A FAREWELL GATHERING AT A YEMEN RESTAURANT

   2nd OCTOBER 2026    ~ Another ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti got her transfer approved. However, instead of getting back to her hometown in Terengganu, she was put in a school in Negeri Sembilan, and she was left with not much choice.

 

A few friends organized a farewell party for Miss Maizura Abu Hassan at Al-Nawras Restaurant in Taman Pulai Flora. Luckily, I was also invited so I could officially bid her farewell.

Wishing Miss Maizura the best of luck in her new school. God willing, may we meet again some other time in the future, either in Johor Bahru or Negeri Sembilan, and who knows may be in Terengganu.

FOOTNOTE: I have now discovered a new eating place for Arab food.

THE FAREWELL GATHERING OF A CHESS TEACHER FRIEND

Mr. Ariff Alias, a teacher friend of the Johor Bahru Chess Team, called for a gathering this evening at Al-Safa Restaurant in Gelang Patah. The reason: his application to be transferred back to Terengganu was approved.

This was my first time at this Mamak restaurant. The eating area was huge especially the open area which was supposed to be parking spaces for vehicles but were filled with tables and chairs.

Mr. Ariff will still be here until December so there might be a possibility that another gathering will be called after this. We chess teachers just love to party once in a while.

THE FAREWELL GATHERING FOR A FRIEND IN SCHOOL

I was invited by a colleague to attend a farewell gathering in SMK Dato' Jaafar. Puan Hamidah Johar, a lab assistant, was transferred to a nearby school after having served the school for more than 20 years. This is a policy of the Education Department which I personally do not agree.

At the same time, my colleagues were also celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year. Hence, [almost] everyone was wearing red.

I finally managed to hand over the present for a retired friend, Puan Sim Poh Mun as I could not attend the gathering held for her last year.

It is always great to get to see old friends again in my former school i.e. working place. Hope to be invited again for other gathering [which involves eating] after this.

A FAREWELL GATHERING FOR A RETIRED FRIEND

Puan Hasliza Abdul Rahman, a friend/ex-colleague of SMK Dato' Jaafar, has retired last month and will be moving to Seremban soon. A farewell gathering was called and it was attended with a few others. The chosen venue was Latte Doh Cafe located at Damansara Alif.

The cafe had the Harry Potter concept and there were costumes and other paraphernalia for diners to use and be photographed.

The chat session lasted for about an hour and a half. It was a short dine in session but we hope Puan Hasliza would remember the awesome moment we once had when she is relocated to Seremban soon.

BIDDING FAREWELL TO YET ANOTHER FRIEND BEING PROMOTED AND TRANSFERRED

Another ex-colleague of SMK Dato' Jaafar was promoted and transferred to another school. This time, it was Puan Zaleha Adnan's turn who would be holding the post of Senior Assistant of Cocurricular at SMK Tun Syed Nasir Ismail [which is near my house].

It is customary to have a gathering to bid her farewell and the venue chosen this time was Thsitle Hotel in the heart of the city.

Unfortunately, the [three] gentlemen could only stay there at the restaurant for an hour. We only came after Friday prayer at about 2:00 p.m. and the buffet finished at 3:00 p.m. However, I was still happy to get to see my friends again once in a while.

Congratulations Puan Zaleha Adnan and she would be greatly missed by everybody in school. I am sure we will be meeting again in similar event like this in the future as there would always be people who will retire or be transferred somewhere else.