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.
{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)}
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]
{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.
A Very Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year.
dsuarang.blogspot.com
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