Kak Noor Dewan Makan (Dining Hall)

I don't remember many of the general staff of the school, and I bet I'm not the only one. The most popular persons then must have been Pak Cik Hamid and Pak cik Soh (both were the drivers then)!

I can still remember Kak Faizah (The Dining Hall steward) and a few others, only by face. Right now K Yah in the office is a regular voice to me as I do call the school regularly on alumni's matter.

However, there was one person who stays special in my heart, and she's Kak Noor from the dining Hall. As we were growing up, we also saw the love between her and another kitchen help, Ang Man blossomed all the way to their marriage. Sadly we also witness an unfortunate "break-up" between them :-(
And since the break-up Kak Noor has remained single to this day..

What was so special about Kak Noor was that at times she would go out of her way just to help feed us more and better. She'd the one who'd keep extra food for some "fussy" eaters, and whenever there was anyleftover, she was never reluctant to just let us have them!! Unlike some abangs who favoured the girls and some kakaks who favoured the boys, K Noor was quite fair to both sexes.

Apparently, like Cikgu Mat Nor, Kak Noor sometimes turns up at our annual Raya Puasa gathering (on the 3rd Raya at 3pm in school).

I caught her in 2003 (well.. I was unable to attend any more since then). i saw her standing quietly at one corner, observing us catching up with old friends. When I went to her and shouted "Kak Noor", her answer was (in her usual tone) "Ingat ko mu tok ingat doh!" (I thought you can't recognise me!"... How could I???

And here's that special pix of us on that day,- hopefully many of us can recall her!



Later in 2004 when I went to SK Zainab 3 to meet Mahisham, I met her again. She was then attached there! I used to keep her handphone number, but with people changing their HP no like changing diapers, I don't know if hers is still valid or not - and it's in my old faulty phone :-(

Delta and Alpha are Besans (In-Laws)!

I have been busy for the past few days, but I think I owe this blog another post.

I want to write about Mr Mahadzir, but I've yet to locate suitable pix to go with it, so I'll write about something else...

For my batch, my class, Alpha(A) is very close to the Delta(D) class (bear in mind that Alpha and Beta were for English medium while Delta and Gamma were for Malay medium). The best "link" between these two classes must be the marriage (yes, REAL LIFE!) between Sudin (Delta) and Zaini@Jenny from Alpha.

They were very "serious" into their courtship when we were in Form 4- The retired Cikgu Faridah can testify to that. Why? Because she taught both classes then. When we had to compose a sentence or pantun, we would try to related to this couple, and the class would burst into laughter. Cikgu's remark was "Di sini bergema, di sana pun bergema" (I can hear the echo here as well as there - referring to the other class).

Long before they were an item in school, these two classes were already significantly close.... This closeness can still be reflected even NOW - whenever we have gathering, those from Alpha and Delta would be the majority. Having these people living nearby (esp in the S Alam & Klang area) helps strengthen this special bond. Kamil (D) in TTDI Jaya, Dr Zuhaimi (D) in Klang, Nury(A) in Klang too, and me (A) in S Alam. WE also have Zuhdi who's office is in S Alam too.

Anyway, back to our Jenny & Sudin, they were the first to get married (soon after SPM/MCE). Now they have 2 daughters-in-laws already, and if I'm not mistaken a grandchild too.

During our "grand" raya gathering in 2001, despite ending our gathering very late, coupled with terrible traffic jam, some of us managed to visit this lovely couple in P Mas later that evening. It was so special since Mazlin & Norita (who's parents are in Klang Valley) came back to KB specially for the gathering, and they managed to visit Jenny & Sudin!

Dr Zuhaimi, Prof Dr Mazlin, Kamil, Zamri, Sudin, Zuhdi,
Sally, Norita, Jenny, Zulkifli
(how i wish i was there too)

Last August when a few of us went back to school to "escort" Yasmin Mahmood for a session in school, we had dinner at the New Horizon Restaurant where Jenny came too (Sudin was not feeling well).

During the raya do at my in-laws place where I invited my gang, both Jenny & Sudin came too(I have their pix somewhere...).

Tuan Haji Hamdan's Reminiscence

During the recent SEMESTA's AGM, Tuan Haji presented me a copy of this text:

"Titisan Memori Haji Hamdan bin Abd Rahman"
The Cover of the text of his speech on 11 March 2004

It is the text of his speech that he gave during the Majlis Graduasi SMSTMFP 2004 where he was awarded Anugerah Kehormat Kepimpinan Pendidikan (together with Ustaz Alwi Yusof).

In the text,Tuan Haji wrote about his life, from a small boy, all the way to what he is now. I'll type excerpts of the text that are relevant to our school. It'll take quite a while since I have to read from Jawi (am very berkarat now) and type in Rumi. Please come back to check out!

He has divided it into a few subtopics:

1. Mukaddimah (I give this title, the rest are as described by Tuan Haji)
   
2. Insiden Serban
3. Episod Kirim Salam
4. Episod Terima kasih
5. Episod Pelajar Super-aktif
6. Episod Dirasuk Hantu
7. Episod Ibubapa Menyampaikan Hadiah Sukan
8. Episod Royat Sepatah Mari Selalu
9. Episod Selamat Tinggal Bungaku
   
10. Pesan- to the existing students

Mukaddimah
Di antara banyak-banyak tempat yang pernah saya khidmati, SMSKelantan yang sekarang berubah nama menjadi SMS Tengku Muhammad Faris Putra inilah yang memberikan saya kepuasan professional paling tinggi walaupun tempoh perkhidmatan saya di sini hanya 15 bulan 16 hari. Kisah bermula pada bulan Oktober 1977 selepas selesai satu mesyuaratpara pengetua maktab perguruan. Ketika bersalaman dengan Ketua Pengarah Pelajaran waktu itu yaitu Dato' Murad Mohd Noor, beliau bertanya saya, "Where are you now?", saya jawab "I am in Gaya College, Dato'. My term is almost expired". Tiba-tiba beliau panggil pengarah Latihan Guru lalu berkata "Haji Ali, You take Rahmah in and we will send Hamdan there because he is a man". Sebelum ini nama saya sudah keluar untuk menjadi timbalan pengarah pendidikan Terengganu. Kemudian untuk menjadi timbalan pengetua maktab perguruan jiran kita ini. Sudahnya saya ke mari.

Saya tidak tahu menahu pokok pangkal keputusan ini. kemudian baharulah saya tahu rupanya ketika itu ada beberapa hal dalam sekolah ini yang tidak menyenangkan pihak kementerian, dan saya diarah datang ke mari untuk memperbetulkan keadaan. Saya menjejakkan kaki di perkarangan sekolah ini pada 15 Dec 1977. Ustaz Muhd Alwi, penolong kanan, mengalu-alukan kedatangan saya. Saya langsung meminta taklimat hal sekolah ini serta mengelilingi kawasannya. Kami mula mengatur langkah..

Episod Serban
Malam tahun baharu mengjelang pembukaan penggal pertama persekolahan tahun 1978 lepas maghrib, saya dikunjungi oleh sekumpulan pelajar yang semuanya memakai serban. Selepas berkenal-kenalan mereka mengemukakan mengemukakan satu persoalan apakah boleh mereka memakai serban dalam semua aktiviti sekolah. Mereka mengemukakan hujjah mengapa mereka patut dibenarkan memakai serban. Saya kata boleh dengan syarat kena pada tempat dan masanya serta tidak menyebabkan orang mengumpat. Kalau kerana perbuatan kita orang lain mengumpat ini bermakna kita menyebabkan saudara kita melakukan dosa umpama memakan daging mayat saudaranya. Saya tidak dapat menghormati orang yang menjadi penyebab saudaranya berdosa tidak pasal-pasal. Mereka akur dengan saya.

Episod Kirim Salam
Terdapat sebilangan pelajar yang terlajak laku dan ditangkap oleh guru disiplin. Dalam kes seumpama ini lazimnya pengetua akan memberitahu ibubapa menerusi surat. Bila anak balik dan ditanya oleh ibubapa, si anak selalu berbohong. Jadi ibubapa menafikan tuduhan pihak sekolah dan berasa marah kepada pengetua. Saya buat cara lain. Saya kurung pesalah-pesalah itu dalam sebuah bilik darjah lalu saya utus beberapa orang guru pergi menjemput ayah atau ibu murid berkenaan.

Saya pesan kepada guru-guru itu mula-mula sekali katakanlah bahawa cikgu besar kirim salam. Kemudian katakan guru besar mempersilakan ibubapa tadi datang menemuinya, di sekolah boleh, di rumahnya pun boleh, untuk berbincang tentang anak mereka. Masa terserah pada kelapangan dia. Mereka datang saya layan. Saya minta maaf terlebih dahulu kerana menyusahkan dia.

Apabila dia tanya tentang anak, apakah anaknya itu nakal, saya kata tidak, cuma mungkin terikut-ikut tingkah laku budak lain sahaja. Kemudian saya panggil anak dia dan saya suruh pelajar itu memberitahu ayahnya di hadapan saya tentang apa yang telah dia lakukan termasuk mencuri minuman botol dari kantin sekolah. Terdiam bapa pelajar itu.Tidak terdaya dia menafikan keterlanjuran anaknya. Bahkan ada pula bapa yang menganjurkan supaya anaknya dibahan (smz: pukul?) di hadapan budak-budak lain. Saya tidak setuju. Akhirnya dia menerima hukuman yang saya kenakan kepada anaknya dengan hati terbuka.


Episod Terima kasih
Sehubungan dengan episod di atas ada seoran bapa yang awal-awal lagi sudah merungutkan perihal kelakuan murid sekolah ini. Rungutan itu dikeluarkannya pada guru yang saya utuskan untuk menjemput dia. Namun dia datang juga dan menanya saya bermacam-macam untuk mrnunjukkan bahawa anaknya itu budak baik. Semua pertanyaannya saya jawab dengan sempurna. Dia balik. Selesai babak satu.

Babak kedua berlaku setahun kemudian ketika pecah khabar yang saya akan ditukarkan ke Kuala Lumpur. Saya terima satu panggilan telefon daripada hamba Allah ini. Dia ingin berjumpa saya sebelum saya berangkat ke Kuala Lumpur. Saya terima kedatangannya di rumah pengetua. Dia suami isteri datang membawa beras pulut segantang dan telur itik barangkali sepuluh biji. "Hamba datang ini cikgu tidak ada apa-apa satu, cuma hendak meroyakkan terima kasih sahaja. Saya tahulah anak saya si Polan itu memang liar sedikit, maklumlah dia anak bungsu. Jadi abang-abang dan kakak-kakak dia sepakat memberi dia hadiah bermacam-macam. Tetapi sejak cikgu panggil saya dengan mak cik dulu, saya nampak budak ini berubah hala kebaikan. Itulah tujuan saya ke mari ini, hendak beri terima kasih kepada cikgu". Saya kira inilah hadiah yang paling bernilai bagi saya, yang tidak akan dapat dibeli dengan wang ringgit.


Episod Pelajar Super-aktif
Nama sebilangan pelajar super-aktif tingkatan lima yang sering terlajak laku pada masa-masa yang lalu memang telah diberikan kepada saya. Butir-butir kesalahan sudah saya ketahui. Selepas keluar keputusan periksa mereka semua akan meminta pengesahan fotokopi slip keputusan . Biasanya Ustaz Muhammad Alwi yang menandatangani. Tahun itu saya sendiri!

Saya tunggu pelajar super-aktif nombor wahid. Apabila dia sampai lau menghulurkan fotokopi slip keputusannya barangkali lebih dua puluh salinan, saya tandatangan lima enam salinan. Kemudian berhenti pura-pura baru teringat, saya tanya dia "Bukankah kamu terlibat dalam peristiwa begini-begini pada tahun sekian-sekian?". "Bukankan pegawai dari kementerian pelajaran datang menyoal kamu?". "Cuba ceritakan apa sebenarnya yang berlaku". Dia terpaku, tergamam, lalu menceritakan keseluruhannya kepada saya. Saya terus tandatangani slip keputusannya sebanyak yang dia minta. Saya serahkan kembali kepadanya sambil berkata, "Saya doakan awak berjaya mendapat apa yang awak hajatkan".

Balik ke asrama dia ceritakan peristiwa ini kepada gengnya. Pada keesokan harinya satu geng pelajat super-aktif datang ke pejabat saya. Mereka membuat pengakuan dan meminta maaf atas keterlanjuran mereka. Mereka beritahu punca mereka jadi begitu. Rupanya mereka ini merupakan pemain sukan handalan. Mereka dipandang oleh para pelajar sebagai wira. Mereka merupakan ayam tambatan pelajar dan sekolah. Kerana itu jika mereka melakukan apa-apa ketelanjuran semua pelajar melindungi mereka.

Sebelum mereka beredar dari pejabat, ketua mereka berkata, "Kalau cikgu ada apa-apa projek yang perlukan tenaga sila panggil kami. Kami akan beri sokongan penuh demi kebaikan sekolah. Saya terima mereka dengan baik.



Episod Dirasuk Hantu

Asrama puteri sekolah ini rupa-rupanya mengusik, berhantu. Pada satu malam beberapa orang pelajar puteri demam dan ada yang mempunyai tanda-tanda macam dirasuk hantu. Ketua pelajar puteri menemui saya menceritakan hal. Mula-mula saya buat bodoh dan suruh hantar ke hospital. Mereka kelihatan mewek-mewek macam hendak menangis sambil menceritakan keadaan yang agak luar biasa itu. Saya acah mereka. "Kamu ini orang sains pun percaya hantu?". Bagaimanapun, akhirnya saya ikut mereka pergi ke asrama. Sebelum saya bergerak saya berkata kepada mereka "Okay girl, you listen carefully. Jika betul budak itu dirasuk syaitan, dia tidak akan berani menentang dua biji mata saya".

Sampai di asrama saya dekati katil pelajar yang demam itu satu demi satu. Nampaknya semua sekali demam biasa sahaja. Namun begitu dengan pertolongan Allah apa yang saya katakan tadi sungguhlah berlaku. Apabila saya sampai di katil paling hujung dan saya panggil nama pelajar yang terbaring di situ dia pun membuka mata. Demi bertentang sahaja mata dia dengan dua biji mata saya lantas dia menjerit serta menghalau saya. "Pergi! Pergi! Jangan mari sini". Saya menoleh ke arah ketua pelajar puteri sambil menganggukkan kepala sebagai isyarat sahih budak yang seorang ini dirasuk syaitan.

Kami panggil bomoh untuk menawarnya. Akan tetapi anih, ketika bomoh itu tiba, syaitan itu sudah keluar dari tubuhnya, Dalam tercengang-cengang itu kedengaran suara pelajar lain mengilai. Oh! Rupanyan syaitan ini telah melompat ke dalam body orang lain. Peristiwa malam itu dapat diselesaikan dengan baik tetapi keesokan harinya sejumlah pelajar puteri tidak dapat datang ke kelas kerana masih terketar-ketar ketakutan.

Untuk menenangkan keadaan, maghrib petang esoknya saya solat di asrama puteri. Saya beri sedikit syarahan tentang makhluk ghaib dan bagaimana mereka boleh merasuk manusia. Saya beritahu bahawa orang yang paling berpotensu untuk kena rasuk ialah yang lemah semangat terutama puteri-puteri yang mengidap sakit senggugut. Keesokan harinya pejabat pengetua bertukar menjadi macam klinik. Berpuluh orang pelajar puteri yang mengalami sakit senggugut datang minta kebenaran khas untuk keluar dari pekarangan sekolah kerana berubat. Lepas daripada peristiwa itu semua pelajar puteri tidak lagi takut. "Lain jkali kalau ada lagi budak kena rasuk panggil tuan pengetua. Kalau tak berani menentang mata dia sahih kena rasuk. Panggil bomoh. Selesai".


Episod Ibu Bapa Menyampaikan Hadiah Sukan

Sukan tahunan 1978 dilangsungkan ketika orang sedang demam pilihanraya. Jadi tiada pembesat yang dapat datang untuk merasmikannya dan menyampaikan hadia kepada para pemenang. Dalam termenung memikirkan hal ini tuhan telah mendatangkan suatu ilham kepada saya, yaitu untuk menjemput para ibu bapa. Saya mahu semua kalangan mesti diwakili, daripada yang memakai "bush jacket" hinggalah yang memakai serban atau semutar. Demikian juga ibu-ibu yang yang setengahnya makan sirih. Peristiwa ini menjadi buah mulut seluruh negeri.

Tanpa disangka rupa-rupanya hal ini telah memberi kesan yang positif di kalangan para pelajar. Selepas acara berakhir tanpa disuruh-suruh para pelajar secara sukarela telah merubuhkan semua khemah dan mengutip segala sampah sarap yang ada di padang sehingga menjelang waktu maghrib padang sekolah ini kembali menghijau lagi bersih.


Episod Royat Sepatah Mari Selalu
Saya dan Ustaz Muhammad Alwi telah memulakan suatu tradisi yaitu setiap malam Jumaat semua pelajar mesti solat maghrib dan isyak di dewan. Kami berdua menjadi imam. Kesan daripada tradisi ini ialah apabila berlaku sesuatu kejadian yang tidak diketahui siapa pelakunya, lazimnya saya akan minta pelakunya itu tampil membuat pengakuan dan saya beri tempoh sampai hari Khamis. Kalau sampai hari Khamis tiada yang mengaku maka malam Jumaat itu kita baca surah yasin minta tuhan tunjukkan siapa pelakunya.

Selama saya berada di sini saya rasa semua yang bersalah telah datang membuat pengakuan. Rupanya ini telah menyebabkan mandur kanan sekolah ini merasa bersalah kerana gagal menangkap pelajar-pelajar yang terlajak. Pada satu hari dengan termengah-mengah dia masuk ke pejabat saya. Dia beritahu saya bahawa para pekerja sekolah ini sentiasa mengintai pelajar-pelajar yang buat salah tetapi tidak pernah kedapatan. Lalu dia bertanya saya, "Ilmu apa yang cikgu pakai ini, royat sepatah mari selalu".

Episod Selamat Tinggal Bungaku
Kenangan saya yang paling manis ialah pada hari terakhir saya di sini. Sesudah mengucapkan selamat tinggal dalam perhimpunan di dewan tiba-tiba Sabariah, ketua pelajar puteri meluru naik ke pentas. "Kami pelajar-pelajar puteri meminta tuan pengetua mainkan lagu Selamat Tinggal Bungaku dengan piano sebelum bertolak meninggalkan kami semua". Saya penuhi permintaan itu. Saya mainkan lagu Selamat Tinggal Bungaku dengan piano. Dalam asyik memainkan lagu itu kedengaran di telinga saya isak-isakan para puteri. Saya percaya isakan itu memang isakan sungguh bukan sandiwara, sebaliknya tanda sayang yang sebenar-benarnya kepada saya. Selepas peristiwa pelajar dirasuk syaitan dulu saya lihat semakin jelas pelajar-pelajar puteri memandang saya macam ayah mereka sendiri, bahkan mungkin ada yang lebih.


Pesan
Kepada putera puteri, Engkau adalah bunga bangsa harapan nusa. Hari ini sebenarnya bukanlah titik penghabisan babak hidup yang sedang dilalui. Sebaliknya adalah titik permulaan suatu babak hidup yang baru, yaitu babak yang lebih panjang lagi berliku-liku. Aku telah tayangkan liku-liku perjalanan hidupku. Maka kalau engkau yang berada di dewan hari ini ingin mengambil iktibar dari cebisan-cebisan episod riwayat hidupku di atas ini jangan sekali-kali engkau lupa akan perkara-perkara berikut:

Pertama, bahasa merupakan alat yang terpenting untuk memperolehi sesuatu maklumat dan menyebarkan maklumat. Bahasa adalah alat mengatur buah fikiran. Buktinya Allah mengajar Adam alaihissalam nama segala benda. Oleh itu penguasaan satu-satu bahasa adalah penting dan menjadi anak kunci kejayaan dalam pembelajaran.

Sehubungan dengan itu belajar satu-satu bahasa itu tidak akan berkesan melainkan mesti digunakan sebanyak mungkin. Saya berasa agak terkilan waktu di sini dahulu kerana ramai pelajar sekolah ini tidak mahu bercakap bahasa Melayu baku. Bahasa Inggeris sementelahan pula. Akibatnya mereka dapat mencapai A dalam mata-mata pelajaran Sains tetapi Bahasa Melayu hanya P6 dan Bahasa Inggeris P8. Ini menyempitkan peluang untuk ke tahap yang lebih tinggi disebabkan kelemahan bahasa. Ekoran daripada hal ini saya mulakan satu langkah yaitu saya tetapkan satu hari dalam seminggu semua komunikasi dalam pekarangan sekolah hendaklah dilakukan dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Saya juga pernah menyeru ibu bapa supaya jangan menggiat anak-anak mereka jika dia bercakap dengan Bahasa Melayu baku atau Bahasa Inggeris. Saya tekankan ini kerana pada pengamatan saya orang Kelantan ini mempunyai perasaan yang kuat untuk mempertahankan budayanya termasuk dialeknya. Kalau dia dengar orang tempatan bercakap bahasa baku kadang-kadang dia komen, "Heh! Hagah teh! Kecek luar". Memang ini tidak salah. Cuma ini boleh menghalang anak-anak daripada mempelajari bahasa yang lain.

Rahsia kejayaan saya, lepas sekolah atap dapat menguasai bahasa Inggeris walhal tidak pernah belajar dalam sekolah orang putih adalah terletak pada keberanian saya menggunakan bahasa itu di mana sahaja ada peluang. Saya seru ambillah ini sebagai iktibar.

Jika ditakdirkan pada masa hadapan yang terdekat ini anda dapat melanjutkan pelajaran di luar negara, elakkanlah duduk di perkampungan siswa Melayu kerana ini memungkinkan anda bercakap Melayu lebih daripada Bahasa yang anda perlu tingkatkan penguasaannya untuk belajar. Siswa kita di Universiti Al-Azhar mengalami kelemahan dalam Bahasa Arab kerana mereka duduk di perkampungan Malaysia.

Kedua, saya tidak menunggu saat akhir untuk mempastikan kefahaman yang betul tentang tajuk-tajuk pelajaran yang baharu dan untuk mengulangkaji pelajaran. Rugi jika kita tidak memanfaatkan masa luang seawal mungkin. Benar firman tuhan "Demi masa, sesungguhnya manusia itu di dalam kerugian".

Ketiga, apabila kita mendengar syarahan atau kuliah pensyarah tentu kita beroleh mafhum. Tetapi adalah mafhum yang kita dapat itu tepat, dan lengkap? Belum tentu. Bagaimana untuk mempastikan supaya yang kita perolehi itu tidak terpesong dan tidak berkurangan? Jika ditakdirkan fahaman kita itu terpesong atau tidak lengkap bagaimana untuk mendapatkan yang tepat dan lengkap?

Amalan saya ialah apabila ada orang bertanya atau guru menyoal tentang apa sahaja butiran pelajaran, saya akan mendahului orang lain untuk cuba memberikan jawapan. Mrngapa? Kalau betul, guru akan mengsahihkannya, kalau salah guru akan menunjukkan yang betul. Janganlah yakin sangat, janganlah syok sendiri bahawa fahaman atau tanggapan kita itu betul. Takut tanggapan kita itu salah dan memberi akibat buruk dalam peperiksaan.

Inilah pesan saya selaku bapa dan guru yan ingin melihat anak-anak dan murid-muridnya berjaya mengangkatkan darjat bangsa dan negara tanpa mencemarkan dan menghakis nilai-nilai murni yang telah sama-sama kita warisi sejak ribuan tahun yang lalu.

Oh, ya. Teringat pula saya, masa sekolah dulu saya diberitahu nama tempat ini ialah Pengkalan Chempa? Yaitu pengkalan tempat para pelaut bangsa Champa dari Kemboja berlabuh dan mendarat. Macam mana bunyi "mim"nya boleh hilang hingga tinggal Pengkalan Chepa? Serupakah dengan kehilangan bunyi "mim" pada perkataan "jupa, napak, capak'"? Kehilangan bunyi "da" pada nama pak cik "ud", itu macam mana pula? Serupakah nama dia dengan nama Ustaz Daud? Saya hendak tanya bersahaja-sahaja. Janganlah marah, nanti lekas tua.

Hadirin-hadirat yang saya muliakan,
Hari ini saya sudah sampai di penghujung senja. Usia sudah pun melebihi usia Rasulullah ketika wafatnya baginda. Saya sekarang hidup dalam usia bonus. Bila-bila masa sahaja tuhan boleh menjemput saya kembali mengadapnya. Maka pada kesempatan ini saya ingin memohon ampun dan maaf kepada tiap-tiap orang yang ada di sini atas apa jua tutur kata dan tiap-tiap tingkah laku yang kurang menyenangkan tuan-tuan dan puan-puan. Mohon sampaikan salam hormat dan ampun maaf saya kepada warga negeri ini yang pernah mengenali saya intimewa para petugas yang pernah bekerja di sekolah ini yang mungkin tidak dapat saya temui sehari dua ini.

Kepada Tuan pengetua dan kakitangan sekolah yang bersusah payah mencari kami untuk diberi anugerah hari ini saya mewakili mereka merakamkan ucapan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan.

Anak Haruan lima-lima
Mati ditimpa ppunggur berdaun
Budi tuan kami terima
Tak kan ku lupa ribuan tahun

Buatlah baik ayuhai rakan
Ke dalam laut kamu campakkan
Biarpun tidak dikenal ikan
Tuhanmu tahu iakah bukan

Kepada putera puteri bunga bangsa harapan nusa, ingatlah:

Kecil akan besar
muda akan tua
Hidup akan mati
Bilatah lagi??

Awan beralih bulan cemerlang
Cahayanya jelah bukan buatan
Menjadi terang di hutan duri
Bila beroleh nasib yang malang
Bukan salah takdir suratan
Hanya kurang ikhtiar sendiri

Kepada para ibubapa:

Jika anak tidak dilatih
apabila besar bapanya letih
Jangan biarkan kecil-kecil anak
sudah besar jadi onak

Hadirin hadirat Rahmakumullah,

Memberi sedekah kepada peminta - tidak menjadikan englau papa
Memberi maaf begitu juga - tidak menjadikan engkau hina
Demikian nabi empunya sabda - buat ingatan umat semesta
Jangan hendaknya kita alpa - takut neraka nanti padahnya
Oleh itu wahai saudara - ampun maaf segera ku pinta
Terlanjur lidah lancang bahasa - tersilap langkah telanjur kata
Apabila sampai khabar berita - aku dijemput mengadap yang Esa
Susah payah tidak ku pinta - berlebih ringgit zakatkan sahaja
Sebagai tanda kawan setia - di alam akhirat bahkan dunia
Serangkai fatihan sudah memada - ubat kesunyian sebatang kara

Wabillahi taufik walhidayah, wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh..


Note: The above is the second half of his text. The first half is about his childhood, and the learning process that he went through .i.e . from "anak jawa" (as he puts it) who couldn't speak Malay, to one who actually studied in London for his MA!!
I am not sure if there is audience/reader for this part, but I surely enjoyed reading it (the first part) as much as the second part. Any vote/request?? tapi memang penat lah menaip.....
He divided the first half into subtopics too, i.e.

1. Episod Masuk Sekolah Tidak tahu Bahasa
2. Episod Belum Bersunat Sudah Jadi Guru
3. Episod Masuk ke Institusi Pendidkan Melayu Tertinggi di Dunia
4. Episod Penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris Dari Pergaulan
5. Episod Lepasan Sekolah Atap disangka Lulusan Inggeris
6. Episod Saat Paling Kerdil
7. Rahsia

Note: I've written earlier about Tuan Haji here .

Cikgu Mohd Noor Hassan (now in JPN)

Cikgu during our batch's Raya do in the school canteen in 2001 (Zuhdi's Collection)

The next in the list of teachers who deserve special mention by me is Cikgu Mat Noor.

This is one teacher who NEVER taught my class, and yet I grew up to be close to him, somehow... I know some boys didn't like him, but if my memory is right, he was quite nice to the boys too, as early as 1975. He changed a bit in 1976 (in that sense), and through out the later part was not so much liked by the boys. I think his warden duties contributed significantly to the growth of dislike among boys. As with the girls, he was atill quite nice, since he didn't have to "deal" directly with us.

During the later years of my stay in the school, cikgu got engaged to Kak Mahani who was once a student of the school too (SPM 1976). They are somehow related and they got engaged only AFTER K Mahani left the school.

I think Cikgu was very well known for his contributions in hockey and scout. There was a time during my stay in the school that he was in charged of the dining hall.

Personally, I can't recall specific incidents that contributed to my closeness to him (none that I can mention here - though there were times when I was kind of a "confidant" to him ;-))
However, since I was a prefect then, and he was a warden, it was only natural that we became quite close, just like with Cikgu Bahar. During the warden days, if I'm not wrong, Cikgu Mat Noor and Cikgu Bahar were roommates (warden's room of Block A).

The first time I visited the school again (after form 5) was in 1983, I think. I still recognised the guard, though I doubt if he recognised me. I asked him a few questions about the school and teachers, including Cikgu Mat Nor.

When asked about Cikgu Mat Nor, Pak Guard told me the cikgu was at the canteen! So, in I went with my husband, and we met Cikgu Mat Nor. It was nice to see him again, and he talked fondly about his children, especiall his eldest, whom he called "Kak Long".

I was surprised to see Cikgu hardly changed in appearance. And, believe me, even until now, after almost 30 years, just like Cikgu Mahadzir, Cikgu Mat Nor doesn't look like he's aged more than a couple years!

Here's another pix of the same gathering which we use on the main page of our batch's e-group (smsk7579@yahoogroups.com:


To be continued...

Cikgu Ashaari Yaacob (now retired)

I don't remember much about cikgu during our earlier years, but I knew that he was one of the pioneer teachers - he was with the first batch of students who had to "tumpang" in SMIP.

I remember that cikgu was always busy with a lot of responsibilities. He was our Sejarah teacher when we were in Form 2 Alpha. We were then a very noisy group. He would enter our class for his lesson in the midst of the chaos (of "in between" lessons). One of our friends, nicknamed "Siput" was his "favourite" - Cikgu always caught Siput making noise (mostly telling jokes), playing the fool, and also "disturbing" the girls (not that we minded so much...). Cikgu would use the "soft approach" with Siput (of course cynically) and Siput would always find excuses. The part I like the most was when Siput said "Cikgu, dia gila" and cikgu's reply was "Hanya orang gila sahaja akan mengata orang lain gila!", and the class would burst into laughter!!

During my time in SMSKel, cikgu was at one time or another the advisor to the Prefects Board, House Master, and advisors of several clubs and societies.

When I was in form 5, Cikgu was made the school counselor as well as being in charge of the school main timetable (for ALL teachers!). I still remember during one of my "sessions" with him, he complained how he had to be involved in so many things, and yet his hours of teachers were also high. Nowadays, counselling teachers DO NOT have any teaching load at all!!!

I didn't go to him for counselling, i was actually summoned by him. That could be the reason why I didn't really like him then (in retaliation). Despite that, I poured out most of my problems to him. Only now I can imagine how difficult for him to have to "handle" problematic students like moi! Hahaha!!!

The incident that prompted me to hate him more was when he told me that my name came up as a candidate for the "Head Girl" for 1979, and he objected to the committee, saying that I had too much problems of my own that I was not to be burdened with more responsibilities. At that time I was already the acting Head Girl for almost 6 months!! NOW I know that he meant well, but at that time it was like a big blow to me for not being appointed the post, and I really really hated him for that. Who was he to decide on my behalf, I thought....

Anothe incident was when i received the form for application to go to Australia, it was just a few days after my father's death. I told Cikgu that I didn't want to fill in the form because I wanted to go to USA and not "hujung dunia", as I put it. Cikgu scolded me and forced me to fill in the form :-(
(Actually I was feeling very down because I didn't get to show my father the offer that I had been telling him about, just a month earlier... The offer came just a few days late :-( )
Anyway, Cikgu finally made me realised that it was the best thing to do at that time and I just had to swallow the bitter fact.

When I was away Down Under, and my emotion was more stable, I came to realise how well cikgu meant. I sent him Raya card almost every year, even until I started teaching in Ipoh and later in KL. Until now, I feel like he's the "replacement father" that Allah gave me.

When I came back for the first time, one of the first few people I visited was him (the other 2 were Cikgu Sharifah Maimunah, my primary school teacher, and Cikgu Mat Brahim, my form 5 class teacher). Cikgu Ashaari never failed to come to any of our functions (when I first got married, then during my eldest child's aqiqah, and the few gatherings that my batch had).

Here's a pix of him with some of us during our 2001 Raya Meet (Batch 75-79) in the SMSTMFP canteen.

Mazlin, Amir Khan, cikgu, Shukri, Zuhdi

And the group photo:

Cikgu seen here between Cikgu Hamdi & Pengetua Wan Hamzah

I had always wanted to do something for him as my show of appreciation to what he had done to me. I finally managed to do so in 2003 when I managed to convince him to attend the SEMESTA AGM - I paid for his Air Asia tickets- not much, but I am glad I did it. During the meet, I could see how happy cikgu was to be able to meet his former students. One of them was one who he was trying to trace all these while (apparently that person had some personal problems too while in SMSKel and cikgu was the unofficial counselor - at a time when there was no "specially assigned" one). I was touched when I saw both of them with teary eyes.

Here's the pix during that AGM:

pix by Zuhdi

I last met Cikgu in 2004 when I was in KB for 1 week - to observe my students teaching at Kolej Jururawat, Kubang Kerian. I gave Cikgu a call in between the observations, he told me to come over,which I did, and I had lunch with him and missus.

He's still very active with his group of retired teachers - organising and conducting Agama classes.

I still remember Cikgu's pesan- he said people like me should come back to school to contribute. There are still so many students in SMSTMFP who are in the situation that I was in back in 1970s (no need to elaborate, hehehe..) And that IS precisely the reason why I am still involved in SEMESTA's activities. All these are nothing, compared to what Cikgu has done for me!

Terima kasih cikgu!!

Cikgu Bahar (SMSK: 1975-1977)

I've always wanted to write about him. I don't know why but he is always special to me and many of my friends...

His full name is Baharudin Mohd Arus. My batch and Cikgu Bahar have something in common - we started in SMSKel at almost the same time (he arrived a day or 2 before us and it was his first posting as a teacher, having completed his studies at MPIK) - He as a teacher and we as students. Cikgu Bahar started as our BM teacher. We found out much later (i.e. in 2001 when we met him again), that he actually was not prepared to teach BM (his majoring was Sports and Arts). However the impact that he had on us was great enough for us to appreciate BM literature. Many of us still remember some of the Malay poems (sajak) that he exposed us to. We came to know and appreciate more of Amir Hamzah, Tongkat Warrant, Hamka and Chairil Anwar, to name a few. As for me, one of them was sajak AKU by Chairil Anwar , which stays permanently in my head, especially when I was/am feeling very down. Here's the full poem:

AKU

Kalau sampai waktuku
'Ku mau tak seorang kan merayu
Tidak juga kau

Tak perlu sedu sedan itu

Aku ini binatang jalang
Dari kumpulannya terbuang

Biar peluru menembus kulitku
Aku tetap meradang menerjang

Luka dan bisa kubawa berlari
Berlari
Hingga hilang pedih peri

Dan aku akan lebih tidak perduli

Aku mau hidup seribu tahun lagi

Apart from teaching BM, Cikgu Bahar was also a warden, the Sports Secretary (means he handles all the matches/competitions within school as well as interschool and interdistrict).
I was one of his "helpers", taking charge of refreshments for the players, especially when we had to go out for matches. I enjoyed the task very much since I had the chance to visit so many schools and cheer for our school teams!

Cikgu Bahar was also the advisor to the Art Club, where I was the Bendahari, I think... or maybe just an AJK.

Cikgu was more of our abang too, he liked to tell us about his tunang then (who later became and still remains his missus now). He liked to go round the classes during night prep and sometimes when his mood was right, he would be telling us interesting tales e.g. his experience as a cop (before joining the maktab perguruan). I still remember his stories of his childhood, how he and siblings would do well in sports and cycled home with all the trophies. He said that he has a big family, and his hometown is Sijangkang, which is halfway between Klang and Banting, so his parents decided to send some of them to a school in Klang and some to the school Banting!

As for me, I had neighbours in Serom, Muar who were cikgu's collegemates in MPIK (maktab Perguruan Ilmu Khas), and there were some interesting stories between them too ;-)

He also made arts classes very interesting - he taught us to make mobiles (that we hung in the classroom), 3-D greeting cards (how to make a raya card where you can have two hands shaking each other when you open it; a card that looks like a blazer, with shirt and tie inside), and abstract drawings. He also showed us how to produce interesting collages. His favourite students from my class were of course Hood & Norita, who would normally score very high in Arts - they were the great artists among us!

In early 1978, cikgu managed to get transfered to Perak, to be closer to home(Klang)! Later we heard that cikgu went on to pursue his degree in USM.

The next time I met Cikgu was in 1988 when I went for an interview for the ASHES (Academic Staff Higher Education Scheme) in USM. It was really a pleasant surprise. I was the last candidate for the morning interview session, and cikgu was the first for the afternoon session. I told DH (dearest Hubby) that I wanted to meet and surprise him. DH agreed, so we waited for him. He was really surprised to see us!!! He told DH "Anak2 murid saya dah pergi overseas, dan balik.. Ni biarlah saya pulak merasa...". I was applying for Software Engineering and Cikgu was applying for Fine Arts. Both of us got the offer, and had to go through Kementerian Pendidikan (since we were both bonded by the ministry) for release. Both of us got the release. Cikgu went to US but I decided not to take up the scholarship after all :-(
I was supposed to pursue my master's and PhD in Software Engineering in Sheffield University but DH only allowed me to go alone and leave our 3 small kids behind with him (for at least 4 yrs!!). MANA BOLEH!!!!!

In 2001, my batch managed to have a mini gathering at KLCC, where my surprise for them was Cikgu Bahar himself!! I managed to trace him (he was about to leave USM) just before he left for Universiti Berunei Darul Salam. Here's the group pix taken on that day with Cikgu Bahar in orange batik (sitting). Others who were there were Surea Mamat, Zuhdi, Zuhaimi, Mazlin, Yasmin, Salwani, Che Rohani, Norita, Nuraini, Mat Puji, Kamil and Roslan.


Another pix of some of us with cikgu:

Cikgu, Norita, me and Fauzi

And another:

Kamil, Zuhaimi, cikgu, with a bit of Mazlin

I last met Cikgu at the end of 2005, when he invited us to the wedding of his eldest child. The family home is in Klang but I think he is still in Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah Institute of Education, UBD.

I think cikgu is still a member of my batch's e-group but he hardly says anything. The last mail from him was when he invited us to his child's wedding - among those who went were Hood, Norita and me.

Form 1 1975

Last month I posted the above pix of ALL the form 1 girls of 1975 soon after the 1st intake (click here). 19 girls for 4 classes! Alpha only had Norita, Fauziah M Zain, Nuraini and me.


As for the boys, I found the following pix of SOME of the boys of form 1 1975 (I got it from our e-group site). I am not sure what group they represented, since there are some from Alpha and some from Beta. Zainal Azim (Headboy 1979) is the one standing on the extreme left. The last time I heard, Dr Zainal Azim was in Adelaide - not sure for what, maybe on some sabatical or further studies... Zainal, if you are reading this, please respond!

Note: I'll be away for the next 3 days. Will only update my blog on Friday.. I want to write abt our Cikgu Mahadzir, but I've yet to locate and scan the relevant pix. Be patient....

2 Alpha 1976

I have posted pix of 2 Alpha girls 1976 here.

Now I'm looking for the old pix for 2 Alpha itself. So far I only found the AJK pix:

Fr left: W Hassamudin@ Kojak (Now a senior research officer, in MPOB), Aihah (yet to be traceable), Shukri (Ain Medicare), me and Zuhdi (Now with Process-3). Mr Lye Kim Yong, one of our favourite teachers, was then our class teacher, is now retired in Melaka. If I am not mistaken, at the back is the sewing room, or maybe the cooking room.

I'll add in the class pix, once I've located it. The class pix looks quite funny, esp with Shukri (now with Ain Medicare, P Chepa) & Mazlin (Prof Dr Mazlin Mokhtar, UKM) trying hard to look tall!

Prefects 1978

Here's a pix of the prefects board in 1978. Gosh! I could only remember some of them. Beyond AHA's batch, I hardly remember them :-(

And here's the pix of the girl prefects only (2 were not in it) , taken just next to the staircase in Asrama Putri, facing the water pump.


Note: I have been quite busy (maintaining friendship) lately.