ALOR STAR: Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid (KSAH) recently played host to a grand reunion celebration for its students from Sahoca Batch ‘69.
More than 80 former students and their families attended the reunion which was held at the school’s hostel dining hall.
Organising committee chairman and Malaysia’s 17th Panglima Angkatan Tentera, Tan Sri General (Rtd) Azizan Ariffin, 68, said today's reunion was a historic moment for the batch.
“This is the 50th anniversary of the class of ‘69, so for us, it is a big deal. We organised this so that the ‘69 batch can all come together. KSAH has given us so much over the years. This school has shaped us to be the best that we can be. It is an honour for me to organise this reunion and to gather all my friends under one roof once again.
“For some of us, this is our first meeting in a while, so it was good to meet some old faces that we haven’t seen in ages. I am also happy that we got to reach out to our teachers. They are the most important element to this reunion and I am glad that they could make it,” he said.
Thegajesan a/l Ramasamy, 68, said that he was looking forward to the reunion as he had missed his old schoolmates.
“I made so many friends at KSAH, but as time goes on, we went our separate ways. It was at KSAH that I made many friends from all races. KSAH is a multi-racial school. We managed to get along well with other races because our teachers encouraged us to mingle and to look beyond race.
“Our teachers taught us the importance of working together and being involved in sports and other activities besides academics. It made us a more well-rounded group of people,” he said.
Another former student, Ng Yoon Kin, 68, who is currently living in Kuala Lumpur, drove back to Kedah for the reunion.
“I may reside in KL, but I will not let this opportunity to meet up with my old friends pass by. KSAH, during my time, was one of the best schools in Kedah. Mind you, there weren’t that many excellent schools such as now.
“The level of education was of the highest standard and at the same time, KSAH was also a top sport school in the country. I am glad to come back and meet my old friends and meet up with the teachers. I hope we will carry on the camaraderie we had built during our time here,” he said.
KSAH also has a significant female student population. For the reunion, they, too, turned up in force with their families.
Ooi Chai Hong, 68, remembers fondly her experience being one of the female students of Batch ‘69.
“KSAH gave me such a wonderful experience. Even though the majority of the students at the time were boys, they were all gentlemen. Look at them now, they have become great people and contributed to the country.
“The reunion has been much awaited, because it is the best time to meet old friends and most importantly, to pay respects to our teachers. Many of us were surprised that our teachers are still strong and healthy enough to attend this reunion,” she said.
One of the top teachers for Batch ‘69 in attendance was Datuk Malik Gilbert Jeremiah, 83. The stoic “Datuk Gilbert”, as he is known to his students, was the discipline teacher. He was their English teacher – but most of his students remember him for his strictness.
“I still have former students who come to me sharing with me their experience of getting disciplined by me. They laugh at the memories because they know why I did what I did.
“It was because I wanted them to be better human beings. I inculcated in them a strong love for the school, for themselves as gentlemen, and to conduct themselves in a way that would reflect well on the school, their families and themselves.
“That is the proper upbringing that KSAH provided to all our students. At KSAH, the focus is not just academic excellence – we focus on sporting excellence and more importantly… creating the best individual that can give back to the community, society and country.
“Looking back at all of them now makes me swell with pride. At KSAH,
they are more than just students, they are our children. This is what this reunion is. This is a gathering of family. I am thankful they remember me and invited me here,” he said.
Former students of KSAH include Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman; former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin; actor Bront Palarae; national laureate Shahnon Ahmad; former President of the UN General Assembly Tan Sri Razali Ismail; and current Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.