Together with Zam, I have attended all the previous convocation ceremonies for Nana at University Science of Malaysia (USM) in 1997 and Shiwar at Technical University MARA (UITM) at Shah Alam in 2003. However due to my deteriorating prostrate and gout problems, I was certain that I would not last the whole duration of the Convocation Ceremony of Ezman at the Merdeka Hall, PWTC on Saturday, 10 December 2011. In my impending absence, I persuaded Nana to accompany her mother to the Convocation Ceremony.
Since Ezman might feel hurt that I would not be witnessing the conferment of his Bachelor of Accounting with Honours degree, I decided to watch the ceremony through the big screen provided by OUM at the Fifth Floor of PWTC. To my astonishment, I was very lucky to be part of the group that watch the ceremony via the big screen on the Fifth Floor. The group comprised of the family members from various Malaysian ethnic groups of the working adult graduates from both West and East Malaysia who were mostly mothers, fathers, grand parents and freshies who symbolized all the faces of our One Malaysia.
It was a very interesting experience that I enjoyed during 3 1/2 hours watching the convocation ceremony on the big screen. I managed to find a seat beside an Indian lady. Noticing her sulky stern facial appearance, initially I was very hesitant to start any conversation with her. However after about half an hour, when her grand child passed to her a bagful of maruku, she then offered me her maruku. Happily I obliged her offer and that broke the ice.
Mrs. Laksmi was from Sungai Petani and her family of ten came down Kuala Lumpur in a hired van on the early morning of Friday, 10 December 2011 to witness the conferment of a degree in Information Technology and Management to her younger sister in law from the AIMST, Merbok. She did not have enough sleep the night before and that was why she was very groggy watching the convocation ceremony. After hearing her story, I was taken aback because at the first instant, I thought she was an aloof person.
The kids were the most vibrant group who enjoyed themselves on the fifth floor. They mixed easily with the rest of the kids from various ethnic groups and from all over the . They even devised their own instant play games among themselves and they could not care less when their elders informed them that their parents would walk down the stage to receive their scrolls. The children's antics displayed the true spirit of One Malaysia concept.
Although the Graduating Students' Procession would start at
8.30 am, being 100% obedient to the instruction, Ezman was already
ready in his graduation robe at 7.10 am and he even took his
place at the rendezvous point outside the Merdeka Hall even
before 7.30 am
Being a strict disciplinarian on his diet and regimented in
his physical exercise routine, Ezman could still adorn the same
lounge suit that he wore for his graduation of DIA at UITM
Shah Alam in 1976 . Kudos to Ezman.
At 7.59 am, since I wouldn't be at the Merdeka Hall
for the Convocation Ceremony, I accompanied Zam
and Nana to the Merdeka Hall without knowing in advance
that Jim would also be there.
Since I have instructed all the family members to adorn proper
attire for the family post convocation photography session such as
Batik shirts for the men, my initial plan was to change into my
Batik shirt after accompanying Zam to the Merdeka Hall.
I was so engrossed with the candid behaviour of the children that I even
forgot to change into my Batik attire prepared by Zam during the post
convocation family photography session.
I was the odd one without Batik shirt
The over anxious nervous Zam with Nana accompanying her
looked more confidence after visiting the Ladies room
Nana and Jim who was still in his T shirt
VIEWING CENTER FOR THE GRADUATION CEREMONY
AT LEVEL FIVE PWTC
Everybody was rushing for a resting place while awaiting the
conclusion of the convocation ceremony
At 8.28 am, almost all the seats were taken at the viewing
center at the fifth floor
I managed to get a seat behind the grandfather from Banting and
his family
The grand father and his grand children taking over the settee
when there was a temporary vacuum
When the Negara Ku was played at 8.54 am, Malaysian sense
of Patriotism was at its best. Young and old proudly stand up in harmony
in respect for the National Anthem
At 10.56 am , Ezman walking down the stage to receive his scroll
FAMILY OF ASP AUGUSTINE GAGA A/L LAKONG
FROM THE SIBU POLICE DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS,
SARAWAK WHO WAS CONFERRED WITH THE DEGREE
OF BACHELOR OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
WITH HONOURS
Mrs. Augustine Saga is a graduate teacher in Sibu, Sarawak.
She was conferred with a Master of Education at the 10th.
OUM Convocation in June 2011. She has obtained her first
degree of Bachelor of Education from the same Alma Mater.
She is a Bidayuh while her husband is an Iban.
I met Mr. Augustine Gaga and his family in the lift while
accompanying Zam and Nana to the Merdeka Hall at
8.00 am. I admired the calmly composed Mr. Augustine Gaga
who was fully dressed in his convocation robe as compared
to Ezman who has already departed for the Mereka Hall at
7.00 am. Mr. Augustine Gaga was very pleased when I warmly
congratulated him on his academic achievement without even
knowing him in the first place. I met Mrs. Augustine Gaga while
watching the convocation ceremony on the fifth floor.
Mrs. Augustine Gaga and her two children looking for
empty chairs to sit while observing the graduation ceremony
on the big screen
From left: Catherine (Form 2), Batholomew (From 3)
and Mrs. Augustine Gaga
FAMILY OF SERI DEVI WHO WAS CONFERRED
THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
AND MANAGEMENT WITH HONOURS. THEY WERE FROM
SUNGAI PETANI, KEDAH.
All dressed up in colourful sarees for the special occasion
FAMILY OF SHAMSUDIN BIN JAAFAR FROM SEREMBAN
WHICH WAS CONFERRED WITH A DEGREE OF BACHELOR
OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WITH HONOURS
I was sitting beside Shamsudin Jaafar's family. The family
of Seri Devi were in front of me while the children of Mr.
Augustine Gaga were a seat behind me
Shamsudin's eldest daughter inquiring her mother on the
time of appearance of her father on the big screen
The youngest son of Shamsudin could not care less for his
father's impending appearance on the big screen. He was
enjoying his new acquaintances with the grand children of
the Malacca Nyonya
Another family with available seats but instead chose
to lean at the edge of the windows. His daughter is firmly
holding the bouquet of flowers for her mother. Her younger
sister enjoyed the comfort of the settee with her grand father
Their youngest toddler sleeping peacefully without any concern
THE BABA FAMILY FROM MALACCA
The children of various ethnic groups innocently courting
friendship among themselves. The nyonya from Malacca with
her splendid kebaya nyonya looking after her grand children while
their mother would be receiving her Bachelor With Honours
Teaching Primary Education.
The settee has been conquered by the One Malaysia children
BOUQUETS AWAITING TRIUMPHANT GRADUATES
There were no angry birds bouquets at the entrance
Only dreaming of a another degree
Securely guarded by Mr. Farly
Favourite cousin ready with his own bouquet for Ezman
My grand children joining me in waiting for the emergence
of Zam, Nana and Ezman. Because of their rivalry, they took
turn to hold the banquet which their mother has bought for
their Ami Chik
Alia's turn to hold the bouquet
Afique's turn with the bouquet
Nuraisyah and Afique with their bouquets
Flanked by my grand children
Afique's turn to hold the bouquet of flowers while posing
for a snap shot from Shiwar
Freshly conferred graduates coming out from the Merdeka Hall
Adli on Jim's shoulders waiting patiently for Ami Chik
and his mother
Finally Ezman emerged from the Merdeka Hall
Adli still waiting for his mother
On the majestic stairs of the Sri Pacific
Farly with the impression of an able bodied guard
Adli was very tired waiting for Ami Chik felt asleep
on Jim's shoulder
THE ELDER FROM BAU DISTRICT, SARAWAK
He is from Bau District in Sarawak. He is very proud that
his son in law is conferred with a Bachelor of Education.
His whole family flew down from Sarawak to witness the
convocation ceremony. He was a very cautious man for
he did not oblige me when I asked for his name.
The Bau Elder waiting anxiously at the Seri Pacific lobby
before departing for Sarawak on 11.12.2011
The Bau Elder following his son in law departing for Sarawak
The Bachelor with Honours Teaching (Primary) Education
graduates from the Third Session posing for the photography
session cuddling her youngest son
FACES OF ONE MALAYSIA AT THE SRI PACIFIC LOBBY ON
SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2011
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