Friday, February 12, 2010

Oxford Fajar nee OUP/PFB


Friday, February 12, 2010




Assalamualaikum and Greetings


Let's Get Physical (first)
[esp when talking about the largest university press in the world]*


I joined Oxford University Press (OUP)/ Penerbit Fajar Bakti (PFB) in 1980. The office was then located at Section 13 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It has earlier on moved to the PJ premise from Loke Yew Building , Kuala Lumpur which has been its initial centre for operations here soon after the country's independence in 1957. The premise was rented from Hock Cheong Transport Company.

A few years after that OUP/PFB again moved office. This time to another rented premise at Jalan Kuchai Lama (Off Old Klang Road, KL). The building belongs to one 'colour separation company'. After that (of course, topping the premises lists) came D-Building. I affectionately termed it as "The Hideout". At last in 1998 OUP/PFB Malaysia has proudly moved to a customize building. A building to call its own!



{Click on photo for larger image}

[The only group photograph ever shot throughout my 21 years at OUP/PFB Malaysia.
Were there any after my retirement? How many names can one recall ...] 




{Click on photo for larger image}

 
If I can recall correctly
[Seated L to R: Mohd Ariff Abu Bakar (Acc), Ivan Hoe Wat Sing, AMB, Mohd. Ariff Bakar (Ed), Abd Wahab Yaakob, M Sockalingam (MS), Edda de Silva, Yap Kok Hoong]

{Photo was taken on 15 October 1982 at OUP/PFB's office building at Jalan Semangat, Petaling Jaya (not as wrongly reported "at Kuchai Lama after moving from Loke Yew Building" by one local newspaper app below)}


{Click on cutting for larger image}
 

{The local daily of 9 July 2007 reporting on Oxford Fajar's 50 Years Publishing Anniversary in Malaysia}


{Click on photo for larger image}

 
{The error : PEJABAT Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd di Kuchai Lama selepas berpindah dari Bangunan Loke Yew . It should read: PEJABAT Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd di Jalan Semangat, Petaling Jaya selepas berpindah dari Bangunan Loke Yew.}


At the heights of those hectic physical movements, it was very easily noticeable that the then Managing Director, Mr M Sockalingam (MS) was one of the busiest individual around. Further scrutiny revealed that he was the person responsible for acquiring that piece of land at Hicom Glenmarie . . . and of course the establishment and realization of a building on that piece of land too. Planning for the allocation of space, compartment, division, fragmentation, usage and what not was his brainchild. 

OUP/PFB's staff were also most cooperative and very helpful in contributing towards the success of the plan. 




 
{OUP/PFB's own building at Hicom Glenmarie, Shah Alam}


Coming in as an editor at OUP/PFB in 1980 . . . I could easily fall into the category of a 'novice'. Editorial work was new to me then though I have done quite a bit in such related field of work at my previous work stations during my earlier years at the Public Services Commission and the Ministry of Education. But as I later learned at OUP/PFB . . . life must go on ... quality editorial output must prevail. And, prevailed it did ... with much conscientiousness and perseverance at that. As MS recently puts it, " ... the shared risks and rewards of those years... " Well for now let's put that aside temporarily. We will talk about those days at some other suitable blog space and time in the near future . . .


All done I just wish to state that I have never regretted a single moment of my stay at OUP/PFB.



[The Landmark at Hicom Glenmarie, Shah Alam. Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd.]
[Inset: Sharmini Nagulan, the present Managing Director]


*OUP is the largest university press in the world. OUP employs more than 4,500 people worldwide. Publishes more than 5,000 titles a year in over 15 countries in various languages. OUP has offices in over 50 countries.


Wishing all those Chinese friends of Oxford Fajar connection (old and new)
A Very Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year.












dsuarang.blogspot.com
Posted by Bamuda d' SUARANG at 9:00 PM
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4 comments:


adah said...
salam uncle. My sister was google'ing' our late dad's name and came across your blog. My name is Aznida and I'm the daughter of arwah Ab Wahab Yaakob. Looking at the old pictures of PFB reminded me that I used to go there when I was a kid. It also bring back the memories of my dad who was dedicated to PFB until his last breath. With your permission, allowed me to copy the group pic in remembrance of him. Thank you.
March 13, 2011 9:30 PM
Bamuda d' SUARANG said...
W'kum Salam Adah, I'm simply touched by your request. By all means please do so. Allahyarham Wahab was a very close & dear friend of mine. We used to share our views and thoughts on many things in life then . . . especially re family matters. He was very proud of his family . . . of all of you for that matter. What I remember him most for till today is . . . one Saturday morning when he 'voluntarily' drove all the way from home to my house in KL . . . just to install some software/program . . . into my newly bought computer then. That was Allahyarham Wahab! For your info we called him the computer 'Guru' in the office. He was amongst the earliest if not the first person to be 'really knowledgeable' about computers in the early transition years. Well that was your dad . . . a very considerate & helpful person. Al-Fatehah untuk Allhyarham kita sama-sama hadiahkan. Ps: Pakcik rasa mungkin telah/pernah bertemu mana-mana daripada anakanda sekalian dalam acara Family Day dsb di OUP dulu. Salam juga kepada your mum . . . yang mungkin tidak berapa ingat akan pakcik kerana semasa pakcik join OUP she had left. (Ada lagi artikel yang ingin dan insya-Allah akan pakcik paparkan tentang Allahyarham Wahab kelak).
March 16, 2011 9:31 AM
adah said...
Salam again. Unfortunately, saya tak dpt sampaikan salam pakcik pada Mama saya. Die telah meninggal dunia 3 tahun yang lepas setelah beberapa tahun suffer dgn kanser. Tq for the kind words about my dad. Indeed that was his character, always put eveyone first before himself. He was also the Guru in the family and around the neighbourhood. And he only learnt that from the books! Thanks for spending the time to reply my comment. Looking forward to your posting :) P/S : Saya pun rase penah dgr name pakcik disebut oleh arwah Ayah. So, rase penah jumpe la kot :) Dulu OUP banyak buat aktiviti family.
March 18, 2011 3:17 PM
Bamuda d' SUARANG said...
Salam and Innalillah . . . Belated takziah to you Adah. Am really sorry to hear of your late mum's demise. Anyway . . . life must go on . . . no matter what the obstacles are. Al-Fatehah kpd Allahyarhamah bonda Adah. Ps: Mungkin kenal . . . kerana dulu Pakcik Chairman BADAN OUP/PFB selalu organize functions office. Later in most cases I was made the MC for OUP/PFB dos.
March 18, 2011 11:39 PM
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