THE CONNECTIONS : TIME TO PONDER AND BE GRATEFUL

THE CONNECTIONS

With the plug pushed into the socket, you would naturally get the electricity and your house is lighted, the TV is on or the air conditioning unit is blasting to cool you. Simple. Much appreciated by families and we would cry foul if otherwise.

Now let's look at ourselves. Do we have connections? Surely and certainly but more often than not we brush that aside assuming a take for granted discourse. 

The inherent connection of gangsters with the underworld is made clear to us with movies or novels that tell the linkages granting that they would find hard to survive without the support of the other. How true that is remained the mysteries of the files in the police or justice department.

But we do need connections - even to get things DONE fast and with success we need help or assistance. Our connections with friends or friends of friend's come handy and expected. Recounting the past, our movements through the decades surely cannot escape the connections that came our way. We owe and salute all the assistance that have come our way. 

Moving on from our previous service or career we would naturally accumulate much connections : especially in terms of friends and office or career colleagues. These are true and sincere connections that give spice, assistance and foremost continuing friendships. However as days go by, that connection begins to wain by nature of displacement, transfer and irregular meetings face to face. How often when we meet again, it takes time to recollect and to remember names.

I find therefore a need to be circulating where and when possible so that the connection continue to hold. It is therefore a grand opportunity when former office staffs meet again in a big way; when students call on their former teachers or when association of members function to keep this spirit of togetherness alive.

Two pictures which bring former members of Universiti Utara Malaysia together with the formation of Persatuan Pesara UUM. It was a golden opportunity to say 'hello' to one another and exchange news. Hopefully the Association will continue to bind that linkage.

 How fortunate we are especially to be able to meet daily at our local Mosque or 'Surau' thus the connection of neighbours or community in the area, kampong or 'taman' is guaranteed. Majlis Khenduri often held in the community helped in a big way i.e if you show yourself there. 

Personally I find it heart warming when my former students call to say 'hello' and further still meet at opportunities that bring us together. When students of 1959 (at their primary class and students of the 1964 ( Secondary School) get together you feel a great sense of 'achievement' in the simple diction that they remember you and remain friends and no more 'guru dan murid'. 

Connections in all its greatness bring light, refreshment, happiness, knowledge and gratefulness in ways that keep you confident, secure and happy in the sense that there is continuity.  

The Opening Month ....Journeying Through January 2014

The calender saw the month of January 2014 stripped away and replaced by February. So too our diary closed its pages for the month. However not many people keep diaries now, especially to record what has passed through the days, weeks and months. If there are they only noted appointments, meetings and dates to be remembered.  

Possibly the camera and the smart phones have taken over that role, remembering intact and with great exclusiveness the happenings, especially in relation to what you have encountered and experienced. Searching through the snapshots of the month, I have the following pictures to record my activities and surprisingly declaring that as a family we have not been idle but moving around guided by programs and invitations as expected at this juncture of life.

January or R'awal 1435H saw invitations to weddings and one was at Putrajaya when the grandson of Tun Zahir Ismail ( the late Speaker of Parliment Malaysia) met his bride. Amongst the guests were Tun Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Siti Hasmah. The picture shows the guests at the wedding taking the opportunity to meet the former Prime Minister. For many it was a golden opportunity to record the occasion. 

4 Jan 2014

Another day we had the golden opportunity to meet with Saudara Hj Hashim Abdul Rahman and his family at Putrajaya too. Hashim lives in Canberra Australia since he graduated in Computer Science in early 1970's. Without the prospect of entering that specialized career then in Malaysia, he saw the opportunity to do so in Australia. That took him there and remained since. We met him and his daughter together with his grandson and grand daughter. An ex teacher from the former Malaysian Teachers College at Brinsford Lodge England he traveled often between Australia and Malaysia and on occasion touched the Hawaian Isle as one son has started a career there. Truly we can never predict where we would be. A widower he has kept himself busy with religious and social activities . 15 January 2014

17 January 2014  ' Vendetta Abuse of Power' is the title of the book. We were at the official launching of the book at one of the hotel in Petaling Jaya by Dato Rais Yatim. Dr Shaari Isa, a friend and former bursar at Universiti Utara Malaysia is the author of the book that chronicled the story of Syed Kechik, his contributions, loss in Sabah and more so his struggle and continuing efforts by his brother to right the wrongs. It was however a first opportunity for me to see a grand book launching accompanied by my son Abu Bakar Sidqi.

Guests and the media were at the function with MPH as the publisher. Below Dato Abdullah Abd Rahman of MPH presenting a souvenir to Dato Rais Yatim. Dr Shaari Isa accompanies..

Two restauranteurs met. Abu Bakar Sidqi with Auntie Annie talking business at Auntie Annies Restaurant in Nilai Negeri Sembilan. Famed for her culinary cooking, her restaurant pulled in visitors and the ambiance of the place was an added factor.    

   Some of the dishes especially of Minang Cooking  met our likings.

19 January 2014 saw us on the road and leaving Putrajaya in the morning found us halting at Simpang Pulai near Ipoh with its green lay-by and affording a good breather for the tired bodies and then continuing for another 200 kilometres and more before reaching Alor Setar. The signage along the Highway tells that Bahasa Malaysia has never been adopted as the media though it is an obligation and necessity. The hills of Ipoh too with its quality marble seems to be eroded with the passing of time.   

In the evening upon reaching home we met with friends who had traveled from Kuala Lumpur as well as Kota Bharu to be in Alor Setar on the occasion of the Sultan of Kedah's birthday celebration. Tunku Khadijah Tengku Abdul Rahman, Syarifah Nur Aza, Tengku Yusoff and wife were  at Citarasa Restaurant.It was a happy occasion when we met old friends.

23 January 2014 saw me traveling north and to the Universiti Utara Malaysia Campus at Sintok. It was an opportunity to meet with old friends and former staff of the University. It was an occasion after thirty years when the administrators realized that an association of former staff of the University has to be formed and this was the launching ceremony of the Association. Hopefully the Association will grow and function successfully supporting ex members of the University. 

Come 23 January 2014 it was an opportunity to celebrate Maulidur Rasul at Titi Gajah and specifically at Restoran Citarasa TT Gajah. Guest Speaker was Ustaz Husammah from UUM. Neighbours, friends, relatives and former students attended. At the same occasion Dewan and Kafe Arshad Albanjari was officially opened. 

      Megat Hj Salleh introducing the guest speaker.

Five former students of SMSAH Jenan and Tunku Bendahara of Kodiang at the function remembering old times.  

 29 January 2014 saw us departing for KLIA by flight and exiting the terminal at KLIA one is pulled to give glances at the attractive displays of several new stalls that graced the corridors. The air journey that normally takes an hour landed much later due to heavy traffics at KLIA. The rush home for the Chinese New Year celebration added to the heavy traffic in the air and on the road.

 The varieties of handbags in the market especially in the up market sector see the women folks at a puzzling moment for the choice of one. It is recognizing the original from the fakes.

 30 January 2014. My wife's program to attend an old classmates gathering over dinner took us to a restaurant by the side of the lake at Putrajaya. It was a meeting that linked friendship with new friends and trust that other similar meetings will find their ways again.   The magnificent few of Putrajaya graced us from its vintage point.

31 January 2014  It was the last day of the month and yet again another wedding khenduri has to be attended and this was at Banting Ulu Langat. However over dinner at one of the restaurant in town we had a good choice of sea food and local dishes served. The price of 'ikan siakap' at RM 40.00 a piece indicated the pricey item that is part of the news at this point in time. It was your choice to have it cooked or to pick another dish.

 

Sometimes during the course of our visits and traveling, we unexpentingly meet with friends. This was one occasion when over breakfast I met up with Professor Hamid who hailed from Kelantan. Golden opportunities like this comes unexpected and a great reward..

How fortunate that the small camera that you carry with you manage to keep the records and it falls back on you only to rewind and trace back the moments. How otherwise would you bring back the past moments?