MY FATHER:
An overview of my opinion
as his eldest son: Right from small he has been serious with his sons but more laissez-faire
with his daughters. He is always firm and focus in whatever he does and expects
other family members to be like him. He believes in independence and gave
leadership training right from small. I was trained to handle sundry purchases
and monthly provision at age of twelve.
After my HSC: I was called
to sit down with him one morning and he started asserting as follows:
“Sit
down I want to talk to you!”
“Look,
I have given you your basic education and my responsibility is over; apa yang
ada dirumah ni you can have it…more than that no!” “kalau nak jadi orang buat sendiri!”
After mentioning that in
hardly one minute he walk away and left me thinking..really thinking on the
decision he choose to do that and also
wondered what make him say such!
Looking
back that was the best advice he gave me!
From then on, I changed my
mind-set from an obedient refer to parents for any decision to being
independent and be more self reliance in everything I do. Indeed that training
made me a better person, held responsible positions in associations and youth
movements at a very young age. I was 4B Youth movement State Information Chief
at the age of 20. Pro tem committee of 4B Cooperative Malaysia at 21. Managed a
commercial bank branch office at age 32.
A
self made man:
He did not go through
proper education only completed standard 5 before the war. He was able to talk
Japanese, read and write Chinese
(Mandarin). After the war, attended Agricultural School, Serdang. Later
attended Diploma in Agriculture at Agriculture College, Serdang now UPM; his
contemporary includes Tan Seri Arshad Ayub and Tan Seri Rasdan Baba. In early
60’s attended management training in Asian Institute of Management, Makati,
Manila (AIM) and in 1963 attended a three months study tour to Taiwan under
UNFO programme. He was responsible to setting up Farmers Association, Pahang
and the landmark building of the association name given by him “Puriwirawan” in
Jalan Gambut/Bukit Ubi , Kuantan. Other GLCs include LKPP and DARA.
When
I bought a vespa scooter 1972:
He reminded me not to carry
my younger brother Shamsul on the vespa worried of accident. He owned a motorcycle
Triumph Tiger 100 in the early 50’s . One day he did ask me for the switch and
ride the vespa to the nearby sundry shop to buy cigarette.
Still strict on discipline
but do have passion for riding!
1972
floods in Paya Besar:
Kuantan district was prone
to floods especially during the monsoon months of December through March.
Situation was worse in the 70’s as there were not much irrigation system in
place. Father was then the Pahang Agriculture Training Officer, with office at
the Pusat Latehan Pertanian, Paya
Besar, Kuantan
I remember in December
1972, there was heavy down pour and Paya Besar was flooded. I was then a junior officer of Public Bank Berhad,
Kuantan Branch. He came to town in a JKR lorry as the road was not passable to
motorcars and stop at the bank to ask me to send him home. I agreed and sent
him in my Volkswagen NC 5890. The moment he was in the car in the heavy rain he
requested for cigarette!
I was a smoker but never
smoke in front of him. I opened the car glove box and gave him a packet of
Rothmans. He took it and started smoking….without any remark or comments!!
General
Election 1976:
He was a close friend in
comradeship during the pre independence days with Tun Abdul Razak Hussain the
second Prime Minister of Malaysia. Both were captains in Force 136. In the 1976
general election he was selected by Tun Razak, Pahang UMNO to stand for
election as State Assemblyman for Batu Talam constituency. Run up to the
Election Day I was not much able to help him in his campaign trail in Batu
Talam due to work commitments.
To give him the moral
support I was a counting agent for Perikatan (Barisan Nasional) and was in the
Raub Jublee Hall during the counting of votes. I was the first person to
congratulate him and my uncle En. Abdullah Majid the Parliamentary candidate for Raub .
My father rented a two room
apartment in Raub. That night I prepared coffee and served biscuits to all
supporters who came to congratulate him. We slept rather late that night to
follow TV news on the overall national results of the election. In the
following morning I had a pleasant surprise as I woke up late; my father had
prepared breakfast with nasi lemak, some kueh and coffee. I really felt that we
were more of close friends than parental relationship.
Speech
Wriring:
As I was active in youth movements there were situations
when he requested me to assist him in giving inputs for his speech on current
development and youth activities.
As a Deputy Menteri Besar he was a hands-on man. He woke
up early every morning and does his own writing and typing with his ‘Royal
typewriter’.
Bedridden
1978:
Due to severe sinus which was cancerous he was bedridden
for almost one year. I noted during that period he was calm and positive in
facing reality of his failing health. It was my sister Faridah that gave the
most support to him.
I was holding his hands when he lost his last breath. My
mother and a physician were by his side.
In conclusion, for the upbringing,
training and guidance given by my father and mother and being the first in the
family of six; three boys & three girls, I realize that I have been molded
for what I am today.
In many situations I
realized that I have inherited most of the character and traits that was very
much my father. This includes little tolerance in sloppy work. The need to be
focus and get the job done attitude. Work smart and play hard. Nothing comes
easy. In the free time do have time to listen to music and watch movies; his
favorite TV programme was news , ‘music appreciation’ and ‘High Chaparral.’
When he choose to stand for
state assembly member for Batu Talam his deciding statement was: “
…politics is dirty….but I don’t care..I will do it my way!”
