Goodbye 2012

This must have been the longest hiatus between one post and another. A few years back, I was adamant (and was very optimistic) that come what may, the blogging here will continue. It records the tapestry of friendship that we started a long time ago in MCKK.

(Well, that was a few years ago and many things have changed).

Strange enough, I cannot list down what is so monumental about Mentula Ingens in 2012.

I notice our batch members have become so vocal in their cynicism of a small faction of old boys in the MCOBA Net. Understandably so, given the frustration of trying to reason out with people who are so set in their own ways (and who benefit a lot from the current regime, I must say ;-). That's why it is must rule not to engage with people who will not listen to reason or argument.

Maybe that's also the reason why Gadap (better known as AU - Abu Usama) always skillfully cut short any heated arguments with references to Kota Damansara, amoi and pretty girls (or occasionally promises of contracts from Umno!). That seems to work well so far.

I notice Sumali's wedding could have been the only wedding of batch members this year. We can continue to wait for Fadli's wedding of the century, but that is fast becoming a BN style "Janji Ditepati".

Apart from that, I can't recall anything substantive or monumental about MCKK this year.

MCKK was ranked 2nd in terms of academic achievement in the recently announced PMR 2012, but I guess that no longer shocks or excites the crowd considering Mr Anand had managed to turn around the declining results ever since he took over in July 2010.

I had a chat with one of the hockey boys I used to manage through whatsapp last night. Inevitably, our chat ventures to Mr Anand and how the school had been under him.

I was shocked that the boy was very critical of Mr Anand and spoke favourably (even to the point of cherishing) of his predecessor (He Who Shall Not Be Named. On second thought, who cares - his name is Rauhi). As I began to peel the reasons behind the negative perception of Mr Anand layer by layer, I realised how good Rauhi had been as a teacher-politician.

There are many instances where the boy (and presumably the same feeling permeates through his batch) dislikes certain things that happened in koleq, or disapprove certain teachers for their bad performance, but Mr Anand gets all the blame.

I give you a few examples.

The hockey team despises Safaliza for her whole-hearted attempt to sabotage the team. When the boys organised friendly games, she would withhold permission until last minute and then zappp she would tell the boys the school did not permit it.

The boys are very critical of Fairuz Leman and his ability to head the IB. In fact, that was among the first questions asked to me: "if Mr Anand is so good, why did he appoint Fairuz Leman to head IB because clearly, someone else can do a better job?"

It took a while to explain to the boy that all had taken place under the instruction or nod of approval from Rauhi. In fact, these teachers who were in his good books ran amok in the school bullying anything or anyone they considered against Rauhi.

But the skill with which Rauhi deflected everything and put the blame (or maybe the work of his remaining minions in MCKK) on Mr Anand, even on the former's key decisions (e.g. appointment of Fairuz Leman as head of IB) - is a classic example of how school managers in Malaysia nowadays are more skillful at office politics than running an education institution.

That said, with a benefit of hindsight, our talk about what was during Rauhi's reign is akin to talks at Hogwarth during Voldermort's reign - so quite fitting the He Who Shall Not Be Named label accorded to Rauhi.

Apart from that, 2012 remains sombre. Toje's passing away was a rude shock. He was the first one to have left us in the last 10 years. Apart from Allahyarham Kiwi, we have not heard of any personal calamity. I pity Awie most as the sadness and feeling of loss must have been worst for him, as Toje was the only batchmate in Terengganu all this while.

If any, 2012 gives a glimpse of what may become if we don't pull our act together and re-forge the closeness which have defined the last 20 years.

Out of that realisation, we shall embrace 2013 with "Usrah vs Wayang Reunion" on 4th January 2013. It has been ages since we have a reunion :-) so this one hopefully will be a blast :-)