Cometh What May

Assalamualaikum, Nee Hau Ma, Namaste, Kifhalak
Cometh what may, 1st October 2010, would be the most memorable day in my dear life. October 1 signals the end of my humble and faithful services as a servant of the Agong and the Government of Malaysia. Chronologically I was born and bred in a small village, Kampung Parit Besar, Batu Pahat Johor, about 3 km from the bustling town of Bandar Penggaram. I came to this planet earth on a Monday afternoon 26th January 1948 and I was fortunate to be my mother's favoured child out of 13 siblings.

My late father, a retired Johor Military Force soldier, could only read Jawi, while my mum, a full-time housewife, could only recite the simple verses of the Quran for her prayer. were proud parents to own a son who was Blessed with the barest minimum in academic flatform, both have managed to produce a son who finally became an Associate Professor of a local university. No one who have ever dreamed that from a humble beginning my parents became a proud parent to own a son who has managed to acquire a basic and master degree from abroad. On top of that their prodigal son has bheld numerous position in his 41 years career.

Among the posts that I have had held were Senior Assistant and Afternoon Supervisor of Sekolah Menengah Ayer Baloi Pontian, English Key Personnel at Secondary School Level and language Coordinator, Deputy Director of Students' Affairs at University Level. Apart the positions in teaching Profession, I was also active in social contributions such as Officer-in-Charge of Police Volunteer Reserve, Muar with rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police, Committee Members of Social Organisations asuch Exco for Mosques, Rukun tetangga, Orphange Organisation and Sports Bodies. Internationally I was appointed as a Panelist of Selecting Future Secondary Schools Principals, Panelist for Appointment of UiTM Lecturers to become Senior Lecturers, Panelist for Malaysian Quality Assurance.

Good things would be rewarded, though. I was awarded the Royal Scout by HRH Sultan Ismail of Johor in 1964. Meanwhile the Royal Malaysia Police awarded me with Pingat Kebaktian and the Melaka State Governmet awarded me with Bintang Kepujian Tertinggi in 2004.

On the academic front, I had presented papers and at workshops and seminars locally and abroad.On the other hand, I did contribute writings on various issues in Berita Harian, New Straits Times, Suara Melaka .

As a sportsman I had been a footballer, rugby player, volleyball player, ten-pin bowler, and I am also a reluctant golfer. To add colour to my sporting career, I had represented Malaysia in Football Refree Quiz Competition in Singapore, I had represented UiTM Melaka in bowling, tennis, hockey, and volleyball.

1 October 2010 would be a date for me to remember because on that day which happens to a Thursday, would have recorded a 41 years service in my 62 year history as a government servant. I started my role as a government officer as 20-year-old college traing teacher in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ayer Baloi, Pontian, Johor on 1 January 1969. After serving for five years, I moved to Sekolah Sultan Alauddin Riayat I, Pagoh, Muar, then I moved to Sekolah Menengah Jalan Junid, Muar in 2000. In August 2002, I left the teaching profession to grab the opportunity of pursuing my bachelor and masters degrees in Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, USA under the UiTM Young Lecturer's Scheme sponsored by JPA/ITM. Upon completion of my studies I was posted to lecture in ITM Shah Alam in August 1985. Luck was with me when I managed to be posted to ITM Melaka as of 1 December 1985. Since then I have been commuting from Muar to Melaka, then Muar to Lendu and then Muar to Melaka again. For record I have been drivinng for nearly 25 years out of my 41 years of service.