An Open Letter

AN OPEN LETTER TO TEACHERS WHO ATTENDED THE MHS REUNION ON 12 JULY 2008

Dear Sir/Ma’am,

My name is Hussin Othman. I studied in Melaka High School from 1971 to 1975 (Forms 1 to 5). My last “real” class was Form 5 Science 1, though I was in Lower Six Science 3 for a few months in 1976. First of all, on behalf of everyone who was at the Reunion I would like to thank all of you for your presence. By the Grace of God all of you looked healthy and cheerful that night. Some of you, notably Mr Chin, Mr Poh and Mr. Chye Boon didn’t seem to age. You must share your secrets with us now that we have just reached the half century milestone ourselves.
I’m terribly sorry that I can’t meet all of you personally as I was busy catching up with friends whom I have not met for more than 30 years. I can see that you were also busy catching up with your old colleagues. We must thank the Organizing Committee for giving us the platform to do this.

Sir/Ma’am,
When I met some of you, most did not recognize me and some looked a bit disappointed. Not to worry Sirs/Ma’ams as I did not expect any of you to remember me. You see, I was not a super sportsman like Syed Abu Bakar or Amardas. Neither was I a super student like Wong Fung Chu or Leow Sien Beng. I was also not cuddly and likeable such as Edmund Tay. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was also not one of the “class rascals” like Alan Neo, Raymond Ho, Tong Kahm Chee, Yeo Kok Seng, Asorkar or Ibrahim Omar (sorry guys, I’m forced to name names). These guys have “special qualities” that made them stood out and be remembered. As for me, I’m just the average guy who will pass through life without being noticed. Unfortunately, those in my category form the largest segment of the student population so it makes it even more difficult for you teachers to remember us. But I was not slighted at all. On the contrary, some of you should be the ones who are disappointed as I was not able to recognize you. How can I forget teachers who have helped make a man out of me?

Sir/Ma’am,
All of you can be proud that a significant number of your students are now very successful. We have got among us doctors such as Wong Fung Chu, Archuna, Ghazali Othman and Fong Kam Weng. There are pilots like Alex Chan; engineers like Sien Beng, Idris and Razak; accountants like Lim Bin Hoe, Ho Whye Yong and Radhuan; architects like Nor Ismail; lawyers like Armadas; Professors like Ramlan Aziz, Dianne and Ahmad Jamal. There also successful businessmen like Dato’ Halim, Asorkar, Ibrahim and Fong Ngan Teng; property valuers like Ahamad Latib; computer specialists like Henry Chan, Basir Bachik and Tong Kahm Chee; bankers like Mokhlis and Ismail; senior administrators like Syed Bakar, Leslie and Sim Say Kiong; optometrists like Lee Toong Fah; pharmacists like Koo Tsu Koon. Quite a number have also followed your footsteps in joining the noble profession of teaching such as Edmund Tay, Wong Chee Yin, Ali Manap and Shafie Ibrahim. (I am sure there are a lot more successful ones that I do not know of). As you can see, all of these ex-students of yours are very successful. Even for the rest like me, we have been doing okay and have not been a burden to society. You may also be glad to know that none of us have been in the wrong side of the law (at least not that I know of).

Sir/Ma’am,
It has been more than 30 years since you last helped me and my friends prepare ourselves to face life’s many challenges. In the process, we may have either intentionally or otherwise misbehaved. For these, we seek your forgiveness. Being young, one would have expected us to make these mistakes. Your understanding in dealing with us will always be cherished. Of course, some of the actions taken by some of you may seem harsh by today’s standards but I’m sure those have long been forgiven even though these incidences still make good conversation pieces during gatherings like the Reunion.
I think I have taken too much of your time so I better stop here. Please forgive my writing. It may not reach the standards set by my English teacher, Ms Alice Chia. It may in fact disappoints her but let me assure you that even if it contains grammatical or structural mistakes it comes from the heart. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a healthy life. May God give us the opportunity to meet up again in five years time, at the latest. We may even try to meet up again before that.
Again, thank you for all that you have done for me for which I’ll be forever grateful.

Yours sincerely,

Hussin Othman
Your ex-student, 5 Science 1, 1975
23 Jalan SS7/14, Kelana Jaya
47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
013-369 4373; hussin1958@gmail.com