aoikiji

On 16th May every year, most students in Malaysia will cherish the moment of their favourite person known as teacher. For me it’s even special because it is also the birthday of my former classmates, Mohd Hilmi Hassan. So, I really love to take the oppryunity, whenever I can to express my gratitude if not all, to one of my teachers. Dr Huzwah Khaza’ai is a normal, yet elusive figure when we, the 2nd batch of biotechnology come to meet her in 2003. At that moment we were introduced to lecturers such as Dr Irwandi Jaswir, Dr Ahmed Jalal Khan Chowdury (now Assoc. Prof), Sr Zaima, Sr Zarina, Sr Anil Azura and the 1st batch of Biotech. I would call it troublesome but we had to. It’s not a bad experience afterall, as Dr Huzwah was so reassuring that I even believe she was born in Cape Verde Island. Then, as times goes by, we become like family.

Few years later she emerge as the Head of Biotechnology Department, a position not even suited the potential and capability she posses. In the meantime, her husband (Dr Sokhini) also became the Head of Biomedical Science. I really don’t remember when I come into the picture, but I always remember Dr Huzwah as a dedicated Head Department who would stop at nothing to please the students, and believe me, she has the authority to do that.

Apart being a dedicated teacher, I always known Dr Huzwah for her delicious “gulai kambing”. Ask any of the students who ever went to her house and taste the meal prepared by one of the best. It’s not just that. Both of them, the husband and wife are sort of different person when they’re at home. I really don’t have a hunch to explain it, but if you know both of them very well, you’ll be mesmerized by their hospitality.

What I like about her is, we at the Kulliyyah of Science called her the Last of Malay Girl (Perempuan Melayu Terakhir). Believe me, even if we went out for sampling at Langkawi, she will casually dress up in baju kurung with no hesitation. At first I thought she was joking, but as I indulge myself (not only me, there were Mior, ‘Izzati and Faridda Hannim) in the Langkawi research team, I have to evaluate all of my thought about life. “ I really don’t seen it all yet,” is what I can say to myself at that time. One of the things said by my classmate, or Yus as we called her that still ringing in my mind is “ dr jangan pergi before batch kami habis ekk…”. I always fear that Dr Huzwah will leave someday, and as I enrolled as research assistant from December to April this year, she kept telling me she’s leaving for good. And on 1st April 2007, she really did. And so do I. She once said to me, “if you know what I felt about this place where I built it from scratches, you’ll understand what I’ve been through.” I never really understand what she meant back there, but I know that I am part of the relic she left behind. And to some extent, I am proud because I was taught by the best and deep inside I know that’s the thing that makes me who I am.

Occasionally, when I do have time, I pay visit to both of them who is now at USIM. They have plans for the future, and they advised me to do the same thing. I just laughed at the idea of getting married to the same university girl, as they have done. In fact, last week from 15th to 18th May was my best May month in these four years where I got to spend time with Veric, Ustat, Ajen, Dr Huzwah & Dr Sokhini and also Sr Zaima and her daughter Fatin at different meals. Up to this point, I think I’ve met the very finest people in my life, and I hate the thought of losing them again. THANK YOU Dr Jalal, Dr Irwandi, Sr Zaima, Sr Zarina, Sr Anil, Dr Arokiaraj, Dr Maizirwan Mel, Br Faizul, Br Khairul Dr Elwathig, experts from UPM and UKM who share their expertise for Natural Resource Management and those people I forgot to mention their name, not that I forget about their contributions and to all of my teachers. Happy Teacher’s Day. You guys are the best…

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