BATCH '73 REUNION WEEKEND IN IPOH

Batch '73 (MCE year) had successfully organized its reunion weekend in Ipoh on 10th & 11th December 2010. The theme was "Reaching 55" which aptly reflects that most of the members of the batch turn 55 in the year 2010. A total of 65 former students from Batch '73 had turned up for this reunion and it was indeed a swell occasion as some of them have not met each other since leaving STAR compound approximately 37 years ago.

Amongst those who came were Saiful Bahri (from Ho Chi Minh City), Linggam Shibi (Kota Belud), Che Rohing, Che Chop, Che Mohd Ngah and Norazman (traveled all the way from KT), Ismail Jumli (Bera), Omar Abdullah (S'pore), Tumiran, Mohamed Salleh and Mohd Salleh Jais (JB) and three who had just returned within days from Hajj, i.e., Hj Look Keman, Hj Zainuddin Shukor and Hj Ismail Don. The reunion weekend kicked off with a Networking Hi-Tea at Heritage Hotel, hosted by IR Hj Mohd Fadzil Hassan, a local Ipoh boy. In the evening, guests of honour who attended the reunion dinner were two former headmasters and 13 former teachers from the 1968-73 era, i.e., YBhg Dato' Mohd Khalid Halim, Tn Haji Ahmad Dahan, Mr CM Gomes, Mr JA David, Tn Ustaz Md Ali (who declared that he is a 70-year old golfer playing at handicap 20), Mr Oh Eng Cheng, Mr Chan Teng Hong, Mr Cheng Tek Ing, Mr Tan Chew Kiang, Mr Lam Kim Fatt, Ms Pearly Visvanathan and the 'regulars' at OBWs in the form of Mr Lau Hut Yee, Mr Tan Teong Leong, Mr Kok Kee Chai and Mr P Manoharan, and of course current HM Tn Hj Mohd Hashim Abd Karim who is a STARIAN himself and a younger brother of one of our friends from Batch '73. Some of these former teachers too had not met each other since the time they left STAR. We only realized that Mr Tan TL was, so far, the longest serving teacher at STAR. He had clocked 35 years (1958-1993) as against Mr Lau's 32 (1957-1989).

IR Wan Husin, the Reunion Organizing Team Leader, gave a resounding welcome to all present at the beginning of the dinner. Both former HMs Dato' Khalid and Hj Ahmad Dahan were in their element and were in 'top form' when delivering their speeches. Both talked proudly of their association with STAR and rightfully claimed their special places in the hearts of the Batch 73 students. Mr Lau and Mr Mano spoke on behalf of former teachers. YB Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh, who in 1973 was the Deputy Chairman of the Fifth Form "Society", spoke on behalf of the then Chairman, Tn Hj Syed Hamzah Syed Hamid who was away performing the Haj. Omar Suhaimi delivered Batch '73's tributes to all the former HMs and teachers from the 1968-73 era. The song "Si Cantik Manis" performed by the group Trez Amigos recorded in the 1950's was played, in honour of Mr Gomes who was a member of this popular Melaka group during its heyday. The boys had to give HM Hj Ahmad Dahan a special appreciation as he had traveled by train all the way from Seremban to Ipoh and back to Seremban. The evening was kept alive by the ever witty master-of-ceremony Mohd Roslan Chik with his recollection of the Batch 73's quotable quotes, untold stories (some funny, some sensitive) and other nostalgic notes, down memory lane. To get the ambiance right, a selection of popular and recognizable hit songs from 1968 to 1973 were played throughout dinner. Though dinner lasted until 11.00 pm, there was never enough time for the guys to continue networking and reminiscing about their memorable and mostly happy years. Some continued to have teh tarik and len-chee kang sessions in town. Small discussions at the Hotel lobby continued until about 3.00am.

Sunday was a "Back-to-School" day and after breakfast and checking out of the hotel, the "boys" had an assembly at STAR Main Hall at about 10.00 am, with the presence of current HM. Norizan Tan Sali (another Ipoh guy), considered as Head Boy for the day, had carefully organized some in-door inter-house games. Teams were formed to play table tennis, chess and scrabbles. They had no worry about injuries as Dr Aminuddin Abd Hamid Karim was around in case of any need for medical consultation. In the end, everyone was a winner in his own right. The plan to visit respective hostel blocks was aborted in sympathy with Green House boys as they would not have their former Green House hostel to visit. In view of this, current HM had promised that he would make sure the Resource Centre will revert to its original form as Green House in the near future. At 12.30 pm the boys adjourned to the Dining hall to have lunch - specially catered to look like the good old days, minus "anaconda", of course. It was complete with Hi Table where there were special dishes such as Ayam Golek and Buttered Prawns plus a cup of vanilla ice-cream each and apples. The reunion weekend ended with solat zuhur, yassin and tahlil arwah at the surau. However, it did not end there, those who were traveling south had another rendezvous at Ulu Bernam R&R - complete with coffee and paus. Compliments to all members of the Organizing Gang and to all who had participated in making this grand reunion weekend a success. The next reunion of similar size is planned to be held in 2015 for "Reaching 60", insyaAllah.

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Article by: Omar Suhaimi