Category: Other

Farewell, Sir

He taught me Introduction to Political Science at IIUMC circa 1996-97.  He was doing his PhD at UM at that time when he taught us Introduction to Political Science.  Without OHP slides, no powerpoint notes, Prezi (you name it) he delivered his lecture in one of the main lecture halls at IIUMC Lembah Pantai effortlessly.  I still remember vividly the day that my friends and I were late (we had back-to-back classes from 8 to 10am and 10am to 12pm.  His class was the second class.  Yup.  The 10am to 12pm class). 

We rushed to his class from the first one which took us around 5 minutes to arrive (the location between the first class and his class was far) and we arrived at his class when he had started the class for 10 minutes.  He asked why all of us were late.  One of us explained but after listening to the explanation, he decided not to allow us to join the class. 

All of us had started to feel agitated and nervous because we didn’t want to miss his class on our first day of semester.  Then out of no where, I had the courage to rebut him by saying “Sir, it is not fair to get mad at us because we came late to your class not because of our fault.  Dr X let us go 5 minutes late.  All of us rushed to come to your class.  Some of us even ran to come here”   Then, he looked at me and smiled while asking “What is your name, sister?”  I told him my name and later on, he allowed us to have a seat.  

But that moment marked the day when I was tormented for one whole semester.   Every single thing that I did would be under his scrutiny.   But I enjoy his attention and teaching. 

30 years passed by quickly.  From a student, he became part of the faculty member of IIUM for more than 20 years.  All the best, Sir!

Maassalama Wa Ilal Liqa dearest Prof. Wahabuddin Ra’ees. He left for Afghanistan last night after spending 30 years in IIUM, first as a student, then as an academic staff at Political Science Department. He had also hold several academic administrator post while serving in IIUM, one of it was as Director of Alumni Division from Jan 2014 to Dec 2016.

If only I could take a picture of their amazed faces…

Something happened today when I wanted to take wudu’ at the usual toilet.  I met with some of my TEASLIAN students in the toilet.  Since all of the cubicles were full, I proceed to pick up the mop inside the tiny storeroom.  Well, the floor was dirty with foot prints and whatsnot.  I cleaned the toilet yesterday’s afternoon before I left but as expected, it was dirty today.  

Some of them were disbelieved seeing me holding the mop and starting to clean the floor.  Babes, it is normal ok for me to do that.  I use the toilet so, when I see it dirty, I clean it.  There are no cleaners to do the cleaning.  Nope.   Sigh. 

If you walk around, you can hardly see cleaners nowadays.   When I went to my alma mater last two weeks, I met with some cleaners at Human Sciences cafe.  Apparently, they are assigned to pick up empty plates and cups from the table.  This is not a common sight at UTM SUB cafe.  

I can guess some of them are started to feel guilty seeing me mopping the floor.  Yup.  Some of them didn’t even dare to enter the toilet after being forewarned by others that I was cleaning the toilet.  What a sight to remember for the rest of their lives to see someone who teaches them to clean the toilet!  (tongue in cheek remark). 

Well, I told them due to limited budget, there are no more cleaners to clean the toilets.  I have seen a cleaner cleaning the toilet nearby the Chair’s office though (I know right.  It is such a double standard.  We have to clean toilets ourselves and those within the vicinity of those with administration position has someone else to do the cleaning).  Well, that is not the point that I want to make.  

I remember what my late mom taught me.  If you can do it, do it silently.  Don’t complain.  When I am writing this post, I am not complaining.  It is just to make others know that it is a common practice now to clean toilets at UTM even though we are the academicians.  Well, we use the toilets as well.  So, no need to feel entitled that we are better than others to avoid doing the dirty works, right?  

Note: To all of my students, don’t be shocked to see me cleaning the toilet.  Don’t feel guilty.  After all, I am also using the toilet.  If you feel guilty, perhaps you can do your part as well 😀  Wait until you be a teacher at a school with limited budget.  You will see yourself doing the cleaning too.  What a heck!  Japanese teachers and students have long make it in their practice to do the cleaning TOGETHER.  So, why don’t we do the same, right?  

Japanese teachers clean toilet together with students (Photo from Pinterest)
Japanese teachers and students clean together (Photo from Factslides.com)