MIL 005 : KECUNDANG DI TANGGA MENARA GADING

UNCOMPLETED MISSION I

In this page i will write on my 'gloomy parts' in my life journey. Though i had been given many opportunities to move and progress on the right track, many things happened beyond my control and made my life getting tougher in order to achieve my esteem.

PERSINGGAHAN SINGKAT DI SDBL DAN SEKOLAH ALAM SHAH

Aku menduduki peperiksaan SPM dalam tahun 1976 dan Berjaya mendapat Pangkat 1 dengan 16 Aggregate. Pasti aku merasa bangga kerana  selain dari pangkat 1, aku diisytiharkan sebagai Pelajar Terbaik SPM 1976.

Pada masa itu tiada Majlis Anugerah Cemerlang dengan pelbagai hadiah seperti sekarang. Tiap-tiap tahun cuma ada Hari Ibu Bapa. Pada hari tersebut pelajar yang menduduki tempat pertama hingga ke 3 dalam kelas serta pelajar terbaik setiap subjek akan menerima hadiah. Tetapi, Majlis Anugerah Cemerlang untuk pencapaian dalam SRP atau SPM memang tiada.

Kebetulan dalam tahun 1976 itu juga STMI memecah rekod dengan bilangan pelajar yang mendapat Pangkat 1 paling ramai. Iaitu 7 orang. Sebelum ini penyandang Pangkat Satu tidak melebihi 3 orang.  Pelajar pertama mendapat Pangkat 1 di STMI ialah pada tahun 1973, iaitu Saudara Zamri bin Sabran.

Pelajar SPM 1976 yang mendapat Pangkat 1 ialah:

(1)   Toharudin bin Abd Rasid - dari SK Seri Rejo Sari

(2)   Yasman bin Tamsir - dari SK Pt Kemang

(3)   Ahmad Noh bin Jeni - dari Kulai

(4)   Kamdani bin Md Salleh- dari SK Pt Kadir

(5)  Ngatijah binti Miskam- dari SK Pt Kadir

(6)  Mohd Adil bin Shukor- dari SK Seri Perpat

(7)  Abdul Halim bin Sulaiman - dari SK Pt Kadir

Sekolah Dato' Bentara Luar

Ramai yang berkelayakan telah terpilih untuk mengikuti pengajian di Tingkatan 6 Rendah di Sekolah Dato Bentara Luar (SDBL), Jalan Syed Salim off Jalan Lim Poon, Batu Pahat.

Aku juga melapor diri ke SDBL. Lebih 15 orang yang terpilih ke Tingkatan 6 Rendah. Sementara menunggu tempoh penyelesaian bagi mendapatkan rumah sewa dan sebagainya, aku berulang-alik setiap hari dari rumah ke sekolah.  Aku berkongsi kenderaan dengan rakan sekelasku Saudara Jaheni bin Hj Sidek (dari Parit Kadir). Kami menaiki Vespa milik keluarga Jaheni. Kadangkala menaiki motorsikal Honda milik ayahku.

Secara peribadi aku kurang berminat untuk belajar di Tingkatan 6 Rendah. Aku berminat untuk masuk latihan Pegawai Kedet ATM tapi ayahku tidak merestuinya. Dia lebih suka aku belajar dan masuk universiti.  Aku juga ada memohon untuk belajar di UTM dalam jurusan Senibina. Aku juga kurang yakin untuk diterima masuk ke UTM kerana persaingan dari pelajar dari Aliran Sains. Jadi sementara menunggu keputusan UTM yang dijangka dalam bulan Mei, aku masuk ke kelas Tingkatan 6 Rendah di SDBL.

Oleh kerana kami merupakan Batch pertama untuk pengambilan Tingkatan 6 Rendah di SDBL, maka kami merupakan pelajar yang paling senior di SDBL. Tiada orientasi dan gangguan dari pelajar lama.

Lebih kurang dua atau 3 minggu belajar di SDBL, aku dipanggil oleh Guru Besar (atau Guru Kelas - aku kurang ingat) bersama beberapa orang lagi pelajar. Empat orang dari STMI iaitu aku, Kamdani, Yasman dan Ahmad Noh telah terpilih ke Tingkatan 6 Rendah di Sekolah Alam Shah (SAS), Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Selain dari kami berempat, ada dua orang lagi pelajar di SDBL yang menerima tawaran yang sama iaitu Abu Bakar bin Katar dan Dzainal Abd Rahman (dari Sek Men Senggarang) dan Fathul Rahman Shahari (Sek Men Dato' Onn, Peserai). Manakala Ngatijah Miskam terpilih ke Tingkatan 6 Rendah di Sek Men Jalan Kolam Air, KL.

Pada masa itu hanya terdapat kurang dari 10 buah Sekolah Berasrama Penuh (SBP) di seluruh Negara yang menawarkan Tingkatan Enam. Terpilih ke Sekolah Alam Shah SAS adalah satu penghormatan tinggi dan kebanggaan diri dan keluarga kerana SAS merupakan salah satu aliran Melayu SBP yang berprestij di Malaysia. Selain SAS, SBP aliran Melayu yang lain ialah Sek Men Sultan Abdul Halim, Jitra; Sek Men Tun Fatimah, Johor Bahru dan Sek Men Jalan Kolam Air, KL.

SBP yang lain adalah aliran Inggeris seperti Kolej Melayu, Kuala Kangsar; Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, Seremban; Maktab Tentera DiRaja, Sg Besi; Sek Men Tunku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh; dan Sek Men Datuk Abdul Razak, Seremban.

PERJALANAN DARI LAPIS MAHANG KE JALAN CHERAS

Tarikh yang ditetapkan untuk aku berangkat ke Kuala Lumpur telah tiba. Bapak menempah teksi milik saudara dua pupuku Masduki Hj Sulaiman untuk membawa aku dan rakan sekampungku, Kamdani Md Salleh ke KL. Bapak Kamdani (Lek Salleh) menyertai kami ke KL.

Itulah saat sedih bagiku kerana, itulah kali pertama dalam kehidupanku aku meninggalkan kampong halaman untuk satu jangkaan masa yang panjang. Tapi pastinya langkah ku ini dengan membawa harapan yang begitu tinggi dari kedua, emak dan bapakku untuk melihat aku menyeberangi jambatan impian ke menara gading.

Pada waktu itu, tiada lagi PLUS   highway, jadi perjalanan adalah melalui jalan utama Persekutuan. Dari kampong, melalui  Batu Pahat- Muar- Melaka- Alor Gajah- Rembau- Seremban - Mantin - Kajang and Cheras. Aku tak ingat berapa jam perjalanan masa itu, yang pasti melebihi 5 jam. Kami selamat sampai ke SAS dan membuat pendaftaran sebagaimana diarahkan.

Sekolah Dato' Bentara Luar, Batu Pahat

Sekolah Alam Shah

SAS sebenarnya adalah SBP Aliran Sains yang hanya menempatkan pelajar cemerlang yang dipilih melalui keputusan penilaian Darjah 5 (untuk kemasukan ke Tingkatan 4) atau SRP (untuk kemasukan ke Tingkatan 4 Sains). Di SAS, aku bertemu semula dengan sahabat lamaku Jainuddin bin Mohayat dan Kamisan bin Sujak, keduanya merupakan bekas murid STMI dan rakan sekelas dari Tingkatan 1 hingga 3. Mereka berdua adalah murid cemerlang yang terpilih ke Tingkatan 4 Sains SAS. Pada masa itu mereka sedang mengikuti Kursus Matrikulasi di SAS juga.

Bagaiamanapun, selaras dengan dasar Kerajaan untuk melatih Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatik melalui sekolah-sekolah ternama, Kementerian Pelajaran mengekalkan pengambilan pelajar-pelajar Tingkatan 6 Aliran Sastera di beberapa SBP, termasuk SAS. Olehkerana, ketiadaan Tingkatan 6 Rendah Aliran Sains di SAS (semua diubah ke Kelas Matrikulasi), pelajar Tingkatan 6 diberi tugas untuk memegang jawatan ko-kurikulum sebagai melatih mereka menjadi bakal pentadbir. Pelajar Matrikulasi tidak mempunyai masa yang mencukupi melibatkan diri dalam ko kurikulum akibat jadual akademik mereka yang amat padat.

Oleh yang demikian, jawatan seperti Ketua Pengawas (Ketua I), Pengerusi-Pengerusi Persatuan dan jawatan-jawatan utama pelajar dipegang oleh Pelajar Tingkatan 6 Sastera.

Aerial View SAS Jalan Cheras tahun 1960an

 

 

Selama dua minggu kami pelajar Tingkatan 6 Rendah yang baru melalui minggu orientasi di bawah pengawasan Pelajar Tingkatan 6 Atas (T6A) yang diketuai oleh Saudara Sidek bin Moh (Ketua 1). Tiada kes ragging atau bully yang berlaku kerana pihak sekolah amat mengambil berat ke atas perkara ini. Ada juga pelajar Tingkatan 6 yang datang ke dormitari pada waktu malam untuk mengganggu kami. Tapi sikit-sikit je la. Lepas gian kata orang.

Antara pelajar T6A (selain dari Sidek Moh) yang aku masih ingat ialah Rashid (Pengerusi Agama dan Imam), Razali (orang dari Felda Chemplak, Segamat), Amin, Zainuddin, Mohd Zaraai (sekarang Dato'- Hakim Mahkamah), Naim Abu Bakar (sekarang Datuk Seri- bersara SUK Melaka, and Zolkples Embong (sekarang Dato'- Pengarah MSN). Ramai yang aku dah lupa kerana kami jarang berinteraksi. Ada maklumat dari kawan-kawan yang mengatakan bahawa abang Rashid (Imam) telah meninggal dunia. Semoga Allah limpahi ruh almarhum.

Satu satunya gambar bukti kehadiranku ke SAS, walaupun amat singkat.
Dari kiri, Kamarudin (Melaka), Azman (Muar), aku, Baharudin (Kelantan) dan Malek Azman (Muar)

Tempoh aku berada di SAS juga amat singkat. Tidak sampai sebualan. Aku menerima tawaran untuk mengikuti pengajian Senibina (Architecture) di UTM, Jalan Gurney. Oleh kerana inilah cita-cita asalku untuk menjadi seorang Arkitek, maka aku tidak mahu melepaskan peluang yang satu ini.

Aku menemui Guru Kelasku, Cikgu Yunus bin Marullah, memohon kebenaran untuk menamatkan pengajian di T6R untuk pulang ke kampong bagi membuat persediaan dan dokumentasi sebelum melapor diri ke UTM dua minggu lagi. Itulah juga hari terakhir aku di SAS. Petang itu, aku mengheret semula beg pakaianku keluar dari perkarangan SAS menaiki teksi ke Stesen Bas di Pudu Raya.

Pada tarikh yang aku sendiri telah lupa, lebih kurang bulan Mei 1977, apabila aku meninggalkan SAS untuk ke UTM, maka putuslah hubunganku dengan kawan-kawan baru yang baru sahaja aku kenali. Aku melupakan mereka, mereka juga tak mungkin ingatkan aku kerana masing-masing sibuk melayan pengajian dan kerjaya masing-masing.

Nama 34 Pelajar Kelas Tingkatan 6 Rendah tahun 1977 yang dapat diperolehi namanya melalui rakan sekelas yang lain ialah:

1.   Ahmad Noh bin Jeni (B.Pahat)

2.   Abd Hamid (Pahang)

3.   Abd Rashid (Johor)

4.   Abd Razak bin Ahmad (Johor)

5.   Adam bin Sulong (Terengganu)

6.   Azman (Muar)

7.   Abd Malek bin Azman (Muar)

8.   Abu Bakar bin Kattar (Batu Pahat)

9.   Abd Talib bin Abd Hamid (Besut, Terengganu)

10. Ali bin Senik (Kelantan)

11.  Baharuddin bin Abd Kadir (Kelantan)

12.  Che Shukri bin Che Hassan (Kelantan)

13.  Dzainal bin Abd Rahman (B.Pahat)

14.  Engku Hamzah bin Tuan Mat (Kota Bharu, Kelantan) 

15.  Fathur Rahman bin Sahari (Batu Pahat, Johor)

16.  Jaafar bin Samah (Bukit Bunga, Kelantan)

17.  Johari bin Udar (Johor)

18.  Kamaruzzaman (Kelantan)

19.  Kamarudin (Melaka)

20. Kamdani bin Md Salleh (B.Pahat)

21.  Khairudin bin Abd Hamid (Pekan, Pahang)

22.  Marjuni bin Suradi (Pontian) 

23.  Mohd Fauzi (Jerantut, Pahang- meninggal dunia

24.  Misro bin Jerut (Muar)

25.  Minhad bin Abu Yamin (Muar, Johor)

26.  Sapini bin Mat Saman (Melaka)

27.  Simi bin Abd Ghani (Pasir Putih, Kelantan)

28.  Sidek bin Jaffar (Kelantan)

29.  Yasman Hj Tamsir (Johor)

30.  Toharudin bin Abd Rasid (Johor)

31.  Tuan Adnan (Kelantan)

32.  Zakaria bin Md Alip (Johor)

33.  Zakaria bin Bokhari (Pontian)

34.  Zaki bin Muda (Besut)

Latest info: 

1.   YA Dato' Hj Abu Bakar bin Katar (Hakim, Mahkamah Tinggi, Johor Bahru),

2.  Tuan Hj Abd Talib Hamid (pesara Ketua Sektor Penilaian dan Peperiksaan, JPN Selangor)

3.  Tuan Hj Abdul Malek Azman (pesara Prasarana Selangor Bhd)

4.  Dato Hj Adam bin Sulong (pesara JUSA B, EPU, JPM. Menetap di Kajang).

5.  Tuan Hj Ali Senik (pesara BERNAS, Machang).

6.  Tuan Aznan bin Tuan Ismail (Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang)

7.  Dato' Hj Che Shukri bin Che Hassan (pesara JUSA C, BADSA KEMENTAH).

8.  Tuan Hj Dzainal bin Abd Rahman (bersara Pengurus Felda Ayer Hitam).

9.  Datuk Hj Engku Hamzah bin Tuan Mat (JUSA C, JPM- ICU). meninggal dunia pada 29 September 2019 semasa masih memegang jawatan Ketua Pengarah MKN.

10. Tuan Kamdani Md Salleh. Pesara Guru. Menetap di Batu Pahat, Johor) - meninggal dunia 2025.

11.  Tuan Khairudin Hamid (pesara Penolong Pegawai Tadbir Kanan Awam di TUDM Kuantan).

12. Tuan Hj Marjuni bin Suradi (Pesara Guru Besar. Menetap di Sg Pinggan, Pontian) - meninggal dunia pada 9 Feb 2019 di Pontian.

13. Tuan Minhad bin Abu Yamin (pesara PTD di ICU JPM). Meninggal dunia pada 15 Jun 2020.

14. Tuan Hj Misro Jerut (Bendahari UTHM, Batu Pahat. Menetap di Putrajaya).

15. Dato' Sri Haji Simi Abd Ghani, Pengarah Siasatan SPRM).

16. YA Tuan Haji Sapini Mat Saman (pesara Hakim Mahkamah Perusahaan).

17. Tuan Sidek Jaffar (Pengarah AADK Johor).

18. Tuan Hj Yasman Tamsir. Pegawai di PPN Johor.

19. Tuan Hj Zaki Muda (JPS Terengganu). Meninggal dunia di Setiu pada 5 Ogos 2020.

20. Tuan Zakaria Bokhari (Guru di Benut, Pontian).

21. Tuan Hj Zakaria Md Alip (pesara di Bahagian Akuntan Negara, Putrajaya).

Selain dari Marjuni dan Abd Talib, sahabat yang meneruskan kerjaya sebagai guru ialah Yasman Tamsir, Kamdani Md Saleh, Zakaria Bokhari dan Johari Udar. Kamdani telah bersara awal (55 tahun) manakala Yasman berkhidmat di Pejabat Pelajaran Negeri Johor.

Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat dan keampunan kepada ruh almarhum Mohd Fauzi, Marjuni, Engku Hamzah, Minhad dan Zaki dan seterusnya melimpahi kehidupan rakan-rakan lain dengan kesejahteraan dan keimanan. 

 

Misro Jerut dan Dato' Adam Sulong

 

allahyarham Engku Hamzah dan allahyarham Hj Marjuni

Simi Abdul Ghani

Pertemuan semula hanya berlaku puluhan tahun kemudian. Melalui facebook yang mula aku kenali pada tahun 2010 dan membuka akaun group Lower 6 SAS 1977 pada 8 Nov 2011 (setelah 34 tahun) dan mula mengesan satu persatu bekas rakan sekelasku. Sehingga kini (2015) hanya 8 keahliannya iaitu, Malek Azman, Ahmad Noh, Zaki Muda, Yasman, Marjuni, Zakarian Bokhari dan Zakaria Md Alip.

Dari mereka inilah kumpulan semakin berkembang dan kami membuka whatsapp group yang kini (2015) mempunyai 26 orang.  Hanya separuh yang aktif. Tapi hubungan semakin erat dan kami dapat berjumpa dalam beberapa pertemuan seperti majlis perkahwinan dan reunion.

Sekolah Alam Shah (SAS) was established as a result of the National Education Policy advocated by the 1958 Razak Report. It became the first Malay school to offer Form Six classes. Hence, the school trail blazed the way for Malay stream students to enrol in tertiary education in institutions of higher learning both local and overseas.

On 7 February 1963, SAS enrolled its first students. His Majesty of Second Yang DiPertuan Agong; Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Al-Marhum Sultan Sir Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah consented the use of His Majesty's name (Alam Shah) on the school. On 7 March 1964, the school was officially opened by His Majesty the then Sultan of Selangor, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al-Marhum SUltan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah.

On 26 April 2003 the school shifted premises to a new 142,000m sq campus in Putrajaya. In officiating the new premises on 24 March 2007 Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al-Haj ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz, the Sultan of Selangor, had consented SAS taking on the name of his grandfather Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah. The school is henceforth known as Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah (SAS).

Maka, berakhirlah Fasa Pertama perjalanan singkat yang mencipta titik-titik hitam dalam kehidupanku.

Biar pun singkat, ia tetap satu catatan sejarah dalam lipatan hidupku. Antara nostalgia, impian, cita-cita dan kenyataan.

Biarpun ia singkat ia tetap menyuburkan apa yang dinamakan persahabatan yang kembali berbunga setelah puluhan tahun layu dan terkubur di dalam timbunan cita-cita dan kerjaya.

Fasa Kedua rentak rapuh kehidupanku iaitu selama dua tahun di UTM.

UNCOMPLETED MISSIONS  II

ANOTHER ROCKY JOURNEY

Sejarah Ringkas UTM

Universiti Technologi Malaysia (UTM) is the oldest premier higher learning institution in Malaysia specializing in Engineering and Technology ever since its inception in 1904. UTM’s existence is synonymous with Malaysia’s growth and progress in technological and infrastructure development, proven by its track record as the provider of almost two-thirds of the country’s workforce in engineering and technology-related profession.

In 1925, the Public Works Department opened the Technical School at Jalan Brickfields (Jalan Tun Sambanthan), Kuala Lumpur, to train technical staff of Public Works Department and the Survey and Land Offices. In 1930, the Kuala Lumpur Technical School was further expanded a new site in High Street, i.e. the present Jalan Bandar.

However, with the advent of World War II, the suggestion could only be implemented in 1946, during which the institution became known as Technical College, Kuala Lumpur. The Technical College then offered three-year Diploma courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Architecture, Town and Country Planning, Land Surveying and Quantity Surveying. The construction of the new Technical College at Jalan Gurney (Jalan Semarak), Kuala Lumpur, began in 1951. It became fully operational in March 1955. In 1960, a milestone was reached when engineering courses at degree level were offered. Students pursuing the courses had to sit for professional examinations conducted by the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, United Kingdom. The rate of success was most encouraging.

Another milestone was reached in 1967 when the Planning Committee for the Higher Learning decided to upgrade the Technical College to the level of institution of technology with university status from 1969 onward. However, it was only on the14th of March, 1972, that the decision was implemented with the establishment of Institut Teknologi Kebangsaan (National Institute of Technology) under Section 6(1) of the University and College Act, 1971. On the1st of April 1975, the journey from school to university was completed when the institution finally became "Universiti Teknologi Malaysia".

The university has a number of international academic collaborations and offers 108 postgraduate programs in Engineering and Technology.

UTM has two campuses. The main one in Skudai, Johor was the first university in the state of Johor. It has an area of 1.222 km², touted the second largest public university after Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) . It is about 20 km north from the state capital, Johor Bahru, and is located relatively close to the Sultan Ismail International Airport, Senai. The branch campus, Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur (formerly was the main campus) with an area of 0.18 km².

  

Sekarang giliran pengkesahan perjalanan ku selama dua tahun di UTM, Jalan Gurney. Nama Jalan Gurney kemudian ditukar nama kepada Jalan Semarak (1987) dan sekali lagi ditukar nama menjadi Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra (2013).

Kenapa tajuk kecil ini aku tulis dengan "Dua Tahun Membuang Masa di UTM'?. Sesal dahulu pendapatan, sesal kemudian tidak berguna. Aku lupa akan kesusahan yang terdahulu dan tidak bersungguh-sungguh untuk mencapai kejayaan. Kegagalanku di UTM bukan kerana pengajian yang sukar atau ketidakcukupan wang TAPI aku kurang bersungguh-sungguh.

Akan kuceritakan selepas ini.

Enough rest at kampong. When the reporting day come, I went to KL by express bus with Amim (my brother). He sent me to the campus for registration. The Orientation Week commenced. All the new students were inhabited in the hostel at Jalan Gurney. The OW went well. The rules and procedures laid out by the U's management made all the programs in the OW successful. The Vice Chancellor then was Tan Sri Ainuddin Wahid (almarhum).

In the Lecture hall- combined with QS and Town Planning students (during the OWeek- all the female students were wearing 'tudung', cantikkkk jee.....after that.. hehehe)

First Year 1977/78

Architecture is a unique course. Other than the longest degree course in UTM (6 years), the students was also different compare with other students. Mostly rugged and keeping a long hair eventhough it was not permitted in UTM. They find was to runaway or avoiding from get caught by the 'Pak Guard'. The common tactic was wearing cap and keeping the hair tail in the cap or hat. They also 'berkampung' in the studio until late night. They went back in the dark to avoid from being recognised by the Pak Guard. The person who the students fear most was the Deputy VC, Prof Hamid Tahir, who in-charge of Students Affairs.

I stayed in Blok B and my roomate was Sazali (also ex Alam Shah). He came from Kg Rimba Terjun, Pontian. He did Civil Engineering Course. He was okay but the only problem with him was his 'tidor mati'. You know la, Architecture Student! A lot of course work need to be completed in the studio. Always came back to the room very late night. We could not bring back the work because our project required to use drawing board and many types of papers and colors. Water color, poster color, oil color etc.... The hostel room was small.

Everytime I came back from studio, Sazali already slept. He sleep early because he wanted to wake up in early morning and study. And he alwayd forgotten to unlocked the door. So I got to knock the door for long time before he could get up. Sometimes, the whole block members went out from the room because of the knocking noise. Except Sazali. End up, in the middle of the semester, I exchange roomate. I moved to Block C to stay with Ramly Abu Bakar (my coursemate). Settle the problem?? Basic problem yes, but another problem came.

Ramly ni gila-gila sikit perangainya.....He like to sing and scream. Sometimes banging the table. Our neighbouring room was a Final Year student from Engineering Faculty. Long hair and fierce looking face (tapi awek dia chun....). Everytime we make noise, he will come out and scold us. But no serious grief. Budak-budak Architecture, biasa laaaaaa....

  http://youtu.be/Em2oY4p9UVs

 

myself, Norzam Darmin (now Ar Hj) and Hafiz (now Prof Dr in UKM)
(Norzam from Kota Tinggi and Hafiz from Pontian)

myself with Razak Mustofah (Dip Engineering student)

break time after English class: from left Ali Yusof (now Ar), Mr John Davis, Badrul Khair Subari (allahyarham), myself and Himawan G.Adibowo (Indonesian student- back the camera)

In Year 1 Studio- sitting: Sulaiman Abdullah 6th Yr student. Standing from left; Shaari Omar, Me, Ramly, Sutina Ghazali and Ainon (Mek- with guitar). Abang Leman liked to visit our studio because Ainon was his gf (loving couple). Sadly, Ainon was died in road accident on the way back to Kelantan for Hari Raya that year (1977).

Today, all the universities are using Semester System. If you failed any paper (limited) you can proceed to the next semester and refer the failed paper. During my time, UTM was using a Term System. Only one final exam a year. Mid-term exam would carry only 30% of the total marks. For the Arch Students, the pre-requisites for the final exam was to pass the portfolio presentation.

Among my classmate in First Year 1977/78 (who I coould remember) were:

1.  Mohd Shukri bin Ahmad (Repeater),

2.  Abd Latif bin Abd Rahim (R)

3.  Sutina binti Ghazali (R) - retired JUSA at JKR HQ

4.  Norazian binti Shahabudin (R) - dalam tahun 1977 nak jumpa wanita bertudung litup memang amat susah (jarang-jarang), tapi Norazian ini telah memperaktikkkan. Dan beliau amat menjaga aurat sama ada dari aspek pakaian atau pergaulan. Tahniah, semoga istiqamah hingga akhir hayat. 

5.  Latipah binti Jan (R) - settled down in Langkawi 

6.  Mohd Hazarudin Hashim (R) - in KL 

7.  Auspan bin Hassan (R)-  

8.  Mohd Azahari binti Idris (R) - in KL 

9.  Ainon binti Mohamed (R) (almarhumah) - meninggal dunia dalam kemalangan jalanraya semasa pulang berhari raya di Kelantan.

10.  Md Khalis bin Mohd Hashim (R) 
11.  Abd Wahid bin Latip, budak Muar

12.  Amat Amir bin Sibon - budak Sg Balang, ex SMSJ - JKR HQ

13.  Asnah bt Ahmad (budak Muar)

14.  Aishah Arridza binti Mukhlas (kemudian bertukar ke Kursus Sains dan Pendidikan kerana hilang minat dengan Senibina)

15.  Ali bin Mohd Yusof, budak KL - in KL

16.  Aishah binti Abd Wahab, budak Muar, ex SMSJ - menetap di Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

17.  Badrul Hisham bin Daud (Tok Penghulu), - budak Temerloh - SDARian - settled down in Kg Permatang Badak, Kuantan

18.  Bernadib bin Kadri - budak Pontian - SDARian - settled down in Bukit Mahkota, Bangi

19.  Badrul Khir bin Subari, budak Sabak Bernam (meninggal dunia) 

20.  Himawan Gatot Adibowo, budak Indonesia - settled down in Jakarta

21.  Hijazi bin Jasmon, budak Spg Lima, BP (ex High School BP)

22.  Ibrahim bin Hamdan, budak Muar - MBJB

23.  Ismail bin Mat Akhir, budak Pahang - SDARian

24.  Kamisan bin Suja', budak BP, SASian - in KL

25.  Muhd Yusup Purnawarman, budak Indonesia (almarhum)

26.  Muniandy a/l Pachapen

27.  Naemah binti Sidek 

28.  Norzam bin Darmin, budak Kota Tinggi (ex SM Tun Habab)- sekarang Datuk.

29.  Norhayati binti Shahnon, budak Penang (anak Sasterawan almarhum Dato' Shahnon Ahmad) 

30.  Ong Peng Suan

31.  Rahim bin Ahmad, budak Melaka, ex SM Teknik (almarhum) - meninggal dunia dalam tahun 2013.

32.  Ramly A.Bakar, budak Felda Tenang, Segamat (ex SMSJ)

33.  Roziah bin Saad, budak KL

34.  Salmiah binti Daud, budak Kedah (ex Sultanah Asma' S)

35.  Saifuddin bin Ahmad, budak Alor Setar, Kedah (ex SAHC)

36.  Selvam a/l Mariappan

37.  Shaari bin Omar, budak Kelantan (almarhum)

38.  Tan Gim Huat

40.  Yusop bin Ibrahim, budak Pekan, Pahang

41.  Zamzam bin Mohd Said, budak Melaka

42.  Zulkifli bin Sudin, budak Kulim, Kedah (almarhum)

...ada lagi yang aku dah lupa namanya.

Among the Lecturer/Tutors were; Ghazali Abdullah, Mokhtar, Zamani Abd Ghani (almarhum), Fauzi Awang Kechik (almarhum), Nik Malik (Graphics), Daud Mohamed (Bldg Material), Najib Ibrahim (Physic), Fadzillah (Math).

Scholarship. I was awarded with JPA Scholarship, amounting RM1900/year. After paying the course fees, the balance was about RM300+ for my pocket money. With high cost for 'course maintenance' especially to buy our architectural/design materials, that amount was far from enough. So, every month I have to write a letter to my father, asking for financial assistance.

JPA Scholarship was among the lowest. Some of my coursemates enjoyed better life because the value of their scholarshisp were much higher.Those who received MARA or DBKL (about RM2500), DARA and PERTRONAS (RM3000) had more money to spend.

Trip to Penang. Towards the end of the semester, we had a course trip to Penang. Besides sight-seeing, the other purpose of this trip was part of 'architectural design' out-door activities. It was also to create closer relationship between the students. We went to Penang by UTM's bus. We stopped at various places along the way and drew the views or the objects. It was part of 'on-site' drawing practices. In Penang, we stayed at USM's hostel.

TRIP TO PENANG: MAY 1978

menunggu bas di perkarangan UTM

berada dalam bas, sedia untuk bergerak

Lawatan ke Aquarium Tunku Abd Rahman,Penang (Barisan belakang dari kiri: Khalis, Azahari, Shaari, Azaruddin, Badrul Hisham, AKU, Yusuf Purnawarman, dan Auspan. Barisan depan dari kiri: Saifuddin Ahmad, Bernadib, Shukri, Norzam, Kamisan dan Ismail Mat Akhir. 

berhenti rehat di tepi jalan (dam) sebelum sampai ke pekan Balik Pulau

My first year was not successful. I failed my Architectural Portfolio Presentation. So, I did not qualified to sit for the final examination. So, before the Final Exam I already know that I got to repeat, mean join the First Year next intake. This was my first 'major' failure in my life career.

Repeat Year 1978/79

Twelve of us got to repeat our first year. Latif gagal untuk kali kedua dan terpaksa meninggalkan UTM.

1.  Badrul Hisham Daud - lecturer in POLISAS Kuantan

2.  Badrul Khair Subari (almarhum)  

3.  Muhammad Yusop Purnawarman - Pak Yus settled down in Jakarta and died in 2016 (almarhum)

4.  Zamzam Mohd Said

5.  Kamisan Suja'

6.  Yusuf Ibrahim

7.  Gatot Himawan Adibowo - settled down in Jakarta

8.  Aishah Abd Wahab

9.  Ismail Mat Akhir

10.  Toharudin

11.  Tan Gim Huat

12.  Indrasari. 

Manakala siswa pengambilan Sessi 78/79 tempat kami menumpang kelas ialah; 

1.  Abd Kahar Abd Ghaffar (budak JB)

2.  Ahmad Kamal Abd Latif (budak Kedah)

3.  Aminuddin Alias (budak Rembau)

4.  Abd Aziz bin Mohamed (budak Kelantan)

5.  Ahmad Nazri bin Abd Aziz (budak Kedah),

6.  Asiah Abd Rahim, budak NS. (sekarang Proffesor Dato Dr)

7.  Abdullah bin Ahmad (budak Mersing)

8.  Abdul Haiyee bin Hashim 
9.  Ahmad Faisal bin Ahmad Affendi (almarhum),

10.  Ainon Ali (budak KL- anak arwah Datuk Ali Hj Ahmad, bekas Menteri)

11.  Farishah bt Mohd Yusof (budak Gurun Kedah)

12.  Juminan bin Samad (budak Bkt Badong, K. Selangor) - almarhum

13.  Lim Hock Huat (budak Melaka), 

14.  Mohd Fadzillah bin Mohd Ali (budak Kedah) - sekarang Dato'

15.  Md Shah bin Jaffar (budak JB)

16.  Mahmud Nazmi bin Ayob (budak KL)

17.  Mohd Zabidi bin Mohd Bazir, 

18.  Mohd Yusof bin Awang (budak Penang) 

19.  Mohd Yusof b Ahmad (almarhum)

20.  Mohd Fuad bin Ahmad (budak JB)

21.  Mohd Khairy bin Zakaria (budak Kedah)

22.  Mohd Ariff bin Yusof

23.  Nor Hisham bin Mohd Yatim

24.  Rahmadiah Abd Ghani (budak Kelantan) 

25.  Rosmawati Hj Othman (budak Gombak)

26.  Roslani @ Roslan 

27.  Rosyatimah

29.  Saleha Ismail (budak Muar) 

30.  Samini bt Hj Omar (budak Rengit, BP)

31.  Wong Chun Weng,

32.  Zainal bin Ahmad (budak Kedah) - sekarang Dato' 

33.  Zaleha (budak JB) (she married to Jaafar Atan, our  senior student (Town Planning)- Dato' Jaafar adalah mantan Datuk Bandar Shah Alam 

34.  Zairul Azidin Badri (budak Tg Malim).

.... etc  Almost all of them are successful in their life now.

The architectural design lecturers were; En Mokhtar, En Fauzi Awang Kechik (almarhum), En Zamani, Sulaiman (almarhum), En Razak Abd Rahman and En Aziz Shuib. The others were Prof Madya Ramli and En Aziz (Math), En Md Najib Ibrahim (Physic), Tuan Syed Farouk Barakhbah (Material), almarhum Utz Wahab Hj Kia, almarhum Ust Dato Hj Fadzil Mohd Noor (Islamic Study) and Tuan Akbar Abang/Paimah Atoma (Malaysian Studies). Ust Dato Fadzil (allahyarham) was later quit and became a fulltime politician. He was the President of PAS (since 1989-2002) before his death on 23 June 2002. Akbar Anang was also quit from UTM to attach with Darul Arqam. Then quit from Arqam and become a fulltime preacher and own a religious school.

Studying Architecture was involving a high investment. Other than the 'drawing board' in the studio, we have to buy the other equipment and tools such as T Square, drafting pen (expenxsive looooo!) materials for models (many kinds of papers/boards), drawing materials (many types of colours), other stationeres and portpolio box (special order) etc. In fact, we also bought our own drawing board for the home work.

As i wrote earlier, my scholarship (JPA) was about RM1600/year,minus the fees left behind less than a half of thousand a year. House rent, water, electricity, course materials????...Not sufficient. (At that time, those who got scholarship from Bandaraya, DARA or PETRONAS were more lucrative). So, almost every month I have to ask for additional budget from my parent. Sometimes my brother, Khamim (he worked with TNB at Bangsar) and cousin (Amer in RMAF Kinrara) also subsidised me. Financial constraints. Lend (hutang?). Nope. Most of the time we ('we' because almost all having a same problem) took 'instant noodle' (MAGGI MEE) as our staple food especially in the end weeks of waiting for scholarship or subsidy from parents.

In this year session, I was staying at Lorong Bukit Keramat 4 with friends. Some of them were Norzam, Ibrahim, Badrul Hisham, Kamisan, Amir, Bernadib, Zamzam etc. Really congested, like a refugees settlements. Sometimes worst when some friends were coming and night stopped. I could not remember the amount of the rental. But, I appreciated the 'high cooperations' among the housemates. Throughout our staying there, no disputes were occurred.

Inilah rupa rumah sewaku pada tahun 1978/79 di Lorong Bukit Keramat 4

(tak berubah setelah lebih 30 tahun)

The owner of the house (landlord) was 'we called them Pak Aji and Mak Aji' (both died). I forgot their name. They stayed with their daughter Kak Melah (also died) and her husband (abang Kadir). Pak Aji was retired guru agama for the Police Depot (PULAPOL). Kak Melah was also an ustazah in PULAPOL. As a neighbour, selalu la kami dapat makanan percuma dari Mak Aji.

In front of our rented house was a double story wooden house belong to a single mother a 'Syed... al Yahya  descent' family. Her name is Sharifah Zabedah (we called her Ayong). Ayong (age 40s) has 2 sons Zainal and Zahid. But, the focus of the story is not about the widow but the other person living in that house. 

Ayong has 4 sisters and 2 brothers staying together. Sharifah Nor Akma (Kak Nor), Sharifah Zamzam (Kak Zam- passed away), Sharifah Nor Hijjah (Kak Jah- passed away), Sharifah Norashikin (Kak Piji), Syed Mohammad (passed away) and Syed Khalid. There were two more family members staying in that house; Kak Nah and Kak Merah (Sharifah Molek). The most attracted figure was Kak Merah!.

Semasa aku student, aku kurang rapat dengan keluarga ini. Macam jiran biasa, baik dengan anak-anak mereka sahaja. Zainal dan Zahid selalu main-main di rumah sewa kami.

Tetapi selepas aku gagal UTM, aku selalu ke rumah mereka melepak, rapat dengan Zainal. Malah selalu juga aku tidur di rumah mereka. Hinggalah aku berpindah balik ke kampung dan masuk ATM. Hubungan terputus lama. Tetapi kembali terjalin setelah aku berpindah ke OMQ MINDEF pada tahun 1993.

Sehingga sekarang aku masih contact dengan keluarga ini. Sesekali aku akan menziarah Ayong untuk bertanya khabar dan memberi sedikit titipan sebagai mengenang budi baiknya semasa aku muda2 dulu selalu menempel makan minum dan tidur di rumahnya.  Aku agak sedih kerana sebahagian dari ahli keluarga ini telah meninggal dunia. Sh Zamzam, Sh Norhijjah dan Syed Muhammad telah pulang ke rahmatullah. Innalillahi wa inna lillahi rojiun. Semoga Allah mengampuni segala dosa mereka dan membalas segala budi baik mereka kepadaku.

Sometimes in 1993/94 when I was working in MINDEF, I went to Kluang for working visit (after we handed over Kluang Base to the Army, the RMAF maintained our Engineering and Supply element in PUTD (Army Air Wing) as part of handing over process). With the help of PW Salleh Pandi (retired), I managed to track Kak Merah (she was working in RAJD Training School, Kluang. So, I went to visit her house at Taman Kluang Barat (she was staying with her 5 small children (2 boys and 3 girls). Her husband (Syed Abas) was passed away in early 90s due to heart attack. 

In 1998 I went again to Kluang for official duty, and managed to visit Kak Merah again. This time she already moved to a Married Quarters in the camp. The last time i met her was in 2006 when I attended a course at INTAN Kluang  and until today I still keeping in touch with her through watshapp.

I also once in a month visited Ayong family and dropped some RM for her. During the wedding of my daughters (Fazeera), Ayong, Kak Jah and Kak Piji and family were coming (Atikah), Ayong and Zainal & family.

dalam studio dengan Mohd Fadzilah (sekarang Dato Ar)

 

one of the design projects (from left Juminan, myself, Lim Hock Huat, Saleha, Zuraina Leily and Noraida)

aku ada kat belakang tu, sebelah kiri- Mohd Nazmi sebelah kanan - body guards to the ladies. (from left: Saleha, Farishah, Zaleha, Rahmadiah, Rosila, Nor Rafeah and Noraida.

KIRI: can't remember where (Kamisan, Khairy, Haiyee, Zamzam, Kamal, Fadzilah & Badrul Hisham)

TRIP TO FARASER'S HILL 1978

 At the gate to Frasers Hill (waiting for the turn to drive up)

FROM LEFT: Zuraina, Yusuf P, Rahmadiah, myself (merokok masa tuuuu- sejukkk), Badrul Khair (allahyarham) and Himawan

 in the bungalow at Fraser's Hill (with Yusop Ahmad (almarhum), Nazri Aziz and Badrul Khair Subari (almarhum) 

TRIP TO PENANG 1979

Sketching session at Botanical garden

Botanical Garden- Kamal posing.

Botanical Gdn: from left: UTM bus driver, Shukor Aziz and myself

busy drwning under the sun

reading poet at Batu Feringghi beach

with Zuraina and Ismail Mat Akhir

Batu Feringghi Beach - night motivation lecture by En Razak

On the way back to KL- stop by at Farishah's house at Gurun, Kedah and her parents host our lunch

IN THE STUDIO (UTM JLN GURNEY)

FROM LEFT: Wahid (our super senior), myself, Wahid Latip and (allahyarham) Badrul Khair.

in our classroom/studio.. ni Rosmawati kalo tak silap

OTHER PICs

photo with Pak Cik Saidin at Kg Spg Lawin, Kuala Kangsar (the place where Norzam and his group doing their research on 'History of Architecture) 

My story UTM ended when I received my final result. I passed my portfolio, unfortunately I failed my Math paper! I referred the paper, also failed. I passed my mid-term exam of Math but in my second part of the semester, I put lighter focus on it because of giving more concentration on my portfolio. I attempted to see my tutor (En Aziz) to appeal. Unfortunately.... he could not help because I missed a lot of his tutorials. What I can do? member lain tak pergi kelas tapi depa smart, aku pulak, tau tak pandai tapi ikut ikut ponteng kelas- padan muka aku.

My two year journey in UTM ended with a sorrow and blow. I do not blame anybody else, except myself.

Maka, dengan ini, musnahlah cita-citaku untuk menjadi seorang Arkitek. Biarpun begitu, aku amat bersyukur kepada Allah kerana telah memberikan aku satu perjalanan baru untuk terus maju dalam hidupku. Walaupun aku telah tercampak jauh dunia 'senibina' namun sahabat-sahabatku yang sama-sama berjuang di atas 'drawing board' dulu tidak melupakan aku. Bertahun-tahun mereka berjuang meredah halangan dan cabaran untuk mencapai cita-cita. Sebahagian dari mereka telah berjaya mempunyai firma senibina sendiri, atau menjadi pensyarah (malah ada yang bertaraf Profesor), berkhidmat dengan Kerajaan atau menukar kerjaya ke bidang perniagaan yang lain. Tahniah.

Setelah hampir 30 tahun terpisah, kami dapat bertemu kembali apabila salah seorang dari mereka dapat menghubungiku untuk menyertai satu majlis 'reunion' mereka di Kelab Darul Ehsan, Ampang pada tahun 2004. Bermula dari situ, kami menjadi rapat semula, dari satu pertemuan ke satu pertemuan.......... antaranya:

CLASSMATE Marriage

MEREKA TELAH PERGI UNTUK SELAMA-LAMANYA

ALMARHUMAH AINON BINTI MOHAMED (1978)

ALMARHUM BADRULKHAIR BIN SUBARI (x)

ALMARHUM MOHD YUSOF BIN AHMAD (2007)

ALMARHUM AHMAD FEISAL BIN A. AFFENDI (2009)

ALMARHUM ZULKIFLI BIN SUDIN (16 DIS 2010)

ALMARHUM RAHIM BIN AHMAD (3 OGOS 2014)

ALMARHUM MOHAMMAD YUSUF BIN MOHAMAD HASSAN PURNAWARMAN (8 FEB 2016)

ALMARHUM JUMINAN BIN SAMAD (15 MAC 2016)

ALMARHUM MOHD ZABIDI BIN MOHD BAZIR (13 FEB 2017)

ALMARHUM SAARI BIN OMAR (26 OGOS 2017)

ALMARHUM MOHD ARIFF BIN YUSOFF (2 OKT 2017)

ALMARHUMAH HAZIANI BINTI DATO' HARUN (19 FEB 2018)

Alfatihah

.