Borneo Post: St Joe Class of '76 - Spirit of 1Malaysia

Many thanks to Borneo Post for publishing an article by our buddy George Lo on the St Joe Class of '76 and the Spirit of 1Malaysia. You can go to the original article on their site by clicking this.

While I'd certainly like for you to visit the Borneo Post Online website, I know that after some time, most news publishers will archive older articles and then they will no longer be accessible to the general public (except perhaps for paying subscribers). So I'm taking this opportunity to reproduce George's article  here on our own blog ...  Also it may be easier for you to add comments on it.


St Joe Class of ’76 – Spirit of 1Malaysia
By George Lo

KUCHING: Long before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak declared his dream of 1Malaysia, there was a group of guys who epitomised the very essence of that dream.

Malay, Chinese, Iban, Bidayuh, Indian, Eurasian – they worked together, ate together, played together, dreamed together. Race was never an issue between them. Friendship surmounted all.

More than three decades after they parted company at the doorstep of their beloved alma mater, the boys of Form 5 (1976), St Joseph’s School, Kuching are getting together in a Grand Reunion on Dec 23 at Merdeka Palace hotel.
.
This reunion has its genesis in a popular blog set up in the beginning of this year by one of the 1976 fifth formers, James Yong, a regional director of Cisco Systems based in Singapore.
.
This blog has reconnected old chums from across the globe.
.
Old boys of 1976 from far-flung places as UK (James Kuo, John Lee, Ho Boon Chiang), Siem Reap (Bartholomew Sinos), Bangkok (Peter Tiong), Hanoi (Nick Lau), Perth (Kevin Chin), Canada (Chieh Lipp Kee, Bertram Chew, Michael Yeo), Manila (Chong Chi Nai) joined hands with their former classmates in various parts of Malaysia through the blog and found that their friendship, like fine wine, had blossomed with the passage of time.
.
As another old boy, Dato’ Anthony Macpherson, CEO of NST, says, “The spirit that brings us together is the very spirit of 1Malaysia.
.
“We never thought any of us was different whether we are Iban, Bidayuh, Malay or Chinese. We were 1Malaysia 33 years ago and we still are today.”
.
Any member of the St Joe Form 5 (1976) cohort who has not registered to join the Grand Reunion, can call Robert Chin at 016-8774018 or Ben Wong (012-8989868) to book a seat.
.
Anyone who knows anyone in Form 5 St Joe 1976 is welcome to check out the blog:
http://stjoe-form5in1976.blogspot.com/


Good article, Georgie boy!

Now all you boys who haven't yet signed up for the Grand Reunion, how could you stay away after such an impassioned write-up ? You're not just doing it for yourself. You're not just doing it for your old school. You're doing it in support of your country too !  ;-)

You know what you have to do ! See you ALL on Dec 23rd !

Lunchtime Reunion at Ipoh Kopi Tiam (23 Aug 2009)

A lunchtime mini-reunion was organized by GL, BC and BW at the Ipoh Kopi Tiam, Kuching today. There were many attendees - in person and online.
xx
Here are the photos as the party began ...

Slowly the group forms ...

More friends arrive ...

GL and JK are here. JK is back for a holiday. He's normally based in Plymouth, UK


The place is equipped with wireless Internet access. Here come the Notebook PCs ..

Look, that's Khim (Mrs JK) sitting next to Pip ...

More friends meet up ...

Yum. That looks like curry chicken rice. Nice, Sim?


Bob Chew chatting with JY and CLK (m) ...

Nice cake. Happy Birthday Pip !
(Pip's normally based in KL, but is back in Kuching for the weekend)


Cake cutting online ...


Here's a group photo ... can someone name the individuals?




It was obviously a very fun session for all.

(More photo updates as I get them ...)

xxx

Sunday Brunch Alert (Kuching, 23 Aug 2009)

Here's an alert for all our friends who are or will be in Kuching on 23 August.

Bob Chew, Ben Wong and George Lo are organising a brunch for James Kuo, who will be back in Kuching at that time.

Date/Time:
Sunday 23 August 2009, at 12 noon

Venue:
Ipoh Old Town Kopitiam,
located at Brighton Square
at Jalan Song
[in front of Titanium Building]
KUCHING
xx
All guys from SJS form 5 1976 [and partners], plus honorary members like Leo, are invited. And of course our sisters from STS and SMS are also welcome to drop by and have a cup of Ipoh Old Town coffee with the gang.

GL says "Do bring cameras to take pics for the blog too. There's free Wifi, so bring your notebooks and you can send the pics to WJ straightaway"
xx
xx
FURTHER UPDATES
xx

Thur 20th Aug (evening)

Bob checking out the food. Hmmm, note the satisfied look ...
xxx

GL brought along his notebook to test out the Messenger video connection. WJ is on the other end ...

Bob joins him in chatting with WJ.

Ben not seen in the photos but is the one taking the photos.

At a Party: George, Jude and Tony

Our friend George shared this photo from a buffet dinner at Jude Jong's place in Kuching recently. Jude was in the year above us at St Joe. Lots of fun, food & festivities.

The photo shows (left to right): George, Jude and Tony Chung.




Looking hale and hearty, guys !

GL adds that: "... francis ting and lee ah see [class of '75] were there too. also met winnie chin[edward's sister]. some of the guys may remember winnie, margaret chieng and linda leong as a trio who used to hang out together. they were 2 years our junior ..."
xxxxxxxxxx

Another Mini-Reunion in KL

On 6 April 2009, there was another mini-reunion in KL when our lawyer friend George Lo Kuin Fah(Form 5 Sc, 1976) made a short visit there. Among the former classmates who got together were Philip, Chee Kok, Cyril, Roney and another.

An obviously happy Georgie boy in KL

A more complete narrative of the exciting events of the day will be added later, but for now let me just quote a few comments directly from the participants ...

"George is still the same affable and soft spoken guy that I remember from our school days. However, he is no longer quiet!" - PC

"chee kok looks exactly the same as he did 33 years ago [maybe a couple kg heavier is all]. roney looks totally different. and it is not just the shaven head. cyril looks much the same but he's become a comedian since form 5." - GL

" We were kicked out (of Vintry, a cosy wine bar & another of CK's find) around 1.30 when the place closed" - PC

"He looked the same after 33 years - afro hairstyle and prominent proboscis. still the same gentle humble soul." - GL

"... a very pleasant evening where red wine flowed freely and the laughter was loud. Even I succumbed to a couple of sips of the red jiuce" - PC

"Had another mini reunion last nite with George, Philip,Chee Kok, Roney and Cyril. Plenty of jokes and laughter." - Another

A nice cold beer ... perfect !

GL with KCK and PC. KCK needs to smile more. And why does PC look so uneasy?

Formmates based far away from Malaysia, I'd like to draw your attention to the signboards at the back, which showcase the local culinary delights. But stop drooling, ok? ;-)

Cheers! Left to right: CM, RZ, PC, GL, KCK

The Details (added later)

Given the torment that this entry is causing some of our UK friends, not sure if you still want any further details, but here's what PC & GL told me. I did promise I'd post it, but will keep it brief to spare our overseas friends too much additional pain.

* GL arrived in KLIA in the early morning, took the KLIA Ekspres down to KL Sentral & made his way by taxi to Cititel by Mid Valley megamall when his "chauffer" overslept and didn't turn up :-) They later met at the the hotel and then went to PC's house.

* They found PC as friendly and helpful as usual, giving street directions to perfect strangers. (Between this and picking up stray felines, I guess our friend has his hands pretty full - website jaga)

* The three then had lunch at a new and apparently "super delicious" Dim Sum restaurant near PC's place.

* After lunch, they adjourned to PC's place, went for a stroll to buy lunch for PC's princess. Our lawyer friend took the early opportunity to have a beer (see, I told u he was stinkin' drunk by nightfall! - website jaga) while waiting for the 'ta-pau'.

* Next they went to a place where some people experienced 'cupping' for the first time. 'Nuff said on this for now. (There's more to be shared later ... or not ... depending on the enticement I get - website jaga)

* The beers started flowing after 7.30pm at a food court called Ming Thien in Taman Megah. They were later joined by CK and then CM. The beers and food then started to get washed down by stout. About 3 hours later, they decided to adjourn to another place, Vintry, where RZ joined them. Vintry, another of CK's finds, is a gem of a place, a cosy wine bar in a suburban nook surroundings near Damansara/Bangsar. They were kicked out around 1.30 when the place closed.

xxxxxxxxxx
In short, another great night ! Lots of laughter, lots of food, lots of booze, no new allegations or law suits (as far as I can tell) ....

xxxxxxxxxx

Then & Now - Part 1 (continued)

Following certain allegations made by PC in the comments to "Then & Now - Part 1", it appears that the matter has been taken further, with legal support provided by GL. Seems that a courtroom battle is imminent.

WRIT OF SUMMONS

MALAYSIA

IN THE HIGH COURT IN SABAH AND SARAWAK AT KUCHING

SUIT NO. ________

BETWEEN

PHILIP CHIN LIAN FUNG … Plaintiff

AND

JAMES YONG … 1st Defendant
JAMES KUO HANG UNG … 2nd Defendant
HARRY GOH ENG KIAT … 3rd Defendant
CHRISTOPHER CHEW … 4th Defendant
RICHARD LEE … 5th Defendant
CHIEH LIPP KEE … 6th Defendant
BENJAMIN CHUNG … 7th Defendant

WE COMMAND you that within twenty (20) days after the service of this Writ of Summons on you, inclusive of the day of such service, you do cause an appearance to be entered for you in a cause at the suit of the abovenamed Plaintiff.

AND TAKE NOTICE that, in default of your so doing, the Plaintiff may proceed therein to judgment and execution.

WITNESS the Registrar of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak the 1st day of April, 2009

…………………………. …………………………
Advocates for the Plaintiff

REGISTRAR
High Court, Kuching


This Writ may not be served more than six (6) calendar months after the above date unless renewed by Order of the Court.

The Defendant may appear enter hereto appearance either personally or by an advocate at the Registrar of the High Court.

A Defendant appearing personally may, if he desires, enter his appearance by post, and the appropriate forms may be obtained by sending a Postal Order for RM5.00 with an addressed envelope to Registrar, High Court at Kuching.

INDORSEMENT AS TO SERVICE

This Writ was served by by way of personal service (or as may be) (state manner of service) on the defendant at on the .......... day of ........... 2009.

Indorsed on the ........... day of ............... 2009

Process Server

STATEMENT OF CLAIM

1. Sometime in the early eighties, the Plaintiff was residing in a flat in Ealing Broadway, East London.

2. At the material time, the Plaintiff was a student.

3. All the Defendants are known to the Plaintiff and were also students studying in London at the material time.

4. On a date which the Plaintiff is unable to recall at this time (further particulars will be given after completion of the discovery process in these proceedings), the Defendants were with the Plaintiff at the Ealing Broadway flat.

5. Without any provocation whatsoever by the Plaintiff, the Defendants, acting in concert, committed assault and battery upon the person of the Plaintiff, full particulars whereof are as follows.

Particulars

5.1 The Defendants physically apprehended the Plaintiff and confined the Plaintiff within a mattress that was found in the flat.

5.2 The Defendants then proceeded to use their fingers to prod and otherwise rub the Plaintiff in the region of his armpits, torso and navel area.

5.3 This continued for a period of several minutes although the Plaintiff felt that it was considerably longer than that.


6. By reason of the Defendants’ acts aforesaid, the Plaintiff suffered loss and damage.

Particulars

6.1 The Plaintiff being a particularly ticklish person (a fact which was known the Defendants) laughed himself hoarse.

6.2 The Plaintiff lost his voice for about a week and was unable to communicate with his girlfriend and this caused them considerable emotional distress.

6.3 During the episode of tickling, the Plaintiff laughed so much that he lost control of his bladder and was incontinent.

6.4 This incontinence had not happened since the Plaintiff was 9 years old and it caused the Plaintiff considerable worry that it would recur.

6.5 In consequence thereof, the Plaintiff was unable to sleep for several nights, repeatedly waking up to go to the toilet.

6.6 For several weeks thereafter, whenever in the presence of the Defendants or any of them, the Plaintiff felt an uncontrollable urge to relieve himself.


7. The Plaintiff did not take any legal action as he, thereafter, had a memory lapse which was probably attributable to the horrendous tickling he got.

8. His memory did not return until he came across a website on the internet set up by the 1st Defendant which contained, inter alia, a reference to the Plaintiff being ticklish and questions raised as to whether the Plaintiff had been tickled before.

9. This incident caused the Plaintiff to recall the incident pleaded above. By reason of his memory lapse, the Plaintiff will say that his claim is not barred by any limitation period.

AND THE PLAINTIFF CLAIMS:

1. Compensation in the form of a 16 oz wagyu ribeye, medium rare, with a side order of mushroom, salad and corn on the cob, accompanied by a bottle of red wine of a vintage compatible with the steak, or such vintage as the Court deems fit and just.

2. Costs in the form of another order of the same dish to be given to the Plaintiff’s solicitor who shall be entitled to share the red wine aforesaid.

3. Such further or other order as the Court deems fit.


Dated March 2009

………………………….
GEORGE LO
Advocate for the Plaintiff

xxxxxxx

xxxxxxx
RECENT SETTLEMENTS

xxxxxxxxx

Out-of-court settlement by 1st Defendent (JY)

xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx

Attempted Out-of-Court Settlement by 6th Defendent (CLK)

Part Settlement by 2nd Defendent (JKHU)

Dishwasher-turned-Lobster Chef JK, who also moonlights as a heart surgeon

JK's culinary creation

Indisputable evidence that the Plaintiff enjoyed the pleasures of this part settlement

xxxxxxxxxx

How Fights Always Start ...

Thanks to our old form mate George Lo for this contribution on the lighter side of inter-spousal conflict ...

**********

My wife sat down on the couch next to me as I was flipping channels.
She asked, 'What's on TV?'
I said, 'Dust.'

And then the fight started...

**********

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.
She said, 'I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds.'
I bought her a scale.

And then the fight started...

**********

When I got home last night,
my wife demanded that I take her someplace expensive...
so, I took her to a gas station.

And then the fight started...

**********

After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security.
The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver's license to verify my age.
I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home.
I told the woman that I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.
The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'.
So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair.
She said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' and she processed my Social Security application.
When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.
She said, 'You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability, too.'

And then the fight started...

**********

My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion,
and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.
My wife asked, 'Do you know her?'
'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since.'
'My God!' says my wife, 'who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?'

And then the fight started...

**********

I took my wife to a restaurant.
The waiter, for some reason, took my order first.
"I'll have the strip steak, medium rare, please."
He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?"
" Nah, she can order for herself."

And then the fight started...

**********

A woman is standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror.
She is not happy with what she sees
and says to her husband, 'I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.'
The husband replies, 'Your eyesight's damn near perfect.'

And then the fight started.....

**********

I tried to talk my wife into buying a case of Miller Light for $14.95.
Instead, she bought a jar of cold cream for $7.95.
I told her the beer would make her look better at night than the cold cream.

And then the fight started....

**********

My wife asked me if a certain dress made her butt look big.
I told her not as much as the dress she wore yesterday

and then the fight started.....

**********

I asked my wife, "Where do you want to go for our anniversary? "
It warmed my heart to see her face melt in sweet appreciation.
"Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said.
So I suggested, "How about the kitchen?"

And that's when the fight started....

**********

One for the road:

A man came home and found and found his wife standing at the door in the buff.

Man: What are you doing?
Wife: I am waiting for you in my love dress.
Man: Your love dress needs some ironing.

Then the fight starts…


Thanks George. Hopefully these are not from experience :-)