The Sabah Diary - 14 till 17 May, 2009

THURSDAY - Anxiety and Excitement

I picked up Meor from his office near KLCC at 4.30pm and rushed to airport to catch the 6.20pm flight. We were running late and I drove at around 160 km/h as I know Killerbatch Penang are already in KK and we must not miss the flight. Nan and Kamarudin were already at the airport when we arrived. After all the F1 driving, we were told that the flight will be delayed for 90 minutes!!! We took with us 50 school bags (out of 300 committed) from Jukebox and 5 boxes of books from Anzagain (Osman Hamzah). Had to pay RM200 excess baggage. That's RM15 per kg over the 15kg limit!

Arrived around 11.30 pm and the people from Kiulu were waiting at the airport with signboard that says "Killerbatch". There were 4 of them led by Joisin Rumut, the PIBG chairman. This is despite me sms'ing them not to wait for us as the flight has been delayed. I felt bad that they decided to wait after all. They took the bags and books with them and would have arrived home around 2am at the earliest.

Killerbatch Penang i.e. Megat, Zamri and Cikgu Teh were waiting at the lobby of the hotel. We went out for dinner and could not find any restaurant that is still open. Ended up at one mamak restaurant next to Le Meridian Hotel, Restoran Mars. We were starving and ordered four Nasi Goreng Pattaya with daging kerbau. They tasted really good. Chatted till 1 am. Got back to the hotel but I can't sleep. Perhaps its the excitement, anxiety or just the nasi goreng pattaya but I was tossing in bed till 2.30am.

FRIDAY - The Day We Stood Tall

Started the next day at 8am by boarding a white van to SCC. Being killerbatch, as soon as we left the hotel Meor asked to turnback as he forgot his shades. So we turned back. After the false start, we started off the second time and this time, Nan realised that he forgot the souvineer Killerbatch keychains but this time its too late to turn back as we would have been late for our event. So the driver, James dropped us at SCC and thanks to Nan, the poor guy had to make the 40 minutes round trip all over again.

SCC is located at Dongongon. It's Kadazan area and the staff are mostly Kadazan. Out of 200 staff, 30 are muslims (including 7 Kadazans who converted). We were told to wait at the SCC lobby for the CM's arrival. He was invited by SCC to officiate the newly refurbished building. At the banking hall we were treated with SCC's 130 pax singing choir and we stood about 5 feet from the CM. The moment they hit the first note my spine was tingling and the hair at at the back of my neck stood. It was an awesome sound. Awesome choir. SCC choir has been the Sabah state champion for many years running. Its the first time I am hearing choir singing standing from 12 feet away. I looked around to see the faces of other killerbatch and I saw their jaws dropped and they were all faces in amazement to the sound of choir music and thrilled to be there. Its like a wave of sound hitting you. The sweet vocal sound and deep bass tenor all mingled into one. They just keep hitting at you wave after wave.

After that, Cikgu Teh and I attended the briefing by SCC to the CM on the 3rd floor and the rest of Killerz were herded to the Executive Room next door. Half way through the CM's speech, I can hear Killerz laughing their heads off next door. Sigh, Killerz will always be Killerz. So, I had to sms them to keep it down as I don't want to upset the CM nor our host.

Later we were ushered to the dining room and were photographed with Chief Minister for the cheque handing over ceremony and the Killerbatch keychain as souvineer. I told him, "Sir, our motto for our 30th Aniiversary is From Kulim to Kiulu : Journey to Legacy as this year we are giving back to society". The camera flashlights were blinding. So there we were standing proud. Killerbatch has delivered the first instalment, almost RM60,000.

We were swarmed by the press who wanted to know why people from Kulim are helping those in Kiulu. I think they were baffled and taken aback with our intention. I think we can mark 15th May, 2009 as the day Killerbatch finally matured and reached our true potential. Guys, we are not in Kulim anymore. We are in the big league. Today we stand tall.

After the morning session is over, we had a casual chat with Dato Vincent. While chatting, he round up their choir group again and gave us an impromptu show. I was so touched by their hospitality. While they were singing their third song, I whispered to the boys and said that we must reciprocate. After slight nudging, we agreed to sing Lagu Maktab for them. So told them that we will sing and they were quite pleased and ask us to stand at the front of the room facing them. As we were preparing to sing, Kamarudin whispered to me "taiko, how does Lagu Maktab start?" I thought to myself, we are gonna look like fools stumbling over the words. I told Din it starts with "Wahai Putra Putri Bangsaku". With that I counted to three and we gave them a Killerbatch rendition and honestly, we sounded good! They were cheering us on all the way and I felt really really good when we finished singing. I felt a thug upon my heart when we sang the part that says "Hari ini hari mulanya, hari esok berjaya". We sang them 30 years ago about hari esok. Well guys the "tomorrow" for killerbatch has finally arrived and the day is 15 May, 2009.

We then left to go to the mosque and along the way, we saw Agon's e-mail informing us that the news has hit NST-On-Line, barely one hour after we handover the cheque to SCC.

After Friday Prayers, we went to visit Tuan Yang Terutama. RTM was waiting with TV crew and we gave an interview. I am not sure whether they actually air the interview as I have not heard any feedback. The TYT was quite cold towards us at first but warmed up towards the end and he told us how he used to drink tap water for breakfast when he was schooling and how the roof of his home would leak everytime it rains he had to look for banana leaf to stop the rain from coming in. So its a cause close to his heart and he has his own foundation.

The day ended after we got back to hotel and I bought the group a great seafood dinner. Its my thank you to the guys for believing in the cause and agreeing to come all the way to KK to work on this project.

SATURDAY - How Do They Fly When Their Wings Are Broken

The day started with a call from Dato Vincent informing me that he saw an article on us in Borneo Times. The van was already waiting at 7.30am but I got them to wait as I rushed to 7-11 to buy newspapers. I flipped the papers there quickly at the 7-11 counter and then only I realised that our photos are in ALL the papers. All of them - english, chinese and kadazan. We are even on the front page in one of them. It felt really good to be given recognition by the local press. While paying for the papers, I showed the girl at the counter the photos and told her - we are the killerbatch and we have arrived. She just looked confused by all the commotion.

We got to Kiulu around 9.00am after an obligatory stop along the way to take group photo with Gunung Kinabalu. Kiulu is a small place where wild dogs run careless and free. The town is just a row of shops like aked MARA in Kulim from 30 years ago but this time there is no jukebox that plays Temple of the King for 10sen.

We got off the van to thunderous sound of gongs and drums played by the schoolchildren. They were all ready and seated in their batik shirts and school t-shirts. The children gave a performance for us, a dance. As they were dancing, Cikgu Teh nudged me and said "you know taiko, as I look at these kids dancing, I see you guys 30 years ago". I felt a lump in my throat. Yes, Cikgu is right. Now I see it too!! Their faces of hope, their future ahead of them, the concentration on the dance steps. It was us 30 years ago on that stage.

After the dance there was a Video Show to show the condition of their asrama. One girl was interviewed and she said "the hostel is not comfortable but what choice do I have?". She either stays at the hostel or had to walk through the jungle for 2 to 3 hours every day. Their hostels are really in deplorable condition - leaking roof, cooking area that's filthy, sometimes no water and they had to bath in the river. As I was watching I saw Cikgu The wiped his tears. Now, there is something you need to know about him. I remember we organised a surprise dinner for his retirement and we gave speeches etc in his honour and he just sat there stoned face. When he spoke at the farewell dinner, he said that he is a strong person and he does not cry. So, I was baffled sitting next to him that day when I saw his tears. I thought to myself, if he can cry its alright for me to cry too as I was desparately trying to hold back my tears!

The headmistress took the stage. She took the time to explain to us the whole background and took more than one hour to deliver her speech:
- the hostels that they have are in really bad condition. They have the photos to prove it. There's not enough beds for the kids and now they are sharing 16 to a room. There is hardly space to walk in the hostel as the double decker beds are about 2 feet from each other
- the computer lab has gone down in flames due to short circuit. Another case of shoddy workmanship by contractor
- the small school is for 1,300 students. I recall that MRSM Kulim is about 50 acres where there were only 700 students and this school is only about 20% of the size. Maybe the school building is about the size of our Dewan Makan

Joisin was up next and spoke about how he stood at the airport holding the sign "killerbatch" and everybody looked at him funny. He has not met us yet and he wonder what is this Killerbatch? Towards the end of his speech he spoke about Donni. He mention how he agreed to name the hostel Asrama Donni and started to recount Donni's story. Guys, every time I hear about Donni's words to his mom about how his mom could save money if he were to die and how the mom can have his heart to replace hers, I just get so so sad. Joisin said he was about to cry on stage and he is holding back from shedding his tears and ended his speech and that's when mine started rolling down my cheek.

Its about what Cikgu Teh said about the children there that reminds him of us, seeing Cikgu Teh cried and finally the Donni story that broke me. And immediately after that they invited me on stage to deliver my speech. So, there I was crying when the MC announced "Raja Ali from Killerbatch will now give his speech" and I had to go up on stage.

I try and reproduce what I said here:

"I would like to start by wishing all teachers present Selamat Hari Guru. I would like to pay a tribute to Cikgu Teh. Cikgu Teh who taught us English from 1979 to 1983 and believed in Killerbatch when we were the ones who gave the school so much problems. I don't remember much about the English he taught but I remember the values he imparted. How we were told that we are the future leaders. And when that day arrives, we must remember to give back to society. So Cikgu Teh, we remember!

But Cikgu Teh was also the one who would hold the cane during public caning as he has a good right hand due to his prowess on the tennis court.

I have been asked by people on why people from Kulim would like to do this Kiulu project. Well, it is because we Killerbatch heard their predicament and We Care enough to get on a plane and come to see for ourselves. We are here to help you and help we will.

To the children of Kiulu. 30 years ago I came from Taiping to study in Kulim. Most of you do not know where Taiping and Kulim are. But since then, I have been to London, Paris, New York, Rome , Sydney and Hong Kong. I shook hands with Jackie Chan. How did I go so far? Its due to the education that I have received. So, I would like the children of Kiulu to see the things that I have seen and be to places that I have been. Its a great big world out there. So, educate yourself and work hard. Hug your mother everyday, as she tries to do the best for you."

Dato Vincent gave a short speech and after that the SCC choir group took the stage. We were off to the site which is only about 5 mins walk away. Cikgu Teh stayed back to give a talk to the schoolchildren. Its the soul of a teacher in him that urged him to give an impromptu talk to the children. During ground breaking the two lines from Lagu Maktab kept playing in my head "Dizaman Sains dan Teknologi, Negara Perlukan Jasamu". Well, today Killerbatch is answering that call.

We left Cikgu Teh at the school to go white water rafting on Sungai Tuaran. As we drifted 8 km down river, I look around the dinghy and looking at the killers around me I thought to myself of the time when we were at the waterfall in Junjong. We could never have foreseen one day we will be together in a river in Kiulu. So I just soak in the moment and imagine us being 15 again.

After the we were whisked to SCC's Kaamatan party and had front seats to watch the beuty pageant. Our table was at front row, two tables away from VVIP Tan Sri Bernard Dompok. By the way, I put all my money on contestant #3, Nancy. She is 18 years old, likes to read and swim and would like to be an accountant one day. Hmm...

We left early to go back to SCC's office where we re-joined their party and dance the Sumazau dance and sang with them. On the way back to Hotel, Meor looked at the watch and exclaimed that it was only 11pm but we felt as if the day has gone on forever. Indeed, the two days have been such a long trip. We done so much and gone through a lot. An emotional time. To try and explain, you try and mix up the feel of being proud, sad, you cry and you laugh, sing and dance, anxiety, exhilirating, sombre, humbled, happy, flattered all mixed up over two days and you can partly understand what we felt.

SUNDAY - The Slow Descend

Sunday was free and easy. Wanted to sleep till late after the party the night before. Draw the curtain tight to block morning sun and off volume on my mobile phone. Maybe even dream of Nancy but what I got instead is a call on the hotel phone from Meor at 7.50 a.m. asking for breakfast. That b******, there goes my sleep!! So got up and went to Gaya Street Market for some local handycraft. Got to the 4.20pm flight to KL and arrived without trouble albeit a bit bumpy flight.

Sent off Megat and Cikgu Teh to the departure hall to Penang. Said goodbye to the rest of the boys and sent some thank you sms to Sabah and started the car engine. But before I started driving, I changed the CD with the one I bought at the Gaya Street Market and my finger pressed the button straight to track nine - Tadao Kaamatan. With Kadazan music in my ears, the children of Kiulu in my heart and memories of Sabah in my mind, I shift the gear to Drive and drove off into the night.