Bapak loves to send letters....

In one of his letters to his children and grandchildren, he described how he adores the "taman sayur".

Villa Pijay Padang Rengas
27th May,2003

Dear Anak-Anak,

Since you were around at Villa Pijay things seemed to be moving.. The "pondok" behind the house is almost completed and the area around it is being tidied up. A pipe-line to the "pondok" has also been fixed and the sink is now being used. . We are storing up the rubbish at the back into the "pondok". That piece of the plot of land belonging to a neighbour adjacent to our Kebun Sayur has been ploughed up and I heard a new house is going to be built some time or so..

However,the area is being tidied up and I can now see the traffic plying east-west on the "main-road"! (Lat and I are planning to make the cleared area as a reserved parking ground during Om's kenduri!). Now that the "pondok" is getting fully utilized Yah and I are planning to make that plot of land the Kebun Sayur into a "Taman Sayur" . Your Mak has reserved a small area to plant her intended "medicinal plants".

The wetland area nearer the house across the spring-river has been nicely cleaned of bushes and grass by our hard-working Mak Andak and this area has been now planted with fruit plants, some 30 varieties of them which cost me some $300.00. Some. of them are-budgrafted, of these are a dozen durian trees. The others covered plants like dokong, rambutan, limau manis, langsat, salak manis, mangoes, nangka madu, salak manis, sukun, jambu madu. All about 30 of them. I have wanted you all and my cucus to organize themselves to do the planting "ceremoniously" but it saddened me that you people are not "interested" to organize themselves to do so. So this last 24th Saturday taking the opportunity of the visit of some of my Rotarian friends from lpoh calling over to hold a Committee Meeting at this PJ retreat with their annes and a few children, some 20 of them or so including our Japanese girl Gakko Koukan Sei (Student Exchange) took up the opportunity to plant-up the pokok-pokok buahan each one marking up their personal pokok and also mark up their position so that they may come back over some time to look how their pokoks fair in the orchard!. A few of them had made me promise that when one day the trees bear fruits that their children will be free to collect them!. The plants are caringly watered every day.

The corns are already being picked now. Already we have picked up a lot of them for home consumption. But how much can we eat them? In consultation with your Mak Andak we have already distributed some to our neghbours and saudara-mara around here since my anak-cucu can buy their jagungs easily in the cities- no hardwork!!! My next step is being discussed with Din our neighbour down there that the space beside the boundary with The Technical School now being cleared nicely will be utilized to plant with Limau Bali hopefully with the help pf AH KEE in Tambun,Ipoh (Nun, please take note when you are around in lpoh or when you are coming back to Villa Pijay). I cannot remember Ah Kee's house in Ampang and so can't go as yet to talk to him.

I am very happy indeed with my "Fruit Orchard" here in this Villa Pijay. A number of "people" have been coming around to visit your Mak and me and..some for the purpose to "see" our Taman Sayur and Kebun Buahan! ! You note that I call the vegetable plot "Taman Sayur" and not "Kebun Sayur".

Now I am planning to install a water pipe-line to the Taman Buahan and a wooden bridge from the ridge this side across. We also want to have a small hut the other side as a rest area. Mak mentioned about a variation of a "pondok wakaf' in Trengganu or in Kelantan.If any member of the family wants to donate any of these items and name it after its own family name you are welcome.

Health wise your Mak has been ill for some time but is now almost back to normal except that she still complains of her leg'pain. I seem to be alright nowdays. I do not use the walking stick as I used to so much these days. In fact, since the last three days I seem to have lost one of my walking sticks, a favourite one, indicating that I really do not need walking stick! The pijay SS &Sudut Sembang\Gossip corner) is gathering bigger still but now appear to be moving from one "statiton" to " another" i.e from the old Taman Sayur to the "Taman Pokok Buahan"!
It is a lot of fun being around at this Villa Pijay!

Yours affectionately
Bapak / Ki

Stop Press
This noon we decided to trade off some of our corns and had been able to dispose offabout 5 gunny bagful of them to a trader who came to our Pijay. Tomorrow they will be coming around for a gunny bagful or two more. Despite that we still some off the corns for a small berkelah at the orchard also with laksa from your Acik today! ltulah kau orang tak nak balik.

(Sadly mak passed away on 1 July 2003, just about a month after this letter was written)

As I look back... A Letter from Bapak

Dato'Seri Haji Yang Rashdi Ma'asom
Khazanah/Harta Keluanga.

16 Mar 2006


Dear Kak Chik/Meil & Wan



I know I could use this e-mail to send this message to you as I should, but since some of you do not regularly open up your mail-box I ,therefore, take the stand to utilize the old -fashioned way by sending my notes through the ordinary mail!


I am sending over to you in this envelop for the safe-keep of some old articles and pictures from some of the old papers which I am now "commanding" you on behalf of the family and as my personal Trustee to open up in a Family Web and to inform the family so; so that we can always be assured that we can always locate the relics about the family. As regards to the proposed webs you could place them serially with pictures, articles and comments from the family and so forth.


I am now seriously writing about my life story and my life experiences since the last 70 years. Give me one more full year and I shall be able to complete the whole episodes of the experiences for the sake of my immediate family (you all) and for the later Ma' asom and Akidah family (i.e your children and your children's family).


My health has tremendously improved as days go by feeling better and stronger each day but most of all with stronger wills and enthusiasm as my current life goes into another year! Thank you to all of you for sharing the costs of the hospital bills when I was down some months ago. I pray to Allah that I may repay you all the costs of my stay at the hospital. Until to-day I feel quite embarrassed with myself at having to cause you all the bothers on my life and health.


Believe me I love you all.
BAPAK& Ki .


A confession to make

For the last few days I have always been melancholic about my life. Returning from Ipoh this afternoon while Ju and Lahn were resting (the weather had been hot these few days) I sneaked out on my own and driving the car I went to your Mak's kubur and Ohm's. I wept a bit at the graveyard and actually spoke to your Mak and asked for her forgiveness for failing to be a good father to our anak-anak and that I have promised that I will be a close to God for support. To ohm l told him that the family are missing him very much indeed and sought Allah to forgive him and your Mak and put them in Syurga. I also said to Ohm not to be worried about Shima as we have undertaken to look after her as a full-blooded family member. NOW I feel more relieved that I have done so when my heart felt the urge to be with them so suddenly. So much for this time. To Wan please keep this letter so that one day when I am no more around you and your children and your own nephew and nieces they may know the kind of a grand father you had..


Love and regards to you all.
Your Bapak & Ki

Dato' Seri Yang Rashdi loves children

Serving the people even after retirement

The Star newspaper - Dec 2005

KUALA KANGSAR, Tues. - The home of a Perak titled chieftain was filled with the sound of "Chicken ..Licken" and "Little Red Riding Hood" yesterday. Almost 30 children and teenagers held their first mini-concert ever, and in English, after 13 months of coaching from Datuk Seri Yang Rashdi Ma'asom, (picture) one of Perak's "Orang Besar Enam Belas", and a retired Land and Mines director. Even though he is 79, and retired 24 years ago, Yang Rashdi still serves the people through teaching English to the children of Kampung Buaia, the village where his late wife was born. There were weekly visits to the Kuala Kangsar library, and occasional trips to river banks, zoos and even to Ipoh for an inter-school debate. Every week, he held discussions with Form Three to Form Five students from the village, and told stories, including one about the legend of Gunung Pondok, a prominent mountain near here. "I was surprised that some ofthem didn't even know the stories of their own village," he said at his home in Padang Rengas yesterday. Shortly after his classes started, his daughter Zurina began holding story-telling sessions at home for the younger children. Zurina said her family believed children should not focus solely on passing English examinations but should learn to communicate in the language. She said the children's theatre group may be named "Shamsiah's Children's Group" after her late mother.

From PPM Daerah Gombak blog

PPM Daerah Gombak blog

Friday, July 4, 2008

UCAPAN TAKZIAH
Seluruh warga PPM Gombak mengucapkan salam takziah kepada keluarga Alllahyarham Dato' Seri Yang Rashidi bin Ma'asom, S.P.M.P., D.P.M.P., J.S.M., A.S.D.K., A.M.N., P.J.K., A.D.K. ( mantan Ketua Pesuruhjaya Pengakap Negara - 1990 hingga 2002 ) yang telah kembali ke Rahmatullah pada jam 2.30 pagi 3hb. Julai 2008.


Allahyarham juga merupakan salah seorang pembesar negeri Perak iaitu Orang Besar Enam Belas yang bergelar Y.D.H Toh Maharaja InderaAL-FATIHAHSemoga Allah memberkati segala sumbangan Allahyarham kepada Pengakap sepanjang hidup Allahyarham.

Our Founder and Father (Midwife) - Dato' Seri Yang Rashdi Ma'asom

Rotarian Robin Arumugam shared this writing during the recent club meeting and one minute of silence


The loss of our midwife so to speak PDG Dato' Seri Yang, has been an immensely sad and emotional time for us all members of the Rotary Club of Kinta. As many of you know, he was a great man who was not only well known in the government service, but also had tremendous humility and an abiding sense of community, which led him to become involved in many aspects of life outside Rotary. He was a Rotarian with a long and distinguished service record. His most outstanding work being the legacy he has left in an outstanding history of his Club and its activities.

It was typical of the manner in which he approached problems, in many cases through imagination, hard work and leadership, turning adversity into opportunity.

Fifty years later in the dying months of 1979 when the Rotary Club of Ipoh celebrated its 50th Anniversary of the Club made the significant decision to initiate a new club in Ipoh. PDG Dato' Seri Yang was the then President of the Rotary Club of Ipoh. As special committee was headed by him at the first meeting there were about 50 interested people listening to the explanation of the aims, objectives, privileges and responsibilities of Rotary to them. The following year Rotary Club of Ipoh-Kinta was Chartered while PDG Dato' Seri Yang was still the President. He spent considerable time nurturing us and was always present whenever we had functions to lend us support.

He was the District Governor for the year 1985/86 and I had the distinct honour of serving the District as the joint secretary for him when the appointed Editor of the DG Newsletter suddenly resigned before the year started for reasons best known to him. I had already accepted to serve as Chairman for Youth Service for the District 330. And because of the DG's Newsletter being delayed, several letters of criticism were received from two brothers: Tan Sri Dato' PDG James Peter Chin and PDG Gilbert Chin he approached me to fill in. Together we produced the best DG's Newsletters which received commendation and praise not only from the two foremost critics but from other Districts as well.

PDG Dato' Seri Yang showed a great flair for friendship, not only because of his endearing personality and ability, but also because he showed a genuine interest and curiosity in the wants and needs of Rotarians. I will always remember him as the "Singing Governor' for he wrote his song, titled 'Smile,' for his Rotary year for all Rotarians to sing with him during his official club meetings and fellowship gatherings. I can vividly remember the starting lyrics, "Smile and the world will smile with you."

I remember his saying to us,” You will experience many pressures in life, in your job or profession, in your family life and in your community involvement. Be tolerant of others. Don’t ride roughshod over them. If you reach positions of responsibility where you have influence over others, never lose the common touch. There are not many who reach the top. The control or direction of people is both a privilege and a responsibility. All people with whom you are in contact are entitled to consideration and courtesy. People can be and often are very sensitive and you must always bear this in mind. They often have many more worries and problems than you do, although you may never know what they are. Remember that all occupations are worthy and should be treated as such. Human kindness is the greatest balm of all.”

He went on to speak of other things, culminating with the following: “Finally, be tolerant of each others' weaknesses, because who are we to stand in judgement of others, in the home, in business or in the community.”

These and other sayings encapsulate his sense of propriety and fair play – laying further foundation to a District run on honest and ethical guidelines.

He will be remembered for many things by all of us who in some way touched during his life. His enthusiasm for life and for living, his common touch with people at all levels, his energy and activity levels, his passion for things he loved or believed in and his honesty and humility at all times will be aspects of his life that we shall never forget. Farewell to a great man, an outstanding Rotarian and a dear friend.

My wife would vividly remember both Dato' Seri and Datin Seri for they found time for her during many Rotary functions. Datin Seri would sit and chat with my wife until the official time.

PDG Dato' Seri set for us a great example by his adherence to proper ethics and his willingness to guide and to trust young Rotarians. Well, that was how he thought, and that’s how he was.

PDG Dato' Seri was a ‘people’ person; one of his great skills was with young people – he liked young people, and was good at communicating with them. As the number one in Scouting he was there when the young needed him. I spent considerable amount of time with him because I was a Scout Master once. In fact, he liked people, and saw the best in them. It was a rare day to hear PDG Dato' Seri say something critical of another person, and then only if the circumstances really demanded it.

When I was chatting with him some days before he left for his home, he told me that he would write some thoughts on how he thought people, and in particular, his children and grandchildren should aspire to behave in their lives. I didn't know of the existence of what he had written until the last few days after his death. His own words speak far more eloquently of him than any I could pen.

PDG Dato' Seri Yang believed that it was very important to serve his community, and to try and leave it a better place than he found it. We will miss his cheerful optimism and his ready smile. We will miss his boundless enthusiasm for whatever new project he or we were embarking on. We will miss his love, encouragement, guidance and support. But we will have, for the rest of our lives, great memories of a warm and wonderful man.

Robin Arumugam

Villa PiJay

A letter sent from Bapak to anak-anak in KL - 8.6.2005

The weather around this kampong has just been fair and tolerable although sometimes it gets gloomy. The gloominess seems to be more set for us at home when schools have just closed for the next two weeks and as such we missed the real shrieks and shoutings of the kids around the house when Ju’s kids are not around. The kompang sessions seem to be “resting” until the schools reopen while my two classes adjourned for the “semester! But the sun and the rain have been kind to us when the vegetables at the backyard seem to be flourishing. We have been having a lot of greens from the vebetable plots with kacang panjang, brinjals, timun, petola and when Shima is around we seem to be ordering Shima Tempura from the kitchen more often! You should see the spread of green colour taintng the whole scenario when our jagung seems to be to flourish. In about two weeks we should be having jagung to boil or bubur jagung to enjoy. As usual Endit will start with Lemang Jagung with Rendang Tok!!Lahn is already cherishing the young shoots from the young jagung which he loves to nible on and I have seen him plucking the young shoots direct from the plants themselves without prior rebus or making sayur manis. Ohm and Shima were around this last week-end and I saw him carry back home to Ipoh an armful of the jagung and he got them after bribing Endit with two packets of her favourite Perilly.

One of the happiest occasions for me of late was when we have been able to pluck quite a few of the fruits from our 3-year old sour-sop plant. I have been counting the number we have on the tree due to ripen which number now I counted about 20! Looking at the success of the sour-sop plant I went out to the pasar-malam with Yah the other day and bought 10 plants of the sour sop tree seedlings to be planted at the other end our our fish-pond now that we have been having some regular rains good enough for a thriving young plants. Going to the Jaya Jusco super-market in Ipoh the other day we saw sour-sops selling at 45 cts a kilogram. Now after discussion with Alun (Lan’s close friend and pangkat anak-saudara to me) we may start a little project to plant sour-sops at my tiny kebun near Achik’s residence at Tembok and at Mak’s Dusun where we propose to plant in between the proposed kebun pisang (When are you people building up some interest in you Mak’s dusun which is now in the process of being transferred to you four!!) .Incidently although not in full-scale some 20 pisang found at this Paya Jerangau at this villa has been producing quite a surprising amount of bananas of the very edible and very palatable kinds (pisang emas,pisang rastali,pisang berangan etc) but how much can the three of us eat bananas every day? It is too little to sell them in bulk yet!!. And so it becomes a routinistic matter that we gave (sedekah?) of our bananas around the villa as far as Temok for Achik. The other day we collected some tandans of Pisang Tanduk from the plaintains each pisang tanduk measuring at ease one and half feet! We gave them out for free to all those during our “afternoon- meetings” belakang dapur rumah! Now,Lan has dubbed our Villa sarcstically as the Home for the Community!

About the fish-pond and its denizens it seems to be more than O.K. The regular Pegawai Perikanan who was always around giving us advice seems to be giving us the V sign every time and commented that the fish can already be “harvested”. There had been some comments before that much of the fish would die before they can be harvested .It did not deter us, We are very proud that the mortality rate was very small. Originally it was anticipated (by the Fishery Officer that 10% of the about 1,000 fries would. Recently, all told we believe only a very small margin died generally due the the reason ,we believe, that they are being over-fed, (by the budak-budak nakal!) We are at the moment deciding when we are going to harvest the ikan.. May be in two or three weeks time among our people around this villa not beyond. My only regret is it that not all my grand-children have even seen the pond yet. Oh Well!!

Finally the musim durian` is just starting…….to some but not to us or to your Mak;s dusun. I have had 2 or 3 of the very early (buang busuk) durians and I can say that the durian tembaga (on the bukit side) is class by itself. It is a pity that your Mak’s dusun was rather neglected. Lahn,Ohm.Ju nd Shima have all gone to see the dusun themslves all complaining, coming back, that the dusun has been neglected and ignored (Deep in my heart I cry!!!). It is so difficult to get really honest people to work nowadays. Even if they are around they have found for themselves dusun durians belonging to others on the normal win-win basis system as usual; Regarding your Mak’s dusun ,I feel, that at most we can get about 2 or less outings to the dusun if we bring along our friends and cronies to berkelah in the kampong as we used to do. For the future we need some dough to be injected for the dusun to be better developed and I know it can be done. I still believe that a musim durian occasion is still a moment of family get-together unless you are thoroughly convinced or still hold to it that durians are aplentiful and are easily available and cheaper in your towns and your locations then we can all forget any of the dusuns bereft by our ancestors for their anak cucu cicit.

Cameron Highlands Family Holiday Trip

Camerons Tea Plantation and Infront of our apartment


At the night market Brrrrr... so cold

Cameron Highlands Family Holiday Trip

Jessie James!!!

Tickled by the cowboywith no boots!!!

Remembering Datuk Seri

This is an email from a family friend .. on her memories of ki

An Extraordinary Man

I've lost my grandfather when I was 7 and my paternal grandfather a year later. Such young age did not permit me to have large recollection of memories of them. Not having both grandparents whilst growing was never an issue for me. Well, I guess you don't actually felt the lost when you never own it at first place.

I knew Ki initially from Wan's stories; he was full of praises and was so proud when he talked about his grandfather. Of course, I would only able to play a passive part; listening without being able to share my side of stories.

I finally met Ki in person when I went for Hari Raya celebration...it was Hari Raya Haji, and Tah was still alive at that time. I couldn't avoid myself from having at the back of my mind the impression that he would probably be a 'typical Dato' Seri'-probably because I watched too much Malay dramas portraying as such.

It soon faded as my friends and I entered the mansion (apt description of the house-very big with huge compound); we were warmly greeted by him. He welcomed us in and Tah ensured that we were treated accordingly, quickly sent Wan to the kitchen to prepare drinks for us. 'Abang' (probably the biggest cat I've ever seen) tagged along with Tah as she came out from the kitchen with food. Both of them entertained us as if we came by their invitation. The fact that one of my friend was from MCKK added an extra topic of conversation for Ki. The impression I had totally shattered, Ki was totally the opposite! In fact, Wan was being very humble in his praises!

From thereon, it led to string of pleasant experiences with Ki. Not much do I know about Tah thus less I can say about her, only that she is a good cook-(I tasted her pajeri ambra and it was simply awesome!).

As for Ki, I had the opportunity to know him better, especially after the family moved to Kampung Buaia. To me, he will always be remembered as a person with an impeccable character. Despite his age, he would find his way to contribute to the society, whether it is through his writing or his social work. This is evident by his selfless initiative of teaching english language to the 'budak-budak kampung'. Once I visited him, he just finished teaching. He told me-"Ki cakap pada budak-budak kampung ni, jangan segan jadi budak kampung. You have to be proud of who you are. Tah orang kampung, tapi dia boleh bercampur dengan macam-macam orang. Siti Nurhaliza pun budak kampung, tapi dia boleh berjaya" (later I learned that Ki is a big fan of Siti-well, that is beside the point).

He even went to the extent of organising 'functions' and 'entertainment' for the local community. The house was never without guest, off and on there would be kampung folks visiting. Whenever there is a function, Ki would be very busy directing to ensure that everything was in its proper manner and his guests were well treated. He would repeatedly ask his guests-"Dah makan ke belum? Makan le, ambik apa yang ada". He had the remarkable ability of making his guests felt at ease, comfortable and at home, and I guess that is one apparent reason why his guests repeated their visits.

And he is a person full of jest! He would at times tease me, asking “Ni anak siapa ni?” or “Mana datang budak ni?” with a smirk on his face! Once I was making myself useful by sweeping the floor as at that time, there was a Rotary function preparation ongoing, when he came to me; in jest said “Ki tak de duit nak bayor Indonesia ni” I jokingly replied, “Mahal nak bayor ni Ki, ada degree ni.” To that, he laughed.

Another common topic for me and Ki was about my work since he knew Mr Tang (my boss), whom Ki referred as Khai Kit. He would advise me to work hard. He told me he was among the founder of POWA, a Rotary award appreciating the Rotarian’s staff for their assistance.

The joys were however short lived.

Ki then gradually became very sick, he would be in and out of the hospital and this limits his social work, which later crept to limit his movement. Ateh would be his 'walking stick' most of the time. Nonetheless, he couldn't help himself not to entertain his visitors even at the hospital. He was lying on the hospital bed but he instead he asked me how I am! He was a very caring person indeed.

When the doctor examined his heart condition, he was very calm whereas I was quite restless; I pitied him for having to undergo such procedure in his late age. He told others that I was very brave to accompany him in the examining room where in actual fact he was the brave one! He fought his sickness with great will power.

He was admitted in ICU and with great determination passed through the terrifying stage and later was discharged from the hospital.

Months later his health condition escalated and he was again in Hospital Pantai Puteri. After he was discharged, he managed to take a short trip to KL and upon returning, he was once again admitted to Ipoh General Hospital. Ki passed away on the hospital bed as a great fighter...

6.00 p.m 1st July- I went to visit Ki at the Ipoh General Hospital. Opah Chu and Rais, Ateh and Ijan were there when I arrived. Ki was sleeping most of the time, though he constantly turned himself. He sipped some yogurt drinks, and he slept again. Ateh later informed me he slept most of the times that day and had no appetite. He ate the kanji sum-sum Opah Chu prepared for him and nothing else.

2nd July- I wished Wan Yong, it was her birthday. Wan Yong reply was “Thx 4 yr thought. Ki pagi ni msuk CCU.”
2.35 a.m 3rd July-I received phone call from Wan. When he told "Ki dah tak ada," I was partially awake. The message took sometimes to sink in. "Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rajiun", I finally said and consoled him. I can't sleep after that.

7.30 a.m- I made the first journey to Kampung Buaia without Ki to greet me. The longest journey I ever had.

8.15 a.m- As I arrived at Kampung Buaia, I saw Auntie (Wan Chik) at the compund. She cried when we hugged, needless to say a word. I consoled her and later approached in where Ateh hugged me in tears and said-'Lily thank you so much'. I then sat near Ki's body-he looked as if he was sleeping, only pale and I recited Yassin for him. Nearing to the end of my recital, I realised that this is the first Yassin I recited for him. He would not be able to tease, joke or give me advise anymore. After the Yassin, I stormed out where I cried my heart out.

Ki was like a grandfather I never had. And I finally understand the feeling of losing a grandfather. And for the family of an extraordinary man, Dato' Seri Yang Rashdi, many thanks for allowing me 'menumpang datuk.' I really appreciated it.

Lily

Then & Now....ABOUT ME & MY BARBERS

(Extracted from IPOH ECHO Apr 16-30, 2008)
http://www.ipohecho.com.my/ (issue 48)

Dato' Seri Yang Rashdi sadly passed away on 3 July, 2008 - ALFATIHA
It was his wish to see this blog lived on long after he is gone...

This morning I went to have a haircut in town. My grand-daughter Ijan is coming back from KL and she complains when my hair is unkempt and not properly trimmed. Day after tomorrow there will be an important event at Villa Indera. Somebody is getting married. We have not had a wedding in the family since 2005. But that is another story.

Today, I am preoccupied with memories of trips to the barber shop. My father had been pretty strict about haircuts himself. He made a point of supervising this regular cutting and trimming himself.

It was quite an outing, us packed like sardines in the small - we called it a "baby car" - Austin 7 (PK 2037). I had an older brother, two younger brothers and there were our two sisters, the last two additions in the family. Being "special" they always sat in front, beside our father who drove. Our mother, Akidah had died when the girls were mere toddlers. I am talking of a time in the 1920s.

GREAT FUN
We enjoyed getting our hair trimed except for Tum, the youngest. She would cover her face with her arms and needed much cajoling from both our dad and the Indian barber.

It was the protocol of the day that my older brother and I should be last in the haircutting queue. This gave us sufficient time to kill and be entertained. The barber's shop was one of six or seven little establishments - they were no more than shacks - at kedai bawah Gunung Pondok just at the foot of, yes, Gunung Pondok. Pekan Gunung Pondok was then a tiny, thriving world. People going to Kampong Lalang, Setor, Sungai Ati and Paya Ranggam and beyond to Laneh passed through these little village-shacks where they could buy local cooked food and vegetables. And, if they wished or needed one, they could drop and have their trim in the shop where two Indian barbers worked.

A few yards away going into Pekan Padang Rengas, about a quarter of a mile away from the row of shops, was a railway gate that was closed whenever a train - a passenger mail train or goods train - would chug its way up north through the famed Bukit Berapit tunnels.

MY TURN
Waiting for my turn at the barber's, I was intrigued to watch the hugh locomotive-engines chugging away, white steam or smoke spiralling up and over their funnels. In those days, Padang Rengas Railway Station was a must for all trains going up north or south. The locos sometimes needed power to push them up Bukit Berapit or required "controlling" any long line of the mail or the good trains sliding down the rails from the hill after a very heavy downpour. This happened a few times.

Suffice to say I was never impatient while I waited to be called to have my hair cut. The barber shop of my childhood was quite cosy. It had only two hair-dressing chairs and when the kids came, a plank of wood was placed over the "arms" for them to sit on. Sometimes, I would doze off in the barber's chair. It was so pleasant having my face massaged. But there are occassions I would suddenly sit up with a jolt, thinking the barber might, out of the blue, lose his mind and cut off my ears or nose! This phobia remains with me to this day.

We had a different type of "air-conditioning" then. We had punkahs - a broad cloth attached to a frame with a cord operated manually by a man-servant called a punkawallah. It worked for many of us. In fact, it made one so drowsy. Later, a radio was added to the set-up and it naturally played Tamil songs!

TIME PASSES
In the 1960s, I worked in the big city's State Secretariat and found myself a barber that suited me. His shop was on a river bank, behind the Secretariat building. There was nothing posh about the establishment but it was tidy and everything was in order. The Indian music was perpetually on! This barber shop introduced me to Bay Rum, a hair tonic that was very popular in those days. It was French. Your head was massaged using this tonic; sometimes it was rubbed gently all over your face. It could last on you for as long as three weeks!. I paid the princely sum of between $1.50 and $2.00 each time I visited that river bank barber. An extra 50 cent was levied for a shave if you needed one and for the Bay Rum rub. It was cukup berbaloi sekali.

Later, when I was in the State capital, I frequented a barber shop known as the 'Hollywood Hair Dressing Saloon'. It reminded me a lot of the shop in the Federal capital years earlier. This Hollywood Hair Saloon was manned by two or three nearly middle-aged barbers. They were very experienced, very gentle and very courteous. When they saw me coming up, one of them would wait for me at the door and usher me gently into a seat. The Hollywood Hair Saloon also had its brand of 'in-house' hair tonic. It was not as potent as the genuine Bay Rum - its fragrance would last only a week - but satisfying enough.

RECENT BOUTS
A few years ago, I tried two different barbers in our small pekan. My visit to the Chinese one was never repeated. His shaving razor was blunt; it hurt! The Indian entrepreneur was OK professionally in the beginning but he developed the tendency to push my head about; also, he enjoyed chatting loudly (and endlessly) with a friend who was loittering about or talking to his wife who was in the kitchen.

More recently, I made a rewarding discovery when I visited Romeo Tukang Gunting in town. It was run by two youths from India both of whom confessed to me that they graduated from a Barbers' Academy to earn a Barber's Certificate!

I recall having a good look at the row of half-sized bottles arranged neatly below the big mirror in front of me. They contained a bright pink liquid very much like the colour of Bay Rum. I requested a splash. I was told by the barber that it was not Bay Rum - he quoted something about it in Indian! He had not heard of the long lasting fragrance. The hair-cut and the splash of liquid that was non-Bay Rum cost only RM7.00!

This brings me to my last memory of barbers and their shops. During the transition period called interregnum (the time immediately following the surrender of the Japanese and the period of the British Civilian Adminstration), I was, of course, jobless. One fine day my father handed me a box containing a set of hair-clipper, a razor blade knife and other paraphernalia a barber needs. He said, "Rashdi, while you are waiting for a job - and it may take time for the country to settle down for you to find one - why don't you learn to be a barber? There's money in it! Everybody needs a haircut. People have to see you sometime!".

My father meant well but I just could not understand how he'd want me to be a barber - why, I'd attended a very well-established and well-known institution in the whole country!. I was young and proud. At that time there were only two Malay barbers in the village-town. I would not mention their names here but in time the two would be remembered as the nucleus of the famous or as the infamous API Movement, forerunning of our modern Youth Movements!.

DATO' SERI YANG RASHDI BIN MAASOM
Termaktub di Villa PiJ Indera
Kampong Buiai, Padang Rengas