March 14

March 14, 2009 17:01 PM

Abdullah Reminisces About Signature

Good Old School Days... Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is reminiscing his school days while sitting together with his former classmates changing stories in their own old classroom in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tinggi Bukit Mertajam (HSBM), Pulau Pinang during a function held here. "I created the signature while in Form Two in 1953," the prime minister reminisced about the signature which he still uses until now. Pic: Rosli NayanBUTTERWORTH,

March 14 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today returned to his old school, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tinggi Bukit Mertajam, and reminisced about the signature he still uses until now. "I created the signature while in Form Two in 1953," the prime minister told about 400 teachers, students and former students of the school when opening its heritage building. There was something special at the tail end, he said. "When I signed the Alumni book, I felt something was not right with the signature so I asked to sign again," he said. Abdullah who is the school's Alumni patron said he was happy to be able to return to his old school and told of his first experience in making friends with the non-Malays. "Before I came to the school, I

did not have non-Malay friends," he said. He also said that he had difficulties in learning and speaking English for the first time because the only reference then was the teachers. "I only knew the mistakes when I showed my class teacher my exercise book," he said. On the repair work on the school's Block C which costs RM4.16 milion, he said he was happy that the old building was not demolished and the school authority managed to retain its original design. At the function, the school administration honoured Abdullah by naming the school hall after him. -- BERNAMA

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