COMING TO MALAYSIA

In 1969, my parents decided enough was enough. I cannot be left alone in Singapore. I had been a handful for those responsible for taking care of me in Singapore. I was studying still in Balestier Mixed School - in Primary Four. My brother was also in Balestier and my sister in Swiss Cottage. Dad was in between jobs - the Malay Film studios in Jalan Ampas was going bust and there was an exodus of film workers to Kuala Lumpur - to the new (at that time) studio in Ulu Kelang (Merdeka Studios).
To date, we have been travelling to KL for a few times already. I guess Abah was testing the waters there. We actually stayed for awhile in Setapak Garden which was quite near to the Merdeka studio. In fact, my berkhatan ceremony was held in Setapak Garden. Amongst all childhood memories, this one was quiet vivid. It was a time when tok mudims were running amok - going around happy with their snip-snipping ways.
That morning, wearing kain sarong, I was led to a room surrounding by unfamiliar male faces. There in the center of the room was a banana tree trunk. It was laid down for me to sit astride on. The sarong was taken away and there I was naked in front of the tok mudim and everyone else (males). I was given a liquid to drink supposedly to calm me down (could be a placebo for all I know). Within seconds, the tok mudim's cold hands was preparing my little friend for its inevitable fate. I won't go into details, but just before the incisive moment, he told me to turn my head away and take a deep breath. Not knowing what will happen I obeyed and then it happened. Snip snip - a fore(skin)gone conclusion. In seconds, the tok mudim wrapped it in gauze strips and I can still remember the smell of blood. The pain? I guess it was sharp and quick, over in seconds. Once done, I wore my sarong and walked around holding the front of the sarong in front of me not letting the cloth come into contact with my very sensitive friend.
The best thing about 'berkhatan' is that the many gifts we get - and I got plenty - including a model warship from Uncle P. Ramlee.
Everything was fine until the next couple of days when we had to change the gauze - now - that was excruciating!!!
Well, enough of that incident. From Setapak, my Dad decided that his time with Merdeka Studios should come to an end, so in 1969, he accepted a post with the Filem Negara in Petaling Jaya.
And from a small terrace house in Setapak, we now stayed in a nice little single storey bungalow at 107, Jalan 12/14 in Petaling Jaya - mere walking distance from Filem Negara.
I was put into the La Salle Primary School in Jalan Gasing in Standard Six. My elder brother was sent back to Singapore to continue hi studies where he eventually entered Raffles.
Somehow, it seems, Singapore's education standards were higher and therefore, from Standard Four in Singapore I was promoted to Primary Six in PJ. I skipped Primary Five, and therefore from then on was always the youngest student in class.
My younger brother Asnadi has not yet started schooling but he would enter a couple of years later at the new Seri Petaling Primary school in Section 14.
Meawhile, Abah began his stint in Filem Negara directing documentaries.

From Boon Teck Road to Kampung Tunku

Hi, my name is Anwardi Jamil. Friends call me Didi. Some call me Dood. The rest use various expletives. I was born on the morning of December 9 in 1958 in a clinic along Aljunied Road in Singapore. I was too impatient to come into the world so much so that my mom did not manage to reach Hospital Kandang Kerbau to deliver me. Lucky me. Always like to remind my two brothers (my elder brother Arjunaidi and younger brother Asnadi) that they were born in Kandang Kerbau..heheh.
I do not remember much about my childhood days...but the few memories that I have are quite vivid. It comes in flashes, very cinematic and mostly in black and white. I do remember certain events during my family's stay in Jalan Boon Teck Road where Shaw Brothers housed most of their creative and technical staff there. Amongst those who shared the same address were Jins Shamsudin and his late wife Rahmah Rahmat; Saadiah, Normadiah, S.Shamsudin and many others. I think we stayed there for a few years until my father made enough money to get us out of that place to a double storied terrace house in Jalan Chengkek (where the picture below was taken - (from left - my adopted sister Murni, Abah (Dad), myself, Arjunaidi, Mak (Mom) and my late adopted brother Zaimi). The little 2-room house in Boon Teck Road was just basic squarish houses with smelly old bucket toilet system in the rear of the house. In fact, Boon Teck Road can actually be compared to a squatter area.
I went to Kindergarden at Macpherson Road (hardly remember anything) but I do remember a lot of incidences during my primary school days at Balestier Mixed Primary School. I was always the youngest in class. This is made 'worse' later on when my family migrated or moved to Kuala Lumpur in 1969. somehow I was allowed to skip Primary 5 and went to Primary 6 directly from Standard 4 (in Singapore). I saved nearly 2 years in my early school days.
Anyway, this blog will be...well...a journal or my journey...a non-linear journey as I will ramble to and fro, here and there and everywhere...and anything that interests me. You are more than welcomed to join me. Do post comments, queries and thoughts.
Til my next entry, cheerio.