Novice Skydiver Adventure

Encouraged by my late brother Muhandes in 1981,  I followed my two other brothers to try sky-diving.

Capt(R) Moid doing precheck.

Brother Muhandes had  a Master-Jumper license from the United States Parachutist Association (USPA).  Back then, he was a member of the Wilayah Parachute Club. I was a newbie while my two other brothers had several jumps in their log books already.

The small group of novices (I think there was eight of us) was required to attend several weeks of ground training. The location was an old bungalow by an old tin mine which is now the Flamingo Hotel near Ampang. The ground training involved stretching exercises, jogging and the PLF (Parachute Landing Fall). Other than brother Muhandes, there were two other men who were our instructors. One of them was by the name of Captain (R) Moid. Sometimes, there was another guy, an air force officer, Captain Meor, also came to help.

After several weeks of ground training and safety briefing, we went to Malacca Airport for our first two jumps. Remember, those were the days before PLUS highway was in existence. We departed KL for Malacca very early on a Saturday morning. We arrived Malacca Airport in some 3 hours drive, I think.

In 1981, the Malacca Airport was not very busy. There were a few flights serving Malacca to Padang and Medan. The flight academy was not yet formed. Therefore, the airport was quite available for parachute jumps.

The aircraft for our use was a Cessna  172 from the Selangor Flying Club. The pilot was a retired air force captain whose name I could not recall.

As novice jumpers, we were to use the round canopy static line parachutes. The Cessna would take us up to the height of 3000 ft  and each trip would only fit 3 novice jumpers  and one jump-master (of course with the pilot). The jump-master will coordinate with the pilot on the point and direction for us to exit the aircraft. Before exiting, the pilot will cut the power to the engine and the jump-master called me to the exit position.  The exit position is under the right wing, right foot on the aircraft wheel, left foot on the climb-pedal and both hands on the wing strut. When  I confirmed I was ready, the master-jumper gave the order to “Go”, I kicked my right leg backwards and let my hands off the wing strut.

Then I began the count “five thousand, four thousand, three thousand, two thousand, one thousand, check canopy”. It was a great relief to see the parachute opened normally. The view around me was great but brief because it took less than three minutes to reach the ground.

All the novices completed our second jumps by that afternoon. After we packed up, we went to Bandar Hilir for makan. Back then, the food stalls and the shore line was where the Mahkota Parade stands now. After a good meal, we said our goodbyes to Malacca and headed back to KL.

I did four more jumps  at Ipoh Airport in 1982. I did not continue the sport because it became costly.

In 1989, my brother Muhandes died in a parachuting accident while rehearsing for the grand opening of the SEA Games in KL. This incident hurt my mother very much and thus I ceased participation in that sport.

My Navy Basic Training 1979

In 1979, after I got my MCE results, I joined the Royal Malaysia Navy in its Navy Apprentice program.

All apprentices were needed to go through a three months basic training after which they will be posted to various technical training establishments in Malaysia (Polytechnic Ungku Omar, Ipoh), the UK, India and Australia. I was supposed to be with a group of 12 to be sent to Australia. Back then, the basic training camp was at Bah Soon Pah Road, Singapore (when RMN main base was at Woodlands).

However, it was not to be for me. While I had passed the various trials for selection, I had not met the mark during basic training. I failed in the swimming tests and I was always the last in the 5KM run during PT.

After three months, I was one of the very few who was let off and return to civilian life.

Anyway, I had some fond memories and made many good friends.

Interesting thing was, I met an old school friend, Hishamuddin a few weeks before I left the camp. Hisham was there for the final selection for the next intake of navy recruits. He did not pass and eventually went to a Teachers Training College. However, Hishamuddin lost his life in a motor vehicle accident at the Bentong-Kuantan road In the 1980’s.

Late Hishamuddin, squatting, on my left.

Some pictures to share about my short stint with the Navy.



Cleaning our barracks. Me, center, shirtless.

Certificate of Merit - K.E. VII School Band 1980

After MCE (Malaysia Certificate of Education) examinations in 1978, I came back to the school to participate and assist the school band. Those were the years the band did not have a formal music instructor, therefore, the seniors were responsible to help to coach and train the existing and new members. I also assisted the school's Boy Scouts during those years. How was that for multi-tasking?

In 1980, Mr Ng Peng Khoon put in a recommendation to the school Principal, Mr Long Heng Hua, that a Certificate of Merit be awarded to me. Since I was not a regular student, the certificate was awarded to me in the Principal's office and was witnessed by Mr Ng.

It was really an honour to receive the certificate and truly the feeling was most valueable to me. I still have the certificate to this day.

Old Edwardians Reunion Dinner 23 June 2012

Made a trip home to Taiping again on 23 June 2012 for my school Sports Day and the highlight of the evening, the Old Edwardians Reunion Dinner.

Arrived at the hotel by 2.45PM. After checked-in, I went to the school field to watch the sports. It was drizzling when I arrived and the  march past was just over. I met old friends Ban Heng and Siva. They invited me to the school hall for tea. Other friends who said they would come have not arrived yet. Hariri, Raymond, Ramli and Azman arrived finally and we chatted awhile. We talked about another of our friend, Rahim, who had just been discharged from hospital. We decided to pay him a visit that afternoon.

We arrived at Rahim’s house at around 6.00 PM. He was glad to see the five of us. Over tea, we chatted of our good old school, the teachers and of other old friends. By 7.00PM, we bade farewell to Rahim to prepare ourselves for the reunion dinner.

The reunion dinner was the usual function protocol. At my table was Kuldeep Kumar and his two brothers and Dr Kumar with his son. Ramli, Azman, Raymond and Hariri were at another table. I met another school friend which I have not met since we left school, Mutalawakiten. The school band’s ensemble provided the entertainment.

After the dinner, we adjourned at Restoran A. Rahman for more chit-chat until 1.00 AM.

It was good to meet up with old friends.