Lumut Escapade in 2 Days Time

Almost there my friends.

I plan to leave Kuala Lumpur at about 1700 hours on Friday, 16/12/2005. Most probably via the PLUS highway and exit at Bidor Interchange and take the old road to Lumut, passing Simpang Changkat Jong, Teluk Intan, Batak Rabit, Kampong Kayan, passing Sitiawan.

Hopefully I can reach the Lumut Town before midnight.

After breakfast on Saturday morning I will get on the ferry to Pangkor Islang for a quick tour and return to Lumut for lunch.

After that it will preparation for the BBQ nite at the base.

It will be a night to remember.

Then on Sunday it will be the lunch onboard the ship.

See you there, mu friends. (alang bidara - 15/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade 3 Days to Go

Despite the absence of Mood Kemamang, Malik Kang, Azmil Khalili, MG Zul, Wahiruddin, et al the Lumut Escapade 2005 will promise to be an exciting and memorable one.

So much has been done, but so much may still need to be done for the preparation, but still the time will come.

And we will be there to enjoy and to participate in the events.

Finding the Lumut accomodation may be a challenge to some of us, but surely, insya Allah, we will be able to overcome it.

See you at the Lumut Escapade...(alang bidara - 14/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade 4 Days to Go

With the day getting closer, the more excitement it creates.

Lumut Escapade for OP. Too bad Mood Kemamang and Malik Kang are in Sudan, will not be able to make it. Wahruddin is having a palnned holiday in USA. MG Zul has another appointment.

But the program has been finalised.

The highlights will be the BBQ on the night of 17 December and the lunch aboard the navy cruiser on Sunday.

Ahmad Thani will be staying in a Lumut hotel some 3 km from the base.

Well, dear friends, see you in Lumut Escapade. (alang bidara - 13/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade 2005 Friendship Symbol

It was 1975 when more than 130 of us, selected from various schools in Malaysia, to enter Form 4, Boys Wing of the Royal Military College.

From that moment on, we are together.

The hardship we went through: those ragging, road-runs, extra drills, change parades and gatings.

The moments of new experience of the military regimented life: drills on the parade square, the saturday military trainings, the inspections.

Not to forget the weekend camping down at the Air Hitam jungle in Puchong. And the annual camping in Kuantan.

The sand dunes of Sungei Besi Mines, the 'harvesting' of belimbings. The boxing trainings, the drill competitions.

Remember the Toong Foong bus number 109? The Pudu Raya bus station, the Guard Room?
All these are etched in our memories, memories of another day.

But these memories that are keeping us together. That was 30 years ago. Many things have changed since then. Sg Besi mine is no more there. Air Hitam training site is no more there. Toong Foong buses number 109 are no more.

But Lumut Escapade 2005 is sure going to bring out those moments again. We are gonna talk about it again and again. The more we talk about it, the closer we become.

Dear OP75 friends, see you in Lumut on the weekend of 16-18 December 2005. It will be a moment to treasure for the rest of our lives. (alang bidara - 13/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade

With 5 more days to go for the historic Lumut Escapade, more excitement are expected.

Many of us may have been involved in the Lima 2005 in the legendary Langkawi. But that should not be an excuse not to attend.

But there are a few exceptions. Malik of Chukai and Mahmood of Kemamang will be in Sudan to fulfill job commitments. Our Colonel Razif, will not be able to be there as he is our Defence Attache in London.

Bakaruddin of Melaka may not be there due to Haj Trip to Mecca to fulfill his fifth Rukun Islam.

But the rest of us, should be there. No new boy excuses will be accepted.

My dear OP75 friends, hope to see all of you there.(alang bidara - 12/12/2005)

Rasuah, Rasuah dan Rasuah Lagi...

Bila kita baca berita bagaimana syarikat-syarikat dari barat (Amerika Syarikat dan Eropah) membayar wang kickback untuk mendapatkan kontrak-kontrak di negara-negara Asia dan Timur Tengah, kita akan bertanya: "Tak ada kah kontrak yang tidak melibatkan rasuah...?"

Sama ada kontrak di Iraq semasa pemerintahan Saddam Hussein, atau pun kontrak di Republik Rakayat China, semuanya ada usndur-unsur rasuah.

Begitu juga rasuah dalam bentuk insentif perniagaan atau bantuan subsidi dari Amerika bila Amerika memerlukan undi dari negara penerima 'faedah' apabila sesuatu pengundian di dalam Majlis Keselamatan Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu. Atau pun kontak untuk membangunkan Iraq selepas pencerobohan Amerika, semua ada elemen rasuah.

Sesungguhnya rasuah merupakan seolah-olah suatu penyakit barah yang menular di peringkat tempatan, national mahu pun global.

Kita akan tertanya-tanya: "Bagaimanakah keadaan ini dapat dihapuskan atau pun dikurangkan.
Inilah suatu persoalan yang bermain di kepala orang-orang yang rasional dan cintakan keikhlasan di dalam hidup....(alang bidara - 11/12/2005)

Tidur Petang Hingga Ke Maghrib

Petang Sabtu saya tidur pukul 5.00 petang kerana keletihan.

Saya tidur nyenyak sekali sehingga bangun cuma bila dikejutkan oleh anak lelaki saya.

"Ayah, bangunlah, waktu Maghrib dah masuk.."

Kepala rasa sakit sedikit. Badan rasa lemah. Modd rasa tak baik. Rasa tak selesa.

Agaknya sebab itu lah orang tua-tua melarang kita tidur waktu petang selepas Asar. Mungkin tabiat tidur di waktu hampir senja tidak baik dari segi kesihatan.

Semoga ianya tidak menjadi amalan saya.

Saya bergegas ke bilik air untuk mandi dan selepas itu mengerjakan solat Maghrib berjemaah bersama isteri dan anak-anak. (alang bidara - 10/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade 2005 Nostalgic Moments

It was 1975 that we got together into Form 4 of Boys Wing (Cawangan Putera) of the Royal Military College.

Then we had to undergo strict military regimented life between 1976-77. Every day Monday to Friday after 5.00 PM was games and sports on the field or road run, or running up and down the sand dunes.

Every Saturday we have military training. On the parade square, the rifle range or the training area.

The punishments we faced... change parades (Azmil, tabik champion), gatings (Malik, kau handal bab ni ..), extra drills, and many more.

Now all those are only memories of another day. But we shall re-live and re-live it again. This way, we shall strengthen our esprit de corps. All those hardships become fond memories for us all.

On 16 and 17 December 2005 we will gather in Lumut. It will be our 30th year anniversary of sorts.

Lumut Escapade 2005 will be a milestone in our lives.

So, remember it well, my dear friends...(alang bidara - 10/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade - OP75 How Time Flies

It was 1975 that over 130 boys from all over Malaysia, chosen from many schools after their LCE results were selected to join the Boys Wing, Royal Military College.They came from various background - their parents are farmers, padi planters, rubber tappers, civil servants; but they were joined together for a common purpose.

With their motto "Serve To Lead", they would be joined together to be welded with an esprit de corps, unknown of before, even among their senior or the later seniors.

They would later be known as OP75 group.

The year now is 2005. OP75 will gather in Lumut after 30 years.

How we gonna re-live old times... what exciting things we gonna discuss....

All will be known by 17 December, in "Lumut Escapade".(alang bidara - 9/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade in 9 more days

Eight families have, so far, confirmed their attendance.

This is below the expected number (more than 20), but with 9 more days to we expect at least a few more confirmation.

I have mixed feelings about this situation. While this type of response is expected, but I am also quite disappointed with the response.

Is the esprit de corps among the OP75 dead and gone? Well, we will have a better picture in the next few days.... (alang bidara - 8/12/2005)