A wedding & reunion.

January 16, 2010 I had to leave early for Damansara Heights as the traffic snarl at Klang is very unpredictable. It was not to be to my surprise and I was at Dato Malek, my cousin’s residence as early as 1845 hours when the Program was only supposed to commence at 2000 hrs. After Maghreb we adjourned to the Reception Hall at the nearby Damansara Heights Community Center, adjacent to the Saida Omar Al-Khatab Mosque. The Hall could easily accommodate about 800 guests and ample parking space available. Some guests had already arrived as the direction to the Hall was rather complicated for non KL residence.

It was the wedding reception of Irwan Dato Malek and Nada Kartina Mohd Nor hosted by the bridegroom parents. I was allotted to accompany the Guests from GES Tapah. My wife and daughter were seated with my two elder brothers and wives. My son was unable to attend as he was away on official assignment at Sipadan Island. At my table were Amran Din and wife, Haji Rashid, Jeffrul Tariqh and the rest made up of Irman’s officemates. Dato Malek guests include relatives from Bota, Sungkai and Behrang, the Kanda Abdul Rahman and Haji Hashim clan. Some of them were familiar but some need introduction. I also ran into my old friends, Shukri Abdullah ex Guthrie and Dato Hamid Mustafa ex Police Commissioner. It was kind of a reunion with relatives and long lost friends.

At 2045 hrs the VIP was chaperoned by Uncle Mawi into the Hall followed by the bride and the bridegroom. There was no sound of the “kompang” but the “selawat nabi” directed the couple to the dais. The “merenjis” ceremony was short and simple, performed by Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli and Puan Sri, Tan Sri Bakri Omar and Puan Sri, Encik Mohd Nor and Dato Malek with Datin Zawiyah. The “doa selamat” was read by the Imam of Saidina Omar Al-Khatab Mosque.

Everything went as planned and the weather was good, so as the food which was catered from Sri Catering. After the wedding cake cutting ceremony it was time for the guests to head for the exit but few of us stayed back to comingle with the members of the Kanda Abdul Rahman clan. It was a nostalgic reunion meeting the clansmen as we never know when we can ever meet again. Wedding is the best time to get together not only for the wedded but also for the invitees.

For Dato Malek, I hope sooner Allah would confer you with the Almighty blessing another Datoship. Insyaalah.