Abdul Rashid bin Mohd Yusope 1931-2009 (15) Maktab Perguruan Gaya, Jesselton, Sabah 1967-1969

1. GES, Jasin, Melaka 1953-1954
2. Pej. Pel., Melaka 1955
3. High School, Melaka 1956-1957
4. Pej. Pel., Melaka 1958
5. Parlimen, KL 1959
6. S.M. Gajah Berang, Melaka 1960-1961
7. Kirkby College 1962-1963
8. Sek. Lanjutan, Jasin, Melaka 1963
9. Pusat Latihan Guru, Alor Setar, Kedah 1964-May 1967
10. Maktab Perguruan Gaya, Jesselton, Sabah May 1967-May 1969


From Alor Setar, Bapak transferred to work at Maktab Perguruan Gaya (Gaya College) near Jesselton, Sabah. Jesselton is now Kota Kinabalu.

At the time, there were many British citizens serving in Sabah, especially at the port in Jesselton. Vaccinations were administered by British nurses in one of the buildings in Jesselton, not far from the wharf.

Gaya College was on a hilltop. The principal was Mr Todd, an elderly plump British lecturer. The lecturers' families lived in a flat, downhill, and facing Mt Kinabalu. Our family lived in Flat #1. A Chinese doctor's family lived beside us on the same floor. Above us was Rebecca's family (her mother and brother). Beside Rebecca's family was Mr Amaladoss's family (his daughter Angelina was my classmate, his son Prakash was in my brother's class). I can't recall who lived on the third floor, someone by the name of Janathan?

Flat A of Gaya College, Jesselton (Internet pic on Flickr). Flat 1A is the pink one on the right.

Three children walking uphill in front of Gaya flat teachers's quarters (c.1967-69). From left: Amin, Farid, and Faridah. A new road was built here downhill.

Abdul Rashid's family at Gaya College flat, Sabah. From left: Sharif (eldest), Rabiah (#4), Sharifah (#2), Faridah (#3), Amin (#6), Mak, and Farid (#5).

There was En Jikal, a young Bajau lecturer who reverted to Islam with the help of my father. En Jikal got married during the monsoon season during heavy downpour in a small wooden house at Beaufort. En Jikal then gifted a colourful Bajau dagger to my father, which I inherited.

I followed my father to one of his classes at Gaya College. We also went to see the college sports held at the playing field. One man who did the marathon fell and violently coughed up dark brown blood. I think he died in the end.

Gaya College (Internet pic)

Playing field (Internet pic). The old playing field did not have any buildings in 1967-69.

My mother taught Geography at Sabah College. She taught Marina Dato' Lokman, Dato' Lokman Musa's daughter. The other children of Dato' Lokman Musa were at Tanjong Aru Primary School with my sibs. My mother also taught Mahani Rafei, the daughter of Pingiran Haji Rafei, Yang di-Pertua Sabah.

We went shopping for fresh produce at the fresh market in Jesselton. The market opened very early, while it was still dark. We also bought fresh sea fish (ikan kerapu) at the fish market. There were many fishes to choose from, some big, ugly, and scary. We also bought fresh fruits (jambu) and local cakes (kuih angku).

There was a mini market where my mother bought foodstuff. She bought canned corned beef to eat for breakfast and to make delicious fried rice. She bought Easter chocolate eggs and eggcups for us during Easter season. I had a donkey eggcup.

My donkey egg-cup.

My mother took us to the public children's library in Jesselton. There was a good collection of children's books. There were not many children at the library.

Sibs at rear from right: Sharif, Sharifah, Faridah. In front from right: Rabi'ah, Farid, and Amin. 1967-69, Jesselton, Sabah.

Sibs from left: Sharif, Sharifah, Faridah, Rabi'ah, Farid, and Amin (in front). 1967-69, Jesselton, Sabah.

We went swimming at Tanjung Aru beach, which fronted the South China Sea. My parents taught us to swim in the sea. We had picnic and went fishing at a river and caught mud skippers. We visited the fresh markets (tamu) at Papar, Kota Belud, Ranau and other small towns.

We drove the treacherous gravel road to the base of Mt Kinabalu, and stopped at the Mt Kinabalu park office. The staff brought down a dead body.

On the way to Mt Kinabalu Park, Sabah.

We visited a trade fair at Tanjung Aru and visited the kelong to see a fisherman have lunch in his hut on the sea.

Our family had to move back to Semenanjung Malaysia in May 1969. My father had to transfer to Kelantan. He made three wooden crates of different sizes, and packed our belongings in them with packing materials for shipping. He was skilled at making the crates. The neighbours admired his carpentry skills in making the crates. A lorry came to take all three crates which were labelled by my father. He used a stencil to label the crates.

I can't recall how exactly I got to Kelantan. I remember I sailed on the Kunak from Jesselton port to Singapore. The voyage took 3 days and we had to go through health border checks upon arrival in Singapore waters. We took a boat to Collyer Quay, then took the train from Tanjong Pagar to Kuala Lumpur. We put up at the Station Hotel in Kuala Lumpur train station and waited for my father to show up a few days later. He took us to Kelantan. I don't recall the details.