TUN TAN SIEW SIN CENTENNIAL

MCA commemorates Tan Siew Sin's centennial

BY FOONG PEK YEE

 (From left) Liow, Tan Siok Choo and Dr Hou tour the exhibition on Tun Tan's centennial.

KUALA LUMPUR: He is known for being thrifty, to the point of not carrying any cash with him when he goes around.

However, Tun Tan Siew Sin, the country's longest serving finance minister, is best remembered for great things, including laying a strong foundation for Malaysia's economy.

Tan, who was MCA president from 1961 to 1974 and finance minister from 1959 to 1974, passed away on Mar 17, 1988.

Born on May 21, 1916, the MCA held a ceremony to commemorate Tan's centennial at the party headquarters here Saturday afternoon.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai paid tribute to Tan, saying the strong financial foundation he laid helped Malaysia weather financial challenges thereafter.

On education, he said Tan set up the Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TAR College) in 1969, and the college had produced 170,000 graduates to date, who in turn contributed to nation-building.

TAR College's status was upgraded to Tunku Abdul Rahman University College in 2013.

Liow, who is also the university college's chairman, pledged to continue Tan's good work.

Besides TAR College, he said, Tan also helped to develop Chinese education in the country.

Liow said TAR College's good track record had enabled the MCA to set up Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) in 2002, and it has subsequently risen to be among the biggest private universities in the country now.

Liow also launched a book titled Ancestral Home of Tun Tan Siew Sin.

Also present were Tan's children, Tan Siok Eng, Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo and Tan Siok Lee and other family members.

Those present observed a minute of silence to pay respects to Tan's wife, Toh Puan Catherine Lim Cheng Neo who passed away on May 10.

The event's organising chairman Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung advised the younger generation to visit the exhibition on Tan at Wisma MCA here from Saturday and May 29 to get to know more about the outstanding man.

Webmaster: Tun Tan Siew Sin studied in Malacca High School during his formative years. Datuk Seri Dr. Liow Tiong Lai studied 2 years in MHS for his 6th. Form. He came in from Merlimau/Jasin.

TUN ABDULLAH SALLEH ( 1926 TO 2006 )

A Tribute to Tun Abdullah Salleh (1926-2006)

Abdullah Salleh (1926-2006)
June 22, 2006 21:23 PM KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama)

Former Chief Secretary to the Government Tun Abdullah Salleh who died Thursday was Malaysia's most illustrious civil servant who served under four prime ministers and had the distinction of once being the boss of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the ex-civil servant who is now prime minister. After being intermittently hospitalised for the last three months, the wheel-chair bound Abdullah succumbed to lymphoma, a cancer of the blood cells, at the Universiti Kebangsaan Hospital here at about 3.30pm. To say that Abdullah came up the hard way in life to become the country's top civil servant in 1976 and two years later as chairman and chief executive of the newly-formed Petronas, the national oil corporation, was an understatement.

Born on June 24, 1926 at Kampung Padang Sebang, Alor Gajah in Melaka, against the backdrop of a country under colonial rule and when poverty and deprivation were the order of the day, Abdullah survived extremely severe circumstances, seemingly against all odds. Seven of his younger siblings had died of diphtheria, his mother died during a typhoid epidemic when he was only in Standard 5, but nothing was to deter him from pursuing his ambition to go for higher studies to obtain a then rare university degree, not even a world war which came to the country's shores from 1941-1945. He enrolled in an English school run by the British in Melaka town -- he was the only Malay at the school -- commuting daily by train from Gadek and then walking part of the way. He was made to pay school fees of $2.50 a month when his father was earning only $26 a month but because he excelled in his studies in the first year, he secured a free place. In the second year, he topped the class and was given a scholarship of $9 a month.

Abdullah continued with his schooling at the Melaka High School, which he once described as "one of the best schools in the country" and was in Standard 7 waiting to be promoted to Standard 8 when the Second World War broke out. He witnessed the arrival of the Japanese army and the fall of Singapore. In August 1945 when the war ended with the Japanese surrender, he resumed his interrupted schooling. Then over 18 years old, he by-passed Standard 8 to gain a direct entry into Standard 9 to sit for the School Certificate examination in 1946. But that year, disaster struck. "I found out I had tuberculosis," he once told Khidmat, the quarterly magazine of the Malaysian civil service. He was hospitalised for three months and although his sputum test proved negative, the side-effects appeared a few months later when water began to develop in his lungs. "I thought I would die, it was that bad. The water had to be pumped out twice a week," he recalled. Abdullah was hospitalised for a massive two-and-a-half years and after being discharged, he went back to school after missing the 1946 examination. But he told the magazine that the headmaster refused to admit him because he was over-aged and only relented after persuasion by a teacher who had once taught him. So he joined Standard 9 at an old age of 22 in a class among 17 and 18 year old boys. Again, he excelled by scoring six distinctions in the School Certificate examination. He joined the prestigious Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) for Form 6 and later the University of Malaya while still in poor health, and in fact suffered a relapse while at the university. Although Abdullah was hospitalised for a further two-and-a-half months and later was confined to the students' sick bay and had to miss his lectures for five months, he still managed to graduate from the university with a BA (Hons) in Geography. He started his career in the Johor civil service because he had to serve out his Johor scholarship bond, his first job being the secretary of the organising committee for the 50th anniversary of the reign of the ruler of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim.

This was followed by a string of civil service appointments in Johor and then Perak and from 1959 to 1961, he was private secretary to the first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. "My greatest regret was that when the Tunku passed away (in 1989), I was not there to see his face for the last time. I was then in London. I regretted that very much", he told the magazine. Then came his posting to the Public Service Commission with a directive to ensure fair apportionment of scholarships and Division One appointments to Malay candidates. This was followed by his appointment as Under-Secretary to the Cabinet. Abdullah, together with Justice Hashim Sani drew up the National Language Act 1967,which provided for Bahasa Malaysia to be the main medium of instruction in schools.

Next he was assigned to set up Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia which was to use Bahasa Malaysia as medium of instruction and was appointed by then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak as its first Registrar, a fairly junior appointment given his seniority but which he said he dared not refuse. This was because he had declined Tun Razak's offers on two previous occasions, the first in 1963 to go to Sabah as Economic Adviser of then Chief Minister Tun Datu Mustapha and the second, to persuade him to stand as a candidate in Melaka in the 1969 general election and be its Chief Minister. "Evidently, Tun Razak was not going to accept 'no' for an answer for the third time," he told Khidmat. The setting up of UKM using Malay as the medium of instruction proved to be a monumental task indeed at a time when there was a scarcity of Malays with doctorates and Master's degrees to serve as lecturers but the problem was overcome with the recruitment of lecturers from Indonesia.

After the 1974 general election, Abdullah was made Director-General of the Public Services Department (PSD) and in May 1976 after Tun Razak died, he succeeded Tan Sri Kadir Shamsuddin was Chief Secretary to the Government. Kadir had gone to Petronas as its first chairman. At end-1978 upon retiring from the civil service, then prime minister Tun Hussein Onn made him chairman and chief executive of Petronas following the death of Kadir. It was an irony of sorts because Abdullah had earlier submitted various other names to the prime minister as Kadir's successor. But Hussein wanted him for the job which he took up at the age of 53. Much of the developments of Petronas, then with a staff of 600-700, was still in the planning stage and Abdullah's first job was to set up the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Bintulu and to get Japanese power and utility companies to take up the LNG production. Abdullah also set up the Petronas refinery in Kerteh in Terengganu and followed by another refinery in Melaka and gave priority to the training of Malaysians who in later years were to take over the running of the refineries from foreign management teams.

Today, Petronas has a presence in over 30 countries and is one of the world's most profitable oil companies and the only Malaysian company listed in the Fortune 500. Age and ill health kept Abdullah away from the spotlight but from 1989 to last year, he was chairman of the Tun Razak Foundation, named after the second prime minister. In 2003, Abdullah was bestowed the Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM) which carries the title "Tun", the highest federal award, and became the first and only former Chief Secretary to the Government to receive the title.

Webmaster: Tun Abdullah Salleh studied in Malacca High School before the 2nd. World War. He was my father's classmate in Malacca High.

KANG WENG PIEW STORY

25th. October 2015

KANG WENG PIEW

1926 to 2015

THE KANG WENG PIEW’S STORY

WENG PIEW was born on 17th August 1926 at 127, Jalan Bunga Raya, Malacca, Malaya. He is the only son of Mr. Kan Lap Wai (@ Sheh Khing) and Madam Wong Kwai and the 27^th. Generation of the Kan(g) Clan.

KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH HIS BROTHER AND SISTERS

Weng Piew keeps in touch with his two sisters who are living abroad.

Eldest sister, KWAN FONG passed away in 1991 and was buried at Jelutong Chinese Cemetery, Malacca. Her children reside in Kuala Lumpur and Malacca.

Sister, KWAN KUEN, a homemaker, lives in Yeun Long, Hong Kong SAR with her husband and children.

Youngest sister, KWAN YOKE  has retired in England. She used to operate a pub in Mundesley, Norfolk, England while her only daughter and grand daughter are residing in Kuala Lumpur.

WENG PIEW's adopted brother, WENG PONG is married to LEONG CHOI KAM. They reside in Malacca and their only daughter, is working in Singapore.

WENG PIEW's adopted sister, LAI HAN resides in Singapore with her family while another adopted sister, LAI MING is married and residing in Hong Kong with her family.

HIS SCHOOLING YEARS

He was educated in Government schools in Malacca and given private tuition in Chinese. He attended the Bandar Hilir English School (BHES) from 1932 to1938 for his primary education

He entered his primary education at Bandar Hilir English School, Malacca (BHES) from 1933 until 1937 (up to Std. V only). One of his classmate is Mr. Mah Sek Wah and both of them were transferred to Malacca High School from 1938 to continue their secondary education.

However, they had to discontinue their secondary education from 1942 to 1945 as Malaya was occupied by the Japanese during the 2^nd. World War. When the war ended, they continued their secondary education in early 1946 and took their School Certificate examinations in end of 1946.

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                             Weng Piew with his close friends during his high school days

Weng Piew with his classmates and Principal in Malacca High School

From 1939 to 1941, he attended the Malacca High School (MHS) before his education was briefly interrupted from 1942 to 1944 by the Japanese Occupation during the 2nd. World War.

He continued his studies in 1945 before completing his Senior Cambridge level in 1946.

From records in the Malacca High School Annual School Magazine, “The Optimist 1947” issue, only 14 students out of a total of 23 candidates, passed School Certificate in 1946. The successful list was as follows:-

1. Cheong Kum Hong
2. Emmanuel G.
3. Goh Kee Meng
4. Kang Weng Piew
5. Khoo Swee Chiang
6. Khoo Swee Tuan
7. Lung Li Pah
8. Mah Sek Wah
9. Mohamed Dali, H
10. Muthucoomaraswamy P
11. Muthuthamby, N.
12. Ng Chin Loon
13. Tang Luen On
14. Variyan, D.S.                                                  Percentage : 60.8%

Twenty three candidates were presented. Fourteen passed, out of whom eight were from the seventeen boys who had been promoted from Std. VII to the School Certificate Class early in 1946.

Some of the subjects taken were as follows:-

English Literature

Elementary Mathematics

Additional Mathematics

History of British Empire

Geography

Biology

Hygiene and Physiology

Latin

Tamil

He was one of three candidates in Additional Mathematics taught by his mathematics teacher, Mr. SPS Pillay and one of his classmates was the former Petronas president, Allaryarham Tun Abdullah Salleh who had to delay his studies due to health reasons.

His results for the School Certificate were as follows:-

English : Distinction,  Additional Maths: Distinction

HIS CAREER AFTER SCHOOL

He wanted to pursue a degree in veterinary science but due to family commitments and the death of his father in 1950, he was unable to do so as he was expected to take care of his father’s business.

As he has no flair in business, he later joined the civil service in 1951 and worked as a translator (Chinese to English) in the Police Department in Malacca.

Group photo taken in Police HQ, Malacca.

He was transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Bukit Aman Police Headquarters in 1968 and shuttled frequently between Malacca and Kuala Lumpur.

After 30 years of service, he retired in 1981 and presently resides in 12 Kee Ann Road. After the death of his beloved wife, Yuit Sim in 2001, he stayed with his sons in Kuala Lumpur until today.

HIS MARRIED LIFE

He married WONG YUIT SIM at Meng Seng Charitable Hall in Malacca on 6^th December 1947.

They have five sons namely TsiYan, Tsi Wai, Tsz Wong, Tsi Kit and Tsi Yam ( all his sons studied in Malacca High School ) and a daughter, Foong Mei who studied in Malacca Girls’ High School.

In 1998, Weng Piew and Yuit Sim celebrated their 50^th. Wedding Anniversary at Ramada Hotel, Malacca. All their children and grand children were present in this auspicious occasion.

Due to a short illness, he passed away on 11^th. August 2015.

Posted by his 3rd. son, Tsz Wong

YANG AT HEART

OLD PUPILS' GLORY IN MALACCA HOCKEY

Malacca’s hockey school lives on

BY PERCY D’CRUZ

MHS popular hockey master P. Poonendarajah gleaning over the schools' hockey exploits of the yesteryears.

   

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MALACCA: The news that the proposed relocation of the country’s second oldest school - Malacca High School (MHS) - has been shelved by the Malacca Government and would remain at the site along Jalan Chan Koon Cheng, where it stood for 188 years and in core midst of the UNESCO Banda Hilir Heritage Site - certainly comes as wonderful news to legions of alumni members, particularly hockey activists, both local and outstation.

The second oldest educational institution after Penang Free School (founded in 1817), MHS, also affectionately known as the Malacca Hockey School in local sports circles, has not only produced dozens of prominent politicians, royal family members, activist of sorts, academicians but national sportsmen galore, particularly hockey stalwarts, with several of whom making it to the highest level of international competitions - the Olympic Games.

Beginning in the 50s, when Malaya first competed at hockey at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the now late Bakar Said of Kampong Banda Kaba a stone’s throw away from the school field, set the game’s playing credentials list into motion with the late Chua Boon Huat, the latest of a scroll of national hockey talents nurtured at MHS.

Bakar, then played for Malaya between 1948 and 1952 and was drafted into the training squad for the Melbourne Olympics but failed to make the final cut. Among the school’s list of illustrious players are three double hockey Olympians - Koh Hock Seng (1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City), Yang Siow Meng (1968 Mexcico City and 1972 Munich) and Lim Chiow Chuan (1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta).

Chua played in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and if not for his demise could have made the grade like his notable predecessors, as Malaysia is involved in qualifier tournaments beginning this year to make the cut for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Nevertheless, his credentials etched todate would be hard to match. He comes from a rare breed of MHS talents who has chalked up many “firsts” since making his national debut in 1998 at the Kuala Commonwealth Games where a silver medal was bagged.

Chua, also skippered the national team at the 2001 Junior World Cup in Hobart, Tasmania and then went on to play for the senior side at the 2002 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur and the Karachi Champions Trophy meet a year earlier. He also donned national colours at the 1998 Bangkok and 2002 Busan Asian Games, the Champions Challenge I and II (Kuala Lumpur 2001 and Johannesburg 2003) and also the 2001 Kuala Lumput SEA Games. He also featured a record 11 times in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup series in Ipoh.

Close- up of page of the school’s 180th anniversary year souvenir publication relating to two proudest moments of bygone years. One photo shows Poonendarajah (seated) with the schools’ five players (Ali Hassan, Goh Tiong Hui, Danny Saurajan, Siow Meng and Hock Seng) who made the starting eleven of the Federation Combined Schools team in the mid sixties. The other photo shows the MHS Under-18 outfit as the 1965 Malacca Inter Schools hockey champs.

The other MHS produced talents that donned national colours include Benny Tan Soon Seng (1986 Seoul Asian Games and 1988 Azlan Shah Cup series), Goh Tiong Hui (played for Malaya (B) in the 1963 Test series against Singapore), Haricharan Singh (donned Malaysia colours at the 1985 Brunei Games), Ismail Ali (turned out for Malaysia in 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta), M.Selvanathan (donned Malaysia colours at the Asia Cup in Lahore and the Junior World Cup in Paris, both in 1982), M.P.Haridas (played for Malaysia in the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games), Micheal Goh Doh Jin (played for Malaya (B) in the 1960 Test series agains Singapore and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics), Tam Chiew Seng (donned Malaysia colours in the 1982 World Cup in Bombay and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics), Tham Kong Onn (donned Malaysia colours at the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games), Tham Yeow Kong (played for Malaysia at the1979 Junior World Cup) Teoh Choo Beng (donned Malaysia colours at the SEA Regional Games in Singapore).

MHS’ notable double hockey Olympians - Siow Meng (left) who played in 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics and Hock Seng who donned national colours at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Games.

P. Poonendarajah, 77, a popular MHS hockey master from 1955 to 1968 and then again from 1972 to 1987, readily testifies that the school ‘production of national playing talents’ like on assembly lines will continue to flow in the years ahead. Coupled with a artificial pitch incorporated in the present day school gamut of in-house sports facilities along with the good news that the establishment’s re-location plan is shelved, hockey has a bright and promising future.

Poonendeajah, who still maintains links with the MHS’ hockey development, coaching and training committee, while also keeping tabs of the school game’s exploits on the domestic and national fronts noted that during the tenure years of three principals — C.T. Wade (1962-1965), K. Anandarajan (1970-1972) and Abdul Rafie Haji Mahat (1985-1991), hockey was treated like a ‘subject’ with regular inter-house and inter class six a side competitions held all year round.

Mister Hockey Poonen, as he is still popularly known in local hockey circles said: “Unlike the other sports and games that adopted a seasonal approach, these regular short game hockey competitions whipped up much interest and participation. All this gave school selectors ample opportunities to pick up talents and potentials to form large Under-15 and Under 18 training squads which made final selection to don school colours difficult.

With hockey playing potentials from our feeder schools so very keen to don MHS colours while moving into the secondary levels, trainees faithfully kept up with daily training grinds and with plenty of predecessors who made the state and national grades to emulate, final selections were made tedious chores.

With parents’ support and encouragement aplenty, the school’s regular winning of every other honours connected with the state and national schools sports council and the state hockey associations, spelt a priority for MHS players, all eager to get a nod from national junior and senior selectors.

Donning school hockey colours was an obsession for most of the MHS students. Yes, we did produce notable athletes and other sportsmen who went on to make the national teams at athletics, cricket, fencing, football, archery and even bodybuilding and taekwondo, but hockey has and will always remain the preferred choice, now that Malaysia occupy a commendable world ranking with qualifying for the World Cup and the Olympic Games.

TAGS / KEYWORDS:Southern & Eastern Region, malacca high school

MHS’ notable double hockey Olympians - Siow Meng (left) who played in 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics and Hock Seng who donned national colours at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Games.

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Poonendeajah, who still maintains links with the MHS’ hockey development, coaching and training committee, while also keeping tabs of the school game’s exploits on the domestic and national fronts noted that during the tenure years of three principals — C.T. Wade (1962-1965), K. Anandarajan (1970-1972) and Abdul Rafie Haji Mahat (1985-1991), hockey was treated like a ‘subject’ with regular inter-house and inter class six a side competitions held all year round.

Mister Hockey Poonen, as he is still popularly known in local hockey circles said: “Unlike the other sports and games that adopted a seasonal approach, these regular short game hockey competitions whipped up much interest and participation. All this gave school selectors ample opportunities to pick up talents and potentials to form large Under-15 and Under 18 training squads which made final selection to don school colours difficult.

With hockey playing potentials from our feeder schools so very keen to don MHS colours while moving into the secondary levels, trainees faithfully kept up with daily training grinds and with plenty of predecessors who made the state and national grades to emulate, final selections were made tedious chores.

With parents’ support and encouragement aplenty, the school’s regular winning of every other honours connected with the state and national schools sports council and the state hockey associations, spelt a priority for MHS players, all eager to get a nod from national junior and senior selectors.

Donning school hockey colours was an obsession for most of the MHS students. Yes, we did produce notable athletes and other sportsmen who went on to make the national teams at athletics, cricket, fencing, football, archery and even bodybuilding and taekwondo, but hockey has and will always remain the preferred choice, now that Malaysia occupy a commendable world ranking with qualifying for the World Cup and the Olympic Games.

FORMER MHS PUPILS AT PENANG INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2014

FORMER MALACCA HIGH PUPILS AT PENANG INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL

Former Malacca High School pupils of different years at Penang International Science Festival recently. Lim Guan Eng, the current Chief Minister of Penang with T.K. Kang, the founder of Nurturing Education based in Hong Kong, exhibitor and presenter at one of the many Science Workshops during the festival. The XOs were used to show off learning skills to younger children.Former pupils trying to create a better world for future generations.

MR RENGANATHAN - FORMER MHS PUPIL AND TEACHER EXTRAORDINARY

Sacred endeavour: After more than 50 years, Rangganathan continues to love teaching and enlightening students.

 

THE sanskrit word Guru or teacher denotes far more than an individual who imparts knowledge and wisdom to his students.

Next to the universal concepts of ‘Mother’, ‘Father’ and ‘God’, the Guru is held in reverence as his teachings would guide his students to obtain not only material knowledge but also the ability to cultivate virtues which are essential for the betterment of society.

Likewise, any teacher who assumes this journey must be able to devote his entire self not only to the teaching cause but also to building character in his students.

My father, M.P.Rangganathan is the epitome of that teacher devoted to the ultimate teaching cause.

Papa was born in 1939 in a kampung in Alor Gajah, Malacca to migrants from India determined to live a more prosperous life in Malaya then.

It was a family steeped in poverty as my grandparents struggled to make ends meet by selling kacang putih and rearing cattle to provide for a family of six children.

As the oldest son, Papa learnt from a very young age of the suffering and hardship that came with being poor. . It was during these formative years that Papa would learn of the value of education as the only means to rise above poverty and to achieve a more meaningful future.

In spite of his lack of education, my grandfather was informed enough to provide Papa with an education in an English-medium school and it was a decision that would change his life forever.

Papa obtained his primary education at the Tranquerah English School and it was during these few years that he realised the importance of language in achieving academic excellence.

Papa’s determination to overcome all odds met with continued success as he gained entry into the country’s second oldest institution, the Malacca High School (MHS) for his secondary education.

Papa decided to pursue his passion for teaching upon sitting for the Overseas School Certificate, after completing secondary school.

He served as a young trainee teacher in a rural school in his hometown in the late 1950s. Despite having to make daily arduous journeys on his bicycle to the dilapidated school, Papa was fuelled by his passion to impart his knowledge and lessons in life to the kampung children.

Perhaps it was in those rare moments of truth, that he would develop his passion to teach the national language of our country, Bahasa Malaysia. Unlike his peers, Papa’s journey to obtain his tertiary education was not smooth-sailing. Between teaching, honing his teaching skills at a teaching college and juggling family affairs, he persevered and completed his HSC but due to financial woes, it would be only years later that he achieved his long-time dream to major in Malay studies at the presitigious Universiti Malaya.

It was well worth the effort. Papa emerged as one of only six non-Malays to major in Malay studies and the only Indian at that. In a time where he had been questioned for his ability to teach the Malay language simply because of his race, it was a moment of victory.

Papa went on to achieve one of his most memorable moments as a teacher when he was given the golden opportunity to return to his alma mater, the MHS in 1972. For the next 22 years, Papa carved a niche for himself as a superior teacher who produced the best results among his students in Bahasa Malaysia year after year.

Papa’s unique brand of teaching was not limited to teaching the rudiments of the subjects but more importantly, the rudiments of life as a Malaysian and as a human being.

Every sajak, pantun or syair (Malay sonnets, poems, poetries) was drummed into the minds of his students in ways which they could relate to in their every day lives as a child, a student and as a citizen of the country.

At the height of Papa’s teaching career, thousands of his students from MHS and students from other schools attending his tuition classes would always remember him as a strict and unyielding man with a rare display of emotions. But his eyes lit up with passion as he imparted his prowess in the Malay language.

More importantly, his lessons in life encouraged nationality, solidarity and ways to contribute to the betterment of our society as true Malaysians. Many of Papa’s students, whether they loved him or feared him, have made him very proud and are now successful in both national and international arenas.

As a peer, Papa continues to command respect and admiration from his fellow teachers as a true educator. In 2003, four years after his retirement, Papa was duly bestowed the coveted Tokoh Guru Kebangsaan award purely for his dedicated classroom teaching towards academic excellence.

For Papa, it was a humbling experience more than a celebration as it was a due recognition of all of his childhood dreams to rise above poverty, to realise his passion for teaching and importantly, to give back to society.

For his family, it was finally a recognition for a beloved man who had committed his whole life towards his teaching cause while still balancing his love and filial duties as a son, a husband and the patriarch of a family.

For his students and peers, it was a celebration of the man who inspired a myriad of students to realise their dreams of success and continues to inspire students, still.

At almost 76 years of age, Papa has no intentions to stop teaching. Through the years, Papa continues to keep abreast with the many changes made to the Bahasa Malaysia syllabus and accepts these changes as a challenge not only to himself but also to his students.

It is telling of Papa’s love not only for teaching but also for the Malay language.

In a time where administrators and educators are arguing about the importance of Bahasa Malaysia versus English versus Bahasa Malaysia in our multi-cultural society, he remains a staunch believer of the importance of both languages to Malaysians.

While it is a struggle to instil the love for languages and the importance of education among the younger generation today, Papa’s resolve remains enduring.

Teaching aside, Papa continues to feed his voracious appetite for reading and spends late nights poring over his collection of books on philosophy, literary criticisms and other reads as his one and only personal indulgence.

Other times, he spends actively providing guidance and presence in religious welfare activities as a means of giving back to the community.

Papa also savours yearly reunions organised by his former students and values new memories made with them decades later.

More than half a century later, Papa’s love for teaching remains a sacred endeavour. It is a vow he has taken as a true ‘Guru’ to continue enlightening his students to greater wisdom and self-realisation and one that is timeless.

VANITHA RANGGANATHAN

Malacca