The FMC Budak Boys (1952-1966) “Hari Raya Aidilfitri Get-Together – 2024” was successfully held on Sunday, 28 April 2024 from 1100 to 1500 hours at the Penthouse, OPA Building, Saujana Resort. The event was a get-together of the FMC Budak Boys who joined FMC Port Dickson in the years 1952 to 1961 and the FMC Budak Boys who joined FMC Sungai Besi in the years 1962 to 1966 – not a Hari Raya Open House per se. It was an occasion for the FMC Budak Boys (1952-1966) to meet each other over the Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
FMC was formed in 1953 when the Pre-OCTU and the Boys’ Company, formed in 1952 were taken out of the Malay Regiment Training Centre (MRTC) to form the FMC in Port Dickson. The Inauguration Parade was held on 17 Dec 1953. In April 1961, FMC moved to its new camp in Sungai Besi, which was officially declared open by His Majesty YDP Agong during a parade held on 20 Jun 1991. FMC was bestowed the “Royal” title by His Majesty YDP Agong during the Commissioning Parade on 9 Dec 1966. FMC was thus renamed as the Royal Military College (RMC).
Present at the get-together from the FMC PD (1952-1961) intakes were as follows – 1952 (Nil); 1953 (2); 1954 (Nil); 1955 (6 + 2); 1956 (2 + 1); 1957 (4 + 1); 1958 (8 + 5); 1959 (7 + 2); 1960 (11 + 3) and 1961 (13 + 2) – Total (53 + 16). Present from the FMC Sg Besi (1962-1966) intakes were as follows – 1962 (12); 1963 (7 + 1); 1964 (3); 1965 (13 + 6) and 1966 (7 + 1) – Total (42 + 8).
The most senior FMC Port Dickson (1952-1961) Budak Boys present, in intake, were BB Borhan Ahmad and BB Hussein Mohd Ali Piah, both from Intake 2 (1953). Amongst the FMC Sungai Besi (1962-1966) Budak Boys present was BB Jacob Thomas (1966) now staying in Australia but was back in Malaysia for a visit.
17 Non-Muslim Budak Boys and four wives were present – BB Chang Choo Chau, BB Lee Yeok Meng, BB Mori Katsunori, BB Harbans Singh, all (1955); OP Frank Beltran (1956); BB Arthur Samuel (1957); BB Herman Danker, BB Goh Boon Pah, and BB Tan Yew Lay, all (1958); BB Govindarajuloo (1959); BB Sukhdarshan Singh and BB Jagjit Singh, both (1960); BB Gurdial Singh and BB Tan Tai Beng, both (1961); BB Ng Chun Ho (1964); BB Jacob Thomas and BB Gajjan Singh, both (1966).
Special mention must be made on the presence of BB Mori Katsunori (1955), BB Frank Beltran (1956), BB Tan Yew Lay (1958), BB Abd Aziz Wahab (1958) and BB Adnan Ahmad (1965) – all were not in the best of health but still came, BB Adnan on the wheel-chair. They were a few others who came assisted by walking sticks and had to be aided, by their good wives and/or family members.
A good number did apologise for not being able to attend due to health reasons or other commitments. We missed those who were with us during our “Hari Raya Aidilfitri Get-Together – 2023”, who are now no longer with us. Amongst them was BB Shamsul Qamar Abd Kadir (1961). They all left us after our get-together on 7 May 2023.
Also present as our honoured guests were Brig Jen Shaiful Azuar Ariffin, TUDM, the RMC Commandant (an OP, 1984) and Encik Rashid Jamaluddin, the RMC Director of Studies. The OPA President could not be present since he was overseas. Present from the OPA Committee were OP Khairul Ridzwan (1996), the Honorary Secretary 1 and four Committee Members. Special mention must be made on the ever presence of our Cik Gu Mui Sam Loong (1958-1962), on wheel-chair and Datin Salmah Buyong, widow of BB Muhammad Yunus (1960), Allahyarham. Also present were four Budak Boys of Intake 1967 as guests.
Special mention must also be made on the presence of the OP Baharudin Mahyudin (1977), the immediate Past OPA President and OP Mohd Shaifuddin Mohd Shariff (1980), the former RMC Commandant. To all our guests we say thank you for their attendance and hope that they did enjoy the food and meeting us, the much older Old Puteras.
Although the registration was to start at 1100 hours, a good number of Budak Boys started to trickle in at 1030 hours. BB Mohamad Sham (1960) was at the lobby to welcome them. The registration counters were ably manned by BB Mohd Hamzah Mohd Pilus (1960) assisted by the receptionists, registering the names of those who came, accepting their contributions, giving them their name tags and indicating to them their table seating.
It was good to see the demonstrations of greetings and the hugging of each other, and for some to recollect the names of their old class-mates, some of whom they have not met since leaving FMC. Although all had their name tags, to some it was too small to read. Many have really grown old and a number were not in all that good health – with old and new stories to share.
Seating in the Penthouse was by intake tables. By 1130 hours, with most who were present seated at their tables, the “Duty Boy” for the day, BB Ahmad Nadzri (1957) called the hall to order and reported to BB Abd Wahab Hj Nawi (1955), our BB Chairman for permission to carry on.
BB Abd Halim Shah (1961) ably “MCeed” the programme and made the various administrative announcements. BB Abd Halim Rejab (1955), the Chairman of the Hari Raya Get-together, then welcomed the guests, the FMC PD (1952-1961) Budak Boys, the FMC Sungai Besi (1962-1966) Budak Boys and their wives to the get-together and wished them a happy occasion to meet each other. This was followed by the recognition of the current RMC Commandant, Brig Jen Shaiful Azuar, also an OP (1984). OP Khairul Ridzwan (1996), the OPA Honorary Secretary 1, then conveyed the regret of the OP President who could not be present since he was overseas and welcomed those present to the OPA Penthouse. OP Khairul then presented a mock cheque of RM3k being the contribution from the OPA for the get-together. Finally, BB Abd Wahab Hj Nawi (1955) spoke on the collaboration of the FMC Port Dickson (1952-1961) with the FMC Sungai Besi (1962-1966) intakes in the future activities.
For lunch, it was a real “Hari Raya Aidilfitri” treat. There were plenty of Hari Raya food, more than enough for all – “Kueh Raya” to start with; “Lemang” with “Rendang Ayam” and “Rendang Daging”; “Ketupat” and “Kuah Kacang”; “Nasi Tomato” with “Ayam Masak Merah” and “Daging Masak Hitam”; “Kueh Teow”, fried live in situ; and “Kambing Golek” to top it all. For dessert, we also had “Harum Manis” mangoes, sponsored and brought all the way by our BB Mohd Radzi
(1957), from Perlis. Our Honorary Treasurer, BB Mohamad Sham (1960) also offered to sponsor the “Durians”; unfortunately the OPA did not allow the “Durians” in the OPA Penthouse.
The food was catered by OP Sany Salman Ismail, (G Coy; 1981-1985), son of BB Kasim Ismail (G Coy; 1957-1959) Allahyarham.
Yes, there were plenty of food, good food too. The problem was that, being at our golden age and too busy meeting each other, many had only a plate of “kueh-teow goreng” and a glass of warm water. Some were too scared to try the “Kambing” at their age.
We also had the opportunity to take the group photographs (see below) of each intake (less Intakes 1952, 1954 and 1964) and the group photos of the wives, organized by BB Tajudin Yahya (1960) with OP Che Aris (1977) as the official photographer. More photos can be viewed via our link below.
All in all, the get-together met its objective – to provide the occasion for the Budak Boys of the FMC Port Dickson and the FMC Sungai Besi years to meet each other, to acquaint anew, to reminisce the good old days in Port Dickson/Sungai Besi and to update the latest – for we do not know if we will be around to attend the next get-together. There was good attendance, good arrangements, good food
and good contributions, albeit one or two shortfalls here and there. It was not until 1430 hours that all left the venue, some took home with them some of the “ta-paued” food that were still available.
A sum of RM22k was received through the bank transfers of the contributions for the get-together; RM3k from those who did chip in their contributions during the registration, including from a number of the non-Muslim Budak Boys; another RM3k contribution from the OPA. The expenditure for the gathering was RM20k or so for the food and other administrative costs. The balance available will be used for the administration and the activities of our group.
The Organizing Sub-Committee thank all our guests, Budak Boys and their good wives for their attendance and contributions. We also thank the OPA President and Committee for allowing us the use of the Penthouse and the OPA Secretariat for their support. The Committee look forward to organise our next gathering, possibly at the end of the year in conjunction with our FMC Foundation
Day on 17 Dec 1953, to be held in the former FMC / RMC Camp in Sungai Besi Camp.
Report by
OP Nawawi Mat Desa (F Coy; 1959-1961)
More photos can be downloaded from the link below : https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15n87sQB4FeHzrZ16nG37jwD5Hiys2cf5?usp=drive_link