Wednesday 12 May 2010

..the send-off and felda jengka, pahang..

..they met when she was a student and he was hanging around after SPM..she the daughter of police parents, and he the son of a Felda settler.. they had their nuptials among the hills in Camerons..and last Saturday was the sending off of the bride to the groom's home, Kg New Zealand, Maran, Pahang..

..the bride's paternal uncle, Haji Saari bin Din, had insisted on being host to the 'menghantar ceremony'..and he was the Regional General Manager, Felda Eastern Territory, whose office and home  is in Felda Residence Tekam Resort, a few kilometers  from Bandar Jengka.,  a six-room double-storey house on a small hillock..Kampong Tun Razak..paying homage to the man responsible for Felda..

..as the clan arrived and gathered, pakmat interviewed Hj. Saari casually.. over sumptious dinner and breakfast so graciously prepared by his wife..(gulai tempoyak ikan fatin was out of this world)..and was told that Felda is the largest single owner estate  in the world, exceeding 855 thousand hectares of developed area ..as RGM he covers 37 regions, each with its own Manager..and that on average, each settler receives an income of RM2500.00 per mensen....aside  from their income as sub-contractors, entreprenuers and service providers..all economic activities in Bandar Jengka are operated by Malays..
..
..pakmat interviewing Hj. Saari, (in red), to the amusement of pakmat's present mother-in-law..

..the morning before the send-off..pakmat took the photo..pakmat 
dressed the groom as the wife painted and prepared the bride..

..arrival at the groom's home, Kg. New Zealand..Hj. Saari leading the
charge.. and the groom with his samping askewed ( my fault)..

..sunrise from the hillock of Hj. Saari's home..we enjoyed our breakfast 
as we enjoyed the sunrise..

..pakmat took the Gua Musang - Kecau - Kuala Lipis - Kerambit - 
Jerantut - route to Bandar Jengka..the scene above is of a respite 
after Friday prayers at Kuala Lipis mosque, 
overlooking the railway station..

..we left for home through the Ulu Jabor-Kuala Berang road, leaving New Zealand and the newly married couple around 5 in the evening..they will be there for  a week..before proceeding to Langkawi, where the groom has been posted as a police officer..we left them there at the sunrise of their life..good luck and fare thee well, both of you....as pakmat went back to the sunset of his life.....

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

what a lovely account, pakmat. and that sunset picture is simply stunning.. glad you had a good time..

Kama At-Tarawis

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Hey Pakmat, how did that kampong get a name like Kg New Zealand? Is it coz there r too many sheep running around, no?

I like the way u conduct your interview by taking notes on the 555 mini notepad….kakaka the great2 grand daddy of the iPad!

Cheers,
Tommy

Fauziah Ismail said...

Salam Pak Mat
I went to the country's first Felda scheme at Bilut in Pahang in 2004. At some parts of the scheme, it felt as if time stood still.
I spoke to some of the pioneer settlers. It was hard work but they are enjoying the fruits of their labour.
You can read what I wrote here http://fuzze.blogspot.com/2004/05/pioneers.html

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Abe Mat,
When my Mama was in forestry service many many many decades ago, Jengka was one of the places she frequented. Now she's being nostalgic...hahahaha...
How ironic, anak polis kawin dengan polis. har har har...purrr....meow!

anneaziz said...

Salam Pakmat,

Karen Carpenter put it ever so nicely

We've only just begun...
to live,,,
white lace and promises...
a kiss for luck and we're on our way...

Nostalgic pulak teringat masa kawen dulu...

Nice post, nice pics...you are getting very good with digicam!

Unknown said...

..thank you, Lady Kama..a bit tiring for an old horse..but can-lah..:)

hey tommy..seems the first surveyors of the scheme were from New Zealand..and the ipad of yore was used to record all your debts..read Fauziah Ismail's blog pioneers..hj. saari din was such an unassuming man..cheers, tommy..

salam lady FI...Felda is a success anyway you looked at it..we will always be indebted to Tun Razak..one way or the other..it was a beautiful piece that you did in 'pioneers'..and can be published again..just to show Tun's contribution to uplift the life of common village folks..most earlier settlers are from Kelantan..fleeing their beloved homestate for a chance of a new and better beginning in Pahang..

my dear cat..biasa ler..anak polis kahwin polis..and jengka has changed way beyoind your imaginations..

..thank you anne..for memories are made of these..:) sometimes when we looked at others sunrises..we remember ours..:)

June Malik said...

love the story and the pictures :)

Unknown said...

..thank you, jun..don'tl forget the tiger..:)

rizal hashim said...

Salam Pakmat dikir rapper-cum-journo blogger...

wah conducting interview like a journalist la...

also tying a sampin requires artistry, PakMat, hehehehe...

when we were still single, my younger brother and I used to spend 15 minutes in front of the mirror just to tie the perfect knot...now tak de lagi, waistline pun dah bsar....

in the olden days, the way it was worn by the wearer was to send a message...anyway PakMat bila lagi nak ikat sampin?

Unknown said...

..at 65..?? with teeth and strength??..no..no more..it is the quiet life now, lc..just enjoying the breeze and the soft lapping waves against the shore..