NST Online: StreetsJohor
NST Online: StreetsJohor |
| Posted: 28 Aug 2011 10:46 AM PDT 2011/08/28 Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman opens his home to people from all walks of life for a series of buka puasa events SAUJANA has been a hive of activity since the beginning of Ramadan. The official residence of Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman has received a steady stream of visitors, including some of the country's leaders.
Those from the government service, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and Umno's various wings have also dined with Ghani at separate functions held at Saujana. Among the first to break fast with the menteri besar were the Johor press corps.
Johor Media Club president, Mohamad Fauzi Ishak and club committee members updated Ghani on the club activities. Since the election of a new line-up of committee members in April, the Johor Media Club has held 30 welfare and charity programmes. Club vice-president Rizar Mohd Noor said the menteri besar had pledged to provide financial assistance for the club activities.
Rizar, who works in the advertising department of New Straits Times Press and is a sports stringer for Berita Harian, said the club was planning several masuk kampung multi-racial welfare programmes. "It is our aim to provide assistance to the less fortunate of all races. This is in line with the 1Malaysia concept." Other functions held at Saujana during Ramadan have been equally vibrant. More than 1,000 civil servants and NGO members converged at Saujana at 4pm on Aug 9 for tadarus Al-Quran (continuous recital of the Al-Quran), a sermon and to buka puasa. Tadarus is conducted during Ramadan to remind Muslims of the teachings of the holy book. At least two people are required in a tadarus -- one to recite and the other to monitor the other's tajwid -- proper diction, pronunciation and grammar. Those who took part in the tadarus at Saujana took turns to complete all 30 juzuk (parts) of the Al-Quran. The reciters displayed a high level of camaraderie. The group of NGO members and civil servants monitored one another's recital and helped when one faced problems with tajwid. The women sat together in the main hallway of Saujana, while the men sat in neat rows in the large outdoor porch for the Quran recital. Ghani joined state executive council members and state leaders in the tadarus. As was customary at Saujana during Ramadan, guests were presented with gifts. Some received special contributions and goodies in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The goodies were packed by Menteri Besar's Office staff and the event participants. Wanita Umno members were among those who packed goodie bags for guests at break fast with the menteri besar. |
| Ex-football supremo recalls glory days Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:55 AM PDT 2011/08/28 MY deep interest in football started during my early primary school days in my hometown, Batu Pahat. It all started when I was selected to represent the school district's under-12 football team at a state level tournament. My skills in the game won the hearts of many trainers.
Both Yap and Raden helped improve my playing techniques culminating in me being one of the team's top scorers. The following year, I moved to Johor Baru after my colleagues preceded me to do so.
Under the management of highly-disciplined coach Abdul Rahman Omar, Dynamos won numerous top honours including the second division champions in 1969. I was also selected in the state Burnley Cup youth team.
Mokhtar, an avid football enthusiast and manager of the Printing Deparment soccer team, swiftly enlisted me into his team as its attacking forward. In return I secured a respectable post at the department. My five year stint with the department soccer team was indeed hilarious. Mokhtar, whose relationship with officials with the then Johor Amateur Football Association (JAFA) was very cordial. He proposed three players from his team including me who deserved to be in the state first-11. Three of Mokhtar's players, namely Othman Abdullah, Jalil Abu and I did him proud. All three of us played for the Johor first-11, Johor Malays Squad and the Civil Service team. In addition, Othman was included in the Malaysian soccer team that qualified for the Munich Olympic games in 1972. Jalil passed away many years ago and Othman has diabetes and a mild case of Parkinson's disease. Besides being crowned as FA Cup champions, First Division champions and national inter-department champions with the department's team for five consecutive years since 1969, I also garnered championship medals at state level. During our era, dedication to the club and state team was our topmost priority. As a striker with the state squad, I frequently notched in vital goals to maintain our team's winning chances at major competitions particularly the coveted Malaysia Cup. I scored goals against Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Armed Forces and Perak to maintain the state squad's winning pace. My most memorable game with the Johor team was in the semi-finals of the Malaysia Cup against Perak at the Larkin stadium in 1972. It was the second leg of the semi-final and Johor lost 2-0 in the earlier leg. Featuring goal hungry strikers such as Kunjumaha Ahmad, Mazlan Hamid and Albert Lim, we were determined to upset the persistent Perak side. Backed by a full attendance of 30,000 spectators, mostly Johor supporters at the newly renovated stadium, our team scored twice to tally the aggregate to 2-2. The stadium rocked with the thunderous joy of our supporters. Both Othman and me spearheaded the attack to keep the Perak keeper on his toes. A win for Johor would have ensured our first-ever Cup final against Selangor. Nevertheless, a blunder by goalkeeper Zainoldin Ahmad hampered our chance as Perak scored in the final minutes. Some dejected fans wept openly. With that defeat, the state will have to wait for another 13 years for its first ever Malaysia Cup victory. Despite grabbing many awards with the Printing Department football club, another painful memory that still lingers with me was the final league match against a gallant Fiat team in 1973. Topping the first division table, we will be declared champions even if we lose the game. Unhappy with the referee's decision in allowing a Fiat equaliser, the entire team walked out in protest. The JBFA Disciplinary committee mislapped four of us, including Jalil and me a suspension of six months for the silly mistakes we committed. Towards the end of the 1970s, my involvement in higher level games toned down but I still won trophies with less glamorous teams like Umno Kampong Datuk Sulaiman Menteri, Umno JB Timur and Printing Department soccer club "B". During the 1980s and 1990s, I took up coaching and retired from active soccer following my optional retirement in 1993. To stay fit and healthy, I playlight games and jog regularly. Hassan Buyong 62, stays at Taman Perling with his wife Ungku Rozila Abu Bakar. They have five daughters. Interview by Syed Abdullah Syed Mohamed |
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