The Reception.

The Venue: Dewan Bankuet,

                      Wisma MBSA,

                      Persiaran Perbandaran,

                      Section 8,

                      Shah Alam.

Date: 31 July 2016 SUNDAY.

Sharp at 0900 hrs, we arrived at the Banquet Hall while the Cleaners were busy vacuuming the carpeted flooring and spring clean the premise. I checked all the settings ensuring everything were systematically in order.  The four (4) RELA personnel reported and I briefed them about their duty. Got acquainted with MBSA Security personnel on duty and told them about the timing of the day programmed. 

At about 1000 hrs, the Catering Services arrived and they started setting the buffet table on both sides of the Banquet Hall. The Gamelan Group, the Photo Booth and the Ice Cream stall started setting their equipments. The PA system was tested. We got two (2) hours to spare as the Program commenced at 1200 hrs. Members of the Reception Committee headed by YM Raja Sahar started to take their posts.

The Banquet Hall was set up with eight (8) Guests seated with the Wedded at the VIP table on stage, four (4) Dome tables for the Bridegroom entourage, two (2) Dome tables designated for Family Members, one  (1) Dome tables Reserved for distinguish Guests and another Dome Table reserved for my Senior siblings. Two (2) tables were reserved for my ex Guthrie colleague and the rest thirty six (36) tables was free for all. Six (6) tables were reserved at the elevated Orchestra Deck however it was never occupied or utilized.

 At 1130 hrs, I set myself and changed to the Baju Melayu and sampin, fully Malay attired.

By 1145hrs, the first Guest walked in and ushered into the Banquet Hall.

From thereon, the Guest started trickling in. My Mother arrived and directed her to occupy seated closest to the Main Stage at Table No 1, of the Family Members. She was joined by my Aunty (Hajjah Lun Hanizah) and sister in law (Hajjah Zawiyah Rahman).

The wedded couple was preparing themselves at Corcorde Hotel, nearby.

My good friend Hj Termizi Adnan Omar was all set and stood by at nearby Concorde Hotel, waiting for my green light, timing of arrival at the Dewan Banquet Lobby. I took off my hat to Hj Termizi Adnan Omar (Guthrie colleague) as he agreed to drive the newlywed couple in his brand new Bluetec Hybrid Mercedes to the Banquet Hall.

My Guest of Honor was Hostel mate, Dato Dr Syed Jaafar Aznan – Toh Muda Orang Kaya Besar Maharaja DiRaja Perak (ORANG BESAR 4 PERAK) but he refused to be allotted at the VIP table. He preferred to be seated with Dato Malek Ahmad and Haji Awang Shariff - another Hostel mates. YBhg Dato felt more comfortable, lacking all the formal protocols.

My senior siblings, Tuan Hj Amran Hamid and Encik Jamaluddin Hamid attended with their siblings instead. Apparently their respective wives were regrettably indisposed.

Guests started streaming in, and my hands were full with the appearance of the kampong folks, Hostel/classmates, ex Guthrie, 1999 Haj mate, relatives, friends and umrah Jemaah. I was unable to disappear from the Main entrance as Guests were arriving and leaving. 

I really appreciate the presence of Ir Hj Bakhtiar (Melaka) and Harith Takiman (Seremban) who both came with the four studded walking stick due to a recent stroke. Hajah Kaslinah wife of Hj Fisol (Sungai Petani) came in with wheel chair. Tuan Haji Kadir Al Patani of Medina postponed his return trip to Medina, Saudi Arabia. Tuan Hj Faharauddin ex Imam of Masjid Gombak came in a wheel chair, assisted by his son Dr Sharifuddin. Tuan Haji just lost his beloved wife on the 1^st. day of Aidilfitri. Allahyarhamah Hajjah Rogayah had pledged that she would attend to the wedding. I was very sad she was not to be. 

My VIP Guests, Professor Dato Dr Ikram Said, Datin Azizar Osman, Dato Abas Abd Rahman, Datin Maimunah Majid, Puan Rokiah Abdullah - the Bridegroom’s Mother and her children arrived and ushered to the VIP Lounge, waiting for the arrival of the newly wed.

The Wedded couple arrived sharp at 1220 hrs, right on time (thank you, Ah Chong) and the Program started from thereon.

a)      The Bridegroom entourage was invited to take their seats at the allocated four (4) Tables.

b)      The VIP ushered into the Hall and seated in front of the stage.

c)      The wedded entered the Hall and stride slowly on the red carpet towards the bridal dais as Tuan Haji Imam Khairuddin recited the selawat nabi.

d)      The newlywed sat on the Throne of the Day.

e)      Tuan Haji Imam Khairuddin recited the Doa Selamat.

f)       We discarded adat merinjis and replaced with upacara restu by close family members of the Wedded.

g)      The newlywed and the VIP Guests adjourned to the Dining Table for the adat makan beradab.

h)      The Host (your’s truly) took to the rostrum and delivered the thank you speech.

i)        Adat memotong pulut kuning (yellow glutinous rice) by the Wedded. We got away with cake cutting ceremony.

j)       The wedded couple went down stage, presented and fed a piece of the pulut kuning to their Grandmother, Puan Hajjah Neh Lasiah (My Mother). Symbolically, the highest respect to the eldest of the clan.

k)      After coffee, the VIP Guest adjourned, comingled with acquaintance.

l)       Photo session with family and friends.

The whole event was video recorded by Siti Nurhaliza Production (thank you, Muzaffar) and the Photographer was Eddy Photo/Video. Shasha was also busy clicking away the Lumix Panasonic camera that I delegated to her to handle.

I was glad Hajjah Sabrinawati came all the way from Kota Kinabalu, Datin Zainab ascended from Brinchang Cameron Highland, Haji Fisol & family from Sungai Petani and Dato Malik Hussein & Datin Faridah from Pasir Gudang, johor. From Taman TAR, Ampang, my childhood buddy YM Raja Rosdin came with his wife Roshaini Mustafa and sister YM Datin Raja Zainara. I was very glad to meet YM Datin Raja Zainara’s daughter and granddaughter.

   

There were latecomers like Dato Panglima Daud Ariffin and Hajjah Rosni & Hj Sahar to name a few. They were at Open House somewhere.

To all my Guests who make their way to my Reception – THANK YOU. To those who attended with walking sticks, on wheel chairs and distance away, our sincere gratitude. I am sorry to those who lost their directions. 

     

My last Guest came in closed to 1600 hrs and there were still food to serve. Overall food to cater for about a thousand (1000) Guests was adequate as we ordered two hundred (200) pieces of fried chicken as contingency. The children were enjoying themselves with ice cream and cendol. It seems the Malay kuih and cookies were washed out prematurely as we had brownies, bengka ubi, cucurbadak and bahulu kemboja. Somebody asked “Where is the tapai?” I answered “NO WAY…..some might go high”.

Photography session – the Wedded got tied up as everyone, family, relatives and friends wanted to record the auspicious day with the pengantin at the pelamin. A Wedding is only one Day.

We managed to squeeze a moment to record memories of the Hamid’s clan that presence, the three (3) generations. However, it was not a full quorum; at least we recorded as furlong memories. Many years down memory lane, a story can be narrated, who and who and who and why was not in the album. 

     

My Mother and my junior siblings soon left for home to Ipoh, Taiping and Bagan Serai respectively. I was glad my Mother was presence to witness the wedding reception of her eldest Granddaughter. I was very delighted making her presence as comfortable as I could. Her presence was prime importance and I saw her right to the car. I wish she could stay longer to join us for the Johor counter reception but her health is her handicap.

Session closed shop sharp at 1600 hrs and the Catering Services wrapped up.

We too had a lot of packing to do. All empty carton boxes were removed and the Hall was left spick and span otherwise the RM 2000.00 deposits would be deducted. Thank you to my wife’s niece, Dayang Maisarah Azlan who merrily drove her father’s van to clear all the leftovers. She was my strongest and most reliable hand, my darling, often went missing but suddenly cheekily appeared.

At 1730 hrs I did a dual inspection with the MBSA Supervisor and fully satisfied with the Hall conditions. I left to the Planner to dismantle the Tahta Raja Sehari.

Overall……..the wife and I were very happy about the Reception. Everything went well, the food was adequate, delicious as the general comment and the weather was perfect. Everyone seems to love the sambal sotong and rendang daging.

The Event Manager, Muzaffar Mustapa kept the timing precisely.

My cousin cheekily commented that my speech was like khutbah Jumaat (laughter) but Pak Wan Azman commented otherwise, it was great as I spoke in three (3) languages, Arabic, Malay and English.

Syukur Alhamdullillah. (Thank you, Allah). We can’t afford a five star Hotel Banquet Hall but the one we organized catered for all walk of people.

One had passed and one more to go. Many are looking forward to that one. So…..Muzaffar, when will we be seeing the Sultan sitting on the Throne?

Poor Shasha……she was flat…………soon she arrived home, grabbed the pillow.

My special thank to Encik Roslan Musa (sister law’s brother) – Timbalan Pengarah of MBSA who personally ensured that MBSA staff provided an excellent service and facilities to make our Reception a success. 

 

Phew!! I am glad it was over, BUT we have one more in Johor.