The school was then named Tunku Besar Primary School Tampin
It was in 1961, I was in Standard VI and just got transferred to Tunku Besar
Primary School. I was put into Standard VI (F), and that class happened to be
the 2nd most stupid class in the whole of Standard VI. The most stupid class of
course was Standard VI (G) where most of the students there could hardly read
and write. But interestingly, my late father was instrumental for putting me
into the 2nd most stupid class. Nonetheless, it was done on purpose.
Earlier in 1959-1960, I was schooling in Undang
Rembau English School (URES) studying Special Malay Class I (SMC I) and SMC II.
My father who himself was a teacher, wanted to see me learn really good English
in school, and he could see not much prospect in URES due to the fact that most
of the students there were Malays and all of them talked Malay in school most
of the time. More so, my father personally knew Miss Joy, a good teacher who
had earlier taught my sister, Siti Zubaidah in URES. It so happened that Miss
Joy was already transferred to TBS. Thus without hesitation my father got me
transferred from URES to TBS, regardless of the fact that Miss Joy was then
teaching the 2nd most stupid class in Standard VI in TBS.
I was
very happy being put into Std VI (F) anyway. Why not? During tests and exams I
always got no.1 or no.2 in class. In my class though full of stupid students besides
me, there was yet another bright fella named Wahab Jantan. He was also a new
student just got transferred from Singapore. He was my keen competitor in the
class and we took turn to outdo each other in every test.
Whilst in TBS I was introduced to a bi-monthly
newspaper called Student News. It costed 50 cents then, if my memory doesn’t
fail me. Glancing through it for the first time, I fell in love with it.
Quickly I bought myself a copy. The section of the paper that I liked most was
the quiz. I was always thrilled with quiz whenever I saw one. Thus in this very
first copy of Student News that I bought, there was a quiz "quessing the
object". There was this faint picture of something that looked like a
school bag. I was thrilled when I saw that picture because I immediately could
recognise it somehow.
I was then very confident that I could win the
quiz against all other students from all over the country. I could already imagine that I would win the
prize for the contest, ie A CAMERA...!!! The reason being, I had only a week
earlier learned the specific word for that object. I learned it from the
dictionary. The truth was I loved to read and memorize words from the
dictionary, and for this object that appeared in the paper, I just knew that
every student would write "school bag" for the answer. Too bad for
them because I was not going to write school bag. I had my own word, a specific
one, and I had learned it from the dictionary...!!!
True
enough, after submitting my answer, within a month or so, I received a letter
addressed to me from the Student News office in Singapore, informing me that I
won the only prize for the quiz, the prize being a Fuji Box camera. I was told to get my prize from the Post
office in Tampin. 
The former Tunku Besar Primary School Tampin, way before it was named the Government Primary School Tampin. In 1961, Zahriman Alias, transferred from URES was placed in Std VI F (with a purpose?)
Without further ado, I went to collect my prize,
but not before being told to pay for the tax amounting to $7.80. From then on,
I was the most happy student in the school. I was very proud of my possession, and
was snapping pictures all over the places with my friends, of course with money
constraint to buy films and to develop them.....
Sadly, I lost the camera when I was in Form III.
I was then staying in the school hostel. During one of the short holidays, I
went home leaving the camera locked in my cabinet. Upon returning from holiday
I found that my cabinet was broken and my camera missing.
Anyway, can anybody guess what was the word I
used to win me a camera.....an object that resembled a school bag.....clue, it’s
a one word answer: S…
What a day! You've won a camera at the age of 12 and you know what, you received your gift through the mail. Your parents must be proud. But alas! you lost your prize during your short school break. I wonder whether the first picture you snapped was still around. It must have been your self-potrait and that of your elder sister Siti Zubaidah. hehehe.
ReplyDeleteYou memorized words from a dictionary. Woow! You must be a bookworm. That mysterious "s" word! What does it signify?
ReplyDeleteSaya mengikuti cerita Zahriman Alias ini sejak awal lagi. Beliau ini bagus bercerita. Walaupun pendek-pendek tapi ada human interestnya. Bagus. Saya jadi tertarik untuk mengetahui cerita daerah tempat beliau ini berasal, iaitu Penajih.
ReplyDeleteKalau ikut Ensaiklopedia Sejarah dan Kebudayaan Melayu, terbitan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 1998, Penajis (sebutan rasmi) adalah "tempat penabalan Yang Dipertuan Besar Seri Menanti hingga tahun 1830. Penajis adalah sebuah ampung dalam daerah Rembau. Penajis juga nama sebatang sungai mengambil sempena nama kampung tersebut.Pada masa dahulu, Penajis dikenal dengan nama Kampung Penajuh.
Buku Sejarah Melayu menyebut Sungai Penajuh semasa menggambarkan keagungan KerajaanMelayu Melaka di bawah pemerintahan Sultan Mahmud Syah (1488 - 1511). Nama itu selari dengan cerita lisan tempatan yang menyatakan bahawa kampung tersebut telah dibuka oleh Datuk Najuh. Makamnya terletak di tebing kiri Sungai Penajis berhampiran dengan balai raya Kampung Bandar Penajis sekarang.
Penajis mula dikunjungi oleh orang Sumatera, mungkin dari Siak, pada sekitar tahun 1490-an. Kampung ini merupakan kampung terawal didiami oleh migran dari Sumatera Timur itu. Rombongan awal ini diketuai oleh Datuk Leteh yang pada muanya tinggal di Kampung Relong, kemudian berpndah ke kampung Lada dan akhirnya ke Kamung Kota Lama sekarang.
Pada tahun 1721 dan seterusnya hingga sekitar tahun 1826, kampung ini telah dijadikan tempat penabalan Raja Rembau (1721/22) dan Yang Dipertuan Besar (Yamtuan Besar) Seri Menanti (1765-1826)yang didatangkan dari Pagarruyung, Minangkabau. Setelah ditabalkan kesemua anak raja Minangkabau ini, termasuk Raja Rembau (Raja Melewar), berpindah ke Seri Menanti, Kuala Pilah. Raja Labu (1826-1830)ialah Yang Dipertuan Besar yang terakhirditabalkan di kampung ini. Justeru itu, kampung ini dalam sistem politik adat Negeri Sembilan, dikenal sebagai "tanah kerjan". Dipercayai juga bahawa apabila Yang Dipertuan Besar melalui kawasan kampung ini, khususnya di kawasan makam Datuk Najuh, baginda tak boleh mengembangkan payung kuning diraja."
Cerita tentang Penajis (Penajih) ini boeh juga dibaca melalui buku "Negeri Yang Sembilan" susunan Norhalim Hj. Ibrahim, terbitan Penerbit Fajar Bakti, Shah Alam, 1995 yang ditaja oleh Kerajaaan Negeri Sembilan.
Terima Kasih,atas komen2 di atas. Sebenarnya saya langsung tak book-worm sebab saya jenis malas baca buku, tapi saya suka cari perkataan mombastik dalam dictionary, pelajari maknanya, dan cuba gunakan samada dalam percakapan atau karangan. Kiranya macam nak tunjuk ek lah. Tetapi saya dapati guru2 suka cara ini kerana kita berusaha menggunakan word power. "S...." sebenarnya clue jugak, the word starts with s.....
ReplyDeleteAbang Fadzil, saya pun sudah membuat beberapa nukilan mengenai asal usul Kg Penajih,termasuk penghijrahan nenek-moyang kami dari Pagar Ruyung ke Penajih pada 1773 (lebih Kurang), tetapi bukan melalui rujukan mana2 buku sejarah. Saya sekadar bertanya2 di sana sini, termasuk dengan 2 orang bapa saudara saya yang masih hidup, iaitu Encik Tamby Abdullah bin Long dan Encik Mohamad bin Long. Nukilan2 syua itu dimuatkan kedalam Grup Kg Kito Penajih (GKKP).
Sodap den maco ceghito-ceghito sejarah macam ni sumo. Haghap-haghap nukilaN-nukilan ni nanti buleh jadi bahan rujukan utk generasi kemudian macam mano penyelidik2 sejarah rujuk kpd buku mat salleh seperti Winstedt dll.
ReplyDeleteTontang contest yg dimonangi Zahriman tu....perkataannyo yolah 'SATCHEL'. Boto tak 'Man? (MZMY)
pandai.....!!!!
DeleteGreat minds think alike. kah kah kah Masuk bako angkek sendighi. MZMY
DeleteZahriman, cito-cito yang u donga tu elok ditulihan dan kemudian dihimpunkan dalam bentuk memoir. Kalau tak nanti ia akan hilang ditolan zaman. Kalau boleh caghilah sobanyak mano mungkin, mano tahu akan timbul pakar sejarah yang aan mintak catatan u ini. Bonilai itu Zahriman, jangan sio-sioan. Sayang Norhalim Ibrhim dah arwah. kalau tak tentu dio minat kumpul bahan ni.
ReplyDeleteAbu Aman Bachik Memang menarik, sapo leh nampah antu tinggi selain dio. Apo tak hebat koh tu! Syabas tuan SOP!
ReplyDeleteBakyah Maria Abu ape yg di ceritakan ttg arwah tok jaya tu mmg betul,krn sy adalah salah seorang dr keturunannya,,saya adalah cicit arwah..
Zahriman Alias Mungkin Bakyah Maria Abu boleh melengkapkan kisah
Tok Jaya ni supaya lebih jelas dan sempurna. Beliau nyata seorang yang terlalu istimewa dan sentiasa menjadi bualan orangramai 2-3 generasi yang lalu. Mudahan2 dengan adanya sanak saudara beliau saperti Bakyah, kita semua, terutama generasi sekarang dan akan datang akan terus mengenali dan memperingatinya.....
Mohamad Ayob Hasim menarik sekali,coghito yg begitu lamo pon kau blh ingat lai kan
Bakyah Maria Abu die memang sangat istimewa...die pernah beritahu kpd org ramai,yg astana raja akan maju,bile cucunye ade cicit...dan sekarang arwah bapak saya mmg sudah ade cicit..lihatlah astana raja sekarang,sekolah,klinik,perpustakaan desa,muzium rj melewar,klinik gigi,semuanye ade d astana raja...wallahualam..dan satu lg kelebihannya arwah boleh mnjadikn tudung oren sbg duit syiling...
Mohd Zain Mohd Yassin Bakyah Maria Abu Kuk buleh jangan biarkan kisah Tok Jaya anda ni, menjadi ceghito mulut-ke-mulut ajo dari generasi ke generasi. Elok di bukukan walau pun sekadar buku yg ditulis utk simpanan keturunannya sajo. Give it a try.
Yusof Rahman Tanjung Eden pun ada dengar cerita hebatnya Tok Jaya ini.Masa tu den sekolah Melayu kek kg Perah Kota.Kalau dia datang ke sekolah tu cikgu jamu dia makan kueh dan minum teh.Murid2 tak berani dokek sebab takut.tapi dia tak kacau orang.Dari Kota ke Sawah Raja(rumah Tok Jaya) tak ada bas.Tok Jaya kok nak balik tompang basikal atau motokar orang.Kalau tak bawak kok disumpahnya memang melotop tayar.Kok bawak dia,kayuh baska rengan ya rasa eh.Satu cerita lagi,kata orang,sebelum perang dunia ke2,Tok Jaya tunjuk ke langit sambil mulutnya bunyi:wung.....wung....macam bunyi kapa terabang.Masa tu di Malaya tak pernah tengok kapa terobang lagi.Bila ditanya 'apa tu Tok?'Jawab Tok Jaya 'besi terobang'.Dengan sinis orang yang mendengar mengatakan mana besi boleh terobang?Memanglah Tok Jaya ni gila.Bila perang dunia ke2 berlaku,kapa terobang mula zoom sana zoom sini dilangit.Baru dia orang tau apa yang dimaksudkan oleh Tok Jaya dengan "besi terobang".Jadi siapa yg sebenarnya gila?LU PIKIRLAH SENDIRi !!!
Bakyah Maria Abu bagus cadangan MZMY tu,,lg pon org tua2 kt kg dn yg tahu cerita ni dh smakin brkurangan...insyaallah,akan saya usahakan.
Bakyah Maria Abu arwah ni dulu mmg rajin ke kota,dgn hanya brjln kaki,klau arwah ni singgah d mana2 kedai cina dikota tu,die akan ambil saja tnpa mmbayr,,klau ade pnjual kedai yg x bg,mmg d sumpahnye dn lama kelamaan kedai itu akn jatuh bankrap...
Bakyah Maria Abu semasa penghujung hayatnya,ini arwah bapak sy lah cerita,arwah ingin mmberi sesuatu ilmu kpd arwah bapak sy,iaitu cucunye,,arwah menyuruh bapa sy turun ke bwh rumah dn memgambil sesuatu dibwh zink,,apabila bapa saya mengangkat zink trsebut mmg tiada apa2..bapa sy naik semula ke atas rumah dn bg tahu yg tiada apa2 d bwh zink trsebut,disuruhnye pergi lg,,dn mmg tiada apa2,,mmg bukan rezeki bapa sy utk mndapat apa yg di milikinye..dan kali kedua bapa sy naik ke atas rumah,,arwah sudah tiada...
Bakyah Maria Abu kami adik beradik klau ingin bernikah,msti prgi kekuburnye untuk sedekahkn alfatihah dn mmberitahunye yg kami ingin berkahwin,klau tidak,,pernah dulu kakak sy trlupa hendak ke kuburnye,,pd hari persandingannye,ribut taufan melanda,,mcm nk trbalik khemah kenduri,lalu arwah bp bertnye,dh pergi kubur odang ke belom.(odang adalah panggilan arwah bapa kpd tok jaya).lepas kakak pergi ke kubur,perlahan2 hujan dn ribut beransur hilang...klau nk di ceritakn mmg byk kisah pelik dn menariknye wlaupon arwah tlh tiada.bg kami keramatnye hingga ke hari ini.
Mohd Zain Mohd Yassin Bakyah Maria Abu. I doakan u ada iltizam dan ketekunan utk membukukan kisah-kisah Tok Jaya you tu. Bend ni bunyinya mudah tapi it needs determination and dedication . InsyaAllah ekou buleh!
More thrills in store for this Tok Jaya episode eh! Bakyah Maria Abu could help chip in.
ReplyDeletelet's have more episodes from this legendary Tok Jaya from Rembau. If we could get the "down-to-earth" stories the better, without highlighting on his "mysteries".
ReplyDeleteTok Jaya's portrait? Anybody could have given us more lights on his own photographs. Surely there is someone out there who could share this. Perhaps from Bakyah Maria Abu or from Zahriman himself.Even Tok Jaya's house will do!
ReplyDeleteSaya harap Bakyah akan terus berusaha mendapatkan lebih banyak butir2 latar belakang Arwah Tok Jaya termasuk gambar rumah, gambar makam,dan fail mengenai anak-cucu-cicitnya.
ReplyDeleteDen sokong 100.01% (MZMY)
Delete