The Players in my LIFE.

Stuck at home recuperating from erratic blood pressure, I looked back at the past remembering those who had played a part in my LIFE. Some had gone and some are still around. To the Non Muslims who had gone, RIP and to the Muslims May Allah Blesses their Souls.

I cilok (stole) the idea of influential people in my LIFE from the book written by my cousin Dato Abdul Malik bin Ahmad Shazili, MY LIFE my STORY. (The book not for sale).

Tan Chin Guan (late).

My first non Malay Teacher at English Primary School Bidor. He taught me how to speak English when I first stepped in into an English school in 1954. The first word was of course “Good Morning” then “Please teacher let me go out” but I pronounced it as “plis teacher let me go ot”. The first bombastic English word that I learnt was “Congratulation” and wondered what the meaning was. At that time I did not know how to use the Dictionary and don’t even know what a Dictionary is?

Mr. Tan Chin Guan gave me the honor to hoist the Federation of Malaya flag at every Monday morning School Assembly since Federation of Malaya got its independence on 31 August 1957. He also appointed me as School Prefect from 1957 to 1959, Standard 4 to 6.

Teachers.

The names of several Teachers that taught me whom I can still recall:

Malay School: Che Gu Khatib, Shaari, Zainal, Shahrol, Abdullah.

Primary English School: Tan Chin Guan (Headmaster), Kamaruddin Ariffin, Felix Mathews, idris, Kong Siew Kuan, Salehuddin.

Lower Secondary School: Neoh Thean Chye (Headmaster). Paul Chong, Paul Raj, Che Gu Hakim, Koh Sek Koon, Sivasamboo, Harcharan Singh, Wong Sue Yuet, Raja Rashid, Arthur Row, Ananda.

Technical Institute (Civil Engineering Course): Oh Boon Tat (Principal). Bajan Singh, Sivanathan, Abu Bakar Ismail, Ahmad Daud, Eustance Boudeville, Zainuddin Nordin, Raul Huet, Oon Seng Foo, Navaratnam, Ang Guan Eng, Lim xxx xxxx (Gangster Lim), Chew xxxx xxxxx (Pak Chew), Tong Chin (the Hostel Warden).

Who am I today without the assistance of the above? Million thanks, Sir and Cik Gu.

Regret I have forgotten the names of few but I can still recall their faces.

Haji Ahmad Shazili bin Haji Mohd Tasir. (Allahyarham).

Ayah Ee was my father’s cousin migrated from Padang Tenggala, Bota Kanan to stay with my father in Sungkai in the 40s. Married the local lady and settled down in Sungkai all through his life. He was a Normal Trained Teacher and very well known personality in Sungkai Sub District, perhaps Batang Padang and Tanjung Malim..

During my Primary school days, every first Sunday of the month I took a 15 cents bus ride from Bikam to Sungkai to rendezvous with him collecting my monthly allowance on behalf of my father. When I was in Lower Secondary, the job was taken over by his son by courier service who happened to be my Form mate. Coincidentally this cousin of mine ended his career as CEO of POS Malaysia. He had started the “Poslaju” service since 1960.

Every Hari Raya, on our way back from Ipoh, the family never failed to stopover at Ayah Ee’s residence at Pekan Lama Sungkai. Once he intended to put up a night in my house and it was my pleasure to welcome him.

His Royal Highness the Sultan of Perak honored him as Justice of Peace (JP) and a Community Chief.

He succumbed to stroke and I escorted his still body to the Tanah Perkuburan (Muslim cemetery).

4853 WO 11 Haji Osman bin Kamaruddin.

Regimental number, 4853 of 4th Royal Malay Regiment once served under UN as Peace Keeper in Congo during early 60s. He is the husband of my late Aunty, Hajjah Hendon, my Mum younger sister. Retired as Warrant Officer 11 and nicknamed “Osman Tiger” by his Regimental mate. He was once the Instructor of Setia Negara Volunteers at Sebatang Karah Training Camp during the Indonesian Confrontation. He was born in Teluk Anson (now Teluk Intan) and was a very good soccer player during his young days.

He sheltered and fed me for three (3) months soon after the completion of my studies at Technical Institute, Penang when I migrated to Telok Kemang, Port Dickson. It was from Telok Kemang, I was employed at Esso Refinery on April 1966 and the beginning of my long journey in life.

Mah Ah Chong (late).

He was the Refinery Unit Day Superintendent and finally he became the first Malaysian Refinery Manager, the Head of Esso Refinery organization. He looked very unfriendly and no nonsense man. I changed my perception of him soon he returned from Greece. I wonder what the Greek taught him. After I left ESSO in 1974, I never failed sending yearly Kong Hee Fatt Choy greetings to him.

What I learnt, “Things can happen when you least expected from him” and “Don’t judge a person by his/her look”. He was after all fair, understanding and compassionate.

Dato Haji Ghazali bin Abdullah (Allahyarham).

Religious learned Old Man studied in the Holy City of Mecca Saudi Arabia during World War 11. Very close cousin of my late father. He was listed in the French Legion, somehow he managed to escape and sailed back to Malaya by a Merchant Vessel and landed in Singapore. Travelled overland and seek refuge with my late father in Sungkai. In the early 50s he was the Kadhi in Ipoh and later became the first Imam of Masjid Negara (Malaysia National Mosque in KL). He was later the Grand Mufti of two states, Selangor and Perak.

“ Sembahyang lah kamu sebelum kamu di sembahyangkan” mostly seen at the Mosques in Selangor was coined by him.

He was my Adviser when I wanted to tie matrimonial knot in Selangor and he assisted me all the way until the “akad nikah” was over. Having the Mufti besides me, the akad nikah ceremony was ceremonial simpler.

Haji Cik Gu Said bin Osman (Allahyarham).

He treated me like a son during my stay in Port Dickson from 1966 to 1974. He arranged for my wedding and I gave him the honor of reciting the first “qamat” to both my newly born children. He was Tok Id to my children. He retired as Headmaster of a Primary Malay School. I never saw him lost his temper or scolded his siblings and there are two (2) Professors among his eight (8).

Hajjah Azizah binti Ahmad (Allahyarhamah).

The wife of Cik Gu Said. The Nenek to my children and she carried in her arm out of Seremban Hospital when both of my children were born. I often confided with her when I encountered problem. She was an active social worker of the Women Institute (WI) and a well known figure in Port Dickson District. English speaking lady and when we got into serious discussion it was difficult to interrupt.

Both she and her husband happened to be buried very near to each other at Bagan Pinang Port Dickson Muslim Cemetery.

Their good deeds will always be remembered.

Haji Shaarani bin Abdul Hamid (Allahyarham).

The Personnel Manager of Guthrie Management Services that short listed me to be employed with Guthrie Bhd in 1974. He coaxed me to stay on when I wanted to move to greener pasture as he had plan for me. I remained in Guthrie Bhd until I was absorbed by Guthrie Corporation Ltd, later Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd.

Goh Kee Soon.

I was his Assistant Manager from 1977 to 1990. Though at times I disagreed about his managerial style, I did not rock the boat because he was very liberal and allowed me a free hand to mange by my own style. He always played safe not to create any problem on site by submitting and pleasing the subordinates making all things look good at HQ. Sometimes he allowed the subordinates to dictate term with him. At certain time I was damn frustrated but he always left me alone and backed me up when I ran into work problem myself. I reciprocated the same gesture. I never had any serious confrontation with him during my Guthrie Export days. Never failed him and always got him informed and updated. He voluntarily allowed me to bypass him for me to take up position upgrading at Wisma Guthrie as he disliked to be misplaced from his comfort zone and the hustle and bustle of travelling from Port Klang to Damansara KL.

I was desperate to get out from Port Klang, stagnated at the same organization with the same people for thirteen (13) years. Though I was promoted to Manager Status but was a King without a Kingdom. The transfer was something that I really looked forward to.

Goh Kee Soon retired in 1996, migrated to Canada and I never heard of him since.

How Wan Hong.

I knew him since the ESSO days in 1966 as we happened to join ESSO around the same period but he was on Management scale graduated from University Malaya based at KL HQ in Marketing and I was at the Port Dickson refinery as Process Assistant, non Management. Later he joined Guthrie as Marketing Manager and we constantly in liaison when I was on attachment at FJB Pasir Gudang handling Guthrie palm oil bulk shipment. He was instrumental of my transfer from Guthrie Bhd to Guthrie Export Port Klang to commission the newly constructed Guthrie Palm Oil Installation.

Later, over a couple of years, with the Personnel Manager, he arranged for my permanent employment with Guthrie and until today I remain grateful to him. He later became the first Malaysian Marketing Director of Guthrie Corporation, finally Kumpulan Guthrie and became my immediate Boss when I was at Wisma Guthrie as Distribution Manager.

He later became the Director of Malaysia Trading Companies (GMTC) and after a few years he left to join a prominent Bank in KL.

Every time I recall about my Guthrie days, I always remember and thankful to Mr. How Wan Hong. As far as I could remember, I was the only Manager in his Department that addressed him as Mr. How. Most of them just call him Wan Hong. That showed how much respect I had.

Dato Haji Ismayuddin Abdul Manan (Allahyarham).

An experienced Planter by profession and became Kumpulan Guthrie Director of Plantation. During the Company reorganization, Marketing & Distribution Dept became the subsidiary of the Plantation Division and automatically he became my Boss.

His philosophy was simple “I am no Marketing man. If you have any problem, sought for the best alternative, then come and brief me”. It was a very frank and straight forward statement and a clear message. In other words, he left us alone to do our work and solve our own problems.

He jokingly declared he was graduated from Dublin and Harvard and no big deal. Unfortunately it was not the prestigious University in Ireland and USA. It was the Estates up north in Kedah.

Out of the Office, he was a friend. An outdoor man by nature and during long weekend we often went out camping in the wilderness or fishing. He normally picked me to be his tent mate as he enjoyed playing prank on me. In the Office he was dead serious but he was a good listener. I normally ran up the staircase instead of the lift when summoned immediately to his Office. What he wanted sometimes was only a cigarette when he was short of one. I never took advantage of him and never received anything extraordinarily special and the yearly increment and bonus was as equivalent as any other Managers.

I visited him when he was hospitalized due to dengue fever and I joked with him that his residence has no fencing and the aedes mosquitoes could easily penetrated into his bungalow at Staffield Country Home. He could still afford to laugh and threw a punch in the air.

If it was other than Dato Ismayuddin I could have been severely reprimanded for overlooking the fraud at the Branch Office in Penang. I rationalized to him that it had started way long before I took over the Brach Office. He requested me to work along with the Audit Department and got the problem solved. Anyway I got a verbal shelling.

It was most unfortunate that Dato Ismayuddin resigned from Kumpulan Guthrie to join DRB Hi Com. I lost a friend and a Boss. Dato Ismayuddin had since returned to Allah the Almighty the Creator, and I attended his funeral. I assisted carrying him right to the hearse.

As a tribute, I performed an umrah on his behalf during one of my Ramadan Umrah. He was a very special Man in my heart.

Christie Robert.

He was holding a senior position in Kumpulan Guthrie as Production Controller (Dry Rubber & Latex). When I first talked to him over the phone I thought I was talking to a Mat Salleh. He spoke typical Brits lingo. Later when I met him personally, he is a local Malaysian Indian and proud of his ancestors was from Kerala India.

I have very high respect of him. He knows his stuff and no one can bullshit him, as he is one of Malaysia prominent Rubber Technologies. Christie is very professional Manager and excellent Teacher. He could be screwing you upside down at 4 o’clock in the afternoon but at 5, see you at the Club House. What happened at 4 was all forgotten and was never discussed. He adopted the typical British style of management. I was not his subordinate but I worked closely with him. He was the Production Controller but my job was to control and decided the productions at the Rubber Factories where he was the Head. We worked along fine.

He bore the Initialed of CFR, which we jokingly interpreted as “Chief Flying Rabbit”. He is forever a “Chief” to me.

One Saturday, I was involved doing a project with him with three (3) of his Officers at Chemara Research Station in Seremban when we only had our lunch followed with happy hours finally at 4 in the afternoon. We had to work through lunch and we dare not abandoned the project paper preparation as he was diligently involved with us. Once completed, he called for a celebration.

On the Highway home up to Kajang, I had to escort Mike Smith, another Rubber Technologies and trailed from a distant behind, as Mike kept on changing lanes much too often. I can never forget that scary incident.

Dato Haji Abdul Malek Ahmad Shazili.

The closest cousin, retired as CEO of POS Malaysia. We were in the same School and Hostel at GES Tapah from 1960 to 1962. He was the courier of my monthly allowance from his Dad on behalf of my father. During the Lower Secondary era he was just the opposite of me as he was a “bookworm” and I was the little bit of a “rascal”. After LCE, we parted company as I continued my studies at Penang Technical Institute. Dato Malek graduated from University Malaya BA (Hons) and MBA in USA. He retired as CEO Pos Malaysia.

During late 80s and early 90s we used to frequent Merdeka Stadium during Malaysia or Merdeka Cup matches. After retirement we share common interest of travelling together by Air Asia to Asean countries venturing new places. We are constantly in contact and attending functions of relatives and common friends together.

Our paternal grandfathers were brothers and we shared the same Great Grandfather. The Malay said, “satu pancor”. We are blood related.

Malek bin Ahmad.

A simple kampong mate who lives down the same road and ever willing to render assistance when he is available. A very responsible guy who tends to his younger and elder brother needs who are sickly. Malek normally scheduled his timing to accompany me for short or long distance on errand or pleasure. He would take the wheel and I do the talking to keep him awake. We joked and laughed together as we go merry around. I enjoy his company as he is very honest and frank. There is always something for him whenever I travelled overseas. With the presence of his sickly brothers he refuses to possess an International Passport as I might influence him to join me and leaving the brothers unattended. For that I really take off my hat. Not often we can find such character and responsibilities towards brothers.

One thing I never asked him, why he remain a bachelor?

Kind hearted and a true buddy indeed. I treat him more than a brother.

Last but Not Least.

My parents:

Father Allahyarham Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid bin Abdullah (1905 – 1978). He was educated at Hogan School renamed as Clifford School Kuala Kangsar. Penghulu of Lawin Grik, Sungkai Batang Padang and Chikus Hilir Perak. Promoted to Chief Penghulu of Ulu Kinta in Ipoh and retired as Chief Penghulu of Larut & Matang in Taiping in 1960.

Mother Hajjah Neh Laisiah binti Shaari, now 86. She was educated at Malay School Kampong Bikam, pre World War 2 era. Unable to pursue her career as a Teacher due to parental restriction; young kampong girls those days should stay in the kitchen. She became full time house wife.

I am not sharing more about both of my parents as there are endless to record and my existence in this world was Allah gifted to them. It was written in the book since “Alam Mahfuz”.

As far as I am concern as a son, I had fulfilled my role. The good thing is from Allah and whatever shortcomings on my part are of my own doings.

To my late Father - your well being in “Alam Barzakh” always in my thought, prayer and doa.

To my Mother, may Allah bestow good health, cheerful and prosper in life. We share our sorrows, happiness, success and failures together. Rest assures I am right behind you whatever circumstances.

4853 WO 11 Osman Kamaruddin (my Uncle) once told me, my father commented to him among all his children MUSTAPA is the only one that was a little bit difficult to control. The reasons being since at a very young age I had been independent, self reliant BECAUSE I stayed with my Grandparents, then in a Hostel or Boarding School. I was left alone. I used to make and stay firm with my own decisions. BUT I never failed my responsibilities towards my parents, brothers and sisters. When my late father passed away in April 1978, being the eldest I played my role from thereon. It was difficult but I went through it with Allah blessings. I leave it to Almighty Allah to judge this humble soul. I expect no return or compliment from anybody whatsoever.

ALLAH KNOWS.

END.