The road heading to the Wayne Gardner’s Chicane
My memory of USM Minden surged suddenly when I saw a man we used to call “The Devil Himself” while I was having my breakfast in Subaidah Nasi Kandar in Sungai Dua.
Enter Uncle Singh or Mr. Kalmit Singh, now almost 60 years old, still smartly dressed in his uniform and an oversized turban bearing USM insignia. With over-speed rewind, I can clearly remember this fella riding his big bike during midnight roaming around Minden Campus. He is the famous Security Officer that brought shivers to many undergrads when he suddenly yet ruggedly appears out of nowhere in the middle of the night looking for offenders of University rules. Unfortunately we are too obsessed sharing our anecdotes that I ultimately forgotten about taking a photo of “The Devil Himself”. Kalmit has served as Security Personnel in USM since 1970 and now he is serving on contract basis.
After spending almost half an hour with Uncle Singh, I knew by then, USM, the APEX University is still the USM I fondly remembered. I then drove my kids to visit this University in The Garden and to meet all my heroes who still loyally serving this glorious campus.
Our first stop is The Security Department to visit a person whom I fondly refer to as my number one movie fan. Major (R) Noor Rizan Khalid, the Director of Security as I remember, never misses any of my movies screening during my varsity days. He would bring with him all his kids to watch the screening in the Film Studio. Now, it is my turn to bring my kids to pay him our respect.
Sheih with Maj (R) Noor Rizan Khalid, Director of Security, USM
Minden’s Hilton, where our Paris brother used to stay
Then we roam around the campus for a while and took a snap shot of ‘Hilton’ for our brother in Paris who used to be staying there. USM is developing rapidly but without losing the beauty that make this campus so romantically remembered by many. We also visited the VC Rock, Master Grill, Red House and all those memorable spot where lovers used to spell their vows.
The old Rancangan Komunikasi Building
I am however felt very sad to see my former school building, The Rancangan Komunikasi and the annex building where the Film Studio was before is currently undergoing renovation. The Cherry tree by the stairs of the old Communication School also has now gone. To those from the class of ’94, the Cherry Tree and the stairs are very important landmarks for us. That is where we use to lepak no matter day or night, weekend or weekdays.
Gone, the stairs and the Cherry Tree
We stop by the new School of Communication to visit my ‘Tok Guru’ Assoc. Prof Hatta Tabut. We also were very lucky to be able to meet Abang Man, Abang Chik, Tuan Haji Haroon Awang and Dr. Mus.
Lastly, we take a drive to Canselori, that we used to refer to as The Forbidden City to meet Dr. Hamima. I am glad to be able to make this visit with my kids. At least now they have a glimpse of the Romantic Campus where their parents met and fall in love.
Standing L-R Prof. Dr. Mus and Abang Chik. Seated R-L Tn Haji Haroon, Abang Man and Prof. Hatta
What surprised us most, despite 18 years gap, those who we met were still the same, in every obvious sense. Be it Tuan Noor Rizan, Kang Hatta, Dr. Mus, Haji Haroon, Abang Man and Abang Chik, physically they are within the same size when we left them. It seems that after 18 brushing years, it hardly had taken toll on them. They are still the humble and loyal servants of the Academic world. I asked myself, is Minden a different world with the real world outside there? Maybe.
Current School of Communication
Wef, Guli and Meqna lepak in front of the new School of Communication
During my four years in the beautiful campus, I roamed through all the streets. It carries too many memories about to many people and to many things. I can remember each of the streets not by its name but by the memories we shared. Those streets need no name.
What used to be Desa Fajar, The brightly lit first floor room (right) where I spent my first year and the third floor (right) where I spent my final year.
Wow ! The return of the Kelantan Kid. They must been saying this is the guy who has been kicking Dollah’s ass. That budok kelate !
How come no picture of Uncle Kalmit Singh?
!! received the Qiadah in best ever condition, thanks, and it was rather cool to have it delivered all the way from Kelantan. am proud of how far PAS has evolved so far, but recent development within PAS is rather worrisome. I hope PAS will come to it senses soon enough. regards, and thanks a million again.
Dale dunio ni ado orge mache si dio tu lah kawe paling bechi ! maaf lah syeid, dio tu wagih akat demo, tok silat ayoh akat demo. Kalu masih tok pahe siapo si dio tu, namo dio akhir dege bola ! haha..
hege betul lah, tok kena tegus bechi. Aku betul2 mitok maaf lah kat demo syeid !
Sheikh, do you like Bob Tutupoly’s Widuri ?
Can’t wait for your visit to TIKL pulak.
Thanks for the prompt delivery the Qiadah. Received it today and it was a well written magazine. I’m very proud to have it. It shows that what the Kelantan govt have achieved and interesting places in Kelantan. Looking forward on the next issue and keep up the good work.
“Wayne Gardner Chicane” Ermmmm, very interesting name . Where is Freddie Spencer,Randy Mamola and Eddie Lawson?
You must be a fan of U2.
I used to have girlfriends from the School of Mass Comm way back in 1987….unfortunately they were in the same class and I was the reason that they didn’t speak to each other 🙂 Sorry girls…I was young then.
salam,
good old day, I also had memories with that ‘uncle singh’ during my matriculation ’94/95…
pls take also a corner baring ‘jln chanselori sana photo next time, where we spent 4 laps every evening….
and dataran kawat for practising wheely! last time we cannot afford to wheely even 2 tiang! but mat rempit nowdays wheely 2km….
nasi goreng udang besar rm2 at d.indah still available ka,pls update me…
lagu abe halim yazid…. ” ADIK2 USM PULA PINAE…. & sapa habis… ayat yg touching… ” ado sor kona, sapa sittu abe begheti… abe duk smetar layae sebok dalae hati…”
all in all… ambo pong teringak jugok ko tepak ambo ngaji mulo… emmm. pado ambo… barae lepah.. biar lah lepah… kito keno ngadak aghi depae… cabarae baghu… tapi hari dulu jadi panduae.. bukae jadi penghalae…
It is nice to spend time….to catch up with old friends and memories.
I enjoy talking to my old class mates…laughing away.
Yes…Sheih should do what he is doing now…relax…clear th mind away from politics…and most important…cut out the political blogger friends….love talking crabs and showing how to hold a hard drink well. Those are drunkards and full of shit friends.
makes me wanna go back and take a stroll too…….
i can see my lecturers…..mustafa and harun
time flies…
fajar was my first and final year stop too 😛
communications graduan 86
I was there abt 3 months back to visit the school & same Tok Guru. And I thought Dr Hamima dah retire. Selected few who left Minden will experience what I call ‘post-USM syndrome’. Those infected will change physically. The air around Minden a bit different thus Hatta & the gang maintained their physical appearence.
If Sheih can book two hotel rooms for me and my driver…I will like to drive up there and and spent one whole day and night with him and his family.
I like slow driving….to enjoy the scenery .
Salam..
Bro, you have missed out Panggung Sasaran, Pusat Pengajian Seni etc.
It does bring great and fond memories of yesteryears…
I can still remember vividly how I had encountered few moments of heated arguments with Hj Haroon during my student years, especially during the height of the Reformasi movement. I argued that Anwar Ibrahim was just a stool of the West and Hj Haroon was a staunch supporter of that movement. Luckily I didn’t get and F for his paper! hahahaha..
Syed, Hang tak perasan ker ? En. Norizan tunjuk apa tu…..
Salam Sheih
Menelusur kembali zaman silam yang penuh dengan kenangan memang tidak pernah akan luput dari ingatan kita…….mana yang menarik kita ingin kongsikan bersama. Malah yang yang menjadi parut juga turut mahu diturun kepada keturunan dan teman kita agar mereka tidak turut terpalit dengan kemelut hidup yang telah kita lalui dengan duka. Memori silam memantapkan lagi perjalan hidup yang masih jauh……….kepada yang punya harapan dan cita-cita………… Terima kasih
haha..
Gila sangat rindu aku pada USM!!!
Good to see that you have your journey back to your good old Uni days… you should’ve remembered to take “Pete”/ Uncle Singh’s photo though but you know what…he’s now mellowed down and riding a small kupchai compared to the big motor he used to ride before & he’s given up smoking now.
By the way, do you know of any Isbant Singh previously from HBP and an ex-student from USM, Dzulkefli Husin also from Kelantan ?
Cheers
Eh! I didn’t noticed! Where is hj Noorizan pointing his finger at, bro?
Its funny, we at USM were so polarized but everyone have fond memories of their times there.
M.Firdaus , I am also trying to trace a friend of mine Dzul from Kelantan. He used to work in Sg.Petani and later in Penang. He played rugby with the Jokers.
Iman.