Abdul Rashid bin Mohd Yusope 1931-2009 (17) Maktab Perguruan Perempuan Melayu, Durian Daun, Melaka 1972-1974

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
11. Maktab Perguruan Kota Bharu, Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan May 1969-Dec 1971/Jan 1972
12. Maktab Perguruan Perempuan Melayu, Durian Daun, Melaka Jan 1972-Dec 1974

History of the Malay Women's Training College, Malacca. Source: Annual report of the Malayan Union 1947, page 64.

Annual report of the Malayan Union 1947. Malay Women's Training College, Malacca. page 64.
https://ia801007.us.archive.org/5/items/b31415647/b31415647.pdf

The Malay Women’s Training College was first opened in 1934, in part of the old hospital buildings in Malacca. In 1937, a new building was erected and a practising school with a house for the head teacher was built in the grounds.
The last of the pre-war students completed their training before August, 1947, after which 29 new students were admitted. There were 29 students in the second year and three supervisors in training. It should be noted that the college course is for three years. 

Malay Women's Training College, Malacca 1950. Source: International War Memorial (IWM).

From MPKB in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan, we moved to MPPM, Durian Daun, Melaka in early 1972. I arrived by train with my eldest brother Sharif and eldest sister Sharifah. We alighted at Gemas and took a taxi to Mak Sarah's house in Banda Hilir. My parents and the rest of my siblings arrived in February 1972.

My father was a lecturer at the college in 1972-1974/5, and as a govt servant, my father was allowed to occupy any vacant lecturers' quarters. We first stayed at a small single-storey bungalow beside Mr Collins, down the hillock from Mrs Shahnaz. 

Then we moved to a double-storey bungalow, the middle of 3 bungalows. Cikgu Ahmad and Mr Dass were our neighbours. Our bungalow was haunted as it was formerly occupied by a Japanese military officer, who later committed suicide in the toilet in my bedroom when Japan lost the war on 15 Sept 1945. Our entire house was haunted, especially the 3 bedrooms upstairs. But it didn't bother me. 

My father's cars parked outside our double-storey house in Durian Daun. The open window was the kitchen. The open gate led to the kitchen and back-house.

Our house faced the big playing field of Maktab. The buildings were the old wooden hospital buildings of 1934.

Dondang Sayang
https://www.facebook.com/yahya.yusop/videos/3340734805993369/

This is a beautiful classic Malay song genre of the Malacca folk. I first heard it when living at Maktab Perguruan Perempuan Melayu Melaka, Durian Daun, in front of my school, Malacca Girls' High School (MGHS). I was in Form 2/3 in 1972/3. 

From my upstairs bedroom, I could hear Dondang Sayang at around 9 pm. That went on till late into the night. Sometimes I could not hear it, and I had to open my bedroom window to hear it better. But when the wind started blowing and my body hair rose, I quickly shut the window and ran into bed, snuggle to sleep with my sisters. I usually slept next to my grandmother, who slept in the adjacent bed. If she stayed with us, I could not open the window to listen to Dondang Sayang. The Dondang Sayang I heard was sang by a lady who sounded like Nyonia. I loved it very much, so much do that I took up singing Dondang Sayang when I was bigger and started dancing Malay dances. But I don't have the Nyonia voice to sing it like what I heard.

Rabi'ah Abdul Rashid: That house we lived in was really haunted. Once I heard a woman fighting at the stairways. Her voice was loud quarrelling with someone and running up the stairs. I shut my eyes tight and went to sleep. I asked my elder sister but she didn't hear anyone quarrelling. I dared not stay up late. 

Othman Abdulghani: Mr Kumara Dass was my My English Literature teacher at Malacca High School.