Felt Betrayed By My Own Leaders

On Thursday morning July 9th, 2009, I, unusually, loss my appetite for breakfast. Seeing the day’s headline of THE STAR made my wife’s delicious fried meehoon was left untouched, although I only had tuna sandwich for my last night dinner. The dreaded decision made by the Honourable Minister of Education was the main cause of my sudden disinterest in the first meal of the day.

Before Thursday, I was praying very hard daily that our education system is left undisturbed well, at least, not until after the year 2014, when my youngest daughter will be starting her post-secondary school education. My prayers were not answered after all. My daughter will have to switch to learning Mathematics and Sciences in Bahasa Malaysia when she is in Form 4 in 2012. Bearing in mind that when she started schooling way back in 2003, she was used to the system of learning Mathematics and Sciences in English. Sadly, for the sake of somebody trying to show that he or she is doing a good job in his or her ministry, my last child has to endure two of her remaining years in secondary school learning Mathematics and Sciences in Bahasa Malaysia. It felt like an Olympic 110m hurdler failing to clear the last two hurdles and finishes fourth in the finals, the first placing for a finalist not to get an Olympic medal.

This is not the first time, I felt that I have been betrayed by my own leaders when it comes to my children education. In 2003, my son who was just starting Form 1 was made to learn Mathematics and Sciences in English after six years getting used to learning them in Bahasa Malaysia. I would sometimes shed tears upon seeing him struggling to adjust to the new system and getting unfavourable results in his monthly tests. Trying to motive him to continue learning is another challenge for me and my wife. However, what made us encourage him to continue learning Mathematics and Sciences in English was because at the institutes of higher learning in Malaysia, English is the medium of learning. From that moment on, we have willingly accepted that fact.

We thought it was going to be a sun-shining day, but it looks like it is going to rain in the afternoon. My youngest daughter who had learned Mathematics and Sciences in English for nine years, will have to quickly adapt to learning them in Bahasa Malaysia for two years, and finally reverts back to English if she is qualified to attend an institute of higher learning of her own choice. Attending meeting, discussing issues in detail and making decisions in an air-conditioned room seemed to be an ordinary routine for some, but we the rakyat will have to bear the consequences.

(This article was sent to editor@thestar.com.my on July 9th, 2009)

The Other Side of A Reunion

by mzauri@pc.jaring.my

“Malam ASPUTRA 2009”, that was the theme given for a reunion dinner hosted by the Alumni of Sekolah Menengah Sains Tuanku Syed Putra, Kangar, Perlis on July 4^th, 2009. It was held at Hotel Singgahsana, Petaling Jaya. Former students of the school starting from the SPM Batch 1976 until the latest batch, came from all over Malaysia, hoping to meet long lost friends, honouring their former teachers who were responsible, at least partly, for making them what they are now and enjoying the good food, good music and good company.

As I glanced around the hall, I could see happy faces, faces in tears (tears of joy), a lot of handshakes, a lot of hugging and a lot of cheek kissing. I could hear a lot of laughter, a lot of shouting and a lot of crying (cry of joy). Forget about good food, forget about good music and forget about the speeches! They just want to be together, they just want to hear the stories of their friends, the adventures that they had, their trials and tribulations and their triumphs. They would like that night to be a never-ending one. Some groups even held post-dinner gatherings at the coffee house of a well known hotel nearby or at “Kedai Mamak” opposite that hotel. The laughters could be heard until the early hours of the morning.

Walking away from “Kedai Mamak’s” table to start my journey back to where I came from was very hard. My pace was very slow and my body felt weak, showing the resistance to part company with my friends, some, whom I have not seen for more than thirty years! My mind started to wonder around.

I thought about those who attended the dinner. For those who live around Klang Valley, some came in chauffer-driven luxury cars, some in spouse-driven family cars and some car-pooled. For those who live outside the valley but made a point to attend the dinner, there are some of them who came by public transportation. I noticed that whatever transportation that were mentioned, all of them received the same enthusiatic handshakes, the same power hugs and the same pressure cheek-kissings among themselves. This is what you get when the friendships are based on sincerity and lillahi ta’ala.

Khushairi and I had the privilage of accompanying two former teachers, Cikgu Baharom and Cikgu Munir, to the reunion. The moment we arrived at the teachers’ houses to pick them up, we could observe the teachers’ enthusiasms, looking forward to meet their former proteges. Travelling from Kangar on PLUS Highway to PJ with the two of them really made the journey enjoyable. A lot of historical stories about our school, our teachers and the students were made known to us, some stories, we have never heard before! However, in between their stories, both of them kept on repeating how excited they are to meet all of us.

Being able to attend the reunion, made me consider myself to be very lucky. There were a number of my friends who made plans to attend the much awaited event, however, when the reunion came, they were unable to do so. I felt sorry for Azizi Ahmad Termizi, his medical review (wrist fracture) the day before the reunion did not permit him from attending (it seemed similar to EPL where you have to pass your fitness test before playing for the club). Dino, too, made an effort to come, but in the end, could not do so. Everybody who were able to attend wondered how it would be if ALL of us could come. That will be THE DAY (OR NIGHT!).

Those who were able to attend had their own stories, too. First, I would like to mention Cikgu Munir’s predicament. When Khushairi invited him to the Reunion, he said that he could not confirm immediately. Later, we learnt that his wife is partially paralysed. His attendance would depend on his son’s ability to get leave from work to take care of his wife during his absence. That night… there he was entering the hall, dressed smartly in light blue coloured batik shirt, smiling as if nothing was bothering his mind.

During the weeks leading to the reunion, I had heard stories of those whose, either spouses or family members, having long term illnesses but carried on the reunion promotion without any hesitation on their part. They politely declined when I asked their permission to mention their names. Were we lucky enough to be able to attend the reunion calmly and peacefully?

After the reunion, those who were from the valley would have been in the arms of their loved ones as early as midnight. Others would have to wait their turn, either later in the morning or afternoon or even evening the day after. The choice for the location might be tied to the addresses of the majority of the alumni members, however, everybody made a point to attend, wherever locations they might be settling in.

Lastly, that early hours of the morning, before I entered through the automatic doors of the hotel I was staying, I could still hear my wife’s voice persuading my youngest daughter, Deqda, “Abah have been working from our own home all this while. Now, let us give him some time to spend with his friends”. Dearest Ina, thank you so much for that kind and considerate words. I really appreciated them. May Allah rewards you for your kindness and sincerity.

“SEE YA, NEXT YEAR”

Taking A Break @ Genting Hill View Resort

28-6-2008 & 29-6-2008

Two and a half hours after parting with Munif at Desasiswa Bestari, Muadzam Shah, Ina, Deqda and I arrived at Genting Hill View Resort. The resort is about 12km from Genting Highland (GH) and it's elevation is much lower than GH. This was a scheduled stop and a part of our itinerary when we planned our trip to send Munif for UNITEN Registration Day. Click HERE for previous posting. It was supposed to act as a resting day for the drivers (that's me and Ina) before continuing our journey back to Perlis. Although there was air conditioning device inside our room, we hardly switched it on because the surrounding tempreture is cool.

Munif as a UNITEN Undergraduate

It's been exactly a year now since Munif registered as a UNITEN undergraduate at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Campus, Muadzam Shah, Pahang. I could still remember the instant our Gen-2 entered the township of Muadzam Shah, my first thought was "This is the perfect place for Munif to study." However, I was 100% sure that Munif would not concur with my opinion.

The gathering place was the Main Auditorium. The lobby was packed. In one corner, there was a grandma in tears being consoled by her granddaughter who was holding a UNITEN registration folder. Beside the Main Entrance, a pair of three years old twins playing "Police and Thief", whilst their eldest brother, in UNITEN formal dress code was trying to calm them down.

After a short briefing, we were instructed to go to Desasiswa Bestari, an apartment complex for male undergraduates. Munif was assigned to a 2 rooms apartment, DB5-00-05. His roommate was Abe (Business Studies from Klang, Selangor). Makyo (Business Studies from Ipoh, Perak) and Ajeem (Business Studies from KL) were the occupiers of the other room. Although he was the only Accountancy undergraduate in the apartment, Munif seemed contented. I have known Munif as a person who is not choosy when it comes to making friends.

Before we left, we helped Munif to unpack his belongings. I also helped Munif to identify the best spot for his "Blue Cube". When it was time to part company, we were taken aback when Munif rested his head on his mother's shoulder and shed tears. I understood the situation because this was the first time ever, Munif would be far from home and away from us. I and my wife had agreed not to reveal our real emotion in front of Munif, trying to mitigate the impact of being separated.

I felt I was right in bringing Deqda to her brother's registration day at the UNITEN although she had to skip two days of classes. I hope, from the atmosphere, she will be more determined to follow the footsteps of Kak Long (an undergraduate at UIA) and Abang Munif.

Deqda's Manglish or Englay?

There is a Teak Furniture Shop in the vacinity of Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, Alor Setar, Kedah. One day after attending our friend's wedding feast at the nearby Hutan Kampung, we decided to stop by at the shop to check out the new arrivals.

Our children, Kak Long, 12, Munif, 9 and Deqda, 3 decided to stay in the comfort of Nippon Denso air-conditioner as originally installed inside our family car. They intelligently declined our invitation to follow us inside the shop as the shop is naturally ventilated. It made matters worst with the Global Warming!

What happenned inside the shop was irrelevant. However, when we returned to our car, Aida, enthusiatically, reported that, "Abah! Mama! I saw a CATERFLY!". Kak Long quickly explained that what her sister saw was an aeroplane. Although it was funny in the first instant, however, we really admire Deqda's courage to speak in English.