The Story So Far

I posted the following on my MC batch’s EGroup. Somebody thought that it was a good idea for us to share our life stories so as to know each other better and enhance our closeness. I thought I should share it with you guys.

I was born in Kota Bharu on 6th April 1956, officially named Kamarudin with 1 'd' but somehow called Puding by friends and family. This was bahasa baku'ed to Pudin at MCKK. The corporate glamour name KAB got stuck onto me at Bank of Commerce.

I am the 5th of 6 siblings. Actually there are 3 more, from a different mother. My father was a businessman-cum-politician-cum-religious teacher. He had a few shops selling books, batek and sports goods. He also had a stall at the Odeon cinema in KB. So I grew up amidst batek making paraphernalia at home, books in the shops and walking in and out of the cinema as I pleased. Politically, my father was UMNO. His religious credentials made him a much sought after speaker during elections. He even stood as a candidate for the state assembly in 1962. My uncle told me that that probably caused his business to deteriorate. By 1968 it was a mighty struggle for him to keep the business alive. But then, that’s another story.

My elder brother Zame was in MC batch '70. Because of him I fully expected to go to MC in form 1. I devoured the college magazines and newsletters he brought back cover-to-cover. I knew all the college personalities then and the various annual prizes for English, Debating, All-rounder, Chess, Sportsman etc. that was part of the college tradition. I set my mind to be the Best 5th form all-rounder even then. It was quite a heart-break that Kamil Hani pipped me to that accolade but I guess he deserved it more. They did give me the Sportsman of the Year Award as consolation, though.

When they announced there was going to be no form 1 intake when were in std six, I broke down and cried right there in class. Yup, I cried a lot in those days. (But I didn't cry when my mother died on 13th May 1966. That is, not until the first Raya without her).

I decided to state Systems Analysis as my chosen career during our scholarship interviews because I didn't want to be a doctor or engineer and telling them I really wanted to be an accountant would have meant not going overseas. I had no clue what it was about. I was introduced to the term by Rik, of all people. They sent me to Bristol to do A-levels. One of my classmates was Azizah, Ilham’s wife, who should be made a Datuk soon. When I realised that more than 75% of those chosen to do Computer Science were females, I had a serious doubts about my chosen career. I went to Manchester U because they offered a joint honours programme with Accounting. I reckoned that this could give me the option to do CA after my degree. But laziness put paid to that idea.

I started working at the Accountant General’s Dept still not knowing what a Systems Analyst is supposed to do. I soon developed the idea that I would be most useful if I am allowed to change how things are being done in business. With this mindset, there was no way I could stay long in government and I left after 3 years. Joined now-defunct Bumikonsult and talked Latiff Ishak into joining me. Left after 3 months when I got cold feet about being able to draw my salary. Joined Sime Darby Systems in 1983. Stayed until 1985 when again I was enticed by another start-up Bumi company. This time, I lasted 6 months, leaving when I discovered the owner was discounting fake invoices with Bank Islam. (Come to think of it, my first 3 employers went bust). Then followed memorable stints with UEP and Bank of Commerce. At the bank, I was in the process of being converted to a banker when MJI talked me into leaving for EDI Malaysia where I had the most gratifying years of my career 1993-1997. Then I was called upon to replace MJI at Time Engineering knowing at the onset I wouldn’t last long working for Halim Saad. I walked out on him when he accused me of “conning him into approving investments” that I tried hard to convince him not to do. I have not had a proper job since.

Post-corporate world, I have been working for a banking software company on a retainer basis. Good arrangement really ‘cos I do not have to work 9 to 5 and I get to travel a lot. I also have made a couple of investments that have turned out very well, Alhamdulillah.

Family-wise, I first got married in 1982 to Norlina Abdullah who was, before that, known as Renata Liporado. She stuck around for 3 years, deciding I wasn’t worth it as I don’t know how to appreciate her. I re-married in 1988, to Maiza, sister of Pahmi of Batch ’76. We are still married even though I still don’t know how to appreciate my wife. God bless her.

My first child, Hanim, is an uncertified genius. She decided that instead of working for decades to save enough money to retire to a small village by the sea, she was going straight there. She is a dive instructor, now temporarily immobilized by the arrival of delightful child Bahri (Bahri Sahaja). Her husband is a German refugee from western civilization who doesn’t own a single pair of shoes. They used to live on a friend’s boat anchored on Sungei Kilim, Langkawi. The arrival of Bahri forced them to live on dry ground but not for long. They are now in the midst of building their own boat to live on at Pulau Duyong.

Ariff, my eldest son is a Malay College reject. Luckily, he managed to sneak into Halim Saad’s school (just after I walked out on him) in Malacca. He is every bit like me except he doesn’t play tennis, preferring rugby. He is now studying economics in the states, generally living the life I wish for myself. He has just been to see the US Open.

Second son Azam is now doing his A-levels at Lembah Beringin while the last two, fraternal twins Tirah and Mirah, are doing theirs at Taylors. Yup, Maiza was constantly pregnant for 30 months!

It has been a good life generally. I consider the failure of my first marriage the biggest disappointment of my life but my darkest day is still the day I got caught smoking by Crow in Form 5. I deserved the punishment and the shame that came with it but did I learn anything? I still smoke a pack a day!

Currently, I must admit my major pre-occupation is to reduce my golf handicap while struggling against materialistic instincts of myself and family and to be a better Muslim.