Salah Sebut

Ini cerita lama sejak Radio dan TV bermula di negara kita. SALAH SEBUTAN dalam pertuturan, salah ejaan dan salah penggunaan perkataan amat menjadi-jadi sekarang dikalangan personaliti Radio dan TV khususnya dikalangan penyampai berita dan juruacara rancangan. Setiap waktu dan setiap hari ada sahaja kesilapan berlaku. Termasuk juga di TV ialah sarikata dan “caption” (Kepsyen) disepanjang siarannya,  hingga menjadi bahan kelakar, ketawa dan senda gurau dikalangan orang ramai, baik di media mahupon laman sosial.

Dizaman dahulu perkara ini jarang sekali berlaku mungkin kerana bilangan stesen Radio dan TV amat terhad, berkemungkinan kawal-selianya lebih ketat dan mudah kerana waktu siaran tidak meluas seperti sekarang. Zaman monopoli RTM dahulu pembaca berita dan komentator siaran langsung menempuhi ujian ketat sebelum dibenar keudara. Mungkin ini membikin mereka lebih berhati-hati dalam tugas masing-masing. Jika berlaku kesilapan yang tidak sengaja dan tidak ketara, mereka dengan cekap menutupnya. Jika kesilapan itu dianggap berat, mereka tidak segan silu mengguna perkataan “maaf” dalam penyampain dengan penoh sopan membuat pembetulan.

Sejak wujudnya badan-badan penyiaran swasta dan perkembangan Radio RTM disetiap negeri yang ada antaranya bersiaran sepanjang 24 jam tanpa henti setiap hari, rasanya kawal-selia sudah tidak lagi diutamakan, mengizinkan petugas-petugas yang keudara mempunyai lapangan luas untuk beraksi tanpa kawalan dan panduan. Jika dizaman dahulu adalah menjadi amalan untuk merakamkan sepanjang siaran, kini rasanya amalan itu tidak dipraktikkan lagi. Dengan demikian tidak mungkin sebarang kesilapan dapat dikesan.

Salah penggunaan perkataan juga amat menjadi-jadi sekarang seolah-olah Bahasa Melayu amat terhad perkataan dan nahunya. Salah satu perkataan yang disalah guna kini ialah “NOBAT”. Kamus Dewan (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka DBP) menyebutnya “pancaragam Melayu yang bermain  ketika Raja ditabalkan”. Kini perkataan Nobat telah hilang seri dan kedaulatan sebagai bahasa yang dikhaskan untuk istana. Setiap pengisytiharan khususnya dalam acara sukan dan pertandingan seni nyanyi, sekarang menggunakan istilah ini secara meluas untuk pemenang atau johan. Nyata benar penganjur dan badan-badan penyiaran amat cetek sekali dalam istilah yang tepat dalam Bahasa Melayu. Mengapakah tidak diguna istilah yang biasa diguna seperti “Umum” (mengumumkan, diumukan), “Isytihar” atau “diangkat”. Tak lama lagi mungkin ada bijak-pandai yang akan menggunakan istilah “tabal” untuk tujuan yang sama. Biarlah perkataan Nobat digunakan khusus untuk peristiwa di istana-istana. Sekiranya perlakuan ini dianggap sebagai keterlaluan mungkin Kabinet atau Persidangan Raja-Raja Melayu, terpaksa mengeluarkan perintah supaya media tidak menggunakan perkataan yang dikhaskan untuk istana bagi tujuan lain.

Kebanyakan salah sebutan berlaku sejak peralihan ejaan hasil persefahaman penyeragaman antara negara-negara serantau yang mengguna “Bahasa Melayu”.

Kebanyakan kesilapan melibatkan nama-nama orang. Yang ketara sekali ialah nama “SYED” dalam ejaan lama yang sekarang di sebut “shed” (seperti sebutan dalam bahasa Inggeris) oleh kebanyakan pembaca berita yang lahir selepas peralihan. Adakalanya perkataan itu disebut “shit”, satu perkataan yang menjijikan dalam bahasa Inggeris. Rasanya dalam hal ini pengarang yang menyediakan skrip eloklah mengingatkan pembaca sebutannya ialah “Sa-yed”.

Satu lagi perkataan yang kerap disalah sebut dalam kategori ini ialah Sukan “Skuasy” (dalam bahasa Inggeris “Squash”). Apabila ianya mengikut ejaan baru, pembaca sering silap menyebutnya “Skua-si”, menukar “sy” yang sepatutnya berbunyi “sh” (seperti menyuruh orang senyap). Yang peliknya bagaimana “sy” boleh bertukar kepada “si”.

Dizaman dahulu satu nama yang hangat di perbincangkan ialah nama pembangkang Pakistan bernama Zulfikar Ali Bhuto. Perkataan Bhuto itu disebut oleh pembaca berita RTM sebagai “Bato”. Pada masa itu Pakistan adalah anti Malaysia menyebelahi Konfrantasi Ganyang Malaysia oleh Sukarno. Perdana Menteri pertama, Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra, menegur RTM secara terbuka menyatakan sebutan yang sebenarnya ialah “Butoh”. Hanya selepas teguran keras dari Perdana Menteri barulah sebutan itu bertukar kepada yang sebenarnya. Apabila anak Zulfikar, Benazir dipilih Perdana Menteri Pakistan barulah sebutan sebenarnya kekal. Nyata sekali dizaman itu RTM menjaga budaya kesopanan sehingga sebutan nama orang dan tempat ditukar kepada yang lebih tertib, supaya tidak terdengar perkataan-perkataan yang dianggap lucah, mencarut dan seumpamanya.

Bila Malaysia ditubuhkan pada tahun 1963 perkara yang sama timbul. Beberapa nama tempat di Sarawak adalah unik (luar biasa) kepada orang-orang di Semenanjung. Antaranya ialah “Nonok” yang membawa makna lucah. Nama tempat seperti ini diubah secara resmi kepada yang lebih memberansangkan seperti “Sri Aman” dan sebagainya. Dengan demikian ia tidak lagi menjadi bahan jenaka. Nama tempat di Sabah seperti “Menggatal” juga dianggap luar biasa pada mulanya tetapi sudah diterima umum. Di Semenanjung sendiri terdapat nama tempat yang menjadi bahan ketawa seperti “Batang Berjuntai” di Selangor. Sudah ada usaha dibuat  untuk menukar nama tempat itu kepada “Bestari Jaya” tetapi diatas papan-papan tanda, nama asalnya masih tercatat dalam kurungan kerana orang-orang tempatan sudah biasa dengan nama yang dikenali mereka sejak lahir.

Nama-nama tempat di Semenanjung sendiri juga sering disalah sebut. Antaranya Alor Merah di Kedah  yang sentiasa disebut dengan nama warna “me-rah”. Orang ditempat itu menyebut “Merah” dengan ejaan e-tanda. Ini adalah keunikan vokal Bahasa Melayu apabila kedua-dua “e” itu TIDAK dibezakan dalam ejaan. Begitu juga nama tempat “Yen” di Kedah yang sentiasa disebut oleh pembaca dan pengulas Radio dan TV seperti yang di eja, walhal sebutan sebenarnya ialah “Yan”. Sudah tiba masanya Kerajaan mewartakan ejaan tempat itu sebagaimana sebutan, iaitu “Yan”.

Kesilapan sebutan kerap berlaku dalam nama-nama yang dipinjam dari bahasa lain, terutama dari bahasa Inggeris. Antara yang ketara ialah nama tempat di Sabah, seperti Beaufort. Sebutan betul ialah “Bo-fert” (dengan e-tanda) tetapi pembaca berita dan pengulas yang tidak mengetahui pasti menyebut “Bi-u-fort”.

Sejak berita dunia menjadi tumpuan zaman sekarang, sudah pasti banyak nama orang dan tempat dari berbagai-bagai bahasa disalah sebut. Kesilapan ini melucukan khususnya bahasa Sepanyol, seperti nama tempat di Latin Amerika yang dieja “Cartagena” tetapi sebutannya ialah “Kar-ta-he-na”.

Kini bidang sukan bolasepak menjadi tumpuan. Semasa Piala Dunia Mexico dulu nama tempat “Guadalajara” sering disalah sebut dari yang sebenarnya dalam bahasa Sepanyol iaitu “Gu-a-da-la-ha-ra”. Nama orang atau pemain juga sering disalah sebut terutama yang berbangsa Sepanyol atau Portugis di Brazil.

Di Malaysia ramai yang minat bolasepak Inggeris melalui propaganda bertubi negara British itu untuk melariskan salah satu ekspot mereka. Orang Inggeris mempunyai cara ejaan dan sebutan yang berbeza dan pelik yang juga menjadi bahan polimik, umpamanya pasukan “Tottenham Hotspurs” sebutan betulnya ialah “Tot-nem” bukan seperti yang dieja. Banyak lagi contoh yang  terdapat.

Ejaan dan sebutan nama-nama orang dan tempat di Indonesia yang banyak dipakai disini juga tidak kurang kelirunya. Perkataan loghat daerah yang dinaik taraf ketahap nasional untuk memperkayakan Bahasa Indonesia adakala dianggap pelik di Malaysia. Sebelum penyelarasan dahulu ejaan Bahasa Indonesia adalah mengikut ejaan Belanda, umpamanya huruf berbunyi “y” di eja dengan “j” seperti “Kemayoran” dieja “Kemajuran”. Begitu juga “Yokyakarta”. “Acheh” dahulu dieja “Atjeh”. Nama-nama orang juga dahulu mengikut ejaan Belanda, seperti “Junus” untuk “Yunus” dan sebagainya. Bertambah lucu kepada kita di Malaysia ialah perkataan tertentu seperti “Butuh”, “membutuhkan” yang lebih membawa makna perlu atau hajat. Dalam ulasan sukan pula pengulas-pengulas Malaysia rajin mengguna perkataan “tewas” untuk kalah. Rakan-rakan dari media Indonesia menjadikannya bahan jenaka, kerana di Indonesia perkataan itu membawa makna “mati” atau “bunoh” yang diguna mereka secara meluas.

Satu masa dahulu bidang penyiaran sebuk dengan “sebutan baku” hingga lupa apa yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan 1957 Artikel 152 yang menyebut antaranya Bahasa Kebangsaan adalah mengikut Loghat Johor-Riau. Perkara ini bermula semasa Dato Sri Anwar Ibrahim menjadi Menteri Pelajaran dengan memperkenalkan “sebutan baku” disekolah-sekolah. TV3 yang satu ketika dipimpin oleh orang-orang yang rapat dengan dia telah melaksanakan penggunaaan “sebutan baku” menyebabkan masyarakat Malaysia berbelah bagi kerana RTM terus tidak berganjak dengan sebutan yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Perdana Menteri pada masa itu Tun Dr. Mahathir dalam mesyuarat Kabinet telah menetapkan bahasa penyiaran hendaklah mengikut apa yang termaktub dalam Artikel 152 Perlembagaan Perseketuan. Kini nampaknya TV3 telah melupakan “sebutan baku” dan kembali kepada sebutan asal loghat Johor-Riau. Namun masih ada saki baki yang menyokong “sebutan baku” masih berusaha supaya ia digunakan. Mungkin kerana ada kepentingan, seperti percetakan buku-buku dalam bidang berkenaan yang pasti laris dijual apabila ianya menjadi buku teks.

Yang peliknya Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka DBP amat cenderong supaya sebutan baku dilaksanakan dengan mengadakan kursus mengenainya. Pada hemat penulis, tugas utama DBP ialah memelihara dan menyuburkan Bahasa Melayu, khususnya dalam tulisan. Biarkanlah sebutan bahasa Melayu dikendali oleh badan penyiaran kebangsaan RTM, yang menggunanya sepanjang siaran. DBP sudah lupa tugas utamanya memelihara kesucian Bahasa Melayu bertulis. Setiap hari terdapat kelucuan pencemaran bahasa seperti di papan-papan tanda dan iklan yang kononnya mendapat kelulusan DBP. 

Penulis teringat peristiwa bekas Menteri Penerangan Malaysia Tan  Sri Muhamad Rahmat (Tok Mat) ditermuramah oleh TVRI dan RRI di Jakarta apabila rakaman dihentikan kerana Tok Mat menggunakan sebutan Bahasa Melayu bukan Bahasa Indonesia. Penemuramah minta beliau menggunakan Bahasa Indonesia seperti dalam perbualan biasanya. Tok Mat ialah lulusan Universitas Indonesia dan pernah menjadi Duta Besar Malaysia disana. Dengan tegas Tok Mat memberitahu temuaramah itu adalah urusan resmi memerlukannya menggunakan Bahasa Malaysia. Begitulah betapa megah seorang tokoh kepada kedaulatan Bahasa resmi negara. Nyata Tan Sri menegaskan jatidirinya.

Dua lagi bidang yang membahaya dan mencemar Bahasa Melayu sekarang ialah apa yang disebut “bahasa rojak” dan “bahasa pesanan ringkas” (SMS).

Bahasa rojak memang tidak asing kepada masyarakat Malaysia yang beraneka etnik, keturunan dan budaya sejak zaman berzaman. Dizaman gemilang Empair Melaka dahulu Bahasa Melayu adalah “lingua franca” ahli-ahli perniagaan dan pedagang berbagai kaum yang petah dengannya dicampur aduk dengan bahasa ibunda sendiri atau bahasa-bahasa lain yang mudah difahami bila berinteraksi. Ini melarat hingga zaman British menguasai negara ini dengan membawa masuk kaum India dan China untuk kepentingan ekonomi mereka. Sekaligus kemasukan mereka ini menimbulkan selanga pertuturan untuk mudah difahami antara satu sama lain. Keadaan ini melarat hingga menjadi budaya orang-orang bercakap dari satu bahasa ka satu bahasa lain untuk mudah difahami dan menyampai objektif. Hal ini melarat kedalam pertuturan dan ucapan. Di Radio dan TV ianya juga ketara. Jika amalan ini tidak dihentikan oleh pengacara dan pengendali rancangan dan siaran nyata ia akan berkekalan mencacat Bahasa Melayu sejati yang tulin.

Berkaitan “bahasa rojak” ini termasuk kedegilan dan keengganan media Radio dan TV, badan-badan tertentu, mencampur-adukkan bahasa asing, khususnya Inggeris, dengan bahasa Melayu. Contoh yang terbaik ialah nama-nama barang, kempen dan sebagainya yang berakhir dengan “angka”, umpamanya “Boeng 323”, media Radio dan TV enggan menyebut angka itu dalam Bahasa Melayu, mengekalkan sebutan Bahasa Inggeris. Inilah peluang baik bagi memperkasa Bahasa Melayu dalam berita memperkenalkan angka itu dalam Bahasa Melayu bukanya Inggeris.

Ejaan pesanan ringkas SMS sekarang sudah merebak luas sejak perkembangan teknoloji peralatan telekomunikasi. Punca utama ia berlaku ialah peralatan itu mempunyi ruang terhad menyebabkan para penggunanya menjadi kriatif menyingkatkan ejaan mengikut bunyi. Kebanyakan yang melakukankan nya ialah pengguna muda dan remaja yang masih dibangku sekolah atau pusat pengajian. Tindakan ini menyebabkan mereka terpengaruh hingga melarat ke meja pelajaran. Sudah ada aduan menyatakan taraf ejaan kebanyakan murid-murid dan pelajar-pelajar kini sudah menurun. Perkara ini perlu dibendung oleh pihak-pihak yang berkenaan termasuk ibu-bapa dan penjaga mereka yang berkenaan.

Juga yang membimbangkan pencinta Bahasa ialah apa yang disebut “Bahasa Slanga” yang terdapat dalam berbagai-bagai bahasa. Bahasa Melayu jugas tidak ketinggalan. Bahasa slanga ini dipergunakan secara meluas dalam percakapan tidak formal khususnya dikalangan anak-anak muda, golongan tertentu, di daerah-daerah dan sebagainya. Hanya mereka sahaja yang memahami maknanya. Apabila perkataan-perkataan bahasa ini merebak dikalangan orang ramai, kemungkinan besar ia diterima sebagai sebahagian bahasa formal.

Satu masa dulu RTM mempunyai satu bahagian yang di tugas mengesan siaran. Siaran yang dikesan adalah dari luar negara yang membawa berita-berita memperkecil Malaysia dari berbagai bidang, termasuk jugalah siaran radio komunis yang menentang negara ini dahulu. Laporan dari bahagian ini diguna untuk menangkis dakyah yang dianggap anti-Malaysia. Apabila “Perang Dingin” antara kuasa-kuasa besar dan rakan-rakannya serta dakyah menentang Malaysia semakin merosot nampaknya kedudukan bahagian ini tidak diutamakan lagi. Selepas itu satu unit juga ditubuh oleh Kementerian Penerangan untuk mengesan siaran iklan yang dikatakan lebih daripada waktu yang ditetapkan dan adakalanya tidak sesuai. Kedudukan bahagian ini juga sekarang tidak diketahui, mungkin menemui masaalah lojistik hingga terpaksa ditutup.

Perihal “Caption”, “Crawler” dan “Sarikata” telah diperkatakan dalam salah satu “posting” yang lalu. Tidak perlulah dibincangkan disini. Sila lihat link berikut: http://tokciktengok.blogspot.com/2012/03/whats-on-tv-screen.html untuk pandangan penulis.

Satu ketika tidak berapa dulu berlaku perlantikan orang-orang yang memimpin Kemenetrian Penerangan (sekarang KPKK) dan Ketua Pengarah Penyiaran yang mungkin terlupa atau tidak mengerti secara mendalam peranan RTM memperkasa Bahasa Melayu. Salah seorang Menteri Penerangan telah mengubah waktu siaran berita nasional dalam bahasa Melayu dari slot biasanya sejak berzaman 8.00 malam ke 9.00 dan menempatkan berita Mandarin di slot itu di TV1. Riaksi bantahan dari masyarakat memaksa waktu siaran berita berkenaan kembali ke tempat asalnya. Bila diadakan rombakan kabinet beliau diganti oleh tokoh lain. Nampaknya setiap Menteri yang dilantik mempunyai agenda tertentu untuk RTM, yang sudah tentu untuk meningkat imej masing-masing, khususnya dalam berita dan siaran, hingga kepada perlantikan jawatan Ketua Pengarah Penyiaran. Satu ketika dahulu RTM dipimpin oleh orang-orang yang kurang pengalaman dan tidak mendalami kekuatan dan kelemahan anak bauh yang dipimpin mereka. RTM hampir melarat apabila ia dipimpin seorang dari luar dikalangan swasta hingga perisian rancangan dan siaran menjadi celaru. Alhamdulillah keadaan kejahilan itu sudah diatasi dengan tokoh dan Menteri yang memahami cita-rasa dan hala-tuju RTM dalam bidang Bahasa Melayu khusunya.

Sudah tiba masanya badan penyiaran kebangsaan RTM serta badan-badan penyiaran swasta termasuk badan penyiaran satelit Astro bersatu tenaga membendung gejala-gejala tidak sihat dalam pertuturan, sebutan dan tulisan dalam apa bentuk sekalipon demi mempertahankan kesucian Bahasa Melayu, sekaligus menyemaikan semangat jatidiri nasional negara Malaysia. Penubuhan satu Jabatan untuk tujuan itu dibawah panji-panji Kementerian Penerangan, Kebudayaan dan Komunikasi (KPKK) amat dialu-alukan.

Baru diumumkan ialah “Panggung Bahasa” oleh Menteri KPKK Dato Seri Utama Rais, satu projek yang belum jelas hala tujunya. Jika benar ianya bertujuan memperkasa Bahasa Melayu, bagus juga ianya merangkumi perihal salah sebutan dan pembentukan satu “jabatan khusus” untuk menjamin supaya terpelihara kesucian dan gaya sebutan Bahasa Melayu diudara dan ditonton di semua siaran Radio dan TV negara Malaysia.

Remembering Zabri Adil.

[ I received requests from friends who are not familiar with the English language to have a Malay version of this posting. So at the end of the English version will be the Malay, in Perak style, the lingo that Zabri love and enjoy in his conversation with me ]

19 April 2012. I was in shock on receiving an SMS message from Muhammad Rizal Hashim (Blogger Loose Canon of Malaysian Sports), one of my friends on Face Book asking me if I knew about my good friend Zabri Adil being involved in an accident. I was in Klang. When such news arrived my first instinct was to know details. I gave him a call. He didn’t have but was informed by the family that Zabri had passed away and his remain was to be taken home from Hospital Kuala Lumpur HKL for burial after Asar Prayer at the Muslim Cemetery at Taman Ibu Kota.

I made contact with some friends and by 2.30 pm we (Zulkarnain Hassan, Tengku Mohd Ali and Sidik Shamsudin) were making our way to Zabri’s house in Taman Perwira, Gombak. Arriving at about 3.30 we were told his remain was still at KLH and will be on the way. I had the chance to have words with his son Adlan who still remember me when he was a school kid tagging along with his father to see football matches at Stadium Merdeka.

Zabri Adil was a well known name in TV broadcasting in its early days. He was one of the early News Reader on TV Malaysia as RTM was known then. RTM has never had the post of News Reader on its payroll. As a talent post, News Readers are paid on piece meal basis. Zabri was one of them. He was reading once a week normally during weekends which fit into his schedule as “Court Interpreter” in Ipoh. He travelled from Ipoh to fulfil his interest. Those were the days when there was neither Plus North-South Expressway nor the so-called trunk road with the defunct toll in Slim River. He took the winding road all the way from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur to be at the temporary TV studio in Jalan Ampang beside the Dewan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. That was how much interest he had in being a TV personality. He has a pleasant voice. I rated him as a good news reader.

                            photo: compliment Adlin Z Adil

When TV Malaysia was increasing its air time expanding with a second network, Zabri opted to leave his Court Interpreter post in Ipoh for a more lucrative position of “Coordinating Producer”. The post entails him to make sure that the broadcasts be on the air according to the detailed on the schedule. It must have been at the encouragement of his confidante and good friend Dato Abdul Aziz Wok who was among the early batch of Producers in TV Malaysia. Aziz migrated from being a school teacher to be a broadcaster with interest in Drama.

Zabri and Aziz were classmates at Anderson School, Ipoh in the 50’s. I used to see them in school being my super senior by a good many years. We became good friends in RTM. They stayed at the school hostel for a good many years. Aziz hailed from Chemor to the north of Ipoh, while Zabri was from Gunong Mesah in Gopeng to the south of Ipoh, a place known for its durian orchards.

When the civil service decided to shrink its rank and post in an exercise sometime in the later part of the 70’s the post of Coordinating Producers was bundle together with the post of TV Producers, Programme Assistant in Radio and similar posts in RTM, making way for interchange of posts much easier. Zabri was one of those involved in the exercise later in his career. He became a Producer involved in TV production. In fact he fit in easily to be a sports producer for his keen interest in the field. He enjoyed the job as he is more of an outdoor man than being locked in the office.

                             photo: compliment Adlin Z Adil

However Zabri’s name is more associated with being “Coordinating Producer” taking charge of TV broadcasting schedule to the dot. He rose to be its Head. The schedule was at his finger tip. I found it easier dealing with him in this matter as he didn’t need to refer to the schedule proper. He always told me he has to return to the court all over the country whenever there were cases involving the exact time of happening according to the TV schedule. He would be away from his office as the cases would take days. He seems to enjoy this part of his job at being court witness.

He served in Penang and Ipoh for a short stint but his based was always in KL as his wife was a Senior Nurse at KLH and his growing up children (3 sons and a daughter) were still in school in KL. Zabri is a family man. He doted on his children in his own way and would always mention them in his conversation.

I knew Zabri as a jovial person and never at loss for humour at any time. He would produce anecdotes at the most unexpected time. This part of his character served him well among his many close friends. There was no airs in him. I would rate him as the life of the party. He would never miss any occasion of getting together among friends and colleague. He was a regular at the bimonthly lunch occasion of RTM’s veteran. We will miss him.

Zabri is loyal to his friends. I still remember the days when his close friend Dato’ Aziz Wok was having crisis in career being transferred from being Director of Sabah Region to be Head of Suara Malaysia, the external radio broadcast of RTM. A transfer to Suara Malaysia would equate to be exiled from mainstream RTM. Aziz was sort of an island. I was his deputy then and the only person who visited and talked to Aziz regularly was Zabri. Their friendship and companionship was so closed that Aziz decided to take along Zabri for his by-pass surgery in New Zealand. I was curious and asked Aziz why he chose Zabri and not a member of his family, especially his wife. Aziz told me humorously he would die should his wife tag along because he had to carry the baggage himself. With Zabri around he got a porter and a spokesman with the hospital and other authorities in New Zealand. He said Zabri has to work for his all paid “holiday”.

On his demise at the age of 78 Zabri took with him vast knowledge and experience of broadcasting of this country which was part of his life and career. The broadcasting sphere in this country would miss a point of reference.

Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat keatas rohnya dan menempatkannya dikalangan mukmin yang soleh.

Alfatihah. 


[ Mengenang Rakan Seperjuangan:

19.04.2010. Terkedu teman menerima pesanan ringkas SMS dari Muhammad Rizal Hashim (Blogger “Loose Cannon of Malaysian Sports”) salah seorang kawan baru teman di FB bertanya samaada teman tahu sahabat karib teman Zabri Adil terlibat dalam kemalangan. Ketika itu teman di Kelang. Berita seperti ini biasanya menggerak teman menalipon balik menanya butiran lanjut. Rizal tiada butiran kecuali dia diberitahu oleh keluarga, Zabri telah kembali kerahmatullah dan jenazahnya akan dibawa pulang kerumah dari Hosptal Kuala Lumpur untuk disemadikan di Tanah Perkuburan Taman Ibu Kota selepas Solat Asar.

Teman menguhubungi beberapa kawan rapat. Pada 2.30 petang kami (Zulkarnain Hassan, Tengku Mohd. Ali dan Sidik Shamsuddin) bergerak kerumah Zabri di Taman Perwira, Gombak. Setibanya disana jam 3.30 kami dimaklum jenazah masih di HKL. Teman sempat bercakap dengan anaknya Adlin yang masih ingat teman semasa dia seorang murid sekolah yang mengekori ayahandanya menonton bolasepak di Stadium Merdeka dahulu.

Zabri Adil ialah nama terkenal dizaman penyiaran TV mula menapak di Semenanjung. Zabri ialah salah seorang Pembaca Berita di TV Malaysia, sebelum wujudnya RTM. RTM tidak pernah ada jawatan Pembaca Berita hakiki dalam senarai perjawatannya. Sebagai jawatan “bakat”, Pembaca Berita dibayar secara runcit (ada kerja ada bayaran). Zabri adalah antaranya. Dia bertugas seminggu sekali biasanya dihujung minggu, sesuai dengan jadual kerja hakikinya sebagai “Jurubahasa” Mahkamah di Ipoh, Perak. Ketika itu mana ada jalan pantas Leburaya Utara-Selatan Plus atau jalan federal yang  bertol di Slim River. Dia terpaksa mengambil jalan sempit yang berbengkak-bengkok seperti ular dari Ipoh ke Kuala Lumpur untuk berada di Studio Sementara TV Malaysia di Jalan Ampang, bersebelahan Dewan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Begitulah kuat azamnya untuk menjadi personaliti TV. Zabri mempunya suara parau yang menarik. Teman menganggapnya seorang Pembaca Berita yang baik.

Bila TV Malaysia menambahkan waktu siaran dengan mewujudkan Rangkain Kedua, Zabri mengambil keputusan meninggalkan jawatan Jurubahasa di Ipoh kepada jawatan “Penerbit Penyelaras” (CP) TV Malaysia yang lebih lumayan gajinya. Jawatan ini memerlukanya memastikan siaran TV Malaysia adalah mengikut jadual dan masa tepat yang telah dirangka, memerlukan penyelarasan rapi dengan beberapa pihak lain. Rasanya perubahan sinario Zabri mungkin atas galakan sahabat karibnya Dato’Aziz Wok, salah seorang  Penerbit TV dalam kumpulan awal TV Malaysia. Aziz berpindah dari tenaga pengajar sekolah untuk menceburi lapangan penyiaran, dengan minat di bidang Drama.

Zabri dan Aziz adalah rakan sedarjah di Sekolah Anderson, Ipoh ditahun 50an. Teman sering melihat deme berdua disekolah; deme lebih kanan dari teman buat beberapa tahun. Namun kami menjadi rakan karib di RTM. Deme menginap di hostel sekolah buat beberapa tahun. Aziz berasal dari Chemor, sebelah utara Ipoh, sementara Zabri berasal dari Kampong Gunung Mesah, Gopeng, sebelah selatan Ipoh yang amat terkenal dengan dusun-dusun durian.

Bila perkhidmatan awam mengecutkan jawatan dan pangkat dalam satu kajian pada penghujung 70an, jawatan “Penerbit Penyelaras” (CP) telah disatukan dengan jawatan Penerbit TV, Pembantu Rancangan Radio dan seumpamanya di RTM membuka pintu pada banyak pemegang jawatan yang terhad peluang naik pangkat beralih kepada bidang lain di RTM. Zabri adalah antara yang terlibat dalam kerjayanya kemudian hari. Dia berpeluang bertugas dalam Penerbitan TV sebagai Penerbit. Nyata benar Zabri dengan mudah berjaya menyesuaikan dirinya sebagai Penerbit rancangan Sukan TV kerana minatnya dibidang itu. Zabri sungguh seronok dibidang itu, kerana dia lebih merupakan seorang yang minat kerja luar daripada terpengap dalam bilik pejabat.

Bagaimanapon nama Zabri lebih tersemat sebagai CP mengawal jadual siaran TV. Dia meningkat sebagai Ketua bahagian itu. Jadual siaran TV tidak lekang dari ingatannya, hingga tak perlu merojok kepada jadual yang dirangka. Bagaimanapon Zabri memberitahu ianya adalah kerja berat kerana kerap jadual siaran TV dijadikan rojokan apabila berlaku kes dimahkamah yang memerlukannya memaklumkan waktu tepat sesuatu rancangan TV apabila ia ditimbulkan dimahkamah. Zabri sering tiada dipejabatnya kerana menghadiri mahkamah bila diperlukan sehingga memakan masa berhari-hari. Gaya dia bercerita nampaknya dia seronok kembali kemahkamah sebagai saksi.

Zabri pernah bertugas seketika di RTM Pulau Pinang dan Ipoh, tetapi pengkalan tetapnya ialah Kuala Lumpur kerana isterinya ialah seorang Jururawat Kanan di HKL dan anak-anaknya yang sedang membesar bersekolah di KL. Zabri menyayangi keluarganya, sentiasa memberi tumpuan kepada 4 orang anaknya, 3 putra dan seorang putri. Dia sering menyebut mereka dalam perbualannya.

Teman mengenali Zabri sebagai seorang yang periang dan sentiasa bekelakar, tak kering gusi dibuatnya. Dia sentiasa mengeluarkan kata-kata hikmat yang luar biasa. Perangai ramahnya ini membikin dia sangat popular dan disenangi dikalangan rakan-rakan dan yang mengenalinya. Dia tidak menyombong atau bongkak. Teman menganggapnya sebagai tokoh yang menghidupkan sebarang perjumpaan dan perbualan. Zabri sentiasa hadir di sebarang perjumpaan dengan rakan-rakan seperjuangan. Dia jarang ketinggalan di “Lunch Veteran RTM” setiap 2 bulan. Kawan-kawan semua sudah tentu kesunyian tanpa kehadirannya.

Zabri sangat setia dengan kawan-kawan. Teman masih ingat ketika sahabat karibnya Aziz Wok menempuh krisis dalam karyanya ketika di tukar dari jawatan Pengarah Penyiaran Kawasan Sabah kepada Ketua Suara Malaysia, siaran luar negeri RTM. Ketika itu pertukaran ke Suara Malaysia adalah dianggap sebagai “buang negeri” dari arus perdana RTM. Aziz semacam terpulau. Teman ialah timbalannya. Orang yang sentiasa melawat dan berbual mesra dengan Aziz ialah Zabri. Rasanya pertukaran itu menyebabkan kesihatan Aziz terganggu. Persahabatan deme berdua yang begitu rapat sekali membikin Aziz mengambil keputusan membawa Zabri dan bukan keluarga atau isterinya menemaninya ke New Zealand ketika dia menjalani pembedahan pintas jantung disana. Pada teman ini luar biasa. Secara berseloroh Aziz memberitahu teman dia akan “tumpo” cepat sekira isterinya menemaninya kerana dia sendiri terpaksa “mengendong” semua barang-barangnya. Dengan adanya Zabri semua kerja itu akan menjadi tanggung jawabnya sebagai “porter”, setiausaha dan jurucakap dengan hospital dan pihak berkuasa lain New Zealand. Katanya Zabri kenalah berkerja untuk “cuti” percuma itu.

Dengan pemergiannya pada usia78 tahun, Zabri membawa bersamanya sejarah, pengalaman dan pengetahuan bidang penyiaran negara ini yang tiada ternilai harganya sebagai legasi hidup dan karyanya. Bidang penyiaran negara ini kehilangan sebutir permata rujukan.

Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat keatas rohnya dan menempatkannya dikalangan mukmin yang soleh.

Alfatihah. ]

The Story of My Father (Haji Abdul Hamid bin Abdullah)

4 April is a significant date for me, my siblings and family. This was the day in 1978 when we lost our beloved father Haji Abdul Hamid bin Abdullah by sheer carelessness and greed of a young motorcyclists. Those were the days when the motorcycles and “kapcai” were newly introduced as a mean of transport. It became the rage of the time becoming very popular even in the remote kampong (village). Today such rider would be termed “Mat Rempit” who goes around the place breaking laws and order of the roads, local authorities and peace of the community everywhere.

“Bapak” as we fondly addressed our beloved father at that time was attached as Supervisor at the Ganda Estate in Telok Anson after retiring from the government service as Penghulu in early 1960s. He too used to ride the bike (Honda Cub) in the performance of his duty at the estate but he was careful at its usage. Being a former law enforcer and a law abiding person he make sure at whatever he did was within the parameter of the law even in the confinement of the estate. He drove his Mini Minor when visiting my mother in Taiping and his other spouse in Ipoh.

He had the adventurous spirit in him just like his father Abdullah who ventured even to Pattani to look for opportunities in his younger days. His uncle Haji Tasir, my granduncle, was in the same mould, becoming one of the pioneers of Behrang raising a big family there.

Bapak had shares and interest in Ganda. He was approached to be the man on the ground on behalf of the management. That particular day he went to the bank to collect the salary payment of the workers of the estate. He was driven to Telok Anson town in the company’s jeep. Having completed his business at the bank he and his companions went for lunch at the well known Yusofia Restaurant. I was told he enjoyed his favourite Mee Rebus. Finishing lunch they moved out to the vehicle on the other side of the road across the restaurant to be back at the estate. The divider has to be crossed. Bapak did cross the divider but his left leg was trailing. Out of nowhere this particular motorcycle came and knocked on the trailing left leg flinging the old man a few feet up. He landed on his head causing fatal damage. He was rushed to the hospital by the estate’s vehicle, given emergency treatment. He lost a lot of blood and pronounced dead a short time later.

I was working in my office (Voice of Malaysia) at the time of the incident and was having lunch at the canteen. The telephone operator got the emergency message from my sister Haslah. It was conveyed to me by my staff. I was in shocked. I called my sister who told me that Bapak had just passed away. I left a note to my boss requesting for emergency leave, that I’ll be away from office to attend to the funeral arrangement. Then I headed home and did a slow drive to Telok Anson, with only one thought, to arrive safely. On reaching the hospital I was greeted by many concerned relatives and friends. It was early evening when I boarded the jeep that was to take the remain to our grandfather’s house in Padang Tenggala, Bota Kanan, Perak, the family home. The remain would be buried at the local burial ground nearby beside the mosque the next day. There were big crowd of relatives and friends. Arrangements have been made earlier by Baba, Bapak’s first cousin, Dato’ Haji Ghazali Abdullah, the then Mufti of Perak. Haji Ghazali was the first Imam Besar of Mesjid Negara, who then was appointed the Mufti of Selangor before moving on to his home state.

It was a sad and solemn occasion.

Bapak was a well known figure in the kampong he was born in 1905. He was the eldest of 3 children; the other were sisters Jepah and Mahyan. He was sent to the Hogan School (now Clifford) in Kuala Kangsar for his education where most of his cousins from the kampong went in the early part of the 20^th century. They stayed with relatives there. Those days there was no hard and fast rule on education. Bapak left school early and went to work with the Perak state government civil service, earlier in the land office in Kuala Kangsar. With the consent of the Sultan he was appointed Assistant Penghulu in Mukims in Kuala Kangsar and Hulu Perak at the time when there was no trunk road. Travelling has to be done on bicycles or on the back of elephants. Bapak married Emak, my mother Che’ Bee binti Adam in late 1920s in Kuala Kangsar where she was brought up. Emak fondly told me the story of how she was carrying me travelling to Kg Belom on the elephant. I arrived in 1940 in Kuala Kangsar.

Bapak was then appointed Penghulu in the Mukim of Sungkai in the district of Batang Padang in the south-east of the state in early 1940s. My memory opened with the Penghulu’s house we were staying at Pekan Lama Sungkai beside the river. It was a care free life, until the Japenese invasion came. The whole family have to be bundled and moved into the jungle to avoid the Japanese soldiers’ atrocities. The Japanese accepted father as the Penghulu of the Mukim, the Sultan of Perak’s representative. It was safe for us to return home but the fear was there as the Japenese were never happy when their command was not obeyed. They were suspicious all the time and the mistrust was always in their thought. It was a conflict of culture and language.

Food was scarce. I remember mother and my two elder sisters Haslah and Che Teh have to plant tapioca, vegetables and fruit trees to supplement our daily diet at the back of the house. It was a hard life. Bapak went on with his public duty of taking care of the need of the people with the assistant of the Ketuas Kampong. School was abandoned but the religious teaching of reciting the Quran still went on at the nearby mosque. As small kids we continue to enjoy the dip at the clear and cool water of the Sungkai River beside the house. At night there was complete darkness as we were told any light would attract the attention of the Japanese soldiers and groups of the unknown anti-Japanese vigilantes.

In 1945 there were joy at the news that Japan have surrendered and the British soldiers were making their way south. I remember seeing their vehicles including the amphibious passing in front of our house. Small kids like us line up along the main road to watch the spectacle. One of the thing that I cannot forget was when the soldiers on the vehicles throwing sweets at us. I have never tasted one in my life. It was great to feel the energy flowing after consuming one.

It was great feeling being freed from hardship but it was not to be. In the interim some of the vigilantes were in cohort with the Kuomintang planning to take control of the place. Bapak was their main target and victim, accused of collaborating with the Japanese. He was arrested, tied up to a pole and ready to be executed. The family didn’t know about this until very much later in the evening when he was brought home exhausted by many of his Ketua Kampong led by Haji Hashim. There were bruises on his hands and body, the effect of being tied up. Haji Hashim and his group of Ketua Kampong had negotiated with the renegades, pleading to them to spare Bapak as he had duly performed his duty to look after the welfare and well being of the people in the Mukim.

We were relief at having back Bapak with us. He went on to perform his duty and looking after the welfare of the people. Life came back to normal with ample supply of food for everyone. The staple food rice was rationed. In the mean time during the Japanese occupation my grandfather passed away at his house in Padang Tenggala. The whole family somehow made our way to Parit. As there was no road existed at that time, we had to use the sampan to reach Bota along the Perak River from Parit town. For safety reason the small children were fetched by bicycle along the footpath trail beside the river. Later my eldest sister Haslah got married at the family home to Mukti bin Shariff, a local and a distant relative.

This was a time of uncertainties, the Malaysian Communist Party MCP went underground in their quest to wrest power. Being in the “urban” area we were not disturbed. Meanwhile the British were also planning to take over the country by diminishing the role of the Malay rulers. This was the time of national fervour when the Malays all over Malaya got together to protest. The British planned for Malayan Union was aborted and the Federation of Malaya came into being on 1 February 1948. The Sultans’ powers were restored. The Malays were united in their quest and the United Malay National Organisation UMNO came into being as a political force under the leadership of Dato’ Onn Jaafar of Johor. Bapak was in the thick of things travelling to Ipoh for the latest in the events.

In 1947 Bapak got the transfer order to be Penghulu of Sungai Manik in the District of Lower Perak. It was a sprawling padi planting area. The Penghulu’s office and resident was at Chikus along the railway line between Tapah Road and Telok Anson. There was no station at Chikus, just a halt sign denoting that the train would stop on request. I enjoyed the train ride with the soothes to our new home. Today that train service has been disbanded. Chikus then had a row of dilapidated wooden shop houses. The Penghulu’s house was located between the shop houses and the Penghulu’s office in the south. The Malay School was a bit further beyond the office. There was an open space nearby where there’s a weekly “pasar minggu” (market) on Sundays where all the daily needs were to be found. As a rice growing area the main thoroughfare was along the bunds of the irrigation canals or along the reserve of the railway track. The main mean of transport was the bicycles. We were not supposed to dip into the canals but when the inspectors were not around the children and youth had their fun. There was no electricity or running water then. Domestic consumption of water was from the well.

Bapak would go to Telok Anson often to consult the District Office on land matter and other responsibilities. If it’s an overnight trip the Penghulus would stay at the Rumah Penghulu beside the mosque. This particular house was later converted to a hostel for children from the estuarine and the kampong to stay when they were admitted to the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS).

I was admitted to the Sekolah Melayu Chikus from Standard One to Four in 1947 to 1949. Then Bapak wanted my brother Jamaluddin and I to be admitted to the Malay College in Kuala Kangsar. I opted to study at the ACS, stay at home, and travel by train to school. Bapak agreed and Jamal was sent to MCKK. I thought it was fun travelling to school by train every day. The strain of getting up to catch the early hour train and rushing to get the afternoon train after school took a strain on me. After 2 weeks of train ride Bapak bundled me into the hostel. He was a generous man, putting 30.00 into my Post Office Saving Bank account monthly. It was a handsome figure those days but I was wise not to flaunt on my new wealth. Bapak appreciated that.

In Sungai Manik Bapak had his hands full of the insurgency and the patriotic fervour of the time. The insurgency was led by the Malayan Communist Party MCP who wanted to take control of the country. They went for the arm struggle and were active in the Chinese dominated areas. For Sungai Manik it happened to be on the fringe of the Chikus River across the jungle in the small Chinese dominated town of Langkap, not far from our house as the birds fly. Every night we could hear the far away gun fire and flares. This was the time that some villagers would converge to our house to spend the nights. The ladies and children would sleep upstairs sharing our mattresses while the men folk would take turn to be vigilant downstairs. They would leave the place before daylight. It was a fearful life.

I heard stories of the racial conflict in the Sungai Manik area culminating in the Chinese being alienated. It was the stories of the “parang panjang” (long swords) that was part of the attire of men in the days when there was no rule on the usage of the weapon. It was common for men to posses the “Keris”, a Malay tradition. Bapak has one, kept in the drawer of the writing table in his bedroom.

There was patriotic fervour among the young men when the Angkatan Pemuda Insaf API went about instilling the spirit of patriotism encouraging people to emulate the achievement of Sukarno-Hatta in getting independent for Indonesia from the Dutch. As a school kid I was influenced by the spirit and would listen to Sukarno’s speech on the noisy static shortwave radio that Bapak bought using the huge car’s battery. Those API guys were eloquent orators. The kampong folk, mostly originated from the Indonesian provinces, were taken in.

Of course there were counter measures taken by the government. In peaceful Chikus where the population were Malays there was not much fear. The Information Department would come once a month disseminating the government policy and actions. To be effective they stayed overnight by showing feature films and propaganda newsreels from United Kingdom and those manufactured by Malayan Film Unit (now Filem Negara) interjected by explanations by their officer in Malay. Normally it was a gentleman by the name of Pak Man who would put up the night at the Penghulu’s Office. I like Pak Man because he was witty and has a lot of interesting stories and anecdotes. On arrival he would have long discussion in private with Bapak at the office. I suppose it was an update briefing of the current situation at the Mukim to supplement his talk to the audience later.

Bapak was also active in the local UMNO chapter. He was one of the committee members. Most of his spare time was taken by the party. Being a government officer he was closed to the then most senior officer in the state, the Menteri Besar, Dato’ Panglima Bukit Gantang Abdul Wahab who played an active role in the state UMNO. When Dato’ Onn left the party, Panglima Bukit Gantang formed the short lived National Association of Perak NAP. Bapak was a follower. He had no choice as the Menteri Besar was the big boss of the civil service in the state. When the party weaken and disbanded they revert back to UMNO. Panglima Bukit Gantang was later drafted as the Rulers’ representative that negotiated for the independent (Merdeka) of the country alongside Tengku Abdul Rahman. He was a competent lawyer.

As I was staying in the hostel, I only came home during school holidays and did not follow Bapak’s progress in the kampong. Then in 1952 Bapak was transferred to be the Penghulu of Ipoh. It was a real cultural shift for the family from the backwater village life in Sungai Manik to the bright light of Ipoh with electricity and running water. Bapak’s official living quarters was a spacious bungalow with compound addressed at 24 Hill Street, Ipoh, next to the Perak Police Headquarters in the old town area. It was a convenient area where almost all amenities were around the corner within half a mile radius. Bapak’s office was a stone throw away behind the house. So was the bus station at Kidd Road. The railway station was across the Police Station. The house became sort of wayfarers’ inn for my parent’s large extended family. We were happy to have them in updating the family news. It was a busy time for Emak in the kitchen preparing the food for the visitors.

The emergency was at its height. Ipoh town was spared of the heavy curfew. As the house was next to the Police Headquarters we would witnessed almost every day the “jungle force” bringing back and lining the corpses of the terrorists in front of their building. It was unsightly and could be seen from the main road. We would also hear the fatalities suffered by the arm forces.

The house was so large that we could afford to put in 2 families who were in need of accommodation at that time. There was Raja Jalil Badiozaman of Kuala Kangsar who just got married. He was posted to Ipoh attached to the Social Welfare Department. They stayed in the spacious front room of the main house. Then we had my father’s cousin Haji Ghazali Abdullah who just returned from his university study in Mekah and also newly married. He was attached to the State Islamic Religious Department. He stayed at the annex room of the house, in full privacy. I like having him staying with us as  I learn a lot of religious matter from him. On the other hand he found it useful to have me around as he wanted to know the activities of the youngsters those days. Later I learnt that it was to be part of his religious talk. His eldest daughter Thuraya, my second cousin was born at the annex. When he was attached to the Religious School in Kuala Kangsar, I moved in to the annex, from the servant quarters at the back. Bapak’s other cousin Nyah Duyah and her child Fauzan had been staying with us since the Sungkai days. She was a close companion, confidante and a great help to Emak. She was instrumental in teaching us the proper way of reciting the Quraan. It was widely acknowledged that Bapak was truly a family man in the mould of his father and grandfather. I was thankful for that as I came to know most of the family originating from Bota and Kuala Kangsar through this relationship.

Bapak other spouse was Neh Lasiah Shaari of Bikam whom we addressed “Mak Chik”. They were married in our days in Sungkai. She stayed in another house with her children in Kampong Melayu near the Airport where Bapak was a pioneer of the area. We were quite close to my brothers Mustapa and Mahamud as Bapak always brought them to the spacious quarters. Except for the other brother Halil, I didn’t meet any of my younger brothers or sisters except until later on in life when we were adult and having family of our own, long after Bapak’s demise.

I was looking forward to my year end school holiday in 1952 and have this idea of schooling in Ipoh at the encouragement of my uncle Ahmad Shazilie (Ayah Ee) of Sungkai who attended the Anderson School, Ipoh, until terminated by the Japanese invasion. I went to the school to enquire of the possibility. On checking my performance as a Standard 5A pupil at ACS Telok Anson the school authority gave a nod and ask me to bring over my leaving certificate from the former school which I did. On the eve of School for l953 Bapak enquired why I was not making the trip to Telok Anson. I told him what I have done. He was pleased and happy that I would be in the house to keep Emak company together with my elder sister Che’ Teh and younger sister Selamah (Wan Chu) who was a toddler. Both my brothers Jamaluddin and Salleh were away at the Malay College in Kuala Kangsar. Life was a contrast for me. Now I cycled to School located about a mile across Ipoh town. I see my parents daily but Bapak was always away with his many duties beside the political ongoing.

Life was more hectic for Bapak in Ipoh, the capital of Perak state. His area of coverage was larger and the populace was multi-ethnic. His office was full of people. He was busy dealing with land matter and social amenities as his office was an extension of the District and Land Office, besides attending to the well being of the people. He had to visit the fringe area to meet the Ketua Kampong who helped him performed his duty.

Through Bapak’s participation I was learning the rudimentary of politics of the time. The country was in fervour of Merdeka (Independent) after having opposed the British proposal of usurping the power of the Malay Rulers through Malayan Union culminating in the formation of the Federation of Malaya in 1948. Bapak’s and his friends were having long discussions and deliberations in the house until late at night.

The British administration then decided that a General Election is held to elect members of the Federal Legislative Assembly which prior to this was fully appointed by the British High Commissioner in Malaya. The Election was held on 27 July 1955, the only General Election before Merdeka. The Alliance led by Tunku Abdul Rahman swept 51 of the 52 seats contested forming the majority in the mixed elected and appointed Assembly. Tunku was appointed Chief Minister. I remember this election very well as some candidates were too poor to print posters, and they had converged to our centrally located house looking for any help possible. As a schoolboy who was interested in art I was roped in to design election posters with the wordings prepared by the elders. My friends and I had our hands full. We worked until late at night. We were happy to be given a token amount which went a long way for our favourite past time, going to the movies and enjoying the delicious ice kacang at the stalls. We were happier still when “our” candidates were the winners.

Then there was talk about independent. Tunku and the Rulers’ representative sailed to London to seal the declaration of independent for Malaya on 31^st August 1957. I was a Form 6 pupil at that time. Bapak and I got up early that morning to be with the crowd at the Ipoh Padang in celebration. Bapak was among the rows of guest of honour.  I joined the Anderson School marching band as a bugle player that day. It was a joyous occasion.

I sat for the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (now it is Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia SPM) when I was in Form 5 in 1956. I was selected to study Form 6 at the same Anderson School in 1957. I was in school when the result came in early April. I had an average result. When I came home Bapak was having his usual banters with his friends in the living room. I whispered to Bapak of my “success”. He was a proud man and informed his friends to my embarrassment. Anyway they chipped in to donate a substantial amount for me to celebrate. That was the time that I was determined not to let Bapak down.

This was also the period my elder sister Che’ Teh left the private school, Guru Nanak. There was celebration in the house when she got married to her schoolmate Yaacob Othman. Yaacob was from Melaka. He was a rookie in the Public Work Department in Ipoh. Relatives and friends congregate to the house for the kenduri. This was Bapak’s second marriage kenduri in the family. The first one at the Kampong for my eldest sister Haslah was during the period of uncertainties when the bond of gotong royong was very strong. This time relatives and friends had their share in the preparation of the kenduri too. Teh and Yaacob stayed in the house with the family.

Bapak was active in social work. He was a pioneer member in the Malay Cooperative Society in Ipoh as a Committee Member. In Kampong Melayu he was among those who mooted the building of the local Mosque being its pioneer Committee Member too. The Mosque is a prominent landmark of the Kampong now. Bapak was a regular at the Mosque as his house was a stone throw away.

Life went on as normal until the end of 1957 when Bapak was transferred to be the Penghulu of Taiping. Normally it was the most senior posting among the Penghulus in Perak as he would end his career there before retiring from government service. His residence and office was near the Taiping Lake at the end of the town. It was a complete change of life for the children especially me. I have no friend and didn’t know any one there.

I went back to Ipoh in 1958 to continue my schooling. I chose not to stay at the School Hostel as I had enough of hostel life in my younger days. With the assistance of Bapak’s friend, Che Gu Hassan Basri, I managed to rent a room at the spacious Rumah Guru run by the Malay School Teachers Association of Perak in Gopeng Road. There were a few teachers’ children staying there. At times we had many teachers converging there for their meetings. Bapak would pop in once in a while when he was in Ipoh on official duty or at the weekends when he visited Mak Chik at Kampong Melayu. I always look forward to his visit as he would be giving me my pocket money and rental. Financially I was well off as I received a monthly allowance of 75.00 for being in Form 6, a handsome figure those days.

After having sat for the Cambridge Higher School Certificate HSC I headed back to Taiping waiting for the result. I saw more of Bapak and helped him at his office. In the meantime I managed to be a temporary teacher at the Chinese Primary School in Aulong, about 2 miles from the house with a monthly basic salary of 175.00 based on my School Certificate qualification. Bapak was happy as I was no longer a burden, and I was a great help in the house. I would join him for his daily morning walk at the Lake Garden after the Morning Prayer. When the HSC result came, it was a joyous occasion as I had obtained the Full Certificate and my salary at the school shot up to 350.00, back pay included. It was wonderful feeling being “rich”. Instead of going to Ipoh to meet the gang, I went to Penang almost every weekend to enjoy the sight of tourism in the duty free port city and joining the company of a former neighbour in Ipoh who settled in Penang. Bapak didn’t question me on my exploit.

All good things have to come to an end. In May of 1959 I headed for Kuala Lumpur for my tertiary education. I seldom saw Bapak except during vacation. In early 1960s Bapak retired from service and became a pensioner. The family moved out of the quarters and settled at the traditional house Bapak acquired at Jalan Kampong Jana Baru in Kamunting. It was a spacious 2 storey mixed bricked and wooden structure. Bapak, Emak and my sister Wan Chu stayed upstairs, while young kids like me and my cousin Fauzan stayed at the smaller rooms downstairs. My aunty Nyah Duyah stayed at the backroom next to the kitchen where it was convenient for her to lead the Quran recital among the kampong children around the house. We had a happy life staying there.

Being a former Penghulu Bapak was a popular figure in the community in Taiping. He was involved in many Committees, including the rising political party UMNO. Bapak was busier than ever. When the local Taiping Municipal Council election came he was drafted by the Perikatan to be one of the candidates. He was elected to the Council. Bapak discontinued being the local council member when he was offered by Ganda to run the estate in Telok Anson.

In the meantime Bapak went to Mekah to perform the pilgrimage. He was away for more than 3 months as in those days they have to board the special pilgrimage ships from Penang. There were big crowd of well wishers at the harbour from all over the country. We were among them. The returned were the same. Bapak went with his friends. Emak and Mak Chik didn’t follow. Bapak came back to his normal routine after the welcome home receptions, even in the kampong in Padang Tenggala.

Bapak commute between Ganda Estate in Telok Anson to Ipoh and Taiping fortnightly. He was always cheerful. Normally Bapak would take the traders’ ancient trail, the kampong back road of footpath on his Kapchai, to reach Sungkai whenever he felt like it to spend the night at my uncle Ee and family house at the Pekan Lama. Main reason he went there was to enjoy the fine cooking of Ayah Ee’s wife Wan Pon. Bapak enjoyed her Gulai Tempoyak, the cooked sambal tempoyak, the Petai and Ulam. Of course he went there to join his many friends at the congregation at the old mosque for the Maghrib and Isya. He would leave for the estate after the morning prayer after a good breakfast. There was no worry about congestion as it was a lonely trail. I look at it as an adventurous life for Bapak in the tradition of the family.

Bapak never seem to be ill in all his entire life that I know. It must been his positive outlook at life and career. The only time we have to rushed to my uncle's house in Sungkai when we were informed bapak was not well. On reaching the house the ilness was subsiding. He was diagonised as contracting "demam campak" normally common among youngsters. He was over 70 at that time. All of us had a nice laugh when he commented we were busy bodies.

Bapak was a very proud when I joined Radio Malaysia, my voice could be heard reading the news and doing the commentary for important events and sports. He was happier still when I was transferred to Penang. He would pop in once in a while. In fact he brought the whole tribe to my small house in Tanjong Bungah when Emak went to perform the Haj. I ended in exhaustion and Bapak stayed back for a few days to look after me until I recovered. He was a concerned father. When I was transferred back to KL in 1972 he would come often to the rented house in Jalan Raja Abdullah Kampong Baru. Besides dotting on my 2 young children, Azfa and Afzal, he was happy to be there as the house was located opposite the Mosque across the road. He never missed joining the congregation at all the prayers. I did visit him at the estate twice diverting from my journey when visiting Emak in Taiping. I saw the spartan life he was leading. He was happy I joined him for lunch with his crew. He was proudly introducing me. It seems my voice was familiar at the estate.

Then on that fateful afternoon of 4 April 1975 the curtain came down on the great life of Bapak. It was a sad day for all of us in losing someone whom we love and admired so much. I can never forget the time of the ambulation at the family’s house when Bapak’s head was placed on my lap, being the eldest of the sons. I could see blood still streaming from the injured part. I didn’t allow emotion overcame me in this hour of grave sadness. The burial went smoothly like clockwork. We were thankful for that – syukur Alhamdulillah.

On his demise Bapak left behind two spouses, Che Bee binti Adam and Neh Lasiah bin Shaari, and 15 children and several grandchildren. The children from Che’ Bee were Zaleha (d), Haslah, Mohamad (d), Che’ Teh, Abdul Aziz (d), Amran, Jamaluddin, Salleh and Selamah, while from Puan Neh were Mustapa, Mahamud, Halil, Tam, Fatimah, Azman, Mazlan, Zakiah and Abdul Latif.

Bapak has a special way with people making them very much at ease in his company. That could have been the way he was brought up in the closely knit family life in the kampong, where the extended family was part of it. His life among the royalty in Kuala Kangsar in his younger days could have strong influence. He too has a special way of his own treating each and every one of his children. That special bond between him and each of the children has made each one of us feel he or she was his favourite child. I am very happy about that as that is the way the bond between parents and children be upheld.

The Family Lineage:

Imam Bolah

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Kanda Abdul Rahman m. Che’ Sharipah (5 children: Abdullah, Puteh Zabedah, Alang Tiah, Ahmad Tasir & Ahmad Arshad)

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Abdullah m. Teh Zaiton bt Abdul Latif (3 children: Abdul Hamid, Jepah & Mahyan)

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Abdul Hamid m. Che Bee bt Adam (9 children) & Neh Lasiah bt Shaari (9children)

 

I may have overlooked some of the significant events and facts in the life of Bapak. I hope those in the know would be kind enough to inform me by any mean. It would be most welcome and appreciated.