Sunday, May 23, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Photo taken at Kuala Kubu Baru. Bapak/Ki was then the Deputy Asst. Disstrict Officer in KKB.I was told by Che Engga (a family friend) that Ki & Tah hold a wedding reception for her at this very house. It was such an exquisite and grand reception.
One of Bapak/Ki's last photos...He liked this photo very much...
One of Bapak's/Ki's favourite event-annual 'durian' gathering! He'll be inviting relatives and friends to enjoy the 'hasil tuaian'...
Far right is Mutsuko Itohara. She is one of Bapak's/Ki's many 'anak angkat', who still keep in touch even after Bapak/Ki is no longer with us...Hari Keluarga Maasom-Akidah
Hari Keluarga Maasom-Akidah yang julung kali diadakan (Feb 1989)Gambar diambil di Jalan Woodward, Ipoh, Perak
(Al-fatihah kepada mereka yang telah terlebih dahulu dijemput Ilahi: Allahyarhamah Shamsiah, Allahyarham Yang Rashdi, Allahyarham Shahrome, Allahyarham Razif, Allahyaham Sharani)
Nota: Allahyarham Shahrome merupakan antara pencetus dan penggerak bagi Hari Keluarga Maasom Akidah yang pertama.
Hari Keluarga Maasom Akidah yang terbaru (1-3 Mei, 2009)
Gaya bebas....
Family Roots
Y.D.H. Toh Maharaja Indera Orang Besar Enam Belas Perak '94-'08: Yang Rashdi bin Maasom
Maasom bin Mohd Shukri (Ayahanda kepada Yang Rashdi)
Y.D.H Toh Maharaja Indera Orang Besar Enam Belas Perak: Mohd Shukri bin Alang Abdul Karim (Nenda kepada Yang Rashdi)Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Farewell To A Remarkable Man
An excerpt from Ipoh Echo Issue 54 (July 16-31, 2008). It can be found at this link http://www.ipohecho.com.my/~ipohecho/pdf/54.pdf
Dato' Seri Yang Rashdi bin Maasom (1925-2008)
Dato' Seri Yang Rashdi bin Maasom (1925-2008)
TRIBUTE
FAREWELL TO A REMARKABLE MAN
A moment to remeber someone we admired
Through his writings, peppered with colourful anecdotes and tasteful innuendoes, Dato' Seri Yang Rashdi gave the reader an insight into life as it is in the 30s and 40s.
His vivid recollections of time spent in growing up in idylic Kuala Kangsar were most poignant. Yang Rashdi latest story (Ipoh Echo Issue 53) about his maternal grandmother and her jinrikisha puller friend -Panjang and Pendek- made for truly insighful reading.
Sadly, we will be unable to read more about Yang Rashdi's youthful innocence.
Yang Rashdi passed away sadly on July 2, one day short of his 83rd birthday. He had been looking forward to seeing his latest work in print.
Dato' Seri yang Rashdi was a product of Malay College, Kuala Kangsar. He taught English at a secondary school in Kuala Terengganu in 1948 and was co-opted into the Malayan Civil Service in 1956.
He served in various capacity, starting out as assistant district officer. When he retired in 1980, he was Directors of Lands and Mines in Perak.
In 1994, the Sultan of Perak bestowed on Dato' Seri Yang Rashdi the title "Toh Maharaja Indera" and made him "Orang Besar 16" of Perak.
He left behind six grieving children and eight grandchildren.
We at Ipoh echo have lost a resourceful contributor whose singular objective was to impart his rich experiences to all and sundry. We share his family's sorrow.
May Allah bless his soul. Al-Fatihah.
Editor
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Shamsiah: A Rose By Any Other Is Still A Rose.....
I wrote this several years ago and was sent to Bapak. I felt it was a very personal thing and was not ready to share although Bapak had coaxed me into sending this to be published in a daily. Bapak had always encoraged me to write. We shared the joys of writing. Someone commented that we have the same style. Nothing can compare with my Sifu's, namely Bapa.
Dear Bapak, I have finally decided that the write up about Mak is to be shared. I finally found my courage....out of the love of writing and out of the love for you.
To my dearest Mak....this is what you are and this is what you have taught all us , your children to be
Al Fatihah to both Mak and Bapak
****************
Mak,Tah, Encik, Che Tah, Kak Tah, Mak Tah, Mak Chor, Mak Chik ,Kak Shamsiah, Kak Sham, Mak Tok, Datin Sham, Datin, Datin Seri , Pah Tah and Pah Datin .
These are all the names that refer to our beloved Mak. These names also refer to different roles that she played. Not even once she was confused by the roles that she played. The grace she potrayed while assuming these roles was beyond my understanding.
Mak was `Encik’ to her only sister, Chu Nandak. Nothing much can be heard from Chu. She ia a lady of few words but from her eyes and her body language she has nothing but admiration for her elder sister. Although they coming from the same `mould’ they are like `chalk and cheese’ in every other sense. Probably Mak was groomed by her grandmother Hajjah Ensah whom I understand was a very hard to please lady when it comes to `upbringing.
She was also known as `Che Tah’ to her in-laws, Bapa’s sibling. They are very much like her flesh and blood. This was probably because she knew them from before. She has never quarreled with any of them. She never succumbed to their follies. Being non committal to their bickering when any of them reported or confided, she always kept her cool and was very philosophical about everything. “Bior le” would be the most response.
` To her cousins she was known as Yong’. Of all the cousins she had, Pak We was the closest. Pak We had stayed with us for a long time. Every body called her male cousin Pak We. She was duly worried when Pak We became ill and lost his sight. . They looked up to each other so much. Mak was the elder sister that Pak We never had, and Pak We was the jovial, funny and younger brother Mak wished she had. . Pak We was already frail and in spite of not being able to see he insisted that he accompanied Mak’s cortege. One could sense the respect Pak We had for Mak
To her husband’s nieces and nephews even to their second cousins `Mak Tah’. Favoritism had never been in her vocabulary and practice….. `Mak Tah tu rasa mak saudara sendiri’ said a female cousin…Why not? She goes all the way and at length to make sure that the nephews and nieces shall adorn the best on their wedding day. She took the trouble to retrieve her jewellery from the bank for that purpose. Her crockery will spread the bridal banquet, the `semerit’ for the display of hantaran, carpets to brighten up the wedding dais, platform and other wedding paraphernalia was for all to be made available to these nieces…to her it was meant to be shared. The groom or the bride should never be devoid of being made the `the queen or king of the day’ At weddings her opinion was often sought and consulted. Her words confirmed decisions. Never once she bragged or `ungkit’ about borrowing hers. . One can always tell another’s’ sincerity and Mak’s sincerity was deeply felt.
`Mak Chor’ Even though she was not as expressive, she showered her love to her own nieces and nephews. After settling down back at Kampung Buaia, Atikah became her doted one. After every trip from somewhere there will always be some `buah tangan ‘for Atikah. Atikah was her youngest grand neice
Mak Cik was to those who have no blood ties. Kak Yah was nine when she first stayed with us and way before I was born. She was very much like our own sister even though Teh, Kak Yah’s mother was Mak’s helper. When I was much younger I envied Kak Yah because she got to go wherever Mak went. When she had some problems, it was Mak that Kak Yah turned to. Mak groomed her, taught her so many things. Kak Yahs wedding was `Wedding of the Year in `Kuala Selangor’ One could see the strong bond between them, it was like sister and sister and at times it was like mother and child. Mak could do both… the interplay of roles. Arwah Teh once told Mak….”Yah tu… macang Cik Sangsiah” What was that that Teh meant?
Kak Tah it was to Kak Nah and Abang Ramli. They were small traders who sold daily provisions from their van. When they got back to Semenanjung they had a `gerai’ at Pasir Putih. It was a shack really. From time to time Mak would visit them and bought goodies and clothes for the children. For countless Hari Raya the whole family moved to our house. Mak gave a room close to the kitchen. She took pity on Kak Nah’s six children. She said they deserve a decent place to stay especially during festive occasion like Hari Raya. They had a fat son whom Mak lovingly called `Endut’. The only person who could call him by that` degerotory term’ was Mak. The term by Mak was to him meant an endearment. Even a child warms up to Mak knowing that that was no malice on Mak’s part
Whenever `pacri terong’ became the menu of day, a portion of the dish was sent to Kak Rose and Abang Nazim’s house (Datin Rose and Dato Nazim) Abang Nazim never forget to praise Mak’s pajri. So much was Mak thoughtfulness of others. She served from her heart.
Datin Sham as she was known to the wives of Rotarians and other wives of her own stature. Rotarians love to come for the committee meeting held at our house because she would not have her food catered. She just would not have it done that way and instead would cook herself….of course she had a stable of assistants. Dato’ Sharma and Datin are Brahmin and they are Vegans. Mak would make sure that there was a vegetarian dish on the table for both of them though they brought their own. Sometimes a so called `educated’ person is not as sensitive to the needs of other religion. Unlike Mak.
Siva was Bapa’s driver and he called Mak , Datin. Thiru was Mak’s domestic helper and she calls Mak, Auntie. How many `Mems’ would want to eat with a helper. Seeing both Thiru and Mak sharing the same food and talking to each other at same dining table, makes one humble. Thiru of course was rattling away. Every year be it the 3rd or the 4th night of Hari Raya , Mak will have a special invitation to Siva’s family and Thiru’s family and her sister’s as well. They were not employees on that day but very special guests of Dato Seri Yang Rashdi. Mak saw to it as an appreciation of their service and also as being a part of our `big’ family. Mak , she was blind to kind and creed.
One can go on telling what a fine person she was. She knew when she was just Mak Tah or, Mak Cik or when she was Datin. She was a person who was at ease with herself, unassuming, not conscious that she is a Datin twice over and Mak Tok as she was referred to at the istana. She carried herself well and with decorum, played her role to the fullest. It was her big heart and a heart of gold that made her stood out anytime and anywhere.
Like a rose you can call her by any other name but a rose would smell as sweet…. That’s my Mother.
Dear Bapak, I have finally decided that the write up about Mak is to be shared. I finally found my courage....out of the love of writing and out of the love for you.
To my dearest Mak....this is what you are and this is what you have taught all us , your children to be
Al Fatihah to both Mak and Bapak
****************
Mak,Tah, Encik, Che Tah, Kak Tah, Mak Tah, Mak Chor, Mak Chik ,Kak Shamsiah, Kak Sham, Mak Tok, Datin Sham, Datin, Datin Seri , Pah Tah and Pah Datin .
These are all the names that refer to our beloved Mak. These names also refer to different roles that she played. Not even once she was confused by the roles that she played. The grace she potrayed while assuming these roles was beyond my understanding.
Mak was `Encik’ to her only sister, Chu Nandak. Nothing much can be heard from Chu. She ia a lady of few words but from her eyes and her body language she has nothing but admiration for her elder sister. Although they coming from the same `mould’ they are like `chalk and cheese’ in every other sense. Probably Mak was groomed by her grandmother Hajjah Ensah whom I understand was a very hard to please lady when it comes to `upbringing.
She was also known as `Che Tah’ to her in-laws, Bapa’s sibling. They are very much like her flesh and blood. This was probably because she knew them from before. She has never quarreled with any of them. She never succumbed to their follies. Being non committal to their bickering when any of them reported or confided, she always kept her cool and was very philosophical about everything. “Bior le” would be the most response.
` To her cousins she was known as Yong’. Of all the cousins she had, Pak We was the closest. Pak We had stayed with us for a long time. Every body called her male cousin Pak We. She was duly worried when Pak We became ill and lost his sight. . They looked up to each other so much. Mak was the elder sister that Pak We never had, and Pak We was the jovial, funny and younger brother Mak wished she had. . Pak We was already frail and in spite of not being able to see he insisted that he accompanied Mak’s cortege. One could sense the respect Pak We had for Mak
To her husband’s nieces and nephews even to their second cousins `Mak Tah’. Favoritism had never been in her vocabulary and practice….. `Mak Tah tu rasa mak saudara sendiri’ said a female cousin…Why not? She goes all the way and at length to make sure that the nephews and nieces shall adorn the best on their wedding day. She took the trouble to retrieve her jewellery from the bank for that purpose. Her crockery will spread the bridal banquet, the `semerit’ for the display of hantaran, carpets to brighten up the wedding dais, platform and other wedding paraphernalia was for all to be made available to these nieces…to her it was meant to be shared. The groom or the bride should never be devoid of being made the `the queen or king of the day’ At weddings her opinion was often sought and consulted. Her words confirmed decisions. Never once she bragged or `ungkit’ about borrowing hers. . One can always tell another’s’ sincerity and Mak’s sincerity was deeply felt.
`Mak Chor’ Even though she was not as expressive, she showered her love to her own nieces and nephews. After settling down back at Kampung Buaia, Atikah became her doted one. After every trip from somewhere there will always be some `buah tangan ‘for Atikah. Atikah was her youngest grand neice
Mak Cik was to those who have no blood ties. Kak Yah was nine when she first stayed with us and way before I was born. She was very much like our own sister even though Teh, Kak Yah’s mother was Mak’s helper. When I was much younger I envied Kak Yah because she got to go wherever Mak went. When she had some problems, it was Mak that Kak Yah turned to. Mak groomed her, taught her so many things. Kak Yahs wedding was `Wedding of the Year in `Kuala Selangor’ One could see the strong bond between them, it was like sister and sister and at times it was like mother and child. Mak could do both… the interplay of roles. Arwah Teh once told Mak….”Yah tu… macang Cik Sangsiah” What was that that Teh meant?
Kak Tah it was to Kak Nah and Abang Ramli. They were small traders who sold daily provisions from their van. When they got back to Semenanjung they had a `gerai’ at Pasir Putih. It was a shack really. From time to time Mak would visit them and bought goodies and clothes for the children. For countless Hari Raya the whole family moved to our house. Mak gave a room close to the kitchen. She took pity on Kak Nah’s six children. She said they deserve a decent place to stay especially during festive occasion like Hari Raya. They had a fat son whom Mak lovingly called `Endut’. The only person who could call him by that` degerotory term’ was Mak. The term by Mak was to him meant an endearment. Even a child warms up to Mak knowing that that was no malice on Mak’s part
Whenever `pacri terong’ became the menu of day, a portion of the dish was sent to Kak Rose and Abang Nazim’s house (Datin Rose and Dato Nazim) Abang Nazim never forget to praise Mak’s pajri. So much was Mak thoughtfulness of others. She served from her heart.
Datin Sham as she was known to the wives of Rotarians and other wives of her own stature. Rotarians love to come for the committee meeting held at our house because she would not have her food catered. She just would not have it done that way and instead would cook herself….of course she had a stable of assistants. Dato’ Sharma and Datin are Brahmin and they are Vegans. Mak would make sure that there was a vegetarian dish on the table for both of them though they brought their own. Sometimes a so called `educated’ person is not as sensitive to the needs of other religion. Unlike Mak.
Siva was Bapa’s driver and he called Mak , Datin. Thiru was Mak’s domestic helper and she calls Mak, Auntie. How many `Mems’ would want to eat with a helper. Seeing both Thiru and Mak sharing the same food and talking to each other at same dining table, makes one humble. Thiru of course was rattling away. Every year be it the 3rd or the 4th night of Hari Raya , Mak will have a special invitation to Siva’s family and Thiru’s family and her sister’s as well. They were not employees on that day but very special guests of Dato Seri Yang Rashdi. Mak saw to it as an appreciation of their service and also as being a part of our `big’ family. Mak , she was blind to kind and creed.
One can go on telling what a fine person she was. She knew when she was just Mak Tah or, Mak Cik or when she was Datin. She was a person who was at ease with herself, unassuming, not conscious that she is a Datin twice over and Mak Tok as she was referred to at the istana. She carried herself well and with decorum, played her role to the fullest. It was her big heart and a heart of gold that made her stood out anytime and anywhere.
Like a rose you can call her by any other name but a rose would smell as sweet…. That’s my Mother.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The letter I promise to write
Dear Bapa,
The last time I posted an email to you was the very day you were admitted to Hospital Tuanku Bainun ( Hospital Ipoh) You never got to read the letter.
In my last paragraph, I said that I will write to you soon.
Bapa, I always get excited when there is an activity or any news that is related to you. You always respond immediately. You never cease to say that you are proud of me. I thank you for your concern and appreciation.
I mentioned to you earlier that , I have granted a permission to start an Interact Club at Kolej Yayasan Saad. You responded by forwarding somes news about an Interact Club in Ipoh.
We had our first Installation Night last Friday. The District Governor himself came. Dato Abdul Latif Saruggi. There is one Mr Vohrah from a family of distinguished lawyers. Mr Arumugam from President of Roratry Club of Malacca, the sponsoring club.
In my speech I said, " when a proposal letter was sent in for the approval of starting of an Interact Club, I need not look into it further because for the past 40 years of my life I have been directly involved with Rotarians, Rotary Anns, Innerwheelers and Interactors." There was a spontaneous applause by the audience. There was some pride when I mentioned that.
Before the District Governor proceeded in his speech, he requested the audience to stand up and observe a minute of silence and also to recite `Al Fatihah'. It was a very touching moment for me. I was almost in tears. The words of praise they have for you, makes me very proud to be your daughter.
I am very sure had you been here then, you would have attended our First Installation. I would have invited you to give a talk on the organisation, the very person to give words of encouragement to my intelligent students.
Alas, it was not to be. You had wanted to come and stay with me for a short spell here at Kolej yayasan Saad. You said that you would come when you are slightly better. I had looked forward to it.
Bapa, this is the `soon' letter that I promised to write. I hope this is also not the last one to you. I shall miss your responses to my mails.
love always
Nun
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