ITD again, 24 years later

Over the past 24 years, there have been five or six reunions of the former staff of the now-defunct Ban Hin Lee Bank. I can’t quite recall the exact number, but every time, the gatherings drew at least 200 ex-colleagues, led by the bank's former directors and senior management. Each reunion has been a joyful affair, filled with laughter, nostalgia, and camaraderie. The most recent of these large-scale reunions took place in August 2023, which would have marked the bank’s 88th anniversary.

This month, however, there was a different sort of reunion—one exclusively for the former inmates of the Information Technology Division. I use the term "inmates" lightheartedly, of course! As luck would have it, I found myself right in the midst of this nostalgic gathering. The Systems and Quality Control Department, of which I was a proud member, was part of the IT Division, and there was no way I could miss this chance to reconnect with old friends and colleagues. In fact, I even skipped my nephew’s wedding eve function to attend the IT Division Reunion at the Mercure Hotel in Tanjong Bungah.

By the last count, nearly 90 former colleagues were present, some accompanied by their spouses, and a few travelling from as far afield as Singapore and Australia to attend. The evening was filled with vibrant conversations as we reminisced about the good old days, exchanged updates on our lives—everyone had grown older but perhaps not very much wiser, and relived fond memories. The event culminated in the inevitable group photographs—an enduring tradition at such reunions, capturing the spirit of togetherness that still binds us all despite all the years apart. Thank you to Ho Sin Kheong and the rest of the organising team!

I brought along some copies of my book on Ban Hin Lee Bank, Ten Thousand Prosperities, and gave away a copy as a lucky draw prize.

Chess at OFA

A 92-player field for The Old Frees' Association Rapid Chess Open Tournament last Sunday far exceeded my expectations. Barely a week before the event, I would have been delighted with 70 entries, but as the final days progressed, a surge of last-minute registrations came through. Naturally, there were a few withdrawals, as often happens, but these were more than compensated for by fresh entries. By the morning of the tournament, we had 90 players prepared to compete—until two more turned up unannounced and added themselves to the mix.

One of the day’s highlights was the participation of Penang's national player, Wong Yinn Long, currently reading Law at the University of Malaya. Wong flew in from Kuala Lumpur to start his mid-semester break, arriving several minutes late for the first round due to travel delays. Undeterred, he strode into the hall with calm confidence, quickly gathered himself, and went on to win his first-round game comfortably. It was a display of composure, underlining why he is regarded as one of Penang's finest players. His assured performance carried him through the tournament, and by the end of the day, he had earned an impressive second-place finish.

The other late entry arrived even later—after the lunch break—and could only participate from the fifth round onwards. Despite these dramatic arrivals, the tournament progressed smoothly. The favourite, Pavel Shkapenko, demonstrated his class by dominating the field and comfortably securing the top prize. Meanwhile, second-seeded Ronnie Lim, clearly a bit rusty, still managed a creditable third-place finish.

There was no shortage of prizes to be won, with a third of the field going home with something to show for their efforts. OFA members, in particular, had much to celebrate: of the ten who participated, eight managed to win prizes, making their day truly worthwhile.

As Tournament Director, I had spent the preceding four days deeply immersed in coordinating the logistics and administration of the event. My heartfelt thanks go to my co-organisers and conspirators, Terry Ong and Ung Tay Aik, whose invaluable support ensured seamless coordination with the Penang Chess Association for the chess equipment. A big thank you also goes to Low Han Boon for his assistance in setting up the hall on Saturday, and to the boys from Penang Free School, who worked tirelessly to prepare the venue and provide much-needed help during the tournament.

Special mention must go to PCA President See Swee Sie for her generous personal sponsorship of the Ladies' and Veterans' prizes. I am equally grateful to Jonathan Chuah and Cheryl Ho, who ran the tournament as the Chief Arbiter and Arbiter, their assuredness and steady hands overseeing the tournament’s smooth running. Behind the scenes, Steven Cheong from the Malaysian Chess Federation lent his support in registering new players for their FIDE IDs, ensuring no administrative detail was overlooked.

In the end, the tournament was a great success, not only in terms of numbers but also in the camaraderie and excitement it brought to the chess community. It was a day to remember, and one that I hope will inspire even greater enthusiasm for future events.

Samenta seminar

Yesterday, I attended a seminar at The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya. Originally, I was invited just to make up the numbers, as the organisers were unsure how many would attend. However, it turned out that more than 100 people filled the audience, all of whom were small and medium-sized business owners. 

This half-day seminar was tailored specifically for SMEs by Samenta Northern Region, a trade association representing small and medium enterprises. The agenda featured speakers discussing a range of topics relevant to these businesses, including ESG, halal certification, halal entrepreneurship, export opportunities through Matrade and highlights from the latest Budget. 

Missing from the picture below is my wife who, in the inexplicable absence of the branch trade association’s chairman and deputy chairman, worked tirelessly to bring this seminar to a successful conclusion. I had witnessed first-hand her dedication in coordinating the programme, holding countless online meetings with the Samenta committee, speakers and government agencies to ensure everything ran smoothly.

Port Dickson

My wife and I spent last weekend on the road—or more precisely, on a bus—along with some 40-odd members of The Old Frees' Association. We’d all signed up for an overnight OFA trip to Port Dickson. Why Port Dickson, of all places? I’m not entirely sure, but the trip as a whole felt rather underwhelming to me.

One part of the itinerary took us to a model Hakka village near Dengkil, intended to replicate the original circular Hakka villages of China and attract visitors to this place. But where were the tourists? Besides our two buses from Penang, there was hardly a soul to be seen. To add to the letdown, the lunch served there was not Hakka but Malay cuisine. Our next stop was a dragon fruit farm near the Kuala Lumpur international airport, where the excitement came not from the fruit but from watching planes fly low overhead. The farm did boast a Guinness World Record for a giant concrete replica of a dragon fruit—though how that made it into Guinness, I have no idea.

Our third stop was the Port Dickson Pantai Saujana beach, a popular spot for local tourists that left me quite dumbfounded. I found myself more interested in the night market across the road, where we were possibly the only non-Malays in the crowd. As for the beach itself, its only redeeming quality must be the stunning sunsets visitors get to witness.

The following morning, we visited the colourful Yun Loong Temple and were fascinated to learn that its main deity, Chor Soo Kong, is also worshipped at Penang’s own Snake Temple—a comforting connection to home. After the temple, we visited the Army Museum, which, thankfully, proved interesting. The displays were substantial enough: real aircraft, helicopters, armoured vehicles, tanks, guns and ammunition, along with a tunnel simulating the underground living conditions of the Communists in Malaya. Then, of course, we stopped in Seremban on our way home for their siew pau—about as authentic as it gets! Although, to be honest, they didn’t taste any different than similar siew paus back home in Penang and elsewhere.

Lastly, a word about our accommodation. We stayed at The Guest Hotel in Port Dickson, which I absolutely loved—a testament to its spacious rooms and facilities, which, regrettably, we didn’t have time to enjoy on this short overnight trip. That, as it happens, was the trip’s only real highlight.

ADDENDUM: This was only my second visit to Port Dickson, my first being nearly 50 years ago. Back then, I had gotten to know several people in Seremban, fellow chess players I’d met at the MSSM chess competitions in 1972 and 1973. Since I was studying in Petaling Jaya at the time, I would occasionally make trips to Seremban, sometimes by bus or on my motorcycle. I remember the Mantin Pass, a winding stretch of road. On one of these visits, my friends from Seremban suggested a day trip to Port Dickson in his father’s Datsun. So off we went, six of us crammed into the car because we were all skinny in our youth, off to the beach. I still remember us tucking into our roti john ordered from a Malay stall there. Those were the good old days…

A shout-out to my old Seremban pals: Chua Poh Soon, Wong Chee Foo, Lim Chun Yin (and his sister, Lean Na), Khaw Hock Lye, Thang Fook Kheong, David Lim and Liew Wing Kwong!

My unspoken threshold

Waking up today just before four o'clock in the morning, I find myself coming to terms with having crossed my 70th birthday. This past year has brought its share of mental anxieties and uncertainties, yet here I am—now older than my parents once were, and my two grandfathers as well. Strangely, I feel a deep sense of relief with this milestone. There’s a kind of freedom in knowing I’m still here, with the years ahead as uncharted, open possibilities instead of something closed off by age or expectation. Today, I am more at peace with myself than I was yesterday.