I was in Johor last Thursday for the engagement session with our staff. I haven't been to Johor for more than 2 years and by the time the plane touched down in Senai, I felt a sudden sad feeling. First, Johor had always been my favourite place. I spent almost 3 years during my younger years working in fabrication yard in Teluk Ramunia and Pasir Gudang. Second, I lost my elder brother (2 years older than me - Along) here in JB recently. He passed away in his car at the car park of his apartment in Stulang upon arriving from KL.
The airport is under construction and I can see they are building a bigger airport to fit the status of Iskandar Development Region. The taxi trip from airport to Mutiara hotel, passing by the UDA and the Petronas Station (I stayed here before at Jln Padi Huma 3), really hits the sentimental spots in me. It is trip down memory lane with many nostalgic places and thoughts playing in my head.
How time flies! I was a young engineer in 1992 looking after my first project in MSE Pasir Gudang and Sime Engineering in Teluk Ramunia. It was almost 16 years ago! Those days driving around with my black Ford TX3, I seemed to be immortal! Life is full of fun and energy. You know what you want and you work hard for it. Driving back and forth JB-KL-JB passing by the highways and the dark Desaru jungle at 2.00am seemed normal. At one time, one of our colleague was late for a meeting in KL. He had an accident near Felda Air Tawar just after Desaru. He actually hit a father elephant, accompanied by the mother elephant and b
aby elephant. The Jumbos were crossing the road and lucky him, the car hit the soft spot on the animal. Surprisingly all three Jumbos just walked by as though nothing happened. My friend's car was totally wreck and the insurance considered it as "write-off". He was OK except for some after shock experience! Those days you can even heard the roar of the tiger if you forget to close your back door at nite!
My late Along was just being assigned to his new job in Johor early this year. He was so proud of his new job and took it seriously. I was in US when it happened. Along had travelled back from KL to JB on Friday to attend a "gotong royong" function which he had to officiate. 12 hours earlier I did sms him telling him I will be flying back to KL from Washington DC that weekend. As usual he replied "Roger" and he will wait for me at KLIA on Sunday. But as fated, Allah loves him more, I got a call from my younger sister on Friday(US time when I was about to leave for New York Airport), telling me the sad news that Along passed away in his car at his apartment in Johor. He must have been very tired after driving from KL that nite. The post mortem revealed Along had a stroke. He was a pillar in our family and losing him had affected every member of our big families. May Allah placed him with the Righteous. Along is survived by his beloved wife and 2 beautiful children. I know one thing, Along loved all of us and willing to sacrificed anything just for us and his family. May Allah give strength to his family and children for this trying moment.
Amin.
The airport is under construction and I can see they are building a bigger airport to fit the status of Iskandar Development Region. The taxi trip from airport to Mutiara hotel, passing by the UDA and the Petronas Station (I stayed here before at Jln Padi Huma 3), really hits the sentimental spots in me. It is trip down memory lane with many nostalgic places and thoughts playing in my head.
How time flies! I was a young engineer in 1992 looking after my first project in MSE Pasir Gudang and Sime Engineering in Teluk Ramunia. It was almost 16 years ago! Those days driving around with my black Ford TX3, I seemed to be immortal! Life is full of fun and energy. You know what you want and you work hard for it. Driving back and forth JB-KL-JB passing by the highways and the dark Desaru jungle at 2.00am seemed normal. At one time, one of our colleague was late for a meeting in KL. He had an accident near Felda Air Tawar just after Desaru. He actually hit a father elephant, accompanied by the mother elephant and b
aby elephant. The Jumbos were crossing the road and lucky him, the car hit the soft spot on the animal. Surprisingly all three Jumbos just walked by as though nothing happened. My friend's car was totally wreck and the insurance considered it as "write-off". He was OK except for some after shock experience! Those days you can even heard the roar of the tiger if you forget to close your back door at nite!My late Along was just being assigned to his new job in Johor early this year. He was so proud of his new job and took it seriously. I was in US when it happened. Along had travelled back from KL to JB on Friday to attend a "gotong royong" function which he had to officiate. 12 hours earlier I did sms him telling him I will be flying back to KL from Washington DC that weekend. As usual he replied "Roger" and he will wait for me at KLIA on Sunday. But as fated, Allah loves him more, I got a call from my younger sister on Friday(US time when I was about to leave for New York Airport), telling me the sad news that Along passed away in his car at his apartment in Johor. He must have been very tired after driving from KL that nite. The post mortem revealed Along had a stroke. He was a pillar in our family and losing him had affected every member of our big families. May Allah placed him with the Righteous. Along is survived by his beloved wife and 2 beautiful children. I know one thing, Along loved all of us and willing to sacrificed anything just for us and his family. May Allah give strength to his family and children for this trying moment.
Amin.
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