I have been trying my best not to miss the Buka Puasa at every Ramadhan organised by the Old Putera Association ( The ex- FMC/RMC alumni ) for the last several years because it is the only time to meet old friends from the College in Sungei Besi. Last Sunday night, on 14 August it was held at the OPA Building near Saujana Resort and as usual my fellow OP (Old Putera)Hamzah @ Hank whose blog entitled 'Birdhouse' came to fetch me and we were the early birds to the function. However it gave us the chance to be at the Secretariat and and perused the old photographs of the activities of the College's Coys (Companies)and tried to recall the Budak Boys in them. Hamzah also got his copy of the annual directory of the Old Puteras which is normally circulated during the Annual Dinner. This time the Buka Puasa is sponsored by one of the OP's and thus we did not have to pay for the food served, unless one wants to donate for the Charity Fund of the OPA. I have been noticing over the years the people who seemed to attend are the same familiar faces, and this is understandable because they know that it is at such functions that they can meet old friends. For this Ramadhan I notice a few absentees probably they prefer to break the fast amongst their own family members because it falls on a sunday night. As usual the normal routine of Buka Puasa ended with "Moreh" after the "Terawih" and we left fairly early, that is before 10.30 p.m. To me the significance of the Buka Puasa at the OPA gives me the opportunity to see some of my old colleagues which I have not seen for many decades and this time I did come across my old Company Boy who came with his son, also an OP and we shared the same table. Sheikh Taufik, the uncle of that first Malaysian who travelled to the Space station some years ago kept us laughing all throughout with his non-stop jokes. This is something which is not easy to share the precious moments of your lifetime amongst friends who went through the regimented life of the only unique institution of our Nation. The uniqueness is reflected by the presence of our non-Muslim friends who came to share the food with us such as OP Frank Beltran, OP Mike Tan and others. It is indeed a manifestation of the dream which was first started by the late Field Marshall Templer when the FMC was established as an institution to prepare young Malayans irrespective of their creed, colour or religion to take up their positions as leaders in the Armed Forces, the Higher Divisions of the Public Service and in the industrial and commercial life of the country.
6 comments:
Dear Hal,
Glad to see you back. I too would try not to miss it. Afterall it's a day in a year. I'm glad I didn't.
{I didn't realise you brought along your camera}
Salam
Hank
Dear Hank,
It was at this Buka Puasa I finally got the answer as whose name you adopted as the @ namely Hank Marvin, and it came from none other than OP Yahya Yacob. Yes, we must try not to miss this OPA function as we are already out of circulation for the Annual Dinner with you sponsoring my last attendance.
The photos are by courtesy of OP Capt. Aziz who uploaded them in the E-List. Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin.
Akhi Hal,
I can imagine the very special relationship of your regimented college life and the bond among members. You mentioned Sheikh Taifik, an uncle of our first astronaut, who kept you all laughing with his jokes. Now I knew one Sheikh Razak, also an uncle of the astronaut. He died many years ago. During is last several years we were working together, and this late friend (may Allah bless his soul) had the special gift of bein able to keep a party laughing with his jokes. The two Sheikhs must be brothers. Do ask him if you happen to meet Sheikh Taufik.
Sheikh Razak was especially close because our houses were opposite each other accross one road in Damansara Heights, where his wife still lives.The late friend started life as a teacher after graduating from Kirkby. He used to be very active in organising annual for the ex members of the old teacher training college. How close that group were, and still are, I believe.
Your posting reminds me of these, and especially of this special friend I used to have. Alftihah o him.
Dear PakCik,
I am thankful to ALLAH that my posting made you recall the memory of Allahyarham Sheikh Razak who is indeed the brother of Sheik Taufik. I also recalled meeting him when my son registered for the starting of his new term together with Sheikh Razak's son at Mara Prepatory College in Kuantan in the 80's. The Al-Masries also related to my relatives on my father's side. It is a small world.
Allahyarham Sheikh Razak also loved to fly and he told me how wonderful it was to fly over the stretches of the many natural lagoons and lakes on the East Coast from Terengganu to Pahang. Al-Fatihah.
salam uncle,
i on behalf of my mom would like to ask you about the family origin of the late Tuanku Tambusai. macamana kalau nak ikuti program keluarga akan datang sebab dah lama dia mencari dan akhirnya alhamdulillah terjumpa uncle punya blog. oh sorry, mesti uncle tertanya tanya kenapa tiba tiba saya tanya benda ni, dah lah tak kenal kan? ok ok sebenarnya my mom and her siblings and not to forget her late father, merupakan keturunan ke-tujuh dari keturunan Tuanku Tambusai.
please leave us your number or anything that can be used to contact you later uncle.
Syahirah,
You can email me at abdul_halimshah@yahoo.com for further details. I need to know more about your grandfather's on your mother's side so that I can have a fair idea which family line of the keturunan Tuanku Tambusai he comes from.
Post a Comment