2008 |
Oct-Dec |
Shawal 1429H, 2008
The Hijri's 1329 Shawal and Miladi's 2008 Oct, like Ramadan-Sep began on the same day Wed which was expected from the calender, as it was for the past many years. That would make Muharram 1430 two days earlier than Jan 2009. I spent the Eid in Teregganu. All sixteen of us. Minus none on the Shawal morning.
 Dated: 2008 Oct 01 Wed, 01 Shawal 1429H, 1712 hrs. Kg Batin, Seberang Takir (the home of my mother's 6#daughter, Rubaihah) 50 of the 70 of my mother and my father survivors. The most 'distant rank' were their great-grand-children. Eight in the picture. Another eight could not make. The youngest was that of my late elder 1#brother's 2#daughter's 6#daughter (7#grand-daughter), ca. a month old (an 'absentee'). The eldest incidentally was her grand-ma, age ca 60, my mother's 1#DIL. Both currently reside in the same home ca 18 km off the main road to KL, in Kuantan, Pahang. The vicinity her grand-pa ventured in 1960's when he began his first trial of life outside his birth place. The same place he was taken to his final rest, 2007 Jan 7. My father did not live long enough (to 1972 Mac 18) to even see his DIL-s. But my mother enjoyed frolicking and romancing seventeen of her grand-siblings (to 1989 Sep 13). The first was her late #1son's 1#son in 1973. Her last was her 6#daughter's 2#daughter. |
 |
The schools and universities were very kind to give the week the break, since 2008 Sep 27 Sat which enabled the home-goers to dilute the traffic congestion in to trip into a less viscous flow. But not the fro. Even though the campus life began to return Oct 5 Sun, it took the whole week to get the festive mood 'de-dragged' out of the momentum. Including receiving two very young visitors 2008 Oct 7 Tue who may revisit this place in the future.
Looking far back decades ago, today's Shawal festivity are really 'unmoody'. A leap different from those days when every difference on the day was significant, especially to the children: the shoe, the dress, the pocket money, the food, the elders treatment (and reciprocally), the schooling, the night before Shawal, the night after Shawal, the 'freedom' to do, the places to go, the things to buy, etc, etc, etc. And to the adults, Shawal had meant a completely different things. Today's Shawal is merely a similar day after 30th Ramadan, which is of late invariably always 30 days Rukyah or otherwise, and is similar with the next day 2nd Shawal. Followed by a similar massive traffic movement of the home-leavers.
No wonder the children are carrying out similar funs on Shawal: watching TV from the morning, and then getting bored by the end of the day after being "drunk" by the similar TV programmes like last year and the year before - virtually similar programmes with other non-Shawal days. Singing. Chatting. Adverts. Singing. Chatting. Adverts. Singing. Chatting. Adverts. Singing. Chatting. Adverts. Singing. Chatting. Adverts. Singing. Chatting. Adverts. Singing. Chatting. Adverts. Of course in different props, but still perhaps that of the yesteryear which was the props of the years before. Including nearly similar singers and chatters. Rolling similar melodies and lyrics - none was about the mother of all the purpose of Shawal.
Shawal was very much 'shorter' than Ramadan because of too many 'itineraries' which were getting more logarithmic as the month neared the end. 2008 Oct 8 Wed a briefing to the team of Academic Promotion, in KUSZA campus, with a nearby concurrent postgraduate 'Raya', followed by the next day UDM ICT 'get together', also in KUSZA to promote the pages into a readable lots, followed by the Fri-Sat weekend in Bangi, followed by the 2009 badget discourse on the new week 2008 Oct 12 Sun, followed by the next day raya in the fac cc home, followed by the next day visit to a vip patient in SNZ hospital in the afternoon, and in the evening paying belated visit in Gong Badak to the family of Abang Sehat who unfortunately passed on yesterday. He was my host family when I started my 'independent' life in KL in 1971 when I checked in UKM. Followed by the next day with a raya of the medical faculty in the morning, and FPB staff raya in the afternoon in the Rumah Warisan Losong Pengkalan Keropok. Followed by the next day 2008 Oct 16 Thu, the Majlis Anugerah Dekan #3 for the FPB students, which was entrusted to the students to fully organize it, which was followed by the faculty raya in the afternoon. Followed by the routine Fri-Sat weekend in Bangi during which the kiddos organised themselves on Sat for buddies and 'adik-beradik' to come to raya. Followed by the inaugural meeting of the JAFS (overriding the meeting with JPP because of their inavailability) in the late afternoon Sun since we have had already sufficient number of papers for the maiden issue (missed the Bendahari 'raya' in the morning, but on time in joining the PERTIMA Chendering at noon). Followed by on the following Mon a preview to our new permanent faculty in the Tembila campus (superceding the meeting to discourse the MOU contents with several institution to facilitate the students T&L activities.) 2008 Oct 21 Tue was the last lecture of FDS3013 for this semester/session the final exam of which would be 2008 Nov 18 Tue, the last day exam for the student, which I deliberated to accomodate my MatriQ outing Oct 3-8 in Bangi Residence. The end of Shawal season was probably 2008 Oct 22 Wed when it was the celebration in all campuses and colleges on the University. All the managers attended, in the Kota Campus.
At Last, A New Dawn
After many periods of lull, 'intermissions', hide-and-seek, and wait-and-see, eventually something seemed to rise from the ground. The faculty permanent site in Tembila Campus where 2008 Oct 20 Mon I was made to go to see in order to preview the site for our farm which should be built in parallel so that when we move when they are ready the farm is ready for the teaching purposes.
 The current road which will become the street that divide the campus into the faculty etc etc up to the beach on the right which seemed still to harbour the original occupants, and others on the left. The rising building on the left is the JPP building. When ready its occupant will overseer the rising of the rest of the buildings. The farm is beyond the building. When everything is ready, the road will be closed to the public. The replacement road is being built along the campus perimeter on the land-side. A double carriage way. |
 UDM campus in Tembila, Besut on a flat land. A conceptual view from west to east for the Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology. Cf south-north above. |
Many surrounding locals were deliriously happy seeing the "kemajuan" coming to their place. Especially those being briefed by the main-con on the 'small fry' sub-contr available to them. They have yet to see the impact of the "kemajuan", like those that had taken place in Sg Merab, Selangor. Or may be their siblings that would have to endure it. They have yet to watch waves of waves of creatures that will be coming after that in order to sustain the "kemajuan". The socialogical metathesis will soon be in operation in this vicinity, as has been anywhere when such a stimulus is imposed. One that from the beginning was deliberately not for them.
A Great Global Potential
 |
After ca twenty years to 2008 Oct 25. Highly inorganic. Currently they are not possible to be 'rejuvenated'. Judging by the appearance, the supply is very rich in minerals, perhaps of fourth or fifth period transition based. Perhaps just devoid of sodium chloride to be likened the sea water. Very costly for the replication. Not for the piping, but to bury it in the concrete. The only solution is to re-do, even by the cheaper short-cut way.
Current popular approach is to swap the GI with PVC. Both in the new system being in construction, and the system that required a re-do. Putting the stake on the assumption that PVC would not rust, which overdrove the fact that GI would not break, minding that both the opposing properties are in operation in the the concrete. For the newly installed system thus a see-saw between "no rust but possibly break" and "surely rust but no break". Which as at the time is in perpetuality.
The great global potential is that then there would be a time when a kind of a regular service is available so that depostion could be kept at bay. A kind that works by chipping into a suspension or even an emulsion which could be washed off. Perhaps reverse flow would assist the chipping which could further be assisted by the presence of interfacial agents. Perhaps ultrasonics could be conducted along to further disrupt the interfacial bonds of the solids.
Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States
 |
Unambiguosly 2008 Nov 4 was a historic event. The new US President. Barack Hussein Obama II (D). From Wiki, " ... defeated John McCain (R) and became the first African American to be elected President of the United States. In his victory speech, delivered before a crowd of hundreds of thousands of his supporters in Chicago, Obama proclaimed that "change has come to America." Obama is the first U.S. President born outside the continental United States. President-elect Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009. Obama held his first press conference as president-elect on Friday 2008 November 07, in which he discussed the economy, Iran, the ongoing transition, and his search for a family dog."
A democratic America runs according to a modulary system. The presidentship is just a module. There are many others, largely non-accessible though. The sequence of events to come will tell the modulary network in operation. Which will correct one's initial perception, if it was wrong. Ostensibly, the first reverberation was eastward.
I was then in the middle of the second biannual MATRIQ gathering in the Residence, Bangi, during which I was made to lead the 6th Gp with ten members. Four more than during the previous gathering. While to this date since 2007 Apr 19, all the reactions were a kind of "what to do", I was communicated that my ghosts were still there guarding my history, and I reciprocated for I knew that they truly had missed me after enjoying my presence for so long.
It had been nineteen months already. And, naturally, it is going to move on, perhaps without even a "sekelip mata" of looking back.
And that was in the middle of a long home double weekends Oct 30 - Nov 11.
On returning to K TRG, 2008 Nov 11 Tue alone from the wee hrs, it was narrated that the rain had been non-stop since Sun. Followed by the sign of the Monsoon arrival on Wed when the wave crest began to increase. The sound of "nguuuuum" was audible coming from the beach. And the school was on its final weeks before the end year vacation which began Nov 15 Sat.
|
The gloomy "no-sun" bluish-grey sky and the sound of falling rain at night reminded me of the years when I was a boy in the 1960's. We were looking forward for this time of the year. The school vacation meant that we would have a fulltime outdoor funs. The rain would fill the field with sufficient water to begin the padi planting works. Everybody was out in the field, doing all the field works. The kiddos, boys and girls in their own respective way, would help the parents, but the main activities were catching the fish in the water. And having a lot of fun in the water itself. If the rain continue to fall, the eventual flood would be more fun. "The Festival of Water" was an annual event for sometimes in the East Coast Peninsular. If the monsoon wind is very strong, then there would be "bah laut" which was very feary. The continuous thundering sound of the waves pounding the sea shore was audible tens of km into the inland. Otherwise it would be "bah darat" which was rather friendly. Once a while we had both, which caused quite an inconvenience for a while until it subsided. We had enjoyed it very much. Two such flood were in 1965 and 1966. The best "bah darat" that I experienced was in 1967.
Saving Rxdang - Restoring the Sixth Vowel, ĕ
 Viewing from Merang, the Rxdang is small barely visible on the left; Bidong in the middle, and Yu on the right. | |
| Some of the reclaimed words | |
| Rxdang (an island) | |
| rxndang (shady) | rendang (a dish) |
| Malim Dxman (a classic hero) | demam (fever) |
| pxrang (brown) | perang (war) |
| tembxrxng (sector of a circle) | tembxrang (kidding) |
| bxrang (angry) | Kuala Berang (a town) |
| gxrang (jovial) | geram (annoy) |
| kxlah (picnic) | kelah (a fish) |
| Lxrxk (a place) | |
| rxmbat (strike) | |
| dxsa (village) | desak (push) |
| dxndang (sing) | dendam (fury) |
| Pxlxk (a river) | pelik (strange) |
| pxgang (hold in Johor) | pegang (hold) |
| lxtxh/lxtxr (mumble) | letih (tired) |
| lxpxr (flat) | |
| kxkang/kxnkang (bow-legged) | kekang (restrict) |
| pxlat (mispronounce) | pelat (plate) |
| sxlak (open a bit) | selak (put on the latch) |
On the way to the field work of collecting cashew gum samples. 2008 Nov 15 Sat passing Merang to Saujana along the beach now slowly invaded by the monsoon. There she is, on the right view. The Redang Island. Been around there a couple of times, catching the "kerapu" and "kerisi". Landed once on the gulfy beach facing the open sea. The island once the paradise of the fishermen from Seberang Takir to Penarik. Now it is made a marine park around the island, because on the island itself is a tourist paradise. Fishing within 5 nmiles around it is prohibited. Till then, no harm done to the fish paradise because the fishermen used only the line. With the fishermen shunned, the visitors are just the non fishermen non "Terenganeses". And precisely, the only thing left to them today is the name "Redang", the pronounciation of which was corrupted since the date the Bahasa Melayu was "modernised" in the 1970's and "Baku" times of 1980's. With the missing sixth vowel symbol, the pronounciation of "Redang" become indifference. Only the oldies of Terengganeses could say it properly "Redang" with e-taling. The rest would say it with the more dominant e-pepet.
"Redang" together with Bidong are too dear to the beach dwellers. And with the only name that is left for them, it is timely to preserve it as it was. I want to reintroduce the sixth vowel symbol so that its original saying is alerted. While "e" is for the e-pepet vowel, which comprises the majority of "e" in Bahasa Melayu, I am introducing the letter x for e-taling vowel, which appears in much lesser number in the words. Thus "Redang" will be spelt "correctly" as RXDANG. For a newbies, they will halt for a while on the first time seeing the word RXDANG. But soon they will realise that it is not a misspell. RXDANG = REtalingDANG. Getting the letter "x" is not a problem from any key-board. Unlike those pre-modern days, when the letter "e" was for the e-taling, while "ĕ", which is not reachable from the key-board, was for the e-pepet. During the type-writer days, the designated e-pepet was furnished by hand on the hard copy, or simply ignored and left implicitly for the readers to comprehand. The new 6-vowel-5-symbol system in Bahasa Melayu had corrupted the saying of many words. The originality have to depend on the oral tradition, which, as has fated on RXDANG, will be evaporated by the heat of time. Some words are lucky because the context usage removes the indifferentiation. E.g. "perang" (war) and "pxrang" (the brown colour). "Telur" (egg) was re-system-ed from the old "telor" which rivaled "txlor" (misspronounce). As did "pelik" (strange) from "pelxk" which rivaled "Pxlxk" (a river). Similarly "letih" (tired) from "letxh" which rivaled "lxtxh" (mumble). All words with "x-x" pair are proned to be miss-say with e-e. Such as "lxlxh" (slow flow), "pxlxh" (part of roof), lxkxh (clumsy), "rxbxh" (dropping garment).
What Is It Actually Perxkayasaan?
Trying hard prior to 2008 Nov 24-28 Mon-Fri, to figure out what rxkayasa was. And what was this "kiddy-funs" has to do with it? I have had much more funs than these when I was a boy; by the river Nerus, by the padi fields, by the forest margin, by the beach, by the foot of the hill. In the water, across the river, along the banks, in the mud, in the briss savannah. In the heat of the afternoon tropical sun, in the darkness of the night, in the chilly monsoon rain. A lot more daring and acrobatic. Alone, or with my brother, with buddies, with my father, with my mother. Very real, not just a simulation. And all were by the boys. But, first,... the word rxkayasa does not exist in the dic. Googled , ...
"...Perxkayasaan adalah kegiatan penerapan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi dalam bentuk disain ... Lingkup kegiatan perxkayasaan meliputi penelitian (research), ...
"...perxkayasa atau dalam istilah kerennya disebut “Engineer”, dalam bahasa Belanda disebut Insinyur?? J Merxkayasa segala sesuatu agar menjadi lebih mudah, menjadi lebih baik dan menjadi lebih bermanfaat.
"...tidak lagi dibelenggu retorik dan pendekatan lama yang tidak berkesan sebaliknya menjayakan perxkayasaan (re-engineering) dalam membawa kebangkitan kepada parti itu pada alaf baru ini. err... aku tak minta korang comment pasal what this guy talked about.. tapi cuba perhatikan perkataan reengineering tuh.. perxkayasaan.. mana dia dapat perkataan nih?...
"...Tidak-Bisa-DiHack (Diserang); Tidak-Bisa-DiCrack (Dipatahkan); dan untuk Software, Tidak-Bisa-Dilakukan Reverse-Engineering (Perxkayasaan-Balik), Decompile, ...
There is it. The re-engineering, and in this case, that of Human Potential and Organisational Development. Is it? What is wrong with the current one? Babe, this is the year 2000's brand of the missing past fun that currently are being recreated. The fun that had been instrumental to the creation and development of the adult living skills. The human part the current youngsters lack a lot, or even missing. The english word "re-engineering" is so impacting. The malay equivalent, something "penjuruteraan semula", is not so revolutionary to the non-science community who percieved that this is an advanced and pioneering social recipe for a developed society - even sans civic.
It was Monsoon
The Q3 week of Nov was the touching up of the final exam, mostly endorsing the results for the "course files". Except one of the Postgraduate Colloquium in which I gave a broad outline (some part in explicit detail) of writing up thesis, for some of them were finishing the third semester already. The background Q2 and Q3 were of monsoon, non-stop day and night. The city of K.Trg. was wet, very wet. Fortunately sans windy and stormy. Apart from the rain, the beach and the sea appeared very much on the fishermen side. Very alluring.
 My favourite view at home at night; the Sultan Mahmud Bridge; and the Bukit Besar. All are under monsoon spell. |
 |
Followed by a wet drive home, alone, in the evening of 2008 Nov 27 Thu, for a rather long weekend. It was rainy all over from Trg to Bangi, except mysteriously from Jabor to Karak through which every motorist ended up at least 21 rm poorer. In the past, during such a savage monsoon, the fields were full of water ("bah darat"). But I could not capture this past view because the "development" was so "extensive" along the road that the view was blocked.
Another monsoon was invading though, since 2008 Nov 22 Sat, which broke my resistance to stay inert. The media flooded with critic on the MF verdict. I did not read the written verdict, but heard it over the radio as broadcasted, on returning from the Kursus Pengurusan Laporan Penilaian Prestasi Tahunan (LNPT) in KUSZA campus. The verdict was crystal clear. Explicit. Unfortunately the media, both print and electronic, prejudiced by shoving the banned part (the first part) under the spotlight, and deliberately hiding the un-banned part (the second part) in the shadow. "Yoga Ban" was then became the title. And without reading the detail verdict, every second level consumer was "stunned" by it. Many pens of prima donna danced to the tune of sarcasm, or piercing ignorant, or simply grabbing the opportunity like the hyenas do.
It reminded me in the 1980's during the time MF was yet to be born, the subject "music" was in the air. All the people of knowledge, especially in the University were at liberty to discuss it. Seminar after seminar, forum after forum. The subject non-knowledgeable ordinary people could easily sense the outcome. And they were correct. However the verdict was expressed brilliantly in two versions to satisfy every body: "The music is allowed except when ... " to satisfy the music lover, and "The music is not allowed except when ... " to satisfy the other group. What is allowed in the former group was the exception in the latter group. What was not allowed in the latter group is the exception in the former. Brilliant.
MF could have similarly worded the verdict into a "non-ban" mode. Such as "... is allowed to the extent that it does not take ... ". There is no word "ban" or "not allowed" invoked. Not so gravitational. MF verdict afterall is not per se law enforcible. Alas! The media will then magnify only the "allowed" phrase which would antagonise the no-group. Very much in similarity as it had antagonised the yes-group by magnifying the "not allowed" part and hiding the "allowed" part. I believe, like the monsoon, the storm will die down in time. The time when the purpose of the deliberation is no longer a commodity. In this age of Information Technology, one swallows the words, or swallowed by the words. When the next monsoon arrive, it will be a new "storm".
Sunday November 30, 2008 - Monday Sep 15, 1969
 |
 Reminiscing the old days in SAS. In his memoirs, "... sekali Cikgu, ...... Cikgu sepanjang hayat ..." Once a teacher, ... a teacher for life... Nothing will alter that.Part of SAS Board of Prefect 1969. Front row L-R: A Jalil Musiran (HB 1969), CheGu Ghazali (HM), CheGu Chakravarty (Chief Warden). Back Row L-R: Mat Zakaria (HB 1970), Md Asri, Kasim Buhiran. Friday May 29 1970 assembly was the last assembly for HM CheGu Ghazali. And that was the last day I saw him. He was moving on to the education department. I gave a short tribute to him at the rostrum before he began the assembly, and a present on behalf of the students, and Jariah, HG, gave another one on behalf of the board of prefects. He did not say anything to me on his last day. |
To date nearly forty years ago. This was perhaps the date CheGu Ghazali could remember me. When he, then the Head Master, announced in the Monday morning assembly hall of SAS that I was appointed the Acting HB from the day, which consequently became the HB for 1970. The eighth for the young SAS.
On his persistence insistence since the re-contact 2008 Feb 26 Tue, I paid him the courtesy visit I promised at his residence in Kg Tunku SS1. Taking along Azizah and my #678sons - after the Wedding reception of my #3brother Num's son in Sentul Baru. Joined by Zawiah and hubby En Ithnin, just from nearby. Yes, Chegu Ghazali was a teacher when I first encountered him in 1969. And today, at 70 plus he is the same unchanged teacher. Very much energetic and "educationoholic". He was very glad that we dropped in and was really "rejuvenated" by the reminiscence. A teacher that will live on, on the natural bless of the pupils he brought up. Who since then had evolved wave after wave into all strata of post-merdeka Malaysia. To the end of either circular horizons. Our other teacher who lived in the area, who apparently knew each other, who I should not stop visiting is CheGu Hussein. Kg Tunku and Sg Way after all were my loci in 1971 and 1972, during their "primitive" state.
The day that reminded me of an indirect event of 1970 Jun 13 Sports Days in SAS. In which three big things happened, but two of them were hidden. The most memorable part of which was revisited 2005 Nov, from a different distance.
Re-capturing The Past
I did not miss after all to recapture the "monsoonic" view when I drove back to Trg 2008 Dec 02 Tue, with the kiddos to spend their school break to the weekend of the Eid Adha 2008 Dec 08 Mon.
 Rain ... rain ... rain. Pools of water. |
 Water all over the KUSZA campus. City campus was saved. |
 The road to our farm was sunken. The padi plot was flooded. Luckily, the insect-proof green house was saved because its floor was predictively raised by three feet. |
 During the lulls, life went on, unimpeded. (Left) in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur (Nov 30 Sun), and (right) in Kg Batin, Seberang Takir (Dec 5 Fri). |
 And in Segambut (Dec 14 Sun) |
 And in Damansara Height (Dec 21 Sun) |
On which everyone spent in Terengganu, except #2daughter et al, in Kedah. The rain came before the Eid and went away for another day since the eve of the Eid. The Eid, even though not rainy, nonetheless was unlike in the old days. The young perhaps do not want the Eid. They had more than enough the Eid-like days. Almost on every other day. Or at least they would be equally "merry" without the Eid. The Eids for the elders were actually the reason for them to hear from each other.
Through to Dec 11 Thu which was the routine due date for the drive to the home weekend. To find that I was still in the many lists of wedding invitations up to the W1 of new year 2009. They could not be made to occupy me so much though because Sunday was not my weekend any more. Except those who were not “in the days of auld lang syne”.
A drive to Trg 2008 Dec 14 Sun, with all my sisters, Ani, Hah and Mek, et al, who were returning from Num's wedding reception of his son in Segambut. While in the car it was SMS-ed that at about the sun-set, AbgNgah Hjh passed away in SNZ hospital, after being admitted since on the morning of Eid Adha.
2008 Dec 16 Tue, the last gathering of all the Fac handlers to endorse the reminder of the Sem I results. Plus final recap on things to be done come the Sem II late this month which practically means early Jan 2009 when everyone returns. At the end of which a deja vu of Q1-2 07 in reverse white, making the previously invisibility into a daylight bright. The creation of two living things taxonomically in contrast; the one before, gutless, and the current with a limitless bravery. I could feel what I have felt, and even sadder on some other helpless eyes. Most of the times the fates are very painful indeed. More intense in the case it needs to fit into the puzzle of destiny.
Spending through Dec 18 Thu which were the last five days of 2008 in Terengganu. The evening of which I drove back to Bangi to spend the rest of the remaining 2008 days at home; with eight days leave to sort out the year end eventual event.
The Eventual Event - 2008 Dec 27-28 Sat-Sun
 |
 On the review, it was wound up that the day was a successful concerted family effort. That we were looking forward for the next one next year 2009. |
Which was the wedding of our #3son. Which was unambiguously the event of the year. Which swelled our number to 17; to date every piece in one piece. The experience had made it more organised.
Catered by the same Abg Man that we engaged in 2002, but more inclusive. The deliverance of my trust in him the last time, and a few smaller times after that, had made him making me worriless. And it was. Even with him non-appeared on the site.
We were blessed with a fine weather. It was cool to the evening, shadowy, and plenty of breeze. It wasn't the hot 'summer' heat, nor the 'dooming' evening local pour. The fineness was closed with a gentle rain at night. Cooling all the stampeded sand that we "collected" during every heavy downpour because our place is at the downhill.
Relatives, especially the close one, friends, and neighbours were all dependable. My VIPs, if it could be said so, were my teachers, viz, CheGu Ahmad Yahya, my teacher in Padang Midin 1964-1966, CheGu Ghazali, the SAS Head Master 1969-1970, and CheGu Ramli, my add math teacher during SAS time 1967-1968. The first two made themselves very early to "secure" the presence, and the latter successfully made at the near end. CheGu Hussein, my hostel warden in Padang Midin 1965-66, SMS-ed through his son that he was unable to come because he was in Mekah. As did Dato' Mansor, my lecturer in UKM 1972. I missed CheGu Omar, my SAS 1967-70 hostel warden.
Not least were the "IPs" - my constant buddies: Zawiah, Omar, Mohd Embong, Dr Jariah, Dr Izzuddin, Dr Md Soot, Dr Zaini, Dr Khalid, Dr Zaharuddin, Dato' Dr Hamid, Dr Akram, Dato' Ibrahim, Dato' Dr Khir, Wan Mohamad, all et al. Among the "missing" were Shafie, Sulaiman, Jamaludin, Dr Tajul, Raja Daniel.
And the pact of my "new" buddies from UDM: the FPB Dean Prof Manaf, Dr Abdullah, Dr Habsah and Dr Asnawi, Dr Kassim, Dr Mohamad Abu Bakar, Roslan and Zauriah et al. I made up for the missed Dr Ghani.
My endless thanks was to those who actually merried the occasion. Very many of them, whose names were known only by a nick. But one, A Karim Omar who I first met in the cyberspace about a year ago. Who turned up in full family in acoyntauncy.
The one short day had given me an endless 'homework' of updating my buddies, and acquaintances, that of as old as since 1964. As well as my kiddos who, being in the holiday season mode, helped, perhaps up to their teeth. Without whom my task, being at home only two weekend days a week, would be very hard indeed to sort out.
Closing the year 2008 Dec 31 Thu was a fast drive back to KTrg, deffering the last day of the leave plus missing the two days weekend, to catch the W/shop on P&P on the new year day in TEResort, Kuala Ibai, the matter of which was under my portfolio. And on for the second semester 2008/09 which actually began on 2008 Dec 28 Sun.
Dated 2008 Dec 31