Uncle Zain, My Ipoh Connection

The marriage between Aunt Fatimah and Uncle Zain is a blessing for the entire members of the extended family that generated from the family of my Great-great-grandpa Jusop. This union in matrimony had brought closer two nuclear families in an extended family. Uncle Zain is the cousin of my late maternal grandmother, Hajah Ramlah. Grandma Ramlah's mother is the older sister of Uncle Zain's father whom my mum used to call Grand-uncle Jesin. He followed his father, my Great-great-grandpa Jusop, to Malaysia from Bawean Island during the British colonization in the Malay Peninsula. They used to live at Sungai Rokam in Ipoh, Perak.

(Hari Raya Eid-ul-Fitr 1995)

According to Aunt Fatimah, my Great-great-grandpa Jusop had another marriage, having another set of children from his other wife. And through her (descendent), he had produced the first batch of several well-educated Malaysian Baweanese descendents in his family; a banker, two engineers, an accountant, a doctor and a lawyer by profession – the well-known six brothers in Ipoh that became successful through educations. One of them is Hj.Asmuni bin Awi, the well-known lawyer turned Politician in the State of Perak.

(A proud Grandfather)

Uncle Zain is himself among the successful one in this family. He is an ex-army officer who received the title Dato', given to him by the Sultan of Pahang due to his bravery, serving the Malaysia Military. During his army life, he was always working overseas. I remember during my childhood he used to bring goodies for me and my sister every time he came back home to Singapore at Pondok Kelompang Gubuk. The children of the Pondok loved him as he used to entertain with the stories from his army adventure working in Congo.

(Nenek Moya's first and last visit to my home - January 1996)

Uncle Zain was born and raised in Ipoh, Perak. His older and only sister, my late dear Grand-aunt whom I used to call Nenek Moya, loved him very much. She took great care of him since he was a little boy. My mum told me that Nenek Moya used to give up her portion of food to her little brother during their difficult period living as orphans. I always remember Nenek Moya as a wonderful and lovable person. During my childhood, I used to accompany my grandparents everytime they visited Nenek Moya and other relatives in Ipoh.

Like Nenek Moya, Uncle Zain treats me and my siblings with kindness. Spending my time with Uncle Zain and his family makes me happy. Often I forgotten that he is only my uncle. He makes me feel as though I am his daughter – a daughter he wishes to have. Uncle Zain is like a father to me. He is a generous and kind-hearted person; free from black spots covering the heart - the disease of a bad-hearted soul.

(Aunt Nuri and Aunt Yati, the daugthers of Nenek Moya - visted Singapore in April 1986)

The relationships between Uncle Zain and my father were more than brother-in-laws. They were good friends who always helped each other. Uncle Zain was always there for my father in good and bad times. My father too was always there every time Uncle Zain needed a helping hand. I remember during the time living in a HDB flat, my father offered Uncle Zain and his family to live together with us while waiting for their home in Johor to be ready. Aunt Fatimah and her two sons lived with my family for about six months while Uncle Zain was out-stationed in Congo. During that period, as the oldest among the little ones, I used to bring my little cousins to the playground and watched over them as they played happily with the other kids living around the area.

Until today my cousins and I are very close. To them, I am more than a cousin – an older sister living in Singapore. Indeed Uncle Zain's family members are my next-of-kin in Malaysia. Through marriage, Uncle Zain and Aunt Fatimah had made the blood-ties stronger between my Singaporean relatives and the relatives in Malaysia.

(This post is dedicated to my dear Uncle Zain and his family. According to me, Uncle Zain and Aunt Fatimah is a perfect match made in heaven. Their children are my blood-ties and always be my dear little brothers even though they are now adults. To my Malaysian cousins - indeed we are in a family of different Nationality, living in two different countries linked by a causeway ....yet... We are one big family and will always be...)