I pulled this out of from my Personal Officer's Blog.. just to add some BB related content in here.
Company/BB history often forget the names of those who once became part of the the company.
My first year in BB was my most enjoyable one, the year I fell in love with the organisation God eventually called me to serve in. But the fun and excite wouldn't have been there if weren't for these few guys who made up the batch of 1997.
Cpl. Terence Ng Kim Ming [SMKTD2 Class 1 Bakawali] (B1997-E2001)
Terence was one of the most outstanding members, who is very committeed to BB. He was also my best friend in secondary school. He was dragged from the bugle section towards the end of 1997 into the newly reformed clarinet section, as his parents were complaining of the noise the bugle creates. In 1999, prior to promotion, Terence received the Best Boy Award (I think..). We all received our first stripes together (Terence, Scully and myself) in 1999. Terence was in the drill team for the KL Battalion drill competition. During the 2000 Sitiawan Pesta, Terence participated in all competition categories, notibly the singing competition which won 1st placing that year. Though very committed, Terence was never a BB fanatic, as opposed to the views of the Officers. But he was unquestionably one of the super-NCOs.
LCpl. Jonathan Andrew Scully [SMKTD2 Class 1 Bakawali] (B1997-B2000)
Jonathan and I were best friends for the first two year in secondary school, and we both sat next to each other in class. Like all of us, he initially joined the bugle section (interesting to note that we joined the bugle section following Rick Kee's footsteps), but eventually transfered to the newly reformed clarinet section. He was very persistent in seeking awards, often having more awards than most of us in the same batch (the first to receive the Scholarstic Award. Why? He asked). Receiving his first stripes in 1999, Jonathan was a very verbal NCO, often putting his mouth where is work is. Often in arguments with the Chinese background NCOs, Jonathan was always sure to make his thoughts and displeasurements known. He was in the KL Battalion Drill competition and was often the marker (tanda penanda) due to his height. Jonathan left BB slightly after the early year 2000 band and drill camp due to discontent with one of the BB officers. It was unfortunate he missed the Pesta he once looked forward to.
Jonathan Scully durimg the pre-Pesta camp in Port Dickson, early 2000. This is a very ironic picture (for reasons I will not say)
LCpl. Wong How Ran [SMKTD2 Class 1 Cempaka] (M1997-B2001)
How Ran joined midyear in 1997, brought in by Sae Liam. Following him, he joined the bugle section and remained there throughout the duration of his stay in 3rd KL. He was noted for his attendance during his early years in BB, having received the 100% attendance certificate for at least a year. However, the officers did not see How Ran fit for promotion until early 2001, when we were all in form 5. Unfortunately, conflicts emerged between him and the officers as he wanted to go on leave for the year, but was rejected by the officers council. This lead to his demotion about 3 weeks later. He never had a chance to wear his chevron and lanyard, despite waiting for 4 years. He was present at most of the company's camps till the point of his resignation as well as the 2000 Pesta. How Ran and Scully were often at loggerheads with each due to differences in cultural backgrounds. How Ran was also Scully main rival in badge collection as they outperformed each other from time to time during each awards day.
How Ran (left) and Terence (right) on parade during the 2000 pre-Pesta training camp
Pte. Chen Yun Hau [SMKTD2 Class 1 Cempaka] (M1997-M2000)
Yun Hau was also brought into BB by Sae Liam, as they were all classmates (1 Cempaka). Being in the bugle section, he was chucked to play the companies sole trombone in a number of occasions. Yun Hau was a capable leader, giving the most pratical suggestions when the time came. However, his poor attendance prevented him from receiving his stripes. Unlike his close friend How Ran, Yun Hau doesn't care much about badges. He was present for the 2000 Pesta and most major state occasions. He was however, often absent for camps such as NCO training schools, though usually around for company fun camps and band camps. Yun Hau was never committed to BB, though the interest was there - which explains the low attendance. He eventually resigned after the 2000 Pesta.
Yun Hau, How Ran and I were close friends towards the end of secondary school, hanging out for mamaks after school everyday as well as going for tuitions and cybercafe sessions together. A memorable time we shared was when both of us, junior's Albert Ng and Chun Yee were sleeping in the same room - both me and Yun Hau ignored the morning reveille call while Albert and Chun Yee stood up, and both of us shouted in cantonese for them to go back to sleep ("Mm Sai la!" - No need la!). On the last day of the millenium, December 1999, after a band practice in Putra Stadium Bukit Jalil, we went home to How Ran's place to watch "a show" and spent the first 15 minutes into the new millenium playing Team Fortress.. though we didn't intend to miss the countdown as we expected the millenium bug to strike.. causing a blackout, so we can go outside to catch the fireworks. Yun Hau was also in the librarian board as it's secretary (or was it treasurer?), under Terence Ng who was the head librarian.
Pte. Wong Tsing Shian [SMKTD] (B1997-M2000)
Tsing Shian was my only close friend from SMK Taman Desa. The similiarities in language made him the only real choice from SMKTD to befriend as the others only spoke chinese. Unlike the rest of us from SMKTD2 who blindly followed Rick to join the bugle section, Tsing Shian picked up percussion, ending up playing the side
drums. The main reason for that, he revealed to me, was because he didn't want to carry big heavy instruments home like the rest of us. Though very committed and outstanding with his responsibilities, Tsing Shian was overlooked by the Officers for promotion, mainly due to the fact that he was a quiet member. This eventually lead to his resignation, after several years of seeing other incapable members getting promoted. Till this day, I feel sorry for him as he thoroughly deserved a promotion, reflecting the poor relations between boys and officers during that era. Tsing Shian was in the drill team for the 1999 KL Battalion drill competition as well as playing the sides for Pesta the following year. He also went to Penang for his basic NCO Training Course (while the rest of us attended the earlier on in Melaka). Tsing Shian was also at loggerheads with Scully.
Pte. Tan Sae Liam [SMKTD2 Class 1 Cempaka](B1997-M1998)
Sae Liam was the first Cempakarian to join BB. He played the bugle fairly well. He eventually resigned in the middle of 1998 due to a lack of interest.
LCpl. Lim Siew Sin [SMKTD](B1997-M?1998)
Siew Sin was the oldest member of our batch, being in form 3. He studied in SMK Taman Desa. His maturity eventually lead to his promotion to Lance Corporal having only been in BB for less than a year (maybe even less than half). Studies caught up with Siew Sin, leading to his resignation. He played the fife.
Pte. Lau Tsung Wei [SMKTD] (B1997-B1999)
Tsung Wei was in the bell lyer section. Like this most of us, we were all the early recruits of 1997 and was also present for the recruits camp, all the way to the fireman courses in 1st KL. Tsung Wei held a low profile and had low self esteem due to his size, often bullied by Scully on several occasions.
Pte. Jonathan Lee [SMKTD2 Class 2 Bakawali] (B1997-N1999)
Jonathan Lee was one of the rare form 2's who joined BB, since most of his classmates were already in BB. He was an outstanding member, like the rest of the members of SMKTD2's batch of 1996. He was a flutist and joined all the way up to beginning of 1998, following the mass resignation of that period.
Pte. Wan Kah Fai [SMKTD2 Class 1 Bakawali] (B1997-E1997)
Kah Fai was in the flute section all the way up to the end of the year, resigning after our first band performance during Christmas at the PJ Civic Hall. He left quoting religious reasons, as he was a devout Buddhist. Kah Fai was a good friend of mine during primary school. Despite being classmates throughout secondary school, we never quite see eye-to-eye due to our vast differences in opinion (I personally felt I had better management skills than him, which were.. unrealistic). Many people see him as my nemesis as we held similar positions and statuses in school, though he was the one with better academic brains.
Pte. Teh Wing Hong [SMKTD2 Class 1 Bakawali] (B1997-M1997)
Wing Hong was in the flute section, though he only stayed in BB slightly after Enrolment and Awards Day, having received the buttonhole badge (membership recognition). He left due to the lack of interest. We were both classmates since primary school till the end of secondary.
Pte. Thian Jonard [SMKTD2 Class 1 Bakawali] (B1997-M1997)
Jonard was in BB till slightly after Enrolment and Awards Day as well. He hopped around from section to section trying out different instruments due his asthmetic condition which limits his ability to play wind instruments. However, I believe he eventually ended up in flute section. He left BB after being verbally hammered by our drill officer for his lack of confidence (Jonard struggled with the Bilang's. Often unable to shout out his number due to anxiety. There was once he was number 35 and the whole company needed to repeat the whole process 4-5 times. Imagine restarting from 1 to 35. It's embarassing. That experience caused him to leave.
Rec. Aaron Tan [SMKTD2 Class 1 Cempaka] (B1997-M1997)
Aaron was in BB for a brief period, covering recruits camp and several parades. It's interesting to note that he attended Wesley Methodist Church, where 1st KL meets, but never joined them for some reason. Aaron stayed just a couple more weeks after Recruits Camp after loosing interest. We were classmates in form 4 & 5 as well as a semester during pre-U. Aaron traggically lost his brother Julian who committed suicide in 2003.
*B- Beginning of the Year, M - Midyear, E - Year End
I probably missed out alot of people. My batch was huge, though most of them didn't stay very long. Holler out? Will add pictures after I get home to Malaysia.
