He is known as “a killer” lecturer. (Former students still remember him as such). Nobody dares to come later than him. The moment he entered the class, he would lock the door. Late comers? You wouldn’t able to enter the class. Period. No negotiation. Nothing.
At that time, nobody dares to make a complaint to the administrator or the dean. Who dares to make a complaint when the one who locked the door is THE DEAN himself? You make complain to him? Are you crazy? Even the VC is younger than him. He is like Don Corleone. You don’t mess with The Don.
But former students learn values such as punctuality and such. One of my friends who took sociology classes with him would proofread her assignments (the things that we don’t bother to do for another classes). Why? Those with grammatical errors would be publicly shamed once he returned the assignments. He teaches us to be perfectionist and proficient in English. Of course, as students at that time, being young and reckless, some of us didn’t appreciate his style.
I heard the news yesterday that he passed away in his sleep. He was 81 years old. Al-fatihah to Prof. Dr. Mohamed Aris Othman (he is fondly known as Pak Aris even though he has Professorship title).