Assalamualaikum.

I have been friends on Facebook with my former English teacher from Form 1 (2) at Machang Science Secondary School (SMACH), Kelantan, back in 1986. Mr. Shansudin Abdul Rahman, more affectionately known as Mr. Sam, taught Abe Kie when I was in Form 1. During Form 2, Mr. Sam furthered his studies at IPSI and returned to SMACH in 1988. If Abe Kie remembers correctly, Mr. Sam had already married his sweetheart by the time he returned from IPSI. He managed to teach Abe Kie again for a short while before the SRP examination.

One of Mr. Sam’s notable contributions was establishing the school’s brass band in 1986. Thirty years after its founding, the SMACH brass band achieved recognition at the international level. All of this began with Mr. Sam’s efforts and was continued by subsequent teachers. Abe Kie, however, did not join the brass band because the training sessions were too long. I simply did not have the energy for such lengthy practices. I preferred spending my time doing Additional Mathematics exercises instead!

What touched Abe Kie deeply was that a former teacher still remembered to wish his former student a happy birthday after more than 30 years apart! Whether Facebook had simply reminded Mr. Sam of Abe Kie’s birthday or whether he genuinely remembered his former student, I do not know. Honestly, it is difficult for teachers to remember all their students because they teach so many. Usually, they might remember only the brightest students or the most mischievous ones. Quiet students like Abe Kie are often harder for teachers to recall. Yet, the opposite is usually true—students tend to remember their teachers because they only have a limited number of teachers throughout their schooling years.

From Mr. Sam’s Facebook wall, Abe Kie learned that he had moved to Saudi Arabia and was teaching at a university there. He may be retired by now, as he has reached the age of 64. Mr. Sam was born in Singapore but pursued his education in Malaysia. The photo above shows his family.

The photo above is of Form 1 (2) in 1986 at Machang Science Secondary School, Kelantan. Most of us came from B40 (lower-income) families living in villages throughout Kelantan and had performed excellently in the Standard Five Assessment Examination in 1984. There were also a few students from Terengganu, Pahang, and Kuala Lumpur, although their numbers were small. The girls were part of a netball development project and had represented Pahang and Terengganu during primary school. They only needed to achieve three As and two Bs to gain admission into a boarding school. Unlike us boys, who generally needed five As, with a small number gaining entry with four As.

One kindness from Mr. Sam that Abe Kie still remembers today was his nomination of Abe Kie for the Petronas Minor Scholarship after I achieved excellent results in the February assessment test. Another classmate who was selected was Hanisah. The scholarship was awarded to only two students from each Form 1 class, and there were four Form 1 classes at the time. If Abe Kie remembers correctly, the scholarship amounted to nearly RM700 per year. This was considered a substantial sum back then and was deposited into a Bank Rakyat account. Other students received the Federal Minor Scholarship (BKP). When Abe Kie sat for the SRP examination in 1988, I obtained 5A1s and 3A2s, and Petronas awarded me a certificate of appreciation, as shown in the photo above. I still keep that certificate today. Alhamdulillah.

I am grateful to have learned English from such a capable and skilled teacher as Mr. Sam. His teaching inspired me to develop a strong interest in mastering the English language, which eventually led me to become an English teacher himself. May Mr. Sam continue to enjoy good health and happiness with his beloved family. Thank you for all the knowledge and guidance you have shared over the years.