tribute to shahar banun jaafar...

lunch break with classmates, York, England

Summer School, Hull, England, September 1992 with Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz at the Annual Distinguished Lecture Series at the University of Hull (Shahar is 7th from left)

I was speaking to a group of malaysian universities undergrads with former UiTM Vice Chancellor Datuk Ir Prof Hj Ahmad Zaidee Laidin, Assoc Prof Rasid (the first asian Risk Management PhD holder), saudara Jamal and another PhD fren, when my mobile "squirted' (borrowing a term frequently used by Dr Rasid hahaha). Norazmah Aziz or fondly called by frens as just AZ, called me to inform that our dear fren (MBA classmate in my case) had dearly departed. She was Director-General of the National Library prior to retirement. She died at about 2 pm yesterday,after visiting her doctor to get new stocks of her medicine (she was asthmatic) before leaving for Uzbekistan scheduled for the coming april 28th with the Malaysian Historical Society. I was told she felt difficulty in breathing inside her car and that she died at the hospital minutes later. I rushed to her house at taman ibukota, gombak and informed all our other MBA classmates, while on the way. Met many old frens there. Datuk Hj Jumaat former Director of Schools Ministry of education and former Director-general of Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka, Datuk Zaiton Osman, Khoo Siew Mun (she is 70 oredi) both were former Chief librarian Universiti Malaya, Tan Sri Asiah Abu Samah (former DG of Education was also present. I chatted briefly with her and that we last met at a wedding of the daughter of the Language Institute Director, Lembah Pantai; Datin Mariam (former Director-General the National Library Malaysia - Shahar's former boss, Carol and many other librarians who knew me when I was with Oxford University Press. May she rest in peace. Marilah kita sama-sama sadakahkan Alfatihah buat sahabat kita Shahar Banun Jaafar yang sudah meninggalkan kita semua, Amin. Farewell my friend...