Pungut Kayu Api (Collecting Firewood)

Before cooking gas and electricity were introduced (ever known) to the 'Kampong folks', we cook everything with fire burnt from wood. The best and mostly available firewood are dead rubber tree branches that fell to the ground. Since we cook everyday, firewood must be available at all times. I was all the times requested to go 'collect' these firewood. Every week or so, with a small 'parang' in hand we will take a walk into the rubber plantation to look for firewood.

Our 'favourite' place to look for firewood was in Ulu Senaling, behind Pakcik Maulud's house; as she has 2 beautiful sweet daughters; Kak Long and Mariah; that we may be able to have a glimpse of. Every young boys are after this bombshell, long hair, fair, sweet and cool Mariah Maulud. Nevertheless, while collecting firewood, our eyes would wander to her house, just to have a glimpse of her at her windows; which most times, we were disappointed. She passed away in 2005, so I was told - may Allah swt bless her soul. These firewood are cut into 6 feet length and tied together with small rattans found in the rubber plantation. Collecting enough, we carry it home on our shoulders.

At times, we found 'damar' in the rubber plantation. 'Damar' is soft stones normally used as fire starters. Whenever we find 'damar' lying around, we will pack them into small bags and carry them home together with the firewood. I would normally go and look for firewood with my two neighbour friends (they are brothers); Ajih Baroh (Hashim Latif) and Ajai (Zainuddin Latif). Wonder where they are now!

Gula Enau (Brown Palm Sugar)

Gula Enau (brown palm sugar) is now a rare delicacy which may be difficult to find. You may still find them in shops in small villages or in small huts along the road out of town. It is round about 1 inch thick and 2 inches in diameter, normally packed in sixes in palm leaves (1 kabong). This sugar is normally used to make sweet dessert gravy made of bananas, tapioca, glutinous rice, jack fruit or green beans.

I used to follow Pakcik Maulud to the padi fields looking for matured palm trees so he could extract the palm tree juice (air nira); which is very very sweet. It is collected in long bamboo casings hang under the palm leave branch. These 'air nira' will then be collected in a container, enough for it to be taken back to be cooked into "gula enau". The 'air nira' is cooked in a big wok over continuous wood fire. It must be continuously stirred so that it would not get crumpled or moulded or get stuck to the wok. After a few hours, the 'air nira' will turn brown in bubbles. As it get concentrated further, it is now ready to be placed in 'gula enau' moulds. 2 inch in diameter and 1 inch thick. After it is cooled and dried, it is then placed on top of each other for packing into palm leaves casings of 6 packs each.

'Gula enau' is still available now and it is a delicacy as it is juicier and 'sweeter' to use as sweeteners in dessert gravy than normal table sugar. There are still 'Kampong folks' that would still go to the padi fields or into the jungle to collect 'air nira' and turn them into "gula enau". I used to help collect these 'air nira' and also helped make "gula enau". For helping, we are normally rewarded with some spoonful of 'air nira' and the crumbs of "gula enau" from the wok; which is a joy to sip and eat.

Pacat & Lintah (Leeches)

To my knowledge, there are 2 kinds of leeches in this world. One small brown one and one bigger black one. The smaller one "pacat", brown in colour, about 1 inch in length is found in the bushes or in the jungle - sways from point to point on land. Whilst the bigger "lintah", black in colour, about 2 to 3 inches long are normally found in the padi fields - swims in the water.

Whenever I go through the jungle on the way to the rubber plantations either to clear the area or to bud graft those young rubber trees, I am normally equipped, among other normal things; with a handful of tobacco. It is not for smoking, but to wipe it on your legs to avoid the small leeches (pacat) to climb on you and suck your blood. Nevertheless, these pacat are not dangerous neither they would harm you. If it does climb and suck on your legs, you can just pull it away and throw it back into the bushes. However, you will feel itchy at the place where it clawed and sucked your blood.

The bigger leech (lintah) normally black in colour is found in the padi fields. Whenever we are ploughing or weeding the padi fields, we may be clawed and blood sucked from your legs. It would cling and after it is full it will just drop off. The trick to take it off is to use your saliva on your fingers and apply it to where it is clinging to you. With the saliva between your fingers, applying it to the leech (lintah), it may just let go your feet. These bigger black leech is also not dangerous, however, like the smaller leech (lintah), it will make your leg feel itchy, where it bite.

Now we have 'folks who rear leeches' (the bigger black ones), where it is sold to medical practitioners to be used to suck out the 'dirty blood' from you. Kampong folks are so used to these 2 kinds of leeches (pacat & lintah) that it has become a way of life we are used to whenever we go to the jungle or to the padi fields to do our normal daily chores.

Buat Emping (Making Rice Flakes)

When the padi plants start to bear grain, the entire field will look greenish yellow; as the grains are turning yellow at the start of the ripening process. Acres and acres of them - you can see them as far as your eyes can wander. Before the grains start to ripen, we would sometimes make 'emping' (rice flakes) from the 'almost ripe' padi grains. With a small knife in the palm of our hand, we choose and clip the 'almost ripe' padi grains. Put them all together in a container and take them home for the adventure tonight.

As arranged, there will be a small gathering of the neighbours and close relatives at a house, which is normally part of a large compound. The adventure is to make 'emping'. A 'lesong kayu' (wooden pounder) is necessary to make the 'emping'. The 'almost ripe' padi grain will be heated in a frying pan (without any oil) over a small fire, to ensure that when it is pounded, the husk will be separated from the flakes. From the frying pan the heated padi grain is poured directly into the wooden pounder. Two or three people will pound on the grain (for a minute or two) turning them into rice flakes. This cycle continues until all the 'almost ripe' padi grain is all finished. The pounded lot is then taken out of the pounder into a 'nyiru' (flat container made of rattan - about 2 feet in diameter) and someone will juggle the 'nyiru' into the air, the lighter husk flying-off into the air leaving the heavier 'emping' in the 'nyiru'. This is done to separate the husk from the 'emping'. The 'emping' is then collected and kept in a container.

When all is done, everyone will get together over hot tea while enjoying the 'emping'. The 'emping' is normally served by mixing it with brown sugar and grated coconut, with a pinch of salt. The 'emping' is a little bit rougher and harder to chew; as compared to present modern flakes, like corn flakes. Nevertheless, for people who live in the 'kampong'; frying, pounding and making, and eating, 'emping' together during the evening is an adventure that is never forgotten.

Main Layang-Layang (Kite Flying)

Among all the many games that we play in the 'kampong', kite flying is one of those enjoyable one done together. We need the equipment to fly kites. We buy simple paper kites from the shop in the village. They cost RM0.10 sen each. You also need strings to fly the kite. Either you buy the thread from the shop or you just 'use' the ones that you can find in the sewing machine at home! The thread is rolled onto a milk can. You must first balance your kite, in order for it to fly and stay on course, not diving left or right. We cut old newspapers; cut them into 1 inch width long streaks (2 feet) and attached them to the right and left edge of the kite.

Tying the kite at an angle on the main backbone, we hold the kite up after we have attached the newspaper streaks to each sides. The kite must balance; if not we have to add or deduct the amount of newspaper streaks from either sides. Once it is 'balanced' and attached to the threads (strings), the kite is now ready to be airborne. With friends who have one each; balanced and threaded kite, we go to the 'padi fields' to fly our kites. There are no trees nor bushes to be a hindrance to our kite flying. There are a lot more 'winds' in the open 'padi fields' anyway.

When we get tired running and enjoying ourselves in the 'padi fields' flying our kites, we would normally go to this particular 'island' in the 'padi fields' to rest, drink some water or take a nap. We would spend hours out in the hot sun flying our kites; going back only when it is getting dark.

I Ran Away (the 3rd Time)

After the MCE results were announced, I did applied to further my studies. I applied to ITM, UTM and UPM. I got an interview to do Diploma in Architecture in ITM and I was accepted to be on reserved list for UTM. Never got to enter either of the colleges. The next best alternative; and as I have to help support my other sisters and brother who are still schooling, I had to go to work. I worked in Ministry of Education as a temporary Coding Clerk, in Sri Jaya Bus Company as an Accounts Clerk and lastly achieved my dream of working in the Bank. I spent 1 week working in Banque de L'Indochine et de Suez Indosuez before I took the job in Malayan Banking. My father was a 'Special Branch' still with the Police Force.

Even though I was already working, the years then was the times when drugs menace were first introduced; I was subject to 'spread eagle' whenever I came home from work. At most times, I purposely spent my evenings in the office so as to avoid being 'searched' when I came home. Planning an escape, I requested for a transfer to Sea Park Branch. Got the transfer and left home. My mother, knowing I was leaving home again was visibly very upset on my action. I ran away again! Shared a house with some friends in SS2 (near my office) and lived there a few months before I went to ITM to further my studies - on my own. Even though I had ran away from home, my father was always seen around me (purposely making sure I noticed him), but not meeting me. I would see him walking passed by me as if he just happened to be there!

Shared a room with Najib (passed away), sharing the house together with Ibrahim, Fajariah, Jay and her sister Maliah (passed away) and Hasmah (who married Joe Tore). Lived a bachelor's life without a worry in the world. It was at No. 55 Jalan SS 2/10. This was in 1977. It was while working in Sea Park Branch that I managed to get Malayan Banking's scholarship to further my studies at ITM Shah Alam (I had to go through some problems getting the scholarship). Nevertheless, from the rented house In SS2, I moved to the Hostel in ITM Shah Alam on my own, without my family knowing that I have left work and studying.

I Ran Away (2nd of 3 times)

After the LCE results were announced we were preparing to move to our own house in Taynton View, Cheras. So I have to move school again. Even though we are only moving to the new house in June or July, I was transferred to the new school, Sekolah Jalan Cheras, earlier, so as not to disrupt my schooling. At first, we take the bus to school. I have to changed bus at the Pudu station which is right behind the Pudu Market. After a while, I got enough money and bought a bicycle and started cycling to and from school everyday. It was approximately 12 kilometres one way. A few months later we moved to our own house in Taynton View, Cheras. Our house was No. 52 Jalan Dato Haji Harun, Taynton View. I studied for Form 4 and Form 5 and did my Malaysian Certificate Education (MCE) exam at the school.

Even though after spending 4 years with my parents and my other siblings, I still could not get used to the 'new life'. My craving to go back to my village continues. During school holidays, with RM3.00 in my pocket, I traveled back to Kampong Senaling to spent the holidays. After the MCE exams, I decided to 'run away' again; back to my 'home'. With my little belongings, I left Kuala Lumpur for Kampong Senaling; again! This is also the time my Atuk Usop will be performing his Haj anyway and as such I should be there!

Back to my old ways of doing 'kampong jobs', my life bloomed. This time around I was involved with Abah Rahman to buy liquid latex for MARDEC and besides doing other 'village jobs' I started a small vegetable plot next to the house. I started planting 'ubi kayu' and then 'ketola' and 'kacang buncis'. Little by litte I expanded my plot planting more varieties of vegetables including ground nuts. I would fertilise them with chicken and sheep shit mixed with water. No other fertilisers were used, except those 'natural fertilisers' that I collected from neighbouring folk's houses.

On the day of my Atuk Usop's return from his pilgrimage, I followed the family to Port Klang to receive him. By ship was the only way to go to Makkah then; which takes approximately 30 days one way. Nevertheless, he arrived home safe and sound. As it is nearing schooling days again, I had to go back to my parents house. As if it was perfect timing, the MCE results were announced the next day. I got a Grade II with 33 aggregate. A lot of other classmates got Grade IV (even though you scored in other subjects), as it was the first time the subject 'Bahasa Malaysia' became a compulsory subject in order to pass MCE exam and for calculation of aggregates.

Even though I disliked the idea, I was back staying at home again in Taynton View, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

I Ran Away (1st of 3 times)

Right after Form 1 at TMS Kuala Pilah, in January 1969, I was moved to my parents house in the Police Quarters in Jalam Aman (the quarters still stand until today). Our house address was 3945-8, Barrack Polis Jalan Aman. I was enrolled at nearest school, Ampang Road Boys School, which is approximately 1 km from the house. We walk to school everyday with RM0.10 sen in the pocket. I enrolled in Form 2 and also finished Form 3 at the school. Took my Lower Certificate of Education (LCE) examination there. A teenager going through a new ways, with new environment - an entirely new life to live. Getting used to living with my parents for the first time was tough, real tough. And I could not get used to it!

After the LCE exam I decided to go back to Kampong Senaling to spent my year end holidays there. My mother was not agreeable to the arrangements, however as I was adamant on going back to my roots, she relented. I was 'running away' from the new unused life. Got RM3.00 for bus fares, caught the 'bas loncat' and headed for 'home'!

I went back to my old 'kampong jobs' - bud grafting rubber trees, collecting scrapped rubber, clearing rubber plantation, serving the padi fields, and done other tasks when required. Not much money earned, but I managed by fine. Most of the time, I was helping Abah Rahman preparing other rubber small holders plantation for replanting, bud grafting rubber trees and doing other 'kampong jobs' whenever it comes or when my skills are required; which are mostly manual labour with some special required skills, especially bud grafting. I was having a wonderful life and have forgotten about the Kuala Lumpur glittering life.

One day, came my father and my grandfather visiting. The kind that says - you have to come home now! Being an obedient child, I packed my bags and followed my father home back to Kuala Lumpur. Talked about perfect timing, the LCE results were announced the very next day after I arrived. I got Grade A with 22 aggregates. Not superb, but good enough to walk tall and got promoted to Form 4. Those who failed LCE then do not have the chance to continue into Form 4 unless you repeat From 3 again.

I Travelled to Kuala Lumpur - Alone

By the time I was in Standard 4 in my primary school, my parents have moved out of the Kampong Cendana house to a 'Police Quarters' at Jalan Aman (Jalan Damai). And I have been going to Kuala Lumpur more often, almost all school holidays. I am getting to know my only brother and my other 4 sisters. I am getting used to living with my parents too; which is an entirely different kind of life that I am living then. After getting the directions, I was supposed to come to Kuala Lumpur the next time - on my own; which is very easy! No problem; and I was only 10!

With RM3.00 in my pocket and a determination to go to the big town, Kuala Lumpur, I left Kampong Senaling on the Eng Giap Bus to Kuala Pilah. From Kuala Pilah, I took the Union Bus to Seremban, through the winding road of Bukit Putus. At Seremban, boarding Foh Hup Bus, the trip from Seremban to Pudu Bus Station in Kuala Lumpur takes approximately 2 hours. This Pudu Bus Station is the muddy with pot holes and watery place where all buses to any station in the south, starts and stops. There is now the Puduraya Bus Terminal sitting on top of the once Pudu Bus Station.

My father's direction was, 'After you get out of the bus, walk towards the roundabout (now Pudu Roundabout). From the roundabout, you will see two roads - one on the left (then Foch Avenue, now Jalan Sultan Mohamed) and one on the right (then Jalan Mountbatten, now Tun Perak). Take the one on the right. Walked down the hill and turn right into the 3rd junction (now Lebuh Ampang). Wait for the big blue bus (Sri Jaya Bus); take the number 8 bus, the fare is RM0.05 sen for a child - it will take you to Kampong Datok Keramat. Stop at the ESSO Station (which I know where it is)'. That was what my father said to me the last time I was in Kuala Lumpur. From there, I then walked over the wobbling temporary bridge over the river and reach my parent's home.

Since that successful 10-year-old only; trip to Kuala Lumpur on my own, I had travelled back and forth between Kuala Pilah and Kuala Lumpur, alone, from then on.

My First Trip To Kuala Lumpur

As we grow into adulthood, at about age 8 I realised that I do not belong to the family where I was living. Whenever we quarrelled, Ina (Abah Rahman eldest daughter) would chased me out of the house, telling me, 'go back to your father's house ... this is not your house'. With that remarks getting more frequent, I realised that I have to look for my 'roots'; moreover, Atuk Usop who adopted me in the first place is getting much much older. The family have a cousin living in Kampong Datok Keramat; and one day during school holidays, with the white Volkswagen BH120, the trip to Kuala Lumpur became a reality!

The family lived in Lorong Kiri 15, Kampong Datok Keramat. We normally spent a few days there and after visiting the sights of Kuala Lumpur, we would come home back to Kampong Senaling. During that first visit, they are going to bring me to my parents home. That would also be the first time I will be going to my parents house to see my own family. As the 'feeling' of the family in Kampong Senaling; did not want me around them anymore; I would soon be moving back to my own family. One afternoon, we drove to Kampong Cendana (near Kampong Baru) where my parents lived.

We parked at the edge of the Ampang cemetery; walked besides 2 houses and through a sugar cane plantation. Approximately 500 metres, the first house that we met was my parents' house. It is 2 houses built under one roof; our neighbour was my youngest uncle, Pak Su Hashim - who at that time drove the Sri Jaya Taxi. The house is made of planks with zinc roof, one of the modern squatters. At that time, we called them 'rumah kilat' due to the fastness of putting it up. Today it is not there; the next day it is already occupied. I didn't stay the night as we have to go back to Kampong Senaling that day.

Since then, whenever they make a trip to Kuala Lumpur, I will be left there over the school holidays, picked up again before the school starts. I am getting used to living in the city. Welcome to Kuala Lumpur!

Godong (The Village Centre)

Kampong Senaling lies approximately 4 kilometres from Kuala Pilah town centre. It lies on the Kuala Pilah - Tampin trunk road. In the centre of the village centre is the junction to Sri Menanti. Sri Menanti may also be accessed through the Seremban - Kuala Pilah trunk road. The village centre comprises of 3 rows of single storey palm-roofed shop houses. There a few restaurants, some provision shops, 2 fish mongers, a bicycle shop, a barber shop and a few middleman rubber buyers. Most of the shopkeepers stays at the back of their respective shops.

Kedai Ah Sin is the popular fish shop that most people would patronise. Kedai Dolah, the mamak shop that sells 'roti canai' is the favourite haunt for the oldies to get together, have their drinks and chat till late afternoon. If you need a hair cut, you will have to go to the only "Kedai Gunting Rambut" 'Achik' and 'Obok'. Ah Pang's restaurant serves good food, especially 'roti bengali' toasted over charcoal with margarine and home made 'kaya'. The restaurant also made their own 'charkoay' which is served all day round. There are also 2 restaurants run by Malays. One is 'Kedai Pak Cek' who serves excellent 'mee rebus' and 'Kedai Jamal' who serves all kinds of 'Malay Kuih' and a host of local malay food. The small village centre is sufficient to support the population in the surrounding areas. If you need to see more choices of things and food, you go to Kuala Pilah town. The bus costs RM0.10 sen one way and the taxi will take you there for RM0.20 sen.

The village town centre is affectionately called 'godong' by us locals. The word 'godong' must have come from the word 'gedung' which means 'big building'. As the people from the area are of 'Minangkabau' origins, it may have some bearings and affect on the word 'godong'. Going to 'godong' is something that we look forward to as we can buy things and hang around. We can cycle to 'godong' or you may talk a few minutes walk from the house.

Rambutan Kuning (Yellow Rambutan)

This 'rambutan' tree was planted by my grandfather when he first built the house. According to Kak Ngah he must have planted the tree in the early 50s. It is smack right in front of the house. It is big, sweet, juicy and yellow. According to the folks, this is of the best seedling and some called it 'rambutan gading'. Whatever it is, when it fruits, it fruits! There will be lots and lots of them hanging down from the branches. Sometimes it seems there are more fruits than there are leaves. When it starts to ripen, it will be an adventure to pluck and pick them.

On the chosen day to harvest, even the neighbours will join in. Nobody needed to climb it as the tree is large in size and it had grown too high. We were all equipped with a long bamboo stick with a small sickle attached tightly to the end; to cut off the fruit branches for picking. Large rattan bags are prepared to accommodate the 'rambutan' fruits. While plucking we will be eating them juciy 'rambutan' fruits. There will be tea and 'kuih' served and once it is all done, we will sit down eating the fruits and drinking water, eating the 'kuih' and drinking tea. Those who came will go back with large bags of the fruits to be eaten later or to be taken home for those at home to eat.

The 'rambutan' tree had now grown too big and too tall that it endangered the house, if the branches were to break and fall down onto the house. It was then time to cut it off. Some people were called in to take the 'rambutan' tree down. A few will climb up the tree and cut down the branches one by one, until all are cut down. Lastly came when the big large 'rambutan' tree will be chopped off from the compound. With sadness, we saw it being cut down, carted away and discarded. That was the end of the juicy, large and sweet 'rambutan gading' tree.

Berkhatan (Circumcision)

On completion (berkhatam) of the learning and understanding of the Al'Quran and after the berkhatam feast, it was time to go to the hospital. There were choices to choose; either you 'do it' at home, to be done by the 'Tok Mudim' or you 'do it' at the hospital. I choose to get it done at the hospital; after I have seen how it was done at home!

For those that chosen to 'do it' at home (which is normally done in pairs or more); from the early morning they would be sent to the shallow well to be 'numbed', as the water in the shallow well is cold. They would submerged themselves in the shallow well for at least 5 hours, to ensure that 'it' is numbed and as such will not feel the pain. In the afternoon when the 'Tok Mudim' arrive at the house, the boys will be carried to the house and placed in front of the 'Tok Mudim' to 'get it done'. Often than not, you will hear the boys screaming in pain; as it is done without any anesthetics, except getting it numbed earlier in the shallow well. Learning from this experience that I chose to 'get it done' at the hospital.

As for me, I was sent to the hospital early in the morning. After all the necessities and logistics were done I was sent into the 'operating theatre'. Scared as I can be, the doctor assured me that it is not going to be painful at all; however, if I am still scared, I may chant the verses from the Al'Quran so that I will be protected at all times during the 'operation'. I did just that. But when the needle (for the anesthetics) pierced 'it' I could have screamed and sworn that it went through. I could also feel the 'cutting of the flesh', however due to the anesthetics, I felt no pain. Once it was done, surprisingly I could walk to the car on my own and still not felt a thing!

As soon as we reached home, still have not taken the pain killer; the pain started to set in. I felt the excruciating pain on both the knees and all over the whole body. I was advised to eat something and swallow the pain killer. As soon as the pain killer takes effect, the pain was gone. The only pain I felt was that; which I felt is a whole lot better than going through the process of circumcision at home. Two weeks after the 'operation', I could get up and run! All Muslims have to go through this process, as required by the religion. It is anyway, excellent for health purposes.

Belajar Ngaji (Learning the Quran)

Boys as young as 6 are expected to learn to understand and read the Al'Quran. It is required of all young Muslim boys to go to a religious elder to learn to read the Al'Quran and to learn how to pray. The learning place could be a house, the surau, madrasah or at the mosque. The person who teach is normally a religious, not necessarily pious, but would have the command and understanding of the Al'Quran; normally an Imam or at least his assistant. On most occasion, the 'ustaz' or 'ustazah' will be sufficient.

I started learning the Al'Quran from the age of 7. My first place of learning was at Pak Cik Manat's house, a house approximately 200 metres from the edge of the small village. It was there that I learned the very basic of reading the 'mugaddam' (the 101 of Al'Quran). Every night on the way to go home, we would stop by the bread shop (Kedai Roti Mohd Tasadukkhan), as the time is just right for the bread to be ready; right out of the huge oven. It only cost RM0.10 sen for 2 slices (approximately 4" x 2" x 1" each slice). I was at Pak Cik Manat's house learning the 'mugaddam' for about 6 months; when then the village 'surau' was already ready; which is across the street where I lived.

At the new 'surau' I graduated from the 'mugaddam' and thereafter started learning the Al'Quran. Our ustaz was Lebai Awal, a short man with a short temper. There were about 20 boys and 20 girls learning from him. For being mischievous, I was canned twice, at 2 different times. Others who also misbehave would also get the whip from the cane. Nevertheless, I 'khatam' my Al'Quran reading and at the same time learned how to pray. On completion of the Al'Quran, a feast ws prepared, calling the whole village to celebrate my 'graduation' of the Al'Quran. My father came all the way from KL with a sheep to slaughter (for 'akekah' purposes). It was from the 'surau' that I learned how to read and understand the 'muqaddam' and the Al'Quran. All in all I took approximately 5 years to learn, understand and 'khatam' from Al'Quran; besides learning how to pray!

It is also traditional that for the coming of age into adulthood, as soon as you completed learning the Al'Quran, it is also time to circumcise. I did mine the next week after the feast - in 1968. That's another story.

Banking was Manual (Accounts Department - Books)

Each banks branch handled their own set of accounts. There will be a Department which handles all the accounting need of the branch. This included making out and maintaining a set of accounts of the bank branch. The Manager's 'pet staff' would normally get to do this job. At the end of the day, the staff will collect all vouchers, cheques, transfers and other transactions of the branch to come out with the Trial Balance of the Day. At the end of each month, they must come out with the complete set of the accounts for the branch.

The Trial Balance and the Balance Sheet will show the standing, profitability and the position of the bank branch. The staff are the ones who will check and determine that all transaction are of the correct amount and to the correct laid down accounts. Sometimes they may take days to balance a day's transaction; what more if it is at the end of the month where the number of transaction is higher due to additional entries not normally passed on a normal day, like interest charged, depreciation, revaluation, accruals and prepaids.

The most busy part of the year is when it is half-yearly or yearly closing. All accounts need to be closed and entered correctly in order to come out with the complete, correct and perfect Trial Balance and Balance Sheet of the branch. These accounts will be submitted to Head Office where it will be populated and compiled to determine the standing, profitability and position of the Bank. Besides the normal accounting reports, Accounting Department is responsible to submit all other branch's reports. They may take weeks to prepare these and would most of the time busted the date line for submission. However, these staff stand tall as their job is considered one of the most important job in the branch.

Now, with on-line accounting, straight through processing and auto uploading of entries to the main accounting system, the accounting job at the branch level have been eliminated. You could get any branch's Trial Balance or Balance Sheet at any time for any date from any terminal if you are authorised to do so.

Banking was Manual (Housing and Term Loans)

Long period loans such as 'Term Loans' and 'Housing Loans' are handled separately from the normal 'Overdraft' accounts. As these have a fixed repayment amount and fixed repayment period, their transactions are normally fixed monthly repayment amount and interest charged. Housing Loans interest were once based on 'yearly rests'. Interest are charged once a year, normally on 1st of July of each year, based on the balance outstanding on the 30th of each June. It is expensive; but consumers do not have much choices then!

Loan Statements are only produced once a year, which detailed out the whole year's transaction in 1 or 2 pages only. As such, staff at the Housing Loan and Term Loan Department have to bear with the pile load of work on the 30th June of each year. This is also the time when the Banks closed their yearly accounts. It may take the staff up to a week to prepare all these tasks, to ensure that the figures are balanced and submitted to the Accounts Department and the statements are sent out to the loan customers as soon as possible.

However, besides that yearly affair stuff to do, we have to make do with maintaining and following up of the loan accounts with customers or responding to Head Office on the loan matters the whole year round. Typing was necessary and there were lots of monthly, half-yearly and yearly reports to submit, with date lines to meet. Staff serving these Departments are the 'special breed' as they have to be experienced in banking operations, the necessary typing skills and the skills in handling customer relationship. Most have to also do marketing for the products that the bank sells.

Banking was Manual (Typewriters)

Clerks working in Banks are expected to learn and know how to use the typewriter to type letter, forms, AAs, index cards, agreements, notes and a host of other documents that needed to be prepared and documented. The earlier typewriters are normally 'manual' and of the "Olivetti" kind. Only the Secretaries and important staff who handle important documents are equipped with 'electric typewriters', some of which had a correcting function; which was a luxury to have then.

I learned to use the typewriter in Kuala Pilah, when I was living there after my MCE. As such, I do type, until now, with all my 10 fingers. We learned from ASDF ;LKJ to moving the fingers up and down the typewriter keys. The 'number keys' and the rest of the odd keys are a matter of experience and our normal practice typing strokes to master. For those who have never been to typewriting classes or just refused to learn to use all their fingers when typing, they type using the 'chicken plucking' way of typing.

We use rubber erasers to rub off the mistakes on documents or letters when using the typewriters. Then came 'liquid paper'. This stuff sometimes smudged the documents or letters, when it is used to correct the mistakes; as it is not dried yet when we resumed typing. Those days, we would also normally type a few copies of them documents or letters by inserting 'carbon papers' on each copy of the documents or letters. Typewriters are now 'antique stuff' to be displayed. With the computer age creeping into our life since the late 70s, some of the younger generations have not even see or know what a typewriter is. Now we copy, cut, paste, undo and spellcheck; all at the same time!

Banking was Manual (Cheque Clearing)

All cheques deposited by the account holders into their respective accounts were received over the counters. Confirmation of receipt of these cheques deposited are only by way of the 'bank's stamp' on the pay-in slip denoting the date and time it was received. These cheques are collected by the clearing clerks to be processed. The 'clearing' area would have a cabinet consists of pigeon holes, to segregate the cheques for each respective banks. Before the cheques are separated from the pay-in slips, it is summed up (both sides - cheques and pay-in slips) to ensure that the correct cheque amounts are entered into the pay-in slips which will ultimately be the credit amount to the respective account.

We, the clearing clerks, will separate the cheques from the pay-in slips. Then the cheques are inserted into the pigeon holes, according to the respective banks' cheques. When 'clearing' time ends at 11:30 am, we must now process the cheques; as these processed 'clearing cheques' must reach BNM in Kuala Lumpur for purpose of inter-bank 'clearing' by 2:00 pm. The cheques are totalled up in the 'clearing' slip, using the 'ADDO-X clearing machine', denoting the cheque numbers and the amount of each cheques. The slip is attached to the group of cheques of the same bank ready to be sent to Head Office. At Head Office Clearing Department, the cheques are compiled together (banks by banks) and sent for 'clearing' at BNM. At BNM, we exchange cheques among drawer banks, to take it back to the respective branches for debiting of the respective Current Account.

For those who have done 'clearing' of cheques, speed and accuracy is of the essence. Our cheques must reach Head Office by the designated time and the posting of the cheque numbers and amounts on the 'clearing' slips must be perfect. Any wrong figures (especially the cheque amount) will invite trouble and all figures (including inter-bank) will then not balanced for the day. When this happen, the managers and the officers will be screaming into our ears for days to come. Nevertheless, with practice, figures are seldom wrong (we use 4 fingers to cast) and the time line is seldom breached. Now this 'cheque clearing' service is outsourced to others to do!

Banking was Manual (Month-End Closing)

After the days' operational banking is done and after all the necessary tasks have been completed on all the accounts, including postings and balancing for the end-of-the-day, there is one very important job to be done; on the last day of the month. It is month-end closing. This entails posting all transaction including interest charged to the individual ledger card accounts and balanced up for transfer of outstanding amount; debit or credit; into a new ledge card for the new month.

All 'closed' loose ledger card account statements are taken out of the main base ledger cards. These statements are handed over to the 'guys in armour'; Messengers / Office Boys; to fold it nicely to fit into the envelopes; showing the name and address in the envelope window; for collection or mailing to the respective account holders. The Current Account staff will transfer the outstanding amount on the main base ledger cards into the new month statement, as the opening balance for the respective account. When finished posting for all individual respective on the new month statement, it is then summed up again and balanced up, to ensure that the amount transferred is of the correct amount. This is again verified and authorised by an officer.

Month-end closing is always a fiesta and usually lasts into the wee hours of the morning. However, the extra hours that we have toiled are being compensated by overtime payments, which is usually twice the normal working day rate. Staff working in a branch, especially in the Current Account Department enjoys the much extra monthly overtime money which may sometimes be more than our basic monthly pay. So they say at that time, a bankers work is never done! Work work work - with a big fat pocket. 4 pay cheques in a month. By the 14th, we receive our first half months' pay, on the 20th, we receive our 1st half months' overtime payment. By the 28th, we receive the other half months' pay and on the 30th or 31st of the month, we receive the 2nd half months' overtime payments. Kayo lah den!

Banking was Manual (Month-End Interest Calculation)

The busiest day in the Current Account Department (in a branch) is the last day of the month. One of the important task to do was to calculate monthly interest and get it debited (there was no such thing as a 'credit interest' then), to the account. All Current Account Department staff are aware of this and it is expected that we have no other plans, except to 'slave' for the bank, especially for the night. But the 'overtime money' is good!

As the last day of the month may also be a working operational day, we must take through the normal process of serving customers, postings to ledgers, balancing and closing for the day. When all the day's operation is done, we will then start to calculate interest that is to be charged to our borrowing customers. Interest calculation is done by all designated staff, "manually". First we convert the monthly interest rate into a 'interest factor', by getting the sum of the interest rate calculated against the number of days in the month. This is cutting short the 'constant' multiplying and dividing for all accounts to be calculated. Manually, based on the operation postings on the ledger card, we add the 'daily amount outstanding' in each account and a 'product' is derived - depending on the amount and number of days it remained in the 'red'. The product is then multiplied to the 'interest factor' which will give you the 'interest chargeable' for the month. All these calculation is done on the adding machine with rollers. There is an 'Interest Calculating Machine' - where you turned the knob to get the product total, depending on the number of days and what amount the account stays in the 'red' (still manually handled). The calculated figures with the 'calculated interest' printed are torn out of the adding machine and stapled to the respective 'ledger card'. An officer will go through each and every one ledger card account with the calculated interest and if found to be correct, will authorised it for posting into the individual account.

Painstakingly, the respective clerical staff handling the respective 'ledger' will then post the respective interest chargeable into the respective account. Once all individual interest amount have been posted, the individual ledger cards will have to be summed up again and balanced against the total sum of the calculated interest to ensure that interest posted are of the correct amount and it is posted into the correct account. If it takes too long, we can have KFC dinner (the only fast food restaurant then) or supper before coming back to continue our job into the wee hours of the morning.