One fine day, at our humble abode, this sister of mine, in typical fashion, suggested this:
"Eh, Riz...ni ada iklan NST, pre-Editorial Training Scheme...for reporters...apply lah...mana tau ada rezeki, daripada asyik baca sports magazines dan melukis aje...pergilah apply...I know you like sports, you go to stadiums and you have this uncanny knack of recognising faces..."
(Ah, she must have remembered the day I told her I said hello to Tai Beng Hai (now hockey coach) in a minibus, during my student days...Beng Hai appeared surprised)...
I can't remember exactly the chronology of events leading to the application and later interview but by the year-end, I was already a sports reporter at Berita Harian!
The interview was conducted by M.A Razman, Yunus Said (who went on to become TV3 director of operations) and Nashruladin Abdul Rahman (now Malaysiakini.com editor).
Among the questions thrown to my face:
"Oh, you minat sukan...kenapa?"
"Kalau betul you minat sukan, berapa besar saiz gelanggang badminton?"
Let's skip the details.
Because of you, Kak Lin, my colleagues and bosses could pay their Citibank bills without having to go to the HQ (remember this was the pre-Internet banking days)...
Because of you, I got to know Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh...
Because of you, well, we fought like cat and mouse...
Because of you, Arwah Mak and Ayah made it a point to go to MRSM Seremban every weekend for five years, leaving me the keys to the house...
Because of you and your friends, I got to read French football magazine Onze Mondial...(your friends were vacationing in Paris and I asked you whether they could get me the mags, they later posted them to me)...that was in 1987 and I have them until today...
Because of you, Man and I were content on taking a backseat and be timid because Arwah Mak and Ayah would always urge the eldest to take charge...
Because of you, Intan and I can take a breather on the weekends from 'Akif and Alfiyyah...
We may have our differences, we may be considered loose cannons in our own unique way but air yang dicincang takkan putus.
Thanks again, Kak Lin. I owe you my career, ceh wah! Oh lupa, congratulations. Arwah Ayah would surely be proud of you because he was conferred his economics degree on that same stage at DTC!
p/s now that I've bodek-ed you, when can I get that loan, ah?
4 comments:
Rizal, your sister provided you with the most expensive gift, her foresight. Knowing very well your strength and great love for sports, football in particular, she guided you to throng a path that could be your life and blood in future. And she was right! You owe her a lot.
Tok Wan guided me to become what I am today. Just like your sister, Tok Wan had the foresight to work on my strength and passion, including being at every football game that I played in Serdang, Kedah and nearby areas. He also made me aspire to better myself educationally, leading me to pursue higher studies at one of the world's top 200 universities.
Each of us owe each of them a lot. Maybe a mountain each.
Very true, pakndak,
We owe them a lot. A lot more than a mountain each.
Perhaps you can enlighten the Abu Bakar clan on your exploits on the football field...
You count Bakri Ibni and Shukor Salleh among your adversaries, that must be quite daunting for any aspiring footballer!
Salam.
Congrats Lin.
Because of u I wouldnt be able to ciluk that nice German Jersey and also that nice t-shirt that I like to think Akmal may have worn when he was at ...errr... lupa lak. kat France la...
Of course becos of u Lin I wouldnt know who the **** is this Rizal dude/punk who seems to know so much about sports and not only Football.
Congrats Lin. U did the family proud.
Nasi ayam Kampung on u?
Kak Lin,
Congrats on the convocation, I hope Aishah will be motivated to emulate you and savour the moment of getting the scroll. We are truly happy to see another family member taking the DTC stage, just as we did a few years ago.
When fire destroyed almost 90% of DTC in 2001, the convocation ceremony was held at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil but subsequently returned to the DTC the following year once it was rebuilt. Alhamdulillah, Risya and I were part of the convocation ceremony at the glorious DTC.
Kak Lin,all the best in your future life. Semoga Allah memberkati usaha Kak Lin.
Kami nun jauh di perantauan,
Azam & Risya
Post a Comment