Nostalgic Reunion.

A Reunion of GESS Tapah Hostelites.

Amran Din mooted the idea of having a reunion among the 1960 – 1965 Hostelites and the date was unanimously agreed on 11 June 2015 (Thursday) at Sukho Thai Restaurant at Bukit Beruntung starting at 1000hrs. Amran Din played host and he made all the arrangement with the Restaurant.

Messages and words went around among the Hostelites of that era, hoping to round up as many as possible but only seventeen (17) managed to make themselves presence. They came as far as Ipoh and Port Klang. For a start it was not bad after all, as precedence had been set and photographs to witness how a buddy of the 60s looks like now. Some went bald and some with zinc roofing. It was a nostalgic rendezvous after about half a century ago. 

The attendees were: Amran Din (Host), Mustapa Hamid, Malik Ahmad, Daud Ariffin, Awang Shariff, Aziz Osman, Manan Buyung, Hatim Tai, Rahman Surur, Shaari, Desa Hamid, Jefrul Tariqh, Syed Jaafar, Kamaruddin Shaari, Fuad, Roslan Hashim and Rahman Jalaluddin.

(All Datukship, Royal title conferred and Military rank were left at the Bukit Beruntung toll gate and we were all reverting to the 60s).

The program for the day was brunch, eat and drink while chatting. Food came second; old time story rewind and laughter broke. Manan Buyung and Desa Hamid sang the same old bathroom song. Karaoke set would come handy at the next reunion.

Old friends that had returned to the Kingdom of Allah were not the least forgotten. Amran Din, who hosted the Reunion and stayed at the Hostel from 1959 – 1964, was given the privilege reading out the list of our fallen heroes. It was twenty three (23) of them as per list compiled by Mustapa Hamid. Malik Ahmad was given the honor to lead the Alfateehah and the Doa Tahlil.

Host....AMRAN DIN.

The Doa Tahlil.

For the sake of those who failed to attend, following were our comrade that had left us:

Mohamad Abdullah, Sulaiman Sahab, Hamzah De Souza, Fadzli Tajuddin, Jamaluddin Tajuddin, Zahari Yahya, Suhaimi Hj Osman, Ngah Abdul Wahab, Salam Sarijo, Syed Tajul Ariffin, Baniamin Jalaluddin, Fahami Yahya, Tamrin Yahya, Zulkifli Taib, Yaakub Abdul Rahman, Shaharuddin Basir, Haranai Mohd Nor, Shamsuddin Basrah, Muhamad @ Mokmek, Manap, Hashim Hawari Mustafa, Syed Zainal, Baharuddin Hj Rahim.

Alfateehah…….may their soul be group among the almukminin.

After the short doa tahlil, a group photograph to commemorate the Nostalgic Reunion.

The Attendees.

(Daud Ariffin, was MIA, left earlier as he had an important appointment at the Golf Course).

Here are some photographs taken during the Reunion.

 THOSE WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

At 1245 hrs Malik and I had to excuse ourselves as we had an appointment in Sungkai.

The Reunion broke up at 1430 hrs and Manan Buyung has in mind organizing similar at his Dusun Durian during the next fall. Insyaalah. Care to join us.

Footnote:

Among us, there was Brigadier General, CEO, Senior Government/Police/Military Officers, Contractors, Chef, Politicians and above all Toh Muda Orang Kaya Besar Maharaja DiRaja but we were just like during the good old Hostel days. Almost all had retired except the Contractors and the Politician.    

Shocking.

Malaysians saw what happened in Nepal lately. The world at that part of the world shook and many lost their lives as well as complete destruction of infrastructures and monuments. Mt Everest, the highest peak in the world trembled and several Climbers either perished or stranded. A silent prayer of sukur alhamdullillah as my son was in the Pokhara area, mountain hiking a couple of months back.

Mountain supposes to be the nail of the earth and the highest mountain of the world gave way to Allah’s command. Kun faya kun.

It was least expected, that earthquake would struck any part of Malaysia as Malaysia is way off from the Ring of Fire. Yet it happened:

Ranau is very close to Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in the Asean Region and paradise to Climbers to observe the sunrise. The nearest I had been to Mount Kinabalu was at the foothill, Pondok Timpohon Gate at Kinabalu Park.

Sixteen (16) Climbers found dead and two (2) still missing arising from the mishap.

Due to the sudden and least expected mishap, the Malaysian Rescue Unit was not properly prepared and equipped to address the situation. The hazy cloud covering Mt Kinabalu worsen the situation.

I must render my tribute and appreciation to the Kinabalu Porters and Guide (Malim Gunung) who guided the stranded Climbers up on the peak to the Midway Station, Laban Rata. As the route down was cut off, the Porters improvise a detour for safe passage to Laban Rata and finally down to Timpahon Gate. Injured Climbers were piggy back. They were the UNSUNG HEROES.

  

Roads and buildings around affected area also suffers severe damage.

Mt Kinabalu Before & After.

The Donkey's ears got chipped off.

The natives of Sabah are very upset as Mount Kinabalu had been indecently molested recently. Some European Climbers stripped naked to celebrate their success. This is taboo and angered the spirit of nabalu and Mount Kinabalu shook. 

DONT FOOL AROUND WITH MT KINABALU.

Impromptu Get Together.

It started when Dato Malik Ahmad called me to join him for breakfast on 01 June 2015 somewhere in Shah Alam as Kasim Hamid from Johore Baharu was in town. I suggested that we should invite Dato Syed Jaafar along as I have not met Syed since 1963.

I drove to Dato Malek’s residence and I jumped into his car. Kasim Hamid came with Lutfi Tajuddin, Dato Syed Jaafar drove all the way from Taman Tun Ismail KL and the meeting point was UMNO Building Shah Alam. We adjourned to Azira Restaurant Section 10.

The Get Together.

Later, Desa Hamid, arrived from Cheras KL. In the midst of the get together, I remembered YM Raja Malik and I called him to join us. He consented and I was very glad to see him since December 1961. He is currently staying in Section 2 Shah Alam.

YM Raja Malik (light purple shirt).

Desa Hamid (the bald head) talking to YM Raja Malik.

The two Datuks......Datuk Syed Jaafar and Datuk Malik Ahmad.

Alhamdullillah…….five (5) decades later, we were able to see each other faces again, up and about. We chatted about the good old Hostel days. Even the binjai tree at the Hostel perimeter fence was remembered. We recollected some faces and inquire their where about and wellbeing. Comrades that had gone back to the Kingdom of Allah were also remembered. 

Some had their bypass and some with stent installed. I personally survived a mild stroke in 2003. Dato Syed Jaafar was in Saudi Arabia for eight (8) years on His Majesty’s Service, performed Haj five (5) times and entered the Holy Kaabah twice. Only Allah forsaken human beings have that opportunity. Kasim Hamid is retired and currently a Pro at Royal Johore Golf Course and jokingly his fees is only RM 50 per session, unlimited hours.

It was a very nice and memorable impromptu get together and surely glad meeting the good old buddies. I hope we have several get together of this nature and am looking forward that Amran Din of Bukit Beruntung is going to organize one on 11 June 2015, just before Ramadan. It is very interesting meeting someone whom you have not met for ages.