New Married Students' Quarters and Historical Display at STS

Five months after starting work in mid-February 2024, the contractor managed to get ready two of the 8 units of new married students quarters just in time for the opening ceremony on 13.07.2024.

Earlier, STS decided to convert 24 units of the basement car park at the Multi-Purpose Education Centre into 8 units of new married students quarters. The old married students quarters converted from two timber school blocks of the Lok Yuk English Secondary School were considered too old and rundown for continuous use. 

Car park before renovation started.

After the renovation.

Balloons bursting ceremony to declare the opening of the married students quarters.

Living Room.

Bedroom.

Bathroom/Toilet.

Kitchen with space for washing machine.

Kitchen sink, cooking range and fridge.

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Immediately after the opening ceremony of the married students quarters, we proceeded to the Main Hall of the Multi-Purpose Education Centre to continue with the second session, which is the opening of the Historical Display of STS.

Ribbon Cutting for the Historical Display.

Soon after the ribbon cutting, a number of individuals were called to receive souvenirs presented by the Principal and the Chairman of STS. This part of the program was an event I did not expect. I was one of the four individuals called to receive the souvenirs. As a recipient of the souvenir, I do feel a strong sense of accomplishment and appreciation. The presentation of the souvenir in such historical event is a recognition of the effort and dedication are being acknowledged and valued. 

I feel honoured to be included in one of the display posts in the History Display.

Some of the current members of STS Board of Governors, Advisors and Principal who attended the functions.

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I am privileged to have the opportunity to serve in the Board of Governors of STS almost since its establishment in 1988, some 36 years ago.

The infrastructural development started with the construction of the Administration & Teaching Block in 1991; then the 6-Storey Lecturers Residential Apartment in 1997 (Read here); followed by the 9-Storey Students Hostel Block in December 1999 (Read here) and finally the Multi-Purpose Education Centre with the conceptual design started in 2006 (Read here) and the project was finally completed in 2011. The interior of the old Chapel was refurbished and added with air-conditioning in 2007.

Old photo of the main entrance to old Basel Church KK Chapel and Lok Yuk School, KK before it was converted to become the premise of STS.

The same entrance now has the Administration and Teaching Block of STS as the backdrop (Photo taken on 18.02.2024 when old classmate, Teresa Chee came back from Canada for a visit).

Another Unexpected Departure of Former High School Classmate to Eternity

On Monday, 8 July, a former Form 6 classmate in Sabah College texted in the Class 69 Chat Group that Lau Vui Ching has passed away. 

In actual fact, I am not a student of Sabah College Class 69. But I got to know some of them when I joined the Form 6 Class of Sabah College in 1970-1971. They added me into their Chat Group and invited me to join their reunion dinner in 2019 (Read here). I belong to Lok Yuk KK Class 69 (Read here).

The news of the passing of Lau Vui Ching was indeed unexpected. In the Sabah College Class 69 Reunion held on 13 April 2024, Vui Ching was conspicuously absent from the series of photos taken (See here). His deteriorating health must have prevented him from joining. The end of life could never be scheduled and is beyond the control of each individual!

With Lau Siew Ching, the older brother of Lau Vui Ching at the funeral parlour on 10.07.2024.

As a non-member of Sabah College Class 69, I was surprised to see my name being included as one of the members of the Class in the wreath delivered to the Funeral Parlour to convey the condolences!

At the Funeral Parlour on 10.07.2024, I met Vui Ching's older brother, Siew Ching. Coincidentally, Siew Ching was my colleague when I worked at Permodalan Bumiputra Sabah Berhad from 1984 - 1988 (Read here).

Based on conversation with Siew Ching, the late Vui Ching was not aware of any health issue even up to March this year. In January this year, he visited Melbourne where his son now stays and took the chance to watch the Australian Grand Slam Tennis Open 2024.

A photo of late Vui Ching in Melbourne shared by classmate.

His health issue started to surface in March when he had chest pain and breathing difficulty. After numerous rounds of examination and tests, it was confirmed that he had lung cancer. Unfortunately, he died before the oncologist could prescribe the treatment for him.

I am sure Lau Vui Ching will be missed by the Class of 69!

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Good time during Form 6 period in 1970-1971. Left photo from left: Ar. Lam Choi Sing, Chin Hin Pok, Lau Vui Ching and me at an outing to one of the islands near KK. Right photo from left: Me, Lau Vui Ching, Jumaat, Edward, Ken Wong, Richard Liang (partially hidden) and Kok Yee Siang during break of a basketball match.

The autograph he penned at the end of Upper Sixth in 1971.

A Scary Experience of A Brief Memory Lapse

On 18 May 2024, I sent my wife to attend a reunion lunch organized by one of the former students of a class in St. John Tuaran. The gathering was held at a roadside restaurant along Jalan Sulaiman called D’Dalit Transit Tuaran, located in Kampung Lok Batik. Since the restaurant was just 7.5km from Tuaran Town, I decided to head into town for lunch at one of the local eateries after dropping her off.

My plan was to enjoy a plate of Tuaran Mee at the original founder’s outlet - Lok Kyun Restaurant. I believe this is the same place Junshi developed a liking for Tuaran Mee after tasting it during her first visit to Sabah in January 2009 (Read here). Unfortunately, the Tuaran Mee we had more recently at Restoran Tuaran Mee (Read here) in March this year - when Sam's family came for a week-long holiday in Kota Kinabalu - was disappointing and did not live up to our expectations.

To my dismay, Lok Kyun was closed on 18 May 2024 , apparently undergoing renovation. Not wanting to give up on my Tuaran Mee craving, I searched on my phone and discovered another outlet nearby - Tai Fatt Restaurant - also reputed to serve Tuaran Mee. This eatery happened to be within walking distance from Restoran Tuaran Mee.

I parked my car behind a row of shophouses and began walking in search of Tai Fatt. However, I had trouble locating it and eventually decided to retrieve my car and drive around instead. After a short search, I found a parking spot beside another row of shophouses and, finally, located Tai Fatt.

After finishing my meal, I walked back to the original car park to pick up my vehicle - only to find, to my horror, that the car wasn’t there. My immediate thought was: “My car has been stolen!” Panic set in as I mentally ran through my options. I considered heading straight to the police station to file a report and began planning how to inform my wife about the situation and arrange for alternative transport.

Just before making the police report, I decided to take one last walk around town in the hope of spotting the missing vehicle - perhaps, I thought, the carjacker might still be driving around nearby. As I turned a corner, I spotted a familiar-looking car parked beside a shop. At that moment, it hit me - I had moved the car earlier from the original car park!

I was overwhelmed with relief but also slightly shaken by this brief lapse in memory. What a rollercoaster of emotions over a simple bowl of noodles and a misplaced car!

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With the car "recovered", I was able to drive to visit Kampong Panandawan before picking up my wife later. Panandawan is a sizable native settlement just next to a bay which is 8.5Km from SMK St. John Tuaran. Many of the children in this Kampong choose to study in SMK St. John.

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When I went back to the restaurant to pick up my wife after their meal, I was asked to be their photographer for their group photo! These high school students are now in their early 50's after a span of over 35 years since my wife was their school principal in mid-1980s to mid-1990s!

A Fruitful Holiday to West Malaysia

On our way back from Malacca to BP, we detoured to Best Hearing Aid Centre in Muar to have my MIL's hearing aid device checked by the Centre.

Since acquiring the hearing aid device, she has not been wearing them consistently. Her main objection of using them was the excessive noise and the negligible improvement as far as audio quality was concerned.

Upon checking and servicing of the devices, another round of ear examination and a bit of counselling from the Center's staff, she has now decided to regularly put on the hearing aid device after experiencing marked improvement in the audio quality. To us, this is probably one of the best reward of the whole trip.

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Final photo shot after sending her back home on 30.05.2024. We flew back to KK the next day. 

My wife, a strong advocate of clean living environment did her bit of free housekeeping service before we left her original family home!

A Brief Down Memory Lane in Malacca

In our walk along Jonker Street, my wife was excited to see a familiar place - the Geographer Cafe. It was in this cafe where the Class 70 students of CHIJ Batu Pahat gathered for a drink in their Class Reunion in February 2015.

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Another down memory lane walk was along the riverbank of Malacca River where many bars and pubs are located. Cruise boats which we took during the previous CHIJ BP Class 70 Reunion still ply the Malacca River!

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Bee Chu, my wife's former classmate in CHIJ BP took us for breakfast before we proceeded to driving back to BP on 29.05.2024. Bee Chu had just returned two days earlier from UK after spending two months holidaying with her family in UK and some European countries.

Bee Chu has always been a very generous person. She presented gift items which she bought in her recent Europe trip to both my wife and my MIL.

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On 21.05.2024, just a day before we began our driving tour, a small gathering was held at a cafe in Batu Pahat by some of the ex-convent ‘girls’ of CHIJ. The meet-up was specially organized to welcome two members who were visiting - Eva from the USA and my wife. Bee Chu, a former CHIJ student now residing in Malacca, was unable to join the gathering."

Before the meal, I posed for a group photo with the attendees. This time I did not join in their makan session because I needed to take my MIL to visit her relatives in one of the housing estates in BP.

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Ever since I got to know some of them in their first grand Class 70 reunion on 28.02.2015, I have been invited to join in some of their gatherings, especially whenever our visits happened to coincide with theirs in Batu Pahat or Singapore. 

My wife and I were invited in Singapore to have lunch at the

Westin Singapore at Level 32, Asia Square Tower 2

in June 2016 when we visited Singapore.

CNY Jan 2017.
Notice the difference - we wore glasses in 2016 and 2017
but no longer now! :)

During Chinese New Year in 2017, the group also held a mini reunion in Batu Pahat, and I felt privileged to be invited to join them for their gathering at one of the local restaurants. Being the only male among the lively company of ladies, I couldn’t help but feel a bit like a thorn among the roses - but in the most delightful way! :)

Day 3 Driving Tour - Malacca

Our next stop after Port Dickson was Malacca. We last visited Malacca in September last year during the off-day of our stay at Aenon Health Care in Tambin (Read here). That visit in the afternoon was short, just long enough to have lunch, to meet up with some old uni-friends and to do a bit of shopping. 

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For this trip, we had time to enjoy some of the well known local food and to take a stroll along Jonker Walk which was within walking distance from our hotel. Jonker Street is known by many other names - Chinatown Street, Chi Cheong Kai (雞廠街) and officially as Jalan Hang Jebat.

We had expected to explore the night market along Jonker Street, but unfortunately, that day being a Tuesday, it's an off-day for the night market. But it turned out that with less people on the street, the area was less congested and walking around was more pleasant and easier. 

In Malacca, we took the chance to try out some of Malacca well known food - the Chicken Rice Balls, Pork Satay and Cendol.

Satay at Ah Lan Hainanese Satay.

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Ice kacang at Mahkota Ice Kacang.

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Jonker Street

Just before we ended our walk along Jonker Street, my wife received a phone call from her ex-high school classmate insisting for a get-together before we leave Malacca for BP. We agreed to meet for breakfast the next morning.

Staying in Water Chalet in Port Dickson

I still remember my last visit to Port Dickson back in early 1974, when I attended a retreat organized by the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) for undergraduates at the Golden Sand Baptist Retreat Centre. It was held right after my first year in Malaya University and just before the start of the long holidays. Hard to believe that was exactly fifty years ago - how swiftly time flies, carrying with it memories that feel both distant and vivid at the same time.

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For a change, on our Day 2 outing with my mother-in-law, we booked a stay at one of the water chalets at the Lexis Hotel in Port Dickson.

The chalet was designed with two separate sections - one housing the bedroom, and the other comprising a shower room, a generously sized open bathtub, and a toilet. While the layout and facilities were reasonably adequate, the overall condition left much to be desired. The interior looked old and rundown, with clear signs of neglect in both housekeeping and regular upkeep. Unless the management embarks on proper refurbishment and maintenance, I would find it difficult to recommend this accommodation to anyone planning a holiday here.

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Still, it's a pleasant feeling to walk around the concrete footpaths linking all the chalets to the main hotel lobby onshore.