Sultan Idris Training College

Bangunan Suluh Budiman, UPSI Tg. Malim.

















Part of my childhood was spent in Sulatan Idris Training College (SITC), Tg. Malim, Perak in late 1940s and early 1950s. I didn't recall much of the experience but certain things still remained in my memory. I walked down memeory lane on 13 Nov 2008 and visited SITC, now known as Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Tg. Malim, Perak. I was looking for old landmarks and buildings to referesh my memory of the happy days in SITC. Najidah is working there now as a student counsellor. Having her there made it easier for me to get around.

The only old building that is familiar to me is the Bangunan Suluh Budiman. There were 2 big pokok tembusu in front of it, they weren't there anymore. I walked in the hall which housed exhibition of before merdeka paintings. Fond memories flooded my mind. I remember the time as a little girl, I used to go there, clssrooms then, and stole some chalks to play with. My father was teaching there at that time and we lived in the staff wooden quarters which have been demolished.

At that time, communist terrorists were atill at large. We could hear shootouts almost every night. My father would bundle all his children to go down to the bathroom because that was the only brick wall in the house. I didn't understood much then. I went to the Sekolah Melayu there for a short while before moving to Tg. Kling, Melaka because my father had retired. According to my mum, they moved location by riding in bullock carts and took weeks to reach Melaka. Those were the days! I still had regrets in my heart for not appreciating my father' s and my mother's experiences and stories. I could write them down but my interest came much too late when they were both gone. I know my father wrote books about Ilmu Alam as that was the subject he taught best. I didn't have any copy of his book nor the old Suluh Budiman journal. My mother burnt them when he passed away as white ants had destroyed some pages.

I learned through this mistake. I doubt whether my children really realise the importance of my work. In some small way I have contributed to education in this country, especially in the field of counselling. The three of them know that I have written and published books but I am not sure whether they read them. None of them is in education. I guess when they reach a certain age they will realise what they are missing - just like me and so many other children. So, when an officer from Archive Negara approached me to keep my work in Arkib Negara, I jumped at the offer. So most of my earlier work in Institut Aminuddin Baki and Bahagian Pendidikan Guru as well as old photographs are housed in Arkib Negara in my personal file. I have not been there for quite a while. There are more work to be kept there especially papers and books written while I was in NASAM and Unimas.



To my delight, I saw a wooden board listing the names of former Guru Besar and number 3 is my father's, Abdul Rahman Hj. Muhyiddin, MBE, 1947 - 1952. He had taught there far longer than that and many old teachers, ex-SITC, remembered him but many have passed away too. He was awarded Member of the British Empire (MBE) by the British government but I forgot in which year. I didn't even know where the medal is.







The board at Bangunan Suluh Budiman indicating the Guru Besar of SITC of which my father was one of them.

This is an old picture of my wooden SITC house where we used to live when my father was teaching there. The house has been demolished. Seen here were my mother and sister-in-law, Zainun, with her children when they visited SITC for the last time.














This is my father, Abdul Rahman Hj. Muhyiddin at our old house in Tg. Kling, Melaka with his MBE medal.





The most regret in my heart ( I felt like crying every time I talk about this) was to demolish our old Malay house in Tg. Kling , Melaka in early 1980s where my siblings and I grew up. I was responsible for this. At that time I was thinking only of my father's convenience. He was old and sick and the toilet was far out at the back. I pulled down the pretty old house and built a half-brick house with toilet attached for him. I could keep the front part but no, the whole house went down. What stupidity and short-sightedness!! My old house was nice and unique with SITC black and bright yellow colour, his pride, which became the landmark in Tg. Kling. Such a pity!

My old Malay house in Tg. Kling, Melaka with my mother, sisters (Ani and Rai ) and sister-in-law, Zainun.

Below is a picture of my parents and their children. I was with glasses standing at
the back, half hidden by my sister, Zurainah. I am not sure what year this photo was taken but it must be either 1959 or early 1960s as my eldest brother, Ahmad Taufik (extreme left) passed away in 1962.









Other than the Suluh Budiman building and Anjung Perak, I didn't see much of old SITC. With Najidah's help we went to the muzeum to see whether there are pictures of my father but it was passed 5 o'clock and the officer in charge wasn't there. I promised to look through some old photos and donate copies to keep in the muzeum.
















This is an old photo of my father and his friends while working in SITC. He is sitting on the left.









The ladies at SITC - wives of the teaching staff. My mother, Maimunah Hj. Zakaria is on the left sitting at the edge of the chair.

My father after his retirement, with his grandson, Mahizan.

Ya Allah cucuri rahmat ke atas roh bapaku, Abdul Rahman Hj . Muhyiddin dan ibuku, Maimunah Hj. Zakaria. Alfatihah.