Remembering the two men that made a difference

In this week alone and on the same day, we were startled by the demise of two of Malaysia’s notable figures.

It was Thursday morning that my office received a notification stating the ‘voice’ behind every prominent games since the 80’s had gone to meet his maker.

Datuk Hasbullah Awang was 63 when he passed away due to heart complications. Everytime a person mentioned his name, I took a trip down memory lane, back to when I used to watch badminton or football matches on TV with my father.

I remember, back then, when Hasbullah commented a game, my father would always say that it takes a lot to become a sports journalist especially a commentator. (Don't ask me how my dad knew this).

“You got to learn their names, their positions, their history and you have to love the game to know the game and Hasbullah does it really well even though he has some diction issue with pronouncing an English name,” said my father smilingly.

What I learnt from this was the fact that though a TV presenter is supposed to get everything on point every time, it is also a fact that presenters are merely humans who can’t run away from mistakes - and that the bigger mistake from that would be not learning from those mistakes.

And so I began to see the people on TV in a different light. A positive light that set my ambition high.

When I went around talking about Hasbullah Awang last Thursday, I was so relieved that everybody I know whom I talked to, remembered and recognised him - old, young, teenagers, rich and poor alike.

The thing I remember the most would be the suspense he created, the drama and the uncertainties.

“Golllllll! Golll! GOlll! Oh gol atau tidak? Oh, nampaknya tidak gol. Maafkan saya,” Hasbullah would say.

(Translation: "Goal! Goal! Is it a goal or is it not? Oh, no it is not a goal, I am sorry")

At this point my father will run berserk but for me, I found it really entertaining - a new take on presenting sports or news then.

So, thank you Hasbullah for your contribution. You are dearly missed. Al-fatihah.

That same night, I was shocked yet again when another bad news broke. The most humble politician in my eyes also passed on.

Datuk Bentara Setia Tuan Guru Haji Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was not a typical politician and head. He had his fair and abundance share of contributions to the nation.

And believe it or not, Tuan Guru had the royal blood running under his skin. His father was a descendant of Raja Jembal, hence, explaining his poised and cool personality.

He was a noble man, perpetually educating the young and the old by giving out speeches and talks, night and day. He even had mobile ‘pondok’ (shack) since 1962 which he ran and taught till the day he died.

He opened the eyes of many Muslims and non-Muslim alike to the good faith of a religion called Islam.

He was firm in his teaching and preaching, his debates were unyielding but he was never a bigot.

And as far as I can recall, despite his controversial take on the way of life in his state and the country, he had never once promoted disarray between the multi-racial people in this country. In fact he stood tall and strong in the name of unity.

So when I reached the office yesterday and when I saw a humongous ocean of people paying their homage to Tok Guru, with their head down and in silence, during his funeral, I got goose bumps.

It instantly reminded me that nothing is certain in this life except death.

As a thirty something woman who is guilty for not having the slightest interest in politics, I have to admit that Tok Guru is the one politician that I truly respected and admired.

I found it a challenge to understand his thick, exotic East Western slang but I understood the humility he portrayed.

He came down to everybody’s level, doing what normal people do, by which his actions when you take it optimistically, you will realise that that there should not be any level or barrier when it comes to people and their leaders.

Unlike the rest of his kind(politicians), he lived in a humble house. Not those huge bungalows and towering mansions we see in some fancy address. His wife and his family were showered with knowledge and faith instead of blings, fur coats or something of that sort.

They say a picture paints a thousand words. Though, I have never met him personally nor have I had a conversation with the Tok Guru but by his pictures, by the footages that I watched of him carrying out his duties, socialising with his people, I feel that I know him – not much, but I know that his leadership, his mannerism, his humility is unique and admirable.

I believe that from his texts and speeches, it was sincere and clear to see that he fought not for politics but for the beautiful religion called Islam.

So my question is, what now for us in Malaysia that the only man with such modesty who set forth truth over politics is no longer here?

What now that we can longer pinpoint a politician who can contribute half the things Tok Guru had done for us in his lifetime?

Well, regardless of what the answer is, Tok Guru, the spiritual leader, Nik Aziz Nik Mat is in a better place. And there’s nothing we can do to bring him back. But the one thing we can do is to keep his spirit alive in the humblest way possible.

Al-fatihah. Damailah di sana (may you rest in peace) Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat (1931-2015)