AT long last, a group of English College alumni was reunited at the institution's gathering held on Saturday night.

For 44 years they went on on their separate paths but their friendship stood the test of time.

It was an emotional roller-coaster ride as 60 former students of EC (batch 1972) or now known as Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (MSAB) got together to celebrate the heyday of the renowned institution in Johor Bahru.

"Students of Form 1 to Form 5, aged between 13 and 17 are here. I must say the years were precious" said First Admiral (R) Datuk Ir. Ahmad Murad Omar. .

"Back then, all we wanted was just to grow up and learn the meaning of life," said a teary-eyed Ahmad Murad as he recalled the days in school.

For them, there is no boundary of race, color or ethnic identity but they are only one, EC. - Astro AWANI / Harits Asyraf Hasnan

For pensioner Michael K. M. Loh, who is now the managing director of a private company, the memories being in the school cadet corps were bittersweet and touched his heart deeply.

"We had so much fun, we could still remember the days -- who we are -- especially when we played together.

"There were the sportsmen and cadet corps. The montages of the cadets -- which they showed tonight -- were very touching," he told Astro AWANI.

Laughter and tears accompanied the reunion ended for the 1972 batch of English College Alumni (EC) or now known as Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (MSAB). - Astro AWANI / Harits Asyraf Hasnan

As any school tales go, the students moved on with their respective lives.

Between them, they shared such a sweet and special bond. And it was evident that they are tied by one common denominator - their days as school boys at English College.

Looking at them, one can tell that the strong bond was borne from the education system that cultivated spirits of unity across ethnic identities.

They shared jokes, laughed out loud, which made them looked like giddy and boisterous school boys.