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Urut-urutan video diatas disematkan khas untuk pemirsa-pemirsa- diseantero Nusantara.

Video kedua diatas menunjukkan kisaran Kota Pontianak, tempat lahir kuliner kondang Nex Carlos. The crux of the trip is called tebengan or boncengan i.e to hitch a ride in a vehicle without paying for it called hitchhiking in English. The landscape in West Kalimantan is very much similar to that in Malaysia. The trip starts from Pontianak the largest city in West Kalimantan. It reminds me very much of a trip I took by car about 35 years ago up north to Kedah in Peninsula Malaysia. Malaysia and Indonesia share very similar tropical greenery and mountain landscapes. 

Now I begin my narrative in English. Today has been a wet and cold morning. Entertaining myself with watching old videos from Youtube. Quite a boring pastime actually. Honestly Youtube doesn't have that great a collection of videos. But we just have to make do with what we have I guess. I wonder during my parents' or great grandparents' day, what did they do as a pastime. There wasn't any TV let alone computers to wiggle our fingers.

I think back about the trips I have taken along the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia when I was much younger. As long as I do not open my mouth I am safe. In short never engage in small talk only talk that is very necessary. This is commonly called self-preservation.

Has Kuala Lumpur changed?

 

Many years ago during the sixties and early seventies, Kuala Lumpur was an icon of peace and tranquility. It was so tranquil, you could literally hear its denizens talking in the house even during the height of the day. Coconut trees and pinang tress dotted the landscape of KL and houses did not need to invest in potted plants for their gardens for the gardens naturally compose part of the natural fauna and flora of the land. The place I was staying, Djalan Selatan, Imbi Road, was a haven of greenery. The small enclave nested in a quiet corner of the city and was a place where sportsmen of all shapes and sizes converged in the evenings to test their mettle in their chosen fields. It gave birth to footballers like Zakaria Sharif, a natural and talented maestro of the ball who gave many kids like us a free viewing of his skills every evening at the Postal Club grounds in Imbi.

By  9pm in the night almost the whole neighborhood of Imbi was asleep. Night life and after office hour entertainment was unheard of. All the denizens were civil servants working in government departments and offices. Some houses were lucky enough to own a TV but usually, it is lights out early. Most of my friends were either from Djalan Imbi itself or the nearby area of Pasar Road.

I could not resist myself in between the story telling without inserting above, a video clip about the eating opportunities in the night in the historical city of Purwokerto in Central Jawa. I hope Malaysians of Indonesian descent or heritage or Indonesians the world over can relate to the video. The commentator is Bapak Nex Carlos, a noted and well known food logger from Djakarta Indonesia. It is a short simple story about a simple people and what they usually eat.

Back to Kuala Lumpur, it was a busy, thriving bustling Chinese-dominated city in the sixties. The fresh coat of paint hadn't been uncorked yet. But as we know, things were about to change. The old KL as we know it was to be knocked off its pedestal and in its place, a funny awkward-looking city had taken shape and form. An impostor you might say. Progress had been forced down on its inhabitants sometimes at costs which cannot be recovered. But reality has a way of forcing us to accept things that we cannot change. The new-look KL sang a tune that was jarring and out of place in the modern era. In short, KL now looks like an old lady dressed as a hot young chic, you get what I mean........KL is no more the KL of old, it now looks like a brand new hot young thing working in an old folk home. KL old-timers now can only spend their time on wishful thinking, wishing back the good old KL but inside their hearts, they know this can never happen, nothing can stop the march of time, the hands of the clock can only move in one direction and that is, forward. So they sit in their ruko kopi respectively while they "seruput" their kopi, their eyes looking in the distant where their "Mei kuei, mei kuei......flower of Malaya" once was, now on a battleship sailing for Britannia Raya. Now they belong to an era that is known as history. To explain it all in a nutshell, would be to summarize akin to the Indonesian saying, "Kisah panjang, sepotong rendang", which would e literally impossible.

In the context of the current landscape, the younger generation, those whom we fondly refer to the Millenials, haven't the slightest clue as to the ye olde Kuala Lumpur. The old folks in KL would fondly refer to it with a heavily accented Chinese accent as Ka-Lam-Par or Ka-Lom-Por. Don't ask me it's meaning, I am just as clueless as you. During that era, the cabaret was in vogue and they were mushrooming in every nook and cranny of Greater KL. I was a young un then but old enough to know they were places of happiness and fun for the male gender. I knew some of the male relatives of the older set would whisper in a hush and measured tones about such places among themselves. I don't think their womenfolk were oblivious to their male spouses but they were diplomatic enough not to cause a ruckus from them. It was rumoured cynically among them, that the real pendiri or founder of KL was none other than the famous stripper mademoiselle Rose Chan who has since then departed this realm and now residing with twinkle-twinkle, not so little stars far above the sky. In fact, some of them would swear this beside the big fat ogres residing in the temples. In fact, many among them would make weekly pilgrimages to this sponge bob for the latest kiat or tips on the "hot" numbers to invest in the nomor empat ekor. Sadly this trait is still around and still very prevalent and relevant in today's youth. They would say like, "No taloh, no kaser man!". BTW Kaser is Tamil for moolah or money. Parah banget.......

The three most famous schools in KL were St. John's Institution, Methodist Boy's School and Victoria Institution (my old alma mater). Of the three I guess VI was the most prominent at the time. During my time the headmaster was Mr Murugesu. He was its undeniable ruler from 1964-1969. I say ruler because that's what he did, he ruled over all and sundry like a mighty overlord. I haven't had the pleasure of knowing him personally even after we became septuagenarians and centenarians but woe betides to those who got on the wrong side of him. He was the Maha-thir of VI......note the Maha. But today among some all is past and history, he is your regular chum and guy next door.   I guess he meant well and he was sincere in carrying out his duties. He just wanted the students to give their best shot. I hear now he has attained the age well over ninety. That shows guts and stamina. He is in the last stages of completing his memoirs before it is published. 

The days of Ganyang Malaysia have passed to be superseded by "Teman Malaysia". It does not pay to wage war by military means but should war be considered, an economic-oriented war would be more palatable and palpable.

Tomorrow Saturday, November 28, 2020, my son-in-law will be travelling to Cambodia. He's being posted there. He is an accountant and his Chinese bosses require him to be there. I pray the Lord shall be with him and sustain him in his duties and responsibilities. His young family will surely miss him. Today's workforce is very mobile and their services are not restricted to one geographical area. Thus the need to be flexible and have a positive outlook. Kuala Lumpur is no longer self-sufficient and its citizens are needed to take on more responsibilities every day. 

I have forgotten to include a very important section of Kuala Lumpur in my writings and that is the enclave known as Bukit Bintang or Star Hill in English. Backlanes like Djalan Alor come to mind. Bukit Bintang during the nights is an incredible fairyland with a myriad of lights, sounds and smells of aromatic food filling and saturating the electric atmosphere in the air. I have walked the main street of Djalan Boekit Bintang in the night and truly it is comparable and on the same plane as London's West End or Tokyo's Ginza. The food served in Djalan Alor is the mecca of food enthusiasts in KL as well as Malaysia. In a way it beats even Gurney Drive in Penang Island which is now a haunted street. All the major hotels have a presence here. Even with the negative impact of pandemic, business has been hardly hit by it. The sustaining power of this street is awesome. During my schooldays, the place was still not developed to its full potential but the presence of BB Park alone was still sufficient enough to make it famous among locals and foreign visitors. In the sixties and early seventies, there were two theaters or cinemas servicing the district, they were the Cathay cinema and the Pavilion. Both of these have since been demolished to make way for super or hypermalls. Incredible as it may seem, the hustle and bustle of yesteryears have been increased after the total makeover of Djalan Boekit Bintang. The old may lament the vanishing of certain landmarks like old prewar cafes but the young in general welcome the new makeover with outstretched open arms. Boekit Bintang was near where I studied and that is Victoria Institution. BTW, a notorious character i.e the current Minister of Defence for the Republic of Indonesia i.e. General (Ret.) Prabowo Subianto studied also at the famous school. The famous Lot10 where the most expensive branded goods are displayed and sold to the rich and famous is also to be found at the main intersection of Djalan Boekit Bintang. When I was studying for my O levels at VI, I used to visit the Cathay cinema for a movie and then head for Djalan Alor for a cheap meal. BTW, everything here is non-halal so for Muslims, it is better to stay clear of this area when they are hungry.

Egad, if anyone were to condemn Djalan Boekit Bintang, it would only reflect badly on the person concerned. The three main sub-domains of Kuala Lumpur, i.e. Pasar Loot, Pudu Loot and Boekit Bintang Loot are the main attractions and honey pot of KL. They are the "andalan" or mainstay of the city. Batu Loot unfortunately lost its status as a honey pot sometime in the eighties for reasons we would not go into lest we be accused of being anti this and anti that, a prevalent culture here.

Just to digress a little, the above video clip shows the food logger Nex Carlos devouring tengkleng (goat's bones with some meat), sate klatak (sate wrapped around jeruji besi or iron bars) and tongseng (ribs soup or sop tulang iga). Sorry for the Indonesian words, this is for the benefit of Indonesian. readers. Well any way, rerouting back to good olde Boekit Bintang, it says in travelogues that this part of KL never sleeps. In the old days Boekit Bintang was infested with crime dens and criminals of the worst kind. But this has changed with the march of time. These criminals have been absorbed into the new landscape of Boekit Bintang and contributing to its revenue by being respectable businessmen. I view this as a positive sign of a change in the mindset of people who hold uniquely different occupations in the past.

The skyline over KL has indeed undergone an incredible transformation. This is due to the rapid progress made by Malaysians in the fields of technology and the art of acquiring wealth. Both these characteristics have driven the change in KL and its surrounding area e.g. Petaling Jaya. During my school days, many school students used public transport or leg power to get to school and back. But many today have their own transport in at least a scooter. Today's teachers are much younger and better qualified as far as their credentials are concerned. During my days, many of the teachers were past middle age and some even about to retire. In yesteryears, KL was less smoky and dusty. This could be attributed directly to the number of mechanized vehicles. present. Motorized transport is very popular these days and only a fool would be caught walking as a means of transport. The area where I stayed had a huge number of the university student population. Many were outstation students who had gained entry to the University of Malaya. University of Malaya then housed the cream of Malaysia's brains. But much of its lustre and shine have been robbed by private institutions of higher learning. Private educators in Malaysia have teamed up with their western counterparts in a win-win situation where many twinning courses are made available at affordable prices. My three children are such locally-foreign trained graduates. Hence the standings of Malaysian public institutions have plummeted invariably to the depths of despair. However, the bulk of the students in public universities are from the rural areas of the country. Unfortunately, these do not represent the best in the country. The quality of food however has not diminished with the march of time. 

Above is a clip of the evergreen traditional Djakarta-Betawi song, "Inilah dia Si Jali-jali".  This haunting melody never fails to stir up many very old memories in me. Memories are the centre stage where the spotlight shines on the protagonist who performs the dance routine which in this case tells the story of the life of a human being. 

Rojak vs Rujak

 

Two different countries. Same stock. Neighbors. Yet sworn enemies. Not family squabble. That briefly describes Indonesia and Malaysia. 

Why?........why this scenario? Sibling rivalry but with a twist......same father but different mothers......hence step sons and step daughters. Now you comprehend the vitriol involved. The lands of tropical forests and high mountains and rivers gushing into the Straits of Malacca or South China Sea or the Sea of Java.

I am not qualified to write on matters such as these. Who knows what is inside the heart of a man. Hence I have changed my direction and write on other nonsensical things. 

Just to clarify things, my blogposts are not fit entirely for human consumption. For one thing though it does not reflect the views or opinions of others. It would be best for one to read this blog with a big gunny sack of salt. 

Today is Friday 13/11/2020. Still boring and empty. Nothing happening. 

Saturday morning 06:33 am. Woke up at 06:00 am. Brushed my teeth and made myself a cup of milo. Aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection, medical terms which suddenly have cropped up in my life. Maybe one day they too will go away like my many illnesses of the past. God is indeed great. I have never been a pious or devout Christian but I sincerely believe in and have faith in my Lord Jesus Christ. He is not only my Saviour but my Healer. He is with me in times of distress. I remember just as if it was yesterday when after my fourth operation on the spine, I had difficulty walking for more than 10 years. The pain was gone but it seemed like the strength had left my legs. On and off I would pray to Jesus for help in walking normally again. I went to church for a few years and then stopped when my mother became seriously ill. I thought I would never get well again. Then one day in 2015, I walked up from my house to the commercial center where I stayed and realised "I could walk normally again". Thanks be to God for our Lord Jesus Christ. I am ever so grateful to the Lord for the many miracles that happened in my life. When you least expect it, the Lord Jesus Christ will step in and intervene and that is when the healing starts.

I have always suffered from a weak constitution since my young days till today. I remember the frequent fever chills that have plagued me even in grade school. Visits to the doctor were seldom carried out as we could not really afford a doctor's consultation even then. I remember my grandmother would come over to our house and work her miracles with a hard boiled egg and reciting incantations around a small pot that was burning with small pieces of yellow paper. Wonder of wonders, the fever would leave me and I would feel better. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamn't of in your philosophy (science).

My youth age 5 to 18 was spent in an enclave of KL known was Imbi road. It was hemmed in Pasar road in the south and Bukit Bintang in the north. My grade school was spent in Pasar Road English School (1). The (1) meant that I was in the morning session of the school. I credit Pasar Road English School (1) with moulding me into the person I am today. Pasar Road a name synonymous with anything that is Chinese was home to many great men who lived and studied at the school. Pasar Road English School (1) was the equivalent of Harrow's in the British Isles. The teachers were patient and I don't remember anyone of them shouting or slapping any students for being overly naughty. The headmaster a benign and friendly gentleman ruled the school with the touch of a saint. He was the epitome of what a teacher should be. The speech days at the end of the year and the sports days organized by him went like clockwork and everyone enjoyed themselves to the tilt even the parents of the students. Sports day was marked by a sterling performance of the school band of which I was a member (I played the flute). The band was trained and led by Mr. Ng Cheng Kiat. The school band was very well known throughout Malaysia and we were even invited to perform at important events at the Stadium Merdeka. I cannot remember if we were attired in special uniforms for the band but we trained regularly on Saturdays and school holidays. I remember Mr. Mac Kean Boon who played the big drum and Mr. Dennis Appaduray who played percussions. There was no reward handed out to us only the joy of being able to play our musical instruments.

I used to hang out at pasar road with a young classmate who has since then migrated to UK when he was in Victoria Institution. We would go on Saturday afternoons to visit the fish shops stocked with aquariums. There was plenty then. We did not buy any fish and would just watch the fish swimming around in the aquariums. After so many years I can still remember every little detail of our weekly visits to the aquariums. We could not afford the bus fare, so the both of us would walk to pasar road come rain or shine. I lost a good friend and companion when my friend left for the UK while we were studying in form one in VI. At the perimeter of pasar road were places like Cochrane road, Nakhoda Yusuf, Peel road and Kampung Pandan where the houses were also inhabited by civil servants. A classmate Mr.Lim Mun Hoy stayed in Djalan Nakhoda Yusuf  while we studied together at Pasar road and VI. His dad Mr. Lim Wee Sin was a colleague of my dad. Both of them were at Federal House and were very close. In the nights Mr.Lim would cycle to our house bringing with him a pile of magazines for me to read. He migrated to New Zealand with his family in the early nineties and since then we have no news of him any more.

The Postal Services Club was only about 100 meters away from our house. It was a popular meeting place for the young and old alike. The young would go there during the day and played football or just exercised while the older ones usually comprising of civil servants would head for the club for drinking sessions and billiards. 

The postal club still exists today and together with the padang are the last remaining vestiges of the old era. Though many of its former patrons have passed on, the club has a sort of notoriety about it. A famous footballer and ex-Victorian Mr. Zakaria bin Shariff trained at the postal club padang during his schooldays. I do not know the reason why but when Zakaria left VI, nothing more was heard of him and his football exploits. The inter-civil-servants annual athletics meet was also held at the Postal Club padang. Malaysia excelled at athletics and stamped its mark in South-east asia. Surprisingly the meet was of a very high standard. The best part of the meet was reserved at the end. Tables were reserved and covered with refreshments meant for the guests, meaning us. We helped ourselves generously to the food and drinks that were laid on the tables. It was kind of postal club management to allow everyone including the residents living nearby to participate in the happy event. 

During the era in the sixties, was the height of the emergency. The emergency in reality was an all out war between the government and the Malayan communists. It was fought deep in the jungles of Malaya, specifically in the Main Range now known as Banjaran Titiwangsa. Hence every year the Information Services Department of Malaya specifically it's propaganda arm would conduct film shows held at the Postal Club field in the late evenings. Usually an announcement would be made about the film show to be held, its time and venue. About an hour before the film show, we would head for the field and sit around the projector and in front of the screen. The shows were popular Hollywood movies e.g. Sinbad the Sailor and Ben Hur to name a few. Before the movie was screened a short talk about the evils of communism would be held by an officer from the department. Usually we would forget what the officer had said and wait impatiently for the movie to be screened. Often the officer would be a bule (known in Malay as Mat Salleh) representing the British government who were assisting the Malayan government in the war against the communists. The government should have no fear about the emergency for the people were solidly behind the government in the war against the Malayan communists. We knew too well what the communists stood for and had no love for them. The movie would end about 10 pm in the night and we would head home, all walking as cars were unheard of then. We brought no stools along with us and just sat with legs folded on the soft green grass. It was one of the many kindnesses shown by the government towards it's people.

After completing standard six I was lucky enough to be selected to progress to Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur to continue my secondary education. I remember receiving a letter from VI to sit for an entrance examination to be held on a Saturday morning in December at the school. I recollect that on that fateful Saturday I forgot to bring a pen or pencil for the test and had to borrow a red ballpoint pen from the student sitting on my right. I also remember for getting a strong whack on the back of my neck by an invigilator whom later I would get to know as a teacher by the name of Peethamparam aka in short Peet. Peet has since migrated to Melbourne, Australia and my desire to repay that whack he gave to me never materialized. I am now bigger, stronger, taller and much more younger than him and I strongly believe in the proverb, "An eye for an eye.............". Peet had developed a reputation as a whacker among the many male teachers who were addicted to whacking and slapping found in Victoria Institution. I believe one of the pre-requisites before a teacher was accepted to teach in VI was, "Do you believe with all your heart and soul in whacking and slapping your pupils on a regular basis?' If the answer is a positive, rest assured you would be accepted into the fraternity of whackers and slappers nesting happily in the premier school of Malaysia during that era. The whackers and slappers were the norm and not the exception and indeed if a teacher were to be found lacking in this discipline, he would be looked down upon by his fellow brethren and sisters of the Hood. What Hood, I frankly have yet to ascertain. Sadly among the Hood, some had fallen beneath the Hood and no longer with us. I bear no malice towards anyone of them for many of us were really stubborn and naughty and needed a whack or two to get back our alignment and balancing into perspective something akin to the wheels of a wahana (vehicle).

I remember Mr.Renggasamy, our teacher in General Science. He was a tall, stooping and rather thin character. But he knew his subject matter well. Moreover the added bonus was that he was a personal and good friend of the author of our series of general science books, a Mr.Ooman, himself a teacher at the Methodist Boys School KL. Mr. Ooman's books were well written, easy to understand and very illustrative with plenty of pictures and diagrams to help the students. Mr. Ooman's books were accepted as the standard teaching material for students in Malaya from form one to form three. I grew very fond of general science and would look forward to the lessons taught by Mr.Renggasamy. I cannot remember who was the class master/or mistress for form 1 north. It was so long ago. I was living in Djalan Selatan, Imbi Road during my education at VI. Every Tuesday morning we had a one hour lesson in Physical Education or PE in short. Nobody liked PE for it made us sweat and sticky all over. But PE was mandatory and unless one produced a medical certificate from the doctor, everyone had to partake of this stupid routine once a week. I was as think as a rake or bambu and what I needed was more food and not exercise. All of us were thin as bambu (aka bamboo) except for Mac Kean Boon, who looked like spongebob. No offence meant as Mac was a nice guy and easy to get along with. He had a cousin brother also in the same class, a Mac Yin Tee. Both Macs were good students and very friendly. Both also came from Pasar Road English School (1). There were 7 Malay students in the class, Salleh the Hood, Nordin, Raja Nong Chik, the twin brothers, Syed (Syed Nasir's sons), Abdul Rashid and Aminuddin. 

VI was perceived as a melting pot of the best students in academia and sports. I do not subscribe to this view. I believe other schools had equally smart students in academia and those who were also good in sports but their public relations was not so effective. School commenced at 7 am and ended at 1pm. And after that there were curricular activities which were given equal importance. I joined the 2nd.KL Scout Troop but cannot remember much of the activities I participated in. I also joined the Red Cross, the Philatelic Club. I cannot recollect joining anything else. The house I belonged to was SAS (Sultan Abdul Samad) denoted by the purple T-shirts that we wore. During form 1, the house captain was Nah Seang Hoo who also happened to be the school vice-captain. He was good both in studies and sports. 

The school kantin was famous for its curry laksa. But due to financial constraints I had the opportunity to taste it only once when I was in Form 1 North. As for the other dishes it was equally expensive for me with my limited budget. Hence by 10:30am I was a very hungry young man. There was no subsidies given to impoverished students. The new economic policy had not taken effect yet. I had a few friends who were prefects and they executed the trust placed on them exceedingly well. It was during this period that Malaysia was experiencing a Christian revival. Many evangelists from the United States and also from Indonesia came to Malaysia to perform evangelistic work among the local Christians. People like Billy Graham was on everyone's lips. Even the conversion of Karen Carpenter and Cliff Richard was much talked about in schools, pulpits and coffee shops across Malaysia. Speakers especially from America were much sought after and many of them were asked about the hippie culture and flower people. The war in Vietnam was much debated and most Americans especially its youth were against the war. I remember being taken every Friday and Sunday nights to attend a church service at Gospel Hall, Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya by an alumnus two years my senior, a Mr.Kam Beng Teik. It was here that I received Jesus into my life. I expected to feel something different inside me but there was change in my feelings or emotions, everything was the same as before. I was advised by Beng Teik not to rely on my feelings or moods. Beng Teik was essentially a nice person and soft spoken. He was a bio-math student and after his HSC he was offered to study medicine by the National University of Singapore. I was with him for two years before he left for Singapore to further his studies. At Gospel hall Djalan Gasing, our pianist was none other than Dr.Lenny deVries's younger brother who also taught at VI. The younger brother was totally different from Lenny, he was kind, humble and soft spoken.

There were three cinema theaters that were closest to VI. They were the Rex cinema, the Pavilion cinema and the Cathay cinema and the Rialto in BB Park. These  cinemas aired popular Hollywood films. I remembered that I saw the movie "Goodbye Mr.Chips" three times at the Cathay cinema. I was in Form 3 East. It was the year the Lower Certificate of Education was held. There wasn't any panic among the students as it was an easy examination and the school achieved 100% passes. Form three was a pretty quiet year for an examination year.

I cannot remember any earth shaking event that happened directly or indirectly because of the school because nothing happened at school but something did happen which the world would soon know as the May 13, 1969 racial riots that happened in Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding areas. It started at around 6pm in the evening and quickly spread like wild fire. I returned home early on May 13, 1969 as there were no curricular activities that day. My dad had heard what was happening early on, as the prime minister's office was in Federal House as were many ministers at the time. So those working in Federal House got the news early. It spread quickly and soon the building was almost empty of workers as they fled home. The Malays gathered first at the house of the menteri besar of Selangor, Dato Harun Idris at the junction of princess road and circular road. Many witnesses claimed they saw the darkening night sky lighted up in flames and heard the beating of drums in the distance.

Malaysia declared two months of emergency curfew and all the schools were closed. Thus the honeymoon year was given an additional two months of "holidays" by circumstances beyond our control. It was also days of the rumors. The rumors sounded ridiculous in the first place. Thankfully peace was restored after two months and the situation on the ground gradually returned to normal. We have learned not to take things for granted and to work diligently for our peace and prosperity.