As our group was comprised of mostly youths and youngsters, some of whom happened to be school children from the sleepy hollow of Kapar town, Selangor, the organizers of the group which comprised myself, as the Chief Organiser, and my friend Mr. Chee, essentially faced numerous problems.

After securing Selangor Education Office’s approval, we were informed that, as we were scheduled to going on an educational visit to the Pearl of the Orient, Pulau Pinang, our group was passing the states of Perak and Kedah as well. So accordingly, we had to inform the education offices of the above two states of our intended visit.

The above requirement was necessary, as in any eventuality, both these two states would be able to render any assistance that was deemed necessary.

Right from the beginning, the organisers of the group realized, the success of our educational visit to Penang, rests solely upon our bus drivers. As our group was on a 5 days 4 nights visit, our schedule or itinerary was fairly packed, albeit hectic. Our bus drivers therefore were fairly knowledgeable of Penang Island.

The places we were visiting varied and located in all parts of Penang. We had very little time. Our programme was tight. Every hour whilst we were on the island counted. We could not afford any delays.

We were lucky therefore to be able to locate 2 very good and capable drivers. The air-con bus we chartered for the trip cost us a sum of nearly RM1000. And our drivers were Encik Raman and his Chinese co-driver, a Mr. Kah Yong, from Jalan Bukit Kuda, Klang. And the new bus belonged to Kuala Selangor Omnibus Company, whose office was located at Jalan Kapar, Klang.

Considering that the trip to Penang was to cost the organizers a rather large sum of money, it was decided by the organizers that we try to secure a sponsor to cut down the costs of our expenses.

With this in mind, the organizers therefore approached Bata Shoes manufacturers, to request them to sponsor us. In return, the organizers were to put banners advertising “Bata” shoes on the sides of our bus.

As a matter of fact, the advertising department of Bata could see the impact of our bus advertising their product as our group’s bus were passing through central Malaysia and into Perak, Kedah and finally into Penang.

Unfortunately for our group, Bata had exhausted its fund for advertising that particular year. It was therefore unable to sponsor us in the real sense of the word.

Bata however counter offered with their proposal whereby the company were to give each participant of our group 2 pairs of Bata shoes and 3 pieces of T-shirts.

On top of that, refreshments at any Bata outlets throughout Perak and Kedah, where we were passing through would be accorded to our group. All in all, although in reality no sponsorship were available from Bata, the entire benefits which Bata shoes factory agreed to provide us came to a sum of few thousand ringgit.

Besides the question of transport, the problem of lodging in Penang too became a major headache to the organizers of our group of 52 participants and 2 drivers of our bus. 54 people in all! Where do you find lodging for such a big group of people?

With the above constantly in mind, the organizers, myself, being the Chief Organiser, wrote and successfully received approval from the Penang Education Department to permit us to use the former Science Teacher’s College, located at nearby Greenlane Avenue, Penang.

The month of December, being a long holiday season for teachers, the above college was free and our group could therefore stay at its premises. That solved our lodging problems.

The only drawback was we heard, the Science College was situated on top a hill, which was in the 2nd World War in 1945, was reputed to be a former Japanese Army headquarters. It was reported to be haunted.

The members of our group, many of whom were young girls of 16 0r 17, knew about the place where they were to reside to be haunted. This added mystery and intrigue into our stay at Pulau Pinang. It was interesting and yet exciting.

Having settled our problem regarding lodging in Penang, the organizers then faced another difficult obstacle. This time around, it was the problem regarding food. How do you settle the problem of feeding 52 people, participants and bus drivers in all?

Fortunately for the organizers, we had a former colleague, a teacher, Mr. Mui Siew Hock, a Penang baba, who was then staying in Bricklin Road, Penang. He had been posted back to the island.

Contacting and pleading Mr. Mui to help us, we finally got him to arrange our makan or food problem for our group in Penang. Mr. Mui in fact, managed to arrange for us to have our lunch and dinner meals at one of cheaper, but good Penang restaurant at I think, Transfer Road.

I still remember very vividly having meals with fish ball soup, assorted vegetable dishes, ample amount of rice to one’s desire, fish and meat dishes. All for approximately less than RM2 per head.

We, the organizers of the group, including all participants, could not have asked for a better menu which Mr. Mui arranged us. I don’t remember ever conveying our thanks to Mr. Mui for his help rendered us 35 years ago.

It’s now 2010, nearly 35 years have since elapsed. Mr. Mui, if he is still around today, should be at least 68 to 70 years old. It is too late to extend our thanks and appreciation to Mr. Mui? They say, it’s better late than never!

So here goes, Mr. Mui, wherever you may be, myself and Mr. Chee H.C. convey our thanks you to you for all your help and assistance you gave us many, many years ago.

By the way, our group enjoyed tremendously the meals you arranged for us at Transfer Road, Penang, was back in 1975. How are you today, if I may ask?

I have yet to talk about the places and interesting things our group did during our trip to the Pearl of Orient, Penang. And talking about the preparations regarding lodging and food problem alone has already taken some 3 – 4 pages.

But do tarry a while. And rest assured I will soon talk about the itinerary or programme itself. If readers read Part 1 and Part 2 regarding our visit to Penang, you would have learnt that our programme was suggested by Penang Perspective columnist and writer, Mr. Khor Cheang Kee, who unfortunately has since passed away a few years ago.

In appreciation to the above writer’s assistance, it should be revealed that our group followed an itinerary so closely to what Mr. Khor had suggested.

Visit the marine industry at River Road Penang, the columnist suggested. That’s what the group did. We did in fact visit the sardine factory there. And what an experience it was especially for myself.

For the first time in my life, I had the opportunity to enter the cold room of the factory, experiencing a temperature inside which measured -35 degree Celsius. I remember a young participant who refused to heed advice not to wear watches as we entered the cold room, found his watch dead. In fact, the glass of his watch cracked as a result of the cold.

Those who led us around the interesting factory told us sardine fish or tuna were caught off the coast of South America and Africa. Those tuna fish were dragged in the ocean to Malaysia, finally landing at the vicinity of the River Road factory in Penang.

After being boiled and cut up, it was finally canned. These sardines were exported to Japan, where Japanese people fancy eating them.

Another interesting place we visited during our educational visit to Penang was the batik factory in Telok Bahang. If not mistaken, I will recall the factory being called Craft Batik Malaysia. There, our group was shown, first hand, how batik was developed.

What we saw and learnt during our visit to this batik factory, no amount of money can buy. It was as the saying goes, priceless. Speaking for myself, I don’t think I ever regretted making that visit to this factory. I’m sure all other participants of our group felt the same way too.

Before continuing to relate to readers about other interesting places which we visited during our stay in Penang, it is important that we relate to you regarding our stay at the vicinity of the Science Teacher’s College.

After our visit to interesting places in Penang Island, the group will then retire back to the above college at 12:00 midnight. That’s when our problem for the night begins!

As you know, this college was reputed or well known as being haunted. Unless you have forgotten, half of the members of our group were females. These young girls between the age of 16 and 17 were scared. They had earlier listened to me, the organizer and co-organiser, Mr. Chee, relating hair raising stories regarding the place where they were to reside for the night.

I remember my wife, who was acting as the group’s chaperon for the girls and Cik Faezah, a young Malay girl of about 24 yours old, herding all the girls in one large room. All doors to their room were locked tightly and beds huddled together in the middle of the room. Doors were then stacked up with cupboards to prevent any intrusion by intruders and possibly even ghostly apparitions which the group has heard so much about.

Our only problem was, the girls of our group were afraid even to go to the toilets, when nature came a calling!

Anyway, it was fun all the same. These incidents are things we would always remember as long as we live. And because of that, the fact that we’re still talking about it even after 35 years have gone by, goes to show that we still cherish these instances.

This article now has gone into 6 7- pages. Once again, as usual, I feel it is now appropriate to terminate the article here. Many episodes have yet to be touched upon. Amongst them include our group visit to the beautiful and well known beaches of Penang, the Batu Ferringhi and the Tanjung Bungah beaches.

Our visit to the famous Esplanade (a famous resort) where young and old Penang folks gather, one beautiful night, is amongst some interesting things I will relate to you.

How our group paid a visit and interviewed Mr. Khor Cheang Kee, the Strait Times sub-editor at his small office in MaCallum Street, Penang are but some interesting things readers should know about. We also visited the famous and well known Chinese temple of Goddess Kwan Yin at Kek Lok Si in Air Itam. Not forgetting also our group’s visit to the well known Snake Temple.

Finally, this blog will go on also to relate to you our group’s visit to the Penang Expo site held at Sungai Pinang Road, Penang. Read about how the group ended up buying 50 pair of jeans at special discount prices! And also about how the members of our group purchasing more than 50 Kodak Polaroid instant cameras at the above expo.

This blog will also go on to relate to you how the group finally ascended the well known and famous tourist attraction in Penang – the hill resort of Penang Hill and how cold it was up there. And how our having Penang laksa with my wife at the chilly summit up there. All interesting episodes, I’m certain you would like to read about.

And another interesting tale about how our group managed to cross the Penang customs check point using the charms of our young co-organiser and leader of our group Cik Faezah. We had in fact possess no money to pay taxes for jeans and Kodak cameras we bought in Penang during our interesting visit to the island.

The 1st Prime Minister of Malaysia was Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj. As an ardent student of the subject “History”, it was my hope that one day, God willing, I will have the opportunity to personally meet the Tunku or Bapa Kemerdekaan face to face.

The events which involved Tengku are many. For example, his famous meeting with Communist leader Chin Peng at Baling in 1955, was one incident I would surely wish to ask him about.

Why did the Tengku decided to step down as the first Prime Minister in 1972, was another question I would like to ask him about too.

The above wish to personally meet the Tunku led our group writing to his personal secretary, Mr. Chuah Phee Geok, I think, requesting him to kindly arrange for 50 members of our group to meet Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj at his home, Takdir at No.1, Jalan Tunku, in Penang, some 35 years ago.

To be exact, we were fortunate enough to meet this amazing and wonderful man on December 17th 1975.

Finding the Tunku’s humble home or teratak hamba he namaed Takdir, was not difficult. I still vividly remember the Tunku’s house nestled among many full grown trees.

Surprisingly, although a famous man of history that he was, the Tunku’s house had no security measures at all. Our group’s bus, a 50 seater air con bus belonging to the Kuala Selangor Omnibus Company, Klang, Selangor, and driven by our driver Encik Rahman and his co-driver, Mr. Kah Yong, drove the bus right into the vicinity of Tengku’s house.

The first thing, which the Tunku commented upon seeing our group mainly made up of young people and youths, which included some teachers, was to say that he was touched by our visit. In fact, the Tunku said that he was very touched to see so many of the young students still remembering him even after his retirement as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The Tunku, ended his 1 1/2 hour long encounter with us, which incidentally was held at the porch of his house, by advising us not to be involved in drugs which he said would bring much misery to us eventually.

Readers of this blog, should first of all be informed, that our group which comprised 50 members we at the Tunku’s house for more than 2 hours. I remember our group had free access to his entire house.

Some members even nearly decided to go for a swim at Tunku’s heart-shaped swimming pool, when given permission by the ex-Prime Minister to do so.

It was the lack of swimming attire that finally prevented members of our group from taking a dip in the pool itself.

Readers of this blog, I’m sure will surely like to know how the encounter or meeting with Bapa Malaysia proceeded. I will try to recall those episodes the best I can.

Before proceeding any further, the Tunku was well known to be a compassionate person, one who always cares for his rakyat or citizens. Why do I arrive at such conclusion?

The Tunku, upon seeing the members of our group tired, immediately made it a point to direct his personal secretary, Mr. Chuah to liase with E&O Hotel, Penang to supply cakes, ice cream, soft drinks, coffee and tea for the entire group’s consumption.

His care and concern for us immensely touched our hearts. Even today, after 35 years, those in our group will still remember the refreshments which the Tunku accorded us that day.

As leader of the group or Chief Organiser, I was the one responsible for itemizing many of the questions which we would like to ask the Tunku when we met him.

Amongst the many questions the Tunku was asked was, “Why did the Baling talks which was held in Kedah in 1955 failed?”

As a student of history, I had always assumed that the above talks held between Tunku and Chin Peng was a failure. Many historians like Dartford and J.A. Kennedy in “History of Malaya”, for example, had always advocated the above talk failed.

However, I received a surprise, when asking the Tunku this question, nearly got a rebuke from the ex-Prime Minister, who reiterated that the Baling talks did not fail. When asked why he arrived at such a conclusion, the Tunku replied the Baling talks was held to show the people, the rakyat, what type of person Chin Peng was.

In short, it was Tunku’s aim to demonstrate to Malayan people what type of person Chin Peng was. That Chin Peng was a man not to be trusted.

With this premise in mind, according to Tunku, the Baling talks was indeed a success! Chin Peng had rejected Tunku’s offer for peace.

The Tunku in his meeting with us, proved to us, that he was a person with a caring character. When he heard our group were housed up at the Science Teachers’ College, located in nearby Green Lane area, he was kind enough to offer the group his personal beach resort chalets at both Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bunga for our stay.

The group had to however turn down Tunku’s good offer as it was found the two resorts were in fact too far away from town.

We however thanked the Tunku for his gracious offer. We told him that, maybe in our next visit to the Penang Island, we would take up his offer to stay there at his beach resorts.

To my question regarding that he wasn’t too successful as a young man studying in England, prior to the 2nd World War, the Tunku readily admitted, as a prince, he was not very serious in pursuing his studies.

Being young and with lots of money, he was more interested in fact in girls than anything else. As a result, his law studies at the Inner Temple England, ended in a failure.

But, the Tunku however, did remind us that after the 2nd World War ended, he went back to England to continue with his education and finally completed his law studies. He reiterated that we should in fact give him credit for his achievement.

Our group agreed with the Tunku’s suggestion, which evidently pleased him very much.

One more thing I feel it should be told to readers, in our encounter with the Tunku was regarding the famous bunga mas or flowers made of gold.

Malaysian – Thai history has it that the Malay states, especially Kedah, being a subject of Siam and therefore under Thai sovereignty in the 18th and 19th century, had to present and send the bunga mas to appease the Siamese authorities.

In my school days, I had always imagined the bunga mas to be a tree at least 2 or 3 feet tall. What a surprise I received when the Tunku showed me a bunga mas plant approximately only 13 inches tall, completely made of gold.

Readers, I’m sure will better understand, why a student of History should, if possible, make it a point to study the subject of History first hand. With this in view, history students are advised to go see the Taj Mahal of Shah Jehan, India, the Borobudur ruins in Indonesia, the Great Wall of China and the Buckingham Palace of London, to name but just a few historical places.

The Tunku was asked many more interesting questions in our interview with him. When asked when was the happiest moment he had regarding independence talks with British officials, the Tunku’s answer was the moment the British finally agreed to give Malaya its independence.

And not the moment when he raised up his right hand during independence day on 31st August 1957! That was the answer the Tunku actually gave us.

And when asked very seriously, the reason for his finally deciding to give up the premiership as Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, after the 1969 riots, the Tunku explained it was not pressure from his other Malay counterparts, but actually his having to accord due respects to the new Yang Di Pertuan Agong or King, who incidentally was his cousin, the Sultan of Kedah then. He, the Tunku, was the uncle.

To end this article, I would like to divulge a little interesting fact that the Tunku told only us. No history text was written about this inside information. The British was in fact reluctant to give independence to us back then.

The British had insisted on the various diverse races, the Malays, Chinese and Indians working and living harmoniously as one nation, before independence could be promised.

This is exactly what the present Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak, is attempting to advocate in 1 Malaysia.

In trying to achieve solidarity amongst the UMNO-MCA-MIC, the rulers and Sultans, the Tunku told us he needed time to discuss with them this important issue.

That’s the reason the Tunku opted to sail from Singapore to London. He had to discuss and obtain his counterparts agreement before independence can be given by the British government.

Somewhere in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Tunku managed to secure the agreement of the Sultans and the other political leaders. That was when the Tunku decided to dock at Bombay, India, to immediately take a flight quickly to London to tell the British officials the good news!

He was as he (the Tunku) said, afraid of the Sultans and other leaders changing their minds! A wise move, which the Tunku made, I would say.

I would like to say, I am incapable to relating to you all the group questions that was posted to the Tunku when we met him some 35 years ago. Although a long time ago, I’m certain all members of our entourage, the organizers and those who participated in our visit to Tunku’s residence, will be unable to forget this memorable visit which we made that day.

Memories, they say will always linger on. We may grow old but sweet memories such as these are hard to forget and will always remain.

That’s the reason why I’m able to relate to you about our encounter with Tengku Abdul Rahman, Father of Malaysia’s Independence, who passed away in 1990 at the ripe old age of 87.

Hope readers have enjoyed reading these interesting episodes.

After visiting and going up the funicular railway up Penang Hill which Penang Island is so well known for, the group finally bade farewell to the Pearl of the Orient, taking back fond memories which has remained with us to this very day.

Our bus reached Kapar town way past midnight, some 12 hours late. Eager parents and friends were there to welcome us back!

According to Chinese beliefs, the day on which a person departs from this world has to be remembered. The Christians has what is called the “All Souls Day”.

My late father passed away in 1987. Some 23 years ago. Each year, we mark my father’s death anniversary without fail.

Chinese especially, offer a variety of cooked food and dishes to their beloved who has passed away. Besides food and other delicious delicacies, we burn joss sticks, joss paper, paper clothing and even paper houses to the dead.

Marking the anniversary of my late father’s death became the responsibility of my mother after my father died. But when mum herself passed away in 1990, three years after my father’s death, the responsibility thus fell into my wife’s hands.

My wife, being one of the daughter-in-laws, has to take over responsibility of remembering my father’s death anniversary each year.

Each year as March and early April approaches, the Chinese throughout Malaysia, irrespective of whether one is a Hokkien, Cantonese, or Khek, we celebrate the Cheng Beng or “cleaning of the graves” ceremony without fail.

Families which have ancestral graves located in cemeteries all across the country will visit their fathers’, grandfathers’ or grandmothers’ ancestral graves to spruce it up.

To some Chinese, whose parents’ ancestral remains and ashes are placed in temples, will then visit these places to pray and offer cooked food there.

This year, my family members, which included myself and my family, my elder brother and his family, my sister, her children and her husband and not forgetting my younger brother and his family, all went to the Siamese Buddhist Chetawan temple in Petaling Jaya to carry out our religious rites of the cheng beng festival.

With the passing over or the end of the above cheng beng festival, my family will then celebrate the anniversary of my father’s death on the 3rd day of the 5th month according to the Chinese Lunar calendar.

For your information, although my late father’s remains and ashes were strewn into the vast ocean of the Malacca Straits in 1987, we nevertheless still mark his death anniversary every year.

One’s loved ones may have left this material world, but believe it or not, memories of our loved ones still remain.

As each cheng beng arrives, I’m unsure about you, but as far as I’m concerned, I will certainly have dreams of both my parents.

I’m not sure if I have told my immediate family, that is my wife and my own children, but I remember telling my elder brother, Boo Huat and his wife, that my my mum appeared in my dreams a week before the arrival of the cheng beng festival.

You may think it’s only a coincidence, but to me, it is a sign that I still think of my mother and father even though they might have passed away so many years ago.

To mark the anniversary of my father’s passing away on the 3rd day of the 5th month this year, my wife, who is still working and is attached to a transport company in Taiwan Village in Port Klang, has opted to take a day’s leave from work to prepare for it.

Why has my wife, Mary, chosen to do this?

Penang Hokkien, of which myself is part of, are very particular about such practices. Those who are in the same boat as myself, and I’m sure there are many among this blog’s readers, still adhere very strictly to such ancestral practices.

As I told you just earlier on, just recently, last week to be exact, the 1st week of cheng beng, the Yap family, that is my family, went to pray at both my father’s and mother’s ancestral resting places at the Chetawan temple in Petaling Jaya. We have in fact been performing this ritual without fail since our parents’ death.

I must relate to you of a Siamese aunty, whom we know since we were young. She incidentally hails from Kampung Martin, in Teluk Pulai, Klang. This aunt of ours has always reminded us over and over again to carry out our filial duties to our parents. Even though they might have passed away and are no longer with us today.

Unfortunately, our Siamese aunty, whom all of us lovingly call “Ah Yee” (or aunt in Hokkien), recently passed away at the ripe old age of 87. Although our aunt may no longer be with us today, nevertheless, we shall always remember her good advices she has given us all these years.

In memory of our Ah Yee, who passed away at her Eng Ann housing estate home in Klang, may the good Buddha bless her soul and take good care of her.

To mark the anniversary of my father’s death anniversary this year, what have we, as children, prepared for the occasion?

As usual, except for my sister, Molly, my elder brother and his wife and also my younger brother, Boo Keong will surely prepare special dishes at their homes to offer to my father’s spirit.

As for my family, my wife, who has specially taken a day’s leave from work, will prepare a few exotic dishes for this occasion.

Days before this special day, my wife had already made known to me her intentions regarding the dishes she would like to offer to my dad. As a good daughter-in-law to my dad, she has all these years done her duty faithfully and in a filial manner.

For this, I feel I owe her at least an expression of thanks and gratitude for all the sacrifices she has made all these years. Her care and concern is much appreciated!

What will we offer my dear beloved father on his death anniversary this year?

As she (my wife) is still a working person, and is thus always busy, our family will cook some simple dishes my father likes. We will also buy some ready cooked dishes too.

Whatever it is, amongst the dishes we shall be offering on this day, will be Klang’s delicious bak kut teh or pork ribs soup, chicken rice, mixed fried vegetables, curried chicken masak merah, and of course, my wife’s famous friend Hokkien mee.

There will be a few paus, big and small, which my father used to fancy eating while he was alive. Without a doubt, there will also be my dad’s favorite drink “black coffee” as well.

And I, as the second son, will also be getting my dad his usual pack of Benson and Hedges cigarettes to be placed on the family alter. You see, my father was a smoker before his death.

Usually, my sister, Molly, whom I have mentioned earlier in my other articles, is a very good cook herself, is unable to attend this year’s anniversary. So this year it looks as if my father’s spirit, at least, will not be able to taste her mouth watering Penang specialties such as sambal belacan, acar kerabu, tow yea bak (pork ribs) with tow kuah, sambal sotong pedas and many other assorted dishes which my father likes.

Maybe next year, dear father, I shall make it a point to insist that Molly attend the death anniversary of my dear beloved father and cook the dishes my father likes.

It is now nearly 7 o’clock in the morning. The sun is just rising outside my window. It’s now time to stop here, take a shave and have my early morning bath. I have to prepare going to the pasar pagi market soon, to get some chickens for the curry chicken.

Not forgetting also the bak kut teh, which I will purchase from the famous Ah Lek’s stall at Bamboo Grove in nearby Jalan Meru, Klang. And then also the choy sam and fish paste cake needed to fry the Hokkien mee, which we have decided to prepare today.

Looking forward ahead in a few hours time, to laying the table with delicious and mouth watering dishes at the family alter later today.

The 3rd day of the 5th month, my father’s death anniversary!

After the ceremony, as usual, I shall then adjourn to my elder brother’s house to join him for the usual roti canai rendezvous at the nearby mamak stall at 9 am.

Maybe, my brother and I will discuss about what his family has prepared for father on this occasion, his death anniversary day.

Penang Island as tourists and foreigners know it is the “Pearl of The Orient”. It lies off the coast of Kedah, Malaysia.

Before Malaya (now Malaysia) achieved its independence from the British in 1957, Penang was part of the British Straits Settlement, comprising Singapore, Malacca and Penang itself.

Penang was said to have been founded by Sir Francis Light in 1786, this is 224 years ago.

Approximately 2 years ago, the Penang government came to be controlled by the opposition parties which comprised of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (P.K.R) and the Demokratik Action Party (D.A.P) under the Chief Ministership of Lim Guan Eng, the son of Malaysian Opposition leader, Mr. Lim Kit Siang.

If you should happen to be a student of Malaysian history, without a doubt, you surely would have learnt much about the island of Penang and its various leaders. Leaders, such as mentioned earlier, Englishman Sir Francis Light and of course, the Tunku or “Father Of Malayan Independence” or Bapa Kemerdekaan.

Permit me to elaborate a little bit regarding the Tunku, which incidentally is a princely title in Malaysia. Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj (1903 – 1990) was born in Alor Setar, Kedah, The Tunku, later to be known as Bapa Kemerdekaan made this beautiful island his home when he finally retired at the 1st Prime Minister of Malaysia in 1970.

For those who are unaware, the Tunku was visited by a group of young people, led by myself in 1975 and my co-organiser Mr. H.C. Chee, then 2nd dan Tae Kwon Do exponent of the Korean Art of Self Defense and a sweet young lass Cik Faezah. The entourage to Penang Island also included my own wife, Mary Yap.

As the group of youths comprised predominantly of youngsters from the sleepy hollow of Kapar town, Selangor, was made up of both boys and girls, their safety became a headache to the organizers.

With this premise in mind, I felt it is necessary to enlist the assistance of my own wife and Cik Faezah to be responsible for the girls’ safety.

It should be borne in mind too, that Penang in the 1970s was renowned for its “Tai Khor”s. Tai Khors or big brother are like the Mafia groups of Italy. They are said to extort money and confront tourists and visitors to this otherwise peaceful and beautiful island.

Anyway, the group of 50 members made an educational visit to Penang, which was planned for 5 days and 4 nights in 1970’s December, some over 35 years ago.

Luckily, we had our security problem well taken care of by our co-organiser, Mr. Chee and his 15 or so members of the Tae Kwon Do group.

I still recall a big and notorious looking character of our group, a young man by the name of Lee Boon Kwee. He was then no more than 15 or 16 years old. He should now be at least 50 years old today. How fast time has passed.

As I said, our group’s visit to Penang was intended to be an educational tour. The organizer promised its members an interesting visit to Penang. A trip which was to be remembered by them for the rest of their lives.

It was with this in mind, that a decision was made for the group to pay a visit to meet Tengku Abdul Rahman, who by this time had retired from active politics. Tunku was now residing in Penang.

The organizers, in its earlier preparation to visit Penang had written to Straits Times newspaper columnist, Mr. Khor Cheang Kee. Mr. Khor was an extremely well known personality, famous for his Penang Perspective column, which appeared in the 1970s.

Mr. Khor was then attached to the Strait Times newspaper office, I think at MacCallum Street, Penang, was therefore enlisted to assist in the preparation of our itinerary to visit the island.

And you know what? Mr. Khor suggested to our group, a programme so good and interesting, that our visit to Penang was to be one so memorable and to be remembered even up to this day.

What did the famous Penang Perspective columnist suggested? Amongst other things, he suggested our group include everything that’s Penang!

Quoting from a letter I received from Mr. Khor dated 7th June 1975, it was his suggestion that we visit historical places, churches, temples, uniquely structured “kongsi” (clan houses) and not forgetting also its picturesque mansions of the rich.

Bearing this in mind, therefore this group wrote to the Governor of Penang, seeking his permission to visit his official residence, the “Bel Retiro”, situated on top of the famous Penang Hill.

Unfortunately though, due to security restrictions, this request had to be turned down. What a waste?

Allow me to elaborate slightly about this famous architecture mentioned above, whatever the consequences. The Bel Retiro, history has it, was built through arduous and back breaking labour of Indian convict dumped on Malayan soil by the British authorities in the 19th century.

The second interesting itinerary suggested to our group was for us to witness the island’s freedom of worship permitted to the island’s multi racial population. We have inherited this legacy to this day.

It was also suggested that our group should visit Kapitian Kling mosque in Pitt Street, Penang. Also suggested was to visit famous Kuan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) temple.

Not to missed too was the Anglican St. George’s church in Farquhar Street and the famous Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption. So much so, for examples of the freedom of worship which Penang is so renowned for to tourists and foreigners alike, who may wish to pay a visit to the island.

With this article getting even longer, with the passage of time, I am afraid as always, too long an article will contribute to making its readers being bored. It is therefore my suggestion to terminate this article at this juncture.

Rest assured that a continuation of this article will be made at another time and place to talk about other interesting subjects and topics such as architectural sights which Penang Island is capable to provide.

So until we meet again, thank you for taking the trouble to read this blog.

At six and a half years of age, my father enrolled me in school. I remember being brought to primary school with my elder brother, Yap Boo Huat and my cousin brother Boo Say to Anglo Chinese School (A.C.S.) in Jalan Raya Barat, Klang.

While my brother and cousin brother had no trouble being enrolled as students, my registration faced some problems. I in fact was too young, being only 6 ½ years then.

As a young boy, hardly knowing anything, I remember my lorry driver father talking about “coffee” money with the headmaster, a G.S. Arumugam. Thus began my days as a young school boy in A.C.S. Klang.

The above school was one of the earliest school built by the missionary brothers in 1898. My primary school days were to stretch from 1952- 1957. I remember finally sitting for my Standard Six exam in 1957.

During my primary school days, we were staying in Kampung Martin in Jalan Telok Pulai. Kampung Martin was a suitable place for me as a young school boy. I could not have asked for a better place to live in.

The kampung above was filled with mangosteen trees, durian, banana trees, buah sentul and rambutans. You name it, and all the fruits were there.

And all the birds were there too. Kingfishers, magpies, mynah birds, swallows and not forgetting the pipits were all present too. Owls too used to hooting in the middle of the night. As a young boy, this made me very much afraid.

When owls come hooting, my mother used to say, bad omen will befall. Its arrival, it seems, was to announce the possible passing away of some sick person in the kampung community.

I still recall my school badge even today. It was a blue and yellow coloured badge. “Sapienta Potensia Est”, it said. The Latin words meant “Knowledge Is Power”.

For sports activities, I remember being in the Klang or “E” house. Unlike today, the Annual Sports of a school was a grand affair. Other schools from around the Klang district, Kuala Lumpur even, use to participate in the open relay events. It was indeed exciting watching these events, especially the 4 x 400m school relay.

While in Primary One, I still recall my teacher Mrs. Ding very clearly. She was a sweet looking Chinese teacher with short hair. I wonder if she’s still alive today. If she is, I gather she should now be over 90 years old, perhaps.

One other Chinese male teacher, I can never forget is Mr. Ng Yin Woot. I remember, being unable to pay up my school fees every month. Mr. Ng happened to be my class teacher for a number of years. To tell you the truth, this teacher gave me a difficult time while I was in primary school.

He used to demand school fees from me practically every month. I was knocked on the head rather frequently. This made me, as a young boy of 10, fear going to school.

Because of this, I did not go to school the first 5 or 6 days of each month. Until my father was able to pay me the school fees, I would stay away from school.

But my sad days of my primary school days were soon compensated by football. Football became my favorite sports. It was this game, that led me become the football captain in my primary school days at A.C.S., Klang.

I really enjoyed my primary school days playing football in Port Swettenham, and even being brought by my football teachers to Kuala Lumpur. I can still remember playing against well known schools such as Pasar Road School and Methodist Boys School, Kuala Lumpur.

I remember once playing against Vivekananda Primary School. When the Merdeka Stadium was first opened in 1957, I remember playing there too.

My interest in football was actually encouraged by Malaysian footballers like Abdul Ghani, Arthur Koh, Robert Choe, the Pang brothers of Penang, Pang Siang Teck and Pang Siang Hock, Govindaraju and Awang Bakar of Singapore.

In my own district of Klang, football was then a game which many Klang folks relish very much. I still recall teams like Ramblers, R.A.F., a team comprised of army soldiers serving in Malaya in those days. R.A.F’s style of football, which represented the English style of play was so exciting and interesting to watch.

There were other famous local teams in the likes of Dynamos, Shell, Highland Estate, Wah Yew and so forth. Games used to be held at the Klang Padang. And at times, even at our school ground, A.C.S., Klang.

Those times I mentioned above were football non-professional at its best.

While in A.C.S. primary, I still remember my football masters Mr. Kon Thean Soong and Mr. A Singham. Mr. Kon, I was told, left the teaching profession, was said to have struck 2nd prize in the then Social Welfare Lottery Draw. He then went into the printing business, starting Preston Publications in Petaling Jaya.

Later on, Mr. Kon bought over a lot of shares in Guinness Anchor Berhad and became one of its major shareholders. I gather, he must be a multi-millionaire today!

As for Mr. Singham, I have in fact lost touch with this teacher after all these years. But to his advice gave me as a young school boy, words cannot describe how I feel.

All I remember still about Mr. Singham today is how my friends and I used to go to the school canteen behind the A.C.S. primary school to take mee hoon and assorted cold drinks on Mr. Singham’s account.

Being a rather poor school boy, his treats meant a lot to me. To that, Mr. Singham, if you are still around, permit me to extend my thanks to you, sir!

Better late than never, expressing my thanks to you, so they say.

My school days at A.C.S. Primary School should also make mention of another headmaster, Mr. Tan Teik Guan. He was a simple man, not strict at all, but loved by use his students.

I remember Mr. Tan giving us money to go to the canteen, whenever he found us fighting. How old is he now? Is he still around today? I really don’t know.

As this article is getting longer and longer, I feel it’s best that it stops here. If time and opportunity permits, I might go on to relate more of my secondary school days, this time at the A.C.S. Secondary School in Klang later.

Before this article ends, I wish to inform readers that I do not fancy watching football these days. Not the World Cup nor the English Premier League (E.P.L.) which some readers are crazy about.

But that does not mean I do not have a team I like. For your information, the team I like best in the E.P.L. is none other than Tottenham Hotspurs!

By the way, my son-in-law’s team is Liverpool. And my close buddy and friend from Banting town, Mr. Tee Too, his team is Manchester United which Wayne Rooney plays.

And who, you may wish to know, I consider as the best footballer of all times? David Beckham? No, it is Diego Maradona of Argentina!

And who is the best Malaysian footballer of all times? Mokhtar Dahari, of course!

I thought of writing this blog post to do a quick up date on the Driving School Malaysia Blog search result ranking. The last update I did was on the 2nd November 2009 on our blog ranking.

Back then, the blog has just ranked No.1 in Google for the key phrase “driving school Malaysia” if you were searching in the Malaysia region.

Since then, I have always wanted for the blog to rank number 1 for the term “driving school“. Guess what…the blog is now rank number 1 and number 2 in Google for that search term from Malaysia!

If you were to look at the picture above, you’ll see our blog is in position 1 & 2 in Google. The amazing thing is, the blog managed to outranked 39 million other pages in the world!

If you have a blog or a web site of your own, you’ll know it is no easy task to rank number 1 in Google especially when there are over one hundred million other web pages in the search result. It took our blog almost 1 year to get there.

Will it stay number 1 for the months to come?

My guess is, it will. My father has been constantly writing new and high quality articles on the driving school industry in Malaysia. With time, the blog will only get better and better.

‘Written by

Will Yap

Crabs are available all over the world. In my earlier article on “About My Younger Days Catching Fish And Crabs”, I promised to tell you more stories about this exciting crustacean with 8 legs.

The Chinese community in Malaysia fancy the eating of this crustacean. So much so that crabs have resulted in becoming a rare and expensive commodity. A kilo of crab today fetches around RM30 – RM35 in the market.

Although the Chinese and Indians consume a large amount of crabs, the Malays however seem to regard crabs differently. Some consider it makroh. While others say it is halal.

My attempt to gather more information into this subject has unfortunately resulted in me becoming more confused. Whether halal or makroh, the Malays prefer one type of crabs – Ketam nipah or mangrove crabs.

Besides this, Malays also fancy ketam bunga or ketam pasir. This thin and long legged variety incidentally is much cheaper.

The above crab is known as the “flower crab”. It is said to be a saltwater crustacean.

As I said earlier in my blog elsewhere, my encounter with crabs began as a coincidence. But coincidence or otherwise, it was to stretch on for as an exciting hobby for more than 10 years. Until I landed as a driving school instructor.

The lack of time and busy schedule finally forced me to give up this hobby eventually. But until today, my love for this subject, “crab catching” and “crab eating” still remains on this very day.

My crab catching kaki or enthusiast, my good friend Mr. Ah Poon, unfortunately has since passed away some two years ago. However, I understood that his wife, Mrs. Poon, although more than 70 years today is still hale and hearty.

Whenever we chanced to meet, stories of our crab catching days and episodes is sure to arise.

The variety of crabs we buy in the market which is so much liked by the Chinese today is known as cancer pagurus. Believe it or not, there are male and female crabs.

Female crabs, I think if not mistaken, are smaller in size. How does one go along distinguishing between female and male crabs?

It is said female crabs have abdomen which are wider. Whereas, male crabs have abdomen which are narrower. If you should be shelling crabs one of these days for the dinner table, I suggest you observe their stomachs. I’m sure you will surely see the differences.

My encounter with the crab catching began in the 1970s. If you should live in Klang area, you will surely be surrounded by mangrove swamps and nipah palms stretching from the busy Shapadu Highway frequented by lorries and trailers on their way to Port Klang. And stretching from Batu 4 Jalan Kapar until Kg. Rantau Panjang.

These are your crab-catching sanctuaries, so to say. These areas stretches from here until the present Taman Perdana housing estate to Kg Perepat in Sementa at the 8th mile of Jalan Kapar.

Having told you the places where you can catch crabs, allow me now to tell you how you can go about catching them. Basically, there are 2 methods you can adopt. The native method requires a round contraption made of wire mesh to scoop up the crabs. You also need chunks of dried shark meat.

Some length of gunny strings are also required. Get some pieces of twigs or branches. All you then have to do is to tie up the small chunks of shark meat to the gunny strings and twigs. Place them into the water. The rotting smell of the shark meat will then attract the crabs.

My years of crab catching have resulted in my becoming quite an authority on how to consume crabs. Try fried rice with crab meat. It’s delicious!

Frying crab meat with eggs and shark fins is another. The best manner to eat crabs would be curried crabs with cili padi and eggs. Eating it with white bread is beyond description of words.

In Pasir Penambang, Kuala Selangor, restaurants there serve a popular and well known dish called “broth with crabs”. Why not try it if you should be heading for Kuala Selangor.

The Japan Restaurant is nearby Berkeley housing estate is famous for its mee hoon fried with crabs. It comes at a whopping price of RM60 – RM70 for 2 to 3 people.

Talking about eating crabs, Restaurant Fatty Crab is Petaling Jaya should not be forgotten mentioned earlier.

Another well known restaurant which draws quite a large group of crab connoisseurs is undoubtly the Steamboat Restaurant Pulau Ketam in Bukit Tinggi housing estate, Klang. Fancy going there?

But the most popular and well known place, if you wish to eat crabs must definitely be none other than Pulau Ketam itself.

According to one travel brochure I happened to come across recently, Pulau Ketam is very popular among the locals for a number of seafood restaurants. A great place to savior a variety of seafood specialties. A very popular dish, it went on to say is the curry crab.

To end this interesting article on crab catching and numerous ways of eating this crustacean, permit me to relate to you readers regarding a unique species of blue coloured crabs, which I happened to catch one twilight evening at approximately 7 o’clock as the sun was setting into the horizon.

There I was, standing alone on a river bank. After waiting patiently for a long time, I pulled up a completely blue coloured crab. In my years of catching crabs, I have never encountered a situation such as this.

An eerie sensation run across my whole body. In fact, fear overwhelmed me! Was it a mysterious crab, I had never laid eyes on before? Or something bizarre and extra ordinary? Out of this world perhaps!

Feeling scared, I threw the blue coloured crab back into the river. The research on crabs I made on this subject prior to my writing this article tells me that the blue crab I encountered that evening many years ago was actually callinectus sapidus or “the beautiful”.

If only I knew what I know today, I would definitely not have thrown it back into the river!

Today, I have only divulged to you one method of catching crabs, the native method. Maybe, in my next episode, I might decide to tell you about the trap or net method of crab catching.

In the meanwhile, continue to enjoy your eating of crabs! And if you still possess anything you may wish to know about crabs, please do drop me a line. Thank you and take care.

As the family waits for food to arrive, we normally talk about old times. We sometimes talk about my grandfather, Ong Hock Chuan, a Thai descendant and a petition writer and auctioneer by profession.

My grandfather speaks perfect English. He was, I remember, a very strict person. In fact, I was always afraid of him.

My grandfather died around the age of 85. He was unfortunately hit by a motorcycle while attempting to cross a busy road one day.

I have related stories about my father, Yap Thian Yew, who is a lorry driver. Father passed away at the age of 78.

As we await the arrival of food at the restaurant, my youngest daughter, Swan Lin used to inquire of me, why I seldom write about my mother who is in reality, her grandmother.

I have often promised my granddaughter, one day indeed, I will surely pen something to remember my dear old mother.

One thing I still remember about my mum is, she could speak quite good English. Mother was the only daughter. Her mother was a nonya or bibi Penang, a sarung clad lady from the island of Pulau Pinang.

My mother had only 1 brother, Ong Han Leong. My uncle, who incidentally could speak very good English, like my grandfather was educated in an English school. Uncle, once upon a time worked with the East Asiatic Company in Port Klang before he passed away.

My mother, whose maiden name was Ong Geak Tee, received her early education at the Convent School, Klang. Up to what form or standard she studied, I am not aware. The important thing regarding my mother is she used to scold me using words of English.

At times, her comments and insinuating remarks she made against me were hard hitting and sarcastic.

I remember, occasionally, when my father was outstation driving his lorries, my mother used to take over the signing of my school’s report cards.

My mother and dad were blessed with 3 sons and a daughter. My only sister is Yap Siew Lian. I remember my sister, Molly, as she is better known, had a very close and loving relationship with my mother while she was alive.

While my mother was living with me and my wife, my sister used to occasionally visit my mum, bringing her things she loved to eat such as popiahs, pisang goreng and yam cakes. Mother, was as I remember her, was a simple lady.

In fairness to my mother, she was in fact a beautiful lady. Among family circles, she was reputed to possess a flawless complexion.

I still remember how mum used to make “bedak sejuk”, a natural beauty concoction made from rice and daun pandan in those days. This bedak or powder was cooling to the skin and was reputed to have given my mum her good complexion until her dying days.

In fact, my mum’s face, even when she was in her old age, was free of pimples and wrinkles.

My mum’s marriage with my father was a prearranged one. My mother told me, when she was alive, that one day she was given a picture of my dad. It was as one would say, a recommendation.

If readers have read the article entitled, “Remembering Yap Thian Yew – My Beloved Father”, I described my father as a handsome, Eurasian looking personality nearly 6 feet tall.

Without saying, my mother who was then hardly 14 – 15 years old, readily agreed to marry my father right away. Further, please remember, the 2nd World War in 1940’s was about to take place.

The Japanese were landing on our shores. Bombs were dropping everywhere. Parents were worried, especially about their young and unmarried daughters.

So the best solution for any parent then was to marry off their daughters as soon as they can.

One thing I can still remember about my dear mother is, she used to face problems especially with me, her second son.

What was the biggest headache I gave my mother when she was alive?

I am a little bit shy to reveal to you my little secret which only my mother and I knew. As a little boy of 5 or 6 years old, one thing I hated most everyday was to be asked to take a bath.

You see, I hated water! And as such, whenever my mother yelled for me to come take a bath, I would run helter-skelter in all directions.

As a young boy, the process of bathing everyday was left to my mother. Children of that tender age, could not be expected to bathe properly by themselves, am I right?

So, at bathing times, I would be stripped naked, while mother scrubbed me clean with soap behind my ears, under my armpits and so on.

I hated and feared cold water being splashed on me. And in the final process of bathing, whereby a bucket of cold water was to be poured over my head, this made me unable to breath.

This would normally make me scream and jump around in fear. So now readers know the reason why I gave my poor mother so much problems in my younger days.

Even today, my wife at times query me, “have you taken your bath yet today? It’s already 10 pm, you know”, she will say.

I guess I should say, my dislike of taking a bath was handed down from those yester years.

My mother, while she was alive was a fairly good cook. Mother may not be the best, but to tell you frankly, I like some of her cooking.

She could, for example, fry good hokkien mee. Luckily, today my wife cooks the above, just like my mum. Or even better! My children and grand children can verify what I’m saying.

One other dish my mother cooks well is pork ribs with black sauce or “tau yew bak” as we Penang babas say. The above dish, which is very similar to Klang’s renowned “bak kut teh” is just heavenly and beyond description!

And the best of all my brothers, sister and I like most is fried ikan cencaru filled with chili inside. It’s simply delicious!

My mother died, passing on some of the above recipes to my wife. Today, my wife cooks the above dishes just like my mother did.

As a word of reminder, my sister, Molly, has learnt much of her cooking prowess, thanks to my mother. Every new year, without fail, my brother and I will definitely call over to my sister’s place in Taman Chi Lung, Klang to order sotong, ayam masak merah, acar kerabu and other delicious dishes for the New Year.

One morning some years ago, my dear beloved mother passed away in her sleep. Prior to her passing away, my mother was not actually suffering from any major sickness or illness in any way.

Maybe, her heart was weak as the doctor said. It was indeed a great shock to us children and grandchildren. Today, we miss her.

Many years have passed by since her death. I still dream of my dear mother from time to time. Maybe that’s a sign that I still love and cherish her!

Mum, where ever you may be, may god bless you and take good care of you!

To my daughters, especially Swan Lin and Swan Nee, your dad has finally done his duty of writing about your beloved grandmother, Ong Geak Tee.

You can no longer accuse me of not writing any stories about grandmother from henceforth.

I hope in reading this article, fond memories of my mum will come flashing back to you. And in the process, it is hoped all family members will get to know the “grandmother” you all might not have known so well after reading this article.

Interesting Tales Of Students Who Learnt To Drive Under Me In Forty Years As A Driving Instructor

In the process of teaching students, eventually there would arise certain interesting tales and stories about them. In today’s article, I will try to recollect certain episodes which I feel are worth relating to readers.

Once, I taught a Biology teacher of mine. She was about 50 years old then. Her husband, incidentally, was my Science master too. As such, when the hubby approached me about his wife’s intention to take driving lessons, how was I , as a former student of theirs to refuse.

When my former master met me to tell me of his wife’s good intention, I was surprised. “Sir, are you certain of your wife’s decision?” I asked him.

Well, Yap, my wife may be a little bit of the old side, but do remember, she is still your teacher. Don’t forget that!

Shivering away, I replied, “Yes, sir. Everything will be okay. Sir, leave it to me. Don’t worry”, I said.

The fact was that after hearing what my “sir” said to me, I couldn’t sleep for the next three days and three nights!

If you were a driving instructor like me, could you envisage trying to teach your 60 years old mother how to drive. Money wise aside, I must tell you of my old teacher’s habit before the story ends.

To be frank with you, ask any instructor, the better or higher qualified you are, the harder you are to teach. Therefore, with this premise in mind, teachers are renowned to be amongst the most difficult of all students to tutor.

So do you want to know about my old teacher’s unusual habit? Well then, here goes.

Whenever this lady teacher pushes the gear stick into neutral, she will rotate the gear lever round and round a few times, albeit violently, before she puts it into the next gear. Without fail, she does this action for every gear shift movement.

Her action is tantamount to making roti canai, so to say. Can you imagine what’s going to happen to my old junk’s gear box?

By the time this old teacher of mine completed her driving course, I told myself, my gear box would have gone kaput!

But how was I, as her student in Form 1, were to tell my teacher not to do that stupid thing? I obviously had to bear and grin it.

And that was not the end of the whole story yet. When she went for her practical test a few months later, I was afraid she might react like a teacher she was.

I advised her over and over again, “Teacher, please remember”, I said to her. “Today, please remember, you are taking a test. Do not act if you are giving or ordering your students around! You are the testee and the man testing you is the tester. You have to respect him no matter what. Please teacher, remember that!”, I implored of my Biology teacher.

And do you want to know what happened after that?

When the test began, usually tester hollered cepat sikit loudly. My biology teacher got angry and shouted back, “Shut up, you!” she said.

And do you want to know what the tester did?

Well, he stopped the car, aborted the rest of the test for the day. The tester then demanded to know who her driving instructor was.

He demanded to see me to inquire how on earth such a candidate could be sent to him for test. This instructor, in the mean time had quietly gone behind some pillars to hide to avoid getting the onslaught of the angry and fuming tester!

I once taught a student from Pulau Ketam. He was a shrimp catcher. A kilo of shrimps costs approximately RM26 then. The students owned me a balance of RM150.

I requested the student to supply me with some shrimps for the balance of the amount owed. The following day, the student lugged along from Pulau Ketam a total of 5 – 6 kilos of shrimps!

Taking home the shrimps, I received a scolding from my wife for having bought 2 – 3 years supply of shrimps. The vegetable dishes my wife prepared for the following years after had shrimps in it for every dish she prepared. After that, I did not fancy eating any more shrimps for quite a while.

And finally, I feel the story of a grandmother and her granddaughter, both coming to learn under me should be related. The grandmother, although nearly 60 years old was so enthusiast about her getting her license, that she performed extremely well, especially during her parking test.

The tester in charge, a certain Encik Ismail was so impressed by her performance. When the old lady finally got through every aspect of her test, the above tester commended her.

“Even younger candidates cannot do what you have done”, he said to her. “Here are two ringgit, go and have a drink. You truly deserve it”, he said.

As her driving instructor, such incidents encourages me and spurs me on to do even better.

Incidentally, her granddaughter did fail on her attempt. A surprising story, but it is true…

Although many people know Singapore island, few I think are aware that the island was actually founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles. History teachers tell me, Raffles was an officer of the British East India Company.

Singapore island or Temasek, its old name was supposed to have been discovered by Parameswara, or Iskandar Shah, I think.

As a young boy in my lower forms, a few historical personalities had always intrigued me. Sir David Marshal, a former one time Chief Minister of Singapore was one.

The other was none other than Lee Kuan Yew, who I think needs no introduction whatsoever.

Lee Kuan Yew was once upon a time the leader of the People’s Action Party or P.A.P. as it was known in the 1950s then.

Being an ardent history student that I was, I had learnt a lot about Lee Kuan Yew and the part he played in the formation of Malaysia in 1963. The formation of Malaysia was the idea of Tengku Abdul Rahman.

The wish to see Lee Kuan Yew personally was one of the reasons that led me leading a group of young people from Kapar town, Selangor to Singapore in the 1970s.

To say the above group went to Singapore only to see Lee Kuan Yew would be incorrect. At that time, Singapore was then a tourist destination.

Malaysians especially, used to visit Singapore quite regularly. Each weekend, hundreds if not thousands of tour buses from all over Malaysia would head over to Singapore to spend the weekend and do shopping.

This was what led my friend and I to decide organizing a visit to Singapore many, many years ago.

At that time, Singapore had a few attractions in itself. One reason why we wanted to visit Singapore was as I said, do shopping. It was cheap there, especially clothes. And I remember too, albeit vividly, that electrical goods was duty free.

The Sentosa cable car, a famous 285 feet above sea level ride was yet another attraction for many Malaysian too.

To go to Singapore, especially during the Christmas celebrations was yet another attraction. Singapore during this period would be beautifully lighted up with thousands, of not millions of lights, turning the city into a wonderland of lights. It was like Alice in Wonderland.

Besides the sights mentioned above, our group, which I remember, which consisted about 45 – 50 pupils, including a few teachers, therefore decided to organize an educational visit to Singapore.

Before proceeding any further, I should in fact inform you that my co-organiser was a Mr. Chee, whom I have not met now for quite a few years. Mr. Chee, a good friend of mine is a 5th or 6th dan, Tae Kwon Do exponent.

Today, Mr. Chee is not only an instructor of the art, but also a well known examiner as well.

To say our trip to Singapore was to meet only Lee Kuan Yew, who was then Singapore’s Prime Minister would be a mis-statement. Of course, we wanted to see the famous Japanese Gardens and the Chinese Gardens itself.

Not forgetting too, to visit Bugis Street where the female impersonators or pondans were renowned to be found.

Bugis Street has been torn down and rebuilt again by the authorities. This has led to the famous enclave losing its original appeal forever.

Months before our intended visit to Singapore, a group of students, including youths from Kapar town, a small, sleepy hollow then were recruited to join our group. The bus fare and lodging came to approximately RM50 – RM70 per person. It was actually a small amount to pay then.

In charge of this young group of people were myself, being the Chief Organiser, Mr. Chee and another young and sweet Malay teacher, Cik Faezah, whose duty was to look after the girls in our group.

I still remember that my eldest daughter, Yap Swan Nee was then only 5 or 6, was amongst the members of the group. Also, a neighbor’s wife, a Mrs. Ah Hoon were those who joined as members of our entourage too.

Our visit to Singapore island lasted for roughly 5 days and 4 nights. I have since forgotten about the dates on which it took place. It has been over 30 years since then!

The 50 seater, air conditioned bus belonging to Kuala Selangor Omnibus Company of Jalan Kapar costs us RM1000 or so. I still remember choosing bus drivers Encik Rahman and his young Chinese co-driver, a Mr. Kah Yong from Bukit Kuda, Klang.

Encik Rahman, I heard has since passed away. I still meet the co-driver in Klang town where I reside from time to time. He must be over 55 by now.

How fast time flies. In a twinkle of an eye, 30 years have since gone by.

As the intention of our group’s visit was to see our hero, a man whom we have heard so much in our history lessons, and one whom we admire so highly, Lee Kuan Yew, I wrote to the above personality very early to seek approval to meet him.

But as luck would have it, Mr. Lee was at that time facing a crisis himself then. Besides being extremely busy as the Prime Minister of Singapore, Malaysia had just broken up and Mr. Lee as such was unfortunately unable to meet our group.

For your information, our group had organized a visit to meet our beloved Prime Minister, Yang Amat Berhormat, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj at his official residence in Pulau Pinang one year earlier.

If time should permit, I might consider telling you about this interesting trip in another article later.

Even though Mr. Lee Kuan Yew himself was unable to meet our group as requested, he was good and kind enough to direct his personal secretary to nonetheless provide us whatever requirements our group might encounter during our intended visit to Singapore.

As a result, our lodging problem was solved. We had at first intended to stay in cheap hotels with 5 – 6 persons in a room.

But fortunately, through Mr. Lee’s personal secretary’s assistance, the group, I remembered was offered lodging at the National Youth Training Centre (N.Y.T.C.) at Ang Mio Kio for only $1.45 inclusive of lodging and breakfast for the duration of our stay in Singapore.

I do not remember, as the Chief Organiser of the group, ever conveying our appreciation and thanks to the Singapore Prime Minister’s department for its help then. But I think it is not too late albeit 30 plus years later, to convey our thanks.

As the article seems to be getting longer and longer, I feel I should stop at this juncture. Maybe in the next article, I shall contemplate to tell readers about an interesting episode about how two 16 years old member of our group, nearly got lost at the 200 acres Botanical Gardens of Singapore one late evening.

If indeed they had got lost then, can you envisage the headlines in the next morning newspaper of the Strait Times announcing: “Malaysian Students Lost In The Botanical Gardens Of Singapore”.

Where would the organizers, Mr. Chee and I have to hide our faces then?

Thank god, they say, it didn’t happen.

Before you begin laughing at our episode above, let me remind you that the Botanical Garden is huge. Even our group members, who came from the vicinity of kampongs in Kapar, would very easily have gotten lost in it.

The Botanical Garden, let me tell you, is like the Lake Gardens of Kuala Lumpur. It’s huge, I tell you. Believe you me. And getting lost in it is actually nothing to be shy about.