Kuala Lumpur Years
Atok went to KL in 1972. His first stop was the Veterans Department of MINDEF to ask for assistance in getting a job. There were openings for security positions in P.Jaya and Dean Bandaraya KL.
The family stayed in Kampung Juasseh while I was sent to the Malay Girls hosterl in Seremban.
After a successful interview at DBKL he started work as a Pegawai Penguatkuasa with the rank of private on 27/2/72. His starting pay was RM 148 per month. DBKL Penguatkuasa was in charge of demolishing illegal houses, town cleanliness and taking care of hawkers.
After Atok was given the quarters in Cheras flats, the family moved to KL while I stayed in Seremban. We stayed at block 3 of the cheras flats for 1 year before moving to the current flat.
In 1972, the price of ikan kembung was -- per kati while kelapa was 20 sen. Wan need not buy any vegetables because she would pick kangkung, paku, ubi and rebung from the nearby mining pools near the flats.
One of the perks of the DBKL Penguakuasa officers was the fear the Chinese and Indian shopkeepers had for them. I vaguely remember Atok getting freebies from these shopkeepers. I clearly remember accepting free sireh for Wan from Indian sireh sellers at Jalan ----. I now know what the favors are called.
Atok retired on 15 nov 1983 at the age of 55. His last drawn salary was 670 ringgit.
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3 comments:
These dates, exact ringgit amounts... Did Wan pluck these out of thin air as she normally does, or did you have to dig into old documents etc? Hehehe
Yum..I like kangkung and paku. I remember eating really yummy paku somewhere in sarawak...
I wish WE'D get freebies from people you and dad know...heheh
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