The Legacy of a Simple Man - Remembering My Dad

25 January 2026 was an ordinary Sunday, yet for me it marked the twentieth anniversary of my father’s passing (Read here) and (Read here). As the years recede into history and the date grows quieter with time, it remains a day I pause to remember.

Like many father–son relationships, the lessons and values he planted made greater sense as I grew older - felt more deeply, perhaps, after he was gone.

He will be remembered as an ordinary father, but in his quiet simplicity he inspired in me the desire to be better and to strive for more in life.

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A couple of years before his passing on 25 January 2006, he moved into a care home as his mobility declined and he required full-time attention.

On Christmas Day in 2004, we were able to bring him to my home for a family gathering. That occasion turned out to be the last time he joined us together as a family - a memory that has grown more precious with time.

Family photo taken on 25.12.2004.

Revisiting Taman Tun Fuad: A Long-Awaited Return

It has been more than three years since my last visit to Taman Tun Fuad, when I went trekking up the nearby hill with a group of friends on 18.11.2022 (Read here). That outing took place barely three weeks before the park was closed for a major RM20 million upgrading project.

Originally scheduled for completion within two years by 18.09.2024, the project unfortunately fell behind schedule. A revised reopening date of 14.07.2025 also came and went without success. Eventually, the park was partially reopened on 27.10.2025, although numerous finishing works and attractions remain incomplete.

To welcome the new year, I decided to take a walk in Taman Tun Fuad on the second day of 2026, hoping to see for myself what a RM20 million facelift has delivered.

The upgraded park is planned to feature an impressive range of themed gardens, including a botanical garden, herb garden, orchard garden, ginger garden and palm garden. Other highlights include a bamboo corner, Belian Walk, Flora Walk, boardwalk, Nostalgia Bridge, and several hiking tracks designed for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

At present, however, only the 2.1 km jogging trail and a few hiking paths are open to the public. Many of the new attractions are still barricaded and remain off-limits, suggesting that the long-awaited transformation of Taman Tun Fuad is still very much a work in progress.

With its expanded attractions and upgraded facilities, Taman Tun Fuad promises to be a much-improved green space, offering KK residents and visitors an enjoyable spot for a relaxing morning or afternoon.

Conservatory Centre.

Bamboo Corner.

Public Toilets.

Lighting for Night Walkers.

Typical workout station along the track.

Plenty of signboards to guide the public.

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While walking on the upgraded boardwalk, I remember that I once took my grandchildren, Nathan and Gracie to walk on the old boardwalk more than eight years ago during Christmas in 2017 (Read here).

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Areas and attractions which are still off-limits.

Hardly any workers noticed on site at the off-limits area!

A newly added track just above
the lake's waterline.