Expectation, Hyped & Reality Show, or, 100 Years of the Malay College & US

It was with diverse approach that we celebrated the new year 2006. As with any other new year, hopefulness and anticipation rules the day. Yet it wasn’t easy to look for comfort and asylum under the insecurity of a brand new year. And true enough, it’s a new year with very little promise except, perhaps, the prospect of Nicole Davids retaining her World No 1 Squash champion,yet another season of Akademi Fantasia , the Torino Winter Olympics , Melbourne Commonwealth Games and of course, the World Cup. But only if you are ardent fanatics of any of them, that is. For the rest, it’s a matter of wait and see. Thus far, it’s a season of rising oil/fuel prices and of the corresponding rise in everything(including 'roti canais' and 'teh tariks'). Of rise in flood water in TDDI,Shah Alam. OF rise in age and waistlines. Of rise in temper and commotion. The only things going down seem to be the stock market and the torrential rain that falls mainly in the plains of Shah Alam

Hence, leaving 2005 was with a dash of sadness. Not only for me, for you and most of all for The Malay College as well. For the year 2005 was a significant and special year for her: it was her 100th birthday celebration. It was a time to celebrate: The Malay College and us

Thus it was little wonder that in stark contrast, 2005 started off with the Tsunami tragedy for thousnads of unforunate victims but to us, the year was hopefully much better for us( and disregarding the Tsumawi effect) . I was there during the final countdown on 2nd Januari 2005, which launched the much anticipated year long celebrations.. I’ve even participated in most of the pre-main events leading to the big day. I’ve volunteered myself into committees and I’ve spend late nights at MCOBA Penthouse planning all the evenys. The whole nation, the surving MCOBs waited with anticipated breath. And when the time came to celebrate, it was with such regal and pompousness deserving only to the country’s premier Alma Mater.

Thus on that Saturday the 23rd day of March, 2005, more than 2000 of her Old Boys, more fondly known as `Budak Koleq’ (meaning College Boys) flocked back to Kuala Kangsar like avian flu pigeons; not to mate, but to consummate something out of nothing whilst revisiting their beloved Alma Mater. That morning, Old Boys from different backgrounds and profession, age ranging from 18 to 80, again found themselves on the Big Field, under the Big Tree in front of the Big School. Each of them dressed to the nines in complete Baju Melayu and wearing the traditional `Sampin Kolej’. Each wore an expression of ultimate joy, of the highest elation, as if they were celebrating the combination of a birthday, a wedding day, a ‘bersunat beramai-ramai’ day and Hari Raya all in that single day. They came by train, by buses , by cars, by planes, proudly converging at the Big Field to witness a “Satu Hari Dalam Sejarah” affair. Like many others, I went back, I saw and concurred.

. To the Old Boys, it was a day of reminiscence, of rejoice, of camaraderie. Of youth once more. For to them, going back to Kuala Kangsar meant more than just traveling to another town. It was a journey back through time. To a time when they were young and bright adolescents, full of hope and expectation, and with the world at their feet. And all that coupled with a sense of pride, passion and tradition, deeply embedded from the very day they set foot on College.

That feeling of pride, passion & tradition continues to burn in each and every heart of the Old Boys. A small fire, but warm and sure nonetheless. This is the fire that always glow within, the fire that brings them back year after year to the College grounds for their annual Old Boys Weekends. This is the fire that keeps them faithful to MCKK, almost to the point of being religious. They have long regarded Kuala Kangsar as their second home. And MCKK herself as their second mother.

There was a very strong aura that morning; such sense of static electricity in the air that you almost expect to see sparks. The school was majestic enough in itself, The immaculately dressed crowd of Old Boys dressed in traditional Baju Melayu, the sequential arrivals of the Agong, followed by four other Malay Rulers, two Chief Ministers and two Cabinet Ministers added prestige to the event. But the look of anticipation meant that the crowd was obviously still waiting for something more. And then it arrived.

A grand and colourful procession of seven elephants was staged as the re-enactment of a procession which took place exactly 100 years ago. This was the procession carrying a Watikah (Royal Charter) to be presented to the King. Watching the grand and traditional procession move slowly but elegantly, amidst a melodious recital of the Syair accompanied by `Seruling Bambu’ was so overwhelming, it choked most of us momentarily for it was as if you were transported back into the past, and were witnessing the original ceremony. For a few fleeting moments, the now and then, the past, the present and the future all merged into one. It was haunting, the sheer authenticity of it. You could almost feel, even smell the past. Time seemed to stand still, and only when the Yang Di Pertuan Agong started reading, in a clear, crisp voice, and made the pronouncement in Malay to the thousands who had gathered at the grounds, it sent sporadic shivers up our spine. “Beta dan Raja-raja Melayu berkenaan untuk kekal sebagai penaung Malay College Kuala Kangsar selagi ada peredaran bulan, bintang dan matahari”. And, just like a palace scene in P Ramlee’s or Nordin Ahmad’s period movies, the crowd cheered. It was then that I realized what this was all about. It came to me on the real signi.cance of that morning’s events. It wasn’t just about a school turned 100. It was about our past and present as a Malaysian citizens , as a Malay by race and a Muslim by faith. It was about the history of our very own nation. About what we had or could have done. And about what we could now hope to do. Personally, this event was a culmination of all the planning and programs that the 100 years Steering Committee had worked for the past 5 years,. As I witnessed the event unfolding, there was a sense of pride , relief and emptiness inside me. Pride as I had redeemed my contribution to the College. Relief to see things actually days, nights, months and years to come.

The Watikah that day declared MCKK as a National Heritage, and that the Conference of Rulers shall continue their patronage as long as the sun, the moon and the stars continue their heavenly orbits.

It was a majestic event, by any definition of the word. A great College, a great occasion. Being bestowed with a befitting recognition. And having the current and former students and teachers to witness it. She has born, bred and nurtured her sons. After a hundred years, all her filial sons have returned home to pay tribute to their `mother’. And like any mother, she’d feel a deep sense of pride. If the College could cry, I’m pretty sure it would, and indeed, to most of us present that morning, a silent weep was certainly not out of place.

The year long celebration saw other colourful events, among others, the establishment of MCOBA Institute for Leadership Enhancement or MILES; the 100-kilometre bicycle race in Kuala Kangsar; centenary art exhibition and auction of paintings at Petronas Gallery in KLCC; publication of a special supplementary issue on MCKK Centennial in major newspapers; launching and sale of several books, such as the MCKK Impressions 1905-2005, The Last Expatriate, LEADERSHIP But What’s Next, The Centenary Pictorial Book; exhibition at Muzium Negara and other locations; adoption of the geriatric ward at Kuala Kangsar Hospital; KL-KK treasure hunt; issuance of commemorative stamps and first day cover; initiate a Malay Culture centre in MCKK with the introduction of the gamelan troupe; and many other activities. And of course, the Grand Finale of it all came in the fitting form of the MCOBA Royal Gala which was held at the brand new Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on the 26th November, 2005. It was a two-in-one; the regular yearly MCOBA Annual Dinner combined with the Royal Dinner planned in conjunction with the Centennial Celebrations. Hence it being called The MCOBA Royal Gala.

The MCOBA Royal Gala was as majestic and soul inspiring as the Centenary Day itself; with four Rulers in attendance, plus the usual awesome gathering of Government and Corporate bigwigs under one roof, yet in such a unique casual ambience that only a true blue MCOBA function can hope to achieve.

And the night was made even more special and memorable by the staging of a semi-musical Bangsawan play by the Bargreaves Ballerz; the officially recognized MCOBA cultural arm. It was titled `Selagi Ada Peredaran Matahari, Bulan & Bintang’, and revolved around the Malay College of the past and present as well as the love-hate relationship between the Royalty and the Politicians, presented in a subtle yet hilarious manner as only the Bargreaves Ballerz could.

So, what has the celebrations achieved? Sure, at the end of the day (or year, to be more precise), we became more and more proud to be, and to proclaim ourselves as Malay College Old Boys. Spend some time on the road and watch the cars that go by; and unless you happen to be living at Long Pasia and all other similar Longs, chances are sooner or later you’d see some cars proudly bearing the MCKK or MCOBA stickers. MCOBs usually give prominence to MCOBA stickers over other stickers such as their Universities, work places or condominium stickers. That in itself speaks volumes about the Pride, Passion and Tradition burning inside each and every one of us.

But beyond that, the question remains: After all the elephants are gone, the 100 years stamps licked, the accounts closed What Next? Where do we go from here? Do we just sit down and reminisce, whilst replaying the VCDs of the CCD or the Royal Gala for the umpteenth time? Maybe, by flicking through the Impressions, or the Pictorial book, we proudly clained that “I was there!” Or be content to revert to the traditional yearly MCKK Old Boys’ Weekends and MCOBA Annual Dinners? Maybe, wait another 100 years to celebrate, perhaps. Behind the façade of the year long celebration, what have we actually achieved? Or maybe, hoped to achieve

Of course, there’s something about being 100 years old and being declared a National Heritage. Not many people or nstitutions can boast of that. At least not yet. But that does not mean that we should stop at that.

We should start to recognize that MCKK and MCOBA is more than a mere alumni. It’s an awesome networking of friends, who share the same passion and interests. Who, like us, slept in the same dormitories and went to the same classes, albeit in different time zones. And, most importantly, we all share a common love for the school.

This is the thing that other non-MCOBs cannot comprehend. Which we ourselves would not able to fathom, had we gone to schools (without disrespect to them) such as STAR, Clifford, King George, Penang Free, English College, the MRSMs or the SMSes (Sekolah Menengah Sains, not Short Message Service). No, this spirit, this camaraderie that we feel running through our veins are exclusive and peculiar to those who spent their early formative years within the confines of The Malay College Kuala Kangsar.

So now is the best time to do more. To turn MCOBA into something more meaningful than mere yearly gatherings. Maybe a MCOBA BHd, you say? Perhaps, to transform MCOBA into a lifestyle of sorts. In a way, some people are already working round the clock towards making our MCOBA experience a daily one. We now have homepages, websites, e-groups etc which can be fully utilized for us to keep in touch. We now have MCOBA Treasure Hunts, Futsal & Golf Tournaments etc. These are the people who make the spirit of MCOBA live on.

For the rest of us, let’s support the work of all these people. If people can SMSed someone from a reality show to riches and greatness, well why can't we. The fact our lives in Akademi MCKK was a reality,and no fantasy about it I, for one, do wish that there were more things to share; even down to simple joys like having a chat over teh tarik amongst fellow MCOBs. There were many a nights when I drove past the MCOBA Building, wanting to drop by but for the fact that there’s absolutely nobody and no action there. Deep inside I longed that some Old Boy would open a Teh Tarik Stall down there for us to come and `lepaq’. From there, we could refresh whatever spirit, bonding or camaraderie between us, which could then prove to be a platform to further catapult us into greater things. I’d be happy enough if we could do that as a start. If not, then I would just have to fancy myself watching the Royal Gala Concert and CCD VCD, and smile alone for as long as the sun, the moon and the stars move across the heavens.

Or, at least, until next year… Or maybe when MCKK turns 200 years old