To the Holy Land.

Today, before the Friday Prayer, I got the flight schedule of my impending pilgrimage to the Holy Land during the month of Ramadhan.

27 August 2008 SV 835 ETD KLIA 1455 ETA JED 1815

04 October 2008 SV 830 ETD JED 2250

05 October 2008 ETA KLIA 1450

Flight schedule on 27 August is from KLIA to Jeddah and on 04 October from Jeddah to KLIA. I would be spending the whole month of September 2008 in Saudi Arabia and would be celebrating the Hari Raya in the Holy City of Mekah. GOD willing, insyaallah, I would be back in Malaysia on the 5^th. Hari Raya.

To all my Muslim friends and readers, I am wishing you, Selamat Berpuasa and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf dzahir dan batin.

I performed my Friday prayer today at Kampong Raja Uda. The sermon touched on current status of Al Aqsa Mosque in Palestine. Al Aqsa is the third holiest Mosque to the Muslims and the Muslim original kiblat was towards this Mosque. The ascension of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) started from this Mosque. It is now under the strict control of the Israel regime, occupied 39 years ago and an insult to all Muslims. This was the case when Muslims or Arabs in particular in the region was not united. We, Malaysian Muslims are not able to visit and pray in this Holy Mosque of Al Aqsa because of non diplomatic relation with the Israeli regime. I seek to the Almighty Allah that one fine day I would be able to pray in the Al Aqsa Mosque. Insyaalah.

GESB & KGB

When I arrived at Guthrie Export Sdn Bhd, Port Klang the construction of the new Palm Oil Terminal was 75% completed. My function now was to oversee the construction according to the plan. Any deviation, I had to report to Guthrie Management Services and they would take it up with Kumpulan Guthrie. I had to submit weekly and monthly progress report. It was a difficult task in some way or other. I had to handle the Contractor and the Client, Kumpulan Guthrie. The Contractor as usual would try to cut corner but I had to serve my Employer as well as the client. Most instances, I had to refer and leave it to my Client’s Project Engineer discretion. The construction dragged on exceeding my contractual period and I was requested to stay put. It was completed in early 1978 and was commissioned.

There was not much teething problem as the capacity was only 11,800 metric ton and there were only 7 storage tanks. Staff and workers training made simpler as majority of them had experienced working in Terminal operations. However, there was no crude palm oil to store. Export of crude palm oil fell short due to local consumption and Palm Oil Refineries was mushrooming. Alternatively, we rented and stored palm kernel oil for outsiders. At time, we also utilize the storage tank for blending purposes before delivering to the Palm Oil Refineries. Off specification oil could be made on specification by blending proportionately with good oil. We called it cocktail and I was the Master Blender. The Buyer could not complain as the deliveries were on spec. It was an achievement if the blended spec fell just on the border line. Looking back, sometimes, I smiled. Was I cheating? Nope, I don’t think so because the deliveries specification was as per contract.

In April 1979, I was absorbed into Kumpulan Guthrie Sdn Bhd. There was one lady Executive in Personnel who initially objected to my recruitment. I was not an Engineer or a graduate. However, the Marketing Director and another Executive in Personnel overruled her. Later, in March 1985 with the recommendation of the Distribution Manager and approved by the Executive Director Admin & Personnel, my services was backdated to 1^st August 1977, the day I was seconded to Guthrie Export Sdn Bhd. I think I have proven of my capability and sincerity towards the Company.

I was appointed as Installation Executive, reporting to and assisting the Manager of GESB. In addition to the Palm Oil Installation, GESB also had a Latex Installation as well. Since latex operation was new to me, I had to understudy the operation. I was back on training ground, from the rubber tree, processing factories, transportation, storage and shipment. Latex operation was very much different from petroleum and crude palm oil. I was now, back to working at abnormal hours. Export shipment operation could be at any time and any day. I had to attend to this operation till completion.

One day after the King Birthday in 1981 both Latex and Palm Oil Installation suffered a complete shutdown. There was explosion in the Port area and metal splinters from oxyacetylene tanks broke through both Offices. Luckily it happened at 3 in the morning and the Port as well as the Installations was on port closed holiday. I was awakened by the Security Guard who cycled to my bungalow and shook my gate for my immediate attention. I had no house phone less hand phone then. Tuan, Tuan, Guthrie sudah habis. I was shocked when I arrived on site and more shocked when the daybreak, death occurred just at the fringe of the Palm Oil Installation. The town of Port Klang was in panic state like war zone, where rumors flying that the fire now closing to a Petroleum storage tank. As for GESB, the damage was only on the building and we resumed normal operation within 3 days.

On several occasions, I was the Acting Manager and finally on 1^st January 1990, I was promoted to Managerial status but not the Manager of GESB. Sound peculiar? Yes, it was. That’s how the system worked.

Finally on 1^st August 1990, I was transferred to the Head Office as Distribution Manager (Rubber & Latex) at the Marketing Division. The Distribution Manager, who was just retired was the last Mat Salleh in the Head Office. Initially, the position was for the Manager, GESB but he declined due to health reasons. There was no additional perk involved, as I was already on Managerial position. The advantages were, I now worked on 5 day week and able to rub shoulders with the higher hierarchy in the Head Office. I had to take up golf to entertain or to be entertained.

The Distribution Manager was the middleman between the Marketing personnel, Production personnel, Overseas Subsidiaries and Buyers. Marketing negotiated the sales and I have to plan with the processing factories, the quantity and grades of latex and rubber to produce for shipments or to the local Buyers. I have to coordinate with the Latex and Rubber Factories and once a month, I normally visit the Factory. I had 2 Executives and about 20 staff including the Penang Office. I was answerable to the Marketing Director. I commuted from Port Klang to the Head Office daily and I normally hit the road at 6.30 am to avoid the traffic jam. I finished work at 6 pm and while waiting for the traffic to clear, the Marketing chap normally got together for “short one” at the nearest joint. That was the time we met and socialize with other Traders from other plantation companies. From Monday to Friday, I normally did not see the sun in Port Klang. On Saturday was a golf day and Sunday was the only day for the family.

On 1^st. May 1996, I was designated as Manager Distribution & Installation. I had to cover both the Distribution Department at Head Office and GESB Port Klang. I covered Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Head Office and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at GESB Port Klang. It was an additional responsibilities, surely went with additional remuneration. My base was Port Klang and I could claim mileage for trips to the Head Office. However, 6^th January 1997, the Distribution Department changed hand to Controller Rubber Marketing and I was to solely responsible of GESB. I am now back to where I begun on 1^st August 1997.

On 1^st January 2000 I was promoted to Senior Manager. On 21^st November 2000, I was shocked to receive the Notice Letter to retire on 17^th December 2000. Normally the Notice of Retirement was 3 months. Since in October, I did not receive any notice, I presumed my service would be extended and moreover I had a verbal understanding with the Director Plantation, my Reporting Officer that my service would be extended for at least a year. My Assistant would then be capable enough to replace me. To my horror, he was sending an Estate Manager for my replacement. I wanted to retire earlier as I had my annual leave in lieu. My request was rejected and KGB was willing to pay me in lieu of the annual leave. I had to train the Estate Manager on the total aspect of operating both the Latex and Palm Oil Installation. It was a different ball game at all and was like putting a square peg in a round hole. I spent the whole month of December 2000 training him. Later, I found out that the Management wanted to penalize him but why I became the victim?

I could only officially retire from GESB on 31^st December 2000 but KGB was still paying me for January 2001 (That was my annual leave pay).

It was indeed a sad ending but never mind; all good things must come to an end. A gratitude to KGB however, I saw the WORLD.

Note: As at 2007 – GESB had closed shop. The Latex Installation was sold and the complex completely flattened. The Palm Oil Installation returned to Lembaga Pelabuhan Klang and now owned by Socfin. The sweet memories of John Duncan, Jack Mantell, Goh Kee Soon and me especially, now gone.

At Guthrie Malaysia Bhd.

Two wonderful events happened in April 1974. I got a son on April Fools Day and a job offer by Guthrie Malaysia Bhd. This company was 70% owned by Guthrie Corporation Limited, London and 30% Malaysian Shareholders. I was recruited by Guthrie Management Services Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Guthrie Malaysia Bhd. The job took me for 6 months training at the Palm Oil Terminal in Singapore Port. My eventual location would be at Pasir Gudang. I was accommodated at Sloane Court Hotel, Balmoral Road, Singapore. The training was to commence on 2^nd May 1974.

Upon reporting at the Terminal, I had so many surprises. The Terminal complex and its storage tanks were so small and few compared to the one I previously worked at Esso. Product stored was only crude palm oil compared to the various hazardous products that I used to handle. The crude palm oil came from various Palm Oil Mills in southern and eastern Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore Port was the transit point before export. In Malaysia during that period of time, only Port Klang and Butterworth Port that had Palm Oil Terminal. My eventual location, Pasir Gudang Palm Oil Terminal owned by Felda Johore Bulkers Sdn Bhd, was still under construction. There was not much training to do and I just got to familiarized myself with the method of crude palm oil shipment. Crude palm oil is non flammable and loading the products to the ship’s tanks was chicken feed. The operation of unloading and loading liquid products was more or less similar what I had experienced. On the administrative sides, I got to understudy stock keeping method and maintaining Supplier’s Ledger. On the engineering aspect, the biggest and complicated equipment, was the Boiler. Boiler was needed to heat up the crude palm oil to 55 degree centigrade during shipment. After 2 weeks of familiarization, I was already on the job, not on training anymore.

Came November 1974, the so called training completed. I was recalled to Kuala Lumpur and assigned to Felda Installation Port Klang with 10 newly recruited Handyman and 2 Stock Clerks. Again, I was accomodated in a Hotel, the famous Jaya Puri in Petaling Jaya. I became the Trainer. The Pasir Gudang Terminal was 95% completed and awaiting for our arrival in December.

In December 1974, I moved my crew to Pasir Gudang and we were responsible to commission the Terminal. I report to the Singapore Terminal Manager, as he was on double Management assignment. My position was Superintendent and I was on secondment to this Terminal. This Terminal own by 70% Felda and 30% by other Plantation Companies. I had to find a house in Masai, the nearest town to Pasir Gudang. Masai then, was like a cowboy town, shop houses still attap roofed. It was a new Port and the loading Jetty was ill equipped. They had no crane and we had to heave the loading hoses manually on board the tanker to the loading manifold manually. Electricity supply often interrupted and we had to rely on the standby generator set. We often experienced water shortage. We received the first drop of crude palm oil from a home trade tanker ex Trengganu. There was a lot of excitement and commotion as this was the first vessel that we were going to handle, as well as the Port. To commemorate, the vessel name was “MV Tutong”. I forgot that we had to adhere to certain marine and custom regulations regarding the arrival and departure of a vessel. I was not trained to be a Shipping Agent. In actual fact, neither did the Port Management. This operation should be handled by appointed Shipping Agent. I had to run around to Johore Baharu where all the Government Offices were located. All went well after that and were receiving and shipping the crude palm oil. On 1^st January, I was promoted to Assistant Terminal Manager and wholly responsible for the Operation Department. Since the Terminal Manager was residing in Singapore, I was fully responsible for the security of the Terminal during non operational hours. The operation of the terminal was simple and straight forward. Crude palm Oil by road tanker arrived, weighed for gross and tare, pumped into the allocated storage tank and the next morning checked whether the quantity receipt more or less tallied with the quantity in the storage tank. The storage tanks were calibrated by certified surveyors. The commissioning went smoothly and so were the operation then. More staff was employed as the quantity handled had increased and we had taken over the shipment which was normally handled by Singapore Port. The hardest part was man management and appropriate tasks assignment. To prevent theft by road tanker at night, I hold the terminal gate key and a spare one in glass box, to be broken only on extreme emergency.

I was approached by one gentleman, one night while I was watching television in my rented house. He requested for my collusion to open the gate to transfer out some oil. I told him, I could do it provided he called my Boss in Singapore and if he said it was okay, I would do it for him. That was the last time, I saw him. After that, I never walked alone in town. One morning, the stock Clerk reported that there was a shortage of 16 ton of oil in the storage tank. I instructed him to re compute the quantity in all the storage tanks and the 16 tons was no where found. All weigh bridge receipts was reconciled and the 16 tons could not be traced. I worked all through the day to solve this shortage and all aspects were covered. Sometimes in the evening, I remembered about the print on duplicate recording at the back of the weighbridge scale reading. Upon scrutinizing, I found similar reading recording of same weight consecutively. That reading involved a16 ton net weight of crude palm oil. At normal instances it was impossible to get these type of recorded readings. I confronted the Weighbridge clerk and he denied of any wrong doing. The next day I made a Police Report and the police Inspector summoned him to the Station. All the truth came out and the modus operandi demonstrated. Smart, but a little bit stupid. He forgot about the duplicate roll. The whole mafia gang was sacked and faced a court trial.

Effective 1^st August 1977, I was assigned on secondment again, for 6 months, to Guthrie Export Sdn Bhd, Port Klang to their under construction Palm Oil Terminal. I was to commission this new terminal and I had to start all over again with the new position as Project Executive. GESB was the subsidiary company of Kumpulan Guthrie Corporation. This time, I moved my family with me to Port Klang. While I was away in Singapore and Pasir Gudang, my family was residing in Port Dickson. I was commuting once every forth night. On one instance, I met with a nasty car accident at the most prone death area of Simpang Rengam. I came out unscathed, but my Volvo 144 was wrecked. Good old BV 2949. I had my safety belt on, even though during that time, ruling on safety belt was not yet implemented. Esso trained me to be safety conscious.

My status as at 1^st August 1977: Employee of Guthrie Malaysia Bhd, serving at Guthrie Management Services Sdn Bhd, now seconded to Kumpulan Guthrie Corporation and its subsidiary, Guthrie Export Sdn Bhd. Sound complicated? I was getting confused

E S S O

They said, Esso stands for Every Saturday Sunday Overtime or Every Saturday Sunday Off. Neither applied to me as a Process Assistant, I was assigned to shift work. I did not know whether the day was Saturday, Sunday or Public Holidays. I worked on the morning shift, 8 to 4, evening shift, 4 to 12 midnight and the graveyard shift, midnight to 8 in the morning.

Reporting to work as a Process Assistant, firstly I had to undergo Basic of Operation Course for one month. I was briefed on the operation of the refinery process and its downstream production. I manually had to undergo the manual operation of gas bottling, filling up lorry tankers, filling up railway tanks, bitumen drumming and basic mechanical practices. There was no automation or conveyor belt during that period of time and I got to manually handle the loading arms and filling noozels. It was tough for a small size man like me. After bottling the gas, I got to check its weight. If I overfilled, I got to purge the gas out and during under filling, the cylinder got to be refilled. It must be of the correct weight for the ultimate consumers.

Having completed the on the job basic of operation, I was put on shift work, under the supervision of Shift Operator and Shift Superintendent. It was on the job training and I had to undergo Four Job Qualifying Program within four years, namely the refinery operation, refinery utilities, oil movement & storage and laboratory testing. An increment of RM 60.00 was awarded for every passing of each Program. Therefore by the fourth year of service, my salary was RM 205.00 + RM 240.00 + shift allowance of RM 30.00. During public holidays, my pay was automatically double. When I incurred overtime work, I was paid overtime pay and food allowance. It was a pleasure to work overtime on public holidays, where the overtime pay was quadruple. In the late 60s and early 70s, that amount of monthly income was considered big. By 1969, I already had my first car, Peugot 204, NC 5122.

The toughest among the Program, was refinery operation. I had to study the chemistry of refining operation and understanding the flow charts. There were jungles of pipe lines crossing each other within the refining unit. These pipelines were control by valves, pneumatic and automatic instruments. As a Trainee, I had to master all the flows and knowing all the locations of instruments pertaining to the subsection of the refining process. Physics and chemistry I studied at Technical Institute, came in handy. This Program was the toughest to pass.

Safety was top priority. I had to attend Safety and Fire Fighting Courses. I was safety attired and fully geared in doing my job. Safety helmet, shoes, goggles and gloves was a must. I must be at all time alert for fire hazard. I was trained to drive and operate the Fire truck and the Ambulance. When the fire siren sounded, the man nearest to the Fire Truck had to jump into the driver’s seat. Sometimes, when I looked back, I smiled to myself, a pint size man, 5 feet in height driving the mammoth Fire Truck. On the other hand, there is a pride in me, not many people had driven a Fire Truck in their life.

Working in the oil refinery operation was not easy. It requires broad as well as brain. Rain or shine I had to be on the spot. Oil samples and measurement from the 40 feet tall storage tank must be extracted even at 2 in the early morning. All alarms from the control panel had to be attended, failing which the smooth refining operation would go hay wire. During working hours, I had no fix time for lunch or dinner. It was subjected to cooperation among those on duty. We took turn to have our meal and the standard ruling, there should be not more than two personnel in the Dining Room at any time. The operation of the refinery should not be left unattended. Someone must be watching the control panel in the Control Room. The Control Room was something like the Control Panel of Cape Kennedy Launching Pad. We took turn to take down readings every hourly.

The function of the Oil, Movement and Storage was to ensure grades for the local market distribution were ready. Quantity ascertained, correct addition of additives, sampled, Lab tested and issuance of quality certificate. I like most when I was assigned to the Loading Pier during shipment. The pier is a concrete island isolated from the shore. Accessible only, by boats or on extreme emergency, I had to jump and swam ashore. I would be myself on the pier and I was the Loading Master. I was the Boss. Once the loading commenced, there was very little to do, except to keep my eyes and ears opened. I received and gave instructions from/to the Refinery by two way telephone connected to the Control Room. When this phone rang, either party must respond immediately. I just supervised the loading operation and interact with the Ship Officers that loading operation went smoothly. On completion, I witnessed the ship gauging, certified the quantity, obtained the required certificates and the ship could sail.

Working environment in the refinery was exceptionally fantastic. The degree of cooperation among the Process Assistants was superb. We traded shift during each other festivals. We could interchange shift if we had something urgent to do. We were mostly bachelors then and we enjoyed together. During our off days, we got together and painted Kuala Lumpur red. We usually rendezvous, at the Clubhouse for a game of gin rummy. We prove to ourselves and the people of Port Dickson that May 13 was utter rubbish. My two good friends then were Angamuthu and Ho Kok Lin.

There were good times and bad times when I was working in Esso. I had two warning letters during my service. One instant, I drove the pick up without a driving license and the other, I overflowed a storage tank. On the first instant, a speedy motorcyclist took the sharp corner and straight went to the pick up. The other, I was in charge during the inter tank transfer and I miscalculated the time taken. The good thing, I was always there whenever my colleague needed help. Esso set me a good training ground and the aspect of learning was by asking a lot of questions with the Seniors. It was mostly on the job training.

Years passing by quietly, now it was 1974. I am now happily married and my first child would be due either March or April. I am now in the 7^th.year of service with Esso. I had to do something for the betterment of my family and I did not expect to keep on doing the same job day in and night out. My social life was in shamble. I worked on shift and my wife was a Government servant.

In February 1974, I attended an interview with Guthrie Malaysia Bhd for a job, destined for the new Port of Pasir Gudang. I got the job as Executive Supervisor and a 6 months training at the Port of Singapore.

Arigato Esso, and goodbye Port Dickson. Singapore, here I come. I remember, I used to see the Mail Train passing by my kampong, and dreaming that, the train will one day take me to Singapura.

From Cambridge to Port Dickson.

I hitch hiked from Cambridge to Port Dickson. You better believe me.

After the Senior Cambridge in 1965, I was restless. No clue what I wanted to do next. You know why? I did poorly in my exam and I fully knew I was going to flunk. I had a fever in the midst of the Exam and I had my sweater on, addressing some of the Exam papers. One option, while waiting for the result in March or April the following year, was to become a Temporary Teacher. That did not sound interesting to me. I was not cut to be a Teacher. I was young, hot tempered and impatient.

One fine morning, 24 December, 1965 with RM 10.00 in my pocket, I decided to leave home, heading to my Aunt’s place in Telok Kemang. My destiny was uncertain. What if I did not get to Telok Kemang? Where was I going to put up the night? I was thinking, at the worst scenario, I would find a Mosque and seek shelter. I was determined. Since money in the pocket was limited, I decided to hitch hiked at certain route. I fully remember, from Tanjong Malim to Kuala Lumpur, I got a lift from a Radio Television Malaysia Van on its way back to Kuala Lumpur. The Driver was kind enough to drop me at Jalan Melaka Bus Stand for the Kuala Lumpur/ Seremban Bus. This was my first time I was in Kuala Lumpur alone. I took the bus to Seremban, and to Port Dickson. Where was Telok Kemang and where was my Aunt’s place? I only knew she was staying near a Malay Motorcar Repair Shop. I approached certain people and they directed me to the right bus. I kindly spoke to the bus driver to notify and dropped me at this Malay Workshop. As I lighted from the Bus, I saw my Aunt was sweeping the porch and what a surprise, I made it to Telok Kemang, at last, within one day with a balance of about RM 4.00 in the pocket. My Aunt and Uncle had a shocked of their lives.

The town that I passed through were Ipoh, Gopeng, Kampar, Tapah, Bidor, Sungkai, Slim River, Tanjong Malim, Serendah, Rawang, Kuala Lumpur, Kajang, Beranang, Seremban, Mambau, Lukut, Port Dickson and Telok Kemamg.

Telok Kemang is famous for its sandy white beaches and a weekend retreat for picnickers as far as Kuala Lumpur. Malaysians turn their ears to Telok Kemang every beginning of Ramadhan and Hari Raya. They sight the moon here. I was a stranger, in this strange place. I was the new kid in the block. I had to make new friends and this was difficult. I started by hanging around the sepak takraw court and I got invited to join them. I broke the ice and I was no more a stranger. They were eager to know, who I was, where I was from and why I came to this community. Knowing all my background, I was welcome to be part of their clique.

Few that I could remember was Ramzan, Yusof and Ishak., Ramzan was waiting for his Form 6 result, Yusuf, a beachcomber, likes fishing and Ishak was an Instrument Technician. Ramzan’s father was a retired high ranking Police Officer and the old man got along well with me and the clique. He subscribed the Straits Time newspaper and I read his leftover. He insisted that we converse with him in English. He owned a fishing boat and every morning I used to follow Ramzan to the beach to assess the boat’s catch.

Ishak was an Instrument Technician with Esso Oil Refinery in Port Dickson, seven miles away. His hands were very steady like a watch repair man. He could sit for hours handling any gadget that we asked him to repair. Knowing my educational background and coincide with ESSO employment requirement, he urged me to apply for a job at the Refiney where he was working.

When the Senior Cambridge result was announced, I passed but did not score as expected. No way for Sixth Form or Technical College. I decided to apply for a job in Esso and was successfully called for an interview. I cycled seven miles to face the interview panel. The two Engineers that interviewed me were Mr.Ho Min Khuang and Mr.Malhotra an Indian expatriate. Malhotra with his thick Indian slang asked me “Why du yu think, yu shud be cansidered in Esso?” I replied in my English slang, “Well Sir, I was educated in Technical Institute and to my knowledge, Technical Institute students are preferred”. After questions answers session and aptitude test, I was asked to wait for the outcome, perhaps in a week or two. Few days later, one fine evening, I was standing by the roadside, when a car stopped by me. Malhotra unwind the window and asked, “So…yu arrr staying here, young man?” I replied, “Yes sir,…sir, how about my interview?” I asked him. “Well…maybe one in two days time, yu will get de letter and yu gat de job”. Phew…what a relief, it was like striking a lottery and I was so happy grinning from ear to mouth. “Well young man, congratulation, I gat to go and I would not able to meet yu again as de next week, I yam going back to India for goed”. That was the last time I saw Malhotra.

One week later, I received the letter confirming the appointment as Process Assistant in Esso Malaysia Bhd, Port Dickson and to report on 2^nd May 1966. My starting salary was, RM 205.00 per month. With that amount and date, my working career began. No looking back after that.

Coincidently, it was 2^nd May 1974, I switched my career to Singapore but this time, I flew instead.

Schooling in Town.

Tapah

In 1960, I was upgraded from Primary to Lower Secondary. I was admitted to the school Hostel, maily meant for rural Malay students. Since my residential address was a kampong, therefore I was eligible. From now on, my life was dictated by the sound of bells and Hostel Rules. The morning started with breakfast and roll call. After the normal school hours, it was lunch time. At 2 in the afternoon, all had to assemble in the Prep Hall. Once forth night, I could go to the Library and would be excused attending prep, if I had to attend to co curriculum activities. We were supervised by the Hostel Prefects. Some were strict and some were accomodating. At 4.30 pm it was tea time, tea and 2 pieces of cream cracker biscuits. After that we were free till 7.30 pm where dinner would be served. During the evening session, some of us would go to the playing field or just doing their own chores. I usually prefered the field, kicking the ball around. When it rain, it would be more fun. No parental control, all to ourselves. After dinner, between 8 pm to 10 pm, we were back in the prep hall. We did not have television, then. Once in a while the Hostel Master or the Headmaster would make a surprise appearance. Only once a month, during weekend we were allowed to go back home to meet our parents or guardians. There was no night out except on special occasions during Merdeka night or cultural shows in town. On saturday and sunday morning, after breakfast, we had to do gardening or spring clean the Hostel. For three years, I had to strictly adapt to this regimental life.

Schooling - I was in the A class from Form 1 to 2. However, in Form 3, I was downgraded to the B class. I was rather playful when I was in Form 2A. Imagine, during the final term exam, I only scored 10/100 in my Maths paper. On the other hand, I got the highest mark in the whole of Form 2 in Geography. The Maths paper, pulled me down to the next 40 best students. My Form 2A classmate, my best buddy, Leong Peng Yoon came along with me to Form 3B. Whatever, I recovered during the Lower Certificate Exam (LCE) and got a credit for my Maths.

Looking back, it was the right decision for me to stay in the Hostel. Right from a young age, I experienced independence, make my own decisions and to be resilient to all outcome. It was useful and normal for me when I went through my life.

I have Hostel mates of different characters and social backgrounds. I learned to understand people. Some were friendly and cooperative and some were otherwise. Some like to play prank on me while I was no better. That was part of growing up. Further in life, this Hostel produced, to name a few, a Brigadier General, Chief Executive Officer, Lawyers, School Headmasters, Senior Ministry Officials and prominent Businessmen. Few were confered with Datukship.

I left this good old school and town of Tapah in early 1963 to pursue another educational institution.


Georgetown, Penang.

After LCE, I applied for a place in Technical Institute Penang. There were only two Technical Institutes in Malaya then, one in Kuala Lumpur and the other, the pioneer in Penang. Minimum qualification was at least a credit rating in Maths and Science. It was unfortunate, during this time, the Malayan Railway was on strike and all mails throughout Malaya were delayed. The reply from Technical Institute was not forth coming and I was stuck in Form 4 of the former school. Three days after the new term, my buddy, Leong Peng Yoon came running that his reply was positive. I took leave for home from the Hostel Master to check for my reply. True enough, I too was accepted. I packed all my belongings in the Hostel, bade farewell to all my Hostel mates and off I went to Penang. I was allocated to three year course in Civil Engineering class. The subjects to be covered were mostly technical and science. I had to undergo practical training on bricklaying, carpentry and field survey. Again, I was placed in the Hostel. This time, the Hostel was different, it was inter racial. I had Chinese and Indians as my dorm mate compared to the previous Hostel where it was only my countryman.

Now, I was in Upper Secondary, in technical school and to undergo three years of education before I sat for my senior Cambridge Exam. Life in this school was not the same as any ordinary school. I did not have exercise books anymore. All notes were written on foolscap paper and filed. School sessions divided into two, in the morning and afternoon. Prep session was only at night. On Sunday, we were allowed a free day and could go to the city for own business or leisure. I still got to adhere to standard Hostel Rules and routine, lights out at 11 pm, bedding neat and tidy, attendance during prep and minimised noise pollution. After the afternoon session, all students should be seen on the field. The Principal, Mr. Oh Boon Tat was at that time, the President of the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union. This man was so strict that students came out from this school who did not taste his cane, life in the school was incomplete. I tasted the best of four from him for being absent during carpentry practical class. He did not want to hear my explaination that I had completed my project. He was a sadist with the cane. The best part, he asked the victim to choose the cane. During my first year, the whole students in the Hostel block was caned. Reason - few smart Alex disturbed a girl student and the whole dormitory was penalised, except the Block Prefect. I was rather fortunate that a day before the incident, I was transfered out to another Block. He was a disciplinarian and some students were even scared of his shadow. Through his guidance or perhaps we were so afraid of him, the school excelled in rugby, hockey and soccer. In Penang, we were the best in sport. I managed to get into the 2nd. 4 x 100 relay team.

My batch of 1963 was the most colourful batch. There were 150 of us, 14 Malays and the rest were Chinese, Indians and Others. We had 3 prominent Singh and 1 Eurasian. One of the Malay students succumbed to his acute appenditices. Late Ismail Harun, collapsed in front of me during the first term exam. The first week, we had the "Black Panther" that raided the canteen at night. During our Final Year, some of us experimented that with an addition of acid into a Teacher's petrol tank, could make the car went faster. Unfortunately, the Mad Scientist was caught and he broke the school history. The first public caning and other Scientists and sympathisers donated money to repair the damage done. Few were expelled from the Hostel for constantly violating Hostel Rules. Mr. Thong Chin and later Cikgu Ahmad daud, the Hostel Master had their hands full, handling this 1963 batch. Even Mr. Thong Chin's dog was so immuned with our smell that it refused to bark when we sneaked out at night.

Late 1965, the Doomsday arrived, the Senior Cambridge Exam. I was burning the midnight candle, cramming the three years into several nights. I got to memorise formulas and theory. I fell sick, but the show must go on. I did not wish to dissapoint my folks back home.

Completed all the papers, relieved and I had to say farewell to all my batch mates. Three years of kicking, shouting and jumping at each other. I went through the three years with all sorts of shortcomings. Whatever, there were plenty that I learned. This school bred inter racial, sportmanship and comradeship. I learned to tolerate and understand other races. Most of my friends excelled in their own fields, majority are successful Engineers. some became well trained Fighter Pilots and Helicopter Pilots. My buddy, Leong Peng Yoon became a successful Automobile Engineer. Paul Chong went into Real Estate business. Jamil Ariff who later represented Malaysia in hockey is now a Tai Chi Master. Leong Koon Choy, went into journalism. Ramli Dawi, was on the same flight with me performing the Haj in 1999. The Black Panther now own several fleets of Helicopters and several chain of Supermarkets. When my mother in law passed away, I was grateful to the Black Panther for airlifting my brother in law from the off shore storage tanker to the mainland. Lingamuthu is a Consultant in a prominent Enginnering Company. Nordin Saad retired as the Director General of the Department of Civil Aviation. Lau Bik heng, the hockey fullback operate his own outlet at Bentong. Saruji Din an Eletronic Engineer happily married to a German and now residing in Germany. Chet Yew the badminton player, retired Engineer from Felda, now residing in Goh Tong Village at Genting. Ramasamy, the Mechanical Engineer had since passed away and so too, Zayid Zakaria, the Food Technologist. I lost touched with Hamid Ahmad *, who used to spend his free time listening to Hindi songs. We were all one, and remain one.

Me? I went into the Petroleum Refining Industry and finally landed with Marketing, Distribution & Logistics in the Plantation Industry.





* Anyone knows the where about of Hamid Ahmad, please contact me. Few other colleague that I wish to know their where about are Mokhtarudin, Yusuf Basri, Ghazali Hamid and Radzi Bakar.

The Kampong Boy.

I was born in December 1945. The World War II had just ended and Malaya then, was under the BMA (British Millitary Administration). It was early dawn and I decided to enter this world. My late Grandfather went running to fetch the Kampong Midwife (Bidan) but I did not want to wait for her. Only my late Grandmother was in attendance. It was a normal entrance to this world and the household was joyous. My Grandparents never had a son and there you are, a son from their eldest daughter, my Mother. I am sure they had a small thanksgiving or kenduri for the whole kampong folks. Time were hard, then. Remember...the WW II had just ended.

According to my late Grandma, whom I called Opah, I was a very sickly child and the best option, my Grandparent decided to take care of me. It lasted until I was in Standard 6 in school, that was the end of 1959. When I was in Standard 3, there was hue and cry when my Father took me away from them to educate me in Town. Three days in the town school, my Grandparents kidnapped me from the school and took me back to the Kampong. My Father was fuming and set condition that I had to be sent to an English School otherwise he would take me back. During modern days, there would be a court battle. My Grandparent compromised and I was sent to an English School at the nearby town. Unfortunately, I had to start all over again to Standard I. I wasted 2 years of education and I did not know a single word of the English language. It was a cultural shocked, for the first time I had a non Malay Teacher. The first few words I learned, "plis sir, may I go ot". Thats what I had to say when I wanted to go out and pee. To Mr Tan Chin Guan, thank you, Sir. I will never forget you.

Life in the Kampong - there were greens everywhere, fruit orchards, rubber trees, clear flowing river and the kampong house I stayed was on stilts. Once a year, there would be a flood and I enjoyed swimming and bamboo rafting from house to house. There was no such thing as eletricity or pipe water. The drinking water was from the well and the night lighted by kerosene or carbide lamps. I bathed and learned to swim in the river. Mosquitoes were plenty, like helicopters and at time we had to burn coconut husks. The smoke would chase away the mini heli. Sleeping by mosquito net was a must. Once a year the kampong folks had a tuba festival. By squeezing the tuba roots they went upstream and poisoned the fishes and all living things in the river. As a small boy, I enjoyed scooping the half drunk fishes. The kampong folks would clean the catch thourougly, salted it to make pekasam. Later when its fried, its a good appetizer. Vegetables in the kampong was plentiful, tapioca shoots, young bananas, pucuk paku, young jack fruit and mind you, even rubber seeds could be eaten. By the river bank, we planted maize and tapioca. Monkeys used to sneak in once in a while and this kampong boy always had the lastick ever ready around his neck. I was just frightening them, did not aim the target straight as my Grandma would forbid me from doing so. I enjoyed most, watching the Passenger Train, we call it "Mail Train" then, passing by on its way to Kuala Lumpur or Prai. I was dreaming, when I grow big, I would ride on that train to go to Singapura. Weddings and Hari Raya were the best moment to happen in the kampong. We got to eat meat, chicken or beef. One week before any wedding, the whole kampong folks got together to assist the wedded family. They would worked together to set up the attap shed (bangsal) for the guests and each family would donate in kind, like a kati of sugar, a gantang of rice, five live chickens, biscuits, you name it, even a coconut tree. The coconut shoots (umbut) when cooked, is very tasty. The Rebana group would be hitting their notes, after the Isyakh Prayer to the break of dawn. The children, including me would play the "police sentry" game. Group into two, one group must catch the intruders without the post being captured. When I looked back, it was really fun, how I missed those days. During the fasting months, to welcome the Hari Raya I was free to play the bamboo canon. I just need a thick bamboo, carbide, water and a kerosene lamp. My Grandfather used to strap the bamboo with wires to prevent the bamboo being splintered. The Old Man never left me alone, he was watching me from a distance. Remember....I was the only boy in the family beside him.

After completing my Primary education, my next destination was secondary School and this time, no way, I could stay with my Grandparent anymore. I would be spoilt and my parents decided to put me in a Hostel. I am no more a kampong boy. I have pipe water, study by eletricity and a decent bathroom.

Whatever, I still cherish my days staying in the kampong and those were the days, my friends. I went back to the kampong once in a while but its different now. There is pipe water, eletricity and of course wc. The Mosque where I learned how to pray and read the Holy Koraan had shifted and the House I stayed now abandoned, near rotting. It is inherited by my aunty. My grandparent should have given it to me. They only gave me, the durian orchard and the trees are all calling it a day. Some of my friends had already gone back to meet the Almighty and some have migrated. I finally got to see Singapura, infact even further.

Both my children were born in First Class Maternity Ward of Government Hospital and they never get to taste the childhood life that I went through.

Its the kampong life, the hardship, the cooperation, the lack of infrastructures and its people that make me a better man going through this life.

Kampong Bikam......you are always in my mind. When this kampong boy looked up at the Eiffel Tower and the Pyramid of Gaza, I always remember, the first soil I stepped on,was on you. I dont forget that.

Me.....and as the years went by.

I was born in a small kampong, between Sungkai and Bidor. Educated in the kampong school, Bidor, Tapah and Penang. First job at Port Dickson. Consequently in Singapore, Pasir Gudang, Port Klang, Damansara KL anf finally retired in Port Klang. Found my other half at Port Dickson and blessed with two kids all born in Seremban.

As a kampong Boy, am proud that I have seen the world. Most achievement, flew to US westward and back to KL via LA and Narita. I have circumnavigated the world. Thank you to my former Employee or rather, my BOSS. The most scary place I visited was Ho Chin Minh City and I would not spend my own money to go there anymore. The best place and the most beautiful which I enjoy going is the Holy City of Medina. I find peace in myself whenever I confide with Allah in the Nabawi Mosque. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) tomb is in this Holy Mosque and I am not far from His Holiness.

My regrett - two years after I retired, I overlooked my health. I had a mild stroke, a week recuperating in Medical Centre. It took me about a year to slowly recover. It was a painful recovery, where friends abandoned me. Merely they were scared I might get another stroke during their presence. My eyes were failing and I gave up my golf for good. I was not a good player, anyway. Family members were beside me to guide and coach me to normality. I spend the lonely hours spiritually and confide with the Almighty.

Allah had been kind to me and my health is getting better. My eyes operated and I kept away my spectacles which I had been wearing since 1960.

God willing, insyaalah, this coming Ramadhan, I will again make my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The coming one, will be my 4th. consecutive Ramadhan spending the month in the Holy City of Medina and Mekah.

Wedding....wedding.....wedding.

I had three invitations today. At Shah Alam, by my second cousin, my two blocks away neighbour, and in Klang, my wife's former officemate. I decided to go to Shah Alam first. Being Saturday, the road from Klang to Shah Alam would be terribly jammed. The Federal Government is building a flyover there and they allow only one lane of traffic movement. I decided to take a longer route via the Kesas Highway. No choice even with the cost of petrol is extremely high now. Its better not to get caught with the jam. I would create more sins, cursing everybody. Of course, you know who? Back from Shah Alam, I went to my neighbour's feast and my wife decided to go to her friend's kenduri. I just paid him a visit, to make myself known that I came to the wedding. Could not take any more food as I had a good lunch at my cousin's reception.

Plenty of weddings around this time as the fasting month and the school break is coming. To the newly wed and the coming one...Selamat Pengantin Baru.

The good thing about wedding, we can catch up with relatives and long lost friends as well as former office mate. Most unfortunate if you bump with your old sweethearts.

Why I want to blog.

I dont keep diary anymore, therefore, this blog would serve as my diary. I will try not to be political as possible but as I go along, I may insert one or two political opinion when my everyday life is affected. This blog would be recording my everyday adventure as a Retired Oldman. My location is at the end of the road, Malaysian Highway 2. The Gateway to Malaysia, Malaysian Major Port, a town call Port Klang. During colonial days, pre Independence or Merdeka, this town call Port Swettenham. I came to this port town 31 years ago, August 1977. Bought a double terrace house facing the first compact Malay settlement call Kampong Raja Uda. The name taken from the Menteri Besar of Selangor then. This Grand Old Statesman, finally became the Governor of Penang.

Today being Friday, I attended my Friday Prayer at Bukit Tinggi Mosque. This is where was the former Highland Estate, a Palm oil Plantation. Now a Township by itself. I can get practically everything here. There is Giant, Tesco and Jaya Jusco.

Tonight, I will be watching the Live Opening of Beijing Olympic. Can Malaysia get a Gold? The guy who get one will be a Millionaire. I worked for damn 35 years, I am no where near.

The Day I started Blogging.

Today 6 of August 2008 someone taught me how to start a blog. I had been thinking about it since I retired on 1 jan 2001.The day finally came . . . . . .Historically, today is the date, the Polis DiRAJA Malaysia summoned Dato Sri Anwar Ibrahim to appear in Court tomorrow for his 2nd Sodomy Case. Only ALLAH knows what will eventually happen to him. I leave it to ALLAH to decide.