REMEMBRANCE 32 : TOK SU

102 years old Tok Su enjoying the tepung talam which we bought at the famous Mak Njang


Mek Tet has the ability to communicate effectively with Tok Su




Mek Tet managed to coax Tok Su to sit outside of the house

Zam trying her luck with the wooden pole to reap the rambutans with her able adviser by her side who could only deliver vocal advice.



You reap the rambutans and you must also collect the rambutans yourself as I could not help you physically apart from consuming the rambutans myself.

Marini also trying her luck with wooden pole.

Being an aticulative person, Tok Su managed to persuade Zam and Mek Tet to arrange the fruits properly.

Yesterday (23.07.2009) as Marini was off for the day, we decided to pay a social visit to my grand aunt, 102 years Tok Su at Kampung Kelubi Luar. The four of us (Zam, Mek Tet, Marini and Me) stopped by at the famous Mak Njang Tepung Talam at Kubang Lembu. The village of Kubang Lembu is just one mile south the Jitra Town. During our school days, we used to describe Kubang Lembu as KL as we tried to hide our humble beginnings at Jitra. Yet Kubang Lembu has produced intellectuals such as Professor Emeritus Asmah Haji Omar and her younger brothet Dato’ Dr. Affifuddin. We bought 12 boxes of tepung talam for Tok Su and also for her neighbours.

Tok Su really liked the traditional cake of tepung talam because Tok Su said a good quality tepung talam is the one which has quivering tops. We were laughing away when Mek Tet chipped in by saying that the eater was also quivering together with the other onlookers. We told her that it was natural for a 102 years lady to be doddering as compared to a 49 years old doddering lady.

As it was in fruiting season, we tried our hands at reaping the rambutans and jack fruits by using the wooden pole provided by Tok Su. After putting so much efforts and time, they could only managed to bring down only fifty rambutans. After a few trials, Zam, Mek Tet and Marini realized the degree of difficulties that a farmer has got to endure in reaping the fruits from the trees. With these valuable experiences, they has decided that they would not bargain for a lower price any more when they do buy fruits from the farmers. One plus point for the farmers and their produce.

We were very sad when we have to depart for Alor Setar and leaving Tok Su alone at her shack to fend for herself. Tok Su is a spinster without any heir but she is a very independent lady who does not like to lean to others. Although she is doddering and cannot look after herself properly, yet she refuses to stay with my cousin, Kak Yeh at Taman Mahkota. I am very thankful to Kak Yeh for sharing the burden in looking after Tok Su. Only Kak Yeh and my family are taking the responsibilty in looking after the well being of Tok Su although with the constraint of osteoathritis. We have arranged with our distance cousins i.e. the daughters of the late Pak Long Ali to prepare food for her and also to ascertain that Tok Su would take her foods prepared by them.

Other than that, no other grand nephews and nieces that took the trouble to visit Tok Su periodically at her house. Tok Su would be very delighted if ever one of her grand nephews or nieces do visit her. She even peeled a lot rambutans in readiness for the their visits. The peeled rambutans kept piling up as they were no visits from them. One of her grand nephews who promised me to facilitate Tok Su's application for Welfare Department's aid did not even paid her a social visit. Looking at Tok Su alone in her house, I really felt sad because her own grand nephews and cousins tend to forget her kindness when she was able to do so. In fact she was the mak andam for almost every of her grand nieces' wedding.

That is the sad, lonely and forgotten life that Tok Su has got to endure until her final days and I sincerely pray for Allah's blessings to Tok Su. Insya Allah.