CheGu Hussein Hj Ahmad, Prof Dato Dr, K.M.N., D.S.M.
It was back in 1965. We were about to settle in our new school, Sekolah Menengah Padang Midin, since we moved in in Oct 1964 from Sultan Sulaiman Secondary School (SSSS). In Jan the hostel was opened for boarding, and I was one of them, and the warden was CheGu Hussein Hj Ahmad. He taught us, in Form 2A, Literature. Several times everyday in 1965, I passed by his room, on the first floor, immediately after turning the stair, on my way to the dorm.

In the absence of my parents literacy, CheGu Hussein signed my report book on their behalf;

I had an anecdote with CheGu Hussein Ahmad. It was early Friday morning in April when I woke him up to tell him that I was leaving the hostel to commute to school; my childish and foolish decision. My intention was to own a bicycle, the transport which I thought would take me anywhere in the world, the way I saw my friends would. I told this to my mother the weekend before (to quit hostel and to commute to school from home), and she did not disagree. In fact I had given her quite a trouble already for very soon she asked Abang Wi to search for a second-hand bicycle, affordable, about 30 to 40 RM. And I had taken home some of the bedding staff. I told CheGu Hussein my intention, hiding my hidden intention, telling him only that it was due to my financial "status quo". He knew that I was a FMS recepient. He gave me a twenty minutes lecture, still in his night dress, and on the twenty-first minute I changed my mind. I owed him that short Friday morning 'sermon' which many years later I take as the Almighty's detail implementation to protect my destiny.

In SAS, Kuala Lumpur, Saturday June 13, 1970. Being HB, I was 'houseless', as was Tajul Ariffin, the prefect secretary, but on that day, my main job was entertaining the invited guests; and one of the guest invited was the HM of Sekolah Menengah Petaling who was my former teacher in Terengganu, CheGu Hussein Ahmad. At first, obviously he could not remember me, but a sure anecdote with him in 1965 put him right on the point to remember who I was. Then, I collected others to join: W. Mohamad who was in first year UKM and Alyas from nearby TTTC (both were my one year senior in Padang Midin and SAS), Zawiyah, Kalthum and W. Fatimah (in form six in another school around KL).

Updated 2006, May 17, after a long quest, like that of CheGu Saadiah_Ahmad Yahya, since late 1980's, even up to UNESCO webpages. Eventually, I e-met him, by phone, from his office, Institute of Principleship Studies, University of Malaya, Kampus Kota, Jln Sultan Ismail. It was from today's media, for yesterday he received his "Anugerah Tokoh Guru Kebangsaa 2006" in PWTC.
His unmistaken voice at 64, and untarnished memory of the mid-1960's in Padang Midin, Kuala Terengganu; his friends (all were my teachers); and me for one, he still have in one piece up to when I last met him in SAS in 1970 Jun 13 Sport Day, when he was the HM of Sek Men Keb Petaling, KL.

2007 Feb 4 Sun, eventually paid CheGu Hussein a visit at his home in Kg Tunku, PJ. To my amazement, he was one piece CheGu Hussein as in 1965 - 66, that I knew. At 64, in the Institute of Principalship Studies, University of Malaya.