Birthday Blues

Saturday, January 26 th, 2008
According to Gregorian Calendar, at midnight 0000 hrs I have managed to to attain my 60 th Birthday. At exactly midnight I offered prayer to Allah swt for extending my life to 60 years.

Looking back down my memory lanes from the days I was born to Hj Salim Hj Sirat and Hjh Kamsiah Hj Salleh, 60 years ago, I always Allah swt for making me a man, a father, a husband, an uncle, cousin, brother, lecturer and a humble servant to Allah. According to my late mother, I was bor on a Monday, coincentally the day when our Beloved Prophet Muhammad was born. My early life started with sickness and at one stage I was prononced dead. Thanks to Allah swt for giving me a second chance to be in this temporary world.

My first 7 years of my life was a beautiful one. As Sayedina Omar said that children at this age must be treated as toys. In factI went outside the toy era by attending Sekolah Umum Bukit Soga, Batu Pahat at an early age of 5. My classmates were 7-year-old children and that experience of being with older boys later has transormed me to be a matured person.At Standard 4, 9 yers old, I sat the Entrance Examination for the Malay Students to enter a special programme for top Malay Students, Special Malay Class. I was succeesful and I had to repeat standard 4 in Lim Poon Primary Boys' Schhol to continue my Standard 4 - 6. When I was in Lim Poon Primary Boys' School I became a teacher's Pet especially Miss Teo and at one stage I was adopted by my headmaster, En Zainal Abidin.

I left LPBS to join High School, Batu Pahat in 1960, at a tender age of 11. Here again I was a teacher pet to Indian Lady Teachers. When I was in my early teen I started to be active in social services by joining Boys ScoutGroup. My involvement in this association has led me to be what I am today. Baden Powell, the founder of Bys Scout had made a man out of me. He once said,"Once a Scout is Always a Scout." Scouting acivities have me friendship, loyalty, honesty, obedience, resilience, accountable, responsible,commited and decidication. My activess in scounting had made a Royal Scout,bestowed by HRH Sultan Ismail when I was barely 16 years old.

This early experience had later repeated itself when I was awarded the Melaka State Award, Bintang Kepujian Tertinggi, by the Governor of Melaka.
In 1963 I sat and passed my Lower Certificate of Education and I attended the Science Steam. Unfortunately I was undecided whether or not to pursue my studies in Arts or Science stream. Finally I decided I joined Form 5 Arts. Some of my former Form Fourers becane doctors or scientists while I became a college train teacher from Language Institute, Kuala Lumpur in 1968.

My first posting as a teacher was Sekolah Menengah Air Baloi, Pontian from 1968 to 1973 teaching English, Mahematics and Physical Education. I ended my bachelorhood by marrying Azizah Ab Rahman, a Muarian, on December 24 th, 1970. Our marriage is blessed with three wonderful children, Julianaa, a Business Graduate, Dato'Shafik Rizaal, a corporate figure, and Mohammmad Asshad, computer scientist working in his brother's firm.

In 1974 I applied for a transfer to Muar and I was posted to Sekolah Menengah Pagoh from 1975 to 1979 teaching English and Geography. Later in 1980 I was transferred to Sekolah Menengah Jalan Junid Muar. Besides teaching in these schools was actively involved in Boys' Scout Association, as Scoutmaster and as I was an avid footballer, I held the post of Secondary School Football Secretary for many years. Apart from that I was the English Key Personnel for the Muar District for many years too.

In 1979 I was selected to pursue my studies for the Diploma in Ensglish as a Second Language in Universiy Malaya. Then in 1982 I was managed to get a scholarship, under the Young Lecturer Scheme, ITM, now currently known as UiTM, to pursue mys BA and MA in Northen Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA. Upon my completion of my studies, I was posted to ITM Shah Alam on 19 August 1985. After serving Shah Alam for one semester, I was posted to ITM Melaka on December 1 st, 1985. During my service in Melaka, I held the post of Language Coordinator, English Proficiency Course Coordnator and the Deputy Director of Students' Affairs until I officially retired on January 26 th, 2004. I duly served the Malaysian Government for 35 years.

Now I am a contract lecturer from 2004 till 2010. My family is now made up of 3 children, 2 in-laws and 5 grandchildren. On my 60th birthday I pray to Allah swt to offer me with Iman, Takwa, Good Health, Healthy Children and Grandchildren and be a Good Muslim.

Till my next birthday I will sin off now.