YAN: If you are thinking Dr-Rosdi Mat Yusoff is a medical practitioner, you are wrong. And you are not alone.
"Many are confused with my name. I am actually a fireman,” said the 48-year old senior fire officer at Yan Fire and Rescue Department.
Dr-Rosdi admitted he was initially uncomfortable when his friends addressed him as 'Dr', but had since accepted it.
According to him, his late father, Mat Yusoff Awang, told him his given name was initially supposed to be Mohd Rosdi, but the person who registered his name mistakenly wrote Dr-Rosdi.
"At that time, the movie Dr Rushdi directed by Tan Sri P Ramlee was screening in cinemas and had quite a following.
Probably the person was incensed with the main character that he eventually put Dr-Rosdi on my birth certificate instead.
"I must say it’s quite a unique name. But I am okay with it, because it’s easier for people to remember me," he said when met at his office, yesterday.
Dr-Rosdi said confusion arose everytime he went to a hospital or clinic for treatment, as the staff would think he was a doctor.
He said many would also asked him which clinic or hospital he was attached to, and he would tell them straight that he was not a doctor although his name seemed to suggest that.
"Staff and colleagues at the Kedah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Kedah also address me as 'Dr', because it is easy to remember.
"New staff, especially the assistant fire officers, were surprised to find there’s a “doctor” in the house, but they eventually got to know the real story,” said Dr-Rosdi, who hails from Bedong, Sungai Petani.
According to him, everytime he attended talks related to fire rescue, people would be surprised to learn about his unusual name. There would be some who looked at him in admiration because of the name, he added.
He however said his children’s surname on their birth certificate is Rosdi only, because he wanted the name, Dr-Rosdi, to remain exclusively his.