My Childhood Years 1961-1973

I was born on 8 November 1961 in the town of Taiping, Perak. I was the youngest child of seven siblings (4 boys and 3 girls). I vaguely remember my early childhood. Most of the memories are just fuzzy. However some are quite clear. Fortunately for me, my dad was an avid photographer. Therefore, I was able to save quite a number of the old pictures of myself and my family.

 

In 1961, we were staying at the Prisons Department Medical Staff Quarters, which was situated at Museum Lane. These quarters were located behind the Taiping Museum. The Prisons Department staff quarters were also located nearby and still in existence today. However, our old wooden quarters were demolished and a newer building was built in its place.

 

As I remember, there were still quite a number of British families (members of the Army and some other government departments) living in Taiping in that period. One or two of them were close family friends. One would see the “Orang Putih” playing golf at the old golf course near the Lake Gardens, their children playing at the playground or up in the Maxwell Hills. As the years passed, the “Orang Putih” just seemed to have gone from Taiping. My little mind did not realize, at that point of time, that after Merdeka, the British were leaving Malaya (later, Malaysia in 1963), except when we went to Penang. The “Orang Putih” was quite easily to be seen (the Australians from the RAAF Butterworth).



WIth brother Mahathir, at Taiping Prison Medical Staff quarters.

 

My dad was posted to the Bagan Serai Government Clinic which I remember a little bit. It was a two-storey building where the clinic was downstairs while we lived upstairs. The building was half-brick and half-plank. It was while in Bagan Serai, that my eldest sister (El-aisha) got married to a man named Ishak (we address him Yeop). Yeop Ishak was a Settlement Officer with the Kedah State government. On their wedding night, there was like a “ballroom” atmosphere with the ensemble from the Taiping Prisons Department playing.

Kindergarten sports day.

From Left - Me, Mustaza, Norliza.

I went to the kindergarten at the Treacher Methodist Girls School in 1967. I and a few kids, rode the trishaw for transport. Those days, there were not many motor cars on the roads, so riding the trishaw was safe. The trishaw men were either Pak Hassan or Pak Kassim. We were then, staying at a rented house at Jalan Beringin, Asamkumbang. This house was later owned by Cikgu Nor Azwa. It was probably in this year that my family went to Cameron Highlands (my first trip ever). Since all of us could not fit into dad’s car, brothers Muhandes and Monty went by bus. Sister Eleanor, brother Mahathir and I went by car with mom and dad. We stayed at a local hotel in Brinchang for two nights. The nights were really cold and the mornings very misty. On our return trip, dad’s car brakes was failing. He had to use the hand-brake whenever we took the corners (this was the old Tapah-Cameron Highlands road. The car was an old Ford station-wagon).

Family Pic (1966) at Jalan Beringin house.

 

In Cowboy outfit, at Jalan Beringin house.

 


Class Standard 1A 1968. Me, sitting first from left.
 

In 1968, I started my primary education at King Edward VII Primary School. Transport was by car driven by Chor Esah. At this point of time, my dad was posted to the Lumut District Hospital.  We had moved to another rented house at 76, Creagh Road.  Our immediate neighbors were an Indian family (Mr and Mrs Pillay) and a Chinese family, whose eldest son I remember, we called Ah Too. The Pillays had a cute little puppy named Whiskey.

House 76, Creagh Road, Taiping.

249, Jalan Harapan

 

In 1969, we moved to the house which my dad had bought through the Malay Housing Cooperative. It was situated at Jalan Harapan, Asamkumbang. The land was a former tin mine and I remember I saw the earthworks being done while we were staying in Jalan Beringin. I was then into my second year of primary school. During this time, the siblings who were still in the house was my third sister (Eleanor) and my two elder brothers (Monty and Mahathir). My eldest sister (El-aisha) was already married and staying in Sungai Petani, my eldest brother (Muhandes) was working with a bank in Kuala Lumpur and my second sister (Eliza) was a nurse in Johore Bharu. Sometime in May of that year, I was told I did not have to go to school. I asked why and my mom told me there was a curfew. Curfew? I did not understand the word at that time. My dad told us we must keep all doors and windows closed and stay indoors at all times. My dad was working at the Taiping District Hospital and he could still go to work (Only the essential government services were working while all other activities were closed). My dad had a big red-cross sticker pasted on his Honda motor-cycle (dad could not afford to have a car then and those days, our medical services had red crosses before the change to the red crescent). The red cross was to indicate that he was working with the Taiping District Hospital in case he was stopped by police patrols. On several occasions, he was transported by the hospital van with police escort.



My eigth birthday flanked by Mahathir's friends.

 

I think I did not go to school for at least two weeks. From the TV, I learnt that there were some troubles in Kuala Lumpur and the army was called in to help the police to regain security. Since we could not get fresh food, we had to eat rice and tinned sardines every day. My dad had always stocked up a lot of canned sardines and beans. Probably because he and mom had bitter experiences of the Second World War and the Malayan Emergency (Presently, I too would ensure there is sufficient stock of canned foods in my house, at least to last five days). Anyway, when the curfew was lifted, I was really glad to be back at school. We boys shared our experiences of what we did when we were just “stuck” inside our homes. As for me, those two weeks were spent on playing toys.

Another significant event that happened in 1969 was the Apollo 11 landing on the moon. My dad had bought a special pictorial magazine printed by LIFE Magazine. Over the years, the magazine had become tattered and was lost. Could be very valuable if I had kept in mint condition.



Standard 2A 1969. Teachers Mrs Kong and Mrs Dilip Singh
Me, standing, back row, second from right.

 

In 1970, my second sister (Eliza) got married to a navy officer named Abdul Khalid. The wedding was considered a grand Malay wedding with the Navy officer sword-bearers forming a “gateway” for the bride and groom when they arrived. Many friends and relatives gathered at our house for the khenduri (feast) during the day and night.

Family photo (1970). Me, sitted in the center, between Mom and Dad.

It was in the same year, I got mumps which caused my face to look funny. This sickness was called "Bengkak Cantik" in Malay. My mother applied some foul smelling concoction on my face and I had to wear a necklace. I must have been a away from school almost two weeks and I missed being present for my class photograph. Only one classmate asked my dad about me. He was Looi Kwok Choong. His dad owned a licensed liquor shop and the only shop that pumped Esso petrol.
 

 

In 1971, dad bought me my first bicycle. I could not remember the brand but the bicycle could be folded into two. Since I was a little boy of 10 years of age, that bicycle was little bit tall for me to ride. It took me quite a while to learn to ride that bicycle. I fell on a few occasion on the grass compound of the house. Eventually, I was able to ride the bicycle with confidence.

My eleventh birthday. From left - Elaini, me, Izurina and Shaiful. My nephew and nieces.

Class Standard 5A 1972. Teacher - Mr Ong Chuan Keng.
Me, squatting, second from right.

My dad went for his Haj in 1972. He went to Mecca with the Tabung Haji Medical Mission. For the trip, he was to board the ship, Malaysia Kita, from Penang (those days, Haj pilgrimage was  transported by two ships chartered from Hong Kong – named Malaysia Raya and Malaysia Kita). This period, only my brother Mahathir was staying with me and mom. All the rest was already working in Kuala Lumpur. Dad was away for the Haj for more than a month. As for provisions, kedai Ah Leng would sell fish, meats and vegetables using a bicycle. Later, he employed an Indian boy name Ganesan to do that. As for groceries like rice, flour and sugar, mom would telephone Kedai Noor Ghanie in Taiping and the goods delivered by tricycle. I also remember, there was one Pak Cik who sold chicken eggs using his Honda motor-cycle. The eggs were stacked neatly in the basket carrier on the motor-cycle. I was happy to meet my dad when he arrived at Penang port from Mecca.

 

My mom went for her Haj in 1973. I remember the day we sent her to board the ship, Malaysia Raya, at Penang Port. My mom went to Mecca with an aunty whom we called Wan Gayah. Before the departure, we had stayed at her daughter’s house (Kak Za and husband, Abang Baharin) near Paya Terubong, Penang. While my mom was away for her hajj, dad took care of brother Mahathir and me. Who did the cooking for us? This was quite fuzzy but I think we had a maid who stayed with us back then. Those days, kampong girls were willing to work as maids (before factories began to employ them in droves). As for washing clothes, we had an Indian woman whom we called Tanggachee who came once in two days to help wash and iron our clothes. Tanggachee had worked with us for many years already. Her husband was our gardener and he also worked as the hospital general labourer. For my mom’s return trip, I did not go to Penang to meet her since I had to go to school. So, I was only able to meet my mom when I came home from school.

 

Class Standard 6A 1973. Teacher - En Ahmad Taridi.
Me, standing back row, first from left.

 What about dad’s uniform? Since dad’s uniform required to be washed and starched, his uniform was sent to a Chinese dhobee service. I am sure the older generation remembers how the starched uniform looked like and felt. The pants were hard stiff that they could be made to stand by themselves.

 

I reached my twelfth birthday in November 1973. A small party was held attended by mom, dad, brother Mahathir, sister Eliza and her two children (Elaini and Ezham) and my nephew Shaiful ( sister El-aisha’s eldest son). My dad had bought for me my second bicycle, a Raleigh Chopper. Those days, a Chopper bicycle was really a big deal for a present. I was truly joyed to get that bicycle which I had owned right up until I started working in the 1980’s. What happened to my older bicycle? It was given to my nephew, Shaiful.

 

 

 

 

Thus we reached the end of my childhood stories. To be continued – My Teen Years, next episode.