HERE WE MEET AGAIN - MAKEOVER 1994

Make-up Artist Aishah with Model Farah (niece)

Model: Farah Amir Hamzah

Model: Haslindah Shonib

Model: Yuhanes Abu Bakar

23 years later in 1994, Yuhanes and Haslinda who are cousins volunteered to be my models for "Makeover"

Left to Right: Aishah with Haslinda Shonib, Noraini Ibrahim with daughter Yuhanes Abu Bakar, my uncle Allahyarham Hj Ibrahim Bin Hj Mohd Yusof, grandfather to the two young girls. Haslindah 1 yr old and Yuhanes: age 2 years

NOSTALGIA

This family photo was taken to commemorate the arrival of Suriati Norikat and family who lived in Perth, Aust. Sitting: husband Rudy with daughter Nadya, Suriati with son Hydar, Hjh Kamsinah, Hassan's mother and Hassan in white baju kurung. Suriati's parents Hj Norikat in peach coloured baju and songkok and Hjh Jaeimah with tudung and selendang standing behind. The rest in the photo are her immediate cousins, most of whom are Hassan's siblings, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncle.

Hassan and wife Julie lived in Melbourne, Australia. Hassan Mohd Pilus (also known Md Dzullah Shukri) is Hajah Kamsinah's eldest son and travelled widely after he finished his schooling in Singapore. He contributed his story headed "NOSTALGIA" which was published in Newsletter 001/6/06.


Assalamu'alaikum

Cik Aishah


First and foremost, please accept my apologies for this very late and long overdue reply. And a million thanks for sending me a copy of the family tree journal. It is very much appreciated. I will treasure it like a priceless item. I put my hands up for your great effort and time spent to gather all these information and distribute it to all the relatives. Well done and congratulations!!!.


I was so overjoyed and glad when I received my copy, it is like a dream come true! I've always dream of putting together something like this, tracing back our forefathers/ancestors as far back as we possibly can. Yes, this will definiely benefit our future generation indeed.


Reading the brief bio of Dato Haji Siraj really brought me back down memory lane! Although I was only a little kid when he was alive, but I still have fond memories of him, especially those visits to our home at Jalan Eunos when he is going for his Friday-prayer trips to the moque at Jalan Ismail. And that great kampong house in Geylang Serai hold lots of fond memories for me as a kid too. As a migrant in an adopted country, now all these memories are so dear to me.


Well, this is it for now but hopefully we will be in touch again. InsyaAllah.

Wassalam

Love and Peace

(Md Dzullah Shukri Md Pilus) Hassan and Julie

Nur Azlyn Kamarudin, husband Hasyim Abdullah Miller, son Haris, Sarah and Jasmine on her lap had set up home in Atlanta, USA


Kamarudin Ali and wife Safia Abdullah Kwok - he contributed JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE which kickstart GOLDWATER FAMILY early Jan. 2009




ALLAHYARHAM ALI BIN HAJI SIRAJ AND WIFE HJH MARLIAH BTE HAJI MOHD SALIM

Son: Kamarudin Ali, elder daughter Kamsinah Ali and younger daughter Jaeimah Ali

ASPIRATION

Harmony Day In A Learning Centre

Expatriate Child with Cerebral Palsy

Prize Giving Ceremony - Recipient is presently a Primary School Teacher

Picture taken with my class when I was with PPIS at Playfair

Hajah Norlin Haji Ahmad (standing top right) with her married children and grandchildren. Photo taken on Mothers' Day 2007. Her daughter Noraini Sapuan standing next to her.

In the photograph taken on our Grandfather's, (Haji Mohamad Yusof) 90th Birthday, Kak Norlin seated next to our grandfather with baby Seri Rahayu in her arms. The couple seated (second row) is Seri Rahayu and seated in front is her 6 year old daughter Haajar.

Noraini contributed her story entitled "Aspiration" in the writer's Newsletter No. 001/6/06.

"Man ought always to have something that he prefers to life; otherwise life itself seem to him tiresome and void" - Seume

I could vividly recall when I landed my first job in a big firm in the heart of town. I was barely seventeen then and was certainly overwhelmed with the surrounding atmosphere and new responsibilities. I tried very hard to adapt but soon realised that I never really felt the satisfaction or zest of working in an environment totally dominated by adults. Something substantial was missing from it and I just could not figure out the reason for the lack of catalyst and chemistry.

Finally after six months of trying, I gave up and applied for a job as a kindergarten teacher in a cre'che. Alhamdulillah that decision, to work with children, turned out to be a turning point in my career. From Day 1, I could already sense the magic those children exude, every little thing they did, and every squeal of laughter, every cry of discomfort and every innocence they portrayed touched my very heart. For once I feel at ease and a sense of purpose as I had always dreamt of becoming a teacher. Working with children had always been my passion and desire. It provided me with an avenue to tap into my maternal instincts and utilize my potential to good use.

Well, from then on, there was no turning back. Todate, I have been working for 25 years, dabbing in various professions - all relating to children! From Kindergarten Teacher to Childcare Supervisor to Studentcare Principal to currently, a Personal Tutor. Never once do I feel sick or bored nor a tinge of regret for not venturing to more promising career paths with the guarantee of better salaries. The experience and knowledge that I garner here are far too priceless. In my line of work, I have the rare opportunity to reach out to handicapped, abused, neglected, problematic, slow learners, local as well as expatriate students. Apart from these, I am also a mother of three teenagers aged 12 (going 13), 15 and 17. Juggling between my career and parenthood is more of a breeze than a challenge as they complement each other in many ways. They both deal with moulding and shaping up lives of our future generation, providing them with a positive threshold for their emotions and being there in their times of needs especially during their impressionable years.

Till today, if I happened to bump into any of my ex-students who have now successfully become "ustazah" or teachers themselves or perhaps a number of certain individuals, previously in my care, who managed to pull through life's ordeals and emerged better students, I could not help but express my praise and gratitude to Allah for showing me the true meaning of faith, perseverance, tolerance and satisfaction.

Food for thought ...

"Give a little love to a child, and you will get a great deal back"

JOHN RUSKIN

"Blessed is he who has found his work. Let him ask no other blessedness. He has a work - a life purpose, he has found it, and will follow it"

CARLYLE

HAJI SIRAJ BIN HAJI ALI

Dato Haji Siraj with his grandchildren, Azizah, Saharudin and Zaidah Jamil at his Geylang Serai house, No. 171 Jalan Alsogoff

(BAHASA MELAYU)

Datuk Haji Siraj tiba di Singapura pada akhir tahun 1800 bersama Haji Abdul Samad dari Jawa Tengah, Banyu Emas (banyu beerti air dalam bahasa Jawa). Tok Haji datang dari keturunan Noorjiwa di mana moyangnya adalah seorang Wali dan Imam kepada Kesultanan di Jawa Tengah.

"Folk-lore": Menurut kisah nenek moyang kita yang disampaikan dari dahulu sejarah keturunan Noorjiwa, masih ada yang mengamalkannya tetapi ada yang telah tidak mengamalkannya lagi iaitu anak perempuan dari anak lelaki yang menerima lamaran dan akan berkahwin, pengantin lelakinya disyaratkan menghadiahkan seikat rumput dan sehelai baju singlet dan diberikan kepada bapa saudara atau saudara lelaki yang terdekat kepada si perempuan itu. Rumput dan singlet ini sebagai Penyandar dari gangguan jahat kepada pengantin perempuan dan generasi seterusnya. Keturunan Noorjiwa ini juga dilarang menjual nasi dan sirih pinang. Keturunan anak cucu Noorjiwa ini penyabar tetapi jangan dicabar.

Bagaimana sejarah ini bermula? Menurut sejarah, pada suatu hari yang cerah, salah seorang nenek moyang kita menunggang kuda pergi ke sebuah kampong. Tiba-tiba hujan turun lebat dan beliau basah kuyup. Beliau tumpang berteduh di sebuah warong nasi. Tuan punya warong nasi itu membiarkan moyang kita tanpa memberi sedikit bantuan walaupun moyang kita dalam keadaan basah kuyup dan kesejukan. Kemudian datang pula seorang saudagar muda dengan kereta lembunya (pedatinya) yang penuh dengan tebu dan rumput. Melihatkan keadaan moyang kita yang dalam kesugulan itu, pemuda itu memberi singlet yang dipakainya kepada moyang kita untuk menghangatkan badan. Dia juga memberi tebu untuk menghilangkan dahaga dan saudagar itu juga memberikan secekak rumput untuk memberi makan kepada kuda moyang kita. Moyang kita sangat berbesar hati lalu beliau mejadikan pemuda itu sebagai anak nya. Seterusnya moyang kita melarang keturunannya yang lelaki menjual nasi dan sirih pinang.

Nama sebenar Datuk Haji Siraj ialah Ibrahim. Semasa berusia 19 tahun, beliau pergi ke Mekah dan tinggal di sana selama 3 hinggga 4 tahun. Beliau fasih membaca Al-Quran. Beliau mendapat nama "Haji Siraj" semasa di Mekah. Siraj maknanya lampu atau cahaya. Adik lelaki beliau bernama Haji Noor telah bermastuatin di Johor dan berkeluarga di sana dan lain-lain bahagian di Semenanjung Malaysia.

Tok Haji Siraj berumah tangga dengan Nenek Sarpiah Binte Hassan di Singapura. Nenek Sarpiah dari keluarga terhormat. Kedua-dua orang datuk dan nenek mempunyai dua orang anak lelaki bernama Ali dan Said. Mereka mengambil seorang anak angkat perempuan bernama Sarah Binte Kadim yang nama gelarannya "Pungut". Sarah atau Pungut sebenarnya anak saudara Nenek Sarpiah. Abang Nenek Sarpiah bernama Datuk Kadim berkahwin dengan Nenek Bedah. Nenek Bedah meninggal dunia semasa Sarah masih kecil. Sebenar nya Sarah mempunyai seorang datuk bernama Haji Abdul Majid iaitu seorang saudagar intan berlian. Nenek Sarpiah juga ada seorang lagi anak angkat lelaki bernama Mohamad Sarip Bin Ismail. Mohammad Sarip ialah anak saudara lelakinya. Datuk Haji Siraj dan Nenek Sarpiah menjalani kehidupan yang sederhanda sahaja.

Datuk Haji Siraj orang yang kuat perpegang kepada agama. Beliau rendah sahaja orangnya tetapi tangannya besar dan kakinya besar. Nenek Sarpiah pula sederhana sahaja ketinggiannya. Datuk Haji Siraj berkerja sebagai Pemandu Steam Roller. Selepas itu beliau berkerja sebagai Pemandu Engin di Goodman Road (Katong). Tugasnya membuka pintu kolam air untuk air dari Sungai Kallang masuk ke kolam air itu sekiranya air pasang dan sebaliknya mengeluarkan air kolam ke Sungai Kallang jika air surut. Mereka diberi rumah tempat tinggal (quarters) berhampiran tempat kerjanya.

Datuk Haji Siraj mempunyai minat menanam pokok-pokok. Kata orang beliau mempunyai "tangan yang subur" maknanya apa saja yang ditanam akan hidup dan menjadi subur, beliau menanam sayur sayuran di kawasan belakang rumahnya. Beliau juga menternak binatang binatang seperti ayam, itik, angsa dan burung merpati, di kawasan tanah lapang di sebelah rumahnya.

Setelah bersara beliau dan nenek berpindah ke Geylang Serai iaitu di rumah kampong. Ada beberapa keluarga yang tinggal bersama, mereka adalah bersaudara antara satu sama lain. Dauk Haji Siraj dan Nenek Sarpiah di jaga pula oleh anak angkatnya yang bernama Pungut dan keluarganya. Datuk Siraj meninggal dunia di rumahnya di Geylang Serai pada usia 100 tahun dan Nenek Sarpiah pula meninggal dunia di rumah anak angkatnya Pungut di Marine Parade pada usia 70an tahun.

(ENGLISH)

Dato Haji Siraj arrived in Singapore in circa late 1800s with Haji Abdul Samad, from Central Java, Banyu Emas (banyu means air (water) in Javanese. Tok Haji came from the descendant of Noorjiwa whose forefather was a Wali and Imam of the Sultanate of Jawa Tengah.

Folk-lore: The descendants of Noorjiwa, some still practise, (most do not) the presentation of a few strands of rumput and a white singlet when a daughter received a hand in marriage, to an uncle or a close male relative. The rumput (grass) and singlet act as a Penyandar that is to ward off evil for the bride's future generation. Also the descendants of Noorjiwa were forbidden to trade with rice and betel nuts. It is noted that the descendants of Noorjiwa bore patience but must not be challenged.

How this folk-lore derived? One fine afternoon, one of our forefathers was riding on his horse to a village and suddenly, there was a heavy downpour and he was soaking wet. He took shelter at a warong. The warong (food stall) owner totally ignored him, not offering help whatsoever. Then came a young saudagar (merchant) with his cart loaded with sugarcane and grass. On seeing our dejected forefather, he offered his inner shirt, (singlet) to keep his body warm and sugarcane to quench his thirst. He also offered grass for his horse. Our forefather was so ever grateful that he took him like a son and forbid his future male generation to trade in rice and betel nuts.

Dato Siraj first name was Ibrahim. At the age of 19 years Tok Siraj went to Mekah and stayed there for 3 to 4 years. He was well versed in the Quranic text. He was given the name Haji Siraj while in Mekah. "Siraj" means lampu that is light. Dato Siraj's brother named Haji Noor settled in Johor and his descendants become Malaysians and have taken root in other parts of Peninsula Malaysia.

Tok Siraj married to Nenek Sarpiah Binte Hassan in Singapore. Nenek Sarpiah came from a respectable family. Both Dato and Nenek had two sons, named Ali and Said. Nenek and Dato had an adopted daughter named Sarah Binte Kadim (nickname: Pungut) her niece, by marriage of Dato Kadim her brother, to Nenek Bedah. Nenek Bedah passed away when Sarah was young. It is interesting to note that Sarah's grandfather was a diamond merchant. Nenek Sarpiah also had an adopted son named Mohamad Sarip Bin Ismail, who is her nephew. The couple led a simple life.

Tok Siraj was a religious man. He was not tall, but he had big hands and big feet. Nenek Sarpiah was of medium height. Tok Siraj first worked as a Steam Roller Driver. His next job was, as an Engine Driver at Goodman Road (Katong) manning the flood waters of the Kallang River. They were provided living quarters within walking distance to his work station. Grandpa had "green hands". He planted vegetables, etc. in the backyard for his daily sustenance. He also reared chickens, ducks and geese and also pigeons on a vacant plot next o his quarters.

On his retirement, he and grandma moved to Geylang Serai which was a commune house, with many families all of whom were related to each other. Both Tok Siraj and Nenek Sarpiah were taken care of by their adopted daughter Pungut and family. Tok Siraj passed away at Geylang Serai at the age of 100 and Nenek Sarpiah passed away at Marine Parade where Pungut and family moved to, at the age of 70 years.

HJ MOHAMAD YUSOF HJ ABDUL SAMAD

Dato Hj Mohamad Yusof with his 3 generation family on his 90th birthday. Picture taken some 60 metres in the compound of the house opposite on a bright sunny day in 1972


(BAHASA MELAYU)

Bapa Datuk Yusof, Haji Abdul Samad tiba di Singapura sekitar tahun 1800. Beliau datang dari Jawa Tengah, Banyu Emas (banyu beerti air dalam bahasa Jawa). Moyang saya adalah dari keluarga baik-baik (keluarga bangsawan). Mengikut ceritanya keturunannya yang lelaki *dilarang berniaga nasi dan sirih pinang.

Bagaimana cerita ini timbul? Ditukil daripada sumber yang lain dimana penulis menemuinya, boleh jadi ada perhubungan yang rapat antara moyang sebelah ibu dan moyang sebelah bapa.

Ceritanya begini: Pada suatu hari yang cerah, salah seorang nenek moyang kita menunggang kuda pergi ke sebuah kampong. Tiba-tiba hujan turun lebat dan beliau basah kuyup. Beliau tumpang berteduh di sebuah warong nasi. Tuan punya warong nasi itu membiarkan moyang kita tanpa memberi sedikit bantuan walaupun moyang kita dalam keadaan basah kuyup dan kesejukan. Kemudian datang pula seorang saudagar muda dengan kereta lembunya (pedatinya) yang penuh dengan tebu dan rumput. Melihatkan keadaan moyang kita yang dalam kesugulan itu, pemuda itu memberi singlet yang dipakai nya kepada moyang kita untuk menghangatkan badan. Dia juga memberi tebu untuk menghilangkan dahaga dan saudagar itu juga memberikan secekak rumput untuk memberi makan kepada kuda moyang kita. Moyang kita sangat berbesar hati, lalu beliau menjadikan pemuda itu sebagai anaknya. Seterusnya moyang kita melarang keturunannya yang lelaki menjual nasi dan sirih pinang.

Datuk Yusof dilahirkan di Singapura di Telok Blangah. Beliau ada seorang kakak bernama Hajah Habsah. Tok Yusof berkahwin dengan Nenek Rujiah Binte Ahmad yang lahir di Kampung Kaji. Sekarang tempat ini dikenali dengan nama Arab Street. Nenek Rujiah adalah anak yatim pada usia semuda 6 tahun. Dia dibesarkan oleh datuknya Haji Abdul Majid iaitu seorang saudagar intan berlian. Haji Abdul Majid adalah seorang "bangsawan". Panggung wayang "Diamond" di North Bridge Road adalah milik beliau. Pada akhir tahun 60an dan awal 70an bangunan pangggung wayang itu dirobohkan untuk memberi laluan kepada pembangunan yang akan di bangunkan di sana. Datuk Yusof dan Nenek Rujiah mempunyai 8 orang anak, 3 lelaki dan 5 perempuan.

Datuk Yusof bekerja sebagai Jurutera (Engineer) dengan Kompeni British di Pulau Bukom. Pada masa itu beliau menerima gaji $175 sebulan. Itu adalah pendapatan yang lumayan ketika itu. Beliau diberi rumah di pulau tersebut. Beliau pulang seminggu sekali untuk bertemu keluarganya di Lorong Ungku Aman. Sekitar tahun 50an beliau dan nenek membeli sebidang tanah dan mendirikan sebuah rumah yang beralamat 20 Jalan Ismail. Mereka berdua di jaga oleh anak perempuan mereka yang bernama Neng Rafeah dan keluarganya, di rumahnya di Jalan Ismail. Nenek Rujiah meninggal dunia ketika berusia 66 tahun pada akhir tahun 50an.

Dari sudut pandangan salah seorang cucu beliau, Datuk Yusof tinggi orangnya. Dalam usianya yang telah 60an tahun, beliau masih lagi kelihatan tegap dan kacak. Kedudukan kewangannya mantap tetapi beliau mahu menjalani hidup yang sederhana, merendah diri bersama keluarganya. Ini untuk menjadi contoh kepada generasi akan datang yang mereka harus boleh hidup dengan seadanya. Datuk Yusof menyambut hari ulang tahunnya yang ke 90 bersama keluargannya yang besar dalam awal tahun 70an dan beliau meninggal dunia pada awal 80an ketika berusia 96 tahun.

*Larangan ini telah tidak diamalkan lagi. Pada abad yang ke 20 dan 21 ini, menjual nasi seperti Nasi Beryani dan Nasi Pandang adalah satu mata pencarian yang boleh menjadikan hidup kita mewah kepada sebahagian dari pada kami.

(ENGLISH)

Dato Yusof's father, Haji Abdul Samad arrived in Singapore in circa late 1800s. He came from Central Java, Banyu Emas (banyu means air (water) in Javanese. Greatgrandpa came from a noble family, bound by a folk-lore that all the males were *forbidden to trade in rice and betel nuts.

How did this folk-lore come about? Culled, from another source whom the writer reckoned and discovered, there might be a probability of a strong relationship between both maternal and paternal grandparents.

The story: One fine afternoon, one of our forefathers was riding on his horse to a village when suddenly, there was a heavy downpour and he was soaking wet. He took shelter at a warong. The warong (food stall) owner totally ignored him, not offering help whatsoever. Then came a young saudagar (merchant) with his cart loaded with sugarcane and grass. On seeing our dejected forefather, he offered his inner shirt (singlet) to keep his body warm and sugarcane to quench his thirst. He also offered grass for his horse. Our forefather was so ever grateful that he took him like a son and forbade his future male generation to trade in rice and betel nuts.

Dato Yusof was born in Singapore at Telok Blangah and had one sister named Hajah Habsah. Tok Yusof married Nenek Rujiah Binte Ahmad who was born at Kampong Kaji, now known in the vicinity of Arab Street. Nenek Rujiah was orphaned at a tender age of 6 and was brought up by her grandfather Haji Abdul Majid, a diamond merchant. Haji Abdul Majid was a "Bangsawan" (prosperous person). The Diamond Cinema at North Bridge Road belonged to him. In the late 60s or early 70s it was brought down to give way to new developments. Both Nenek and Dato had 8 children, 3 sons and 5 daughters.

Tok Yusof worked as an Engineer in a British Company in Pulau Bukom. In those days he earned a salary of $175 p.m. which was considered very highly paid. He was provided a house on the island. He returned weekly to his family at Lorong Ungku Aman. Sometime in the 1950s, he and Grandma bought a piece of land and built a house, address: 20 Jalan Ismail. Both Grandma and Grandpa were taken care of by their daughter Neng Rafeah and family. Nenek Rujiah passed away at the age of 66 in the late 1950s.

Through the eyes of a grandchild Tok Yusof was tall, well built and goodlooking in his 60s. He was financially well off, but wanted to lead a simple, humble life with his family: a living example that his future generation "have to eat humble pies". Dato Yusof celebrated his 90th birthday with his extended family in the 1970s and he passed away in the early 1980s at the age of 96.

*This taboo was broken, as in the 20/21 century, selling rice like Nasi Bryani, and Nasi Padang is bread and butter to some of us.

SINAR HIDAYAH

“Suatu realiti yang rasanya dialami oleh kebanyakan orang pada masa kini, ialah betapa longgarnya hubungan kerabat atau saudara mara, di peringkat adik beradik, saudara sepupu yang sama satu datuk atau satu nenek, atau saudara dua pupu, dan begitulah seterusnya yang agak jauh dari itu.

Keadaan ini berlaku ialah disebabkan desakan atau tuntutan hidup yang menghendaki kita terpaksa berhijrah ke tempat jauh dan berlainan tempat tinggal.”

Kahwin Mahram

Kerana longgarnya hubungan kekerabatan itu, sehingga pernah terjadi perkahwinan di antara sesama muhrim, kerana nasab atau kerana sesuan, dan apabila diketahui kedudukan sedemikian, maka pasangan itu terpaksa difarakkan (dipisahkan), pada hal mereka telah mempunyai anak. Betapa pedih dan derita yang dialami oleh mereka yang terbabit.

Di sinilah maka betapa unggulnya ajaran agama Islam apabila salah atau dari tuntutan Islam yang penting ialah supaya setiap individu menjaga salasilah kekeluargaan, dari datuk yang pertama hingga ke generasi-generasi ke bawah.

Junjungan Nabi s.a.w. sendiri telah dapat mengesan nasab keturunan baginda hingga
ke peringkat yang paling awal, mengikut para sejarah yang disepakati hingga ke nindanya bernama Adnan.

Remaja kini, jika mereka tidak kenal nama datuk atau nenek mereka dengan tepat, samada dari sebelah ibu mahupun sebelah bapa, adalah suatu perkara yang lumrah belaku.

Tidak kenal bapa bapa saudara atau ibu ibu saudara mereka, bahkan tidak kenal sepupu sepupu mereka iaitu anak anak bagi adik beradik ibu atau bapanya. Alangkah malangnya jika berlaku perkelahian yang serius hingga dibawa ke muka pengadilan, kemudian ternyata itu saudara kita, apabila bapa dengan bapa bertemu.

Jalin Silaturrahim

Dalam arus kemajuan yang pesat ini, kita jangan lupa mengambil berat untuk menjalin hubungan kekeluargaan. Adalah kurang bermakna, kiranya kita boleh mengadakan rumah terbuka untuk bermesra dengan kawan-kawan sepejabat/satu tempat kerja, tetapi anak-anak kita tidak kita kenalkan dengan adik-beradik kita, yang menjadi bapa atau ibu saudara kepada anak anak kita.

Nabi s.a.w. mengingatkan tentang betapa pentingnya hubungan silaturrahim, sabdanya bermaksud: “Sesiapa yang ingin dilapangkan rezekinya dan dipanjangkan usianya, maka hendaklah ia menghubungi kerabatnya. (Riwayat Bukhari).

Menghubungi kaum kerabat untuk silaturrahim dan beramah mesra dengan mereka, akan membuahkan kegembiraan dan kedamaian jiwa, maka jiwa yang damai dan tenteram inilah yang menjadi faktor penting untuk kesihatan tubuh badan dan jiwa kita, menyebabkan kita panjang umur, lebih lebih jika kita tergolong orang yang senang, kita bantu kerabat kita yang susah, mereka tentu akan mendo’akan kita dipanjangkan umur dan dimurahkan rezeki, dan do’a yang dituturkan penuh keikhlasan itu tentu mudah dimakbulkan Allah.

Walaupun kita jauh dari sanak saudara, tetapi jangan sampai tidak tahu di mana mereka berada. Berusahalah untuk mengesan alamatnya, nombor telefonnya, dan berusahalah pada masa masa lapang untuk menziarahi mereka, jika keadaan tidak mengizinkan sekurang kurangnya kita mengadakan hubungan dengan menulis surat, atau menerusi telefon.

Tubuh Kesatuan

Alangkah baiknya jika ada langkah langkah positif ke arah menubuhkan kesatuan keluarga, dengan tujuan memelihara hubungan silaturrahim, bahkan boleh diperluaskan aktivitinya untuk tujuan membangun ekonomi, pelajaran, dakwah, kebajikan dan sebagainya, yang mana ini sangat digalakkan dalam Islam. Firman Allah maksudnya: “Bertolong tolongan kamu pada perkara kebajikan dan taqwa, dan jangan bertolong tolongan atas dasar dosa dan permusuhan”. (Surah al-Maidah: 3)

JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE

Journey Through Life – A Synopsis

I was born in 1938, at Kampong Loyang Besar in Changi, three years before the Second World War, and grew up durng the Japanese Occupation eating ubi kayu as a staple diet. My family stayed at Kim Chuan Municipal Quarters. As a kid, better known among relatives as “Odin”, I had great fun playing with Sanip, Rohana Ibrahim and others in the Quarters’ compound.

I started school in 1946 at Sekolah Melayu Kampong Sireh (Upper Serangoon Road). Walked all the way to school through rubber estate, coconut plantation and the Chinese kampong. Later, I attended the Sekolah Melayu Sepoy Lines. On completion Darjah 4, I got admitted to Outram Afternoon School in 1950. In the entrance examination, I came first and gained admission to Raffles Institution in 1954, then the premier secondary school in Singapore. My father had passed away in 1953, and we moved from Park Road Municipal Quarters in Chinatown to stay with Datok Siraj at Jalan Alsagoff in Geylang Serai. Life was hard, I had to cycle all the way from Geylang Serai to Bras Basah Road every day to attend school. There was hardly any coin in the pocket at recess time.

After finishing School Certificate, I started work as an Accounts Clerk in the Adelphi Hotel and later joined the Government Service as a Laboratory Assistant. I climbed up the ladder to become the Chief Lab Technician, at the Middle Road Hospital in 1985. I was the only Malay to have reached such position in the Laboratory Service at that point of time. In 1989 I accepted the offer to organise and head the Laboratory Department at the National Skin Centre Pte Ltd when Middle Road Hospital was restructured. I left the Centre in 1998 on reaching the official retirement age at 60. In 1999 I joined the Raffles Academy as a part-time lecturer for the Nottingham Trent University degree programme.

My interest in higher education began when I was awarded a WHO Fellowship to study Immunological Techniques at the Alfred Hospital, Monash University in Melbourne in 1977. Subsequently, I obtained a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Science from Riverina College of Advanced Education in New South Wales and a Master of Medical Science Degree from the University of Tasmania. In all these endeavours, I was fortunate to have the strong support and encouragement from both my wife Sofia and daughter Lyn. Lyn and I studied together for our higher education. She obtained a Master Degree in Hospitality and Tourism from Bournemouth University, and for me a Doctorate Degree in Organisation Behaviour from University of Wales, Swansea.

My other interests were in voluntary work and professional development. In the 1960s and 70s, I was actively involved with the Persatuan Persuratan Pemuda Pemudi Melayu (4PM) a Malay/Muslim VWO. Later I branched out, and formed the Singapore Association for Medical Laboratory Science, became its President in 1985 and chaired the Third ASEAN Conference in Medical Laboratory Technology in 1989, the first regional conference of its kind held in Singapore. It was attended by 28 countries.

Alhamdulillaah life has been good and I am enjoying it.

KAMARUDIN ALI, PhD (Wales)

Email: goldwater7838@gmail.com

NEWSLETTER 03/2009

HAJAH AISHAH HAJI SAID (Photo taken in 1987)

ASSALAMU’ALAIKUM

Dearest All,

SELAMAT TAHUN BARU 2009/1430 HIJRAH

Alhamdulillah our family calendar 2009 had been successfully printed and distributed. I have incorporated both my maternal and paternal grandparents families which complete the months from January to December. Apart from looking at all the photos and trying to figure out “who is who” please remember to read all the texts in the text boxes on the right hand side as much thought had been put on it. I thank all of you for your monetary contribution, photos, etc.

This Newsletter forms part of my blog. Please view regularly for updates and inputs which will appear fortnightly or as slow as monthly. I will release 2 to 3 postings at a time. Please share all information with your parents and relatives that concerned all of us.

How my blog name is coined: www.banyuemas21c.blogspot.com . Kita keturunan Banyu Emas, banyu in Javanese is water (air), emas is gold and my blog title is: GOLDWATER FAMILY – BANYUEMAS: we are in the 21st century. I ought to thank my cousin Kamarudin Ali who woke me up! (He and I knew what I meant with this phrase)

When you have no idea what to eat or what to cook please view:

http://www.resipidiana.blogspot.com/

and if you wish serenity you can listen to Hadirlah or read poems at:

http://www.hirmanfolk.blogspot.com/

These blogspots are already linked.

Thank you Diana and Hirman for your contribution and hard work and also “filling in my space”.

My intention of having our family blog is to reach out to all of you, especially the fifth and sixth generation. I appreciate that all of you be more proactive and contribute to my blog with stories, mutiara kata, or your achievements in life to share with all families.
I also welcome your comments.

We are fortunate to have so many relatives and close with each other, especially you will all notice at wedding ceremonies the “majlis” is becoming bigger and bigger. Please share my blog with your colleagues and friends whom you might think we are related. They are most welcome to view and I would be most happy to work together with them to expand our FAMILY TREE.

Journey through Life kickstarts GOLDWATER FAMILY……

Happy reading

Wassalam