom out of the dining hall. Yes sir, the routine changed when you were seniors and the dining hall was at your mercy. You could see then few guys who went round and ‘collect food’ (left overs). Of course, the favourite time and the favourites meals had got to be breakfast when nasi lemak or nasi goreng was served. The ‘sambal daging’ and ‘sambal sardin’ served then could even challenged the dish prepared by Chef Wan!! There many candidates but Norizan Tan Sali (Cik Jan) won the accolades and was given the famous nickname of ‘Cik Jan Kulek (Collect!). Of course, Mat Dollah fought hard to win the title but Cik Jan was the obvious choice!

Zainuddin Mohd. Yusof or Cik Jai was a quite guy. Nonetherless, nobody will ever had the chance to catch him for Cik Jai was quite a runner. He was the 400 meter runner for Yellow House. And he played sepak takraw – as a tekong, quite well. I was sure that Omar Suhaimi had nohesitation of what so ever in putting down Cik Jai’s name for Yellow House takraw team. But, he had not taken sports rather seriously as his studies. I was not surprised then to see Cik Jai excelled in his studies for he studied hard and was a really hardworking guy. When I was told by Cik Jai , that back in his old school, he drank fresh milk almost everyday, I was dumnfounded but later understood the reason why. Cik Jai came from Pahang, from a village known as Kampong New Zealand. The fresh milk was sponsored by the NZ government!.
It was a kind of formality when he was chosen to study abroad – America after the MCE. The next thing I heard about Cik Jai was that he had died. But I dont really know the details. To Cik Jai., semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat keatas rohmu.., Al-Fatihah.

End of Part 2 (To be continued).

Polling Results

2009-06-08T13:37:00.000+08:00

Not many supported the idea of the gathering cum birthyear celebration planned for next year. Sad to say only 1 participated in the poll and he had opted for Penang or Cameron Highland.
I need to discussed this idea further with a few guys and for sure we want this gathering to materialise!! Bet you.

Tokonang den!

2009-06-08T11:27:00.000+08:00

This was another photograph taken at the Ipoh railway station before we departed home after our MCE Examination. The shot was taken by Aminuddin AHK (Dr.) He posted the photo to me and even had a message inscribed behind it, ' My flight is on 23rd. (December 1973) at 6pm. It's only 2 hrs more. I'm rushing now. See you later, pal! He was leaving for Australia to do his matriculation.

Whenever I had a look at this photograph, especially that of Syed Azuddin and Shahrin Shuib(both Arwahs), it reminded me of the school talentime that batch 73, as the Third Formers then, organised after our Lower Certificate Examination (LCE). Me, together with Wan Husin and Syed Azuddin, we formed a trio and entered the talentime. I guessed we were not brave enough to sing alone and opted to form a trio! Our group was called 'Mick, Joe and Hengkie'!. For the semi final, we sang 'Five Hundred Miles' from the group Peter Paul and Marry. I had never appeared on stage before let alone singing and was terribly nervous when I looked down, I could see the two judges - Ms. Foong Pek Wann and Sdr. Mutalib (our senior). Anyway, we got into the final and delivered the song 'Leaving On A Jet Plane' also by Peter Paul and Marry. We must have sounded terrible for we did not win anything but the time spent with Wan Husin and Syed during that period was a memory second to none, the one I will cherished forever. After 1973, I totally lost contact with Syed and by the time I asked around, he was already gone. But nobody seemed to know how and when. Anyway, the talentime was won by Arwah Kutik for the solo event. He sang "Green green grass of home' popularised by Tom Jones of course and the group event was won by Lan Chik, Kutik and two others (couldn't reacalled them). They rendered a song popularised by an Indonesian group called Clique Fantastique entitled Puteri Gunung.

Shahrin Shuib, together with Zainudin Omar (Ogi), both of them stole Tiger Lane musical limelight. Together, they formed a duo that mesmerized the school.. They loved performing and the antics as well as the showmanship that both of them showed on stage could even won the respect of Adlin Aman Ramli or Paul Moss of One In A Million. If only we had such a TV programme such as Mentor or Akademi Fantasia or One In A Million then, I believed Zainuddin or Shahrin could even be one of the winners! Shahrin sure was one hell of a character. He loved 'studying' the dictionary and the small 'general knowledge' book! I remembered when we were in the remove class, he used to flipped and browsed thru the dictonary as if he was reading a novel! I was the least surprised when he chose journalism as a career. He even won a quiz show for University students organised by RTM! When I heard on the demise of Shahrin and that he was alone at home when he died, I could not but felt sorry for him.

To Syed Azuddin and Shahrin .. al-Fatihah.

Ramlan Malek was the quiet type. Even when we were playing football for the school Under 16, he will let his 'feet' do all the talking on the field. There was one occassion though I remembered most of Ramlan. It was during MCE exam week, when he and Ahmad Abu Khair came into my room, both looking rather angry and upset. Apparently, they were arguing over a petty matter - the right to be refunded of money already paid for a party organised by then Fifth Formers. Ramlan wanted to back out and in principal argued that he had the right to request for the refund since he wont be going to the party. He must have been really upset in finding that the organiser had invited girls from the Convent School as well as a bunch of Minah Kilang nearby. Abu Khair totally disagreed with Ramlan and the way he drummed his point upsetted Ramlan. I was caught in between and had to play it smart. Lucky me, I was reading then a book called 'The Art Of Influencing People" by Dale Carnergy. I applied one the technique told by Carnegy, and presto!! it worked. I managed to convinced Ramlan without insulting and humiliating him and not even hinting or suggesting that I supported Abu Khair. Ramlan saw my argument and the logic and he left my room a happy boy (I thought so!). That was my last encounter with Ramlan. Ramlan is doing extremely well in his life. He is such a 'big' and 'powerful guy' right now in Petronas and deservedly so.

(End of Part I) .. to be continued

No Joke No Fun..

2009-05-29T06:00:00.000+08:00

Guillotine

Three men stood on the platform waiting their turn to be beheaded by guillotine: a priest, a lawyer and an engineer.
The priest was taken to the block first and when asked if he wanted to face up or down, he said he wanted to face up to see God when the blade struck. He was placed on the block with his face up as requested and the huge blade was dropped, but the blade stopped an inch above his neck! The crowd gasped. It was considered a sign of his innocence and he was freed.
The lawyer was then led to the block and asked the same question. He said he wanted to face down to see where he was going when the blade struck. He was placed on the block with his face down and the huge blade was dropped, but again it stopped an inch above his neck! The crowd gasped! As before, this was considered a sign of his innocence and he was freed.
When the engineer was led to the block and asked which way he wanted to face, he said he wanted to face up, so he was placed on the block with his face up looking at the blade and scaffolding holding it. Seconds before the blade dropped, he turned his head toward the executioner and said, "STOP! I think I see what the problem is."

2009-05-28T14:28:00.000+08:00

From STAROBA.org.

Omar Suhaimi: Trailblazing Across Continents
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 17:20
Omar Suhaimi, one of the first PETRONAS men to manage an overseas operation, tells HELEN ANN PETERS what it was like belonging to the elite group who formed the vanguard of the national oil corporation's push for recognition and fame beyond national boundaries.
"We succeeded because of the belief and trust the management of PETRONAS had in us, coupled with our willingness to learn and blaze a trail" - Omar Suhaimi Abu Hassan

..MORE http://http://www.staroba.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage

It's football time!

2009-05-28T12:00:00.000+08:00

Early tomorrow morning, football fans throughout the world (almost), will be watching the much awaited Champion's League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona. Who will win this prestigous trophy, has yet to be known. pundits already throwing their money on United. Was it bcos of Ronaldo? or was it Rooney? Is Messi or Niesta going the steal the show from Rooney and Ronaldo? We'll see. It could be the night of the unsung heroes. Carrick or even Park J Sung could turn the magic for United. But I.m sure we gonna enjoyed the game. One thing for sure I'll be watching the game at home with my two sons. Too late (or too early) to go and watch the final at the 'Mamak's al-Maju' restaurant.

Talking about football, reminded me of the footballing years in Tiger Lane. We were crazy about football then. There were no Ronaldos or Rooneys or Giggs or Messis then. But the little plot of graas field between Green House and the school building (opposite the bathroom/toilets) was the place where we showed our talent. We produced some good footballers mind you. Sakaf Manaf was very good in dribbling and ball controll. He did wonders even within the tiny 'playing field!. i even wonder, until now, how come he never played for the school team. Even Shoib and Awe Adek learnt their football traits here. But sad to say, Green house never won the inter-house football game!.

When we were in Form Two, a game was organised by 'crazy and fanatic English football fans'. It was between 'Chelsea' and 'Leeds. The craze was because in 1970, Chelsea came out as F.A. Cup winners in Wembley beating Leeds 2-1 in a pulsating final (as was reported by the papers). We tried to emulate that scenario in Tiger Lane and organised the game. Among the 'Leeds' players were Arwah Kutik, Yunus, Mohd Nor Hassan, Lan Chik. For 'Chelsea' we had Awe Adek (he fantasized himself as Charlie Cook!) and Arwah Radhi Majid and Mutalib just to name a few. We imagines ourselves to the likes of Peter Osgood, Peter Lorimer, Peter Bonetti, Billy Bremner, Allan Clarke etc. There were no Drogba nor Lampard nor Ballack nor John Terry at that time!!

One player I admired most was Arwah Kutik. He was such a fantastic sportsman that he almost excelled in whatever game he played. He was the school and Perak under 18 goalkeeper, when most of us were struggling in the lower grades, i.e playing for the school under 16! Fancy that!. He even played rugby for the senior side after palying for a while with the under 16. But I had 2 wonderful memories on scoring goals against Kutik. Mind you he was 'the goalie' at the time! Both goals were more or less scored at the same spot and using the same techniques. Kutik must have thought at the time that I for sure would crossed the ball, since he had covered the angle, but instead lobbed the ball over him and scored the goals. He 'kena' twice, one during a game proper and one was a game during PE class. I was rather astonished when Rashid told me that he recalled the 'incidence' - of me scoring against Kutik during PE class. It was indeed a compliment when he said that.

Batch 73 did produce football players for the school, be it under 16 or under 18. We had Arwah Kutik, Arwah Radhi Majid, Wan Manshol, Mutalib, Yunus, Mohd Nor Hassan, Mohamad Saleh, Lan Chik, Ramlan Malek and Mail Gebang. We enjoyed the game and what mattered most was the comradeship, the thrive for winning and spirit of sportmanship.

For Arwah Kutik and Arwah Radhi Majid... al-Fatihah.

Memories

2009-05-25T12:46:00.000+08:00

This photograph was taken in Johore Bahru in conjunction with the wedding reception in Pasir Gudang Complex hosted by Mohamad Saleh sometime in Mac this year. All four of us - Che Wan, Rashid, Rahim and myself - drove down to JB specially for the occassion. Rustam, Wan Husin and Omar Suhaimi were already there when we arrived. Syukur Alhamdullilah, it was a pleasure indeed to be given the opportunity to see Tumiran and Syed Hamid Bashah again. It was a gratifying, satisfying and emotional moment for me, personally, to be able to meet Mohamad Saleh, Omar Abdullah, Tumiran and Syed Hamid after 'hibernating' for 36 years!! Others in the picture included Hassan Ahmad (Batch 69) and Yusof Osman (Batch 72)as well as Juniors such as Ghani and Akbar. Saleh Jais (Batch 73, Arts Class) was also there, but unfortunately was not in the picture. We waited for Wak Khairuddin but we had to leave for KL without seeing Wak. But we did manage to see Wak at Halim Daud's reception at Selayang Baru though.

Mistaken identity?

2009-05-25T12:07:00.000+08:00

When I browsed thru the group photo taken at the Ipoh Railway station, I came to realise perhaps the guy I pointed out to be Che Chop Bakar is not really him. Che Chop couldn't be that tall as compared to Yunus. Could the person be Che Chop Muhammad? Or could it be Nik Aziz? (who joined us after Form 4? Arts class). I hope someone can help me with this.

Announcement

2009-05-22T12:17:00.000+08:00

Old Boys Weekend for 2009 is scheduled on the 26th to 28th of June, 2009. Please save these dates in your organizer to ensure the dates do not conflict with other events. This year's event is organised by Batch 89. For those interested in attending the gathering, you can now register online. Click HERE to register online and a free (very nice black t-shirt) t-shirt is to be given away to the first 100. Fee is at RM50.00 and is payable via ATM Cash Deposit or ATM 3rd Party Fund Transfer (Maybank or CIMB).

_____________________

Heard that a few guys already preoaringthe trip up North for the Homecoming gathering. Insya-Allah, God blessing we'll be there!

Congratulations

2009-05-21T15:17:00.001+08:00

Hope it is not that late to congratulate both, Awe (Dato Dr. Awang Adek Husin) and Yeh (Dato Idris Jusoh) on winning the UMNO EXCO seats during the last UMNO General Assembly held in March 2009. Awe went further and was entrusted and eventually appointed the Deputy Minister of Finance, a post he held prior to his lost in the March 2008 General Election. Yeh is still the Chairman of MARA, though. CO73 is proud of you guys. Keep it up. A mere coincidence!? Both of them were from Green House and were roomates at the 'cube'. A pantun for both of you though..,

'Berbunga lebat pohon rambutan

Hinggap tempua berjuntai kaki

Bila dapat memandang bulan

Jangan lupa rumput dikaki'.

Memories

2009-05-21T14:58:00.001+08:00

_________
Photograph taken at the Ipoh Railway Station in 1973, before we left home after our Malaysian Certificate of Education (MCE).

Opening remarks

2009-05-21T01:18:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the homepage of MySeventyThree.