"Officers and Gentlemen..."

The Staroba Golf Club is a small club of less than 200 members for now. However it has been one of the more active 'wings' of the STAR Old Boys Association with regular monthly events that never failed to draw good participation.

Participants have come from across the different batches. Some 'super seniors' are way past their 60's and more 'juniors' are increasingly falling into the fold. However, despite our monthly meetings, quite often we did not have much chance to get to know each other better.

Pakdokter plans to feature 'personalities' from amongst the Staroba Golf Club members in future postings. And pakdokter hopes these write-ups would also make interesting reading.

My name is Captain Mihdzor Hilal....Sir!

Pakdokter will start by introducing the two 'flight-mates' who played with pakdokter in the October Medal at the Impian Golf Course. Pakdokter has put up the caption - " Officers and Gentlemen" - for these two guys as they both had served as "Officers" in the RMAF ( the Royal Malaysian Air Force) and they both are indeed "Gentlemen". ( Remember Richard Gere in the movie " An Officer and a Gentleman"?)

Mihdzor Hilal was in pakdokter's batch who joined STAR in 1964. Coming from somewhere in the Bagan Datoh/Telok Intan district - if pakdokter is not mistaken he is of a Banjarese descent which probably partly explains his choice of joining the armed forces to become a 'flying warrior'. Pakdokter cannot remember much of our friendship while in school - firstly because Mihdzor was in White House whereas pakdokter was in Blue House - and secondly because in most years throughout the duration of our schooldays, we were in different classes - pakdokter was somehow always in the somewhat a 'little cleverer' class. ( pakdokter stands to be corrected on this.....). But we did end up together in Sixth Form, both studying in the Science Stream. Mihdzor was an active sportsman - he played soccer, rugby, cricket and quite likely many other games too.

As pakdokter has earlier mentioned, Mihdzor left school and joined the Air Force to become a pilot. What he flew, pakdokter must admit that pakdokter has very little idea of it. Perhaps Mihdzor or others who know him better can chip in with information by writing in to the 'comments' section of this post. Pakdokter never met up with Mihdzor for many many years. Mihdzor left the service and joined the MHS ( the Malaysian Helicopter Services) based in Miri, Sarawak, where he provided the logistical services for the 'oil and gas' companies operating in the offshore of Borneo. Mihdzor later took part in the 'management buy-out' of the MHS and today serves in an 'advisory capacity' to the company.

Pakdokter and Mihdzor now meet up regularly as we both serve in the Staroba Golf Club Committee.

Pakdokter must admit that the "Mihdzor" pakdokter remembers from school has come a long way indeed to the 'gentleman' that he is today. Obviously the years in STAR had groomed him to what he is today and the years in the 'Air Force' had polished him further.

And as far as golf goes, definitely his military training had given him the 'fire-power' to always out-drive pakdokter. But as all is fair in 'love' and in 'golf' (and in war?) - pakdokter plays to a handicap of 24 while Mihdzor plays to 18/19?....So even if pakdokter looses to him in the game, the damage is 'tolerable'....

Your fitness put me to shame...Sir!...

please take Captain Mihdzor to play squash with you, Sir....

Mr Shahidan Razak was pakdokter's junior in STAR by one or two years ( this has to be confirmed). As such pakdokter must also admit that pakdokter does not know that much about him. And he was also from the White House, if pakdokter is not mistaken. And to make matters worse, Mr Shahidan absconded from STAR and joined the RMC after Form 3! ( You have a lot to explain, Sir!.....)

From his 'complexion' and his 'slang' then, well, most people would have no problem guessing that Mr Shahidan originated from either Penang or Kedah. But speak to him today, wow...he sounds like a product of a British public school. ( Did you learn and pick all that up in STAR, Sir?....Mr J A David must have been very very good....)

Although Mr Shahidan was in STAR for only 4 years - pakdokter can still remember him quite well. Pakdokter can remember him not because he was a 'jambu' - but because he was a great sportsboy! He was extremely good at soccer and rugby and at many other games also and certainly when he was put up for auction, the RMC selection board had no second thoughts about bidding for him. STAR's loss was RMC's gain. Pakdokter watched with envy when Mr Shahidan continued to play rugby well during his RMC days. He went on from there to become a pilot in the RMAF and if pakdokter's memory is still accurate, pakdokter thinks Mr Shahidan continued to play rugby for the RMAF BlackHawks while in service. ( Please confirm, Sir! Aye, aye...?)

Mr Shahidan has also retired and now plays golf at the KRTU and during his best days he was a single-handicapper. And he told pakdokter that day that he also plays 'squash' regularly! That explains his fitness and his physique. Just take a close look at his photograph above. Does he not remind you of Arnie Scwachnegger?.....