My experiences travelling in buses began as a young boy. I was then staying at the 2nd mile, Kapar Road, Klang. I remember travelling in blue coloured buses owned by the Kuala Selangor Onimbus Company (K.S.O.C). This company, for readers’ information was run by Klang’s well known Chinese entrepreneur, Mr. Tong Kok Teck and his family.

If readers should read one of my earlier articles in the blog, you surely must have read an episode whereby my grandaunt once travelled down from our ancestral abode at 136, Kapar Road to Klang. Being a fat, jolly old dame, the bus, which she embarked one fine day, suddenly moved off before she could find a seat.

Fearing that she would fall, she had to find something to hold on to. Luckily for my aunt, Madam Tan, she saw a young, Chinese lad, with long, “Afro” looking hair sitting near to her. My aunt, launched her hands into the young lad’s mane, holding on to it for dear life. Her actions may have prevented her from falling. But it caused the victim’s face to turn red, like a cooked lobster!

While staying along Telok Pulai Road, Klang, in the 1950’s and 60’s, our family then possessed no cars. We then had to travel extensively by using the familiar “blue and yellow buses” belonging to the MARA Express Company.

When working for more than 10 years or so in Kapar Town, Selangor, I used to frequent buses run by the Kuala Selangor Bus Company almost daily. I still remember paying approximately RM1.50 going to the above town, which was located some 10-15 kilometers away.

In the 1960’s, I once worked as a “temporary” teacher in a small, sleepy hollow of Telok Datok, some 18 kilometers from Klang. In fact, I was attached to the Methodist English School (M.E.S.) under auspices of a MR. Vincent Daniel, who happened to be the younger brother of the then, well known principal of my alma mater, the Anglo Chinese School (A.C.S.) Klang, situated at Jalan Raya West, Klang, he was Mr. D.R Daniel.

In those days, I travelled mostly via express buses run by the MARA Bus Company of Banting. Without those buses and the services which they provided, I would surely be at a loss going to my place of work in those days.

I have already written quite extensively about my association with tour or express buses in my earlier article entitled “How To Seriously Consider Attempting To Solve Bus Accidents”. I was then in Penang doing my studies there in the 1970’s. I had to travel to and from Penang Island a total of 2-3 times per week then.

I can still vividly remember that I used to travel in express buses such as MARA Express, Ekoba Express and S.T.P. Express Bus, amongst others. It costs me RM13 or so to travel from Penang in those days. Reflecting upon it, I feel rather strongly that without the services provided by “buses” in those days, my studies in the Pearl of the Orient, as Penang is so well known as, would certainly have not been achieved. “Syabas” to the bus express companies which provided me with their invaluable services way back in the 1970’s.

Talking about the subject of travelling by buses, I feel that the trips I organized to the “Lion” city of Singapore and also to Penang Island, way back in the 1970’s, should also be given mention as well. For both the above trips, we used an air-con bus belonging to the Kuala Selangor Onimbus Company, Klang.

In Penang, we remember visiting the former Prime Minister or “Bapa Malaysia”, Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj, at his home, “Takdir” at No.1 Jalan Tengku, Penang. We also visited my interesting places in Penang such as the Governor’s Residence; a batik factory in Telok Bahang, a “sardine” factory located in Riverside Road, Penang and also the annual exhibition or “expo”, which was held at Sungai Pinang site, near Bayan Lepas.

Thinking back regarding our trip to Singapore Island, which I organized with my colleague, Mr. Chee H.C., amongst the interesting places the group visited were the “285 feet above sea level cable car” to Sentosa Island. The Japanese Gardens, the Chinese Gardens, the Aw Boon Huat Tiger Balm park, the Janjong Katong beach, the famous “Bugis Street”, where the “maknyahs” were located, and finally the Botanical Gardens, where according to history, the first “rubber” seedling brought here by H.N. Ridley from South America, were planted.

Although our trip to Singapore was an enjoyable and fruitful, yet educational one, nevertheless, it should be reiterated here that there was one thing the organizers and the group felt we failed to achieve, and that was our intention and mission to meet face to face with the man whom we have learnt so much about in our everyday “History” lessons!

And that being, meeting the first Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew himself. The group in fact had written to the Prime Minister, but at that particular time, Mr. Lee was himself facing a political crisis. Singapore, was then in the process of breaking up with Malaysia. Nevertheless, even though Mr. Lee Kuan Yew was unable to meet with us, he did however advised his Secretary to provide our group all the assistance we required for our visit to Singapore.

As a result, our group of 50 or so youths and organizers, were accorded a fantastic stay at the National Youth Training Centre in Ang Moh Kio, I think, for RM1.40 per day, with breakfast thrown in.

So much my endeavours of travelling in buses in the 1970’s and 80’s. Whether you believe it or not, even up to this day, I still travel quite a lot in buses. Buses anyway, are a layman’s mode of transportation.

Once in every two or three days, I still travel from Klang to Kuala Lumpur. To travel to Petaling Jaya, one has to pay approximately RM1.50 to RM2.50. If one were to stop at Pasar Seni bus station in Kuala Lumpur, then one has to pay a sum of RM3.00.

What buses do I travel on these days? Amongst the buses I frequently use are buses from the Causeway Link Company, Seroma Bus Express, Rapid KL and also not to forget mentioning “Citiliner” bus expresses, owned by the Konsortium Transnational Berhad (KTB). In reality, the purpose of writing this article is not to relate to readers about episodes of my bus travels over the years.

It is in fact to highlight the woes facing bus companies, especially “Citiliner” buses. Citiliner buses services in Selangor, with effect 13th December, 2011. The Konsortium Transnational Berhad or KTB, is in the process of seeking the Selangor state government’s assistance.

According to KTB, the Company is reported to be incurring a loss of some RM8 million per year. Unless and until the Selangor government extends KTB some form of help, the public or “rakyat” will be the ones who will suffer.

The question the public would be asking is, should or should not the Selangor state government throw the Konsortium Transnational Berhad, the “life line” that it needs. Well, Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, how about it? What do you think?

Concerning the dilemma that is faced by bus companies these days, the STAR daily newspaper in its editorial, did a write up. The editorial reiterated that “quality bus services in this country is but still a pipe dream”.

The STAR editorial further continued, in the interest of ordinary folks who depend on buses to move around, the current matter has to be sorted out as soon as possible. In short, the interest of the people or “rakyat” should be accorded due consideration.

However, this is only a short term solution. The long term objective is for all bus operators to sit down together and develop a strategy for the future. Bus companies should come up with a programme whereby punctuality is emphasized. Besides that, reliability should be taken into account. Efficiency of bus companies is also an important consideration which should also not to be forgotten. All in all, it is important to keep the buses running.

The authority that is responsible for the bus companies’ welfare, that is the Land Transport Commission (SPAD), must do the correct thing for now. The bus operators on the other hand, must work out a long term solution. If the present bus woes is done right, the number of commuters will, without a doubt increase. The money will then flow in.

The pipe dream of an efficient and profitable bus service will then become a “reality”! The public would then be the ones to benefit tremendously from this success.

“It was a dark and stormy night”, isn’t that how most novels start in the beginning. Indeed it was a dark and stormy day on the 2nd of May 2012. It was the day Cikgu Yap’s (my father) first book, Driving Made Easy was officially launched.

My father was invited by True Wealth Publishing, his book publisher, to attend the launching ceremony at PWTC in conjunction with KL Book Fair 2012. The initial plan was to attend the event together with my father and my wife and it turned out to be a family event. Both my mother and sister attended the event as well since it was a major milestone for my dad.

As the event schedule was fixed at 4 pm, we left home at around 3 pm hoping to beat the traffic. But the sky that day caved in with a heavy thunderstorm which I haven’t seen in years. This is the kind of storm you get to see once in a decade.

Due to the heavy rain, flooding and jam on the road, our trip to PWTC took longer than expected. We actually arrived at the exhibition hall at 4:30 pm. Well, it was just in time for us to have our toilet break and then head over to the event stage at Pentas Utama.

Cikgu Yap at the author’s waiting area

My wife, mother and sister

As expected, there was only a small crowd as it as a Wednesday evening. The event started with the arrival of some VIPs and the person which I wanted to meet, Azizi Ali as the Managing Director of True Wealth Publishing.

Pentas Utama, PWTC

Opening speech by Azizi Ali

Official Launching

There were speeches and more speeches and the highlight of the event was when Cikgu Yap was called on stage to receive a Certificate of Appreciation from Azizi Ali for his hard work in writing the Driving Made Easy book.

Cikgu Yap awarded Certificate of Appreciation

All authors on stage

My mom and dad

Cikgu Yap with Azizi Ali

All in all, I think it was well worth the effort by us as a family braving the thunderstorm and heavy traffic to attend the event.

For those who are looking for tips on how to pass your Malaysian driving test, you can now get a copy of Cikgu Yap’s book in major bookstores.

How many of us ever wonder or even take the time to ponder, that life is indeed full of a long list of “waitings”.

On Father’s Day, my family members and myself, were at a simple, neighbourhood restaurant to have our dinner. There were infact not too many tables then. Only may be 9 or 10 tables or so.

But the sad thing was, there was only one lady cook at the said restaurant. So, whether we liked it or not, the cook politely told us, we have little choice but to wait for at least one hour.

After completing for my senior Cambridge and Federation of Malaya certificate (F.M.C) examinations way back in 1962 to be exact, the waiting period then began. My friends and I had to wait for more than 3 months before our results were finally released. Well, another period of waiting, didn’t I tell you earlier.

My son, Wee Li, left secondary school in 1994. All his classmates have since gotten married or settled down and have since raised families of their own. Believe it or not, some of his close classmates have even managed to have 3 or 4 kids by now.

But whether you wish to believe what I am saying or otherwise, surprisingly some have even landed up in divorces. One of his close classmates that I know of, is presently awaiting for his lawyer’s documents and for the court proceedings to begin. May be in another few more months of anxious waiting, the above friend will finally be freed of his tensions. All his worries hopefully will soon be over.

It is a sorry and sad situation. But that’s the way life is. Some marriages, I’m sure you’ll surely agree, lasts a life time. Well, some lasts only a short while. Good and lasting marriages, they say, are made in heaven. They last a long, long time, till eternity, some people seem to say.

Well, coming back to my son’s case, out of 40 or more classmates, he is still single and not yet married. I believe he is the last of the “Mohicans”, already in his mid-thirties and still s bachelor.

Anyway, readers, especially the girls and the mother, shouldn’t worry too unduly. My son, underwent his wedding registration at the famous Thien Hou Kong temple in Taman Seputeh on the 22nd of May, 2011. The big day has been set for the 30th of October, 2011.

Well, didn’t I tell you that life is full of “waitings”. My son has to wait for a few months more before the auspicious and happy day arrives.

My first daughter, Swan Nee, is now happily married with two lovely girls. One is now studying in standard two in Sekolah Taman Rimau, near Kota Kemuning. The second daughter, is in kindergarten. She should be attending regular school in 2012.

Well, even kids have to wait, didn’t I say earlier? Anyway, before the birth of my first daughter, Swan Nee, my wife, Mary, like all mothers around the world, had to wait for more than 9 months, before my daughter was finally born. My daughter was scheduled to be born, the doctor said, during the month of August, to be exact.

But do you know what happened? My daughter finally decided to be born on, of all days, Malaysia Day, 16th September, 1971, approximately 2 weeks or so late or overdue, as medical people say.

And what did my wife have to bear? Another period of waiting! Do you know what a period of anxious waiting for her first baby feels like? If you were to be a mother yourself, I’m sure you’ll certainly know the feeling of tension, worry and excitement one has to undergo. That’s only what a mother goes through. What about the anxiety the would be the father has to go through waiting for the arrival of his first baby?

Men who have to shave their beards everyday, also go through a process of waiting. The process of shaving takes from 5 minutes for some people, to 10 or 15 for others. In one week, a man has to waste some 90 minutes to shave himself so as to be presentable. Calculate this in 1 year, you will discover quite a lot of time is indeed wasted for shaving alone.

There was a survey made to demonstrate how much time men have to spend on shaving alone. But unfortunately, I have forgotten where I kept the article.

If you are told, that mankind goes through a period of waiting all their lives, then obviously this conclusion would be incorrect. My maternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Ee Siew Mooi, was nearly 85 yeas old when she passed away. Although my granny was old, nevertheless, she was hale and hearty. Strong and fit so to say.

One fine morning, my grandmother was to pass away. She died so peacefully in her sleep. She did not have to wait, to suffer and cause untold difficulties to those who loved her. My grandmother did not have to wait for “death” to come and take her away from this world. The good lord above just took her away peacefully.

You may not believe the above story I’m unfolding into you. But my grandmother’s only daughter, that is this writer’s mother, Ong Geak Tee, similarly died the same way her mother did. My beloved mother died at the age of approximately 68 years old. Yes, I admit, my mother was weak of heart.

The medical doctors had earlier told us so. Like her mother, my mum also passed away peacefully in her sleep. She did not have to wait for her time to come. Again, the good lord spared my mum the pain and sufferings which most people undergo. Strange, but all these things which I’m talking are true stories.

In relating to you about how people have to wait for a long time before we manage to get things we want to be done, it is only fair and appropriate that we make mention about waiting, while attending a function, especially so at Chinese wedding dinners.

I dislike attending wedding functions. They are indeed very, very time consuming affairs. Chinese weddings are normally scheduled for 7.00 o’clock. But in most cases, the above functions do not begin until 8.00 or 8.30 p.m. Just imagine having to wait for one and a half hours before we are allowed to enjoy eating our dinner.

We wait for interviews to begin. We have to wait quite a long while before a movie begins. At home, we have to wait for our turns to use the family toilets at times. Waiting for food to be served at the restaurant is something normal.

In short, life is actually a long series of waitings. Besides, what I have mentioned earlier, don’t forget that we wait for hours and hours while our wives do their shopping for dresses, shoes, and other paraphernalia, especially during festive occasions, like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya and Deepavali celebrations.

My Longest Waiting Period

I personally have come across husbands who wait anxiously at supermarket and malls many, many times. That’s what life is all about. A long list of waitings!

Do you want to know the longest period of time I had waited for something to take place or happen? Well, I feel the longest time I have ever waited must surely be the incident whereby I waited for dawn to break at the Pudu Raya bus terminal in Kuala Lumpur, way back in the 1980’s.

You see, I had departed Butterworth bus terminal at 12.00 p.m. one afternoon. The bus was to arrive at Kuala Lumpur Pudu Raya Station by 8.00 p.m. at the latest. But due to heavy rains along the entire route from Penang to the federal capital, the express bus finally only managed to arrive at Pudu way past midnight.

By that time, the bus service to my hometown, which is located at Klang, had unfortunately been suspended to travel back to Klang, the taxi drivers demanded a whopping RM50, which I could ill afford at that time.

Rather than giving in to the demands of the taxi drivers, I decided to stay put at the Pudu Raya bus terminal from 12 midnight until dawn broke at 6.00 a.m. the next morning. The “wait” lasted more than 6 hours. It was the longest period I have ever experienced waiting in my entire life.

Reflecting upon this long wait, it has become somewhat of an experience to me. I now use it as a yardstick, especially when I’m faced with some difficulties or obstacles. I always remind myself, that I could get through the “longest” wait of my life at Pudu Raya, there surely must exist nothing in this world which I could not possibly overcome!

After quoting and reflecting to readers episodes of times when we have to wait before things are done, thereby proving that life is in reality a long series of waitings, I feel pertinent that two other stories should infact be related as well.

Waiting For The Letter

The first regards a short story entitled “Surat” or in English “Letters”. The above episode was set in India. It’s a matter of fact, it was in the 1950’s when India had just obtained her independence. This “touching” sad story has it there was once an old Indian father, whose only daughter had moved to neighbouring Pakistan. The father indeed loved his daughter very much.

Before the daughter separated from her father, the father had implored that his daughter not forget writing letters to him. Every day, the old man would walk miles from his village to the nearby post office to inquire of the Post Master if by any chance, there was a letter for him from his daughter. When told that there wasn’t, the old man felt extremely sad and utterly disappointed.

But the old man never gave up hope. He believed that one day, he would receive a letter from his daughter whom he loved so much and missed. This went on for years and the old man never for once gave up hope. But the letter never arrived!

One fine day, after many years had gone by, the Post Master called out the old man’s name. But the surprising thing was, the old man was not around to receive the letter which was meant for him. Years had passed by, but when a letter had really arrived for him, he wasn’t to be around.

Other village folks, told the Post Master that on the day the letter from his daughter did in reality arrive, the poor old man had died! He had waited in vain for years, for a letter which never arrived.

Finally, this article highlighting the maxim that life is in reality a long series of waitings, that we have to wait at traffic lights, and that we sometimes have to wait at long queues while waiting to pay our utility bills or collect our medications at hospital counters.

One story that is connected with waiting, should by right include the story of a Singapore man. It was said the man bought a new vehicle. He was reported to be an ardent punter of 4 digits numbers. Without fail, the man was said to have betted upon his car number for years. Unfortunately, his number never came up.

But the story has it, the man never gave up hope. He believed that one fine day, his car number would eventually come and he would strike a lucrative prize. His wait finally ended in vain. On the day his car number finally came up 1st prize, the man had died! Believe it or not, it’s all up to you!

After resting for a while and having refreshed ourselves in the hotel, most members of our entourage then decided to proceed to a shopping supermarket which is located next to our hotel to browse around.

The weather that day was rather bad. It was raining quite heavily. This spoilt our programme of having dinner outdoors at the Esplanade.

Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang

As the weather was poor, the group then decided to have all types of Penang food, especially Thai fare, which was available at the ground floor of the supermarket. I remember having fried prawn fretters, asam laksa and kuih pulut stuffed with bananas.

Later, with many members of our group fancying to opt for Chinese food, we then adjourned to a nearby Chinese outlet for fried koay teow Penang style, fried rice, mee hoon goreng, koay teow soup, and many other varieties of food. With drinks all round, the entire bill for the group came to a total of about RM80 or so.

Being free, with nothing much to do on Saturday 22nd October 2011, the group then went sight seeing. At Burmah Road, the group visited the famous Sleeping Buddha Temple and the Burmese Buddhist Temple. Our next visit was to the Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam. Prayers were made and without a doubt lots of photographs were taken.

At the foot of the famous Kek Lok Si Temple, we stopped at a restaurant to have our lunch and refreshments. After lunch, some members of our group went shopping. Others decided to go back to the hotel for our much needed rest.

My Family Getting Ready For Dinner At Corner Club, Penang

On Saturday evening, the group was supposed to attend a Chinese dinner which was held at the Corner Club in nearby Pulau Tikus. The above dinner was given by my son’s in laws in our honour. The dinner ended at approximately 10pm.

On Sunday, the 23rd of October 2011, we were to leave Penang for home. We finally left the island at around 2pm. The journey back home seemed to be more tiring. At Tapah, our van stopped for a rest. We bought a big sour sop for RM16 and a few other fruits as well. After 4 hours, we finally reached Klang at 6.45pm.

What did I learn from the trip to Penang this time around?

The journey to and back from Penang was a smooth ride. The weather was cool and not very hot. Penang Island after all these years, has undergone much development. One thing that was observed was that the city these days appear much cleaner. But the roads there were as usual traffic congested.

The 2nd Penang Bridge is currently being constructed. With it, without a doubt, the amount of the traffic in Penang will become even dire. How will the authorities deal with this problem, is left to be seen.

Another thing I recall was the Penang Bridge was then being constructed. I still remember very vividly, how I used to sit on a slope, in front of the USM chancellor’s office, every evening looking across the sea towards the mainland. The view was just enchanting.

Back in October 2011, my family and I had to come back to Penang Island again. Our entourage consisted of my wife, my daughter and my son. It also included our niece, San Fa from Hong Kong and her 2 children both boys.

My granddaughters and my niece’s sons

Not forgetting also my sister-in-law and her husband. The total number of people that went to Penang was nearly 10 people. As Penang from Selangor was approximately 560 – 600 kilometers in distance, it was decided that the family rent a 12 seater van for our 3 days visit to the island this time around.

In my earlier postings in this blog, I remember telling readers that my wife, does visit other countries for her holidays. To date, she has visited China, Europe, Turkey, and Korea, just to name a few. We therefore got hold of the taxi driver who used to fetch her and her friends to and from Klang to the KLIA in Putrajaya.

Incidentally, the van driver was an experienced driver about 50 years old. Besides driving us all the way to Penang, the driver Mr Phua B.T. was also entrusted to take us sight-seeing in Penang.

Among the places we intended to visit were the Esplanade, the Siamese Sleeping Buddha Temple, and the Burmese Temple, both of which were located in Burmah Road. And of course, there was also the famous Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam.

Readers might want to know how much it costs the entire entourage for our 3 days visit to Penang. Well, we or rather Mr Phua used a Mercedes 1200 van with registration number MBK 2511. The above van was not only comfortable, the air-cond was cool and travelling all the way to Penang and back was indeed delightful.

In short, there weren’t any complaints at all. But the most important of all was this driving instructor of 45 years experience who was sitting in the front seat next to the driver Mr Phua, was very impressed and felt very safe with Mr Phua’s mode and manner of driving.

Mr Phua, in my humble opinion was indeed a good and safe driver. I feel one cannot get a better driver as compared to Mr Phua. We were in fact, in safe hands, so to say.

Later I will proceed to describe to you why he considers Mr Phua to be a good, if not an excellent driver. I have been coaching or teaching people how to drive for so many years now should be able to assess another driver’s capability to handle a vehicle. I’m sure you will agree.

Before continuing any further, how much did we pay for the 3 day endeavour to Penang Island? In reality, we had to pay RM1200. Some may contend it maybe a little expensive. Besides the above, we had to provide a place to lodge for the driver, Mr Phua.

Wherever possible our driver was to join us for “makan” or during “meal time”. A good working rapport between the driver and members of our entourage was very important if our trip was to be made interesting, enjoyable and less tiring.

Me and my wife visiting the Siamese Sleeping Buddha, Penang

Besides our van travelling to Penang for a period of 3 days, my eldest daughter, Swan Nee and her hubby, Kin and their 2 children Joey and Raey, were also travelling to Penang by themselves in their Toyota Prius. They left their Kota Kemuning home, one hour later than us, at 10.30am and they reached Penang at around 6.45pm.

Before leaving for Penang, the group decided to take breakfast at Rantau Panjang, 4 ½ miles from Klang. The group had and assorted menu of wan tan mee, kueh teow soup, chee cheong fun, and toasted bread. For drinks, some took barley water, kopi oh, soya bean, ice tea and so forth.

We in fact had our breakfast at a restaurant called “30-30”. Food and drinks in the above place was rather cheap on the whole. And about 10.00 am or so, the group finally left Klang, heading towards the north, for Penang!

Let me tell readers why our driver, Mr Phua B. T. was considered a safe and good driver. Relating to readers the qualities of a good driver is important. Readers might wish to imitate the antics of this driver and drive safely when they have to drive long distances to Penang or Singapore, which is more than 500 – 600 kilometers away.

Among the good habits this instructor observed about our van driver, Mr Phua were the following:-

i) He does not exceed more than 110 km/h all the way to Penang. This is well within the limits of expressway driving in Malaysia.

ii) When Mr Phua meets heavy traffic on his way to the north, he is sure to slow down as he realizes it is dangerous.

iii) In his attempts to overtake the vehicles in front, Mr Phua is sure to make certain that there are no vehicles approaching behind him.

iv) Mr Phua, as a driver does not make sudden swerves in order to overtake vehicles in front of him. This is indeed a good practice which other drivers travelling long distances should try to emulate. All in all for the entire 500 – 600 kilometers journey to the north, we were lucky to be in the hands of a very good driver indeed.

v) One further good practice which was followed by our driver Mr Phua was after travelling every 150 kilometers or so, the above driver was sure to make stops at R and R (Rest and Recreation) spots which dotted the entire north to south highway. This provided the opportunity for passengers, which included both children and elderly folks, a chance to ease themselves.

Mr Phua himself will get the opportunity to take a short much needed rest and also stretch his legs as well. Occasionally, the van driver takes a puff. I’m sure this makes him a better and alert driver as well.

For readers information, we stopped at Kuala Kangsar, Perak’s royal town, at Selama and also at Bukit Mertajam which was opposite Penang Island.

For lunch, Mr Phua took us to a Chinese restaurant which located opposite Penang Island. We order six dishes; we had fried squids or sotong, lemon chicken, two or three types of fried vegetables and taufu or fried beancurd as well. With assorted drinks all round, the bill came only to RM108.

If we were to have the same type of dishes in our hometown in Klang, I would not be surprised if the entire bill comes to well over RM200. So readers, how about it? Stop at Bukit Mertajam, which is directly opposite Penang Island and enjoy your lunch there.

After a 4 ½ hour journey, our van finally pulled into the compounds of Berjaya Hotel, which is located in Burmah Road, Penang. Our entire group occupied a total of 5 rooms at the 25th and 26th floor of the 29 storey hotel. In less than half an hour, we had already checked in.

Since this post is getting rather long, I will continue to share my experience returning to Penang Island after a span of 3 decades in my next article.

The British, under the auspicies of the East India Company, came to colonialise Malaya during the 2nd half of the 19th century. J.W.W Birch, Sir Frank Swettenham, J.G Davidson and Sir Hugh Low, were amongst some of the early and well known residents to arrive here from England.

In the 1950’s, a British High Commissioner, Sir Henry Gurney, was ambushed and assassinated by the Communists, near Fraser’s Hill, another well known and famous hill resort. Early British residents and commissioners, infact dreaded coming to Malaya in those early days. Malaya, in the 2nd half of the 19th century, was not only hot, wet, and humid. It was also infested with malaria laden “mosquitoes” as well.

The British administrators of early Malaya, were more accustomed to the cool, temperate atmosphere which they found in England. Due to the above, the British residents high commissioners and other district officers, very soon found an alternative solution to solve their predicament here in the tropical heat of the Malay Peninsula.

That was the reason which soon led to the opening of “hill” resorts or “tempat-tempat peranginan” all around in our country. Amongst the cool, hill resorts, opened by the colonial folks, must surely be Cameron Highlands, Fraser’s Hill and of course Penang Hill.

My wife and I once had delicious Penang laksa while we were up Penang Hill in the 1970’s. Genting Highlands, of course came to be opened very much later. The 6,600 meter gambling resort, started when its founder Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, made a decision to set up the now famous resort approximately 45 years ago.

Hill resorts in this country – Cameron Highlands, Penang Hill and Fraser’s Hill were in reality, places where early colonial administrators and high ranking British officials went for their holidays, rest and recreation. Even after the British, had finally left the shores of Malaya, in 1957, when we finally achieved our independence, Malaysians, still fancy visiting the cool and beautiful hill station of Cameron Highlands, Perak, even up till today.

As early as the 1950’s and 60’s, bus loads of tourists, especially young Malaysians, used to visit Cameron Highlands. It can be said that if you were young once a upon a time, and you have never visited Cameron Highlands before, then you would have missed a valuable experience in life.

But then, to travel up Cameron highlands, to Ringlet a town, which is more than 6,666 feet high, is no easy, matter. Travelling by chartered bus, up the winding road to the top of Cameron Highlands is no easy matter. For those who easily become giddy and prone to vomiting, will obviously find going up Cameron Highlands a big struggle indeed.

Why do so many people fancy going up to Cameron Highlands, one might ask? Amongst some of the reasons why this resort is very popular, even with Malaysian are:-

1. Then cool temperature and fresh air there.

Compared to lowland temperature of 38° – 40°C, the temperature in Cameron Highlands is around less than 20°C. Even with the sunshine shining through during the daytime, the atmosphere is cool and very relaxing. At night, the temperatures can sometimes be even colder. Spending a few nights holiday there would be very relaxing indeed.

2. Beautiful flowers and plants thrive in abundance down there.

Cameron Highlands is reknown for its large blooms and flowers. Many people go up to Cameron Highlands to see the beautiful and colourful flowers that grow there. With such beautiful flowers around, taking photographs of ourselves and our family, for the sake of remembrance, is a favourite hobby of many people.

Most people opt to travel up Camerons, during long weekend holidays and school holiday. As a result, the Cameron Highlands is indeed a popular resort, not only with Malaysians, but even foreigners are attracted by many things which the resort has to offer.

3. The abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Being a cool place, fruits and vegetables tend to be able to grow well up in the Cameron Highlands. As a matter of fact, most of our daily vegetables and fruits come from this highland.

Visitors who go up the Cameron Highlands, usually come down with armfuls of vegetables and fruits. These items are not only fresh, but they are cheap as well. Not buying these items on our visit to Cameron Highlands would indeed be a waste of good opportunity.

4. Availability of strawberries in Cameron Highlands.

Besides the Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands appears to be one of the few places in Malaysia that is known for strawberries. The strawberries found here in the Cameron Highlands may not be as big or as sweet as those in other countries, nevertheless, having the chance to taste our own strawberries is indeed a great joy. However, strawberries here may not be cheap. This fruit is as a matter of fact, rather limited and are therefore expensive.

5. An opportunity to see tea plantations.

Cameron Highlands is also reknown for the cultivation of “tea”. Malaysia’s most famous brand of tea, “BOH” tea is infact grown up in the cool temperatures of the highlands.

On a visit here, now you can see tea plants are grown and how workers, especially women, harvest tea in the highlands as well. I have not been to the Cameron Highlands now for well over 30 years. Therefore, I am not very certain if visitors there are allowed to purchase a few packets of this famous item.

6. A chance to see English “Tudor” architecture in Cameron Highlands.

One of the things few things our once colonial masters brought to this country was “architecture”. Some of the older buildings built during the English colonial era were styled according to “Tudor” architecture.

Such buildings nowadays are rarely seen in our country today. In Cameron Highlands, a visitor will have the opportunity to see such old buildings still standing around in our country. Therefore, Malaysians should take the opportunity to go up to Cameron Highlands to see those old colonial buildings.

This short article on why people choose to visit Cameron Highlands, was meant as an introduction before I begin to talk about the recent “horrific” bus accident which befelled a double-decker bus. 28 foreigners, mostly Thais died in this fateful accident that day.

I read somewhere, friends are like leaves. They grow old. And they fade away. Dropping to the ground. New leaves then will grow in its place. That’s how friendship is described as I ponder over the above saying very carefully. Find for yourselves, how true the above is.

Thinking over the vast number of friends, that I have had, since young, since my school days, I sometimes wonder, where some of my friends are these days. First of all, I shall try to recollect friends of mine during my primary school days.

One close friend of mine, I remember was none other than my cousin, T.C. He lived in a kampong or village, next to mine. I was then staying at Kampung Martin, in Telok Pulai Road, Klang.

T.C. and myself, happened to be in the same class, quite a number of years. To be exact, we studied until standard six together. I still remember, I was slightly better in studies than my close buddy, T.C.

My cousin, T.C. and I were rather close friends. Being rather small sized and a thin kid when young, I used to depend on T.C. for protection in our schooldays. Being a lot bigger and stronger than I was, I had to seek out T.C.’s help, when faced with school enemies and bullies, out to intimidate me.

My close friend and I went places together, enjoying our young days, frolicking in the sun, swimming in the pools and muddy ponds and rivers, abundant around our kampong. We fished and caught fish, like “fighting fish” in the drains.

One thing I could still remember of T.C., was that he was strong. He could throw a “stick”, approximately 1 foot in length, at fruits such as rambutans and mangoes hanging high on the branches. He was reputed to be able to even able to throw at “sentul” fruits.

For readers’ information, the sentul tree was a very high tree, sometimes growing even 80 to 100 feet tall. Only strong boys like my cousin, T.C. were able to achieve this fantastic feat.

Even though my cousin, T.C. and myself were very close in our friendship, our close relationship like I said, was destined to come to an end eventually. As both of us grew up into our teens, we began to drift into our separate ways. Being a better student, I went to better classes. While my cousin, T.C. or better known as “Sunny Boy”, eventually was put in a weaker class.

And so, as we grew up into secondary classes in school, we saw less and less of each other. Although we met and saw each other practically every other day, as time progressed, due to different itinerary and programmes, we grew apart.

When we left secondary schools, T.C. did not pursue his studies any further. I think T.C. went into employment with Malayan Railways, in Port Klang, as a “telly clerk”. While I went into becoming a temporary teacher in 1963 in Telok Datok town, 20 miles from Banting. Later, I was to take up a teaching diploma course, aspiring to become a teacher instead.

Although my friendship with my cousin T.C. did not last very long, only a few short years, during our primary and secondary school days, as I think back, over the years we were together, those short lived years, were indeed wonderful and carefree days.

Where is my cousin T.C today? Even though, I have lost contact with him for many years now, we do occasionally meet each other from time to time, at relatives’ weddings and when we attend funerals and so forth. And not to forget also, our yearly meetings at Deepavali house gatherings at my cousin’s sister’s house in Simpang Empat, Telok Pulai, Klang.

You see, my cousin sister Daisy, who is of Malacca Chinese decent like me, is married very happily to her childhood kampong friend, Segeran. Unfortunately, Daisy is said to be not very healthy these days.

My elder brother, my younger brother and my only sister, Molly, makes it a point to visit Daisy, during the Deepavali celebrations each and every year without fail. We infact enjoy visiting her to taste her good cooking and eating all sorts of rendang, curries, muruku, keropok, ketupat, assorted Malay cuisines and kuih-muih such as “baulu” and “love letters”, which she without fail will arrange for us.

All close relatives, including T.C. will without fail, be at Daisy’s house every Deepavali. It is now the month of July. Very soon, Deepavali will be fast approaching. And good willing, all of us will gather again at my cousin sister Daisy’s house this year.

We will talk about her mother, my mother and father and all other interesting things such as her brothers Henry and Tony, who have both passed away a few years ago. One thing this author is certain is, my childhood close buddy and close friend, T.C. will surely be there too.

I look forward to meeting him, to talk about the good old times when we were both young and about our young days at the Anglo Chinese School, in Jalan Raya Barat, Klang.

Next, I would want to talk about 2 other close friends that I knew. I shall refer to them as Tan and Wong. They were infact partners in business. Initially, I found them to be very close buddies. They were always together, having lunch and breakfast most of the times. Each, does not go anywhere without the other.

My friends have always reminded me, time and again, that when we become friends with someone, make certain that the friendship is cultivated upon a 50 – 50 basis. In that way, they say, friendship will thus will last longer. And how true it was.

Today, Mr. Tan and Mr. Wong are now not on speaking terms with each other. They are at logger heads. It was said, as the story unfolds, one day Mr. Wong struck it rich at some 4 digits games. Mr. Tan came to know about it.

According to sources, one day Mr. Tan requested for a loan from his close buddy, Mr. Wong. Mr. Tan borrowed quite a lot of money from his good friend, Mr. Wong. The story has it that after the money was borrowed, Mr. Tan failed to keep his promise to pay back the sum of money he took from Mr. Wong.

When Mr. Wong claimed back the money he lent to Mr. Tan, both friends began to quarrel. As Shakespeare once said, “Never a lender nor borrower be.” How wise Shakespeare’s advice was.

Today, it has been brought to my knowledge that the two good and close friends, no longer speak to one another. They have infact, become enemies. And all because of what? Because of money!

Both Mr. Wong and Mr. Tan have since grown apart. If once, they were close friends and buddies, today, they are no longer friendly with one another. They have become enemies.

At the onset of this story, it has been said, “friends are like leaves. Like leaves, they grow old and fade away. Eventually they will drop away onto the ground.” New leaves will grow in its place, to replace them. And new friendships will then develop.

Think about what I have been saying. You will certainly agree what I have suggested is true. We may have cultivated many instances of friendships in the process of our lives. Where are our good friends these days? They have disappeared from our lives. They are no longer beside us. That’s life, I suppose!

In The Star newspaper dated 7th August 2010, with its headlines entitled “Travel Bar”, reported that some half a million Malaysians will soon be facing a travel bar. The above reported that the Immigration Department will be taking steps to prevent many people from travelling overseas.

And upon reading the above interesting report further, I discovered one amazing thing. The report went on to say, the youngest person to be blacklisted, as according to the Immigration Departments security director, Ibrahim Abdullah, was just 25.

Permit me to ask you one simple question. How on earth does a young person whom I assume, just received his or her degree from the local university, ever end up being listed amongst the list of 196,473 bankrupts? For all I know, the 25 year old graduate mentioned above, has not even as yet attended his or her convocation ceremony.

The only reason I can think of, is that the 25 year old graduate must be owing an educational loan which he or she has taken from the PTPTN or the National Higher Education Fund Corporation. And she has failed to repay her loan.

Immediately after reading the article mentioned above, entitled “Travel Bar”, I wrote an article on it, airing my views on the subject. In it, I quoted two friends, who attended an off campus course to secure their degrees. And both of them failed to repay their loans the authorities provided them. Inspite of the fact, both of them were then in their forties and holding on to posh, lucrative jobs.

Recalling the initial article that I wrote, I now regret writing it. In the first place, I wrote the PTPTN loan article because I was utterly frustrated over a few things.

One, I’ve spent nearly RM20,000 in the 1970’s to secure a better education. Likewise, my 2 friends. But the difference was, they received their goals with educational grants from the government. But they did not reservice the loans from the National Higher Education Fund? Was it a fair decision on their part?

Upon reading the article, “PTPTN Loan, an emotional Strain on Grads”, I immediately felt remorseful. It dawned upon me to then decide to write an article to comment further upon this subject.

As said in my first article which, may or may not have been published in my blog yet, readers reading it might be tempted to comment, that this 65 year old pensioned writer has no right to comment on PTPTN loans at all.

If you should happen to read my article later on, you will find that, the fact is I have the right to make known my feelings on the subject of loans taken from the National Higher Education Fund. I have “locus standi”, as they say.

Because, my youngest daughter, Lin, who graduated a few years ago, from the Multimedia University in Cyberjaya took a hefty RM60,000 loan from the PTPTN corporation. This article therefore, is meant as an advice to all potential undergraduates, who are currently registered at all higher institutes of learning. Parents likewise, should ponder over my advice carefully. Do not end up like “PTPTN Prisoner”.

Permit me to quote further from “PTPTN Prisoners” article. Although I do not wish to plagiarise anyone’s writings, nevertheless, I feel it’s only right, PTPTN Prisoner be allowed to tell her own story.

PTPTN Prisoner, as she claims, is a recent graduate, with a huge education loan over her head. She says, even before she can even get a head start in life in the working world, she tells us, she is currently saddled with a RM48,000 loan.

PTPTN Prisoner continued, from the moment she started working after her university days, she had been paying small sums based on what she could afford. Fair enough, isn’t it?

But what’s troubling her is that, the amount she has so far paid, cannot even come close at all to administration fees charged by the PTPTN Corporation!

I can verify PTPTN Prisoners’ laments. What PTPTN Prisoner said, are unfortunately true! My daughter, as I said earlier is unfortunately facing the same predicament. As far as I am aware, the administrative fee charged by PTPTN or the Higher Education Loan Corporation is a whopping RM150 alone!

If this were to continue, let me tell you, no student, who has taken an education loan, can ever dream of ever repaying whatever education loan taken from PTPTN?

The government or whichever authorities that are responsible for the repayments, should study the matter seriously. Otherwise, PTPTN Prisoner and other students cannot settle their debts, ever.

If PTPTN Prisoner, like my daughter, has not made it a point to settle her education loan, well and good, go ahead, blacklist her by all means. She deserves it.

But inspite of making loan repayments every month, making almost RM450 without fail and finally to realize that the capital amount owned has not even moved RM1000 lower at the end of the year is, I tell you – Disheartening! Something must be wrong somewhere!

The administration fee presently imposed is simply ridiculous. Why charge such a massive administrative fee for a loan that has already been taken years ago? But to impose administration fee month in and month out is not only absurd, I would say, but tantamount to being “insane”!

This is being likened to fleecing the poor undergraduates. It is not fair at all! The authorities, especially the Prime Minister, should step in immediately to alleviate the poor students who have taken an education loan to secure their degrees

As PTPTN Prisoner herself said, sooner or later, she will have no alternative but to default upon her repayments. Do you, as readers know, why some 46,887 students aged between 25 and 35 are to be blacklisted soon under the government’s “Travel Bar” decision?

To the Immigration Department’s Security Division director, Encik Ibrahim Abdullah, and to our beloved Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tin Razak, on behalf of poor PTPTN Prisoner and my own daughter, and many of her friends, this 65 year old pensioned father, would like to make an urnest appeal to you, to restudy and restructure the repayment scheme of the Higher Education Loan Scheme immediately!

Do it now! Many will be grateful to you, I believe! “Pinch your right hand, and your left hand feels the pain”, so the saying goes.

Whenever my youngest daughter, who is now approaching 30 years, and currently repaying a car loan, still single, and with a RM68,000 loan hanging over her hand, it breaks my heart, to see my daughter facing such a massive dilemma trying to make repayments towards her education loan to PTPTN every month!

As a parent and a father, permit me to make an appeal on behalf of all fathers, to allow our sons and daughters, a chance to repay their loan fairly.

Very recently, I handed a meager sum of RM2,000 to my daughter, to help her settle her education loan. As an educated father, I realized that unless a person makes a monthly repayment amount of over RM500 per month, the capital amount owned will not move lower even by an inch, so they say.

To the authorities, this parent will like to finally end this article by imploring, “do not be like Shylock, the Jew, in the Merchant of Venice”, by Shakespeare, trying to get his pound of flesh from Antonio! In doing so, Antonio may eventually bleed to death.

But the government should ideally not face the same consequences as Antonio. At least, in my opinion, not yet!

There are many ungrateful students, who have the money and yet refuse to pay up. There are also many like PTPTN Prisoner and my daughter, who struggle every month to repay, but are unmercilessly burdened by PTPTN unfair tactics. This in my opinion, Mr. Prime Minister, is not one of the ways towards achieving 1 Malaysia! Think about it.

First and foremost, “pyramids”, which were used by the Egyptians since the early days of the Pharoahs, are said to possess “mystic” powers. “Mystic” has been explained by certain dictionaries as “something which causes a feeling of amazement”.

In today’s world, many countries, including Malaysia, are very worried about the high rate of accidents, which the nation faces. With this in mind, our Road Transport Department announced very recently, its intention to implement the Automated Enforcement System (A.E.S.).

For your information, with the above system, some 1,200 closed circuit television cameras will be installed at all accident proned areas throughout the country.

Besides Malaysia, India, which is reputed to have an accident rate, the 2nd highest in the world, the first being China, has recently been said to be experimenting with pyramid powers to reduce accidents. Pyramids, which have been credited with supernatural or paranormal properties since the days of ancient Egypt, will now be adopted or harnessed by the Indian police to minimize road accidents there.

It has been reported in Mumbai, formerly known as “Bombay”, that traffic authorities there in Nagpur, 870km west of Mumbai, will be using “small pyramids”, which will be placed at 10 accident proned areas in the city to see if their claimed “positive” energy can reduce accident crashes.

According to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic Division), Sahebrao Patil, this innovative idea was mooted after a meeting with a “Vastu” expert. “Vastu” is an ancient Hindu system of construction which is reported to be very similar to the Chinese “feng shui”.

Mr. Patil, the assistant commissioner said, he had placed a number of such pyramids on the roads outside the city, and the results have been found to have been encouraging. Suggestions to have the idea implemented in the city have not been met with any disapproval from the Police Authorities.

The idea of installing pyramids at 10 spots will begin shortly. Pyramids will be placed at “squares” or near traffic lights, so that they won’t disrupt traffic movements.

According to Vastu expert, Sushil Fatehpuria, each pyramid will have a copper bottom and five smaller pyramids inside. He believed that accidents are a result of negative forces. Minimizing or converting these forces into positive energy might therefore reduce accidents eventually. The “pyramids” will be energized and positive thought will be transferred into the pyramids.

Whatever it is, Bombay’s police officers will however continue with “human power”, in their efforts to reduce accidents. A wise move, I would say.
This innovative idea of the Bombay police department is to continue for the next 6 months. If positive results are achieved, then, that would be excellent.

India’s rise in accident rate is believed to have been attributed to a combination of an increase in drivers, many of them untrained, poor road planning and a lax law of enforcement. All these, have led India’s roads to become one of the most dangerous in the world today.

The world as a whole, especially we in Malaysia awaits India’s mystic experiment with the ancient pyramids. If successful, who knows, our Road Transport Department chief, Datuk Sureet Singh, might even be tempted to adopt it into our system after all!

For readers’ info, the only pyramid system currently being used by Malysians, is the “pyramid” system of selling things. Unfortunately, this mode of selling or doing business is deemed “illegal”. And Malaysians, are strongly advised against participating in it!

To conclude this interesting article, it should also be reminded that Malaysia has many “feng shui” experts in our midst, in the likes of Lillian Too and Joey Yap. Who knows, one day, their services might one be garnered to assist the country in reducing road accidents here as well.

Malaysia, which has only a population of approximately 30 million, including Sabah and Sarawak, unfortunately is ranked as having one of the highest rates of accidents in the world today! Something has to be done. “Feng shui” may very well be the answer!

Who can anticipate, like Spain, which became 2010 World Cup winner, Malaysia would one day become the leading nation to use “feng shui” as a means of combating rising road accidents!

The annual sports meet of our school, was always one that could not be surpassed by any school in Klang, except may be High School, Klang, our rival school. The sports meet was a grand affair, not to be seen today. It was like a fun fare, with loud speakers and music being played loudly. Races during those days were started by guns. I clearly remember one well known “starter”, a Mr. Koh Teck Chong, dressed in “white”, starting most of the races.

Many secondary schools, especially in Klang, even from as far as Kuala Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and even at times far as Ipoh, coming for our 4 X 400m relay race. Believe me, this event was a major attraction of our annual sports meet.

One other major attraction of our annual sports meet I remember, was the “tug of war” contest between “present pupils” and “past pupils” or old boy’s team. This was usually the last event of the day.

Pupils, I remember would encroach round the main guest tent to witness this interesting event. Old boys, being adults, were mostly big sized and pot bellied. Their combined weight alone was good enough to ensure their success.

The school team, which was made up of current students were nowhere compared to the old boys’ team. Without a doubt, the old boys’ team would usually land up as the eventual “winners” of the day.

Besides the many events available during the sports day, were events such as 100m, 200m, relay races for 4 X 100, 4 X 400 open school relay events, high jump, long jump, officials race, shot putt and javelin.

The A.C.S. annual sports, which is normally held from May to July, must surely be a grand event, never to be seen again by the folks of Klang town. As an ex A.C.S. pupil, I really miss it a lot. With the tents of the participating houses beautifully decorated for the “Decorations Cup”, and with all sorts of drinks, cakes and ice cream stocked in them, the atmosphere of our annual sports meet wax one that should not be missed by the pupils of the school.

Besides the annual sports meet, A.C.S. Klang is a venue for important football games. I once remember the Selangor Malays team in which “football king” Abdul Ghani plays for, once met another famous and well known team, Selangor Rangers represented by famous stars as Lourdes and Govindaraju.

This exciting game was held at our school padang. Tickets were sold. Black cloth was installed all around our school perimeter fence as high up as 6 or 7 feet high, to prevent spectators from looking into the padang or field. The entire bamboo fence which enclosed our school, was completed patched up to prevent our boys from trying to enter the school premise without playing.

Being an ardent fan of football, but unfortunately, unable to purchase the tickets to the Selangor Malays vs Selangor Rangers match, I finally had to climb up a nearby tree to witness the game. I just could not let the chance of seeing famous football stars such as Abdul Ghani Mirhat, Govindaraju, Lourdes and Arthur Koh, playing at our own A.C.S. field.

And finally, when talking about my secondary school days, which were from 1958 to 1962, as an A.C.S. boy, I feel I should talk about our school fun fare which is called the A.C.S. Carnival.

Most schools raise funds for school projects such as buildings and libraries, our school, A.C.S. Klang, is no exception. Under the principalship of Mr. D.R. Daniel, A.C.S. once every few years will hold a carnival or fun fare called the “A.C.S. Carnival”.

The A.C.S. Carnival is a big fun fare, unlike other fun fare, games and competitions are abundance. Every class was responsible to put up a stall, be it a stall for games, or a food stall. There were lots of fun and food around.

Months before the carnival arrived, art teachers such as Mr. James Pandian and Mr. Koh Yan Hoe, were busy getting students to draw up “posters”, which were to be put up all around arches that were built to surround our entire school. Beautiful “neon” lights decorated our school premise. A.C.S. was like a fairy land, believe me.

Tickets will be printed. And pupils obviously will be responsible to sell as many tickets as possible. Many competitions to sell tickets were organized.

All types of games and competitions were set up. Food stalls of every type, catering for food and drinks were also set up. Popiah stalls, stalls selling bubur chacha, rojak, drinks such as red beans and so on will be set up when the “Carnival” Day arrives. Tickets, normally be made up of 20 cents, 50 cents, and one dollar, will be printed to allow as many students as possible to partake in this interesting carnival.

Sometimes, the committee that organizes the A.C.S. Carnival will even launch a competition to select a “carnival queen” for our carnival. Handsome prizes were sometimes given to the lucky winner.

It is hoped that this article on my Alma Mater, A.C.S. (secondary) will bring back fond memories of your younger days when you were studying in it many years ago.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about A.C.S. secondary school, as much as I have enjoyed writing it for you! “Sapientia Potentsia Est” or “Knowledge is Power”. Long live A.C.S. Klang! I’m extremely proud to be a student of this school.

In 1962, I sat for my Overseas Cambridge Examination and obtained a 2^nd grade certificate. With a heart as “heavy as lead”, I finally had to bid farewell to my school teachers like Mr. S.P Subramaniam, Mr. Rathi Chandran, Mr. A.R Muthiah, Mr. K.O Chandy, Mr. and Mrs. T.O George, Mr. Sonny Tan, Mr. Kao Yan Hoe, Mr. James Pandian, Mr. Muthulingam, (the 6.6 feet tall) teacher from Kuala Lumpur and finally to Mr. D.R. Daniel who was my principal for many, many years.

God bless you all. Take care!