MACSian Birthdays Blog

Thursday, 22 December 2005

The Waltzing King is 51 Today! (22.12.2005)
Mood:

party time!
Now Playing: Blue Danube - Johann Strauss
Topic: December Birthdays

Mak Kai Kin our "~~Durian~~ Dancing King" and "Bapak of MACSian '71 Reunions" aka "UncleMak" is actually the baby of our class! He joins our Club 51 today and we wish him the very best for many more years to come!

When I first received a call from Mak in 2003 about the reunion plans, I must admit that at that time, I could not picture who this Mak Kai Kin is although I pretended to still remember him. Anyway the 2003 reunion was a major success thanks to Mak's selfless efforts but unfortunately I missed it by a few hours having had to delay traveling down to Malacca by unforeseen circumstances.

It was during CNY 2004 that I first met Mak, who as it turns out is a neighbour to my mother and Mak's wife, Alice, is her regular morning walk companion! Small world indeed and all those years I've been in and out of Malacca but never knew Mak! So if not for his reunion efforts, Mak would still have remained a stranger to me despite the proximity and I'd have quite a few less very good friends, both new and old! So SYABAS to Mak and Thank You!

Mak needs no further introduction and you can visit his Multiply Sites for updates:
MACSian 71 Happenings in Malacca

Mak's Family Home Page

MACSian 71-76 Online Centre

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Posted by blog/macsian at 12:01 AM WST
Updated: Thursday, 22 December 2005 12:34 AM WST
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Tuesday, 20 December 2005

Many Happy Returns and Bonus Days to Edmond Coi! (20.12.05)
Now Playing: Take a look at me now - Genesis
Topic: December Birthdays
Today we mark the 51st Birthday of Edmond Coi Geok Yee, recently conferred two datukships by his 2? and 1 month old grandsons. Geok Yee is a regular in Malacca gatherings and can be counted upon for a helping hand in organising the reunions.

Pixs above from left: Edmond and Doris with their children, with Emily and Maulid and in-laws during their wedding reception in December 2004 and photo of month old grandson.

Snippets on Edmond Coi:-
- Joined Singapore police force after leaving ACS Malacca in 1971. Served 8 years while studying part time at Singapore Politechnic.
- Returned to Melaka to work in National Semiconductor for 2 years, Siemens for 3 years and after that as a housing developer.
- Set up own factory manufacturing plastic and electronic components, sold out and retired.
- PIBG chairman of ACS from 1991-1996.
- Favourite life experience story: being shot at while a police officer but survived because the bullet pierced his badge first. Everyday is now a bonus day for him.

Family details:-
- Wife Doris Lee, a nonya and housewife, an MGS girl 4 years his junior.
- Eldest daughter whom Edmond and Doris adopted is Chye Mei Mei, 30yrs. married with a son 2 1/2 months. Works in Singapore airport SATTS.
- Eldest son Daniel, 28, just married to Gan Chai Kun, is a former ACS ?96 headboy now in real estate and a Taekwondo instructor.
- Son Eddie, 25, an ACS primary head prefect, is a Logistic officer in TKR and also a Taekwondo instructor.
- Daughter Emily, 23, is married to Mohammad Maulid bin Hj. Sidek (no relation to the Sidek brothers!) works in the Singapore Police Force as a Taekwondo instructor. They have a son Mohd. Nor Danish, 1 month old.
- Youngest daughter Dolynn, 20, is a 1st year University College Science & Technology Trengganu doing Financial Mathematics and, (you guessed it!) is also a Taekwondo instructor.

Information gathering courtesy of Mak Kai Kin
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Posted by blog/macsian at 12:01 AM WST
Updated: Thursday, 22 December 2005 12:25 AM WST
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Monday, 19 December 2005

51 Today: Larry Gan Nyap Liou (19.12.05)
Now Playing: April Comes She Will - Simon & Garfunkel
Topic: December Birthdays
Datuk Larry Gan, one of Class of 1971's most prominent members and the pride of the sukinang no longer serves kopi-O to customers at the Malacca Wet Market but his passion for running food & catering outlets of the finest levels runs high these days. Larry has recently opened the new Uzen Restaurant at Concorde Hotel, KL. After an illustrious career with Accenture, previously Anderson Consulting and Arthur Anderson), Larry has retired before turning 50 and life today is a leisurely pursuit of travel and living.

During early days, I remember meeting him in a back stair-way in Wisma Stephens as I was doing cold-calls from one floor to another. I assumed he must be doing the same or probably just taking a short-cut. He's certainly gone a long long way!

Below: Pixs of the man once known also as Larry Ganny Gan (I've forgotten yet another name - it was fashionable then to have up to 3 christian names all at once!). A colourful chap, Larry also has a fair share of nicknames... think I'll leave this until the next reunion in 2006!

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Posted by blog/macsian at 1:33 AM WST
Updated: Tuesday, 20 December 2005 1:11 AM WST
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Saturday, 17 December 2005

Birthday Greetings to Keith! (17.12)
Topic: December Birthdays

Pix below (from left): Family pix, Cherylyn and Eugene, Siow Yan with her winning team during a SIP mental maths competition.

Keith Ee our birthday boy today is one of the MACSians with whom I've have had regular contact especially in the early 80s. He had just begun work at Maybank then while I had my banks accounts there.

The envy of some, Keith is a weekday bachelor, returning home in Malacca during the weekends and driving back to Bangi early Monday mornings. Anyone interested to know more of how he spends his "bachelor" life will need to ask him privately. Perhaps Chew Poon can also throw some light on this for the curious ones as he too led such a "weekend husband and father" life until recenty when he decided to "return to society".

Education and Career
1. Did HSC in TAR College (joined MAS at Subang while waiting for his results)
2. Rejoined TAR College to do Chartered Secretaries' course.
3. Upon graduation joined government service as an Auditor, attached to Keretapi Tanah Melayu.
4. Joined Maybank in 1980 as Operations Officer in PJ Main Branch.
5. Has been with Maybank for 26 years and served in various capacities such as Credit Officer, Assistant Branch Manager, Branch Manager, Centre Manager and currently as a Learning Technologist at the Maybank Group Learning Centre in Bangi.

Family Life
1. Married to Siow Yan in 1982
2. blessed with a boy, Eugene and a girl, Cherylyn.
3. Siow Yan is currently running a centre in Melaka teaching children Abacus-based Mathematics under the SIP Program, whose MD is none other than Gilbert Sim.
4. Eugene is a Telekoms Scholar pursuing an engineering degree in Multimedia University. He is currently in 2nd year.
5. Cherylyn has just sat for her SPM and will be going for the National Service soon.

Keith's Multiply Site

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Posted by blog/macsian at 12:01 AM WST
Updated: Saturday, 17 December 2005 12:16 AM WST
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Saturday, 10 December 2005

Fan Ching Jee's Birthday Today! (10.12.2005)
Topic: December Birthdays
Dr Fan Chin Jee, our fellow MACSian in Napier, New Zealand celebrates his 51st birthday today. Although in a far away land, Ching Jee has not completely distanced himself from us and was in Malaysia to join in the Reunion 2003.

Short History:
1971- Left ACS after MCE
1972-74: Gajah Berang High School Form 6
1975-79: University of Malaya, doing medicine
1980: Married Yoon Peng, his junior in UM
1980-82: Worked in Singapore
1982-85: Went to London to specialise in Diagnostic Radiology
1985: Returned to Malaysia and worked in University Hospital as a lecturer in Radiology for 3 years while Yoon Peng worked at the Seremban Hospital, then in the Institute of Medical Research
1987: First child was born.
1989: Moved to New Zealand.
1990: Second daughter was born
1994: Third daughter was born

Notables:
Spends half the day working in a Public Hospital as a Radiologist and half time in private partnership.
Wife Yoon Peng teaches music and both are heavily involved in Church work. All their girls play the piano and violin and do gymnastics. Ching Jee says this is surprising as he is neither musical nor sporty - (Editor: I must digress here as I very clearly remember Ching Jee and his violin in school!)

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Posted by blog/macsian at 12:01 AM WST
Updated: Saturday, 10 December 2005 10:14 AM WST
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Sunday, 4 December 2005

Low Yang Chenh is 51 on Sunday! (04.12.05)
Topic: December Birthdays
"MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY TO LOW YANG CHENH". Yang Chenh loves karaoke singing and one wouldn't be surprised to find him at a REDBOX outlet with his regular singing buddies Ken Tan, Leong Chew Poon and Lee Teck Chuan. His other love is football and his favourite team is none other than Man U. However, to keep fit, Yang Chenh prefers a regular round of badminton with his friends and colleagues.

Yang Chenh is married to Beatrix Yeap who works at Wella and they have a daughter, Jessica who will be in Form 5 when school reopens. Yang Chenh is with Sim Nam who are developers of Happy Garden/Taman Gembira in Kuala Lumpur. The Lows live in Sri Petaling. Below: Recent pix of Yang Chenh with Chew Poon and Dr Richard Koh during the Reunin 2005 at Melaka Club

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Posted by blog/macsian at 12:01 AM WST
Updated: Friday, 9 December 2005 10:44 PM WST
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Saturday, 3 December 2005

Michael Lim Joins the 51 Club (3.12.05)
Topic: December Birthdays
Michael Lim or Misai Loh, is our latest birthday boy. His boyish looks, albiet with a moustache to appear more senior and his generosity and cheerful disposition makes him a likeable chap. Michael's business takes him to his favourite country, China very regularly. He and his entire family are to be found in some part of China during every school holiday. His daughters, including a pair of twins, are all already in university either in USA or UK or already graduated. At home, his only son Kim Yong who is still schooling, is his constant companion and pal these days.

Michael Lim Tian Kau’s Personal Life Story:
“I went to Singapore on 1st Jan 1971, the day I walked out of my parent’s house after I flopped my LCE in History and Geography and from that date on I had to be fully independent, standing on my own two feet. To survive, I studied electronics, TV and Radio, air condition at night while I work during the day doing factory wiring in Jurong Industries Park. I think most of the smaller factories were our customers. In the late 1971 I joined a TV repairing company in Singapore as an apprentice and stayed there for almost a year. Later in 1972 I joined Philips Singapore as a technician and a year later in 1973 was promoted as a line assistance supervisor. I left Philips in 1974 to return to Malacca, trying for a job in NS, Motorola or Texas Instruments, etc but gave up because of the very low pay compared to Singapore wages. In the end, I started my own repair shop in Bachang but it doesn’t last for a year. Then I switched to manufacturing and sales of TV antenna and in 1979 ventured into plastic injection with a factory in Cheng Baru. From 1998 I ventured into the scrap recovery business which has lasted until now and I plan to retired soon. I have five daughters and a boy namely Lim Huay Ling, Huay Seok, Huay Fang (Seok and Fang are twin) Huay Chin, Huay Yun and last my boy Kim Yong. My wife is Elicia Ong LL”. Below: pixs of Mike and Elicia during early days. Boys Brigade Group picture. To see more of Mike's pixs go to his Multiply Site.

Michael's Multiply Site
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Posted by blog/macsian at 12:01 AM WST
Updated: Saturday, 3 December 2005 3:38 AM WST
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Thursday, 1 December 2005

It's my Birthday!
Mood:

cheeky
Now Playing: Once Upon A December - Anastasia
Topic: December Birthdays

Eleven years ago on this day, Su threw me a surprise 40th birthday party. As it happened, that day was also a Thursday, and earlier on at the office I must have had an ordinary busy day. It was boom time then and we had little time to relax. Nobody gave me a birthday greeting and neither did I expected them to remember. In the evening Su and the kids had already set a small chocolate with 4 candles for the mandatory candle blowing - did I make a wish? Can't remember! Later Su and the kids were all dressed up and I had no choice but to put on the new shirt Su had bought me - I'd rather an ordinary shirt anytime but it was afterall my birthday and they had decided to eat out at the Bukit Kiara Club.

Upon arrival at the club lobby, I was properly surprised, indeed shocked to see all my partners and staff, my mother, brothers, sisters-in law, sister, uncles & aunties, nieces and nephews, my golfing kakis and a bunch of my old classmates including Kevin Yoong and Alice, David Yap Kam Biow, Ng Tai Peng, Low Yang Chenh, Leong Chew Poon and Ng Joo How! Su had planned meticulously with them till the very last moment and I had no inkling of what was going on! My mother had come from Malacca with my younger brother and his family all the way from Singapore!

To all of you who had helped make that my most memorable birthday so far, many, many thanks! It was indeed wonderful to have had your company and to share happy moments with you! I look forward to sharing this 51st birthday with you all!

I have posted some old pixs in my Multiply site for this occassion. To view, please click the link below.

Tedin's View & Browse Site

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Posted by blog/macsian at 3:12 AM WST
Updated: Monday, 19 December 2005 1:35 AM WST
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Friday, 25 November 2005

Moses Samuel's Birthday Today! (25.11.05)
Topic: November Birthdays
He was small in size but bigger than anyone when it comes to debates! Moses Samuel was best known for his powerful oratory skills and determination to succeed. Today Associate Professor Dr Moses Samuel has indeed become a leading English Language expert in Education Socio-linguistics and Teaching of Writing. Since leaving ACS, many have lost contact with Moses as he pursued his studies and career. The following is a short recounting of this period by Moses: "Thought I'd just say what I've been up to since I left ACS in 71 after the MCE exams. Well, I went to High School for sixth form, and then went to Universiti Malaya where I did English. After my Dip.Ed. and a very brief teaching spell in Kelantan, I returned to UM in 78 (as a tutor) and did my M.Ed. Mr. Lim Hong Kuan our English teacher in ACS was then lecturer at UM and we became great friends and colleagues, until he retired. I later became a lecturer and have remained in UM since then, apart from a gap between 1987 to 1992 when I left for Harvard to do my doctorate. Little did I realize during those years, that across the river from Harvard (i.e, the Charles River) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was Wong Yunn Chi who was also doing his doctorate, I believe. If only Tedin had his website going those days we would have been able to get in touch with each other! Alas, those were pre-Internet days. I guess all owe a great deal to Tedin (and Mak Kai Kin as well) for making this network possible".

Moses is yet another of our very eligible bachelors. During our teh-tarik last evening, he bashfully refused my offer to help match-make, saying he's already married to his work!

Pixs above from left: Moses on a canal ride in Bangkok, Surrounded with the things he loves most - books and Moses in action during a seminar.

Moses Samuel's Official Listing at UM

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Posted by blog/macsian at 1:14 AM WST
Updated: Friday, 25 November 2005 2:36 PM WST
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Monday, 7 November 2005

7-eleven is Lim Kim Tay's Birthday!
Topic: November Birthdays
Lim Kim Tay our sea-faring engineer celebrates his fifty-first birthday on 7.11.2005. Still deeply involved in the marine industry these days, Kim Tay is the man to see if you're toying with the idea of buying a yacht. Following is a quick insight into Kim Tay's life.

Education:
1. Skipped Form 6 at Malacca High School after 1 day.
2. Enrolled at Ungku Omar Polytechnic to do the 6 years Marine Engineering Diploma course. First of its kind then under the UNESCO & JICA programme. "The British Head Adviser was pitting against the Japanese Technical team providing the specialized equipment and teaching staff. On hind sight, we got the best of both worlds!". Of the 6 years, 18 months were spent at sea clocking cadetship sea-time & another 12 months shipyard training.
3. Did his Class 2 & later Class 1 Marine Engineer’s Cert. of Competency at Singapore (UK DTI exam papers).

Career:
1. Served 10 years with MISC (12 years including Cadetship) Last 3 years as shipboard Chief Engineer. Another 3 months at the HQ, as Superintending Engineer.
2. Joined Belgian dredging company’s technical team. Based in S’pore for 3 years and another 2 years running between S’pore, Sarikei, Tanjong Manis, Bintulu , Miri, Penang & occasionally Bengkulu, Indonesia. Later, based 2 years in Hong Kong for the new Macao & Chek Lup Kok International Airports dredging & reclamation jobs. Quit after 7 years.
3. Joined Bureau Veritas (a French ship Classifications Society). Sent to Pusan, Korean office for 6 months. Relocated to Miri office and quit after 3 weeks due to excessive traveling!

Business Actiivities:
1. Set-up own company in 1995. In between did short courses in pleasure yacht surveying at Plymouth University & also Paint & Surface Inspector’s course under Norwegian Professional Council.
2. Was technical adviser to Berjaya’s m.v Coral Princess for 3 years. "This was when I bumped into Lee Teck Chuan at Berjaya’s office!".
3. Currently, subcontracting jobs in Westport to repair refrigerated containers as well as managing their harbour tugs.
4. Personally, still inspect marine equipment damages for local & overseas underwriters as well as inspection of pleasure yachts at the various marinas here & Phuket.

Family:
Managed to court and got married to Lee Yin (Lyn)a “Sukinang” while still at sea. No wonder all our “suki” friends cannot find their “suki” ladies! Returned to land and settled in Klang in 1988. They have 2 sons, eldest Aaron Lim Jia Feng is 19 and currently doing 1st year Civil Engineering at University of Melbourne. 2nd son Noel Lim Jia Sheng is in Form 4. Both boys are from ACS Klang.

Social Contributions:
Serves on the Board of Governors for both Primary & Secondary ACS schools in Klang since last 3 years. Never lost touch with ACS, but in Klang now!

Pixs below: Aaron, Noel, Kim Tay and Lyn in Phuket during a recent holiday.

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Posted by blog/macsian at 12:01 AM WST
Updated: Tuesday, 8 November 2005 5:54 PM WST
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