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.

Weekend Trip to Cameron Highlands 16 June 2012

It has been four years I have not been to Cameron Highlands. My nephew, Ezham and I made plans for a family weekend trip to Cameron Highlands since May this year. Due to our busy schedule and the availability of Ezham’s holiday apartments, we could only make this happened in June.

On Saturday 16 June 2012, we left our homes separately to meet at Simpang Pulai Rest Area. Here, we took a break for a Nasi Lemak lunch and a fuel top-up before the journey to Cameron Highlands (the next available fuel stations are at the town of Brinchang). Even though some areas were affected by hazy conditions, the air at Cameron Highlands was clear. It was also a very bright and sunny day that afternoon.

The journey up to Kampong Raja was smooth. We stopped at the Bharat Tea Shop near Kuala Terla for tea, scones and brownies. There was quite a crowd at the shop and the car park was full. We had to park our cars by the main road.

As we continued our journey, we encountered a few traffic jams when reaching Kea Farm and Brinchang town. Cameron Highland was crowded with thousands of visitors. Improper parking of buses and vehicles had caused several bottlenecks on the road at these areas. The traffic flow improved with the existence of the Traffic Police.  We arrived at our apartments at Heritage Hotel safely at about 3.30 PM.

For dinner, I had prepared  lamb chops and chicken, Ezham brought  sausages and meatballs while my niece Elaini contributed spaghetti  bolognese. The lamb, chicken, sausages and meatballs were cooked with an electric grill which Ezham had brought along. Very handy that electric grill, I think I ought to get one. Good food taste better with good company of relatives and family.

After dinner, we voted to go out for coffee at Starbucks. The place was packed with people that night. However, we were able to get four small round-tables and  chairs as some people was leaving. So, we chatted over a round of coffee, latte and hot chocolate. We returned to our apartments by 11:45 PM.

Me with my sister.

That Sunday morning was misty and cool. Ah, such fresh air you could never get living in the city. My wife, sister and my niece headed to the local garden at Tanah Rata. There was a small group doing some exercise with a young instructor in lead. I took a walk and used the opportunity to take pictures.

My family checked out by 11.00 AM. We visited a strawberry farm and a vegetable shop. We stopped by at the Bharat Teashop for tea, scones and brownies. Along the way past Kampong Raja, we stopped at a vegetable and flower farm to get a close view of the sunflowers.

Aah! Cameron Highlands, I will be visiting you again soon.

School Band Fund Raising Concert 9 Jun 2012

My former school band had organised a concert to raise funds and I had bought a ticket for the show.

The concert was to be held at the new Hotel Taiping Perdana.  My departure from Kuala Lumpur was delayed a bit due to my car had needed to be sent for its engine oil change and maintenance checks.

Despite the delay, I made the journey home to Taiping and arrived safely at the hotel near Kamunting by 6.45 PM. Two of my friends, Ban Heng and Abdul Rahim inquired of my situation. I informed them I had just arrived and will meet them at the venue of the concert.

I went to the Hotel Taiping Perdana by 8.00 PM, where I met Ban Heng and Abdul Rahim. The main hall, Dewan Perdana,  looked impressive. We were ushered politely to our seats by some students. Afterwards, we were invited to move to the VIP seats where we met the President of the Taiping Old Edwardians Association, the President of the PTA and the school’s Principal.

The evening began with some gratitude shown towards the major sponsors and donors. The concert was to be performed by King Edward VII School band (BEATS – Band of Edwardian Tigers) and the guest band from Nan Hwa Secondary School from Sitiawan (Perak state’s marching band champion for several years).

BEATS repertoire started with “Seagate Overture” (theme from movie Star Trek), movie Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On”, some mix of Malay oldies and 1980’s rock “You Give Love A Bad Name” and ended with “I Got You (I Feel Good) of the late James Brown song.

The Nan Hwa School Band played renditions from “Sound of Music” (which brought beautiful memories),  a Mexican tune “Children of Sanchez” and closed with a solo xylophone performance.

BEATS’ performance was splendid and just as good, if not better than the champion Nan Hwa School Band. It was really a good show and a job well done by the boys, teachers and instructors.

BEATS truly had grown to be a high performance marching band from its modest and humble beginnings in 1974. As one of the pioneer members of the band, I feel proud to see BEATS beautiful performance at the concert. Pity, many of the former members were not present to witness this event.

Pioneer Band 1975.

Orchestra 1977.

Sports Day 2011

On formation - 2011.

My Train Journeys - Part 1

I have always been fascinated of trains and the railroad since I was a kid. When I was a boy, my dad would take me to the Taiping Train Station to buy newspaper at the newspaper shop or for tea at the station’s canteen (nowadays called café or restaurant). I am sure many of the older generation would remember what does it means when their dads treat them tea or coffee. When the hot tea arrived, dad would pour some into the saucer. He would drink from the cup while I sipped the tea from the saucer. From the platform, I could watch a locomotive shunting some wagons. Sometimes there would be a passenger or goods train. Once in a while, I could see a steam locomotive fill up its water tender at the water tower.

My first train ride was to Kuala Lumpur with my mother on a Day Butterworth-KL Mail Train in the 1960’s. Those days the passenger trains were hauled by steam locomotives.  We rode on one of the Third Class coaches, which were of unnumbered seats with opened windows. Second Class coaches were with opened windows too but the seats were more comfortable. First class coaches were most comfortable with numbered seats and air-conditioning.  The Mail Trains would stop at all stations along the way, so the travel time would take several hours. At every station that the train stopped, there were the trackside vendors selling food (nasi lemak, fried noodles and curry puffs) , drinks (iced red syrup. No bottled mineral water back then) and fruits (water melons or papayas). These trackside happenings added sounds and colour to train travel of those days. Such trackside vendors are not to be seen nowadays. After the long ride, I arrived at Kuala Lumpur station covered with sweaty soot. I would return to Taiping on the Day KL-Butterworth Mail Train a few days afterwards. There were no express trains those days. Passenger services were either the Day or Night Mail Trains.

The first diesel-electric  model, the Class 20, was introduced in late 1960’s or early 1970’s . The diesel- electric locomotive had a unique engine sound instead of the steam “woosh -woosh-woosh”. Also was the electric klaxon instead of the steam locomotive whistle. These diesel-electric locomotives hauled goods train at first. As their number increased, they replaced the steam locomotives for hauling passenger mail trains. Slowly, the steam locomotives were withdrawn from service.

My second trip by train was in 1973 from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bharu to visit my sister. For the trip to KL, we rode dad’s car. The next day dad, mom and I rode the Day KL-Singapore Mail Train which left KL in the morning and arrived JB in the late afternoon. Passing by the Sungai Besi air force base, I saw an old Japanese transport aircraft at the end of the air-strip. At Gemas Station,  I saw many of the old steam locomotives were being kept, awaiting to be mothballed. A few days later, my brother arrived at JB with dad’s car. Our return  trip to KL was by dad’s car. Remember, those were the days without PLUS Highways. The travel by road was an adventure. We left Johor Bharu after lunch. Along the old trunk road, we passed Batu Pahat, Muar and Melaka. We stopped for chicken rice dinner at Pedas, Negeri Sembilan and arrived KL quite late at night. Oh, what a journey.

In the 1970’s, more diesel-electric models joined the fleet, the Class 21, then, the class 22 in the 1980’s.

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For much part of my schooling years, I had not taken a train ride. For my various trips to Kuala Lumpur, we would ride in my dad’s car.

In 1976, the Express Rakyat service was launched. These express trains had new sets of coaches, Third Class (opened windows), Second Class (air-conditioned) and First Class (comfy seats, air-conditioned). For the first time, all seats, the Third Class included, were numbered. I was very impressed with these new Express Rakyat trains. A few times, I went to the train station just to take a look at the new coaches from the platform. While in school, I would get distracted when the Express Rakyat passed by (the rail tracks could be viewed from the classroom at Sheffield Block).

In 1978, I was selected to join the Perak Scouts contingent for the Malaysia National Scouts Jamboree in Kuching. The scouts contingent left Ipoh Station on the Day Butterworth-KL Mail Train and arrived KL that evening. We later rode the KL-Singapore Night Mail Train to Johor Bharu.  We arrived JB at 6.00 AM, after which we rode buses to our hostel, a school hall. All scouts from  West Malaysia were transported aboard two Navy LSTs (landing ship tanks) from JB to Kuching. The journey by ship took two days and two nights.  The return trip was also by the Navy LSTs from Kuching to Johor Bharu. We were billeted at the same school hall before our journey by train to KL.

To add note here that, the trackside vendors were still in existence during these years. A few vendors even took a short ride between stations to sell their goods, calling aloud “Nasi lemak, mee goreng panas” , “teh , kopi panas” or “karipap panas”, all items also panas (panas – means “hot” in Malay). Mail trains Third Class and Second Class coaches whenever seats were not available, you had to just sit down anywhere there was space, usually on the floor. Some even stood at the open doorway which was dangerous. Those days, the Third and Second Class coach seats were unnumbered, on first come first served basis.

I am sure many of us have a tale to tell about being left behind by a train. Mine was in 1978. It was my return trip from JB to Taiping(after the Scouts Jamboree). Upon arriving KL station from JB that evening, I saw the Night KL-Butterworth Mail Train at the next platform. I boarded on one of the Third Class Coach and put my bags on my chosen seat. Then I heard an announcement that the train would depart at 10.30 pm. Since my watch showed 6.00 PM, I thought I could visit my brother at Kampong Baru for dinner. When I arrived at the station by 9.30 PM, I noticed that the train coaches were somewhat different. I boarded one of the coaches to check, sure enough, these were Second Class Coaches. That meant, my actual train had left earlier (the actual departure time was 7.30PM). I went to see the Station Master for help. He was not very helpful but he telephoned Butterworth station that there would be some bags belonging to me. The SM told me to come back the next morning to ride the Day Mail Train to Butterworth at 7.30 AM. With just RM40 in my pocket, I could not afford a hotel and I was ashamed to go back to my brother’s house. So, I slept by the side of the station. I woke up the next morning and walked to the Masjid Negara, where I took my bath. Without a towel, I just waited for a while before dressing up in the same clothes. I rode the Day Mail Train to Butterworth and was able to claim my bags after proving that I knew the contents. I had to really put up a hard explanation because someone from the previous night did not pass any message to the Unclaimed Baggage section.

From Butterworth I took an Express Bus to Taiping. Oh! What a journey.