Batch '73 - Reunion

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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.