My life experiences and the PJK award

14 June, 2008- In Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar
after receiving the PJK award from the Sultan of
Perak.


With my daughters and royal guards.


My hubby, Chuah and me.


Precious moments to treasure.


14 June, 2008 - Receiving the PJK award from DYTM
Raja Muda Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah Ibni
Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah at the Kuala Kangsar
palace.

Well, on the 13 June, my hubby and I set off early to Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar for a rehearsal. It was our 26th wedding anniversary and what a wonderful way to remember beautiful moments.
As I was travelling towards the palace, I realised it wasn't a dream and the day I had been waiting for had arrived. I was a little excited.
I recalled the day I had a call from the palace on our Sultan Perak's birthday (19thApril)from our Orang Besar Jajahan Larut, Matang dan Selama, Dato' Seri Dr Haji Wan Mohd. Isa. I was at my friend's computer shop working on our school portal. The news that I had received Pingat Jasa Kebaktian award came as a surprise. Dato' congratulated me and I thanked him gratefully.
Infact, I had to thank our Larut, Matang & Selama Red Crescent Chairman, Dato' Hj Mohd. Akram b. Hj Mohd. Tahir, the person who recognised, believed, and nominated me for this award.
You know, all my life, I have been working honestly, and diligently in school and even on public holidays till late at night. Being involved in a number of social committees makes my life more interesting and as I love working, I do not mind being tired or faced with some difficult challenges.
Well, a little regret was, I did not register the Red Crescent Society in my school much earlier. According to the headmaster then, we needn't do so . Respectful to him,I did not do so until 2005. I had to handle the society activities together with the other advisors on our own. For many years I had no opportunity to be involved at district level because the Red Crescent activities were passive especially in Selama. Imagine, if I had an earlier opportunity to be active in Red Crescent activities outside, I would have done a lot for the state. However, it is never too late now.
After a single meeting in Taiping with Mohd. Yusof, Marzuki and the R.C. teachers in Taiping, I was all ready to serve the society I love the most.
You know being a Red Crescent member since I was 13 at Convent Pulau Tikus, Penang I had loved R.C. I was a lance leader then. I loved the camping days and first aid drills. My love for Red Crescent blossomed as I went to Maktab Perguruan Ipoh ( Baru ) in Manjoi and held the post of Secretary of the R.C. Society. Well in college, I was active in social activities too. I began to love the Malay culture and for that reason I joined the Kelab Kesenian & Kebudayaan Melayu. I knew my love is to serve the kampung folks, and the poor and needy when I have the opportunity.
In 1994, I received Anugerah Khidmat Cemerlang (melintang) and I appreciated it. Thanks to Tn Hj Ahmad Isa,the then headmaster of S.K. Selama. I began to be active in Puspanita Selama, a women's association and helped to organise several successful projects such as Seminar Hak Wanita (Women's Rights), Healthy Life Style Campaigns, competitions for ladies and trips to Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur. Being a member of the Penang Women's Centre for Change (WCC) ,I try to promote awareness for among the local folks to fight against violence towards women and children. One of the programmes was a campaign held in my school. My dream is to have a grand campaign involving a number of parties but due to lack of funds this year , this plan had to be postponed. I remembered attending courses with other Puspanita leaders from the whole of Perak. It was a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from the seniors and many who are wives of top officials.
Besides, being involved in Puspanita, I am in the Kawasan Rukun Tetangga Pekan Selama main committee. Thanks to my ex-hm who is also the chief who had given me many oppotunities to be involved and serve the town folks here. As the Jiranita head this year, we will make sure the women folks benefit from a few programmes. I had a chance to represent the district in a leadership training stint in Pasir Panjang for 5 days. The Bina Semangat Camp activities will be treasured forever. That was how I met my present headmistress, Pn Hjh Jamaiyah whom I love and respect.
I had held the posts of Senior assistant of Student's Affairs (Guru Kanan HEM), Senior Assistant for Administration ( Guru Kanan Pentadbiran ) from 1996 till 2001. Working with another ex-headmaster, Tn Hj Ahmad Yahaya Darus was a good experience. He is a unique person who is serious about the pupils' academic performance. I faced a lot of challenges when I was holding those two posts. First and foremost, I picked up ICT skills as I knew I must not be left behind. Another thing was I do not like to push my work to others. Whatever programmes are organised, I will make sure they are run orderly. I remembered staying up the whole night on several occasions to complete my preparations for the students' camps and teachers' courses.However, whoever would like to learn, I am always ready to share and guide them. I was busy with the Selama English Panel activities when I was the Secretary. My committee and I organised workshops, courses and competitions. It was fun but later when I was no more the Secretary, sad to say the activities were minimized and became almost passive.
In 2000, I was promoted as Master Teacher (Guru Cemerlang Bahasa Inggeris DGA32). I stepped down from my administrative post not that I do not love administration and dream of being a headmistress but it was the love for English that made me decide to remain as Guru Cemerlang until today. Now, that I have been promoted as DGA34 Guru Cemerlang and I am still waiting to attend a special course in IAB or another similar one somewhere else.
For eight years, I have worked hard as a GC and had been involved in activities from district, state till national level. I am proud to say,as a Master Trainer,I have trained 6 batches of ETeMS (PPSMI ) or teachers teaching Mathematics in English in the district. I have met many wonderful teachers, some of whom I still recognise, meet but sorry to say I am not very good at remembering their names. Infact, the training sessions were two ways as I did pick up more ICT skills from the younger teachers. I hope they all have become good and excellent Maths and Science teachers.
As Perak State Key Personel for English Language and Master Trainer, since 2001, I was busily involved in training English teachers for four years during the "Kursus Semakan Kurikulum Bahasa Inggeris". I had the opportunity of meeting the Perak State officials especially Tn Hj Mohd. Yasin and Mr Ong Kah Beng whom I will always remember and love dearly. Especially, Mr Ong who always treated teacher facilitators like us in a brotherly way. I can still recall the heartaches I went through during one of the Pangkor training sessions when a problem propped up. Life was not easy and we learned hard to respect one another and work together.
My fellow facilitator, Mdm Yau Sook Fun had become a headmistress and she came to Selama to be a headmistress of S.K. Sg. Dendang. A wonderful lady and a fast worker too. She gained my respect but I think compared to her she is far better than me. Hopefully her new school will be a cluster school as she wishes. Well a Guru Cemerlang makes a Guru Besar Cemerlang too. It all depends on the heart. I know I have to work sincerely and honestly and with a bit of luck, everything will be sailing on smoothly.
When in company of the members of Majlis Guru Cemerlang, I feel wonderful as I can see the excellent teachers not only from Perak but all over Malaysia. I had opportunities meeting the Ketua Pengarah Pelajaran, Education Minister, School Inspectorates and even Dr Mahathir and others. Thanks to the few national and state conferences I had attended.
On mentioning conferences, I am glad to have attended a number of International MELTA Conferences and MICELT ones. Definately, the experiences in these conferences were uncountable and you can imagine the number of great people I have met. To tell you the truth I paid the expensive conferences on my own except the MICELT conference in Swiss Garden Hotel, Damai Laut which I was sponsored.
Two versatile ladies who had motivated me are Patricia Ang ( Master Teacher in Sitiawan ) and Dena How. I was attending one of the KBSR courses in Cameron Highlands when I met them.
When I see people who are good, I appreciate them if they are willing to share their ideas and experiences with me. Similarly, I will do the same with others. Life is full of experiences.
I have heavy responsibilities, I know. That was why, when in 2005 after receiving a call from Marzuki ,our R.C. officer to look for the needy who needed wheelchairs, I went all out to meet the poor and handicapped and prepare the paperwork. Proudly, the Red Crescent presented 13 wheelchairs during a Welfare Camp. Thanks to our R.C. President, the previous M.B. of Perak. We managed to collect a few hundreds to help to buy foodstuff too. Thanks to the Chinese folks who attended the Lantern Festival celebration one night who donated RM500.
As the leader of the R.C. in primary schools in Selama, I had helped to gather the teachers in Selama to work together. We felt left out before when activities were concentrated in Taiping before. The first ever "A First Aider In Every Home Course for teachers "and " Kem Lencana Kecekapan PPD- BSMM for Primary Schools in Selama" were organised. It was in 2006 and the camp was run with donations from the public and fees collected. I managed it successfully with the help and support from all the BSMM officials and teachers in Selama. Thanks to them.
I will continue to work hard to fly the Red Crescent Flag high together with all those who love this society. On the 15 June, I had the opportunity to meet our Raja Muda again and many R.C. officials. Thanks to Dato' Akram again for inviting me to follow him to the Ipoh Municipal field as one of the district committee members. If not I would not know there was such a grand celebration. We were gathered there to celebrate the R.C. 60th anniversary. I went to meet the top Perak R.C. officials and thank them for their support. I managed to take a number of lovely photos. It was my first time meeting the new MB of Perak, Datuk Seri Md. Nizzar who seems a nice person. His wife is a simple lady and I had a chance to greet and chat awhile with her.
I do hope I will be given the opportunity to be involved in the state and national R.C. activities. Many like me are hoping for the chance to serve. Anyway, we just hope for the best and stay strong and healthy.
In 2004, together with the PTA , teachers and my ex-students we successfully celebrated out school's Golden Anniversary. I did a lot for promotion, gathering, editing and producing the commerative magazine, CD and others. It was wonderful meeting up with many ex-students.
Well, I must mention here, I was awarded the Anugerah Khidmat Cemerlang for the second time in 2005. Again I do appreciate it .
I came up with the idea of being connected through the portal, emails and in short ICT. Therefore, after getting the whole school equipped with wireless and the computers functioning, I started with our school's own portal with the help of Cikgu Azlan or 'Sifoolan' . A great guy whom I have to thank for sharing his ICT skills. My duty is now to improve on the portal and help to feed news to the LMS portal too. I hope our ex-students will contact us through this media.
At the moment, I am planning an educational trip for the Red Crescent members in my school, 74 of them. I hope it will be a successful trip and all its objectives are achieved in the end.
I appreciate the State RC Committee for willing to welcome us and prepare a test drill. How wonderful! I also hope to collect some gifts such as foodstuff, old clothes etc for the handicapped inmates at the welfare home in Ipoh. As a committee member of the Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PDK)in Selama, I enjoy working with the handicapped children here. So it is hoped that this trip will help the pupils realise how lucky they are and they must grow up to be useful citizens who are willing to serve voluntarily to society to help the poor and needy.
Last but not least, when I was at the Istana to receive the PJK award on 14 June, I realised it was for all the hard work I have mentioned earlier. It is a joy to think that what we have been doing is appreciated and it is enough to drive us to continue doing all the good things to others.
Being at the istana was fascinating. It is a beautiful place and there were photos taken to treasure forever. I didn't dream of being there that day or going to be there again on another day. Anyway, I looked like a 'datin' in my 'kebaya labuh'. My hubby, Chuah enjoyed being there too. My two girls entered the 'balairong seri' later. The food was delicious and the lunch at the 'balai santapan' was indeed special.
Well, so much for now. Writing in my own blog is more for my own satisfaction and reading whenever I like. It is quite fun.