It was a week and a day in history too. For on the13th of December 2011 early in the morning, as from 5.30 am chartered buses had dropped groups of people along the main road in front of our house at Titi Gajah. They came from offices, departments and the communities. Many too had come out from their homes fronting the road that stretched from the Istana at Anak Bukit to the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport at Titi Gajah. All gathered to bid safe journey as well as shower the people's gratefulness to the Sultan and Sultanah of Kedah for their appointment as the Yang DiPertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia. Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah took office as the 14th Yang DiPertuan Agong of Malaysia on the same day. The Sultan's departure for the next five years left the state of Kedah under the charge of a regency of his three brothers and his daughter. It is historic for this is the first time that a Sultan from the states has been appointed as the Yang DiPertuan Agong for the second time. Tuanku Abdul Halim was the fifth Yang DiPertuan Agong 1970 - 1975. It also saw a council of regency applied for the first time. On the previous occasion the Raja Muda held fort but his poor health has called for the new arrangement.
12 Dec 2011. I took this picture of the fountain fronting the airport a day earlier at sunset. Characteristically the monument was built in conjunction with the Sultan's appointment as the fifth Yang DiPertuan Agong. and was erected at Jalan Teluk Wan Jah in Alor Setar. Double tracking of the Malayan Railways and new road constructions at Jalan Teluk Wanjah saw the historic monuments pulled down and a new one replaced and rebuilt at the airport frontage. It too heralded the Sultan's departure to Kuala Lumpur for the second appointment.
The following pictures show the scenes on Tuesday morning 13 December 2011 as people awaited and gave farewell to the Sultan and Sultanah of Kedah.on the departure to Istana Negara Kuala Lumpur. Thhe royal couple would be the first residents at the new Istana Negara too.
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Not to be forgotten too was our gathering of ex-classmates of Cambridge School Certificate 1954 as we met at PJ Hilton on Saturday 17 December 2011. Happy and grateful that this gathering has continued to take place permitting us to meet one another otherwise there would be no opportunity of its kind. A previous meeting was held in Alor Setar 18 June 2011.
Out of two classes with a total of eighty plus classmates in 1954, the small group as seen tells its own story as many has been called by Illahi and others were unable to make the trip to PJ.
17 Dec 2011
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On Wednesday 21 Dec 2011 saw us at Banding in the Royal Belum territory as the consultant group set out to define their works that would start soon. Off they go in the two boats that took them an hour away to reach their destination in the majestic Belum Territory.
Not to be forgotten as we attended a happy occasion at a neighbor's home in Putrajaya earlier in the week as they celebrated their parents 50th wedding anniversary, To add joy to it Sdr Hj Zainal Manaff and wife were ex Kirkby students who lived in Ipoh and had come to Putrajaya to celebrate the happy do with their daughter and son -in- law. Other Kirkby friends, Dr Shaari Isa and wife, Aziz Sultan and wife and Othman Desa were there too.
Hj Zainal Manff and wife walked in with claps of joy from friends and family that gathered to wish them blessings.
8 comments:
Pak Non, I went to Uncle Zainal Manaf's house in Putrajaya once. Just to chat about Kirkby and to receive copies of his Kirkby Newsletter.
Pak Non, I went to Uncle Zainal Manaf's house in Putrajaya once. Just to chat about Kirkby and to receive copies of his Kirkby Newsletter.
Azizi,
Welcome home glad you are back on terrafirma Malaysia again. Hj Zainal Manaff daughter's home is next to ours. See you there.
You have posted something historical, of Kedah in partcular. I knew about a reception ceremony was organised for the return of the outgoing Agong. I stayed in, dreading a likely traffic jam.
It is sad to see the small turn up fpr the 54 reunion. We have cease organising our 55's. One third of our group of 40 has left us.
A fe days ago I was truly saddened by the news of the demise of Puan Saadiah Ahmad. I am sure you know her from Kirkby days. Only a month ago I thought of her and meant to sk if you know her whereabout. I had wanted to meet her again very much. I only met her since her Kirkby days, and that was forty years ago. May Allah bless her soul
Sdr Al Manar,
Al Fatihah. Yes we know her and will let others know about her passing too.
I believe through our writing, things we see we can leave behind some parts of history which others may not have noted about.You have recorded many issues that can be taken up. I believe it will not be long when writings in the blogs etc will become points of interest and Phds can be parts of its departure point. After all they are primary resources.
How's the waves that are beating the east coast states? Worrying to know the consequences
Salam
Cambridge School Certificate 1954?.. Wow I was born during that year .. and some of my younger colleagues at the office thought I am ancient.. that is the reason (in the office) I addressed myself as Ayoh Wang ;)
Sdr Ayoh Wang,
No you are not ancient. Me and Al Manar are in that degree. Syukur kerana kesempatan yang diberi. We will see our 75th this 2012. InsyaAllah Hope ypu will make yr return to Alor Setar and see Tandop with its growth. Dah ada Tesco now di sana. Drop by at Titi Gajah we will have time talk over many things. Salam and Thanks.
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