Pakcik reminisces (Pt 27 ) – The 2nd call

The end of Pakcik’s last posting ( Pt 26 - click here ) promised a separate entry for the second phone call received on the same day. The first, as related in that posting, was from the daughter of my late friend, Datuk Ahmad Badri. The second call was from the daughter of another old friend, the late Datuk Suhaimi.

What a coincidence indeed it was that on the same day two young ladies addressing Pakcik as ‘uncle’, made two similar pleas that Almanar would accept their contributions in memory of her parents, in the first case, and her father in the second. The two families of these two ladies came into Pakcik's life when the two of us, a newly married couple, landed in the small town of Jesselton ( now Kota Kinabalu ) way back in1964. However, like us Datuk Ahmad Badri and his family were subsequently posted back to K Lumpur where our friendship continued, leaving Datuk Suhaimi and family as Sabah permanent citizens.

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Special note (1):

Only very much later did  I come to know that the late Datuk Suhaimi, his wife Datin Zainun and the late Datuk Ahmad Badri were friends from their school days in early 1950’s. They came from different schools in Perak and Johore Bahru but were active in Gabungan Pelajar Mealayu Semenanjung (GPMS), during the days of the late Aminuddin Baki.

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Time flew and before Pakcik and Makcik realise 
it our 40^th wedding anniversary was fast approaching. It was then the sleeping memories of our good times in old Jesselton came alive. The memories of our honeymoon years were too strong to deny a revisit. In short, we decided on a visit to Sabah. To complete the picture we took along our daughter and two of her four children. She had the right to be there because it was there she was conceived, and she was the first to give us the right to be called a family.

In K Kinabalu, many of the old landmarks had gone or been replaced. Many others like the good old Jesselton Hotel were still there. Above all there was Datuk Suhaimi and his family as the icing of the cake.

In brief, it was literally a teary reunion between two long lost families.

Until the end of time

                                          

                   Parts of the two families

 Kak Zainun, as we call her, was an exceptional lady.She is an accomplished cook.  We can never forget those years in the 60’s when she used to run cooking classes for young wives from Peninsular Malaysia, and Makcik was one them. She is the owner of the cake shop in town, the Bits and Bites, where one can sit to enjoy her specialties. She has been running this for thirty years. With a number of helpers she has all her cakes and so on prepared in her house which is almost a food factory in itself.  Of our nostalgic visit she managed to wriggle out the reason behind it. True to her nature, knowing that it was our anniversary, a beautiful cake was skillfully prepared, waiting for us to arrive at their home to cut it.

   

With love from Bits & Bites

Sadly, just about one year after our nostalgic visit Datuk Suhaimi passed away. I will always remember this very dear friend with Al-Fatihah. He has left a family who look at others with compassion. One of his children, a doctor, makes time to take care of cancer patients apart from running her own clinics.   

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Special notes (2):

Since the demise of Datuk Suhaimi many parties have approached his family for manuscripts and information on this very special man who dedicated his life unselfishly during his long service in information, radio and TV, beginning in Brunei to follow with a long service to develop radio Sabah during the colonial days to retire as the Director of radio and TV in Sabah. During his days in Brunei he had spells of service with BBC in UK and Australia in the 50’s. I would like very much to write the life story of this great person, inadequately recognised during his life time; a life of loyal public service.

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