Search 28

SEARCH 28

7 May 2005

It is 10.59 pm. Everyone is sleeping and the neighbourhood is quiet.

The 28th search is to scrutinise the NUSS website for updates (see Searches 9 and 10).  I had accessed the website on 3 May 2005 and printed it. The NUSS homepage is at http://www.nuss.org.sg. There is a new navigation panel at the top, underneath the header. Under About NUSS, I had clicked History and got to the History frame. The url is http://www.nuss.org.sg/about_History_Frame.htm . This time the table is longer and the errors have been corrected. There is a lot of new information this time.

I will just note the salient contents from that page and see whether whatever information that I have gathered so far is correct.

Events Surrounding the Medical School, Singapore (1819; 1905 - 2004)

1819 - Singapore was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.

1905 - The buildings of the Female Lunatic Asylum near the General Hospital were renovated and became the Medical School. The Straits Settlements and Federal Malay States Government Medical School opened on 3 July 1905 in Singapore with an enrolment of 23 medical students, only one was a Malay. This one Malay person could be either Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak or Dr. Abdul Samad.

1910 - The first batch of 7 medical students graduated with the Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery. It did not state whether this batch graduated in March or August 1910.

Since Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak graduated only in 1911, we can be sure that he did not graduate in this first batch. Did Dr. Abdul Samad graduate in 1910? We are still uncertain.

August 1911 - Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak graduated from the Straits Settlements and Federal Malay States Government Medical School. He was the first Malay doctor in Malaya who graduated from a western medical school. He graduated in the second batch of doctors in 1911 (the first batch graduated in 1910 and consisted of 7 students).

1912 - The institution's name was changed to King Edward VII Medical School.

March 1912 - Dr. S Kassim graduated from KEVII Medical School.

World War 1 (1914 - 1918).

March 1916 - Dr. HS Moonshi and Dr. Pandak Ahmad b Allang Samin (Pandak Ahmad b Alang Sidin) graduated from KEVII Medical School.

August 1916 - Dr. Md Ibrahim graduated from KEVII Medical School.

March 1917 - Dr. Md Baboo graduated from KEVII Medical School.

August 1917 - Dr. IM Ghows graduated from KEVII Medical School.

End of World War 1.

1921 - The Medical School expanded and became King Edward VII College of Medicine.

March 1923 - Dr. Hamzah b Taib graduated from KEVII College of Medicine.

March 1924 - Dr. Hussein b Md Ibrahim (Hussin b Mohamed Ibrahim) graduated from KEVII College of Medicine.

1928 - Raffles College opens.

1929 - Raffles College official opening.

March 1929 - Dr. Nizamuddin Ahmad (Nizamudding Ahmad) graduated from KEVII College of Medicine.

March 1930 - Dr. Che Lah b Mohd Joonos (10 December 1903 - 26 January 1986) graduated from KEVII College of Medicine with the Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery.

1931 - The first 28 Raffles College students graduated with Arts or Science diplomas.

1936 - Datuk Dr. Haji Abbas Alias (1914 - 2004) graduated from KEVII College of Medicine with the Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery. En. Fadli has written a chapter about him in his new book. He has appended it (need to check again).

Japanese Occupation (1941-1945) / World War 2.

The Japanese invasion of Malaya is better known as the Japanese Occupation. It occurred between 1941-1945.

1942-1945 - Raffles College and KEVII College of Medicine closed during the Japanese Occupation; re-opened in 1946.

End of Japanese Occupation / End of World War 2.

June 1946 - The Medical College resumed classes in June 1946 when the British reoccupied Singapore and Malaya.

1947 - Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Dr. Siti Hasmah Ali graduated from KEVII College of Medicine

1948 - Raffles College and KEVII College of Medicine re-opened after the Japanese Occupation. (End of World War 2)

1949 - Founding of University Malaya (UM)

The King Edward VII College of Medicine amalgamated with Raffles College in 1949 to become University Malaya (better known as UM to many) and became its Faculty of Medicine. UM opened in 1949.

1950 - UM awarded its first degrees.

1953 - Dr. Arifin Ngah Marzuki graduated from KEVII College of Medicine; first VC of UKM (date unknown). There were only 13 Malay doctors in Malaya in 1953. Refer to List of 13 early Malay doctors in 1953.

1954 - Inaugural meeting of the UM Society (UMS).

1957 - Professor Dato' Dr. Ungku Omar Ungku Ahmad (Class of 1957)(1931-1969) graduated from KEVII College of Medicine.

1958 - UM operates at 2 campuses - Singapore and KL.

1959 - Singapore achieves internal self-government with an elected Prime Minister, Lee Kwan Yu?

1962 - UM splits. University of Singapore opens. Singapore declares independence. UMS became University of Singapore Society (USS).

1962 - The KEVII College of Medicine became the Faculty of Medicine, University of Singapore in 1962.

9 August 1965 - Founding of Singapore

Singapore ceded and became independent from Malaysia on 9 August 1965.

Singapore became Republic of Singapore.

1969 - University of Singapore secures site at Kent Ridge for its new campus.

1980 - University of Singapore and Nanyang University merged to form National University of Singapore (NUS).

1981 - USS became the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS)

1982 - Founding of the National University of Singapore (NUS)

University of Singapore became the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1982.

1986 - NUS completed transfers of all faculties and departments to the Kent Ridge Campus.

2004 - NUSS celebrated its 50th Anniversary.

It cannot be ascertained when these following doctors graduated:

Dr. Hamzah Taib

En. Fadli has obtained the information and will send it.

Tan Sri Dr. Raja Ahmad Noordin

He was ex-Director General of Health, Malaysia. See Search 1. He is presently the Executive Chairman of the Malaysian Doctors Cooperative Limited (Koperasi Doktor Malaysia Bhd). Refer to this website: www.kdm.org.my

Tan Sri Dr. Abdul Majid
Tan Sri Dr. Abu Bakar
Dr. Amir Abbas
Dato' Dr. Haji Mohammed
Dr. Abdul Samad

It is 12.36 am on 8 May 2005. The Apprentice, Season 3 will be on TV tonight.

---

Acknowledgement

Updates from NUSS website

Accessed on 3 May 2005 and printed it.

Previously accessed - Searches 9 and 10.

There is a lot of new information this time.

Founding of Singapore (1819)

Singapore was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.

Need more background details on Sir Stamford Raffles and how he became the founder of Singapore. What was the agreement? What papers were signed? What were the privileges set for the Malays at the time of signing and hand over of Singapore to the British? Which parties represented the Malays? What happened to the Malays under British Singapore?

Events Surrounding the Medical School, Singapore (1905 - 2004)

1905 - The buildings of the Female Lunatic Asylum near the General Hospital were renovated and became the Medical School. The Straits Settlements and Federal Malay States Government Medical School opened on 3 July 1905 in Singapore with an enrolment of 23 medical students, only one was a Malay. This one Malay person could be either Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak or Dr. Abdul Samad.

1910 - The first batch of 7 medical students graduated with the Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery. It did not state whether this batch graduated in March or August 1910.

Since Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak graduated only in 1911, we can be sure that he did not graduate in this first batch. Did Dr. Abdul Samad graduate in 1910? We are still uncertain.

August 1911 - Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak graduated from the Straits Settlements and Federal Malay States Government Medical School. He was the first Malay doctor in Malaya who graduated from a western medical school. He graduated in the second batch of doctors in 1911 (the first batch graduated in 1910 and consisted of 7 students).

1912 - The institution's name was changed to King Edward VII Medical School.

March 1912 - Dr. S Kassim graduated from KEVII Medical School.

World War 1 (1914 - 1918).

March 1916 - Dr. HS Moonshi and Dr. Pandak Ahmad b Allang Samin (Pandak Ahmad b Alang Sidin) graduated from KEVII Medical School.
August 1916 - Dr. Md Ibrahim graduated from KEVII Medical School.

March 1917 - Dr. Md Baboo graduated from KEVII Medical School.

August 1917 - Dr. IM Ghows graduated from KEVII Medical School.

End of World War 1.

1921 - The Medical School expanded and became King Edward VII College of Medicine.

March 1923 - Dr. Hamzah b Taib graduated from KEVII College of Medicine.

March 1924 - Dr. Hussein b Md Ibrahim (Hussin b Mohamed Ibrahim) graduated from KEVII College of Medicine.

1928 - Raffles College opened.

1929 - Raffles College official opening.

March 1929 - Dr. Nizamuddin Ahmad (Nizamudding Ahmad) graduated from KEVII College of Medicine.

March 1930 - Dr. Che Lah b Mohd Joonos (December 1902 - 26 January 1986) graduated from KEVII College of Medicine with the Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery.

1931 - The first 28 Raffles College students graduated with Arts or Science diplomas.

1936 - Datuk Dr. Haji Abbas Alias (1914 - 2004) graduated from KEVII College of Medicine with the Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery. En. Fadli has written a chapter about him in his new book. He has appended it (need to check again).

Japanese Occupation (1942-1945) / World War 2.

The Japanese invasion of Malaya is better known as the Japanese Occupation. It occurred between 1942-1945.

1942-1945 - Raffles College and KEVII College of Medicine closed during the Japanese Occupation; re-opened in 1946.

June 1946 - The Medical College resumed classes in June 1946 when the British reoccupied Singapore and Malaya.

1947 - Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Dr. Siti Hasmah Ali graduated from KEVII College of Medicine

End of Japanese Occupation / End of World War 2.

1948 - Raffles College and KEVII College of Medicine re-opened after the Japanese Occupation. (End of World War 2)

1949 - Founding of University Malaya (UM)

The King Edward VII College of Medicine amalgamated with Raffles College in 1949 to become University Malaya (better known as UM to many) and became its Faculty of Medicine. UM opened in 1949.

1950 - UM awarded its first degrees. How many degrees? In what areas? Did any Malay receive any degrees in 1950? Who?

1953 - Dr. Arifin Ngah Marzuki graduated from KEVII College of Medicine; first VC of UKM (date unknown). There were only 13 Malay doctors in Malaya in 1953. Refer to List of 13 early Malay doctors in 1953.

1954 - Inaugural meeting of the UM Society (UMS).

1957 - Professor Dato' Dr. Ungku Omar Ungku Ahmad (Class of 1957)(1931-1969) graduated from KEVII College of Medicine.

1958 - UM operates at 2 campuses - Singapore and KL.

1959 - Singapore achieves internal self-government with an elected Prime Minister, Lee Kwan Yu?

1962 - UM splits. University of Singapore opens. Singapore declares independence. UMS became University of Singapore Society (USS).

1962 - The KEVII College of Medicine became the Faculty of Medicine, University of Singapore in 1962.

9 August 1965 - Founding of Singapore

Singapore ceded and became independent from Malaysia on 9 August 1965.

Singapore became Republic of Singapore.

1969 - University of Singapore secures site at Kent Ridge for its new campus.

1980 - University of Singapore and Nanyang University merged to form National University of Singapore (NUS).

1981 - USS became the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS)

1982 - Founding of the National University of Singapore (NUS)

University of Singapore became the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1982.

1986 - NUS completed transfers of all faculties and departments to the Kent Ridge Campus.

2004 - NUSS celebrated its 50th Anniversary.

Founding of Singapore (9 August 1965)

Singapore became independent from Malaysia on 9 August 1965.

Singapore became Republic of Singapore.

Who was Singapore's Prime Minister in 1959? 1965?

What is the background of Singapore's Prime Minister?

What were the negotiations and settlement when Singapore ceded from Malaysia?

Did the Singapore Malays benefit from Singapore becoming a republic?

Did the Malaysian Malays benefit from Singapore becoming a republic?

Who benefited the most from Singapore becoming a republic?

Did Malaysia lose anything when it gave away Singapore?

What were the reasons for giving away Singapore?

Who was the Prime Minister of Malaysia in 1965?

Exact year of graduation

It cannot be ascertained when these following doctors graduated:

Dr. Hamzah Taib

En. Fadli will send more information.

Tan Sri Dr. Raja Ahmad Noordin

He was ex-Director General of Health, Malaysia. See Search 1. He is presently the Executive Chairman of the Malaysian Doctors Cooperative Limited (Koperasi Doktor Malaysia Bhd). Refer to this website: www.kdm.org.my

Tan Sri Dr. Abdul Majid
Tan Sri Dr. Abu Bakar
Dr. Amir Abbas
Dato' Dr. Haji Mohammed
Dr. Abdul Samad

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/~telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 29

SEARCH 29

11 May 2005

It is 6.48 am. My sixth and youngest child is sleeping behind me. My husband is teaching my fifth child to read al-Qur'an (mengaji). It is his hobby and will always be. My hobbies are writing with a lot of breaks, surfing the Internet, writing and replying e-mails, cooking, gardening, and designing. I also collect rocks - raw granite, batu sungai, some of the stuff mentioned in the Table of Periodic Elements (sulphur, gold, aluminium, etc) and some of their compounds (iron pyrite, etc) and things of the ancient world (fossils, petrified wood, etc).

It is 7.07 am. I am listening to the news on TV1 which covers the bombing in Myanmar, draft of the Putrajaya Declaration on women, NAM, UMNO leaders, etc.

The 29th search is to scrutinise the UKM Malay Civilization (ATMA) website at www.malaycivilization.com/default_index.asp for update. I had registered to use the site. I had accessed and printed the webpage on 3 May 2005. This is a new site launched by YB Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage on 31 January 2005.

Professor Dato' Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin

Also see Search 13 re Professor Datuk Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin

Director

Institute of Malay World and Civilisation (ATMA)

Institute of Occidental Studies (IKON)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

He is a renowned anthropologist and sociologist.

He championed the creation of the Malay World Studies portal which is accessible at www.malaycivilization.com.

A write-up about him is accessible at www.malacivilization.com/images/prof.jpg.

ATMA

ATMA is Institut Alam dan Tamadun Melayu (Institute of Malay World and Civilisation), UKM. It holds materials on the Malay world and currently has 48,832 records. Details of ATMA can be obtained at www.malaycivilization.com/frmPadatIntro.asp. ATMA also has a database of Peribahasa Melayu. It currently has 20,304 records of Peribahasa Melayu which are accessible at www.malaycivilization.com/frmPeribahasaIntro.asp.

i-linksoft Solutions Sdn. Bhd.

Suite 12.02A, 12th floor

Menara Choy Fook On

1B, Jalan Yong Shook Lin

46050 Petaling Jaya

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Malaysia

Tel: 603-795 62949

Fax: 603-795 68487

E-mail: webmaster@ilinksoft.com

i-linksoft manages the www.malaycivilization.com web. More about the launch of www.malaycivilization.com can be found at the i-linksoft website www.ilinksoft.com/v2.1/index.asp.

It is 7.40 am.

---

Acknowledgement

Professor Dato' Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin

Director

ATMA (Institut Alam dan Tamadun Melayu; Institute of Malay World and Civilisation)

UKM

Website (portal): www.malaycivilization.com/default_index.asp

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/~telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 30

SEARCH 30

11 May 2005

It is 7.53 am. My youngest child is still sleeping. The 3 big kids have left for school. My husband has to rush to the airport in Pengkalan Chepa to see a friend who is leaving for Umrah. I decided not to go with him as I want to continue writing.

The 30th search is to read the Monograph on Selected Malay Intellectuals which I had bought on 27 April 2005 (priced at RM110; RM99 staff price) from the USM Cooperative Bookshop on main campus in Penang. This is a lovely book with sky blue hardcover and interesting contents. It is catalogued by Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (PNM).

Monograph on Selected Malay Intellectuals (2003)

Compiled by Mohamad @ Md. Som Sujimon

First edition, 2003

Published by Research Centre, IIUM

Research Centre

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

53100 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Tel: 603 2056 5010

Fax: 603 2056 4862

E-mail: rescentre@iiu.edu.my

Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (PNM)

Monograph on selected Malay intellectuals.

ISBN 983-2957-02-8

1. Scholars, Muslim--Malaysia.

2. Malays--Intellectual life.

Monograph on Selected Malay Intellectuals was launched on 3 October 2003 by Tan Sri Dato' Seri Sanusi Junid, President, IIUM. His Message From The President mentioned the following intellectuals: Dato' Yusof Zaki Yaaakob (Kelantan), Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra (Kedah), Haji Yusof Ahmad or better known as To' Kenali (Kelantan), Sheikh Daud Al-Fatani (Patani), Dato' Hj. Ahmad Badawi (Province Wellesly), Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmy (Perak), Sheikh Mustapha Abdul Rahman Mahmud (Perak), and Al-Sheikh Dr. Mohd. Idris Abdul Rauf Al-Marbawi (Mekah/Perak).

Dato' Yusof Zaki Yaaakob (1928-1999)

Also spelled as Dato' Yusoff Zaky Ya'cob. Publisher, entrepreneur, prolific writer. Wrote articles, books, poems, and novels. Contributed greatly towards the development of Islamic studies in the Malay world. Responsible for the Islamization of psychology. Awarded Sarjana Kehormat Persuratan by UKM.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj (1903-1990)

First Chief Minister of Malaya. Son of the Sultan of Kedah. Obtained training as a lawyer in Cambridge. Muslim leader. Head of UMNO (United Malays' National Organization). Founder of PERKIM (Persatuan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia). First Secretary General of the OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference).

Haji Yusof Ahmad / To' Kenali (1870-1933)

He was better known as To' Kenali. A Malay clergy. Well-versed in Arabic. Modernist and Malay educational reformist.

Sheikh Daud Al-Fatani (1740-1847)

Born in Thailand. Prolific Malay writer. Translated over 60 works into the Malay language in Jawi script (bahasa Melayu tulisan Jawi). Topics included fiqh, tasawwuf and theology. Renowned agent of Malay manuscripts.

Dato' Hj. Ahmad Badawi (1907-1977)

Politician, dai'e (pendakwah or preacher), educator, social leader. Struggled against colonization. Committed to Islam, Malaya, and Merdeka.

Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmy Mohd. Noor (1911-1969)

Malay reformist. Introduced Malay politics based on the Al-Qur'an and Sunnah.

Sheikh Mustapha Abdul Rahman Mahmud (1918-1968)

A scholar of multiple disciplines including Al-Qur'an, Hadith, economy, psychology, history, and Islamic ethics. He wrote Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Hakim.

Al-Sheikh Dr. Mohd. Idris Abdul Rauf Al-Marbawi (1893-1989)

Malay scholar from Perak. Migrated to Cairo, Egypt. Translated Sunan al-Tarmidhi into Malay with Jawi script called Bahr al-Mazi. He wrote an Arabic-Malay dictionary called Qamus al-Marbawi.

Ahmad Ibrahim (1916-1999)

Father of Islamization of civil laws in Malaysia. The Ahmad Ibrahim Kuliyyah of Laws, IIUM is named in his honour for his contribution to the Malaysian Legal System.

Za'ba (1895-1973)

Islamic revivalism.

It is 9.00 am. I have to submit Professional 1 exam scripts to Academic Office.

---

Acknowledgement

Monograph on Selected Malay Intellectuals (2003)

Compiled by Mohamad @ Md. Som Sujimon

First edition, 2003

Published by Research Centre, IIUM

ISBN 983-2957-02-8

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/~telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 31

SEARCH 31

20 May 2005

It is 10.22 am. Today is Friday and a holiday in Kelantan.

The 31st search is to scrutinise a reply e-mail on 5 May 2005 from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norsidah A. Manap (norsidah@mail.hukm.ukm.my) of Hospital UKM. The e-mail subject was "Re: 13 early Malay doctors in 1953" and was in response to my e-mail of Search 25.

Dr. Norsidah thanked me for a previous e-mail re her grandfather who was the first Malay doctor.

Dr. Norsidah said she was busy marking exam papers and she will only have time to check the information re her grandfather after the completion of the postgraduate exams.

However, she commented briefly on the information re her grandfather that I had provided.

According to Dr. Norsidah, "our records differ slightly". Her record says that Dr. Abdul Latiff Abdul Razak was born in 1889, died in 1956, and had 9 children. He completed his studies in 1910 (according to a write up by Dato' Dr. Abdul Majid Ismail).

Dr. Norsidah is uncertain about Dr. Abdul Latiff graduating in 1911, and asked if there is a documentation of this.

Whether Dr. Abdul Latiff graduated in 1910 or 1911 is now an issue at hand:

Search 25:  Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak (1885?-1958; retired 1953; Class of 1911)

Search 31:  Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak (1889-1956; retired 1944?; Class of 1910)

I would suggest to re-check the listing provided by NUSS and confirm. Also, re-check the write up by Dato' Dr. Abdul Majid Ismail, or interview him and obtain his source for Dr. Abdul Latiff's graduation date. The actual date of retirement should be checked and confirmed.

This is the information that I have/not have so far re Dr. Abdul Latiff Abdul Razak:

Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak (1889-1956; retired 1944?; Class of 1910)

Date of retirement: 1944?

Father: Abdul Razak (need fullname)

Mother: ?

Wife: ?

Number of children: 9 (how many boys & girls? Names?)

Last known address: ?

I will still need more details of the following doctors:

Prof. Dato' Dr. Ungku Omar Ungku Ahmad (1931-1969; Class of 1957)

Dr. Hamzah Taib (Class of 1923)

Datuk Dr. Haji Abbas Alias (1914-2004; Class of 1936)

Tan Sri Dr. Raja Ahmad Noordin (http://www.kdm.org.my/)

Tan Sri Dr. Abdul Majid

Tan Sri Dr. Abu Bakar

Dr. Amir Abbas

Dato' Dr. Haji Mohammed

It is 11.05 am.

---

Acknowledgement

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norsidah A Manap
Dept of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Malaysia
E-mail: norsidah@mail.hukm.ukm.my

Granddaughter of Dr. Abdul Latiff b Abdul Razak

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 32

SEARCH 32

20 May 2005

It is Friday, 11.07 am. 

The 32nd search is to scrutinise the Koperasi Doktor Malaysia Berhad website (Malaysia Doctors' Cooperative Limited, http://www.kdm.org.my/) which I had accessed and printed on 8 May 2005. I was searching for information on Tan Sri Dr. Raja Ahmad Noordin. But there was nothing on the KDM nor the FOMEMA website concerning him.

Koperasi Doktor Malaysia Berhad

(Malaysia Doctors' Cooperative Limited)

Tingkat 4, Wisma KGMB, No. 92, Jalan Dato' Haji Eusoff

Kompleks Damai

50400 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Tel: 03-4433687 (DL), 03-4422636 (GL)

Fax: 03-4423818

It is 11.19 am.

---

Acknowledgement

Koperasi Doktor Malaysia Berhad

(Malaysia Doctors' Cooperative Limited)

Tingkat 4, Wisma KGMB, No. 92, Jalan Dato' Haji Eusoff

Kompleks Damai

50400 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Tel: 03-4433687 (DL), 03-4422636 (GL)

Fax: 03-4423818

Website: http://www.kdm.org.my/ 

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 33

SEARCH 33

20 May 2005

It is Friday, 11.20 am.

The 33rd search is to scrutinise a link I found from ATMA, UKM, which I had accessed and printed on 8 May 2005. This is the historical website "Sejarah Melayu: A History of the Malay Peninsula" written by Sabri Zain at http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/. The web page has a lovely Malay dance music that loops in the background. I managed to register and arrived at his photo page. He is probably one year my junior since he was 3 in 1962. I must say he is an experienced young writer and has published many books. I did not find anything on Malay doctors on his web pages.

It is 11.34 am.

---

Acknowledgement

Sabri Zain

Writer

Website:http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 34

SEARCH 34

20 May 2005

It is Friday, 11.35 am.

The 34th search is to scrutinise a link page which I had accessed and printed on 8 May 2005 on the First Islamic Retail Banking Conference 2004 at http://www.islamicretailbanking.com/ . I was trying to find more details on Royal Professor Ungku Aziz, Founder of Lembaga Urusan Tabung Haji (LUTH) (Malaysia's Pilgrims Management Fund) at http://www.islamicretailbanking.com/Speakers.htm . His wife is Azah Aziz and their daughter is Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia. They are examples of  Malay intellectuals. However, I do not know if they would know something about the early Malay doctors considering that Prof. Ungku Aziz had served University Malaya (UM).

It is 11.51 am.

---

Acknowledgement

Royal Professor Ungku Aziz

Speaker

First Islamic Retail Banking Conference 2004

Website:http://www.islamicretailbanking.com/

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 35

SEARCH 35

20 May 2005

It is Friday, 11.51 am.

The 35th search is to scrutinise some webpages of Datuk Ramlah Adam at http://www.ippp.um.edu.my/malay/direktori/expertiseDetail.asp?intID=11 which I had accessed and printed on 9 May 2005. I was thinking may be she would know something about the early Malay doctors.

Professor Datuk Dr. Ramlah Adam (MA, PhD)

Department of History

Faculty of Art and Social Sciences

University Malaya

Tel: 603-79675503

Fax: 603-79675463

E-mail: datukramlah@hotmail.com

She has written "Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmy: Satu Kemelut Politik", 2000. Kuala Lumpur, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Also see Searches 6, 21, 23, and 24 re Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Hemy.

Earlier, I had searched for her under Professor Ramlah Adam using Google and came to IPPP, UM. But I could not access her webpages since it was a Sunday and a holiday for Selangor, and the UM server was switched off. So, I waited to re-do the search on Monday, 9 May 2005.

On another count, I had actually ran a search on 'educational technology' to prepare for an upcoming lecture when I stumbled on Professor Dr. Ramlah Adam's name listed on a website named"Sejarah Tempatan - Tokoh Pendidik" at http://www.perpustam.edu.my/clhproject/sejarah/tkpendidik.htm . I had accessed and printed the page on 8 May 2005.

I only know Prof. Ramlah Adam on TV as she usually appears on TV commenting on political scenarios or elections which are easy for me to follow and enjoyable too. I particularly like her relaxed manner when commenting on sensitive issues, and she imparts an air of a modern working female intellectual.  She articulates in good Bahasa Melayu, something that seems missing from modern speeches and commentaries delivered on Malaysian TV.

It is 12.31 pm.

---

Acknowledgement

Professor Datuk Dr. Ramlah Adam

Department of History

Faculty of Art and Social Sciences

University Malaya

Tel: 603-79675503

Fax: 603-79675463

E-mail: datukramlah@hotmail.com

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 36

SEARCH 36

20 May 2005

It is Friday, 12.32 pm.

The 36th search is to obtain more details of the following book:

The Origins of Malay Nationalism by William R. Roff

I ran a Google search on 8 May 2005 on the book, The Origins of Malay Nationalism by William R. Roff to see if I was citing the right book, title, publisher and year. There were 3 articles by William R. Roff. I contacted Encik Ramli Abdul Samad, USM library on 8 May 2005 to see if they were in USM, and the return reply was "Yes"!

1. William Roff. 1967. The Origins of Malay Nationalism. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. USM library call number DS595M2R721.
2. Roff, William R. "The Malayo-Muslim community of Singapore in the late 19th century". Journal of Asian Studies. 24:75-90, 1964. USM library call number DS1 J86.
3. Roff, William R. The origins of Malay nationalism. Singapore: University of Malaya Press, 1967. 297p. USM library call number DS595M2R19.

I asked En. Ramli how to proceed to obtain the 3 articles. He had asked me to contact En. Amran Mamat (ext. 3468), Kaunter Rujukan (Reference Counter), USM Health Campus library.

En. Ramli had also phoned to let me know that he is no longer with Bahagian Malaysiana & Arkib. He is at Perpustakaan Hamzah Sendut (PHS) 1, USM. He said that the 2 books are being sent to USM Health Campus while the journal is still being searched.

Encik Ramli Abdul Samad

Perpustakaan Hamzah Sendut (PHS) 1

Universiti Sains Malaysia

11800 USM, Penang

Malaysia

Tel: 04-6533888-3705

E-mail: ramli.as@notes.usm.my

I met En. Amran Mamat on 8 May 2005 to place 3 separate orders for the 3 articles. There were 3 forms that I had to fill in; two for books and one for journal article.

The two books and journal articles by William R. Roff arrived on 15 May 2005 in USM Health Campus library. My husband went to pick them up as his office was nearer by 5 minutes. I received them in my office. I was amazed when I saw them on my cluttered coffee table in my small cluttered office! This was the first time I had used the interlibrary loan after many many years and it worked! One had thick dark blue and the other light green, worn cloth hardcovers. I can't tell whether these are the original covers. The pages were yellow after 38 years (1967-2005). The books may have been borrowed since 1980 as indicated by the rubber stamp on the inside back pages.

I browsed through the 2 old books and jotted down this information (contents and pagination identical):

The Origins of Malay Nationalism by William R. Roff (DS595 M2R719)

page 140

Photograph of Shaykh Mohd. Tahir Jalaluddin (noted religious reform journalist and writer, 1900-41).

page 167

Za'ba or Zainal Abidin b. Ahmad. Teacher 1916-23, chief translator, Malay Translation Bureau, S.I.T.C. 1924-41, writer and man of letters.

page 271

Graham, W.A. Kelantan: A State of the Malay Peninsula. Glasgow. 1908.

page 272

Ibrahim Shukri. Sejarah Kerajaan Melayu Patani (History of the Malay Kingdom of Patani). Pasir Puteh, Kelantan. n.d. 1960.

page 274

Majlis Ugama Islam dan Istiadat, Kelantan. Jambangan Melayu (Malay Bouquet). Kota Bahru. 1917.

___ , Kitab Semangat Kehidupan (The Book of the Spirit of Life). Kota Bahru. 1918.

page 276

Nagle, J. Stewart. Educational Needs of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States. Baltimore. 1938.

page 277

Roff, William R. Guide to Malay Periodicals, 1876-1941. Singapore. 1961.

page 280

Wijeysinghe, E. A History of Raffles Institute. Singapore. 1963.

page 281

Kelantan Malay by C.C. Brown. 1927.

page 282

Haji Abdul Malek b. Karim Amrullah (Hamka). Noted Indonesian religious reformist, writer, and novelist.

Tengku Abdul Rahman b. Sultan Abdul Hamid. (First) Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaysia.

Abdul Samad b. Ahmad. Student, S.I.T.C., late 1920s. Teacher, writer, and editor in 1930s.

page 283

Hamdan b. Shaykh Tahir. Son of Shaykh Mohd. Tahir Jalaluddin (noted religious reform journalist and writer, 1900-41).

page 285 (Index)

Abdul Samad, Dr., 189 f.

page 189 (text)

Dr. Abdul Samad, the first Malay doctor.

His involvement in KMS is described on pages 189-190.

footnote 31 on page 189:

Dr. Samad, a Singapore-born Malay, was a graduate of the King Edward VII Medical College in Singapore.

Footnote 31 also described Dr. Abdul Samad as prominent in the formation of the Kesatuan Melayu Singapura (KMS) (Singapore Malay Union) but did not hold any post in KMS.

page 188

The Singapore Malay Union

The Malayo-Muslim World of Singapore at the Close of the Nineteenth Century by William R. Roff (USM library call number DS1 J86)

This title is slightly different from the one I had ordered: Roff, William R. "The Malayo-Muslim community of Singapore in the late 19th century". Journal of Asian Studies. 24:75-90, 1964. USM library call number DS1 J86.

This journal article did not mention anything about the early Malay doctors. It discussed the attitudes of the Malays and some of the interpretations of Arab-Malay words, in particular shaykhs which was accorded to descendents of people who originated from Hadhramaut in the Republic of Yemen (sheikh dari keturunan orang Yaman) in the Arab peninsular.

Hadhramaut was featured in Jejak Rasul on TV3.

It is 2.07 pm.

---

Acknowledgement

USM library on main campus:

William Roff. 1967. The Origins of Malay Nationalism. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. USM library call number DS595M2R721.

Roff, William R. "The Malayo-Muslim community of Singapore in the late 19th century". Journal of Asian Studies. 24:75-90, 1964. USM library call number DS1 J86.

Roff, William R. The origins of Malay nationalism. Singapore: University of Malaya Press, 1967. 297p. USM library call number DS595M2R19.

Encik Ramli Abdul Samad

Perpustakaan Hamzah Sendut (PHS) 1

Universiti Sains Malaysia

11800 USM, Penang

Malaysia

Tel: 04-6533888-3705

E-mail: ramli.as@notes.usm.my

En. Amran Mamat

Kaunter Rujukan (Reference Counter)

USM Health Campus library

Ext. 3468

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 37

SEARCH 37

24 May 2005

It is Tuesday, 6.18 am.

The 37th search is to scrutinise for more contacts and leads from two e-mails, from Dr. Ghazaime (9 May 2005) and En. Ramli (15 May 2005). I could not write earlier as I was busy marking exam scripts for >200 undergraduate students in medicine and dentistry.

En. Ramli phoned on 10 May 2005 to provide plenty of assistance. I really appreciate his help because I have come to a state of not knowing what else to do (orang kata temu jalan buntu). He said I will need to contact Utusan, Pusat Dokumentasi in DBP, PNM, Dr. Bakri Musa, and Tun Dr. Mahathir. Dr. Ghazaime e-mailed to inform that Dr. Bakri Musa writes for Malaysiakini.com. En. Ramli e-mailed and gave Dr. Bakri Musa's e-mail.

I have not heard about Dr. Bakri Musa at all previously nor do I know who he is. It it worthwhile to try and ask him if he knows of any of the early Malay doctors, since I still cannot make my list right as I now have evidence of 2 conflicting records of our first Malay doctor. On one hand, I have Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak whose name was given to me by NUSS and I also obtained the same information from the Internet, but the political history book written by Professor William R. Roff (The Origins of Malay Nationalism, 1967) states that our first Malay doctor was Dr. Abdul Samad. I will still need to know why these two conflicting records were never studied and resolved for they create a lot of unhappiness in me when I go through old records and accounts of the early Malay doctors. As we often say in our Malaysian way, "More work, lah!"

Dr. M. Bakri Musa

bakrimusa@juno.com

Originates from Kedah, Malaysia.

He is a surgeon in Silicon Valley, California, USA.

His latest book is Towards A Competitive Malaysia.

He is a regular columnist with Malaysiakini (www.malaysiakini.com)

Malaysiakini.com (www.malaysiakini.com)

48, Jalan Kemuja

Bangsar Utama

59000 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Tel: (603) 2283-5567

Fax: (603) 2289-2579

It was launched on 20 November 1999.

It is owned and operated by Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd.

It has its own Malaysiakini Editorial Policy.

It abides by the journalists' code of ethics.

It is an online forum for news, opinions, editorials, features, letters, and views.

It holds independent news and views on Malaysia.

It has very high number of daily hits, >50,000 visits per day.

It offers many kinds of services.

I had accessed the Malaysiakini.com website and printed it on 11 May 2005. But I am not a subscriber to Malaysiakini.com so I cannot get past the subscribed pages to find Dr. Bakri Musa to find out more about him and from him about our early Malay doctors. I will have to resort to e-mail him when I get in to work this week or next week, or even later.

Encik Ramli Abdul Samad

Originates from Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Perpustakaan Hamzah Sendut (PHS) 1

Universiti Sains Malaysia

11800 USM, Penang

Malaysia

Tel: 04-6533888-3705

E-mail: ramli.as@notes.usm.my

Dr. Ghazaime Ghazalie

Hospital Perdana

Kota Bharu

I will still need to contact our local media for more details of our early doctors. There are 2 media houses which I will need to contact. One is Utusan Malaysia (a lady named Maimunah in the library section) and the other is TV3. Utusan Malaysia had a write-up on the early Malay doctors quite some time ago. I recall that TV3 ran a documentary on Tun Dr. Mahathir and the King Edward VII Medical College a few years back. TV3 will also be broadcasting on the early development between the East and the West in its new serial - its has a big team working for this serial. May be I should contact this team?

Utusan Malaysia

Maimunah, library section

TV3

IT Section

It is 7.43 am. The 3 kids have gone to school.

---

Acknowledgement

Encik Ramli Abdul Samad

Perpustakaan Hamzah Sendut (PHS) 1

Universiti Sains Malaysia

11800 USM, Penang

Malaysia

Tel: 04-6533888-3705

E-mail: ramli.as@notes.usm.my

Dr. Ghazaime Ghazalie

Hospital Perdana

Kota Bharu

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 38

SEARCH 38

24 May 2005

It is Tuesday, 7.45 am.

The 38th search is to ponder over why I had not re-send an e-mail to a colleague earlier. She was away in Penang and she had received a blank mail from me regarding the early Malay doctors. This is very unusual as I had just re-boot my PC from scratch after it lost control of itself over an extreme darkness kaput mode. I was trying out new software which I had downloaded from the Internet and got my PC into a fixed and I had to fix my own PC for if I send it in, I would probably not get it back up and running ASAP. If you think PTK3 up to PTK6 will make you a better lecturer, then I feel you might just as well add fixing your own PC with your own two hands, for added value. Just a thought.

Well, back to the blank e-mail. I have re-send the e-mail to her. The subject should read "Re: Rv: [akademik] 13 early Malay doctors in 1953". In it I had asked if anyone knew any of the early doctors and to e-mail me.

It is 7.57 am. I have to stop to go to work.

---

Acknowledgement

Assoc. Prof. Datin Rashidah Shuib

Women's Health & Development Unit

School of Medical Sciences

Universiti Sains Malaysia

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 39

SEARCH 39

24 May 2005

It is Tuesday, 9.20 pm.

The 39th search is to follow up on the UM conference held in Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. This is the International Conference on Health Sciences (ICHS), 6-8 May 2005 organised by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (also see Search 26 re ICHS). I had borrowed the abstract & programme book from Tengku Ahmad Damitri, my MSc student. The front cover says "100 years (1905-2005) University of Malaya".

There are many interesting things to note from the abstract & programme book:

• Message from  the Vice Chancellor, University of Malaya, Dato' Professor Dr. Hashim Yaacob. It highlighted the Faculty of Medicine being the oldest medical faculty in Malaysia and University of Malaya's 100th anniversary.
• The Steering Committee listing included Professor Dr. Ikram Shah Ismail, Deputy Dean (Undergraduate & Diploma), Faculty of Medicine, UM. I recall that I had e-mail him long time ago concerning a reference article which I needed to verify when Dr. Eid Mohammad was doing his MSc with me as Co-Supervisor. There was an article that Dr. Eid wanted to get hold of and I had e-mailed Prof. Ikram to request for assistance.
• Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah bt. Haji Mohd. Ali (Class of 1947; wife of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad) gave a talk entitled "Lessons From Medical Practice of the 1960s in Malaysia".
• Lecture entitled "A Hundred Years of Medical Education in Malaysia" by Dato' Prof. Dr. Anuar Zaini, Monash University, Malaysian Campus, Selangor. I had missed the ICHS and this lecture altogether as I had the USM Certificate Course Training for Trainers (TOT) to attend to in USM Penang campus and preparation for teaching the course upon return to USM Health Campus. I will need to find out who attended and made notes of this talk so that I can add to my writing. I will need to ask around or even write to Dato' Prof. Dr. Anuar Zaini. I can vaguely recall him from the first Malaysian Association of Clinical Biochemists (MACB) that I had attended where he was President. I may have confused him with another person. I will need to find out.

I will need to ask Tengku if he recalls anything of Dato' Prof. Dr. Anuar Zaini's talk.

It is 10.06 pm. I need to stop to make milk for my youngest daughter. She will be six next week.

---

Acknowledgement

Tengku Ahmad Damitri Al-Astani bin Tengku Din

(MSc student)

Dept. of Pathology

School of Medical Sciences

Universiti Sains Malaysia

International Conference on Health Sciences (ICHS)

6-8 May 2005

"100 years (1905-2005) University of Malaya"

Organised by the Faculty of Medicine

University of Malaya

Speakers:

Dato' Professor Dr. Hashim Yaacob

Professor Dr. Ikram Shah Ismail

Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah bt. Haji Mohd. Ali

Dato' Prof. Dr. Anuar Zaini

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 40

SEARCH 40

24 May 2005

It is Tuesday, 10.13 pm. My daughter is lying down sucking her milk bottle behind me. My husband has left home to study Al-Qur'an from a retired Ustaz in Kampung Pulau Hilir (I think that is the place as I always get this name mixed up with Kampung Laut and Kampung Pulau Melaka). He should be back by midnight. My two daughters are watching TV in the family living room while my two sons are upstairs in their room main komputer agaknya. Since I have nothing else to tend to, I will continue to write. I don't watch much TV but I am counting on my kids to get me the latest Star Wars VCD. I hope they will get it for me before I start teaching again in July when the university academic session begins Malaysia-wide.

The 40th search is to follow up on a surprise e-mail which I had received on 17 May 2005 from a person labeled Daijabu oishi or named simply Pak Man. I had read the e-mail then but only have time to digest it tonight. Pak Man mentioned a few names and emphasized that I will need to verify all the names of the early Malay doctors which I have gathered thus far. Here is an additional list fromPak Man:

• Dato' Dr. Ezanee Marican, a royal physician, Kota Bharu, Kelantan. A contemporary of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah bt. Mohd. Ali; they frequented him in Kota Bharu.
• Dr. Aziz, originated from Penang. He ran a clinic, either Aziz Dispensary or Klinik Aziz, in Kota Bharu for a long time and returned to Penang in early 1980s. He died in Penang. I think I know this clinic as I had brought my two sons to this clinic for their circumcision stint.
• Tun Dr. Ismail, a dentist and former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Pak Man ended his short e-mail with "happy researching" which I feel is most appropriate.

I had replied to Pak Man's e-mail just before I left office in the afternoon today. I had asked Pak Man to at least reveal his identity somewhat so I could communicate in a more down-to-earth manner. It beats me when I don't know who Pak Man is because I cannot store his name in isolation; it must have some attributes and associations before I can retain Pak Man in my deep memory, just like I stored the name En. Fadli Ghani in the gigabyte of my deep memory.

Well, 3 more new names mean more researching but this should be good. May be I should just go downtown and check out all the clinics, new and old. Hopefully, I will meet enough people who can help me put the pieces of my jig-saw puzzle together. I can recall two clinics off hand, the Bates Clinic and Klinik Aziz. May be I should just check both the white and yellow pages if I can only locate where the kids hid the phone directory. Now I recall, I had a friend named Christine Anna Bates whose father ran the Bates Dispensary in Kota Bharu when I lived in Maktab Perguruan, Pengkalan Chepa between 1969-1971. We both went to Zainab Primary School 2 (Standard 5 & 6) and then Zainab Secondary School 2 (Form 1). I may need to search Google for Christine.

My late mother knew quite a bit about Aziz Dispensary and the doctors there and she spoke highly of the two clinics. Well, if I train my deep memory for total recall, I may be able to pull out a few more names but I am not counting on it too much. The last time I trained my brain at total recall was to read every line from an economics book from memory, cover to cover, while a friend held the book! It worked but I was probably very young that time, 19 or 20. Lama dah tak try total recall. But total recall can only work if things are thought of both logically and sequentially during the learning stage. Comprehension is also a necessity at the learning stage. Some say total recall is sheer regurgitation but I don't see it that way. I have not tried total recall for reading or memorizing the Al-Qur'an. Well, if there is nothing else better to do, I will set my mind to hafal Al-Qur'an, as the ultimate total recall. I will need to learn from my husband how he memorizes the Al-Qur'an. It is easy for him because he had learnt it by ear as a teenager while I learnt the script version only and now have to depend on VCD!

It is 11.33 pm.

---

Acknowledgement

Daijabu oishi or Pak Man

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 41

SEARCH 41

24 May 2005

It is Tuesday, 11.34 pm.

The 41st search is to note the Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine (SMCM), 30 June - 3 July 2005. This e-mail announcement was written yesterday (23 May 2005) but it arrived in my inbox today. It was posted at 18:29:32 (about 6.30 pm) by Professor Zabidi Azhar Mohd. Hussin, Dean, School of Medical Sciences, USM Health Campus. I had left office early yesterday (just after 5 pm) to pick up my daughter from As-Syabab in Wakaf Stan and only received, opened and read the e-mail this morning. I had replied to him today to look out for "100 years of medical education in Singapore" and to provided me some feedback.

Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine, 30 June - 3 July 2005

Organised by the Council of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore and the 39SMCM Organising Committee.

It is 11.50 pm. I have to stop now and put the kids to bed. Good night!

---

Acknowledgement

Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine (SMCM)

30 June - 3 July 2005

"100 years of medical education in Singapore"

Professor Zabidi Azhar Mohd. Hussin

Dean

School of Medical Sciences

USM Health Campus

(Dean until 30 June 2005; succeeded by Prof. Aziz Baba from 1 July 2005 onward)

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Search 42

SEARCH 42

25 May 2005

It is Wednesday, 16.48 on my office pc.

The 42nd search is to write about a surprise reply e-mail which I received today from Dr. M. Bakri Musa (also see Search 37 re Dr. M. Bakri Musa). His e-mail was dated 24 May 2005, 11:16:47 am with this subject "Re: need assistance re early Malay doctors".

Dr. Bakri congratulated me for embarking on what he thinks is a worthy project. Come to think of it, I feel that writing any bit about history is always a worthy project. Dr. Bakri indicated that he had wanted to write about similar line (history of medicine in Malaya) but never got around to doing it. He is far away half way round the globe and busy. I can't blame people for not writing and I surely can't blame people for not having time to write. I didn't have time to write but I had to force myself to write until writing became almost a daily practice instead of watching TV. Anyway, Dr. Bakri was kind enough to inform me of another of his previous ambitious writing project. But somehow he has switched gears and is now into political commentaries (www.bakrimusa.com).

Dr. Bakri went on to say that he is more interested about the early doctors who are still alive 'before we lose them'. He named a few more doctors:

• Majid "Coco" Ismail (refer Search 15 re Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid Ismail)
• Ariffin Suhaimi  (should be Ariffin Ngah Marzuki; refer Search 25)
• ALhady

According to Dr. Bakri, it would be nice to conduct 'oral history sessions' with them. I think this means having live interviews but since these doctors may now be quite old, whether they can withstand the pressure of live interviews, I have some concern. Dr. Bakri added that these doctors may remember 'the old ones'. Yes, I believe so.

Dr. Bakri kindly offered to help should the need arise. He is very much interested in my findings!

I am glad that readers are taking a keen interest in what I am writing for the net. This article is now 42 searches long. It holds a wealth of information and I hope some day I can find time to organize it into a book. I will need to find a good publisher for the book version. Care to help with book publishing? I have not even got to the images yet! Should I make this a book?

I browsed through my son's history book for fifth formers during lunch break today. It was written by Prof. Ramlah Adam along with 3 others and published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP). The cover had the faces of the first 4 Prime Ministers of Malaysia - Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Hussein Onn, and Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is our present Prime Minister. I was trying to figure out what sort of cover design would be good should I decide to make a book. Please give me some ideas.

It is 17.24 on my office pc.

---

Acknowledgement

Dr. M. Bakri Musa

bakrimusa@juno.com

Columnist with Malaysiakini (www.malaysiakini.com)

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia